Online Casino Gambling

The popular casino dice game craps has a long and varied history. Modern craps has evolved from a game that was played many centuries before.

Craps derived from English game

In the 12th century, Sir William of Tyre led a group of crusaders on a castle by the name of Hazarth. Tyre’s group seized Hazarth and named their favorite pastime game after the castle. The Hazard game apparently was derived from Arabic dice games that were eventually brought to Europe.

By the 17th century, Hazard was a vastly popular game in England. The game was a staple in taverns throughout the country. Hazard was also a popular casino game among noblemen.

In the game, the player with the dice is known as the caster. In each round of the game, the player will specify a number between five and nine. The specific number between five and nine is known as the main. A roll of the main number results in a win. If the player rolls a two or three, he loses. A roll of 11 or 12 will result in a variety of outcomes depending on the main number that was designated. A main of 5 or 9 will lose on a roll of 11 or 12. On a main of 6 or 8, the player will lose on a roll of 11 but win on 12. With a main number of 7, the player wins on 11 but loses on 12.

It didn’t take long for neighboring countries to take notice of the game. The game became popular in France. The French called their version of the dice game “Craps.”

Game evolves in the 19th century

In the early 19th century, Bernard de Mandeville made an important adjustment to the game. The New Orleans resident simplified craps. His version of the game was soon being played on steamboats traveling the Mississippi River. Mandeville’s game had a flaw due to the ability to use crooked dice tied to the betting rules of the game. John H. Winn was able to build on Mandeville’s initial adjustment to the game. Winn brought the modern layout to the game of craps. His adjustments allowed players to bet on the shooter or against him. This greatly eliminated any impact that could result from any fixed dice being used in craps games. Winn’s adjustments to the game enabled craps to become widely popular.

Highest wagered on game

Over the last century, the game has continued to grow in society and culture. Craps was a popular game among soldiers in World War II to break the monotony of war. The game was occasionally featured in some popular movies over the years to elevate the status of craps in popular culture. In the 1990′s, the game suffered a downturn due to the surge of slots and other casino games. However, craps has rebounded, due in part to the growth of online casinos. Today, the game is the biggest in the history of the world in terms of money wagered.

It seems to be a simple roll of the dice. Yes, this is the foundation of the game known as craps. However, there are a wide range of bets and strategies involved in the game. Is it a simple game of luck or can there be a way to beat the odds?

The basics of the game

Craps is a dice game where players wager on the outcome of the roll of the dice. In casinos, the game is played on a craps table. The player rolls a pair of dice with a single hand. The dice are required to hit the back of the craps table wall.

The craps table is big enough to accommodate up to 20 players. The player rolling the dice is known as the “shooter.” The “shooter” will place a wager on his roll while other players at the table can also wager on the outcome.

Bets in craps

So far, the game seems pretty basic. A pair of dice are rolled. Obviously, the outcome of the roll will fall in a range of two (Snake Eyes) to twelve (Boxcars). These are the simple concepts of craps. The complexities of the game are tied to the various wagers that are available in craps. At first glance, the craps table can be a little overwhelming. The standard craps table features various numbers, letters and possible dice outcomes. The player will place his chips at the appropriate spot on the table for his wager.

In addition to the various numbers and dice combinations on the table, there is a pass line. The pass line wagers in craps are the most fundamental bets in the game of craps. While the player can wager on a specific outcome of a roll, like a Snake Eyes, the pass line wager is a bet that gives the player a wider range of outcomes.

In the pass line option, there are three potential outcomes for the initial roll of the dice. The player wins with a 7 or 11 outcome. These two numbers are known as a natural in craps. The player can lose by “crapping out” with an outcome of 2, 3 or 12. The player will basically push with any other dice outcome (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) until the next roll. If the player doesn’t roll a natural or crap out, they will get to roll the dice again. To win, the player must repeat their previous dice roll (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) before a 7 is rolled.

Strategy

The strategy in craps is tied to the types of wagers that are placed. Generally, the house has the edge in the game and it can range from 2 to 17 percent depending on what kind of bet is made. Obviously, the player has no control of the outcome of the dice. So, it is important for the player to carefully evaluate the various betting options on the table to maximize the enjoyment of the game.

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.

If you truly want to be successful at online gambling , then you need to make it a habit to learn more about the odds out in cyberspace.  While it seems like everyone would naturally seek out the more favorable options, research has shown that the average player consistently chooses casino games in which the odds lean more in favor of the house.  This indicates that players are either strictly in it for the fun, or simply don’t know the importance of, or to effectively calculate the odds.  The best way to get to the bottom of this issue is to take a look at a few games that have different levels of odds that work in your favor.

The Friendly Dice

Most gamblers have a clear understanding that craps is one of the best games you can play when it comes to favorable odds.  Being that it is essentially a skill game, craps is one that has proven to reward the player who has taken the time to make themselves familiar with all the intricacies involved.  In addition to blackjack, pai gow, poker and other casino games that typically rely more on smarts than blind chance, craps enables you to lower the house edge in a manner where it does not turn out to be an overwhelming hindrance against your success.

While craps is one of the better games to play, there are an alarming number of unfavorable odds to be found, mainly when proposition bets are involved.  If at all possible, prop bets are something you want to stay away from.  These type of bets are appealing to the proverbial risk taker who loves the thrill of knowing that a huge sum of money can either be won or loss on a single roll of the dice.  However, the more knowledgeable players should never be confused with the adrenaline junkies who come out broke more often not.  Any craps player who really understands the game will leave the tempting prompt bets to those who don’t know any better and simply can’t help themselves.

Picking the Right Wheel

If you are looking to play roulette online but still want to maintain reasonable odds, the type of variant you decide on will have a substantial impact on where you stand in this regard.   Anyone familiar with the game knows the European style of roulette comes with much better odds than the American version.  This is because there is only one “double zero” slot to worry about.  The result of this factor is that there are far less European roulette games to be found at the internet casinos.  On a good note, these versions do exist and can be found if you do a little research.

Once you have all of this information at your disposal, there may be a chance that you still prefer games that do not offer very good odds.  When this is the case, at least you will know and be able to make an informed decision instead of just going with the flow like so many other players.

Online casinos have exploded to popularity in recent years as more players come to grasp the intricacies of web-based wagering.  The major draw to these casinos is the array of games up for grabs.  The most common options you have are table games and there are quite a few to choose from.  Because there is such a wide variety, it is good to know just what is available so you don’t find yourself wondering aimlessly from room to room.

Head up with the Dealer

Table games are generally the same games you will find at the tables in brick and mortar casinos.  Two of the most popular choices are baccarat and black jack.  Both of these games are favorable to the player and make a great option for beginners.  Baccarat has become such a hit because it is simple and doesn’t require any real skill to play.  While the concept isn’t difficult, blackjack tends to be a little more challenging.  However, the fact that it does require a little know-how and gets so intense makes a favorite among serious players.  Because winning against the dealer is much harder, you will probably want to get familiar with blackjack before placing a wager online.

The Many Faces of Poker

There are many other card games available but most fail in comparison to the popularity of poker.  With poker you get options such as Texas Hold ‘Em, Let it Ride, Caribbean Stud Poker, Tri Card Poker and the list goes on.  In many of these games, you aren’t necessarily playing against other players, but against the dealer, similar to black jack and baccarat.  There are numerous poker rooms online, most of which offer generous incentives such as bonuses, promotional offers and huge progressive jackpots that seem to never stop growing.  Competition is heavy in the poker room so you definitely don’t want to approach the tables without your skills and virtual game face intact.

Dice and the Big Wheel

The main table games that don’t involve cards are craps and roulette.  Arguably the most popular land casino game, roulette typically gives the house a higher edge but that doesn’t take away from the excitement involved with spinning the wheel.  This game is often a first choice of beginners for the simple fact that it doesn’t require any skills – roulette is the ultimate game of luck.  Roulette comes in many niche variations such as French, European and American, which ironically is the least popular.  Craps is another risky game filled with plenty of sucker bets that make it harder to distinguish between the good wagers.  Though exciting an nearly as fun as the real life version, this isn’t a table you want to try without your head in the game.

The plethora of online casino games is enough to make your head spin.  While many of the rules are the same, it would be wise to get some information on online play before heading into a room.  Fortunately, there are numerous communities and tutorials that will provide you with essential tips on how to play virtually any game.  Even better, there is also a nice variety of casinos that will allow you to play for free and gain the confidence you need to play for money.