I should preface this by saying there is no guaranteed way to win at slots. It’s a game of luck, but there are some simple strategies to help your chances. Some slots offer better odds than others. You can find this on the side of the machine in land-based casinos and online casinos are legally bound to advertise their payouts. Here you can learn about the right type of slot to play and how much to bet.
The most popular slots currently have five reels and multiple lines, along with a bonus feature. You can play the entire position of the reel rather than fixed lines like the old classic 3-reel slots. It’s more than just spinning a reel and hoping for the best. A 1-reel slot has 243 ways to play. Video slots are popular online because they have great graphics and a good story to the game. Realtime Gaming (RTG) has this with the Real Series and Rival Gaming has this with i-Slots.
Find slots with scatter features, because those have more ways to win. A double up bonus also helps because it’s the only bet in slots without a house edge. You are usually allowed for up to five bonus spins in a row. Always play the maximum bet on a slot so you can get the full jackpot, instead of just a percentage. If you can’t afford it, find a less expensive slot. Progressive jackpots are linked slots, sometimes from multiple affiliate online casinos, with up to millions of dollars up for grabs.
Showing posts with label online casinos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online casinos. Show all posts
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Winning at Blackjack
Blackjack is a casino game that requires a bit of strategy. It’s the fastest table game you can find, so you must learn to control your bankroll with the runs of good and bad luck.
You play the dealer just like other players at the blackjack table. Your goal is to get up to 21 without going over. Cards 2 through 10 are face value and face cards are worth 10. An Ace can be worth 1 or 11. Therefore, a hand with an Ace is called a soft hand. A hand without an Ace is a hard hand because the value doesn’t change. A casino will use anywhere from six to eight decks to aid the house edge and discourage card counters. Online casinos use an RNG but your odds are still better online.
If you tie the dealer in blackjack, it’s a push and you get your initial bet back. A blackjack hand of 21 generally pays out 3 to 2. A hard 17 is the point at which most dealers are required to stand. If an Ace is involved, it’s a tougher decision. With soft hands, always hit or double down with an Ace and a 2 though 6. Be careful when splitting hands. According to basic strategy, don’t split 5s or 10s. Instead, split 8s instead of deciding what to do on 16.
Blackjack has a house advantage of 5%. Using basic strategy can reduce that to 0.5%, but blackjack is a game of patience. The professionals only get a 1-2% profit long term. And, don’t bother counting cards because those make up less than 1% of all players, and most ultimately fail because of a lack of discipline.
You play the dealer just like other players at the blackjack table. Your goal is to get up to 21 without going over. Cards 2 through 10 are face value and face cards are worth 10. An Ace can be worth 1 or 11. Therefore, a hand with an Ace is called a soft hand. A hand without an Ace is a hard hand because the value doesn’t change. A casino will use anywhere from six to eight decks to aid the house edge and discourage card counters. Online casinos use an RNG but your odds are still better online.
If you tie the dealer in blackjack, it’s a push and you get your initial bet back. A blackjack hand of 21 generally pays out 3 to 2. A hard 17 is the point at which most dealers are required to stand. If an Ace is involved, it’s a tougher decision. With soft hands, always hit or double down with an Ace and a 2 though 6. Be careful when splitting hands. According to basic strategy, don’t split 5s or 10s. Instead, split 8s instead of deciding what to do on 16.
Blackjack has a house advantage of 5%. Using basic strategy can reduce that to 0.5%, but blackjack is a game of patience. The professionals only get a 1-2% profit long term. And, don’t bother counting cards because those make up less than 1% of all players, and most ultimately fail because of a lack of discipline.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Winning at Bingo
You may be wondering if there is a guaranteed way to win at bingo. Sadly, there isn’t. Like many casino games, it is based on luck. Unlike skill games like video poker and Texas Hold'em, there isn’t much you can practice to swing the odds toward your favor. However, bingo is a game that can occupy some time without hurting your bankroll too much. Bingo is good for an hour or two of entertainment away from the hustle and bustle of the gaming floor.
The goal of bingo is simple: match randomly drawn numbers to those on your card. The numbers are called out by a designated person. If you fall behind, there is a well-lit board of recently called numbers to help you catch up. To win, the numbers must be matched to a pattern on your card like a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line. To spice up the game a little, there are other game options like four corners or a butterfly pattern.
Different varieties of bingo can be found at online casinos. You can still find it at some gaming halls of the casino but many people play electronic bingo at stations throughout the gaming floor. In the gaming halls, some still use a dabber (or highlighter) to mark the number called out with a colored circle on your card.
Bingo is pretty straightforward with a field of 1-75. The numbers 1-15 are in the “B” column, 16-30 in the “I” column, 31-45 in the “N” column, 46-60 in the “G” column, and 61-75 in the “O” column. Your card has 25 spaces with a free space in the direct center and 24 random numbers. Match the numbers in the pattern for that game and be the first to yell out “Bingo!” to win.
The goal of bingo is simple: match randomly drawn numbers to those on your card. The numbers are called out by a designated person. If you fall behind, there is a well-lit board of recently called numbers to help you catch up. To win, the numbers must be matched to a pattern on your card like a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line. To spice up the game a little, there are other game options like four corners or a butterfly pattern.
Different varieties of bingo can be found at online casinos. You can still find it at some gaming halls of the casino but many people play electronic bingo at stations throughout the gaming floor. In the gaming halls, some still use a dabber (or highlighter) to mark the number called out with a colored circle on your card.
Bingo is pretty straightforward with a field of 1-75. The numbers 1-15 are in the “B” column, 16-30 in the “I” column, 31-45 in the “N” column, 46-60 in the “G” column, and 61-75 in the “O” column. Your card has 25 spaces with a free space in the direct center and 24 random numbers. Match the numbers in the pattern for that game and be the first to yell out “Bingo!” to win.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Most Popular Video Poker Games
Now that you know how to play video poker, its time to learn about the most popular video poker games. Video poker is a combination of slots and poker. It’s sort of the lazy man’s poker game. But with so many different types of video poker, you need to know what you are getting into each time. The betting varies for each but you can generally bet anywhere from $0.05 to as much as $100 per hand, in some cases. But usually, single bets range from $0.25 to $5. All of these games are available at land-based or online casinos.
Aces & Faces: This is the most common video poker game. Four Aces or four of a kind on face cards is worth more than a Straight Flush. The lowest winning combination is a pair of Jacks. You may have an option to double up. The dealer gets one card dealt face up and you get four cards dealt face down. You choose one and if it ranks higher than that of the dealer’s, your winnings double. In some cases, you can keep doubling but may only be able to double one more time on a tie. Like nearly every casino bonus game, you lose your entire bet if you lose.
Joker: This one uses 53 cards and the Joker is the wild card. The three best payouts are a Natural Royal Flush (doesn’t include the Joker), five of a kind (with the Joker) and a Joker Royal Flush.
Double Joker: The two Jokers are the wild cards. The same rules of the Joker game apply.
Deuces Wild: The 2’s are wild cards. Your odds of winning are better so the lowest payout is three of a kind.
Deuces & Joker: Same as Deuces Wild but adds a Joker. The 2’s and the Joker are the wild cards. Payout start at three of a kind and at the top is four deuces and the Joker. Four deuces has a higher payout than a Wild Royal Flush with the Joker.
Jacks or Better: This one offers some of the best video poker odds and can be single or multi-line. The lowest payout (break even) is a pair of face cards. On multi-line games, bets range from $.05-$100 per hand.
Tens or Better: The same as Jacks or Better but the lowest payout is a pair of 10’s.
Progressive: This one has a progressive jackpot and uses 52 cards, plus several Jokers. Different players visit the same virtual machine as the jackpot increases. The pot restarts after every hit jackpot.
Aces & Faces: This is the most common video poker game. Four Aces or four of a kind on face cards is worth more than a Straight Flush. The lowest winning combination is a pair of Jacks. You may have an option to double up. The dealer gets one card dealt face up and you get four cards dealt face down. You choose one and if it ranks higher than that of the dealer’s, your winnings double. In some cases, you can keep doubling but may only be able to double one more time on a tie. Like nearly every casino bonus game, you lose your entire bet if you lose.
Joker: This one uses 53 cards and the Joker is the wild card. The three best payouts are a Natural Royal Flush (doesn’t include the Joker), five of a kind (with the Joker) and a Joker Royal Flush.
Double Joker: The two Jokers are the wild cards. The same rules of the Joker game apply.
Deuces Wild: The 2’s are wild cards. Your odds of winning are better so the lowest payout is three of a kind.
Deuces & Joker: Same as Deuces Wild but adds a Joker. The 2’s and the Joker are the wild cards. Payout start at three of a kind and at the top is four deuces and the Joker. Four deuces has a higher payout than a Wild Royal Flush with the Joker.
Jacks or Better: This one offers some of the best video poker odds and can be single or multi-line. The lowest payout (break even) is a pair of face cards. On multi-line games, bets range from $.05-$100 per hand.
Tens or Better: The same as Jacks or Better but the lowest payout is a pair of 10’s.
Progressive: This one has a progressive jackpot and uses 52 cards, plus several Jokers. Different players visit the same virtual machine as the jackpot increases. The pot restarts after every hit jackpot.
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Growth of Mobile Casinos
Forget about online casinos. Mobile casinos are the hottest new thing with online gambling right now. As technology has increased, mobile casinos have become more popular. Mobile casinos allow you to gamble on the go and play your favorite online casino on your wireless device.
Online casinos are taking notice and are now designing games specific to mobile devices. Games like slots, poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, video poker and more are available. They can be played on your smartphone, iPhone, PDA, wireless tablet PC, etc. Granted, you won’t get the same quality of graphics as the online casino counterpart, but mobile casinos are getting better by the day. New features have been added like being able to flick the screen or shake the device to spin the reels of a slot game.
Before playing a mobile casino, make sure you have enough memory on your device to download the casino software. If you need more storage, buy a memory chip or Micro SD card. The mobile casinos are generally free, but data and roaming fees may apply so check with your wireless provider. When you update your device, you may have to update or download the mobile casino again. If your device model doesn’t support the mobile casino you are looking for, one of the cheaper ways to play a mobile casino is a game download service through your provider. This is generally a fee per download or month.
All the same online gambling laws apply to mobile casinos. You are betting with real money and earning real money. If you are playing the mobile counterpart of an online or land-based casino, you may be able to link up your accounts. Similar online casino bonuses are available as well on mobile casinos.
Online casinos are taking notice and are now designing games specific to mobile devices. Games like slots, poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, video poker and more are available. They can be played on your smartphone, iPhone, PDA, wireless tablet PC, etc. Granted, you won’t get the same quality of graphics as the online casino counterpart, but mobile casinos are getting better by the day. New features have been added like being able to flick the screen or shake the device to spin the reels of a slot game.
Before playing a mobile casino, make sure you have enough memory on your device to download the casino software. If you need more storage, buy a memory chip or Micro SD card. The mobile casinos are generally free, but data and roaming fees may apply so check with your wireless provider. When you update your device, you may have to update or download the mobile casino again. If your device model doesn’t support the mobile casino you are looking for, one of the cheaper ways to play a mobile casino is a game download service through your provider. This is generally a fee per download or month.
All the same online gambling laws apply to mobile casinos. You are betting with real money and earning real money. If you are playing the mobile counterpart of an online or land-based casino, you may be able to link up your accounts. Similar online casino bonuses are available as well on mobile casinos.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Online Casino Tournaments
Games at online casinos are played basically the same as at a brick and mortar casino. Sure, you don’t actually touch the cards, dice or slots yourself, but by pressing a few buttons you get the same effect. One thing that is different, though, is tournament gameplay.
When participating in an online casino tournament, you need to change your style of play to fit the tournament rules. Since each tournament is different, there is no concrete rule for tournament strategy, but there are some basic suggestions.
For one thing, online tournaments are often timed, so if you have a limited time to make your wagers, you want to make them as fast as you can. If it’s a slot tournament, that’s easy because there are no decisions to make. Simply press the spin button as many times as you can, because you don’t get to keep your unused credits. If it’s a blackjack tournament, then you can’t go as fast as in slots, but you still don’t want to deliberate as long on each decision if you are pressed for time.
There is another difference for blackjack tournaments. In traditional blackjack, you are competing against the dealer and none of the other players matter. That is not the case in a blackjack tournament. In most blackjack tournaments, each player accrues points for beating the dealer and the players with the most points in prizes. In that case, you want to play faster and more aggressive, because you need to earn more points than the other players if you want to win. You can also bet more aggressively in blackjack tournaments because you’re not wagering with your own money.
Roulette tournaments are often timed, so you want to bet faster and more aggressively. If it is a tournament where you are betting with house money, you should pick more lucrative bets rather than the safer bets.
Whether or not they are timed or free, what sets most online tournaments apart from the standard casino play is that you’re playing for prizes rather than money. Because you get points instead of money, you don’t want to conserve your winnings. Instead, it is wise to aggressively accumulate as many points as you can in an attempt to reach the top of the leader board, where you can win good prizes.
When participating in an online casino tournament, you need to change your style of play to fit the tournament rules. Since each tournament is different, there is no concrete rule for tournament strategy, but there are some basic suggestions.
For one thing, online tournaments are often timed, so if you have a limited time to make your wagers, you want to make them as fast as you can. If it’s a slot tournament, that’s easy because there are no decisions to make. Simply press the spin button as many times as you can, because you don’t get to keep your unused credits. If it’s a blackjack tournament, then you can’t go as fast as in slots, but you still don’t want to deliberate as long on each decision if you are pressed for time.
There is another difference for blackjack tournaments. In traditional blackjack, you are competing against the dealer and none of the other players matter. That is not the case in a blackjack tournament. In most blackjack tournaments, each player accrues points for beating the dealer and the players with the most points in prizes. In that case, you want to play faster and more aggressive, because you need to earn more points than the other players if you want to win. You can also bet more aggressively in blackjack tournaments because you’re not wagering with your own money.
Roulette tournaments are often timed, so you want to bet faster and more aggressively. If it is a tournament where you are betting with house money, you should pick more lucrative bets rather than the safer bets.
Whether or not they are timed or free, what sets most online tournaments apart from the standard casino play is that you’re playing for prizes rather than money. Because you get points instead of money, you don’t want to conserve your winnings. Instead, it is wise to aggressively accumulate as many points as you can in an attempt to reach the top of the leader board, where you can win good prizes.
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