gambling

7/4/2006 12:14:38 PM

“Sticky” bonuses become more and more popular ( a casino player cannot get the amount of a bonus), last year a new variety appeared – “phantom” bonuses – a variant of a sticky bonus, but the amount of a bonus while taking money is not left on the account, but is removed. At present most casinos with PlayTech, Microgaming, RTG softwares offer “sticky” bonuses.

Other casinos expand the list of games forbidden for bonus wagering. BlackJack or Video Poker are either forbidden or wager requirements increased by 2-4 times. Some popular on-line casinos introduce bonuses which can be wagered in Slots only.

Wager requirements continue to grow. A year ago you could find on-line casinos offering decent bonuses with 10-20 times wager requirements. Nowadays 25-30 times are the summit of a hunter's ambition ( for Slots bonuses wager may be a bit lower).

But not everything is so bad. Casino bonus hunters have new interesting perspective in a related area – on-line Poker rooms. The Poker industry is growing now incredibly rapidly (the number of players and bets for the last year have grown by more than 5 times!). New Poker rooms are constantly appearing which try to attract new players offering bonuses, money for playing and free rolls, and large Poker sites keep up with young competitors.

At present among Poker rooms are more popular interest bonuses on the first deposit – 20-25% bonus up to $100. Fixed bonuses exist (about $50) and in Poker rooms with Cryptologic software monthly bonuses for the time of playing are $5 per hour. The wager requirement is expressed by the number of played deals or the amount of bet money.

New Poker rooms need players strongly, nobody will come into an empty room, therefore they are ready to propose money to players not for sitting and playing (so-called proposition players or props – the player should play at the table appointed by casinos and he gets for that a bonus or some tens of dollars per hour).

The third variant of earning money is tournaments with free entrance designed to attract new players and keep old ones. It can be a tournament on one table with a prize fund of $10 or it can be a tournament for $30000 with the first bonus of $6000 (at present the highest fund of free roll is $100000!

A question arises: is it too risky to hunter in Poker. Will not you lose more? Will not rake swallow all profits? Here of course much depends on the level of the player. However, at low limits up to $1/$2 (it is no use to trying higher for a hunter and the bank does not allow to risk in this way) the level of the players is not too high, therefore anybody who will spend a couple of hours on studying the chance concept and basic principles of the game and print the table of the start hands, has good chance to become a plus player. Of course some negative losses are possible but in on-line casinos the situation is the same therefore Poker rooms is more kindly soil for the hunting. And while acquiring playing experience a bonus hunter may well transfer to the class of professional players and start earning tens and even hundreds of dollars per hour WITHOUT BONUSES.

Therefore, hunting in on-line casinos is gradually declining and its place is going to take on-line Poker hunting. The king is died, long live to the king.

© Copyright 2006-2007 www.Bonus-Map.com]]>

7/4/2006 12:14:38 PM

1. Absolutely know the games you are playing!

It's a proven fact that the player with the most knowledge has the best luck. Never jump into a game until you've first observed and learned how to play it. Research the games you are going to play online, and at any time you are playing, don't be afraid to ask the dealer to explain anything you don't understand.

2. Never drink and play!

One of the casinos chief weapons used to get you to spend more money is by offering their players free drinks. Drinking alcohol impairs your judgment and thinking process, and while gambling you've got to use your head in order to win.

3. Don't throw away your money!

Before you step out the door of your house headed to the casino, set a limit on how much money you're going to spend and then stick with it. Too many gamblers burn a hole though their wallets and end up going over their spending limit only to lose more money. While we're on the topic of managing your bank roll, remember to save the money you win, don't re-spend it any of your winnings!

4. Don't become overconfident!

The very worst thing that can happen to a novice gambler is to win too big too fast. If you do start winning big, don't throw your caution to the wind, figuring your on a roll. When you start to win big, be sure to maintain your caution and gamble with your head, not your emotions.

5. Keep a low profile!

It's been proven wherever there are large amounts of money, there will always be unsavory characters on the prowl. For your own protection, don't tell anyone at the casino how well you're doing, whether you're winning or losing. Also, be sure not to expose big money in public view, and if you have a large bankroll lock it up with the casino cashier until you're ready to leave.

Gambling is deadly serious. People who rely on pure luck to win nearly always lose and I hope you learned some new basic tips, that should be taken into consideration to easily boost your odds of winning.
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7/4/2006 12:14:38 PM

Here are 5 factors that you should consider when making your choice of where to play poker online.

1. Reputation
It is usually best to stick with a site that has a good solid reputation, especially if you are a beginner and you've never played poker online before. Most of the big names have an excellent reputation and they have to be absolutely fair in order to maintain this.

2. Signup Bonuses
We all love something for nothing and you will certainly get that when you sign up for poker online. Almost all of the sites will offer you some sort of bonus to sign up with them so you need to shop around and see who is offering the best deal. Of course there is nothing to stop you opening an account with several different sites if you want to.

3. Number of players.
All of the major sites have many thousands of players online at any one time. You will never struggle to get a game, there should always be a seat available for you. However some of the smaller sites attract far fewer visitors and you may end up frustrated, waiting for the right playing opportunity to arise.

4. Software
Most poker sites require you to download a piece of software (normally referred to as a "client") before you can play. Some of these are better than others, there's a big difference in the quality of graphics and ease of play between the clients available. You need to make sure you are playing on a site that you feel comfortable and enjoy playing at.

5. Statistics.
One of the important aspects of playing poker online is the availability of statistics. Each site's poker client has a "lobby" area where you can view the tables and check out what's happening, some of them also have good statistics about the table so you can decide which one to play. While you are playing there are some sites which give statistics of each hand "in-running", this can also be a very useful feature.

So there you have it, now you know how to pick the best sites so go ahead and have fun!]]>

7/4/2006 12:14:38 PM

People assume that betting on horses is based on luck, and that the only method to win money while doing it is to get inside information. By inside information, people generally refer to match fixes or some other knowledge that one or more of the horses is sick. This might have been true once, but in todays modern world where the gambling is institutionalized and checked daily, this sort of thing rarely (if ever) occurs.

So What Then? Should you gamble according to unexplainable hunches and simply hope for the best?
There is a better option. Base your bets on information that you collect about the different horses and then make a calculated guess. I have listed here the 8 Golden Rules you should look out for when judging how good a particular horse will fair in the race you are going to bet on.

1. Check out the weather, and then check how the horses in the race fared accordingly. Certain horses have a tendency to outlast others in the rain, while others charge unstoppable to the finish line on cloudy days. Why? I don't know, but what's important is that its true, and it has worked for me.

2. Do not think that older horses run slower than three-year old ones as the season comes to a close. This is just not true. What you have to check is how many races each horse did run. Sometimes horses compete in too many races and this slows them down, but this has nothing to do with age.

3. Surprisingly, though you might think that there is a direct ratio between the weight of the jockey and how fast the horse can run, but this is not true. Since most of the jockeys weigh approximately the same, its actually the relatively heavier ones who manage to win.

4. Similarly, heavier horses can run faster than lighter ones, but only up to a point. A colt weighs about a hundred pounds more than fillies and thus they are more likely to win long distance races.

5. Just because a horse has new blinkers does not mean that the horse will run faster. I know this sounds crazy, but a friend I met at the horse-track offered me this piece of advice, and I had to refute it to spare the heartache from any who do fall for it.

6. Check the pedigree of the horses. Remember to keep whatever information you find. You can even buy one of the books on certain horses at your local bookstores. After you have gathered all the relevant information keep in mind that a colt doesn't need as much of a pedigree as a filly to run very fast.

7. Don't rely too much on pedigree at the lower class races. This is the place where those horses with a weak pedigree tend to shine.

8. Female jockies are starting to make a name for themselves, so don't underestimate them when they race. Lately, they have been winning admirably.

Use the above 8 Golden Rules of Betting on Horses the next time you go to the track or enter an online sportsbook to place your bet so that your wager will have a better chance of winning.]]>

7/4/2006 12:14:38 PM

I have been playing blackjack for a number of years now and when I first started playing I heard a saying at the blackjack table “scared money doesn’t make money”. This has proven to be very true in my gambling. What this statement means is that if you are not willing to risk your money, you may win a little, but you will not have the huge winnings that you could have had if you had bet big. Sure, if you gamble small amounts of money you will not lose large amounts, but you won’t win large amounts either. I like to try to win large amounts of money when I gamble.

Now down to the details of this technique. This technique assumes that I will win a number of hands in a row. This can and does happen, though not as often as I would like it to. Let’s say I start out with a bet of $10 on my first hand and win. The next hand I will take the $10 that I won and stack it on top of the $10 that I already had out for a total bet of $20. Now we are at the second hand and we will assume again that I win this hand. Now I have won $20, I will take $10 of that and place on top of the $20 that I already had out there for a total of a $30 bet and I will keep the other $10. Now we are at the third hand.

A $30 bet may sound like a lot of money to wager but consider this; if I lose I am right back to where I started, totally even. This is the most important hand of this technique so play it wisely. Assuming again that I win this third hand, I will take $15 of my $30 won on that hand to keep and $15 on top of the $30 I already had out there for a total bet of $45. This progressive betting simply continues by taking half of the winnings to keep and the other half to increase your bet. Suppose you did win that fourth hand of $45, how much would you have now? For the mathematicians out there it is $115 total; the $45 that was bet, the $45 that was won, and the $25 that you set back from hands two and three. Not bad for starting with $10.

Now I know that some of you are asking how likely it is to actually win four hands in a row. Well if you have played blackjack very often then you know it is very possible to win four hands in a row. If you take this technique and use it on a shoe that you are winning you can make hundreds in a single shoe. I once sat at a blackjack table, alone with the dealer and a six-deck shoe. I lost the first three hands. I started with a $10 bet for all three hands. On the fourth hand with a $10 bet I won. I followed my technique and did not lose another hand until the last two hands of the shoe. I won over $2,000 in that one shoe. This is definitely not the norm! I shared that example just to show you how effective this technique can be.

There will be many times that you do not win three or four hands in a row. When this happens I simply stick with my $10 bet. If I have a $45 bet out and lose, I start over at with the betting at $10 and begin again. This style of betting also allows for you to win a few hands and to lose a few hands and come out relatively even. For those of you who understand the idea behind doubling down, I almost always double with the same amount that I have bet already. Remember, scared money doesn’t make money.

Try this technique and see if it works for you, but also understand that if you play long enough you will lose. Try not to get caught up in the moment and take the money and run when you are ahead. Good luck.]]>

7/4/2006 12:14:38 PM

To some, the very concept of entering a “tournament” may seem intimidating, but they aren’t just for the aspiring card professional. These days there are players of all skill levels participating on the tables, and entry fees as low as a couple of dollars.

What Are Online Poker Tournaments?

There are not a lot of significant differences between poker tournaments played in cyberspace and those conducted in the brick and mortar world. The obvious difference is when playing in an online poker game your opponents are not physically seated next to you. Asides from that, the rules and betting structures are normally the same.

Tournaments of all types and sizes are available for online patrons to enter, from single table "pick up" games to massive multi-table events.

Single table tournaments are not unlike what many people are already accustomed to playing on a Saturday night at home with friends – 6, 8 or 10 players at one table, with the top 2 or 3 places dividing the prize money. At just about any online poker room these pick up games run all day long, commencing immediately once a table is filled, and opening a new table to seat the next set of players.

Multi-table tournaments can be comprised of as few as two tables, but it is not uncommon for a larger online tournament to attract thousands of entrants. In theory, due to today’s modern computer and communications technology, it is possible for an online poker tournament to have literally an unlimited number of entrants, as there are no physical limitations to the number of tables they can use.

Games Played at Online Poker Tournaments

In this day and age, nearly any type of poker game can be found played at one poker venue or another. While the increasingly popular Texas Hold ’Em remains a favorite for large-scale events, there are other types of poker games that have become increasingly popular in the online poker tournament scene in recent years; including 7-Card Stud, Omaha, and their Hi/Lo (split pot) counterparts.

Tournament Buy-Ins

Online poker rooms have the financial advantage of no space constraints and electronic dealers, which allows them to offer much more flexibility when it comes to how low tournament buy-ins can go. For new players or those on a budget, there are entry fees as low as a dollar at some venues, and in some cases, even free tournaments with real prizes for new players (commonly referred to as “freerolls”).

On the other side, for more experienced players and those who prefer higher stakes action, single table buy-ins can go as high as $500 at some places, and direct buy-ins for larger multi-table events often run into the hundreds as well.
Most online tournament operators charge an administrative fee of 10% that is added to the buy-in. A $10 tournament for example, would cost a player $11 in total to enter ($10 + $1). This 10% is where the house gets its profit, with the remainder of the money going towards the prize pool for winning players.

Satellites and Super-Satellites

Some larger tournaments may offer as much as millions of dollars in prizes, which requires large entry fees from it’s participants in order to fund. In some instances, organizers of these poker events will utilize a series of “satellites” and “super satellites” as part of the tournament structure to allow players a chance to work their way up to the main event without the expense of a direct buy-in.

Satellites are essentially inexpensive poker tournaments, the winners from which advance to either a super-satellite (see below) or directly into the main tournament event. These are also occasionally referenced as ‘qualifiers’.

Similarly, a super-satellite is a higher-priced version of a satellite tourney - not as expensive to enter as a direct buy-in, but with a higher entry fee than a regular satellite. Winners advance onto the main tournament event with fees paid, and will also often receive cash prizes as well.

In conclusion, whether you’re just looking for a fun way to challenge your amateur skills or aspiring to be the next World Series Of Poker champion, online tournaments can provide any level of player with a fun poker experience at a price to suit any budget, perhaps of even winning a bit of money along the way. Definitely not just for the pros anymore.]]>

7/4/2006 12:14:38 PM

Entertainment websites of all types have also made a significant splash in cyberspace. Included within the panorama of recreational Internet venues are online poker websites. Indeed, as time moves forward, online gambling and online poker playing are thriving ventures.

Perhaps you are one of literally hundreds of thousands of men and women the world over who have an interest in online poker. In that regard, you may be seeking and searching for a perfect website at which you can engage in your favored pastime of playing cards.

As you undertake your hunt for the perfect site at which to play poker online, there are a number of pointers, recommendations and suggestions that you should keep well in mind.

Finding a Reputable and Established Online Poker Venue:

Naturally, when it comes to online gaming generally, and online poker specifically, you want to connect up with a site that is reputable and well-established. Unfortunately, as with so many different types of "things" on the Internet, there are very reputable sites that cater to online poker players and there are sites that aren't necessarily on the up-and-up. Therefore, as you seek out an ideal site to draw your cards, you will want to be 100% certain that you are dealing with an above board, completely reputable purveyor of Internet based poker gaming.

As a newcomer to the world of Internet based poker playing, you will want to avoid linking up with some of the more obscure, out of the way websites. While these venues may indeed make some pretty grandiose promises to you, in the end you will be far better served by signing on to a well established online poker website that has a demonstrably established track record.

In seeking a poker website that has a recognized track record, take the time to read and consider independent reviews of different sites. Through these reviews, you can determine whether a particular site actually will meet your gaming needs. More importantly, you will be able to discern a site's reputation in the poker playing cyber world.

Getting Referrals, References and Recommendations:

If you are heading into online poker playing for the first time, you likely know other men and women who enjoy this activity. As you seek out the perfect website to enjoy poker playing, get referrals, references and recommendations from these fellow poker acquaintances.

Even in this age of high-tech communication, nothing -- nothing -- beats word of mouth and past experience when it comes to referrals, references and recommendations. You can learn a great deal about a particular online poker website through the experiences of other people who have played at a specific venue. You will be able to learn which site to avoid and which web locations are worth your time.

The Importance of a Strong, Reliable and Experienced Player Base:

Obviously, you can't play poker alone.

In looking for an online poker website that will meet your needs as a player, you will want to consider three factors when it comes to the matter of other participants at a given venue:

- Strong player base with sufficient participants enrolled

- Reliable player base with participants who play regularly

- Experienced player base with participants that are knowledgeable about poker

Finding Games You Enjoy:

As you narrow down the list of potential online poker websites, don't simply settle. Don't enroll, enlist and engage a website that doesn't have exactly the types of games you enjoy playing. In this day and age (although the saying is trite and overused), when it comes to poker on the Internet, there truly is something for everyone.

In addition to finding a site that hosts games you enjoy, make certain that the site has games that you have experience in playing. If you are interested in trying out some different games of poker, make certain that the site you are considering has a novice or instructional setting that will allow you the chance to learn more about a particular game through hands-on playing with similarly situated individuals.

Remember Your Limits!

As in the brick and mortar world, when it comes to online gaming and poker playing, it is vital that you remember your limits. Before you ever log onto an Internet poker site, establish a definite set of loss guidelines that you will follow while playing. Set your limits in advance of enrolling with an Internet poker website and in advance of beginning to play.

By setting your loss limits in advance of being dealt a hand, you will be a responsible player and will be able to enjoy your Internet poker experience all the more.

By following these pointers, recommendations and suggestions, you will be well on your way to finding an absolutely ideal Internet poker website, a venue that will meet all of your needs and satisfy your poker playing desires. In other words, you will be well on your way to hours of entertainment and excitement at an Internet poker site that is perfect for you.]]>

7/4/2006 12:14:38 PM

Las Vegas is undoubtedly the casino capital of the United States, if not the whole world. In every square inch of Las Vegas, you will find a casino. They are so many casinos in fact that visitors in Las Vegas do not even get to visit all of them.

Bellagio, is one of the first-class hotel casinos that you should not miss when going to Las Vegas. Operated by the MGM Mirage, Bellagio features 3982 rooms and suites. In addition to its casinos, this gigantic megaresort also features a theater, the O Theater, some lounges and bars such as the Fontana Bar, Allegro Bars and the Nectar Bar.

It also boastsgreat dining venues such as the Picasso, Prime Steakhouse, Le Cirque, Sensi, Osteria del Circo and MICHAEL MINA and six outdoor pools and a spa. One of the main attractions of the Bellagio is its Fountains, an eight acre lake that provides stunning views at night. There is also the Conservatory and the Botanical Gardens as well as the Dale Chihuly glass sculpture.

Buffalo Bill’s, which is located in the Primm Valley, is 30 minutes away from the Interstate. This hotel-casino has 1,242 rooms including the suites that are used for wedding packages. Some rooms even have wet bars and Jacuzzi tubs. Among the dining sites that Bufallo Bill’s offers are the Baja Bar & Grill, Wagon Master Coffee Shop, La Salsa Mexican Grille, Miss Ashley's Buffet, and Frisella's Roastery.

The hotel casino also has a huge entertainment venue called the Star of the Desert Arena, which has 6000 seats. This is where concerts and other shows are held. In addition to this, Bufallo Bill’s also has a movie theater and comedy bar, where tourists can relax and wile the night away. One of the main attractions that this hotel-casino provides is the Desperado rollercoaster as well as the Turbo Drop Thrill ride.

Circus Circus sits in South Las Vegas. This is the first themed resort in the city, which is operated by the Mandalay Resort Group. It has 3770 rooms, some of which have video check-out counters. Dining venues in the hotel include the The Steak House, Stivali Italian Ristorante, Blue Iguana Las Vegas, and The Pink Pony. Part of the attraction in Circus Circus is the AdventureDome indoor theme park and the circus shows in the Big Top.

Another big thing in Las Vegas is the Excalibur hotel which is also nestled in the South. Another project of the Mandalay Resort Group, Excalibur has 4008 rooms all in all. Because of its King Arthur time theme, restaurants in Excalibur are named after places and people in King Arthur’s court such as the The Steakhouse at Camelot, The Camelot, Sir Galahad's Prime Rib House, and the Round Table Buffet. There are also frequent dinner shows and comedy acts in their comedy bars. In keeping with their theme, the casinos are transformed into a Renaissance Faire complete with jugglers, magicians and troubadours.

The Luxor is actually named after a place in Egypt, which is an tourist destination. Its building is topped with the brightest beams of light in the whole of Las Vegas. In fact, it can actually be seen when you are riding the space shuttle. It has 4408 rooms, which are divided into the Pyramid and in towers. Like the Excalibur, the names of the restaurants in the Luxor also have Egyptian flavors to them. Among the restaurants that you should try when visiting there are the Sacred Sea Room, Papyrus, Nile Deli, Hamada's, and of course the Isis.
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