GameMaster Rating: 82 points (of 100)

General Comments: This is a nice, small casino and it requires a download of software, but it's also small at 2.90 megs. for the entire package. The software is by Real Time Gaming and, at least in the 'play' mode, it's as smooth-operating as any I've seen. You need to know that I played here only for fun and did not bet real $$$, so things might be different in that mode. But, even during 'fun' play, you are connected to their server and the games play quickly. The casino's web site states that, "All of our games are independently tested for accuracy and fairness by SafeBet™, the only true regulator of online casinos." You can get more information on that at www.safebet.org. Other casinos using this software offer an 'audit trail' of all your play. but I saw no mention of it here. A toll-free phone number is available and payouts from players' accounts are made daily though only one payout per month is free; additional payouts cost $35.00!!

Recommendations: They really need to expand their Help section. There's no information on the number of decks in play at Blackjack; what's required to qualify for a sequential Royal bonus which is available on one of the Video Poker games (is it just one way or both?) and other little problems like that. And that $35.00 charge after the first payout in a month is crazy; are these guys a bank or a casino?

Games Analysis (All this information was correct on the date listed above)

Blackjack: The site doesn't specify the number of decks in play, but receiving duplicate cards in the same hand tells me it's multi-deck, so I'll use six decks for my calculations. The rules are: dealer hits A-6, double on any first two cards, double after split and unlike 10s may be split. Split up to 3 hands. Insurance is available, the dealer 'peeks' and split Aces receive only one card. The casino's edge is 0.67%, if this is a six-deck game. Limits are $5-$500 and only one hand at a time may be played.

Blackjack playing tips: I saw no indication of a shuffle, so I assume the decks are shuffled after every hand, thus counting cards isn't of any help in overcoming the casino's edge, an edge which is too big to consider playing against.

* The theoretical return is the long-term payback a player who is using the correct strategy may expect. The return is lower for 1-coin play because the Royal Flush pays less when fewer than 5 coins are played.

Video Poker Playing Tips: The Joker Poker game has a bonus of 50,000 coins for a sequential Royal Flush with max. coins played. They don't say, but I'm going to assume that it pays either way: 10, J, Q, K, A or A, K, Q, J, 10, but I want to stress that you should ask before you play. This adds about 0.3% to the very, very long term return of the game. Thus, the 'realistic' return is 99.97% with max. coins played. (They cut the payout on the 5K and Wild Royal, not the 4K.)

Slot Machines: Two are available in quarters and two in dollar format. One is called "Diamond Mine", but it's not the banking game.

Roulette: Both "American" and "French" versions are available. The American game has a 0 and a 00, but the French game is single-zero, so play that whether you're French or not. The American game has a casino edge of 5.26% and the French game has an edge of 2.70%.

Baccarat: They publish their rules for play in the help section and it appears to be a 'standard' game. The 'commission' on a winning Banker bet is 5%. Ties pay 9 to 1. The casino's edge is 1.06% on a Banker bet and 1.23% on a Player bet. The edge on a Tie bet is 4.5%. Limits are $5-$200.

Caribbean Poker: This is what's otherwise known as "Caribbean Stud Poker" and it has the usual pay schedule, but no dollar side bet for a progressive Royal. The house edge is about 2.60% if the player raises only with hands of A,K,J,8,3 or better. Limits are $5-$200.

Pai-Gow Poker: The casino is always the Banker in this game and the 'commission' on a winning bet is 5%, so when combined with the natural edge of the Banker, the net effect is a casino edge of about 3% against a skillful player. The casino seems to set the dealer's hand by a predetermined formula. Limits are $5-$200.

Casino War: Yep, this is the game you played as a kid. You get a card, the dealer gets a card and whoever has the highest card wins. If you tie, you may "go to war". In that case, you must put up a bet equal to your first bet and the casinos' edge comes in when you win the 'war' since you're only paid on the original bet, but lose both if the dealer wins. The house edge is 2.8% if you always go to war. (Which you should, to keep the edge as low as possible. Better yet, go to a different game.)

Summary and Rating of E-World Casino: Other than the Joker Poker game and maybe the Jacks or Better game, nothing here is much above average, although the software works very well, at least in the 'play' money mode. I'm knocking off a couple of points for the $35 fee charged for payouts though it must be stated that the first payout in a calendar month is free. E-World has earned a rating of 82 points.