Online Casino Spotlight

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

Many online casino games are merely based on chance while others actually require skill and strategy.  The chance games offer the appeal of simplicity as all you do is click a few buttons and hope that you are lucky enough to win.  Some of the most popular examples are slots and roulette.   Players who opt for these games are often intimidated by their more strategic counterparts.  If you have been hesitant to play the more skillful casino games, we are here to tell you that a little strategy could be worth your while.

Common Strategy Games

There are quite a few online games that require strategy, with blackjack and the many types of poker being among the most commonly played.  So why would you want to pick up a more difficult game when you can easily play something simple?  There are mainly two reasons.  First off, strategy games tend to be more intriguing because they offer more of a challenge.  Perhaps the most important is reason is that these games have a payout percentage that is considerably higher than many chance games.  If you gamble online with the intent of winning money, this should give you all the incentive to step your game up.

Blackjack

Blackjack is often considered to be one of the most complex casino games that involve strategy.  This is because the player is constantly forced to make decisions and those choices increase in importance with each draw of the cards.  For example, not only do you have to choose whether to hit or stand, you also have to consider more advanced options such of splitting, doubling down, surrendering, and taking up insurance on your bet.  This is just the traditional game of blackjack.  There are many variations of the game and the strategy varies and can become more complex with each version.

Poker

Most types of poker require strategy as well.  This is especially the case with the popular variant known as Pai Gow.  In a game of Pai Gow poker, the player receives seven cards.  While there are many decisions that need to be made, the major element of strategy involved is managing two hands: a two-card hand, and a five-card hand.  The conditions that apply to these hands are often what intensify the importance of having a good strategy.  A certain level of skill is also required in other commonly played variants such as Texas Hold ‘em, Let it Ride and Red Dog.  It may not sound very intricate, but it is important for players to know when to adjust their bets, when to call, and when to fold.  The good thing is that this is skill that can be learned by simply playing and understanding how to analyze probable outcomes.

Strategic Features

Some online casinos offer features that make it a bit easier for players to apply sound strategy in skilled based games.  These features even benefit the chance player as they can wager in comfort with the reassurance that they will not blow their bankroll by making a bad decision.

When signing up for an online casino account, all players are required to accept an end user agreement, a form of documentation that contains all the terms and conditions under which you are allowed to play.  Some of this information is relevant to details about banking and transferring money to your casino account.  As a new player, you should read these terms and conditions to make sure you understand them before accepting the agreement.  This article will explain why.

Key Terms and Conditions

It is important to know that by accepting the end user agreement, you are authorizing the online casino to impose certain stipulations and obligations upon you.  For one, you must confirm that you are the legitimate owner of the money being placed in the account for wagering, meaning you can’t place bets with someone else’s credit card.  You should also know that this agreement frequently states that while you may place wagers immediately, you are not allowed to withdraw funds until your credit card company has confirmed the transaction.  This isn’t necessarily the fault of the online casino, but it is still something you need to consider.

Violation of the Agreement

If you violate any of the terms and conditions outlined in the end user agreement, whether they are related to wagering or banking issues, it could end up having a negative affect on the funds in your online casino account.  Should your account be suspended or deactivated for any reason, note that the agreement often states that the casino operator can withhold any contested payments, whether they are in the form of refunds, deposits or bonuses.  This is permission you give them when accepting the end user agreement.  If you happen to owe the online casino money, the operator is authorized by you to take various actions to get it.  A worst case scenario would involve them calling upon third-party collection agencies to recover the debt.

Dormant Accounts

One important condition that lies in the end user agreement relates to dormant casino accounts.  Some players sign up with multiple casinos, playing at one for a while and then venturing off to several others before coming back; if they return at all.  Quite a few players even leave money in their account that is owed to them.  This is why many casinos specify that a player has up to six months to withdraw money if their account is lying dormant and they are not participating at the casino.  Once this period ends, that money is no longer yours.  Since you accepted the end user agreement, you agreed to forfeit the funds and hand them over to the casino.  Operators have a reason for doing this, and it is primarily because maintaining casino accounts is a part of their operating expense.  If you are not putting yours to use, then they are not making any money from it.

Conclusion

You must only read and digest the end user agreement one time.  This does not have to be a hassle as it can be a fast and simple process.  In any event, you should definitely make sure you read and understand it before wagering at any online casino.

Baccarat is the most popular casino game among high rollers and whales. Baccarat is usually played in a separate roped off area in the casino. While it is portrayed as a game for the wealthy and well to do, the basics of the game aren’t too difficult to learn.

The basics of Baccarat

Baccarat or Punto Banco is a card game of chance. The standard playing table in the game is about the same size as a craps table. In the game, there are only two principal wagers to make. The bet will be on either the player (punto) or the bank (banco).

The value of hands in baccarat are unique but simple. In the game, cards 2-9 are worth face value. Tens, jacks, queens and kings all have a value of zero. The ace cards have a value of one. When hands are calculated, the tens digit is not included. So, the scores in baccarat range from a low of zero to a high of nine. Ironically, the baccarat name is derived from the worst hand (zero) in the game.

In North American baccarat, the casino banks the game. At the beginning of the game, two cards are dealt face down in alternate fashion. The initial card is dealt to the player. Then, the results of the two cards for the player and banker are revealed. Depending on the hands of each participant, the player and banker can either stand pat or draw another card. The highest hand will win the game.

A structured game

The game has some set procedures on when the player and bank must stand or draw. If either participant has a value of 8 or 9 from their first two cards, they must stand pat. For other initial outcomes, there are rules in place on whether a participant must stand or draw.  Here is a breakdown of what is required from the player and banker based on certain outcomes from their initial two cards:

• If the player has a total of 0-5, he will draw one card. If he has a total of 6 or 7, he will stand.

In turn, the banker’s play will be determined by the player’s hand. This will be based on whether the player drew a card, and on what card the player drew.

• If the player did not draw, the banker will draw if he has 0-5, and stands at 6-7.
• If the player draws a 2 or 3, the banker will draw if he has 0-4, and stands at 5-7.
• If the player draws a 4 or 5, the banker draws if he has 0-5, and stands at 6-7.
• If the player draws a 6 or 7, the banker draws if he has 0-6, and stands at 7.
• If the player draws an 8, the banker draws if he has 0-2, and stands at 3-7.
• If the player draws an ace, 9, 10, jack, queen or king, the banker draws if he has 0-3, stands at 4-7.

Finally, bettors are required to pay a 5% commission for winning wagers on the banker because it has been determined that over 8-decks of play, the banker will usually win three of four more hands than the player.

Poker can seem to be an overwhelming game for those who have never played it. Many have only seen the game on TV in the various major tournaments that are broadcast. Poker’s growth has been unmistakable over the last decade as beginners continue to learn and play in casinos and online.

The basics of Poker

Poker is derived from a family of card games. The games varies in how hands are formed, how cards are dealt, limits on bets, as well as how many rounds of wagering are allowed. In the initial round, the betting starts with some form of a forced wager. These wagers play a big role in the outcome of poker games. Because of this, poker is a game that involves some unique strategy when compared to some other casino games that are based strictly on chance. Each successive player must match the initial wager or fold from the remainder of the hand. They also have the option of raising the hand. Savvy poker players can bluff their opponents with certain moves or non-moves by remaining unemotional regardless of their hand. The betting round concludes when each player has matched the last wager or folded. If all but one player folds during the course of any given round, the remaining player wins without showing his hand. If more than a single player remains in contention after the last round of betting, all hands are then shown and the winning hand collects the pot.

Winning poker hands

While there are some variations depending on the exact poker game that is being played, there is a general order of poker hands that will lead to a victory. Here is a basic list of the top ten winning poker hands:

1. Five of a kind-This hand features four cards of the same kind plus a wild card. If multiple players have five of a kind, the player with the higher value cards will win.

2. Straight flush-A straight flush is a hand of any five cards in sequence of the same suite. A royal flush occurs when an ace is the highest card in the straight.

3. Four of a kind-The same as a five of a kind with one fewer card.

4. A full house-This hand features three cards of one kind combined with two cards of a different kind.

5. A flush-In this hand, the player holds only cards of the same suite.

6. A straight-This hand features five cards in sequence but of different suites.

7. Three of a kind-A lower version of five of a kind and four of a kind.

8. Two pairs-This hand features two cards of one rank combined with two cards from another rank.

9. A pair-A hand with two cards of one rank.

10. A high card-In this hand, no two cards have the same rank.

With a basic understanding of whether to bet or fold and the main winning hands in the sport, poker newcomers aren’t too far away from being able to feel like one of the elite professional players that they see each year playing for millions of dollars at the World Series of Poker.

They are a staple of casinos throughout the world. Dozens of the “one-armed bandits” are filtered throughout the casino floor. The sounds of slot machine activity in a casino are non-stop. While there are numerous games to play in every casino, the slot machines are the ultimate revenue generators for most casino operators. About 70 percent of the average casino’s income is generated through slot machines.

The slot machine is a rather basic concept. A button is pushed to spin three or more reels. A player wins when a certain combination of symbols show up on the reels. So, how did this basic game became a goldmine for casinos?

Earliest machines date back to 19th century

The first slot machines were developed in the final decade of the 19th century. In 1891, the Sittman and Pitt company in Brooklyn, New York produced a machine that would become a precursor for future slot machines. Their machine was based on poker. It contained five drums with a total of fifty cards. With the help of poker’s popularity, the machines began to show up in bars throughout New York City. However, there was a significant drawback for Sittman and Pitt’s invention. There was no payout mechanism built into the machine. The establishments that used the machines would offer their patrons various items, if the player received a winning hand. The players were usually paid with drinks, food or cigars to reward winning hands.

It didn’t take long for someone to develop a machine that included a payout mechanism. In 1895, Charles Fey invented a machine that was a little more advanced than the one developed by Sittman and Pitt. Fey’s machine made it far easier to calculate a win. His machine featured five symbols instead of fifty cards. Fey substituted the five drums with three reels. This made it far more easier to calculate payout mechanisms. The symbols used by Fey were diamonds, hearts, horseshoes, spades and a cracked Liberty Bell. This led to his invention being called the “Liberty Bell” machine.

Fey’s initial slot machine was quite unique. It was made of over 100 pounds of cast iron. The payout of fifty cents for three Liberty Bells was a high reward at the time.

Modern machines took shape in the 1960’s

While slot machines continued to grow and evolve in the first half of the 20th century, there were still some elements that were lacking. In the early 1960’s, the Bally’s corporation came up with a significant new slot machine. Their “Money Honey” slot device became the first slot machine to be completely electromechanical. While the mechanical slot machines had several issues to deal with, the new electric machines proved to be more reliable and secure. The upgraded machine included a bottomless hopper (the holder into which coins get paid out) with automatic payouts of up to 500 coins.

The slot machine technology has continued into the 21st century with several more advances for players to explore when gambling at casinos or online.

When it comes to online gambling, both new and avid players will require aid from the casino’s customer support team at one time or another.  Indeed, you do not want to bother the operator’s staff for every little thing, but it is good to know that someone is around to help in your time of need.  If you are looking for an online casino to gamble at, this article will let you know why live chat is one of the most important customer support features that needs to be considered.

Cost Efficient and Effective

There are two qualities an online casino must possess.  First and foremost, the support staff should be available whenever you need them in some form or another.  It should also be freely available to the customer.  Support that is either unresponsive or costly is of no use to the customer.  Keep in mind that online casinos add the cost for support in their average payout percentages so there should be no need for you to pay extra for it.  While support can be delivered in many ways, there is only one method that has the ability to effectively meet both qualities: live chat.

The Downside of Traditional Methods

At one time, telephone was the preferred method of support for online gamblers.  Unfortunately, toll-free phone is an option primarily limited to locations such as the United States and Europe, leaving players from other countries to pay for support and thus, increase the overall cost of gambling online.  Another drawback to telephone support stems from the fact that it can be rather time consuming.  Because the typical conversation often involves the exchange of confidential information, the support agent must take more time asking questions to verify that they are speaking with a legitimate casino account owner.  The verification process can be very cumbersome, aggravating and costly if a player if forced to pay for that time.  Live chat eliminates these problems by allowing the player and support representative to chat online in real time and exchange sensitive details over a secure encrypted connection.

Email is another support method that while effective, fails to fulfill the requirements the player needs to feel content.  Obtaining support via email usually will not cost you a thing but the average response time tends to be less than desirable.  In many cases, the queue contains a ton of messages that must be addressed and most casinos let players know that they must wait up to 24 hours to receive a response.  Depending on the situation, 24 hours may be time you cannot afford to waste, especially when problems regarding the gaming software arise or more serious issues such as payments not being recorded.

Getting the Best Support Possible

Live chat makes a perfect alternative to the disadvantages of phone and email support.  Because live chat does not guarantee quality support, it is up to the player to seek out a reliable casino site that will be able to assist them in their time of need.  In fact, it would be wise to find yourself an operator that offers support in the form of live chat as well as phone and email to ensure that you can be serviced efficiently from all angles.

Wouldn’t it be nice if it was easy to win at online casino games?  Even though many players never hit it big, we all enter the virtual casino hoping that the next wager will end up being our lucky move.  Unfortunately, this mentality can cause a player to part with a lot of money.  And while being a winning player requires a great deal of luck, there are some tactics and approaches you can take with you when playing any casino game.  Sometimes all it takes is a little common knowledge to hold onto your bankroll and better your chances of winning.  What we will discuss in this article are basic strategies and logic that will not only help you win small shares, but secure larger sums as well.

When to Play Low Stakes

The first approach we will go over is quite simple.  If you are a bad or inexperienced player, then you should play casino games that offer relatively small takes.  Because you are not wagering with a lot of funds, your money will go slowly and this will allow you to remain in the game longer.  And since you have the chance to play more games, you have the opportunity to win more money.  If you are playing a casino game in which the stakes are high and you do not have a lot of funds to wager, your best bet would be to pull out of the game before you go completely broke.

Go For Favorable Odds

Another recommended tactic is to play games that offer good or at least decent odds.  There are quite a few games in this category and one of the most popular is craps, which has simple rules and lets you pass or don’t pass on bets.  Slots is also a game you want to consider because while it does not always offer the best odds, it does tend to have high payout ratios.  Playing games with good odds and making smart bets is a wise strategy that can help you keep your bankroll intact and actually win something.  However, these games are best when you have a sizable bankroll.  Therefore, if you are running low on money, you may want to consider going back to the small stakes approach.

Know the Rule and Basic Strategies

You can become a much better  player by simple knowing the rules and basic strategies of any casino game. After all, if you do not know how to play the game, not even all the luck in the world will make you a winner.  At least not in most instances.  For example, when playing poker, you should know not to show your emotions at any time as experienced opponents will use this against you.  Skilled players typically eat up the unknowing rookies so you can remain competitive just by staying aware.

There are no surefire tactics or approaches to guarantee that you will be a consistent winner at any casino game.  However, paying attention to the basic details and small stuff can increase your chances of winning regardless of what game you choose to play.

There are many advantages to playing blackjack online opposed to in a land-based casino and one of the most unique of them all is the luxury to play for progressive jackpots.  This is a significant benefit when considering that even the most skilled player may secure steady winnings over time, but rarely claim considerable single payouts when playing traditional games.  Over the past few months, some of the most well known online casino software providers have added progressive games to their portfolios and here are few that may pique your interests.

Cryptologic

There are many reasons to play progressive blackjack at a casino powered by Cryptologic.  For one, many players find that the pool is easier to win since it can be hit when you have four aces of the same color, meaning they do not have to be of the same suit.  Although there is no second jackpot to compete for, there are fixed payouts you can win through a number of combinations of both suited and unsuited aces.  If you want to contribute to the progressive jackpot, you can do so with a voluntary $1 wager.

Microgaming

Microgaming goes above and beyond to standout from the competition and this is reflected in its progressive blackjack game.  With this game, winning is not based on a combination aces but sevens, which makes the name Triple Sevens a fitting title.  If you assemble 21 from three seven of diamonds, then you hit the progressive jackpot.  Similar to the other games, this one also has fixed payouts for many different combinations of seven.  Microgaming’s Triple Seven blackjack game produces winners more frequently but the average payouts are lower than the games by other vendors.

Playtech

Leading casino software provider also offers a progressive blackjack game that gives you the opportunity to win big.  In this game, four aces of the same suit gets you the entire pool.  Unlike the offerings from other vendors, there is no combination that qualifies you for a smaller amount of the pot.  There are however, fixed payouts for specific combinations such as three aces of the same suit and four aces from different suits.  A major plus of progressive blackjack with Playtech casinos is that even a single ace offers a $5 payout.

Vegas Technology

In Progressive Blackjack by Vegas Technology, the jackpot is claimed when you are dealt out four aces of the same suit.  This powerful combination gets you 100% of the money in the jackpot pool.  However, if you are dealt four aces of different suits, then you receive 10% of the overall pot.  Vegas Technology’s progressive blackjack also has some fixed payouts that make the game more intriguing.  Keep in mind that you must place an additional bet of $1 in order to qualify for the pool in any of these progressive blackjack games.

Conclusion

Progressive blackjack carries the same level of high risk as any other progressive casino game.  What we mean by this is that your chance of hitting the jackpot are very low, especially if you are someone who prefers to play it safe all the time.  On the other hand, gambling in itself is all about luck so on any given day, you could hit big and make online casino history.

Online casinos emerged right alongside the mainstream introduction of the internet.  Software developers such as Boss Media AB, Cryptologic and Microgamming are credited with pioneering the development of internet casinos and online gambling in general.  Microgaming is known as the first to introduce software that allowed players to play free casino games while Cryptologic is famed for creating the first casino software platform able to facilitate financial transactions.  Boss Media got its start by powering Golden Club Casino and many casinos in the Europe, a jurisdiction where online gambling is arguably the most lenient.

In the Beginning

In the mid to late 1990s, online casinos evolved in terms of features and overall quality.  One of the most notable features introduced during this time was the progressive jackpot.  Still popular today, this feature allowed players across a network of online casinos playing the same game to contribute to a growing jackpot that grew large very quickly.  Another feature added in the late 1990s was a built-in function that gave players the ability to view details on their gaming and financial transaction history.

Evolution

Once the new millennium rolled around, online gambling had grown to become a phenomenon.  A large majority of the online casino software vendors improved their platforms significantly and new players were signing up at an amazing rate.   The 2000s saw the launch of many new features, including Flash implementation, which enabled casinos to be compatible with operating systems other than Microsoft Windows.  This revolution also provided players with a way to play casino games directly through their browsers without needing to download them.  With the industry growing fast, multilingual and multi-currency casinos were introduced to service new players emerging in the continents of Asia and Europe.  Around this time, the self regulation framework came into play and casino operators began to have their software platforms tested and audited by independent organizations such as TST (Technical Systems Testing) and eCOCRA.

The UIEGA Shakes up the Market

The popularity of online gambling continued to explode through the middle of the decade and it appeared as if that growth would proceed without interruption.  However, in 2006, the United States Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, a legislation initially put in place to prevent terrorist organizations from laundering money through internet casinos.  Under this act, it was now illegal for financial institutions to process and transfer funds for players involved in online gambling.  With leading online casinos such as PartyGaming already facing legal ramifications over the Wire Act, Cryptologic, Playtech and many other prominent software providers fled the market by closing their doors to American players.  Microgaming is another well known vendor to recently flee the U.S. market.

Online gambling has come a long way but its progress has not been without controversy. And while several software providers have abandoned U.S. players, vendors like Real time Gaming, Wizard Gaming and Vegas Technology have remained and actually strengthened their brands in the United States following the departure of Microgaming.  Will others follow suit?  Only time will tell.