Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
Casino gambling in the US used to be quite straightforward. You could not do it legally unless you were in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or on a Louisiana riverboat. Casino gambling required a trip or vacation to a designated casino location or a series of nods, winks and backhand payments to gain access to a shady private poker club. Despite all of these regulations and prohibitions, gambling continued.
The gambling scene across the USA has changed dramatically in recent years. This has been due to a combination of factors, including a shift to online gambling, efforts by State legislatures to legalize gambling within their state, and the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down PASPA’s nationwide ban on sports betting. While the 2018 Supreme Court ruling was probably the most reported change and officially only affected sports gambling, it has led to a societal shift in views about gambling in general.
Hannah Cutajar explained, “Gambling in some form or another is now legal in almost every US state. While online casino gambling for real money is still only legal in a handful of states, this has not stopped people from finding a way to enjoy online casino gambling across the country and in a totally legal way. Different casinos are available depending on location. Real money online casino gambling is allowed in:
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- West Virginia
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
Outside of these seven states, online casino gambling is still available but not for real money – you can play social or sweepstakes casino games in the other US states. Rather than wagering with real money, these casinos accept virtual coins, and the casino games are played for free, and players are not wagering on their outcome. However, real money prizes can be won via sweepstakes tournaments, with the coins won in these tournaments being redeemable for cash.”
“This means there is a great deal of choice and possible confusion for online casino gamblers across the USA. Whether you enjoy playing online slots, video versions of table games, or pitting your skill against a live dealer, there is lots of fun to be had. However, there are also plenty of pitfalls that an unwary player can fall for. Unfortunately, some online casinos are nothing more than fronts for money-laundering operations or out-and-out scams.”
Hannah goes on to explain, “This is why the experts at Casino.org have a twenty-five-stage review process of what is out there to ensure players can avoid the bad sites and get the most out of the good ones. You might think it is enough for a legal online casino to have a state seal from organizations like the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Michigan Gaming Control Board, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, and the West Virginia Lottery. While this is a quick way to check you are playing at a safe casino, it does not guarantee you are playing at a good one or one that offers the best games to suit your playing style.”
Casino.org features real-money and sweepstakes casinos that have been rated by Hannah Cutajar to give players a much more in-depth view of what they can expect from the sites. Rather than just diving in, Hannah says,
“I always read the casino reviews to help me decide whether to sign up with a new site. Getting someone else’s first-hand experience at a casino gives you a much better insight. If I’m being especially thorough, I like to check forums and app store reviews, too.”
This means that even the reviewers and experts check out the reviews. What people are saying matters. The tricky thing can sometimes be knowing who to trust. Many reviewers and influencers make recommendations based on what is in their best interests and not the players. For example, if they are paid to promote a specific site, they are more likely to push people towards a particular casino. Casino.org’s reviewers follow criteria, which means their recommendations are data-driven and not purely subjective.
“Of course, we all have our personal preferences”, adds Hannah, “However, while we add our own comments and observations, the rating system and scoring are worked out by judging the casinos against the same scorecard. We see how they measure up in terms of:
· Fairness, safety, and security
· Bonuses and promotions
· Casino games and software
· Mobile casino and app experience
· Payment methods and speed
· Customer service
“We do not just take the casino’s word for it either. We sign up, create accounts, go through the verification process, make deposits, play games, cash out any winnings, and contact customer services.”
She tells us, clearly tongue in cheek, that it is a tough job, but somebody has to do it. While being an online casino reviewer might sound like your dream job, it is certainly not all fun and games. The data collected is compiled, and the reviews are written. The researchers check out exactly what payment options are available and ensure everything behind the scenes is in order.
“Unfortunately, as well as finding some excellent sites, we also encounter some real shockers. Because we are independent, we can tell the truth to our readers. We have compiled an ‘avoid’ list of online casinos that people should steer clear of. This can be due to a range of reasons, including:
- Unprofessional customer support
- Site operators linked to questionable practices
- Not paid players their winnings
- Slow payouts (one took more than 18 months to pay)
- Misleading claims about their licenses
- Locked-out accounts.”
You might wonder how to know who to trust and why Casino.org is any different. Hannah explains, “Following the legalization of online gambling, Casino.org obtained vendor licenses or registrations in 10 US states, including Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. As part of the application process, states carry out investigative background checks, meaning it is not just our readers who trust us but state gambling regulators, too.”
“We are also active in US states that do not require us to be registered or obtain a vendor license, like Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, and Kansas, and we monitor regulatory developments to make sure we hold all the correct permissions. We like to think we are as tough on ourselves as we are the online casinos. Quality matters.”