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I have never liked the word “gambling” and feel that it is used incorrectly by nearly everyone that uses it. To gamble essentially means to take a risk on an outcome that is uncertain. But yet it is the misconception by many people that people who participate in gambling have some sort of problem which really sticks in my throat. At the end of the day, whether you participate in playing roulette, blackjack or any other casino game or betting activity then you are merely paying for entertainment.

That entertainment needs to be treated with respect by both the people on the outside who are voicing uneducated opinions and also by the people on the inside who are using money down these avenues. The concept of addiction needs looking at closely because everyone has the ability to become addicted to something. Addiction basically starts off by you liking something. It really does not matter what it is but if you have done something and then liked it then it is only natural that you want to replicate this and do the same thing again.

We tend to want to do things that we enjoy doing again and shy away from things that we don’t enjoy doing or what do not give us good feelings. It is very difficult to become addicted to something that we do not like or which does not give us pleasure. So by sheer definition then, when we like something then we are more at risk to become addicted to it. So this always has to be treated with respect.

Everybody wants to play games like online roulette and blackjack online and why shouldn’t they? The skill required to beat blackjack is well known and you only have to Google areas like card counting, blackjack and roulette to see the history and mystique surrounding these two great games. You will have a great experience playing online casinos and I can be almost 100% certain of this. This is to do with the online operators themselves wanting you to have as good an experience as possible.

You may encounter the odd cash out problem but with sites like bwin then you basically know that your money is as good as being in a bank in terms of safety. Also with the latest banking scandals still fresh in the memory then one has to think that your money could be safer in some instances.

If you lose money or worse still blow your money then who is to blame for that? Obviously you are and if you are this reckless with money then chances are that you would have blown the money down some other avenue anyway. So you cannot blame an online casino for this negative experience.

But why not take advantage of all of the bonuses that you can to make your play as profitable as possible? If you treat your online casino experience as simply nothing more than entertainment to relieve potential long hours of boredom then you will have a long and happy experience of online casinos. Being able to experience the thrill of roulette from your own home is great and you can feel like James Bond with all of the latest graphics that are available these days.

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.

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!

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

Come and experience the thrill of bwin casino and try out their exciting games.

In one of my recent posts I touched on the subject of cheating in casino stud poker. Usually when there are big odds to be found then these games tend to attract the cheats. This has nothing to do with the house edge but the actual pay-offs that are obtained when you can get away with a cheating move in this form of casino games.

The best game for this is roulette where you don’t have to get away with many moves to walk away with a substantial pay-off. The 35-1 and 17-1 top pay-offs are like beacons to cheats. But in CSP too then you can get big pay-offs.

50-1 for a straight flush and 20-1 for quads are big odds as is the generally offered 8-1 for a full-house. Of course unlike on roulette, big hands get noticed on CSP and you need to remember one very important thing, casinos can and will delay payment until CCTV has been checked and it would take a very naive casino to blindly pay a huge bet on a straight flush and there are not many naive casino bosses around.

I have known some pretty poor shift managers in my time but never a General Manager. Card marking is another threat to casinos although in my experience, the cards are not checked well enough. As is the case, small casinos with little action and small turnover can be got at because they don’t perceive any threat from punters playing for small amounts.

As usual collusion is yet another problem and a dealer can easily pay an empty box for its ante when they have no hand and then claim a mistake even when they got caught or if the supervisor spotted it.

Casino bosses are more than aware of collusion incidents and the CCTV and surveillance is as much for the staff as it is for the punters.

See you soon

Carl

Many people are put off by the sight of roulette and its apparent complexity. But yet this is far from the truth and to be honest, I find this game to be easier to learn than blackjack. Although it has to be said that if you know how to play Pontoon then you are well on your way to knowing how to play blackjack anyway although in some instances then it can be a handicap.

Everyone knows that you can bet on a number on roulette and that bet pays 35/1. But in most areas where there is a line amongst the numbers or a cross section then you can place a bet there. These bets all pay varying odds and on single zero wheels, there are thirty seven numbers which are 1-36 and zero. The house should pay 36/1 if it was a fair bet but they obviously need an edge to be able to make some money so they only pay 35/1 instead.

Now this edge is very small and is only 1.35%, all those of you who are alert and have already figured out that 100% divided by 37 equals 2.7% have overlooked one tiny thing, the house only takes 50% of even money wagers when zero comes in. The average punter though by bad betting increases this edge quite substantially to a stage where they can easily be conceding around 3% to the house.

This is precisely why very good roulette systems can do so well and why some casinos don’t like them. When you only have a 1.35% edge (assuming single zero wheel) against you and that edge is the number zero for the house (once again assuming that you bet on even chances) then you can go for very long periods of time winning money with roulette systems. The ones that are not doubling up type systems that prohibit reaching the table maximum are perfect and when the online casino in question gives you money to begin with then the dynamic can shift alarmingly.

see you soon

Carl

It is common knowledge that roulette systems fail because of house limits. In fact the great gambling figure of the seventies and eighties John Scarne once remarked how casinos should protect themselves from system players by reducing their maximums and their minimum to maximum ratios.

In theory of course, a casino with no or very high limits and a punter with a massive bankroll could ensure profits. But in reality this simply isn’t the case. The overwhelming majority of system players do not have adequate bankrolls so they stop doubling up before they reach the maximum anyway or they are fearful of losing more money.

The trouble with roulette system players isn’t in the house maximums but in how roulette systems are applied. If you asked any person to describe a roulette betting system then they would undoubtedly talk about the classic doubling system. They may not even know it by name as the “Martingale” but they would be aware of this way of betting.

They could either be unaware of the chances of reaching maximums after a number of losses or they may be thinking along the lines of the house maximums being a deterrent to roulette systems. These are myths and faulty knowledge for the simple reason being that there are many roulette systems that prohibit reaching the table maximum or the chances of it being highly unlikely. They also don’t need a massive bankroll like the Martingale does as many of them are not doubling up systems.

In fact why people persist in the Martingale is beyond me, a sequence of losers with a $5 minimum and a $1000 maximum would go like this….$5, $10, $20, $40, $80, $160, $320, $640. The next bet takes them over the maximum. But a total of $1275 has been lost already, how many players have this sort of money on them and how many would be prepared to take it this far?

What would be the point in risking all this money to win one measly dollar? What would be the point in making yourself incredibly tense and nervous for a dollar in profit? In all my years in gaming I only ever saw one system player reach the maximum who was prepared to bet it on roulette. I saw something similar on blackjack with a player who used basic strategy and a progressive betting system.

But the trouble with roulette systems isn’t the house maximum but the ignorance of the player using the system.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson   www.bwin.com

The difference between online casino gambling and live casino gambling is akin to online poker and live poker in my opinion. By that I mean that there are many similarities but also numerous differences.

For instance in online blackjack there is no facility to card count or shuffle track. But then again in live blackjack with shuffling machines then you do not have the facility to be able to do that anyway.

But with online casinos then you do have numerous other advantages that live casinos simply do not offer. You do not get financial incentives or bonuses in live casinos for becoming a member.

You also don’t have the luxury of being able to play in your own home without having to travel in order to do it. But of course live casinos do offer the ability for interaction.

But then again maybe you don’t want interaction. Maybe you don’t want friends and family knowing that you gamble. But in my mind, the differences with live blackjack and online casino blackjack are becoming less and less.

This is rapidly becoming the case with roulette as well. Live casinos are now featuring electronic roulette more and more or using one single centralised wheel like I have seen in numerous casinos.

The fact of the matter is that the old timers like me will not like this form of roulette but the new kids will not know anything else but the Internet version.

So I can see online casino games really starting to expand as the live casinos won’t be offering much different to what the online casinos will be offering from a purely gaming sense.

In my experience, there have been no casinos in the UK who have provided new members with money when they join. This is where the online casinos really have the edge.

But most people incorrectly view gaming anyway. It is merely entertainment and nothing more and no different to watching a movie or going out. It is merely an alternative form of entertainment and should be seen as such.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson

The objective of any casino is to maximise profits within set barriers. Obviously any casino owner in an ideal world would like to make 100% return on turnover on the gaming side but that isn’t possible.

Not one single punter would stand for not ever winning whether it be fruit machines, roulette, casino poker, blackjack or slot machines. The goal can really only be to take the maximum possible whilst still keeping the punters coming back.

This is why punters who win are the best source of advertising for any casino and adverse publicity is very bad. Roulette has always been the best money earner for the casinos due to its speed and its ability to be able to support more than a dozen players per table at any one time.

I don’t like it when land based casinos become agitated and disgruntled by punters winning sizable sums of money. I have worked on the inside so I know that it happens. I have seen countless situations where gaming managers have been openly hostile to punters who have won money.

I find this approach truly amazing in an industry where the casino has to depend on people repeatedly coming through the door in enough numbers to not only pay the overheads but to generate meaningful profits as well.

OK so casinos are not a means of social security but with areas like slots and Caribbean stud poker, then why in heavens name don’t they give the punter better value for a money?

Giving a player a 50/1 pay-off for a straight flush and this is based on the dealer having a qualifying hand of AK is ludicrous in my opinion. It is lucky for land based casinos that more punters are not aware of the odds of making these hands otherwise they simply wouldn’t play them.

Giving people value for money is the key to not only keeping them but to also keep them coming back for many years to come. Handing out a casino marketing code every month would be a good start or some other incentive for players to come and play and after that…to stay and be happy.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson