Online Gambling

With all the hoopla about Black Friday, and everyone out to get some great deals and save their money, I thought that it would be a good time to remind online casino players of my online casino Black List. After all, we want a square deal and a fair chance of winning when we risk our gambling dollars, don’t we?

After the jump, you’ll find my list of over two dozen online casinos that should be avoided for a variety of reasons.

So, as you are doing your Black Friday shopping online and in the stores, don’t throw your money away at the disreputable online gambling sites that are on The Online Casino Gambling Directory Blacklist. Instead, why not focus on the best of the best instead — the 20 or so top rated online casinos.

Here’s a sample:

  Slots of Vegas
$100 FREE + 300% bonus on initial deposits between $30 and $100!
Slots of Vegas, with over 80 online slot games, is the premier source of slot games for real or fun money. Slots of Vegas offers the loosest online slots, from the traditional three reel slots to the adventure packed five reel slots.

  Treasure Mile
100% bonus on initial deposits between $20 and $200!
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, ph …

  Intertops RED Casino
100% bonus on initial deposits between $20 and $100!
No-download version available!
Bonus code: SIGNUP100. This RTG casino from Intertops is open to ALL US players and delivers all the fun and excitement that you would expect from an RTG casino and combines it with the trust, security, and outstanding banking that you have come to k …

  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.

  Silver Oak Casino
100% bonus on initial deposits between $25 and $1000!
Bonus code: SILVEROAK1 through SILVEROAK10. Silver Oak Casino has the most dedicated customer service staff in the industry. Our knowledgeable and friendly representatives are available round the clock to assist you with any concerns you have.

According to CNN Money, there is a deal in the works that would get online poker site / ponzi scheme Full Tilt Poker back online, and perhaps even get money back into the hands of US players that got screwed out of their funds by Full Tilt Poker.

But there’s a BIG catch for US players if this deal goes through.

“American players would apply to the Department of Justice for compensation.”

Wait, what?

You read that right. The DOJ’s motives in doing this are yet to be uncovered — perhaps there is a legal requirement that they be involved in returning players’ funds due to Full Tilt Poker being declared a ponzi scheme. However, I can imagine that they also may be looking to get a little Big Brother on y’all and keep tabs on who was playing online poker.

Is it worth it to apply to the DOJ to get your funds back? That’s a decision that you’ll have to make, if it comes to that.

More wait and see to see if online poker players in the US will ever get their funds back from Full Tilt Poker.

As I warned readers in December 2008, Grand Prive Casinos are blacklisted at The Online Casino Gambling Directory. In my opinion, Grand Prive Casinos are, quite simply, thieves. Be warned — you are taking wildly unnecessary risk with your money if you play at any of the following blacklisted Microgaming casinos / poker rooms: Bella Vegas, Fortune Junction, Jackpot Wheel, Jupiter Club, Lake Palace, Road House Reels, Casino Grand Bay, Grand Bay Poker.

There are plenty of other reputable Microgaming online casinos and reputable Microgaming poker rooms, including these 5-star-rated sites:

Quatro Casino
$4444 FREE + 100% bonus on initial deposits between $20 and $200!
No-download version available!
Quattro Casino has for years been synonym with virtually unlimited game choice, fantastic Welcome Bonus Offers, uncompromised safety and privacy measures and exceptional support.

Casino AUS
$1776 FREE + 100% bonus on initial deposits between $30 and $284!
No-download version available!
G’Day Mate! Welcome to Casino Aus. This Australian themed Casino is your number first stop for true gaming pleasure Down Under and is definitely the place to be for any Aussie gaming enthusiast!

River Nile
$1500 FREE + 200% bonus on initial deposits of $25!
The River Nile online casino offers an impressive 300+ casino games. From slots to blackjack to roulette, we got it all! And yes, that includes 13 progressives – there is definitely something in there that you’ll love – guaranteed!!

PokerTime
100% bonus on initial deposits between $20 and $200!
No-download version available!
If you’re a poker fan, then there’s no better place to wager your stake than at PokerTime. Whether you are a beginner or pro, you’ll thoroughly enjoy the wide selection of games that this action-packed poker room has to offer.

(Additional tags: blacklist, grand prive blacklist, blacklisted grand prive, grand blacklist.)

11 May 2009: Received the check today and deposited in the bank. Will keep you posted if it clears. Even when it does clear, I’m not inclined to raise Doyle’s Room’s star rating above its current level of 2 (below average).

02 Apr 2009 Update: I just received an email from Jessica M., stating in part that: “I”m please to inform you that a check for $xxxxx dollars has been sent and you should be receiving it in a couple days more (5 to 8 days). The check number is xxxxx.”

Check payouts from Doyle’s Room have been delayed for 8 weeks. I’ve been in contact with Doyle’s Room in the past days and have been told that all payout requests since around January have been delayed.

Doyle’s Room moved to the Cake Poker Network about that time, and also picked up new payment processors. It was explained to me that both of these events are responsible for the delay.

Unfortunately (it was explained to me) there’s nothing that can be done to expedite anyone’s payout; they are being processed FIFO (first-in, first-out), and I was told that my check is still weeks away from arriving at my Ohio address.

To make matters worse, Doyle’s Room does not offer any electronic payout methods such as QuickTender, eWalletXpress, or Direct Deposit. Generally, payouts via these methods take days, not several weeks.

As a result of the payout delays at Doyle’s Room, the fact that they have no timeline for when this issue will be solved, and the fact that I have seen no formal communication from them about these delays, I am recommending that: (a) existing Doyle’s Room players make no additional deposits at Doyle’s Room, and (b) poker players looking to open an account on the Cake Poker Network look elsewhere, such as the 5-star rated BetUS Poker and Cake Poker.

Finally, I have reduced the star-rating for Doyle’s Room from 4 (above average) to 2 (below average).

While I have a high degree of confidence that all payments will be made, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. I’ll keep you posted on their progress toward resolving this frustrating issue.

(Note: 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 we recommend you consider an alternative form of entertainment.)