Roar Digital’s igaming brand BetMGM has quietly opened its doors to players in Pennsylvania by soft-launching online casino, slots and table games for real money after partnering with Penn National’s Hollywood Casino.
“The long wait is over. BetMGM is now live with casino gaming in Pennsylvania!” says the BetMGM website.
We are licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement as an Internet gaming operator in accordance with the Casino Control Act N.J.S.A. 5:12-1 and its implementing regulations. Our games are tested by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement to provide games that are fair and operate correctly. The difference between live casino online games and playing at an online casino is authenticity. You will find that Live Casino games are played in a land-based casino environment with a live dealer. The game is live streamed to you in real time on your computer screen. As mentioned above, live dealer online casino games are played against a real croupier as opposed to computer software programs. All the games are streamed to your device in HD quality and provide you with the traditional land-based gambling experience. You can chat and interact with the dealer and other players around the table.
The soft launch testing period will run for three days until Thursday during which players will have limited access to the games. As per the website, play will be available today for eight hours from 2 PM to 10 PM ET. On Wednesday, the beta testing will be expanded to ten hours from 10 AM to 8 PM and on Thursday, for twelve hours from 10 AM to 10 PM.
Should all go well, it will become fully operational starting December 4, open 24 hours and allowing players to place wagers at any time.
As part of its soft launch, BetMGM is offering new players a welcome bonus package that includes $25 in FreePlay. Furthermore, the site is also offering a First Deposit match bonus up to $1000.
Due to the limited operating period, online casino offerings are limited to a few games, with more games to be added once the site moves closer to a full launch.
BetMGM Sidelines Online Poker for Now
The soft launch of online casino gaming comes following the approval of BetMGM by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) five weeks ago.
In late October, the PGCB granted BetMGM (doing business as Roar Digital) an Interactive Gaming Operator License, allowing the operator to offer online casino and poker in the Keystone State.
Online poker enthusiasts will be disappointed to know that online poker is not part of the operator’s initial igaming offerings. However, given the complexities of vetting an online poker platform due to the nature of how the game is played, it is not surprising to see Roar prefer launching online casino games ahead of its poker product.
Online poker is eventually expected to be launched by BetMGM along with a partypoker-branded room (partypoker PA) on the partypoker US Network potentially in the coming weeks, although, an early 2021 launch is looking more likely.
Another operator, 888, is also eyeing the Pennsylvania online poker market after it was recently approved by PGCB as an Interactive Gaming Manufacturer. However, the timeframe for the launch of an 888-branded (888poker PA) or a WSOP.com-branded (WSOP PA) online poker room in Pennsylvania remains unknown.
As of now, PokerStars continues to remain the only online poker room operating in the state. In November, PokerStars PAcelebrated its first anniversary of operating in the state. During its first year, the operator generated over $35 million in online poker revenue.
BetMGM 12th Operator to Offer Online Casino in Pennsylvania
With the launch of BetMGM in Pennsylvania, there are now a dozen online casinos in the state. Hollywood Casino (also operating under Penn National) and Parx Casino were the first two casinos to go live on the very first day of igaming in Pennsylvania.
Since then, various casino operators have launched including SugarHouse, BetRivers, DraftKings, Unibet, FanDuel, and Fox Bet.
To bring its online casino product to the Keystone State, BetMGM has partnered with Penn National Hollywood Casino as its land-based casino partner.
The BetMGM brand is already operating in seven other US states: Colorado, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Tennessee, and West Virginia, with Michigan coming soon.
It offers sports betting in all of these states; online casino in New Jersey and West Virginia and online poker in New Jersey.
BetMGM is also anticipated to launch sports betting in Pennsylvania in the coming days. It recently partnered with the Pittsburgh Steelers as its official sports betting partner.
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For those of you looking for tips and strategy on how to play certain casino games, you've come to the right place. We prefer not to make assumptions as every casino player has a different level of experience. The more information you have at your disposal, the better your chances are of making the correct decisions while playing. One of the advantages of playing in an online casino is not having the pressure of an audience. Not everyone has the confidence or the experience to make split second decisions when wagering. Often times in a live casino, you have others that are waiting not so patiently for you to make your move. Not to mention all of the eyes that are on you. Sometimes you might even be in the dreaded position of being at a table with a disgruntled player that criticizes your decision.
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Roulette is one of the most popular games in the casino for various reasons. The simplicity of the game makes it an easily accessible to players from beginner to expert. Although it is a game of chance, following a plan when you bet gives you more opportunity for success.
American Roulette
The first thing to understand is that you are playing against the house and not the other players at the table should there be any. An American Roulette table has 38 numbers ranging from to 36 with two extra slots for 0 and 00. Half of the numbers from 1 to 36 are Red while the other half are Black while the numbers 0 and 00 are green. In order to place a bet, the player must place their chips on the corresponding number, color or section they would like to wager on.
As this is a section where we give roulette advice so we aren't going to go into the specific strategy for every type of wager but it is important to understand the options at your disposal. You can bet on any single number or on what color the number will be, also known as betting on Red or Black.
You can also bet on 2 numbers at the same time which is known as a 'split' meaning you place your chip on the line that separates the two numbers. For example, you can bet on 2-3 at the same time by placing the chip on the line between the numbers. This works in all directions meaning if you place the chip to the line on the right of the number 2 you would be betting on 2-3. Place the chip on the left side the you're betting on 1—2 and finally if you place it on the line at the bottom you would be wagering on 2-5. Once you've gotten used to the layout of the roulette table, this will seem like second nature.
The betting options is what makes American Roulette so popular and many people take advantage of this by playing 'Outside bets'.
An outside bet is a wager that involves several numbers usually between 12-18 numbers at one time. Of course the amount you will win is less than betting on single numbers, however your chances of winning are significantly higher. We've already discussed betting on Red or Black which is the most popular of the outside bets. Another is 'Low' or 'High' which involves betting on 1—18 (Low) or 19-36 (High). You can also bet Even numbers or Odd numbers which gives you the same odds at the High/Low and Red or Black wagers.
Finally, you can also bet on a column or on dozens. These are again very straightforward with column bets involving one of the three columns on an American Roulette table or dozens which involves betting one of the three dozen in the 1-36 grid (1-12, 13-24 or 25-36).
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Now that you have all of the betting options clear, it's time to talk strategy.
There is no Roulette strategy that has been proven to work significantly better than the other. Whether it's the Martingale strategy, the Reverse Martingale, the Paroli system or the D'Alembert, none of these is clearly better than the other. It is simply a matter of preference and it is best to do one's research to find a strategy that makes sense for you.
Blackjack, unlike Roulette, has a fixed strategy that has been developed according to the best possible outcome if an infinite amount of hands were to be played. When implementing the Blackjack strategy, it is important to understand that it is based on a chart of all possible hands and the correct decision to make based on that specific situation. This seems basic but most novice Blackjack players will still follow their instincts in certain situations. That might be ok with Roulette but in Blackjack, the strategy chart is based on mathematical probability meaning any deviation from the chart is to not make the best possible choice available to you.
Of course memorizing the betting chart does not guarantee success, it only improves your chances of winning which is your end game. Understanding basic strategy like when to 'surrender', when to 'split' and when to double down are all part of a winning strategy.
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Something that has become popular with players due to television and movies is the practice of counting cards. We will go ahead and tell you that strategy will be ineffective when dealing with machines using 4-8 decks of cards that shuffle them at random. Or in your case when playing online using a random number generator that deals the cards from a fresh deck with every hand.