Trustworthy Online Casinos

Any online casinos out there that actually have a good, solid reputation?

Quote: gaming4tito

Any online casinos out there that actually have a good, solid reputation?

Isn't that the new oxymoron? Trustworthy Online Casino

Bovada is OK

For U.S. players Bovada is your best bet. They have full pay VP and decent casino game rules. They also pay in a day or two by WU or a free check is 1-2 weeks. Bovada is basically the U.S. brand for Bodog.

I've used Bovada for about a month now, and no complaints. No payout wins, either, but that's another story....

I've heard good things about 3Dice too, though I'm also told it's got REALLY high variance on the slots, even among the ones labelled low variance.

Do yourself a favor and stick with reputable land based casinos. Save yourself the aggravation, disgust, the chance of playing against cheating software, (proved time and time again) waiting months for winnings or never getting paid at all, tricky terms and conditions that include betting on slot machines in a certain way that beats the software, (fn pathetic) having winnings and deposits confiscated, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

I'm just getting started and don't want to carry on since I have enough negative information about online gaming that could turn this post into an e-book.

Online gambling is unregulated, unenforced, and there is no way to confirm your getting a fair game, (believe me I tried) let alone trying to get paid.

If you must, buy lottery tickets, the odds are guaranteed. At least you know what your getting into.

Trusting an unregulated online casino operator is no different then trusting in the Devil, regardless who wants to convince you otherwise in this wild west environment.

The online gambling money tree roots grow deep. People recommending them are the fertilizer with good reason. (Their own pockets)

Quote: gaming4tito

Any online casinos out there that actually have a good, solid reputation?

i'm on bovada for poker.

i think my acct is tagged for automatic loser.

sucks outs galore (i hit a set, they get runner runner straight).
cant win a coin toss.
i have a good hand, someone has a better hand (aq vs ak, kk vs aa).
etc

yeah, small sample size (~100 tournaments)

Quote: 4ofaKind

Do yourself a favor and stick with reputable land based casinos.

In "reputable" land-based casinos you can be preferentially shuffled, backroomed, cheated , barred, have your winnings confiscated or actually carted off to prison in extreme situations. All these things have happened to AP's and most of them have happened to me personally. The various regulators around the States and elsewhere are generally paper tigers. No major operation I am aware of has ever or will ever be convicted of anything, they just scapegoat a dealer and any accusations of cheating are forgotten about.

Online casinos can cheat you but it is relatively easy to protect yourself by doing some research. The amount of money I have had stolen or been cheated out of online is insignificant compared to my deposits/winnings. People who have had more significant amounts stolen didn't do research properly in the first place or were taking a shot in the (often correct) belief that the potential gains exceeded the execution risk.

In short, you are way overstating the case.

To the OP: US players are in a uniquely vulnerable position right at the moment. For this reason, I'd just stick to Bovada for the moment.

Quote: gaming4tito

Any online casinos out there that actually have a good, solid reputation?

The 32Red group is something of a bank in terms of general reputability. No guarantees about software fairness, of course. My recent results are fairly ugly, but not particularly suspect. Other than Ladbrokes, I wouldn't touch any other Microgaming casino without a very good reason.

Quote: GBV

In "reputable" land-based casinos you can be preferentially shuffled, backroomed, cheated , barred, have your winnings confiscated or actually carted off to prison in extreme situations. All these things have happened to AP's and most of them have happened to me personally. The various regulators around the States and elsewhere are generally paper tigers. No major operation I am aware of has ever or will ever be convicted of anything, they just scapegoat a dealer and any accusations of cheating are forgotten about.

The best surveillance video equipment being made today is presently being used in reputable casinos like the ones in Vegas. They could follow any person from the moment they enter a casino all day long and stay with you till you enter your room or leave. Their watching dealers, players, games, all day long. They not only protect the house, but also the players.

Being preferentially shuffled in Vegas is stretching it a bit. I can’t speak about the different shuffling machines that are becoming popular as of yet; and I’ve heard and read many different opinions about them. Regardless, you still have the option and final decision where and what conditions you decide to play against. I’ve heard of dealers cheating in the Islands, but never noticed it when I was there, and was keeping a watchful eye on the dealer. But to think that’s happening in Vegas today for the benefit of the house is ridiculous.

Of course there’s always the small chance you could end up at a table with a dealer colluding with other players. But, that probability is so rare I’d be willing to hold the paper on those odds. Besides, it could be a good thing if you actually did end up at a table like that.

If you’re getting back-roomed at a casino in Vegas, you more then likely have serious issues you’re not sharing with us. Most casinos could care less if you’re counting cards. They could call a shuffle anytime they want, or tell you to leave. If you’re sticking wires into slot machines or outright cheating, you probably deserve the shit kicked out of you.

Casinos occasionally change game rules for a better house edge, but most players know the rules before agreeing to play there. Please be more specific how one of these casinos is cheating us.

Also, please explain under what conditions any reputable casino confiscated players winnings and or got carted off to prison.

When it comes to computer games, I prefer a casino that doesn’t have access to critical determining software without a regulator being present. Getting access to sealed software in Vegas requires two keys, one from the regulator and one from the casino.

I’m not sure where you experienced most of these problems you say happened to you at land based casinos, but please tell us where and why, so we could stay clear.

Every legal type of advantage play at land based casinos has been openly discussed for decades. Please explain what type of advantage play you’re referring to that’s creating all of these different issues.

Online casinos always were and still are today un-regulated and totally un-enforced. Every single game online requires computers and software, even their live tables. Until I know for fact who checked the programs and who and under what conditions anyone has access to them, and could read monthly statistics, I certainly can’t trust them. I’ve seen enough online foul play in so many different forms over the years to confirm my beliefs.

Most online AP’s today are making their eyes bleed staring at a computer for endless hours trying to grind out a +EV from some ridiculous bonus and needing to open multiple accounts. This is not what I have in mind when I’m off to a land based casino to gamble.

Besides, after getting roughed up years ago with bonuses, online casinos got educated and fixed the bonus problem. Today most online AP’s would probably be making more money flipping burgers with the amount of hours their putting in.

I understand most slot players today risking peanuts online. After all there will always be someone that wins. And who knows, you may even get paid. But no serious gambler could possibly take online gaming serious today under the present unsafe, un-regulated, and un-enforced conditions.

As long as online casino operators have the power and the options at their fingertips to become rogue if ever and when ever they want to, in any and all of its different forms available to them and already exposed to us, why anyone would still play them puzzles me.

I really don't know where to begin here. Almost nothing you have written equates with my experience of online or b&m gambling.

Quote: GBV

In "reputable" land-based casinos you can be preferentially shuffled, backroomed, cheated , barred, have your winnings confiscated or actually carted off to prison in extreme situations. All these things have happened to AP's and most of them have happened to me personally.

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I really don't know where to begin here. Almost nothing you have written equates with my experience of online or b&m gambling.

That's it??? Can you please at least address the issues you mentioned in the first paragraph above where you said most of the things that take place at land based casinos happened to you personally? I think it would make for an interesting read hearing first hand where and why you were back roomed, cheated, barred, winnings confiscated, and how you knew when you were being preferentially dealt to.

In my post I haven't written about any experiences comparing online to b&m's for you to compare too with yours. I just stated actual confirmed facts about both operations and their differences. Not sure what you meant when you said "Almost nothing you have written equates with my experience of online or b&m gambling". Please clarify that comment.

Quote: 4ofaKind

That's it??? Can you please at least address the issues you mentioned in the first paragraph above where you said most of the things that take place at land based casinos happened to you personally? I think it would make for an interesting read hearing first hand where and why you were back roomed, cheated, barred, winnings confiscated, and how you knew when you were being preferentially dealt to.

In my post I haven't written about any experiences comparing online to b&m's for you to compare too with yours. I just stated actual confirmed facts about both operations and their differences. Not sure what you meant when you said "Almost nothing you have written equates with my experience of online or b&m gambling". Please clarify that comment.

Well, this is thinking back over twenty years or so, so a lot of it is a blur. And I'm not going to get too specific because many of the people involved are still in the gaming world in some capacity.

I've been backroomed three times. In every case, I was using a next-card technique and they genuinely seemed to think I was marking cards or cheating in some way. I wasn't, so they let me go. This was twice in Vegas once in London.

I have probably been cheated more times than I am aware of. The one verifiable instance I can remember was a guy dealing seconds in Reno. Those with a little understanding of cheating techniques know that a poorly executed move results in a quite audible noise. This guy produced a noise that sounded like a spitfire taking off.

I've been barred so many times I couldn't possibly recount all the instances.

I've never had my winnings confiscated in a legit country (I did have problems in Ukraine, but you might expect that in a country run by the mafia). However, several counters did get their winnings stolen for straight counting in the UK-though in every case I'm aware of they got the money back when lawyers were brought in. This also happens elsewhere in Europe.

Not sure what you mean by "how did I know?" I was being preferentially shuffled. If you can count, it is obvious. This is something that generally happens as a means of getting rid of you without a formal trespass notice.

Why you and me are not on the same page: counters by and large do not get major hassle (though there are exceptions). People using advanced plays do. This is partly for the reason mentioned above, partly due to general fear of the unknown. And you are way off base with your "legal advantage play methods are all known" comment.

Now, online, as you say, there are many cheating casinos. In the vast majority of cases that has no relevance to the advantage players at all because we do proper research and don't sign up to those sites. If a joint is cheating, slow-paying or no-paying people post that info on forums. So, it is only a big deal when a good joint turns bad or is doing something very subtle.

Usually, even in that case it still won't affect you. For example, with Betfred, I've made a ton of money there. I never played the rigged game in question. Betfair, Golden Palace, Ladbrokes, Bluesq, Paddypower and a ton of MG's have all done serious rogue shit at some point-it barely impacted on my profits at all. Because one part of an operation or one deal goes wrong, doesn't mean the whole organism is crooked.

You mention bonus rules: the confusion serves only to make the task much easier for full-time professional gamblers. When we had every man and his dog doing cashable BJ with low WR that put serious strain on the deals. Now, only people with the brains to figure out weird angles can make money. I like that. I don't want to share my profits with an estate agent who is earning a bit of money on the side to pay for his holiday in Tuscany.

@ GBV

It’s obvious you’re a seasoned veteran gambler. Comparing Vegas operations today to over twenty years ago is like comparing the Stone Age to today’s technology.

When you were questioned in Vegas and suspected of marking cards, that was still during the time casinos were learning about all the new techniques being used to cheat. This was the same time casino security was walking across the rafters in the ceiling watching games. With the knowledge the casinos accumulated over the years and combined with today’s technology being used, I’m certain you are no longer considered a threat to them.

I have no idea what’s going on in Europe or mafia controlled Ukraine casinos today or twenty years ago.

I still believe all the legal advantage play methods are all openly discussed today. This forum along with many others are a good place to learn these methods. I also understand if you have the goose that’s laying golden eggs why you would prefer to keep it for yourself.

Since you are one of the few people with the brains to figure out weird angles to overcome today’s ridiculous bonuses offered online, that would lead me to believe that you’re happy with today’s online environment. I agree that constantly outsmarting a slot machines software or any other computer gaming program is a rare gift.

Hope your gambling techniques paid off in the past and still today.

Good luck with all that.