Learn Video Poker

As with all games, the most important aspect of playing is that you need to know how to play. You’ll make more errors and lose the most if you simply start playing and don’t have any knowledge of the game itself. Learn the rules, practice through free websites or with casino deposit bonuses, and ensure that you are thoroughly at ease playing the game and using the software before you start dropping big bucks.

Minimize Your Errors

Winning when paying video poker is not necessarily about always gaining payouts, but by reducing the number of errors you make. Your bankroll can quickly become diminished if you consistently make mistakes. And these mistakes are the most costly of any online video poker loss because they could have easily been avoided if you’d been careful in the first place.

Play at Casinos with High Payback Rates

Ultimately, you are playing for real money, so no matter how stunning the graphics are, how engaging the music is, or how modern and fun the interface is, don’t be swayed to play at establishments which don’t offer good payback rates. Many online casinos won’t even offer 100% payback rates and, if is this is the case, do not play on the website. Instead, look at a variety of venues and choose the one with the highest odds of gaining good results.

Be Cautious and Watch Your Bankroll

It is important when playing video poker that you slow your game so that you can make considered choices whilst also keeping your bankroll in mind. Don’t start using maximum betting if your bankroll is small as you’ll find that your money is gone in no time at all. Instead, slow your game, use smaller bets, and enjoy online video poker for a longer period of play where you can make a small but steady number of wins to actually create profit from your poker game.

Online Poker Benefits

Unsurprisingly, one of the largest benefits of online poker is that you can play from your own home and at your convenience. Rather than having to actually go to your local casino and play at the times they’re available, online poker allows you to play around the clock if you wish. Even if you regularly invite friends around to play, you’ll now be able to play them online as well, allowing you to connect with friends around the world.

Set Your Own Pace

Other than the ability to play at just about any time of day, a great advantage of online poker is that you can play at your own pace and experience level. In real casinos you have no control over your opponents, and whilst you may enter a low stakes game, it doesn’t mean that players are equally experienced. Online poker allows you to choose an appropriate table for your level, meaning that you can learn as you play and only opt to move up to the next level when you’re confident enough. In addition, online poker casinos are often slightly more relaxed than real life premises, allowing you to not get strangled by nerves so that you can play a good game.

Real Premises

However, it is this atmosphere and nervous excitement which is often the thrill for many, and even if you’re enjoying online poker through a live feed, some of the casino buzz can be lost. In addition, body language can be a huge part of poker strategy, and you’ll only really be able to utilize this if you’re playing in a real casino.

Whether you’re playing in a real casino or an online one you’ll need to remember the differences and change your game accordingly. But, with online casinos allowing you to play poker whenever you wish, you’ll have the advantage and freedom of playing when you want.

Play At Your Own Pace

Playing poker in the real world can often feel very daunting, especially if you’re new to the game. By playing online you can be assured that you can practice as much as you like, and have additional pressures such as the casino environment removed. It’s important that you play at your own pace and don’t feel rushed to play for big bucks with experienced players. Even if you know the game well, take your time to become used to online software, play at a level of experience which suits you, and don’t be persuaded to advance before you’re ready.

Find a Poker Network

Don’t rush in and join any website before you’ve done a little research. The temptation is there to sign up to the first website you come across, deposit large funds into your account, and get ready to play. However, if the website isn’t part of a poker network you could find yourself waiting around for tables to fill. Make sure any website you join has a large pool of players and that there’ll be people to game against whatever time of day you want to gamble.

Hone Your Skill

Whilst you may be used to gambling in a casino or even with friends, the online environment can be very different. Without the casino atmosphere you will need to take your cues from elsewhere. You also need to ensure that you are used to the software that you’re playing with and don’t get carried away as, any accidental button push could result in you losing, even if you had a great hand. And whilst you may want to leap straight in, taking your time to learn the ropes will set you up as best it can for a bright and profitable career.

Free Poker Games

The revelation from Gaughan comes after Jamie Gold, main event champion of the 2006 World Series of Poker, opened his own FreeGoldPoker.com website on the ZEN Entertainment Network. Poker games themselves are completely free to play and come without a monthly fee, avoiding the concerns that currently plague the online poker industry. Meanwhile, the prizes offered are real cash, offering gamblers the chance to win something for nothing.

ZEN Entertainment Network

With its first incarnation dating back to 2006, ZEN Entertainment Network bought the National League of Poker in 2008 and has since partnered with names including NBCSports.com, World Wrestling Entertainment and Ultimate Fighting Championship. Meanwhile, 2010 saw the acquisition of SpadeClub.com which the network has successful developed into CardPlayerPoker.com.

Ongoing Poker Legislation

Meanwhile, proposed regulations for the online poker industry continue to be drafted, with the Nevada Gaming Control Board already considering options for when the federal government allows a national legalization of online gambling, or offers states the option to develop intrastate websites. The stakes look good for Gaughan who, having an venue in Las Vegas itself, has already established his brand on the gambling map.

South Point Casino

Whilst not being Caesars Palace or the Bellagio, South Point continues to be a popular venue for gaming. Having been bought outright by Gaughan in 2006 and having its South Coast name changed to South Point, it has shared the spotlight with other casinos occasionally. Since 2006 the venue has hosted the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, and it has also been host for High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark. And whilst Gaughan is no doubt setting the groundwork for an online poker industry should proposed legalizations be successful, the opening of a free poker network will allow gamblers to start winning cash without any form of payment or membership.

Using Analyzing Software

There are many benefits to using software to analyze your poker actions, and it can be of particular help when you’re starting out in the game. At this level you may be making mistakes without even realizing, and software will be able to pick up on hands where you missed vital opportunities to get ahead. Therefore, it is a great idea to use specific software on the market, highlighting both your strong points and weaknesses to make your game as successful as possible.

Poker Tracker

One of the most widely used poker analyzing software programs is Poker Tracker, the online tool which helps spot important points of your game. You can often utilize free trials of the software, enabling you to use the program and get instant results without having to pay out. And if you’re intending on playing a lot of online poker, the free trial periods may be sufficient to get most of the errors out of your strategy. Whether you win or lose, staying positive and using Poker Tracker to analyze your game can work wonders. Which strategies are working and which aren’t? Where have your greatest losses and wins been noted, and what was your strategy involved during those games? After taking notes of important points, play another game using your new knowledge and see if strategy changes have helped.

Software for All

Whether you’re a novice or a professional moving into the online sector, using software such as Poker Tracker can have great results. And if you want to be the very best poker player you can be, using analytics will help you win more games.

Rising Support from Influential Players

There is currently a strong movement in the U.S to push through regulations which will allow online poker operations to begin. With a number of influential officials backing plans to develop a new bill, citizens could be enjoying the game online before the end of 2011. Speaker of the House John Boehner, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senator Jon Kyl have all revealed their support to legalize online gambling operations, helping the industry have increased optimism that the poker bill could be passed.

Industry Support

In addition to the positive affirmations made by politicians, a number of key industry figures have also revealed a changing disposition towards the matter. Many influential characters had been against the legalization of online poker due to the increased competition that the sector would create. However, the publisher of Global Gaming Business, Roger Gross, said that Sheldon Adelson, chief executive of Vegas Sands, had now said that he was willing to go along with changes for regulating online poker which were made at a federal level. Meanwhile, there are ongoing reports that major U.S casino companies such as Caesars Entertainment have already made moves to secure software providers so that, should the bill be passed, online poker can be made as quickly as possible.

Increased Revenue a Popular View

One of the major factors behind the changing view point on online poker legalization is the increased revenue that operations would provide. Officials at both state and federal levels have revealed that increasing income whilst not having to raise taxes was a huge motivator for passing the bill. And whilst it has been mentioned by some that this could lead to a high level of gambling problems noted across the U.S, those awaiting a decision could see online poker legalized in the next few months.

How to Access the Game

The first variant of the new format is in the Jacks or Better game which can be accessed within the video poker section of the Games Menu at any Microgaming-powered online casino. In the same section there is a separate tab for Reel Play Poker. In the game, players are required to choose the number of paylines, coins per payline and coin denomination. Jacks or Better Reel Play Poker features 20 paylines with wagers up to 20 coins per payline.

How to Play

Once the betting parameters are set, the player must click the “Deal” button. Below the primary reels, five cards are dealt from a regular deck. The software automatically marks the cards that should be held in conjunction with optimal strategy. Once the player has marked the card he chooses to hold, he is then required to click the “Spin” button which moves the game to the next phased on the main reels.

The Game Blueprint

These reels are outlined like a five reel slot game in there rows. Each reel corresponds to the cards initially held. The remaining reels are filled with other cards. The video poker hands are not evaluated horizontally; instead they are analyzed in all 20 paylines. In essence, the format is similar to a 20 hand video poker game with all hands working together. Hands are formed through the crisscrossing of paylines across the rows.

Payouts

Each payline is independently evaluated against a predetermined pay table based on the number of coins wagered per payline. Therefore, if a player has wagered 10 coins per payline, the pay table will be adjusted with payouts not being multiplied by the total number of coins. The winners from each line are accumulated and credited to the player’s casino balance.

The maximum payout in the game for a royal flush with 20 coins per line is 16,000 coins. Therefore, if all 20 paylines have a royal flush, the maximum possible payout will be 320,000 coins. This new format is sure to draw online video poker and slot game enthusiasts to all Microgaming casinos.

Introducing Wan Doy Pairs Poker

One of these new games introduced by WagerWorks is Wan Doy Pairs Poker. This variant of the common poker game is played with a seven card poker hand. Another difference is the hand rankings are completely unlike the usual due to the seven card hand. Also, both ante and bonus bets are mandatory.

How to Play

First, the player inputs the ante and bonus bets into the pot. The player also has the option of playing a jackpot bet. The dealer distributes a seven-card hand which is automatically organized and the hand ranking is displayed on the screen. The player can either call or fold their current hand. If the player folds they lose the ante and bonus bets but the jackpot bet remains.

If they call, a call wager is placed into the betting pool and the player’s hand is compared to the dealers. The payout is awarded compared to the payout table for that particular casino. The jackpot bet is also compared to the payout table. The highest possible hand ranking in the game is four of a kind and three of a kind.

Similar to Seven Card Stud

While this game is innovative with the various types of betting, it shares many similarities with popular poker variant, Seven Card Stud. The hand rankings, and the playing what you are dealt mentality matches with Seven Card Stud.

This game may not be different enough for Seven Card Stud or Seven Card Draw players to be attracted to the competition. While the betting structure is different, it may not be as popular as more unique game releases. However, for those that do not play seven card poker, this may be a good chance to improve your poker skills while learning an exciting, new game.

Since WagerWorks is a major gaming software developer, they may be able to promote this game enough to make it mainstream in several of their casinos. The game has unique aspects to it and is exciting enough to attract new players to the world of seven card poker.

• Omaha High
• Omaha Hi/Lo

The rules of Omaha are fairly simple. All casinos supply a dealer that is not actually playing. You are playing against all other individuals at the table. As a result, the dealer button indicates the last person to bet. The button moves to the left following each hand. Blind bets are posted to create a starting pot.

The player to the left of the button posts the small blind or one half of the minimum bet. The player to the left of the small blind is the big blind and they ante a full minimum bet. The remaining players at the table do not post any ante’s until the blind rotates to them. Therefore, each player will have a chance to be the dealer, small and big blinds.

The game begins with the dealer distributing four cards to each player face down. The small blind always receives the first card and the dealer has the last. The first betting round begins with the player to the left of the big blind and rotates to the left. Each player can call, raise or fold. The big blind also has the option of checking since they already have a bet in the pot.

Next, three cards (known as the flop) are dealt face up in the middle of the table. These are community cards that all players can use to make their hand. Another betting round commences beginning with the player to the left of the button.

The next round is known as the turn and an additional face up community card is placed in the center of the table. Once again, the first bettor is the left of the dealer button. The last round is the river in which the final of the five community cards is distributed.

To win, each player must use two of their four starting hand cards and three community cards to make the best five-card poker hand. In many instances, there is a tie in which the players split the pot. There is never a sixth card that acts as a tie-breaker.

The preceding rules are for Omaha High. This version derives from the requirement that the winner have the best or highest hand. Both variants of Omaha can be found in land-based and online casinos across the globe.

Provisions

This act essentially prohibits the transfer of funds from financial institutions to illegal Internet gambling websites excluding horse racing, fantasy sports and online lotteries. Penalties include the criminalization of the owners of those sites accepting funds from bettors. Those operators that are effect by this act include:

• Those that knowingly accept wages
• Those in the business of illegal gambling
• Those sponsoring online gaming that violates federal and state laws
• Those accepting gambling funds from credit cards, EFT’s and checks
• Those in connection with a bettor

The ban became effective immediately upon approval. Ironically, the actual participation in online gambling or betting is not illegal, simply funding it is. This targets financial institutions, credit card companies and other online banking companies. Also, internet service providers were required to remove sites that displayed hyperlinks to gambling websites.

Industry responses

Many advocates against this bill argued that since poker is a game of skill, it should be excluded from this bill. Each state determined that this did not hold water. A study was conducted and decided that any game that contains 51% chance, is considered a game of luck and is therefore part of the bill. One solution is for online poker operators to present a statistical analysis based on hands played to prove this idea.

The most common response from publicly traded gambling websites is that they’ve stopped taking bets from United States customers. On the other hand, non-publicly traded websites continue to take bets from United States customers despite the law. Although they are out of the country, it is still an illegal act within the United States.

At the time, the largest internet poker company, Party Gaming Plc lost 60% of their stock worth within 24 hours of this bill being enforced. With millions of players, this showed the number of United States customers involved in some form of online gambling.

Although there are plenty of online gambling sites still available to United States customers, this act resulted in a huge loss for many publicly-traded companies. It’s likely that online gambling will always be available, but as laws become tougher, workarounds will need to be created.