Grandmaster Time to Shine

[DamianDunlap]

Thank you for taking the time to talk with us. First, why don't you
tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a mathematician, I am naturally interested in the strategic
aspects of games.

How long have you been involved with online gaming?

About 4 years.

What are some of the aspects you enjoy the most about internet
casinos?

The convenience of being able to play in my own living room and the
variety of games. There are a few small casinos within a mile of my
place, but the blackjack tables are always full and there is no video
poker worth playing.

What are some of the things about internet gaming you would like to
see changed?

My top priority would be to shut down casinos that use rigged
software.

What do you think draws people to play online games of chance?

The same things that draw them to land based casinos, excitement
about
the possibility of winning money and entertainment. What draws them
specifically to online gambling is that online gambling are
convenient,
the rules may be be better than at land based casinos, and there are
also bonuses.

What are some of the worst things you have seen an internet casino
do in order to avoid paying a player?

Changing terms and conditions retroactively, calling people bonus
abusers as an excuse not to pay them. The first one happened to me
once, fortunately the amount involved was small.

What is you opinion on regulation for this industry, mainly how
should it be regulated and who should ultimately be responsible for protecting
the players and casinos from fraudulent actions?

The best protection would be if online casinos were regulated by the
same government agencies that regulate brick and mortar
casinos. Regulation would also be better at addressing the
governments' concerns about underage gambling or money laundering
than prohibition. Unfortunately, I do not see US government changing its
stance on online gambling in the near future.

What are your personal favorite games to play online, and why?

I play mainly blackjack and its variants and video poker,
occasionally Caribbean stud poker, 3 card poker or craps. I prefer games that have an element of strategy.

Given the stiff competition of this industry, how can a new
operation bestdemonstrate they are trustworthy, and will make customer service a top priority?
It needs to use a well-established software trusted by players.

The casino needs to stand by its word, this is especially important
when it comes to promotions. If a player only wagered the minimum
required, he has satisfied the wagering requirements and has to be
paid. The casino can then decide that it does not want to give this
player further bonuses. The industry is very competitive, a player
who has been mistreated is unlikely to come back, or it will require a
bigspecial bonus that will cost more than doing things right in the
first place.

Reasonably fast payouts are also important, but I would put more
emphasis on reliability than on speed. I don't mind waiting a few
days if can be certain that I will be paid, but if a casino promises to
pay in 3 days, then it should pay in 3 days and not try to come up with
excuses.

That said, what do you think is the most important thing a online
casino can do to encourage player loyalty?

First class customer service.

Given the double edged nature of bonuses, free chips and comp
programs,what if any thoughts do you have about these programs?

Bonus terms got a lot worse in the past couple of years. I missed the
early days when you only had to wager your bonus once, but I
remember that when I started the wagering requirement at the Lucky
Nugget was 3 times deposit+bonus with only roulette, baccarat and
craps excluded, now it is 20 times deposit+bonus on slots only.

Casinos should get more innovative and offer something other than
justdeposit match bonuses with high wagering requirements. There are
promotions which can offer positive expectation or at least improved
expectation to players without complicated terms and conditions, and
not make the casino vulnerable to bonushunting.

Good examples include loss rebates by several casinos, tournaments,
Vegas Tower casino's signup bonus which has no wagering requirements
or excluded games, Global Player casino's Freaky Fridays, which
feature games with a player's edge.

Where do you see this industry heading in the next few years, in
regards to>promotion, regulation, and competition?

The recently passed UK Gambling Bill will make it possible for online
casinos to be licenced in the UK. We will have to wait and see
whether the Gambling Commission is strong enough and competent enough to
protect players, ensure that the games are fair and at the same time
not make the costs prohibitive to the casinos licensed here. If it
works out well, it could have a major effect.

The online casino industry is still growing but seems to be maturing.
Currently the biggest growth area is poker which has major exposure
on TV. The competition is very strong, and I think a few major players
will dominate an even larger part of the market than now.

I would like to thank Grandmaster, In my eyes he a level headed person, that someday I hope to grow up to be. Thanks for your time.
Grandmaster is a moderator at the oldest gambling forum online www.winneronline.com