Types

Online casinos can be divided into two groups based on their interface: online casinos and download casinos. Some casinos offer both interfaces.

Web-based online casinos

Web-based online casinos (also known as flash casinos) are websites where users can play casino games without downloading software to their local computer. The games are primarily rendered in Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave or Java browser plug-ins and require browser support for these plug-ins. In addition, bandwidth is required as all graphics, sounds and animations are loaded from the web via the plug-in. Some online casinos also allow play via an HTML interface. Apple devices such as the iPod, iPad and iPhone cannot play Flash games, as this technology is not supported.

 

Download-based online casinos

Download-based online casinos require the client software to be downloaded in order to play and bet on the casino games offered. The online casino software connects to the casino’s service provider and handles the contact without the help of the browser. Download-based online casinos generally run faster than online casinos, because the graphics and sound programs are cached by the software client, instead of having to be loaded from the Internet. On the other hand, the initial download and installation of the download-based online casino client takes time. As with any download from the Internet, there is a risk that the software may contain malicious software.

It may be hard to remember life without online casinos, but seasoned gamblers will remember when the Internet didn’t even exist, let alone when you could play online! Let’s take a look at how online casinos were invented and how they have evolved over the years to meet the needs of a growing community.

 

WHEN DID PEOPLE START GAMBLING?

Gambling is an integral part of life. No matter where you go, cultures around the world have always enjoyed gambling.  But does anyone know when people actually started gambling?

Historians are not sure when people started gambling, but they agree that it began before anyone wrote down the history of the world. What we do know for sure is that dice were used for gambling and later playing cards also became a popular form of gambling. As we already know, these games continued to evolve over time into mechanical games such as roulette, slot machines… Among many others.

 

THE FIRST CASINO AND THOSE THAT FOLLOWED

Gambling houses have existed in one form or another for hundreds of years, but the first record of an official casino dates back to 1638. This casino was known as the « Risotto » and was located in Venice, Italy. Over time, casinos grew in popularity and by the 19th century they were quite common throughout Europe.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the first casinos were not really known as such, but were easily recognizable places seen in most western movies. Indeed, saloons, in addition to being a place to relax and have a drink, were also the home of many gambling games and the first gambling houses in the United States.

Over time, some countries have decided to treat gambling and casinos a little differently. In the United States, for example, gambling was banned in the early 20th century before being legalized again in the state of Nevada, which is why the Las Vegas Strip is one of the most popular destinations for casinos and gambling a century later. Other countries, like Monaco, have embraced gambling and made it a key part of their history.

But no matter where you live, there’s no doubt that casino culture has really flourished over the past century. There may not be a casino in your hometown, or even in your own country, but if you want to visit a casino, you can do so, even if it means getting on a plane and traveling to another country. Cities like Las Vegas have become synonymous with gambling, and casinos have gone from dark places to glitzy, luxurious places with food, drinks, entertainment and, of course, lots of gambling.

Starting in the 1950s, hundreds of thousands of people began to frequent casinos around the world. These people enjoyed games such as poker, roulette, blackjack and slot machines (called « one-armed bandits »). But little did they know that another leap in technology would change the way casinos operated forever. This humble and unassuming technology was called… « The Internet.

 

THE FIRST ONLINE CASINO

Microgaming saw the potential of the Internet and developed the world’s first online gaming software. But before this software could be used safely, these virtual casinos needed a way to protect their customers’ financial transactions. Fortunately, a company called CryptoLogic had been working on a solution to encrypt online transfers, which was finally released in 1995. This software prevents cybercriminals from accessing or intercepting players’ financial data. With these two technologies in place, it was the perfect time to launch a secure online casino.

Many sources agree that the first company to take advantage of these developments and launch an online casino was actually CryptoLo, the same company that developed data encryption software to protect financial information online. This same company had also developed an online casino platform, which was finally launched in 1996 under the name InterCasino.

At that time, like many other websites, InterCasino was a dinosaur compared to today’s gaming platforms. But despite its simple and archaic offering, it was the first site where people could deposit money and play online casino games.

Of course, InterCasino was only the pioneer of a growing industry: by 1998, there were over 700 online casinos where people could play for real money.

 

THE EVOLUTION OF THE ONLINE CASINO

Over time, technology evolved and online casinos began to offer more visually exciting experiences and more interesting games. Thanks to a technology called Flash, many of these (relatively) new platforms achieved these more creative and engaging results.  This popular digital tool allowed developers to do a wide variety of things, including creating animations and videos, new games, and websites. Flash was considered the standard tool for visual content on the web, and some online casinos based all their platforms on it.

However, despite the many advantages offered by Flash, it also had some disadvantages such as security issues and very high resource consumption. While security is a general problem that affects all devices, resource consumption is a specific problem for mobile devices, as they have limited battery life and are quickly drained by the use of Flash technology.

Fortunately, a new technology that would replace Flash and offer all its advantages was on its way: HTML5. This technology was not only more secure, but also worked exceptionally well on all devices, including cell phones. This made it even more suitable for the new smartphones that became increasingly popular after Apple launched its first iPhone in 2007.

Since the early 2000s, internet access speeds have increased dramatically (for which we are all thankful!). Dial-up internet access, which was the norm in the 1990s, was replaced by DSL, which in turn was replaced by fiber and other faster wireless technologies.

All of these advances meant that developers could set about creating new experiences, including new types of online slots or completely original gambling genres, such as variety games. Some bright minds even began replacing online casino games with live dealer versions, where live games are broadcast directly to online players from a studio or land-based casino.

 

THE EVOLUTIVE DIRECTION OF THE ONLINE CASINOS PLATFORMS :

There’s no doubt that online casinos will never stop evolving and adapting to the needs of casino enthusiasts around the world, but which direction will the industry go? Live dealer games are gaining popularity, but will they define the future of online casino gaming, or will we see virtual reality technology become even more accessible and take over? Who knows, maybe the two technologies will come together to give you the ultimate online casino experience.

Either way, the world of online casino gaming is very exciting, now and in the future! Where do you think online gaming will go in the future and what will you prefer? Who knows!

 

 

 

Games :

Virtual casino games

In a virtual casino game, the outcome of each game depends on the data produced by a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG). This determines the order of cards in card games, the outcome of a dice roll, or the results produced by the spinning of a slot machine or roulette wheel. PRNGs use a set of mathematical instructions known as an algorithm to generate a large stream of numbers that appear to be truly random. While this is not true random number generation (computers are incapable of this without an external input source), it provides results that meet all but the most stringent requirements for true randomness.

When properly implemented, a PRNG algorithm such as the Mersenne Twister ensures fairness and unpredictability of the games. However, the player must generally trust that the software has not been manipulated to increase the house edge, as its inner workings are invisible to the user. Properly regulated online casinos are externally audited by independent regulatory bodies such as eCOGRA to ensure that their payout percentages are in line with the stated odds, which can give the player confidence that the games are fair, provided they trust the regulatory body.

Rather than trusting the software, with the concept of fair odds, the player can verify that the casino is playing fairly and that the software has not been manipulated. The idea is that the server creates a random secret seed and displays the hash (such as SHA256) to the player. The player also provides a random seed. The server then combines the secret seed and the player’s seed to calculate the random number result. With the result, the player can also see the secret server’s seed. The algorithm for calculating the result is known, so the player can verify that the server did not cheat. It is commonly used for crypto-currency casinos. The technical details are hidden in an easy-to-use web interface, but the user can verify it with simple-to-use tools.

 

Live Dealer Casino Games

In a live casino game, a human dealer conducts the game in real time from a casino gaming table, which can be viewed via a live video replay link. Players can make their betting decisions using a console on their computer screen and can communicate with the dealer via a chat function.

The results of physical transactions performed by the dealer, such as the outcome of a roulette spin or the dealing of cards, are translated into usable data by the software using optical character recognition (OCR) technology. This allows the player to interact with the game in the same way as they would with a virtual casino game, except that the outcomes are determined by actual actions rather than automated processes.

These games are much more expensive to host on websites than virtual games, as they involve a greater investment in technology and personnel. A live casino studio typically employs one or more cameras, several dealers who run various games, an IT manager who ensures that any technical problems are resolved quickly, and a pit boss who acts as an arbitrator in the event of disputes between players and dealers.

In most cases, this requires at least a three-week setup, including a live studio, a server/software room and an analysis room. The configuration of these rooms varies from casino to casino, with some having multiple gaming tables in one room and others having only one table in each room.

The high costs associated with operating live dealer games is why online casinos tend to offer only a few of the most popular games in this format, such as roulette, blackjack, sic bo and baccarat. In comparison, the operating costs associated with virtual games are very low, and it is not uncommon for online casinos to offer hundreds of different virtual casino games to players on their site.

Not all online casinos have the same approach to hosting live games. Some offer live games on their own TV channel, others exclusively on their website. In the case of televised games, players can usually use their cell phone or TV remote control to place bets rather than going through a computer connected to the internet. The most common live dealer games offered by online casinos are baccarat, blackjack and roulette.A typical selection of games of chance offered at an online casino may include:

• Roulette
• Poker
• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Bingo
• Online Slots

 

Online Casino Customer Service

For many casino users, whether they are expert players or novices, choosing the right casino to play at online is always a complex task, full of questions and doubts. Indeed, there are so many aspects to take into account that it is always good not to overlook any of them.

Most players are concerned about the welcome bonuses and promotions offered by a casino. This aspect is also very attractive to any user, as it allows them to get extra money for free simply by fulfilling a series of wagering requirements or conditions.

There are other players who prefer to put all their attention on analyzing the game catalog of an online casino. This way, they can make sure that their favorite games are always available to play whenever they want.

On the other hand, many users pay special attention to the fact that the casino site they are interested in has an app that allows them to play using a mobile device, whether it uses the Android or iOS operating system.

Similarly, an ever-present concern among players is that the online casino where they will create a new account has a wide and varied number of payment methods with which they can make deposits and withdraw their winnings.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF CASINO CUSTOMER SERVICE

If all the aspects we have mentioned above are important in deciding which casino is the most interesting for you, there is another point that is not so important at first but is fundamental. We are talking about customer service.

As we said, many users do not bother to carefully analyze the type of customer service offered by each casino. In fact, they consider it a secondary concern when looking for a new site to play at.

Online casino chatAnd thinking that this offline section is of great importance can prove to be a big mistake over time, especially if the player starts to encounter problems related to their casino account.

You should know that the people who are part of a casino’s customer service are the ones who are in charge of solving your doubts about how a game works, the correct way to register on the site or other questions you may have.

They are also responsible for helping you solve problems you may encounter while using their site, such as when you try to withdraw money from your bank account and you are unable to do so, if your account has been blocked, if you cannot access the site for a while, and many others.

 

WHAT SHOULD A GOOD CASINO CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFER?

What every user expects from a good online casino customer support service is that it can effectively resolve any problems or questions you may have.

This means that the user should be able to find real assistance when they are faced with any kind of inconvenience within the site. It is not enough to inform that the website has a customer service, but that these professionals will be able to solve your problems.

In addition, this section should be staffed by qualified personnel with knowledge of the casino industry. In many cases, a user’s questions may be related to certain games. Therefore, employees must provide clear and accurate answers.

On the other hand, it is important that the user can access customer service through a variety of contact methods. Telephone, e-mail and postal mail are three common ways to contact customer service.

Finally, we cannot forget about live chat, which is the fastest, most accessible and cheapest way to contact a casino to resolve our doubts.

If the casino site you want to join has a live chat available for many hours throughout the day, this is a site you should consider.

 

Why is security so important?

Online casinos depend on their reputation, so it is a priority for them to offer their customers the safest conditions possible. The good news is that technology is a great ally in this regard, as online casinos can offer better security guarantees to players through complex and modern encryption systems. Of course, players have the right to be concerned about this kind of issues, as no two pesos are at stake, which is why the most serious casinos have decided to adopt a structure and a series of international regulations that require a quality standard that gives confidence to all users of their services, so they can play with peace of mind. In this sense, players must also do their part, and only play on serious and certified sites, so as not to put their assets at risk.

 

How to recognize a safe casino?

There are several factors associated with a casino to consider when reviewing its security. At the bottom of the site, you can find this information, which includes licenses, which should indicate where the site is registered, as well as a license number to authenticate its legality; information about its encryption, which is detailed in the privacy policy; deposit and payment methods, which should include alternative means such as PayPal; and the random number generator and the company that certified it. This information should give us a clear idea of the legitimacy of the site.

First of all, let’s identify the countries that grant acceptable quality casino licenses, among which we find Malta, the Netherlands Antilles and Antigua and Barbuda, as they handle the licensing process and do it conscientiously. To obtain a license in these countries, the interests of both the site operator and the player are taken into account to create a balance.

The licenses granted in Alderney, Isle of Man and the United Kingdom are the next level. Playing on sites licensed in these countries is a guarantee, as it is very difficult to obtain one, and site operators are continually reviewed to ensure their financial stability. It also helps that the regulatory bodies in these countries deal directly with user complaints.

We have already mentioned where one can find the information needed to recognize a casino as safe. If it’s not there, it should be in the « Terms and Conditions » or « About Us » sections, but if for some reason it’s not there either, that’s already a red flag, a reason to think seriously about whether it’s worth playing at that site.

 

The random rate generator in online casinos

The random number generator is the cornerstone of a safe and reliable online casino. Without a reliable and truly random generator, there is no way to know if the casino is being fair and equitable in sharing the winnings. Online casinos use virtual card games and virtual slots, and it is the generator that ensures that the hand or spin is truly based on chance and not influenced by any external factor. Serious casinos will always share the details of their generator and hire independent companies to test and verify the performance of the generator. The results of the verification should always be available on the casino website.

 

Virtual reality is the next phase in the evolution of online casinos.

On the internet these days, you may find a plethora of free casino games. It is uncommon to browse the Internet without coming across an advertisement for an online poker or casino site. However, in order to eventually stand out, several firms have drawn virtual reality headsets.

The player is completely immersed in the game, whether it is a conventional game or an online casino game, thanks to the VR headgear. This technology has been democratized for some time and is becoming increasingly available to the common people. Publishers of video games are aware of this and have begun to provide virtual reality gambling on the Internet.You will now be able to play your favorite casino games while having the illusion that you are at a genuine institution. You can gamble on a poker table or play a virtual slot machine from the comfort of your couch.

Even if the images aren’t flawless, the player is still engaged in the world of gambling, and the most hooked must still exercise caution when playing virtual games, because the addiction is extremely real. You’ll need a specialized headset to get started with virtual casino gambling. Some virtual reality casino games are available through the oculus VR headset, which was created by a Facebook subsidiary.

As igaming enthusiasts are aware, virtual reality is becoming increasingly prevalent in the world of video games. Although still in its infancy in the casino industry, technology and visual effects will only improve to provide even more realism.

FAQ : Online Casino

• Why play at an online casino?

  Online casinos in the U.S. give you advantages that you won’t find in a physical casino:

  • Thousands of live slot machines
  • Dozens of table games with no waiting and a dealer.
  • Cash bonuses on your deposits.
  • Accessible 24 hours a day from your mobile or computer.
• How to play at the online casino?
  To play at the online casino, you need:

  
  

  1. An internet connection.
  2. A computer or cell phone.
  3. Do a google search to find the right online casino for you.
  4. Create your account.
  5. Deposit money on the platform.

  Click here to find the best online casinos.

  
  

  
  

• What are the most popular virtual casinos?
  What are the most popular virtual casinos?

  
  

  According to our editors, here is the list of the 5 best casinos on the Internet:

  • Crésus Casino
  • Kings Chance
  • Riviera Casino
  • True Fortune
  • Monte Cryptos