Want to gamble with Bitcoin? This site knows where

If you were shrewd enough to invest in Bitcoin before or during the big boom or 2017, you probably know that the crypto markets lately have been pretty boring. Prices go up a couple of dollars, then down a few, then back up. All rather ho-hum.

So now you might be looking for an online casino to put those crypto coins to work. And while you would think that bitcoin would be a great medium for online gambling, most Internet casinos have been rather shy about getting involved.

But there are casinos out there that will let you bet with Bitcoin when you play their games and a good place to find them is a site called Promotion Tailor. Here's what it says about Bitcoin and online gambling:

Regardless to where you are in the world, the chances are that, if gambling is legal in your country and does not carry regulations which forbid the use of Bitcoin, you will find a Bitcoin casino to play. 

The site currently lists five online casinos that not only accept Bitcoin payments, they also offer player bonuses such as matching funds or free slot spins without requiring players to make a deposit before they play.

Promotion Tailor also has information about online casinos that accept other forms of electronic payment such as Skrill and PayPal.

For more details about payment options and bonuses, check the Promotion Tailor website.

By: Ric Manning On 3/06/2019

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Website rates online USA casinos

Our house is only a few miles from one of those riverboat casinos and while we drop in from time to time, I'm a little more comfortable when I gamble from the comfort of my computer desk.

When Internet casinos first appeared, most of them were based outside the United States. Today, there are legal online casinos based in several states that can be visited by players located anywhere in the country without fear of running into legal trouble.

And there's also a website that has created a detailed guide to American online casinos.

Online Casino Ratings contains profiles and reviews of several of the better-known US casinos such as Slots.LV, Bovada and Cafe Casino. The profiles  list many of the games offered by the different casinos, such slots, poker and other table games.

The guide also tells which casinos can be played on mobile devices and which ones accept cryptocurrency like bitcoin. Perhaps more important, the guide also lists each casino's payout percentage and their welcome bonus for new players, which can be $5,000 or more.

If you're ready to wager a few dollars online, check out Online Casino Ratings before you pull up a seat.

By: Ric Manning On 2/27/2019

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Site has tips for new players at Euro online casinos

Recent court rulings and changes in state laws are making it easier for US residents to gamble at  casinos both on land and online. While America is a new arrival to the Internet casino business, Europeans have been offering online casino games since the early days of the Internet.

The good news for new players ready to test their luck at a European casino is that they are offering hefty bonuses to attract new members. At OnlineCasino, visitors can browse listings for dozens of casinos that offer bonuses of €1000 or more to get started.

The site has profiles and reviews of online casinos that are based in a variety of countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Malta and the United Kingdom. 

OnlineCasino has a helpful introduction to European online gambling. It notes that in most countries, online casinos require players to be at least 18 years old with a verified email address. Members may also have to submit documents to prove who you are.

Most casinos allow payments from major credit cards like Visa and MasterCard. Many also support electronic payment services such as Skrill, Neteller, and Paysafecard that might not be familiar to American customers.

For a closer look, click to visit OnlineCasino.

By: Ric Manning On 2/18/2019

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Website tracks new online slots games

If you like to play the digital slot machines at online casinos, you probably have one or two favorites that you visit regularly. Or, maybe you like to be among the first players to take a new game for a spin.

If you're in that latter group, check out Online-Casinos, a website that keeps an eye out for new UK-based Internet casinos and new slots games.

Tabs at the top of the site's landing page will take you to a page that lists and ranks more than 20 new casinos released in the current month. The rankings provide an overall score for each one and a summary of the casino's bonuses and free play offerings.

Another click takes you to an equally long list of new slots games. Each entry has a description of the game along with the identity of the game's developer. Players who have had good luck with games created by Quickspin or Playtech, for example, can find the latest entries from those companies.

The site also offers its list of the best casinos for table games such as Blackjack, Craps, Keno or Baccarat. And if you're new to online casino gambling, the Banking page is worth a visit to learn the workings of payment systems such as Skrill, PayPal, Neteller and Entropay.

Look for the Vegas-style WELCOME sign at the Online-Casinos website.

By: Ric Manning On 2/05/2019

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Casino Expert focuses on UK online gaming

Casino gambling on the Internet is a global industry with hundreds of digital gaming site scattered around the world. Many opt those casinos, including some of the most popular, are based in the United Kingdom.

Why is the UK such a hot spot? A UK-based casino review site called Casino Expert breaks down some of the reasons.

One reason in longevity. According to Casino Expert, most of the bigger companies behind UK's online casinos have been in the gaming business since way before the Internet was born.

They were called bookmakers. And while most bookmakers in the US operate outside the law, bookies in the UK are licensed and regulated, just like the gaming houses in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

That government oversight adds an element of trust to the UK online casinos that new players might not feel with online casinos based in less familiar nations.

One more reason why UK online casinos are popular: in their competitive environment, UK gaming sites are likely to offer more and bigger bonuses to new players.

Casino Expert aims to be an online guide to UK online casinos by highlighting ones that offer the most attractive bonuses such as free slot spins and a variety of bonuses.

To read their ratings and reviews, visit the Casino Expert website.

By: Ric Manning On 1/22/2019

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New app has 'Slots Appeal'

One of those riverboat casinos is parked a few miles from our home so we occasionally drop in for a few hours of gaming. My wife gets drawn immediately to the banks of slot machines.

I know there’s something mesmerizing about those spinning wheels and the crazy sound of jackpot winners and plinking coins.

I hoped to satisfy her need for more slots time by installing Magic Slots on her phone and tablet. Magic Slots is an app that replicates the basics of live slot machines. It has a scoring table - 40 points for three 7s - along with buttons to bet one more points and a colorful set of spin wheels.
 
There’s no financial payoff and, sadly, getting Bitcoins on a row doesn't result in some cryptocurrency dropped in your online wallet.

For real money action, you might check out Slots Adviser, a website from the people who created Magic Slots. The site offers links and reviews to online casino sites such as Ignition Casino, Joe Fortune and Bovada along with bonus deals for new users.

Magic Slots is available as free download for Android devices in the Google Play Store.

By: Ric Manning On 9/28/2018

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Gaming innovation Is all about social interaction

We tend to look at changes in the gaming industry as individual events. We like to judge the latest consoles, the latest games, and even the latest competitions as standalone happenings in an industry that's always moving forward in surprising new ways. But if you look at some of the recent developments we've seen in various areas of gaming, there's one central theme that's pretty easy to spot: video games are now all about social interaction.

Let's start with the Nintendo Switch. It's not out yet, but we've seen it in action in a pretty tantalizing reveal trailer, and sure enough, Nintendo did its own weird thing once again. As one write-up mentions, one of the most noteworthy things about the console is that it's embracing local multiplayer, while its competitors "live online" where multiplayer is concerned.

Not only is the Switch encouraging console multiplayer activities the way we used to do it (in a living room, with friends), but even the on-the-go version of the console facilitates this style of gameplay. The mobile aspect of the Switch, somewhere between the size of a smartphone and tablet, features detachable controllers that allow two players to face off against each other. It's a fascinating move that boldly places social interaction ahead of gaming sophistication on Nintendo's list of priorities.

However, the aforementioned write-up wasn't wrong in pointing out that most of Nintendo's competitors are pursuing multiplayer online. But that's not always what it sounds like either. In particular the online casino business has taken some interesting turns toward making competitive online gaming even more interactive. This site features a lot of information on what drives popular platforms these days, and specifically discusses the idea of "live dealer" games in which the dealers are brought to players by video feeds rather than simulated digitally. It's not quite a full-fledged video chat but it's close and players can now watch real people running games even as the players themselves chat and compete with others who are seeing the same thing. It feels a step further than traditional online multiplayer in facilitating a social connection.

And then of course there's actual competitive gaming to consider—not just multiplayer, but multiplayer with stakes and an audience. We're talking here about eSports, a phenomenon that has grown far larger than many critics ever thought it could.

Just recently a former professional athlete was quoted in an interview as saying that eSports might be bigger than the NHL in two years' time. Whether or not you agree with that assertion, the fact that it can be made without ridicule is alarming. And this isn't just happening because the games are so great. Rather, it's because the very idea of eSports brought about a way for gaming enthusiasts to come together, even if it's just to watch other people play for prizes. The idea of eSports survives because gamers like to interact and build a sense of community around the activities they enjoy.

And on top of all this, we have the virtual reality revolution on the way. VR is a largely individual activity right now. But that's not to say there aren't multiplayer experiences already, and it stands to reason that as more games are released we'll be seeing exciting new ways for gamers to compete and collaborate with each other in an environment that feels like real life. VR holds staggering potential for furthering the potential of interactive gaming.

Considering all of these things, as well as the fact that mobile and console games are increasingly angled toward online competition, it all becomes clear. Though we like to pick apart changes in gaming as individual developments, the gaming industry is ultimately moving in a uniform direction toward an environment that is more social than ever before.

-- Travis Kaplan is a freelance writer and web designer. He contributes to numerous blogs on topics in technology, gaming, and entertainment. 

By: Ric Manning On 11/18/2016

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My favorite casino? The one where Frank, Deano and Sammy played

I’m not a regular online gambler, but I occasionally write articles about Internet casinos and sometimes I take a seat at one of their Blackjack tables. When I visited the bgo online casino recently, I got to thinking about the first time I gambled in a Las Vegas casino. It was in the early 1990s when I went to Vegas to attend Comdex, the huge trade show for the personal computer industry. After exploring the booths and exhibits all day, a friend and I would stop at the Sands to play a few hands of blackjack.

The Sands was an iconic hotel and casino with a name that was known to people who had never been to Las Vegas. In its early days, the Sands was linked to Vegas mobsters like Meyer Lansky and at one time it was owned by famously reclusive businessman Howard Hughes. In the1950s, Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack buddies Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. performed and hung out at the Sands. The 1960 movie Ocean’s 11 was filmed there and photos of the Rat Pack stars still decorated the walls 30 years later.

By then, the place was in a downward spiral and by 1996 it would be imploded to make way for the Venetian. But but it was just right for us. With the tourists hitting the glitzier casinos, we could easily find a low-stakes blackjack table and our favorite dealer, Nick, who was talkative and helpful. He explained when to take a card, when to stand and how to split, double down or buy insurance. We gave him a nice tip and he gave us coffee mugs. They probably had a lot of them to unload before the dynamite crews arrived.

When I return to Las Vegas in a couple of months, I’d like to be more prepared to gamble than I was when I was a newbie at the Sands. And unless I can find another Nick to teach me the finer points of Roulette, Craps and PaiGow, I’ll be practicing at some of the many online casinos that now populate the Internet.

I recently checked out the BFC Playground where I got some free chips to get me started after I registered. And I tried the BetCoin Casino where I could use Bitcoin cryptocurrency to play a number of traditional and exotic games. But bgo seemed to have something for everyone. It offered many of the same games I see in Vegas and it gives new players free spins on its Starburst slot when they sign up.

The bgo casino looked like a great spot for slots players. The site lists more than 200 different slot games including Wheel of Fortune and some others that I remember from strolling through Las Vegas casinos. Wandering around the bgo website, I also found Bingo rooms, where new rounds start every few minutes, and plenty of table games. Poker comes in 14 flavors (Dueces Wild, Jacks or Better, etc.), some Blackjack versions I’ve never heard of (Double Attack, Pontoon) and 16 styles of Roulette.

While I drop in at Internet casinos mostly to work on my meager gaming skills, I’ve encountered more skilled players who say they earn a nice side income in the digital world. Many online casinos offer something that you can’t get in a real-world casino: the ability to play multiple table games simultaneously.

Multi-tabling lets players view several card tables or roulette wheels on their computer screens at the same time. In a way, it’s like how my Aunt Mildred played Bingo at the church with four or five cards. It reminded me of the time Backgammon expert Paul Magriel came to town and played me and about 20 other people in the space of about 15 minutes. And no, I didn’t win.

Playing multiple games, especially at low stakes, can increase the chance of multiple wins. An article posted at The 405 said “there are a number of people playing on 20 tables at the same time and making a tidy profit in the process.”  But another article at Online Betting warns that there is a thin line “between increasing your profitability through multi-tabling and wiping it out altogether.” Other sites suggest that multi-tabling might be best suited for games like Roulette where there are few decisions and less strategy to think about.

I might be tempted to try multi-table Roulette, but I will probably just stick with the version of multi-tabling that I already understand: splitting a pair of face cards at the Blackjack table.

By: Ric Manning On 10/03/2016

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Android game has slots and safaris

There are two places my wife frequently asks to visit. One is the nearby casino where she like to play the slots. The other is Africa, where she would love to spend time with wild animals.

Maybe the Android game Wild Afrikaans Safari Slot 4DX would be a good compromise. It combines African animals and the thrill of slots and it’s certainly more affordable than either of her primary wishes.

The app has all of the standard casino slot game features. You can do an autospin, bet on different lines and make additional bets with cards after you win.

Players can visit four different worlds, some of which get unlocked as you progress. Along the way you’ll encounter explore flamingos, leopards, tigers, zebras, elephants and rhinos before you meet the Golden Lion.

The game is available as a free download, with in-game purchases, at the Google Play Store.

By: Ric Manning On 10/26/2015

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Testing my luck at the new BFC Playground

Where I live there’s a casino about 20 minutes away, but I don’t go there very often. The lower-stakes Blackjack tables are always full, the drinks are weak and the food is mediocre. But I don’t have to travel to indulge my occasional gambling interest. I’ve discovered online casinos in general and The Big Free Chip List in particular.

It’s called the Big Free Chip List because the site collects and displays links and promotions from online casinos across the Internet. You can see which casinos offer free spins or signup money and read reviews by their players.

The BFC Playground is a new attraction where the site has posted its own collection of games and it's the first casino that has ever given me free chips to get started. All I had to do was register with a user name and an email address and create a cartoon avatar before I was on my way to the slots and table games -- no deposit or credit card required.

New visitors to Playground are rewarded with bonus money. I got 100 BFC coins that I could use to play any of the games and BFC says it will replenish your purse if you lose your stake. And players can earn more coins by posting reviews of other casinos. Coins can be spent in the BFC Shop where they can be cashed in for a variety of items, including real money.

In the Playground, I found a blackjack table, five poker tables, four video poker games, two roulette wheels and 12 slots. The slots were entertaining and some were enhanced with quirky extra elements. During one session, I was presented with a mini game that let me win free spins by building a robot.

But my favorite casino game is blackjack and the table in the BFC Playground worked as smoothly as the tables I’ve tried in Las Vegas. It offered all of the expected options, like splits, doubling, and insurance.

There was no animated human dealer, which I appreciated, and I also liked the rhythm and pacing of the game. The action pauses for an extra beat before clearing the table after each hand, giving me a moment to assess my success or failure.

My winning hands were greeted with a lusty “You Win!” but thankfully there was no “You Lose!” when the house scooped up my bet.

After some poker and roulette, I had almost doubled my holdings, so I clicked over to the BFC Shop where I could trade my BFC coins for credit at other online casinos or for cash transferred to my PayPal account. To get $5 in PayPal money, I needed 1,740 coins. For my 190 coins I could get a new pair of eyes for my avatar.

But I didn’t come to The Big Free Chip List or the BFC Playground to strike it rich, though that would have been just fine with me. I came for entertainment, for the fun of playing games of chance and perhaps to sharpen my Blackjack skills. And on that score, I was richly rewarded.

By: Ric Manning On 8/05/2015

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Online casino bets on bitcoin

Here’s one more indication that bitcoin is here to stay: A Hong Kong investment group that backed Skype is now backing BetCoin Casino, one of the largest bitcoin casinos in the Internet.

BetCoin customers can play more than 50 games. They include traditional casino games such as Blackjack, Roulette, PaiGow, Roulette and Video Poker. BetCoin also has a letter, Keno and original games invented by BetCoin.

Players can create a new account with an email address, login name and password and they can play anonymously be entering the address of their bitcoin wallet.

BetCoin says it guarantees that all game outcomes are fair by providing the “seed hash” of each transaction to the players before the game begins. Having the seed hash and a client hash allows players to verify the outcome if they choose. The casino also displays the house edge for each game and it charges no fees to play.

BetCoin is backed by Massive Luck Investments Limited, a Hong Kong investment house that was among the early investors in Skype before it was bought by Microsoft for $8.5 billion.

You can bet your coins at the BetCoin Casino and keep up with BetCoin news @BetcoinTM on Twitter and in the BetCoin blog.

By: Ric Manning On 6/23/2015

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Casino Hero puts a new twist on casino gaming

I’m a fan of casino games. I’d blow a whole day at the Blackjack table, if I didn’t have to pay for it.

That’s one of the things that makes Casino Hero attractive. The new multi-platform game builds an action adventure game in a casino environment.

You can play poker or slots to win more chips, but the overall goal is to complete missions, unlock new episodes and move on you higher levels.

Casino Hero incorporates the most popular poker games, including Texas Hold’em, along with Blackjack, Slots, Craps, Video Poker Jacks or Better, Jokers Wild, Deuces Wild and others.

The game also incorporates 10 types of boosters, which can  be purchased or earned. Some levels are provided with free boosters. And sometimes you’ll need a booster to increase your bet or stay in a game.

Casino Hero is available as a mobile app in the iTunes App Store, the Google Play Store and the Amazon App Store as well as on Facebook. Get more details at the Casino Hero website and follow @casinohero on Twitter.

By: Ric Manning On 5/09/2015

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