Types of Poker Explained

May 14th, 2011 | Casino Hints and Tips, Online Poker, Poker

The recent rise in the popularity of poker has been widely credited to the emergence of online poker sites and televised poker tournaments with huge cash prizes.  There can be no denying that playing poker has become a more mainstream activity than ever before, as it is now attracting players from all over the world and from all walks of life.

There are many online tutorials and guides now readily available to teach the rules of game-play and for many, learning the basic rules is sufficient.

For new players, the many variations of poker can be daunting, but the principles of the game remain consistent for the most part.  Players should be able to recognise the main game categories: Draw Poker, Stud Poker, Community Card Poker and Wild Card Poker. 

Draw Poker requires each player to be dealt a hand of cards, discard cards and draw a like number of new cards from the deck in order to achieve the highest ranking hand possible.  Stud Poker games involve players betting on their poker hand before they are dealt all of their cards, on a card-by-card basis; the best hand wins.  Community Card Poker games are regarded as the most popular and the fast-pace is often a factor in the excitement.  Texas Hold’em is a hugely popular version of a Community Card Poker game.  Wild Card Poker games use traditional game-play rules with the added bonus of ‘wild cards’ which can be matched to any other cards in a player’s hand.  Wild Card Poker games are not widely found on online poker sites.

Add a Comment

Baccarat Odds

May 11th, 2011 | Casino Hints and Tips, Gambling

One of the keys to being able to win while playing Baccarat is knowing the odds at the table.  Each player will have the option of betting on one of two offered hands: the banker and the player.  The player can also bet on a tie.  Knowing the odds of these bets will help players manage their bankroll efficiently and increase the amount they will win at the table.  The banker and player bet will each pay even money; a tie bet can pay between 7:1 and 9:1, depending on the casino.

It is very important to understand the odds surrounding the tie bet.  8:1 sounds very tempting and is why many players will immediately make this bet.  However, the odds of a tie are long.  This bet actually has a house edge of more than 14%.  In regards to the player and banker bets, the banker bet has better odds of winning.  In addition, when the player bet wins, a commission will have to be paid to the house.  This is done to even out the odds.

Even though there is a commission on player bet wins, the edge on the banker bets is a little over 1% and the player bets are 1.25%.  After examining the odds, players should realize that player bets are usually not worth it.  Some players will try to track trends at the table.  While this may be fascinating information to analyse, it will not help to develop any type of betting strategy.

Add a Comment

State Run Gambling

May 10th, 2011 | Gambling

Not all aspects of gambling are negative; it is actually one of the oldest and most participated in forms of entertainment.  Over the decades, even centuries, it has undergone some major changes, especially during the last 20 years.  In many ways, gambling has become a positive way to do business, raise money and even help to run countries.

It has only been during the last 25 years that the industry has been properly regulated.  There was a time, not too long ago, in the USA, in which gambling was legal in only three states.  That, of course, has changed.  With the implementation of new rules, regulations and governing bodies, almost every country in the world offers some form of state run gambling.

When it is viewed as a form of entertainment, gambling can be a lot of fun.  State run lotteries are an effective way for countries to cash in on their population’s love of gambling.  The money generated is used to help build much-needed infrastructure, such as roads and buildings, supplement organisations and charities and other small groups that may not otherwise receive state funds.

For this reason, gambling has become one of the most efficient methods of raising money in a large number of countries.  However, many people still see it as a form of voluntary taxation.  On average, gambling generates more than $54 billion each year in the United States.  It also creates more than 350,000 jobs and is a key sector of the national economy.

Add a Comment

Rules Of Baccarat

May 7th, 2011 | Casino Hints and Tips, Online Casino, Online Gambling

There are three versions of Baccarat: Baccarat Chemin de Fer, Baccarat Banque and Punto Banco.  The latter of these is most commonly played in online casinos.  Punto Banco is purely a game of chance, with every players move dictated by the cards they are dealt.  The game is similar to Blackjack but scored differently.  The game sees the player and the banker face off against each other.  Two cards are dealt to each player, with the aim being to hit the high score of nine.  Cards are worth their face value from ace to nine, with ace being low, while face cards are not worth anything.  The cards are totalled up, and the last digit used, for example, a hand of seven and eight is 15, which would score five.

An online casino will usually run typical Punto Banco rules for example, where the player has between zero and five, they will draw a third card.  Between six and seven, the player must hold.  The banker follows a slightly more complicated set of rules.  If the player draws a third card and they draw a picture card, an ace, a nine or a ten, then the banker must stand between four and seven and draw between zero and three.  If the player draws a two or three, the banker must stick between five and seven and draw if less.  If a player draws a four or five, the banker sticks at six to seven, drawing otherwise.  If the player draws a six or seven, the banker sticks at seven and draws otherwise.  The simple rules produce a low house advantage, resulting in large bets.

Add a Comment

Bingo Superstitions

May 4th, 2011 | Bingo Hints and Tips, Online Bingo

Many people who play bingo on a regular basis have developed their own superstitions about how to win the game that may appear to have little relation to the casino game itself.  Indeed, some of these superstitions can appear very strange to outsiders, although if these newcomers were to become regular players themselves they would probably find they develop a few superstitions of their own.  Below are some of our favourite bingo superstitions.

It is considered to be very bad luck for a player to open their umbrella once inside the bingo hall. 
Black cats are a superstitious oddity.  In some countries they are considered to be very unlucky.  In the United States, however, they are actually considered to be an omen of good fortune. 

Bingo clothes superstitions revolve around players always wearing the same clothes to a game, including t-shirts, shoes, pyjamas and sometimes, even underpants.  The bingo day superstition has some players believing they will only have good luck if they play bingo on a certain day of the week, but not on others.

Even online bingo players are not immune to superstitions.  One such example unique to online bingo is the player name they use on bingo sites.  Many believe that one particular username or nickname will bring them luck, while another definitely will not. 

Perhaps the best bingo superstition of them all, however, is this one:  It’s bad luck to be superstitious about bingo.

Add a Comment

Trivia Facts on Gambling

May 3rd, 2011 | Casino Hints and Tips, Gambling, Online Casino, Online Gambling

People have been gambling for thousands of years and it has been said that gambling may even predate any documented history of which we are aware.  Historians believe that examples of gambling have appeared in many different civilizations.  For as long as people have existed and had the ability to write and record things on a rock, clay tablets or the earliest forms of paper, they have been placing bets.

With any form of gaming there has always been a hint of trivia involved and none more so than with a deck of cards.  The deck of cards was created in France in the 15th century, but did you know that the designer actually used historical figures to represent the Kings?  It is said that the King of Clubs represents Alexander the Great, the King of Diamonds Julius Caesar, the King of Hearts Charlemagne, while the King of Spades is King David from the bible.

Slot machines were invented in America, but strangely enough, in some states it is still illegal to play or use a slot machine.  Some of the states still have not legalised gambling and will fine and confiscate the machines if a person is caught.  You can own a slot machine as long as it is considered an antique and is only used for display purposes.  To beat gambling laws early machines dispensed chewing gum to the winners and the pictures on the reels indicated what flavour you had won.  That is why you find different fruits on slot machines.

Add a Comment

Casinos – A Brief History

May 1st, 2011 | Casino Hints and Tips, Gambling

History shows that although people have been betting on the outcome of events for hundreds of years, it is only in the last hundred years or so that casino gambling has become popular.  Casinos first started out as entertainment halls for dancing and music, with some form of gambling carried out in one of the back rooms.  Now it has completely changed with the dancing being the sideshow event.

Historians believe that the interest in casinos arose at different times throughout the world, which is why there is such a variety in the many different gambling games favoured by people in various countries.

The history of gambling in the United States dates back to the 1940’s when Benny Binion, the Binion Horseshoe’s original owner, made Las Vegas what it is today.  In later years Ted and Jack Binion, Bob Stupak, Steve Wynn and many more became big players in the gambling world of Las Vegas.

It seems that it took the UK a little longer to get the gambling bug, as it is only since 1960 that gaming clubs have existed in London.  In order to gain entry into most of the clubs at that time you had to be a paid up member.  In other parts of Europe, notably Monaco, gambling in casinos has been around since 1861.  So, is it any wonder that when you think of gambling you think of the splendour of the casinos in this wonderful part of the world?

Add a Comment

Horse Racing takes the Hump in Face of Rivals

April 29th, 2011 | Betting, Gambling, Sports Betting

Forget the Melbourne Cup, the Grand National or the Kentucky Derby, there is only one type of racing that punters go mad for in the Middle East and it doesn’t even involve horses.

Camel racing is far more suited to the dry and arid climates and is the sport of kings in India; Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Mongolia and even Australia.

These professional races attract crowds of thousands and see millions of dollars changing hands in bets. One of the biggest races is the Camel Cup held right in the heart of Australia at Alice Springs.  An annual event, it attracts the best camels and jockeys from across Asia and Australia.  But the biggest cash prize Australian camel race is the Sheikh Zayed International Endurance.  It is held in Queensland and has a first prize of $50,000 (AUS).  The Boulia Sands with a prize pot of $25,000 (AUS) is another major event on the camel racing calendar.

Although it is still very much secondary to horse racing as a betting sport, most of the camels bred for racing come from Australia.  The Middle East stables pay vast sums for the very best Australian camels to be imported for both racing and for stud.

Still very much a novelty in the UK, it is growing in popularity since the first race was run back in 2000 with venues including the famous Cheltenham Park racecourse.

Add a Comment

The Advantages of Online Bingo

April 26th, 2011 | Bingo Hints and Tips, Gambling, Online Bingo, Online Gambling

Bingo is a very popular game that can be enjoyed by all types of players.  Whether you are experienced or a beginner, online bingo games give you the freedom to play from home.  Many websites offer online bingo games that are available all day, every day, allowing you to dip into your favourite game whenever you wish.

Online bingo games offer great cash prizes, and because so many sites are available, you can easily find games that suit your skill level.  There is a wide variety of websites that offer information on top-rated bingo websites.  You can read reviews and ratings to see which bingo sites would be best for you.

Along with slot machines, bingo is one of the easiest games available.  If you are a newcomer, you can easily find an online casino that offers free bingo games.  You can practise your skills and even learn tips from more experienced players.  Not only is online bingo a fun and ideal game for newcomers, it also gives you the chance to play in an atmosphere that is just right for you.  Playing from home means you can easily play bingo whenever you wish, and you can play in a quieter environment, making it easier to concentrate during a game.

Many reputable bingo sites require membership to play.  Joining is simple and once you have done so, you can access a variety of bingo games.  Becoming a member will also enable you to receive a sign-up bonus, although the offer will depend on which bingo site you choose.

Add a Comment

Betting on a White Christmas

April 25th, 2011 | Betting

With Bing Crosby crooning about a white Christmas across the airwaves, it’s no wonder that come December many punters start dreaming of wrestling a seasonal gift from their local bookmaker by way of correctly forecasting a snowfall on Christmas Day.

It was the Irving Berlin song sung by Crosby in the 1942 classic Holiday Inn that created the fixation with snow falling on Christmas Day.  A fixation soon exploited to the full by the bookies across the globe.  In the UK last year a cold snap throughout December encouraged more people than ever before to take a punt on a White Christmas.

According to the Guardian newspaper one well known national bookmaker alone took over 10,000 white Christmas bets.  However, the whole arena of betting on some snow cover on Christmas Day is fraught with legal pitfalls, and as usual the odds are stacked against the punter.

The definition normally used by bookmakers is that a single snowflake has to fall in a certain location, usually central London.  Using that definition, there have been only seven white Christmases in the whole of the 20th Century.

If the definition gets even more specific the odds get even longer.  For snow to fall and actually cover the ground in Central London has only happened twice, in 1938 and 1970.

But snow on Christmas Day is not the only winter wager to be laid.  There’s a full range of weird and whacky winter bets to be had.  How about Big Ben failing to chime due to being frozen: 100/1 perhaps?

Add a Comment

« Previous Entries   Next Entries »