Blackjack is a popular casino game that originated in Spain during the 17th century.  It is played with six or eight standard decks of cards against a dealer.  The purpose of blackjack is to reach 21 points or get as close to 21 as possible, without accumulating more than 21.  The numbers on the cards correspond to the number of points given, while the J, Q and K each gives 10 points.  The Ace amounts to 1 or 11, depending on the player’s decision. 

All players on a blackjack table receive two cards face up, while the dealer gets a card face up and a hidden card.  Depending on the number of points, each player decides whether to get a new card and try to accumulate points as close to 21 as possible, or to stay only with their first two cards.  When someone is dealt a face card and an ace in the first round, this is called a blackjack and the person is the winner.  The players who get more than 21 points automatically lose.  It is very important to keep track of the points and count the cards, but other than that, blackjack is considered an easy game with big winnings.

Dec 02 2011

Like many other casino games, blackjack has been the subject of elaborate strategies and betting systems for several decades. This has led to a number of common myths often being associated with the game.

The assumption that a player seated at a table can increase the ‘house’ advantage is false. For example, a player seated at third-base who incorrectly takes a hit and busts may have prevented the dealer from busting. However, these situations generally aid the other players as much as they hinder them.

Casinos often stress the importance of attempting to get as close as possible to 21. However, this strategy is flawed, as the main objective of the game is to beat the dealer. Increasing your chances of going bust provides the dealer with another edge.

Doubling the amount you bet every time you lose is generally not a wise strategy to employ. While it may recoup your losses in the long-term, you may find that you have reached the table limit or burned through your entire bankroll before winning. There is an equal chance of winning/losing a hand irrespective of the outcome of the previous hand.

Nov 29 2011

Traditionally, bingo is a game often played in a hall, with a ball machine and a host to select numbered balls and call these numbers as they come out.  Although bingo games have always been seen as a way of socialising, talking during the game was often discouraged, to ensure that all players had the best chance of hearing the numbers being called and everyone had a fair chance of winning. 

With the advance of technology, many different bingo gaming operators have expanded online, taking advantage of the mass communication offered by the internet.  Bingo games have developed across the internet and offer players a new venue for play and many new features have been also added to the game.  The big advantage of online bingo games is that they can be joined at the will of the player from the comfort of their own home, on whichever day of the week or year they choose.  Online bingo sites such as Foxy Bingo and Golden Bingo offer a variety of choice to their visitors and due to the many features they include can help players and they have also introduced a much easier style of play.

For example, the auto daub feature which many different bingo sites include, crosses off the matched numbers for the player, giving them more freedom and hence not demanding their attention on the screen for the entire game.  As well as this facility, many different online bingo games have an automatic feature often referred to as ‘best card highlighting’, which automatically brings the most successful card at the time to the top of the pile, allowing the player to monitor their game at all times.

These features are not only there to help the player and make the game more relaxed, but also to allow them to chat to other participants, encouraging them to engage with the online community, much as players would have done if literally seated side by side.

Nov 27 2011

Three card poker is another card game that is popular both in standard casinos and in online versions.  The game involves two bets – the ‘pair plus’ and the ‘ante and play’.  Before the deal is done the player is able to place one or both of the bets.  The deck of cards used is a standard 52 card deck and hands are ranked in the following order, highest to lowest – straight flush, three of a kind, a straight, a flush, a pair and lastly nothing.  All players are dealt three cards.

If placing a ‘pair plus’ bet the results are given on the hand that the player holds.  The hand that the dealer has is not relevant.  The player must have at least a pair; a hand with nothing wins nothing.  Odds may be as high as 40-1 for a straight flush and as low as evens for a pair.

With an ‘ante and play’ bet the cards are dealt before the bet is made.  Once the cards are dealt the player is able to fold and lose the money that has already been wagered, or play and add additional monies to the bet already placed.  If the play bet is chosen then the dealer’s hand will also be revealed.  A queen high in the dealer’s hand will qualify and the outcome depends on both the dealer’s hand and the player’s hand and the type of bet that has been made.  For example, if the dealer’s hand does not qualify and the ante bet was placed then the payout is usually even money, while if the play bet has been played then the result is push.

If the player has at least a straight then a bonus may be paid on the ante bet that is not dependent upon the hand of the dealer or if the player has won or lost.  These bonuses depend upon the individual casino but can be as high as 5 to 1 for a straight flush or even-money for a straight.

Nov 24 2011

The growth of the internet has changed the face of gambling forever. Up until the 1990s if someone wanted to place a bet they would have to visit their neighbourhood bookmaker, or if they wanted to play poker, or any other card game for money they would have to take a trip to their local casino or a friend’s house.

In the 1990s, when the internet first became more accessible, casino operators realised that if they placed their services online more people would be able to gamble and this process meant that gambling could become more customer friendly.  The development of increasingly more sophisticated and secure software meant that online gambling could become ‘state of the art’ and that those wishing to take part could place their bets and exchange funds in relative security.  The software also incorporated automatic language translation programs.

The days when one could only place a bet at certain hours of the day or night have now disappeared and it is not uncommon to log onto a gambling site and find out there are another 90,000 players online with you. For example, if a horse race is taking place in Hong Kong and someone in London wishes to place a bet then they are able to do so; previously international timelines could prohibit this practice.

The online gambling phenomenon has expanded rapidly across the world.  The EU recently published figures that demonstrated that in 2009, online gambling capital reached E12.5 bn and that figure is set to continue to rise.  In May 2011 the Gambling Commission published figures showing that 14,823 online gambling sites were registered across the EU alone.  This figure doesn’t take into account the number of offshore casinos and gambling establishments.

Another area of growth is the development of smartphone technology and the increasing use of tablets and other mobile tools. Essentially mobile gambling will become even easier with the growth in the number of apps and therefore a greater number of people will be able to participate in online gambling than ever before.

Nov 22 2011

Online gambling is something that anyone interested in making bets or playing traditional gambling games such as roulette will come across eventually.  Thanks to new technologies such as social networking websites and the spread of computers with internet access into almost every household in the world, more and more people are becoming internet educated.  With an increasing number of people venturing into the online world, many find that they can get even more involved with their hobbies than before thanks to internet sites.  Gambling and betting are no exception to this growing trend.

Online casino gambling has several key differences compared to traditional gambling.  Most obviously, players will usually never see each other face to face when playing through the internet.  Also, communication can be more limited and less spontaneous, making some people feel that internet gambling lacks a vital human element.  But gambling websites and online casinos such as 888 Casino are working to rectify this, and bring the human element back.  Chat windows are now commonplace in multiplayer gambling games such as poker or roulette, so players can chat and socialise while they play.  Also, many websites are realising the importance of community, and including forums specially created to foster this.  Forums let players talk at a relaxed pace about strategy, their favourite games, or even on topics that are unrelated to gambling.

The key advantage to online gambling is convenience.  No matter how near you live to a casino, nothing can compete with the ease of being able to log onto a website and start playing.  You don’t even have to be at home to do it, as websites can be accessed from any computer.  Just remember that it is not a good idea to share payment details using a public computer – a laptop is a good plan for online gambling on the move.

All in all, online gambling is a great way to get into the many betting games available.  For the seasoned gambler or the person looking to become familiar with the games, it can be just as good as a real casino.

Nov 20 2011

Contrary to some of the more fearful media stories about gambling, most experienced gamblers are neither addicted nor indebted.  Provided certain basic precautions are taken from the outset, the experience can be highly entertaining and rewarding. But just what are those precautions?

An elementary one is to find out as much as possible about the game you’re interested in before starting to play it for real.  Do some homework and get familiar with the game, whether it’s poker or blackjack, roulette or sports betting.  Learn about the type of bets and find out about the ones to steer clear from (some forms of high stakes betting, for example, are very risky for novice players – the gains can be high but so can the losses).  There’s abundant reading material available on just about all gambling activities, either online or at the local bookstore.

Many gambling websites offer free software to download so that you can practise playing your chosen game without parting with any money.  In fact, with the burgeoning growth of online gambling, many people are turning away from the traditional casino-based activities, preferring to take to their virtual equivalents in the comfort of their own homes, at times of their own choosing.

But the single most important skill to master before venturing into the world of gambling is the art of bankroll management (see our article “Bankroll Management for Beginners”).  Get this clear at the outset and you’ll be safe.  Basically, it means setting clear limits on how much money you’ll let yourself spend on bets, how much you will let yourself win before quitting and, perhaps most crucially, how much you will let yourself lose before exiting the game.  Knowing these limits and truly committing to them will keep the gambling experience an enjoyable and safe one.

Nov 18 2011

As children we have all felt the thrill as we pulled the arm of the one armed bandit and waited to see if all the lucky sevens lined up.  Well now we can feel this thrill in the comfort of our own homes.  The advent of online gambling has included the advancement of the simple slot machine.  Whether a player enjoys video, classic, 3D or themed slots there is something out there to entertain everyone whatever their age.

Slot machines have come a long way since they first appeared in American casinos in the late 1900s.  With great graphics and interactivity, slots games have to compete with online gaming and other forms of online gambling.  

Many online gambling sites offer free slots so a player can indulge in a little no-risk fun or test your skill before progressing to the large jackpot casino slot games.

With a choice to play slots for free allow players to test the game and its different features before any money has been deposited.  

Whether playing online slots for fun or real money it is best to check that the website is reputable and fully licensed under UK law.

Nov 16 2011

Blackjack is one of the most widely-known casino games around, and also one of the easiest to learn. Simply put, the aim is to reach 21 or get as close as you can in order to beat the dealer.  The first thing that will happen is you will place your bets, with a minimum and maximum amount shown somewhere on the table.  You can bet anywhere between these two amounts as long as it is a multiple of the minimum bet.  For example, if the minimum was £5, you could bet £5, £10, £15 etc.  You and the other players will then be dealt two cards face up, with the dealer himself taking just one. 

At this point you can total your two cards and decide what to do next.  For anything 16 and over, it is recommended to ‘hold’ or ‘stick’. This means to not play any further and hope the dealer doesn’t beat your total.  With lower totals you must ‘twist’ and receive another card.  Going over 21 leads to a ‘bust’ and you will lose your bet.  After everyone has played, the dealer will give himself another card and he can then play in the same way as the other players until he is happy.  Aces can count as high or low, depending on your needs.

Should the dealer bust, all players who did not bust will win and double their bet.  Otherwise, should they beat a player’s total they win his or her bet, and if they have a lower total they pay out.  Should the same total be achieved across the board, all parties keep their original stake.

Nov 14 2011

Online casinos offer players the chance to play the classic card game Texas Hold ‘em. There is certainly the potential to win large sums of cash with this game if the player is savvy with their cards and bets with high percentage hands. 

For those not familiar with the game, Texas Hold ‘em is a variation of poker that begins with an ante, as most forms of poker do. The next step of the game is each player being dealt a pair of cards. To make a complete poker hand, these cards must be combined with the community cards. There are five community cards in total and the series of three community cards that the dealer places face up are called the flop. The remaining pair of community cards is called the turn or the river. 

Though a hand with the flop may be apparent right away, the cards in the river may change the focus of the player’s hand. A straight may appear to be the most likely option at first, but as the round moves on a flush may become the player’s goal.

Once the first three community cards are placed, the players make bets based on their hand. After each card from the river is turned over, bets are made. 

What tends to make this game intense is the fact that so much relies on the community cards, which players have no control over. Smart bets and bluffing must be perfected to become a winning player. 

In terms of hands, the same rules as five-card stud apply. That is, a royal flush is the best hand possible, unless there are wilds called and the lowest hand is a high card. 

However, because there are no draws in Texas Hold ‘em, hands are often won with a pair. A royal flush in this form of poker is quite rare.     

888games.com has a variation on the game called Hold ‘em or Fold ‘em, which essentially follows exactly the same rules as Texas Hold ‘em.

Nov 12 2011