Posts Tagged ‘Gambling’

7 Tips To Limit Casino Losses

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

We all know that the house has the advantage when playing at any casino, but there are ways some things you can do to reduce the advantages that they have. Here are some things you can think about when playing online next time that will help you limit the amount of money you can lose in a single session.

1) Set a Daily Deposit Limit – You might be surprised to know that the casino gamblers that lose the most money aren’t the ones that deposit huge amounts of money in one go. In fact, many of the biggest losers in casinos are the players that make many small deposits over time. The issue is when players lose their first deposit, their emotions come into play and they start chasing that money by doing things that they normally would not do. Many of the best casinos allow you to set a limit on your daily deposits which means that if you do not make money on the first deposit then you will not be able to continue to deposit. This will allow you a cool off time where you can come back focussed the next day with a much more clear mind. If your casino of choice does not have this option you could look for a deposit option where you can limit this kind of activity.

2) Set a Time Limit – One of the casinos’ greatest edges is TIME. The longer you stay and play, the more likely you are to lose everything. If you set a timer at the beginning of your session and tell yourself you will not play past it, you can help control your betting activity better. One of the reasons for this is the longer you play, the more tired and impatient you might get which could cause your betting patterns to change. It is better to play 10 very short sessions where you are most focussed and mentally ready than 1 very long one where you could lose focus and have much more erratic play.

3) Set a Win Goal – If you don’t set a realistic goal of how much money you want to win then chances are you never will win. Everytime you start a gambling session you should tell yourself at what point you will stop playing and cash out. You can always re-evaluate your goal when you reach it, but if you do you should at least cash out your original deposit and some to ensure that it is a positive session.

4) Set a Stop/Loss – Similar to setting a win goal, you need to go into every gambling session knowing exactly how much money you are willing to lose. This is one of the toughest parts about gambling, but you need great self discipline to hold yourself to your stop loss and walk away from the tables when you hit it.

5) Keep Track of Your Play – Every gambler should keep tabs on all their gambling activity. This will allow you to keep a running tally of whether or not you are in the positive or the negative (and by how much). Many gamblers don’t realize how much money they are actually using because they just keep depositing/withdrawing more from the ATM. Keeping these numbers in front of your mind might make you hesitate from making that extra withdrawal.

6) Play in a Positive Mind State – Playing in a sad or depressed state is one of the quickest ways to watch your money fly right into the pockets of the casino. The more alert and mentally focussed you are on winning, the better your odds are of actually doing so!

7) Don’t Chase Comps – Many players chase comps that they could have just purchased many times over with the money they lost gambling to try to get them. Unless you know specifically you are only a few points off a fantastic comp, you should always play to win, not to get a comp.

Good luck, have fun, and go win lots of money!

Galaxy Macau Dazzles in its Own Universe

Friday, May 20th, 2011

Recently, a new resort opened up in Macua which has everyone talking.  The Galaxy Macau opened  its doors this month with over 20,000 people on the guest list at the official opening. These are the kind of numbers that management will need to get used to, as it is expected that the Galaxy Resort will welcome between 20,000 and 30,000 guests every single day!  The resort mixes traditional Asian hospitality with Western management style, and the results speak for themselves.

The Galaxy Macau brings together three major hotel brands – Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, Okura Hotels and Resorts and Galaxy Hotel.  The three offer a total of 2,200 five star rooms, suites and villas across the new resort, accounting for 20% of Macau’s five star room capacity and 12% of the Chinese peninsula’s room capacity overall.

Some of the features that visitors will enjoy:

The Grand Resort Deck- A 350 ton white sand beach surrounds a 4,000 square meter skytop wave pool. This one-of-a-kind feature boasts several pools, private cabanas and gardens, as well as the first Banyan Tree spa for the ultimate in pampering.

Multiple Food and Beverage Outlets- The Galaxy Macau boasts over 50 food and beverage outlets, with more than half of them Asian cuisine for a truly authentic culinary experience. This makes it the widest selection of Asian food under one rooftop in the entire Macau region. You can look at this way – if you eat at Galaxy Macau restaurants once a week for an entire year, you won’t eat at the same place twice!

Entertainment - Multiple entertainment venues dot the Galaxy Macau, but the one that everyone is talking about is the soon-to-be opened China Rouge, an exclusive membership club that promises to become one of the trendiest nightclubs in the world. The China Rouge will carry a 30′s Shangai theme and clients will enjoy a performance theater, bar and much more. In addition, the Galaxy Macau will be opening a 9 screen cinema theater in late 2011.

Shopping - There are also multiple retail outlets located in the resort, some of them set on major boulevards to inspire an international shopping atmosphere.

Gambling - Gamblers will be able to wager across 450 casino tables and 1,500 slot machines at the $1.9 billion casino complex!

The  Galaxy Macau Resort truly dazzles in a universe that is already full of stars!

No Risk Gambling Bill May Pass in Australia

Monday, April 25th, 2011

You gotta love the way they do things Down Under. I read this week that the Australians may be in the process of passing a bill that will allow gamblers to claim back any losses that they incur while betting at online sites.  You’re reading this right – if you make a bet at an online casino using your credit card, and you lose while gambling, you’ll have the right, under the new law, to claim back those losses.

Nobody was surprised to read that the proposer of this law is none other than Senator Nick Xenophon, the politician who is synonymous with some of the most virulent anti-gambling policies in the country.  Xenophon is always on the lookout to take down online gambling sites, and he introduced this new law with what I could only describe as pleasure. “With voided credit card bets, I have to say there’s something appealing to me about online casinos losing their shirts rather than the punters,” he was quoted as saying. “It would certainly make online casinos think twice about accepting Australian cards.”

The bill is scheduled to be tabled next month, but I wonder how far it will actually go in a county where the population certainly loves its punts and over $1 billion was wagered online last year alone.

But Xenophon is not one to give up easily, and he is already eyeing his next battle – against online gambling sites who may not be allowed to advertise through the Australian media, but get their ‘play-for-free’ subsidiaries to do so instead. These affiliated sites not only get to advertise on the airwaves, they also go as far as to sponsor sports teams and get their names on billboards and at sports grounds.  Xenophon wants to have their ads restricted as well and see tougher gambling laws overall.

While there are laws that prohibit offshore gambling sites from offering their services, no operator has actually ever been prosecuted – a fact that must certainly make anti-gambling activists such as Senator Xenophon bristle with anger.  Oh well.

Jackpot Happy Progressive Slot Triggers Investigation

Monday, April 25th, 2011

Holland Casinos in the Netherlands, the government controlled gambling entity, has announced an urgent investigation into a progressive slot game that has hit one too many times in the past two years. Last year alone, the slot game, which boasts a massive seed amount, was hit ten times alone, prompting suspicion among management at the state run Holland Casinos.  But suspicions turned to instant panic when the jackpot was hit seven times this year already, the latest two wins only two days apart from one another.

The Mega Millions progressive slot game has a EUR 1 million seed, which means that each time the jackpot is hit, the jackpot amount resets at a cool one million bucks. The game is found at all Holland Casinos around the Netherlands and players need to wager a mere EUR 3.75 in order to activate the jackpot and put themselves in line to win this incredible prize.  While the game is definitely an attractive one, it has never hit so many times in such a short period of time, and even an amateur would find a suspicious pattern to the wins in the two years or so.

Since 2009 – or a period of 28 months – the Mega Millions has paid out an incredible twenty six times, giving away a total of EUR 30 million! All in all, 26 people from different casinos around the country hit the jackpot and were paid out.  Last weekend, a woman hit the jackpot in Rotterdam and only 72 hours later, when the jackpot had only managed to reach the EUR 1,008,000, it was hit once more by a player in Groningen.

It was initially believed that these wins were random and just a matter of a lucky run on that particular progressive slot game which, incidentally, carries the highest jackpot in Holland. However, with the latest two wins, the security department of Holland Casinos has gone into full investigation mode to see whether there is something triggering too many wins on this machine.

It will interesting to see how this story unfolds… watch this space!

Holy Union: When Gambling Meets the Church

Saturday, April 23rd, 2011

The Church has always had a love/hate relationship with gambling. One the one hand, clergymen are quick to preach about the ‘evils’ of gambling and urge their followers to steer clear away from the temptation of spending their money on this type of fix which is always compared to alcohol abuse and other vices.  Yet on the other hand, many churches have been built with proceeds earned at gambling evenings, lottery type raffles and more.  Just think ‘bingo‘ and the first thing that pops into mind is a church hall!

This week, I read the tale of a priest from Ottawa who decided to come clean about his gambling habits and made a public confession to his congregation. His confession came only one day after a PostMedia investigation revealed how far he was in debt and how much money he owed to local casinos. Father Joe LeClair made his tearful apology to the congregation on Sunday morning, telling them that one of the side effects of his depression was the development of a gambling habit.

“I simply went often enough to keep me in the game,” said LeClair. “The highs and lows of winning and losing fed off each other to the point where I realized I had a serious problem.”

Now, it could very well be that  LeClair really has a problem and the fact that he’s a man of the cloak or a construction worker makes absolutely no difference – there will always be people with gambling problems. But then, there will also be the other vast majority – in the high 90 percentiles – who DON’T have a gambling problem, and who know very well when to stop playing and how much to spend.  By lumping all recreational gamblers under one category and branding them weak and evil, the church is making it taboo, leading people like LeClaire ‘underground’.

The church needs to redefine its position on gambling. It’s no use taking the money from state lotteries, for example, in order to build churches and fund soup kitchens, but on the other hand slamming anyone who looks in the direction of a casino. Believe it or not, a recreational gambler can be a God fearing member of church too!

Just my two cents!

Online Gambling: What’s Luck got to do with it?

Sunday, March 27th, 2011

One of the battle cries adopted by those who are so violently anti online gambling is the fact that they believe that there is no place for a form of entertainment that relies only on elements of luck, especially when we’re dealing with money.  So let’s clarify a few things first, before I move on to my counter argument. I personally believe that any adult who has earned his or her own money is entitled to spend the money in any way that pleases them, within the law.  Whether the game is based on skill or not has nothing to do with that line of reasoning.

Now, let’s get back to the question of luck. What many anti-gamblers may not realize that there are actually a lot of games that don’t rely on luck and are based on skill instead. Games of luck are those such as slot machines, roulette and keno, where there is pretty much nothing you can do to change the odds in your favor.  There is no denying of course, that these games are highly entertaining and are a pleasure to play, but that goes without saying.

There is another category of online casino games that allows you to shift the odds in your favor if you develop skills in the game. Take blackjack as an example. If you go blindly into blackjack, without being familiar with the rules and strategies, you may win or you may lose – that’s the luck factor. But if you get to know the basic strategy of the game and know what moves to make according to the cards you are dealt, you will do much, much better in the game.  As such, this is a game of skill.

Poker is another game that relies heavily on skill. There is a long runing debate in the legislative sphere, questioning whether poker is a game of skill or luck, but it has been pretty much determined that the outcome of the game relies more on on skill than chance. With that in mind, all those who argue against online casinos need to take into account that luck doesn’t always come into it, and there is no reason on earth that someone who has developed a skill should not be abe to pitch that skill against others on the internet, just as they’d hold a virtual chess game.

And now I’m climbing off my soapbox!

Australian Casino Finds Smoking Ban Loophole

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

An Australian casino’s attempts to offer its players a gambling opportunity in a smoking environment has irked the authorities to such an extent that even the state’s premier got involved and raised the matter in parliament this week.

It all began when Adelaide’s Sky City Casino discovered a loophole in the current gambling legislation which bans smoking in casinos and areas where poker machines are offered. The casino decided that if it couldn’t bring gamblers into a smoking area, it would take the machines OUT to the smoking area.  As such, the casino decided to move several of its pokie machines to an outdoor courtyard so that gamblers could continue smoking AND gambling.  The Sky City Casino moved around 20 machines out and placed awning over them to accommodate them.

Of course, it was only a matter of time that the authorities got wind of the casino’s antics and moved in for the kill. In a rare move, the gambling authority ordered the casino to shut the poker machines down until further notice. Politicians started getting involved and before anyone could blink, even the Premier had his say, calling the casino’s acts “reprehensible”.

Of course, the anti-gambling politician, Senator Nick Xenophon, also had to have his say on the matter and immediately let the media know his (already known) views on the matter and gambling on the whole. “This just shows people what a desperate and cynical industry this is,” he said. “The casino knows that smoking bans are giving gambling addicts a break from pokies, so the machines have followed them outside.”

The casino said that it had informed the local gambling authority that it intended moving the machines out, but the Gambling Minister said that it had turned down all requests in the past to run outdoor gambling in the area known as the Oasis as the casino.

The Premier even said that he would consider changing current legislation if it would close the loophole used by the casino. “If we need to amend the Casino Act, then that is what we will do,” he said.

The Weirdest Lucky Gambling Charms

Saturday, March 12th, 2011

All us gamblers have at least one lucky amulet, charm, spell or object that we believe will increase our chances of winning. Whether you blow on the dice, say a prayer, rub your left elbow or flip a lucky coin, you are just one of literally millions of gamblers around the world who are … dare we say it… superstitious enough to believe that your actions will change your luck at the game.

I admit that I, too, have my own luck-drawing habit. Every time I am about to make a crucial move at the blackjack table, spin the wheel or play slots, I mumble my positive mantra – “Good luck come my way. I am open to good luck.” Sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn’t, but, hey, that’s the way luck works!

Here are a couple of the weird and wonderful gambling charms that players swear by:

  • Badger tooth – This is an old German-American charm, traditionally worn on the left side of the body to  bring good luck.
  • Candle burning – Some gamblers light candles in their homes before heading off to the casino to send good powers to their gambling sessions.
  • Hoyte’s Cologne – a popular brand of cologne worn by gamblers who believe that the smell brings them luck and power on the casino floor.
  • Pyrite – Some gamblers sprinkle this golden iron ore into their pocket in the belief that it will attract good luck like a magnet.
  • Rabbit’s foot – an old Southern favorite, usually carried on a keyring charm. A common sight at casinos but nevertheless still causes the heebie-jeebies!
  • Nutmeg – a spice that is considered to have good luck qualities. Some gamblers carry nutmeg in their pocket when they play games of chance.
  • Lucky Hand Root – A rare root of the orchid flower which is shaped like a hand. Users believe that the root will bring in the winnings and carry it around when playing at the casinos.
  • Chamomile Hand Wash – Some gamblers believe that if they wash their hand with chamomile before playing, it cleans the hand for money!

The Fishy Tale of the Psychic Octopus

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

The fishiest tale to come out of the world of gambling and sports betting involved an octopus with the unlikely name of Paul. This two and a half year old squid lived his life in relative tranquility at the Oberhausen Sea Life Aquarium in Germany, oblivious to the world around him, until his owners decided to test his soccer skills. Poor Paul was asked to predict the outcome of matches during the most recent World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa involving Germany. The owners would place Paul’s meals under two draped flags – one of Germany and the other of the competing team. Whichever flag Paul chose was predicted to be the winner of the match.

Paul’s talents proved to be remarkable, and he correctly predicted the outcome of all Germany’s games, and then went on to predict that Spain would win the tournament outright, at odds of 256:1.  Paul even managed to make some enemies along the way when he received death threats from angry German fans after he predicted that Germany would lose in the semi final of the World Cup. The Prime Minister of Spain promised his protection after Paul proved correct in that prediction as well.

Paul managed to build himself quite a fan base as well, with millions of soccer and online casino fans from all over the world following his ‘advice’ and placing bets based on his predictions. Many people swear that Paul made them very rich during the World Cup. He became so popular that his owner received offers from zoos and aquariums around the world to buy him for a hefty sum. Luckily for him, they were refused outright, and he managed to go back to his old life after the World Cup came to an end in the middle of 2010.

Sadly, Paul reached the end of his life and died at a ripe old age in October 2010.  However, gambling and soccer fans breathed a sigh of relief after the Sea Life aquarium announced that it had already chosen a successor for Psychic Paul, a young, healthy French born squid – also called Paul – who seems to have inherited the same talents.

My Favorite Gambling Quotes

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

It’s that time of the year when I’m feeling all renewed and spiritually motivated. New Year’s Eve has come and gone, and I am determined to carry out all my resolutions faithfully this year.  Looking for inspiration on the internet, I came across a number of casino gambling quotes which I will refer back to during this year if things get tough or if I need cheering up.

Let me share them with you:

  • “In the queer mess of human destiny the determining factor is luck. For every important place in life there are many men of fairly equal capacities. Among them, luck decides who shall accomplish the great work, who shall be crowned with laurel, and who shall fall back into silence and obscurity.” (William E. Woodward).
  • “I am sorry I have not learned to play cards. It is very useful in life. It generates kindness and consolidates society.” (Samuel E. Johnson).
  • “You know what luck is? Luck is believing you’re lucky. To hold front position in this rat race, you’ve got to believe you’re lucky.” (From the movie, A Streetcar Named Desire).
  • “Gambling is the future on the internet. You can only look at so many dirty pictures.” (Simon Noble, Austrian bookmaker).
  • “If I had the money and the drinking capacity, I’d probably live at a roulette table and let my life go to hell.” (Michel Ventura).
  • “Casinos and prostitutes have the same thing in common: They both try to screw you out of your money and send you home with a smile on your face.” (VP Pappy)
  • “It can be argued that man’s instinct to gamble is the only reason he is still not a monkey up in the trees.” (Mario Puzo).
  • “Gambling itself will only end when human nature has changed completely and there are no more bets to win.” (Harold S. Smith).
  • “A dollar won is twice as sweet as a dollar earned”. (From the movie The Gambler starring Paul Newman).
  • “When a gambler picks up a pack of cards or a pair of dice, he feels as though he has reduced an unmanageable world into finite, visible and comprehensive world.” (Annabal Davis-Goff).
 
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