Taking safety into your own hands

The modern casino should be a carefree environment where you forget your troubles, spend money, and – with hope – win some money back. Although winning isn’t always possible, at the very least you expect a safe environment in which to gamble. Unfortunately, where innocent, naive, and trusting people congregate in great numbers – surrounded by huge amounts of disposable income – the predators of society gather as well. Thieves are on the prowl for ways to separate you or even the casinos from hard-earned cash.

Although casinos implement the most stringent security measures and the latest in state-of-the-art surveillance technology, you, as a prudent casino guest, should assume responsibility for your own safety. The following tips can help you avoid becoming a victim of a casino predator:

– Tuck your wallet in a safe, hard-to-access spot, such as your front pocket.
– If you carry a purse, take a small one that you can wear close to your body, preferably under a jacket or wrap.
– Guard your chips or slot tokens; these work the same as money, so treat them accordingly.
– If you go to the casino solo, be cautious about the overly friendly people you meet. Maintain tight control of your personal information, get your drinks straight from the cocktail servers, and keep your big wins to yourself so you don’t become a target.

Begynner guide

Alle må begynne et sted, det var en tid da selv jeg var forvirret av online casino og poker rom, faktisk så er jeg fortsatt det av og til 😉

Introduksjon

Denne guide er ment for nybegynnere, og jeg vil vise dere og forklare dere alt fra å sette opp en online betalingskonto for casino / poker rom, og også hvordan dere best kan bruke resursene hos KasinoRevy.com.

Oppretting av en online betalingskonto
Det er et stort utvalg av disse online kontoer, men mange er kun for de som er bosatt i USA. Jeg har listet de som vi kan bruke her. Det er en god ide å opprette en av disse kontoer fordi selv om de fleste casino og poker rom tillater innskudd via kredittkort så foretrekker de online betalingsmetoder. Faktisk så vil veldig mange casino tilby en ekstra bonus, opp til 15%, hvis du gjør et innskudd med for eksempel Money Bookers. Selv om Moneybookers er vår favoritt online betallingsmåte så kan vi også absolutt anbefalle Neteller, Click2Pay og Payspark. Vi lister ikke noe på våre sider som ikke er solid og stabilt, dette gjelder også for casino og poker rom.

Valg av casino

OK, nå kommer det artige, du har satt opp kontoen din og har ladet den opp med din bankroll, dvs. de pengene du ønsker å spiller med, og nå vil du finne det nærmeste blackjack bord eller slotmaskin for å teste lykken din, men hvor er så det beste stedet å spille? De aller fleste casino som vi har listet på våre sider er brukervennlige for nybegynnere, men noen er bedre enn andre, og den vi først og fremst anbefaler for casino er Casino Euro og for poker rom er det Full Tilt Poker. Grunnen til dette er at begge to har et meget bra interface, brukergrensesnitt, god kundetjeneste og i tillegg tilbyr muligheten for å spille på norsk eller i hvert fall lese detaljer på norsk. Hvis du likevel ikke skulle like disse forslagene så forklarer vi i den neste seksjonen hvordan du kan lete etter det casino eller poker rom som er ideelt for deg via tabellene våre.

Finn et Casino eller Poker Rom på KasinoRevy.com

Tabellen over casino var antakelig den første tingen du så når du landet på våre sider, men kanskje du ikke er klar over at tabellen er litt mer enn bare en liste av casino eller poker rom. Du kan faktisk bruke tabellen til å definere og finne akkurat de tingene du er ute etter. Listen av ting du kan søke på for forklaring eller avklaring er:

1. Kommentarer
2. Max Bonus
3. Max Bonus %
4. Bonus Playthrough
5. Innskuddsfri bonus
6. Gratis telefon
7. Multiplayer
8. Lojalitet’s program
9. Sportsbok
10. Mobil Casino
11. Poker Rom
12. Programvare
13. Revy/Vurdering
14.Rangering
15. Popularitet

Du kan tikke disse boksene for å finne de casino som best møter dine behov, for eksempel hvis du vil finne et casino med maksimum bonus som også tilbyr multiplayer spill ville du tikke bokser 2 og 7 som beskriver disse alternativene. Vi syns at dette er en veldig grei måte å finne de casino og poker rom du vil ha og som passer deg best, men vi er alltid interesert i å høre ditt syn/mening om vi kan forbedre det på noen måte. Hvis du har noen ideer kan du sende oss en E-Post til [email protected]

Når du har valgt et casino kan du enten klikke på navnet for å gå dit direkte eller klikke på informasjon eller revy for å lese mer om det og også får å se vår profesjonelle vurdering.

Opprett en konto med et casino eller poker rom

Du har nå enten fulgt vårt forslag om Casino Euro eller Full Tilt Poker eller funnet ditt eget fra tabellen. Du vil også ha opprettet din egen konto eller kanskje du har valgt å bruke kredittkort. Det neste steget er å opprette konto med det utvalgte casino eller poker rom og dette er veldig lett;

Den første gangen du logger inn på et casino etter at du har nedlastet det (eller klikker på linken hvis den er et online flash casino) vil du bli spurt om å åpne en konto. Du vil vanligvis ha valget mellom å åpne en ‘fun’ konto eller ‘real money’ konto. Det vi fåreslår er at du først åpner en ‘fun’ konto for å sjekke om du liker hva dette casino har å by på, og hvis det har alt du ønsker kan du så åpne en ‘real money’ konto senere. Du vil uansett bli spurt om navnet ditt, addresse, telefon nummer, osv. Hvis du velger å åpne en ‘real money’ konto vil du bli også bli spurt om din foretrukne betalingsmåte. Du kan nå gjøre ditt første innskudd, og hos Casino Euro vil de gi deg en 50% bonus opp til $111, altså hvis du gjør et innskudd på $222 gir de deg et ekstra spillebeløp på $111. Wow!, er det så lett å tjene penger er kanskje ditt første inntrykk, men dessverre nei, du kan ikke bare ta ut disse $111 med en gang. Før du kan ta pengene ut må du faktisk satse ditt innskudd plus bonusen ganget med en ‘playthrough’ på 10, (dvs.$222 + $111 X 10 = $3330), det er dette som kalles ‘playthrough’ regelen som er forklart litt mer her. Den beste måten å tenke på er at bonusen gir deg litt ekstra “bank-roll” å spille med, og om du taper disse pengene koster det deg ikke noe, men hvis det hjelper deg til å vinne så er det bonus.

OK, nå har du all den informasjon du trenger så det er bare å sette i gang, lykke til.

Casino Management: Running the tables

In addition to the employees who ensure the smooth-running operations on the floor, a host of other casino personnel contribute to the success of the house. As a beginning casino player, you may not come into contact with any of these people. However, if you do, management employees, such as the casino host, may become familiar (and friendly) faces.

Casino hosts
Modern casino hosts best resemble a successful hotel concierge: They’re both at your service. Whether dealing with new guests, loyal customers, or high rollers, the casino host focuses on service, service, and more service.

Hitting the jackpot, baby!
For those rare but exciting payoffs when you defy the gods of gambling and win more than the machine can payout, a slot attendantand, in some cases, the supervisor – responds to your flashing machine. The slot attendant arrives with a big wad of cash to ceremoniously peel off the bills, one Franklin at a time, to you, the happy winner. And if the payout is $1,200 or more, you also receive an IRS form (called
a W2-G) reporting your win to your favorite uncle – Uncle Sam.
A typical casino host is an affable and professional employee whose mission is to serve your every need. Hosts are hands-on people who greet VIP guests at the door and pamper them throughout their stay. Depending on the size and popularity of the casino and the thickness of your wallet, a casino host may
– Comp your rooms
– Arrange for greens fees at the golf course
– Get tickets to sold-out shows
– Give away free meals

If it’s your first time in a casino, don’t expect to have the keys to the Rain Man suite at Caesar’s Palace handed to you. But even low rollers can make a relationship with the casino host profitable. Keep the following in mind:
– Join the club: The casino host expects you to be a casino loyalty club member before you’re offered many comps. And don’t forget to use your club card whenever you play.
– Express yourself: Don’t wait for the host to find you in the penny slots area; go introduce yourself to the host.
– Be loyal: Find your favorite gambling locale and stick to it. Even small-scale visits can make you a valuable customer if they’re repeated regularly.
– Just ask: The players who get comps are the ones who ask the casino host. Don’t be rude or demanding, just ask politely and see what benefits you qualify for.

Player development is all about forming relationships. Casino hosts are eager to wine and dine you if they believe they can create player loyalty through these lavish perks. Although player-development departments often employ telemarketers or other representatives to reach out to garners through databases, casino hosts achieve their goals on a one-on-one basis by working their cellphones and roaming the casino floors, seeking ways to make their clients’ gaming experiences more enjoyable.

Other managers
As in other walks of life, every casino employee has to report to somebody, and those some bodies are the shift managers. The shift managers then report to the casino manager. As the name implies, shift managers are responsible for their areas of casino expertise (such as slots or table games) during a particular shift (day, swing, and graveyard). Most land-based casinos are 24/7 operations, so shift managers must be prepared to work weekends, holidays, and late-night shifts.
When player disputes arise, money needs to be accounted for or items need to be authorized; the shift manager takes on these duties as well. Shift managers are responsible for employee schedules, customer service, comps, credit, and a host of other duties that make for a mind-boggling job.

The only position above the shift manager is the casino manager. You rarely see this head honcho on the floor, but he’s the ultimate decision-maker for most gaming operations. As a beginning casino player, you aren’t too concerned about who the casino manager is. The only time you may ever interact with the manager is if you win enough money to buy the casino.

Casino Gambling 101

Jeg var en stor golf fan under spillets gullalder, da Jack Nicklaus og Arnold Palmer styrte lenker. Likevel, til tross for tilstedeværelsen av de to giganter, forgudet jeg Gary Player, en sørafrikansk hvis minimale størrelsen gjort for en mindre enn skremmende fysiske tilstedeværelse i tee boksen. Men Spillerens velte-weight utseende motbevist en tung vekt swing. Jeg ble alltid overrasket over at noen så lite kunne slå ballen så langt.

Tro det eller ei, er casino gambling mye som golf. Og nei, ikke fordi begge spillene er å gå for greenen. Golf handler om teknikk, ferdigheter og kunnskap. Og mestere av spillet er inspirerende å se på. Med svinger så grasiøs og elegant som en ballettdanser i sprang, gjør de hver utfordrende slag ser uanstrengt. Proffene synes å spille så jevnt som de på PGA Tour. Men, som i golf, har suksessfull aktør samlet viktig kunnskap og studerte effektive strategier for å finesse utfallet i hans eller hennes favør.

Med andre ord, casino proffene er ikke vinnere bare fordi de er heldige, er noe mer enn Tiger Woods en golf gud fordi engler grønne ha smilt på ham. Stol på meg, kan storheter av poker turneringen kretsen ser ut som de kunne ta bordet i søvne – men de er dyktige, kunnskapsrike, og har studert spillet nøye.

Jeg gjetter, men at du ikke planlegger å bli det Tiger Woods i blackjack … eller keno … eller spor. Dine gambling ambisjonene er sannsynligvis lik min golf ambisjoner: å spille bedre, vinne oftere, og øke
glede av opplevelsen. Og du har all grunn til å tro at du kan oppnå målet ditt. Men suksess krever kunnskap, strategi og litt dyktighet. Du har kommet til rett sted. Dette kapittelet (og bok) kan gi preparatet du trenger for å hjelpe deg å finne din svinge i kasinoet.

Innlegging av Casino: Hva du er oppe mot
Den første hemmeligheten til gambling suksess er å forstå den interne driften av kasinoet verden før du er forført av blitsen og imponere. Kasinoer er sofistikerte og svært vellykkede bedrifter – og de ikke får på den måten ved å gi bort penger. Det beste alternativet er altså å være klar over grunnleggende casino operasjoner slik at du kan manipulere opplevelsen til din fordel.

Markedsføring veien til lommeboken din
De ser du kommer fra miles unna. De vet nøyaktig hvem du er, hvor mye penger du gjør, hva du liker og misliker, og om du er gift, single eller skilt. Hvem er disse allvitende overvåkere som spore
hemmeligheter? Skattemyndighetene? CIA? Al-Qaida?

Ingen av de ovennevnte. Jeg snakker om markedsføring gurus i moderne kasinoer. De er stadig studerer store mengder data på millioner av gamblere å utvikle profiler av gjester som mest villig tilbringer skjønnsmessig inntekt på en
par timer med distraksjon.

Ingenting er overlatt til tilfeldighetene i moderne kasino. Alle mulige element, fra utformingen av bakgrunnen til tykkelsen på teppet, er der for å trekke deg inn og holde deg gambling så lenge som mulig. Alle fargene, severdigheter,
lyder og sensasjoner tjene ett formål: å gjøre deg lykkelig – selv når du taper.

Akseptere oddsen: Huset regler
Kasinoets første bud er “Huset skal alltid vinne.” Et par av spill tillate skarpe spillerne å gå i null eller eke ut en liten edge til. Men kasinoer er i virksomhet for å tjene penger, så for de fleste spillerne, er å vinne en tapende alternativ.

Hvorfor? Tre gode grunner:
– Huset charges en avgiften (kommisjon) i noen spill, slik som sportsspill.
– I mange spill, ikke kasinoet ikke utbetalingen sant odds.
I roulette, for eksempel, er det 37-til-l odds for å gjette riktig nummer. Men hvis du vinner, er utbetalingen bare 35 til 1. Denne forskjellen kan virke små, men at avviket faktisk gir huset et av de største kantene i kasinoet.
– Casinoet har et hus kanten – en matematisk fordel over spilleren i noen spill. Gjennom kasino, må spillerne overvinne oddsene som ikke er gunstig å vinne.

Målet ditt er å finne spill hvor kasinoet har den laveste kanten. Craps er et godt eksempel. Denne morsomme, spennende spillet tilbyr stor odds – hvis du holde deg unna de dårlige spill.

Beskytte Dine penger med en plan
For de fleste kan utvikle en strategi for doling ut sine gambling bankroll holde dem ut av alvorlige problemer. Still et budsjett og hold deg til det. Vurder kontingenser (som å miste din bankroll i de første minuttene av
besøk) og vet hvordan de skal reagere når lommeboken blir whacked.

Din strategi, derimot, er bare så god som viljestyrke din. Ingenting jekker opp casino fortjeneste raskere enn indisciplined spilleavhengige. Hvis du er en impulsiv type, så gambling kan forlate bankkontoen din ser ut som det bare gikk 15 runder med tungvektsmesteren.

Nå er det sikkert sant at folk flest kan spare penger ved å unngå kasinoer helt. Så, er det beste rådet jeg kan gi til folk som ikke ønsker å tape penger enkelt: Ikke gamble! Men den konservative og forsvarlig sti i livet er ikke det eneste valget (og som ville gjøre for en veldig kort bok). Gambling kan være en fin måte å krydre opp en ferie og bryte ut av en kjedelig rutine. Gambling handler om å ta en risiko – utsette deg selv for en sjanse for tap.

Men ikke overdriv. Regjeringen studier viser at så mange som 1 av 25 voksne har et problem med spilleavhengighet. Tenk på det neste gang du setter deg ned ved et blackjack bord. Flere folk i pit sannsynligvis ikke burde være der. Kan du bli en av dem? Gambling avhengighet er en alvorlig sak.

Identifing den regnbuens farger

Kunnskap er makt, og er din eneste allierte mot de formidable kreftene som truer med å skille deg fra dine hardt opptjente penger. Ett stykke av kunnskapen du absolutt trenger, spesielt hvis du skal vasse i hai-
infested farvann av bordspill, er varierende farger og matching valører av standard casino chips.

Kasinoer gjøre dette litt enklere for deg fordi chips også har en størrelse trykt på dem slik at du vet det røde chip, for eksempel, er verdt $ 5 og den grønne brikken er verdt $ 25. Det følgende er en omfattende liste over
vanlig casino-chip farger, samt deres tilhørende verdier:

– Hvit: $ 1
– Red: $ 5
– Grønn: $ 25
– Black: $ 100
– Lilla: $ 500
– Burgundy: $ 1000
– Brown: $ 5000

Cashing out: Heading to the cashier’s cage

The cashier’s cage is where you redeem your markers – the chips the casino uses to represent cash – for hard cash and where you buy and redeem your slot tokens. (You must buy your chips at the tables, and you must cash out at the cashier’s cage.) Every casino has cashier’s cages – the larger the casino, the more cages you find. If the slot machines and gaming tables are the arteries that circulate a casino’s input and output, the cashier’s cage is the heart that pumps the casino’s lifeblood: money. Highly trained and supremely trusted casino employees handle more cash each shift than most people see in a lifetime.

Cashier’s cages are easy to find. Casinos typically locate them along the sides of the rooms to allow the more valuable floor space for games. Here, much like at a bank, one or more tellers deal with the public through a window. If you’re worried about leaving with your big winnings, you can request a check or get a safety deposit box in most casinos.
In addition to the cashier’s cage, casinos usually offer a credit office. Depending on how big a player you are and the type of games you want to attack, you may want to ask for a line of credit. You can also cash traveler’s checks, get change, receive incoming money via a wire service, and even receive bank wire transfers (with proper ID,of course!).

In the old days, the cashier’s cage earned its moniker because it was, as the name implies, behind bars. Today’s technology and construction make the modern cashier’s cage much more inviting, providing maximum security without looking like Fort Knox. You can usually find casino cashiers in the core ofthe casino layout, as far from any exit as possible, which means the casino’s money is more secure. This location also offers a beneficial side effect that casinos are happy to take advantage of. Their centrality means the cashier’s cage is often in the lion’s den of the most enticing betting areas, tempting many recent winners to recycle their bills by turning them right back into chips at a nearby table.

Forby pengespill til utlandet

I fjor spilte norske gamblere for mellom fem og seks milliarder kroner på utenlandske spillnettsteder.

Men i statsråd i dag vil regjeringen gå inn for en lovendring som gjør det forbudt for norske banker og betalingsinstitusjoner å formidle betaling fra Norge til pengespill registrert utenfor landets grenser.

Forskriften skal gjelde fra 1. juni i år.

– Den praktiske konsekvensen dette får er at det ikke blir mulig å betale til utenlandske spillselskaper via norske banker. Det blir heller ikke mulig å bruke norske betalingskort på pengespill i utlandet, sier kulturminister Anniken Huitfeldt til VG.

Hun mener den nye forskriften vil begrense spillproblemer.

Først

Norge er det første landet som innfører et slikt forbud, men flere andre land forbereder lignende løsninger for å få bukt med spillavhengighet, opplyser statsråden.

Ifølge Lotteri- og Stiftelsestilsynet spilte 310 000 nordmenn på nettspill i 2009, mer enn 30 000 flere enn året før.

– Rundt halvparten av disse benytter de utenlandskbaserte selskapene for sin spilling. Storgamblerne befinner seg i denne gruppen, sier kommunikasjonssjef Rune Timberlid i Lotteri- og Stiftelsestilsynet.

Baasland-saken har ligget som et bakteppe for myndighetenes arbeid med den nye forskriften. Bankene er klare til å innrette seg etter det nye lovverket.

– Samtidig er særnorske regler bare et element i arbeidet for å begrense spillingen. Internasjonalt samarbeid og forebyggende tiltak er også viktig for å bekjempe spillavhengighet, sier senior kommunikasjonsrådgiver Stine Neverdal i Finansnæringens Fellesorganisasjon.

Navigating the Casino Maze

From Monaco, the Las Vegas of Europe, to the Queen Mary II, the largest cruise ship ever to sail, most casinos of the world are laid out in a similar floor plan. Even at the smaller clubs, you recognize many of the same aesthetic and functional characteristics found at the megaresorts. This common design is no accident – casino owners have an intimate knowledge of the gambler’s mind, and they design the interiors to make their guests comfortable with parting with their cash.

In this article I take a stroll through a typical casino to prepare you for the sights and sounds you encounter when you walk through those neon-bathed doorways. Preparation is the key for maintaining control. You’ll understand what I’m saying when you find yourself subconsciously reaching for your wallet before you finish the article.

Remember that gambling is the ultimate impulse buy. The casino’s layout encourages this impulse. Taking away the mystique is your first step toward improving your odds and coming out a winner. I suggest that, in addition to the virtual walk-through you get by reading this chapter, you do the same in every brick-and-mortar establishment you visit before you drop your first dollar on the table or pump a coin in a slot. Prepare yourself: Stand still, take a deep breath, and look around.

It may surprise you how fast you can find yourself in the middle of the sensory hurricane on the casino floor. In less restrictive states, such as Nevada and New Jersey, you can walk in off the street or get dropped off by a taxi and find yourself a few feet away from the gaming areas. You’re practically holding the door for your significant other with one hand and rolling the dice with the other. After all, casinos want as little as possible to stand between you and your favorite game.

But most casinos give you a chance to catch your breath and do some mental stretching prior to plunging into the action. When you walk in, you often find yourself in a lobby or foyer. Remember that most casinos are also hotels, so you may see familiar sights, such as the concierge, bell desk, and check-in counter. People bustle about and crowd together before they find the destinations suited for them. While some gamblers are anticipating the excitement just steps away, others are exiting with delirious grins on their faces – or expressions of shock and awe.

This bottleneck is no accident; it’s part of the calculated marketing strategy to lure you ever closer to the games. At the threshold of the gaming floor, the sounds, colorfullights, and crowd energy all go to work on your senses, even from a distance. Just like an infant reaching for bright colorful objects, casino visitors gravitate to the sights and sounds of the casino floor.

Interior design is to a casino floor plan what aerodynamics is to automobile manufacturers; forward movement is a result of an ever-expanding array of enticements including colors that dazzle, lights that entice, and a temperature scientifically controlled for maximum comfort. You quickly find that every destination in a casino – the guest elevators, the bathrooms, or the buffet requires that you walk through (or dangerously near) the gaming areas. Slot machines and video poker stations are positioned just inside the casino entrance. The boys in marketing put them here so you can test the waters and feel the rush a quarter at a time – getting your feet wet right at the casino entrance. Up ahead you see the casino proper, a virtual indoor carnival buzzing with excitement. You can almost feel the energy pulsing.

Casino – Where to play

Formerly quarantined to select areas, today’s casinos are nearly everywhere, making gambling possible in almost every state. Only two states (Hawaii and Utah) have no legalized gambling. The main reason for this explosion is that the stigma of gambling has mostly been removed from our society. Although the previous generation generally viewed gambling with moral indignation, today’s attitudes are more relaxed, and many people consider casinos fun entertainment rather than one of the seven deadly sins.
This section looks more closely at the different types of gambling locations. Although Las Vegas and Atlantic City are still popular destinations for casino gambling, hundreds of other options are also waiting for you.
 
Nevada:
For decades, Nevada was famous for being the only U.S. state where casino gambling was legal. That limitation changed when the state of New Jersey legalized gambling in the late 1970s (although only in one town, Atlantic City). And, despite the growth of on-the-water and Indian casinos throughout the
United States (primarily in the 1990s), the Silver State remains the king of casino gambling.

Las Vegas is the jewel in the crown and far and away the biggest gambling destination in the world. Also known as Sin City or Lost Wages, Vegas is a unique agglomeration of palm trees, fountains, neon lights, and 100,000-plus hotel rooms among a wild mishmash of must-see architecture.
From its forbidden-fruit beginnings to its mobster adolescence, to its starring role in a few hit TV shows, Vegas exudes a frenetic energy that makes the city a unique place in American pop culture. And Vegas takes full advantage of its iconic position. New hotel/casino complexes continue to rise from the desert floor at an astounding pace. As of 2006, nine of the ten biggest hotels in the world were located within a few miles of each other on the Las Vegas Strip. The city is still primarily known for its gambling – after all, where else can you expect to find slots in grocery stores and in airports? But that image is changing. At some point in the late 1990s – for the first time in its history gambling money amounted to less than half of the total revenue brought in by the Vegas casino industry. And that change means people from around the world are seeing the city as a resort (or convention) destination first and a place to gamble second.

Tahoe and Reno: Quieter cousins
Before Las Vegas rose to prominence, Reno was the epicenter of gambling in the United States, and casinos around Lake Tahoe frequently hosted celebrities, such as Frank Sinatra and his buddies. Now, their southern Nevada competitor easily eclipses both Tahoe and Reno, but these two intriguing cities remain good alternatives for visitors that don’t care for the Vegas speed-of-light pace.

As “the biggest little city in the world,” Reno’s Wild West frontier spirit and gambling accessibility appeal to many travelers. Tahoe also boasts gambling opportunities on the Nevada side of the border while promising superb skiing in winter, a wealth of lake activities in summer, and spectacular mountain
scenery year-round.

Atlantic City:
In the late 1970s, New Jersey took the bold step of legalizing gambling as a way to revitalize Atlantic City. The transformation hasn’t always gone smoothly, but today Atlantic City’s casino industry is healthy. As one of the biggest gambling spots in the United States, it sees billions of dollars in wagers every year.

Although the Atlantic City Boardwalk can’t rival the Vegas Strip, it does offer a unique blend of glitz and glamour in a carnival atmosphere and a seaside setting. More importantly, the location means convenience for people on the East Coast – they no longer have to fly cross-country just to play blackjack.

Diving into on-the-water Gambling
Some people may not understand why gambling can be legal on the water but illegal on land. Nevertheless, if your state has a river running through it or you live on the coast, you’re likely to find a casino within driving distance. (Of course, take your motion-sickness pills and be prepared to walk the plank.)

Riverboat casinos: A piece of the past
New laws and regulations have revived an icon from America’s colorful past – river boat casinos. Although these contemporary vessels bear little resemblance to the fabled paddleboats that plied the Mississippi, gambling fun is still rollin’ on the river.
Most casino voyages are “cruises to nowhere” that last one to three hours. Some floating casinos don’t even leave the dock, but they’re in compliance with state gambling laws because they’re on water. These casinos are typically smaller than the big boys in Vegas and aren’t always open 24 hours, but they usually offer most of the same games.

Cruise ships:
What could be finer than cruising off the coast of Carolina? Okay, maybe cruise ships don’t hit those waters often, but they do sail nearly everywhere in the world, including hot spots (like the Caribbean and the Panama Canal) and scenic destinations (like Alaska and Mexico).
Nearly every cruise line takes advantage of international waters (where gambling is legal) by offering casinos on board their ships (open only certain hours and only when the ship is in international waters). These casinos have most of the same games and similar odds as regular land-based casinos (with a few differences), so if you don’t mind your dice rolling funny when a big wave hits, cruising may be just the ticket for you.

Indian Casinos:
Although reservation gaming came on the scene late, it has dramatically changed the landscape of casino gambling across the country over the last two decades. The biggest and best-known Indian gaming area is in Connecticut (outside Hartford), providing an appealing alternative to Atlantic City for New York gamblers.

Today Indian gaming generates billions of dollars in revenues every year and provides significant competition for more traditional gambling destinations. In fact, the combined gaming revenue of all tribal casinos is greater than all the revenue of Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Reno together.
Native American casinos typically offer the same machines and table games that other gambling capitals have. However, many Indian casinos don’t allow alcohol consumption, and few of them can compete with the glitz of Vegas. Nevertheless, the success of tribal gaming speaks volumes about the quality of the casinos. So if you can live without exploding volcanoes or fancy Mountains, you’re bound to enjoy the friendly, less spectacular tribal casinos.

 
Beyond the borders: Gambling abroad
If you feel stuck in a gambling rut, traveling abroad for gaming may just be the adrenalin shot you need. Most foreign casinos offer the same or similar games as casinos in the United States, but the experience is often more refined and memorable, especially in high-class locations such as Monte Carlo.
But customs differ around the world, so you may be surprised at the rules across the pond. Many European casinos charge an entry fee, and many of them require more-formal attire. (Pack a coat and tie or evening dress if you plan on playing on the Continent.) Travelers should also be aware that the American traditions of megacasinos and multithousand room resorts are rare overseas.
 
The Caribbean is also a popular getaway for gamblers, and several islands offer casinos to complement their sun and sand attractions. The biggest casino in the tropical region is the Atlantis Casino in the Bahamas, which is truly a world-class resort.

Betting on the Internet
Gambling and cyberspace seem to be made for each other. Through the conduit of the Internet, casinos and gaming companies can invite themselves directly into the homes of gamblers. Now people can play anonymously and comfortably, without ever leaving the house. Considered the last frontier for gaming, cyberspace has now been settled – if not fully tamed. Online gaming represents a multibillion-dollar industry worldwide that continues to grow exponentially every year.

Casino – What’s Your Poison

Playing the Games: What’s Your Poison

Casino games are as diverse as the people who play them – and that’s part of the fun. You may think of craps as a rough-and-tumble game, played by hustlers and wiseguys, but step into a casino and you’re just as likely to spot an
angelic-looking nurse rolling dice next to a cursing cowboy from Texas. And because no game has a precise player profile, don’t restrict yourself to the few games that you think suit you. Give each one a try and see where it takes you.

Although the majority of casino visitors prefer slot machines, chances are, if you’re reading this book, you’re willing to try new ways to gamble. After you read this book and know which games have the best odds, I suggest you take a quick walk around the casino floor to see where you want to start and give several of them a try.

Touring the table games
In a casino, the tables come in all shapes and sizes, from the oval shape of poker tables to the half-round crescent of blackjack to the long rectangle of craps. And the table is just about all they have in common.

Unspoken rules seem to govern the table games. Most casino guests have discovered from experience to avoid the taboos: holding your cards with two hands, touching chips in the betting circle after the cards are dealt, and
throwing the dice so wildly that they flyover the rail and end up in somebody’s drink. Before you worry about
acting proper, this section includes a brief overview of the main table games that you may encounter in a casino.

Poker: Boosted by Internet and TV tournaments
To say that poker is taking over the world may be only a slight exaggeration. Considering its current popularity explosion, Texas Hold’em could replace war as a way to settle regional conflicts. In truth, many factors have con-
tributed to the card game’s wide appeal, including the broad reaches of the Internet and television poker tournaments.

But technology is only one factor. The big draw? Poker is one of the few games where good players consistently win. In poker, you compete against other players rather than the house. And with honed skills and intimate knowledge of the game, you can have a significant edge over those other, less-prepared gamblers.

Hiding your emotions is a requisite skill for successful poker. They don’t call it poker face for nothing So, if you can’t control your nervous ticks when you bluff or if your eyes get as big as saucers when you make a full house, either play your poker online or put a bag over your head.

Blackjack: The best odds
Blackjack (also called 21) has been the most popular table game in casinos for more than 40 years. The card game always draws a loyal crowd because it’s easy to understand, provides good camaraderie, and offers great odds. If
you memorize basic strategy (that is, the optimal way to play every hand), your chances of winning at blackjack are better than at virtually any other game in the casino.

Blackjack also is intriguing because each hand is like a movie clip – with you as the star. Each game has an opening scene (the deai), the simmering suspense (the dealer’s hidden card), the moment of truth when the hero (you!) makes a dramatic choice, and finally the conclusion, where the hero wins or loses. The trick, of course, is to have more happy endings than tragedies.

Craps: Backslaps, high-flyers and cheerleaders
This dice game draws a raucous crowd and has many of the best bets in the casino. Some guests find the noise and the complex layout of craps to be a little intimidating. But before you slink back to your comfort zone, consider
this fact: The house advantage is low in craps, making this game a great bet. Just be sure you stick with the best craps bets.

Furthermore, craps is like a sporting event, with its dramatic swings of luck, high-fives, backslaps, and noisy cheering section. Every roll has a home team (players who bet with the dice) and an opposing team (wrong-way bettors) that gets dirty looks and ridicules from the hometown fans. Now, if they just had those big foam We’re No. 1 fingers, the experience would be complete (but a little hard to roll the dice).

Roulette: The place for eccentric hunches
The spinning wheel of roulette symbolizes the world of casino gambling. This popular, entry-level game is ideal for novice gamblers because it requires absolutely no skill, concentration, or complex strategies. You simply bet on
the number or possible numbers that the ball will land on. A table full of players can be quite sociable, although not as rowdy as a craps game. Roulette gives you a chance to play your eccentric hunches on a single number, a
combination of numbers, or on an even-money wager that can just extend your playing session. Refer to Chapter 9 for more on roulette.

Baccarat: More tuxedo than T-shirt
Although blackjack and poker appeal to the masses, baccarat is a card game that draws a far more upscale and refined crowd. You’re more likely to see tuxedos than T-shirts playing this game. But everyone is welcome, so even if you don’t have a penguin costume in your closet, check out baccarat for a game that’s simple to play Gust bet on the bank) and has fair odds.

Let It Ride, Pai Gow, and other table qames
Beyond the traditional favorites, several other table games have developed a strong following. Today, most casinos intersperse Caribbean Stud poker, Let It Ride, Pai Gow, and Three Card poker tables throughout their pits.

These games are fun diversions when you need a change of pace, but a word of caution: Don’t play too long. These games have odds that may make you wish you’d gotten mugged instead of gone gambling. Unless you have a passion for these games (along with a bottomless bank account), don’t make a habit of playing them.

A Systems Approach to Video Poker

PLAYING MAXIMUM COINS
Ellen arrived at her favourite casino with a group of friends at about noon, but it hasn’t been her day. Ellen is an avid video poker player, and understands that she should always play the maximum coins. Coin limit play is essential she believes, because if she hits the royal flush she wants to be eligible for the top award that winners who have the maximum coin-in receive. After all, the pay tables on most modern machines are set to offer the coin-limit player a better payout percentage by setting a higher jackpot on the top hand for coin-limit play. Most machines start the hand automatically when five coins are inserted. Every machine has one button that orders maximum play. Ellen believes that it is the only way to play.

But Ellen’s funds have been depleted and she believes it’s time to drop down to less than coin limit to stretch her remaining funds. She has seen players being burned by hitting a royal flush or five-of-a-kind while playing less than coin limit. The disdain from the neighbouring players was more difficult to bear than the monetary shortfall.

But before coming to the casino this time, Ellen read up on coin-limit play and was surprised to find that on her favourite 9/6 Jacks-or-better machines, she would be losing less per hand by playing one coin than by playing five coins.

By playing expert strategy, and even taking into account the 800-1 payout for five-coin play and only a 250-1 payout for anything less, Ellen can take solace in the fact that her single-coin play keeps her almost even with maximum play, even without the hitting the top jackpot.

Ellen wasn’t surprised to find that novice players who don’t understand expert strategy are much better off playing less than five coins. Occasionally her friends who love the slot machines have wandered over into the video poker sections, but have always headed back quickly. They don’t understand that it’s important to know the strategy of the game.

Progressive jackpots seem to demand coin-limit play, but Ellen learned that a typical progressive 8/5 Jacks-or-better machine pays only 97.3 per cent to experts when the jackpot is minimum at 800-1, or $1,000 on a five-quarter coin-limit machine. Single-coin play returns only 95.9 per cent so the loss rate is very poor at all levels. That’s why experts don’t play them until the jackpot is above $2,200 and then only at coin-limit. Ellen will continue to play one coin at a time until it’s time to head home. She’ll protect her funds and will have a chance to get even before leaving.