Archive for December, 2010

Do Keno Strategies Work?

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Keno is a game of chance that is played loosely along the same lines as the lottery – you choose a certain amount of numbers from a selection offered to you and if you manage to guess a minimum of correct numbers, you win a prize.  Players flock to play keno at land and online casinos for many reasons. The game is familiar, easy to understand and the results are quick and instantaneous.  Over the years, many people have claimed to have developed a strategy to win at keno. While gambling experts drive home the message time and time again that no amount of trying will improve your odds of winning at keno, there are those that swear by ‘their’ systems.

We take a look at some of the more common keno strategies:

Chasing the Pack – Do you sometimes notice that certain numbers seem to appear more often than others? Those who follow this strategy believe that you should pick the more common numbers, simply because they have more chance of appearing and paying out.

Chasing the Strays – On the flip side, those who go by this strategy say that one should pick numbers that don’t appear very often as they are due to come up.

Take the Lines – Look at average lottery and keno wins. Do you see that many times, consecutive numbers come up (say 34 and 35)? Strategists believe that if you pick numbers that follow each other on the keno form it will give you a better chance of winning in the long run.

Play it Again – Some people like to play the same numbers over and over again, sometimes for years. It may be special dates in their lives or simply what they perceive as their own lucky numbers. Whatever these numbers are, players never change them, with the logic being that at some point this string of numbers will have to come up.

These are just a few of the strategies adopted by keno fans in the hope of winning big in the game. None have been tried and proven to work, and the bottom line is that while keno is a highly entertaining game, it should be looked at as a game of chance and wagered on at online casinos accordingly.

Mobile Sportsbetting Comes to Las Vegas

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

The fight to legalize and regulate online and mobile gambling in the United States seems to be neverending. As soon as advancement is made in one state, another comes along and passes tougher laws. When progress is made on a state level, steps on a federal level take the issue backwards once more. And so it was refreshing to read this week that the state of Nevada has decided to bring mobile sportsbetting to its residents through the approval of a cool new app.

The Nevada Gaming Commission gave the thumbs up to the Leroy Group for their Leroy App which essentially allows state residents to place sports bets using their mobile phones or devices. Those who use a Blackberry phones will be able to download the app already, while approval for the Android application is still pending.  The Commission agreed to allow the Leroy Grop to market their application after they were convinced that new technology introduced by the company recognized when gamblers were situated within state lines. The approval would not have been given if this was not the case, based on the fact that Nevada gambling laws differ to the laws of other states.  As such, only Nevada residents who are physically within the state borders are allowed – and able – to download the application and wager on their favorite sports.  Other requirements are that the bettor has to be at least 21 years of age and be a registered player with the Leroy Group.

An executive for American Wagering, the group that owns and operates the Leroy Group, said that the approval of the app led to the creation of a new market segment for sports wagering and he was proud to be part of  its creation. “The Nevada regulators placed significant challenges on American Wagering to provide the means of offering account wagering on a mobile device whereby we could verify that the bettor was in the state,” said John English.

Here’s hoping that the advancements made in the Nevada gambling market are a signs for things to come in 2011.

Atlantic City Plans Big New Year’s Bash

Sunday, December 26th, 2010

It’s been a tough year for Atlantic City, the US’s second-biggest gambling center. The economy has badly affected the way Americans spend, and AC has been struggling to attract visitors, despite rock bottom prices and excellent deals. In addition to recession-related consumer behavior, Atlantic City has also had to beat growing competition, with a number of neighboring states opening up their own gambling markets and building attractive new casino venues with great slot and table games. You’d think that with all this pressure, casino tycoons are ready to hang up the tux and head for bed on December 31st.  But that’s not to be! Atlantic City, I have heard, is planning a great New Year’s Eve bash that would put Las Vegas to shame.

Take the action planned at the Tropicana, for example. Management predicts that around 10,000 people will welcome in the New Year at this luxury gambling resort. This hotel, plus ten other of the best casinos in Atlantic City, are reportedly booked out for the New Year celebrations – showing everyone that Americans are back to their favorite gambling haunts with a vengeance! The Tropicana will host no less than 20 different parties in various venues around the resort. One thousand high rollers will be wined and dined in the hotel’s ballroom, while another 1,000 will enjoy a $350-a-head exclusive event at the Grand Exhibition Center.

Caesars Entertainment has a great line up of top class singers for its casino-goers. Maroon 5 will appear at the Showboat’s House of Blues, while B.B King will usher in the New Year with the guests at Harrah’s. The Borgata’s Event Center will see invitation-only guests boogie the night away with Frank Valli (of Four Seasons fame), as well as a dinner created especially for them by executive chef, Ron Ross.  And if that wasn’t enough pampering for Bortaga’s guests, the next day will see them being entertained by Carrie Underwood, American Idol winner,  who will croon to them on New Year’s Day. This casino certainly knows how to keep its guests entertained, as last year’s January 1st singer was Mariah Carey.

By the looks of it, Atlantic City casinos setting the pace for a year full of entertainment opportunities for its guests.  Cheers!

World Series of Poker Already Announces 2011 Schedule

Thursday, December 23rd, 2010

It was only last month that the players who made up the November Nine final table of the World Series of Poker 2010 Main Event battled it out in Vegas. It was here that the young player, Jonathan Duhamel took home the title (as well as $8.9 million in prize money), together with the coveted WSOP bracelet. Duhamel is still traveling the world, telling his story and inspiring millions of online poker players to follow their skills and their dreams and get as far as he has.

In the meantime, however, the World Series of Poker is wasting no time and has already announced the schedule for next year’s tournament, which has come to be considered one of the most prestigious tournaments in the poker world.

The forty second annual WSOP event will begin on Tuesday May 31st, 2011 and will run for fifty consecutive days until Tuesday July 19th, 2011.

As has been tradition since 2005, the event will be held at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, with most tournaments running in the Convention Center of this luxury resort.

There will be four starting days of the WSOP 2011 Main Event, namely July 7, 8, 9 and 10th. The Main Event is also considered the final event of the entire tournament, which will come to a grand finale when the final nine players reach their position as November Nine.  In November 2011, these skilled players will take to the final table until the winner of the main event is declared and a new bracelet winner goes home.

A significant change in the 2011 schedule is the fact that organizers have introduced hard stop times which will be enforced after 10 levels of play. Once a player has completed ten levels in a single day, all remaining players will have their chips bagged, and they will return the next day to continue the tournament.

WSOP has promised that a full list of schedules, buy ins and dates will be released early next year.  In the meantime, poker players can continue visiting their favorite online gaming sites to hone those skills so that they can win entry to WSOP 2011 through hundreds of satellites that will run at these sites.

My Ultimate Gambling Christmas Wish List

Monday, December 20th, 2010

Most of you know by now that I’m an ardent recreational gambler, enjoying this pastime in all shapes and forms at land casinos and online casinos. With Christmas in a couple of days, I thought I’d brainstorm and throw out into cyberspace my ultimate gambling wish list. Who knows? Maybe the big guy with red hat will pick up my signals as he flies through the skies on Christmas Eve and throw a couple of goodies my way!

On Christmas Eve, I wish to receive:

  • A gift voucher from Amazon that will allow me to buy all the amazing new books out there about gambling. When I’m in the mood, I’ll often go onto this site and imagine filling my cart with all those great titles. If I had a gift card, I’d buy every single one of the books and spend the next year reading them from cover to cover.
  • One of those amazing sets of poker chips that come in genuine leather covers. I have a neat set that does just fine when I’m up for a friendly game of poker. But just one time, I’d like to bring out a stylish box that spells class and sophistication, and smell that heavy leather smell each time I open it. Of course, the poker chips will be of a material to match the box…
  • An all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas. Yes, I know I head on down to the place on random weekends, but I usually need to watch my bankroll and stay in budget accommodation. Just one time, I’d love to have a suite booked for me in one of the best resorts on the Strip (the brand new Cosmopolitan resort will do just fine, thank you very much) and spend a week being pampered and spoiled  as I make important decisions – such as whether to have a full body massage before or after my casino session.  And if we’re already doing some wishing, I wouldn’t mind a big, fat, unlimited bankroll that will enable me to try out all the superb casino games on the floor, try out high roller games like baccarat and wager at big stake blackjack tables without coming out in a cold sweat….

Merry Christmas everybody!

Tommy Renzoni: Father of American Baccarat

Saturday, December 18th, 2010

I used to think that the game of baccarat was only for the rich and famous. I might have gotten that impression because baccarat was usually played at a roped off area at the casinos I used to visit, and they were usually frequented by high-class gamblers, high-rollers and celebs. It was only after I started playing at online casinos that I realized that baccarat is actually a very easy game to learn and is really enjoyable once you get the gist of it.  I started to read up a bit more about the history of baccarat, and that’s when I came upon the name and the legend – Tommy Renzoni.

Tommy Renzoni is also know as the ‘Father of American Baccarat’.  Renzoni, a casino tycoon, first became fascinated by baccarat after watching Cubans play the game in Havana casinos.  Word has it that Renzoni spent hours upon hours learning how the Cuban version of baccarat, Punto Banco, was played, with the clear objective of bringing this enjoyable pastime back to the United States so that local players could also enjoy it.  After returning to the United States, Renzoni went on a mission to convince casinos in Las Vegas to open baccarat tables. At first his ideas were met with skepticism and scorn, but he eventually managed to persuade the owners of Sands Casino in Vegas to open a baccarat table.  Luckily, his persistence paid off, and very soon management at the Sands realized that they were on to a good thing.  Word quickly spread that a new game had been introduced at the casino, and players flocked to the casino floor to enjoy an interesting new pastime with high stakes and plenty of action. As such, Renzoni became widely recognized as the man singly responsible for bringing baccarat to the United States and for that he is known as the ‘Father of American Baccarat’.

Baccarat always remained an exclusive game and didn’t really earn itself mainstream popularity until the introdution of online casinos in the mid 1990′s. It was only then that players from all over the world could access this game from the comfort of their own homes and discover the excitement and appeal of baccarat for themselves.

Cyprus Wants to Do Away with Online Gambling

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

If you’ve ever flow into the Mediterranean island state of Cyprus, you will probably have noticed that there is no way to legally gamble there, simply because the government has banned this form of entertainment. This has led to a huge rise in the number of Cypriots who gamble online at offshore sites and enjoy excellent casino games from the comfort of their own homes.

Citing a rise in crime as its main reason, the government is now seeking to ban online gambling outright, and is seeking the permission of the European Commission to do so. Cyprus is a member of the European Union, which means that it signed pacts to say that it would allow cross-border trade and services. If it bans online gambling, it is pushing foreign gambling operators out – thus going against the EU trade pacts.

A few years ago, Portugal was successful in appealing for its right to ban online gambling and Cyprus is hoping that this case has set a precedent and will make the European Commission see that it, too, deserves the right to make its own decisions over internet wagering. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday and the results can go either way. Those in favor of the ban say that the EC won’t buy ‘crime’ as an excuse to implement a ban. On the other hand, Portugal has been successful in the past, and so it is not impossible that Cyprus will manage to convince the  powers-that-be.

A likely outcome is that the Commission will deny Cyprus’ request, forcing the country to make an appeal against the decision. This could lead to the beginning of a process that could take several years to bear fruit, with the chances of Cyprus being successful a second time around even smaller than the first.

 It seems that the only choice that European countries have is to open their doors to foreign online gambling operators,  and at the same time enforce their own strict rules and regulations. This  has been seen done fairly successfully in Spain, France and Italy, and may be the only way for Cyprus to go.

Best Gambling Christmas Destinations

Sunday, December 12th, 2010

Christmas and New Year are just around the corner, and – if you haven’t done so already – now is the time to think of where you’ll want to vacation these holidays. Whenever I travel, I check to see the gambling options open to me, and I have come up with a list of pretty good destinations in the world that cater to the gambling public.  These are my absolute favorite places in the world:

Las Vegas

I know that this is an obvious one, but – honestly – can anything beat Las Vegas when it comes to sheer, pure gambling action and the best casino games ever? No other city in the world can claim the title for being the original Sin City, although many are trying (and even succeeding) in reaching its level.  This is my number one choice for sure!

Atlantic City

Another obvious – but nevertheless well deserved – addition to the list. True, the place has suffered a number of setbacks over the years, but there is really is an all-out effort by authorities to get AC back on the map. Also, you’ll find all the big names here, such as Harrah’s and Caesar’s Palace, and there are plans to introduce a lot more now that the recession is over.

Macau

One of the fastest growing gambling destinations in the world is certainly Macau. Known as the Vegas of the East, this small Chinese enclave, which was a former Portuguese colony, boasts over 30 casinos – all of which have been built in recent years.  While statistics say that Macau has overtaken all the other gambling cities in the world - including Vegas – in terms of revenue, IMHO it will never replace the buzz that you get from the City that Never Sleeps.

Monte Carlo

If you are looking for elegance, amazing scenery and classic gambling entertaining, you don’t need to look any further than Monte Carlo. The magic comes alive as you step into the very same casinos that James Bond played in, and as you mingle with fellow gamblers from all over the world. Try blackjack and poker for the ultimate experience.

London

Millions of tourists visit the capital of England every year, but not many realize that there are close to 30 different casinos in the greater London area. This means only one thing – gambler’s paradise! London boasts some of the world’s most exclusive  gambling establishments, and I seriously doubt that I’ll ever be rich enough to put my foot into some of them. But there are other lavish casinos in London that are really well worth a visit and I always take time to play at a couple of the best UK casinos when I pay the country a visit.

Gambling Body Art: Tattoo your Way to Success

Friday, December 10th, 2010

Whatever your take on body art (aka tattooing), the subject is still a fascinating one. Some people run from tattoos like the plague, but for others tattoos are a symbol of things or people that are important in their lives, which can be conveyed in an original and creative way. Many gambling fans take their love of this pastime up a notch by decorating their bodies with symbols of their favorite games, lucky charms or poker stars in a way to identify with this world.

Clearly, the most common tattoos associated with gambling are card symbols.  Body art salons can vouch for the fact that the Ace of Spades and the Royal Flush are two of the most popular tattoos requested by customers and have been so for many decades. However, in recent years, all types of card symbols can be found on players as the popularity of card games such as poker and blackjack grows.

Cards aren’t the only gambling related symbols that are popular these days. Many people like to have a pair of dice drawn on their body, whether on the upper arm, their back or their leg.  Some people opt for huge gambling themed symbols so that they remain visible for all to see, while other prefer them drawn small and discreetly – it all boils down to a matter of taste.

Many players say that they choose to have gambling body art because they are always ensured that their lucky charm is near them. Instead of carrying a four leaf clover in their purse, they have a symbol drawn on their bodies to bring them luck whenever they’re at their favorite casino.  Other lucky symbols that are very popular among gamblers are the Lucky Number Seven, a horse shoe and various Asian symbols and letters that depict luck and good fortune.

Of course, the general rules of hygiene apply, whether you are having a gambling tattoo done or any other theme. Choose a tattooist that is well known in his or her field, that uses clean needles and is certified. And… good luck!

Bluff Magazine: The Ultimate Christmas Gift

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

I’ve been tossing ideas around my head for the last month about what to buy my best buddy for Christmas. This is a guy who is particularly difficult to buy for: He’s a minimalist, he travels a lot and he has a specific taste in reading material. And then, when flying back from London last week, I came across a back copy of Bluff Magazine at the airport and I got a brainwave – I’ll get him a subscription to this poker publication for Christmas!

Bluff Magazine is the biggest and most popular magazine devoted to the game of poker. It is published in different countries around the world, so that each publication is specific to its own market, as well as the international poker world.

My pal is a die-hard poker fan and plays the game pretty well. When he flies into Vegas, we hit the tables together and have some great sessions into the wee hours of the morning. When he’s travelling, we’ll often meet up in a private room online at one of the more popular online poker rooms such as Poker Stars and Full Tilt. Oftentimes, he’ll time an overseas trip to coincide with a poker tournament that’s being run at a casino or hotel in a specific city, and he’ll pop in to play or view. 

While he’s not a professional, he certainly understands enough about the game to give anyone at a good level a serious run for their money.  As such, I think that a subscription to Bluff Magazine will make the perfect gift for him. It targets his exact areas of interest, it takes up minimum space, and he can always grab a copy and pack it in his overnight bag when he’s travelling.

I went online to order to the subscription and was so blown away by the contents that I decided then and there to pamper myself for the holidays and take out a subscription for myself. I’d read his copies but I know that he’ll be reading them from cover to cover and I wouldn’t get them until they were tattered and torn!

 
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