07.31.2007 | 5:22 am | casinos
In short, yes they are, they offer different attraction, attract different customers and ultimately give you a different type of buzz - although at the end of a the day a win is a win!
What are the attractions of online and offline casino play ?
Check out some of the main differences below :-
Online Gambling
Online players are often those who :-
· Play when they have spare time, or the mood takes them - whatever hour of the day!
· Maybe live miles away from a traditional casino.
· Perhaps do not feel relaxed in crowds, and prefer to have the quiet and time to think things through - hiding their mannerisms from those who like to guess a players hands by their actions, looks, etc..
· Like to keep their gambling habits to themselves.
· May try a number of different casino programs before choosing their favourite - or they may switch their sites on play on a regular basis.
Online gambling offers a private and often quiet way to take on the vast array of other online gamblers. It can be played at the drop of a hat, as many sites on the internet offer worldwide exposure, ensuring that there is always someone on line to play.
Offline Gambling
The traditional casino player is a whole different animal to the online player in so many ways, including :-
· Many like the buzz of a casino crowd, the expectation, the thrills and the overall atmosphere.
· A vast array of gamblers like to see who they are playing, and try to work out their styles.
· Attention - many of the high profile gamblers actually like the attention, building up their own reputation.
· A night out - for many a game at the casino is a night out, a relaxing time where they will take in a few pounds and see what they can do.
· Free food and drink! Many casinos have taken to offering limited free food and drink to keep customers there, and coming back the next time.
It has to be said that the experience of playing online or at a traditional casino are so very very different, although they both offer very interesting aspects which will appeal to different types of player. Something for everyone!
07.30.2007 | 10:00 pm | casinos
For many people new to the art of online poker, there is a worry that they may lose too much money before they actually get used to playing the game. This is not a real problem, as many of the poker sites of today offer “free” chips which allow players to start playing poker for fun, getting used to the etiquette of online play, and strategies.
These free areas have spawned some of the best poker players on the internet, allowing people to try and adapt their styles without risking real money. It is also interesting to try and guess what strategies other players will use, how to spot the big gamble, and more importantly, how to spot when you opponent has a good hand!
The basic skills of poker are fairly easy to learn, it is knowing when to hold your cards and know when to fold them which separates the good from the greats. Each player will have their own style, and if you can tune into their style at an early stage it can prove very very lucrative.
The move from free money to real money can be a little daunting for many, and while you may take a while to find your feet on the “real” tables, a stint on the free tables will do you the world of good. One art which takes a little while to learn is the art of staying “focused”. Many new players will start well, but lose their way as the game goes on, often taking bigger and bigger risks as they become tired and “bored”.
This is one of the major elements of poker which you will need to master at an early stage, something that is vital if you are to succeed - do not give away your chips without a fight!
07.27.2007 | 6:53 pm | casinos
For those who actually play cards in the casino, they may be interested to know that there are at least 20 different games to play - how many do you know?
Here is a list of some of the main card games played for money today :-
· 3-Card Poker
· 400 (card game)
· Baccarat
· Bingo
· Blackjack
· Blackjack Switch
· Blind Hookey
· Bourre
· Caribbean Stud Poker
· Casino War
· Liar’s Poker
· Poker
· Primero
· Red Dog
· Texas Hold’em
· Seven Card Brag
· Three Card Brag
· Teen Patti
Texas Hold’em is by far and away the most popular variation of the traditional Poker theme with millions of players throughout the world,. It is this form of Poker which forms the basis for sop many of the big name Poker competitions, with literally millions of pounds up for grabs!
Like so many traditional games, the history of Poker is a little hazy although there have been reports of the game being played as far back as 1829. It will come as no surprise to those who follow the game, that it was first played in New Orleans, an area which has more than its fair share of casinos even to this day.
While the game has developed then, from a rumoured 20 card pack, to the more traditional 52 card pack, the main elements of the game have changed very little. After becoming popular in New Orleans, it soon swept the US, and became very prominent in the creation of the multi billion dollar casino industry of today. This is an industry that not only earns millions of dollars a year, it is an industry which employs hundreds of thousands of people and a vital part of many local economies.
07.26.2007 | 6:40 pm | casinos
While more and more people are sampling the experience of either an online casino or visiting there local venue, what is about the thrills and spills of gambling which attract so many people?
There are many things which attract customers which include :-
The Jackpot
As with any form of gambling many people dream of the big payout, that remote chance, that dream moment. While few will actually feel the thrill of that big life changing win, it is the thought which keeps many people coming back time and time again - dreaming of the special drop, that big payout, the big bucks!
The Challenge
The casino venue is often connected with those who have, or pretend to have money, those who do not need the big drop - so what are they really playing for? To the few people in the position where money is not a problem, it is the challenge, the thrill of the win and the chance to gain a reputation which often keeps them coming back time and time again.
Social Aspects
The casino of today can often become a traditional element of a night on the town, a night out with family and friends. A few drinks, a good meal and the chance to spend a few pounds and see who can hit the big one. More and more people are playing for fun, enjoying the buzz which is often associated with casinos and the amount of money “floating” around the area.
Even though casinos have effectively been closed shops for years, they have really opened up to the general public over the last few years. While there is still a long way to go to put them on a par with other gambling industries, they are slowly moving into the mainstream. For many it is a pity that the government have recently changed their plans, but the ball is rolling and it will be very hard to stop the momentum building up behind the casino industry.
07.25.2007 | 2:25 am | casinos
For many years Monte Carlo has been associated with the high life, racing and casinos, but how much do you know about this area on Monaco?
Monte Carlo has been known as the play area for the rich and famous for many years, and casinos have become an everyday way of life for the wealthy in the region - assisted by a useful and highly beneficial tax status.
The real story about casinos in the area goes back to 1873 when Joseph Jagger famously found that one of the roulette wheels in the main casino actually had a bias which nobody had yet spotted. He was able to make great use of this anomaly many many times, coining the phrase “Breaking The Bank At Monte Carlo” - while there was no bank as such, the bank was actually the casino whom he took to the cleaners before the situation was resolved.
The area of Monte Carlo has also been closely associated with fictional British Spy, James Bond, who visited the city’s Belle Epoque casino on a number of occasions. Bond was often seen frequenting the casino, enjoying the high life accompanied by a crowd of attractive woman. Monte Carlo was also used as a basis for the James Bond thriller Casino Royale, with the area, the wealthy lifestyle and the casino’s offering the perfect back drop for “007”.
While the area continues to attract the rich and famous, there is no doubt that gambling and the world of casinos will continue to play a large part. The casino’s owners in the area have also been the subject of a number of “coup” attempts, with high tech teams looking to use every trick in the book to secure those massive jackpots. Few since Joseph Jagger have actually succeeded (that we know of) but that has not, and will not stop future attempts - however there are no bias tables now, so they will need to find a different method!
07.24.2007 | 11:54 am | casinos
While there are fewer larger gambles in life than getting married, what better place to have your ceremony than a Las Vegas casino, the ultimate gambling experience! This is the choice which many couples are making now a days, with a trend starting to develop in the UK. So what is it all about?
Many people are blinded by the bright lights of the casinos, the massive jackpots and the general buzz of a building where millions of dollars regularly change hands. While this is the “casino” experience for many, the modern day casinos offer a lot more than just gambling.
A vast number of casino outfits have branched out into entertainment, hotels and offer a general holiday resort feel about them. Gone are the days when you would be in and out within a couple of hours, replaced by a range of long stay vacations which are based at the casino itself. The massive pull of these developments has also helped to spawn an ever growing tourist industry in areas such as Las Vegas, offering every experience and event which you could hope to see.
Weddings are the latest fashion, with many couples looking for something a little different, something they will not forget and there is always the chance of a million dollar win on the bandits! You do not even need to be a hardened gambler to enjoy your time in and around a casino, although to many the pull for that jackpot can often be very strong.
The cost of the wedding ceremony excursions is a lot cheaper than you would imagine, as the likes of Las Vegas offer relatively cheap accommodation in order to attract visitors to the area. Gone are the days when it was the professional gambler who frequented such establishments, casinos are now open to the masses, and with just a little bit of care they can offer the ultimate experience for many - even newly weds!
07.23.2007 | 9:11 pm | casinos
Ever since the likes of Las Vegas hit the big time on the casino scene, many people have been asking what came first - the casino or the holiday resort?
The truth is that in order for a casino to be profitable, there needs to be a demand there in the first place, and the location needs to have a massive catchment area. In the UK we have seen the likes of Blackpool and Manchester mentioned as locations for the “super casino” (before Mr Brown decided to cancel the projects, after much public and private expenditure!).
These two areas are both very very different, with Blackpool a seaside resort, with the majority of weekend visitors from outside of Blackpool, but we have Manchester which sees a mass of people from inside the Manchester catchment area visiting the city centre at weekends.
The truth is that there are really two types of casino venture, one to attract the local and professional business person and one to attract the holiday makers who are enjoying their break and fancy a flutter. However, it is possible for places such as Las Vegas to merge these two characteristics together and offer attractions for the locals, while also attracting massive visitor numbers from the US and overseas.
What is not in doubt is the mass of investment which a casino venture will bring to an area, an area which may often have been run down and in need of regeneration. Once a venture is announced, you will always see other activities appear, with bars and clubs very popular around casino venues. The casinos pick up the pub and club crowd, and the pubs and clubs pick up the casino crowd - everyone seems to win!
The casino business is enormous, and despite the recent set back for online gaming in the US, casino visitor numbers are on the up and up. While the UK politicians may have changed their minds in the short term, the push for more casinos has started and it will be a difficult train to derail.
07.23.2007 | 8:22 am | casinos
Most people go to Las Vegas for one thing - to gamble. And why not? After all, it’s possibly the best place to do it in the entire world!
In fact gambling in Las Vegas is less of a special occasion pastime and more of a sport, such is the effort put into the casinos in this city.
However, ironically the super-city is a brilliant place to visit for wildlife, as at Within Mirage you can visit both a white tiger enclosure and a dolphin habitat for free.
A trip to the MGM Grand Lion Habitat will present you with just that; lions, and the Flamingo Garden will give you a chance to view numerous exotic birds, as well as turtles and koi.
But, when in Vegas, you must appreciate some of the OTT glamour, so why not take a look at the Sirens of TI show; a fantastical show viewable for free (arrive early for a good view) which, despite starting as a family-orientated pirate show, now features hunks and showgirls.
So go on, go nuts for a risque show because after all - what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!
07.22.2007 | 10:00 am | Poker Stars
Like so many sports mad stars, Helen Chamberlain the presenter of the hit soccer show SoccerAm, has a massive passion for Poker. It is a passion which recently won her in the region of $480,000 after progressing from a celebrity tournament to the Ladbroke’s Poker Millions event, and boy can she play!
It seems as though football mad Ms Chamberlain has always been a fan of card games, often playing when she was younger, beating her gran for a few treats and sweets. This grounding in the sport from a very early age really came to the fore in a recent Celebrity tournament to which she was invited. She found herself in the last three with promoter Barry Hear and ex-runner John Regis, as much to her surprise as anyone else. After seeing off John Regis, she finished of Barry Hearn in double quick time, pocketing $80,000 along the way and a free pass to the Ladbroke’s Poker Millions event. While she did not win the Ladbroke’s Poker Millions, she came very very close, earning herself another $400,000 in winnings!
Ms Chamberlain is one of many celebrity poker players who have come to light over the last couple of years, and due to their ease with the pressure and “acting” abilities, they are proving very hard for some poker pros to read. This is the worst situation for a poker player, playing against someone who may not have a particular style, and is difficult to read.
Many believe that celebrity poker is one of the main reasons why the number of poker players has exploded over the last few years, with many fans looking to follow their idols in pursuit of that dream. Sport and poker have always been well connected, with the need to be successful driving many players on and on.
Televised events have also helped increase audience numbers, often leading to enthralling viewing even for those who do not play regularly.
07.22.2007 | 8:29 am | casinos
In a plot straight out of the movie “Ocean’s 11”, a team of high tech gamblers have been caught copying the techniques used in the hit movie, with the target being the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, a casino which is frequented by the rich and famous. It appears their target was a £2,500 entry level tournament which was being held in a blaze of glory.
It appears that the New Jersey police were well aware of what the crooks had planned, and burst into a nearby hotel room, finding four of the gang surrounded by some of the most high tech surveillance equipment available on the market today, allowing them to sneak a look at the playing cards of people in the casino. Police believe that they were planning to use the information they received to contact a player in the casino, advising them when and how to play their game. While it was a daring plan, with a jackpot of some £1million up for grabs, they were playing for big stakes!
There is now speculation that the idea for “Ocean’s 11” many actually have come from under ground sources, rather than being transferred from the movies to the real world. Such is the potential seriousness of the planned coup that the FBI have been brought in to investigate whether they have managed to use the system to success in the past, or whether the police really did hit them at their first attempt. It seems that the presence of a known casino security expert in the gang may have been the down fall of the group, as he was a well known figure in the casino industry.
While it is believed that the regular casino players at Borgata were never at risk this time, as the stakes grown the potential for fraudulent activity increases, forcing the casino companies to forever increase and improve their security measures.
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