In spite of a rise in online gambling within recent years, a lot of people still just gamble “in person” in the United Kingdom, based on a recent report by the Gambling Commission.

A study carried out recently by the Commission demonstrates that 81% of the population gambles “in person” just through placing a bet in a betting shop, going to a casino or bingo hall or purchasing scratch cards or lottery tickets in a shop.  Whilst 17% of gamblers stated that they had used both online and offline services, a mere 2% stated that they only ever gambled via the internet.

Nowadays numerous websites provide a number of online gambling services.  Standard gambling activities such as playing bingo or placing bets on sport events are accessible on the internet, and numerous internet sites provide free money to play with once you initially sign up.  Additionally, there are numerous casino type games available on the internet such as roulette, blackjack, poker and slot machines.

There are also websites that offer people the chance to speak to other gamblers online by using live chat rooms, blogs and forums.  A few websites also provide gambling competitions.

Nov 11 2011

There are a number of rules, traditions and superstitions that make up the general etiquette one can expect to find at a craps table.  Some of these are practical in nature, while others are purely a matter of superstition.

For example, it is considered bad form to say the number ‘seven’ while standing at a craps table.  Saying the number seven can result in some of the more superstitious craps players (and there are a LOT of these) believing that you have just ruined their luck, and that they will not win.  If you must refer to the number seven at the craps table, you should say ‘six ace’, or ‘big red’ instead of seven.

You should never handle the dice with both hands.  You are expected to keep the dice in one hand only, and never to hold the dice over the edge of the craps table.  Additionally, when rolling the dice you should roll them underhand; the dice must hit the farthest end of the table for the roll to count.

Some players believe that direct conversation with someone at the table will ruin their chances of winning; you should therefore be careful about who you talk to.  Only strike up a conversation with a player if you have seen them talking to other people previously, or if they start a conversation with you first.

Do not let your hands interfere with someone else’s dice roll; this is of particular importance when placing a bet.  Additionally, if you wish to place a centre bet, you should drop your chips into the middle of the table and tell the stickman working the game where you want them to be placed.

If you are lucky enough to win, collect your winnings quickly; failure to pay attention and not taking your winnings quickly enough can result in them being taken as a bet for the following game. 

If you wish to tip the dealer, place your tip next to the pass line.  Positioning it here will avoid disrupting the game.  Alternatively, you could place a chip on a bet and say ‘for the boys’.  The dealer’s tip will then be any winnings from that bet.

Never lean on a craps table.  If you don’t have the energy to stand you should try to find a “seated” craps table, or quit for the day and start fresh at a later date.

Nov 08 2011

The most familiar and popular bingo game in the UK is 90-ball bingo.  This is the bingo game that is most commonly played in the larger commercial bingo halls, as well as in other, smaller venues such schools and churches.

The game of 90-ball bingo is easy to play once the basic rules are understood.  These are straightforward and can either be learnt online, or by going to a bricks and mortar bingo hall where there will be many people willing to help a new player learn the basics. 

In a game of 90-ball bingo, as the name suggests there are a maximum of 90 balls which will be drawn at random during the course of a game; it is very unusual for there not to be a winner or winners at some point before all the balls are drawn.

Players are issued a card or ticket with nine horizontal columns and three vertical rows, and numbers are placed randomly in the boxes made by the intersection of the rows and columns.  While experienced players may well play a fairly large number of cards during each game, it is advisable for those new to the game to stick to just one or two cards to begin with.

Fifteen numbers are printed on each game card, and players compete to fill one line, two lines or every number on the card; there are therefore three chances to win the game, and by playing multiple cards players have even more chances to win cash prizes.

While 90-ball bingo is popular in the UK and Australia, a 75-ball variant of the game is widely played in the US and Canada.  Both versions of the game can be found at many online bingo sites, including Xbingo.com.

Nov 05 2011

Once you’ve got the hang of bankroll management, your next task before you actually start gambling at a casino is to work out the types of wagers that are best suited to you.  Planning your wagers will also help protect your bankroll, so it’s worth doing a little research before you start parting with any cash.

Begin by finding out about the house edge for all of the games you’d like to play.  The best choices for novice gamblers are wagers where the house edge is 2 per cent or lower.  Find them and stick to them. It’s all too easy to get carried away by the thrills and spills of the casino atmosphere when you’re a rookie gambler.  That’s often how people end up opting for “sucker bets” like the notorious “insurance bet” in blackjack, which more experienced players dismiss out of hand.  But if you’ve got a predetermined wager plan firmly in mind before you go in, you’re much less likely to fall for useless bets or gamble recklessly.

This doesn’t mean to say you should never test new betting strategies.  If you come across one that seems worth a try, just make sure that you’ve built a little extra risk money into your bankroll before you give it a go.

Nov 01 2011

The World Series of Poker Europe is a an extension of WSOP branded live tournaments held outside of the United States on an annual basis. The inaugural WSOPE took place in London in 2007 and returned to the UK capital for the next three years. In October, the 2011 WSOP is set to travel to Cannes, France for the first time.

The decision to extend the WSOP across the Atlantic was taken after Harrah’s Casinos purchased the rights to the brand in 2004. The company subsequently purchased London Clubs International, which owned three leading casinos in the London area, paving the way for the inaugural elite series in 2007 at the Empire in Leicester Square casino. Three events took place between September 6th to 16th of that year and 18 year old Annette Obrestad was the big winner after taking down the £10,000 No Limit Hold’em Main Event for a £1,000,000 jackpot and coveted gold WSOP bracelet.

A fourth event was added to the schedule twelve months later. John Juanda followed Obrestad into the record books after beating 362 players to secure a £868,800 top prize. The series continued to grow in 2009, as a fifth tournament was introduced and notable pros J.P Kelly, Erik Cajelais and Barry Shulman all tasted success. James Bord, the most recent Main Event winner, landed a £830,401 jackpot in 2010 after besting Fabrizio Baldassari in heads up play, to become the first British player to triumph in the showpiece tournament.

The Majestic Barriere Cannes and Le Croisette Casino Barriere are set to host the action in 2011, after a decision was made to move the series from its traditional home in London. Seven events, covering No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha variants, will take place in addition to a €550 NLHE Ladies (Non Bracelet) Event. It will also be the first time that events at the WSOPE count towards the prestigious WSOP Player of the Year Award.

Oct 30 2011

There are numerous inside and outside bets a player can make when they are involved in roulette games.

There are five common ‘Inside Bets’ in total. The first is a straight-up bet where players place a bet on a single number; the chip is placed in the middle of the corresponding square. A ‘split’ bet is a wager on two adjoined numbers, such as 8-9 or 14-17, while a ‘street’ bet requires the selection of three numbers. Each of these numbers must be on one horizontal line. A ‘corner’ or ‘square’ bet is a wager on four numbers. These numbers, such as 17-18-20-21, must be found in a square layout on the board. Finally, a ‘six line’ or ‘double street’ is a wager on two adjacent streets such as 22-27.

‘Outside Bet’s offer a greater chance of return, though the gains are generally smaller. Players can bet on a low eighteen number (1-18) or a high eighteen number (19-36). They may also bet on whether the ball will land on a red or black number or an odd or even number. ‘Dozen’ bets relate to bets on the three groups of twelve numbers, such as 1-12, 13-34 and 25-36. ‘Column’ bets and ‘snake bets’ encompassing a special set of twelve numbers complete the wagering options.

Oct 28 2011

If you’re new to the world of betting or online gaming, some of the terminology used can be pretty overwhelming. The world of betting has an entire lexicon of terms, and whilst you don’t have to learn all of them, it’s very important to understand many of the core terms used for certain concepts, players, games and strategies. It’s also important to understand your fellow players. Depending on your game, knowing the competition is critical to success. And even if you’re not playing games against others directly, knowing the field is important because it helps to inform how you’re viewed as a player by the house or book.

Pro players, sometimes called “sharps”, are just as they sound. These are the professionals. They play for a living, and they know their games inside and out. Casinos and Internet gaming sites do a great job at indentifying these players in order to limit house losses.

Hobbyists are just that – players who play occasionally as a hobby. This represents the majority of players. They may experience wins and losses and they enjoy the thrill of betting, but they generally play sporadically, within their means, and responsibly.

Newbies (sometimes called fish) are players unfamiliar with the world of betting, and it’s how all of us start. As a newbie, it’s important to learn and understand the diverse terminology that comes with betting, in addition to knowing your chosen game or sport. One of the most common mistakes new players make, is getting caught up in the excitement, and making decisions based on this excitement rather than using sound judgement based on the situation. With some diligence, research and lots of hard work, the greenest newbie may one day become the savviest sharp.

Oct 27 2011

In addition to single, double, treble and accumulator bets, bookmakers in the United Kingdom offer numerous other ‘full cover bets’ and ‘full cover bets with singles’ for punters wagering on sporting events.

A ‘Trixie’ is a full-cover multiple bet on three ‘picks’ that occur in separate events. It consists of four bets with three of those being a double and one being a treble. In order to gain a return, at least two of the selections must win. A ‘Yankee’ consists of eleven bets involving three ‘picks’ in separate events. An accumulator, four trebles and six doubles make up the wager. A punter must also win on a minimum of two selections to gain a return in this instance. A ‘Canadian’ or ‘Super Yankee’ is five picks and 26 separate bets; ‘Heinz’ is six picks and 57 separate bets; ‘Super Heinz’ is seven selections and 120 separate bets and Goliath, which is eight selections and 247 separate bets, complete the full cover bet options.

Bookmakers also offer full-cover multiple bets with singles. A ‘Patent’ is a wager on three ‘picks’ and is made up of one treble, three doubles and three singles. ‘Lucky 15’, ‘Lucky 31’ and ‘Lucky 63’ are other wagering options comprising of varying single, double, treble and accumulator bets.

Oct 24 2011

Bingo is one of the most widely played games in the UK with thousands of people taking part in games every day.

For those who have never experienced the excitement of a bingo game, the rules are very simple.   Each player has a card featuring numbers between one and ninety.  The numbers are divided into columns with the first column representing the numbers one to nine and the last representing 80 to 90.  Each player has between one and three numbers per column on their card for a total of fifteen numbers.

Numbers are then drawn in a random order by a caller.  The numbers are usually printed on small white balls and are selected by a machine.  In other cases, the numbers might be randomly generated by a computer.  When a number featured on your card is called, you check it off.  This is usually done using something called a dauber.  A dauber is like a highlighter pen allowing the player to know which numbers have been called while still leaving the number visible.

The first person to complete a whole line wins a prize and the first person to have all their numbers drawn wins the jackpot.  Completing a whole card is known as a full house and players generally call out “house” to alert the caller to the fact that they have won.  If more than one player completes a line or a card, the prize money is shared.

Oct 21 2011

Playing cards online has quickly grown in popularity, and it is both easy and enjoyable to sit around a virtual card table and choose from a whole range of games.  The betting process differs from betting on sports such as racing or football, because the player is betting against real people in real time.  Although it is a different skill from researching and judging how, for example, a horse may run in a race, the basic principles are the same.  A player must use their knowledge, judgement and skill to aim for a successful betting outcome, so ensuring that the rules and regulations of the game are understood is essential.

Free bets are usually offered by gaming sites to encourage new customers to open their first account.  A deposit must be made when opening an account, but once that first deposit has been put down there will be offers and bonuses to be taken advantage of.  There are also additional opportunities to increase the account funds, such as loyalty bonuses.

The best-known online card game is poker, with many sites offering a range of games.  The most popular is considered to be Texas Hold’em, with other variants including Omaha and seven or five card draw.  There is a large number of variations of poker which provide new opportunities to play and bet.  However, players new to the game should take some time to learn how they work before investing.  This can usually be done by using ‘play money’ tables, where the rules and betting practices can be learnt risk-free, before moving into the real money world of online cards.

Oct 17 2011