Category Archives: Casino Games

You may feel like after winning a few online tournaments you are ready to take your game to the next level. But you may not realize that there are a few things that you need to master before you can cut it with the best. If you want to play poker against professionals who do it for a living, it is imperative that you develop the mathematical side of your game. There’s only so far that instinct can take you, and having knowledge of odds and probabilities will make you understand the game better. To help foster these skills, it’s a good idea to look to roulette. Continue reading →

Poker is one of the most popular gambling forms available today and for that reason, there are thousands of variations around today. For those aren’t comfortable or experienced enough to sit down at a tournament table, the technological world has opened up incredible opportunities to indulge in a game or two from the comfort of our own homes. Even those wanting to practice their techniques can benefit from a round or two of poker online, which is why it has become such a popular phenomenon across the globe. Continue reading →

Many people are attracted by gambling in casinos because the activity is fun, entertaining and it can also generate some easy money. Unfortunately, though, casinos are run like a business (regardless of whether they are brick-and-mortar or online operators) and players can’t always win. In fact, in the long run, it is more likely that the casino wins more than the gamblers. Under these circumstances, more and more people are interested in improving their gambling skills to improve the outcome and are willing to invest some time in reading casino and gambling books. But are these really helpful in 2019?

Gambling books can help if they are used correctly. Some of them contain really good information and provide value for their money. Others are just full of fluff words and aren’t telling anything useful or new to gamblers. It is essential to know how to choose the best gambling books in order not to waste your time. Focus on the ones that deal with the games you often play or like. You can find out some interesting new strategies and you can also understand the rules of any new game better. Understanding how the game plays is very important because if you don’t know what you are doing you can lose your money very fast when you’re obviously looking to extend your play time.

What most people expect from gambling books is to find out strategies that really work and that can really be put into practice. Nowadays there are lots of casino gambling books available both in traditional bookstores and in the form of e-books which are sold on Amazon.com and other online retailers. The casino gambling book offering is pretty diverse, so all it takes is to choose the ones that really contain valuable information. As such, you want to avoid gambling books which are now outdated. Read some reviews about the casino books that you’re considering buying. If other readers have found them helpful, they might satisfy you too. Also make some time to research the authors if possible. If they are former or actual gamblers, they might know what there are talking about. If they have nothing to do with the gambling world, they might not be the most appropriate people to write casino books.

The choices you make regarding which casino gambling books you buy in 2019 should also take into consideration your level of expertise. If you are an experienced player, books for beginners are not suitable for you, and vice versa. Learn how to spot the gambling books that are likely to deceive you by presenting strategies that are too good to be true. When authors claim that you will revolutionize the world of gambling after reading their book, this is very unlikely to happen. If this would have been possible, those in the gambling industry would try to keep it secret and the author won’t just share his/her secrets with the rest of the world.

Poker is arguably one of the oldest and most popular forms of gambling, which has enabled it to reach all sides of the globe. Due to different influences and practices, this eventually caused the development of all kinds of variants of the well-known card game. One such example is Caribbean Stud Poker, a variant originating from the gambling-oriented islands in the Caribbean that are known to be a popular destination for many cruise ships where gambling is allowed. Once established on the isles, the game underwent the changes and is nowadays a widespread poker game in both land-based and online casino establishments. If you intend to play the game online you should visit casinobet.com.

The Basic Game Rules

The table for Caribbean Stud Poker is the same as the one for blackjack – a semicircle with the dealer on the one side and seven player seats on the other. It makes use of one 52-card deck and requires the table to have two marked boxes, ‘ante’ and ‘bet’ in order for it to go seamlessly.

Each of the players, as well as the dealer, is dealt five cards per hand, and cards are normally shuffled by an automated machine before the next round. This means that players in Caribbean Stud Poker are not going up against each other, each of them aim to get a hand better than the dealer’s.

The Game Play

Caribbean Stud Poker has a characteristic way of betting – like any poker game, players are invited to place an initial bet before seeing their cards – the ‘ante’ bet. During this time, they are also able to place an additional $1 for the game’s progressive jackpot bet. After that, players can see their five card-hand, and one of the five cards making up the dealer’s hand, and choose to fold or bet accordingly. Once the bets are placed – they need to be double the amount of the ante – and players reveal their hands, the dealer shows their hand in a manner that would give them the most powerful combination possible, i.e. they try to qualify. In order to do this, the dealer’s hand has to be Ace-King or higher.

When the dealer qualifies, each player ranks their hand with the dealer’s – a higher hand pays even money on the ante, and a specific payout on the bet, depending on the player’s specific hand. When the dealer doesn’t qualify, each player is paid even money on the ante and gets the bet money back, without a chance for a payout.

Tips and Strategies

A recommended move in this poker variant is to pay the extra $1 for the jackpot, as it offers the chance for a generous payout (based on a set payout table) even when the dealer fails to qualify.

As for specific strategies, more experienced players usually suggest folding a weak hand that isn’t worth the risk, and playing lower-rank hands that could prove extremely valuable. If you prefer your poker action online, remember to stick to reliable operators, and always practice reasonable bankroll management.

Like poker, casino games have a degree of flexibility when it comes to betting options and potential returns. Even though we can all accept random number generators (RNGs) ensure a fair result whatever game we’re playing, the outcome doesn’t always fall in our favour. In poker, this will often mean the right move doesn’t always end with the right result. Indeed, by understanding the concept of equity, you’ll know that you’re rarely a 100% certainty to win a hand. Therefore, because there’s always a chance for your opponent to catch up, you can get “unlucky” and lose.

The most obvious example is pocket aces vs. 72 offsuit. If both hands are all-in preflop, the odds of aces winning the hand are 87.24%. As a poker player, having more than 87% equity of the pot (i.e. an 87% chance of winning the pot) is fantastic and enough to make you want to repeat this scenario indefinitely. However, there are times when you’ll lose. Now, if you’re playing a cash game, there is a way to reduce the risk of losing by running it twice. Originally popular live but now available online, this rule allows you to see more than one board (or simply more than one turn and river).

The theory behind this option is that it reduces the amount of times you get “unlucky” To put it another way, running it twice is an insurance policy against bad luck. Given that casino games share a variety of common features with poker, similar betting options have become popular in this section of the gaming industry over the years. Indeed, when you play blackjack, roulette et al, you’ll find various low-risk bets that are designed to help move the odds in your favour.

What Are Low-Risk Bets?

In simple terms, low risks bets are options that allow you to offset a negative outcome in some way. For example, in some games, you can make an insurance bet that allows you to receive a portion of your stake back if a certain result occurs. In other situations, you can combine two or more bets in order to mitigate your risk. When you choose the latter option, it’s similar to what Forbes guide to trading Bitcoin describes as “hedging” your bets i.e. speculating on more than one asset in order to reduce your overall risk. Basically, low risk bets are options that allow you to reduce your chances of getting unlucky.

Low-Value Bets In Practice

Before we give you some examples of low-risk casino bets, it’s important to note that they won’t allow you to become a heavy favourite in any given scenario. Every casino game is based on odds and that brings into play the concept of expected value (EV). This concept basically refers to the amount of times you can expect a certain move to win in the long-run based on a situations dynamics. Low-risk bets allow you to have better EV in some situations than you otherwise would. However, they don’t guarantee you a win.

Insurance Bet Blackjack

We all know what car insurance is. If you read through Confused.com’s car insurance overview and you’ll see that one fundamental premise runs through all the policy types: if X happens, you’ll receive Y is compensation. The same is true at the blackjack table. Whenever the dealer is showing an ace, you can take out an insurance policy that covers half of your main bet. This bet costs 50% of your starting stake and pays out at out 2:1 if the dealer makes blackjack. So, if you took insurance and the dealer made blackjack (and you didn’t), you’d lose the main bet but receive money back from the side bet. In other words, you’re insuring yourself against the dealer making an unbeatable hand.

Tie Bet in Baccarat

As per the Betway Casino guide to baccarat, the aim of the game is to decide whether the bank (dealer hand) or player hand is going to win (i.e. get a total closest to nine). Although it’s rare, there are times when the bank and player hand can tie. In situations like this, standard bets lose. To you cover more eventualities, you can bet on a tie and receive an 8:1 payout (sometimes 9:1).

La Partage French Roulette

Cash back sites have become all the rage in recent years. As described by MoneySavingExpert, sites like Quidco give you money back on purchases, providing you fulfil certain conditions. La Partage offer a similar service when you play French Roulette. Using the European format (i.e. a single zero), this game plays in the same way as other standard roulette variants. However, the main difference is that you can receive 50% of your stake back when you make an even money bet and the ball lands on zero. Therefore, in essence, even money bets are lower risk here than they are in other variants.

Side Bets

Many modern online casino games now feature side bets. Typically linked to a progressive jackpot or some sort of bonus, these options allow you to win more money when certain conditions are met. For example, the 21+3 bet in blackjack is based on your two starting cards plus the dealer’s up card. If these three cards make a ranked poker hand like a flush or trips, you’ll win a bonus prize that’s separate from the main win.

Should You Make Low-Value Bets?

Reducing your risk and offset negative variance i.e. results that deviate from an expected norm, is good in theory. However, because low risks bets either carry an additional fee or reduce your potential returns, they’re not considered a good long-term proposition. For example, when you make an insurance bet, it increases your stake by 50%. In turn, this reduces your returns by 50% when the dealer doesn’t have blackjack. Therefore, while low risks bets can be positive in certain scenarios, they’re not always great for your long-term EV.

If you’ve been playing and enjoying online poker games, it might be time to start exploring the broader world of online casinos. The iGaming industry is massive, and right now, there are hundreds of different types of casino games to play in regulated markets, ranging from live-streamed poker games to million-dollar jackpot slots. Click here now to discover the latest online slots. Before you take your first spin of the wheel, take a quick look at this guide to getting started with online casinos.

The Games

As an online player, you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to the different types of games you can play. You’ll typically find the following games in most licensed online casinos:

• Baccarat
• Bingo
• Blackjack
• Caribbean Stud Poker
• Craps
• Hi and Lo
• Live Poker
• Pai Gow Poker
• Roulette
• Scratch Cards
• Slots
• Texas Hold‘em Poker
• Video Poker

However, each casino will have its unique take on the game. Over on the PokerStars platform, for example, you’ll find games like Unfold Hold‘em Poker and Power Up, which offer exciting variations on classic poker games. Live-streamed poker games are commonplace at most online casinos as well as live-streamed roulette and in some cases, live streamed-blackjack.

As far as other casino games available to play online go, gaming manufacturers like to push the boat out in this industry and develop games that are visually and aurally engaging as well as offering real money prizes. For this reason, Progressive Jackpot slots stand out as games that any budding casino enthusiast should try. These games with incrementally increasing jackpots can sometimes reach the millions.

How to Play

There are two ways that you can play casino games online: through instant online platforms and downloadable software. In the early days of the iGaming industry, you could download casino software right onto a desktop. However, these days, you can download an app for mobile devices. Many individual casino games are downloadable as separate apps, but most of the leading platforms have mobile casinos that you can install if you want more variety at your fingertips on the go. Web-based platforms, on the other hand, offer instant play once you register an account on the website of the casino where you want to play.

Many online casino platforms also offer exclusive bonus codes for things like free slots spins, welcome bonuses and more. These bonus codes are an excellent way to test the waters with different types of games than you’re used to, especially since they are for the most part low-risk and have a simple sign-up process.

Making Deposits

Once you’ve signed up for an account, you’ll want to make a deposit. Each online casino will have an accepted list of deposit and withdrawal methods, but the following come standard:

• Credit or Debit Card
• Bank Wire Transfer
• Western Union
• PayPal

Some casinos are also branching out into accepting deposits made with popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, but this isn’t the case across the board, so make sure you read up on the methods used by your preferred online platform.

You should also bear in mind that using more unusual deposit methods, such as e-wallets like NETELLER or Skrill, can sometimes incur extra charges. Certain credit card providers will also treat payments made to online casinos as cash advances, so debit cards are often the best method to make deposits, especially since transactions typically post fast, and there are no additional cash advance fees that the provider charges.

The Rules

Once you’ve made your deposit and have a bankroll to play, explore as many or as few of the games on offer in your chosen casino as you wish! If you’ve played online poker before, then this will be familiar territory for you, but for anyone new to online gaming should always read the casino rules before laying down any cash in a game. Even though the platforms may be available in U.S. markets, many online casino operators prefer to use European rules for some games, so prepare yourself for any differences that something like this may cause in your gaming strategy.

Pro Tips

To get the most out of your online gaming experience, here are some pro tips to keep in mind:

When selecting an online casino to play in for the long-term, consider whether it meets the following criteria: Are there sign-up bonuses? Are the rules laid out clearly across the site? How much are the transaction fees? Does the casino provide customer support (email, telephone, live chat, etc.)?

If you’re going to play regularly, keep your bankroll going and don’t cash out. Cashing out will typically involve converting your chips to cash, and then crediting them back to the card you made the deposit (up to the initial deposit amount). However, when you start generating wins and cash out a net win, the casino will send them by another way.

Check out who provides the software for your chosen casino. If it’s a company known for innovation like NetEnt or Play’n GO, then you can assume that there’ll be a consistent stream of new and exciting games to play.

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When you’re looking for the best online slots games to play it’s very important to look into some of the welcome slot bonuses that are available with each casino online, such as Wizard Slots where there’s plenty of chances to win big. Using these codes in order to get extra bonuses when you make your first deposit, is a very straightforward process and by selecting the right casino you may find yourself doubling your money or potentially even tripling your money depending on the amount you deposit.

Here are some of the ways that you can find the best online slot bonuses and then take advantage of the bonuses:

Check online reviews: by checking some online reviews for casinos you can work to find casinos that are currently offering some of the largest online slot bonuses available. By searching through reviews for the best online slots titles available at online casinos, you can see the ones that you might enjoy playing and that are currently offering healthy rewards for new players. Many reviews will include instructions on how you can get your hands on the online casino welcome bonuses or any other bonus codes that you can enter to receive even higher welcome bonuses.

Check forums: many of the casino forums and slot machine forums will have new posts about welcome and referral bonuses from casinos to help players take advantage of online slot bonuses. Some existing members of free to download casino websites will have referral codes that will work to give you more money as well as credit their account with some form of bonus as well. If you are already a member of a free slot download website you can work to see if they have any existing promo codes that could be used to invite some of your friends so you can take advantage of a bonus as well.

Check bonus code websites: many popular bonus websites will have codes for online slot bonuses at a variety of gambling websites. By keeping your eye on these bonus code websites you can find out if there are any slot machine programs to download which are offering bonuses for slot machine players.

Sign up for newsletters: by signing up for newsletters from different online casinos you can take advantage of any of the bonus codes or promotions that they are currently running. Many of the best online casinos with slot machine games for PC, will have ongoing newsletters that will display bonus codes that can be used for extra cash in the game. By waiting for the right promotion you can increase the amount of your bankroll you have to gamble with quite a bit.

Entering these online casino bonus codes to play online slots games is very easy to do, whenever you go to submit a new deposit in the cashier most online casino websites will generally have a special box where you can enter any promo codes that you may have. By copy and pasting the promo code into this box you can refresh your deposit and see if it has credited your account with any extra money. If you see that the promo code no longer works, you may want to try another bonus code to make sure that you can take advantage of more bonus slot machine spins.

The good news is that many online casino operators provide multiple welcome bonuses for new depositors, so should you lose your first deposit there will be additional bonus money for you to claim to boost your bankroll and extend your time playing your favorite online slots games and potentially win big! For example, if you sign-up at the Grande Vegas online casino, there are three different bonuses waiting for you to claim on your first three deposits. Receive a 100% match bonus and get up to $100 free on your first deposit. Plus receive a 150% match bonus and get up to $150 free + 50 free spins for Achilles Slot on the second deposit. And then a $50 free bonus (no deposit required) is waiting for you after you’ve made two deposits into the casino.

Free spins are usually offered for the most popular online slots. When there are multiple welcome bonuses for you to claim, you can always start with depositing a minimum amount of money, and you can deposit more if you don’t win. Another important thing you must remember when you play slots online is always to have a limit on your spending. If you are winning, try to get satisfied after a certain number of wins. On the other hand, if you have already lost for a specific number of times, get out of the game immediately. Make sure not to get carried away with the expectations that you will recover all your lost money in the next playing session.

Online poker has been enjoyed by players for decades, with top-rated poker rooms providing players with a way to relax and blow off steam as well as competing against others around the world from the comfort of home. However, what online poker is lacking is live interaction.

Here Enters Live Dealer Poker.

Over the past few years, live dealer gambling has become a favorite among online casino players, including poker fans. Read on to find out more about four of the best online poker games you can find and play against a live dealer.

Live Casino Hold’em

With this live dealer poker game, you have the option of playing fast-paced like traditional online poker but with a live dealer format. When you sit down at a standard online poker table, you are seated with players and you compete against them. With Live Casino Hold’em, the action takes place against the dealer, an individual representing the House. All you must do is beat the dealer’s hand to win. This means multiple players can win in one round.

Payouts in this game can go as high as 100 to 1 depending on the combination of cards you have to create a winning hand during the . Betting limits will range in price from $1 to $3,000. Take on the live dealer and interact as you get in on the action. The dealer is a professional who will interact with players as game play goes down, helping to create a more exciting experience.

Live Three Card Poker

With this option, players will have access to the traditional three card poker game online, but with a live dealer. You will be competing against the House, which is the dealer. The dealer must have a Queen high to be able to start a hand and payouts can range up to 100: 1 on a pair of better.

Players also have access to additional bonus bets, such as 6-card bet, Pair Plus and Ante bet, which can help to create an even bigger win. Betting limits for Three Card Poker range from $1 to $5,000. Interact with the dealer during game play to feel like you are at the casino enjoying the game, rather than at home in your pajamas!

Live Ultimate Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em is the most popular form of online poker. With Live Ultimate Texas Hold’em, you get all the exciting action of a heads-up contest, but with the dealer, instead of other players. You will be able to enjoy quality Texas Hold’em game play against a professional dealer. Raise after the ante bet to up the stakes, hopefully having the right skills to beat the dealer.

Game play is live and streamed in real-time to players at home, allowing you to interact with the dealer as you play. Payouts can go as high as 500:1 if you land a , to cushion your bankroll to continue playing your favorite online casino games, including live dealer games. Betting limits for this game range from $1 to $3,000.

Live Caribbean Stud Poker

For fast-paced poker gaming action, Live Caribbean Stud Poker is the choice for you. Compete against the dealer and hopefully have a winning hand to earn a cash payout. With this game, you have the option for a side bet, depending on the online casino in which you are visiting. Take advantage of all wagering options so that you can make the most from your Caribbean Stud Poker hand.

During game play, you will be dealt five cards and are competing against the dealer, who must have an Ace and a King to qualify. Decide to raise or fold and place any side bets such as the 5+1 Bonus Bet to be able to plump up any winning hand! Payouts can go as high as 100:1 for a Royal Flush, with betting limits ranging from $1 to $3,000.

These four poker games are excellent choices for any online casino visitor. Check out your favorite online casinos’ live dealer section to see which ones they have on offer.

Blackjack and Poker are two of the most popular card games in physical and virtual casinos. While a lot of casino games, such as roulette, are down to pure blind luck, there’s an element of skill and learned tactics that can give you an edge in both of these games. If a game of poker was truly down to pure luck we wouldn’t see the same players going far in tournaments consistently. The ability to learn to increase your chances of winning by acquiring the required skills is particularly appealing to gamblers, who are happy to gain an advantage over the house or other players. 

Key similarities

It’s all in the decisions

This similarity between the two games all happens after we’ve placed our initial bet. In both games, you are required to make a series of decisions as each new card or player takes their turn. Making the right decision often determines your odds of success from that point on. With so many card combinations and different factors to be assessed, from the cards that have already passed, the likelihood of others having a winning hand, even body language, there are a lot of variables that can sway your decisions. 

Many of these decisions become second nature, as they are made as a reaction to whatever else is happening in the game. However, the more in-depth you go, the more the element of skill seems to be a factor. 

There are variants of both

If you’re familiar with real and online casinos then you will have seen several variations of poker and blackjack. This is rare with many casino games, as they are more likely to create a completely new game. www.32red.com offer 27 different blackjack games, including Atlantic City Blackjack Gold Series and single-deck games such as Vegas Single Deck Blackjack. The differences between poker games can be a lot more pronounced than between the blackjack games. When poker is mentioned most of us will think of Texas Holdem, as this is the poker game most often portrayed when poker features somewhere, but 32Red offer 21 different games, some with a different number of cards, such as 3 Card Poker, while others, such as Deuces Wild poker, simply change the role of a single card. The enduring global popularity of these two card games has seen several different types created, and will undoubtedly see many more created in the future.

The stakes can increase as you play

In both games you are able to make decisions that increase the amount of money you’re betting, so while you might start with a relatively small bet, if all the odds are stacked in your favor as the game progresses you can maximize your winnings. Likewise, if things are looking a lot less promising you can pull out of the game and only forfeit your initial bet. Many online casinos, such as 32Red offer cash bonuses or virtual money so you can get started without spending your own hard-earned money. 

If a player in a poker game bets or raises you have to decide whether to match their bet or whether to fold. This requires a good knowledge of the possible combinations and their value within the game. As the game progresses the pot can end up considerably larger than it started. In blackjack, you can split your hand in certain circumstances, which requires you to place your initial bet again to cover the second hand. Some bonuses offered by online casinos can be substantial, which allows you to get experience without spending your own money. For example, Royal Vegas Casino offers up to $1200 and 120 free spins, while others like GSN Games offer free online casino games. 

Key differences

Despite their broad appeal being largely for the same reasons, there are very distinct ways in which they differ.

Psychology

When you’re making your decisions in blackjack you’re reacting to the dealer’s hand. The dealer has to play to a certain set of rules, so if the dealer has a 5 and must draw to at least 16, then you know there’s an increased chance the dealer will go bust. 

When you play poker you never know what the other players are going to do. They could fold, raise the stakes, call or check. Because every player has a different psychology and level of experience and knowledge, it can be hard to always make the right decision when sitting at a table with several other players. Even once you know what their decision is there is a chance it isn’t genuinely based on the strength of their hand, a tactic otherwise known as bluffing. 

For this reason, poker is riskier than blackjack if you’re an amateur, but when you get it right the rewards in poker can be considerably bigger. 

Speed

If you have a short attention span and don’t like waiting around for other players to make their decisions, then blackjack is probably the better choice for you. Poker hands can last quite a while, whereas a hand of blackjack tends to be relatively short in comparison. 

Ease your way in

Both games, and their many variants, are available on most online casinos. Most of them offer play money so you can learn the rules and gain some experience before you risk any of your real money. So if you’re interested in either game there will be plenty of options for you to get some experience.

Getting your head around the basics of probability, especially when it comes to card games, can be a bit tricky if you aren’t already good at Maths. That’s why the good folks at casino.paddypower.com have put together this introductory guide to the basics of working out card odds and probability, particularly as it pertains to Poker and Blackjack (though as long as the deck contains 52 cards, you’ll be seeing the same numbers popping up for all of them).

The infographic gives you a few cool statistics to go with the general information, like the number of unique shuffles possible with a deck of cards. The total number is 80,658,175,170,943,878,571,660,636,856,403,766,975,289,505,440,883,277,824,000,000,000,000. Which doesn’t include the jokers. You get this number by going through 52 factorial, that is 52 multiplied by every number from 1 up to 52. This is contextualised by getting into astrophysics and describing a galaxy full of people with decks of cards shuffling them every 5 seconds or so and only just now repeating since the dawn of time. But what this means is that the odds of getting a deck shuffled the same way is intensely unlikely not, importantly, that it is impossible.

Read on and see what other odds and probabilities there are!