How to Play American Bingo

October 22nd, 2011 | Bingo Hints and Tips

American bingo is a variation on the game that is so popular in the United Kingdom, where players mark off numbers on per-determined matrices to win a jackpot.

While UK cards are made up of nine columns and three rows, U.S cards contain 25 squares set across five horizontal rows and five vertical columns. Bingo games often make use of the numbers between one and seventy-five. Each of the columns on the card are headed with a letter that makes up the word ‘BINGO.’ Column ‘B’ for example, will contain numbers from 1-15 while ‘O’ will contain numbers from 60-75. Each piece of paper or card will usually have three separate matrices.

In a standard game of bingo, players are required to match the numbers produced by an electronic random number generator to those on their cards. The first player to complete a straight line of numbers wins and often has to shout out ‘Bingo’ when successful. The card is then checked for accuracy and the win confirmed before play continues until an entire card is called. The game then begins again.

There are several variations on the traditional format. ‘U-Pick’Em’ bingo is similar to the popular game Keno, which was invented in China. It allows participants to decide on the specific numbers required for a win. Pre-drawn numbers and sealed bingo cards underpin the ‘Quick Shot’ variant. Players participating in this game must complete a specified pattern with the numbers in order to win a prize. ‘Horse Racing’ bingo is a short format favoured by those who prefer a fast paced game. Players are issued randomly with a column of numbers between 1-15 and the first player to complete a column wins. ‘Bonanza’ bingo requires players to purchase sealed cards. 43 pre-drawn numbers are then matched against these cards.

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Playing Poker – a beginners guide

October 20th, 2011 | Gambling, Poker

Poker is an historic card game whose popularity has increased dramatically in recent years. The premise is simple, but the varieties are numerous. Poker can be played in casinos, tournaments, online or at home with friends.

History

The origins of poker are disputed. Some scholars believe it derives from the Persian game As Nas, while others believe it came from the German card game, Pochen. What is certain is that today’s style of poker was played in New Orleans in the mid 1800s.

The Game

Although there are many varieties, the basic rules of the game are simple. Each player takes turns dealing five cards to everyone else at the table. Players make bets based on the supposition that their hand will rank higher than the others. Ranking depends on the probability of certain hands, with the highest-ranked hand winning the pot.

Hands

The highest ranked hand in poker is the royal flush, which is an ace, king, queen, jack and ten all of one suit. A straight flush, the next highest hand, is any five cards in sequence and in the same suit. Next is four of a kind, followed by a full house, which consists of a pair and three of a kind. Whereas a flush is any five cards belonging to the same suit, a straight is any five cards in sequence, but made up of various suits. Rounding out the bottom-ranking hands there are three of a kind, two pairs and one pair. 

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Casino Tips – Playing Roulette

October 17th, 2011 | Casino Hints and Tips, Roulette

The aim of the game of roulette is to choose the winning number. Players can also bet on a combination of possible numbers. While the house has a significant edge, the game remains very popular among gamblers.

There are two different styles of wheels for roulette. The European wheel features 37 slots that are numbered 0-36.  This wheel provides a house edge of 2.36 percent.

The American wheel has a total of 38 numbers due to an added double zero (00). This extra number almost doubles the house edge, raising it to 5.26 percent.

The layout of roulette played today is the same as the game played in France in 1842. The game is composed of two betting areas. The inside betting area is where the individual numbers are located, while the outside betting area is where boxes for the columns such as odd/even, black/red and the different groups of numbers are located.

Players must purchase special roulette chips to play, which are of a different colour for each gambler. Dealers are required to keep the wheel moving at all times.

Each table has a minimum and maximum bid. Bids cannot be divided into inside and outside bets. There are several types of bets that can be made; inside bets, straight up, split bets, street or line bets, corner or quad bets and basket bets. There are also outside bets that consist of odd or even, red or black, dozens bets and column bets.

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Three Card Poker Explained

October 15th, 2011 | Casino Hints and Tips, Poker

Besides being a fun game that many different types of people can play, three card poker is also easy to learn. Three card poker is played against the house.

There are essentially two games in three card poker. The first is Ante and Play, which is considered by most to be the main game in three card poker. In Ante and Play, the dealer and each player are dealt three cards after anteing. The goal in this hand is to have a stronger hand that the dealer. After each player looks at their hand, they decided whether or not to carry on. As with any poker, folding at this point means that they player forfeits their ante. If the player decides to carry on, his bet must be equal to the ante.

This is the point at which the dealer reveals his cards. This hand must contain at least a queen in it, or else it does not qualify. If the dealer’s hand does not qualify, antes and bets are returned in full. If the dealer’s hand does qualify, it is compared to the hand of each player to see who will be paid out, and how much they will be paid out.

The second game in three card poker is Pair Plus. This aspect is sometimes optional and sometimes mandatory. Pair Plus is little more than placing a side bet on the strength of your hand. If your hand ends up being at least a flush, you win money back. A pair means that you don’t gain or lose anything on the bet.

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Betting on the Greens

October 14th, 2011 | Betting, Sports Betting

Played by millions of people throughout the world, golf is a hugely popular sport.  Professional golf, with its various tours played all over the globe, allows people with an interest in the game to get involved in betting.  Those who do not know much about golf can still get involved in betting on it, although some research into the top players would be a sensible way to increase the chances of winning.  Golf is a very individual game, with very few team events played each year.  The best known is the Ryder Cup, played between the United States of America and Europe, which gains worldwide attention and therefore a lively betting market.

Anyone who is considering betting on the outcome of a golf tournament would do well to study each player’s form carefully.  However, although form is the marker for betting companies to set the odds for winning, it is an idiosyncratic enough game for the form book to be torn up from time to time.  The weather, and resultant conditions on the golf course, is one of the factors that can make a difference.  If the weather starts fine but deteriorates during the day, players starting in the morning will have a significant advantage over those playing in the afternoon, which can affect scores significantly.  Bettors should therefore consider checking the weather forecast as well as players’ statistics.

Free bets are a good way of getting to know the golfing scene.  These are often offered by  betting companies to new customers when opening an account.  The value of the free bet will depend on the amount of the deposit used to open the account.

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Baccarat Tips and Advice

October 12th, 2011 | Casino Hints and Tips

Baccarat is a classic high roller game. With one of the smallest house advantages of any casino game, it is no wonder that Baccarat draws in big spenders who like to win. Almost purely a game of chance, baccarat is a simple game with just a few strategies that you can employ to make the most of it.

Types of Bets

Players can place just three different kinds of bets in baccarat: the player, the banker or tie. When played with an eight-deck shoe, betting on the banker gives the house a measly one per cent advantage. A bet on the player is just over a one per cent advantage, while the tie gives the house a six per cent advantage. Betting on a tie is the riskiest of the three, but also has the highest pay out.

Avant Dernier

Translated from French, ‘avant dernier’ means before last. With this strategy, the gambler bets on the winner of the hand before last. For example, if the last three winners were banker, player, banker, for the next hand, the bettor would place money on the player.

Progressive

A progressive strategy is really a way of managing money rather than a betting technique. Players with a progressive style of betting increase their bets by 50% each time they win. After a loss, the bet goes back to the original amount.

Whatever the strategy, baccarat can be a fun game with potential for plenty of winnings.

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Keno – a traditional casino game

October 10th, 2011 | Casino Hints and Tips, Gambling

Keno is a traditional casino game that is also sometimes played as a lottery and in pubs. It is a popular game on which to gamble as it is very easy to play.

History of the Game

While the word keno comes from the Latin word for five, the origins of this game are more ancient than Rome. Although its exact origin is uncertain, scholars believe keno was first played over two thousand years ago in China. Chinese immigrants to the United States brought the game to the West, where it quickly became popular.

How to Play

Whether played in a casino, pub or with a lottery ticket, the game of keno begins when players choose a set of numbers, typically between one and 80. Participants can select anywhere between one and 20 numbers, also known as spots, which are marked on a keno ticket. A machine or computer picks out 20 numbers per game. Winning tickets must be handed in by a certain time to be valid for a game.

Payouts

Payout for keno winners depends on the casino and the number of spots chosen and picked by the machine. Generally, the more spots chosen and the more spots won, the bigger the payout. The probability of hitting all 20 spots is essentially zero.

Keno is a fun and easy game to play, making it popular both at casinos, lotteries and with casual pub gamblers.

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An Introduction to Bluffing in Poker

October 7th, 2011 | Gambling, Poker

Being able to bluff effectively can be a very useful skill when playing poker, so it is well worth learning how and when to do this in order to get the best results.  The key to successful bluffing is to be unpredictable, so follow these tips to improve your game and step up the excitement of a hand. 

Make sure that you know when the best time to use this technique is, and be careful not to overuse it.  You should aim to keep people guessing as to what you actually have in your hand, and bluffing on every hand can often turn out to be just as predictable as never doing so. 

One ideal time to bluff is if a good hand is suggested by the cards already on the table.  If, for example, three cards of the same suit have been turned up, then by betting high you may be able to trick people into thinking that you hold a flush, even if your actual hand scores are much lower than this.  This bluff may convince other players to fold their cards, leaving the pot for you to claim. 

It is always advisable to acquaint yourself with how the other participants bet in a poker game.  If someone tends to call a bet often, for example, it may not be a good idea to bluff them.  It can also be a mistake to bluff an inexperienced player before they settle into their game, as it is possible that they will call you just so that they can see what cards you have. 

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Online Video Poker

October 6th, 2011 | Casino Hints and Tips, Gambling, Poker

For many playing in normal online poker games can seem unfair.  Video poker provides an alternative way of playing this popular game.  Video poker is available at websites such as 888Games.com. 

Online video poker has increased in popularity with poker players due to its simplicity.  The mechanics are similar to a slot machine but playing cards are displayed.  The chance of winning is comparatively high compared to other casino games.  You play on your own and therefore your own decision-making will result in a win or a loss. 

Enthusiastic poker players regard video poker as a good alternative to the real game.  The basic rules of the game are similar to poker but there are unique aspects that you need to be aware of.  You are dealt cards by the computer and are faced with the decision to keep them all or discard certain ones.  Your are then dealt new cards if you want them.  There is no prospect of bluffing the computer and the option to raise or call does not exist.

If you obtain a good hand while playing video poker game then you will not lose, unlike in a normal poker game.  If your hand is of a good standard, then you will receive some money.  The risk of being beaten by an opponent with an even better hand is absent.

The tension and pressure of playing in a live game, that some people dislike, is also removed.  You do not have to rush your decision-making.  You can then make informed decisions that help improve your odds of winning.

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Online Bingo is growing in popularity every day

October 4th, 2011 | Bingo Hints and Tips, Online Bingo, Online Gambling

Online bingo is growing enormously in popularity in the UK.  Advertised on television, the game appears to be targeted at a younger female audience than its traditional bingo hall version.

To join an online game, players must register on a site and fund an account, although most sites will offer free “sand box” games with no fee and no monetary wins.

The aim of the game is the same as normal bingo; tick off the “called” numbers until you have a full line, two lines or full house on a card with twenty-seven spaces in three rows, fifteen of which are numbered from a standard grid: five numbers per row; one or two, and rarely three numbers per column.  Each column is allocated a set of ten numbers, with 1 through 9 in the first left running in order to 81 through 90 on the far right.

Online games like those offered by Gala Bingo and Golden Bingo are provided with optional features, such as auto-daub and “best card sorting”, to speed up the game and give the player the chance to make use of the chat facilities designed to create a convivial atmosphere like that found in a bingo hall.  Curiously, chatting during a game is absolutely forbidden in the real world but encouraged in the virtual, where it is seen as a way to retain player interest.

A wide variety of games is offered online, suiting everyone from low rollers – who can play for as little as ten pence – to high rollers purchasing large numbers of cards for higher stakes games.

However the games and sites are presented, they are proving very successful, and a huge audience is enjoying this online gambling experience.

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