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After watching the Fulham vs Tottenham game last night we headed to a casino for the first time in ages. In fact regular readers of the blog since it started will have read some of my earlier posts regarding these trips. The journey took about an hour so we arrived at about 9pm.

Casinos tend to be quiet at around this time so it is a good time to go. You don’t have to wait at the bar or wait for coffee for ages either. As usual we took a friend for my partner as I hate playing and leaving her. She merely likes to watch and has no interest in gaming.

The blackjack game was a six deck shoe game (not my favourite) but I decided to play anyway. Sometimes when you manage to get an inexperienced dealer then they can often make mistakes. Although in England the mistakes are often picked up by the Inspector anyway.

However I don’t have any good news to report as every dealer that I encountered seemed competent to me. I merely played table minimums for about an hour and then became bored after losing about £10.

I hate the new electronic games inside casinos these days as they leave no room for creativity with regards to gaining an edge….at least not for people like me anyway who is old school. It felt good to be back inside a casino again, maybe I just need to find some now that have decent blackjack action.

Why not come and bet in the bwin casino with some great casino?

With online gambling growing every year more and more casinos are opening up to cater to the growing masses interested in partaking in the online games. As these casinos open it becomes easier and easier for many people to get involved in online games, and if they’re not careful it can also mean many people losing track of their funds and getting themselves into trouble they would much rather otherwise avoid. In order to counter this, maintaining strict gambling limits on your own activities becomes imperative when looking at playing at a single casino or multiple casinos simultaneously.

When Playing at a Single Casino

Perhaps the easiest way to track your online spending and earnings, playing at one and only one online casino is the best way in most cases to ensure that you are keeping proper track of your funds and not losing them through needless wagers. In order to put a cap on your wagering habits decide before depositing your money how much you have available to you and are able to spend on gambling throughout a given week or month. Then, taking only a fraction of that money, deposit that and that alone in an online casino account for use. When that money is done do NOT, under any circumstances, add more until a the next period comes when you feel it would be appropriate to gamble – for example, if you deposit 10% of your funds for a two week period on Monday do not add any more money until Tuesday. This simple tip can help keep your money in check and prevent you from depositing more than you can comfortably afford to lose by limiting the total amount available to you to gamble online with. If you are successful in your wagers, it is also an excellent way to track your earnings for a period and withdraw a set amount back to your bank account for later use, helping keep your money under control.

When Playing at Multiple Casinos

A popular way to gamble in today’s online casino environment, playing at multiple casinos can be a tricky prospect as it involves carefully managing your funds across a number of different gambling establishments. In order to better protect yourself try implementing the same monetary limiting practice you would do at a single casino as described above, only further divide the total available funds by the number of casinos you intend to play at. Then, if at any point your funds at one casino run out but you still have money in another one, do NOT add additional funds to the empty account – even if the one that has money has more than enough to cover it. The chances of you soon losing that money are quite high, and any breaking of your money handling policy to go against your set gambling limits will only serve to weaken your position overall and put you on a path to a downward spiral that will most likely simply leave you in deeper and deeper debt rather than see any realizable return on any wagers.

Slot machines are notorious for having pre-determined payout levels for all customers at a casino, and learning how to leverage these to your advantage whenever possible can be the key to long-term gambling success at these machines. When looking at how to utilize the odds of slot machines for yourself there are three key concepts to bear in mind at all times moderation, discipline and bankroll management.

Moderation

When looking at most slot machines that have substantial payouts remember that the actual likelihood of you actually hitting that major payout is less than the probability of you actually winning the lottery. Still, unlike the lottery, slot machines can have a much better return on investment and can in some cases give you up to 97% returns on your money over a long period of time (though only at select machines in some casinos as this is far from the norm). Knowing this in order to better increase your odds at winning big at a machine and keep yourself playing regularly go for moderation and progressive winnings rather than wagering everything you have on one spin. While slots with smaller denominations may seem less interesting due to the fact that payouts may be slightly lower they can also help you stay in a game longer and thus make it much more likely you’ll see any money coming back to you at all in the near future rather than simply run your bankroll dry.

Discipline

Once you win even a small jackpot be sure to withdraw the money immediately from the machine. Slot machines count on people feeling “lucky” and wanting to keep going at the game in order to make themselves more money off of some small earnings in order to give the casino a better chance at getting money that is paid out back into their own pockets. Proper discipline of a player in order to know when to call it quits after a win is the difference most of the time between actually seeing some sort of return to your own coffers rather than simply dishing out money day after day. If it helps take frequent breaks as necessary in order to cool your mind and, of course, don’t get carried away in the rush if you do ever happen to hit it big, as you’re more likely to simply lose everything instead.

Bankroll Management

With the two other concepts in mind always remember that more is better when it comes to your bankroll. That means more lines and bigger wagers on a slot machine for the same money you would spend for less lines or less wagering power at another. Five lines at a nickel slot would be worth more than one line at a quarter slots, while a max bet of 25 coins at a penny slot should be viewed in the same way. Look for the machines that offer you the most “bang for your buck” and leverage them accordingly in order to best use your money where it is needed and can give you the greatest likelihood of winning. After all, slots are dependent upon pre-calculated odds, so using these as much as you can in your favor is necessary for true long-term success.

The world of gambling can be exciting, glamorous and even nerve-wracking as you play for higher stakes in a dynamic social setting. There are also a few pitfalls for those new to gambling and many things to learn and become aware of to maximize enjoyment and avoid any potential problems. Whether you are new to gambling and are looking to play at a land-based casino or online, there are a number of things you can look at in order to maximize your enjoyment and hopefully increase your winnings and minimize losses. Some tips might also make you appear more experienced than you really are, and this can be very useful in a world where bluff and psychology are part and parcel of the game.

Perhaps the first aspect to look at with regard to gambling is the bankroll, or the amount of money you will take to gamble with. Set aside an amount of money that you know you can absolutely afford to lose and that is not earmarked for any other vital purpose-for example, paying the rent, mortgage or bills. If, during your stint at the casino, you lose heavily, do not chase your losses, even for a big bonus, as you will most likely continue to lose. Also, leave all of your credit and debit cards at home, so that you will not be tempted to keep betting when your cash runs out. Most land-based casinos have ATM machines-always remember that these are there for the casinos benefit-NOT yours. They are there so that the casino can make more money from failing gamblers.

If you are playing at an online casino, make sure that you read all instructions and agreements carefully before signing up. If you have any doubts or questions, be sure to contact the customer service people. If you are not happy with the response you get, look elsewhere-you have plenty of choice. With regards to choice, do not simply sign up for the first casino you find – make sure you read plenty of customer review where you can find out about how reputable various casinos are. There are plenty of customer forums for gamblers, and they are not shy in giving their opinions when they feel they have been poorly treated. It is in a casino’s interests to keep customers happy, so take reviews seriously, but make sure it is not a site simply liked to and sponsored by a certain casino. Stick to independent reviews. In addition, you can arrange an e-cash service to place your bets, as this will not require you to share your banking details online.

Whether you go to a land casino or an online one, try to only gamble for fun and do not get too caught up. Very few people actually make a living from gambling, and if you leave with some of your bankroll, you have probably had a pretty good evening. Remember, it is supposed to be fun.

Remember also to take regular breaks in order to keep yourself mentally fresh. This will keep your decision making sharp. Also, don’t enjoy too many of the free drinks on offer. The casino is not being generous, they know that too much alcohol will impair your judgment and they will more of your cash!

Remember to try the games that offer you the best odds of winning. These tend to include blackjack, craps, video poker and baccarat. It is recommended to avoid the slots, as the odds are particularly long for you on these. Remember also that, in all games of chance, the house has a definite edge-as this is how they make their money. One experienced gamblers tip is to increase your bet by 50% every time you win. Enjoy and bet safely!

Online slots tournaments are a fun variation of the offline variety that allow players to enter in for anywhere from free to a small fee and compete with each other online to see who can win the greatest amount in the shortest time possible. Cash prizes are typically the incentive for attracting players to slots tournaments and can range anywhere from a few dollars to even $100,000 in the World Series of Slots, with many other prizes being awarded to participants other than the #1 winner. These games can be fun and exciting as they can keep any monetary loss to the player at a minimum as all players generally enter into a slots tournament off of a set minimum fee and offer a quick final decision as to who is the overall champion of the slot machines and who…well…isn’t….after only 5 to 10 minutes of play.

Different casinos offer different types of slots tournaments to players as each casino competes with one another to offer the most competitive, best tournament available that can bring in more players daily for fun competition against one another. For some slot enthusiasts this can even be a fun free competition as many gambling sites offer free tournaments and award sign-up incentives to players for participating.

When looking at how to play in a slots tournament there are two main strategies to abide by: play hard, and play fast. This generally means keeping your bets at the absolute maximum at all times in order to maximize your winning potential during the game. Since most slots tournaments are typically only 5-10 minutes long this also means that you need to make the most out of the time given to you to wager as much as you can before the timer runs out. As online slots tournaments generally utilize two separate bins of counters – one for your “play” coins that tracks how many spins you can play and one for your winnings – that are not connected at all you don’t need to worry about wagering too much and risking your winnings. As you wager more, only your assigned “play” coins will be deducted and your winnings will always be safe, so keep your bets to the max at all times.

Be sure to be quick about your spins as well. Some slots tournaments offer a large number of “play” coins to keep participants in the game for a long time and in order to successfully go through all of the coins in the set amount of time you will be required to not move from your computer or take any small break whatsoever as you may not have enough time to fully play what you are given and utilize all opportunities that are available to you. Keep your eyes on the wheel and your finger on the mouse button in order to keep your machine rolling and money coming in so that you can help ensure that you are in the paying bubble when the timer runs out and the final winners are called.

Online gambling continues to grow in popularity, and with the ability it grants for punters to place bets and persue odds in the comfort of their own homes, it is easy to see why this option continues to prove popular with experienced and new gamblers alike. There are, however, several things for the beginner online gambler to bear in mind as they get ready to place their first online bet.

The number one factor is to find a suitable and decent online bookmaker with whom to place your bet. This is probably the most important aspect of the guide, as getting this right will enable every step taken afterwards to go that much more smoothly. As with any decision involving such a wide choice as people are faced with when considering online bookmakers, it is highly advisable for prospective gamblers to do their research on all potential and respective bookmakers. Remember that the internet is replete with all kinds of information, and ratings of online bookmakers are no exception.

Check out the online gambling forums where punters evaluate and report on the numerous online bookmakers. Make sure that the web sites and forums are independent, and you can be sure that you will get many forthright and honest opinions. You can also post questions on the forums and get advice from experienced gamblers as to which bookmakers have the best reputation and which always pay out as well as get advice on which casinos to avoid.

Also, ensure that the bookmaker offers betting on all the sports that you want to bet on, as it is pretty pointless to pay a deposit to a bookmaker that doesn’t allow betting on your favorite sports. Also, make sure that the web site can accept payments easily with regards to your deposit and bet payments. A lot of bookmaking websites will have various payment options, from credit to debit cards and also a variety of electronic payments, such as PayPal, Neteller and Moneybookers.

Once you have done all of these things, you will need to decide what type of bet to place, how much and on whom or which team. Perhaps the two most common types of bet are the money line and the points spread. The money line is the most widely observed, and it is a good, basic place to start. Simply, the person or team you bet on must win in order for you to win your bet, and if you choose to bet on an underdog in a game or event, you can expect a much more significant payout, due to the fact that favorites are expected to win in all events and sports.

As far as how much to bet, this must be a personal choice, based on your personal experiences. It may be a good idea to set up a PayPal account with limited funds at first, as this does not require you to share any of your card details. Once you establish confidence in your online bookmaker, you can then use your card if you wish. Also, do your research on teams and individuals you are looking to bet on, as this will provide you an edge when it comes to possible results.

Roulette is one of the biggest casino games ever played and features in many smash hit films that show a hero spending his cash over at the casinos roulette table while speaking to a woman.

The glamour that seems to come with playing the game is a huge draw factor and because of this there are a large number of big money gamblers that head straight to the roulette tables once they enter a casino or sign into an online based client.

There are a couple of things that new and inexperienced players should know, helping to reduce the chances of you staking all of your cash and not hitting at least one win.

The first thing that you should be aware of is the number of online roulette scams that are operating, these are usually in the form of an ebook that claims to be able to give you the secrets to beating the game every time.

Believe me when i say, these are nothing that are going to improve your chances of winning, they are just a scam that has been created in order to draw money from people who are looking to make quick money through gambling. The majority of the information that you get within these ebooks is easily accessible online, it just needs to be searched for.

The second thing that you should be looking at before heading to the roulette table is that the odds are there for a reason. This means for example that all the numbers on the table pay out 35/1 odds, mainly because the possibility of you choosing the right number is very limited.

Ok you see these new television versions of the game and there are always people hitting the right numbers, you have to think on the larger scale here, it will seem that people are continuously winning but when you have 40 to 50 people all looking to place money onto numbers, there are going to be a couple of people who will guess correctly.

Thirdly and most importantly, manage your bankroll efficiently, assign what you would consider to be disposable funds and stake comfortably within that amount. This way should you have a rough time at the tables, you still have enough cash for other things. If you are looking to place a number of bets, make sure that you space them out, giving you a bigger winning area than if you were to place directly onto 3 numbers next to each other.

The best advice that could be given if you feel that you will get too caught up in the moment is to only have the cash that you are willing to wager on your person, that way should you run out of funds you have to move away from the table, giving you time to think about what to do next.

Approach the game with caution and you will have a good time, regardless of the result but step up to the table with the wanting for fast money and your bound to feel that you have been robbed by the casino.

Play smart and play responsibly.

Online gambling can be a great deal of fun, and can have a number of advantages over the traditional land-based casino for both new and experienced gamblers. Online casinos have become huge business over the past few years as they have made full use of online technology and people’s willingness to play online. So, just what are some of the top tips for potential online gamblers looking at the possibility of playing online?

First, and probably the most important of all tips, is to make sure that you always do your research regarding any casino that you are thinking of playing at. It is well worth remembering that, as the online casino and gaming industry has boomed in recent years, the Internet has seen a veritable influx of online casinos, and not all of them are legitimate. Many see the boom as a chance to make a quick buck before either disappearing or changing their operating name. Therefore, the first thing a potential online gambler should do is research the casino. Go to online gaming forums and read the reviews written by past and current gamers. They will be very straightforward about their experiences and will not shirk when they feel that they have been poorly treated. Make sure also that you are reading an independently-written review, as some review sites are ‘affiliate’ sites that write favorable reviews in return for a profit percentage of users clicking on casino links on the site.

Tip two is don’t pay any money or give any financial details at all until you have carried out all of your research and you are totally happy with the casino. Remember also that the vast majority of online casinos will offer free games, and this can be a great way, not only of getting to grips with the casino itself, but also to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of the various games on offer. This can be particularly good for those new to gambling or casino games.

Tip three is to just slow it down! Remember, you are not in a frenetic, fast-paced land-based casino, and as such, you have the advantage of time being on your side. Slow your play down and take your time – don’t be rushed. There is no time limit at online casinos, and no one is sitting around trying to rush you into making a call or decision. Use this fact to your advantage.

Tip four – just as it is not advisable to drink too much in land-based casinos, you should not be lulled into a false sense of security just because you are playing at home. Drinking at either type of casino will have an adverse effect on your judgment, and you will most likely lose more money. Remember, the casino still wants your money, even if you cannot see any of your opponents.

Tip five – Make sure that, on the casinos web site, you can see a button for online help, 24/7, and test it with a couple of questions before betting any money. Hopefully, you won’t ever need the service, but you will be very grateful indeed that it is there if problems ever do arise.

I have said this many times and I will keep on saying it, card counting is not only a very serious business but it is also very difficult to pull off. Certain people with certain personality types are definitely not suited to playing full-time blackjack or even part time blackjack for that matter.

The thing is that it does create somewhat of a nervous situation when you are ramping your bets. When you do this for the first time, you always get the feeling that everyone in the entire building knows what it is that you are doing.

This first time nervousness and paranoia should go away but with many people it doesn’t. The fact of the matter is that anyone who goes and does the bare minimum as a blackjack player will get caught. Or at the very least will have severe counter measures taken against them.

This usually involves the dealer dealing short shoes which decreases the number of hands dealt per shoe but it also decreases the number of profitable situations for the counter as well. The best and most profitable situations tend to arise at the end of the shoe so when the shoe is cut very shallow then the really profitable situations rarely arise and the game tends to be nothing more than a process for recycling money.

This is what many novice card counters do not understand, they learn the running count but do not do true count conversions. If the first ten cards out of a four deck shoe are low cards then the running count is +10. But this figure of +10 does not represent the same ratio of high cards to low cards as it would if the count was +10 with only one deck remaining.

If we use the high-low count to show what I mean, there are 208 cards in a four deck shoe. These are broken down into 80 low cards, 80 high cards and 48 middling cards that have a count of zero. So ignoring the middling cards we can see that there are now 80 high cards and aces and 70 low cards remaining for a ratio of one high card or ace to every low card at a rate of 1.14.

But with only one deck remaining if we took a standard distribution of 20 low cards, 20 high cards and 12 middling cards, taking away ten low cards gives us a ratio of high cards and aces to low cards which is 2.00 and not the 1.14 like before.

See what I mean now

There are many benefits to playing at an online casino. You don’t need to worry about getting all dressed up, you can indulge in any of your favorite personal habits that may be otherwise precluded by a visit to a land-based casino (smoking is one such obvious example), you don’t need to worry about any physical quirks of facial expressions giving away the fact that you are holding a bad hand or that you are beginning to feel tense or stressed, you can quit playing at any time, as well as being free to come and go, and take breaks as you wish. One huge advantage is that you don’t need to travel any distance at all when you feel the urge to play your favorite casino games – you can simply turn on your computer, go to your favorite online casino web site and away you go! Online casinos do have their own particular character, though, and there are certain things that patrons should become aware of when looking at web-based casinos.

First, and probably most obvious, you are not physically there, so it is hard to assess just what is real and what isn’t. How do you know, for example, if you are playing at a real, genuine online casino, or if you have merely arrived at a flashy, up-front web page with no substance behind it that will simply relieve you of your money, credit card details and, possibly, even your identity? Online patrons should realize that there are codes of practice and industry standards that the very best online casinos sign up to, and they are graded regularly on whether or not they continue to meet the strict criteria. Look for the logos on the website, and be very wary about any casinos not displaying membership. Beware also that some previously disreputable online casinos, having been made to cease trading under one name simply shut down and start up under a new moniker. This tends to be common practice among the worst offenders, which is why adherence to the codes of practice is important for gamers.

Gamers also need to remember that although online casinos may seem much more laid back and relaxed than their land-based equivalents, they are still playing casino games for money, and can still lose large amounts of money by doing so. In addition, deciding to relax by drinking more because you are in your home environment can backfire if you become so loose that your judgement becomes impaired.

New online gamers will also find the independently audited reports published and made available for their patron, which detail the payout levels of the casino. The published payout figure will give you a good idea of the percentage an online casino pays out and gives a good indication of how fairly the casino runs its games. Remember though that the figure is an average payout and some win much more (by bagging a jackpot), whilst some may lose far more.