If the Os Man were czar - A special insight into the world of online casinos
In my dreams, I’m the czar. Not of the world, mind you, or even this banana republic or other – nah, the Os Man’s thinking slightly smaller, though no less ambitiously. The Os Man dreams of becoming the online casino gambling czar.
For those of you familiar with this writer’s work, you all know how much the Os Man loves internet gaming, and actually working in the industry is not a bad gig at all. However, aside each technological upgrade and new online casino games like live roulette opening, the same old industry-wide problems bubble up to surface.
While stuff like creative bookkeeping and corrupt lawmaking may not be readily apparent to the average on-line gamer, rest assured that the greater problems of bad business practices and the US’ current state of prohibition on online gaming does hurt what should be a wonderful, fun experience.
What the industry needs is a tuneup, and the Os Man is just the man to do it.
If the Os Man were czar, there’d be a little regulation. Now don’t be going off all cocked about less government, Mister/Ms. Conservative. And don’t bother telling the Os Man about Barney Frank and his liberal efforts, either: Face it, the guy couldn’t even get his pet bill through his own senate subcommittee.
No, the Os Man’s talking here about internal regulation. It seems that quite a few in this industry need to take a little pride in their jobs; sure, hundreds of casino owners and affiliate managers out there run nice Web sites, may provide live support, and probably even run swell loyalty programs, all in the name of customer service. And while those in the biz may enjoy the freedom concomitant to an industry without formal or informal oversight, they, like the prototypical 21st-century capitalist, have forgotten a fundamental (if abstract) reality of the business: The sphere as a whole must be taken care of.
With increasing numbers of bad casinos, shaky affiliates and generally corrupt practices within the industry, more and more potential players will turn away not just from the baddies but from the legitimate arenas of internet gambling as well. The Os Man believes that every time an online slot player is turned off to a casino supported by Software X, that player is well more unlikely to try any other Software X-powered site. As a businessowner, you needn’t scam or be directly scam to become a victim.
Under my reign, we’d take care of our own. If the federal government of the United States, somehow paradoxically pooh-poohing on-line gambling while simultaneously leaving enforcement of national regs to private banks and state governments, doesn’t want to weed the criminal element out of gambling on the internet, well, the industry will. Monetary rewards will be given for any information leading to the closure of a proven-corrupt online casino.
Also key to reform: Transparency. Full transparency is needed in the industry, another assist for a bit of the cybersphere decidedly high-tech in look and feel, but way low-tech in corporate responsibility. In the Os Man’s online czardom, every casino and affiliate program will be required to employ an ombudsman, who will file a report between one and four times monthly, depending upon the size/income of the outlet. These ombudsmen’s reports will be standardized and made publicly available upon completion. All customer complaints received within the report’s time period will be noted and/or attached in some format.
If the Os Man were czar, size wouldn’t matter. Look, the truth is that you just want to play the games, right? Furthermore, reality says that some so-called “white label” casinos provide as much or more customer service and quality gameplay than some top-100 websites. So why should it matter to the search engines and various propaganda mills whether CasinoX.com is brand spankin’ new or has an iffy ten-year-history of questionable client relations? It shouldn’t, unless, of course, in favor of the quality white label.
Can we all just get along? The Os Man would sincerely like to educate the real-world casino owners a bit on casino-goers versus online players. To wit, two points: 1) These are utterly different spheres, as recent behavioural studies have shown and 2) There’s more than enough money to go around here.
Though the gap between brick-and-mortar casinos and online gambling casinos is shrinking, many old-school casinos distrust the cyberworld and, frankly, are simply seeking to fanatically protect their business interests. Thanks to the insistence of governments such as France’s, which allows only state-run gambling online, the online player is denied choice. Thanks to US federal law such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, rammed through Congress at the behest of more traditional gaming outlets, legally accepted websites for online poker, horse track wagering, and other skill games are now feeling the pinch of state agencies seeking to close them down despite the lack of “non-skill gaming” outlawed by the feds. Just ask the Poker Players Alliance if they think the laws protect the industry’s business interests right about now.
The Os Man believes some of what are known as “synergies” in the NGO world would come in right handy for the virtual gambling industries. Encouragement for tribal- and Vegas-based casinos to test the online world should be fostered, and joint ventures funded with a little cash influx (little for the Bellagioes of the gaming universe, that is; large for the mom-and-pop shop online casinos) would make for the best of both worlds: The small player gets a big brand name to draw players, the extant old-world casino gets hip and expands their reach online. And, lest we forget, brings in a few more dollars, too.
As for the software developers: No more boring games! No more ugly games! If the Os Man were czar, online slot and casino software manufacturers would be called upon to create scholarships and sponsor university programs or national contests to innovate existing software. Repetitive slot games and mostly inert blackjack displays don’t cut it anymore. The technology is there; surely the companies are just lacking a little fresh blood and that intangible creativity of the artistic outsider.
The artistic outsider: Now there’s a sort that can lead a young, no longer idealistic industry into greater respectability, deserved prominence in the online casino business sphere, and most importantly fun for all. The Os Man is that sort. The Os Man is your man.
Ah, if only the Os Man were czar...