5 Reasons Why Your Casino Withdrawal Is Failing

Jamie Smith, Guest Author at BestCasinoSites.net


Withdrawing Winnings from Casino Sites

Most of the time, players should have no problems withdrawing winnings from online casinos. The process is usually straightforward and can be done in a few minutes within the cashier. Players can choose from a range of different payment methods to process a withdrawal from their preferred fast payout casinos.

However, sometimes casino users can experience issues when they are trying to withdraw their money. There are myriad reasons behind online casino withdrawal problems, so let’s take a look at the top five.

1. Delays in Processing Casino Withdrawals

The most typical casino withdrawal issues are simply due to delays in the transaction being processed.

It is recommended to check the casino site’s time period for payouts in their terms and conditions. The same information is also often detailed on a payments page, or within the casino cashier itself.

Some payment methods are slower than others to pay out. For example, using an e-wallet like PayPal is likely to result in faster payouts than choosing a bank transfer at the casino cashier.

Most of the time, players who choose an e-wallet to withdraw winnings will get their money within just a few hours.

Unless it has been more than a week since attempting to withdraw winnings, it might be best to sit tight and wait a while to see if the money comes through.

However, an option is to get in touch with the casino site’s customer service department as they will often be able to provide details of any delays with withdrawals that are ongoing.

2. Wrong Payment Method Selected

Players do not always get a free choice over which payment method to use for casino withdrawals.

Many online casino withdrawal problems are therefore as a result of players picking the wrong payment method at the casino cashier. Some sites only allow certain payment methods from some countries too.

As an example, casinos typically require their players to make a withdrawal via the same payment method that was selected by them to add funds.

For example, players who used a Visa debit card to make a deposit into their preferred online casino site are unlikely to be able to withdraw winnings to a different MasterCard debit card.

On a similar note, it is also possible that players have made an error when inputting payment details.

It is easy to mistype a debit card number or bank account details, and that can lead to a casino withdrawal failure. Make sure to always double and triple-check any payment method information.

Payment methods are also subject to minimum and maximum withdrawal limits at most online casino sites as well. Another reason for a casino withdrawal failure may, therefore, just be that a player has attempted to take funds out of their account via a transaction that does not fit between these limits.

As well as limits for a single transaction, casino sites may have a set amount they will pay out to the same user each day, week or month.

Exceeding these limits can result in withdrawal problems, so it is best to check these figures in advance.

For a particularly large withdrawal – for example, if a player has been fortunate enough to win a jackpot when playing slots – it may be necessary to contact customer service.

3. Casino Bonus Conditions Haven’t Been Met

A common reason for casino withdrawal issues is that the terms and conditions of a site’s bonuses have not been completed by the player.

Users need to make sure that they have finished the wagering requirements of bonuses before they try to attempt a withdrawal, otherwise it is likely to fail.

There is usually a way to check the progress of wagering requirements so that players can make sure they have finished them before trying to withdraw winnings.

Another linked reason for a casino withdrawal failure could be that the attempted transaction is in excess of the maximum win limit for a bonus. Anything above that cap is likely to be rejected by the site.

Sites normally have this limit in place to protect themselves from losing a large amount of money from the casino bonuses that they offer.

As a result, it is always recommended to closely check the small print for bonus T&Cs before deciding whether or not to go for them.

4. Verification Documents or ID Checks Required

Casinos are required to verify the identity of players as part of their anti-money laundering checks and their know-your-customer (KYC) procedure. This can often lead to problems with withdrawals.

When users sign up for a casino account they will undergo some checks as standard automatically, but further measures are normally required when players are ready to withdraw winnings.

It is common for casino sites to require players to provide a form of ID, for example, a copy of their passport, before a withdrawal can be processed.

Most sites have an area where documents can be safely uploaded, or it is also often possible to send them as an attachment in an email.

Check closely what verification documents or ID forms are accepted before taking this step. Providing unclear images or an incorrect document is likely to lead to a casino withdrawal failure. To avoid casino withdrawal problems, it can be a good idea to provide the ID soon after signing up. That way, the site already has everything that it should need to process the withdrawal swiftly.

5. The Casino Site is not Legitimate

In very rare cases, players can experience a casino withdrawal problem due to signing up for an account with an operator that is unlicensed and unverified.

It is for this reason that it is recommended to only play with fully licensed and legal online casinos.

Players should also take care to read reviews of online casinos – from both experts and users – in order to assess whether a casino withdrawal failure is likely to be a problem.

Unscrupulous operators are unfortunately not uncommon in the world of online casino sites. Only ever sign up with an online casino site that has been thoroughly checked out and recommended properly.

What Should Players Do About a Casino Withdrawal Failure?

The very first thing players who are struggling with casino withdrawal problems should do is get in contact with the site’s customer service team.

Most online casinos have a live chat option that is staffed on a 24/7 basis these days. This is a strong first port of call for those who are trying to withdraw winnings out of the cashier without success.

Some sites also provide telephone or email customer support, or even help via social media channels on sites such as Facebook or X, which used to be known as Twitter.

Players can decide which customer support option suits them the best, but live chat is usually the best way to go due to the speedy responses provided.

When asking customer service agents about a casino withdrawal failure, users should be firm but friendly and ensure they have all the necessary details about the transaction to hand.

For example, it is crucial to know exactly when the casino withdrawal problems have occurred and how much the failed transaction was for.

The agent should be able to check on the casino site’s system to see the status of the withdrawal. It might be something as simple as a technical glitch behind the scenes causing delays to payments.

Sometimes, customer service will not help users with a casino withdrawal failure. The next step is therefore to consider raising a complaint.

Sites always have a customer complaint policy in place, and the opening step is normally to send an email with details of the problem.

The casino should aim to resolve the complaint within a few weeks, but players still have another option to go for in the event of them not being satisfied with the outcome.

In the UK, for example, players can make a complaint via Resolver if they are finding it difficult to withdraw money from an online casino.

The process for making a complaint about an online casino site can be different in each country.

A good step is always to check where a casino site has received its licence from and check that out.

However, most of the time, a casino withdrawal failure is due to one of the five reasons detailed above.

About the author

Name Jamie Smith
Job Freelance Writer Specialising in iGaming

Jamie Smith is a writer with almost 5 years experience in the iGaming industry. He graduated Journalism and he is interested in providing informative and engaging content.

Gambling related content should be informative, engaging and free from clutter and confusion.



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Cómo Establecer Metas Realistas para Tener Éxito en la Recuperación del Juego Problemático

How to Set Realistic Goals for Success in Problem Gambling Recovery


Si estás considerando que tu juego puede estar fuera de control, aquí hay algo que debes tener en cuenta: ¿de qué manera te satisface el juego? Muchos jugadores comienzan a jugar por diversión, como una forma de socializar con otros, mientras que algunos dicen que es “para ganar dinero”. El juego problemático puede comenzar cuando alguien piensa que es una buena forma de escapar de la vida y sus tensiones, o que resolverá todos sus problemas con una sola “gran victoria”. Esto es frecuentemente donde el juego cruza la línea hacia el juego desordenado. Es cuando el juego ya no es divertido. Puede ser una necesidad de escapar de otros problemas en la vida de uno, un deseo compulsivo de una victoria que nunca se logrará, no importa cuánto tiempo o dinero gaste el jugador. 

Si sientes que puedes haber llegado a este punto en tu experiencia de juego, entonces ahora es un buen momento para comunicarte con alguien que conozca tu situación. Alguien que esté disponible al otro lado del teléfono las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, para ayudarte y apoyarte. En Florida, esta conexión con el apoyo al juego problemático se puede encontrar las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, enviando un mensaje de texto o llamando a la línea de ayuda confidencial y multilingüe 888-ADMIT-IT.  

Exploraremos tu juego de esta manera; ¿qué necesidad satisfizo el juego para ti al principio? ¿Sigue siendo válida esta razón para ti hoy? Pregúntate por qué lo hace o por qué no te da el resultado que solía darte. Explora cómo han cambiado tus pensamientos y comportamientos de juego con el tiempo. Cuando intentes detener la locura y bajarte del tren del juego problemático, primero necesitas entender qué es lo que te gusta de él. ¿Qué te satisface que nada más puede darte? Una de las principales formas es que el juego compulsivo ayuda a alguien a escapar de algo incómodo en sus vidas, de la misma manera que el consumo de alcohol o drogas. Una vez que se comprende esto, entonces puedes encontrar formas de poner estas áreas en orden y llenar ese vacío con algo más. 

Echemos un vistazo a algunos factores estresantes en la vida de los que podrías estar tratando de escapar:  

  • Responsabilidades 
  • Una mala relación  
  • Dolor físico 
  • Dolor emocional 
  • Un trabajo estresante 
  • Soledad 
  • Consecuencias financieras 
  • Consecuencias legales  
  • Trauma pasado 

Comienza desde el principio respondiendo a la pregunta de cuál era el beneficio de tu juego. ¿El juego todavía tiene el mismo efecto para ti? ¿Por qué sí o por qué no? Y por último, ¿qué crees que sucedió para cambiar esto para ti? Si pensabas que el juego estaba solucionando algo en tu vida, ¿qué era? ¿Tuvo éxito? ¿Todavía lo tiene? 

“La mejor manera de escapar de un problema es resolverlo.”  

– Alan Saporta

Hay 8 impactos principales en la vida de la adicción: 

  1. Familiar 
  2. Social 
  3. Legal
  4. Físico 
  5. Financiero
  6. Espiritual
  7. Emocional
  8. Laboral 

Para trabajar en cada área mencionada anteriormente, debes explorar cada una individualmente. Establecer metas es la mejor manera de comenzar a hacer cambios, dando un paso a la vez. Al establecer metas, es importante hacerlas realistas desde donde te encuentras hoy, considerando todos los pequeños pasos que necesitas dar antes de obtener los resultados futuros que deseas. Al dar pequeños pasos, puedes ser y sentirte más exitoso y estar dispuesto a dar el siguiente pequeño paso. No hay una solución rápida para ninguno de estos problemas. Especialmente con el juego problemático, el riesgo de recaída es alto durante la recuperación. ¡Ten cuidado de sabotear tus propios esfuerzos actuando según las necesidades de gratificación inmediata, eso es la adicción hablando!

Para que una meta sea exitosa, debe ser específica, razonablemente alcanzable y medible.

Una vez que hayas encontrado algo de confianza en tener éxito con estos pequeños pasos hacia una meta, te resultará más fácil seguir cambiando para mejor. La pregunta es ¿cómo sabes cuándo has alcanzado la meta? Veamos un ejemplo con problemas financieros, y puedes trabajar a través de las áreas mencionadas anteriormente en las que necesitas trabajar. 

Ejemplo: Establecimiento de metas para problemas financieros 

  1. Describe el problema; “Tengo acreedores llamando sobre mis deudas de tarjetas de crédito, queriendo dinero. No puedo pagarles a todos, así que no pagaré a ninguno. Me da miedo llamarlos.”
  2. Meta: Iniciar un plan de pago para pagar las deudas con el tiempo.
  3. Primer paso pequeño para el cambio: “Llamaré ahora mismo a la línea de ayuda para el juego problemático 888-ADMIT-IT las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, para hablar con alguien que conozca la situación en la que me encuentro, quien me conectará con recursos gratuitos que pueden ayudar con problemas financieros y otros. No tengo que preocuparme por hablar con un especialista de la línea de ayuda, porque la conversación es 100% confidencial y sin prejuicios.”
  4. Segundo paso pequeño para el cambio: “Me sentaré el próximo domingo y revisaré todas las facturas que he estado arrojando a un rincón, temiendo mirarlas. Encontraré la factura más reciente para cada cuenta y tiraré el resto. Si crees que esto será demasiado abrumador emocionalmente para ti, encuentra a alguien en quien confíes para que esté contigo. Esto es importante, para que el desafío de la recuperación en sí misma no te lleve a una recaída.” 
  5. Tercer paso pequeño para el cambio: “Usaré el cuaderno de trabajo financiero y la Herramienta de Presupuesto de A Chance for Change que obtuve gratis de 888-ADMIT-IT para organizar todas mis facturas y toda la información financiera entrante y saliente. Luego, llamaré a un acreedor para establecer un plan de pago mensual”. Al hablar con ellos, sé realista con lo que realmente puedes enviarles. Continúa este proceso, una factura a la vez, ¡y mantente firme! Paga una y luego otra. A medida que avanzas, puedes trabajar hacia pagos más grandes. Puedes hacerlo funcionar si avanzas lentamente y das un paso pequeño a la vez. 

Ahora elige otra área en la que te gustaría trabajar, escribe una meta pequeña y trabaja en ella con cada una de estas áreas de tu vida que necesitan cambio. 

¿No sabes por dónde empezar? Llama o envía un mensaje de texto a 888-ADMIT-IT. 

La serie de Cuadernos de Recuperación “A Chance for Change” del Consejo de Juego Compulsivo de Florida (FCCG) examina de cerca cómo las personas pueden escapar de las garras del juego compulsivo creando y manteniendo un plan para un cambio positivo y enfrentando problemas de relación, problemas financieros, problemas legales y los muchos otros impactos. Esta es solo una de las cientos de recursos gratuitos para el juego problemático que están a solo una llamada o mensaje de texto de distancia en Florida: 888-ADMIT-IT. ¡Comienza hoy y toma el control de tu vida! 





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Keeping Values and Beliefs Intact is Important When Living with Disordered Gambling

Mantener Intactos los Valores y Creencias es Importante al Vivir con Juego Problemático


If you are living with someone suffering from problem gambling, you may have found you have lost a piece of yourself in the relationship. You may have given up some important values and beliefs in order to make your life easier and even to allow the disorder to continue without knowing it.  

Many people have never sat down and identified their core values and beliefs. We have never contemplated what is important to us. Knowing the difference between a value and a belief is important, too! This is what we will explore together in this blog.  

What is a Value? 

A value is that which is desirable or worthy of esteem for its own sake; a thing or quality having intrinsic worth. (Intrinsic meaning from inside ourselves.) 

Values are a fundamental resource that we have to guide our lives and the decisions we make. Values come from deep inside ourselves. They make us who we are, what we believe in, and how we act. They determine how we want to live our lives. They give us purpose and direction for the way we behave in this world, with ourselves and those around us. Along the way, we may acquire new values or abandon some values we no longer believe important. This type of change can also affect our belief systems. Values are what helps us to make the right choices in life. Some of our values are formulated at a very young age and most probably were influenced by our parents or other elders in our lives. These types of values are called Core Values

  • Honesty 
  • Dependability 
  • Empathy 
  • Trust 
  • Responsibility 
  • Consistently 
  • Equality 
  • Ethics 
  • Diversity 
  • Social Responsibility 
  • Respect 
  • Truth 
  • Justice 
  • Integrity 
  • Tolerance 
  • Reliability 

Take a look at some of these values. Do you see how you may have had some values that you have lost because of problem gambling? Do any of the values above fill in the blanks for you? If you find you have lost some along the way in order to make life easier living with a problem gambler, how do you think you could get that value back? 

“Try not to become a man of success but rather a man of value.”

Albert Einstein

What is a Belief?

A belief is an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. The important distinction here is that a belief is NOT a fact – and is NOT necessarily true – but the holder of the belief has accepted it as such. 

Beliefs are a little different from values. Beliefs are deeply rooted assumptions about your life. They unknowingly affect your behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. There are 3 types of core beliefs starting with beliefs about yourself, beliefs about others, and beliefs about the world around you. These beliefs, much like values, we learn when young by watching our parents or other elders. Think about what you say about yourself and to yourself like: “I am not worthy of love and respect.” That can be a belief, although it will never be true! These thoughts shape our behaviors driven by emotions.  

Think of it this way: I have a belief, and if I have that belief then I have a resulting behavior, and I end up with either positive or negative results from that behavior. For example:  

  • Belief: As a loved one of a problem gambler, a belief of yours may be: “If I go and gamble with him/her, I can control the money and time spent.”  
  • Behavior: Your belief will result in you joining him/her in gambling and attempting to control the time and money spent.  
  • Result: You end up in a heated argument with the gambler instead, which may even result in more gambling! 

In this example, the belief leads to a negative result and the opposite of what was intended. How can you change the belief in order to change behavior and get the end result you want? Beliefs drive behavior, which causes a positive or negative outcome. 

We all learn beliefs and values when we are young from adults around us. As we age and encounter new situations and people whose beliefs and values differ, the result can be frustration, confusion, and great emotional pain. When problem gambling is part of the equation, all bets are off. 

If you see yourself in the words written here, know that problem gambling assistance for loved ones is available 24/7 in Florida. Call or text 888-ADMIT-IT to speak with a knowledgeable HelpLine Specialist and connect with free resources, for YOU. Recovery from the impacts of gambling addiction is possible for both gamblers and loved ones, and treatment is available. 





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Statistical Probabilities Behind the Game

James Gibson, Guest Author at BestCasinoSites.net


Understanding the Roulette Wheel

Before we have a look at the maths behind roulette, we’ll give you a summary of the roulette wheel. This is important because the wheel can vary; it can also affect your odds of winning.

There are two main versions of the roulette wheel: European and American. Both of them have 36 numbered pockets of which half are black and half are red.

The European wheel has 0 (zero) pocket coloured green. This means that in European versions of roulette, there are 37 numbered pockets in total.

American roulette games have a 00 (double zero) pocket that’s green in addition to the 0 pocket. Therefore, American versions of roulette have 38 pockets altogether.

What this means is that if you play European roulette, each numbered pocket has a 1/37 chance of winning. When you play an American version, the odds are slightly lower at 1/38.

It should come as no surprise that many players prefer European roulette because of its slightly better winning chances. However, you’ll still find plenty of American roulette games available to play.

Most roulette sites have both versions of the game available to play. The best ones have live versions of these games too. They also let you play non-live roulette games for free.

If you want to try the two different versions of roulette yourself, play free demos. With these, you can practise as much as you want without having to pay.

House Edge and RTP

House edge and RTP are two terms that you’ll come across a lot when gambling, especially online. They’re opposites and they’re both to do with payout percentages.

If a roulette game has a house edge of 4%, this means that the house (i.e. the casino) takes 4% of your money on average over long-term play.

Spend $100 on a roulette game whose house edge is 4% and, statistically speaking, you should lose 4% of this, i.e. $4. This would leave you with $96. The casino would keep the $4.

It’s important to point out that house edge is a long-term average. If you play just a few games of roulette, the casino could end up taking a lot more of your money.

On the other hand, the casino could end up owing you money if you’re lucky. The more you play, the closer your average loss per game gets to the house edge.

As for RTP, which stands for ‘return to player’, this is the exact opposite of house edge. It’s a measure of how much of your bet you should in theory keep over long-term play.

The house edge and RTP always add up to 100. Going back to the roulette game with a 4% house edge, its RTP would therefore be 96%.

If you’re serious about trying to make money from roulette, you should focus on games with a low house edge or high RTP. Online European roulette games typically have an RTP of 97.3% or a house edge of 2.7%.

As for American roulette games, the RTP is lower because of the extra 00 pocket. The RTP for a standard American roulette game is 94.74%, which makes its house edge 5.26%.

How House Edge and RTP Are Calculated

Before an online casino game is released, it undergoes a significant amount of testing. This involves simulating a large number of rounds, usually in the millions. The purpose of this is to determine the house edge and RTP.

For example, let’s say developers simulate a million rounds of a new roulette game. Each round has a $1 bet placed on a random number. That’s a total of $1 million spent.

If the game returned $970,000, the game’s house edge would be 3% because exactly 3% of the $1 million has been lost. Its RTP would, therefore, be 97%.

Online casino games typically have a lower house edge or higher RTP than their real-life counterparts. This is because physical casinos have more costs than online ones. Therefore, their games have to pay out less money.

If you want to make money from roulette, you’re more likely to do so with online versions of the game. Just remember that even if the house edge or RTP is favourable, you’re still likely to make a loss overall.

Randomness

When you play a real-life version of roulette with physical props, gravity and luck determine which numbered pocket the ball lands in. The outcome is completely random. In online games, something else makes sure outcomes are random.

This something is an RNG or random number generator. It’s a piece of software that generates complex sequences of numbers. A game then uses these to determine outcomes such as the pocket the ball lands in.

With an RNG in place, each pocket on the wheel has an equal chance of being the winning one. Also, no outcome from past rounds can affect any future outcomes.

In other words, if a particular number has won a lot of times recently, this doesn’t mean the number will keep coming up. Likewise, it also doesn’t mean the number won’t come up again for a while.

Any patterns that you might see when looking at results are coincidental. All outcomes are random and independent of one another. Every time you play, each pocket has the same, equal chance of winning no matter what.

Some people believe that numbers can be ‘hot’ or ‘cold’. Hot numbers have won recently, cold numbers haven’t. They use this information to decide what numbered pockets to bet on.

However, the idea that numbers can be ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ is a misconception. Again, patterns are just random, and they don’t mean anything. Every spin’s result is unaffected by all previous results.

Calculating Odds

One of the best aspects of roulette is that it has multiple betting options. You can bet on a single number if you like or include multiple numbers in your bet.

We mentioned earlier that when you play European roulette, each number has a 1/37 chance of winning; and for American roulette, the odds are 1/38.

But what about if you’re betting on more than one number? When you play a typical game of roulette, you’ll have lots of betting options available.

These are displayed in the betting table. It arranges all the numbers on the wheel into three columns and a dozen rows with extra spaces for the 0 and 00 bets.

The bets in roulette can be grouped into two categories: inside and outside. Inside bets have large payouts with low chances of winning; betting on a single number counts as an inside bet.

As for outside bets, these involve a large selection of numbers. They’re more likely to win and so the payouts they give are lower.

The list below shows the main bets for roulette, starting with inside bets.

  • Straight/Single – covers just one number
  • Split – covers two numbers that are horizontally or vertically adjacent in the betting table
  • Street – covers a row of three numbers
  • Corner/Square – covers a square of four numbers
  • Six Line/Double Street – covers two adjacent rows
  • Trio/Basket – covers at least one 0 and two other numbers; for European roulette it’s 0-1-2 or 0-2-3; for American roulette it’s 0-1-2, 0-00-2 or 00-2-3
  • First Four – covers 0-1-2-3 in European roulette only
  • Top Row – covers 0-00-1-2-3 in American roulette only

The outside bets are as follows.

  • 1-18 – covers the numbers 1-18
  • 19-36 – covers the numbers 19-36
  • Red or Black – covers all red or black numbers
  • Odd or Even – covers all odd or even numbers
  • Dozen Bet – covers numbers 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36
  • Column Bet – covers one column of 12 numbers in the betting table
  • Snake Bet – covers the numbers 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34

Calculating the odds for a roulette bet is simple. The odds depend on two factors: the type of roulette you’re playing and how many numbers the bet covers.

The table below shows the odds for roulette’s inside bets.

Bet Odds
Straight/Single 1/37 for European, 1/38 for American
Split 2/37 for European, 2/38 or 1/19 for American
Street 3/37 for European, 3/38 for American
Corner/Square 4/37 for European, 4/38 or 2/19 for American
Six Line/Double Street 6/37 for European, 6/38 or 3/19 for American
Trio/Basket 3/37 for European, 3/38 for American
First Four 4/37 for European
Top Row 5/38 for American

The next table is the same but for the outside bets.

Bet Odds
1-18 18/37 for European, 18/38 for American
19-36 18/37 for European, 18/38 for American
Red or Black 18/37 for European, 18/38 for American
Odd or Even 18/37 for European, 18/38 for American
Dozen Bet 12/37 for European, 12/38 or 6/19 for American
Column Bet 12/37 for European, 12/38 or 6/19 for American
Snake Bet 12/37 for European, 12/38 or 6/19 for American

It’s also worth looking at the payouts for roulette bets. Generally speaking, the fewer numbers a bet covers, the bigger its payout. The table below shows the payouts for inside bets.

Bet Odds
Straight/Single 35/1
Split 17/1
Street 11/1
Corner/Square 8/1
Six Line/Double Street 5/1
Trio/Basket 11/1
First Four 8/1
Top Row 6/1

And the same for outside bets.

Bet Odds
1-18 1/1
19-36 1/1
Red or Black 1/1
Odd or Even 1/1
Dozen Bet 2/1
Column Bet 2/1
Snake Bet 2/1

If you want to play it safe, stick with outside bets. If you want to take a risk and go for a large payout, place inside bets.

Roulette Strategies

Many people who play roulette for real money want to make a profit. Like other casino games, there’s no guarantee you’ll win. There are some strategies but none of them can definitely produce a win for you.

There’s one in particular that many players use for roulette and it’s called the Martingale strategy. The way it works is straightforward: double your bet after a loss.

If you do this, your next win will recoup all the money you’ve spent. Plus, you’ll end up with a profit equal to your initial bet.

The Martingale strategy isn’t just for roulette. It can be used for any sort of game where there are two main outcomes and they both have a near 50% chance of happening.

In roulette, the presence of the 0 (and 00) pocket reduces the odds of the winning ball being red or black to slightly below 50%. Even so, roulette is still suitable for the Martingale strategy.

There’s also the reverse Martingale strategy which has you halve your bet after a loss and double it after a win. The problem with this is that it relies on winning streaks to be successful.

Another roulette math strategy is the Labouchere system. It’s more complicated than the Martingale strategy but has a key difference: whereas Martingale recovers your losses with a single win, Labouchere does this with multiple wins.

It involves writing down a sequence of numbers that add up to determine your profit. Your bet is the first and last numbers in the sequences added together.

If you win, you cross off the first and last numbers. If you lose, you add the sum of the first and last numbers to the end of the sequence.

Whenever you have just one number, that’s how much you bet. If you win, you start the cycle again with a new sequence of numbers.

The Labouchere system can be complicated when you have lots of losses and your sequence of numbers grows bigger as a result.

We mentioned playing free versions of roulette earlier. This is ideal for anyone who wants to practise strategies and see how they work. With demo games, you can play as much as you like with no risk to your budget.

Summary

Now you should have a better understanding of the math behind roulette. The next time you play the game, think carefully about what bets you’ll place and how likely each one is to win.

With any casino game, knowing the math can help you both in the long run. When you’re aware of how the game works and what the odds are for different bets, you’ll make better betting decisions.

About the author

Name James Gibson
Job Freelance Writer Specialising in iGaming

James Gibson is a freelance content writer with passion for slot and game guides. He proclaims responsible gambling and aims at providing accurate and confirmed information.

Moderation is key. Gambling is best enjoyed when you stick to limits and you’re the one in control.



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Upcoming Events Featuring Canadian Athletes

Luke Garrison: Sports & Casino Author from Canada


Sports & Casino: Luke Garrison

Luke Garrison is a professional writer who grew up just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He currently works at the Canadian Press and enjoys the outdoors in his free time.

A small percentage of players within the NBA, MLB, and NFL are Canadian, but there are still some noteworthy stars such as 2023 NBA Champion Jamal Murray of Mississauga, ON. Canada is also well-represented in many other sports including soccer, golf, tennis, and swimming. Keep reading to learn about some of the best Canadian athletes, and where you can watch them compete in 2024.

Masters Tournament

Many Canadians enjoy watching the Masters Tournament. Like the Super Bowl, it’s an event big enough to transcend the sporting world – meaning it’s the only golf most Canadians will watch, if any at all. This year, the festivities will be held from April 11-14 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Past Masters tournaments have kept Canadians on the edge of their seats, with Mike Weir donning the ‘Green Jacket’ (given to the winner) back in 2003. This is the only time a Canadian golfer has ever won a major tournament, which includes the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the Open Championship, and the U.S. Open.

That said, there are a couple of Canadian golfers having great years with a lot to prove. Adam Hadwin of Moose Jaw, Alberta is set to appear in his fourth Masters – his first since 2020. He has three top-six finishes in 2024, and his best finish at the Masters came in 2018 – where he finished tied for 24th.

Another golfer to watch is Nick Taylor of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The final day of this year’s tournament (April 14th) is Taylor’s 36th birthday, and the respected veteran will be looking to get himself the sweetest gift of all. It will be Taylor’s second Masters appearance, with his first coming in 2020 when he finished tied for 29th.

Many Canadians will remember Taylor from last year’s Canadian Open, when he drained a 72-foot eagle putt to win it all during a nail-biting playoff against Tommy Fleetwood. It was the first time a Canadian had won a national open on home soil since Pat Fletcher last did it in 1954. Can he pull off that same magic at Augusta?

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

The NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs are always centre stage north of the border, and 2024 will be no different. This season has been a special one for both Canadian teams and Canadian players. Markham, Ontario’s Mitch Marner has been leading the Toronto Maple Leafs in the East, while Connor McDavid hopes to captain the Edmonton Oilers to a Stanley Cup in the West.

McDavid is on pace to record 100 or more assists, which hasn’t been done since Wayne Gretzky had 122 assists during the 1990-1991 season – which was incredibly his 10th consecutive season with 100+ assists. McDavid’s linemate Zach Hyman of Toronto, Ontario has been making some history of his own, becoming one of the oldest players (age 31) to ever score 50 goals in a season for the first time.

In the East, Marner and the Leafs also have Stanley Cup aspirations. The 26-year-old winger was well on his way to eclipsing 100 points for the first time in his career before being sidelined by an ankle sprain. The 100-point threshold has been an elusive one for Marner, who had 99 points last year and point totals of 97 and 94 in other previous seasons. Nothing a Stanley Cup can’t fix!

The NHL playoffs are set to begin on Monday April 22nd, 2024, with another pair of Canadian teams set to compete for a championship as well – the Vancouver Canucks and the Winnipeg Jets. The Canucks comfortably sit atop the Pacific Division, but the second-place Oilers still have an outside shot of catching them.

The Jets sit third in the Central Division, which is more a testament to the division’s strength than it is an indictment of Winnipeg’s talent. In the Pacific, the Jets would be closer to the Canucks than the Oilers. The last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup was the 1993 Montreal Canadiens. Will this be the year the drought is broken?

NBA Playoffs

The NBA playoffs are more popular in Canada when the Toronto Raptors are a part of the picture; however, that isn’t the case this year. On the other hand, there are some Canadian players on American teams that are gearing up for a shot at the title.

As previously mentioned, Canadian point guard Jamal Murray was a key cog in helping the Denver Nuggets win the 2023 NBA Championship. This year has been business as usual for the 27-year-old, who has been a large part of why the Nuggets have spent most of this year atop the Western Conference. A championship repeat is certainly not out of the question.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been neck-and-neck with Denver in the standings all season long, thanks to their own point guard from Ontario in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) of Hamilton, Ontario. Like Murray, SGA is a product of the Kentucky basketball program and has been an absolute force over the last handful of seasons.

Still just 25 years old, SGA naturally has a bright future with the Thunder (or wherever he decides to play). Can he bring OKC their first championship since 1979?

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Online Slots vs Traditional Slots: Comparing a Player’s Experience

Danny McKeown, Guest Author at BestCasinoSites.net


A Brief History of Casino Slots

The history of slots is a long and storied one which starts all the way back in 1891 in New York City, New York when Sittman and Pitt designed a machine that would revolutionise casino gambling landscape forever.

Their machine consisted of five drums holding a total of 50 cards and the game was very much based on poker, a popular card game at the time. The aim was to get the best “hand” by spinning the drums.

Because of its size and complexity, it was practically impossible to set the machine up in a way that would award an automatic pay out. Being mainly played in bars, prizes tended to include free drinks in lieu of cash.

Spotting an opportunity, Charles Fey of San Francisco, California created a much simpler machine that contained an automatic mechanism that spun three reels. Instead of cards, the reels had five symbols; horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and a Liberty Bell.

It was the final symbol that lent its name to the machine and, by creating a more simplistic mechanism, it was possible for Fey to create an automatic payout on winning spins. This truly was the birth of slots as we know them today.

Traditional casino slots

Despite gambling being banned in California, Fey could not keep up the demand for his newly popular gambling machine and others took advantage by creating near identical copies. By the early 20th century, there wasn’t a casino in the US that didn’t have a Liberty Bell machine.

By this point, other symbols had been introduced into the designs such as fruit symbols and what would eventually become the BAR symbol. The machines also had a mechanical lever at the side that players would pull to spin the reels.

It was these developments that gave the machines their more modern nickname of ‘fruit machines’. However, the more commonly used nickname for some time was ‘one-armed bandits’ due to the lever, or ‘arm’, that needed to be pulled.

The one-armed bandits ruled casinos all over the world for decades, until they began being replaced by more modern, electronic-based slot machines that could payout easier and accept different forms of payment like banknotes.

These days, you’ll still see hundreds of traditional slots and some even feature the nostalgic ‘arm’ on the side. However, they will also be completely electronic in their mechanisms and the vast majority will be video slots.

The fact that these machines are still massively prevalent in modern day casinos is a testament to the thrill that they provide players. Clearly there is still a place for them moving forward, even just to appeal to nostalgia.

The online slots revolution

The 21st century saw the beginning of the online slots revolution. Online gambling was becoming more and more prevalent and casinos had to adapt with the times.

Now, you’ll find the best online slot sites offer a whole host of slots games to choose from. They even come in categories because there are that many!

Online slots gaming also received a massive boost in the 2010s, as owning a smartphone became the new norm. Now, everyone had access to the internet at their fingertips and this presented a golden opportunity for casinos.

With the development of apps and optimised mobile websites, online casinos were able to capitalise on this new technology. This resulted in gaming developers investing more into their games too and the choice of games increased exponentially.

All of this helped to create a shift in how players gamble. Those who used to visit their local casino to play slots now simply load up their favourite games online from the comfort of their own home.

Online slots vs offline slots

It’s an argument that is likely to rage on for some time, as offline slots still very much have a place in this modern, technological era. But are their days numbered?

The answer could be found by taking a closer look at modern society as a whole. Convenience is valued above all else these days and the inconvenience of having to physically go to a casino is off putting.

However, when it comes to online slots v real slots, both provide their own very unique thrill and this is arguably why traditional slot machines are still in existence. How long that lasts is anyone’s guess.

Online slots pros and cons

When it comes to online slots there are, of course, plenty of pros and also some cons. These can affect the kind of experience players have and whether or not they will return to the relevant online casino in future.

We already know that, according to the UK Gambling Commission, there has been a steady trend of online gamblers going up and retail/casino gamblers going down. But what could be causing that?

Firstly, let’s look at some of the pros:

  • Convenience playing slot games online provides an enhanced level of convenience for players who can simply load up a game on their smartphone device.
  • Choice when you play online slots you have the benefit of much more choice. There are hundreds, and sometimes even thousands, of games to choose from at the top online casinos.
  • Bonuses and promotions bonuses and promotions are far more accessible at online slots v real slots. There are more to choose from and more opportunities to use them.
  • Privacy playing slots online also provides players with more privacy. This is a benefit to those who don’t necessarily want to be seen gambling at a casino.

You can’t have the good without the bad though. There are many reasons that people do not enjoy the online slots experience. Here are some of the cons of playing slot games online:

  • Transaction times online transactions, especially withdrawals, can take days and sometimes even weeks to fully process.
  • No social interaction playing online means that there is no need to leave your home. This reduces the amount of social interactions that you would ordinarily have in a bricks and mortar casino.
  • Vulnerable to problem gambling the ease of access for online slots gambling makes players susceptible to problem gambling.
  • Untrustworthy casinos most casinos are regulated, but the online world always has people trying to take advantage. This leaves people potentially open to scams and losing money to unregistered, unregulated casinos.

Traditional slots pros and cons

Bricks and mortar casinos, which tend to offer players the chance to play a variety of slot machines at a physical location, are still going strong. Some places, like Las Vegas, benefit massively from the traditional casino experience.

But when it comes to online slots v offline slots, you must also look at the pros and cons of a physical slot machine. This allows you to better understand the experience for players.

The pros of traditional slots include:

  • Instant payouts playing at an offline slot means that you get access to your winning instantly. No waiting around for online payments to process to your bank account.
  • Social interaction playing at a physical casino also provides the chance to interact and socialise with other casino goers. This is an experience that cannot be matched online.
  • Elevated sensory experience while online slots try to recreate the real casino experience, it’s just not the same. Nothing beats the lights and sounds of the surrounding machines and players in a bricks and mortar casino.
  • Real life customer support no being left on hold on the phone or talking to a chatbot online when playing real slots. If you have an issue, you can speak to a real person, instantly.

Some of the cons include:

  • Fewer bonuses and promotions slot machines can’t offer the same level of bonuses and promotions that online slots can. This is one of their main disadvantages in the eyes of punters.
  • Fewer choices of slot games there can only be a finite number of machines in a physical casino and this unfortunately limits choice. Over a long period, players could become bored of the same games.
  • Can be more expensive traditional slots tend to have a higher minimum bet value, which is a big disadvantage in an online slots vs slot machines comparison. This could mean losing more money over time.

Online slots vs real slots conclusion

Having taken a look at the history of slots and their deserved place in the worlds of both physical and online casinos and the pros and cons of each, it seems the “best experience” is very much subjective.

It’s true that online slots provide players with slightly more benefits than traditional slots. However, the risks and downsides are also a bit more severe, so really it’s down to the individual player’s preference.

It can be said without doubt that, when looking at online slots v slot machines more closely, that both provide entertainment in their own right. However the needs of modern day players are different to 20 years ago.

Players place much more value on the bonuses and promotions element of playing slots these days. This is something that online slots excel at, while traditional slots struggle to match up and provide what’s expected.

The social aspect of real slots is one that is still attractive to players. However, the live casino products are getting closer and closer to matching that experience, especially with recent developments in virtual and augmented reality.

This is why we’ve concluded that, while both offer benefits and their own unique experience, it’s online slots that will prosper long term.

About the author

Name Danny McKeown
Job Freelance Writer Specialising in iGaming

Danny McKeown is a professional content writer who specialises in slots and poker. He expanded his expertise and worked for renowned companies in the iGaming industry.

Versatility, knowledge and passsion are the three factors that make a good content writer.



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How to Set Realistic Goals for Success in Problem Gambling Recovery

How to Set Realistic Goals for Success in Problem Gambling Recovery


If you are considering that your gambling may be getting out of control, here is something to consider: in what ways does gambling fulfill you? Many gamblers start off gambling for fun, as a way to be social with others, while some say it is “to make money.” Problem gambling can begin when someone thinks it is a good way to escape from life and its stressors, or that it will take care of all their problems with just one “big win.” This is often where gambling crosses the line into disordered gambling. It’s when gambling isn’t fun anymore. It can be a need to escape other problems in one’s life, a compulsive desire of a win that will never be achieved, no matter how much time or money the gambler spends.  

If you feel you may have found yourself at this point in your gambling experience, then now is a good time to reach out to someone who is knowledgeable about your situation. Someone who is there at the end of the phone 24/7 to help and support you. In Florida, this connection to problem gambling support can be found 24/7 by texting or calling the confidential and multilingual 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine. 

Let’s explore your gambling in this way; what need did gambling fulfill for you in the beginning? Does this reason still hold true for you today? Ask yourself why it does or it doesn’t give you the payoff it once did. Explore how your gambling thoughts and behaviors have changed over time. When trying to stop the insanity and get off the problem gambling train, you first need to understand what is it that you like about it. What does it fulfill for you that nothing else can? One of the main ways is that compulsive gambling helps someone to escape from something uncomfortable in their lives, in much the same way as alcohol or drug use. Once this is understood, then you can find ways to get these areas back in order and fill that hole with something else. 

Let’s take a look at some stressors in life that you may be trying to escape: 

  • Responsibilities 
  • A bad relationship 
  • Physical pain 
  • Emotional pain 
  • A stressful job 
  • Loneliness 
  • Financial consequences 
  • Legal consequences 
  • Past trauma 

Start from the beginning by answering the question of what the payoff to your gambling was. Does the gambling still have the same effect for you? Why or why not? And lastly, what do you think happened to change this for you? If you thought gambling was fixing something in your life, what was it? Did it succeed? Does it still? 

“The best way to escape from a problem is to solve it.”  

– Alan Saporta

There are 8 major life impacts of addiction: 

  1. Family 
  2. Social 
  3. Legal 
  4. Physical 
  5. Financial 
  6. Spiritual 
  7. Emotional 
  8. Occupational 

In order to work through each area above, you must explore each one individually. Setting goals is the best way to start making changes – taking it one small step at a time. When setting goals, it’s important to make them realistic from where you are today, considering all the small steps you need to take before you get the future results you want. By taking small steps, you can be and feel more successful and willing to take the next small step. There is no “quick fix” to any of these problem areas. Especially with problem gambling, the risk of relapse is high during recovery. Be wary of sabotaging your own efforts by acting on immediate gratification needs – that’s the addiction talking! 

In order for a goal to be successful, it has to be specific, reasonably attainable, and measurable.  

Once you have found some confidence in succeeding with these small steps towards a goal, it will become easier for you to continue changing for the better. The question is how do you know when you have accomplished the goal? Let’s look at an example with financial problems, and you can the work through the areas from above you need to work on.  

Example: Goal Setting for Financial Problems 

  1. Describe the problem; “I have creditors calling about my credit card debts, wanting money. I can’t pay them all, so I won’t pay any of them. I am afraid to call them.” 
  2. Goal: To start a payment plan to pay off the debts over time. 
  3. First small step to change: “I will call the 24/7 888-ADMIT-IT Problem Gambling HelpLine right now to talk to someone knowledgeable about the situation I’m in, who will connect me with free resources that can help with financial and other issues. I do not have to worry about speaking with a HelpLine Specialist, because the conversation is 100% confidential and non-judgmental.” 
  4. Second small step to change: “I will sit down next Sunday and go through all the bills I have been throwing in a corner, afraid to look at. I will find the most recent bill for each account and throw the rest away.” If you think this will be too emotionally overwhelming for you, find someone you trust to be there with you. This is important, so the challenge of recovery itself does not put you in relapse. 
  5. Third small step to change: “I will use the A Chance for Change financial workbook and Budget Tool I got for free from 888-ADMIT-IT to organize all my bills and all incoming and outgoing financial information. I will then call one creditor to set up a monthly payment plan.” When speaking to them, be realistic for what you can really send them. Continue this process, one bill at a time, and stick with it! Pay one off then another one off. As you go, you can work towards bigger payments. You can make it work if you go slow and take it one small step at a time. 

Now pick another area you would like to work on, write a small goal, and work through it with each of these areas of your life that are in need of change. 

Don’t Know Where to Start?
Call or Text 888-ADMIT-IT. 

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG)’s “A Chance for Change” Recovery Workbook series closely examines how individuals can escape the grips of compulsive gambling by creating and maintaining a plan for positive change and dealing with relationship troubles, financial issues, legal problems, and the many other impacts. This is just one of the hundreds of free problem gambling resources that are just a call or text away in Florida: 888-ADMIT-IT. Start today and take charge of your life! 





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Mantener Intactos los Valores y Creencias es Importante al Vivir con Juego Problemático

Mantener Intactos los Valores y Creencias es Importante al Vivir con Juego Problemático


Si vives con alguien que sufre de juego problemático, es posible que hayas descubierto que has perdido una parte de ti mismo en la relación. Puede que hayas sacrificado algunos valores y creencias importantes para facilitar tu vida e incluso para permitir que el trastorno continúe sin darte cuenta. 

Muchas personas nunca se han sentado a identificar sus valores y creencias fundamentales. Nunca hemos contemplado qué es importante para nosotros. ¡Conocer la diferencia entre un valor y una creencia también es importante! Esto es lo que exploraremos juntos en este blog. 

¿Qué es un valor? 

Un valor es aquello que es deseable o digno de estima por sí mismo; una cosa o cualidad que tiene un valor intrínseco. (Intrínseco significa de dentro de nosotros mismos).  

Los valores son un recurso fundamental que tenemos para guiar nuestras vidas y las decisiones que tomamos. Los valores provienen de lo más profundo de nosotros mismos. Nos hacen ser quienes somos, en qué creemos y cómo actuamos. Determinan cómo queremos vivir nuestras vidas. Nos dan propósito y dirección para la forma en que nos comportamos en este mundo, con nosotros mismos y con quienes nos rodean. A lo largo del camino, podemos adquirir nuevos valores o abandonar algunos valores que ya no consideramos importantes. Este tipo de cambio también puede afectar a nuestros sistemas de creencias. Los valores son lo que nos ayuda a tomar las decisiones correctas en la vida. Algunos de nuestros valores se formulan desde una edad muy temprana y probablemente fueron influenciados por nuestros padres u otros ancianos en nuestras vidas. Estos tipos de valores se llaman Valores Fundamentales:  

  • Honestidad 
  • Confiabilidad 
  • Empatía 
  • Confianza 
  • Responsabilidad 
  • Consistencia 
  • Igualdad 
  • Ética 
  • Diversidad 
  • Responsabilidad Social 
  • Respeto 
  • Verdad 
  • Justicia 
  • Integridad 
  • Tolerancia 
  • Fiabilidad 

Echa un vistazo a algunos de estos valores. ¿Ves cómo puedes haber perdido algunos valores debido al juego problemático? ¿Alguno de los valores mencionados anteriormente llena los espacios en blanco para ti? Si descubres que has perdido algunos en el camino para facilitar la vida viviendo con un jugador problemático, ¿cómo crees que podrías recuperar ese valor? 

“No intentes ser un hombre de éxito, sino un hombre de valores.”

Albert Einstein

¿Qué es una creencia? 

Una creencia es la aceptación de que una afirmación es verdadera o de que algo existe. La distinción importante aquí es que una creencia NO es un hecho, y NO necesariamente es verdadera, pero el poseedor de la creencia la ha aceptado como tal. 

Las creencias son un poco diferentes de los valores. Las creencias son suposiciones profundamente arraigadas sobre tu vida. Inconscientemente afectan tus comportamientos, pensamientos y emociones. Hay 3 tipos de creencias fundamentales que comienzan con creencias sobre ti mismo, creencias sobre los demás y creencias sobre el mundo que te rodea. Estas creencias, al igual que los valores, las aprendemos cuando somos jóvenes observando a nuestros padres u otros ancianos. Piensa en lo que dices sobre ti mismo y para ti mismo como: “No soy digno de amor y respeto”. Eso puede ser una creencia, ¡aunque nunca será cierto! Estos pensamientos moldean nuestros comportamientos impulsados por emociones.  

Piénsalo de esta manera: tengo una creencia, y si tengo esa creencia, entonces tengo un comportamiento resultante, y termino con resultados positivos o negativos de ese comportamiento. Por ejemplo: 

  • Creencia: Como ser querido de un jugador problemático, una creencia tuya puede ser: “Si voy y juego con él/ella, puedo controlar el dinero y el tiempo gastado”. 
  • Comportamiento: Tu creencia resultará en que te unas a él/ella en el juego y trates de controlar el tiempo y el dinero gastado. 
  • Resultado: ¡Terminas en una discusión acalorada con el jugador, que incluso puede resultar en más juego! 

En este ejemplo, la creencia conduce a un resultado negativo y lo contrario de lo que se pretendía. ¿Cómo puedes cambiar la creencia para cambiar el comportamiento y obtener el resultado final que deseas? Las creencias impulsan el comportamiento, lo que causa un resultado positivo o negativo. 

Todos aprendemos creencias y valores cuando somos jóvenes de los adultos que nos rodean. A medida que envejecemos y encontramos nuevas situaciones y personas cuyas creencias y valores difieren, el resultado puede ser frustración, confusión y un gran dolor emocional. Cuando el juego problemático es parte de la ecuación, todas las apuestas están fuera. 

Si te ves reflejado en las palabras escritas aquí, debes saber que la asistencia para el juego problemático para los seres queridos está disponible las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana en Florida. Llama o envía un mensaje de texto al 888-ADMIT-IT para hablar con un especialista de la línea de ayuda con conocimientos y conectarte con recursos gratuitos, ¡para TI! La recuperación de los impactos de la adicción al juego es posible tanto para los jugadores como para los seres queridos, y el tratamiento está disponible. 





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Casino Bonus Abuse, Promotion Fraud and Its Consequences

Dean McHugh, Guest Author at BestCasinoSites.net


Generous bonuses for new players allow them to try sportsbooks and casino games with no or a low financial obligation, making them much more inclined to register with the casino. Obviously, when the bonus has been used or spent, players are incentivized to spend and bet their own money.

In the majority of cases, it’s a win-win situation: players get free funds to wager and casinos get valuable new paying customers. Sometimes however, problems do arise when players try to scam casinos in a variety of ways using these bonuses. While the majority of players are completely honest, it goes without saying that some players do attempt to abuse the system and the bonuses.

These players are attempting to make a fast profit by completely flouting the strict terms and conditions that have been put in place by the casino. The repercussions of these underhand actions are far from lenient, and could include having funds confiscated, having accounts locked, and sometimes having legal action brought against them by the casino.

Understanding Casino Bonuses

The bonuses offered by gambling operators can vary. Typical promotions give players bonus funds or free spins to encourage them to use their casino – then continue playing once the bonus has run out by depositing their own money. Both the player and the casino should gain from the best casino offers – players get a free bonus to bet with, and the casino operators get new paying customers.

Challenges emerge when certain players begin to abuse the bonuses and start using them for malicious activities such as money laundering. Even though bonuses differ depending on the casinos, popular ones include:

  • Registration bonus (+ free spins)
  • Deposit match bonus
  • No deposit bonus
  • Reload bonus
  • Cashback
  • Free bets
  • Reward program
  • Refer-a-friend bonus

Not everyone who takes part in bonus abuse is a seasoned criminal or criminal mastermind. Most bonus abusers are just normal people who think they are only cheating the casino and not actually breaking any laws.

That said, in recent years there’s been a worrying surge of criminals that are tech-savvy. These ‘cyber-criminals’ have high-tech programs and machinery to utilize virtual machines, emulators, betting bots, and (simulated) residential IPs.

What is Bonus Abuse?

Bonus abuse when criminals or fraudsters search out casinos that offer bonuses to sign up with them. These fraudsters then attempt to obtain these bonuses illegally, by claiming them more than once, or cashing out without completing the casino’s wagering or playthrough requirements.

The most common form of bonus abuse is for gamblers to hunt down casino sites for the best casino offers and create multiple accounts, trying to claim the bonuses numerous times.

The majority of the time, they target casinos with no-deposit bonuses that do not require them to provide bank details. More daring casino bonus abusers will use stolen identities, fake IDs, VPNs, and other online funding methods to bypass the casino operators policies and KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements.

What are the Different Types of Bonus Abuse?

  • Chip dumping: Chip dumping is when a poker player at a table loses their chips intentionally or credits them to another player in an attempt to transfer funds to that player’s account. The player receiving the chips would more than likely be somebody working alongside the ‘dumper’ or could even be the fraudster himself, playing from another account.
  • Collecting registration bonuses: One of the most common forms of casino bonus abuse is collecting sign-up bonuses. Fraudsters will sign up to an online casino site with multiple accounts and then cash out without ever having played a game. This is the reason that online casinos have now adopted wagering and playthrough requirements, meaning players cannot withdraw any bonus or funds made from that bonus until they have actually played.
  • Arbitrage betting, a.k.a., arbing: Arbitrage betting or arbing is carried out when betting on sporting fixtures. The process entails bettors concurrently placing bets on every possible outcome from a sports event that will secure a guaranteed profit, whatever the outcome of the event. The fraudsters using this method are called ‘arbers’. Arbitrage betting is significantly different from traditional betting and involves applying a mathematical technique to guarantee a sizable profit. A bettor can place bets with multiple bookmakers, placing a bet with one bookmaker and different bet with another, and so on. This is especially useful when more than two results are possible.
  • Identity theft: Identity theft is when someone steals someone else’s identity/personal information such as their social security number, with the intent to commit fraud for financial gain. Having purposely stolen somebody else’s identity, it is the intention of the identity thief to use the ID to use accounts that are in the name of the person whose identity was stolen from or create new ones.
  • Money laundering: This is an extremely complex process that involves multiple individuals and transactions. Fraudsters launder money in various ways, but all typically involve moving money through a series of financial transactions in order to make it appear to come from a source that is legitimate. Laundering money often involves money transfer services, shell companies, and offshore accounts, to hide where the money really came from. These processes make tracing the money back to its original criminal origins extremely difficult.
  • Account takeover: Account takeover (ATO) fraud is very much like identity fraud and is when someone uses stolen credentials to gain unauthorized access to another person’s online gaming and casino accounts.
  • Chargeback fraud: It’s too easy for a player to bet, spend and lose much more than they intended when gambling online. Chargeback abuse/fraud occurs when a player is unhappy with their losses and files a chargeback through their bank, often claiming it wasn’t them, even though the transactions were completely legitimate.
  • Collusive play: Collusion or collusive play involves numerous players who work together in a fraudulent manner for financial gain. Collusive play often involves chip dumping which we have already mentioned, involving two or more players working together to gain the upper hand over other players, particularly at a poker table. Collusion causes significant problems in gambling, impacting online casinos significantly. It can also involve serious legal ramifications as it is highly linked to money laundering, which comes with hefty jail sentences.

Bonus abuse usually starts at the sign-up. Fraudsters, whether working alone or in a group, will create as many online casino accounts as they can. This is a process called ‘gnoming’.

This is done by using disposable emails, fake names, and fake or stolen financial information to bypass any KYC checks that may be in place. Once the multiple accounts have been created, they will take advantage of the casino bonus or promotion.

Signing up multiple times at an online casino isn’t technically illegal, however, breaking the terms and conditions set by the casino is.

Typically, all bonuses include terms stating that if the casino suspects the account holder has been involved in any form of bonus abuse, they have the right to confiscate their winnings.

The same would apply if there were any suspicion of fraudulent use of an account, e.g., if someone other than the account holder was using the account.

Opening numerous accounts under someone else’s names would also apply.

If found out, any bonus money and winnings would be confiscated, and any deposit made could also be frozen in the account.

How Online Casinos Find Bonus Abusers

Over the years, bonus abuse has been less of an issue, thanks to the vigilance of those in the online casino and gambling industries.

  • Tracking IP Addresses: This is something that casinos carry out as a matter of course, and is the first line of defense against online casino promotion abuse. If they didn’t have IP tracking tools in place, the casino would have no way of knowing if a player has signed up multiple times. However, this is not water-tight as it doesn’t prevent players from using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or signing up from a different IP address.
  • Wagering Requirements: Believe it or not, in the early days of online casinos, bonuses didn’t come with wagering requirements. Players could sign up and get free cash easily by abusing bonuses. Casinos have since developed wagering requirements, which means players must spend bonus funds multiple times before any cash can be withdrawn.
  • Ban Specific Countries: Casino bonus abuse seems to be rife in some countries. Whether this is down to the lack of regulations in some jurisdictions is anyone’s guess. Casino operators restrict certain countries that have a history of abusing bonuses. This isn’t the best of news for the genuine players, but it does protect the casino.
  • Monitoring Abnormal Betting Activity: A lot of bonus abuse cases at online casinos involve players placing large bets. Casino sites track players’ betting patterns to keep a check on any abnormal activity and any change in their betting behavior.
  • Restricting Payment Methods: If a player has successfully abused a bonus, they would want to withdraw their winnings as soon as possible. Some online casinos restrict payment methods like e-wallets, that offer players faster withdrawals

How to Avoid Getting Tagged as a Bonus Abuser

While most bonus abusers know what they are doing, some players may be abusing bonuses inadvertently. Players can avoid the online casino ‘red-flagging’ their account by NOT doing the following:

  • Wagering big bets with bonus funds: Don’t wager big bets on any games that work towards a casino bonus. There’s nothing wrong with players looking for high RTP and higher volatility games to win big. However, casinos don’t condone players doing this with bonus money as it sets alarm bells ringing.
  • Signing up at an online casino more than once: Players are only permitted one account per online casino. If players want to take advantage of multiple online casino bonuses, they should sign up on several different sites instead of creating numerous accounts on just one site.
  • Failing to read any Terms and Conditions: Any misunderstandings surrounding casino bonus rules and restrictions can be avoided by reading the terms and conditions.
  • Failing to understand wagering requirements: Wagering and playthrough requirements are an important section of T’s & C’s relating to a bonus and will have detailed information about the number of times players must wager before any funds can be withdrawn. Players should read these carefully.
  • Playing erratically: Strange, erratic and irregular betting patterns can be flagged by casinos, and any bets made could lead to the casino site not paying out bonus money. It is important that players read the T’s & C’s to understand the casino’s position on betting irregularities.
  • Only making depositing when a bonus is present: If you are a player and customer of the casino, don’t make deposits just to get bonuses; it could label your account as a ‘bonus hunter.’ Once a casino sees a player making regular deposits, it will be more likely to offer generous bonuses and VIP programs to reward loyalty.

Summing Up

However tempting it may be for players to start exploiting casino bonuses, the consequences really aren’t worth it. Players could be banned from the casino, lose deposit and bonus funds, and even be prosecuted for fraud or money laundering.

Players must, of course, play fairly when it comes to bonuses and promotions offered by the casino. However, it is also down to the individual casinos to ensure that their terms and conditions regarding any bonuses are laid out clearly for players to understand.

If there are any discrepancies between players and casinos regarding possible bonus abuse, gaming regulatory bodies may need to step in.

When it comes to online casinos, it is always better to play nicely and remember that honesty is the best policy!

About the author

Name Dean McHugh
Job Freelance Content Writer

Dean McHugh graduated from Birkbeck University in London and became an independent freelance content writer in 2020, specialising in iGaming topics.

Believe in the power of numbers! The stats will lead the way.



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Wrong Betting: a Craps Player’s Guide to the ‘dark Side’

Wrong Betting: a Craps Player's Guide to the 'dark Side'


By John Grochowski

For many players, the prospect of winning together is part of the fun in playing craps, and most players bet with the shooter. But some players simply want the best odds for their money, and in craps, that comes with betting opposite the shooter.

Wager including don’t pass, don’t come, lay bets or don’t place bets are collectively known as the “Dark Side,” and those who make them sometimes are called “wrong” bettors as opposed to “right” bettors who bet with the shooter.

If anything, playing the Dark Side is easier for online casino players than for those who play craps at live casinos. Online craps players don’t have to endure taunts or glares from those betting the other way.

To continue reading this article, please visit: https://www.888casino.com/blog/-playing-dark-side



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