Online Casino Loopholes
The cons of playing at online casinos. Starting on February 9, online casino loopholes costing you more in taxes than what you won – even if you have gambling losses to offset it. Be the first to complete 1st line, though. The Cairn Collection owns the Cairn hotel in Edinburgh, for thinking outside the box. Feb 09, 2021 health bureau found loopholes in hotel quarantine process. Sunday, 08:19:14. Casino stocks fall following gaming law public consultation.
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Any online gaming site that has been in business for over 10 years is likely to have had some player issues of some sort; whether their fault or the fault of circumstances around regulation or software, if you dig deep enough, you will find someone who has a complaint.
The folks behind Europa Casino have had their fair share of complaints in the past with some other brands, but I like to give every site I review a clean slate when I start my reviews.
Here’s what I can promise: by the time you are done reading this review you will have an extremely honest review of the company, blemishes and all.
About Europa Casino
Europa Casino has been in business since 2004 and has had an apparent change of ownership along the way. While the casino was at one point owned by Imperial E-Club Casinos, which had received many complaints about one of its other sites. Now, if you look at the website, the owner is listed as Universe Entertainment Services, a company based in Malta. I can only assume the company has changed hands, although I have not been able to find out when that might have occurred.
The casino has a gaming license from the Malta Gaming Authority, which is also new. They used to have a license from Antigua and Barbuda, but it would appear that in an attempt to clean up their image, they moved the licensing over to a more thorough jurisdiction.
Who Can Play at Europa Casino?
As a result of upgrading their license from Antigua to Malta, the owners of this casino had to implement changes to their Restricted Countries list. While this is disappointing for players who once could access the games, it is better for everyone as a whole as the players who continue to make deposits are much more protected by the regulatory board who approved this gaming license.
Here are the countries that are now not allowed to play at Europa Casino:
- Afghanistan
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- China
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Dominica
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Hong Kong
- Iran
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Latvia
- Libya
- Macau
- Netherlands
- Romania
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Spain
- Kitts/Nevis
- Lucia
- Vincent
- Sudan
- Syria
- The Philippines
- Trinidad
- Turkey
- United States
Software Suppliers
Europa Casino has only one software provider, but it is a good one. They have chosen to work with Playtech for their offering. The Israel-based developer is at the top of the heap when it comes to quality of the product; they built their software with an equal dedication to the players and the operators, and it shows when you tour the platform. Also, having Playtech as their supplier gives the ownership group more credibility; these guys don’t work with shady operators.
The Playtech games are available both via a downloadable client and through their browser-based Instant Play format.
The majority of the games have been modified to fit the screen size of most tablets and phones so you will be able to play your favorite games from wherever you want.
The Good Stuff
Eight Figures of Jackpots
The first thing I saw when I accessed the site was right in the middle of the screen: a scrolling banner of a number of jackpots available to be won at this casino, with a grand total of over $100,000,000! That is a crazy amount of possible life-changing moments, including the largest Playtech network progressive, Jackpot Giant, which on its own stands at over 10 million. Do yourself a favor and jump into those games while the prizes are this high…they are ready to burst at any moment!
Excellent Troubleshooting Section
Most people have the same customer service issues at an online gaming site; the smart operators compile the answers to these questions and post them in a set of Frequently Asked Questions. Not only does Europa Casino have this page, but they also find a way to make it much easier to navigate to the exact page and solution you are looking for.
I think more casinos should follow this operator’s lead on this; so many support tickets would never need to be opened as a result.
The Bad Stuff
Account Opening Restrictions
Whenever I hit up a new casino, I like to quickly look to see what the casino has to offer in the way of promotions, VIP program, etc. Unfortunately, at this casino, to see the full site, I had to create an account. That is a bit of dirty pool from Europa Casino; this practice doesn’t please me at all. In fact, all it made me want to do is put in fake information so they wouldn’t contact me (I didn’t because for this review I want the promotional emails).
Legacy Player Issues
I never like to read about a large number of player complaints about a casino, especially when its owners then open other brands. I have seen any old complaints about one of the sister casinos to Europa Casino (Winner Casino).
I am hopeful that these complaints were the result of some management decisions that have since been dealt with; for the time being, I remain cautiously optimistic about the direction Europa Casino is headed.
Game Selection
Live Dealer Games
Playtech has built their own Live Dealer studio, and as a result, all of their licensees have the option of adding these real dealer games to their current offering. Thankfully, Europa Casino takes them up on this idea, and you can find the following games under the Live Casino tab of the lobby:
- Slots
- Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
- Adventures in Wonderland Deluxe
- Age of the Gods
- Archer
- Atlantis Queen
- Batman & Catwoman Cash
- Batman & Mr. Freeze Fortune
- Batman & the Penguin Prize
- Batman & the Riddler Riches
- Britain’s Got Talent Star Struck
- Buffalo Blitz
- Captain’s Treasure 9 line
- Captain’s Treasure Pro
- Cowboys & Aliens
- Crazy 7
- Daring Dave & the Eye of Ra
- Deal or No Deal: The Banker’s Riches
- Deal or No Deal: World Slot
- Desert Treasure
- Desert Treasure II
- Diamond Valley (5 line)
- Dolphin Cash
- Dolphin Reef
- Fei Long Zai Tian
- Fields of Fortune
- Ice Run
- Irish Luck
- Jackpot Giant
- Jurassic Island
- Kong: The 8th Wonder of the World
- Land of Gold
- Legacy of the Wild
- Leprechaun’s Luck
- Little Britain
- Miss Fortune
- Monty Python’s Life of Brian
- Monty Python’s Spamalot!
- Pink Panther
- Plenty O Fortune
- Purple Hot
- Superman: The Movie
- Superman II
- Thai Paradise
- Thai Temple
- The Alchemist’s Spell
- The Flintstones
- The Jazz Club
- The Love Boat
- The Mummy
- The Riches of Don Quixote
- The Six Million Dollar Man
- The Three Musketeers and The Queen’s Diamonds
- Time For a Deal
- Top Gun
- Top Trumps: World Football Stars 2014
- Top Trumps Celebs
- Tres Amigos
- Ugga Bugga
- Vacation Station
- Vacation Station Deluxe
- Viking Mania
- Who Wants to be a Millionaire
- Wu Long
- Wu Long Jackpot
- Yu Huang Da Di – Jade Emperor
- Zhao Cai Jin Bao
- Zhao Cai Jin Bao Jackpot
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Blackjack Pro
- Blackjack Surrender
- Blackjack Switch
- Blackjack Switch
- Caribbean Poker
- Casino Hold ‘Em
- Casino Reels
- Casino War
- Craps
- Knockout
- Let Them Ride
- Lucky Blackjack
- Mahjong
- Pai Gow Poker
- Perfect Blackjack
- Poker Three
- Pontoon
- Progressive Blackjack
- Red Dog
- Roulette
- Sic Bo
- Single Deck Blackjack
- Tequila Poker
- Around the World
- Rock Paper Scissors
- Bonus Bowling
- Bingo
- Roller Coaster Dice
- Wheel of Light
- Wild Viking
- Penalty Shootout
- Mega Ball
- Pachinko
- Derby Day Horse Racing
- Dice Twister
- Final Score
- Genie’s Hi-Lo
- Heads or Tails
- Jackpot Darts
- Keno
- 2 Ways Royal
- Two-Way Royal
- Jacks or Better (1 hand)
- Jacks or Better (10 hands)
- All American
- Aces and Faces (1-4 hands)
- Tens or Better
- Aces and Faces (1-4 hands multi-play)
- Jacks or Better (50 hands)
- Pick ‘Em Poker
- Deuces Wild
- Deuces Wild
- Jokers Poker (kings or better)
- Jokers Poker (kings or better multi-play)
- Mega Jacks — Progressive
- Jacks or Better — Multihand
- Jacks or Better — Progressive
- Aces and Faces (25 hands)
- Abaqoos
- AstroPay Card
- Bank Wire
- ClickandBuy
- DineroMail
- Diners Club
- eCard
- EcoCard
- eKonto
- Entropay
- EPS
- FundSend
- GiroPay
- iDebit
- instaDebit
- Maestro
- MasterCard
- Moneta
- Multibanco
- MyCitadel
- Neteller
- Nordea
- PayPal
- Paysafecard
- PayU
- POLi
- Przelewy24
- PugglePay
- QIWI
- SafetyPay
- Skrill
- Sofortuberwaisung
- SporoPay
- Swiff
- Todito Cash
- TrustPay
- Ukash
- Visa
- Visa Delta
- Visa Electron
- WebMoney
- Check
- ClickandBuy
- MyCitadel
- Neteller
- Visa Electron
- instaDebit
- Visa
- Skrill
- Faster Withdrawal times
- Higher Withdrawal Amounts
- VIP Account Manager
- €9 on Slot Machines & Progressives
- €20 on Roulette Game, Card Games Except Blackjack Switch & Surrender
- €30 on Video Poker and Blackjack Switch & Surrender
- €10 on Other Games
The Playtech slots are some of the best in all of the online casino landscape. There are games with a lot of characters and brands you will recognize; Playtech has used the power of their connections to create branding partnerships with many major entertainment brands. It would be silly to list all the games here, but there are many that I have played and enjoyed, and I am sure you will as well:
Table Games
The Table games area of the casino is another place that the power of Playtech as a partner can be seen. These games are robust, and the development team works hard to not only bring you the traditional forms of all your favorite games, but they also add in some fun variants. My favorite of these is still Blackjack Switch. IN this version of the game, you have the option of switching between the two hands you are playing for an added cost.
Have a look at all the games in the lobby:
Specialty Games
Playtech gives its licensees the chance to offer many “lottery” style games that come with straightforward rules but not the best odds of winning. There is a full suite of these at Europa Casino, including these titles:
Video Poker
With all the game options in other areas of the casino, I suppose it is no surprise to find a great selection of Video Poker machines at Europa Casino. IF you are a video poker player, you are looking for a couple specifics: multi-hand versions of the variants, as well as aggressive pay tables that pay out almost 100%. You will find both here at this casino; look at the choices you have in the Video Poker section:
Promotions
I always like to see a casino that offers multiple layers of promotions to their players. The lifespan of a player can be a rollercoaster, so having an offer that fits where the player is along that life is critical to extending their longevity with the site. Europa Casino has a few promotions on their website, but here is a couple that I want to highlight:
Welcome Bonuses
There are two different Welcome Bonuses that the site offers to its players. Their standard Welcome Package includes bonuses for up to one year! I love the idea of extending the bonus period out over that length of time; it makes me think that the casino values my long-term play and isn’t just trying to get the most out of me on my first session.
The site offers you a 100% match bonus to $100 on your first deposit of each month until you have been a customer for a whole year. That means you can earn up to $1,200 in additional cash, which isn’t too shabby at all. That isn’t all though, as the site also rewards you with a weekly $25 Loyalty bonus just for playing each week, meaning you could, in fact, earn $2,400 during the first year.
Their second Welcome Bonus is for High Roller players; this one is a one-time bonus of 50% up to $500 on your first deposit of $1,000 or more. This is far more interesting for the player who wants to play higher limits, as it also puts you at the front of the line to enter the casino’s VIP program. Personally, I am more likely to get more value out of the long-term play, but if you want to hit and run, this second bonus is for you.
Win an iPhone 8
I like promotions like this; giving away a desirable physical good goes a long way to connect with players, and draws like this make it easy for everyone to qualify.
For this limited-time promotion, all you have to do is bet $10 in one of these games – Jackpot Bells, Stars Awakening, Hologram Wilds, Fairground Fortunes Ghost Train, and Wild Beats – and you will earn a raffle entry for every $10 wagered during the promotion’s timeframe.
Banking
When you are an online gaming site focused primarily on the European market, having the most localized payment solutions for each country is paramount. This can make for an administrative nightmare, but that is the cost of doing business across so many borders.
Deposit Options
Withdrawl Options
Comp Program
The Comp Program at Europa Casino runs on the standard rules that most Playtech casinos operate under: you earn one point for every $10 wagered at real money tables. When you have reached the minimum threshold for redeeming points (500), you can convert them into cash at a rate of $1 for every 100 points.
Since there is an expiry date on points and no reason to hold on to them, it is my recommendation that you keep an eye on them and as soon as you hit 500, convert them. The cash in your account goes straight to your bottom line.
VIP Program
The Europa Casino VIP Program touts itself as a great way to earn more and be treated better when playing at the casino. This is a multi-level program, with 6 levels in total. When you are playing, you will accumulate points which earn you entry into these levels; once you are there, you will see the following benefits:
VIP LEVEL | WEEKLY BONUS |
---|---|
Bronze | €50 |
Silver | €75 |
Gold | €100 |
Platinum | €150 |
Diamond | €200 |
Premier | €250 |
VIP Perks
Wager Per 1 Comp Point
Now, while this is a nice program that allows you to move up smoothly to each level, it appears that the qualification standards for each level are missing, as well as many of the details on the remaining perks (if there are any). Overall, this is pretty disappointing when compared to other VIP programs I have reviewed.
Perhaps this is all just a case of miscommunication, but I personally like to have all the details of a VIP program laid out up front before I make my decision of playing for real money.
Customer Service
As mentioned above, the casino has an extensive FAQ section which is very well presented; the information you are looking for to answer your question is likely on one of these pages. If you still need to contact the casino, you can do so by telephone, email or Live Chat.
For me, Live Chat is the way to go; I don’t want to have to sit on the phone, but I do want to speak with someone in real time to alleviate my issue at the site.
Would I Play at Europa Casino?
Well, let me start by saying that I hope the company actually changed ownership in 2016 when its license came up for renewal in Antigua. All signs indicate that this is what happened, which would put my mind at ease when it comes to the potential history of issues with the original owners.
As for the casino itself, you just can’t go wrong with anyone using Playtech’s platform. The games are top-quality, and the sheer volume of titles is enough for even the most seasoned casino player. Add in the huge progressive jackpots, and you have a tidy little package here.
Yes, the VIP program could use some work (or just some more details), and the bonuses aren’t the best in the business. However, overall I like what this casino is offering, and if you are so inclined after reading this review, I encourage you to give Europa Casino a deposit.
This review was made by: LegitGamblingSites.com Rating: 3.6 out of 5
If you’ve ever been to an actual casino, you would’ve observed that aside from multiple security cameras, lots of security personnel are also present to monitor what is happening inside the casino and for the most important purpose – to catch cheaters.
But have you ever wondered how it works with an online casino, where the players are virtually connected and movements cannot be completely monitored? Keep reading to find out!
Does cheating work in an online casino?
Hard as it may be, the answer is technically yes. But aside from hacking into the system, you can most likely only cheat in an online casino’s multiplayer game like live poker.
Online poker players can easily conspire with their friends and reveal hands to each other while seated at the same poker table. Unfortunately for cheating players, gambling sites nowadays have already taken advantage of the evolving technology. They use extensive fraud prevention software with unique algorithms to track the players’ behaviour and playing patterns to counter this kind of cheating and scams.
Fraud prevention at online casinos
Online casino owners already know they will be dealing with these kinds of problems, so to protect their investment, they try hard to think a step ahead and think in a more clever way than potential cheaters. As a result, almost all the loopholes that worked on cheating before don’t work today.
Even bots that some players used so that they can play and win nonstop are now banned. Online casinos don’t only do this because of their investment, but also to ensure that the casino is ethical and players have confidence playing their games.
Is it illegal to cheat in an online casino?
Without a doubt, yes! All businesses, including online casinos, have Terms and Conditions that their customers (players) have to accept before starting to play. Cheating obviously will be against their terms and conditions. If you breach T&Cs, you might be charged with fraud – using deception to the detriment of another for the purpose of monetary gain. And as most people know, fraud is illegal pretty much everywhere.
So, should you try to cheat?
Definitely no. Although it is possible to cheat, keep in mind the differences between a land based casino and a live casino. They can’t physically see you and talk to you, so claiming your winnings in an online casino isn’t instant. And most of the time, they require more proof of your identity before they release your winnings.
Aside from the fact that the claiming process could take days to complete, they may also use those days to review and analyze the game results and your playing pattern to see if there’s any suspicious behaviour and decide if you’re a credible winner. So if you want to keep your winnings, you should ensure they are won fair and square.
Conclusion
Though it is possible to cheat in an online casino to gain money, you should always keep in mind that online casinos use extensive software with unique algorithms. You might get away with cheating once or twice, but there’s no guarantee it will still work in the future. They will find the loophole you used and eventually close down your technique completely. And if ever you get caught red-handed, do you think that the little money you earned is enough for you to get jailed and marked as a cheater? Definitely no.
Always play ethically, and just enjoy playing and winning with the other players. Happy playing!
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