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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.

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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.

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.

I had someone contact me the other day by e-mail and ask me how to go about writing a book about casino games and how to beat them. I think that doing this in 2010 is very difficult. The first reason is that most of what there is to know has already been written.

This was the problem that I faced in 2006 when I wrote Princes of Darkness : The World of High-stakes Blackjack and again in 2008 when I wrote Killer Roulette. It is difficult especially with blackjack to really come out with material that has not been seen before. Although I was proud with both of my books that I did place material in both of those books that had never been seen in print before.

I basically told accounts of events that had happened in my life and thought that these would prove of far greater interest to readers than merely reading about even more theory. I do not like theory, especially mathematical theory and tables which basically turns me off with some exceptions.

It is different with poker, this game is evolving far faster than blackjack but with blackjack then the game has basically evolved. Sure there will be some new features on the games from time to time but this will be the casino industry trying to inject new life into the game.

For anyone who wants to write a book on casino games then I would advise them to write a factual entertaining book. It always helps to have some experiences to fall back on. If you don’t have any then why not join a casino or two. It will not be long before you have some stories of your own to tell.

After nearly 20 years of working in casinos and visiting them then you can imagine how much data I have at my disposal which is probably why I am writing on here

See you soon

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The advent of the internet and its growing popularity and usage around the world has helped open up a number of different potentially highly profitable online ventures that gamblers and advertisers alike can use to earn some extra money on the side – one of which is the usage of online affiliate programs. Designed to reward users for helping to spread the word about a casino to other players and attract more gamblers, casino affiliate programs alone have been the source of many people around the world developing a substantial monthly income that in some cases can equate to millions of dollars.

In order to fully take advantage of what an online casino affiliate program is, it is important to first understand how most affiliate programs work. When signing up for an affiliate program, a user is given a specific referral ID in order to help track their incoming clients they have brought to the casino, usually in the form of a link or banner ad that they can place on various websites for customers to click on. The affiliate link then tracks the user that clicks on the ad and, if that person signs up for the casino and deposits money, the affiliate will be granted a percentage of the money deposited directly into their own online account.

Affiliate programs can be highly lucrative ventures for many people to partake in and have helped thousands of people around the world develop a passive income that, with a little bit of work, can help them earn more than would normally be possible for them at a full-time job. These sorts of programs are also an excellent way for avid gamblers to receive rewards for referring their friends to the online casino and benefit from something that they may normally do for free. Different casinos can also offer significantly different affiliate bonuses depending on the establishment and payout structure, meaning some can be extremely profitable with little to no work necessary.

Just remember before getting too excited about affiliate programs that in most cases being able to successfully attract people via an affiliate system to a casino is hard work and may take considerable investment of both time and money on your part to do so. While it’s true that the payouts can be well worth the investment (as many new people are finding out each and every year) this does not mean that online affiliate programs are suitable for everyone and therefore dedicating yourself to affiliate programs should not be taken lightly. While it’s good to sign up for one if you intend to invite any friends to join you at the casino but don’t feel obligated to do so otherwise.

On the other hand, if you feel this is something you would like to dedicate yourself to and feel passionately about establishing yourself a good passive income online consider looking into various affiliate marketing training tools out there on the web. Studying these techniques as well as utilizing various SEO methods on websites can give you a long-term plan that can benefit you more in a year or two than you may be able to do working a standard 9-5 job.

Gambling is a fun, exciting, involved, popular and largely safe activity, particularly among sports fans looking to enhance their experience, as well as those looking to make profits and even make a living. Of course, the decision on whether or not to gamble is a very personal one, and everyone has his or her own reasons for doing so or not. As stated, most people, as with drinking alcohol, manage to do so safely without ever getting into any trouble. Statistics show, however, that around 6% of adults are so-called ‘problem gamblers’ with a larger number still considered to be in the ‘at-risk’ category. There are certain things you can do in order to ensure that, if you choose to gamble, you are able to do so safely and consistently.

First of all, remember that it is entirely your choice whether or not you gamble. Never let this factor appear to slip out of your grasp. You can choose to stop at any time. Gambling is not a risk-free activity. In fact, there is a possibility of winning or losing large sums of money, which is what can make it such an enticing activity. Unfortunately, this potential can attract the more vulnerable and desperate with the knock-on effect that can involve family life, career, finances and your health. As a result, it is vital, should you choose to gamble, that you first work out exactly how much you can afford to bet. Set strict personal limits and don’t be tempted to deviate from them. Remember, it is an entertainment industry and your main objective should be to have fun. If you are risking your personal life, your career and your finances, it can hardly be considered fun or entertaining.

Once you have worked out how much money you can afford to bet, take that amount with you and only that. Never more. Also, leave your credit cards at home to avoid temptation once you get into the atmosphere of the casino. Remember also, never, NEVER borrow money in order to gamble, as this is indeed a slippery slope and will only exacerbate the problem.

Also, be careful once you are in the casino, as many offer free drinks to their paying customers. Remember, they are not being nice when they do this, it’s just company policy and is designed to loosen you up so that you lose your inhibition and bet more. Do not drink and bet!

Also, remember why casinos give you plastic chips in exchange for your cash. Sure, it makes life easier for the dealer in terms of collecting money and making payouts, but it also allows you to merely look at a pile of ‘worthless’ plastic chips instead of cold, hard cash. This serves to ‘devalue’ your money, and could make you more ‘easy come, easy go’ concerning betting and losing your money.

It is also a good idea to wear a watch when you visit the casino, as most do not have any clocks on the walls. Again, this is deliberate and can give you an unreal sense of time – how long you’ve been there and over what period of time you’ve been losing money. In such a case, losses can snowball without you realizing their extent. Remember, YOU are in control.

There have been many changes within the gaming environment inside my home city of Sheffield over the years. The three casinos inside that City have each been top dog at some stage in the past. Back in 1990, it was Napoleans that was the number one spot in the City with Grosvenor and Bonapartes bringing up the rear.

Then in 1996, the A&S Leisure Group moved their Bonapartes Casino to a brand new location in Sheffield and a brand new casino. This was far bigger and more plush than the other two and suddenly the new Bonapartes became top dog and jumped from 3rd to 1st with Grosvenor being demoted to third behind Napoleans.

The landscape has changed again and the new G-Casino (former Grosvenor) has just opened and even though I have yet to go personally, I have spoked with many people who have. Apparently it can blow the other two out of the water and is by far and away the best casino in Sheffield.

This now makes the 1990-1996 top dog Napoleans bringing up the rear and this will be a blow for A&S Leisure in Sheffield. Years ago the Sheffield Grosvenor casino was considered the weak link in Grosvenor’s chain and there was talk afoot at one stage that it would be bought out by the Staki’s Group (who went on to be Gala) and that the location was to be moved.

I can’t really say that I will get to see the new G-Casino since they will more than likely be aware of my history although I don’t know what they think that I am going to do. I am actually quite happy about the situation though and I quite like the thought of Grosvenor being top dog.

See you soon

Carl

I remember clearly the first time that I ever made a non conventional blackjack move. I was scouting a casino in the north of England and was playing table minimums. I did not have too much money on me as counting and playing was not on my agenda. I did not want to ruin my chances with the team before we even started.

So what happened during the course of the evening was a little amazing if not stupid. The dealer was a nice girl and the inspector was also a nice guy and we had been making polite conversation for about thirty minutes or so.

There were a couple of other players on the table apart from me and she pulled an ace to her own hand when she already had seventeen. The rules state that the card must then be the next card out of the shoe and on this instance, the card happened to be an ace.

Without any conscious thought, I reached into my pocket and took most of the money that I had and placed a maximum bet on the first box of £200. The hush and silence became deafening as the inspector and dealer exchanged glances with each other as if to say “can he do that”.

Well of course I can and I wasn’t breaking any rules, just taking advantage of a dealer mistake. It was a bad thing to do but this is money when all said and done and the edge for the player when you know that your first card is an ace is over 50%. I won the hand although not with a natural and the mood on the table changed.

But I knew that this wouldn’t get reported because what dealer or inspector would want their superiors to know that they were not doing their jobs properly?

That really was a defining day and I made that same move numerous times although not always with an ace as it was often with a ten value card.

See you soon

Carl
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There have been big debates down the years about the merits of card counting systems and comparing one to the other. This kind of reminds me of online poker and what is the best way to operate. With online poker then there is simply no one shoe fits all policy and there never can be in a million years.

Much depends on how good you are, how fast you can play, if you have rakeback, how your game stands up to multi-tabling, does watching your opponents figure greatly in your play and the list goes on and on. Usually you need to find your own level in online poker or any other form of poker to be able to make money.

Players that cannot find their own level or are constantly trying to move up and be big shots usually bust out. There is little difference with blackjack, the best card counting system is basically specific to each individual. You cannot quote some level 4 type system as being optimal if the individual cannot use it properly without losing count.

So if a certain system is “best” for you then it is “best” and it is that simple. It is the same when financial consultants recommend financial products to clients. There is no stand out best product, only what products are best for certain people.

So a blackjack player who struggles with adding up and true count conversions may find the KO Count optimal. Then again, someone who was playing long hours who was also shuffle tracking and wanted to incorporate everything as efficiently as possible may find the high/low optimal (like we did).

Then again, a player who has the mental fortitude and is doing nothing but counting and wants optimal power and results may use a level four system. So there is no such thing as the “best system” in the world…..only what is best for the individual.

See you soon

Carl “The Dean” Sampson
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It always used to amaze me (and still does) that live casinos like punters to know that blackjack is a game of skill which can be beaten. But yet when anyone exhibits enough skill to be able to do so then they are prevented from playing in the same way or even from prevented from playing at all in some locations.

I find this behaviour objectionable to be quite frank and always have even when I was in gaming. I understand perfectly the casino’s position. At the core of it all is a company who is providing entertainment and nothing more. But if this is the case (which it is) then these companies shouldn’t (even in the past) have lured people in to play the game in that way.

So what they are basically saying is, we want all of the players who think that they can play the game with skill but who are deluding themselves but anyone who really has the skill is not welcome. I don’t mind not being welcome and never have but I have never liked some of the tactics of the casinos where I worked.

Skill can also be obtained on roulette as well, if you don’t think that is true then you obviously haven’t read enough of my posts. Like I said with the biased wheel post yesterday, it is possible for a player to obtain an edge on roulette on the right wheel greater than a card counter can obtain on blackjack.

In all my posts it has become evident to me that I have not revealed any clues as to how to spot biased wheels. What we are looking at here are what should be normal random distributions of numbers.

The next step is to look at if these numbers are appearing outside of what is normal random distribution. Seeing the number 4 arrive three times in four spins is certainly not evidence of bias. Most biased wheels are not biased enough to overcome the 2.7% house edge on single zero roulette.

We now need to get into areas like confidence levels here but in no way am I a mathematician. I just have access to confidential data that is all so I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the figures…..just the sources that they stem from.

Modern Huxley wheels have bias detection software but I believe that most casinos would not employ these very expensive wheels when they could use cheaper varieties. The figures that I have seen recommend tracking a wheel for an initial 200 spins.

This represents the initial assessment, if a wheel has a strong enough bias to be worthwhile then it will show itself during this length of time. The next step is to take a look at the frequencies involved but that is for a later post.

see you soon

Carl
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