Online Casinos
Online casinos are those casinos that are Interent-based. They are also coined as a virtual casino or an Internet casino. Simply put, these are casinos that are offering the traditional casino games over the Internet, but unlike the regular brick-and-mortar casinos, gamblers need not leave their homes just to play their favorite casino games. Everything related to gambling is literally at the tips of their fingers, and more.
Types of Online Casinos
Basically, there are three types of online casinos, and they are categorized based on their interface. These types are the download-based, web-based, and live online casinos.
With a download-based online casino, players are required to download the software provided by the casino and install it in their computers before they can actually begin playing and betting at the games. You can expect a very smooth graphics and crisp sounds whenever you play at a download-based casino because the programs can be found within the software provider, so the quality is never compromised. The drawback to this though is that you open yourself to the risk of downloading a malicious process that can harm your personal files. Another disadvantage is that you have to wait to download and install the software before you can begin playing, and this takes up time.
Web-based casinos, on the other hand, do not obligate its players to download and install the casino’s software. To play their games, you have to have a browser that supports Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave, or Java plugins. With this, you can start playing as soon as you click its Instant Play button, but you have to have a fast Internet connection if you do not want your gameplay to suffer from lags and glitches.
Live-based casinos are a relatively new concept. With this type, you get to interact with other players in real-time. You can even chat with them and even see the other players if the option is available. You also get the benefit of interacting with live dealers of the online casinos.
There are online casinos that support one or two of these types or even all the three types.
Types of Games in an Online Casino
As stated above, the casino games that you will find here are almost the same as those you will find in brick-and-mortar casinos. You have the different varieties of poker like Texas Hold’Em which is the most popular and Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi-Lo, or Omaha 8. Other online casinos also offer the Seven Card Stud, Five Card Draw, and Caribbean Stud Poker, and other poker variants.
Of course, an online casino will never be truly called a real casino if they do not offer slots. In fact, online casinos provide more varieties of online slot games, and these include three-reel and five-reel slots with single payline or multiple paylines. You could also take your pick among those that offer extra features like the wild, scatter, and bonus symbols. There are slot games, too, that have bonus games where you get to increase your winnings. Aside from slot games, there are video slot games that have a storyline that you can follow.
Online casinos also provide other table games baccarat and blackjack as well as craps and roulette. Keno, lottery, bingo, video poker, and other casino games are also featured like sic bo, pai gow, pontoon, and a whole lot more. Some of these online casinos also offer sports betting.
If you are worried about the online casino cheating you out of your money, you need not worry because they are using the random number generator which ensures that you are going to play a fair game. Aside from this, you are also protected by regulating bodies that make sure that the online casino is going to give its players a fair game each and every time they play. You are also assured that your security, privacy, and private information are protected from third parties by security measures provided by the online casinos. In addition to this, you are further protected by the software providers that power these online casinos.
The Casino Software Providers
One of the first steps that ensure your safety when you are playing at an online casino is its software provider. They are the ones that create the games’ programs as well as provide you some form of security against fraudulent behaviors.
Here are some of the top casino software providers in the industry right now.
1. Boss Media is Swedish-owned and has been established since 1996. It is popular for its wide variety of platforms.
2. Cryptologic first came out in 1995 and is the one that powers the popular InterCasino, an award-winning online casino.
3. Grand Virtual has been in the industry since 1997 and has been known as a software provider that continuously innovates and improves its products.
4. MicroGaming was established in the year 1994 and has been awarded as the best Online Casino Software Provider numerous times already.
5. Net Entertainment is popular for its web-based gaming software as well as its strict adherence to providing a safe and secure environment for online casino players.
6. PartyGaming is made popular by PartyPoker, which is now among the most popular online poker brands in the world.
7. PlayTech was launched in 1999 and is fast reaching the top of the ladder when it comes to software providers.
8. Random Logic was launched in 1996 and is made all the more popular by Casino on Net.
9. Real Time Gaming was established in 1998 and is best recognized for its progressive slots, especially since they power one of the three biggest slots network in the industry of gambling.
10. Rival Gaming is also relatively new in the industry, but its unique story-based iSlots is giving it a big name in the industry right now.
11. Vegas Technology was founded in 1997 and is recognized for its English Harbour Casino. This company is also one of the providers that offer the best in terms of the quality of the games, graphics, and sounds.
12. WagerWorks is owned and operated by International Game Technology, which is the biggest company that manufactures land-based slots machine.