Archive for November, 2010

Avoiding the Costly Mistake of Cross-betting in Roulette

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

The easiest wagers in roulette are single bets on one of more numbers. However, roulette is a game in which the player has many betting options including the ability to place multiple bets. Typically these bets cover a variety of number combinations. On the other hand, the wagers can cover numbers specific to that wager, known as cross-betting. Given these numerous types of wagers, it can be difficult to pinpoint which is most beneficial.

Consistent Expected Return

All roulette players should recognize, regardless of the wager, the expected return over the long-term remains the same. If the player wagers on only a few numbers they have less of a chance to win but have the opportunity to win much more. On the other hand, if the player bets on several numbers they have a better chance of winning but less amount of money. Either way their expectation is the same.

Cross-Betting in European Roulette

A simple example in European Roulette is when a player wagers $10 on red and $10 on odd numbers. Since there are 18 red and 18 odd numbers, a detailed classification is required. The first group contains numbers that are both odd and red which are 10. The second group contains red but no odd numbers which are 8. The third group contains odd but not red numbers which are 11. The final group only contains the number 0.

If a number from the first group is rolled the player wins both the red and odd bets equaling $20. If a number from the second or third group is called the player only wins one bet which is even money. A number from the fourth group indicates the player losing both bets equating to $20. To summarize, the player can win $20 on 10 numbers, lose $20 on 11 numbers and break-even on 16 numbers.

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Decline in Excitement with Cross-Betting

Therefore, by cross-betting the player breaks-even on more numbers but has a less chance of winning and losing. An individual with this objective should not be playing roulette as a big part of the game is engaging in the thrill. Cross-betting removes this enjoyment. To ensure you do not lose more than you can afford it is advantageous to adhere to preset wagering limits.

Roulette can be a fun game for which the excitement of risk is a major part. Cross-betting takes away this enjoyment by allowing you to break-even more than winning or losing. Therefore, cross-betting should be avoided because it sucks the life out the game.

The Gambling Numbers in California

Monday, November 29th, 2010

Those living in California have a vast number of gambling options. California has legalized certain types of gambling including:

  • Parimutuel horse wagering
  • Indian casinos
  • Charitable gaming
  • Card clubs
  • State lottery

Unlike many other states, the legalization of certain types of gaming came to fruition from constitutional amendments as opposed to Legislature. For instance, the state lottery and pari-mutuel horse racing were enacted through a constitutional amendment. However, the Constitution prohibits New Jersey and Nevada methods of gambling.

In California gambling has become a huge business opportunity. The industry is approximately worth $14 billion. The amount lost by players each year is around $2.5 billion. Of course compared to California’s $700 billion economy it is negligible. However for the gambling industry it is a fairly sizable chunk.

In the United States, California is the 6th largest gambling state trailing Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, Illinois and Louisiana. This metric does not include Indian gaming since there is no reliable number for each state. Of these six, California is the only state that does not offer any high-stakes casinos.

The most popular types of gambling in California include the lottery, horse races, Indian gaming and card rooms (in that order). This information is based on gaming between players and the house, not players vs. players. Therefore, since a portion of gaming is in card rooms where gamblers play head-to-head, the information is not complete.

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Within the state, there are a few regional differences. Southern California outside of Los Angeles leads the way followed by Los Angeles, Northern California outside of the Bay Area, the rest of the state and finally the San Francisco Bay Area. This information is for those that gamble in California not those that simply gamble.

Outside of the state, Californians spend over $10 billion each year in Nevada casinos while making 14 million visits. Californians are the largest population to visit Nevada establishments. The largest establishments of specific gaming include, card clubs, horse racing, the lottery, charitable gaming and bingo (in that order).

California has plenty of choices for the avid gambler. With Reno and Las Vegas only a few hours from many areas of California, citizens have even more ways to spend their money. As California continues to permit new gambling establishments to open, the popularity will continue to increase and hopefully improve the economy in the state.

A Look at Evidence Handling

Friday, November 26th, 2010

In many casinos, surveillance and security officers have not had basic training with regards to evidence handling. Since this is such a vital aspect of the casino business it is important for these employees to know what to do and what not to do should the situation where evidence handling ever occur. In addition to surveillance and security officers, executives in the pits and slots as well as many other employees that could investigate should be trained on this procedure.

The Basic Definition of Evidence

The typical definition of evidence is that which establishes or falsifies truth. Evidence is the procedure by which facts are proven to be true or false in a court of law within a country with an established judicial system. It helps prosecute criminals and protect the innocent. As a result it is vital to know the proper handling of evidence in any type of job.

The Purpose

Evidence has two purposes in the casino surveillance industry, to protect the assets and liabilities of the casino and other areas of the organization and successfully prosecute criminal activity that occurs on the groups of the establishment. The most successful cases end in a guilty plea by the perpetrator which requires clear and complete evidence. Also, everything must be completely and thoroughly documented.

Reports from different departments and the surveillance report that outlines, in detail, the actions taken by the perpetrator must be completed, reviewed and signed off upon by the proper supervisors. Any missing detail can be detrimental to the overall case against the guest.

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Errors in Evidence Handling

When faults in the handling of evidence occur, defense attorneys question the reliability, its preservation and the overall competency of those that gathered it. These errors can result in the criminal being set free or prosecutors completely denying the case. There are many instances in the casino industry where cheats and thieves who were caught on tape have been released due to an inconsistency found in surveillance procedure that resulted in the case being dropped.

Correct evidence handling and complete documentation written by employees is one of the most important aspects of running a casino. Everything must be detailed and accurate in order to have strong evidence in the courtroom to sentence any perpetrators. More casinos should develop procedures on how to properly handle evidence in the case of an issue on the casino floor.

Become a VIP at VIP Slots Casino

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

Recently established in 2008, VIP Slots Casino claims to be an online gaming site where players can partake in their favorite casino games including, classic slots, video slots, table games, card games, video poker and specialty games. Also, there are a plethora of tournaments available for almost every game. VIP Slots Casino is powered by industry-leading software development company, Vegas Technology.

There are many advantages to playing at VIP Slots Casino including:

  • Flash version of the casino available
  • Robust, reliable software
  • Strong promotions
  • Plenty of games and tournaments

One advantage is the casino is available for download and on the internet in the form of Flash. This allows players to access the casino from any Flash-enabled browser. Also, the software is robust and reliable to ensure security. The downloadable and flash versions are easy to navigate and well-designed providing the player with an easy to use experience. The downloadable variant is a small file so it is a fast download.

With their motto being, “Our goal is to ensure that our VIP players always have the best experience possible, worthy of the red carpet,” VIP Slots has excellent promotions. Currently there is a $777 welcome bonus to new players and an aggressive VIP program to increase retention.

The final advantage is there are a large number of games and tournaments available. Surprisingly, this casino accommodates those that do not like to travel to find a selection of games. In addition to slot games, VIP Slots has four variants of blackjack, baccarat, Casino Hold’em, Let’em Ride, Tri-Card Poker, Red Dog, roulette and various specialty games. Also, there are daily and freeroll tournaments in slots, video poker, hold’em and blackjack.

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There are a few disadvantages to playing at this casino including:

  • Software only compatible with Windows
  • No banking bonuses

First, software compatibility is a major issue in the casino industry. Since the entire experience is online, by only developing the software to be compatible with Windows, VIP Slots is removing all Mac users from their market. Second, there are no banking bonuses for depositing with specific methods. This is not a major issue but adds a nice touch to the player’s experience.

Overall, VIP Slots is off to an excellent start. They have included the most common features found at successful online gaming sites. As they continue to grow, VIP Slots will add features to greatly improve the online gaming experience.

Utilizing the Gamble Feature in Video Poker

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

Virtually all online video poker variants are accompanied by a gamble game feature. When a player wins a payout in the regular game, the gamble game feature allows them to wager that payout by selecting a color between black and red. If the correct color is selected the player doubles that payout. An incorrect selection equates to a loss of the wager.

Additional Variants

Another variant involves selecting one of the four suits in a deck of cards. If the correct suit is selected the player quadruples the payout. Once again, an incorrect guess equates to a loss of the wager. An additional format involves the dealer being dealt a card face-up and the player must choose one of the face-down cards. If the player’s card is higher, the payout is double or else they lose the stake.

Why add the Side Game?

There is no house edge to the gamble game, so there is no advantage to the player or casino. A question therefore arises as to why the software developer would add this into the game. The answer is simple, to make it more exciting. Since this is an optional game, there is no pressure to wager winnings.

To Play or Not to Play

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Many players decide not to play the gamble game with their winnings. Since the objective is to play video poker, they choose to stick to that game. Many online gaming software providers allow players to disable the gamble game option. Those that do not intend to play should look into this feature.

On the other hand, many players feel as if it is a waste to not play the side game. In multi-hand video poker there is an option to play without overdoing it. In multi-hand video poker an identical hand is bet for every hand played. Therefore the gamble game can be utilized as a method to recoup the lost amount. If won, the player will receive a payout of $1, if lost they will lose all bets wagered.

Another game offered is the perfect gamble game which permits the player to collect half the payout and bet the other half. Therefore the player has the best of both worlds as they have collected a portion of winnings regardless of the outcome of the gamble game. Simultaneously they have the opportunity to multiply a part of those winnings. Of all gamble games, this is the best choice.

The gamble game is an interesting feature that is optional in most online video poker games. Whether to play or not is at the discretion of the player as there is no advantage or disadvantage from playing.

Using Probable Cause

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

Prior to making an arrest, probable cause must be enacted. This is a set of conditions that law enforcement officials feel satisfied prior to making an arrest. The agent must have sufficient evidence in the form of witness testimony, recordings or physical evidence that would convince a rational person that a specific crime was committed by the suspect. Suspicion is not probable cause as it would never hold up in court.

An arrest must abide by the characteristics of the law that is potentially being broken. NRS 465 is a violation that enforces cheating in gambling. Therefore, prior to an arrest for cheating at a casino, the arresting agent must be familiar with the term cheat and have evidence to prove it.

Evidence of cheating according to the law includes:

  • An alteration of the gambling devices that determined the outcome of the game
  • An alteration of the gambling devices that determined the amount of payment in a game
  • An alteration of the gambling devices that determined the frequency of pay in a game

The investigating agent does not make the decision to arrest the suspect. In many cases there is not enough evidence to initially arrest the suspect so the agent completes the investigation and presents the findings to the District Attorney for a warrant. In some cases significant probable cause exists with a lack of evidence. Therefore, the suspect cannot be arrested solely for this purpose.

The casino can make a citizens arrest found in provision NRS 171.126. However, casinos must be careful as they assume all criminal and civil liability when this course of action is pursued.

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When an employee observes a gaming crime that does not endanger life or safety, there are a few specific steps that should be taken. First, the actions of the suspect should immediately be recorded to obtain a clear identity. Second, the employee’s immediate supervisor should be contacted.

Third, a Security Manager should be informed that the employee is watching that individual. Fourth, continue to observer the perpetrator until an investigative agent arrives. At this point hand over the investigation to the agent.

Probable cause gives law enforcement officials the right to make an arrest based on strong evidence. In the casino industry, it is important to have all ducks in a row and keep the communication lines open until an investigative agent arrives and provides direction. This protects the casino from significant loss due to cheating.


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