Casino News
Chaos as Cyprus Decides Online Gaming Legality
Anyone who has ever been dealt a virtual hand of cards or clicked the virtual button of an online video slot game will be well aware of the pivotal role that the tiny Mediterranean island of Cyprus has played in the rapid growth of the online gambling industry.
While other governments were debating, somewhat incongruously, the moral aspects of online betting and seeking to ban it within their borders, the island’s entrepreneurs were simultaneously building a billion dollar industry by acting as hosts to a plethora of offshore online casinos and poker rooms built to circumvent the gaming laws of the United States and other countries in which online gambling legislation was unfavourable to the creation of a local industry.
Now it seems the government of the Greek-ruled territory of Cyprus is as divided as the beleaguered island’s sovereignty in its view of whether these lucrative online gambling operations should be permitted to continue.
At the moment, online gambling in Cyprus is subject to a law amended in 2007 to meet EU legislation and known as the General Betting Law. In essence this states that it is up to individual EU members to decide their own policy and, for the past three years, the government has made no move on the industry. Recently, however, certain government members have being making noises of their intention to see online gambling banned and blocking the ISPs of internet casinos and other gambling sites. Curiously, the proposed ban would affect sports betting or horseracing.
Perhaps fortunately, the ministers appear to be seriously divided on the issue and the Cypriot Justice Minister is equally vociferous in his suggestion that regulation not banning is the only sensible policy.
Into the already confused arena, the voices of both the chief of police and the state president have been heard to express the resolve that no licensed casino whether land-based or virtual will be permitted to operate on their half of the island as long as they continue to hold office.
Meanwhile, back at the games lobbies, operators are totally confused as to whether they should carry on regardless or prepare to seek pastures new.
One might have thought that every Euro to find its way into Greek coffers would be seen as a bonus, given the financial status of mainland Greece and it’s widely hoped that the threats will prove to be nothing more than a storm in a glass of Ouzo. Should this not be the case, the potential damage to the industry could prove extremely costly, at least in the short term.
Mystery Bonus for all at Aladdin’s Gold
Typically, online casinos offer their new signups a matching welcome bonus that is calculated on a fixed percentage of the value of their first deposit. For example, one casino may offer a 50% match bonus while another may offer 100% or more. Usually the online establishments concerned will stipulate a minimum value for the qualifying deposit as well as the largest bonus amount that the offer will pay out.Now, one well-known online gaming venue has decided to break from the norm by offering its players a mystery bonus. The offer will apply to both new signups and existing clients at the popular Aladdin’s Gold Online Casino. The new promotion was first implemented on Monday of this week, a fact that has earned it the title of Mystery Monday. Anyone who has not yet benefited from the promo will still be able to do so until midnight today.
The unusual promo consists of five mystery bonus offers described simply as MYSTERYBOX1 through MYSTERYBOX5. Each and every one of the bonus coupons may be redeemed twice so, overall, there are ten opportunities to score by an unknown amount. In fact the precise amount to be earned as a result of each bonus is not actually revealed until that bonus is revealed. This, of course, means that it could exceed the amount expected or amount to less than one may have hoped but, either way, it will still represent free money to be enjoyed selectively among the extensive portfolio of games to be found in the Aladdin’s Gold Online Casino games lobby. The terms and conditions stipulate that the bonuses may only be used for playing slots, scratch cards or keno and there is a wagering requirement of 25 times the bonus plus deposit.
For those unwilling or perhaps a little too scared to opt for a mystery bonus, the casino will be offering an alternative with a more traditional format during the Mystery Monday promotion. Their deal also consists of ten coupons but, in this case, each carries a fixed deposit matching bonus of 45%. This offer too, carries some limitations and beneficiaries may only wager them on video pokers, blackjack and table games while the wagering requirements are also much higher at 50%.
The action at Aladdin’s Gold Online Casino won’t stop tonight, however. From tomorrow and until Sunday 18th there will be a brand new slots tournament to join and there are cash prizes for the three players accumulating the most winnings. Prizes will be awarded on Monday 19th and will see the first-placed player collecting $125, with amounts of $100 and $75 going to the second and third-placed finishers respectively. During the same period all players can qualify for 60% bonuses of up to $1 000 for playing slots, keno or scratch cards while blackjack, video poker and table games players can earn 45% bonuses of up to $1 000.
The casino operates on the RTG platform and offers a great gaming experience along with its versatile bonus promos for anyone in search of something different.
Noah’s Ark Revamped for Online Launch
Those of you who frequent land-based casinos on occasions may have come across the popular video slots game, Noah’s Ark. The basic game is certainly not a new one but, in its recent migration to the realm of cyberspace, its developers, Wagerworks, have added one or two interesting new touches.The five-reel format with its thirty paylines now boasts a ground-breaking new feature known as split symbols. This means that the some of the symbols have the ability to count as two symbols so that a winning payline can actually consist of anything from just three symbols all the way up to a maximum of ten and payouts can reach 10 000 coins.
Wild symbols also may count as double symbols and this means a lot more wild wins for players to cash in on. There are plenty of free spin opportunities too and, get this; the average return on the free spins works out at an incredible 281% for each spin.
The theme, of course, needs no explanation but it must be said that the quality of the animated graphics serves to bring all of the wonderful animals to life and really enhances the overall pleasure when playing this fun-filled new game.
Virgin Casino is in the forefront with the launch of this new offering and this is totally in keeping with the operator’s declared policy of seeking out the best both in terms of providing variety and an exceptional gaming experience for its valued online clients. The casino has been operating since 2004 and, just two years ago, made the decision to implement its own highly versatile, customized portal that has made it possible for Virgin Casino to accommodate a wide variety of gaming platforms that include Wagerworks, Endemol, Ash Gaming, Microgaming and Cryptologic.
With a total portfolio of just over two hundred games on offer, some might be tempted to say that there are plenty of rival online casinos that provide twice the choice. However, Virgin Casino has striven to select the very best of each platform and combine them into a quite unique collection.
Natural the well-known brand that is associated with everything from airlines to banking and mobile telephony has served to engender trust in the online gaming brand but, the age-old policy of giving the customers what they want has been very important in building the casino’s growing client base that already exceeds 1 000 000 satisfied punters.
All Slots Casino adds Three New Games
Casino News
The ever-popular All Slots Online Casino recently announced that it has added three exciting new games to its already very substantial portfolio. Each of the new creations will offer the casino’s players a completely different player experience. However, one thing that this trio of innovative online entertainments all have in common is that they will be offering some really big rewards for those with the skills and the determination to pursue them.The first of the three is a stunning new online take on the golf tournament. Fans of the game will be able to live out their dreams of becoming pros and take on some of the best in this 5-reel video slot with a massive 40 paylines. Appropriately named “The Argyle Open”, the game offers plenty of bonus opportunities, free spins, multipliers and big payouts. For those who manage a hole-in-one, there’s s three-stage, tournament bonus just waiting for the taking. You can match your efforts against a selection of 5 pro golfers and the good news is; your game doesn’t have to be any better than your granny’s to take home the winnings.
Next in the lineup comes “Lion’s Pride”. Sure it’s yet another African Safari-themed game but, doesn’t everyone love them all anyway? In this particular rendition, you will find yourself facing off against a collection of the dark-continent’s most ferocious big game animals while you spin your way across the vast savannahs. Did I say that 40 paylines was massive? Well think again, because the “Lion’s Pride” 5-reel, video slot will be able to pay out on no less than 100 lines. There are plenty of multipliers and free spins up for grabs as well as the ability to accumulate some stacked wild symbols.
The final new offering to emerge from the All Slots Casino games lobby has a Far Eastern theme that will provide players with a sense of mystery and the exotic. The game is known as “Dragon Lady” and employs Microgaming’s successful 5-reel, 40-payline format. It offers punters some exceptionally high-quality visual effects that are sure to add even further to the already plentiful excitement. There’s a second screen, bonus game in which the alluring dragon lady, after whom the game is named, is on hand to help you through the challenge. In addition there is a choice of three different scatter symbols and a whole slew of multipliers and free spins to speed players toward the prospect of a 100 to 1 return on their bets.
The three new games represent three more reasons to pop into All Slots Casino soon. New members will be treated to their ongoing deposit bonus promo which could be worth as much as $5K annually.
Twenty to One Signup Bonus at Zodiac Online
The concept of offering new players the incentive of a cash bonus in exchange for registering at an online casino or card room is hardly a new one. Most of the time, however, the award of these bonuses is dependent upon the new signee making a substantial cash deposit to his or her online gaming account before qualifying for the promised cash reward.We have recently seen a change in this policy from a number of more progressive casinos. Some, for instance have been offering free play for a day, or at least until the free credits run out, and the freedom to keep at least a portion of any winnings. Now one the best-known and trusted UK online casinos has adopted a different approach.
Zodiac Online Casino has decided that, their new players should make, at least, a small cash commitment to earn their signup bonus. For an exceptionally modest deposit of just 1 GBP, newcomers to their site will receive a bonus award of 20 GBP. This is quite a departure from the standard deposit match that commonly doubles the initial minimum deposit up to a declared maximum. For example, a person depositing between 20 and 500 currency units might see their deposit increased by 100% to double it. Calculated on the same basis, the Zodiac Casino offer to newbies represents a 2 000% deposit match!
The philosophy behind their offer would appear to be that it offers first-time visitors to Zodiac Casino, and perhaps even first-time online punter’s a chance to experience what their site and online gaming in general has to offer.
Their expectation is that, having once tasted the experience, most of the newbies will be anxious for second and third helpings. For those that opt for a longer-term relationship with the Zodiac Online Casino, the second deposit will attract the more conventional, introductory offer of a 100 GBP bonus on deposits of 100 GBP or more.
In common with many of the top-rated online gaming sites, Zodiac Casino operates on the world-renowned Microgaming software platform. Not only does this mean access to the largest selection of video slots, table games, video pokers and progressive jackpots, but also to some of the most realistic audiovisual effects and ease of interaction to be found online.
Today would be a great time to try out Zodiac Casino, after all it will only cost you a quid and you’re guaranteed a 20-1 return.