hatanakavisuals.com

A recently released report entitled, “Casinos: A Global Strategic Business Report” by the Global Industry Analysts discusses a comprehensive forecast for land-based and internet gambling. Founded in 1987, Global Industry Analysts (GIA) is one of the world’s leading market research publishers with over 1,200 reports released each year. Their most recent report on the gambling marketplace shows a bright future.

The report contains a variety of important topics including:

• Trends and issues
• Regulatory environment
• Product innovations
• Associated industries
• Recent industry activity
• Profiles of market players

Overall the study formulated a prediction, that land casino gambling will increase to $101.30 billion by the year 2015. GIA also predicts there will be tremendous growth for the online gambling industry. The report further states casinos are the largest and most lucrative sectors of commercial gambling on land. Therefore land-based gambling is the object of focus for the government due to the generation of income for state and federal necessities through taxation.

Unfortunately, land-based casinos have reached saturation in the developed countries. Therefore, the report forecasts considerable growth in developing Asian countries, more specifically Macau. A common trend in the casino industry is opening one of many casinos in Macau to remain ahead of the competition.

GIA’s report expands on this idea by stating that the gambling market is in a significant transition phase between land-based and online gaming. There are many major gambling organizations that wish to move their operations online but face a strict and difficult regulatory climate. Although online gaming comprises only a small fraction of overall gambling, it is growing at a rapid pace and will continue to in the future.

This report continues by providing readers with many facts based on other reports and studies conducted. Several other studies indicate slowly growing trends in Nevada and Atlantic City. The Nevada Gaming Control Board reports a 0.1 percent increase across the state in 2010 compared with 2009 as a result of 4.1 percent growth in Las Vegas. On the other hand, Atlantic City faced falling revenues for the beginning of 2011.

This report is extremely comprehensive but accurate. Due to the credibility of the source this information is an excellent preview of the future of the land-based and online gambling industry. Hopefully the slight growth trend will transform into steady growth for both segments of the industry across the globe, just as the report deduces.

One of the most sought after security approvals in the gaming industry is through eCOGRA. This gives online gaming sites and their suppliers a considerable amount of credibility as being robust and secure. Those companies that have not yet been approved submit their gaming operations to eCOGRA for inspection. The most recent Microgaming-powered casinos to be inspected and approved are Red Flush and Casino La Vida, both members of the Club Red Gaming group.

Since they are approved, both online gaming sites can display the “Safe and Fair” seal from eCOGRA. This seal places them in an elite status with only 143 other online casinos. This indicates these casinos have fulfilled the required standards during the inspection and during the time period of monitoring for further compliance. The eCOGRA assessment includes the following issues:

• Fair gaming standards
• Fair and timely payouts
• Efficient customer support
• Responsible gaming gauges
• Dispute resolution

Representatives from both casinos publicly announced how proud they are of their newest accomplishment and that they are delighted with being recognized for continuous integrity and compliant operating standards. The seal is the latest accomplishment for online gaming sites since they were first launched.

In 2008, Red Flush was presented with the Best New Online Casino Award courtesy of Casinomeister. In 2010, Casino La Vida was released and also received the Best New Online Casino Award only from Online Gaming Insider.

eCOGRA was founded in 2003 by opposing online casinos to improve operating standards and protect internet gambling players. Today, eCOGRA functions independently from its founders and does not receive any funding. For this reason, approvals granted by eCOGRA have acquired credibility.

eCOGRA operational standards apply not only to online casinos but also online poker rooms, sports betting, bingo halls, live dealer gaming, mobile casino gambling, software providers and affiliate programs. Basically the seal covers all companies in connection with online gambling. The seals are recognized by numerous international regulatory bodies like the European Gaming and Betting Association. However, the seal is mainly placed to appeal to players and potential customers.

Microgaming is one of the largest and most well-known software developers to have become eCOGRA certified. Therefore, being that Red Flush and Casino La Vida are Microgaming-powered, it was a bit easier for them to obtain this prestigious certification. With so few casinos on the certification list, acquiring this will drastically increase the number of players at a casino and thus multiply revenue.

The most popular games at an online casino are always reported. However, popularity is subjective and depends on who you are asking. French Roulette is a highly popular game among online gamblers, but is not popular with online gaming operators. As a result, many online casinos do not or no longer offer French Roulette but continue to provide user’s access to American and European Roulette. Those that do offer French Roulette only provide a single game.

The Numbers

All roulette players are aware of the three variants of roulette and their related house edges. American Roulette boasts a house edge of 5.26 percent while European Roulette has an edge of 2.70 percent. French Roulette claims a house edge of only 1.35 percent on even money wagers and 2.70 percent for all other bets. Online gaming operators argue the 1.35 percent is much too low for them to cover costs and therefore do not offer it on their site.

The Player’s Argument

The argument for players is that all online casinos offer various blackjack and video poker variants with house edge less than 1 percent. This is significantly lower than all roulette variants. Why is there are problem with French Roulette then?

The Operators Argument

The reason lies with the actual gameplay of each contest. Roulette is a game built on luck alone. Any player that posts an even-money bet in French Roulette will receive an average return of 98.65 percent over the long term. Therefore, the casino will never make more than $1.35 for every $100 placed on an even-money bet.

On the other hand, the game of blackjack entails luck and skill. For example, if a specific blackjack variant boasts a house edge of 0.5 percent and the player bets will perfect skill, he will have a return of 99.5 percent over the long term. However, most players do not wager with perfect skill, therefore, there is much more variance. As the skill level decreases so does the average return. Bad blackjack players can end with a return of less than 90 percent.

While the house edge of blackjack may be less than 1 percent with perfect skill, it is more realistic to estimate the house will acquire $3 for every $100 wagered based on the average player. However, there is much less variance with French Roulette and therefore players betting even-money will see a return of 98.65 percent. Therefore, it does not make financial sense for online gaming sites to offer French Roulette.

Different communities across the globe enjoy varying cuisines based on local flora and fauna. Due to the vast migration of communities to urban centers and towns around the world, a diversity of cuisines can be found everywhere. This is consistent with online slot games as well. As a result, some of the most prominent online casino software developers have created cuisine-themed slot games. Some of the most popular games include the following cuisines:

• Japanese
• Chinese
• Indian
• French

Japanese sushi is a popular style of food across the globe. Therefore, Cryptologic has captured this delicacy in a recently released game entitled “Sushi Express.” The chef, known as Tako, is an octopus that is always moving behind the reels. The symbols found on the reels within the game include, ingredients for Japanese dishes, various sushi dishes and seafood, since the central theme of the game is sushi. During each free spin players pick one symbol for more prizes.

An equally popular cuisine is Chinese. Realtime Gaming escorts players to the “Wok and Roll” Chinese restaurant. The wild symbol within the game is the chef which chops duck during animations. Other symbols include baked fish, Chinese noodles, pancakes, lettuce, shrimp salad, fortune cookies and sauce. There are two free spins rounds: one triggered by the chef symbol and other by the Wok and Roll logo.

Another game, developed by Microgaming, is known as “Curry in a Hurry” and features a food van delivering curry to a man’s residence that is so spicy fire and smoke come out of his ears and mouth. In the bonus game, player’s select three curry plates from the five offered. The player wins payout multipliers based on the number of chilies in the plates selected.

Finally, Rival Gaming has released, “Jacques Pot Gourmet Slot”, a French-themed slot game. The symbols on the reels consist of appliances and ingredients such as cheese, bread, meat and vegetables. The animations are fantastic as they show vegetables being chopped, eggs beaten and salt and pepper sprinkled.

Not only are each of these cuisines delicious, but they make for an excellent slot game. These four games can be found at all of their respective casinos and are slowly becoming more popular as players give the games a try. Two consistencies between the four games are their attention to detail and the excellent animations in the game. Pick one out, stop by a casino and try luck at these delectable games.