Betting on sports

Anyone who has ever ventured into a high street betting shop may find it difficult to get used to the idea of sports betting online.  However, most of the high street shops now have an online presence, and it is possible to place a bet anywhere, particularly with the advent of mobile versions of gambling websites.

The same range of bets that a player can make in a high street shop can also be made online, and bets can be taken on plenty of different types of sports.  For many years, the majority of bets were placed on horse racing, dog racing or football matches.  Now it is possible to place bets on golf, tennis, darts and even sporting fixtures which are taking place in other countries.  Odds are often given on players who might score; even the final score of the game or match may be provided.  Thanks to the growth of online gambling sites, checking scores and placing bets can be done from the comfort of home – there is no need to walk to the betting shop and no standing in a queue.  Sites also ensure that information is provided in real time, so as soon as the results are in, they can be clearly seen.  Winnings are also added to accounts instantly.

The player is then able to bet on other fixtures using this money if desired or transfer the money out to a bank account.  It should be noted that a withdrawal might take a couple of days, although this is different for every site.

Picture: John Wardell

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Safety tips for online gambling

While there are many people who just take the safety of using gambling websites for granted, it should be noted that not all sites are safe to use.  There are a few things that players should take into consideration before they begin to use online casinos and betting sites.  Gambling online does put people at risk, although most sites now offer a whole host of features to keep their players safe while they use the site. 

Generally speaking, the player will not need to continue inputting their payment details every time they top up their account.  Players will often only be asked to verify some information in order for a payment to be made.  Encryption software is often in use so that cyber criminals cannot copy the information and use it.  A reputable site will have details of the security measures in place clearly detailed on their website.  Check the FAQ section for more information.

There are plenty of online casinos out there, so it is a good idea to ask around and check out a few before signing up to make sure that it is a reputable site.  A player should not sign with a site that he or she has never heard of – there are still sites out there that are set up solely to scam money from players.  Look for sites with good reviews on independent websites.  It is also a good idea to sign up with a site that offers demo versions of their games.  This means that a player can have fun without parting with any money.

There are also sites which have chat rooms for players.  These are fun to use but should be approached carefully.  Parting with too many personal details can leave the player vulnerable – there is no way of knowing who the other person is when chatting.

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Top Ten Online Casino Tips Part 2

6.    Set achievable goals. Don’t expect to join a table or play a slot game and start winning straight away. Start off playing for free until you gain some experience and when you do move to real play limit the amount that you bet with.
7.    Greed is a problem in online gambling and invariably ends up in the person losing all of their money. Greed is a hard thing to control especially if you are winning, but once you start losing you should not chase the money; this is a recipe for disaster. Always stick to your limit even if it means that you have a shorter playing time than usual.
8.    Read some reviews before choosing your online casino. There are literally thousands of online casinos all over the world and it’s important to choose the right one for you. Read through review sites and forums to see what other people are saying about the casino before you decide to join.
9.    Read the websites term and conditions. You may find that different casinos have different terms and conditions regarding bonuses and welcome offers. It is advisable to read through these terms thoroughly before committing to a specific casino.
10.    Search around. Just because a casino comes in the top 10 on an internet search does not mean that it is the best one for you. Search around informational sites and see what they say about various casinos and bonus offers.

Now that you have read our top ten online casino tips it’s time to choose a website and play!

Picture courtesy of Mr Empey

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Top Ten Online Casino Tips Part 1

Gambling is fun but can also be daunting to beginners, so we have compiled a top ten list to help you maximize your gambling experience.

1.    Research the games before you play – learning the rules of the game that you have chosen before playing will give you invaluable information about betting and will give you the best chance of winning. There are various sources of information online that can help you become a better player.
2.    Online casinos and betting sites offer a wide range of bonuses and promotional offers to new players. Shop around for the best deal that suits your style of play and only choose a reputable operator that gets good reviews.
3.    With so many online casino games choosing the right one can be hard. Try choosing games that will maximize your chances of winning such as roulette, blackjack or craps. When you become more experienced you can move onto other games such as slot machines and video poker that are less profitable but have higher pay-outs.
4.    Bet with money that you can afford to lose. Whatever gambling you choose there is a house edge and although you may win a lot you will also lose a lot. Only bet with the money that you can afford to lose and set out a comfortable budget that you are happy with.
5.    Schedule you’re playing time. Online casinos operate 24 hours a day and new players can get caught up in the moment especially if they are winning. Setting a schedule for playing is a good idea as this limits the amount that you will potentially lose and having self-set rules also makes it more fun.

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Blackjack basics

Blackjack is a combination challenge of strategy, skill and luck.

The aim of blackjack is to get a card total that is more than the dealer holds, but 21 or less. More than 21 and you go bust.

In most casinos, House Rules force the dealer to continue to take cards until his hand totals 17 or more.  This means that you should aim to get a total greater than 17, although it’s possible to win on a total value as low as 13 (because the dealer could go bust).

Only the numbers are important in blackjack.  Card numbers 2-9 are held at face value.  The Ace can be either 1 or 11, depending on which is more useful to the hand.  King, Queen, Jack and 10s all play as 10.

Make your bet first.  Place your bet in the circle in the centre of the table.  From the moment the cards are dealt, you cannot physically touch the bet.

The dealer dishes out two cards to everyone including himself with two passes round the table and, in a real life game, you can hold these cards in one hand only.

When it comes to your turn, you can hit, stand, or surrender (fold), unless you score a blackjack (21) on your two card hand.  If that is the case, give the dealer a big grin and show your cards.  Payout usually happens immediately.

If you want another card, in a real life game, scrape your cards lightly over the felt and say ‘hit’.  Do not pick your new card up – just add it to your total.

If you do not want another card, but you are not folding, slide the cards you hold under your bet, but do not touch the chips.

This can only take place if you have taken no other action beforehand, including no third card. This way you get 50% of your bet back, no questions asked.

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Betting in Poker

Betting in poker can be confusing for a beginner, but as long as you follow some basic rules then you’ll have fun and even win some money. Here is a quick guide to betting in poker.

Poker is a turns based game, meaning that players take it in turns to bet; this is done in a clockwise fashion. Be aware that the first move or verbal declaration binds the player to that decision and cannot be changed.

Once the players have their cards the betting can begin, here are the most common bets in poker.

Open betting

The first voluntary bet by any player is called the opening bet or opening the pot; opening bets can differ depending on what type of poker is being played.

Call bet

Calling in poker means that you match the bet or raise that is already on the table, i.e. if the player before you bets £10 then if you call you will also put £10 in to match the bet. Once all active players have ‘called’ the game moves onto the next betting round.

Check

If none of the active players have opened the betting a player can check; this is like passing to the next player or calling a bet which is currently zero. The betting cycle continues to the next person, but if someone opens the betting then all of the other players will have to call of raise to stay in the game.

Raise bet

A raise bet is used to increase the size of the pot and potentially force some players out of the game. If a bet is raised all of the active players will have to call or raise themselves to stay in the game, or fold until the next game.

Raise bets must be at least equal to the previous bet, i.e. if a player bets £5, then the next player can raise it by £5 making it £10 to call (or £5 extra if a player has already bet).

Folding

To fold in poker a player discards his current cards and sits out on the rest of that game; the player does not have to bet any more during the betting rounds, but the player cannot win the round even if they had the best cards. The player is eligible for all future games.

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Finding the right bingo site

There are an abundance of bingo sites online for gamers to choose from. For new gamers this can get a little overwhelming, and the vast choice of sites offering slightly different options can stifle the initial intention of simply getting online to play; however, there is a way to maximise the playing time for an individual who wants to find a site to call their own.

Read through the content of a site before handing over any contact details in the form of email addresses or any other information. There are plenty of sites to consider, so there is no need to ’make do’ for the sake of playing a game quickly. If anything at all has an undesirable element, move on to the next option swiftly.

Shop around

There are various bingo reviews online that give a detailed rundown of the pros and cons of the various gaming sites. These are an excellent resource for locating the most reputable and popular sites and can save a player a lot of time trawling the net searching for a good bingo site.

When a player has found a site that they can work with, it is advisable to stick with it. By developing a presence on a particular site, it is possible to get to know the community of players. These are often experienced individuals who have been in the shoes of the new player, and their advice can significantly increase the player’s knowledge of the game and also improve their chances of winning.

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Who maintains fair play online?

Gambling in casinos although fun, glamorous and exciting, is not always practical.  Most people do not live near one and because of the locations and the time and money it takes to reach one, up until the recent past, a visit to a casino had to remain an occasional treat for most people.  However, with the proliferation online gambling websites all that has changed and everyone with a broadband connection can play any time of day or night, from the comfort of their own homes.  Some might be put off by the facelessness of these sites; in a real casino we can see the croupier and the cards being dealt in order from the shoe, but online how do we know it is fair and the odds are not stacked in favour of the house?

To reassure those with doubts, most websites will clearly advertise that they are moderated and certified by an official body.  Gambling authorities put measures in place to ensure that these websites consistently meet certain criteria and that they and their software operate to the highest industry standards of fairness; in this way, the players are protected.  The standards are enforced and maintained through regular inspections, reviewing, and monitoring by one or more of these agencies.  These regulatory bodies also, in many cases, publish material to make players aware of their rights and responsibilities, as well as offering safety advice and dispute resolution where necessary.

These agencies are comprised of staff with professional auditing expertise, technical software experts and teams dedicated to social responsibility.  Some gambling websites demonstrate how seriously they take their responsibility to users by working with specialised counselling services to provide information and support for players who experience problems with gambling addiction.

Gambling websites provide links to the bodies by which they are certified and with whom they work in partnership so it is easy to find reassurance before you play.

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Playing Blackjack online

Playing blackjack digitally is a great way to get a blackjack fix without having to travel to a real casino.  Most online casino websites will have blackjack games.  There are even specific blackjack websites that will provide a selection of variants of the game to give people the chance to experience new rule structures.

The rules

The rules of blackjack are very simple.  The idea of the game is to simply draw cards from a dealer with the aim of getting as close to the number 21 as possible, without going over.  The dealer then plays the same game and whoever is closest to the number 21 wins.  With some versions of the game, the dealer will have specific rules for themselves, for example; if they get a collection of cards that exceed the total of 17 they won’t be able to take more cards unless the player is beating them.

Playing online

Gambling websites can be perfect for both seasoned professionals and those who don’t have a lot of experience.  The best thing about online casino websites is that players will be able to read the rules in detail before playing and with some websites they will even be able to test their skills using “fake” money before they place real cash on the table.  This can be a great way to increase the confidence of a player before they begin, which will increase the overall level of game enjoyment.

Getting paid

Casino payment methods differ between each website.  Some of them will support wire transfers, whilst others may need to use a third party payment processor.  Upon winning cash, the player will usually have the option of withdrawing money using one of these payment methods, or will be able to use their winnings to gamble their money and try to win more.

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What games can you play in casinos?

If you have never set foot in a casino before you may be wondering what kind of games are available to play. Casinos can be thrilling and exciting places and offer a variety of games on which you can try your luck and in some cases win significant amounts of money.

If you are a novice in the gambling arena try the slot machines; they require little knowledge of the game, but can give great cash prizes. As you do not need to spend a lot of money most casino customers can afford to play them for quite a long period of time.

Other casino games include card games; one of the most popular being blackjack. The object of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible. You play against the dealer and do not have to worry about card suits. If your cards add up to more than 21, you lose.

Poker has become increasingly popular recently, but in order to be successful you need to have a thorough understanding of the rules. Poker is a game for the more skilful player.

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