Posts Tagged ‘Online Gambling’

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What Not To Do In Blackjack

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

There are many experts out there who want to tell you everything you are supposed to do in a game of blackjack, but I am here to tell you what not do in blackjack. Blackjack is perhaps the best game at the casino because it is a perfect combination of skill and chance. There are many tactics to use, and not use during your game; let’s sort through these tips and tricks.

First of all do not underestimate the power of your gut instinct. Many experts want to over complicate the game and give you advice about all of the aspects of the game you need to pay attention to, and these are important. It is also important to recognize the simplicity of the game and not get too overwhelmed.

Do not forget that you are playing against the dealer. The dealer wants the casino to win; therefore modeling your behavior after the dealer will not bode well for you.

Do not use insurance unless you count cards. Insurance only benefits card counters because you do not want to use it unless you are certain that you do not have a winning hand.

Don’t forget about the surrender option, but also be very selective when using it. Only use it if you have a nine or ten and your cards total 15 or 16, and the dealer also has a nine or ten.

And finally don’t go into a blackjack game without knowing the rules. Whether you are playing in Vegas or at casino.com be certain that you know all of the rules and regulations of your particular game. Every blackjack game is different, be sure you know how to play yours.

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Gambling on Facebook

Monday, February 6th, 2012

Do you enjoy playing blackjack online? Do you enjoy getting on social media sites such as Facebook? What if the two were combined? That’s right; your favorite social media site is gearing up to start offering online gambling to their users in the UK. They are using the UK as a starting point because online wagering is far more accepted there than any other place in the world. The government is very much involved, and Facebook sees it as a great way to expand their brand.

Now if you use Facebook you may have seen various applications that allow you to play certain types of casino games, this is quite different. These are actual casinos that use real money. There are over 20 different websites looking to team up with the popular social media site, the two front runners being 888 and Gamesys. Facebook is working diligently trying to work out negotiations with several gambling sites and experts.

One aspect that is keeping Facebook from making any decisions at the moment is age verification. The company works hard to provide a safe and secure atmosphere for teenagers and adults, and certain credits claim that the addition of gambling on the site will be detrimental. While others argue that if a person is old enough to read then they have surely been exposed to gambling, sex, and others of the sort.

Rest assured that Facebook will only be working with the best online casinos. Would you play blackjack on Facebook? Many speculate that the site has run out of all other revenue opportunities, what do you think?

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Different Blackjack Games

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

There are so many different forms of blackjack that playing online can be beneficial because you can go through all of the different games and pick the one which you prefer. Each game has its own set of rules and regulations and it is very important to play by these rules to ensure the best results. I enlisted Wikipedia to help me with my search to find the best blackjack game for my lifestyle.

First there is American Blackjack which is typically played with four decks of cards and the dealer must hit on a soft 17. As a player you can double down on any two cards and only split an ace once.

European Blackjack is played with two decks and a player san only split once whether it is an ace of not. If both the player and dealer have blackjack the game is a push.

Blackjack Switch is played with two hands at once and the player has the option to interchange the cards dealt to each hand.

Double Exposure is mostly the same rules as American except the dealer’s first two cards are dealt face-up.

Caribbean 21 is the exact same rules except the goal is 31 instead of 21.

Spanish 21 is a little bit different in the fact that there are an unlimited amount of double downs and you have the option to rescue and surrender, which is sometimes not available in certain blackjack games.

There are just a few choices to get you started on your hunt, my favorite is Double Exposure, but try them all out for yourself.

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The Difference Between Online Gambling and Online Gaming

Monday, December 12th, 2011

Do you know the difference between online gaming and online gambling? Many people use the two words interchangeably but they really are two completely different things. I’m going to go over some of the specific details that set these two activities apart.

Online Gaming is defined as playing a game online without making a wager. While Online Gambling is defined as playing a game online with wagers, whether it is with real money or funny money. So when you are playing that flash trial version of blackjack online you are actually participating in Online Gambling.

Online Gaming can be mulit-player, single-player or role-playing and involves some sort of internet connection. There are several Online Gaming communities that have grown quite large over the years such as World of War craft and Dungeons and Dragons. These games are fun because people can play with each other from all over the world.

Online Gambling can also be multi-player but you are not necessarily playing against the other players, unless it is Poker that you are playing. For instance, there could be several others at the blackjack table but you are all only competing against the house.

Gaming usually charges a fee to participate in the game while Gambling requires a deposit that you could potentially win more money from.

Online gambling and participating in an online game do have a couple similarities. Both use flash and media to keep the player visually stimulated. The two might even merge in the coming years. Slot machines being developed these days are much more interactive and game-like.

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Washington D.C. to Regulate Online Blackjack

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

In July of this year DC was supposed to start offering online slots, poker, bingo and fantasy sports sites for fun, and then for wagering in September. The Washington Post even posted an employment ad for an online bingo chat room moderator.

So why is it taking so long you may be asking? The article I read at washingtonpost.com claims that legislators cannot make up their minds about regulating online gambling. The District is usually the trailblazer when it comes to states passing bills, but this one just can’t seem to be passed. There is no Federal Law prohibiting online gambling, but there are also no strict guidelines so it makes gamblers, along with websites apprehensive about what wagers they choose to accept.

There are plenty of supporters for moderating the online gambling industry. They make the argument that it could do wonders for our “cash-strapped” government; also the added employment, money for charities, and tax money. In fact, taxing online poker alone would produce 40 billion dollars in 10 years.

But for all of the people supporting the regulation of online gambling, there are plenty more actively against it. States such as New Jersey and Utah are very much against it. While State such as California and Florida are the closest to getting the ball rolling, so to speak.

So what does this mean for blackjack players? There are plenty of sites for Online Play Blackjack, and if you are located in the US, most of them accept US players

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Casino Bodog to Stop Accepting US Players

Monday, November 14th, 2011

At the end of 2011 Casino Bodog will officially stop accepting US players. Actually the whole Bodog brand will stop allowing US citizens to access their websites as they change the name from Bodog.com to Bodog.eu.

Bodog is a very well known brand, and is in the process of marketing themselves somewhat like the Virgin brand. I learned on wiki today that they are even starting their own coffee line.

Currently Bodog operates under Morris Mohawk Gambling, based out of Canada although Bodog is a European brand. They acquired a license from the UK Gambling commission in July but have been waiting for their current license to expire. A license from the UK Gambling Commission is a huge deal, and is not offered to just any casino, so Bodog is very excited about the changes that are happening.

The decision to stop accepting US players revolves around the uncertainty of taking wagers from US players. They would rather be safe than sorry, they don’t want to do anything to defame their name because they are growing right now in many markets, especially Asia.

Founder of Bodog, Calvin Ayre says that the new venture is exactly what the company needs and everyone throughout the company is very excited to get things going.

Casino Bodog is ranked 13th in overall online casino traffic and 2nd among casinos still accepting US wages.

It is sad to see another casino withdraw from the US market but I feel it won’t stop anytime soon unless the government makes some changes with regulation.

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The Regulation of Online Gambling Could Fix Some Problems

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

There have been so many articles in the news recently about the legalization of online gambling in the United States. All of the speculation has made it a popular topic, but is it popular enough?

Many experts speculate that no bills are being passed because there are simply just too many other issues out there to deal with. Legislators are trying to fix the economy, unemployment, and healthcare. Online gambling doesn’t seem to hold a candle to some of these other bigger problems.

The regulation of online wagering could actually fix some of these problems. There is a “debt super committee” dedicated to cutting the government’s deficits by 1.2 trillion dollars over the span of ten years. Taxing online poker would bring in 40 billion dollars in taxes in ten years. I know this is only solving 1/30th of the problem, it is still something.

The District of Columbia is usually the leader when it comes to these types of bills, but gambling on online operations in DC is not something congress wants to do. Governors just don’t want to resort to online gambling, they think it will lead to the demoralization of society as we know it. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is one legislature that doesn’t seem to be budging on the issue. He feels that passing the bill to moderate online gambling will result in betting parlors popping up all over the state.

Legislators like Christie greatly outnumber the supporters of online gambling, so it is no wonder that the only conclusion any of them can come to is to not come to a conclusion, yet.

It doesn’t help that the previous, and current speak, never felt the need to bring this issue to a floor vote. It’s too bad The Donald isn’t still in the race for presidency; he is a huge advocate for online gambling.

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The Difference Between Hard and Soft Totals

Monday, October 17th, 2011

The blog seems like it may be about something else, but I can assure you that it is only about your hand in a blackjack game.

I’m writing about this because I have gotten many questions about it, and although it seems like something obvious and easy, many players are still in the dark about it.

It is always mandatory to differentiate between hard and soft cards when playing blackjack online or in an actual casino.

A soft total has an ace as 11, and cannot be busted with a one card draw. For instance: if you are dealt an ace and a 7 that is a soft 18. If you draw a paint card, you do not bust the hand, you can then play the ace as a one. So your soft then becomes a hard 18, easy enough right?

Therefore, a hard total would not involve an ace, or has an ace being played as a one instead of an 11.

The dealer is required to hit anything under a soft 17. Also an ace in the dealers hand is always counted an 11. So they have to hit if they have a soft hand under 17, meaning an ace with a 2, 3, 4 or 5.

There a million different rules and guidelines for playing hard and soft combinations, that is going to take a whole new blog.

But there is also the stiff hand, which you want to avoid at all costs. A stiff hand is a hard hand value of 12 to 16. This hand is almost impossible to win with because it is too low to beat the dealer and too high to hit again.

Now go use all of your knowledge at some of the best online casino sites!

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Breaking Online Gambling News Worth Interrupting Myself Over!

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

I know. Yesterday I said I would be comparing mobile blackjack apps and a bit of online blackjack. But that was before the news broke that the New Jersey House Assembly passed a bill that would regulate online gambling, specifically online poker, in New Jersey.

Once Governor Chris Christie signs the bill into law New Jersey will be the first state in the United States to regulate online gambling.

So take that, UIGEA!

The bill passed in the House Assembly with 63 members voting yes and only 11 saying no; and only 41 were needed for the bill to pass. The bill now goes to Governor Christie’s desk. Christie has been mum on the subject but he did promise, if elected, he would work to revitalize the economy in New Jersey. Being a state of tourism that relies heavily on the tax revenue from the Atlantic City casinos, Christie has been targeting those casinos and gambling as one way to boost the state’s struggling economy.

The online gambling regulation bill is one of five bills aimed at boosting the state’s revenue through Atlantic City.

Originally the Atlantic City casinos were against having online gambling regulated within the state, fearing that it would hurt their business even more than it already is. But portions of the bill have been rewritten and the Atlantic City casinos’ frowns turned into smileys.

The online gambling regulation bill, written by state Senator Lesniak, would give the Atlantic City casinos the first opportunity to, in short, create online casino versions of themselves. This way these established brick and mortar casino businesses would hopefully not be hurt by online gambling; instead the idea is for them to increase their profits, which will in turn increase the tax revenue that goes to the state, which will in turn help boost the New Jersey economy and fund state programs.

All round, as long as it works as intended, online gambling in New Jersey could turn out to be a very smart move on state lawmakers’ parts. Granted, it will take a bit of time to lay down the specific terms of their online gambling regulation and get the entire thing moving, but this is a very promising start to 2011.

And I will also hope this gives lawmakers on the federal level a swift kick in the shorts when it comes to online gambling regulation for the entire country.

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Truth About Online Blackjack, Legality and UIGEA

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Whether the United States should legalize and regulate online gambling or not is a part of the lame duck session happening on Capitol Hill. Both Representative Barney Frank and Senator Harry Reid are putting forth bills that would repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. This could potentially see online blackjack open up and be completely legal to play.

But online blackjack was never illegal for US citizens in the first place. UIGEA was to be enforced on the level of financial institutions, such as banks and credit card companies, who were not to allow transactions between US players and online casinos.

UIGEA, over all, was put in place for two main reasons: 1. To save us from ourselves, and 2. To protect US citizens from foreign companies.

While I cannot get on board with the first reason, I can understand the second. And it is a good reason.

When we play online blackjack in online casinos we are not protected by our own government—and, no, I am not talking about the “I know what is for your own good” kind of protection. I am talking about protection of you and your money. If an online casino takes your money or refuses to pay you, there is nothing you can really do about it. Sure, you can turn them in to the gaming control of the country they are licensed in, but it does not mean for one second that you are guaranteed to have your money back.

US lawmakers did see and understand this. So it was not entirely “We know what is good for you” behind their creation of UIGEA.

But finally it looks like US lawmakers are beginning to get on board with licensing and regulating online gambling in and for the US. But I do not think it is because lawmakers are getting that they cannot tell us what is for our own good. I think it is because they see how poorly written UIGEA was, that US players are going to find a way to play anyway, and because they see just how much money they can put in their coffers from such things as online blackjack, slots and poker.

Now if Reid has his way there will be about 15 months in which we cannot play anywhere and only brick and mortar casinos that have been in operation for more than five years will be allowed to apply for licenses. Honestly, Frank’s bill is much more liberating for US online gambling interests.

For the remainder of the lame duck session I am going to keep my fingers crossed in hopes of being protected when playing online blackjack—and in less than 15 months too.

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