Past Problems
In the beginning, Rival Powered was highly focused on the US market. Shortly after its founding, the United States passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). This made it illegal for online casinos to accept deposits from US banking institutions. As a result, many gaming sites pulled out of the American market altogether. This was a heavy blow to Rival, who had not yet established itself in other areas of the world.
To counteract its loss, the company began partnering with existing operators to make their software available to more casinos. They also loosened some of their restrictions, which resulted in them partnering with many rogue casinos. In particular, gamblers at these rogue casinos complained about not being paid their winnings. To salvage their reputation, Rival severed ties with unscrupulous operators and began implementing better vetting procedures for future partnerships.
Rival may have made some poor decisions during its earlier years, but they have gone out of their way to make up for it by providing an exceptional product and reliable customer support. These days, their software receives rave reviews from backend operators and gambling aficionados alike.
Games
Unlike many of its competitors, the company develops only downloadable versions of all their casino games. While some may find this inconvenient, players who do use their software often claim that Rival’s graphics far surpass those of many instant play games. For the most part, their games do download very quickly, so the extra time that’s required could be worth it in terms of quality.
Interactive Slots
Rival is best known for their interactive or “islots”, which allow players to actually become characters in the game itself. As they progress through the game, the storyline changes. The story also varies each time someone plays the game, making it wildly unpredictable. To make them even more challenging, a certain level of skill is also required in order to progress.
There are currently more than 25 different islot casino games, with more in the works. A few of their interactive slot titles include:
- As the Reels Turn
- Hole in Won The Back Nine
- Bowled Over
- Spy Game
- Wild Safari
- Big Cash Win
- Surf Paradise
Traditional Slots
When it comes to regular slots, three different options are available at online casinos: three-reel, five-reel, and progressive. Among the 3-line slots that gamblers find most attractive are:
- Almighty Dollar
- Diamond Cherries
- Diamond Dazzle
- Loco 7s
Five-reel options include:
- Windy Farm
- Thunderbird
- Catsino
- Frogged
- Best Luck
Progressive slots are a relatively newer category that is available in many of the online casinos powered by Rival software. These have the potential for very large payouts, and include:
- Major Moolah
- Money Magic
- Strike Gold
- Dog Pound
- Atomic Age
- Cleopatra’s Coins
Other Games
Table games are a mainstay of any online casino, and Rival offers a wide variety of titles such as:
Video Poker
- Aces & Faces
- Deuces & Joker
- Deuces Wild
- Double Joker
Rival has even developed a few specialty or lesser-known gambling options to ensure players have a wide variety to choose from. A few of their unique or specialty games include:
- Keno
- Bingo
- Sudoku
- Gunslinger Gold
- Beach Bums
- Red Dog
- Casino War
- Let it Ride
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Many of their islot games are available for free.
- The company has implemented some of the best security features in the industry, ensuring it is very safe to use their software when gambling online.
- Games download quickly, and are compatible for both Windows and Mac users.
- Online casinos can carry a wide range of slot and table games.
Cons
- No instant play games available. All are download only.
- Only two blackjack choices.
Conclusion
Rival Powered may have had a rocky start, but they have nonetheless become trailblazers in the industry. They have proven this through their state-of-the-art islot games and cutting-edge graphics. Rival’s developers are not afraid to do things a little differently to come up with games that stand out above the rest, and it shows in their finished product. At the same time, they do not sacrifice security or fairness in any of their games. If you are looking for a great gambling experience and good variety in your gaming choices, you will want to check out the selection offered by Rival Gaming.
