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The license under which your chosen online casino or sportsbook operates is a tell-tale sign of their reputability and transparency. Although there are many iGaming jurisdictions in action, only a handful are deemed to offer the optimum protection for customers, creating fair and secure betting environments.
If you are wondering which iGaming licenses are most valued throughout the industry, read on as we get under the bonnet of the top five jurisdictions on the planet.
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
If you are new to playing and betting online, you may not be aware that Malta is the undisputed hub for iGaming in Europe. The small Mediterranean archipelago houses the headquarters of many of the leading online casinos and sportsbooks in the continent. The MGA was one of the first to fully regulate the activity of online casinos and bookmakers. In fact, Malta became the first member state of the European Union to fully regulate.
The MGA’s overarching mission is to promote responsible gaming, whilst safeguarding vulnerable bettors and maintaining the fairness and integrity of table games, slot machines and all other forms of betting. The MGA also issues licenses covering individual iGaming activities, such as casino games powered by random number generators (RNGs), table games played strictly against the house, as well as controlled skill games.
UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
Following the new Gambling Act 2005, legislated as part of the UK’s plans to better regulate online and offline gaming, the UKGC was established. The UKGC covers the operation of all kinds of online gaming activities, spanning bingo, sports betting, lotteries and casino action. In fact, the only facet of betting not covered by the UKGC is spread betting, which is overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The UKGC is considered one of the most reputable iGaming jurisdictions, operating as a strictly independent body, overseeing the open and fair nature of operators, whilst safeguarding underage and vulnerable users. The UKGC works in tandem with independent third parties like eCOGRA to periodically test iGaming operators to ensure their games operate in line with their advertised return to player (RTP) percentages. Although the UKGC licenses operators across Europe and beyond, many of the leading UK brands are licensed by the UKGC too. For instance, bet365 is licensed by the UKGC, with its users able to utilise their sports and casino services under the same account.
Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC)
The AGCC was actually formed five years prior to the UKGC. This Channel Island, part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, has been a hub for iGaming operators for more than a decade. Many of these operators have sought to obtain an AGCC license alongside one from the UKGC, giving their customers ultimate peace of mind over their regulatory compliance. The AGCC, like the UKGC, has no issues with fining operators for breaching its license conditions or indeed revoking licenses to those failing to cooperate long-term.
The strict nature of AGCC licenses means that some operators choose not to invest the time and energy to obtaining one here. However, those that do must abide by stringent legal and ethical obligations. On the whole, any operator licensed by the AGCC can be relied upon to conduct its services with integrity and fairness, operating exempt from criminal activity.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC)
Across the Atlantic, the KGC is one of the longest standing iGaming jurisdictions in North America. Established in 1996 and active since 1999, the KGC has been governing online casinos and sportsbooks in Canada since the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake approved the Kahnawake Gaming Law. Their approach to regulating iGaming is five-fold – to lawfully regulate the industry, to maintain responsible behaviour, to shield the industry from organised crime and minors and always maintain operational fairness and transparency.
The KGC is within the Mohawk Territory, which operates independently to Canadian laws, with its own legislature. Although you might think this would lead to deregulation, in actual fact the KGC is even more stringent as a result. Its application process is notoriously strict and expensive application fees are designed to ensure only the most serious operators gain approval here.
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC)
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The Isle of Man GSC is yet another iGaming jurisdiction well-known for upholding strict regulatory standards and a fair system for ongoing monitoring. The GSC not only intends to keep crime at bay from the iGaming sector, it also intends to safeguard vulnerable customers and minors. Its abiding principle is to make sure licensed operators are fair and that customers get the winnings they are due.
The GSC is well-known for its handling of customer disputes and the island’s Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Code of 2013 ensures all license holders handle funds with the utmost professionalism and protection for their customers. All GSC license holders have had their casino and sportsbook software tested and verified, with the Commission only accepting applications from those with reputable trust certification.
iGaming jurisdictions to avoid
Although the Curacao e-Gaming Licensing Authority (CGLA) is one of the oldest authorities in this sector, founded in 1996, there are reasons to be sceptical of any iGaming operator licensed solely by the CGLA. That’s because the authority operates a hands-off approach when it comes to customer disputes with operators. It will never intervene, with licensing regulations requiring both parties to resolve disputes amicably.
The CGLA is also one of the cheapest and easiest licenses to obtain. Consequently, it has been known for unscrupulous operators to launch under a CGLA license and not provide the level of service that bettors have come to expect online.
How to find out an operator’s license
When an online casino or sportsbook is officially licensed by a reputable iGaming jurisdiction, they will normally display this information proudly in the footer of their website. This will usually be in the form of a logo of the licensing body or in text format as part of the website’s small print. If the operator has an ‘About Us’ section, it may also be mentioned specifically in this category.
A tremendously improbable draw, and yet, just as likely as any other result in the luck-based game, South Africa’s Ithuba National Lottery saw its multi-million Powerball pull consecutive numbers. Strangest of all, those consecutive numbers consisted of the naturally popular low numbers, rewarding several winners.
While a lottery win is still an against-the-odds triumph for anyone, this one comes as both a disappointment to those who didn’t just go with a simple run of numbers and, partially, to the numerous winners. So, what actually happened in the Ithuba Powerball, and what’s the best practice for those looking to avoid such an outcome themselves?
Was the Powerball lottery rigged?
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After an intense investigation into the Powerball draw on 1 December, the governing body Ithuba ruled that the consecutive numbers draw wasn’t rigged. On the night of the Tuesday Powerball, viewers were amazed to see the numbers 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 drawn for the main numbers. However, the situation was made even more bizarre by the bonus number rolling out as the number 10 ball.
As unlikely as it would seem for such a sequence to occur, a record count of jackpot winners cashed-in their Powerball tickets for a share of the top prize. The general consensus would be that it’s counterintuitive to go with consecutive numbers, despite the randomness at hand, and yet 21 people claimed their R5.7 million share of the jackpot – with one player getting another R100,000 for their PowerBall PLUS call.
It will come as somewhat of a bittersweet victory for some Powerball winners. With their winning ticket, many will have assumed that they had won close to R120 million, which equates to nearly £6 million. Instead, they each received around £285,000. While this isn’t a sum to be scoffed at, it’s certainly not as life-changing as a multi-million reward.
Good practice when playing the lottery
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Winning the lottery is a joyous occasion, but it’s even better when you get to claim the prize for yourself. An excellent way to see this is that you hear about jackpot rollovers all of the time, but this could only happen if the glut of the players have the same number-picking tendencies.
Playing the numbers that people tend to avoid is a sound way to avoid what happened in South Africa, with sequences being near the top of this list. It was found that around 10,000 people each week select the one to six sequence, with countless others doing the same with other number series.
In a study of popular lottery numbers and how to play against the crowd, it was found that numbers over 30 are among the rarely selected figures. This is put down to the association of luck with one’s birthday or significant date, with 31 being the cap on such inklings; so, mix-up your sheet with numbers over 30. Furthermore, the two big numbers to avoid are the lucky number seven and unlucky number 13.
So, to help avoid having to share your potential lottery win with a group of others, adhere to good lottery practices, such as not picking consecutive numbers, mixing in no over-30s, and avoiding the famous number seven and 13.
The Roman Empire is one of the most famous periods in human history. It lasted for 1000 years and has been incredibly influential on the course of civilisation ever since. The Romans are credited for introducing several things that are still commonplace today, from surgical tools to the calendar that we live by. It is no surprise, then, that there is a lot of fascination with this ancient civilisation. And where there is interest, there is potential for games. In the world of gambling, casino games are designed to cater to many audiences. Within that, there have been quite a few themed slot games based on Romans over the years. Here are some of the best.
Augustus
For players in search of free spins bonuses, there are various options recommended by Vegasslots.co.uk. The bonuses vary but tend to be around the 50 free spins mark, meaning that players can get a good feel for the games before investing their own funds. Some sites even give the option to play a number of the games for practice before paying to play. This can help players understand the game mechanics, and as these sites don’t require down payments this removes any unnecessary barriers. Those eager to play these slots may find the recommendations of this site useful.
One of the games that comes with this free or paid option is Augustus, a title based on the first-ever Roman emperor during the imperial period, Caesar Augustus. The controversial leader reigned from 27 BC until AD 14 when he died. The slot game based on the iconic leader features Augustus’s well-known image, which was immortalised through statues and coins from the time period. Indeed, the thumbnail for the slot actually appears to be an Augustus coin.
The game does a good job of taking players back to the time of the Romans. It has a backdrop of marble pillars, and the symbols include swords, rings, scrolls, and emperors. It is a medium variance slot with an RTP of 96.14 per cent. The game was developed by the small company, Neon Valley Studios. This studio is owned by powerhouse Microgaming, who helped with the distribution.
Caligula
Caligula was the son of Augustus’s granddaughter, Agrippina the Elder, and ruled as the third Roman emperor from 37 to 41. He was known for being a cruel sadist, and many sources refer to him as an insane tyrant. You don’t have to be likeable to go down in history, though, and it’s often the most despicable rulers who gain the most notoriety after their deaths. For this reason, Caligula has been the subject of various works of fiction in popular culture over the years.
The Caligula slot game from GameArt is based around the well-known Roman, and Caligula acts as the wild on the reels. The high volatility of the game perhaps reflects the capriciousness of the ruler himself and makes the game an ideal choice for those in search of a thrilling Roman game.
Gladiator
The Gladiator slot game is based on the 2000 Ridley Scott film of the same name, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture as detailed by abcnews.go.com that year. The movie starred Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a fictional Roman general who served under Marcus Aurelius in the picture. Aurelius and his son, Commodus, were both real figures in Roman history, ruling in the later period of the Roman Empire until 192.
The Gladiator slot game features many characters from the classic film and fills players with nostalgia about Scott’s epic. The 25 pay line slot was produced by industry powerhouse, Playtech, a company renowned for the exceptional quality of its games. There are various bonuses available, including the Gladiator bonus and the Coliseum bonus. These are triggered when the emperor and helmet symbols spin into view.
Fans of Roman history will have a great time playing these slots and can also find some similar titles like Chariots of Fire and Caesar’s Empire. If the Roman civilisation isn’t up your street, there are slots based on other periods of history to choose from. For instance, there are a high number of games out there based on Ancient Greece. There are also quite a few titles based on Vikings, highlighting how there really is something for everyone in the slots genre
Online poker has been incredibly popular in recent years, with online poker rooms making it easier than ever for seasoned players and newbies alike to get their poker fix each day. Thanks to the convenience of enabling players to play on to go with portable devices or even from the comfort of their own home, the numerous bonuses and promotions that online games are able to offer, and sheer variety of poker games available, people have been flocking to online sites like a moth to a flame.
According to statistics from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, the four states in the US that have legalised online poker; New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware and Pennsylvania, have recently reported 90.9% increase in profits year on year. There were also a record amount of new players since March this year. One of these types of poker that is becoming increasingly popular for online players is Pai Gow Poker. Let’s look at what exactly Pai Gow Poker is and how it can be played.
The origins of Pai Gow Poker
Pai Gow poker was adapted from a traditional Chinese game that was played with 32 dominoes. In the original game, up to eight players would arrange sets of four tiles into two hands – a back and a front hand. The objective of the game was to beat each of the banker’s hands, in which players could win wagers that were paid out at odds. The game was widely played throughout China and casinos in Macau and is also poplar today throughout casinos in the United States and the UK.
However, owner of the Bell Card Club, Sam Torosian in, invented Pai Gow poker in 1985. The game combines eastern and western elements of gaming, in which its purpose was to encourage more Asian players throughout casinos in the US. Starting in California, the game quickly spread to clubs and casinos in the likes of Las Vegas and beyond and later began to also be offered at online casinos throughout the globe.
Unfortunately for Sam Torosian, the original inventor of Pai Gow Poker, he was ill advised by his lawyers during the process of authenticating the game and did not get a patent. Consequently, Sam Torosian did not get any rights to the game and has not been able to make a profit from it, even though it has today become widespread and incredibly profitable for land-based and online casinos alike.
How is Pai Gow Poker played?
Pai Gow Poker is played with a 52 deck of cards and a joker card. It is different to many variants of poker where players play against each other as in Pai Gow Poker; players will instead play against a banker – who is usually the house dealer. However, occasionally players may seek to bet against other players, and in this case, one player becomes the banker and goes up against the other players.
Unlike the traditional Chinese game where there were eight players, Pai Gow Poker consists of six players and is usually played in the casino pits with similar games such as black-jack and three card poker.
If Pai Gow Poker is played traditionally, the object of the game is to defeat the banker by creating two poker hands. The game begins with each player placing a bet, followed by the distribution of seven cards to each player. After this, players will split their cards into a five card high hand, which is placed in the back, and a two card low hand that is placed in the front. The game states that a player’s high hand must beat the low hand.
The strategy
Having a Pai Gow Poker strategy is vital, whether you’re a seasoned player or a newbie.
For the low hand, which is up front and consists of two cards, players should make pairs. For this, pocket aces are recommended, as the cards in this hand must not beat the five card high hand in the back. If a player’s low hand does end up beating the high hand then that player must forfeit or will have the hand reset by the master dealer of the casino.
One of the key differences of this game when comparing to other poker variants is that once a players hand is set at the beginning of the game, they can no longer change it and have to wait and see how it plays out. The ultimate aim is to carefully select your hands at the beginning so that they will beat the dealer.
Top tips for playing Pai Gow Poker
Pai Gow poker can be a bit tricky in the sense that you need to know what you’re doing and what strategy you have from the very beginning of the game, as you won’t be able to reset your hand once you begin playing. There are no pre-flops or flops to help the player out, simply the two-card hand up front and the five-card hand in the back. One of the best tips is that if you’re lucky enough to be dealt a full house, it will be in your favour to break them up.
Now you’re all set to play Pai Gow poker. Just remember, it’s essential to have a solid strategy in place.
