Online Casino Software – Reviews of the Very Best

Online Casino SoftwareOnline casino software makes all the difference between a bad gaming experience and a great one.  Many online casino software companies popped up during the internet gaming boom that began in the 1990s and continues to grow to this day.  When looking at online casino software there are many different aspects to explore.  It can be helpful to know a bit about the company’s background.  The games they offer is often one of the primary concerns for players, as well as the countries they service.   After the introduction of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006, several online casino software companies started blocking players who reside in the United States.  However there are still software providers that still cater to US gamblers.

Online Casino Software for US Players

We’ll start by taking a look at the online casino software providers that welcome players from the US and around the world.  One of the biggest of these firms is Realtime Gaming.  Realtime Gaming is based in Curacao, an island in the Netherlands Antilles. RTG developed the Real-Series slots which power more than 75 different casino sites.

TopGame is a relative upstart in terms of online casino software companies.  There are more than 20 casino sites, using TopGame’s casino platform.   TopGame isn’t big enough yet to compete with the likes of RTG.  However, Rival Gaming is, as its name suggests, a worthy rival.  Rival offers multi-lingual online casino software and they are highly regarded for their slot machines, which feature interesting themes and compelling, high-quality graphics.

Online Casino Software for Non-US Players

Many of the longest-standing online casino software providers stopped accepting US players after the passing of the UIEGA.  As publicly traded companies, they did not want to run the risk of any potential legal repercussions from facilitating financial transactions for US customers.  The biggest and one of the longest running online casino software providers is UK’s Microgaming.  Established in 1994, Microgaming has more than 200 casino clients in multiple languages.  Their progressive slots machine jackpots are wold record holders for the best payouts and they offer more than 300 casino games for download and instant-play.

Irish-based online casino software developer, Cryptologic, comes close as they offer more than 280 games.  Their innovative software features multi-player games, 3D and live dealer games and other features that are extremely popular with players.  IGT (International Game Technology) is widely known for offering Wheel of Fortune Slots, the most popular progressive slot machine of all time.  Other popular licensed games available via IGT are Monopoly and Jeopardy Slots.

Microgaming’s main online casino software competitor is Playtech.  Playtech supplies games to online and land-based casinos alike.  They are a huge player in the online casino software industry and are based in the United Kingdom.  Playtech supplies the immensely popular Marvel games series of slot machines, which have attracted a massive amount of players worldwide.

Smaller, yet still very notable, online casino software providers include Aristocrat, NetEnt, and Wizard Gaming.  Artistocrat primarily supplies games in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, the UK, Macau, Sweden, and Japan.  NetEnt is focused more on bingo and skill games.  Therefore, they tend to be used in conjunction with other software providers.  And finally, Wizard Gaming primarily remains a favorite among players who enjoy a highly entertaining slots experience.

Online Casino Games – Choosing the Right One for You

Online Casino GamesWhen a beginner sets out to play online casino games, they don’t always know what they’re doing, or even which game they should start playing. Identifying the casino game that might best suit their tastes requires a level of knowledge and experience that a newcomer to online casinos often lacks. Not knowing which game to choose can lead to an unsatisfying gaming experience, and since a good percentage of these players may not be willing to give the casino a second try after this kind of disappointment, this guide will help make the selection process easier. Below, you’ll be introduced to several key factors that will hopefully have a positive impact on the decision making process.

Online Casino Games Risk-Reward Ratio

There are pros and cons for any game. For instance, every game has a different risk-reward ratio. Some of them even feature multiple bets with different levels of risk within the same game. How you pick these games will be a stylistic decision you’ll need to consider before making your selection. Consider, roulette, a game where evens bets are low risk and low reward. Alternatively, straight-up bets have a much greater degree of risk and a relatively high level of reward. Slots games are similar in that the ones with big jackpots have a higher volatility as opposed to the smaller jackpot slots that are considered low-volatility.

Learning Online Casino Games

The next decision you’ll be faced with is how much time and effort you’re willing to invest in learning how to play the game. In order to become even moderately proficient at a game like craps or blackjack, you’ll need to devote a fair amount of time to studying the games and practicing your newly-developed skills playing for fun before you’ll want to risk your bankroll. On the other end of the spectrum are games like keno and slots. These online casino games don’t require any special skills or strategies; you can simply start playing right away. So why would you ever choose a game that requires study and practice over a simple game? Well, it would depend on your reason for playing in the first place. If you’re looking for a really big payoff, then you’re better off sticking with the skill-based games because they have higher payout percentages. If your focus is more on pure entertainment, then you should stick to the less volatile games like roulette or slots. You can still win playing these games, the amounts you win will just be smaller.

Modern vs Classic Online Casino Games

One last factor to consider is based on whether you prefer modern over classic. If you’re drawn to a classic casino atmosphere, then you’re likely to experience greater enjoyment playing one of the table games like blackjack or craps. However, if you like a little more sizzle when it comes to your casino experience, and flashy lights and sounds appeal to you, then you’re probably better suited to play slots, keno, and other parlor games. Any one of the online casino games you’ll find at an online casino can provide countless hours of enjoyment and the chance to take home big winnings, which one you choose is simply a matter of personal taste and risk tolerance level. You also don’t have to choose one over the other exclusively; you can always play different types depending on your mood and the size of your bankroll.

Online Casino Bonuses – How Do They Work?

Online Casino BonusesWhy do casinos offer online casino bonuses?  It’s important for players to remember that the goal of any casino is to ensure that over the lifetime of the player’s membership, the house wins.  Random number generators ensure the fairness of the games, but the odds are still stacked against you.  It’s only under special circumstances, such as being able to count cards at a blackjack table, that a player may have an advantage over the casino.  In order to entice players who might otherwise be put off the casino’s edge, most online casinos will offer “Welcome” online casino bonuses and other promotions to increase the player’s odds of winning in the short-term.  In almost every case, there are strings attached to these bonuses.  For example, most of them are game-specific.  If you only enjoy playing roulette you might be out of luck.  Although most bonuses will allow you to play virtually any slot machine, occasionally you can also find bonuses for blackjack and other games, including roulette, but the advantage provided by these bonuses won’t be quite as generous.

Online Casino Bonuses Variations

There are several varieties of online casino bonuses. The simplest type of bonus is a cashable one.  This is accompanied by a wagering requirement. An example of this would be $200 welcome bonus with a 25x wagering requirement.  In this scenario the player must wager the initial deposit 25 times for a total of $5000 before the player can cash out any winnings.  The $5000 in wagering can be achieved in any combination such as fifty $100 bets, five hundred $10 bets or five thousand $100 bets.  Players are expected to lose, on average, approximately 0.5% of their bet on blackjack.  Therefore, the anticipated loss on the $5000 in wagers is $25 ($5000 x 0.5%).  Consequently, $175 of the original $200 welcome bonus remains as a cashable profit.  It’s a good idea to do some research for any game selected in order to develop a basic understanding of game strategy as well as determining an appropriate bet amount.

“Sticky” online casino bonuses also come with a wagering requirement. But, unlike a cashable bonus, sticky bonuses can’t be withdrawn; they can only be used to make bets.  Generally speaking, players cash out their balance first.  Then, should the account balance fall to zero, the player can continue wagering with the sticky bonus amount.

Microgaming casinos offer a variation on the “Clearplay” bonus scheme. These bonuses allow you to play any casino game and withdraw any winnings whenever you like, whether or not you have satisfied the wagering requirements. Wagering requirements are higher for games with better odds, like blackjack.  Therefore, unlike the typical cashable bonuses, these have different strategies and suggested games.  If you choose to play at a Microgaming casino you may want to contact their customer service representatives for more information.

It is becoming a lot more commonplace these days for some casinos to offer free play and free spin online casino bonuses. All you need to do is register to play as a real money player.  Your account will then be credited and once you make your first deposit your free play winnings will be credited to your account as bonus money.  As with any offer, be sure to review the terms and conditions carefully before accepting any bonus.  If the terms are unclear, contact customer service for a detailed explanation.  Online casino bonuses are a great way to increase your odds of winning; just do your research so you can play with confidence!