Responsible Gambling

Why Do So Many iGaming Companies Operate From Malta?

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Over the years, the iGaming industry in Malta has grown exponentially. More and more i-Gaming companies like online casinos choose Malta as their center of operations. They either set up or move their gambling businesses in Malta to have a sought-after Malta license.

What makes them choose Malta, though, when there are several licensing bodies around? There are Alderney, Gibraltar, Curacao, the Isle of Man, and others to choose from. What sets Malta apart?

Factors That Make iGaming Companies Choose Malta

Much of a Malta gambling license’s appeal comes from the well-regulated laws of the land. We’ll talk about that later. First, let’s look into other factors that make iGaming industries plant their roots in Malta.

Taxes and Incentives

Malta has a reasonable personal and corporate tax rate — the lowest in the entire European Union. The 35% corporate tax rate reduces to as low as 5% after the distribution of dividends amongst shareholders. Employees of gaming businesses, on the other hand, can enjoy reduced income tax rates and other attractive incentives.

The Malta government also has enticing tax programs for nonresidents of the country who choose to relocate to Malta. The High Net Worth Individuals Scheme and the Global Residence Programme are only two of those. Furthermore, there are several incentives to help iGaming businesses in setting up and establishing operations in Malta.

Industry-Knowledgeable Workforce at an Affordable Price

The Maltese acknowledged the importance of the iGaming industry in its economy. Because of that, the government and several institutions work hand-in-hand to educate its people about the iGaming industry. Thus, there is a steady pool of manpower already equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to work in the industry. Moreover, the cost of employment in Malta is lower compared to other gaming hubs in Europe.

Strategic Location and European Union Membership

Its location in the Mediterranean Sea and the direct flights to major European cities make traveling convenient. Moreover, since its membership to the European Union, it became a part of the Schengen area. For Malta-licensed operators, this means that they can offer services at no additional cost to other countries that are EU members.

Technology Readiness

Among 144 countries, the Global Competitive index from 2014 to 2015 ranked Malta as the 21st most technology-ready country in the world. In 2019, Malta also ranked first place when it comes to e-government and IT services.

Moreover, the country has a 100% score in terms of online sophistication and availability. There are multi-fiber links in Malta connecting the country at Gigabit capacities to several carriers around the globe. A technology-ready country with quality connections worldwide is of the utmost importance when running iGaming businesses.

An iGaming License from Malta Has Its Pros and Cons

For players, online casinos with a license from Malta guarantees their safety, security, and protection. While it seems all sunshine for online gamblers, such is not the case for the stakeholders. An iGaming license from Malta has its benefits and drawbacks.

The Pros

Below are some of the advantages of having an iGaming license from Malta.

Exemplary Regulatory System

The Maltese government welcomes the gambling industry with open yet firm hands. It has strict gambling laws and even established a control board to regulate all forms of gambling in the land — The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). The MGA’s formation makes Malta the first European Union country to regulate gambling laws. They set the standards high not only in the European gambling industry but also worldwide.

Awards Multiple Licenses

If you’re an operator who manages a land-based gambling establishment and an online casino, Malta will be a good choice for you. Malta accepts multiple licensing applications from a single operator and awards the license as long as all requirements are met.

Authorized By The European Union

There are significant variations in the gambling laws and regulations of each member country of the European Union. However, the EU has a set of high-class standards when it comes to online gambling licenses. As part of the EU, Malta follows such excellent licensing standards.

Free From Money Laundering

Malta complies with the European Union’s Anti-Money Laundering Directives. As such, the country has unparalleled stringent anti-money laundering law, preventing any form of illegal money transaction through gambling.

Safeguard For Players and Operators Alike

The MGA only awards licenses to gambling operators that pass the thorough licensing process. The control board also monitors the gambling operations from the time it awards the license, protecting gamblers from unfair play.

The Cons

If you’re planning on obtaining an iGaming license from Malta, consider if these drawbacks will be a deal-breaker for you.

Licensing Fees

As of 2020, the MGA has a fixed annual license fee of €25,000 for B2C (business to customer) companies. On the other hand, B2B (business to business) companies pay a fee of €10,000. Aside from that, there is also a processing fee that needs to be paid. This is higher when compared to other gambling jurisdictions such as Curacao. If you’re a startup with a tight budget, the Malta gaming industry might not be a good fit.

Lengthy Application Procedure

Because Malta’s licensing body scrutinizes all areas of an iGaming business, the process can be painstaking for operators. This is not a bad thing in its entirety. However, there are business owners who won’t choose a lengthy process when there is a shorter alternative elsewhere.

Final Thoughts

Malta’s continuous effort in iGaming innovations allows the country to remain at the forefront of the gaming industry. It seems to be gaining an edge in the competition even with countries like Sweden where various iGaming companies originated.

More iGaming businesses such as online casinos favor Malta operations. On the other hand, Sweden is in hot waters because of recent changes in its gambling laws. The Swedish Gambling Authority, Spelinspektionen, received criticism from Swedish gambling license holders like William Hill, Betsson, NetEnt, Kindred Group, and LeoVegas.

If more issues arise with other gambling jurisdictions, the industry might witness more iGaming businesses swimming towards Malta shore

Predictions for the Future of iGaming

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

For any industry, being able to spot trends and plan for the future is an essential part of success. Large organizations pay huge sums of money to analyze and predict consumer behavior to inform their upcoming business strategy. The iGaming industry is no different, and each year people make predictions as to what the upcoming year may bring.

2020 was a strange year for iGaming and the world as a whole as a pandemic gripped the world and many countries enforced shutdowns. This led to the postponement of sports and the closure of retail casinos, affecting both sports betting and brick and mortar casino gaming. On the other hand, online casinos saw their profits increase as more people than ever signed up to play.

While it’s impossible to know what the future holds for 2021, we can make some educated predictions as to what the year may hold based on current trends and recent events. Below are some of the top predictions from industry experts relating to the iGaming industry in 2021.

Industry Growth

The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people choosing to gamble online, and it’s expected for this to continue to grow. 2020 saw the emergence of the COVID virus which has meant that non-essential businesses have had to close their doors, including many sportsbooks and casinos. This has led to a growing number of gamblers signing up for online sites, and this growth will no doubt continue into 2021 as lockdowns persist across the world.

The online gambling industry has been predicted to grow at a CAGR of 11.5%, reaching a $127.3 billion value by 2027. This growth is partly thanks to the increasing number of gambling brands that are moving online as well as the availability of mobile gaming. In 20202, around 3 billion people had access to a smartphone, and a large percentage of those regularly used their phones to play games. With more gambling sites optimizing for mobile use, 2021 will no doubt see an increase in the number of people signing up to play and bet from their phones or tablets.

New Payment Methods Including Adoption of Cryptocurrency

Making payments at online gambling sites is often a significant barrier of entry for a lot of potential players. While most sites try to make the payment process as simple as possible, there are often still a lot of hoops that the customer needs to jump through to make a deposit. On top of security concerns, this often puts off a lot of would-be online gamblers, leading to lower revenues.

The iGaming industry is always looking for ways to improve the payment process, and as a result, we predict that 2021 will see several changes in how payments can be made. Services like Trustly offer a more secure method for online payments and provide peace of mind to consumers as well as making the payment process much simpler. As these services grow in popularity, we expect to see more online casinos and sportsbooks accepting them as payment methods.

Cryptocurrency had a great year in 2020 as coins such as Bitcoin surged in popularity and significantly increased in value. This rise in value was partly thanks to PayPal now allowing cryptocurrencies to be bought and sold through its platform and will potentially lead to wider adoption of these digital currencies. At the moment, major cryptocurrencies are accepted by only a few gambling sites and not many of the major brands. In 2021, this is expected to change as more sites start to see the value in accepting crypto payments and will even offer withdrawals in major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

More focus on eSports Betting

eSports were some of the few competitions which were largely unaffected by the global shutdown in 2020. While major sports leagues such as the NBA, NFL and Premier League all closed down temporarily, eSports were able to continue online. This brought the spotlight onto a sport that’s been gradually increasing its market share in the past few years.

eSports have gone from a relatively fringe event to a mainstream hobby recently. It has gained further legitimacy from sportsbooks that now offer markets on lots of different eSports events. When sports bettors had reduced options to bet on, they found that eSports were still available and the number of eSports bets placed during this period rose significantly. It remains to be seen whether this will cause an increase in the number of eSports fans, but considering the sport has been growing steadily in popularity, we expect it to continue.

With major sports leagues potentially facing more shutdowns in 2021, we expect that more sportsbooks will start to offer markets on eSports events as they’ll be keen to avoid further losses in revenue. Major eSports competitions are expected to continue online, for now, avoiding any major disruption to schedules.

Expanding Markets in Indian and Latin America

The Indian iGaming market is currently worth an estimated $930 million and is going through a period of rapid growth. The market’s total value is expected to quadruple over the next decade, putting it as one of the largest gambling markets in the world. There’s a growing interest among Indians in traditional sports betting as well as eSports betting and casino gaming. The market is still relatively new with little saturation and plenty of opportunities for companies to grow provided they have one of the accepted licenses to operate in the country.

Latin America, particularly Brazil and Colombia, are also emerging and showing potential for growth in iGaming. Colombia was the first Latin American country to fully legalize and regulate online gambling in 2016. Growing demand for sports betting and other forms of gambling mean the country is an excellent opportunity for iGaming businesses. Brazil’s gambling market has largely been illegal, but recent years have seen the introduction of new regulations, and the country looks poised to allow online gambling. It’s worth noting that Brazil has the fourth-highest number of internet users in the world, showing the massive potential for iGaming growth in the country.

Final Thoughts

After an unusual 2020, there’s still a lot of uncertainty over how 2021 will look. What we can expect, however, is that the online iGaming industry will continue growing and developing. The growth of the mobile market is another big factor as more sites optimise for mobile users and include mobile-only features. With growth into new markets and emerging demand for eSports betting, the future looks bright for online iGaming.

Ultimate Online Casino Winning Game Plan

September 30, 2021 Charlene Gatt

Get The Most Out of Your Online Casino Experience Through The Power of Strategy

In this article we will discover the following:

The benefits of a game plan
Using psychology to win more and lose less
How to make online casinos even more fun

Online casinos can be a great form of entertainment and possibly even a way to earn some extra cash when you hit a lucky streak. The downside of luck is unfortunately a part of the game when fortune is involved.

As much as we like it not to be there, it is part of lady fortune. A game plan can help you to take inventory of both the possible losses but also the sweet wins when playing at an online casino.

Setting Boundaries

As great as online casinos can be because of the excitement involved, it is also this excitement that can make the experience quickly turn sour when sitting down at the digital tables.

When you hit a bad streak of luck the possibility of winning big will seem even more attractive since nobody likes to lose money. To help prevent ending up in a downward spiral, you should define the monetary boundaries that are acceptable to you.

Wins & Losses

At the end of a run, there is really nothing that can compare to the feeling we get when we walk away from the tables with extra cash stashed in our accounts. Besides the entertainment factor, an online casino is about money. Winning and losing are both realities that come with playing the games.

One important thing is that although luck is a factor in the outcome of every online casino game, in the end, the house always has an advantage. No matter how small or large this edge is, if you stay at the virtual tables for long enough the casino will win.

Leaving with extra money is therefore only possible if you know when to walk away. Set clear goals for both your wins and losses. Setting an amount of money you can afford to lose is something you will have heard many times but defining wins is just as important, if not more important.

How many people hit a nice winning streak only to keep on playing because the mind is always looking for more? Then with more and more plays, the house advantage creeps back in and the profit is gone again. Defining when you can be satisfied with a winning streak can give you the discipline to walk away when you hit that sweet number.

Deadstops: Time & Emotion

Profit and losses are very clear limits you can set when playing at online casinos and you just have to look at the numbers of your account to know where you are at. When playing at an online casino it is possible however that you will not hit either your profit goal or reach your loss cut-off.

The factors of time and emotion can then also be a great guide for your game plan. You can decide beforehand to walk away when you are feeling great because it will make your memory of the experience even sweeter.

Negative emotions can also be an important indicator if you should keep playing. Sometimes it is just better to leave luck alone for a while, cool off, and return with a clear head so you can enjoy the games again.

Lastly, time is a very pragmatic measurement you can use when setting up your gameplan. As fun as online casinos can be, it is easy to get lost in the limitless possibilities. Do not forget that there is an entire world for you to explore outside of the online casinos and make time for other things in life that you enjoy!

Mindset

In your game plan, it is also helpful to be aware of the general mindset that you have when you start playing at online casinos. In the end, online casinos have both pleasant and less pleasant sides to them. When you decide to take both factors into account and turn them into a strong mindset your entire experience will be much better.

Expected bumps

As we have mentioned throughout this article, online casinos can be a mixed bag with great things waiting for you to happen but can also cause you to run into bad luck. When you start your favorite online casino game with the awareness that losing is a reality it can actually make everything more fun.

This might seem counterintuitive but when you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. When you already expect to hit a bad streak or lose money it will not upset you that much because you knew it was coming. At the same time, it will make the wins so much sweeter. You expected to lose some money but in the end, the opposite happened, how awesome is that?!

These described expected bumps do not only exist in the games that you play in online casinos. Another factor is the way that our minds work and how they can sometimes trick you.

Check out our other blog which discusses some common errors in thinking that everyone experiences. Again, when you become aware of these bumps they will not hit that hard and you can actually use them to your advantage!

Making your game plan

The most important thing when you play at an online casino is that you are enjoying yourself and that you have fun with it! Using the tips we discussed you can decide what is important to you. You can make the plan as simple or as complex as you want but in the end it is there for you to help you get the best experience you can.

Have fun and feel the excitement of every play that you make because what is on the other side is out of your control. Ride the waves and enjoy the process of playing at online casinos. To find the best casinos be sure to check out our online casino reviews so you land at the right place from the start!

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Vegas After Coronavirus — Debates of How to Reopen

September 30, 2021 Charlene Gatt

It wasn’t that long ago that the state of Nevada reported the death of its first COVID-19 victim in Carson City. What followed after was the state’s mandate to shut down all non-essential services for a period of 30 days in mid-March.

As you can imagine, all hotels, conventions, bars, and restaurants had to close down. However, the hardest hit was the closure of all casinos along the Vegas Strip, leaving thousands of workers in a state of turmoil.

Some, like Sin City’s Wynn Resorts, shut down its doors way before the order and promised to retain its workers with pay for up to two weeks since they could only do so much.

With the severed incomes and impact on the state economy, the Mayor, Carolyn Goodman, recently called for businesses to return to usual. Could this be a glimmer of hope during these dark times?

Sin City’s recovery meets opposing forces

In a recent interview, the Mayor pointed out that this wasn’t the state’s first encounter with a deadly virus. She also pointed out they have faced far many challenging obstacles, such as the financial crisis of 2008 that the country recently recovered from. However, what she didn’t know was that the greatest opposition would come from the governor of Nevada, Steve Sisolak.

Goodman’s fight against COVID-19 is limited to her authority. The real power lies with governor, Steve Sisolak, who issued a statement saying that the state would not be used as a control group. He prioritized the worker’s health and mentioned that they were not ready to open their doors just yet.

Another opposing force was the secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union, Geoconda Argüello-Kline, who also called out the Mayor on her outrageous statements. Most workers were also quick to issue their concerns about returning to work in such unpredictable times.

While the matter was still under debate, the Nevada Gaming Control Board went on to issue their strict guidelines underlining the steps required for the casinos to re-open their doors.

Recovery on the Las Vegas strip said to take after Macau casinos

Nevada’s casino executives are now looking up to Macau, who recently re-opened casino doors to the public under strict restrictions. As the world’s largest gambling market, it surprisingly shut down its operations for less than a month. This is despite it being in close proximity to mainland China, where the virus allegedly hailed from. So, what measures did they undertake?

Through the local government, Macau casinos had to increase the number of testing kits at the entrances of all casinos. They also had their employees attest to their health by undergoing regular temperature checks. However, the biggest change of all had to reduce the number of gambling stations to enhance social distancing restrictions.

Can American casinos adopt the “Macau strategy”

The Western casinos were quick to pick on these guidelines and even came up with some of their own. It shouldn’t be too hard considering most western based casinos have more slots machines rather than tables. Their only strife would come on the use of face masks. Up to this day, many Americans still walk the streets unprotected. Enforcing this, as a rule, would play well on their part.

As a result, Las Vegas operators such as Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment Corp., as well as the Las Vegas Sands Corp all gave their input on re-opening their doors. Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox explains his decision to retain his employees, dubbing it as a cheaper option. On the other hand, they’d have to fire the existing employees (which wouldn’t go well with the workers Union), hire and train workers, and hope that the standards would not be altered.

COVID affects other hospitality businesses

The talks again fell to Geoconda Argüello-Kline, who after serious reconsiderations, came to soften his stance with time. He reported that the deliberations would not only be limited to Vegas casinos on the Strip but also to potential small local businesses. He went on to urge the companies to enhance their cleaning techniques and allow special teams to bring in new chemicals.

Other measures to be undertaken included talks of reopening facilities such as hotels nearby. Since Las Vegas profits well of gambling tourism, they’d have to reconsider that too. Excellent proposals included limiting the number of rooms by only opening hotels up to a third of its capacity. Tourists would also have to take temperature tests and other mandatory coronavirus tests at the entrances of every outlet.

With the new measures in mind, it was up to the Nevada governor, Sisolak, to approve of the grand re-opening. However, he recently stated, “I don’t have an exact number, but I’ll take a lot of advice from our medical folks and determine what’s in the best interest of keeping all Nevadans safe.” As pressure mounted on him with all eyes glued to his statements, he also reassured Nevadans that the decision of when to reopen would not be a political decision.

Impact on reopening Las Vegas casinos

As the heated talks were underway, one major hotel-casino on the Las Vegas strip went ahead to formulate plans of the city’s reopening. Treasure Island rolled out its plans by undertaking reservations for tourists’ arrivals set as early as May 15th. They would, however, have to wait for the reopening plans to pass through the Gaming Control Board.

The underlying issue, however, was how the state and the country would pick it up. Whether strict laws are issued, there are many unscrupulous businesses that prioritize capitalizing on profits as opposed to looking after the health of their workers.

Vegas businesses wrestle with restrictions

I saw it right after the Nevada governor ordered the closure of all non-essential services when one strip club called Little Darlings defied these orders. Instead, they used the opportunity to increase their sales by advertising on their “coronavirus free” dancers, and nude hand sanitizer wrestling.

However, once the authorities closed in on their activities, they put up a sign, “Sorry, we’re clothed.” Other signs like the MGM Grand read, “Stay safe, stay strong, we look forward to welcoming you back soon,” with the #VegasStronger set into place.

Nonetheless, should the doors reopen, the state would report a decrease in the number of unemployment applications. With every passing week, unemployment filings rise with up to 41,000 new cases reported every week. Reopening the industry would see more people working.

What baffled me was the fact that with everything going around, the state considered reopening its casinos while schools remain closed. That goes to show the law’s interpretation of essential services provision.

Other impacts of COVID-19 in Vegas Nevada

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected the closure of casinos but the gaming industry as a whole. In 2019, the Las Vegas Strip recorded total revenue of $6 billion worth of gaming revenue. In comparison, Macau casinos made $36.6 billion over the same period.

As more confirmed positive cases spread, so did the decline of more visitors into the region. This, in turn, led to a decline in revenue generated during the first quota of the year. Tourist bans as a result of the closure of land-based casinos became more apparent in states that have since then embraced total lockdown.

Other major sporting events that got axed include all performing tours by various artists as well as major conventions and Trade shows. The most highlighted gatherings include the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), and The Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT).

The state also stood in solidarity with the rest of the globe in its cancellation of all major sporting events. Major football leagues such as the NFL and English Premier League, the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics, cricket, motorsport, rugby union, boxing, and MMA all took a hit. Moreover, most tourists would drop their kids at Disneyland and drive off to Vegas only a day’s ride away. That is also not possible following the shutdown as well as state lockdown.

Some winners emerge from the pandemic

However, it’s not all negative with the COVID-19 pandemic. In regard to sports, most online gaming sites have recorded a 40% increase in the number of new registrations. This follows the subsequent increase in the number of unemployment cases. As a result, the online community has recorded more revenue generated during this crisis period as more people spend time indoors.

Moreover, there have also been reports on the nature trade-off paradigm shift. In Italy, the return of dolphins back to the canals was something that had not been seen for a while. Other countries also reported on a reduction in noise pollution rates as under the stay-at-home rule. With that same regard, the state of Nevada, which is home to 3.08 million residents as of 2019, has also seen a significant reduction in pollution.

Weighing the costs and benefits for a better future

That said, the reopening of businesses, as usual, opens up the possibilities of economic benefits. On the other hand, it also opens up the risk of spreading the virus to innocent Nevadans. One thing is for sure though; Las Vegas will either emerge stronger or weaker depending on how the situation is handled.

What are Online Casinos Doing to Help With Gambling Addictions

September 30, 2021 Charlene Gatt

Gambling addictions here in North America is a habit that affects around 10 million people across the states where gambling is legal. Many players won’t admit to their addiction but it’s something that should be addressed.

The questions are what is gambling addiction and what are online casinos doing to help? Could they be doing a better job? And what are other organizations doing? Here we will look at everything online casinos do to help with gambling addictions and some things players can do themselves.

What is a Gambling Addiction?

Gambling addiction is also known as pathological gambling or gambling disorder. It’s the lack of ability to stop yourself from gambling no matter the circumstances.

Players with a gambling addiction can’t control when or where they gamble even if they’re down to their last cent or are up by $100. Players even skip out on social activities to stay in and gamble online. There are plenty of options for players to take to stop their addictions on a personal level. But we will look more at what casinos have on their platforms to help our players.

Gambling addiction also has a more scientific background to it. Players who suffer from substance abuse, depression, stress, and anxiety have also shown that they suffer from gambling addictions. Many players feel like they can’t turn things around, but there are ways to get onto the right track and move forward. Addiction can be a very complex thing but here you’ll find out what casinos do to help.

What Casinos Do to Help?

The main goal of online casinos is to get players onto their platforms, playing games, and staying to play longer. They do this by providing customers with lots of promotions and bonuses.

Online casinos don’t tell players that they have gambling addictions. How can they? They can’t diagnose someone through a screen, but they can provide players with all the possible options to help themselves.

The only person that can stop the addiction is the player. Online casinos actively help players at multiple steps from the sign up to telling players they’ve been playing for 30 minutes or an hour.

Deposit limit

During the signup stages, online casinos will provide steps for players to take if they feel like they have a gambling addiction. One of the settings is a deposit limit, this can be anywhere between $10 to $1000 and more. It’s set to stop players from depositing more than their maximum amount.

Deposit limits help with money management and prevent players from gambling too much when they can’t control themselves. With this players can set the limit to refresh weekly or monthly depending on their needs. They can have a smaller limit over weeks that can be done or a bigger limit over months. It’s down to personal preference at the end of the day.

Time Limit

The other precaution online casinos have is setting a timer that tells players how long they’ve been playing. This is a reality check timer and can be set to go off every 30 minutes or 1 hour. Many players lose track of time so it’s a good way to inform them that it’s time to stop playing and take a break. The signs usually come up no matter what game is being played and even says how long players have played.

If players have opted to ignore both steps and want to set them later on, it can usually be found in the account settings. Online casinos will let players change the limits if they wish to whenever they choose fit. However, the limit does not change instantly. It takes a day or two to change, this too makes gamblers think about changing the limit. A lot of addicts will say “this will take too long” and leave the limit as it is. It’s a good way to stop players from changing limits when their emotions are high.

Loss Limit

The loss limit stops players from losing more money than they are willing to give up. It’s another great way to help with money management and addiction. Players can set any loss limit they deem fit for their accounts. If players set a limit of $100 they won’t be able to lose more than $100 in the time frame set, which can be a week or month.

The limit doesn’t include the money they’ve won. So, for instance, if players win $50 and lose that $50 it won’t contribute to the loss limit. However, if they lose the $50 and then start losing the original $100 then it will contribute to the limit. Once the limit is hit players won’t be able to place bets till the time period is refreshed.

Time Off and Self Exclusion

Players can take time off from gambling at online casinos in two forms. Those being normal time off-limits and self exclusions. Time off can be anywhere between a few days to 6 weeks. These limits are good or players who can take a short break from gambling if they feel like it started to consume their lives a bit.

Self exclusions are a bit more serious than time off-limits. The self exclusions are for players who are looking to take extended time away from gambling. These players can take off 6 months to a year or even 5 years from gambling. Self exclusions are typically carried out by players who have severe addictions and need to stop for a long time.

During the exclusion period, the players won’t be able to sign in to their accounts. Once the time is up they’ll usually have to contact the casino to reopen the account. This is the point where the customer service rep will ask questions like “do you still feel addicted to gambling?”

gambling_addiction_casinocompare — *Don’t overdo it at online casinos*

Self exclusions can also be made permanent. This stops players from playing forever, and they can’t open a new account with the online casino. Players with permanent self-exclusion cannot return to the website in the future.

Account Verification

It’s imperative to get the account verified when signing up for online casinos. This is usually done by sending in identification like a driver’s license or passport. Account verification allows the online casino to check if players are a high priority and on gambling watch. This allows casinos to take action to help these players with their addictions and close accounts.

Other Information

There is a lot of information for players on all online casino’s websites. They have responsible gambling tabs posts throughout the entire website. These tabs direct players to information about responsible gambling and the steps they can take to stop if they feel addicted. Most online casinos have the links at the top of the website and towards the bottom. It’s usually easy to find.

What else is on these pages you might ask? Well, these pages have external website links that are made specifically to help players with addiction. They also have hotline numbers for players to contact. These hotlines have professionals to help players get over addiction and assist in putting them on the right track again.

What Can Players Do to Stop?

Many players feel like online casinos don’t do enough to help stop gambling addiction. There are personal things to do and stop, which help with money management and get players out of debt and being unable to pay bills. Here are a few things to do and stop.

Things to Do

Pay any important bills for instance rent or card bills before gambling. It reduces the chances of having severe money problems by missing rent or not being able to pay other bills.
Find hobbies that consume time. This helps to keep the mind off gambling and other activities.
Make friends with people who don’t gamble. It will help to stop the temptation of tagging along to land-based casinos or hearing about their big wins.

Things Not To Do

Don’t view gambling as a form of income or a way to make money. Look at gambling as a way to have fun rather than a money-making scheme.
Don’t take credit cards to land-based casinos. It can lead to spending more than you want to and debts can be made doing this.
Don’t cut yourself away from the world. Speak to people about the addiction as it always helps in taking the first step to stop.
Don’t turn to gamble when emotionally distressed. This is how a lot of players get caught in the addiction by playing when they are upset or not feeling good.

Final Thoughts

Online casinos actively work with gambling aware organizations to make sure their players are kept safe from gambling addictions. The entire platform has multiple measures like deposit limits, loss limits, and time limits, and more to help with staying aware.

Everything’s made safe for players to keep within their limits and ensure their social lives are intact and keep relationships strong in the process. With external hotlines available to the players it’s also a great way to voice addictions and talk about it to professionals. Online casinos make it easy for players to gamble and stay safe gambling.

Online Casinos: The Good and The Ugly

September 30, 2021 Charlene Gatt

With the creation of the internet in the early 80s, it was only a matter of time for casinos to get their games onto the internet. It was not until the late 90s when online casinos were made. Back then, online casinos weren’t trusted because of uncertainties with players putting their card details into a computer screen.

It was a matter of time before players began to trust online casinos, and now they are as popular as traditional land-based casinos. Online casinos are so popular now because of the added benefits players get when they sign up. Great marketing and promotions are what’s got online casinos on the map.

History of Online Casinos

The first online casino was made in 1996 and was named InterCasino. The online casino took its first bets in 1996 and was the start of what would become a multibillion industry in America alone.

1996 also marks the establishment of NetEnt, one of the best online casino game developers in the world. In 1996, they developed some amazing games that really pushed the online casino world forward.

Without NetEnt we would be missing out on some amazing online games. In 1998 the world’s first online poker game was produced and things were flying for the online gambling business. Huge revenues of $834 million were made in 1998, a lot of cash for a newly developed domain.

Let’s roll forward to 2006. This is the year when online gambling was hit and took a nosedive. The U.S government banned online gambling. This threw the online gambling world into a huge mess, with potentially billions of dollars being lost.

It was only until 2012 when the first state in Delaware where online casinos were legalized. In 2013, online gambling began again in the state. Slowly other states began to allow online gambling such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Nevada.

What’s so Good About Online Casinos?

Online casinos have come a long way in the past decade. With these great strides, land-based casinos see fewer players coming in to gamble. That’s because players can open a laptop, tablet, or phone and play from the comfort of their homes. Great marketing online and TV adverts have made online casinos super popular.

You can’t go a day without seeing an advert telling you to come to sign up with the greatest bonuses. The thing is they aren’t lying, the bonuses really are amazing for new players. So here’s the good stuff you can expect from online casinos.

The Interface

Online casinos make it easy for players to navigate around the website. The best parts of the website are visible and placed in eye-catching areas. For instance, you’ll find your profile in the top corners, with the deposit button usually next to it. The deposit buttons are always big and flashy so players can find it to add funds to their accounts.

The best online casinos have glitch-free websites, where everything runs super smoothly. The only time the website runs slow is if the players have to have issues with their devices or internet connections. Profile pages always have all the information about your accounts on them and it’s all in clear view. Honestly, it’s hard to say anything bad about the top online casino interfaces when they are so well-developed.

The Games

Online casino games are some of the best games you can find. There are usually two main games developers that are used online, those are Evolution Gaming and NetEnt. They both provide online casinos with virtual games like blackjack, slots, and many more games, alongside live games.

The live casinos are amazing as they have live dealers and live chats so you can interact with other players. Online games are diverse with 1000s of different types you can find. Slots have different themes so you’ll always find something that looks appealing to the eye. The games are always updated as well so it’s not going to be the same old games popping up.

Return to Player Percentage (RTP)

The RTP for online casinos is much higher than offline casinos. Online casinos will have RTP that can reach as high as 99% on certain games. This means on average for every $100 wagered players will get back $99. Offline casinos can have RTP as low as 75% on some of their slot machines. It’s not as attractive as what online casinos provide.

The Security

Security is a big thing for any online website that handles people’s money. Online casinos have some of the best security to keep players’ funds safe. Online casinos use either a 128 or 256-bit encryption system. That’s the same encryption level that banks use so it’s safe to say online casinos keep personal data as safe as possible.

The Bonuses

The number one marketing tactic online casinos use is the welcome bonus. Online casinos will give players bonuses to sign up and deposit funds to their accounts. It’s just a way to get more players onto the platform. They usually provide players with a match bonus that gives 100% more money on their deposit.

That means if you deposit let’s say $100, the online casino will give you another $100 free. There is always a catch with free money. The online casino will expect players to reach the wagering limit set before they can withdraw any bonus money given to them. It also applies to money won with the bonus money.

Some online casinos will give free money when joining the online website. It can be great but it’s not a lot of cash. They usually give out $10 maximum for free. It’s probably enough to play a few games of online blackjack. Free money is always good, so there’s no harm in giving it a go.

The Ugly

There are always going to be bad things about gambling online. Online gambling has its drawbacks for some players with psychological negatives that come into play. For instance, getting addicted to gambling is a huge issue with online casinos. This will see players gamble huge sums of money and end up in debt.

This usually has negative effects on social life and relationships for people who get addicted. Online casinos try to regulate addiction but it doesn’t seem to be enough because they put the decision into the player’s hands. So here are a few things you might want to know about the ugly side of online casinos and gambling.

It’s Extremely Convenient

Online casinos make it very easy to play games. Some say it’s far too easy playing from the comfort of your home because it leads to negative gambling habits. Players seem to get carried away playing for hours, that’s because the online casinos are 24 hours and don’t close their doors.

It’s true that traditional land-based casinos can be 24 hours, but the live table games are usually open at peak hours when people come in. Live casinos online are always available and have players on the table at all times of the day.

Cash-Out / Withdrawal Delays

The thing that annoys players the most is the delay of cashouts. Once you make your withdrawal it takes between 3-5 working days for the money to reach your account. This means you won’t see your winning in your bank account for a week at the maximum. Online casinos are quick to take your money but take a while to give it back. It’s much different from land-based casinos where you can instantly get your winnings at the cashier’s desk.

Some online casinos give players the option to cancel their withdrawals before it’s been processed. This can lead to gambling addicts to relapse and cancel their withdrawals. Addicted players then carry on playing a few hours later. The best thing to do here is to disable the account for a few days till the online casino has processed the money.

Online Hacking

Online casinos have some of the best security in the world mentioned earlier. However, players don’t have the same level of security on their laptops. A lot of players don’t have anti-virus software and are liable to be hacked through their own computers. This is an issue some players don’t understand too well. Many think that if the online casino is secure then their devices are secured too.

The main issue here is if players save their banking details to their laptops. This is where hackers have the ability to steal banking details. Your banking details are safe on the online casino, but if they are saved onto the browser then there is a possibility of funds being stolen from your bank account. The best thing to do is never store your banking details on a device that doesn’t have top-level security.

What Can You Take From This?

There are a few key points to take away here. Online casinos are made for the players to have a good time and get the most out of their experience. Casinos do as much as possible to get you to the website by using bonuses and promotions. Their security is also amazing and can’t be flawed.

However, players also need antivirus security on their laptops to keep any other information saved on their devices safe. The final key point to take away is that online addictions with gambling are a real thing and can cause a negative impact on players’ lives.

Remember to always have fun when playing online and don’t let addiction get the better of you. There’s always something better out there for players who are addicted.