Roulette Strategy and the Gamblers Fallacy

It’s important when playing roulette that you have a clear mind when it comes to the nature of the game. Unlike games such as poker or blackjack, where your choice of cards can affect your winnings, roulette is purely down to chance. You cannot sway the odds in your favor, and it is complete chance as to where the ball lands. Having a strategy is therefore made practically redundant, and it’s important not to get caught up in the Gamblers Fallacy. This fallacy sets out that there are more probable options of the ball landing in certain places. For example, if the ball lands on the same color consecutively on increasing occasions, many begin to believe that the probability of doing so again decreases. However, this is completely untrue and previous spins will have no effect on later ones, so it is vital to keep a clear head and avoid getting caught up in strategy predictions.

Live and Virtual Experiences

Most online gambling used to be virtual, meaning that when you played, you would be playing against a computer system and a graphically generated image of the wheel. However, an increasing number of live feed opportunities are becoming available, with you able to place bets alongside other gamblers and watch dealer’s place bets and spin a live wheel. This can greatly increase your enjoyment of the game, knowing that the wheel is completely real, rather than a virtually created one. A larger number of establishments are beginning to offer this option, so you’ll be able to play like never before, all within the comfort of your own home.

Live Dealer Benefits

Though you may not have thought about it before, having a live dealer can offer a number of benefits to your roulette game. Gamblers often don’t trust virtual setups, thinking that some numbers are more weighted than others. This uncertainty is removed with a live dealer, giving you more confidence that your win or loss was completely unaffected by wheels and dealers. There can often be far more excitement with a live wheel, allowing you to become more engaged in the thrill than with a virtual setup.

Roulette Betting Options

To get the most from your online roulette experience, it’s important to understand the betting practices. There are two main forms of betting in roulette; those of inside and outside bets. Outside bets are less risky, but the return is not great. Inside bets, meanwhile, offer far more lucrative betting returns, but can be risky to make. For the experienced player there are also roulette call bets, but if you’re a newcomer to the wheel, it is best to first learn the inside and outside bet fundamentals.

Making Inside Bets

If you want to take the risky option, and try to gain the best payouts, then using inside bets are the best option. You should remember that the probability of winning on these wagers is less, so ensure that you have enough bankroll to allow you to play for a while. Inside bets generally use specific numbers or certain areas on the wheel, thereby limiting your chance of winning. A straight up bet can be placed on a single figure, whilst a split bet can be used to cover two horizontally or vertically aligned numbers. Corner bets cover four numbers in a square, whilst street bets will cover one line of three digits. Finally, a six line bet gives you the option of making two neighboring street bets.

Making Outside Bets

If you’re a newcomer to the game, then you’ll probably want to use more outside bets than inside ones to maximize your winnings. Bets of this type allow you cover more of the roulette wheel, and whilst they significantly slash your winnings, they do give you more of chance of making consecutive wins than losses. There are a number of common bets which can be made, including placing a bet on either 1 to 18, or 19 to 36. Another popular outside bet is simply choosing red or black to win, whilst you can also do this with the number values, choosing either odds or evens to win. You can also decrease the coverage of your outside bets, thereby increasing your risk of losing, but offering a more lucrative payout. These can include column bets where you bet on an entire column, or dozen bets where areas of 12 digits can be wagered upon.

Utilizing Combination Play

Like all games, using a range of outside and inside bets is crucial if you want to win big. Whilst outside bets will lessen your risk and allow you to win, your winnings will be small. Likewise, inside bets carry a high risk and though you’ll win big when you get a payout, for much of the time you’ll be throwing your bankroll away. A combination of both bets is therefore crucial to ensure that you get the best opportunity to keep playing and see some lucrative winnings.

Online Roulette

Playing roulette online is a fantastic way of enjoying this popular game from the comfort of your own home. Live feeds allow you to get that vibrant casino atmosphere without having to even step outside your door. And, by understanding and utilizing a range of betting options, you can start your roulette career today!

Connecticut Forum

One of the first states to venture into online gambling is Connecticut, with a forum planned for Thursday February 9^th. Located at the Connecticut legislative office building and organized by State Senator Joan Hartley and Democrats State Representative Stephan Dargan, the meeting will be an opportunity for individuals to gain information about the pros and cons of the industry and what the market could offer both companies and residents. A range of speakers have been invited, including Mohegan Sun Casino’s Chuck Bunnell, Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Bill Satti, Sportech Inc’s Brooks Pierce and Connecticut Lottery Corporation’s Anne Noble. Meanwhile, Carlos Reinoso, the representative from Connecticut on Problem Gambling and Bob Clark, State Attorney General Office’s representative, will also be present.

Connective Governor D. Malloy has already stated that, whether individuals like it or not, online gambling is coming to the state. He revealed that the problem now was to ensure that legislation was created carefully and considerately.

Hawaii Seeks to Create Gambling Corporation

As Connecticut looks set to embrace online gambling, authorities in Hawaii have put forward a bill to the state House to create a gambling regulatory body. The Hawaii Internet Lottery and Gaming Corporation (HILGC), if it goes ahead, will be able to offer online games of skill and chance, ranging from lottery and casino slots to poker games. Whilst real money wagering will only be available for intrastate gambling, the HILGC will also provide free-to-play titles which both residents from Hawaii and visitors to the state will be able to enjoy. In addition, the gambling corporation will be able to host two land based gambling events during each year as a way to attract a number of gambling tourists to the state.

Sponsored by House Speaker Emeritus Joseph Souki, Representative Angus McKelvey and Representative Faye Hanohano, the bill also sets out that the HILGC will have tender its online gaming provider services to a company who can prove that they have haven’t previously offered internet gambling services to American citizens.

Increasing Nevada Casinos Bid for Licenses

It has previously been revealed that many land based casinos in Nevada have already made submissions to have their online gambling activity legalized. Though some casino experts are concerned that the small pool on online gamblers in the state would mean that any internet activity would simply not be viable, this has not stopped bricks and mortar casino owners from putting forward applications.

The latest in this line of application submissions is Fertitta Interactive, who has sought to gain their own online casino license. Fertitta Interactive has a team of experienced gambling experts at its helm, with the company partially owned by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta; the owners of Station Casinos and the Ultimate Fighting Championship brand. Tom Brietling and Tim Poster, previous owners of the Golden Nugget, also have a stake in the company. And, with Fertitta Interactive having bought software provider CyberArts earlier in 2011, they are fully prepared to move into the intrastate online gambling arena.

One of Fertitta Interactive’s founders, Lorenzo Fertitta, spoke of the online gambling regulation, saying that he fully welcomed plans to allow residents to play on the internet. He added that Nevada was known around the world as a leader in gambling regulation, and that they were therefore very happy to file their application within the state. In addition, Fertitta explained that CyberArts had a great track record with complying with global jurisdictions.

Nevada Licenses Gain Steam

The announcement by Fertitta adds to the long line of Nevada based casinos that have already made applications for online gambling licenses to authorities. The extensive list of bricks and mortar venues who have already applied include South Point, Monarch Casino, Caesars Entertainment, Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts. Meanwhile, software provides including IGT, Shuffle Master, Cantor Gaming, 888 Holdings, Bally Technologies and Aristocrat Technologies have also made submissions.

Washington Buck’s the Trend

Whilst many states look into ways that they can start their intrastate online gambling, authorities in Washington are set to buck the trend. Though a previous bill was passed allowing online gambling to go ahead, members at the council have revealed that they plan to repeal the previous Districts proposal for online gaming. Chaired by committee member Jack Evans, individuals will review how the first United States bill for online gambling was passed. There is concern that the bill was included on a mandatory budget bill, and was allowed to pass without discussion. Whilst leading online gambling proponents Marion Barry and Michael A. Brown are set to push for the bill to remain, undecided voter Muriel Bowser and critic David A. Catania could see Washington having to start on their online gambling legislation from scratch if the bill is repealed.

Online Gambling Remains Uncertain

Whilst the hype around intrastate online gambling remains, many are still uncertain on how quickly any bills will be passed. Many casinos were expecting to be able to start operations within the first quarter of the year, allowing their bricks and mortar venues’ to offer gambling online as an entirely new industry. However, there remains a lot of conflict between critics and proponents, meaning that ultimately legislation and legalizing bills will not be pushed through with any speed. And, though many companies and gamblers are chomping at the bit to be able to access their footie games online, it seems that residents may be waiting far longer than a mere few months before they can start gambling from the comfort of their own homes.

1. Do Your Research

Like all other games, it is very important when you’re playing blackjack to have done your research first. You should fully understand the game and applicable rules to ensure that you don’t make costly mistakes. Blackjack is a major revenue winner for online casinos, and this is largely due to player error. And, by understanding the game, you’ll ensure that you can have an error free game to maximize your success.

2. Select the Appropriate Gaming Spot

When you’re playing online blackjack it is essential that you find the right place to play. For beginners this is especially important, as you don’t want to be playing at tables where everyone else has far more experience. Avoid games which cost over 5% of your bankroll to enter, so if you have under $20, do not play in games which cost $1 to enter.

3. Remember 17’s Value

It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of blackjack, but it’s important that you remember that you can’t win with less than 17. If the dealer holds 16 in their hand they legally have to draw another card. This could be an ace, offering them the chance to make a winning hand of 17 if you’ve stayed with a smaller total.

4. Remember Blackjack’s Card Values

If you regularly play table games, then it’s important to ensure that you don’t get card values muddled. In blackjack, cards between two and nine hold their face value. The picture cards of Jack, Queen, King are all valued at 10, whilst the Ace can be used as both a one or an 11.

5. The All Important Ace

The Ace can be a crucial card in your blackjack game, and it is an important piece of your arsenal. Worth both one and 11, it is vital that you remember its versatility so that you can play it accordingly. It can make poor hands suddenly become winners with the simple alteration of a value, and forgetting to utilize your Ace as best you can is a major error.

6. Develop a Blackjack Card Value Strategy

Strategy is a key principle in blackjack as whilst it is chance which cards you get, it is your decisions which determine the final win. It is important to hold good knowledge of a few hand circumstances, offering yourself some obvious choices to play if you’re not willing to take risks. Picture cards and a seven are an obvious stick point, providing you with 17 and offering a win if the dealer hits at 16 and goes bust as a result. However, if 11 is held, you should take another hit. This is essential as, with more tens in the pack than other cards, the odds are in your favor to get a picture card and make blackjack with 21

7. Assess Your Hand

When the cards are first dealt, it’s important to assess your hand and not make rash decisions before accurately calculating a number of possibilities. As mentioned, having some obvious choices to make is crucial so that you don’t have to worry about risks on specific hand values. However, if you have Aces or picture cards, it’s the ideal time to deliberate making a risky move and possibly seeing a blackjack win.

8. Maximize Your Winning Chances

Never forget that your ultimate aim should be to reach 21. Whilst you can often win without reaching this figure, a lapse in concentration could see you thinking you have the upper hand with 19 only to find that the dealer has outstripped you. Play to gain 21, whilst also being conservative in your hand hits to ensure that you don’t go bust too quickly. If you have a low scoring hand, be ready to continue taking hits. But, bear in mind the maximum 10 value which could easily see your winning hand lose.

9. When to ‘Hit’

Blackjack only has two options, that to ‘stand’, or that to ‘hit’. When being dealt, the chances of gaining each card value are undetermined, but your strategy is key once your cards are known. Choosing the ‘stand’ option will see you dealt no more cards, with you having to rely that those in your hand are enough to win the game, or at very least, stop you from going bust. Alternatively, you can take a ‘hit’ as many times as you wish. However, the closer your hand value edges towards 21, the more risky your gameplay becomes. Dealers must ‘hit’ if they’re under 16 and ‘stand’ at 17, so it makes sense that you also follow these rules in a bid to win.

10. Use Betting Returns

The rules of winning in blackjack are fairly simple, as are the rules of the game. You can use betting returns to your advantage, utilizing the knowledge that they provide to guide you on which hands to take risks on, and which not too. For hands where you and the dealer have the same card value, your bet is returned and you lose nothing. If you win against the dealer for any value under 21, normal betting returns offer a like for like win. This means that if you placed $10, you’d win your bet and an additional $10 back. Meanwhile, if you’re lucky enough to hit blackjack, average payouts are 3:2, giving you $15 in winnings if you placed $10, along with your original bet being returned.

1. Find the Best House Edge

All casinos have a house edge whether they’re real world venues or online establishments. House edge is the term which is given to odds which are against your favor, with the larger the house edge number effectively meaning that you are less likely to win. This increases the risk that you’ll lose your bankroll, so when playing Sic Bo at online casinos, it’s important that you use a venue where the house edge is as small as possible and provides you with the least possible risk of losing.

2. Choosing the Best Bets

Whilst there are a range of bets that you can use, the two main forms of Sic Bo wagers that will see you win consistently, are the small and big bets. Various casinos, both online and real world, will have different pay tables, meaning that bets will have different rewards depending on where you’re playing. However, sticking with big and small bets can offer the best chance to maintain a steady and continuous stream of wins. For both small and big bets, the probability of winning is around 48.6per cent. Meanwhile, with a house edge of just 2.78per cent, the odds are really stacked in your favor of winning, providing you with a larger chance of winning. And, by choosing venues with smaller house edges, you can increase your odds further.

3. Play Sic Bo Online

If you’ve played Sic Bo in a real world casino, you’ll already know your craft well. However, you will often find that playing from home actually offers you a better house edge than land based casinos. Sic Bo is essentially a game of chance, with the no way to predict which way the three dice will roll. However, by changing your betting options and choosing options which will give you the best house edge, playing online can significantly help your success.

4. Avoid Foolish Bets

One way to avoid losing money is to make sure that you are careful with you wagers and make sure that you don’t place bets which will always give you high risk. One such example is betting that all three dice show the same number, with the house edge highly against you in these triple number circumstances.

5. Using Big Bets

When you’re using big bets, you can expect to get even money in return. Whilst this won’t make you an instant fortune, it does allow you to slowly increase your winnings over a period of time, meaning that you can build you bankroll in a low risk and steady process. When playing Sic Bo and placing big bets, you are putting a wager on the sum of the three dice between 11 and 17. For example, die 1 equaling 4 or 5, die 2 equaling 6 and die 3 equaling 1 or 4 will offer you winning results if you’ve placed a big bet.

6. Using Small Bets

Like big bets, small bets offer an even return and provide a better chance of winning. With a low house edge and a high probability of getting winning results, you can steadily grow your income and increase you bankroll slowly over time. If you want to use small bets when playing Sic Bo, you should place wagers on the sum of the three dice totaling between 4 and 10. In this case, an example for winning results would be die 1 equaling 2, die 2 equaling 3 or 1 and die 3 equaling 5 or 1.

7. Triple Bet Options

In addition to small and big bets, there are a number of wagering options that are available. This includes the triple bet wager, where the numbers rolled on all three dice are equal. Even if you’re not using this wager, you should be aware of the triple bet, because if three equal numbers show up when you’ve used a small or big bet, you won’t win even returns. This is because the triple bet has its own wager payouts, and if you’re not utilizing these when the triple occurs, you won’t win any money back.

8. Monitor Your Bankroll

Like all gambling, it is vital to keep tabs on your bankroll, and this is especially important when you’re playing online. When you’re playing Sic Bo over the internet it can be very easy to spend more than you’d wanted, especially if you’ve deposited a large amount of funds into your account. Make sure that you don’t use risky bets too much, and stay to small and big bets most of the time so that you can draw odds in your favor and keep making winnings, albeit small ones.

9. Combination Play

If you’re looking for the best success in your online Sic Bo career, you should look to utilize a range of wagers. As mentioned, using small and big bets is one of the best ways to reduce your losses, but you won’t be able to win big overnight. However, using a combination of bets, including the more risky but lucrative triple bet, can offer the greatest chance to significantly increase your bankroll. By researching Sic Bo, practicing, studying and playing the game and using the house edge advantage of online playing, you can ensure that you make positive changes and push your bankroll in the correct direction.

Great Griffin

One of the most previewed Microgaming titles, and a slot which is already expected to be very popular, is the new Great Griffin. Griffin’s are mythological creatures, with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion, which have been respected throughout the ages. Set in an ancient medieval castle, Great Griffin has beautiful illustrations and reels which offer symbols depicting spell books, magic crystals, mysterious plants and potion flasks. The mighty griffin also appears, along with the hooded lady of the castle. Whilst the illustrations are beautiful, Micrograming has also provided some fantastic animations, with one in particular showing the griffin flying throughout the reels and using its razor sharp claws to scratch off random symbols.

Griffin Payouts

Alongside the great new animations and gaming of the new title, you’ll have some chances to win big on Great Griffin. Four rows of symbols offer a total of 50 paylines, with the main game giving a maximum reward of 50,000 coins. In addition, a free spins bonus provides the opportunity to multiply winnings by 10 times, meaning that you could win up to 750,000 coins. Another bonus is also available, with the hooded lady initiating the Pick Me Bonus when she appears on 2, 3 and 4. In this round, you pick one symbol to win all the bonuses, one prize, or the chance to pick again. Meanwhile, if the hooded lady lands on 3, 4 and 5, the free spins are initiated. Here, there are several options, and you can pick 5 spins with a multiplier of 10, 10 spins with a multiplier of 5, or 15 spins with a multiplier of 3. Whilst free spins can be retriggered, there is also the ability to have the Pick Me Bonus initiated whilst you’re using free spins, with the Great Griffin applying multipliers to the bonus round wins in this case.

Great Griffin Availability

As Microgaming’s new titles are rolled out in February, many websites will be able to utilize the new games. Many are holding Great Griffin in high esteem, predicting that it will be a popular game in 2012 because of its use of varying winning combinations, including Free Spins, Wilds, Extra Wilds, Multipliers and Scatters. And, with all Fortune Lounge casinos including 7 Sultans, Vegas Villa and Platinum Play all offering the game, its availability will be wide.

New Atomic 8s Power Spins

In addition to Great Griffin, Microgaming will also be unveiling Atomic 8s Power Spins. The title is a rework of Microgaming’s popular Sonic 7s which utilized a Power Spins feature, and is likely to see new and old fans alike, flock to the game for a chance to win. Like the classic Sonic 7s, Microgaming’s new slot utilizes the classic three reel slot for its gaming genre. However, icons have been altered so, unlike Sonic 7s where the classic bells, bars and cherries are colored with a cold blue, they have their natural colors to grip gamers more easily. Another important change, and an obvious one to make, is that the 7s have been replaced with 8s for a novel twist.

Simple Slot Play for Atomic 8s

Unlike many of the modern slots, which can be confusing to play due to the large numbers of icons, animations and win options, Atomic 8s is very easy to play. Whilst many modern fans have been lured by the newer titles and their glitz and glamour, if you prefer the older and more traditional reels, Atomic 8s Power Slots is ideal. There are only nine paylines in Atomic 8s however, with scatter and line payouts available after every spin providing a game which will be a welcome change from titles with constant bonus round and free spin distractions.

Atomic 8s Symbols

Most of the symbols keep to traditional influences in Atomic 8s, and the title’s own logo acts as the wildcard symbol. It substitutes itself for other symbols, and can appear on any reel, therefore offering you the opportunity to gain payouts whenever it appears. In addition, the Atomic 8s symbol offers its own line payout, and if you get five logos in a row you can get 8,000 coins. Meanwhile, the scatter symbol is provided by the Radioactive image. When five symbols appear on the reels in any placement, 300 coins are won which are multiplied by the total bet.

Power Spins Substitute Bonus Games

Though Atomic 8s has nothing in the way of bonus games or free spins, it does have a Power Spins mode. This can more than make up for the absence of the more modern slot additions, providing you with a great chance to win big. Not an automatic feature, you must actively choose this option when you place your bets; a decision which then enables all paylines and initiates an additional wager which is the sum of 3 times the original line bet. Following the popular principle of Sonic 7s, where using the Power Spins options changed wild symbols into multipliers of 2, Atomic 8s sees the same payouts provided. However, symbols can be aligned both left to right, and right to left, offering you the double the chances to get a winning combination.

Atomic 8s Availability

Like Great Griffin, Atomic 8s will not be available until the first week in February. At this time, it become available at a wide range of Microgaming online casinos, with February 8^th seeing it released at venues such as Gaming Club, Golden Riviera, Mummy’s Gold and 7 Sultans.

Earn Spending Money and Bonuses at Bodog

If you want to maximize the amount of money that you have to play with, then you need look no further than Bodog Casino. Here, you could gain up to £1,000 in extra spending money and an additional £225 in bonuses, making it hugely worthwhile to utilize this casino’s January offer. The process is easy, and all you have to do is use coupon codes when you’re wagering on either Slots Games or Table Games; a process which will earn you lucky draw tickets. The lucky draw offers ten individual prizes of £100, and a top winning of £1,000, making it well worthwhile to use the coupon codes and hedge your bets for the ultimate luck.

Three Weeks of January

Bodog Casino’s lucky draw lasts throughout January, and each of the weekly codes which are redeemed will provide one lucky draw ticket. This means that if you play every week, you have three chances to win the lucky draw, offering you a huge winning with which to play games for free and push your luck to winning top jackpots. You can also withdraw the money if you want, giving you a little treat for the start of February.

Bodog’s Promotional Schedule

Bodog Casino’s first promotional week takes place between the 11^th and 17^th of January. Bonuses on Table Games and Slots Games are 25per cent and 50per cent respectively, giving you the chance to maximize your money up to £25 and £50 in each case. During the 18^th to 24^th January, Bodog’s second week of its promotion, you’ll be able to make increased bonuses. Playing Slots Games will provide 75per cent increase, with a maximum of £75, whilst Table Games will provide a 50per cent bonus, with a maximum of £50 available. And, if you really want to excel in your bonus stakes, playing between the 25^th and 31^st January will give you 75per cent and 100per cent bonuses with similar maximum values for Table Games and Slots Games respectively.

Required Wagering

Like most bonus schemes, there are wagering requirements that you’ll need to meet before you can take advantage of your free cash. If you’re playing Table Games you’ll need to ensure that you are wagering 40 times that of the bonus sum in addition to percentage deposit which is equal to the bonus. Meanwhile, this figure is 25 times that of the bonus for Slots Games, making it vital to ensure that you use the correct wagers so you don’t miss out. Meanwhile, you must redeem coupons before you start betting, and you must complete wagering on all coupons before you can start to use the next one.

Virgin Casinos January Promotion

A great alternative to Bodog’s January lucky draw and bonus scheme is Virgin Casino’s New Year’s Revolution promotion. A whopping £35,000 is on offer here, with you able to gain points on every game played between the 9^th and 29^th January. If you end up one of the casinos top 218 players at the end of the promotional period, you’ll take home a share of the £35,000 prize fund.

Holiday Prizes

In addition to you being able to win a share of the £35,000 cash fund, there is also ample opportunity to score points and win vacations. Due to the start of the New Year you may well be already looking at possible vacation destinations for the upcoming year, but Virgin Casino has already provided some top prize to whisk you on your way. At the end of the month, the player with the most points over 450,000 will get either £5,000 in cash or a holiday for two to Monte Carlo for seven luxurious nights. Second place will go the winner next on the leader board with over 270,000 points, giving them either £3,000 in cash or a holiday for two on a luxury Mediterranean cruise for a week. Third place will go to a player with more than 180,000 points, offering a weekend away for two in romantic Venice or £2,000 in cash. Meanwhile, the other cash prizes range between £25 and £1,000.

Required Wagering

To collect points and place yourself on the leader board, there are certain wagering requirements that you must meet. Before starting to play, you must ‘opt in’ to the promotion, whereupon every £10 bet will give you a variety of points depending on the games which are played. Instant win, scratch cards and slots will provide 12 points, whilst 6 points will be awarded if you’re playing jackpot slots. Table games, video poker and roulette will earn you 2 points, whilst all slots with bonus rounds and blackjack games will gain 0.5 points. If you have any confusion, the casino has helpfully listed all the games eligible next to the points earned, offering you an easy way of knowing exactly which games to play for maximum points benefit.

Double Points

Another great way of getting points will be to take notice of Virgin Casino’s double points, which will be available on specific games as the week’s change. Between the 16^th and 22^nd January, Andre the Giant, Superman and Wonder Woman will get double points, whilst Big Foot, Grand Monarch and Crazy Slots will gain the double promotion between January 23^rd and January 29^th. And, if you’re looking for a way to maximize your chances of gaining prize wins this January, Virgin’s double point’s scheme could easily push you up the leader board.

1. Understand the Basics

Like all games, it’s vital to know the game rules inside out before you start playing. Both in the online and real world environments, not knowing how a game works can result in your making errors and silly mistakes. This could result in large losses on your part, which could have been avoided if you’d taken the time to read the rules. The online environment means that you can always have a copy of the rules with you, so there is no excuse for making mistakes which could have been avoided.

2. Choosing Your Online Casino

Though you may not think it, having the correct online casino can pay dividends. Research possible casinos thoroughly, and don’t start high rolling until you’ve been playing at a venue for a while and understand how it works. Using baccarat sign up bonuses can help your starting bankroll significantly, and by trusting your casino and knowing the website well, you’ll be able to concentrate on your game.

3. Baccarat Card Values

It’s important to realize that when you’re playing baccarat, some card values are different from many other table games. Unlike poker or black jack, where the picture cards such as Jack, Queen, King are worth 10, in baccarat they are worthless. Cards two to nine are worth their face value, whilst the Ace is worth one at all times. Varying suits makes no difference either, limiting your focus to just the cards between two and nine.

4. Baccarat Hand Values

With baccarat card values being very different from other games, it’s important to ensure that you know how the hand values are calculated. Baccarat is a game where you bet on whose hands of two cards will be closest to the value of nine, so the only sum needed is the addition of two cards per hand. From two to nine this is simple, and whereupon a value goes over nine, 10 is subtracted. This means that a sum of 12 would become two, and a sum of 15 would become five. A value of nine is known as a ‘natural’, and is the game’s winning hand.

5. Understanding Bets – The Bankers Bet

There are three bets within the baccarat game, and you’ll need to understand all of them to ensure success. Normally associated with the lowest house edge, the banker bet is a popular way for people to play to maximize their chances. Odds are pulled in the bankers favor due to the card drawing requirements, and so you’ll often find that you can win by following this course of betting. However, due to the increased odds, a five per cent commission is required, and so you always need to ensure you factor this into your bankroll.

6. The Player Bet

There is not much difference between the bankers bet and the players bet, only that you will be wagering against the dealer if you take this option. The odds can still be good for the players bet, but do not exceed the bankers bet. However, there is no commission on winning wagers, and so you can win with pays of 1 to 1.

7. The Tie Bet

The final bet in baccarat is the tie bet; a wager which notes the most risk, but pays out the most lucratively. The tie bet is used to wager that both the bankers and players hands will have the same value, and therefore neither be closer or further away from nine than one another. With the house edge being more than 15per cent for the tie bet, the probability of actually getting it is low. However, with a pay of 8 to 1, you could make some lucrative wins by using this third wager on occasion.

8. Understand the Probabilities

Much of baccarat is about understanding the probabilities of the card values being seen. With only three bets, learning the outcomes are very easy, and it shouldn’t be long before you know exactly what to expect. On the player hand, the house edge is normally 1.35per cent, whilst the bankers hand is 1.17per cent. The house edge rockets to 14per cent for tie bets, simply because the probability of two hands matching is small.

9. Utilize the House Edge to Your Advantage

It’s vital when you play at casinos, that you utilize the house edge to any advantage that you can. The term ‘House Edge’ relates to how likely it is that a casino will win, and it is therefore crucial in terms of where to play, what to play, and how much to bet. Most online casinos will clearly outline their house edge for baccarat bets, and you’ll be able to make an informed decision before you start playing.

10. Use Baccarat Wagers Effectively

If you want to succeed in baccarat then there is little point in only using tie bets. Whilst you could stand to win the most, the probabilities of gaining consistent wins are very low, and you’ll find your bankroll diminishing quickly. With the bankers bet noting the most favor, it is recommended that you use the bet the majority of the time. But, by using a mix of all three bets, you can ensure that you’re not missing out on possible opportunities to make more money.

UK Seek Online Gambling Direction

In the UK, the United Kingdom Parliamentary Select Committee for Culture, Media and Sport are currently having talks in relation to online gambling regulation. With the objective to give the industry some direction of how to regulate the online world, there is particular interest from Gibraltar and Alderney due to the island’s being able to operate and advertise within the British Isles but avoid UK taxes. However, with the UK considering secondary licensing, both islands would discover direct regulations changes, with the spokespeople for each destination having opposing views.

Alderney Authority for Tighter Regulations

In Alderney, the spokesman for the Alderney Gaming Control Authority revealed that they wanted to tighten regulations with immediate affect. Andre Wilsenach said that licensee operations needed to be very carefully assessed before given the go ahead, particularly due to the island’s Full Tilt Poker having been found in violation of its license conditions last year. Alderney’s gambling authority suggested that licensees should be given a risk factor, determined by their financial processing arrangements, the licensing jurisdiction that they were under, where the operators did business and a number of other factors. This would allow online operators with a higher risk to be more closely regulated by auditors, with venues paying the costs of having quarterly auditing conducted.

Gibraltar Concerned with UK’s Lack of Experience

Whilst Alderney calls for more regulation, a spokesman for the Gibraltar Gambling Commission, Philip Brear, said that the island was disappointed with UK’s lack of experience. Whilst the UK and Gibraltar have established a gambling relationship, Brear stated that it had not been as productive as hoped for and that, because the UK Gambling Commission had far less regulatory experience than Gibraltar, regulatory changes being talked about could be restrictive.

Gambling Prevalence Statistics

Meanwhile, whilst the talks continue over the direction that UK gambling operating regulations should take, the Gambling Commission has revealed its latest statistics for gambling prevalence. Whilst the UK online gambling market was worth around £1.9bn in 2010, it was shown that most people gamble at overseas establishments. Just one third of those who gambling online use British websites, with the past two years seeing a 19per cent fall in casino games and casino because many UK brands have moved offshore.

U.S Stand on Intrastate Gambling

Meanwhile, in America, concerns have been raised over the legislation of intrastate online gambling. On December 23^rd, 2011, it was revealed that the Department of Justice (DoJ) was considering that intrastate online gambling could be legalized. The gambling industry welcomed this news, with six or so states believing that they would be able to have operations up and running by midway through 2012. However, with only three weeks passed since the DoJ’s comments, many experts are now saying that the authorities view may be far too simplistic, and there is still a long way to go before online gambling can see an American resurge.

Cautionary Note from Gaming Analyst

One of the first notes of concern came from Deutsche Bank gaming analyst, Andrew Zarnett. Preparing a report on the change in online gambling legislation to show investors, Mr. Zarnett expressed that the intrastate legalization had been misplaced and hyped-up by those who wanted to push the changes through. He made it clear to investors that the only change was that there would be a discussion on intrastate gambling, instead on having uncertainly whether talks would occur at all. He added that there had been no clear indication on the forms of gambling which could be legalized, nor how long the legislation process would take. Zarnett also referred to history as showing that, if legislation goes ahead, it is likely to be on a state-by-state basis.

Nevada Attorney Speaks Up

In one of America’s most notorious state’s for gambling, gaming attorney in Las Vegas, Jennifer Carleton, said that the announcement by the DoJ was a step forward to regulating online gambling, even though there were still concerns surrounding the issue. Ms Carleton urged parties to be proactive, attentive and alert in their response to the December findings, though warned that future discussion by the DoJ could reverse the interpretation that many made of the statement made in 2011. For Nevada, steps have already been made to fast tack legislation should it go through, with online poker regulations already being approved on December 22^nd, 2011, in an effort to being intrastate gambling as soon as allowed. Mark Lipparelli, Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman, revealed that ten casino operators, manufacturers and equipment providers had already put in license applications, adding that the time it would take to issue the licenses was unclear.

South Point A Major Player

One such license request was from South Point Hotel Casino and Spa. Owner Michael Gaughan already operates an online free-play poker website, allowing players to win noncash and cash prizes which include South Point casino trips, where winners can indulge in love poker events. However, Mr. Gaughan has said that he believes intrastate gambling will not be possible for many states with small populations, especially Nevada. Here, online poker rooms would not be able to create enough money for viability, making interstate gambling vital.

Online Gambling Uncertainty

There remains a huge amount of uncertainly surrounding online gambling legislation in the US, even when it comes to intrastate possibilities. Whilst the DoJ’s latest remarks may have been welcomed by many gambling authorities, there remains a long way to go before operations become available for consumer use. And, though many may have seen fit to put through bills to get online operations working as quickly as possible, it may be many months before anything materializes.

Golden Palace’s Lucky Player

At online casino Golden Palace, it was revealed that one player won big on not just one title, but two. In a single day the player, known as Ann S., won more than $400,000 by playing two slots titles and noting huge payouts. Starting on the $5 Million Winning Streak, the player from Bermuda won almost $100,000, before moving on and trying her luck at Desert Treasure where gold chests appeared time after time, summing up to a total of $302,700.

Administrative Assistant Wins Big

Working as an administrative assistant, Ann was congratulated by the casino after her big win, revealing that though she’d been enjoying the thrill of online slots for almost two years, she’d never won large amounts of money. After seeing that her niece had been enjoying the available titles at Golden Palace, Ann decided to create her own account and start playing. Talking of the $400,000 that she’d won, Ann said that she’d like to join a co-worker on a trip to Panama later this year. She also explained that she planned to offer friends and family some of the winnings, whilst putting some aside to use as savings. Meanwhile, when asked whether she’d had a particular strategy for playing on both Desert Treasure and $5 Million Winning Streak, she replied that she’d just been lucky.

Winning Titles

Having won such large amounts on the $5 Million Winning Streak and Desert Treasure titles, it’s unsurprising that both of the games are likely to see renewed enthusiasm from players. Desert Treasure is set amidst a sandy location, with symbols including a camel, oasis, creepy crawly high value cards, and an Arab. An image of a girl is the scatter symbol, the wild symbol is shown by a golden snake and the map symbol opens up the lucrative bonus round. $5 Million Winning Streak meanwhile is a video slot game themed around sports. It features a range of streaks, including the Beckham Ball, Super Bowl Streak, Skating Streak, Olympic Streak, Boxing, Rodman Streak and US Open Streak. Paying out a top jackpot of 1,000,000 coins, there is also a bonus game triggered by three bags of cash where bonus prizes can be won.

Lords of the Rings Sees Progressive Win

Whilst one player saw huge success at Golden Palace online casino by winning two big payouts within one day, another gambler hit the Lord of the Rings progressive jackpot and walked away with £1,965,956.46. Linked into the Mega Moolah network, 28^th December 2011 saw the almost 2 million jackpot drop back to 1 million, as Susan C. enjoyed a life changing win at Fortune Lounge.

Mega Moolah Network

Microgaming’s network of progressive jackpots includes four popular and well played titles including Mega Moolah itself, Summertime, 5 Reel Drive and Isis. However, they have recently added the new The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring title (LOTR) for all Microgaming online casino players to take advantage of.

Updated LOTR

In the summer of 2011 there was a large amount of industry speculation about the release of a LOTR themed update following the story of the epic novel. However, whilst many thought that the second part of Microgaming’s LOTR titles was going to be unveiled, the software developer actually revealed that they had simply updated their original title; one important update being that the game was going to be linked into the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot. It’s newly linked feature resulted in the popular online slot seeing an ever increasing number of customers who want to enjoy JRR Tolkein’s popular story whilst also knowing that they could walked away with millions.

Having been linked to the Mega Moolah network, LOTR functions in the same way in respect to winning. When the Bonus Wheel is randomly triggered the player is guaranteed a lucrative win based on four possible jackpots. Upon the wheel spinning, the player then waits to see which color wins, walking away with the jackpot that is corresponds too, with the Mega jackpot linked to white and offering millions in its payout value. Though a statement has yet to be issued, with Susan winning almost £2m, it is expected that she is overjoyed with the huge win.

Mega Moolah Slots

The win on LOTR shows just how lucrative the Mega Moolah slots network can be. After the updated LOTR titles was released at the end of last summer the progressive jackpot soared to more than 3.8 million as fans of the title started pumping cash into the even growing payout pot. This was eventually won in October 2011 by someone playing Mega Moolah, resulting in the jackpot resetting to 1 million. Whilst this is already climbing, having now reached 1,012,400, all eyes will now be on the Major Millions progressive jackpot which currently stands at 1,777,250.

Profitable Progressives

Whilst winning on progressive jackpots seems highly unlikely, players around the world continue to win huge sums of cash by simply enjoying popular games which feed into the Mega Moolah network. On its own, LOTR is a popular title which offers a huge amount of enjoyment for its players. Linked into the progressive network, however, it offers even more of a lure for players wanting to hit the big time. Even for slots not enjoying progressive jackpot possibilities, wins can be big as shown by Desert Treasure and $5 Million Winning Streak. And, if you’re enjoying online slots, your own huge win could come at any time.

1. Choice of Casino

You may not think that your choice of casino is particularly important, but it can be crucial for your enjoyment and possible winnings. It’s important that you research casinos before you start to deposit large amounts of cash, and ensure that each venue has a range of games you’d want to play. Even if you’re looking for your favorite title, choose an online establishment which has a range of attractive games so you’re not stuck playing just one title. Looking at casino based winnings is also important so that you can be sure gamblers are actually getting the payouts that you’re looking for.

2. Make Use of Bonuses

With a large number of online casinos wanting you to play at them, there are various promotions which you can utilize to maximum your playing money. Many venues offer sign up bonuses including giving you free money to play with, or free spins on certain games. If a venue is offering 100per cent bonus, it means they’ll match your deposit with the same amount of credits. Use these to your advantage so that you can deposit as little as possible but still have a large bankroll to play with.

3. Don’t be Dazzled by Glitzy Games

Many of the modern digital slots games are very glitzy, and use stunning animations and sounds to grip you. However, whilst the title may be entertaining, it might not actually payout very much, leading to lose large amounts of money in the blink of an eye. Be careful to only play on games where you have increased odds of winnings, because it can be very easy to get dazzled by beautiful graphics only to find your bankroll diminished within minutes.

4. Set a Bankroll

It’s important when playing online that you set yourself a bankroll and keep to it. With you easily able to top up your account and keep playing as much as you wish, you can move through a bankroll pretty quickly. So, for each gambling session, set yourself a bankroll and stick to it so that you don’t find yourself getting into gambling debt and spending more than you wanted to.

5. Decide Wager Limits

Alongside setting your bankroll, it’s important that you decide on wager limits so as to maximize your gaming time. The more you gamble, the quicker you’ll go through your bankroll, so if you don’t have much money to play with, limit your wagers so you can enjoy gambling as long as possible. A smaller wager may not give you maximum winnings, but it will mean that you can play for longer.

6. Utilizing Progressive Jackpots

Progressive jackpots are one way to win big, and the lucky winners of these prizes often walk away with millions of dollars. However, to qualify for progressive jackpots you will often have to play maximum bets, so you need to be prepared for dropping some large amounts of cash. However, there is no reason that you can’t incorporate maximum bets into your daily bankroll, playing a few here and there to give you a chance at winning millions. If you can afford it, you can play maximum bets all the time, but it can be better to intersperse them with a more controlled betting strategy.

7. Research Games

Before you start gambling online slots too much, it’s a good idea to research a few titles first. New games are always being released, and by reading through news and information on different games you’ll not only be able to find the ones which you’ll enjoy playing the most, but will discover which have the best payout options for you specific needs. Don’t be too quick to rush in because it is here that mistakes can be made.

8. Minimize Errors

Whilst winnings on slots are purely down to luck, there are some mistakes which can easily be made. Always be aware of what bonus rounds entail so that you don’t accidently slip up and lose out on the opportunity to win big when these extra games appear. Meanwhile, be careful when you’re placing bets so that you don’t accidently bet too much or too little. This could have devastating results, especially if you hit the jackpot on a game where you meant to have put in a higher wager and therefore would have won more money.

9. Sign Up For Newsletters

When you start playing at a particular casino, make sure that you sign up for its newsletter. Though you may not want junk filling up your inbox, casinos can offer very lucrative promotions and offers on certain titles from time to time. By having the information sent directly to your email, you can ensure that you make use of double points, extra winnings or prize draw entry schemes so that you have every opportunity to make your gambling career or hobby profitable.

10. Have Fun

Whenever you’re gambling online there will be times when you lose money. It’s important to remember part of playing slots is the fun of the title, the adrenalin of wagering some money, and the thrill of winning. If you lose a little, don’t be too disheartened. As long as you are considered in your bankroll and only play with what you can afford to lose, you should remember that slot play is fun and any wins are the extra icing on the cake.