Back to Basics

Monday, April 28, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Written by Daniel O

There is plenty to do on the site, this much is clear. If anything, we confused you with all the options. Should I count a few? Weekly Edition videos, the fun way to catch up with the week's top news stories; Services for finding the top bonuses of the moment, most active poker rooms, and the top overall gambling action in real time; informative reviews, with videos accompanying videos, such as the one we have produced and uploaded for 32 Vegas Casino.

And more.

But as the title of this blog entry implies, we also offer basics; the simple joys in life. What other joy more simple, or simple more joyful, than Pacman?





We've set up a complete games section, where you can play games for free. Be it to pass the time, or even to practice your skills, especially with all that concerns casino games - Pacman and Co. are there with no download involved.

An inside tip: Online Casino Reports is in the process of stepping the games selection even more, to include more of the action, adventure, sports, puzzle, arcade and all the other games we already feature.

Start playing!

Bonuses on a Platter

Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Written by Daniel O

To best introduce the Online Casino Reports Services, we'd like to start with one. Bonus Hunter.

Specializing in one element of the game, namely bonuses, the Service functions a lot like the other Services on the site, such as Poker Fever, Money Train, and the rest.

You can reach Bonus Hunter through the site's homepage, the Services channel or by following this link. This is what you will find:



A quick look at the list will reveal a bountiful of bonuses - all a click away.

In the central column, you will find a drop-down menu. You can pick what bonus you are interested in and the list will organize so that it will display these bonuses, anywhere online, in ascending or descending order. The choices are Welcome bonuses (the default value), Multiple Deposit Bonuses (bonuses for later deposits), and Payment Method Bonuses (extras for using certain payment methods).

The list, casinos and bonus amounts are not only updated around the clock, they are calculated anew with every visit you make to the Service. That is the maximum personalization we could conceive. Not only on-time, but on your time!

Additional columns include information such as wagering requirements, the software provider that is behind the casino offering the bonus, and most importantly - a link to the site where you can find the bonus.

Bonus Hunter, like other Services on the site, is designed for repeat visits - always finding you the bonus opportunity of the moment.

Finding Online Casino Reports

Monday, April 21, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Written by Daniel O

Search and you shall find. Someone said that sometime. We say it all the time.

Honest to our motto, that Online Casino Reports represents and serves the gambling community, we wish to share the various places on the web where you can find us. And there are many such ways.

First, naturally, and most obviously, is our website. You can enter the URL in your web browser, save it to your bookmarks as a favorite or access it any other way, any time of day or night.

Secondly, you can visit this blog and from here learn what's new on the site and access it too. The banner on the top right of this screen will send you straight to the site.

But the ways to find us are far greater than those we provide. For instance, our news articles are cited on such gambling websites as Gambling911 and APCW, the active website managed by J Todd in the United States.

In his videos, for instance, Todd often makes references to our news articles and presents the article on the screen as well. (Thanks J)

We can also be found on search results pages, when looking up gambling news on Google. Listing on Google News is quite a distinction, a sign that we're doing something right; at least we consider it as such...

And then there are our videos. OCR Live! productions - the Weekly Edition videos and the Casino Reviews, which we have released so far - are not only accessible on our site. They are all over the web! First and foremost is YouTube, where we have an entire channel you can subscribe and befriend, and even post comments and rate the videos. Additionally, our videos are posted and can be viewed at Yahoo Videos, MetaCafe, VEOH and DailyMotion.

There is even more. Can you find us anywhere else? Maybe on your blog? On Stumble or Digg? We're there! Search, and you shall find us!

Podcasts Killed the Video Star?

Friday, April 11, 2008 at 7:04 PM
Written by Daniel O

In honesty, I do not believe this is in any way the end of videos. Sites like YouTube, Yahoo Videos, and Online Casino Reports are moving to new directions, with higher quality videos, live feeds, and an ever growing selection of subjects, which with regard to our own, will include casino reviews, game guides and educational specials.

No, videos are nowhere near their end. You can continue finding them regularly updated at OCR Live.

But the news for today: Online Casino Reports enters podcasts.

Those easy to download video and audio files that we can take with us on our iPod player or other. And yes, we are in advanced stages of setting a platform that will be most convenient for you to use, and will give you a chance to take Online Casino Reports with you on the train to work, or in the car, or anywhere that your day will take you.

We will follow up and announce the official launch of the Online Casino Reports podcasts.

Until then, have a great weekend!

Commending the US Congress Hearings

Monday, April 07, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Written by Daniel O

Of all the recent news stories and developments that we have reported on our news pages recently, one stands out. Whether we be located in Europe, South Africa, China or the moon, last week's Congress Hearings in Washington, DC are significant. They are also worth our response, here on this blog entry.

First off the bat, we would like to commend the House Financial Services Committee and its Chairman, Rep. Barney Frank, for holding this important meeting. The subject is far too important, not only for the millions of online gamblers in the United States, but for reasons that include free speech and trade.

The discussion, at this level, was long awaited. That is even more obvious today, after we got the chance to hear the banking industry officials, who complained about the unfair burden laid on them under the current ban.

(For quotes from the witnesses visit my summary of the day article.)

While their criticism is directed at the regulations that were on the Congress table that day, well over a year since the ban itself was passed in late 2006, our criticism is on the law itself.

As for the hearings themselves, the topic of today's blog, they served us, the gambling community, well. From allowing a mainstream stage for the establishment - feds and banking officials - to voice its aversion of the ban and the way it is handled, to the widespread media coverage that brought the contested subject to the public's computer screen (and TV and newspapers), especially after the ban was passed stealthily under the Safe Port Act at the time.

Several other questions were raised thanks to the hearings. What with horse racing? How come it was excluded from the ban? Is it not a form of gambling? We thought it was... And poker? Is it a game of skill, thus more appropriately legal than, say, state lotteries, or is it a form of chance game strictly?

As things went until last week, the details were, well, "ugly" in the words of our friend J Todd. Which leaves us a little scared to ask for more. But at the end of the day, we encourage debate and believe the hearings were an important, if first, step.

Gambling 'round the world

Tuesday, April 01, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Written by John W

Our dear Weekly Edition presenter Kate has been travelling recently quite a lot (she's visited Bulgaria a few weeks ago and is currently visiting Finland). Only it's not for work that she's been flying, nor is it for gambling!

We've been trying to keep up with her, and to do so we figured we'd send her around the world ourselves.

Check out our latest Weekly Edition video, where Kate takes you on brief tours of the United States, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, all of which have been through some important processes of late, and are witnessing changes to their gambling laws and culture.

You can pick up on each country, and others too, on the News section at the site, where we report on developments as they happen and express our writers' opinions too, sometimes.

So hold on to your seats and enjoy this ride. It is only 2:15 minutes long, but we hope it will leave an impression, and be informative and fun at the same time.



Regards to Kate, and to you

Harmless Gambling Pranks for April Fool's Day

Tuesday, April 01, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Written by Daniel O

Surely Bush hasn't admitted to gambling. There is no evidence that he has ever gambled before, at least not since his life-changing decision to "recommit my heart to Jesus Christ," in his own words.

So what in the world are we up to in writing Bush Admits to Gambling on Online Casino Reports?

It is all part of an April Fool's Day prank that we tried to slyly introduce among our headline news, somewhere between an update from Josh on the difficulties in legalizing online gambling in South Africa, and another Weekly Edition from Kate.

Which is to say that normally we do stick to news worthy news. We bring you informative, if entertaining articles, videos and RSS feeds. This time we took the liberty to play with you a bit, fool with you, if you may, for this festive day, April Fool's Day.

Have a laugh, it's on the house!