Archive for December, 2006
Ladbrokes has been around for so long and is such a successful gambling brand that most sports betting punters, online casino and poker players associate the name automatically with good, safe betting.
Ladbrokes Casino comes in 2 styles of play – download for around 230 Microgaming casino games or Instant no download Flash play with something like 65 games on offer.
So what?
A cool feature of the Ladbrokes Casino is their HOT SLOTS section. Other casinos tell you game payout percentages ‘after the horse has bolted’ so to speak – ie you might get audit reports published a month or so after the games were played and payouts made. All very yawn. Ladbrokes HOT SLOTS section however features the slots games that over the play history of each game have a higher payout percentage than they have seen within the last month.
Ladbrokes Casino uses a little flame icon to indicate that an online slot games is “Hot”, however, this is (of course) only a guide based on the payout percentages!
Ladbrokes HOT SLOTS are updated daily so check back regularly for the latest hot slots information.
Here’s a direct link to Ladbrokes Casino’s HOT SLOTS page – These casino games are all Instant Play Flash games so no download is required and you can play any of them in either demo mode (free) or join and play for real money
Good luck,
Elle
PS: Sorry, no residents of USA, Germany, Gibraltar or Hong Kong can play for real at Ladbrokes Casino.
December 31st, 2006
As part of our half yearly survey of the online casinos rated by CasinoLabRat.com we asked a couple of questions specific to Blackjack.
The questions:
1. Of the selection of online Blackjack games you offer, which blackjack game is the most popular with members of your casino? (ie which game has the most player sessions per month on average)
2. Which blackjack game at your casino is the most popular based on total wagers? (ie the blackjack game with the highest ratio of money wagered to games played)
The top 5 online casinos we rate for specialist Blackjack play responded to these questions as follows.
A spokesperson from Blackjack Ballroom Casino responded “As you’d expect from our name, most players that are members at Blackjack Ballroom love their blackjack. Of the 30 Blackjack games we have on offer Single Deck Super Fun 21 is the most played game”. No information was available on the highest staked blackjack game.
Licensed in Kahnawake, Canada, Blackjack Ballroom is based on Microgaming casino software and is part of the Rewards Affiliates Group.
UK’s top online casino operators The Palace Group had this to say in response to our blackjack questions. “We have released quite a few new blackjack games in the last 6 months and so individual game stats don’t reflect a full year. I’d have to say though that the new Gold Series Blackjack series is proving our most popular range of Blackjacks. Vegas Strip and Vegas Downtown are just about even for game play over the last 3 months at Spin Palace Casino while Ruby Fortune Casino’s most popular Blackjack is still Classic European Blackjack.”
“The highest wagers are regularly placed on Classic European Blackjack, which is played with 2 decks and has a house edge of 0.39%”
BetFred Casino (operated by UK’s BetFred Sports Bookmaker) provided the following comments:
“We offer 5 blackjack games at present with a range of single player, multiplayer or even private group options. Single player 6-deck classic blackjack is by far our most popular game (ie most played) but the highest stakes are placed on UK Rules Blackjack Switch”.
We understand that Single hand 6 deck Blackjack games on Playtech Software have a house edge of around 0.46%.
Of the smaller, more boutique casinos rated by CasinoLabRat.com Pinnacle Casino responded as follows:
“Our casino offers a select group of 20 casino games all up including 2 very popular blackjack options. Blackjack is our second most popular casino game in terms of player sessions – second only to European Roulette. High Stakes Blackjack is the most popular blackjack game”.
“I guess this could be the sorts of players attracted by our current joining bonus and cash back deals”.
Pinnacle Casino is still open to US residents and offers a 10% first deposit match to $500 bonus but you need to make a $250 deposit to be eligible. In additional all players earn 0.3% cash back, paid daily.
Pinnacle Casino is based on software by Blue Chip Games and is part of Pinnacle Sports Worldwide, one of the largest Internet betting sites.
Wishing you all a great 2007!
Elle and the team at CasinoLabRat.com
December 31st, 2006
This New Years Eve (Sun 31st and Mon 1st) if you deposit $50 at one of our recommended Casino Rewards Group casinos you automatically get 100 free spins on GIFT RAP video slot on Tuesday January 2.
Sound good to you? Your free Spins cost you nothing (come on, you were going to deposit $50 anyway) – and whatever you win is credited straight to your casino account.
Gift Rap is a weird Christmas themed 5 reel slot with um, well, ‘musical’ Christmas Elves.
US Players from 39 States are very welcome (see below for excluded States).
Links to eligible casinos:
>>Blackjack Ballroom Casino
>>Yukon Gold Casino
Some Ts and Cs:
– The promotion time period is between 12.01am GMT Sunday 31st December 2006 and Midnight GMT Monday 1st January 2007
– Free Spins will be paid on Tuesday 2nd January 2007 and each free spin will be to the value of $0.30
– You’ve gotta play on the download version of these Microgaming Casinos
NOTE: Excluded US States (Players from these US States cannot play for real money at ANY Microgaming Casinos) Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin
December 29th, 2006
1. Magic Spell Video Slot
Magic Spell looks like it could be some fun, though I’m not sure about the ‘pure magic’ classifcation some Microgaming Casino marketing teams are dubbing it with though 🙂 I’ll have to wait and see.
I guess we recently had Dogfather with all the doggie hoods and thugs – now we will soon have a slots game with Cat characters at a ‘Cat Skills Magic Academy’ What the hey? Master Tom of course is the wild card (or is that wild cat?)
This slots game is a multi-tiered bonus game and finding the Key will open the door to the Secret Library Bonus, where spells abound along with many more opportunities to make more magical money….
2. Prime Property Video Slot
Prime Property looks like it might be one fine piece of ‘reel’ estate (sorry!).
It is a 40 line slots game with Wild, Scatter, Bonus Scatter, Free Spins, and a Bonus Game. Prime Property looks like some fun and apparently is a bit different somehow awarding a bonus even before the bonus has begun. Spin 3, 4 or 5 bonus scatters and start the bonus game off and get some pre-awarded Free Spins and an accompanying multiplier.
This new slots game might be worth a look.
You’ll be able to play these 2 new slots at good Microgaming Casinos.
We recommend:
Ruby Fortune Casino (sorry no US players)
Blackjack Ballroom Casino (US players from 39 States welcome)
32Red Casino (sorry no US players)
Review links to these casinos here in case you need more information, like payment methods accepted and where they are licenced, etc.
>>review of Ruby Fortune Casino
>>review of Blackjack Ballroom Casino
>>review of 32Red Casino
All the best,
Mike
December 28th, 2006
OK, moving right along from all that Christmas spirit… several online casinos have released some great Cash Back offers that you should take advantage of.
The top 2 sites for cash back deals (where we also know the casino is safe, trusted and secure) are: Ladbrokes Casino and Pinnacle Casino.
1. LADBROKES CASINO – operates on industry leading Microgaming software (No USA or Gibraltar based players can play at Laddies – great from Europeans and Brits though!) Part of the massive on and offline Ladbrokes gambling empire, Ladbrokes Casino is safe as houses. This casino is powered by microgaming and so offers 240+ great casino games with cool graphics and easy-to-play game interfaces.
EARN CASH BACK ON ALL YOUR WAGERS BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR!! How the Ladbrokes Cashback promotion works
• Every £10 wagered at the Casino earns you 1 point
• For every 100 points you earn Laddies will give you £1 in casino chips
• Cash earned will be converted into chips and put into your account
• Minimum cashback 5 chips – maximum 1500 chips
Ladbrokes Casino will send you an email notiftying you when your cashback has reach your account, so get to the tables quickly to build up your cashback rewards. A x4 playthrough of the bonus chips is required before you can withdraw them.
>>VISIT LADBROKES CASINO to get into the cash back action!
>>READ A REVIEW ON LADBROKES CASINO for more info
2. PINNACLE CASINO – Operates on innovative Blue Chip Games Software (and still accepts USA Residents as real money players)
Pinnacle Casino is part of Pinnacle Sports Worldwide. Pinnacle is one of the Internet’s largest betting sites and fully licensed and regulated in the UK and the Netherlands Antilles. Our BookieLabRat.com team rave about Pinnacle Sports for US Sports betting odds and some of the best UK/European football handicap odds.
Pinnacle Casino offers you a daily 0.3% Cash Back reward on every play you make** – win or lose – helping ensure that their payout levels are among the highest in the industry.
How The Pinnacle Casino Cash Back works: At the end of each day (midnight Pacific time), Pinnacle calculates your total wagers for the day. A rebate amount is calculated by multiplying your total wagers by 0.003 (0.3%) – and at approximately 2am (Pacific Time) this amount is transferred into your Pinnacle Account.
**Double Down wagers in Video Poker & ‘odds’ Bets on craps are not included in the wagering total for cash back.
>>VISIT PINNACLE CASINO to get into the cash back action!
>>READ A REVIEW ON PINNACLE CASINO for more info
December 25th, 2006
Online Gambling advisory site Goonersguide.com has just released it’s latest findings in regard to the best sites for specialist casino games like Craps and Roulette.
We’ve cadged links to their 2 most recent casino comparisions below:
IF YOU LIKE TO PLAY CRAPS – COME THIS WAY…
Craps has a language all its own and is a hugely popular online casino game. Craps offers lots of different bet combinations. Whether you warm up with a few bets on the pass line (an even money bet with house edge of only 1.41%) or place more complex bets (eg Don’t pass, Come, Don’t Come, Put bets or Proposition bets…)
Click here to read a 1-page comparison of the best online casinos to play Craps
ROULETTE – NO MORE BETS PLEASE… (until you’ve read up on the best sites to play at!)
Roulette is one of the easiest games to play and understandably is one of the most popular at online casinos. Whether you play American Roulette, European Roulette, French Roulette, Roulette Royale (Jackpot/ Progressive Bonus Roulette) or even Mini Roulette (less numbers), Roulette players often follow a game strategy.
Roulette offers a range of different wagering combinations and odds and many players are quite superstitious about their game play. Roulette is a true gamblers game.
Click here to read a 1-page comparison of the best online casinos to play Roulette
Good luck at the tables!
Elle
December 24th, 2006
JUST ANNOUNCED TODAY. A huge ‘Play for free – win for real’ deal at Ruby Fortune Casino.
Here’s the best way we know to have an hour’s fun for real money at a casino without any risk whatsoever. New players only.
1. Set up a real money account with Ruby Fortune Casino.
2. Download the casino software
3. Start your free hour’s play with a bankroll of £750 / C$750 / €750
You have to place 100 or more bets in the hour you have (and a special bonus timer shows on your screen). So that’s like 100 spins on slots of your choice or 100 hands of blackjack, etc. But 100 is easy in an hour.
After your free play hour is up if you have not won more than $20 – feel free not to deposit! You’ve lost nothing.
If you do win more than $20 from the free $750 bankroll, deposit a minimum of $50 and Ruby Fortune will deposit your winnings into your casino account.
Please DO NOT have a stab at the huge progressive jackpot prizes on offer at Ruby Fortune as I do not want to hear your scream (from wherever you are playing – ‘cos it will be loud) when you realise that Ruby Fortune’s cool bonus bankroll is capped at $100. ie They will not pay out more than $100 in winnings on your free play…
Do not do it! Think about it. No progressives…
PS: Ruby Fortune Casino is a UK owned and operated online casino licenced in Kahnawake, Canada. They have a great reputation for safe, fair play and their Microgaming casino software is some of the best in the industry.
PPS: Sorry, no USA residents can play at Ruby Fortune Casino due to your f-ing stupid legislators.
>>GO TO RUBY FORTUNE CASINO
>>READ REVIEW on Ruby Fortune
>>ALTERNATIVE REVIEW on Ruby Fortune
December 20th, 2006
Fancy a life changing win? It’s a great time of year for it. The size of a couple of the better Microgaming Casino Progressive games is just phenomenal at present and at least one of them has just gotta go before Christmas!
For just a single spin (cos that’s actually all it takes if you’re uktra lucky!) you could win over a million dollars. Well, as at a few minutes ago: $1,577,677 on King Cashalot or a cool $1,127,240 on Mega Moolah progessive slots games.
So, what are you waiting on?
Try your luck for a $1.5m Christmas here at Yukon Gold Casino or here at Blackjack Ballroom Casino. Both great Microgaming Casinos are still welcoming USA residents from 39 States.
Sorry Residents of the following USA States cannot play for real money at any Microgaming Casinos: Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin
Best of Luck!
Mike
December 20th, 2006
The team at CasinoLabRat.com get lots of enquiries from US Players concerned about the number of online casinos that no longer accept residents of the USA due to the new US anti-gambling legislation. Most casino sites that take USD do not necessary accept US Players.
Here’s a link to a page of fact sheets on the top 4 online casinos that still welcome USA players. It may help you make your mind up where to play.
Best of luck
Elle
PS: A similar quick comparison of the top online poker rooms for US players is available via this link.
December 18th, 2006
Looking for the best Christmas themed slots?
Four top casino slots machines are worth a spin this festive season – with our top rated seasonal slot an oldie but a goodie – HoHoHo by Microgaming.
THE COMPETITORS
Jingle Bells – just released mid December, this 3 reel classic slot while graphically appealing and with subtle Christmas sounds only offers a 3 reel, 5 line payout with a jackpot max of $30,000. Fun.
Santa Paws – also new in December, this slots game features ultra-cute animals including our favourite a whale with a red nose and reindeer antlers. It’s a 5 reel 20 line payout game with a jackpot up to $20,000. The free spins bonus game increases the bonus to a potential $140,000.
Gift Rap – with funky rapping Christmas elves and tons of presents this one suffers from an annoying cold wind sound thoughout play. (Don’t they know some of us are just holding out till summer?) Lots of chances to win on this 5 reel 25 payline slot and the gift grab bonus feature gives you up to $60,000.
HoHoHo – perhaps a little twee with the jingle bells tune throughout the free spins, especially as on autoplay each time it only gets to “…jingle all the way’ – but this game triggers free spins often and so I like to use it to top up my casino account even when it’s not Christmas! It’s my favourite seasonal slot and I can get over Santa sounding a bit like a stalker. Easy to play and very classically Christmassy.
Play these great Christmas slots for free or for real money at these recommended casinos:
>>#1 Ruby Fortune Casino (sorry no US players)
>>#2 Blackjack Ballroom (**US players from 39 States welcome)
>>#3 Yukon Gold Casino (**US Players from 39 States welcome)
**Players From These 11 USA States are not able play at any Microgaming Casinos: Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin
>>Full casino reviews available here
December 17th, 2006
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