Top Rated Poker Casinos

In this series of articles, I have compiled a list of Gambling Q&A; I am asked whenever I give talks about how to gamble in a casino. My list of 8 questions is in no particular order of importance, but these are some of the most-asked questions.

Blackjack

1. How hard is it to count cards at blackjack?

Once you learn to do it, it’s the simplest thing in the world. At first thought, counting cards seems extremely difficult, but then you do it and you discover that once you get the hang of it, it isn’t really hard.

2. How much time does it take to learn to count card at blackjack?

Here are the steps you must take. First, get a good blackjack book and learn basic strategy. It will probably take you a week or two of memorizing to get it down pat. This is the toughest part of the process. You will have to memorize what to do with every hand you get against every dealer upcard. Break it up over a couple of weeks and you’ll master it. Then go to a casino and play for small stakes and when you are perfect in your decision-making, you can learn a count system. It will take you all of five minutes to learn the basics of counting. However, it will take you weeks to do it proficiently enough to go into a casino and do it. Figure two months for the whole process.

3. Is one basic strategy good for every type of blackjack game?

Actually, there are different basic strategies for different games. The single-deck strategy is a little different from the multiple-deck strategy; the strategy for games where a dealer hits soft 17 (ace-6) is slightly different from a game where the dealer stands on soft 17, and on and on it goes. But you don’t have to go crazy memorizing six or seven different basic strategies. The differences in the strategies are not great enough to warrant panic. Memorize one and play it perfectly. After you learn to count and after you become proficient, then begin to incorporate the changes in basic strategy for the various types of games.

Slots

4. Does it really matter which slot machines I play?

Actually, it matters very much which machines you play. The fact that a machine can’t be beaten doesn’t mean there aren’t better or worse machines to play and better or worse ways to play them.

5. Which machines should I play? You have to judge your temperament. If you want to go for the big score such as Megabucks and you don’t mind bucking odds of around 50 million to one, then be my guest. You will lose almost every time you go to a casino when you exclusively play those progressives because they are holding from

10-15% of the money put in them.

6. Where are they?

Where would you put the best-paying machines in a casino if you owned the casino?

Of course, you would put them in areas that would encourage other slot players to continue playing or to play at a faster pace. You would not put them in areas where people would get annoyed with hearing slot players yelling and screaming — like around the table game area. Those machines are usually tight because astute slot managers realize that table-game players aren’t interested in hearing coins being pumped into slots and these same managers know that if the table-game player is going to dump a few coins in a machine, he or she isn’t expecting to win. So why give a table-game player a loose machine? Why give him anything? Keep those few coins for yourself. Anyway, no one knows where every loose or tight machine is in every casino but as a general rule of thumb, the areas where slot players will be encouraged to play will be loose, and the areas where solitary players might put in a few coins before going here or there to do this or that will be tight.

7. What does hit frequency mean on a slot machine?

How many times the player receives some kind of payout from the machine. Most slot machines have hit frequencies around the 15 percent mark. That means about one in six spins will result in the player getting money back. Note that I said “player getting money back” as opposed to “winning money.”

It is theoretically possible to have a 100 percent hit frequency with a machine that takes all your money. Just program it to constantly return one or two coins on a three-coin bet or one to four coins on a five-coin bet. You would have a 100 percent hit frequency and lose every time. The change machine is a 100 percent hit frequency machine with no house edge.

8. Do slot machines have cycles?

No. When you hear casino personnel talk about cycles, what you are actually dealing with is the theoretical number of spins for all the possible combinations to come up based on the program involved. In the actual playing of the machines, everything is randomly selected based on the RNG — the random number generator. There are streaks but these streaks are not predictable.

I have compiled a list of General Gambling Q&A; I am asked whenever I give talks about casino gambling. My list of 16 questions is in no particular order of importance, but these are the most-asked questions. All value judgments are mine.

So if I say this is the best thing, that is just my not-so-humble opinion.

1. Can a person really beat the casinos?

Yes, a person can really beat the casinos — if that person plays the right games the right ways. Unfortunately, most people won’t be that person who beats the casinos because most people play games that give the casino the edge. You can — with expert play — beat the following games: blackjack, video poker, and regular poker. Here I am saying that you can actually beat the math of the game and get the edge.

2. How much of a [mathematical] edge can you get on these games?

A good card counter at blackjack playing games with good penetration and good rules can get between a 0.5 percent and a 1.5 percent edge. I’d guess most card counters are playing with a one percent edge. Good single-deck players are probably closer to the 1.5 percent, while good shoe players are probably closer to the 0.5 percent. A lot of the percentage advantage that a card counter has depends on how much money he can get on the table when the game favors him. On select full pay or more-than-full pay video poker machines you can probably play even with the house to realizing about a two percent edge on some machines. On regular poker, it is much harder to estimate an advantage but some people can and do make a living playing poker. A good dice controller can probably get a 5 percent to 10 percent edge when he shoots. That edge will be reduced if he plays the other shooters, which he must to do be allowed to shoot in the first place.

3. What are your favorite games?

Craps first, blackjack second.

4. What are your least favorite games?

Any game that gives the casino a huge edge over the player is out. So the Big Wheel and Sic Bo are out. I also don’t enjoy playing Caribbean Stud — too many frustrating hands and a pretty high house edge to boot. I am also not a video poker lover — even though some of the best games in the casino are in video poker. I spend a tremendous amount of time in front of my computer screen so that when I go to a casino I want to play games where I get to see people in action with me.

5. Which games make the most money for the casinos?

The most overall money is made from slots, followed by blackjack, with craps and roulette right behind. More people play those games than any others. However, there is another way to figure what the casinos make and that is on a per game per $100 bet ratio. This is called the win rate. Here are the some real-world win rates for the various games in both Atlantic City and Las Vegas. My guess is that other gambling jurisdictions such as Mississippi and Illinois are probably consistent with these results as well.

However, these jurisdictions do not release their figures based on individual games.

The percent means that for every $100 bet, the casino kept that percentage.

Remember that the casino win rate is really the player loss rate! Hold your breath.

6. How much money should you bring to a casino?

Always bring enough money to last you for the amount of time you want to play. As a rule of thumb for every session of blackjack have at least 40 times your bet. If you are a five-dollar bettor then have $200. For craps, always have 10 times your bet spread. If you are up on three numbers at the height of your betting, then have 10 times the amount of the three combined wagers. In roulette and all other games, use the blackjack formula. Bring enough money to play all the sessions you plan to play. So the five-dollar bettor in blackjack who wants to play six sessions in two days should bring $1,200. Never use a win — or any leftover money — from one session in another session. Put it away. This will almost guarantee that you will go home with some money.

7. What games have some of the highest win percentages for the players?

If you lay against the four or 10 in craps, you have 66 percent win ratio while laying the five or nine has a 60 percent win rate. Of course, you have to put up more money than the bet is worth, so you will still lose even with this win rate. In baccarat, the bank wins about 50.5 percent of the time if you exclude ties. So you will actually win more than half your bets if you play this proposition exclusively at baccarat. That’s why the casino takes a commission from the winning bets. The pass line at craps has a 49.3 percent player win ratio. Blackjack has around a 48 percent win rate if we exclude ties. The even-money bets at roulette (red/black, odd/even, high/low) have a 47.4 percent player win ratio.

8. What is the probability of the same number coming up four times in a row in roulette?

Once in 2,085,136 spins.

9. What are the odds of a Royal Flush in video poker?

Around 40,000 to one.

10. What are the odds of a royal flush in Caribbean Stud?

In a five-card hand, the odds are 649,739 to one to get a royal flush. These are the same odds for Let It Ride, as well.

11. What are the odds of getting a blackjack?

About 20 to one.

12. W hat skills do you need to play poker?

First, you have to realize that even though you are competing against other people, you not only have to overcome them but you have to overcome the house rake on the pots. Poker requires two skills: a killer instinct and knowledge, whether intuitive or actual, of the probabilities inherent in the hand you’re working on. Most people can learn the latter information with study and practice, but very few have the goods in the killer-instinct department. Like a fighter who is technically perfect but just can’t “pull the trigger” in a real fight, most poker players just don’t have the full array of talents needed to be pros or even winning players.

13. Is Spanish 21 a good game?

Yes. If you use the new Armada basic strategy, you can reduce the house edge to 0.82 percent. If you use the Armada ruse, you can get a slight “monetary” advantage over the house, as well. However, if you use the basic strategy for traditional blackjack, the game will bury you as you’ll face a house edge of three percent or more. People who play Spanish 21 say it is a much more exciting version of blackjack than the traditional one.

14. What percent of the time does the dealer qualify in Caribbean Stud?

The dealer will qualify approximately 56.32 percent of the time. That’s what makes the game so frustrating — you have a good hand and the dealer doesn’t qualify!

15. I love Three-Card Poker. What is the best strategy?

Play queen high, six or better. Don’t make the Pairs Plus bet.

16. Do you think that casino gambling should be allowed everywhere?

Yes. The more competition between casinos, the better it is for the players. The only problem with the spread of gambling is with problem gamblers. But that’s always the way, isn’t it? The few who can’t handle something make it difficult for the rest of us to be able to enjoy that something.

A bankroll pertains to the money set aside by a player to support all of his gambling activities. It is an amount which a poker player can freely use without putting unnecessary risks on his/her finances and way of life. A professional poker player considers a bankroll the tool for the trade, without which, work is not possible.

Generally, playing with a bankroll of 300 times the amount of the big bet is a good ballpark figure. This means that a play that has a $1/2 limit would require a bankroll of $600. However, a more realistic figure is determined by the type of player and the type of game involved. A tight, solid player will probably need as much money as a player involved in a lot of pots. Games with more betting rounds than others would require a little more money. The player should decide for himself/herself what playing limit on Poker Stars.net he/she feels comfortable in.

It is possible that styles of play may vary among players and yet have the same bottom line. This is because some would tend to play more than others which means higher savings. Eventually, each player would find the style that works for them and determine the bankroll that would meet their game requirements.

The basic guideline mentioned above about a ballpark figure seems simple enough � except that it isn’t. A player will most likely be facing more opponents with a flop in a smaller limit game. Savings will be relatively larger even if only premium hands are played because there are less hands overall that can be won, due to having more opponents. However, the pots that can be won will be bigger. Saving tends to be higher relative to the bankroll in smaller limit games.

Starting a little more than the usually recommended guidelines may not be suitable for someone who plays poker as the sole source of income. The recommended amount would fit those holding a regular job or another source of income. A professional DoylesRoom.net poker player’s bankroll is essentially his/her net worth.

Playing poker on Full Tilt has inescapable fluctuations which can be very costly for those who are completely dependent on it. Removing the monthly house payment from the bankroll when it comes due for example, depletes it. The bankroll is lost for reasons that have nothing to do with poker at all. Thus, having a bankroll that is a lot more than the standard 300x allows for opportunities to avoid such situation.

A professional player’s $20,000 bankroll is not brought to the poker table for very play. Part of the money should be made to make more money in other places, other than the poker table. Some could be taken to the casino and the rest be placed in a bank, stock market and other places where it can make profit.

A new player at FullTiltPoker.com with a limited bankroll should make sure to receive the maximum bonus at every site to survive. This is made possible by playing at online poker rooms and casinos. The bonuses are percentage-based on the amount of deposit and are granted when the given number of hands is played.

Poker is a long term game that is why bankroll management is very important. It is a positive investment if a player’s aces are played properly although the possibility of losing money at any time is very real. Having enough money in the online bank will ensure against phasing and tilt.

Playing blackjack at BodogLive.com is fun and it can be profitable. And you don’t have to be a math whiz to become a smart blackjack player. In this article, I’ll get you started with an E-Z playing strategy that will take you all of 10 minutes to learn.

But first let me address the fear that most players have about playing onine blackjack. I know it’s the “I” word, intimidation, that the dealer or worse a fellow player will scold you for making a “wrong” play that causes everyone at the table to lose.

First off, how you play your hands has no bearing on the odds of other players on your table winning or losing. Sometimes a player could make an “incorrect” play that will cause players to lose but an equal number of times it could cause players to win. Plus with the strategy you are about to learn, you’ll be playing better than the majority of players.

My advice if you’ve never played blackjack at BodogPoker.com is to first read a good book that covers basic blackjack strategy so you understand the playing rules. Then attend a free lesson offered by most casinos so you get some hands on experience at how the game is played. Then use the playing strategy I’m about to discuss and you’ll be playing like a pro in no time.

What follows is an abbreviated strategy that involves learning only 9 blackjack rules.

It’s not as accurate as the complete basic strategy you will find in blackjack books but it’s much easier to learn and it’ll allow you to get an overall return in the range of 99.1 to 99.5% (depends upon the number of decks and the playing rules).

Trust me that you’ll be hard pressed to find another table game or slot machine that returns in excess of 99%.

The first column in the table below indicates your hand. The second column shows the playing strategy you should follow based upon what the dealer’s upcard happens to be.

For example suppose you are dealt a 9 and 7 and the dealer’s upcard is a 7.

Your hand totals 16. You should hit the 16 according to the first rule below.

Your Hand–Playing Strategy vs. Dealer Upcard

12 through 16–Stand on 2 through 6, hit on 7 through ace

17 through 21–Always Stand

10 or 11–Double down on 2 through 9

Soft 13 through 17–Always hit except double down on 5, 6

Soft 18 through 21–Always stand except double down on soft 18, on 5, 6

2,2; 3,3; 6,6; 7,7; 9,9–Split on 2 though 7 (except stand on 9,9 vs. 7)

5,5; 10,10–Never split

8,8; ace, ace–Always split

NEVER TAKE INSURANCE

Once you learn the above internet black jack playing strategy that will also help build up your confidence and overcome your fear of intimidation.

Look at this way. By following the above E-Z Blackjack strategy, you’ll be playing better then most of the players on your table.

If you’re still concerned about making mistakes, and want to learn how to play black jack better, jot the above strategy on an index card or print it out and take it with you when you play.

If you forget what to do, refer to your index card and/or printout.

Another tip to keep in mind is do NOT play blackjack at any table where player blackjacks pay 6-5 (or worse only even money).

These games are popular on the Las Vegas strip (offered as a single deck game as a come-on) and are proliferating to other areas of the US.

Getting paid 6-5 is far worse then getting paid the standard 3 to 2 so avoid all 6-5 games.

You should also avoid any table that uses a continuous shuffling machine meaning the discards after each round is returned to the shuffler.

Playing blackjack online is fun and your chances of winning are much better if you follow the above abbreviated E-Z playing strategy.

If you casino gamble, you probably know about comps. If you play craps, you probably know that your game affords the casino a very small advantage – only about 1% on some bets. If you take full advantage of the comps the casino offers, you can make more money in comps than in winnings! Sometimes, you can even triple your comps in relationship to the initial money wagered! In order to maximize your comps you need to choose the proper casino, have good money management, and develop a systematic business plan to execute it all.

Choosing a Casino

A casino that will maximize both your profits and your entertainment expectations is extremely important.

If you play craps for profit, you need to carefully choose a resort that will maximize your comps while offering favorable playing conditions. For example, some casinos offer 100X odds while others offer only 2X odds. And, some casinos offer comp credit for your spread rather than for individual bets. Both of these are terrific advantages for the craps player.

However, after you have finished playing for the required amount of time and get your ‘free’ meal or show; you might find that this is not exactly what you wanted.

For example, say you visit a particular casino such as the one on FullTiltPoker that offers 100X odds but they have standard rooms, no major show, and there is only one mediocre restaurant. Even though this casino offered superior playing conditions, you’re bound to get tired of going there several times a year.

Another casino offers only 2X odds; however, they offer a superior show, five different restaurants, and a Jacuzzi suite. Although this casino’s craps policies are less favorable than the first one, you might end up getting more value for your money in the long run.

Before you gamble, you should call a casino on their 800 number and ask to speak to a casino host. Tell him (or her) that you would like to try their casino out. Ask about the different restaurants, shows, and rooms that they offer. Ask if they base comps on individual bet or spread. Ask about the minimum bets and time required to get a free room. Write down the answers and call the other casinos you’re interested in, so you can make an accurate comparison. The ideal casino is different for every crapshooter.

Choose your casino on what YOU want – not what they want you to have!

Money Management

Many people will walk up to a craps table and then just keep on playing until they lose all of their money. These people have no win goal.

The reason you need a win goal is that tables fluctuate. You can be $100 up one moment and $100 down the next. How do you know when to stop and still leave with a profit?

Your win goal on FullTilt should be based on your individual session money, and should be 30% of your buy in. For example, if you buy in with $100 and are $30 ahead you should quit. Leave the table and go to your room, or have lunch. Then an hour or so later, buy in with your $130 and quit when you’ve won $39. Be precise. Be disciplined. Follow the plan! Set a win goal and stick to it!

The opposite of a win goal is a loss limit, and it’s also 30% – very easy to remember! If you buy in for $100, you leave when you win or lose $30. If you buy in for $500, you leave when you win or lose $150.

One of the cardinal rules of craps is to increase your bets while winning but decrease them while losing. But when many people start losing, they keep on playing as if nothing was different, or worse, they keep increasing their bets.

Don’t do it! You need a loss limit, and you need to stick to it.

So, stick to your guns. Set a win goal and a loss limit. Over the long run, you’ll win more and lose less.

Business Plan

First, you should be a rated player and get a comp card. If your favorite casino has a separate card for slot play, get one of those, too. This way, whenever your favorite casino has any promotions of any kind, you will get mailings from them–free offers! Sometimes it is even possible to combine the promotions of the slot and table games offers.

You should also apply for casino credit at FullTilt.com. You can call the cage and ask how to do this. Your potential credit is based on your checking account balance, so the higher your balance, the higher your credit. Not only is casino credit more convenient, but in many cases you can withdraw your credit and use it free for 30 days. You�ll also have a higher comp rating and be an established player in the eyes of the casino.

When you begin playing, just give the friendly dealer your comp card and ask for your buy in. He will check your rating and give it to you in a minute or two. For example you might say �a thousand please� and he might say �in blacks or greens.� He will then count out your chips on the table and set them aside while they check their computer.

Once you have the chips, you can play with the full amount, or not. For example, you can play with $500 worth and put the other $500 in your pocket and use it later or cash it in and use it in another casino if you like. When you leave the table, you may be asked if you want to pay off your marker. Don�t be intimidated by this request and just say no. Most casinos require that you pay back your markers in 30 days or it will adversely affect your credit with them in the future.

It is to your benefit to buy in with a larger amount than you will play with.

Your comps are calculated by three criteria – (1) your buy in, (2) your first bet and (3) your average bet. So, if your buy in and first bet are larger than normal, your comps will be bumped up a little.

Something else you can do to increase your comps is to tip the dealers. Tipping will also get the dealers on your side so you can set the dice easier. The dealers will also notice your playing patterns and help you however they can – including bumping up your comps. The dealers would rather have you, a good tipper back in their casino, than an inexperienced player who doesn�t tip.

Finally, you should notice the dealer�s name tags and call them by name. Be friendly with them. If they remember your first name and use it when you leave the table, you�ve done a good job – and they�ll be doing everything they can to get you back!

Conclusion

To minimize your losses by maximizing your comps you should:

1. Call a casino host and discuss your needs with him.

2. Choose a casino based on benefits, not features.

3. Have a realistic win goal and loss limit.

4. Increase your bets when winning, decrease them when losing.

5. Get a comp card and play only with casino credit.

6. Maximize your first bet and your buy in.

7. Tip the dealers and call them by name.

8. Find out which comps you want and what levels they require.

9. Adjust your bankroll, comp wants, or play with a partner.

10. And, as always, good luck at the casinos!

Whether you’re hunting for jackpots at PokerStars.net, out to have fun with bonus rounds that play much like arcade games or just taking a break from poker or blackjack, chances are you’ve at least dabbled in video bonus slots. Nearly everyone has.

They’ve been the fastest growing segment in off line gaming for years, and they’re a natural for online gaming.

Let’s have a little fun with the bonus slots in a quick five-question quiz.

Answers and explanations follow:

1. Modern slot machines:

A. Are always pure games of chance.

B. Sometimes incorporate elements of knowledge or skill

C. Are mostly tests of skill

2. A combination that pays off even if the symbols aren’t on the same line is called:

A. A scatter pay

B. A wild-card jackpot

C. A programming error

3. On a video slot machine, if the reels fade from the screen and are replaced by another scene, the player is getting:

A. A second-screen bonus

B. Taken to the cleaners

C. A double-or-nothing challenge

4. American slot designers:

A. Developed the modern video slot with scatter pays and bonus rounds in the early 1990s

B. Were inspired to move into video by the success of Australian manufacturers

C. Stick to three-reel slots, and leave the video to overseas slot designers

5. Compared with three-reel slots, five-reel bonus slot games:

Have fewer winning spins that return less than the amount wagered

Have more winning spins that return less than the amount wagered

Have about the same percentage of winning spins that return less than the amount wagered

Answers:

1. Modern slot machines: B. Sometimes incorporate elements of knowledge or skill.

Slot machines have traditionally been games of pure chance, but a few modern games allow the player to influence bonus paybacks with knowledge or skill. One prime example is Progressive Gaming’s (formerly Mikohn) Ripley’s Believe It or Not slots.

In the bonus round, the player sees trivia questions with multiple-choice answers. Bonus payouts are higher for correct answers than for incorrect responses.

2. A combination that pays off even if the symbols aren’t on the same line is called:

A. A scatter pay. One of the charms of video slot machines on PKRPoker is that players can find themselves with a nice win when they least expect it. Part of it is that players sometimes have difficulty sorting out all the paylines featured on five-reel bonus games, and just don’t see the winning combinations unfolding. But sometimes the payoff is just a complete surprise, because it comes from symbols that aren’t adjacent on any line.

Many games incorporate scatter pays, in which a symbol is designated to bring a payoff whenever a certain number lands on the screen. Sometimes it takes as few as two like symbols to launch a scatter pay, although three is more typical. Scatter pays then get larger if the screen shows four or five of the designated symbols.

3. On a video slot machine, if the reels fade from the screen and are replaced by another scene, the player is getting: A. A second-screen bonus.

Full Tilt Bonus rounds are the most interactive portions of video slots. When the player hits a particular combination on the first screen, the reels fade and is replaced by a scene with the bonus game. It’s all designed to keep the player active, interested–and in his or her seat.

4. American slot machine designers: B. Were inspired to move into video by the success of Australian designers.

Multiline, multicoin slots with scatter pays and other bonuses were well established in Australia and in Pacific Rim nations by the time Aristocrat brought them to the American market in 1996.

5. Compared with three-reel slots, five-reel bonus slots: B. Have more winning spins that return less than the amount wagered.

On three-reel slots, most wins are for several times the amount wagered, but less than 20 percent of spins will be winners. On five-reel bonus slots, 30, 40, even 50 percent of spins or more might bring some return, but the majority will be for less than the size of the bet.

In Part 2, we discuss the technical side of online gambling including computer requirements and software options as well as how to open and fund your player account.

The Proper Tools: Hardware & Software

At its most basic level, gambling online requires two critical components: a computer compliant with gambling software and access to the Internet.
If you bought your computer within the last five years, chances are that you’re already equipped with the necessary hardware to gamble online. (As a rule of thumb, if you have Internet access your system is ready.)

While you don’t need to have the latest, state-of-the-art computer in order to gamble online, if you’re working with an older model system, you will need to check to see if your computer is up to the task. Most online gambling sites such as TitanPoker provide a list of the minimum requirements needed to handle the software. This information can be found typically under the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page and sometimes on the Download page itself.
Generally speaking, the typical minimum requirements are:

Windows XP/2000/98/95/NT

64 MB of RAM (Random Access Memory)

256 color VGA monitor

30 MB of Hard drive space

14.4 Kbps modem

In addition to these minimum requirements, you’ll also need an Internet browser such as Microsoft Explorer or Netscape. If you’re system does not have a compatible browser, updates may be downloaded from the Microsoft or Netscape web sites.
Having established that your computer meets these minimum requirements, the next step is to install the gambling software from the selected site onto your system. This software contains all of the information your computer needs to allow you to gamble.
In essence, the software IS the casino or poker room or bingo hall whatever type of site you have chosen to play.
(Note: Bodog Sportsbook typically don’t require any software, only an active, funded account.) The software is always free of charge and accessible directly from the site or sometimes via a CD-ROM that can be requested from the site.
While the majority of sites favor poker download software (software that requires its key components be downloaded directly onto the users computer)
many sites now offer software platforms that allow users to skip the download process. Platforms such as Java or Flash are designed to allow players near instant access to the games with minimal hassle.

Unfortunately, these platforms often (though not always) sacrifice realism for convenience with the end result being a less-than-perfect simulation.
Happily, many sites now offer players the option to choose the version they would prefer to play.
Once you have selected a platform, the rest is easy. For a downloadable software package, click the link that says ‘download’ and the computer basically does the rest.
For the other versions, simply choose the appropriate Flash or Java option and get ready to play.

Opening a Player Account

The final steps before you can become an online gambler at a site like www.PokerStar.net is to register and fund your account. To register, simply fill out the registration form provided by the site after the software has been installed. This form requires basic personal information (name, address, etc.,) as well as a
selected user name and password so you can access your account.
Always remember to keep this information in case your forget it.
Once you have registered, you may begin playing For Fun (free) if the site has such an option, or you may deposit funds and begin playing for real. If you do sign up for a real account at poker stars, make sure to use the best Poker Stars Bonus Code that you can find.
While banking options vary with the site, the process is generally the same.
Click on the ‘Deposit’ option; select one of the methods (i.e. credit card, electronic check, pre-paid ATM, etc.), choose an amount and transfer that amount into your player account. Bear in mind, however, that depending on your selected method, initial deposits into an online gambling account may require you to do a little more paperwork.
For example, you may opt to open an account with an online money transfer service such as NETeller or
Firepay. In that case, you’ll need to open an account with them first, fund that account and transfer those funds to your player account. While this requires a little extra effort, it provides even more protection for your sensitive financial information and is well worth the time.
Once the funds have cleared and are in your player account this can range from immediate availability to several weeks, depending on the deposit method you can begin playing for real.

Congratulations, you’ve become an online gambler.

An Expanding Industry

You’ve now learned what it takes to become an online gambler. While at first it may sound complicated, it’s really nothing more than finding a site, getting the software, and getting cash into the account.
Of course, it really doesn’t end there, does it?
Just as any gambler learns and grows, so too does the online gambling industry. Sites are always evolving, developing new and faster software with more realistic games, or creating specialized VIP and comp programs that provide patrons with bigger bankrolls and higher rewards.
Some companies, such as UltimateBetPoker are even expanding into new directions such as mobile gaming and interactive television that will allow gamblers to play their favorite games just as easily as making a call or changing a channel. There’s truly no end in sight.
So, while today you may be playing at the perfect casino or poker room, tomorrow may present you with an even better version, greater accessibility and even better selection.

There’s a lot more to online gambling than casino games. Anyone who has followed the Worlds Series of Poker for the past few years knows that slowly but surely online poker players have started to creep in from anonymity and take center stage. They’ve even had the audacity to win the main event for two years running.
But online gambling isn’t just poker, either. It’s everything. Every form of gambling you can imagine (and more than a few that you can’t) from progressive slot machines to bingo halls, international lottery drawings and sportsbetting. There are even more than a few sites where you can bet on the winners of reality television shows or what the last digit will be at the closing bell of the Dow Jones.

The point is, that before you even dare to venture into the cyberspace void in search of new gambling adventures, you’d best know what you’re looking for and how to find it.

Getting Started: Finding the Best Sites

Although becoming a successful enough to play poker online involves many steps, the most crucial one is also the most obvious finding a place to play. Or rather, finding a good place to play. Despite the Internet so often being likened to the ‘Wild West’, online gambling itself is a far cry from those wicked saloons of old. The increased competition, a higher level of player awareness, and the
development of ‘watchdog sites’ that patrol the online gambling industry has made it a relatively safe medium.
However, just because it’s safer that does not mean it’s devoid of risk. Nor does it mean that all sites are created equally. Sometimes, even the most well intentioned site may not be quite up to par, resulting at best in an unsatisfactory experience and at worst a complete fiasco.
Luckily, avoiding such problems is relatively easy–it just takes a little effort and a little bit of homework.
Below are some of the basic steps you need to follow when looking for a new online gambling site:

Make sure that the site is reputable. Always find out everything you can about a site before depositing a cent. Read site poker room reviews in respected gambling magazines, visit gambling portals and check out what’s being said about the different sites.

You might also consider visiting online gambling forums or chat room (available on many gambling portals) where players meet to discuss gambling topics including how to play blackjack.
There you’ll find first-hand accounts of player experiences that may help steer you towards or away from a particular site.
Ask yourself: Does this site fit my needs? Although choosing an online gambling site requires a lot of objectivity, it is also a matter of personal taste. It doesn’t matter if the site is praised on every forum and in every magazine if it doesn’t have what you’re looking for it’s pretty much useless.
For example, if you’re the sort of gambler who likes to mix it up, playing a little online black jack then maybe a couple of pulls on the slots while waiting for the results of the Yankee game, you need a site that caters to both casino gamblers and Sports Gamble.
On the other hand, if bingo is your only love, you’ll need to refine your search to include only sites that
offer it.

See for yourself. Once you have narrowed down your selections to a manageable level, begin visiting the sites and examining them. Really study them. Are the graphics top quality? Did the designers put some thought into the site’s development or does it have that ‘thrown together’ look?
Does anything about the site make you feel uncomfortable or wary? Your answers to these questions will help to determine if the site is a worthwhile contender for your business or just some fly-by-night operation.

For a little extra insight, consider calling the site’s customer services department with some basic questions to see what kind of a response you get.
If the associate is hesitant or unable to answer your questions, seems uninterested, or is just plain rude, consider that this might be the type of service that you’re likely to receive should a real crisis arise.

Now that you have found a place worthy of your attention, the next step is getting down to the business at hand: becoming an online gambler.

Becoming a Player
In days past when the number of online casino and online poker rooms could easily be counted on a single hand, getting online, downloading the software and establishing an player account was a tedious series of events that made the trip to the local casino more than worth it. But as technology advanced, so too did the entire process and what we’re left with is the streamlined progeny of those early pioneers.
In Part 2, we’ll discuss the technical side of online gambling including computer requirements and software options as well as how to open and fund your player account.

This blog focuses on Poker but we also like to offer other gambling tips such as ones for the popular game craps.

At the craps table itself, there is only one person who is seated and that person is the boxman.
He (or she) takes care of things, for both the table and the players.
He keeps an eye on the payoffs, the bets, and more importantly, the average bets of all the players who want to be rated.
I’ve found that if you tip the dealers, the boxman takes it upon himself to bump up your average bet a little. He has an obvious personal interest in this, as all of the dealers split the tips. He would rather have tippers return to his casino than non-tippers.

Similar to blackjack rules there are strict rules you need to follow while playing craps. The boxman also handles player disputes and is charge of the table’s chip bank, which is directly in front of him, by the middle of the table. The boxman is the most experienced casino employee at the table. Occasionally an inexperienced dealer might make an unpopular decision and the boxman can overrule it.

The man with the stick is called the stickman. He technically is one of the three dealers, and they all rotate around the table, so each dealer takes turns with the stick. The stickman retrieves the dice and pushes them to the shooter, taking care not to display the dreadful seven that, of course, is bad luck.
The stickman also takes care of the proposition bets, and helps the other two dealers, who are on the opposite side of the table (next to the boxman) and handling all of the players bets.

Behind the craps tables is an area called the pit. Players are not allowed walk through this area.
In the pit are floor persons, who are one step above the boxmen. Their primary functions are to watch out for cheaters and to keep track of rated players. When you first check in and ask for a marker, or when you leave and ask for a comp, or if you switch tables, this will all be handled by a floor person. There are many place to play both craps and internet blackjack for free, including bodog.net and TitanPoker.

Supervising all of this is the pit boss. He is in charge of the casino personnel at all of the tables. You will rarely see him. If you have a dispute regarding ratings or table play you will be speaking with a floor person, not the pit boss.

So, lets say something strange happens during your play and the dealer closest to you disagrees with what you want. For example, lets say that you have a $10 hard six and the shooter throws wildly. The dice bounce around all over the table and somehow end up sitting on top of each other. If they were separated on the table it would show your hard six, but the dealer suddenly calls out no roll!

Your first appeal would be to the boxman, who could overrule the dealer. If he doesn’t, you can yell, Stop Play, I want to talk to the pit boss! They really will stop play and a floor person will come over and see if he can resolve the situation first by talking to the boxman. If he cant, hell call over a pit boss.

Usually, it wont get that far. The boxman knows that it is more important to keep the players at his table in his casino, than it is to pay off a few hundred disputed dollars. Casinos are very competitive these days and they will do a lot to keep you as a regular patron. This includes Blackjack Online and craps online casinos.

Now that we know the casino personnel, lets take a quick look at the craps table itself, and learn some things that many players often overlook.

There are signs on both sides of the craps table announcing what the minimum and maximum bets are. For example, one sign might say $10 to $1,000, 2X odds. This means that the minimum flat bet is $10, the maximum flat bet is $1,000 and the casino offers two times odds. There are usually several tables in the pit area, with different stated limits. It is not uncommon to see four tables, each with different minimums
$1, $5, $10 and $25. Usually on weekdays, the minimums are lower, and on weekend evenings, the minimums are as high as the traffic will allow. In the evenings, when all the tables are in use, the house usually raises all of the minimum bets. If you are a $1 player, it is easier to find a low minimum table in the daytime.

Those minimum and maximum bets apply to flat bets only, not proposition bets. If you want to bet higher than usual on the 2, 3, 11, 12 or hardways you better ask the dealer what the upper limits are as they are never posted. Sometimes its as low as $50.

On the table itself, there are grooved chip holders in the sides to hold your chips. You can also use one of these racks to track the table. Just use a red chip for pass-line winners and a white one for dont pass winners. This way you can see which way the table is going. For example if you have four red chips and only one white, you’ve got a hot table, and you might want to increase your bets and odds. If you have more white chips than red ones, you might want to switch to the don’t side.

The blackjack and craps dealers will never make hand-to-hand contact with you, your money or your chips. If you want your cash turned into chips, drop it on the table and say change. He will take your money, convert it into chips, and push the chips back to you. Even when you win a bet, he will either place your winnings next to your bet, or push them toward you. Never try to hand anything directly to a dealer.

Finally, remember to have fun while you’re playing. Talk to the other players and dealers. Try to make some friends. Tip the dealers if they help you and use your chip racks to keep track of the table direction.