Bitcoin Casino News

Crypto Gambling Watch Dog Ramps up Its Operations

Posted on May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 by Abe Efe

It has been a remarkable past few months for cryptocurrencies as they have rapidly grown to be quite popular in nearly all corners of the globe. In essence, this can be likened to the present day gold-rush and no one wants to be left behind. One of the areas where crypto has seen heavy adoption and usage is the gambling industry.

According to a statistical report, since 2014 approximately 4.0 million BTC has been placed on bets that equate to about $37 billion. This, when compared to the global statistics, is a just a fraction of what the cryptocurrency gambling industry is capable of. Clearly, the gambling industry is the winner here.

However, one of the most pressing issues when it comes to gambling is regulation which also extends to the crypto gambling space as well. That is where leading crypto gambling affiliate site Gamble.io comes in. It serves as a regulator that screens and reviews cryptocurrency-oriented gambling services and site so as to ensure they are safe and trustworthy to play on.

A month ago, the watchdog site completed its review of a bitcoin-based sports betting site known as Cloudbet – the review not only confirmed that Cloudbet’s solid reputation is not a fluke but also pointed out some of the aspects that needed to be improved. This review was a clear indication of how serious Gamble.io is about ensuring that gambling in crypto is safe for everyone.

Gamble.io has recently laid down its regulations on another crypto gambling operator known as BitStarz which also happens to be known for being a reputable gambling operation. Gamble.io has put BitStarz on its casino of the month spot thanks to the operator’s unique approach to merging the use of both fiat currency and crypto. The full review also points out some of BitStarz’s best attributes that include great overall play selection, reliability as well as mobile compatibility.

“Due to the fairly large number of new players in the game, we were not able to conduct our studies as quickly as we had hoped. Our reviews and studies consist of multiple phases from depositing, game selection, customer service and anything else worth knowing for a crypto player. For example, testing the various games from different casinos took a little longer than expected. However, now we’ve completed the task and are proud to present our findings. We continue to be on the lookout for new crypto casinos,” said Matt Beardsley, the Gamble.io spokesperson.

Penn National Partners with Lightning Box for Online Slots

Posted on May 5, 2018June 6, 2018 by Aaron Decker

Renowned US-based gaming operator, Penn Interactive Ventures (PIV), has recently announced that it has inked a long-term deal with Lightning Box, an Australian-based slots developer. The partnership deal which was struck through Penn National Gaming (PNG), Penn Interactive Ventures’ digital subsidiary, will see to the launch of a number of new titles on PNG online casinos and this will begin as early as this year.

During the initial stages of the rollout of the new titles, they will be limited to social casino platforms. However, the ultimate goal for both companies is to penetrate the real-money space which they will gradually migrate to. Penn Interactive Ventures has been quite busy in the past couple of years – this particular deal represents a small but relevant piece of a larger expansion that has involved partnerships and major deals with a number of land-based and digital operators.

Lightning Box has also been extending its reach to the American space with Penn being among its growing list of partners. The company has already accrued a ton of experience in both the free-to-play and paid platforms and this makes it a perfect partner for Penn.

“Lightning Box’s gaming content is proven across real-money and social gaming platforms. And with its already established U.S. credentials, we look forward to working together for the foreseeable future,” said Penn Interactive Ventures’ Managing Director, Chris Sheffield.

As far as what the deal has in store for customers goes, a decent number of Lightning Box’s titles will be availed on Penn National Gaming online library sometime this year. The first and one of the most popular Lightning Box games titled Chilli Gold will be going live on Penn’s online casino library in the third quarter of 2018. Chilli Gold will then be followed by Respin Rhinos, Dolphin Gold, Silver Lion and many other titles from the slots developer’s 50-title library.

All the titles mentioned above will launch on three of Penn Interactive Venture’s social casino platforms namely: Viva Slots, Big Bonus Slots, and Hollywood Casino. As mentioned earlier, all these will be free-to-play products.

Bitcoin Gambling: Why Online Gamblers are Moving to Bitcoin

Posted on May 3, 2018June 5, 2018 by Aaron Decker

If you’re an active member of the online gambling community, you may have noticed an increase in the number of bitcoin gamblers and casinos offering bitcoin of late. Why is bitcoin gambling suddenly all the rage, and will it continue to grow? Should you be involved in bitcoin gaming? You may have asked yourself those very questions. Fortunately, we have answers to those questions and the future of bitcoin gambling as a whole.

While trying to answer why online gamblers are suddenly moving to bitcoin technology, we’re going to have to look at several different aspects of bitcoin gambling. We need to see how it has improved since it debuted, what makes it appealing, and where it is going. To begin with, let’s start by looking at bitcoin accessibility.

Bitcoin Accessibility

Bitcoin gambling was initially a niche field. Why? Well, bitcoins were niche themselves. Initially, people heard the words “blockchain” and “mining” and realised that they were way out of their depth. Few of us had any idea how to obtain bitcoins, and nobody we knew had access to them. That has all changed now, though.

Bitcoin exchanges are currently all the rage and present players with a simple and easy way to get hold of bitcoins. Since you no longer need to mine bitcoins to possess them, more and more of us are starting to get involved in the bitcoin craze. Buying cryptocurrencies from marketplaces has triggered a frenzy with many players now snapping up bitcoins left, right and centre. The more accessible bitcoins become via markets, the more people are going to acquire them. With more people purchasing bitcoins, they are going to need something to invest them on, and many online casinos have locked on to that idea and are now starting to offer bitcoin gaming, with some even developing in-site exchanges.

Geographical Restrictions Become Null and Void

The gambling world is not as free and liberal as you might like to think. In fact, people in many countries are still not entitled to gamble online. Because of harsh gambling laws, many gamblers must play at dodgy, often blacklisted casino sites which are not adequately regulated (if at all), as they are the only online casinos which accept them.

Bitcoin casinos provide a certain degree of anonymity, and this itself allows players to find ways around geographical restrictions and national gambling laws. Since there is that degree of anonymity, most major bitcoin casinos and betting sites will accept players irrespective of where they reside. As you can imagine, this has turned many players in countries where geographical gambling restrictions are in place to lean towards bitcoin sites.

What happens if the authorities start blacklisting bitcoin sites, so you can’t access them? A handy VPN (virtual private network) should bypass those blacklists, ensuring that you will continue to be able to play at any bitcoin site and that there is precious little any authority can do to stop you.

Changing the Way Deposits and Withdrawals Work

Online casinos offering instant deposit times is not a new concept. In fact, most deposit options at an online casino provide instantaneous deposit times. It is the withdrawal times that tend to be a pain for many players. Fortunately, bitcoin transactions have found a way around that, and that makes bitcoin betting very agreeable to players.

You can often skip verification processes (bitcoin casino gaming can be anonymous, remember) and since that pending period is not required, and KYC (know your customer) protocols are practically non-existent, your withdrawals will be instant. Allowing for a time margin of a few hours to land in your bitcoin wallet, these represent the quickest ways to get hold of your winnings, further boosting the appeal of bitcoin gambling.

Improved Security and Fair Play

When they first started, bitcoin betting sites were unlicensed and not entirely secure. The list of complaints about rigged games was seemingly endless. In a little over two years, we’ve seen a radical turnaround. Surprisingly, many bitcoin sites are not only regulated, but some carry a seal of approval. This seal of approval is known as “Provably Fair”.

This Provably Fair “organisation” for lack of a better word, keeps track on bitcoin casinos and ensures that they are adhering to a predefined set of rules and regulations. In short, they essentially promise that any bitcoin betting site bearing this seal of approval offers transparent and fair gaming. They achieve this by examining the games, and how they work in a process known as cryptography. Analysing the blockchain for transaction histories also allows experts to gauge whether anybody wins and whether betting sites process many withdrawal transactions.

It may not be the same as a bona fide license, but the Provably Fair mark reassures players that the bitcoin betting site they are choosing is safe, secure and adheres to fair play.

Licensed Bitcoin Casinos May Become a Reality

The holy grail for bitcoin betting is to find a bitcoin casino which carries a proper gambling license from a world-renowned and internationally recognised licensing jurisdiction. That is becoming closer to reality. Over the last year, the Maltese Government has been considering making digital currencies legal. As you can imagine, this potentially opens a realm of possibilities for casinos licensed by the MGA (Maltese Gaming Authority).

If this does indeed happen, it will create a whole new angle for bitcoin casino gaming from a legal perspective. We would likely see many more established online casinos with Maltese gambling licenses start to offer bitcoin currency options, provided there were no national restrictions in their operational countries to prohibit this. More importantly, we would see legitimate and well-supported bitcoin betting sites obtain one of the internet world’s most respected licenses to add to their Provably Fair mark. Such a move would undoubtedly convince many gamblers who were sitting on the fence that bitcoin betting is the real deal.

Bitcoin Gambling is More Accessible for Start-Ups

Bitcoin gambling is certainly not limited to the big boys. In the online casino world, most of the more popular betting sites are those casinos and sportsbooks which have high-street outlets, television advertisement campaigns, billboards or a long history. They are the sites which carry the best games from the most prominent names.

The bitcoin betting world doesn’t have to be that way, though. In fact, many bitcoin casino sites are small-scale operations, started by private individuals. Yes, you always run the risk that these are going to turn out to be “shifty”, but many authentic start-up casinos can appear, especially since, at present, they do not need to pay vast sums of money to obtain gambling licenses. This flurry of small-scale bitcoin betting sites has tweaked the interest of many casino enthusiasts and represents something new for the industry. Many players are growing tired of the same old games at the same sites, and the originality that small start-up bitcoin casinos (and their homebrew games) offer has proven very appealing.

If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them

When threatened by an emerging market such as the bitcoin gambling world, many of the internet’s top software providers and casinos have panicked. We’ve already seen several online casinos ditch their conventional currency options and setup, opting to thoroughly and radically transform into bitcoin casinos instead. By becoming a bitcoin site, doing away with licenses drops their expenses, and with companies such as BetSoft offering quality bitcoin-friendly games to those sites, some of the most prominent casinos have jumped ship and made the transition rather quickly.

By doing this, these casinos have enhanced the competition, giving potential bitcoin gamblers more choice. What began as a niche concept has now spread, and the more casinos with big reputations which make the change, the quicker online casino players will follow. Don’t be surprised if this trend continues, as we see more and more casinos swayed into offering bitcoin gambling to stave off the threat of this emerging market. As the old saying goes, “if you can’t beat them, join them”.

Bitcoin Promotions are on the Rise

The very first bitcoin casinos couldn’t offer players promotions and bonuses like non-cryptocurrency casinos could. Gradually, those that did couldn’t offer players much mileage with their promos, either. That, too, has started to change.

The introduction of “faucet systems” has undoubtedly helped. These promos provide a minimal sum of cryptocurrency cash for players at bitcoin betting sites on a daily basis. More importantly, they often come free of any entanglements, such as wagering requirements and playthrough rates. That has been a significant selling point to anybody thinking of joining bitcoin sites.

If that wasn’t enough, the advent of proper welcome bonuses has pushed the bitcoin casino agenda further. Considering that sizeable new player deals are often one of the main reasons why people choose one casino over another, being able to bag a welcome bonus encourages players to join bitcoin gambling sites.

Other Cryptocurrencies Create Competition

Bitcoin is just one cryptocurrency. If you were a user of another form of cryptocurrency (and there are many), it is unlikely that you’re going to be considering shifting over to bitcoin just to bet at a particular site. Most likely, players would continue to use USD, EUR, GBP or other currencies at standard online casinos. Bitcoin gambling sites have got around this issue by starting to add other cryptocurrencies to their list of accepted payment methods. It is not uncommon to find newer bitcoin casinos and betting sites which also accept:

– Ethereum

– Bitcoin Cash

– Litecoin

– Dogecoin

– and others

There aren’t too many casinos dedicated explicitly to those other less popular cryptocurrencies. However, by not forcing players to choose one cryptocurrency method over another, it is entirely possible that bitcoin gambling sites have encouraged more players to play with them instead of regular online casino sites.

Kinks That Require Ironing Out

Bitcoin betting sites still aren’t perfect, and they don’t have everything their way right now. There are a few kinks which need ironing out if bitcoin gambling sites are to blossom.

Firstly, there is the possibility of delays with withdrawal transactions. If you want your withdrawal processed rapidly, you’ll often need to pay a fee to a miner (his cut, if you will) to get the transaction going. Cashouts which offer little or nothing for a miner will often just end up pending, possibly indefinitely. Most bitcoin casinos get around this by taking a cut of your withdrawal (a withdrawal fee) and having their team process the transaction. If they don’t, you may end up losing a sizeable chunk of your winnings to pay miners to handle your cashout.

Bitcoin is also a volatile currency. The market fluctuated substantially in the latter part of 2017. We saw bitcoin’s value soar before it dropped rapidly around Christmas. When this happens, the bitcoin betting industry suffers just like any other industry. However, with so many countries fiercely opposed to bitcoin, if the market crashes, the entire industry goes down with it. When it soars, more and more players are tempted to get involved in bitcoin betting.

Lastly, there are no player protection policies at casinos or with bitcoin in general. If your wallet becomes hijacked or you “misplace” your bitcoins, then you’ve lost the lot. No bitcoin casinos guarantee players their purse, so, errors can prove costly. At least with online casinos, the sites can safeguard your wallet.

Bitcoin Gambling Will Continue to Grow

Will the bottom fall out of the bitcoin gambling industry? That seems most unlikely. Bitcoin gambling is rapidly on the rise, as you can see from all the points mentioned above. Many are likening bitcoin gambling to the growth of the mobile gaming industry. Sure, it took ten years for mobile gaming to cement its spot, but it is now on-par with online gaming. Some even believe it has already surpassed it. Do not be surprised if bitcoin gambling continues to grow and outpace them both. Better yet, based on the growth of both bitcoin and mobile gaming, we could be faced with the prospect of mobile bitcoin gambling reigning supreme in the future. Now, wouldn’t that be something?

As you can see, cryptocurrency gambling is at an all-time high. Long gone are the days of minuscule, untrustworthy, private websites offering you nothing but a few lacklustre dice games. Major software developers, licensing jurisdictions and casinos are now looking at bitcoin gambling as their future. For all the reasons we’ve mentioned above, you might very well decide to get involved, too.

Bitcoin Casinos: Things You Need to Know Before Investing in.

Posted on May 3, 2018June 5, 2018 by Aaron Decker

Bitcoin casino gaming is on the rise, and many adventurous players are starting to take the plunge. Of course, many of the players who decide to try their hand at bitcoin casinos are doing so because they cannot play online in their own country. Various national gambling laws and geo-restrictions may inhibit their ability to gamble online. Bitcoin casinos, with the anonymity that they provide, offer a way around that.

It isn’t just players in restricted gambling countries who play at bitcoin casinos, though. Anybody who fancies a different way to play, an arguably freer and more private way to play, can get involved in bitcoin online casino gambling. There are things you need to know before investing in bitcoin casinos, though. Let’s look at some of the more important ones.

How to Get Hold of Bitcoins

One of the most common questions bitcoin newbies will ask is, where do I find bitcoins? Since bitcoin gambling has become more mainstream, the number of places you can snap up bitcoins have increased. Initially, you had to mine to bag bitcoins – and that was a challenging process in and of itself – but no more.

One of the more straightforward ways to obtain bitcoins is to use a marketplace. Websites such as Coinbase allow you to snap up bitcoins from sellers using a digital wallet. You can buy and sell most major cryptocurrencies there, so it isn’t just limited to bitcoins. Getting a free digital wallet with them may be the way to go, mainly since over 8.5 million people use this option to trade bitcoins. Other exchanges and marketplaces exist, too, if Coinbase doesn’t tickle your fancy.

Exchanges also exist at select bitcoin casinos. Although they are not found at all bitcoin casinos, some sites allow players to purchase bitcoins directly through them, and players can then use those bitcoins to play at the casino in question. All you need is your bank card, a bitcoin wallet and an account with the said casino.

Alternatively, some ATMs also sell bitcoin. That is a lot rarer since many countries have actively banned bitcoins. However, you can always check if your state has ATMs which offer bitcoin. If they do, they can be bought using your bank card and then transferred to your bitcoin e-wallet.

There are ample ways you can sort yourself out with bitcoins. Once you’ve got your bitcoins, you’re almost ready to start playing. Before that, though, you need to learn a bit of the lingo.

Bitcoin Terminology

The last thing you want is to start betting at a bitcoin casino and have no idea what people are talking about, especially when it comes to terms and conditions. There are a few little things you need to know when it comes to bitcoin jargon and terminology.

Bitcoin glossaries exist across the net, but most go far too in-depth for your average bitcoin casino user. You don’t need to know the ins and outs of bitcoin terminology to start playing at casinos, just the basics will do, such as:

Bit: The denomination of bitcoins equal to 100 satoshis (one-millionth of a bitcoin)
BTC: This stands for bitcoin. When you see something such as 3BTC, it means three bitcoins. One bitcoin equals 100,000,000 satoshis.
Blockchain: The public ledger containing all bitcoin transactions.
Miners: Individuals who process bitcoin transactions and add them to the blockchain, often in exchange for a small predetermined cut of the total transaction.
Mining: The process by which a miner “obtains” bitcoins by processing transactions and adding them to the blockchain.
Satoshi: The smallest bitcoin unit, with each bitcoin being worth 1 million satoshis.
Satoshi Nakamoto: The founder of bitcoin, or at least a pseudonym, but nobody knows for sure whom (or how many people) was involved in its creation.
Transaction Fee: Miners will typically require a “fee” for processing your transaction and adding it to the blockchain. Most bitcoin users will usually add a little extra to their transaction, as miners are more likely to handle transactions faster if there is something in it for them.

Of course, it isn’t going to hurt to get a little more in-depth with bitcoin terminology if you want to learn about cryptocurrencies in detail, but you shouldn’t need anything more than the above to go about gambling at a bitcoin casino.

Cryptocurrency Markets Are Volatile

Of course, it is worth noting that cryptocurrency markets are incredibly volatile. That is mostly because (like the stock exchange) the market is speculative. The more places and merchants which accept bitcoin, the more stable it will become. However, for now, being a risky investment, bitcoin markets are likely to rise and fall with uncertainty. Casino players need to be aware of this before they get involved in bitcoin casino gambling.

There is beauty in the idea of a free currency which is not beholden to any bank or government, and that makes many people interested in the concept. However, you always take the risk that the bottom will fall out eventually. We got a taste of this in late 2017, when the value of bitcoin rose dramatically, only before sharply falling. It has since levelled out again, bringing relief to bitcoin casino gamblers across the net.

Bitcoin Casino Legality, Safety and Security

Bitcoin casinos fit into all sorts of grey zones when it comes to legality, safety and security. On the one hand, most are open to accepting everyone and anyone, on the basis that they are not tied down by licensing jurisdictions and that they offer relatively anonymous gameplay. The downside to this is that if they are not licensed, they probably aren’t properly regulated, either.

If you are going to play at a bitcoin casino which doesn’t showcase properly licensing information, you should look for another mark of certification. One such way to go about this is to look for the Provably Fair accreditation. This organization has taken it upon themselves to establish a set of ground rules that all bitcoin casinos bearing its mark must adhere to. That essentially means that they must showcase that they are audited, that they offer fair play gaming, and that they are committed to paying out winnings to players.

In lieu of other safety and security hallmarks, such as valid gambling licenses and certifications from other guarantors of secure and safe gaming, we would always advise all players to play at a Provably Fair bitcoin casino. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to check out if your chosen bitcoin casino bears this hallmark. Look at their lobby/homepage. Any bitcoin casino which is certified by Provably Fair will display their certificate as a way of easing any players’ qualms about security and safety at the site.

Judging Worthy Bitcoin Casino Sites

Even if you can identify the Provably Fair mark at a bitcoin casino, you may wish to check out alternative sources to ensure that you are playing at a top-notch bitcoin casino. Knowing a little bit about where you are playing before you decide to invest in bitcoin casinos is essential to avoid any nasty surprises.

One of your first ports of call should be to casino review sites, particularly unbiased ones that review bitcoin casinos fairly. A good bitcoin casino review will not only highlight the positive features of a casino, but they will also detail the negative aspects of it, too. They will go into detail about what kinds of features the gambling site carries, the games they offer, the promos they can deliver, and their reputation as compared to other places.

A number of these sites will also offer free play bitcoin games, allowing you to get a taste of the selection of games a site carries before you invest your bitcoins there. They will also offer you “seals of approval” which is a review site’s way of ensuring players that they have done their homework and their due diligence to ensure that a casino they are promoting is safe and secure.

There are countless sites out there which allow players to provide feedback (in the form of complaints) against bitcoin casinos, too. It is worth checking to make sure that any casino you may decide to play at doesn’t have a lengthy selection of bad reports, negative complaints or issues of mistrust. That is mostly the same procedure we would advise players to do before they signed up at any casino site, although since most bitcoin casinos are unlicensed, this goes double for these domains.

Some Casinos are “Bitcoin Also” Instead of “Bitcoin-Only”

There are two types of bitcoin casino sites out there. There are ones which we can call “bitcoin only”, and those which we prefer to call “bitcoin also”. As you can imagine, the former only accepts bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies as their currency and banking options. You cannot use any other form of currency at these sites.

It may be easier for you to start out with bitcoin casino gambling by joining the latter, though. What we call “bitcoin also” sites. These offer bitcoin as one of several accepted currency options and banking options. By choosing these sites, you can make the change to bitcoin casino gaming gradually, allowing yourself an acclimatization period, if you will.

Bitcoin Casinos Can Still See You Play with US Dollars

A good number of bitcoin casinos don’t just accept bitcoin, as we’ve said. Some, although advertised as bitcoin casinos, don’t allow players to use bitcoins to make their bets. Sure, players will deposit using bitcoins, but those bitcoins are then converted into a more conventional gaming currency, such as US dollars, when you want to play the games. When it comes time to withdraw, the casino will convert the US dollar currency back into bitcoins for you. That is a very common practice amongst many bitcoin casinos. So, if you were concerned about how betting on slots with satoshis works, there is an extreme likelihood that you’ll still be betting in US dollars or other more straightforward currencies if this makes things easier for you.

There Are Other Cryptocurrencies You Can Play With

Bitcoins may not be for you; perchance you favour another cryptocurrency? Just because a casino advertises itself as a bitcoin casino, doesn’t mean that they don’t carry other cryptocurrency methods. In fact, most of the more prominent bitcoin casinos will also permit players to deposit using Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Dogecoins and others. If you are more comfortable using another cryptocurrency, there are ample bitcoin casinos out there that will let you do that.

Bitcoin Casino Gaming Is Not Perfect…Yet

Bitcoin gaming is on the rise, but it is not, however, perfect. There are still a few things that the industry needs to work on. Although the Provably Fair system has done a lot of groundwork in ensuring that bitcoin casinos are somewhat audited and certified, there are still kinks there. Until bitcoin casinos become fully licensed (and they may do), there is still that air of insecurity surrounding them. Moreover, until the market becomes more stable (it will if more merchants and shops allow users to pay in bitcoins), there is a degree of volatility which you may find troubling.

Bitcoin casinos are an investment which can pay off, but only if you pay attention to how cryptocurrencies work, and you understand what you’re getting yourself in for. Provided you do your homework, though, and pay attention to what you’ve learned; you can find bitcoin casinos one of the most exciting and accessible online casino gambling experiences you can have.

Quickspin, Competition Labs Partner for New Slot Tournaments

Posted on May 1, 2018May 16, 2018 by Abe Efe

Renowned top software provider Quickspin has recently partnered with Competition labs to introduce all-new slot tournaments as part of Quickspin’s latest attempt towards driving player retention. This new feature will now be offered to players by both platforms with the players being allowed to compete in tournaments that feature event-oriented prizes and rewards.

The new tool will also give online casino operators the opportunity to offer competitions via online slots tournaments while using the unique gaming events to drive points. For instance, players can get points every time a scatter appears or they win with a wild symbol. Furthermore, the tournaments are customizable which means that different operators can tweak their offerings and align them with what the players want to see.

Also, players can monitor their standings and progress in real-time on the in-game leaderboard – this is a holistic feature that will require no additional operator integration or development to work. It is also worth noting that the leaderboard features a decent number of custom themes including season-oriented ones and others that fall in line with an operator’s ongoing promotions.

“We are all very proud to be bringing our new Tournaments feature, which piles on the excitement with an added layer of interactivity that we are sure players will love. Our Achievements Engine and Achievements Races underline our flair for implementing gamification, and the new Tournaments feature is a natural extension of our expertise,” Daniel Lindberg, the Quickspin CEO said.

Founded in 2011, Quickspin has grown and evolved rapidly to the established top software development studio it now is. In fact, as far as real money gaming and social casino games go, Quickspin is the go-to software provider for several big players in the casino industry. This is proven by the fact that the company has licenses in multiple jurisdictions and the numerous agreements it has signed with leading gaming operators. In 2016, Quickspin was acquired by Playtech, a move that would further elevate the company’s already marvelous reputation.

Over 600 Bitcoin Users File Lawsuit Against Bitcoin.com

Posted on April 28, 2018May 16, 2018 by Aaron Decker

Bitcoin.com is without a doubt one of the most prized domains in the cryptocurrency space especially because it is the go-to website for anyone who is interested in learning about bitcoin. The first result that people get when they google “buy bitcoin” is buy.bitcoin.com. On clicking the link, the users are then navigated to a page with two logos which at first glance are quite similar – one logo shows the user the option to buy Bitcoin Cash while the other is for Bitcoin Core. Bicoin.com is the only site that uses the Bitcoin Core moniker for bitcoin (BTC) and this is where the problem is.

In just two days, a “community movement” has amassed over 600 members in an effort to pursue legal action against Bitcoin.com and Roger Ver, its owner and CEO. The movement is accusing the website and its owner for deliberately misleading new cryptocurrency users into buying Bitcoin Cash (BCH) instead of regular bitcoin (BTC).

So far, the group has not disclosed the law firm they have contacted to help with the lawsuit but they did reveal that it is based in St. Kitts, a Caribbean island where, apparently, the Bitcoin.com is also registered. Already the movement has seen to the creation of an official website called bitcoincomlawsuit.info which launched on Friday. People who have complaints or have lost money from Bitcoin.com can submit their evidence and be part of the lawsuit in the newly launched website.

“A group of 600+ participants from influential industry leaders to community volunteers & contributors who devote to protect users from fraudulent businesses and help victims recover lost funds,” reads the website’s description.

The Takeaway

One thing that is clear as far as this lawsuit and other associated issues go is the fact that determining the digital currency that can hold the title of ‘Bitcoin’ is more challenging than expected. Experts will, of course, see it as an obvious thing but it will certainly be harder for newcomers to separate what is real and what is not.

Bitcoin Cash’s has been quite successful, to say the least – despite not being the behemoth that bitcoin is, the digital currency that was forked from bitcoin itself has had a huge impact on the cryptocurrency community as a whole. Nonetheless, there is only one bitcoin and that is the currency with the highest market cap as well as the most overall community and mainstream support. So, while it is possible, the idea that an altcoin like Bitcoin Cash will dethrone bitcoin is an over-ambitious one.

A Look at Pechanga Resort & Casino’s 4-D Slot Machines

Posted on April 24, 2018May 16, 2018 by Abe Efe

If you are looking for something that is truly unique and stands out from the traditional bells and flashing lights that usually define the old school slot machines, then look no further than Pechanga Resort & Casino’s innovative take on the game. The operator’s new Sphinx 4-D video slot machine gives the customers a chance to change from day to night by just a sweep of their fingers.

But that is just the beginning. Players are also able to reach out and touch floating butterflies and coins on the screens as they go about their gaming business in the hopes of landing a jackpot. It’s a completely immersive experience that is certainly bound to keep players coming back for me.

The Technology Behind It

Manufactured by multination gaming company International Game Technology (IGT), Sphinx 4-D debuted on the Pechanga Resort & Casino floors last month and it has been received quite well since then. Aside from the already sensational 3-D gaming technology that allows the players to interact with floating graphics, the game also includes revolutionary 4-D technology that entails some very neat features.

These features include gesture recognition that is quite accurate, enhanced sound that makes the game even more immersive as well as elevated high definition graphics that make everything look crisp and real. In addition to this, the Sphinx 4-D chair also rumbles and vibrates. Too much? Well, the game developer thought of this as well and they included an option of dialing down on the sensory intensity of the slot machines.

“The concept is that players will be able to feel what they are seeing on the screen,” said Anthony Zamora, the slot director at Pechanga Resort & Casino. “Guests have reported the game is fun to play.”

Even though this particular slot machine is truly exceptional, similar 4-D style gaming is becoming the trend. The goal is to give the players more options and thus set the gaming experience apart from traditional slot gaming. Slot machines are evolving and Pechanga Resort & Casino is lucky enough to have a front seat spot.

Expect to see more goodies as newer skill-based games and themed machines take over casino floors with advanced visuals, enhanced sound, and innovative seats.

“The next generation of games is 4K monitors with distinctive and immersive graphics,” said Greg Colella, the vice president of product marketing for Scientific Games, a renowned game manufacturer. “There are also clever technological things like a speaker that provides surround sound instead of sound chairs which are a little clunky.”

Mt. Gox Ex-CEO Mark Karpeles Lands New CTO Job

Posted on April 21, 2018 by Aaron Decker

The crypto world has had its fair share of drama in the past couple of years but one of the most significant events is the theft of 850,000 bitcoins from Mt. Gox which was once the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. As the Chief Executive of the exchange at the time, Mark Karpeles was held responsible for the loss of the bitcoins as well as the exchange’s bankruptcy. While the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange recovered 200,000 bitcoins, it did not help the situation with Karpeles facing criminal charges and being jailed for nearly a year. An ongoing investigation linked a United Kingdom-based company to the theft of the remaining 650,000 bitcoins.

Karpeles is still facing criminal charges in Japan and thus he is not allowed to leave the country. Regardless, the infamous ex-CEO has been trying to start over with a clean slate.

“I have no way to be sure that I’ll still be able to work in one year, two years. So I cannot really get a normal full-time job”, he said in March in an interview with Fortune.

He has previously confirmed that he has been juggling a number of IT-related jobs that revolve mostly around cryptocurrency and networking. However, his most recent revelation is by far the most interesting. Karpeles has been appointed to a C-level position as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for London Trust Media, the world’s leading virtual private network (VPN) service provider.

London Trust Media doubles up as an investment company, particularly in cryptocurrency – it was an early investor in Zcash, a privacy-focused digital coin, and also backs Purse, a startup that allows its users to purchase items on Amazon using bitcoin.

“Mark fought and fell. And although he fell, his skills, experience, and know-how unarguably continue to exist. And so, bringing in a seasoned warrior makes perfect sense to me. I am more than willing to give a second chance to Mark in this fight’s critical hour. I wouldn’t dare say that the person who architected the Titanic should never again architect another ship,” said London Trust Media co-founder and former head of Mt. Gox’s North American operations, Andrew Lee.

Karpeles will be working remotely from Japan since, as mentioned earlier, he is still facing criminal charges and thus he cannot legally leave the country. Also, even though his role as London Trust Media CTO will involve oversight over the companies cryptocurrency-related interests, Karpeles has made it clear that he has lost faith in bitcoin and wants very little to do with the cryptocurrency industry.

“The only thing I’m touching related to cryptocurrency is how to solve this bankruptcy – Nothing more,” Karpeles stated.
“Bitcoin right now is, I believe, doomed. Its original promise of being the future of currency is clearly out of reach.”

Coinsource to Deploy 20 Bitcoin ATMs in the US Capital

Posted on April 17, 2018April 17, 2018 by Abe Efe

Bitcoin ATMs have grown in popularity over recent years with a number of these digital currency outlets being deployed in various locations all around the world. This has spawned a bit of competition among cryptocurrency operators, especially in the United States. However, Coinsource, which happens to be the largest bitcoin ATM network in the world still remains a dominant player in the US. Things are about to get even better for the company with its planned expansion to US capital which will involve the deployment of 20 ATM machines across the District of Columbia and Maryland.

“We are meeting Washington D.C. at an inflection point, where regulators are looking at the value and potential of decentralized currencies and blockchain technology,” said Coinsource CEO Sheffield Clark. “All innovation over time has passed through our Nation’s Capital in one way or another, and we are happy to be now servicing Washington D.C. and the surrounding communities so that they can have easy access to buying and selling Bitcoin.”

The expansion is also a response to the huge demand by users and merchants in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Before Coinsource decided to Venture into Washington, the city already had five bitcoin ATM machines with each being serviced by a different operator. Furthermore, a number of the state’s restaurants, record shops and bookshops among many other businesses have been allowing the use of bitcoin as a mode of payment since last year.

Coin ATM Radar reports that there are currently about 2,753 bitcoin ATMs in the United States – this accounts for 75.75 percent of the global total. With the new development, Coinsource’s bitcoin ATMs will now be servicing 164 million residents in 19 states. The residents in these 19 states will also have the benefits of the lowest rates, account registration from the comfort of their homes as well as exclusive remote enrollment. This is one of the company’s ways of providing financial freedom to the unbanked and the underbanked.

“Our goal is to give everyone the equal ability to access bitcoin, particularly in times of record demand, and participate in this soaring new economy. Part of making this marketplace accessible is making sure our fees are less than half that of any other operator, and customers will be given fee-free transactions for first-time use of any new machine,” the CEO added.

Play’n GO Debuts New Baker’s Treat Slot Game

Posted on April 14, 2018May 16, 2018 by Aaron Decker

Renowned online gaming software provider and omni-channels slots specialist, Play’n GO, has announced a new and fresh treat for its slots-loving customers in the form of its recently launched online slots game titled ‘Baker’s Treat.’ The exciting and freshly minted slot game that was unveiled in a Thursday press release features five reels presented in a British theme. It is also based on a bright and colourful kitchen that oozes of visual appeal from the very first time you set eyes on it. As such, players can enjoy delicious treats set before the top bakers as they help the players find winning lines on that draw them closer to big wins.

The goal of the game is finding the perfect stack of sweet treats in the course of the game. Players receive a token when they land the right stack of treats and once they accumulate three tokens, a Flour Power Spin feature is activated.

The slot game has five such features which make it even more exciting since you can never know which will appear on the reels. These five Flour Power Spin features can introduce wild reels across the dining table, double up reels or upgrade macrons to the high-playing cakes, sponges, pies as well as other indulgent bakes.

To make it even better, when the selected treat of each reel lands five in one instance, the Special Bake Off round is triggered – all five Flour Power features are activated in such cases.

“Baker’s Treat sees the much-loved great British pastime of baking combined with a gaming experience and premium design that will have players’ stomachs rumbling,” Play’n GO CEO Johan Törnqvist commented on the new slot game during the press release. “This latest release shows the quality and breadth of our entertainment provision. Having experienced significant success with our recent grid slot Sweet Alchemy, Baker’s Treat goes back to the much-loved classic slot layout and this variety ensures our players will never get bored.”

Follow this link to get a sneak peek of the game.