Online Casino Gambling

In Baccarat, cards are dealt to the house and to the player. The card’s value is then added together to determine the winner.

How do I Play Baccarat?

To play Baccarat, the dealer will draw two cards face down to himself and the players. These cards are then added together at face value. At first, if the player or dealer received a total of 9 in the first hand no more cards are drawn. If no hand has a value of 9, then the dealer will continue to draw more cards.

There are exceptions to this rule:

• If the player has 6 to 7 no cards will be drawn.
• If the player has 0-5 he will draw one card.

After the initial hand has been established, the banker will then draw more cards to their hand based on the cards the player’s already drew:

• Should a player not draw a card, the banker will then draw at 0-5, or stand at 6-7.
• Should a player draw a 2 or 3, the banker will then draw at 0-4, and stand at 5-7.
• Should a player draw a 4 or 5, the banker will then draw at 0-5, and stand at 6-7.
• Should a player draw a 6 or 7, the banker will then draw at 0-6, and stand at 7.
• Should a player draw an 8, the banker will then draw at 0-2, and stand at 3-7.
• Should a player draw an Ace, 9, 10, or face-card, the banker will then draw at 0-3, and stand at 4-7.

Whoever has the highest hand based on the face value of the cards after the cards have been dealt wins the round. If the dealer and the banker have the same total of cards a tie is announced.

The value of the cards for Baccarat is a simple formula. Numbered cards are taken at face value. 10’s and face cards are worth 0. The Ace in Baccarat is worth 1.

How Does Betting Work in Baccarat?

Players must place their bets before the hand starts. The player can either bet on the player’s hand or the banker’s hand. If the hand wins, the player wins the bet.

Craps offers more betting options than most other casino games.  While some are attractive because of their simplicity, several more can prove to be very disadvantageous to the player, as is the case with the field bet.  This particular bet appeals to players for two main reasons.  First and foremost, unlike other wagers, this one can be made before the come bet, or after the point has been established.  Secondly, the bet is decided by a single roll of the dice.  After playing your bet, the dice are tossed and you either win or lose.  Despite the simplicity, this can be a very tricky bet, so it is important understand how it works before choosing to take it up in a game of craps.

Making a Field Bet

When playing craps online, the chips for the field bet are placed in an area on the table layout known as the “field box.”  You will notice that the box has the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12 on it, with “2” and “12” being circled.  These numbers are circled because some casinos payout 3 to 1 on the 2 or 12.  If you place a field bet and the dice yields any number listed in the box, you win.  If not, you lose.  While this simple enough to follow, the bet can be very deceptive to the new player who does not clearly understand the odds.

Comprehending Your Chances

In the game of craps, the rolling of the two dice can yield 11 possible numbers.  What you need to realize is that only seven of these numbers will result in a winning field bet while four of them will produce a losing bet.  To the unknowing player, the chance of winning the bet is much greater than losing it.  However, you have to consider the many possible ways in which each number can be rolled.  5,6,7 and 8, which are the four losing numbers, can be rolled in 20 different ways, while the winning numbers can only be rolled in 16 ways.   So what does all this mean to the player?  It means that by taking the field bet, you are giving the house a significant edge of 5.55%.  In comparison to other wagers in online craps that have a considerably lower house edge, this would not be the smartest move for the savvy player to make.

Getting the Best Odds

Any player who wants to play craps online and gamble with the field bet should only do so at casinos that payout 3 to 1 for rolling a 2 or 12.  While this house edge is still much higher than other bets, it does drop down to 2.7%, giving you more of an advantage against the casino.  If you are intent on playing the field, this is the best way to do go as it can be acceptable for occasional bets at smaller amounts.

The grueling year long battle between James Giordano and U.S. officials has finally come to an end.  Early this month, the 55 year old resident of Pinecrest, Florida pleaded to the charges of illegal gambling associated with a sports betting ring operated in offshore jurisdictions.  While Giordano stressed that none of his employees ever accepted wagers on America soil, simply allowing U.S. residents to gamble on internet sites appears to be all the ammunition authorities needed to take legal action.

Ironically, the United States government permits wagering on slots, poker, horse and dogs across the South Florida area, which is unfortunate for offshore gambling mavens the likes of Giordano.  It also interesting to note that the crackdown comes in light of the 2007 Nevada Legislature that legalized online gambling within state borders. Utterly disgusted, Giordano describes the entire ordeal as “hypocritical.”

No stranger to the law, Giordano has previously been in hot water for running sportsbooks in the state of New York.  In the late 1990s, the crafty offshore gaming mogul decided that he could evade legal ramifications by setting up shop with his own internet gambling operation on St. Maarten, a jurisdiction that openly allows sports wagering.  Giordano was able to run a legit gambling operation under a license provided the Netherlands government – or so he thought.

Destined to claim his stake in the online gambling realm, Giordano brought renowned maverick Al Goldstein onboard to help promote the operation and from there, the popular gambling site PlayWithAl.com was born.  Raking in tens of thousands of dollars every week, Giordano purchased a lavish mansion in Florida while maintain gaming servers in St. Maartens and expanding his operation to the jurisdiction of Costa Rica.  Despite the rapid success, U.S. lawmakers set a precedent with Mr. Giordano as his company represents the first offshore online gambling operation to be accused of criminal activity in the U.S., without actually having any operative base on U.S. soil.

According to the plea agreement, Giordano will receive a five-month sentence the infamous Riker’s Island in addition to a hefty fine of a whopping $1 million.  This is one top of an estimated $1 million that had been seized by authorities.  Initially, authorities claimed that the sports betting website had booked more than $3.3 billion in wagers in just over two years, a figure Giordano says is simply ridiculous.  This leads some to believe that the plea and relatively light sentence shows federal officials’ urgency to quickly close out a weak case.

Giordano reports that all of his business was conducted in a legitimate manner, citing that all his taxes were paid and that he violated no laws. However, he is concerned that the illegal and unethical practices conducted by prosecutors could eventually result in a much stiffer sentence.

As for making a return to the online gambling business, Giordano says that he is done and looking for another line of work.

Grand Virtual Online Gaming Technology is a leading software provider in the online gambling industry.  In the business since 1997, the company has been an innovator from day one and never stopped making enhancements to its products.  What sets Grand Virtual apart from the competition is its commitment to flexible, highly scalable solutions that can be easily extended for future growth.  In simple terms, its software is able to accommodate a wide variety of casino operators and their ever changing requirements.  The company’s large number of international clients serves as a prime example being that each operator enjoys feature rich gaming systems that support multiple languages and currencies.   Considering the distinct advantage it has over the competition, it is no surprise that Grand Virtual casino games are used by millions of players in more than 200 countries around the globe.

Notable Qualities

Boasting an extremely high level of modularity, Grand Virtual gaming platforms are capable of supporting traditional and emerging models.  This includes innovative features such as skilled-based, chance-based, multi-hand, lotteries, progressive games, real-time and many others.  The software also supports a variety of client platforms, most notably personal computers, mobile phones, gaming consoles, and interactive TV systems.  Furthermore, Grand Virtual software is compatible with an array of multimedia and web development technologies for enhanced graphics and user interfaces.  These technologies include Flash, Active X, Shockwave, AJAX, Java, DHTML, and various streaming formats.

Key Components

Grand Virtual software is compromised of various components.  One is the Universal Gaming Platform, which consists of the back-end of the gaming infrastructure.   Based on the powerful Unix operating system, the platform enables the functioning of several related components.  These components include gaming servers, a game points manager, e-commerce engine, financial stored value manager, and central database.   It also includes a robust toolset that facilitates data mining, fraud screening, player support, and affiliate and partner programs.  Due to its flexibility and extensibility, the Universal Gaming Platform enables Grand Virtual software to support virtually all forms of online gambling.

Another important component is the Casino Client Software.  This platform is essentially a customizable gaming module that runs on Microsoft Windows operating systems and features a visually impressive 3-D casino floor.  The software allows operators to gives players the power of choice when it comes to selecting the types of games they play and how funds are transferred.  Players also have access to their transaction records and the ability to customize the audio and video effects of game play to their liking.   The Casino Client Software offers a variety of casino games including multi-player poker with 3D tables, selectable avatars, step-by-step tutorials, automated training rooms, and a wealth of promotional features.

Conclusion

The online gambling market is changing rapidly and the Grand Virtual software platform is perfectly suited for the evolution.  It has been strategically designed to support new modules for emerging applications and can be easily integrated into existing platforms.  Therefore, it is clear to see that Grand Virtual technology will not only power the industry today, but into the future as well.

Gamblers no longer need to trudge out to an actual casino to play. With the advent of online gaming, players merely need to log on. With added convenience, however, come added security issues. While the Internet has come a long way, there is still a robust “wild, wild west” element that should provoke caution from online players.

Choosing the right online casino to play at is really the best way to avoid security pitfalls. Here are some things to look at as you make that choice.

Casino reputation:

This the foremost consideration one should make when deciding where to play. Online casinos have proliferated recently, and naturally, so has the number of unscrupulous casinos. There are more than enough online casinos that have proven their legitimacy over time that you shouldn’t have trouble finding one. Before you give them your credit card information, perform an Internet search of that company. If you cannot find anyone saying good things about that company, there is probably a good reason for that.

If It’s Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is

Online casinos are in an ultra-competitive market. Many upstart casinos will offer alluring bonuses in an effort to woo new customers. Not that all of these offers are illegitimate, but no casino is in the business of giving you free money. If the bonus offer reminds you of the time a man tried to sell you a $50 “Rolex,” it is probably bogus or at the very least a bonus with conditions that are nearly impossible to meet.

Online Security:

You can never be too safe in addressing security concerns when choosing an online casino. Dishonest gambling sites can wreak havoc if they so desire. Players who have taken a leap of faith with an unknown online casino will tell you horror stories of malware compromising their entire personal and financial privacy. Choosing a casino with generally accepted security in place is of paramount importance.

If you give your business to an established site with solid standing in the online gaming community, you receive the same security that you would at the most well-known online purchasing sites. You may also consider running an anti-malware program of your own just as an added layer of security.

Financial Stability:

Online casinos, particularly newer ones, should be evaluated on the grounds of their financial stability before you play. Imagine a new sports betting site that has a terrible weekend. That could jeopardize their whole operation. You would be more hesitant to bet large amounts with a fledgling bookie than you would with an established bookie. Adopt this same perspective when betting online.

Final Thoughts:

The decision of where you gamble online is the most important security-related choice you will make. New players searching on the Internet will be besieged with tantalizing offers by outfits they never heard of. These usually empty promises should not be valued over the reliability and reputation of better-known sites. They might not offer you the world, but take that as a good sign.

Casino Hold ‘em is a card game that puts a unique spin on the popular poker variant Texas Hold ‘em.  The game was created by Stephen Au-Yeung in 2000, first going live in the casinos of Egypt, Russia and South Africa.  Today, it is played in more than hundred land-based casinos around the world and a countless number of online casinos.

Object of the Games

Casino Hold ‘em is very similar to Texas Hold ‘em.  The key difference is that it is essentially a house game, meaning that instead of competing against other players, you are playing against the casino.  The overall goal of the game is to beat the dealer by assembling the best hand possible out of your two initial cards and five community cards.  If your hand has a greater value than the dealer’s, you win.  Similar to Texas Hold ‘em, winnings vary depending on the hand you assemble.  Casino Hold’em also offers an added level of excitement by placing a side wager, a bet that pays out if a pair of aces or better is dealt within the initial five cards.

Antes and Side Bets

What makes Casino Hold’em such as desirable game is that not only is the player paid out at the standard rate of 2 to 1 if they have a better hand, but also higher winnings for rare poker hands.  The payout table for this game is typically as follows:

Royal Flush – 100 to 1

Straight Flush – 20 to 1

Four-of-Kind – 10 to 1

Full House – 3 to 1

Flush – 2 to 1

Straight or less – 1 to 1

Also known as AA+ bonus bets, side bets are paid out based on the value of your two initial cards and three community cards.  A Royal Flush usually payouts at 100 to 1, a Straight Flush 50 to 1, Four-of-a-Kind 40 to 1, Full House 30 to 1, Flush 20 to 1, and a Straight 7 to 1.  Take note that the pay structure may be different depending on where you play, a factor that often means the house has a greater edge.

House Advantage

In Casino Hold’em, the house edge, not including the side bet, will vary greatly depending on the rules enforced by the casino operator.  However, most pay tables are structured to show a house edge that ranges from approximately 2% to 2.5%.  In the ante table outlined above, the edge would be 2.16%.

Optimal Strategy

There is really no standard strategy for Casino Hold’em because the game play for each individual hand is based on the value of all five cards you receive.  For this reason, a number of strategy calculators exist to help players gain an edge.  Perhaps the best strategy is knowing that the skilled player raises at a rate of about 82%, meaning at worst, only 18% of the hands should be forfeited.   However, even these are just estimates that depend on a broad range of factors and mainly only apply when the player has little to no chance for a flush or a straight