Online Gambling

Loco Panda has a promotion to suit everyone’s taste.

• Slots players will enjoy the extended play offered by the 400% PANDASLOTS promotion. Deposit between $21 and $1000, and play to your heart’s content on Bonus Bingo, European Slot Poker, Real Series Video Slots, Slots, Keno and Scratch cards. This promotion can be used only one, and carries a 30x playthrough.
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• Table players can use bonus code LOCOTABLES to get 150% up to $3000 on deposits between $21 and $2000 to play Blackjack, Perfect Pairs, Texas Holdem Bonus Poker, Multi Hand Video Poker and Video Poker.  This promotion can be used twice, and carries a 120x playthrough.
• For those of you who are looking for a place to be a high roller, Loco Panda is it. Use BIGPANDA and get an amazing 200% match bonus up to $2,000 on deposits of $500 to $1000 for all table games, including Blackjack and Video Poker. This promotion can be used only once and carries a 120x playthrough.

Loco Panda runs Realtime Gaming software, and accepts players from most countries, including the United States of America.

One of the first things that video poker players learn is to pay attention to the pay table for the video poker game that they are playing. In the long run, the difference between a 9/6 and an 8/5 Jacks or Better machine is enormous.

(For the uninitiated, the “N/M” designation for a Jacks or Better machine refers to the payouts for a Full House and a Flush, respectively. The payouts for other winning hands are (usually) the same for all Jacks or Better machines, e.g. 1 for a high pair, 2 for two pair, 3 for a three of a kind, etc.)

Just like when playing video poker in a land-based casino, online video poker players should shop around and compare pay tables at various online casinos. This is a time-consuming process — I know because I have done it for three popular video poker games: Jacks or Better (JoB), Deuces Wild (DW) and Double Double Bonus (DDB).

What makes the comparison even more difficult is that not all online casino operators that run on the same platform (e.g. Real Time Gaming, Rival, BetOnSoft, etc.) have the same paytables, as operators are typically allowed to use whatever paytables they wish. So, you can’t look at just one online casino on each platform — you have to hunt for the best online casino on each platform.

Here is the expected return percentages for three popular video pokers, single handed, assuming optimal play and maximum coins in. For each variety of video poker, a green cell indicates the highest available return, yellow indicates a reasonable return, and red indicates a poor return.

Online Casino	JoB	DW	DDB
Treasure Mile	99.54	99.42	98.98
Slots Plus	99.54	98.91	98.98
Bovada	99.54	98.91	98.98
3Dice	99.54	98.91	97.87
Americas Cardroom	99.54	96.77	95.71
Dendera	99.54	98.91	N/A
Buzzluck	99.54	98.91	N/A
SuperBet Palace	99.54	96.77	N/A
Tropical Cash – Players Edge	96.15	98.01	N/A
OddsMaker	94.38	95.13	N/A

It looks like the top three are pretty close, with Treasure Mile holding a slight edge over Slots Plus and Bovada. But look what happens when you compare the same games in their multi-hand varieties.

Online Casino	JoB	DW	DDB
Treasure Mile	99.54	99.42	98.98
Slots Plus	97.30	98.91	98.98
Bovada	97.30	98.91	98.98
3Dice	99.54	98.91	97.87
Americas Cardroom	99.54	96.77	95.71
Dendera	99.54	98.91	N/A
Buzzluck	97.30	98.91	N/A
SuperBet Palace	99.54	96.77	N/A
Tropical Cash – Players Edge	96.15	98.01	N/A
OddsMaker	94.38	95.13	N/A

Treasure Mile offers the same return on its multi-hand video pokers as it does on its single hand video pokers, giving it the clear edge over Slots Plus and Bovada.

Beyond paytables, other factors may be important to consider, depending on your preferences and style of play.

• Keyboard shortcuts: Only Treasure Mile offers complete keyboard shortcuts (1-5 to toggle cards, spacebar to deal).
• Winning hands on the deal: All sites except for Treasure Mile indicate that you have been dealt a winning hand using either sound, by lighting up the appropriate row in the paytable on the screen or both. (Treasure Mile – if you are reading this — you really should make an improvement here.)
• Auto-hold winning hands on the deal: It’s curious to me that none of the top three sites in the table above offer this feature, while all of the bottom seven sites offer this feature.
• Denominations: For single-handed video poker, Treasure Mile has limits from a penny to $5; for Slots Plus and Bovada, the limits are a nickle to $5. All sites on the list have lower limits for multi-hand video poker, typically from 0.01 to 1.00.

Overall, Treasure Mile is the best choice for online video poker.

A note for beginners: You might want to look at 3Dice; their game selection is lacking, but their odds are top of the line on Jacks or Better, which is what you should play when just starting out. What 3Dice has that you might like is auto-selection of winning hands after the deal AND very good suggestions for which cards to hold after the deal if you are not dealt a winner. Their auto-suggestion engine does a good job in matching optimal strategy: for example, it offers to hold 4-straights and 4-flushes over low pairs, and only the lowest two high cards when dealt more than two unsuited high cards.

Here’s a list of the 5 newest online slot machines being offered at BetOnSoft online casinos. (Links go to a full review of the slot machine.)

• Arcadia:i3D - combines the nostalgia of popular 80′s game arcades with the very best features of modern web-based character games
• Legends of Olympia - celebrates the birthplace of the Olympic Games
• Max Cash - a super-agent with deadly fighting skills, intelligence, cunning, and the latest technological gadgetry
• Perfect Date - contemporary and sophisticated, creates a sense of vivid passion and mystique that you’ll find instantly appealing
• Tails of New York - features a cast of irresistibly mischievous furry friends

Play for practice or for real money, these online slots are sure to have you playing for hours over the upcoming holiday season.

BE CAREFUL when selecting a BetOnSoft online casino — of the more than a dozen online casinos that run on BetOnSoft, over half of them are blacklisted at The Online Casino Gambling Directory because they are all operated by the shady Grand Prive Group.

Here are my top 5 recommended BetOnSoft online casinos:

Recommended Sites: The recommended sites for Arcadia:i3D are listed below.

Mandarin Palace  $25 FREE + 100% bonus on initial deposits between $20 and $200! Mandarin Palace Casino is the preferred destination for players who enjoy their gaming experience with a hint of the exotic, a touch of oriental opulence, legendary eastern hospitality and charm where you are welcomed with wide open smiles and explosive casino action. Languages:    Currencies:

Treasure Mile  $15 FREE + 100% bonus on initial deposits between $20 and $500! Treasure Mile Casino combines the magic and glamour of a hot Las Vegas night out with all the exciting, fun, rewards and benefits expected of a truly world class online casino. Giving you the latest (and totally unique) games and exceptional odds, phenomenal Progressive Jackpots, tailor made features and constant gaming innovations. Languages:    Currencies:

Grand Eagle  100% bonus on initial deposits between $20 and $250! With brand new cutting edge games, massive winnings and supreme customer satisfaction, Grand Eagle Casino offers you a truly dynamic and magnificent online casino experience. Languages:    Currencies:

WizBet  100% bonus on initial deposits between $20 and $500! WizBet Casino has impeccable credentials. WizBet Casino forms part of an experienced and established group that is trusted and respected by its players and its partners. Licensed in Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles, WizBet Casino constantly strives to improve and enhance your online gaming experience and bring you the latest and best games, exciting promotions, unequalled security and the most fun you can have anywhere! Languages:    Currencies:

Lucky Creek  100% bonus on initial deposits between $20 and $200! Howdy and welcome to Lucky Creek Casino! Out here in the West we got gold nuggets the size of men’s fists, outlaws that stop at nothing to get what they want and fearless cowboys to stop them! It’s just like our featured game, Fistful of Dollars! Languages:    Currencies:

Obama More Than 4-1 Favorite at Most Online Sportsbooks

Online sportsbooks have been posting President Barak Obama as an increasing favorite as election day arrives. At most online sportsbooks, Obama is today listed at more than a 4-1 favorite, including at Bovada, where he is listed as a 9-2 favorite.

A month ago, Obama was listed at -150. I got him at -200 on October 24.

It’s not too late to get in on the election action. Open your account today at Bovada and claim grab an instant 50% Free Bet Bonus on your first deposit, up to $250. They also offer online casino games, as well as online poker.

Betting through an online sportsbook is a great way to add to the enjoyment of watching a match on television or in person. Savvy gamblers have multiple online sportsbook accounts to:

• shop for the best lines — getting an extra 5-10% can make a big difference in your bankroll over the course of a year
• find a large variety of prop bets — proposition bets come in all flavors, and different online sportsbook will tend to offer different types of proposition bets
• negotiate a better deposit bonus — when calling to make a deposit, mention that you have other online sportsbook accounts where you are considering making this deposit
• find arbitrage opportunities – rarely, you can make a wager on both sides of a particular bet (one wager each at different online sportbooks) and ensure that you have small win

I’ve been betting at online sportsbooks for over 5 years, and have had my share of hassles with deposits, withdrawing, and poor customer service. Thankfully, those hassles are behind me, as I have been betting at these great online sportsbook for the past several years:

• Bovada: 50% bonus on initial deposits between $20 and $500
• Intertops: 25% bonus on initial deposits between $25 and $400
• Oddsmaker: 100% bonus on initial deposits between $20 and $1000

All three of these online sportsbooks accept players from the United States, as well as from most other parts of the world.

Here is the complete list of online sportsbooks in the The Online Casino Gambling Directory so you can do your own research if you’d like. But take it from me, you won’t do any better than these three online sportsbooks.

Ancient Wonders is an exciting online slot machine based on the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

• Great Pyramid of Giza
• Hanging Gardens of Babylon
• Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
• Statue of Zeus at Olympia
• Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
• Colossus of Rhodes
• Lighthouse of Alexandria

I recommend Buzzluck online casino as the best place to play this online slot, where new players receive a 100% on initial deposits between $20 and $868.

The Buzzluck online casino is one of a decreasing number of online casinos that continue to accept real-money play from residents of the United States.

The Ancient Wonders online slot machine has free games, a bonus round, and random jackpots.

7 Wonders Free Game Feature

• 7 free games are awarded when 3 or more Coins appear anywhere.
• Wins are at x1 in the first game, x2 in the second and so on through to x7 in the seventh game.
• The feature can retrigger up to 3 times.
• Any retrigger will play a new series of 7 free games at the conclusion of the first series.
• The Ancient Wonders feature can be triggered during free games.
• Free games are played at the lines and bet of the triggering game.

Ancient Wonders Feature

• The Ancient Wonders feature is triggered whenever 1 or more Scrolls appear on each fo the middle 3 reels.
• 3 picks are awarded from the 7 Ancient Wonders displayed.
• Each will award a prize of up to 100 times the triggering bet.
• Up to 4 Bonus Picks can also be awarded.

Jackpots

• One or more random jackpots can be won at the conclusion of any game.
• Jackpot wins are added to other wins.

Grand Parker Online Casino has announced an alternative to the deposit bonus that typically accompanies first-time deposits, and that often has high rollover requirements and restrictive cash out limits. At Grand Parker Online Casino, customers can deposit using bonus code KINDLE400 when making their first-ever deposit. (For some odd reason, the first-ever deposit needs to be on a Sunday or Monday.)

The Kindle raffle drawings are held weekly. No word on when the KINDLE400 bonus code and Kindle raffles expire.

For customers that prefer the typical new depositor bonus codes, Grand Parker Online Casino has several. GRAND250 is the simplest — it’s a 250% bonus on first-ever deposits between $21 and $1000, has a 30x (deposit + bonus) playthrough requirement, is not sticky (meaning, you cannot cash out the bonus amount), and is good for playing Slots, Keno, Bingo, and Scratch Cards only. Be sure not to play the other games while you have a playthrough, as doing so will void all winnings and be a real headache.

Grand Parker Online Casino accepts real-money players from around the globe, including all 50 of the US states.

(Reminder: The information present on this blog is intended for entertainment purposes only. Please check your local, state and provincial laws before you gamble online. If your local laws prohibit online gambling then an alternative form of entertainment is recommended.)

The London 2012 Olympic Games are now just 1 week away and here at The Online Casino Gambling Directory we’re getting ready for the Olympic Games by giving players some great offers to help YOU Go For Gold!

These exclusive offers will help you capture a piece of the Olympic Buzz as the world’s greatest athletes arrive in London to Run, Jump, Throw, Swim, Canoe, Row or Ride  their way to glory! These offers run for the duration of the Olympics – from July 26^th to August 12^th – from the lighting of the cauldron at the Olympic Games Opening ceremony to the extinguishing of the flame just over 2 weeks later.

So try your luck at one of these online casinos — and bring home the OLYMPIC GOLD in the form of some extra cash!

Just a quick blog post about one of my favorite online casinos, Buzzluck. If you have not tried them, you really should download and install their online casino software (NuWorks). While they do not yet have an instant play version of their online casino, my sources assure me that one is coming soon.

Buzzluck is a US-friendly online casino that gives a 100% bonus up to $868 to new players that enter the bonus code BUZZLUCK in the cashier as you make your first deposit. There is a 25x playthrough requirement, which can be achieved dollar-for-dollar at slots, or half that for other games like blackjack and other table games, or video poker.

I’ve been playing at Bovada (and its predecesor, Bodog) for years. Never had any problems with them.

If you are planning on betting on the events at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, here are six reasons why you should open and fund an account with Bovada .

1. New Depositors benefit from a Free Sports Bet up to $100 - while many lean on signup bonuses in trying to earn your business, Bovada is focused on providing free wagers up to 20% of your deposit. That free bet can be up to a maximum of $100 and it can be used on Olympic events, or any sports market or wager type in the sportsbook.
2. Props and underdog odds: Bovada has an unmatched variety of prop bets. You will find more betting options on the Olympics, all manner of Sports, Politics and entertainment than anywhere else.
3. Live betting – mobile betting - Bovada is available on the go. They Offer live- Betting and mobile betting options from a variety of portable devices.
4. Easy-to-understand website -Bovada offers betting on Olympic events, as well as every major sport and carefully steers you where you need to go each day. Find your favorite team or odds type in a snap.
5. Best customer service, best sports stats - Looking for trends, matchup details and game previews before going to the betting menu? BOVADA offers statistics on all major sports so you don’t need to venture far to do your research and handicapping. Need to contact customer service? You can always get a real, live, knowledgeable person who can help answer your questions. Customer Satisfaction is a top priority at Bovada .
6. Your information is safe - security, privacy and payouts are three of the most important aspects of playing online. Bovada ’s pledge is 100% safety and satisfaction in all three areas and has independent oversight to make sure you have the best betting experience in their sportsbook. So when it’s time to feel comfortable about playing online, Bovada is synonymous with this trust.

Bovada accepts wagers on the Olympics — and nearly everything else under the sun — from online bettors around the world, including residents of the United States.