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Enhance your Online Bingo Experience – No Spyware and pop-ups!

"Why do I keep getting pop-ups when I log in to your site at CyberBingo.com? How do I stop them?" This is a question that I hear from our members all too often. In today’s Online Bingo blog I am going to get everyone well rounded on the history of spyware, how to prevent and remove it from your computer.

Don’t be startled by the name ‘spyware’, it does not really mean that someone is spying on your every move you make while browsing on the internet. Spyware is an add-on program that is commonly used by internet advertising companies. The spyware tracks your searching habits on the net and prompts pop-up advertisements from competitors when you surf on content related websites. I.e. if you are playing CyberBingo you will receive pop-ups from our online bingo competitors only if you have spyware installed from which our competitors buy advertising from. Why are they targeting CyberBingo? Our bingo competitors know that CyberBingo has the greatest online bingo members in the industry as a result they will do anything to lure you to their sites. It is rare that you would receive a non-relative pop up when you are browsing on the net.

Meaning, if you are browsing on a bingo site you will more than likely receive bingo pop-ups rather than detergent pop-ups lol.

Below you will find the three ways which internet users download spyware on their computers:

Drive-by installs – this is the most common – a drive-by install typically begins downloading software through the browser upon a visit to a Web page. Depending on the browser, its patch level, and the user’s security settings, the user may be prompted with a “yes/no” dialogue box, or not. In some cases, even if the user clicks “no,” the install may continue.

Browser exploit – some spyware installs via a downloader Trojan, which takes advantage of vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer and acts as a sort of beachhead agent for spyware. This agent, once installed, can download multiple flavors of spyware.

Embedded install – often spyware will be packaged with “free” programs (e.g., Kazaa) and the user agrees to accept the spyware in payment for using the program for free.

So now I have a general background on Spyware.  What are some common sings showing I have pyware on my PC?

• you are subject to endless pop-up windows
• you are redirected to web sites other than the one you typed into your browser
• new, unexpected toolbars appear in your web browser
• new, unexpected icons appear in the task tray at the bottom of your screen
• your browser's home page suddenly changed the search engine your browser opens when you click "search" has been changed
• certain keys fail to work in your browser (e.g., the tab key doesn't work when you are moving to the next field within a form)
• Random Windows error messages begin to appear your computer suddenly seems very slow when opening programs or processing tasks (saving files, etc.)

Remember the good old days when playing online bingo or surfing the net was a pleasurable rather than a battle Vs pop-ups?  Those days can come around again by following these simple steps on how to remove and deter from downloading spyware.  These days having spyware removal software is almost as necessary as having an Antivirus:

The best way to fight spyware is in being cautious when downloading software from the net.  Saying yes, yes, yes to every program that you download almost guarantees you will have spyware installed on your computer sooner than later.

To fight against spyware we recommend you download free spyware removal programs such as ad-awareSE or spybot to name a few.  Launch these programs to scan your computer similar to how you scan your PC with an antivirus and quarantine all files which carry spyware.

These days having spyware removal software is almost as necessary as having an Antivirus.

Other type of pop-ups

At times you may receive pop-ups from the website you are on while browsing the site.  These are friendly pop-ups as they are simply advertising the current affairs, promotions of the site you are browsing.  Therefore, do not be alarmed if you are playing at CyberBingo and you receive a pop-up informing you of our $10,600.00 guaranteed game in 75 calls each Saturday.  It is simply a reminder to participate in our special events.

The bingo game room pop-up(winner’s circle)

This is the best type of pop-up you can get.  It means you hit BINGO!!! 

Do not be alarmed if you see your name in the winner’s box pop up, it simply means that you are a several dollars richer J   

Until next time…

A Big Victory for Online Bingo and Online Bingo Players

This past week, Online Bingo and gaming companies based out of Antigua (which includes your very own CyberBingo) won a David and Goliath battle against the US Justice Department following the WTO (World Trade Organization) Appellate body ruling on banning Internet gaming.

Brief History - Antigua setup one of the world’s first jurisdictions to license interactive gaming (includes, Online bingo, Casino Games and Sports betting) companies in 1994.

In 2003, Antigua filed a complaint with the WTO, that the US policy on Internet Gambling was depriving Antigua and Barbuda from a significant chunk of revenue and as a result were in violation to the free trade agreements. The US counteracted that online gambling was to be dismissed from a 1994 global agreement on free trade that helped set up the WTO. Then the US changed its argument towards moralistic grounds “to protect the US public morals and maintain public order”. Okay if online gaming is immoral how come the US Justice Department doesn’t crack down online porn? (That’s an entire different discussion, but I’m sure you see my point here).

Anyway, Antigua won an initial WTO decision against the US Justice Department in November of 2004, agreeing with Antigua’s argument that “US actions to criminalize Internet betting violates global laws”. The US Justice Department appealed that decision in March of 2005 which forces the US to allow gambling sites based out of Antigua to accept gaming transactions from U.S. gamblers.

How does this affect you? Okay, you may probably be wondering how this affects you and your joy of playing online bingo at CyberBingo. Unfortunately you may have been at the receiving end of the stick when your purchase is given the unfriendly ‘declined’ message when attempting to fund your bingo account. This was the result of threats of prosecution from the US Justice Department to US banks who processed transactions from Online gaming companies – the birth of the Gaming Code as we know it today – “7995 gaming code”.

In addition to the Gaming Code, Online Bingo Sites, as well as other Online gaming sites have had their main channels of advertising cut off; such as media channels like Google Ad words and the Yahoo! Overture Pay-per-click. As a result, majority of online bingo companies have turned to other means of advertising – Contextual and behavioral advertising, AKA Pop-ups!!! (We will talk about pop-ups on an upcoming post)

With the final WTO ruling, it’s expected that bingo players that play at an Antiguan Offshore gaming site will see the friendly “Approved” message when attempting to fund via their MasterCard or Visa card. Once and for all this will end threats of prosecution from the US Justice Department to US companies who choose to do business with Antigua offshore gaming companies. Credit card companies will be allowed to conduct business with Antiguan based companies which will allow you to fund your bingo account freely without worrying about the gaming code.

Conclusion. Here is the big BUT. Only if the ruling of the WTO is obeyed will that make your gaming experience more pleasant. Which will mean less intrusive pop ups, no more 7995 gaming code on your Visa and MasterCard transaction.

On the other hand, if the WTO ruling is ignored, we at CyberBingo will continue providing alternate easy-to-use funding methods. So for now, we can only wait and see how things unfold in the next couple of weeks.

After all, we’re just providing an entertainment value to discerning bingo players! Maybe the next step would be to close the doors to all land based bingo halls in your community.

Until next time.

You can download the findings and conclusion of the WTO here - pdf format (5 pages; 17KB)

House Players

‘House’ players

In today’s blog session we are going to talk about a commonly used term; ‘House’ players. 

A ‘House’ player is used in reference by many online bingo players as a person who works for the website or a pre-programmed robot whom’ participate in common bingo games in hopes of taking bingo wins away from the loyal members.  The robot or person therefore would increase the odds for the house (the bingo hall or casino) in an unfair manner.  Is it a Myth or is there truth behind this?

The Beginnings of a ‘house’ player

Why would such a term be created and used in online bingo?

The main reason that the term ‘house’ player has come about is because being behind the computer screen automatically creates a barrier between the player and the site.  This is something a player would never experience playing in a land based bingo hall as they are able to physically see the runners, callers and other players they are competing against.

For an online bingo site to achieve the same level of trust players must continue playing and having a good experience before they can fully trust the bingo site.  Trust is measured at CyberBingo by having a secure funding page, securing private player information, offering a 24 hr live person service, interacting with our members on a daily basis, and paying out all winnings religiously.

We also believe that players may have experienced a longer than usual losing streak while they see other players winning (sometimes quite often).  In a quick judgment one may say ‘there is no way someone can be that lucky, it must be a ‘house’ player’.  The truth however shows differently.  Each member at CyberBingo is a ‘real’ person, with a real personality that enjoys playing ‘real’ online bingo in ‘real’ life, as any other pay member at CyberBingo.  Sure, after many years of playing online bingo one may realize that there is a better chance of winning by buying more cards, carefully choose which rooms and times to play where there is less competition, and actively participate in chat games to earn extra bonus bucks to increase their playing time.  However, that just makes them a savvy bingo player, not a ‘house’ player.

Proving there are no ‘house’ players

Firstly, at CyberBingo.com you are able to see the player count and prize increment game to game.  As a consumer, you should question websites that do not show you how many players are participating in a game.  It is only fair to know your odds of winning a game based on the players playing within the given bingo room. 

We showcase our big winner’s pictures and quotes on our mailers and Grandastic page. These are all ‘real’ bingo players who have won cash jackpots and can be commonly found participating in our chat room events.

We have and will continue to pay all of our winners in a timely manner no matter of the jackpot win.  Whether you win $100 or our Saturday Must play $10,000 guaranteed game you can be assured that you will be paid out within a few days.  You win it and we pay it, as simple as apple pie!

When we built the CyberBingo game we developed features that would be beneficial for our players and the website.  We are a customer satisfaction driven site and ripping people off does not contribute to the business model we follow.  Our System is simply not built with a ‘house’ player feature.  We have and will continue to invest our time on other features such as new games, new programs and new promotions that will help us grow our website further; thus giving you, the member, the best online bingo experience on the net! 

CyberBingo since 1996 – Bingo at its best!

We have always been driven by giving our members an exhilarating bingo experience, the opportunity to win HUGE bingo jackpots, meet and interact with fellow members in our friendly chat rooms, benefit from our loyalty program, earn bingo game points, participate in free daily cash draws…etc.  ‘House’ players simply do not belong in this formula lol.  We benefit from being referred to our member’s friends and family based on their good experience on our site.  This is a long term belief that we have been applying since 1996. 

Less established bingo sites may have a different approach to creating an online bingo community.  We will not, and need not follow their business model.  Having malicious and unfair intentions with the product you offer is not the way to grow a bingo site.  It eventually catches up with the site’s reputation and it simply does not work!  We’ve been here since 1996, so obviously we’re doing some things right J

The only ‘house’ players you will find at CyberBingo are all our players who play from their homes lol.  Get it? ‘House’ player… playing in their house J