Casino Games

Types Of Online Casino Bonuses

If you’ve ever considered playing at an online casino, you should be aware that the vast majority of them offer cash bonuses as an incentive to play. While there are some generous offers out there today, being made, it’s very important that you understand how casino bonuses work and understand the terms and conditions of the offer.

The No Deposit Bonus

Some online casinos offer players free cash with no deposit required. These can be a great way to get started playing and to get a feel for the games at an online casino, but be aware of the complete terms of a no deposit bonus. In some cases the casino will require you to register a credit card to claim the free cash. This doesn’t necessarily mean they are trying to steal funds from your card. There are reputable casinos who do this as a security measure to avoid bonus abuse and players claiming multiple accounts. It also gives the casinos a better chance of weeding out the bonus hunters from more serious players. At the same time, be aware of rogue casinos and do your homework before you sign up and play at any casino. Some casinos require you to make a small deposit in order to cash out your winnings from a no deposit offer. Some online casinos also require players to make a small deposit before cashing out winnings from a no deposit offer, again due to bonus abuse of other players. Wagering requirements and game restrictions often apply to this type of bonus.

The Cashable Matching Deposit Bonus

Many internet casinos offer a percentage match bonus when players make a deposit. These are pretty self-explanatory - for a 200% bonus, for example, you would deposit $100 and the casino will add another $200 to your account. These bonuses typically range anywhere from 10-250% or more. This type of bonus almost always requires the player to wager through the deposit and bonus a certain number of times and usually only certain games count towards the wagering requirements.

The Sticky Bonus

A sticky bonus is just that - it can never be cashed out. This may sound like a bad deal at first, but actually can be a great deal for a player. You can use the “money” from the bonus account to wager as much as you like. Even though the bonus itself stays put in your casino account, you will have more money available in your account to wager longer with that much more of a chance to hit a big jackpot or build up some good winnings at a table game like blackjack. We have seen some online casinos offer sticky bonuses that have been quite generous, in some cases over $300 and more.

Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements can be rather high at many online casinos nowadays. Some casinos require you wager as much 20 times your deposit and bonus amount or more before cashing out. There was a time that you only had to wager through your deposit and bonus once before cashing out at an online casino! Due to the high costs of this type of promotion and bonus abuse, wagering requirements have been raised considerably at virtually all online casinos.

Note that in some cases sticky bonuses carry no wagering requirements - this can be a great deal if you come across this type of promotion.

Game Restrictions

In many cases only certain games count towards the wagering requirements of the bonus offer. It’s common to see Slots play count towards the wagering requirements. Games like Blackjack and Roulette are often excluded from the wagering requirements.

Always, ALWAYS read bonus terms and conditions.

You’ve downloaded the software, you’ve signed up and created your account and logged in. you’ve made your deposit and you’re ready to play. But do you really know what you’re getting into? As you can see there are many different kinds of bonuses and you need to know the wagering requirements, games restrictions and other terms and conditions when you play. Some online casinos will simply tell you that you need to but in some cases your winnings can be forfeited if you do not follow the promotional terms to the letter. So unless you’re only there for a good time and don’t care about your winnings, knowing the terms and conditions of a bonus offer is essential. If you are comfortable with a particular casino and it’s promotional bonus offer, you might as well claim the free cash. If you’re going to play anyway, you might as well accept the free money offer.

If you aren’t comfortable with requirements of a bonus offer, pick another casino to play, or consider simply depositing without claiming a bonus. Many online casinos offer better odds and payouts than Native American casinos or even Las Vegas casinos, so often you still are getting a good deal for your money. Also, nothing can compare with the comfort and convenience of gambling at home in your pajamas.

A blackjack basic strategy cuts the casino edge and most players know this, but what most players do not grasp is that not all casino blackjack games are the same.

Where you play the game, can increase or decrease the effectiveness of your basic strategy dramatically.

Here we will look at blackjack basic strategy and its advantages and how it is affected by favourable and unfavourable rules.

How a Blackjack Basic Strategy Increases Your Odds of Success What does the basic strategy get you in terms of cutting the casino edge in blackjack?

The casino’s initial edge in the game is about 5.75%, but by using a blackjack basic strategy, it is possible to reduce the casino edge to around 0.5%. Here is an illustration of how:

Initial casino Advantage 5.75%

Hitting and standing -3.25%

Doubling -1.5%

Pair splitting -0.5%

Casino Advantage with Strategy 0.5%

Increasing Your Advantage Further - Look for Favourable Rules

You can increase your advantage using blackjack basic strategy further by picking a casino with favourable rules, and avoiding those with unfavourable rules.

Here is an overview of the advantages gained in relation to specific rule variations and how player’s odds are decreased, or increased.

Favourable Rules to Player

Early surrender +0.62%

Late surrender Single deck +0.02%

Double down after splitting +0.13%

Drawing to split aces +0.14%

Re splitting of aces +0.03%

Double down cards any number +0.20%

2:1 payoff blackjack +2.32%

Unfavourable Rules to Player

no doubling on hard 11 -0.89%

no doubling on hard 10 -0.56%

no doubling on hard 9 -0.14%

no doubling soft hands -0.14%

dealer hits soft 17 -0.20%

dealer takes no hole card -0.13%

2 decks (v single) -0.35%

4 decks (v single -0.51%

6 decks (v single) -0.60%

pairs no re splitting -0.05%

Correct Implementation + Favourable Rules = Optimum Advantage with Blackjack Basic Strategy

Mathematical simulations of millions of hands have shown the effectiveness of the blackjack basic strategy and it is the basis of all card-counting systems.

Many players don’t however, play it to its maximum potential, as they don’t play with favourable rules. If you don’t, you are missing great longer-term profit potential. Don’t make the same mistake, play smart and be lucky!

The whole world watched Chris Moneymaker as he turned a $40 online entry fee into an astonishing $2.5 million dollars by winning the World Series of Poker and as you may have guessed, knocked out some pretty substantial players along the way.

An accountant who graduated from the University of Tennessee, Chris Moneymaker wanted to play poker but will have never dreamed he would get a golden opportunity like this. After winning his way to the World Series of Poker from the PokerStars website, Chris could not have imagined what kind of instant fame he would earn after winning the tournament.

Maybe he was still in such shock from the win at Poker Stars he didn’t realise the likelihood that he would be a viable contender at the World Series Of Poker. Not only was Chris a possible challenger, he was also a tough opponent and proving as much to the others at the final table.

If people were amazed when he made it to the final table, they would have been bowled over with shock when Chris Moneymaker became the 2003 World Series of Poker Champion.

He gained the instant respect of those who played with him in the tournament and always made everyone feel it was worth his time to stop and enjoy a little conversation. He is an overall nice guy who is playing it smart right now with his winnings and has just launched “Money Maker Gaming” which looks set to be a big hit. The website offers an online assortment of gifts and apparel for gaming enthusiasts.

Though many poker professionals insist it was definitely his good luck that put him into instant “stardom,” skill is certainly keeping him there. In 2004, Chris came in second at the Bay 101 Shooting Stars World Poker Tour Event which shows his poker skills are still very much intact.

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games in the world of gambling. It is probably so because Blackjack is a game that involves both chance as well as skill and decision making. Blackjack players often make use of a practice known as ‘Card Counting’. This is an important strategy that helps the player to gauge his probability advantage. It is a system for improving the player’s edge which is done by assigning ‘weights’ to each card face and then summing the card weights as each new card’s face is turned up. The ‘count’ gives an indication of when the game is favorable for the player. This in effect helps the player to place larger bets and also make changes in his playing strategy. In a nut shell what it really means is that the player is able to track the ratio of high cards to low cards so that he can benefit from the entire deal. It is far more effective amongst handheld games and can therefore be used by serious as well as recreational players. And remember that most card counting methods do not involve counting how many of each card has been played.

As a rule of thumb, one has to remember that low cards favor the dealer and high cards favor the player. Therefore players who use correct blackjack strategy with card counting system can actually beat the casinos by following this strategy. High cards are generally considered good for the player as the player gets paid more when he gets a blackjack. For dealers however low cards are considered better since they allow help him make winning totals on his hands when he is stiff.

Now the question arises as to how much edge a typical card counter will have. Depending upon the counting system being used, as well as the skill of the player, and not to forget the house rules that the player is fighting against, the edge can be 1.5% or less. Very rarely does one come across playing conditions that allow the player to get more than a 2% edge against the house.

While prima facie Card Counting might look like it is only for the mathematically inclined or the extremely gifted but what it actually needs is some time and lots of patience. All that a player has to do is keep a track of certain cards as they leave the Blackjack deck and formulate a single ratio number that indicates the composition of the remaining deck.

Another reason for Blackjack players to use Card Counting is that it is not illegal. That is to say that if the strategy is an outcome of the brain of the player alone with no outside assistance with devices or additional people, it is not illegal. Using an outside aid however is illegal.

Horse Races come in several types, namely, stakes, handicap, allowance, claiming or maiden races. Each one of these have important differences in terms of the types of horses entered into the race, as well as how horse owners and trainers will decide to run their horse in the race.

Stakes races are those which occur annually, offer very large purses, and attract very high quality horses. Examples of stakes races include the Belmont Stakes and the Kentucky Derby.

Handicap races are such that the weights of the various jockeys are equalized through the use of lead weights. Many consider the weight that a horse is carrying to be one of the critical factors in handicapping races. Older, stronger horses are typically allowed to carry more weight than younger horses, and these differences are one of the many factors savvy handicappers take into account when choosing their winners.

Claiming races are far and away the most common type of race. In a claiming race, each horse is entered at a specific price, and may be purchased, or “claimed” by another owner. Claiming is one way in which competition between horses can be equalized. For example, an excellent horse which is valued at $20,000 will not run in a claiming race where the claiming price is $5,000 or less. Conversely, a horse with a low value (e.g., due to poor past performance) is unlikely to run in a race with a high claiming price, simply because it will be outclassed. In fact, it is unlikely that track officials would even allow such discrepancies to take place.

Allowance races are essentially non-claiming races, usually designed for horses which race infrequently.

Lastly, Maiden races are for those horses who have never won. Other conditions may be applied to maiden races as well, such as “Non winners in last 3 races.” Maiden races are sometimes difficult to handicap because the entire field may consist of horses with minimal past performance histories. However, careful handicappers will spot maiden races which have a horse or two which has some history of winning relative to others in the race.

When one is placing a bet on a horse, the better is actually betting on the skills of the horse, the jockey, and the trainer. In the hands of skilled trainers and jockeys, horses with poor past performances can have their careers rejuvenated, oftentimes by making changes such as race distances, conditioning regimens, and so forth. Similarly, jockeys with excellent records can improve the potential of even the most mediocre of horses, under the right conditions. This is part of the reason why professional handicappers tend to stick to a limited number of tracks for their wagering. As they bet at particular tracks, they become increasingly familiar with the trainers and jockeys who work at that track, and this knowledge is taken into account as they pick their winners.

The Internet is saturated with online casinos that give gamblers the opportunity to play virtual casino games for actual money. However the truth is that it is a small number of these casinos that can actually be classified as top of the line. It takes a very rare mix of qualities to merit the title of being a top online casino. You will find that there are only some online casinos that can really boast of having a complete mix of superb quality software, meticulous security, wide variety of games, excellent customer service and most importantly, a long and commendable history that is needed to figure as a top online casino.

The best online casinos that are top of the line but obviously have the best breed of software to offer. Their software brings to life impeccable graphics, sound that is true to life and smooth play that is uninterrupted. The state of the art software that top online casinos use offers you all these features. The next and really important factor that is so special about top online casinos is the large and varied variety of games that they have to offer. You will find that you can choose between a host of games ranging from blackjack and roulette to craps, slots poker keno and more. The variety of games offered is such that you will almost never get bored and it can satisfy the heaviest of gambling appetites.

The last and most important thing about top online casinos is the fact that they are reliable. They have the best combination of genuine ethics teamed with matchless security. You will find the best in customer service and will never want to try anything else after having a top online casino gambling experience.

As craps is a game of real chance you need to focus on the bets that give you the best odds in craps to win.

Craps Odds of success with the best bets are surprisingly good and you can play at almost even with the house, making craps odds on best bets, better than those in other games of chance such as roulette and slots.

Let’s look at the bets with the best odds in craps.

To understand the game better, and why Craps Odds on the right bets give you great chance of winning, lets look at the various bets you can make, and what advantage (in percent) they give to the house.

Although there are over 40 bets you can make in Craps, here are the most popular and the odds (advantage) they bring to the house.

SEVEN -16.66%

ELEVEN -16.66%

PLACE BETS – 1.51%.

BUY BETS – 4.76%. Note: Player pays 5% “vigorish” to get true odds on all numbers. Only the 4 and 10 make buy bets are worth it. They reduce the house edge to 4.76%.

HARD WAYS This bet can be made in two ways on 4, 6, 8 and 10. Payoff is 9 to 1 on the 6 or 8 and 7 to 1 on the 4 or 10. The house edge is 9.09% and 11.11%, respectively

PASS LINE – 1.414%

DON’T PASS – 1.402%

COME BETS & DON’T COME Same house percentages of 1.414% and 1.402%, as pass line bets.

THE FIELD – 5.55%.

ANY CRAPS – 11.11%

BIG 6 & 8 – 9.09%

How to get it even.

As each throw of the dice is unique, systems cannot predict anything, especially what will fall on the next throw.

All you will need to know, to play well and win is how to bet with the best Craps Odds bets.

First, you need to know how to bet on the passline and then how to apply Craps Odds.

The passline bet is first made before the new shooter begins his throw. If he throws a 7 or 11, you win with him. If he throws a 2, 3, or 12, you lose with him. But if he throws a 4 or 5 or 6 or 8 or 9 or 10, he achieves a “point” (a number he will roll to make again before he rolls a 7), and here you can apply Craps Odds.

The Odds Bet

As we said, the Odds bet will reduce the house advantage. Here is how it’s done.

After you bet on the passline and the shooter has his point, the house may allow you to make an additional bet known as an Odds bet. You place this bet behind your original passline bet on the table.

If the shooter makes his point, you are paid even money for your passline bet and additionally you are paid the true odds for you odds bet reducing the house advantage. These are:

If the point is 4 or 10 your win is paid 2 to 1.

If the point is 5 or 9 your win is paid 3 to 2.

If the point is 6 or 8 your win is paid 6 to 5.

Some casinos will allow you to take double Crap Odds on your passline bet. For example if you put $50 on the passline, you would be able to place odds bet of $100.

Statistically, the passline bet has a house advantage of 1.41%. When you place an additional odds bet, you bring this way down.

A passline bet with single odds has a house edge of 0.85% and with double odds the edge is further too just 0.61% 4, 5, 6 Times Odds. A player sometimes allowed to take three/ four / five times odds, depending on the point number.

If the point is 4 or 10 you can take 3 times odds

If the point is 5 or 9 you can take 4 times odds.

If the point is 6 or 8 you can take 5 times odds.

Always take odds when you have the opportunity to do so The best bet?

When betting you need to keep the odds of craps bets in your mind and only play the ones with the best chances of success.

For right bettors (those betting with the shooter) are pass and come bets with full odds on both for wrong bettors (those betting with the house) are don’t pass and don’t come with full odds on both.

Focus on the bets with the best craps Odds and you will increase your chances of winning dramatically and keep in mind craps is a fun game to but more fun, when you’re winning!

There are many online gambling sites that offer perks to their members. But the best way to get these perks is by joining a site that allows the opportunity to become a VIP member. By becoming a VIP member at these sites you will be given top notch benefits that are not offered to regular members.

At most online sites, in order to become a VIP member you will need to reach a few specific criteria. These gambling sites do not let just anybody become a VIP member. It is only for people who devote a certain amount of time and money to the site.

In addition to the amount of time and money that is spent, in order to become a VIP member many sites also look at your overall time spent on wagering. They only want people in the VIP club that are going to be completely devoted to the site.

There are also many other benefits that go along with becoming a VIP member. Many sites offer free bonuses in the form of cash are prize giveaways. These giveaways include everything from free sports and concerts tickets to trips to Las Vegas. Mailers are also sent to VIP members in order to keep them up to date as to what the site is doing.

If you are looking to become a VIP member it is usually not a very difficult process. It only takes filling out one form at most sites. After that you will be notified by the moderators as to whether or not you are accepted into the VIP club.

Overall, becoming a VIP member is something that you should strive for if you like to gamble online. The benefits and advantages are top notch, and you will be treated like royalty during your time with the site.