http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/gambling/why-gambling-gets-popular.html http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/gambling/why-gambling-gets-popular.html Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600
During the previous century, as gaming truly became a substantial industry providing considerable contributions to the economy, players started raising their expectation in regards to casinos, and combined their favorite games with larger vacation plans. Gambling culture became synonymous with amusement, pleasure, and excitement, as players filled their time with concerts, comedy shows and revues, fine dining, and other attractions.

While the gambling capital of Europe, Monte Carlo, kept an exclusive, aristocratic attitude, America’s casino city was, like its home land, democratic – offering something to anyone, and welcoming everybody as long as you’re here to play. Vegas became indistinguishable from cultural American icons like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.

Undoubtedly, as the success of box-office hit Ocean’s 11 demonstrates, the carefree, playful, and adventurous aspects of the gambling culture are more popular than ever. And as more and more internet users join this global community, as can be seen in casino travel, the Travel section of the online casino magazine, there is a growing interest in the gambling destinations and the history of famous casinos or large gaming centers.

Gaming culture may have been prospering all over the world for decades and decades, but it is a relatively young phenomenon on the internet, which bears its unique attributes, which result from the new medium. While offline poker players gather in small groups based on their location and casino players focus on their individual experiences, online players make use of the networking opportunities offered by the web to exchange information, and establish online communities where they can demand more attractive bonuses and better comps. Poker players use the internet to open their own leagues where they can compete against other teams from all over the world, and have poker rooms arrange private tournaments just for them.

The new communal aspect of gambling culture has not replaced the aspect of on-land gambling culture, it only enriched it. In fact, since online casinos have managed to reach audiences that never thought of walking into a land-based casino, many home-players are getting aquatinted for the very first time with history of gambling and gambling culture all over the world, for all its glamour, exhilaration, and exuberance.

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Michael Green is a writer at moneycasino magazine specializing in internet gaming.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/computers/games/mac-casino.html http://www.articletrader.com/computers/games/mac-casino.html Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500
Avid Mac users would never hesitate to claim the graphic superiority of their operating system of choice. And when it comes to instant play casino software they usually have a good reason to brag. No-download casino software is usually based on Flash animation that guarantees superb 3D visuals, vivid motion, and an overall smooth and realistic look and feel.

How can players tell whether a certain casino or poker application is Mac-compatible or Linux-friendly? One way to find out is by looking for the company logo at the bottom of the main page, next to the payment method and license icons. Players can (and should in general) check out the About Us page the casino provides where these details may appear regarding the software. The Help or Support section also usually includes a Technical Requirements clause with corresponding details. These are some of the options, but the easiest way to know if a certain casino or poker room is really suitable for Mac users is to look for no-download (also called) instant-play version of the software, as offered by Money-Casino.com that can be launched from the main page of the website.

Basically, a Flash casino is a Mac casino and a Flash poker room is a Mac Poker room. Leave it to the online gambling industry to make sure no customer is left without a solution. Living up to its reputation as an innovative field, which adopts and ushers new technologies, the gaming biz has been spearheading the spread of lightweight yet robust Flash applications. Of course, Mac users are not the ones to enjoy the benefits of Flash casino and poker games online; Windows users can also use these convenient solutions as they require only Flash players that can be easily downloaded for free.

What are the benefits of a Mac Casino and Poker Room? Well, the most obvious one is that its compatibility ensures a larger community of players: the more players there are in a poker room, the larger is the selection of tables and games as can be seen at PokerEon.com and other leading poker rooms. Second, as mentioned before, Flash applications are indeed superior when it comes to producing an aesthetically pleasing product in this very visual medium. Beautiful software is truly the best invitation to indulge in play when we want to amuse ourselves with some online entertainment. In addition, these no-download softwares allow users to login and play from any computer at any time, in no more than a few seconds, providing not only convenience, but also privacy.

Mac-compatible casinos and poker room will only increase as the number of Mac users grow, but the positive impact will affect all the players in the industry – better softwares, better games, the best gaming experience to have online.

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John Martin provides online marketing consultancy and services for gaming websites, currently cooperating with Money-Casino.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/internet/web-design/graphic-design-and-marketing-success.html http://www.articletrader.com/internet/web-design/graphic-design-and-marketing-success.html Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500
Much like the evolution of casino software, which I have covered in a previous article, the development of computer hardware and improvement of internet connections has set the tone when it comes to advances in web design. At the early stages of the industry websites were not much different from conventional printed pages. As time went by entered powerful graphic programs and animation players, but the designers – giddy with their new toy box – unfortunately tended to ignore technological limitations. Eager to amaze the user with what then probably seemed like endless possibilities left a legacy of elongated Flash presentations that either took too much time to load, required the user to install new players every couple of weeks, were too heavy for the user's PC, or d) all of the above. Till this very day I often click on Skip out of pure habit, and I'm sure many users share the same Pavlovian response.

Successful online casinos, constantly keeping practicality in mind avoided these traps. Convenience and intelligibility have always been and always will be the building blocks of smart user interfaces; this is a key factor in your visitor's subconscious choice or deliberate decision to return to your site or shun from it.

Nowadays files and images load within seconds and web designers can produce sites that are both user friendly and visually pleasing. Although the novelty has not fully expired, designers now curb their enthusiasm and present tamer designs rather than bombing the user with extravagant colors and nonstop visual affects. This approach pays – relatively demure design proves itself effective in terms of establishing reliability and a feel of genuine quality, or in a word - class.

A short survey of today's top online casinos demonstrates that industry leaders save the razzle-dazzle for the casino software and games, and maintain a rather cool front. Instead of overwhelming the first time visitor, casinos in the know create an inviting sophisticated ambiance. Examples for the polished look can be found in CasinoTropez.com, Bodog.com, and www.Money-Casino.com . The refined touch is achieved by employing the eternal elements of art and beauty, much like in classical painting: harmonious colors, proportional measures, and lucid idea flared by a tint of the unexpected; such as a shade that seems at odds with the primary color plate or careful placement of 3D components. This formula inspires a blended sense of security and excitement.

The idea behind this style is to create an eye candy, but avoid making your visitors nauseous… you can have them swooning over your games later, but first make an elegant entrance. Nonetheless designers do get their chance to run a little wild and turn on their creative juices with advertising material. Although the site should uphold a dignified appearance, banners and mailers can be more humorous and sassy. An example of playful mailers can be found at http://www.money-casino.com/Promotions/Email_Offers/index.html . With eye catching images, uncommon fonts, and visual or literal puns, mailers communicate pure fun and inject fresh energy to your relationship with the user.

Of course, not all online casinos are free from design foibles. Many websites simply get lost in the shuffle as they do not offer a unique visual experience and stick to tired color plates or outdated templates, while others just stick out like a sore thumb. Currently Search Engine Optimization methodologies demand that text be given precedence over graphic design, and more often than not the finished product proves that this technology impinges heavily on the creative vision. I would address website owners facing this dilemma by paraphrasing the words of maverick architect Buckminster Fuller: When you work on a problem don't think about beauty, but if your solution isn't beautiful, know it is wrong.

We are human. Our eyes guide us. Wherever we go we seek aesthetic pleasure and forever respond to beauty. Smart marketing strategies are based on endowing the users with an experience that surpasses the mere product, the chance to feast their eyes on a taste of the exquisite.

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John Martin is a web-planning and marketing consultant specializing in online casino gambling, currently providing services to Money Casino

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/gambling/internet-casinos-101.html http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/gambling/internet-casinos-101.html Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500
As a rule of thumb, the first thing to do in a casino is try out the free games. The games are the casino's raison d'etre; impeccable customer support, never-ending bonuses, the most undiscriminating assortment of banking methods, all these fantastic features lose their charm without hard-core inviting and exciting game action. Variety, speed, and aesthetics are key elements along with personal criteria such as multihand play option for avid blackjack players, bonus features for slot fans etc. So before you start waddling the grey details of banking and help, take a leap to the practice games to see if you and the casino actually click.

Nowadays leading casinos provide both downloadable and no-download casino software. If you only want to check out the casino and the free games, you can settle for the instant play version and play through your browser instead of downloading the casino to your PC. If it strikes your fancy you can then download the casino, complete with desktop and start menu shortcuts. Such casinos, as in Golden Tiger Casino and Money-Casino.com, enable players to open an account through the instant play version and still retain it when switching to the downloadable software.

Playing through an instant play version or the free casino games also allows you to test the casino' s server connection, meaning how fast the software loads and how soon you can start playing from the moment of launching it. While playing the free games be aware of any disconnections or failures. Although even the best casinos may experience an unexpected glitch once in a while, it is not acceptable for casino software to crash every single time you play.

Prior to becoming a real money player it is highly recommended to try out the casino's customer support. Simply come up with a question and call, email, or chat with a customer support representative to get an idea of the service you will receive at time of need. Make note of the service's accessibility, responsiveness, courtesy, and of course efficiency. More often than not, player support reveals the true face of a gaming operation and reflects its trustworthiness.

Banking methods are also worth looking into, particularly for US citizens. The more payment methods available the better. Although credit card companies are still going strong in the real world, the internet is increasingly pushed aside in favor of faster, more secure, online payment methods. It is advisable for all online shoppers in general to use alternative payment methods when making a purchase online such as Neteller or Moneybookers. These services provide safe and immediate payments without directly tracing back to your credit card or bank account. Also, processing commissions are usually lower.

Last but certainly not least are promotions. In addition to the welcome bonus you will get for making your first deposit, the casino should also offer comps (short for complimentary). Meaning that you get points for playing that you can redeem for other bonuses or prizes. The casino should also have an elaborate bonus code system such as Cool Cat Casino or VIP scheme to reward loyal players and highrollers like Money-Casino.com. The bottom line is that when playing at the right place loyalty pays.

After testing the games, customer support, banking methods, and promotions you have a pretty good picture of the casino and you are ready to become a real money player and experience the thrill of internet casino gambling.

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John Martin is a marketing consultant and web-planner in the field of casino gambling,
currently working with Money Casino

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>