Online Casino Score

As the gaming industry continues to expand across the United States due to the openings of tribal and non-tribal casinos, the number of slot machines in Nevada is significantly decreasing. Luckily this decline relates to an improvement in the technology of gaming equipment, not a lack of demand.

As of 2010, there are 833,000 active slot machines in the United States. This is an increase of 233,000 machines from 2005, according to the American Gaming Association. Gamblers are currently spending only slightly more on slots when inflation is adjusted. This survey was conducted in well-established gaming states such as Nevada, New Jersey, Iowa and Illinois.

In 1992 Las Vegas, slot players wagered an average of $70 per session. In 2008, slot players bet an average of $80 per session after being adjusted for inflation. Players during this recession are wagering millions of dollars less than during the large growth years.

On June 30^th, 2010, it was announced that there were 168,504 active slots in Nevada. This equals the number found in Nevada in 1997. This apparent decline contradicts the overall growth of the gaming industry.

This trend stems from a consolidation of games into one machine. In 1997, different slots had single wagering games in their system. In 2010, there are multiple games in one machine to add convenience and differentiation for the player. Multiple game machines include games such as:

• Several varieties of poker
• Keno
• Slots

Each machine contains a user-menu to select which game you want to play. This new equipment helps all casinos cut costs drastically by not needing to have as many machines on the gaming floor. This cuts taxes and maintenance costs on unused machines. Large casinos like The Rio, MGM Grand and Circus Circus have eliminated 1,200 slots since 2001.

This is a major advancement for the gaming industry. As gaming technology improves, the selection of games will increase with the number of gaming machines decreasing. The areas where slot games once were could host newer, more profitable games or equipment. Therefore, these machines are not only great for cost savings, also for the generation of profit.

As more casinos across the country add these cost-saving, profit-generating machines to their gaming floor, the decline in gaming may turn-around and begin to see great improvement. All this due to an advancement in gaming equipment technology.

The Riviera Las Vegas is set to receive new gaming equipment, compliments of their parent company’s reorganization plan. With $291 million in debt and outstanding liabilities, Riviera Holdings Corporation filed bankruptcy with reorganization on July 12^th, 2010. This includes their Las Vegas and Colorado locations.

Their Savior

The Riviera Holdings Corporation is being bailed out by investors. Hotel and gaming guru Barry Sternlicht of the Starwood Capital Group has acquired most of the debt and plans to save the company.

The Numbers

In the second quarter of this year, the Riviera Holdings Corporation lost $4.2 million vs. a loss of $13.5 million just one year ago. However, revenue was down slightly over $2 million. These loses can be attributed to their isolated location at the Northern end of the Las Vegas strip in addition to the economy. With an abundance of hotels rooms and expo center space, all gaming properties are struggling.

During the past economic boom, each acre on the Riviera’s property was worth $30 million. This has significantly declined to $6 million per acre. This is attributed, once again, to their location as well as a lack of development of the surrounding area.

Recent Announcement

This past Friday, the company announced that they are planning to conserve cash with little investment in capital improvements. New, small improvements include, window treatments, exterior paint, exterior and interior signage improvements and elevator upgrades. Other improvements include, new slot machines and gaming software and hardware. These will be applied to both of their locations.

The Reorganization Plan

The proposal includes replacing its $291 million in debt with a $50 million term loan and possibly another $30 million. After the company emerges from the debt, it will be worth $216.5 million.

Projections

Maintenance and spending will jump from $3.6 million in 2010 to $9 million by 2015. Also, net revenue is expected to increase to $140 million by 2011, $145 million by 2012 and $171 million by 2015. Interest will resume once they emerge from debt will cause the company to lose additional money until 2015.

Many casinos are opting for bankruptcy with reorganization. Like in sports, the casino industry is experiencing a few rebuilding years. They will remain in decline then emerge stronger than ever. Once the Riviera and other properties are able to reinvest in capital projects and improvements, they will become quite the spectacle.

Confidentiality is found in all businesses within all industries. It is extremely important to keep company secrets within the organization. The casino industry is no exception, especially in the surveillance room where this is one of the most important principles to follow.

There are four areas where confidentiality is completely necessary. These include:

• Information about personnel
• Information about patrons
• Intelligence information regarding operations and investigations
• Surveillance room operations and personnel

Information regarding casino personnel must be kept in a secure area that houses the server. This includes top-of-the-line network security to fight off hackers and invaders. Personnel information usually consists of address, phone number, background check information, banking information (for direct deposit) and other vital aspects of individual’s livelihood.

This is also consistent with information regarding patrons. Credit card numbers, banking information, addresses and phone numbers are all stored for guests of the hotel and casino. This type of information must be secured and kept confidential to any outsiders as well as many employees of the establishment.

Information is brought to the surveillance room in many ways, but the most prominent method is video camera as it sees and records everything. Other methods include, inside and outside sources, executive personnel, security officers, radio, formal and informal reports, staff interviews and customer complaints. This is all information that must stay under wraps, especially during operations or an investigation.

When security and/or surveillance are conducting an investigation, they must keep all details hidden from the public. This is extremely important as any leaks could tip off a potential perpetrator allowing them to compromise the investigation, the game they are playing, employees and patrons. Law enforcement personnel are told the information required who also follow confidentiality until the correct time.

Finally, information regarding surveillance room operations and the personnel involved is a big no-no. This ties in to keeping the information confidential regarding investigations and employees. Anything that goes on in the surveillance room about any action or employee must remain in the surveillance room. Your supervisor or the director will decide who needs to know what information.

Like all businesses, casinos (and more specifically the surveillance room) have strict confidentiality agreements with their employees due to the criminal activity that may occur in a casino. Signing that agreement means you are upholding the company’s policies and can be terminated if broken. When the time is right, your superior will release the proper information to the correct people.

There are a number of variants of video poker games found at both online and land-based casinos. For a new player, this can be a difficult choice. Also, beginners will need to find a game appropriate for their skill level.

Luckily, there are a few tips for novice video poker players. These pointers include:

• Avoid multi-hand games
• Choose the most basic variant
• Research different online casinos

Online casinos make these tasks much easier for new players. The video poker games are usually divided into two categories; single hands and multi-hand games.  Single hand games are just that, one hand per session. Conversely multi-hand games can range from 4 to 100 simultaneous hands. An increased number of hands equates to faster-paced game play and a more interesting experience. Ideally, new players should begin with single hand games until they feel comfortable.

Since there are so many different types of video poker games available, it is important to choose the most basic variant which is Jacks or Better. This is because the play is simpler than other versions and the strategy is easier to learn. Other types add new elements that improve variety, but might be confusing to a new player. Additional variants include; the addition of wild cards, Deuces Wild and Aces and Faces.

Most online casinos offer video poker with the Jacks or Better variant. However, does one software provider have an easier Jacks or Better game than another? The rules and payout will be the same, there is a single feature found in some casinos that make the game play much easier; when a player has a winning hand combination the software automatically marks them as “Hold”. This feature prevents new players from throwing away a winning hand.

As a result, new players should conduct research to find online casinos that offer this feature. It can easily be found by perusing different casinos and even emailing the support desk so you do not have to sign up at multiple sites to find this beneficial feature.

New players to video poker should not be disheartened by finding the simplest version of video poker. Instead, look at it as making an informed choice as a customer and saving your hard earned money from placing wagers on complicated games. By practicing and following the previously mentioned tips, you will be able to advance to different versions quickly.

GoCasino is a fairly new offering to the world of online gaming. Licensed and regulated by the Curacao Internet Gaming Association (CIGA), GoCasino is a full-service online casino providing many different games to the player. This is another gaming site that utilizes the powerful software created by Vegas Technology.

The Games

GoCasino offers over 100 casino games; all of which can be played in practice mode or live against other patrons. Games can be access through a downloadable application with a preview option of each game prior to the download.

The Bonuses

There are many different sign-up bonuses offered with the most prominent being the “Massive Multi-Deposit Welcome Bonus.” This allows new players to the casino to deposit up to 20 times with a maximum matching bonus of $20,000. Also, there are surprise weekly bonuses awarded at the discretion of the casino. To qualify, you must be engaged in a game.

Registration for Live Games

There are a few methods for registering to play in real money games. Major credit cards can be used to fund the account, which is usually the most convenient and fastest way. Another option is the Solid Debit Card as well as Neteller and Click2Pay which are only available outside of North America.

Tournaments

GoCasino also provides various types of tournaments throughout the month. These mainly consist of video poker and slots. There are both free entry and paid entry options. Different variations of tournaments occur almost every day.

Advantages

There are a few advantages that GoCasino offers over other online gaming sites. First, all players are eligible for comp points which can be used for tournament buy-ins and various other prizes. Also the welcome bonus is one of the best in the industry. Furthermore, there are always plenty of tournaments to choose from each day. Finally, the interface is extremely user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing.

Disadvantages

There are only two primary disadvantages. First, the funding options are limited. If you live in North America, you can only use a credit card. Second, there are not many progressive gaming options as found at many other casinos.

Despite the few disadvantages, there are plenty of advantages that make this a top-notch casino. Its popularity is primarily attributed to its tournaments and welcome bonus. As they expand and make modifications based on consumer needs, GoCasino will surely add additional banking options and progressive games to further attract new players.

There are 16 cards in a standard 52-card deck including tens, jacks, queens and kings. As a result, any player has a 31 percent chance of being dealt one of these cards. On the other hand, all other cards only have less than an 8 percent chance of being dealt. Therefore, this emphasizes the significance of hand value 10 in the game of Blackjack.

Due to this high chance of receiving one of these 16 cards, a strategy can be formulated. The following simple strategy is not as good as analyzing and utilizing data from computer simulations to formulate strategies. However, this helps the player understand the significance of value 10 cards in Blackjack and can assist with creating a solid strategy for when the value 10 card is not present.

There are only two options for this simple strategy. These include:

• Stay
• Hit

All other situations can be added later to create a much more complicated strategy but we will focus on the simple approach for the time being. This strategy is based on the postulation that the next card distributed to either the player or dealer will be of 10 value. Since almost one-third of all cards hold a value of 10 in the game of Blackjack, this is a reasonable hypothesis. If your total hand value equals 11 or less, then you must hit as exceeding 21 is impossible, even with a 10.

If your hand value from the first two cards equals 12 or more, the best action to take is stay. Since 31 percent of all cards are valued at 10, it is likely you may bust. However, this is based on the dealer’s face-up card. If between 2 and 6, it is likely they will have to draw another card. Chances are the hand is a 12 or 16 which means the dealer must draw. If the card is a 10, the dealer will bust and you win.

If the dealer’s card is between 7 and 11, with a 10 face-down they could have 17 to 21. Therefore, it is pointless to stay on a 12 to 16. It is best to take the chance and hit for one additional card. If the hand is 17 or higher, it is competitive and best to stay.

For committed Blackjack players, using this strategy can be an improvement in edge for the player by up to 1 percent. This may seem little, but in the long-run it is quite a significant advantage.

Financial resources needed to keep the Problem Gambling Center afloat are beginning to run thin. The center is operating at only 70 percent of its usual budget due to state cutbacks derived from the global recession. In addition to the cutbacks, many more people with gambling addictions are seeking treatment.

Increase in Elderly Attendance

The Problem Gambling Center is the largest public, non-profit walk-in establishment in Nevada. One office on Sahara Avenue in Las Vegas is seeing a large increase in treatment for the elderly who are the most vulnerable citizens. The numbers show that slightly over 43 percent of those seeking treatment are over the age of 51. In the past, those over 50 years old only represented 30 percent of all patients.

Treatment Services

In 2009, 150 problem-gamblers finished the center’s outpatient program. Over 1,000 others were treated by the staff through group counseling, basic financial planning and family therapy. With four months remaining in 2010, the numbers are already approaching last years. Unfortunately bankruptcies and foreclosures are the seeds of gambling addiction. Also, many elderly individuals are depleting their retirement savings through gambling.

As a result of the growing number of seniors attending the Problem Gambling Center, they created a senior outreach program 3 years ago. The program provides presentations, one-on-one help and in-home therapy visits. Also, the center picks up and drives the disabled to sessions in a handicapped-accessible vehicle.

Economic Effects

The center is primarily focused on improving the lives of individuals. Many center employees believe that individuals young and old are hitting rock bottom much more quickly during these tough economic times. As a result, they are seeking immediate help due to their lack of funds.

The Problem Gambling Center’s Numbers

This year the center has a budget of only $400,000. This derives from donations by slot-machine vendors and casinos. Unfortunately a few casinos had to cut funding due to the economic climate. This is not a reflection that they do not want to help; they simply lack the money. Luckily, last week the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers sent a surprise $50,000 check to the center. This will help them get through the next few months.

The Future

Next year, the center’s two-year funding commitment from Nevada ends thus calling for an appeal to lawmakers requesting additional money. Due to budgetary problems, they may not get much or any money and must search for alternate sources.

The Problem Gambling Center provides a much needed service in the gambling Mecca of the world. Unfortunately the future of the center looks grim. Hopefully, some business entity will step in and donate to keep this necessary establishment alive.

A camouflaged hole occurs when someone is supposed to be an expert in a certain area but isn’t. They are thought to have the capability of completing the job and are being paid for it, but are not doing it. This can either be a partial or full job.

A good example is when a Surveillance Investigator is assumed to be knowledgeable of overall gaming, but is weak within a specific game. Since they continue to conceal this information from their supervisors, they are creating a camouflaged hole. The Surveillance Investigator is unable to handle the work but nobody is aware of this.

It is important for everyone be aware of this weak spot so it can be handled properly. There are several actions that can be taken once discovered including:

• Finding a partner
• Conduct coaching
• Further education

The individual can easily be partnered with a more experienced employee that knows the specific game well. Also, the supervisor can conduct coaching in which the individual will gain valuable tips and follow specific procedures. Finally by assigning the employee a tutor, they will gain the proper education needed to properly complete the job.

Since the employee’s supervisors are aware of the weakness in one area, the Pit Manager will often be pulled into the surveillance to review a tape and provide insight into speculative questions.

On the other hand, when an employee conceals this information, they will review a game they aren’t familiar with and often provide false information to upper management. This makes the whole surveillance department look bad, greatly reduces credibility and effectiveness. Even worse, it could put the whole casino at risk through false evaluation.

An even worse situation occurs when the employee believes they have extensive knowledge pertaining to a specific game but cannot identify crooked activity or bad procedure used to hide theft. The employee often has taken extensive courses but never put the ideas to practice; always finding a way to have someone else complete the task.

Another use of a camouflaged hole is to trap the unsuspecting. If the camouflaged employee is briefly covering your shift and an incident occurs they will incorrectly feed the information to the supervisor. When you return, you are responsible for that area even if another employee has covered for you.

Camouflaged holes can be considerably detrimental to co-workers as well as upper-management and even cause a liability issue for the casino. It is difficult to pinpoint these individuals as a manager. Perhaps monthly training sessions are the answer to weed these employees out.

There are multiple games available online that offers only a small house edge which in-turn maximizes your winnings over the long run when playing correctly. Wheel of Fortune is not one of those games. Although it is a fun and exciting game with excellent audio and visuals, the house makes big bucks from their edge.

The wheel is comprised of 54 slots, each containing a symbol which indicates the winner if the wheel falls on that symbol. Most wheels contain seven different symbols with the following;

• $1
• $2
• $5
• $10
• $20
• Joker
• Casino logo

In an online Wheel of Fortune game there are boxes to select the specific symbol you would like to place a wager (online casino interfaces vary). The dollar amounts indicate the monetary value9 you will win if the wheel lands on that slot. The rules of Wheel of Fortune are simple; you place your bet on the symbol (dollar amount) you would like to wager on and the dealer spins the wheel. Wherever it stops, the house pays out according to that dollar amount.

The average payout of hitting the Joker symbol is 40-to-1. This may appear to be a great return on a $1 investment. Unfortunately the odds of hitting are terrible since there is only a single Joker on the wheel. Therefore the odds are 53-to-1 to hit with the casino paying out 40-to-1. The house edge in Wheel of Fortune is 11 to 24 percent.  Some casinos offer a payout of 45-to-1 to hit the Joker symbol. This lowers the house edge a bit but it remains extremely high.

Next time you visit a land-based casino, take notice of how the Wheel of Fortune games are placed near the exit. Since this is a terrible way to make money because of the exorbitant house edge, casinos figure players will make one final Hail-Mary of a wager as they leave, hoping to recoup some of their losses. Usually this ends in even more of a monetary loss.

Although fun and exciting, the casino version of Wheel of Fortune is nothing like the game show. The odds are greatly against the player with poor payouts. Many visitors play this game for a short time due to never winning and losing a large chunk of their bankroll. A word to the wise, try to steer clear of this one unless you want some quick thrills with no payout.

Millionaire Online Casino maintains a brand image of elegance and VIP treatment to its players. The software provides cutting edge technology mixed with an extensive selection of casino games. Backing up its name, Millionaire Online Casino features high limit tables to attract those with large bankrolls but also plenty of low limit and free games for all classes of players.

There are a several notable advantages to playing at Millionaire Online Casino. These include:

• The signup bonus
• Accepts U.S. players
• Regular software updates
• Excellent customer support
• Extensive game offerings

As always, the bonus is what initially attracts a player to an online casino. Millionaire Online Casino features an excellent tiered bonus of $5000 on your first three deposits. This is a 100 percent matching bonus. Also, players are eligible to receive further bonuses when making future deposits.

With so many casinos not allowing players from the United States, it can be difficult to find those casinos that do. Luckily, Millionaire Online Casino accepts U.S. players. Additionally, there are little issues with depositing via credit card which is attractive to U.S.-based players.

Another advantage is that the casino regularly updates their software to provide new games to their players. In general, the casino adds a few new games each month, mostly in the slots category. Additionally, the customer support is unmatched in the industry. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Finally, Millionaire Online Casino features over 100 games; many of which are 3-reel and progressive slots and video slots. There are also several table games and video poker variants.

On the other hand, there are only a few disadvantages including:

• No multi-player casino games
• Only English
• Average graphics and sound

One of the biggest drawbacks of Millionaire Online Casino is the lack of multi-player casino games. Every game is single-player including table games. Also, customer support and software packages are only available in English. Finally, the graphics and sound are nothing impressive, average at best.

Millionaire Online Casino is a great place to play slots and video slots. Those looking to play slots or in slot tournaments will be in their prime setting. Also, the benefits greatly outweigh the limitations. However if you are looking for a place to play something other than slots, this may not be the casino for you.