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Visit Las Vegas at the Drop of a Hat

October 15th, 2011

 

I’m not a particularly spontaneous person and I certainly like to know what I’m doing in the week ahead.  I’m not the kind of guy who can/will leave everything at the drop of a hat and head off to a luxury destination.  My family knows me well enough not to spring surprises on me… which didn’t stop them doing so of course!   Last weekend, celebrating a milestone birthday, my better half took me on a supposed lunch date to my favorite restaurant, and we landed up driving to the airport where she popped us on a plane and took us down to Vegas for three super days. We had great fun at the Bellagio (yes, yes, she spoiled me), and I even managed to win a handsome sum at the blackjack tables – happy birthday me!  Flying back, I realized two things – firstly, I’m am no longer afraid of surprises and, secondly, it’s possible to go on a last minute visit to Las Vegas and still enjoy yourself.

In honor of my great trip, here are a couple of tips that will allow you to enjoy a last-minute Vegas vacation:

Accommodation:  The internet is a great source of information when it comes to finding last-minute deals to Las Vegas.  Many top hotels will let their rooms go at incredibly cut-rates just so that they don’t stand empty, and you can definitely find some amazing deals if you look hard enough.  Be flexible.  Have a list of several hotel options and the chances are that if you don’t find a room in the hotel that was at the top of your list, you’ll find one in choice number two or three.

Flights: You’ll find cheap flights pretty much the same way you’ll find cheap accommodation. Trawl a number of internet flight sites and you’ll find some great bargains.  They may be at odd hours and again, flexibility is the word, but if you want to get there badly enough, you’ll be game!  Another tip: Don’t dismiss walk-off-the-street travel agents.  These guys sometimes have some great last-minute deals and you’ll be surprised at how quickly it will take you from sitting behind their desks to jetting off to Vegas!

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Will I Make a Good Poker Bluffer?

October 12th, 2011

 

It can’t be denied that bluffing is one of the most important strategies when playing poker, and this has been confirmed time and time again. The best poker players are exceptional bluffers, making it very difficult to read their faces and therefore speculate what kind of hand they’re holding.  If you think you’re a good bluffer, that’s an excellent start and there are many ways to build on that confidence.  Check here to see if you’ll make a good poker bluffer, based on your particular character traits:

Are you intuitive?  If you have the knack to read into what people are thinking, then you’re halfway there to becoming a good bluffer.  This entails being able to read subtle body language, facial features and speech mannerisms when other people don’t notice them.  You can develop this skill by watching the way people talk (not only poker players) to see whether what they say and what they mean go hand in hand. Many times, you’ll be able to pick up on a little lie simply by watching how the speaker licks his (dry) lips or tugs at his ear. This skill will help you determine when the other player is lying or trying to bluff you, and therefore allow you to counter-bluff based on that knowledge.

Are you sneaky? The term ‘poker-face’ wasn’t invented for nothing! If you can pull someone’s leg without your lips twitching or bursting into hysterical giggles, you may have the ability to bluff your way through a poker game.  This means being aware of your own body language and having the confidence to pull it off until the end. The slightest move away from your bluff will bring the whole pack of cards tumbling down – pun intended!

Are you assertive? Some of the best poker bluffers have worlds of confidence and are highly assertive.  This doesn’t mean that they act like loud-mouthed louts every time they sit down to play poker. It just means that they have the confidence to convince other players that they have the best poker hand around the table, even if they don’t even have a pair!

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Keen on Online Keno

October 10th, 2011

 

If you enjoy the lottery, then one particular game at online casinos should really appeal to you – online keno.  There is probably no simpler game to play online and even if you’ve never picked numbers on a lottery card, you’ll be understanding the rules of this game in absolutely no time.

First a bit about keno:  The game has its origins in ancient Chinese  history and has transformed from those days into one of the most popular online casino games in the world.  Keno is a game of pure luck, which means whatever you are told, there are no particular skills that can be learned to improve your chances of playing.

The rules of keno are very simple – you pick numbers out of those presented to you, mark them on a ticket and then wait for numbers to be drawn.  If a certain number of your tickets match those drawn, then you are paid out.  The more correct guesses you have, the higher the payouts.

There are a number of different ways of playing keno at an online casino, the most basic being the purchase of a straight ticket.  All you need to do is mark off which numbers you think will come up in the draw and wait for them to be picked.  Alternatively, way tickets can be used, whereby you use one ticket to mark off two or more sets of numbers that you think will come up in the draw.  It’s important to note that both offer the same odds, the same chances of winning and the same payouts.  Combination tickets mean that you are essentially combining the groups that were considered separate on the way tickets.

You can also play Top or Bottom where you mark off which of the two areas on the ticket you wish to bet on, or left or right which uses the same concept.

The bottom line is that Keno remains a very easy game to play, without much thought needed and with plenty of entertainment and winning opportunities.  No wonder, then, that this game remains one of the most popular at top online casinos out there.

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A Look at the UK Gambling Commission

October 9th, 2011

 

Several years ago, a revolution occurred in the British gambling industry.  The government realized that if it wanted to control the ever growing online casino market and also generate money from this industry, it would need to make drastic changes to existing gambling laws.  As a result, the government proposed the Gambling Act of 2005, and with it the formation of the UK Gambling Commission which job is to regulate commercial gambling in the country. The group is an independent public body which works under the umbrella of the Department for Culture, Media and Sports.

The Gambling Commission is sponsored by this department and runs on fees paid by operators who receive licenses from the commission. All gambling activities are licensed in the United Kingdom, and all of them fall under the auspices of the commission, including arcades, betting, bingo, casinos, gaming machine providers, gaming software providers, lottery and British based remote gambling operators.  The Gambling Commission, however, does not regulate spread betting (which is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority), nor does it regulate the National Lottery, which is run by the National Lottery Commission.

The UK Gambling Commission has three main objectives: To ensure total transparency in gambling activities; to protect children and vulnerable people from the ‘exploitation’ of gambling and to ensure that crime is kept out of gambling.

The Commission also monitors the British gambling public to ensure that the incidences of problem gambling do not increase and – if they do – what can be done to decrease them. Help and support is provided to problem gamblers and their families through organizations such as GamCare and GambleAware which do a great help for the tiny minority of the population affected by problem gambling.  Other groups include GamAid and GamblersAnonymous.

The UK Gambling Commission bears a lot of the brunt of opposition groups who do their utmost to block the expansion of gambling in the country, but does a good job in offering a strong framework within which gambling groups – both online and off – can operate and offer their goods and services to gamblers in the UK.

 

 

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Gambling Song: Chris de Burgh’s Spanish Train

October 4th, 2011

 

I’m always on the lookout for songs and poems with a gambling theme, and one of my all-time favorites is the song, Spanish Train by Chris de Burgh.  This popular singer, who was made famous by his lyrical songs such as “Lady in Red”, stirs up fiery passion in Spanish Train. The song tells the tale of a dying railway man and the battle between God and the Devil for his soul.  The Devil challenges God to a game of poker and he agrees in a bid to save the souls of thousands of others.  Unfortunately, the Devil wins and the moral of the story is that ‘gambling is the game of the devil’.  OK, so the theme is not so great but the song definitely is!

Here are some of the words of the song:

Joker is the name, Poker is the game

We’ll play right here on this bed

And then we’ll bet for the biggest stakes yet

The souls of the dead!!

 

And I said: “Look out, Lord, He’s going to win,

The sun is down and the night is riding in

That train is dead on time, many souls are on the line

O Lord, he’s going to win!

 

Well, the railwayman he cut the cards

And he dealt them each a hand of five

And for the Lord he was praying hard

Or that train he’d have to drive

 

Well, the Devil he had three aces and a king,

And the Lord, he was running for a straight

He had the queen and the knave and nine and ten of spades

All he needed was the eight

 

And then the Lord he called for one more card,

But he drew the diamond eight

And the Devil said to the Son of God,

“I believe you’ve got it straight.”

 

“So deal me one for the time has come,

To see who’ll be the king of this place,”

But as he spoke, from beneath his cloak,

He slipped another ace.

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Celebrating Multinationalism at Online Casinos

October 2nd, 2011

 

The internet is probably one of the most significant inventions of modern times, breaking down international barriers and creating a global community of players from around the world who share one thing in common – the love of gambling online.  Where else would you be able to play against a businessman in Tokyo, a housewife in England, a student in Australia and a mechanic in South Africa – all at the very same time?  The fact that you can chat to them about the rules of the game, the strategies they know or simply about the weather is quite an amazing feat and I sometimes have to stop and marvel about this incredible invention.

As a result of the need to cater to so many different nationalities, online casinos are definitely multinational in character when it comes to the games being offered.  Of course, certain online casinos will find a niche and cater to their particular markets (such as Asian games), but, in general, casino games – especially online slots – carry themes that appeal to players from all around the world.

To celebrate multinationalism at online casinos, here is a list of some of my favorite games found at top online casinos across the board:

Mexican Slots - Aztec Treasures, Gonzo’s Quest, Paco and the Popping Peppers, Salsa

French Slots – A Night in Paris, French Cuisine, Voila, Secret Code

USA Slots – Sevens and Stripes, The McMurphys, Texas Tea, Vegas Baby, Red White and Win, Heavyweight Gold, Alaskan Fishing

German Slots – Steinfest, Roll out the Barrels, Beer Fest

Italian Slots - Gladiator, Da Vinci Diamonds, Pinocchio, Belissimo, Crazy Pizza

Canada Slots – Eagle’s Wings, Northern Lights

Australian Slots – Aussie Rules, Diamonds Down Under

Russian Slots – From Russia with Love, Russian Attack, Day of the Tsar

Spanish Slots – Slota Bonita

British Slots – Robin Hood, Phileas Hog, Mule Britannia

Indian Slots  - Cash n Curry, Kathmandu

Irish Slots – Celtic Crown, Rainbow Riches, Shamrock Isle

Egyptian Slots – Fortune of the Pharaohs, Cleopatra, Treasure Room, The Last King of Egypt

As you can see, each of these slot games have taken the very best that their countries represent and brought them to online gamblers to enjoy fun, international gaming across the reels.

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The Cocky Player’s Guide to Casino Gambling

October 1st, 2011

 

There’s nothing wrong with having a lot of confidence, especially when playing at a casino, but there is a fine line between being confident and cocky.  If you go into your gambling session overconfident, you may land up getting burnt.

Here are a couple of tips for players who may be suffering from over-confidence:

1. Don’t Think You Know the Rules of All the Games

Just because you know how to play video poker, for example, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take a good hard look at the different rules of all new games you try out.  Casinos, especially online casinos, offer plenty of different video poker variants, and you could be missing some very important information if you just presume that all video poker games are the same.  Take some time to read the rules and don’t presume that you know how to play all games.

2. Don’t Think that Lady Luck is Always on Your Side

Let’s face it – some people are simply luckier than others and you may be that type of person. BUT don’t presume that you will always be lucky in every gambling session. If the game you are playing is one based purely on luck (such as roulette), know when to end your gaming session because, in the long run, the odds are in the casino’s favor.  If you’re playing a skill based game, do all you can do improve your chances of winning, including practicing for free through online gambling tutorials and learning basic strategies.

3. Don’t Presume that You Can Hold Vast Quantities of Alcohol

It’s quite amazing how many overconfident players believe that they can do even better around the poker table when they are filled to the brim with alcohol.  A drink or two may loosen your up and give you that edge you need to play well, but anything more will cause you to make stupid decisions which could cost you a lot.  Keep alcohol to an absolute minimum when gambling and remember that the best poker players out there are absolute teetotalers!

 

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Sportsbetting Sponsorship: A Win Win Situation

September 27th, 2011

 

Recently, I read that William Hill gambling group has signed on to become the official sponsor of the Ayr Gold Cup Festival – an annual racing event that takes place in Scotland.  The deal is for 2 years and Will Hill has already sponsored three previous seasons, so this isn’t a new contract for them, but rather the extension of an existing one.

Of course, this isn’t the only sports sponsorship deal out there and there are many events that carry the names of their sponsors (Ladbrokes and 888 come to mind).  In addition, many top football clubs wear jerseys with their sportsbetting group sponsors’ names emblazoned on their backs as part of the sponsorship deal.

So who benefits from these deals? The answer is: everyone.  This is truly a case of  a win-win situation.

On the one hand, the team is benefiting from (usually) much needed cash through the sponsorship deal. They get their team uniforms covered, they get funds injection and they get exposure  on the sports betting group’s website, which in turn increases their fan base. On the other hand, the sportsbetting group gets to see its name associated with a top team, plus has its brand name displayed on the team’s uniform and at games on the field.

Some sponsorship deals include exposure at stadiums and away games, while other don’t – it all depends on the terms of the contract signed. Many times, sports betting groups and the team will form a joint online site that will see traffic directed from both their original sites.  The joint site will allow for sports betting, casino gaming and information about the team.

Not all sponsorship deals work and many are ended after a year, but the majority of hugely successful and are usually extended for years.  Sometimes, legislation gets in the way of plans, for example, a government may suddenly decide that it is illegal to have the name of sports betting groups appearing on TV during the screening of games.  It’s then up to the groups to find a way around the problem, or the contract may just have to be cancelled due stronger forces.

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My All-Time Favorite Poker Jokes

September 24th, 2011

 

My favorite memory from college is sitting around my rickety old kitchen table with two of my mates, downing Cokes and enjoying round after round of poker at 3 am.  Somehow, we managed to get up the next day, passed all our exams and eventually went on to become reasonably professional in our respective careers.  I’ve had a lot of sweet memories since then but those early memories still stick with me today, and whenever we get the chance, my college pals and I get together to play poker as we did back then.  The only difference is that we’ve swapped the Cokes for beer….

Over the years, I’ve collected some great poker jokes to share with my buddies every time we meet.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

Joke #1

“A rabbi, a minister, and a priest were playing poker when the police came through the door, to raid the game.

Approaching the priest, the chief officer asks: “Father O’Sullivan, were you gambling?” Looking up to heaven, the father whispers, “Lord, absolve me for what I am about to do.” Turning to the police officer, the father said, “No, officer, I wasn’t gambling.”

The officer then turns and asks the minister: “Pastor Jackson, were you by any chance gambling?” Again, after pleading to the heavens, the minister had replied, “No, officer, I had not been gambling.”

Turning his attention to the rabbi, the police officer asks one more time: “Rabbi Levkovitch, were you by any chance gambling?” Shrugging his shoulders, the rabbi replied: “With whom?”

Joke #2

A couple of dog owners were arguing about how intelligent their pets were.

“The smartest dog I ever had,” said one of them, “was a German shepherd called Jack. He could play poker better than most people, but I eventually had him put to sleep.”

“You put him to sleep, a smart dog like that?” asked the other men, astounded. “A dog such as that must be worth millions of dollars.”

“I had to,” he replied, “We caught him using marked cards!”

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Eating out in Macau: A Guide

September 24th, 2011

 

Macau is know as the gambling  capital of the world, with more money generated from wagering and casinos than any other place in the world – Las Vegas included.  Although the main reason for visiting this Chinese peninsula is for the gambling entertainment, there are lots of other things to do there, including top dining opportunities.  Many of Macau’s restaurants are well worth a visit, and I’ve listed a couple of options for you to try out if you’re in the area!

360″ Cafe

360 Degrees Cafe is situated in Macau Tower, the 10th tallest freestanding structure in the world.  The cafe is situated on the sixtieth (!) floor of the tower and is a must-do to experience Macau in all its glory.

Ou Mun Cafe

Situated near one of the busiest areas in Macau in a small street near Senado Square, this small but welcoming coffee shop has developed quite a name for itself among tourists.  The ambiance is sweetly European, and offers visitors a chance to savor some of the homemade delicacies, sandwiches and snacks at very reasonable prices compared to surrounding eateries.

Lord Stow’s Cafe

Anybody who sinks their teeth into Lord Stow’s legendary tarts will be able to testify that there is probably no better pastry in Asia. The cafe serves items that would do the iconic English baker proud, and visitors can try out interesting tarts such as pasteis de nata (warm egg-custard tart), as well as heavenly cheesecake.  Not for the fainthearted!

Galo

Situated in Taipa Village, this delightful, converted two story house eatery specializes in local cuisine, namely Portuguese and Macanese.  Try interesting dishes such as crab, broad beans or beef stew with mushrooms.

La Bonne Heure

This French restaurant is independently situated in Old Macau, unlike other Western restaurants which are usually located in casinos and resorts.  This is the perfect location for anybody seeking secluded, romantic dining facilities with top notch cuisine and delicious servings – with attention to aesthetics.  The atmosphere is low key and relaxed, though, which is the perfect combination IMHO.

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