1. Licensing information

It is essential for an online casino to be licensed and regulated by a competent regulatory authority. Such licensing bodies have strict standards in place for the operations of online casino sites to protect their players. Two of the leading regulatory bodies for online casinos are Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). 

A licensed online casino real money players gamble on would always comply with the existing rules and regulations. You’ll usually find licensing information of the casino website on the bottom of its homepage. Once you’ve found the information, verify it on the regulatory authority’s website. 

2. Quality and variety in games

You might want to try out new games after playing one for a few days. This is possible only if your online casino has a vast selection of high-quality games. It is, therefore, extremely important that you look for quality and variety in casino games offered on the site. Check if the game providers are among the reputed ones. 

Playtech, Microgaming, and NetEnt are some of the major game providers in the iGaming industry. The casino games provided by them have top-notch graphics, innovative features, and fair gameplay. You must also make sure that the online casino updates its game library on a frequent basis.

3. Bonuses and promotions

If an online casino offers you attractive bonuses and loyalty programs, it can truly boost your bankroll. The most common types of bonuses are welcome bonuses and no-deposit bonuses. Free spins are also a part of bonuses and promotions on the best online casino real money players bet on. 

Before you sign up with the online casino, go through the terms and conditions associated with the offers. They often come with wagering requirements, withdrawal limits, and game restrictions. Always look for an online casino that has a generous bonus offer for you with fair terms and conditions.

4. Deposit and withdrawal methods

Never forget to check if the payment methods available on the online casino are secure and convenient. The best online casinos offer several banking options for deposits and withdrawals. They include credit or debit cards of Visa and MasterCard, e-wallets, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies. 

See if the online casino allows deposits and withdrawals using your preferred payment method. You must also check the processing times. To avoid any unexpected charges, it would be a good idea to check the casino’s policy on fees. 

Final thoughts

Online casinos try their best to attract players. This involves flashing some attractive offers on the website. You need to examine the offer that a casino site makes with great caution. All the factors need to be carefully considered before making your decision to sign up with the online casino. This will ensure a safe and rewarding gaming journey ahead.

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I think all gamblers can agree that online casinos are becoming increasingly more popular. And you just need to look at the statistics to back this statement up! With thousands of new users signing up each year. During the covid-19 pandemic, online casinos notice a huge rise in new users as people were not able to visit land-based ones due to closure. We believe that online casinos are indeed the way forward and we will start to see more and more land-based casinos moving this way. They are extremely convenient because you can play from the comfort of your own home, whenever you like. Simply grab your laptop, mobile or tablet and within a few clicks, you’ll be playing your favourite casino games.

Which are the most popular and trustworthy online casinos to play at?

There are many but we’ve chosen some favourites during 2021…

Red Dog

Red Dog online casino are committed to their role in the enterprise and joined the online gaming world in 2019. They offer over 220+ casino games including many popular slots such as Paydirt!, Popinata, Achilles, Bubble Bubble, Count Spectacular, Cash Bandits and Caesar’s Empire. And the most popular table games, including Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette and Video Poker. People also love it because it accepts the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. And you’ll be greeted by the red dog himself as you navigate around the well-designed website. Very popular choice with online casino users.

Casinos Jungle

Casinos Jungle is the USA & Canada best online casino guide. They have rated and reviewed the best online casinos in the USA to help you find your next new casino. You will also find a huge variety of slot games available from top software providers. Get lost in some jungle fun! With helpful fearless adventurer guides to help you every step of the way – CJ and Mick Monay! The best casinos jungle guides going. The website is very visually pleasing, fun and straightforward to us.

Bovada

Bovada has been around since 2011 and has become an extremely trusted and reputable online casino. They are continually ensuring that they offer the newest games with the latest technology so you’re always getting the best possible gaming experience. The latest games added include Instant Inferno, Panda Fortune, Wild Diamond Miner, Reels and Wheels, Monster Manor and Larry’s Lucky Tavern.

Cafe Casino

Cafe Casino offers a large and varied game selection with over 300+ games on offer. With some of the most popular slot games by the best gaming providers in the industry. Such as Birds of Fury, Cash Money Mermaids, Desert Kingdom, Jack the Ripper, Major Moolah, Strike Gold, Aztec’s Treasures, Money Magic, Indiana Jane and Invasion. They also have fantastic welcome bonuses and promotions for existing online casino users too.

Please note: If you want to play at any other online casinos not mentioned on this list, please just ensure that you do your research first. Check the valid licenses, reviews, payment methods & withdrawals and software providers. Once you’re 100% sure it’s safe and secure it’s time to enjoy all the games on offer! Just make sure you’re gambling responsibly.

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Floating Dragons: Hold and Spin

This slot game was created by the talented Pragmatic Play. It features 5 reels, 5 rows and 10 paylines. With an RTP of 96.71% and a maximum win of 5000x your inital stake. The games’ theme is inspired by Asian Culture and you will find floating dragons, Asian princesses, kites, fish and many more Asian-related symbols on your reels.

Gonzo’s quest

This slot game was created by the leading gaming software provider NetEnt. It features 5 reels, 3 rows and 20 paylines. With an RTP of 95.97% and an incredible maximum win of 37,500x your inital stake. The games are inspired by a Mayan theme so you will find many various animals and masks on stone slabs on your reels.

Mega Moolah

This slot game was created by the very well-known and successful gaming software, Microgaming. It features 5 reels, 3 rows and 25 paylines. The RTP is very below average at 88.12% but this game offers the opportunity to win 1,995x your initial stake. And the highest jackpot to be won on this game is a life-changing jackpot of $13.2 million! It follows an African Safari so expect to see all different types of animals symbols on your screen. Such as lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, parrots and so much more!

Reel Rush

This slot game was also created by the talented gaming software provider NetEnt. It features 5 reels, 3 rows and incredible 3,125 ways to win. With an RTP of 96.96% and a maximum jackpot of 962x your initial bet. The colourful cartoony theme almost reminders you of a Super Mario game. And there’s a soothing electronic backing track which plays throughout the game as you spin the reels.

Ted Megaways

This slot game was released by the innovative Blueprint Gaming. It features 6 reels, 4 rows and an outstanding 117,649 ways to win. The RTP is 96.03% and there is a maximum jackpot of 50,000x your initial stake. If you haven’t already guessed, the theme is inspired by the popular comedy movie TED directed by Seth MacFarlane that was released in 2012.

Age of the Gods: Book of Dwarves

This game is by leading gaming software provider Playtech. It features 5 reels, 5 rows and 50 paylines. The RTP is 95.22% and it has a maximum jackpot of 10,000x your initial stake. The theme of the game is inspired by all things fairy tales and fantasy so expect a magical feeling whilst you spin the reels!

Chocolates

Are you feeling peckish? Big Time Gaming released this slot game. It features 4 reels, 4 rows and 256 ways to win. It has an RTP of 96.6% and the opportunity to win a fantastic 65,536x your initial stake. Needless to say, the theme of the game revolves around delightful and delicious chocolate.

Genie Jackpots Wishmaker

This slot game is also by Blueprint Gaming. It features 5 reels, 3 rows and 20 paylines. The RTP is an average 96.06% but you have the opportunity to win 50,000x your initial bet. The theme of the game revolves around the Arabian folklore and it’s creation of the magical genie that can grant wishes. Just rub the lamp and spin the reels to see which cash prizes await for you!

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1. Cloud gaming services are continuously growing and expanding

For those who aren’t familiar with the term ‘cloud gaming’, it’s essentially playing a game remotely from a cloud. It means you can run video games from remote servers and also stream them onto devices. Some people will refer to cloud gaming as ‘gaming on demand’ too.

Statistics show that a huge increase in interest in cloud gaming in 2021. This is undoubtedly due to the increase of titles added to the ever-expanding game catalogue. With thousands and thousands of games to choose from the possibilities really are endless. You can guarantee that you’ll find a game type to match your gaming preferences.

Cloud gaming essentially takes out the process of downloading games which we all know can take incredibly long. Instead, you can simply stream it in real-time. You can play the games almost instantly so it’s no surprise that the popularity of cloud gaming is increasing rapidly. Consoles that support cloud gaming include PlayStation 4, Xbox One. PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, WII U and many more. Also, it was voted in 2021 that GeForce Now is the best service that offers cloud gaming!

2. A rise in popularity of indie games

Indie games are independent video games that are typically created by smaller development teams or individuals. This means they don’t have the financial or technological support of big gaming companies. People often mistake indie games for being a genre of games but this is not the case. Rather it is a characteristic of the conditions for their creation. Essentially it is games created by independent developers that are the entrepreneurs of the gaming industry.

The best indie game platforms to publish your indie game include Roblox, Steam, GOG, Itch.io, Games Gate and Game Jolt. Reblox is the most popular platforrm and has a 150 million monthly active users. This is no surprise because Reblox helps independent game creators to create and distribute games on a single platform.

There are many extremely popular indie games titles to check out right now. These include Valheim, Stray, Sable, Garden Story, Tunic, Loop Hero, Maquette, Cyber Shadow, Solar Ash, Little Nightmares II and so many more. But Stardw Vallie is the all-time best indie selling game!

3. Increase in female gamers

It’s no big secret that the majority of games are male and game producers predominately cater to this gender. This is undoubtedly down to the fact that the things that interest men are easier to implement into video games. Such as sports games, action, battle, racing, shooting and more (not to say some females don’t love these types of games too). But it’s also because a huge 80% of people that work in the gaming industry are male. However, in recent years, statistics show that there is a huge increase in female gamers. In 2010 statistics showed that 60% of gamers were male and 40% female. And in 2020 it is estimated that at least 46% of gamers are female. A significant change that is nearly approaching 50/50.

Despite the fact the gaming industry is still male-dominated, gaming producers are starting to release games aimed at female gamers. Such as the series of animal crossing games! Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the fifth addition to the series and was released in 2020 solely for Nintendo or Nintendo Switch. After this game release, the number of female gamers increased significantly.

Games aimed at a female audience will usually include a female protagonist. Such as The Last Part of us II which was one of the biggest releases in 2020. There are also more women than ever working in the gaming industry so it’s no surprise that the female gamers figure is growing! The top 5 most popular video games amongst women include Ark, Animal Crossing, Pokemon Go, Grand Theft Auto, Sims 4 and Minecraft.

4. An increase in remakes and reboots

Gaming providers are starting to make remakes and reboots of old games because of their great popularity amongst gamers. They tweak, polish and use the latest technologies to give life and upgrade previously popular games. Old-School games are being released with ultra-modern gameplay and features. As well as top-quality 3D graphics, animations and sound effects.

Does anyone remember the Crash Bandicoot video game series? It was made exclusively for Sony’s PlayStation console but was quickly installed by many different developers for different platforms. This was because of its great popularity amongst gamers. Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! was released in 2021 and is one of the top-selling games of 2021! So it’s no surprise that game developers are taking note and starting to make remakes and reboots of popular games of the past. With updated technology and advances of course!

Popular remakes of games include Final Fantasy VII remake, Resident Evil 2, The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. But there are so many! They breathe new life into a franchise that people already know and love. Gaming producers have started to realise that remakes and reboots sell extremely well so it’s no surprise that they are all releasing them. It’s also appealing to game providers because there is much less risk than producing a completely new franchise. If previous sales of the game have been huge then it’s almost guaranteed the new updated versions of the games will be too.

The post 4 Gaming Trends 2021 appeared first on 12ahead.com.

You probably won’t be too surprised to see TikTok take the top spot for the most downloaded app in 2021. As you already know, the world faced (and still is) the global pandemic due to the spread of COVID-19. This meant people all around the world were locked down at home and started looking for ways to keep themselves entertained. And TikTok quickly became the global sensation of social media! Mostly amongst teenagers but it wasn’t uncommon to see whole families getting involved, including the grandparents! The app became so popular that it has made people TikTok stars with the most followers extremely famous. You’ve probably heard of the names Charli D’Amelio, Addison Rae, Zach King, Loren Gray, right? with some of them having a net worth of $8 million due to TikTok.

Facebook

Facebook is one of the most popular apps of all time so it’s also not surprising to see this as one of the most downloaded apps of 2021. Especially during a time that many restrictions were in place preventing us from being able to see our family and friends physically. We all felt the effects of less human interaction during the lockdown and took to social media apps, such as Facebook, as a way of communication. It provides a quick, efficient and free way to connect to others.

Instagram

Granted, there wasn’t a lot to share pictures of during lockdown apart from endless streams of selfies. But Instagram is the most popular social media platform to share photos and videos at present. It’s not only a great way to stay updated with your family and friends live but also extremely beneficial for the success of all businesses. There are over one billion active users, so that’s a lot of potential customers to target. It’s a great marketing tool that’s for sure! They also used introduced the ‘reels’ feature amidst lockdown so users would upload videos. This was due to TikToks great success… Instagram wasn’t prepared to skip a beat.

Whatsapp

Just like Facebook and Instagram, Whatsapp is also a great free way to keep in touch with others. It has an incredible 2 billion users globally! This should come as no surprise as it allows you to call or video call for free regardless of which country you’re in – all you need is wifi! This means you can connect with your friends and family from all over the world with a few clicks of a button. It’s internationally friendly and that’s why people love it! And it’s now the leading messaging app in the world.

Zoom

And last but not least, Zoom. A video communications app that is used as an online chat service platform for users to connect. It allowed either one-to-one calls or groups call where you could add up to 100 participants! As you’ve probably already guessed, this was just what people needed during the lockdown. Many big businesses used zoom as a way of conducting online meetings with colleagues during a time that everyone was working from home. And it wasn’t just used for meetings! Birthday parties, quiz nights and any other big celebration that wasn’t allowed due to social distancing measures were happening on zoom.

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It’s no secret that cryptocurrency is dominating the gambling world right now. I don’t know about you but I’m seeing this word absolutely EVERYWHERE at the moment. The popularity of investing in cryptocurrency is increasing rapidly every year as more and more people gain interest. Many different online platforms have decided to join the list of accepting crypto this year too. With huge successful company names such as PayPal and Xbox accepting bitcoin and various other cryptocurrencies as payment. Also, lots of our favourite fast-food chains are now accepting, with Starbucks, Subway and Burger King accepting bitcoin payment. And various technology firms and auction houses too! The options as to where you can spend cryptocurrencies are continually increasing. So with the endless options of where to spend cryptocurrencies, it’s no wonder its popularity continues to rise. Let’s take a closer look at what it’s all about…

What is cryptocurrency?

In simple terms, it is a digital way to pay for things that were created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto. He specialised in computer science, digital currencies and cryptography and devised the first blockchain database. The cryptocurrency was created as a result of the global financial crisis that took place in 2007- 2008. Nakamoto invented it so people could keep their identity secret and control their money themselves. Without any interest, fees or controls from banks or government. His goal was to be able to use cryptocurrency as a form of payment for goods and services and this has definitely been achieved! The value of all the different cryptocurrencies coins is constantly changing (increasing and decreasing). So that’s why maybe people attempt to study the market and invest in the hope of earning a profit from it. And let’s face it – it’s become so mainstream now that investors are finding it hard to ignore the potential gains.

Is investing in cryptocurrency a good idea?

Is it just hype that won’t last or is cryptocurrency really worth investing in? First things first, it’s so important that you do your research before jumping into any investments. You must fully understand the risks that come with the cryptocurrency world before gambling your hard-earned cash. In fact, any investment is a risk and you should fully prepare yourself for the consequences (making huge losses). That being said, plenty of people make significant gains from cryptocurrency. For example, if you invested $100 in 2009 you would have over $48 million now. Crazy, right? of course, this is a very long time to hold onto an investment and the percentage of people that did is extremely small. So overall, cryptocurrency is a high risk that potentially brings a high reward if you’re in it for the long term.

Is cryptocurrency a form of gambling?

Plain and simple – yes, it is! Investing in cryptocurrency is a form of gambling because you can never be certain of the outcome. The outcome is extremely unpredictable and there is always the potential to lose it all. You will find many people telling you that investing in certain cryptocurrencies will make you rich and which ones are due to rise. But the fact is… no one is 100% certain. So with that being said… invest wisely and only with money you can afford to lose!

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Mint

Mint was created in 2006 by Aaron Patzer as an app to help people manage their personal finances effectively. And it has undoubtedly become the most well-known and used finance app. It now has over 20 million users and this number keeps on rising as more people discover the incredible benefits of downloading it. Mint is a simple and effective way to create financial goals and then budgeting steps to get there. It also keeps a track of your spending and credit score.

You Need a Budget

The You Need a Budget app was created by Jesse Mecham in 2004. This is a great app for budgeting. And let’s face it, without a good system of budgeting you’ll never save the money you need. You probably don’t even realise how much you’re spending on silly things that you don’t need until you start budgeting. This app works to help you break the paycheck to paycheck cycle that so many of us get stuck in. It also helps with paying off debts by helping work out how much you can realistically afford to pay towards them each month. You can plan how much to spend on things each month and make cutbacks accordingly. The best part? you can try this app for free for 30 days to see if it really helps you save and budget.

Personal Capital

The Personal Capital app was founded by Rob Foregger, Paul Bergholm, Louie Gasparini and Bill Harris and in 2009. To put it simply, this app is for those who have a sufficient amount of wealth already, not those living paycheck to paycheck. Personal Capital is without a doubt the best app for wealth management. It brings together all accounts that you have to make them easily accessible in one location. It creates summaries of what you’re spending, net worth and also keeps track of your investments.

Clarity Money

The Clarity money app was founded in 2016 by Adam Dell. Many people prefer this app over others because it doesn’t include a budgeting section. Instead, it simply focuses on what’s going in and out of your account and which goods and services your money is being spent on. So, if you’ve already mastered budgeting, good for you, Clarity Money will give you a straightforward account of your incomings and outcomings.

Prism

Prism is an app that was introduced in 2011 by Steve Gordon and Tyler Griffin to help people with bill payments. It helps you manage and budget your money so that you have enough for the important bill payments each month. Because no one likes the stress of getting behind on bill payments and seeing them rack up until it becomes an unmanageable figure. Prism will give you a simple account of your finances and help you stay in control of what you’re spending by notifying you of upcoming bills. And your card activities.

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There are many factors that you should consider before choosing an online casino. Such as banking options (deposit and withdrawals), range of games on offer, security, licenses, welcome bonuses and customer support. Make sure you do your research beforehand to avoid any nasty surprises. Reading reviews can give you a great indication of a good online casino too. What better way than hearing first-hand about real customer experiences?

But just to help you out, here is our personal list of our top 10 online casino suggestions…

1. 22BetCasino
2. Betway Casino
3. Casinos Jungle
4. Jackpot City Casino
5. PlayAmo Casino
6. Spin Casino
7. Las Atlantis
8. Red Dog
9. Super Slots
10. InterTops

Is my money safe at online casinos?

Beware, there are many online casinos that cannot be trusted and are highly illegal. You should not play at these casinos under any circumstances. Even if you read good reviews and hear of good experiences, your money is not safe and secure and you risk losing it all. If you do your research correctly and ensure the online casinos’ licenses and security, then yes, your money will be safe. The top online casinos, such as the ones that we recommend, are operated by reputable and trustworthy companies.

What casino games can I play online?

Any casino game that you’ve ever played at a land-based casino will be available online. In fact, online casinos will typically offer a much wider range of games than any land-based casino. From a wide range of table games, card games, slot games and more. There’s no doubt that you’ll find a game to suit your preference with thousands to choose from.

What are live dealer games?

Live dealer games bring the land-based casino experience to the comfort of your own home or wherever you want! You will play against real dealers at live tables. It works exactly the same as if you were visiting a land-based casino so you don’t have to miss out on the atmosphere.

How do I join an online casino?

It’s simple. First, you need those reputable online then you should fill in the registration form and you’re a member of that casino. Here are the steps we would take:

Step 1: Do lots of research to find the right online casino for you (a reputable and trustworthy one)

Step 2: Find out how to access the games, do you need to download an app or can you play directly from visiting the website? In this day and age, it’s important to find casinos that optimise their games for mobile use too.

Step 3: Fill in the registration form. This form will ask you for personal information, such as name, date of birth, email, address, bank details etc

Step 4: Test out the Games. The great news is many online casinos will offer the majority of their games in demo mode too. This means you can play for free without depositing any cash. Which is a great way to work out which games are best for you.

Step 5: And finally it’s time to make your first deposit! Remember to check out which bonuses and promotions are available to you when making your first deposit.

The post Casinos FAQs appeared first on 12ahead.com.

Statistics show that there are over 1.12 million slot machines worldwide. So good news – there is quite literally a slot game for every type of player, no matter what your preference. And new games are being added every single day by a wide range of gaming software providers. Needless to say, each new game released will features certain upgrades to keep them fresh and relevant. Casinos are always aiming to attract as many customers as possible. So, the industry is always improving and enhancing gaming experiences. Let’s take a look at some ways that slot machines have upgraded over the years…

1. YouTube

You’re probably thinking, what does YouTube have to do with slot machines? well, the significant rise in YouTubers and viewers has directly impacted the rise in slot machine players. This is because players now have access to thousands of videos that explain different slot machines. Therefore, the player can not only learn so much about the mechanics, rules and features of each game but they can also visually see how it works. This gives people much more confidence to walk into a casino and start playing on slot machines for the first time. There are a lot of famous slot bloggers that are constantly adding new videos. If you want to check up some YouTubers, we recommend Brian Christopher Slots, Vegas Low Roller, SD Guy 1234, Casino Guru, SlotsJudge, Lady Luck HQ and NG slots.

2. Going Cashless

Many casinos are starting to jump on the cashless slot machines bandwagon. I mean, it’s 2021 after all. Top gaming companies have decided to set a good example by installing cashless technology into their games. Including leading gaming software providers such as International Game Technology (IGT) and Scientific Games. This technology works by creating a wallet for players to pay into beforehand, then this money will be available on their account and accessed through an app. They can then log onto this app and use the money on any games. After the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, this seems like an option that all casinos and gaming software providers should consider. With the reopening of land-based casinos, it’s important for establishments to do all they can to combat the spreading or germs and viruses.

3. Attracting Younger Audiences

It’s no secret that slot games are tailored to attract as many people as possible, of all ages. Slot machines technologies have started to upgrade significantly over the years and this has brought an influx of younger people into casinos. And this hasn’t gone unnoticed by the gaming software providers! It’s become the best interest of providers to ensure that they are constantly moving with technology updates and ensuring they are producing state-of-the-art games. The younger audience is used to ultra-modern games and the best way to keep their attention is by keeping slots fresh, entertaining and futuristic. Also, deciding to embrace popular culture is a great way to attract new customers and keep existing ones happy.

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