Effects of Banning Online Gambling

Everyone talks about the negative impact of online gambling, but they are not talking about the negative impact of banning online gambling.

A reason for banning online casinos was to make sure that underage children were not using thee parents credit cards to gamble online, but besides the fact that most online casinos did everything possible to ensure to verify the age of the account holder before allowing any gambling to occur, but by banning it you are only stopping the law abiding casinos from taking bets and not the less reputable casinos. They will use third party account like PayPal or Click2pay which provide a loophole in the new law.

By banning an activity especially such a popular activity as online gambling all that can be expected to happen is for people to find ways around the law, such as the Speakeasies of the 1920’s.

A Speakeasy was a nightclub that served Alcohol during prohibition and was usually hidden in the back rooms of pet stores and innocent looking book stores. Every time a speakeasy was raided the next night another one was opened, and this is what will happen with these online casinos. If the government finds one operating in the USA and gets it shut down or manages to stop the money flowing to it then another will open.

By regulating online gambling the government would know exactly who was running the casino to make sure they were running it honestly and within all the laws, and it would help make sure that the criminal element did not get rich and gain power a second time in the history of the USA because of a bad lawmaking decision.

Another reason given for the ban of online gambling was to help protect against a rise in problem gamblers from have casino gamming in your home 24 hrs a day, but no proof has ever been found that shows that people who would normally not be inclined to go to a casino and gamble would decide to do it just because it was now in their homes through online casinos and poker rooms.

The facts actually show a steady rate of people with gambling problems and growing at the same rate it has been growing for over 25 years.

Many experts are now saying that there are some positives to the online gambling ban, but those positives would be even better if the industry was properly legalized and not, just by putting a mostly unenforceable law in place.

But this to be a pattern the government seems to always make, it is much like the war on drugs. Last time I checked thee was still a drug problem in this country even though drugs are illegal, yet in countries like Holland where the use of soft drugs like hash and grass are legal the number people with drug problems is much lower per capita then in the USA. This is because the money that is brought in the form of taxes from these sales goes to fund the public schools where they properly educate kids on the negative effects of these drugs, so most of the people who smoke are tourists and not the locals.

Maybe one day the government will learn from its past mistakes and make things right.

BIO: Ed "The Sober" Curtis is a Psychologist who has his own private practice. When he is not helping people he is taking their money from online [poker rooms] (link: ) or writing freelance reviews for online guide sites at http://www.online-casinos-789.com/

View the original article here

Side Bets and Progressive Blackjack

Casino games tend to be repetitive after a few hours of a play. Since most betting rounds end quickly, after a few hours of playing the same game it sometimes get a little boring. Both we and the casinos know that fact and to gain a small advantage many casinos offer certain side bets to go alone with their games.

The thing about side bets is that even players who know that these bets offer horrendous odds for the player sometime decide that they want to take a shot at it. This happens for various reasons like running hot (The “I can’t lose” mentality), running cold (trying to get back to break even as fast as possible) or just plain boredom. A good example for a side bet is the one offered in various video poker games offering the player a “Double or Nothing” by choosing a random card and hoping that the computer’s random card will be lower ranked than the player’s. It’s a fun bet but really not something you would like to do if you are looking for a profit.

Some casinos offer progressive blackjack jackpot and the side bet (which usually costs 1$ to play) looks something like this:

25$ if your first two cards are unsuited Aces 100$ if your first two cards are suited Aces 250$ if you first three cards are unsuited Aces 2500$ if your first three cards are suited Aces The Jackpot if your first 4 card are suited Aces (all the same color)

Remember that progressive jackpot is offered in multi deck games so being dealt four aces of spades in a row is possible although very rare. The actual requirements and pay out table at the casino you will be playing in might be a little different but they generally look like the one above and the house edge is more or less the same.

The attractive thing about playing the progressive blackjack side bet is the small investment required to make coupled with the big payoff of hitting the jackpot. Everyone one of us gets dealt pocket aces from time to time so the chance at an easy 25$ seems very attractive. In reality the chances are slim and the pay out of 25$ is not enough to make this bet even closely profitable. The chance of being dealt two aces back to back is only 0.0041% not nearly as close to being break even. The chances of hitting the jackpot (which is usually the real reason we are playing this side bet) is only 0.00000296%.

So if you are a gambler who likes getting good odds on his bets you now know that the progressive jackpot is something you need to avoid. However, there is what is a called a break even point in a progressive blackjack game. This point is reached when the jackpot becomes so big that you actually do have a chance to turn a profit by continuously placing the side bet – the jackpot needs to be a little more the 250,000$ to make this bet mathematically profitable. So, if you manage to find such a big jackpot, you can place a couple of bets and feel good about yourself that you are making a bet with a positive expectation. 

Owen Moore is a writer for [Online Blackjack] (link: http://www.home-blackjack.com/) site home-blackjack.com For more blackjack strategy articles please visit our site.

View the original article here

Caribbean Stud Poker Rules

All the games we have looked so far involved betting against other players. But this game is different; here everyone plays against the casino or room which acts as a bank (dealer), paying out all winning bets. To win you have to beat the dealer’s hand, other player’s hands don’t make a difference.

First each player makes an ante (initial blind bet) and is dealt 5 cards face down. The dealer receives 4 cards face down and 1 card face up. Now each player decides whether to fold or play by looking at their cards, if they fold then their ante is lost but if they continue, they have to double their ante-bet.

Now the dealer reveals his hand, but he must have an A-k or higher in order to play his hand, if not the player is paid even money on the ante and also the additional bet is not lost (See the table for odds). If the player’s hand beats the dealer’s, the ante is paid at evens. However, if the dealer’s hand beats the player’s hand then both bets are lost.

Additional Bet Payout odds:

One pair or High card ---> 1/1 (Even)  Two pair ---> 2/1  Three of a kind ---> 3/1  Straight ---> 4/1 Flush ---> 5/1 Full House ---> 7/1 Four of a kind ---> 20/1 Straight flush ---> 50/1 Royal flush ---> 100/1

 If the dealer and player play the same poker hand, then remaining cards are taken in to consideration. If all five cards are equal, the hand is void. Neither the ante nor the additional bet is lost. The ranking of suits makes no difference to the hand.

Here the odds are poor; a normal game of poker with seven players will have odds of at least 6/1 which is a great deal better when compared to the minimum odds in this game which is 1/1. Also the odds paid for additional bet are poor. Again there is no skill required and you rely too much on luck. Finally remember you have much better odds of winning money when you are playing for the pot. Good Luck :)

View the original article here

Blackjack: Learn How to Become a Champion

Learn How to Play and Win Blackjack after practicing some basic steps that can be learn easily. Blackjack is one of the more easier card games that you will come across, and its basic concept is simple: get 21 as the sum of your cards or get as close to 21 but higher than the sum of your opponent's cards.

1) Do not try and reach 21. Yes. Even though blackjack is also commonly called 21, trying to reach 21 with every hand is an amateurish move. You will, most certainly, lose the hand. Statistical research conducted has shown that the odds of reaching 21 is lesser than the odds of getting more than 21.

2) Try and Beat the Dealer. Since blackjack is a one on one battle: you versus the dealer, focus on beating the dealer. Instead of trying to get 21, try to guess what hand the dealer will receive and accordingly play your hand. Remember that the dealer at a regular casino or even at an online casino has to stop taking more cards if the cards on the table add up to 17. But if their cards add up to 16 or any number less, they will have to take another card.

3) Look at the dealer's card facing up. The only way to play is to look at the dealer's card facing up. If it is a low card like a two or anything up to a 6 or 7, try and get a high number combination. If its a 9 or 10, the odds are high that he has a 10 underneath or at least he will be forced to take another card. So, reach anything up to 20 or 21, but its better to even stop at a 18 or 19 and hope they will over-run the sum of 21.

How Blackjack is Played at a Casino: 1) Place your bet on the table. Each blackjack table has a set beginning bet and this ranges from a dollar to ten or twenty for the high-rollers crowd. This is the amount of chips you will have to put down, and this signals to the dealer that you are taking part in the next round.

2) You will get a card. The dealer then deals a card to you and all the other players who have also placed a bet down.

3) The dealer places a face-up card in front. This is one of the cards of the dealer, and since its facing up, all the players have a chance to judge the outcome of his cards.

4) The dealer deals the second card. The dealer, then, deals you and all the players an additional card. This is the time to have a look at them and at the dealer's card and decide whether you wish to get another card.

5) The dealer asks. The dealer now turns to each player and asks them if they wish to receive another card. If you wish it, the dealer will give you a card. Then, the dealer will ask you again. Note that the dealer will be with you until you decide that you do not want to receive any more cards. Then, the dealer moves on to the next player, then, the next, and so on.

6) The dealer starts playing. Only when all the players have said that they do not want any more cards, does the dealer start playing. He takes cards until he has reached 17 or above. Then, he has to stop.

7) The dealer opens the cards. When he's done, the dealer first reveals all his cards. Then, he moves from one player to the other opening their cards. After revealing each player's hands, the dealer pays out the bet or takes the bet away according to who has won and who has lost.

View the original article here

Party Poker Review

Party Poker is one of the world's largest online poker rooms with over 70,000 players. They cover almost 60% of the online poker market. Now what this means to you as a poker player is that with the large number of players and rooms you will never have to wait for a game, the player quality is relatively poor compared to rooms like Ultimate Bet and Poker Stars. As mentioned earlier start playing with play money and once you get hold of the game you may jump to the real money game. They have around 18,500 - 19,200 ring game players and 26,700 - 28,000 tournaments players live during peak hours.

Party Poker has some great signup bonus offers, $25 extra, 20% extra up to $100 and free entry to the partypoker.com million qualifying tournaments ($34 value) with your first deposit. The requirements to clear the bonus is pretty simple, you have to play 5 times the raked hands of the bonus amount i.e. if the bonus value is $25 you need to play 125 raked hands. The time period to finish the raked hands is 30 days. Party Poker offers standard game variety like Texas holdem, omaha hi and hi/lo and 7 card stud hi and hi/lo but does not offer 5 card draw poker and 1-on-1 tournaments. Limit Texas holdem game is the major traffic puller at party poker. Remember these are only real money player statistics.

They also have beginners live game tables reserved for new real money players only. New real money players can play on these tables for 45 days after they have set up a real money account. Where to go? Just log in to your account, go to the main lobby, click on the real money heading and then select beginners. Then choose a table and start playing. Following games and stakes are offered for beginners.

1. Game: Texas Hold'em

2. Limits: $.5/$1, $1/$2, $2/$4 and $3/$6

They also have good round the clock customer service, including both text and voice based. Party Poker also has a fairly good retention program and they recently started the Player's club and we expect them to come up with more programs soon. Good luck and play safe. :-)

View the original article here

New to gaming, all you need to know about Flash gaming sites

Interested in gaming, there are sites that let you play for no cost. All you need to have is Macromedia’s Free Flash Player. Whew! According to Computer Gaming World, there are 80 gazillion free Flash games sites in the cyber world.

Popular sites are:

 • www.games.yahoo.com -- this has card games, word games, arcade games, as well as puzzles. The number of violent games is limited so the site appeals to the “old-young” –those who are young at heart.

• www.shockwave.com -- a popular site with original games as well as PopCap ones. One can do a jigsaw here everyday.

• www.addictinggames.com – has free games that are updated every week—Friday. The site has action, arcade, puzzle, as well as sports games.

• www.arcadetown.com -- has Flash games, java games, downloads and more.

 Since Flash offers many advantages to developers as well as players, many games are designed using Macromedia Flash. It is by far the best game platform and has incredible features.

 In an industry that’s evincing exponential growth, Flash has become the universal and popular choice for multimedia intensive web sites. Flash, singly crosses most barriers—

 • It supports complicated and wonderful graphics.

• Allows download of files via the Internet.

• And is compatible with playback devices.

 In the world of Flash enabled games the hosting system is the web server itself. Flash enables web sites to host animated as well as interactive movies and games. There is no paraphernalia required. All that is needed is to download the game itself. The costs are minimal and not recurring.

  To play on the web all that is required is: a web browser, a Flash player, and the Internet. Flash is the universal plug in needed to play games. It is installed on every PC with Windows XP and Mac.

 Playing online can be fun and most games can now be played by many players from all round the world. Just keep in mind:

 • That there are players who cheat at games. Look for PunkBuster software on the server, this detects cheats who try and gain unfair advantages.

• Play with others who have credibility and are accountable for their actions. Many online sites need verified log ins, they are actively managed gaming environments. This is a better choice for safe gaming.

• Create a select group of friends and use the broadband server to host a private gaming server.

• Do your research thoroughly. Seek safe and high quality gaming sites.

 Gaming is in its golden phase and is set to reach new heights. Innovation, new business models, and unprecedented growth is expected to open new avenues in gaming.

View the original article here

Bingo: Why Start Playing It Online

This article is for those who love playing bingo, whether at home or whether at a local hall. Here you can read why you should begin playing this lovely game online.

The internet offers variety of options to the fanatic or lazy bingo players who want to enjoy this game from their comfortable homes. Whether you cannot go through a day without playing or you are too lazy to get out and play, here you can read about the benefits of playing online.

Convenience and Simplicity: Online gaming enables you to play 24 hours a day and 7 days a week without having to get up from your favourite chair. It means that you can forget about the long waiting time between one game and the next. It also means that you can say goodbye to crowded, noisy and smoky bingo halls. With the option of playing this game online, you can play on your own time and on your own conditions.

However, this does not imply that playing through the internet is necessarily a solitary habit. One of the main advantages of playing online is the chat feature. While in the conservative version, social interaction is limited to your local community, in the online version you can interact with people from different parts of the world and of different ages. As opposed to the live game, chatting while playing on the internet is not only allowed, it is encouraged.

Not that playing is complicated, but the online variation is probably the easiest pastimes you can find. And as if playing on the internet from your own home does not make life easier, the online software includes a component called auto daub, which saves you the effort of marking off the called out numbers yourself.

Bonuses and Free Cash  Online players can earn first deposit bonuses and redeposit bonuses when signing up. In other words, whether you win or lose, you get to win free money. Here are a few updated examples to online bonuses:

1) Ruby Bingo: up to free 120 dollars bonus on each deposit.

2) Mapau Bingo: free 5 dollars no deposit bonus plus up to 100 percent bonus on your initial deposit and 50 percent bonus on all future deposits.

3) Bingo Workz: 30 dollars no deposit bonus plus 250 percent sign up bonus and 300 percent redeposit bonus.

4) Miss Bingo: 110 percent first deposit bonus and 60 percent for all future deposits.

Variety of Games: Playing on the internet, you are not limited to one type of game. Most online halls offer both the UK style 90 ball game with 9X3 cards and the American style 75 ball game with 5X5 cards. In addition, you can usually find variety of online games such as slots, keno, scratch cards and some other interactive chat games.

Moreover, in 75 ball online games you can find more than the standard horizontal, vertical or diagonal patterns. You can find a variety of complex themed patterns including coverall patterns, which offer a bonus payout. Internet games are usually customized and you can choose the style, sound, and even the speed. Each online hall offers a wide range of card prices to fit each budget.

Bottom Line: Playing on the internet can be a fun, convenient and even profitable alternative to playing live at one of the local bingo halls or to just slacking all evening in front of the TV.

View the original article here