Online casinos, also known as virtual casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of traditional ('brick and mortar') casinos. Online casinos enable gamblers to play and wager on casino games through the Internet. It is a prolific form of online gambling.

Online casinos generally offer odds and payback percentages that are a bit higher than land-based casinos.^{[citation needed]} Some online casinos claim higher payback percentages for slot machine games, and some publish payout percentage audits on their websites. Assuming that the online casino is using an appropriately programmed random number generator, table games like blackjack have an established house edge. The payout percentage for these games are established by the rules of the game.

Illegal casino operators let you deposit money into your account on their website or app, but if you win you can’t access your winnings. The illegal casino operator closes its services, or moves them elsewhere, and your money disappears. Online casinos accepting American Dollar (USD) Assessing online casino operators is a challenging task you might now be aware of how to deal with. Generally speaking, you are required to take into consideration casino licenses, game variety, languages available, customer support, and payment methods. Luckily, online operators noticed that and offer a huge variety of slots which can be played on operation systems such as Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone, and many others. In the future, we expect even more support for mobile devices from online casinos. The process of playing online slots is not complicated at all. BetMGM is the online casino wing of MGM Resorts International, one of the largest casino operators in the world. Unsurprisingly, BetMGM is partnering with MGM Grand Detroit in Michigan. We are projecting that BetMGM will launch in November 2020. Illegal casino operators let you deposit money into your account on their website or app, but if you win you can’t access your winnings. The illegal casino operator closes its services, or moves them elsewhere, and your money disappears.

Many online casinos rent or buy their software from companies like CryptoLogic Inc (now Amaya), International Game Technology, Microgaming, Playtech, Golden Race and Realtime Gaming.

Largest Casino Operators

Types

Online casinos are broadly divided into two categories based on the software they use: web-based and download-only casinos. Traditionally, online casinos would include only one of the two platforms. However, with advanced technological changes, an online casino can now accommodate both.

Web-based

Web-based online casinos (also known as flash or no-download casinos) are websites where users may play casino games without downloading software to their local computer. Games are mainly represented in the browser plugins Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave, or Java and require browser support for these plugins. Besides the plugins and browser, a stable internet connection is required to have a seamless gaming experience as all graphics, sounds, and animations are loaded through the web via the plugin. Some online casinos also allow gameplay through a HTML interface.

Apple devices such as iPod, iPad, and iPhone cannot play Flash games as the technology is not supported. To access the no download casinos using the iOS platform, you'll have to download browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, or Opera Mini.

Download-based

Download-based online casinos require the download of the software client in order to play and wager on the casino games offered. The online casino software connects to the casino service provider and handles contact without browser support. Download-based online casinos generally run faster than web-based online casinos since the graphics and sound programs are cached by the software client, rather than having to be loaded from the Internet. On the other hand, the initial download and installation of the casino's software take time. As with any download from the Internet, the risk of the program containing malware exists, which makes it less popular among skeptical casino players.

Games

Virtual

Also known as software-based online casino games, the outcome of these games is determined using a pseudorandom number generator (PRNG) software. This software ensures that every deal of the card, the outcome of a dice throw, or the results produced by the spinning of a slot machine or roulette wheel is totally random and unpredictable. PRNGs use a set of mathematical instructions known as an algorithm to generate a long stream of numbers that give the impression of true randomness. While this is not the same as true random number generation (computers are incapable of this without an external input source), it provides results that satisfy all but the most stringent requirements for true randomness.

When implemented correctly, a PRNG algorithm such as the Mersenne Twister will ensure that the games are both fair and unpredictable. However, usually, the player has to trust that the software has not been rigged to increase the house edge, as its inner workings are invisible to the user. Properly regulated online casinos are audited externally by independent regulators to ensure that their win percentages are in line with the stated odds, and this can provide a degree of assurance to the player that the games are fair, assuming the player trusts the regulator.

Live dealer

Live dealer casino games are the complete opposite of software-based games. Instead of depending on software to determine the outcome of the roulette spin, dice throw, or deal of a card, these games depend on real-time results. This is possible as the games are streamed in real-time from a land-based casino or a studio recreated to mimic a land-based casino.

To ensure that players have an easy time playing these games and that the land-based environment is fully recreated, software developers include innovative features such as the chat feature. This enables the player to type your message to the dealer and they can respond back verbally. The live chat feature can also be used to communicate with other players seated at the table following a set of rules laid down by the casino.

The results of the physical transactions by the dealer, such as the outcome of the roulette wheel spin or the dealing of cards, are translated into data that can be utilized by the software by means of optical character recognition (OCR) technology. This enables the player to interact with the game in much the same way as they would with a virtual casino game, except for the fact that the results are determined by real-life actions rather than automated processes.

These games are a lot more expensive for websites to host than virtual games, as they involve a heavier investment in technology and staffing. A live casino studio typically employs one or more cameramen, several croupiers running the various games, an information technology manager to ensure that any technical hitches are dealt with swiftly, and a pit boss that acts as an adjudicator in case of disputes between players and croupiers.

In most cases, this requires at least a three-room setup, comprising a live studio, a server/software room, and an analyst’s room. The configuration of these rooms varies from casino to casino, with some having several gaming tables in one room, and some having a single table in each room.

The high running costs involved with operating live dealer games is the reason why online casinos only tend to offer a handful of the most popular games in this format, such as roulette, blackjack, sic bo, and baccarat. In comparison, the running costs associated with virtual games are very low, and it is not uncommon for online casinos to offer hundreds of different virtual casino games to players on their site.

Operator Casino Online Casino

Online casinos vary in their approach to the hosting of live games, with some providing live games via their own television channel, and others offering the games exclusively via their website. In the case of televised games, players can often use their mobile phone or television remote controls to place bets instead of doing so via a computer connected to the internet. The most common live dealer games offered at online casinos are baccarat, blackjack, and roulette.

Examples

A typical selection of gambling games offered at an online casino might include:

Bonuses

Many online casinos offer sign-up bonuses to new players making their first deposit, and often on subsequent play as well. These bonuses are a form of marketing that may incur a cost (potentially justifiable in order to attract a new player who may return and deposit many more times), since the casino is essentially giving away money in return for a commitment from the player to wager a certain minimum amount before they are allowed to withdraw. Since all casino games have a house edge, the wagering requirements ensure that the player cannot simply walk away with the casino's money immediately after claiming the bonus. These wagering requirements are commonly set to be sufficiently high that the player has a negative expectation, exactly as if they had deposited and not claimed a bonus.

Casinos may choose to restrict certain games from fulfilling the wagering requirements, either to restrict players from playing low-edge games or to restrict 'risk-free' play (betting for instance both red and black on roulette), thereby completing the wagering requirement with a guaranteed profit after the bonus is taken into account.

Welcome

The Welcome bonus is a deposit match bonus on the first deposit ever made in the casino or casino group. Welcome bonuses sometimes come in packages and may be given to match the first two or three deposits (First Deposit Welcome Bonus, Second Deposit Welcome Bonus, etc.). They can also be tied to specific games, such as the Welcome Slots Bonus or the Welcome Table Games Bonus. The casino may also offer Welcome bonuses for high rollers who make an initial deposit above the standard amount limit.

Referral

There are two types of Referral bonuses: one for the Referee and one for the Referrer. The Referee gets a bonus when he or she registers an account at the casino and mentions the Referrer. The Referrer gets a bonus when the Referee completes all the requirements, such as making the deposit and wagering it a certain number of times.

Cashback or insurance

Cashback or Insurance bonuses are offered as a percentage of all losses in the player’s previous gaming activity. Typically, only deposits that were not matched with bonuses count towards this bonus. You can additionally find websites that offer casino cashback payments based on your losses encountered while playing with one or more online casinos. Those types of cashback deals are usually paid back to players by the casino portal that offers those special cashback offers.

No-deposit

The most popular form of bonus is one that can be claimed without the need to deposit any of the player's own money - known as a no deposit bonus. These bonuses are used as acquisition tools by casinos wishing to attract new players. No deposit bonuses don't always take the form of real cash, as exemplified below.

Non-cashable

Non-cashable bonuses may be called 'sticky' or 'phantom' bonuses. In both cases, the bonus forms a part of the player's balance, but cannot be cashed out. The difference between cash-able and phantom bonuses comes at cashout time. A phantom bonus is deducted from the player's balance at the moment he places his withdrawal request. For example: if you deposited $100, received $100, played, and finished the wagering at $150. If the bonus is sticky, the player will be able to withdraw just $50. If the bonus is cash-able, then the whole balance is available for withdrawal.

Comp points

Comps are commonly available at land-based casinos, but also exist online. Comp points can usually be exchanged for cash, prizes, or other comps. The amount of cash given per wager is usually very small and often varies with game selection. A casino might offer three comp points for each $10 wagered on slots and one comp point for each $10 wagered on blackjack. The casino might give $1 for each 100 comp points. This example is equivalent to returning 0.3% of wagers on slots and 0.1% of wagers on blackjack. In addition, online casinos may offer comps such as free tickets to online tournaments, free slots online, tickets to other special events, extra bonuses, souvenirs, and payback.

Hunting

Bonus hunting (also known as bonus bagging or bonus whoring) is a type of advantage gambling where turning a profit from casino, sportsbook and poker room bonus situations is mathematically possible. For example, the house edge in blackjack is roughly 0.5%. If a player is offered a $100 cashable bonus requiring $5000 in wagering on blackjack with a house edge of 0.5%, the expected loss is $25. Therefore, the player has an expected gain of $75 after claiming the $100 bonus.

Disputes

A large portion of online casino disputes relates to bonuses. Casinos may label players who win using bonuses as 'bonus abusers.' Both players and casinos may commit fraud. An example of player fraud is creating multiple accounts and using the accounts to claim a sign-up bonus several times. An example of casino fraud is changing terms of a bonus after a player has completed the wagering requirements, then requiring the player to meet the new bonus terms.^{[citation needed]}

Fraudulent operator behaviour

Fraudulent behavior on the part of online casinos has been documented, almost exclusively by player advocacy websites and forums. The most commonly reported behavior is a refusal to pay withdrawals to legitimate winners. An online casino with multiple confirmed cases of fraudulent behavior is often called a rogue casino by the online casino player community.

Many casino gambling portals and player forums maintain blacklists of rogue casinos. While some carry more authority than others, all blacklists constitute individual webmaster and player opinions rather than an official list from any type of regulating body.

Often, casinos use buffer sites that offer free play of their casino games but in reality use different means of deceptive strategies to redirect or lure the visitors into signing up to their services via appealing bonus offers or exclusive reward programs. The majority of these deceptive 'free' sites lead to equally deceptive casinos.

Since almost all existing online casinos offer free play of their casino games, recognizing whether a casino is deceptive based on whether they offer free gameplay is no longer viable.

Legality

Online gambling legislation often has loopholes that result from the rapid development of the technology underpinning the development of the industry. Some countries, including Belgium, Canada, Finland, and Sweden have state gambling monopolies and do not grant licenses to foreign casino operators. According to their law, operators licensed on the territory of these countries can only be considered legal. At the same time, they can't prosecute foreign casino operators and only block their sites. Players in these countries can't be punished and can gamble at any site they can access.

Australia

The Australian Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA)^[1] criminalizes the supply of online casino games by an operator anywhere in the world to persons located in Australia. It only targets operators of online gambling sites, resulting in the curious situation that it is not illegal for a player in Australia to access and gamble at an online casino. No operator has even been charged with an offense under the IGA and many online casinos accept Australian customers.^[2] In June 2016, the South Australian Government became the first state or territory in the world to introduce a 15% Place Of Consumption Tax (POCT) modeled on the 2014 UK POCT.^[3]

Belgium

The Belgian Gaming Act^[4] went into effect in January 2011 and allows online gambling, but only under very strict conditions and surveillance.^[5]

Canada

The Canadian criminal code states that only provincial governments and charitable organizations licensed by provincial governments may operate a casino in Canada. It also prohibits residents from participating in any lottery scheme, the game of chance, or gambling activity not licensed or operated by a provincial government.^[6] In 2010, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation launched Canada’s first legal online casino, PlayNow, which is available to residents of British Columbia. The province of Quebec also operates a legal online casino through Loto-Québec.

Despite this legislation, the Kahnawake First Nation in Quebec has taken the position that it is a sovereign nation, able to enact its own gambling legislation, and has licensed and hosted nearly 350 gambling websites, without ever being prosecuted.^[7]

Germany

A German state contract about gambling (German: Glücksspielstaatsvertrag [de]) between all 16 German states was ratified in 2008 and has been adopted in 2012. It regulates restrictive handling of online-gambling, including a basic state monopoly on public gambling with limited exceptions for a few commercial providers. Online gambling, and other forms of public gambling, against these regulations is illegal in Germany. The state contract, its implementation in contrast to the more lenient EU legislation, and possible further changes have been controversially discussed in the public, politics, and courts.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the Gambling Bill that was passed into law in 2005 tends to all matters of online gambling, permitting online betting sites to have a Remote Gambling Licence in order to offer online betting to UK citizens. In 2014, the UK government put into law the Gambling Act of 2014 which in addition to the original 2005 law, required offshore online gambling operators catering to UK players to obtain a UK license. The new regulation required operators to pay a 15% Place of Consumption Tax (POCT), something that triggered an exodus of sorts of some operators from the British Isles. However, this exodus did not last long in most cases as the benefits outweighed the stumbling blocks, due to the UK being a major market for online gambling.^{[citation needed]}

In 2019 the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced a series of new measures that apply to online and mobile casinos to reduce underage gambling with the aim of increasing fairness and transparency.^[8] The new measures will require casinos to have users verify their identity and age in order to gamble.^[9]

United States

In the United States, the legality of online gambling is debated and can vary from state to state. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) limits the ability of banks and payment processors to transact with internet gambling sites that are unlawful under any federal or state law. However, it does not define the legality or otherwise of an internet-based gambling site. It was commonly assumed that the Federal Wire Act prohibited all forms of online gambling. However, in December 2011, the United States Department of Justice released a statement clarifying that the Wire Act applied only to sports betting sites and not to online casinos, poker, or lottery sites,^[10][11] leaving the definition of legality up to individual states. Certain states such as Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey have started the process of legalizing and regulating online gambling and it is expected that regulation will continue on a state by state basis.

See also

Notes

1. ^Interactive Gambling Act 1998 - Australia
2. ^Cowie, Tom. 'Last Bets: around the world in online casinos — first stop, Gibraltar'. Crikey.
3. ^SA to become a most expensive place in the world to wage a bet, betting agency says
4. ^Gaming Act
5. ^Platteau, Koen (23 October 2012). 'Online gambling is taking off in Belgium'. Olswang LLP. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012.
6. ^'The Criminal Code of Canada (s.206 and s.207)'. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
7. ^Crowne, Emir; Roy, Sanjay (May 2010). 'Maintaining Provincial Monopolies: The Legality of Online Gambling Sites in Canada'. Canadian Gaming Lawyer Magazine. Vol. 3 no. 1. SSRN1611862.
8. ^Miller, George (2019-02-11). 'UKGC: New rules to make online gambling in Britain fairer and safer'.
9. ^'New rules to make online gambling in Britain fairer and safer'. www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
10. ^Vardi, Nathan. 'Department Of Justice Flip-Flops On Internet Gambling'. Forbes.
11. ^Dunstan, Roger (March 1997). 'II. History of Gambling in the United States II-1'. Gambling in California. California State Library. Archived from the original on 2017-01-18.

External links

• Online Casinos at Curlie

Owned by Penn National, a staple of the gambling industry for the past 45 years, Hollywood Casino comes as the latest addition to the online casino market and their online gambling sites portfolio. The operator is off to a strong start with its welcome offer. Eligible new users get $10 free on registration + first two deposits matched up to $251 each time bonus as soon as they register.

Online Casino Operator

VegasInsider Hollywood Online Casino Rating

Largest Casino Operators In Us

Hollywood Casino PA Promo Code

Here is an overview of the most important information with regard to Hollywood Casino Welcome offer.

How to Sign Up at Hollywood Casino

In order to claim the welcome deposit match bonus, users will need to register and join Hollywood Casino for a new account. The operator has made sure to make the procedure as straightforward as possible. The online casino in PA has also allowed you to open an account both over the Hollywood Casino app and over its desktop website. Here is a breakdown of the registration procedure to start playing games at Hollywood Casino:

1. Go to the Hollywood Casino website
2. Find the “Register” button and click it
3. Fill out the required personal information: your email, password, name, address, age, phone number, etc.
4. Enter the promo code, if you have one
5. Go through the terms and conditions and click if you agree
6. Complete the registration

Offer valid September 19, 2020 at 6:00:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) to January 1, 2022 at 5:59:59 a.m. ET. Hollywood Casino reserves the right to suspend, modify, and/or cancel this promotion upon notice to and approval from Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Staff.

How to Play with Hollywood Casino

Playing with Hollywood Casino isn’t different from playing at any other casino or online sportsbook. After you have registered, you will first need to make a deposit. Once you do, simply select the game you are interested in and start playing. It’s that easy.

If you end up having any trouble starting a game, you can contact customer support and explain the issue.

Hollywood Casino Games

Despite the fact that it’s still relatively new, Hollywood Casino is already one of the best online casinos when it comes to games. The offer of online casino slots includes dozens of titles by major publishers, with new ones regularly added. The operator also offers a couple of exclusive titles that are more than decent.

When it comes to table games, there Hollywood Casino has the full roster of casino staples. We wouldn’t say it’s the most complete list of table games we have seen. However, it’s more than enough to satisfy the needs of an average player. Additionally, the games can be played both on desktop and the Hollywood Casino app. Finally, the operator allows you to play a demo of each of the online casino games before committing to playing with cash.

In the next section of our Hollywood Casino Review, we will list some of the standout titles.

List of Games

Here are some of the games we had access to at the time of our Hollywood Casino Review. Note that the list might be significantly expanded in the future. We will start off with table games, and move on to casino slots. As the list of slots features more than 60 different titles, we will focus on several featured ones.

• Blackjack
• Game King Video Poker
• Baccarat
• Roulette
• European Roulette
• American Roulette
• European Roulette
• French Roulette
• Roulette Advanced
• Gonzo’s Quest
• Starburst
• Cleopatra
• Divine Fortune
• Wolf Run
• Golden Goddess
• Fruit Spin
• Jack Hammer
• DaVinci Diamonds (Exclusive)
• Triple Red Hot 777 Free Games (Exclusive)

Betting with Hollywood Casino App

Online gambling on mobile has become second nature to most players. This is why it has become essential for operators to offer a top of the line mobile experience for PA online gambling. Luckily, Hollywood Casino has done just that. The operator has made a Hollywood Casino app available soon on launch, which is always a plus for those looking for this online gaming experience.

Unfortunately, though, the app launch has not gone without issues. Admittedly, the issues aren’t the operator’s fault. Rather, they are due to the fact that Apple made a sudden change in its policy regarding gambling apps. The policy requires that the games offered need to be natively coded for iOS. Up until now, the apps have only represented a shortcut to the operator’s mobile website. What this means is that operators will have to invest additional resources and time in order to ensure their casino games can be played across iOS devices.

This has sadly crippled the offer of available online casino games on the Hollywood Casino app for iOS. One possible solution to the problem would be allowing Hollywood Casino online access through a mobile browser.

Android users, on the other hand, will find a much more complete offer of games. At this point, the list of titles available on Android includes around 60% of the ones available on desktop.

But apart from the games, the Hollywood Casino online app offers excellent experience when it comes to account management. Users can open a new account, deposit funds, withdraw payments and participate in promotional offers all within a few taps. The apps are intuitively organized and adjust well to any device format. Be it a smartphone, or a tablet.

How to download iOS App

If you are interested in checking out the iOS app, and managing your account on the go, here is how you can download it.

1. Go to the operator’s website
2. Find the prompt to download the app and tap it
3. When you are redirected to the App Store install the app

Alternatively, you can search for “Hollywood Casino PA Real Money” directly in the App Store.

How to download Android App

Compared to the iOS one, installing the Android app will take a few more steps. Due to Google’s Play Store policy regarding gambling apps, the Hollywood Casino online app isn’t available in the store. For this reason, you will need to sideload the app, if you want to install it. It simply means that you need to download the Hollywood Casino app from the website. Here is a step-by-step guide of what you need to do.

1. Go to the operator’s website
2. The site should direct you to the Download Hollywood Casino page
3. Click the Download and Install button
4. You will be prompted to allow the installation of apps from unknown sources
5. Go to your device Settings, then to More, finally enter the Security or Applications tab
6. Check the box, or toggle the setting to turn on the Unknown Sources
7. Finally, find the app file in your download folder and proceed to install it

Note that depending on your device model and OS version, the settings configuration might be different. If you have any trouble with the installation, feel free to contact customer support.

Other Hollywood PA Casino Offers

Apart from the welcome offer, we were happy to see the operator have a number of other active promotions. For starters, there is a refer-a-friend promotion. The offer promises a bonus to anyone who successfully refers a friend. This means that their friend has to register, but also make a deposit and play.

Secondly, there is a weekly cash back promotion. On Mondays, the operator offers to reimburse a percentage of losses on certain table games.

Finally, since the operator is part of the network of casinos operated by Penn National, playing also qualifies you for its loyalty scheme. Namely, whenever you play, you will collect points and climb through the ranks. You can then spend the points of a variety of perks which include dinners, hotel stays, free slot plays, etc. The points are redeemable at any of 41 Penn National casinos all over the US.

You can find more details about these and any future offers on the operator’s Promotions page. Additionally, this is where you will find the terms and conditions for each of the offers. If you are interested in another alternative Pennsylvania online casino, then read our Unibet Casino review.

Payment Methods

We understand that the US online gambling market is still in its infancy. However, this shouldn’t serve as an excuse for Hollywood casino online to offer a very limited number of payment methods. Especially, since the competition is noticeably ahead in this regard. We can only hope that the operator starts offering a greater variety of payment methods as soon as possible. Particularly since there are some very noticeable omissions. Nevertheless, these were the available payment options at the time of our Hollywood Casino review.

Deposits

When it comes to making deposits, here is the list of currently available deposit methods.

• Credit or Debit cards: Visa and MasterCards
• Hollywood Play+ Card
• ACH (VIP Preferred)
• PayNearMe: Allows depositing with cash at a local CVS 7-Eleven or Family Dollar.

Withdrawals

Withdrawal options are unfortunately significantly more limited. This is the list of available ones at the time of writing.

• ACH (VIP Preferred)
• Paper check
• Play+ Card

Customer Support

For every online operator, especially one just breaking into the market, ensuring excellent customer support should be a top priority. The operator earns top marks in this regard. The operator offers a 24/7 live chat, phone line, and email. The customer support reps we had the experience of communicating with were very professional and quick to respond. So, excellent work.

Hollywood Casino FAQ

In case you have any additional questions about the PA online casino, promotional offers or other issues, take a look at our FAQ section.

Are there any restrictions on signing up for a new Hollywood Casino account?

Yes, there are. You can sign up for an account from anywhere in the US, so long as you are 21 or over. However, in order to be able to play at the casino, you have to be within the borders of PA.

I have opened a Hollywood Casino account, but I cannot claim the bonus. What should I do?

The first thing you should do is check whether you have fulfilled all the required conditions stated in the offer (e.g. whether you have made the min deposit). If you have, then you should contact customer support. The support reps should help find the solution.

How can I download Hollywood Casino app?

If you use iOS, you can find and download Hollywood Casino in Apple's App Store. On Android, you will need to download Hollywood Casino directly from the operator’s website.

Hollywood Casino Review Conclusion

At the end of our review, it’s time to sum up our thoughts. We generally, really like what the casino has to offer. The selection of casino games trumps many of the more well-known PA online casinos around. Furthermore, we thought that the welcome offer is very good and it offers enough of an incentive to merit opening an account. It’s good to see the operator offer additional bonus offers, and, hopefully, the trend will continue.

But there are some things the operator definitely needs to work on. First off, the iOS app falls behind in terms of available online casino games. Granted, we are aware that this is not strictly the operator’s fault. However, it would be encouraging to see them come up with a solution.

Secondly, we would really like to see more options when it comes to payment options. As things are right now, the severely limited choice might be enough to turn people away from signing up. Hopefully, we will see the situation improve, for everyone’s sake.

Once again, we remind you that you can get $10 free on registration + first two deposits matched up to $251 each time.