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Archive for August, 2011

Paying for Gambling on the Go

Monday, August 29th, 2011

One of the industries which has shown the biggest growth in recent years has been the mobile industry. An offshoot of this is the mobile gambling industry, which has seen an incredible spurt in the number of players who are opting to take their gambling action on the go. The fact that so many of us have access to smart phones and other mobile devices means that never before has it been more simple to access our favorite casino games and play them anytime and anywhere.

One question that many players have is how they can pay for their mobile gambling entertainment. The answer is really simple, and it is – in a nutshell – the same way that you’d pay for your online gambling.

When you open an account with a mobile casino and download the software onto your mobile device, you will note that the casino includes a cashier or banking section. Here you will find all the necessary information you need to help you navigate the process of paying for your mobile gambling. You will see that there are several banking options supported by the mobile casino. This is so that all players will be able to find a payment system that works for them and which is compatible with their gambling lifestyle. What works for one player, may not be suitable for the other, and this is why it is important to find a mobile casino which supports a good range of banking methods.

You will usually find that the mobile casino supports traditional payment methods such as credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Diners, etc.). In addition, you will find a host of ‘alternative’ methods, including e-wallets such as Neteller. Pre-paid vouchers, bank transfers and e-checks are also ways to pay for your mobile gambling.

A good mobile casino will select payment methods based on their convenience, their security and their discretion. You’ll want peace of mind when dealing with real money cash transfers, and it makes sense to choose a payment method that gives you just that. If you’re not sure, ask customer support – they’ll be happy to help!

Tags: banking, mobile gambling
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On Madonna and Gambling

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

There have been a number of songs down the years about gambling and gamblers and many of them went on to become great hits (think Kenny Rogers). One of the pop world’s most successful artists, Madonna, wrote a song about gambling, known simply as Gambler and produced by John “Jellybean” Benitez in 1985. The song is the second single that was released from Madonna’s album Vision Quest and is described as an “up-beat synch-disco song”. The song did reasonably well but not fantastically overall. When it was released in 1985 in the UK, it was present for a total of 14 weeks on that country’s UK Singles Chart, debuting at number 20 and peaking at number four. Gambler, which is Madonna’s last self-written single, has only ever been performed once on a live tour, and that was in the year of its release on the Virgin Tour. The song also managed to reach the top 10 of a number of European charts, including Ireland, Netherlands and Norway.

By the title, it may be understood that Madonna’s song is about a gambler, or gambling at the very least. Unfortunately, the idea of gambling is barely touched on, except perhaps to convey the message that the person singing the song is a gambler in love. Those gamblers hoping to turn this song into their hymn may be a little bit disappointed by the lack of depth in the words…

A number of the lyrics are as follows:

“I’m a gambler, and I will take you by surprise
Gambler, I’ll aim this straight between your eyes
Gambler, yeah I know all the words to say
‘Cause I’m a gambler, I only play the game my way, yeah

Don’t want to say this but I think that I should
I’m better off forgotten if you think that I’d be good
One day you see me the next day I’m gone
Don’t fight me baby I don’t want to hold on
I’m a gambler, a gambler

You’re not happy with the way I act
You better turn around boy, don’t look back
You’re getting angry, you know I can see
You’re just jealous ’cause you can’t be me”

Tags: gambling song, madonna
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The Ultimate Gambling Getaways

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

Itching to go on a trip with your friends or that special someone? Now may be the perfect time to start planning. The summer crowds will be gone next week and the weather is still perfect to have a great time.

Here is a list of some of the best gambling getaways available in the world:

Las Vegas

Yes, yes. I know this is an obvious one, but you can’t start off any list without Las Vegas as the ultimate gambling destination. There are so many great hotels and resorts in Sin City that you are completely spoiled for choice. Try out the Platinum Hotel and Spa or the Four Seasons for top pampering. Enjoy a huge range of activities, including sky diving, shopping, bungee jumping and a whole lot more. And of course, nothing beats Vegas for some of the finest cuisine in the world.

Puerto Rica, Caribbean

Stay at the Double Tree by Hilton San Juan or the Hotel San Convento for the ultimate island enjoyment. There is plenty to do, besides gambling and slots gaming of course, and you can visit the beach, horse ride or just take in the amazing views in this Caribbean wonderland.

Baden Baden, Germany

In the heart of the Black Forest, Baden Baden beckons gamblers who love the sophisticated mood of European casinos. You can take time to visit the healing baths of this area after a tough night of gambling and enjoy the magnificent scenery.

Paradise Island, Bahamas

Think white beaches, sleeping palms and exotic drinks and you’ve got yourself the ultimate gambling getaway. If the only pace you want to go by is your heartbeat and you want time to stand still, then Paradise Island is the location for you. Don’t forget to check out the gambling opportunities here too!

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Ok, so maybe this list isn’t impartial and maybe, just maybe, I’m a Nevada freak, but you have to agree that Lake Tahoe’s scenery ranks pretty up in the world with some of the best out there. Stay at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort or the quaintly named Pine Cone Resort.

Anyone want to add to my list?

Tags: gambling holidays, Las Vegas
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It Pays to be Loyal at Online Casinos

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

With so many online casinos available out there, I sometimes forget that it doesn’t always pay to hop from one site to another – just because I can. True, it’s sometimes fun to try out new games and new software companies, but more often than not, the tried and true saying “loyalty pays” applies to online gambling as well.

When you first try out an online casino, you are rewarded well for your efforts. The generous first time bonus that the casino gives you to match your initial deposit is hard to beat and is a great stepping stone to try out the site. However, what do you do once that bonus is finished? Many of us go off and get another welcome bonus by opening an account at a new site. Yet, sometimes it’s worth sticking around and reloading your account, because the return bonuses aren’t bad either!

Most good online casinos have loyalty clubs that will reward players for staying at their site, reloading their online casino accounts and wagering real cash. The loyalty club works on the basis of ‘the more you play, the higher the rewards.’ All Slots Casino, for example, starts rewarding its players from the first time they wager at the site, awarding them with loyalty points based on how much is spent. You can earn points on all games, although playing certain games rewards you with more points than others.

You can check how many loyalty points have been collected by accessing the site and your balance at any time. When you have collected enough loyalty points they can be redeemed for extra credits or prizes at the casino. The number of loyalty points needed to start earning cash differs from site to site and you can check all the information beforehand at the site to shop around for the best deal.

Loyalty clubs are great when you like the software and games at the site and have no intention of moving on anyway. Online casinos truly appreciate loyalty and you’ll be rewarded with exclusive bonuses and special offers once you reach the ranks of a truly loyal customer!

Tags: loyalty, Online Casino
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Gambling Through Ice and Snow

Saturday, August 20th, 2011

I’ve gambled in quite a number of locations around the world, but I have to admit that I’ve never reached Iceland to gamble in such an extreme climate. Gambling has had its ups and downs in Iceland, starting in the 1920s when the government banned its citizens from playing the lottery because they didn’t want the local currency to be spent on foreign lotteries. The laws were eased a little in the next decade and the University of Iceland was allowed to offer a lottery. This was basically the only type of gambling entertainment allowed until the 1970s when a sports lottery was introduced, and the 1980′s saw the introduction of a state lotto. In 1994, the Icelandic government decided to bring about a slightly more liberal gambling regime and partially legalized slots.

But that’s about it. There are no casinos to speak of in Iceland and the laws actually state that you are not allowed to be a professional gambler. Having said that, around 70% of the adults in this population of 320,000 have said that they gamble regularly, usually on lotteries and scratch cards. It is possible, within limits, to gamble online in Iceland, as the government provides online lotteries and sports betting through monopoly sites. However, the majority of online gamblers in Iceland turn to offshore gaming sites, which provide top notch entertainment backed by powerful software groups, excellent games such as online slots and blackjack, as well as generous casino bonuses.

In June 2011, the National Lottery, Islensk Getspa chose the software company, Betware, to power a future mobile lottery for gamblers on the go. Betware has already started to adapt Iceland’s lottery to suit a mobile platform and it should be available at the end of the year or at the beginning of 2012. Players will be able to bet on sport in Iceland using smart phones and other mobile devices. Users will have access to their lottery accounts, and will be able to pay for their gaming fun using ewallets suited especially for their market. They will also have access to their mobile gambling history and will be able to check winning numbers.

Tags: iceland, iceland gambling, Lottery
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Understanding Progressive Blackjack

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

When you think of progressive jackpots in the online casino world, most of us automatically think of progressive slot games. After all, who hasn’t heard of the million dollar jackpots linked to slots such as Mega Moolah and other slot classics? However, did you know that there are progressive jackpots that are also linked to other games, such as blackjack? The reason some of us may not be familiar with this fact is that they are not hit as often as progressive slot games, and their jackpot totals aren’t as high. Nevertheless, players across the board regularly enjoy progressive blackjack betting.

Progressive blackjack calls for players to make a small side bet, usually around $1, before they begin their regular play. This allows them to take part in additional pay outs. The game then continues as usual, with the player trying to get as close to the total of 21 with his cards, without going over the number, and also trying to beat the dealer’s hand.

The jackpot side comes in when a player lands certain cards that qualifies him for the bonus bet payouts. Payouts are usually received when consecutive aces are the first cards dealt in a hand. For example, four red aces or four black aces earn the player the jackpot, while three suited aces will result in a smaller payout, and so forth.

Everyone agrees that progressive jackpot is a neat twist to the classic blackjack game and adds a considerable element of excitement. The rules of progressive blackjack will differ from one online casino to another, and will depend on the blackjack variant being played. For that reason, it is wise to become familiar with the version offered by the online casino before playing for real money. This can be done by playing the free games at the online casino, which can be switched for real money action when you are sure about the rules and strategies required. In this way, you stand a greater chance of doing well in your blackjack gaming session, and also increase your odds of hitting the progressive jackpot linked to the game.

Tags: progressive blackjack
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Gambling Meets Fine Arts at the Bellagio

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

If you’re a fine arts fundie, you don’t have to miss out on another great weekend in Las Vegas just because you’re dying to catch an arts exhibition in NYC. The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art in Las Vegas is the city’s premier exhibition space and visitors are constantly treated to some of the most famous works in the world when they visit this resort and casino.

The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art states that it is “committed to presenting intimate exhibitions featuring works by some of the world’s most compelling artists.” As such, the museum works together with other institutions from all over the world to bring visitors top works.

Recently, I visited the museum on one my stopovers in Vegas because I wanted to catch it’s latest exhibition, A Sense of Place: From Monet to Hockney. There were about 30 works of art exhibiting landscape art and they weren’t limited to paintings. I was delighted to see a number of photographs and video installation, which gave a great balance to the classics. There were works by Marc Chagall, Claude Monet, Helen Frankenthaler, David Hockney and Vic Muniz – to name just a few. The expo was organized in partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Kudos to the director who put this exhibition together! If you want to catch this event, don’t forget to visit the Bellagio before January 2012!

Just as an aside, casinos such as the Bellagio seem to have hit the nail on the head when it comes to bringing their visitors an all-round entertainment experience. While the main draw card to Las Vegas is obviously its fantastic gambling opportunities, visitors may want a respite from all that casino action. The resorts offer pools, bars and restaurants, but the idea to introduce an art gallery (or similar cultural events) is definitely a great one. It offers visitors an opportunity to do ‘the Vegas thing’ a little differently, allowing them to enjoy art and culture after a couple of slot sessions or blackjack all-nighters.

Tags: bellagio, Las Vegas
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Ultimate Roulette Gifts

Saturday, August 13th, 2011

Do you know someone who eats, breaths and sleeps roulette? Are you looking for the perfect present for that special gambler in your life? Then take a look at some of the cool roulette-inspired gifts available out there.

Roulette Posters

There are some really nifty posters out there featuring roulette wheels in all shapes and sizes. Check out the websites where you can choose your poster size and have it shipped. Makes for a great talking point in a room!

Roulette Clothes

I’m not talking about those kitschy t-shirts from Vegas which read: “My best friend went to Vegas and all he did was play roulette”. There are some pretty cool items of clothing for sale that feature roulette wheels. For the ladies out there, I’ve seen hoodies with ‘Roulette Chick’ written across the chest and there are countless t-shirts with great logos and graphics.

Roulette Key Chain

A friend of mine brought back a roulette shaped key chain from Atlantic City, which I instantly claimed as my own! Apparently, the gift store was selling them and they came in a number of shapes and sizes. Makes a great souvenir as it’s light to carry back and you’ll remember your super gambling holiday every time you use your keys.

Roulette Mouse Pad

Another gambling-inspired item that you’ll be using a lot! My problem with the roulette mouse pad was that every time I sat down to work at my compute and saw it, it reminded me of the top online casinos I could be playing at! So now I take out the mouse pad when I’m gambling online, and use my regular mouse pad for work!

Roulette Mug

Ah, what could be better than a cup of coffee in the morning out of a mug that has a picture of a roulette wheel printed on the side? I gave one of these to my buddy last Christmas, filled with quarters for him to use at the slot machines during his New Year break to Las Vegas. He said he has never received such an original gift…. (pat myself on the back).

[Cough cough, hint hint, my birthday is coming up... er hum, er hum]

Tags: gambling gifts, Roulette
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Confessions of a Secret Scratch Card Player

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

I’m about to confess one of my deepest darkest secrets. Friends known me as a gambling man. With that image comes blackjack table pounding, poker card throwing, video poker machine spinning – you know the look, right? So here’s my confession: I love scratch cards.

Now, before you go sniggering off behind your cards, let me explain how this all came about. I, too, used to scoff at scratch cards. I thought they were games for old people, games that you played when you were so desperate that it was either that or counting clouds. I thought that scratch cards were the ultimate insult to gamblers who took years to perfect games of skill, who would study poker hands for hours, who would practice the ultimate blackjack strategy.

And then, one day, I started surfing around for a new online casino to play at and I stumbled upon one which looked pretty cool. I accessed its games lobby and wanted to press on slots but somehow got to their scratch cards collection instead. I, too, took on that snigger and decided to try one of those play-for-fun scratch card games to prove just how pathetic the game was. Only it wasn’t. It wasn’t boring, it gave me that instant gambling rush and, dare I say, it was actually fun.

I decided to try another just to prove to myself that I had hit one of those moments of madness. But after trying scratch card after scratch card I realized that it was too late. I had caught the scratch card bug. I had crossed over to the other side. I was really and truly an online casino scratch card fan.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to say that I am hooked. Scratch cards are the first thing I try out at an online casino. They say a lot about the software that is backing the site, they are easy on the pocket and they give you a great opportunity to make cool cash in the blink of an eye.

Did I give up my blackjack? No way. Did I desert my poker buddies? Absolutely not. But am I a scratch card convert? You bet!!!

Tags: scratch card
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Play Slots Smart

Monday, August 8th, 2011

A guy stopped me as I was heading off to the slot machines in Vegas last weekend and told me that he had seen what a “pro” I was by watching me from the side. He asked if I could show him how to beat the slot machines and make a profit on them. It still floors me when people think that you can beat the house when playing slots. I told the guy that there is no sure-fire way of creaming the dealer, and he was quite stunned to learn that I didn’t have a ‘pro trick’ up my sleeve which I use when spinning the reels. However, after a 10 minute conversation, I could convey to him a couple of important tips that I always stick by when playing the slot machines. So, OK, they won’t swing the RNG, but they can keep my losses down which – in the grand scheme of things – is a kind of slots strategy.

This is what I shared with him:

The slot machine is not going to grow legs and run off. Don’t be in such a hurry to play. Keep it calm and slow. I understand that the bright lights and whirring sounds trigger the desire to shove in coin after coin in the hope of winning the big jackpot – but if you don’t think before you play, and you rush through your gaming session, (a) you won’t enjoy it and (b) you will lose your money faster.
Forget the myth that the machine is ‘due to hit’. It’s not. The Random Number Generator ensures that every spin of the reel has just as much chance as hitting as the previous one – not any more or any less.
Get to know the slot machine. Don’t run head long into a gaming session without first familiarizing yourself with the machine. Check out the pay table. Recognize the coin denominations needed to operate the machine.
Practice online. You can practice slots for free, without risking your bank roll by accessing online casinos and trying out the games for fun. This way, you get to know how to play slots and can then try for real money, online or off.

Tags: Slots
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