Online Craps: Learning the Basics of the Game

September 3, 2014 Sarah Ryan

Online craps is one of the more intimidating games you’ll find at the casino. In order to play like a professional, you would need to dedicate a significant amount of time to learning all about this notorious game. For this reason, online craps are great. If you register as a free player you can practice as much as you want before risking any hard earned cash. Where online craps fall short, however, is in terms of the social aspect of the game.

Craps is arguably the most entertaining game you’ll come across at any land-based casino. It’s a theatrical game with dramatic tossing of the dice and cheering crowds. A high-energy craps game is almost guaranteed to draw a crowd. Online craps games offer a limited social component via live chat, which allows players to communicate with one another during live, multi-player games. Unfortunately this doesn’t have the same level of excitement one experiences while gathered around a real craps table.

The History of Online Craps

Based originally on the British game “Hazard,” craps was later played in New Orleans in the 18^th century. The name comes from the French word “crapaud,” which means “toad.” It was thought that when gamblers huddled around the craps tables, they looked like a group of toads perched on their haunches.

When French traders and noblemen brought the game to America it was virtually the same game that had been played in Europe. There were some minor adjustments, namely a few rules were added to make the game fairer. Online craps and the craps games you’d encounter in a land-based casino is different than street craps, which focuses more on the rolling of the dice and removes many of the complex betting rules that are associated with the traditional version of the game.

How to Play Online Craps

The beauty and frustration with online craps comes from the fact that the game is relatively easy to learn, but challenging to master. It’s entirely possible to learn the basics of craps within minutes, but to really understand the different types of wagers requires research and lots of practice. However, craps is definitely worth learning. Online craps has some of the best odds, but also some of the worst. Study and hands on experience will help you to identify the right bets.

Online Craps Bets Explained

Here’s a brief explanation of some of the more common craps bets:

Place Bets

Place bets offer some of the best odds at the craps table. These bets are made on “point” numbers, which are four, five, six, eight, nine and ten. Place bets can be made at any time during a round of online craps. A place bet involves wagering on a set number being rolled prior to the next roll of a 7.

Come Bets

Come bets are the same as pass line bets, but you can lay down a come bet with every throw of the dice, once the point has been determined. It is one of the better wagers you can make in an online craps game.

Other common online craps best are the Don’t Come Bet, Hard Way Bets, Horn Bets, Pass Bets, and Don’t Pass Bets. In order to be truly successful at the online craps tables it’s important to familiarize yourself with all possible bets and the payout percentages for each. Play for fun until you’ve mastered the basics. That way you can preserve your bankroll for a real online craps gambling adventure!

Online Casino Baccarat 101: A Beginner’s Guide

August 23, 2014 Jeff Mott

Online casino baccarat is among the most popular of all the casino games. There are many variations to the game of online casino baccarat. Two versions of the game, railway and deux, are skill-based, whereas the North American version of online casino baccarat are strictly games of chance.

Online casino baccarat, the game favored by the one and only James Bond, is a simple, yet very sophisticated game. The player has limited betting options, which makes the game very easy to play. You can bet on the banker’s card, your card, or you can bet on a tie between you and the banker. To win the game, you need only obtain cards that have a total value that is the closest to 9. Face cards have a value of 10, aces have a value of 1. If the total count is ten or more the player must discard one. The remaining card is the card value.

Online Casino Baccarat Terms

Natural: A natural hand consists of two cards that add up to 8 or 9. Unless both hands are equal, a natural hand is an automatic win. If the hands are equal, then the tie must be broken by drawing additional cards from the deck in order to determine a winner.
Le Petit: A score of 8 is referred to as Le petit. When you have Le Petit, your opponent cannot draw a third card. Le Grande is a score of 9.
Draw a card: A third card can be drawn if your score is between 0 and 5 and nobody else scores Le petit or Le grand.
Banker: The banker is one of the two hands is a game of online casino baccarat. The banker doesn’t have to be the dealer.
Face cards: Face cards include King, Queen, Jack and Tens. The value of face cards is zero.
Player: The hand that is not the banker is referred to as the “player.”

Online Casino Baccarat Tips and Strategy

Avoid spending money on so-called “winning baccarat systems” as they are usually just a scam and won’t lead to big winnings.
Learn the rules of online baccarat before you start playing. Familiarize yourself with the terminology, some of which is included above.
Practice by playing online casino baccarat for free before wagering for real money.
Know your odds before placing your bets so that you understand the probability of winning each hand.
Money management is an extremely important element of good strategy and should never be overlooked, no matter which game you play. Set a limit for each gambling session and stick to it no matter what.

The fact that online casino baccarat has a reputation for being a sophisticated and somewhat exclusive game can be intimidating. Casinos will try to give the impression that this game is special and is reserved only for the rich and famous. This is simply not true. Online Baccarat is a simple game to play and can provide lots of quality entertainment for players from all walks of life.

American Roulette versus European Roulette

August 21, 2014 Michael Schultz

American Roulette came on the scene long after European Roulette had already been established. European Roulette consists of a large 2-color wheel containing the numbers 0 to 36. A ball is dropped and the wheel is spun. Players can bet on the numbers or colors they think the ball will ultimately rest on. The game is easy to play and requires no special skills and yet it’s not one that you can easily beat. So it’s a bit odd that there would have been a need to create a different version of the game. However that is exactly what happened with the introduction of American Roulette.

A Short History of European Roulette

Before we take a look at American Roulette, and how it differs from its European counterpart, let’s start by taking a closer look at European Roulette. The wheel that is used for European Roulette was actually developed first in France. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as the French wheel. European Roulette became extremely popular among European players. Before long, news of this entertaining game spread overseas. The European Roulette wheel contains slots numbered from 1 to 36 and has an additional slot for a 0. The layout of these numbers is completely random and has no symmetry. American casino operators did not care for the odds of this particular game as they didn’t favor the house over the player. So, in order to increase their earnings with this game, they created the American Roulette wheel, which contains significant differences from the original European model.

What Makes American Roulette Different From European Roulette?

American Roulette includes some big changes from the European version of the game. American Roulette wheels contain 38 slots. Aside from the 0, there is an additional spot for 00. This is why American Roulette is sometimes referred to as “Double Zero” Roulette and European Roulette can be referred to as “Single Zero” Roulette. By incorporating this additional slot, the odds no longer favor the player. The casinos now have the edge. The layout of the American Roulette wheel is also different from that of a European wheel. American Roulette wheels have an established pattern whereby the numbers are placed in pairs directly across from one another. This is a more appealing design which was meant to cater to American gamblers. Players soon realized, however, that they weren’t experiencing the same level of good fortune when playing American Roulette. Players did not realize just how big a difference one additional slot could make when it comes to the odds. But the reality is that the odds on a single bet of American Roulette is 5.25% as opposed to the 2.7% edge a European wheel gives to the casino.

The Bottom Line

Both versions of this widely popular game offer great entertainment value. But it is important to understand that these two games might sound the same, however there are major differences between the two. These differences can greatly impact your chances of financial success. So, the moral of this story is that when you want better odds at the roulette table, always stick with American Roulette!

Work at Home: Making a Living Playing at Online Casinos

August 13, 2014 Sarah Ryan

Work at home opportunities are popping up all over these days. The economy has forced many people to seek alternate employment for lifestyle reasons or simply to supplement existing income. Work at home jobs allow people to work from the comfort of home. The benefits of this go far being simply generating income. People who work at home not only enjoy the flexibility of setting their own hours, they are also better equipped to juggle childcare or other responsibilities outside of work. Furthermore, people who work at home enjoy additional savings in the form of commuting costs, clothing, etc. Many employers these days are offering work at home options for their employees because it allows them to save on the overhead of offices, computers, and other benefits usually afforded to traditional employees. Although work at home employment can be a great alternative for traditional employment, it doesn’t necessarily work in every situation. Due to the huge jackpots that can be won, some people look at playing at online casinos as the ultimate work from home opportunity. While there’s always exceptions to every rule, and certainly there have been many people who have made their fortunes from playing at an online casino, there are more people that only ever break even. Some even end up losing money in the end. If you choose to play online casinos as a work at home job you will soon discover that in order to succeed you will need to invest a lot of time to develop a winning strategy.

Preparing to Work at Home With Online Casino Games

Before you even consider playing online casino games as a work at home job you need to find the game that suits you the best. You can do this by playing several games to find the one you excel at and then applying strategy to increase your odds of winning even further. When playing games as a work from home job you will need to stick with games of skill over games of chance. A good example of this is poker. Poker requires math skills and strategic thinking in order to maximize your earning potential. Just like any other profession, in order to be truly successful you will need to devote a considerable amount of time to honing your skills. You’ll need to play consistently and adopt several strategies in order to develop a winning betting system.

Work at Home Keys to Success

You should never attempt to play online casino games as a work at home job if you can’t afford to handle losses. Starting out, your winnings might not be that big; if you’re lucky you can make a few hundred dollars a week. You might make more money, but if you have a bad break, you could end up with less than what you started with. If you want the chance of getting big winnings a very important part of your work at home job will be effective bankroll management. When you work at home playing online games it’s vitally important that you set a target for how much money you’ll need to generate each day. Once you hit your goal, you should stop playing and you’re your money for the next day. This will help you to avoid any unnecessary losses. If you manage to develop your skills to the point where you are able to earn a consistent income then online casino games can indeed be a great work from home opportunity. However, if you can’t, then you should stick to gambling only for entertainment. There are plenty of other work at home jobs that might suit you better.

Free Slots: The Top Reasons to Play Free Online Slots

August 11, 2014 Sarah Ryan

Free slots are enjoyed by gamblers the world over, and with good reason! People everywhere are drawn to slot machines because they provide unparalleled entertainment value and you don’t need any special skills in order to play them. The games come in a variety of styles and themes so there’s something to appeal to everyone. The only thing lacking in free slots are the jackpots. You can still experience the thrill of winning, you just can’t take that money to the bank. But, while you might still be thinking “why should I play free slots if I can’t withdraw my winnings?” The fact is, by playing free slots you can actually increase your chances of taking home real money winnings. Below, we’ll outline the steps to show you how.

Here are just a few key reasons to play free slots before you deposit real money at an online casino:

Free Slots Tip #1: All Slot Machines Are Not Created Equal

Although they can look strikingly similar in terms of appearance, online slots machines are different than their land-based counterparts. For example, instead of pulling on the “arm” to set the reels in motion, you need only click your mouse at an online casino. You also don’t need to feed the machine with coins. Instead, you would have a balance of funds that would apply to any game you choose. For this reason it is very important that you pay close attention to the denominations of each bet. This will determine how long your money will last versus the potential value of the payout. Playing free slots before becoming a real money player can really help you to familiarize yourself with the betting amounts available at your chosen slot machines. It will help prevent situations in which you might think you’re only betting a quarter, when in fact, your wager could be as high as $5 for each spin of the reels.

Free Slots Tip #2: Avoid Confusing Slot Machines with Table Games

Free slots are not the same as table games. Some table games have higher limits than others. Just like with free slots, you can also practice playing table games without having to make a deposit. Learning which games suit your budget can help extend your bankroll.

Free Slots Tip #3: Learn About Betting Limits

Online slot machines have rules that apply to particular games. For example, in order to qualify for a win on a progressive slot machine you must bet the maximum coin denomination in order to trigger a jackpot win. Playing free slots will give you a chance to learn these rules so that you don’t end up getting a nasty surprise when it comes time to cash out your winnings.

Playing free slots is a great way to try out all the games you want without any risk. You’ll discover which games you like, how they function, and any rules that might get in the way of maximizing your winning potential. Some casinos even offer unlimited free slots play, so if you’re simply looking for some entertainment and aren’t concerned about real money winnings, these might just be what you’re looking for!

Online Slots Games – A Beginner’s Guide to Playing

August 4, 2014 Jeff Mott

Online slots games often fill the casinos because they are extremely popular with players. One of the reasons that online slots games are so popular with players is that they are so simple to play. Despite the fact that there are thousands of different online slots game variations, they can all be played in a similar fashion.

You only need to learn to play one variation. Once you’ve done that, you can apply the same principles to each of the other games. Below is the basic information every slots player needs to know in order to have the best playing experience possible.

#1: Reading the Pay Table

Before you invest any money in online slots games you should familiarize yourself with the game first. Take a good look at the pay table. Pay tables will indicate if there are any special betting requirements for the bonus games, jackpots, and prizes.

#2: Choosing a Coin Denomination

Find a machine that best suits your particular budget. Aim for getting in at least thirty spins. If your budget is tight, a slot machine with big denominations is probably not your best bet.

#3: Inserting Your Money

After you’ve picked a game to play, you’ll need to purchase some credits. For online slots games, this means making a deposit at the online casino, which will give you a corresponding amount of money to use for wagering.

#4: Selecting a Bet Size

Once your account has been credited with your deposit you will need to determine how much you want to wager. You can “Bet Max” to place the largest bet possible, or you can choose from one of the other options:

Bet One – Pressing this button uses one credit. You can press it multiple times to increase your wager.
Bet Max – This button allows you to wager the maximum number of coins for a single spin.
Spin Button – Press this button to repeat your most recent wager amount.
Coins per line – This button allows you to bet one or more coins for each pay line

Once you’ve picked the amount of your wager you simply need to spin the reels of your chosen online slot games. You can repeat your bets by clicking the “Spin” or “Max Bet” buttons.

#5: Cashing Out

If you are lucky enough to win, you can click on the cashier button. This will take you to the casino’s banking section. Here you can place a withdrawal request for some or all of your winnings.

Additional Online Slots Games Buttons

Although they’re not always available on all online slots games, below are some additional buttons that you might come across and what they mean.

Help – Help buttons gives players access to basic information about the slots game. It usually includes things like game rules, bonus rounds, and any other important details related to that particular game.
Start Feature – Some bonus feature slots have a “Start Feature” button. You may be required to press this button after hitting the necessary symbols for the bonus round. Clicking on this button will start your free spins.
Gamble – Australian-style video slots and some other games give you the option to gamble your winnings. Click this button to advance to the gamble screen where you can take a shot at doubling your current win.
Live Chat – Some online slots games will have a “Live Chat” button you can click on to start an online chat session with a Customer Support Agent. You can ask them any questions you might have and get a response in real-time.

Online slots games can provide countless hours of entertainment and potentially huge winnings. That being said, keep in mind that the payout percentages are low in comparison to other games. Budget yourself and wager accordingly to extract maximum entertainment value.

Slot Machines: Understanding The Most Common Myths

August 3, 2014 Jeff Mott

Slot machines are among the most misunderstood of all casino games. This is important to understand because slot machines are also some of the most popular games and are beloved by the majority of online casino players. Unlike the early slot machines, modern slot machines, whether they be spinning reels or video slots, operate using a Random Number Generator. Commonly referred to as RNG, this is what determines the payouts and combinations for slot machines. It cannot be manipulated or altered in any way; online slot machines are purely games of chance.

Slot Machines Myth #1 – Combinations are Equal in Terms of a Win

Slot machine winning and losing combinations are all pre-programmed. There are many more losing and small winning combinations than big wins and large jackpot combinations.

Here’s a simple example of how slots work. Assume that the optimum combination starts at number one and the combinations will get worse as the bigger the number gets. The following combinations will be available when you place your bet by spinning the reels: 1,2,2,3,3,3,4,4,4,4,5,5,5,5,5,6,6,6,6,6,6,6,6,7,7,7,7,7 etc. As you can see, the top jackpot appears just once and as jackpots get smaller, they appear more frequently. The more the online slot machines are played, the more losing combinations or “near misses” will appear.

Slot Machines Myth #2 – A Near Miss Mean a Win is Close

Anyone who plays online slot machines regularly can tell you that after playing for some time you’re likely to hit several combinations that are very close to a big payout. This is not unintentional. These “near misses” are meant to make you feel that a big win is extremely close at hand. It’s hard to walk away when you can feel that a huge jackpot could be just a click away. The hard truth is that these near misses are just misses. There is no reason to think that you’re any closer to a big win because the RNG controls every combination and these aren’t based on any previous combinations. This is just a ploy by the slot machine manufacturers to keep you playing.

Slot Machines Myth #3 – Avoid Them After a Jackpot Win

Because the outcome of every spin is unrelated to any other, just because a jackpot has been one it doesn’t mean that the slot machines have “gone cold.” There is just as much of a chance of a machine paying out a jackpot twice in a row as there is if there were multiple spins between wins.

Slot Machines Myth #4 – Worst of the Casino Bets

Sometimes people will try to steer players away from the slot machines because they tend to have lower payout percentages than other casino games. This is not entirely true. For example, craps tables offer bets that have worse odds than the majority of slot machines.

Sure, there are other casino games that offer much more competitive payout percentages. However, these games generally require a certain level of skill in order to capitalize on the higher payouts. Without the necessary skills, players can easily end up being worse off than they would have been had they opted for games of chance like slot machines.

Online Blackjack: Advice from the Experts

August 1, 2014 Michael Schultz

Online blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. One of the reasons for its popularity is that blackjack players can significantly reduce the house edge simply through the application of basic strategy. Make your online blackjack experience more profitable by following these simple tips:

Online Blackjack: Knowing the Odds

In order to succeed at online blackjack you need to familiarize yourself with basic strategy before taking a seat at the virtual tables. What it comes down to is knowing how to determine the odds for each winning hand and then wagering according to the most likely outcome. Each set of cards in a game of blackjack has 52 cards. You already know the value of three of these cards; two of yours as well as the dealer’s up card. You can therefore work out the probability of the dealer drawing a specific card. You just need to figure out how many cards of that value are left in the deck and then divide that number by 49.

For example, say the dealer draws a 4. You’re dealt a total of 12 so chances are you’ll what to take another card to get closer to hitting 21. If the dealer doesn’t draw a 10, there’s a 32.65% risk of getting a 10 or more, which is a bust. However, it’s equally likely that the dealer will draw a card with a value of 10. Unless the dealer has a soft 17, in most versions of blackjack the dealer would be required to Hit. In this scenario the dealer has a 40% chance of busting. So, if you Stand, there’s a greater chance that the dealer would bust than you developing a strong hand.

Instead of having to do all the odds calculations in your head, you can simply use a strategy chart. These charts will show you when the odds are favorable to Hit or Stand. The odds will differ based on the number of decks being used so you this is something that will need to be factored in to your overall strategy.

Focus on Every Hand in Online Blackjack

In online blackjack, the deck is shuffled after each hand played. Therefore, when you’re considering your next move you should only focus on the current hand. Previous hands have no bearing on the outcome of future hands. Hot and cold streaks can occur at any time. So while you may be inclined to alter your betting strategy based on which way your luck is running, you’ll be better offer sticking to basic strategy over time.

Never Follow the Dealer in Online Blackjack

This piece advice is pretty self-explanatory. In online blackjack the “dealer” has specific rules to follow. Usually the dealer is required to Hit on a soft 17 and must continue to draw until they reach a hard 17 or bust. They can’t Split or Double Down. Because their options are more limited than yours, don’t follow their lead if you want to maximize your chances of winning.

Know the Value of Online Blackjack Bets

Even though you have options available that aren’t available to the dealer, this doesn’t mean you should exercise all of them. For example, never take Insurance. Insurance is offered when the dealer draws an Ace. If you take Insurance you can bet cut your original bet in half. If the dealer has blackjack you will be paid out 2:1. However, if the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, your Insurance wager will be lost. Again, by following basic strategy, you will see that an Insurance bet is rarely ever worth making.

Progressive Jackpot Machines – 3 Varieties

July 28, 2014 Sarah Ryan

Progressive jackpot machines are some of the most popular games to play at any casino. Walk into any land-based casino and you’re likely to see a bank of Wheel of Fortune machines in the back, beckoning players to enter. Progressive jackpot machines are very attractive to players because they offer the possibility of a massive payout. You don’t need to feed progressive jackpot machines like you do a regular machine for the chance to win big. You can join in anytime and have the same odds as any other player.

Stand-Alone Progressive Jackpot Machines

Stand-alone progressive jackpot machines are not linked to other machines. These machines don’t have a fixed maximum jackpot. Instead, it uses a percentage of the total amount of coins played and combines that with the award resulting in the highest winning combination. Stand-alone progressive machines have a counter on the front of the game that displays the jackpot amount. The payout is usually equal to that of other machines, it’s just distributed in a different way to vary the top prize amount. The total jackpot amounts for stand-alone machines are substantially lower than networked progressive jackpot machines.

Proprietary Progressive Jackpot Machines

Proprietary progressive jackpot machines are uniquely themed and linked machines that are owned and operated by a particular gaming company. They can be exclusive to one casino or they may be available on a number of properties owned by the gaming company. While these machines might not offer the largest progressive jackpots, they can offer substantial winnings, sometimes in the millions. They also tend to hit more frequently than the widely-networked progressive machines.

Networked Progressive Jackpot Machines

Networked progressive jackpot machines are the most popular because they feature life-altering jackpots. Instead of being owned and operated by a single gaming company, these machines are licensed by several gaming companies from a casino software provider. Each licensee’s customers contribute to the total jackpot amount. Some of the biggest progressive jackpot machine suppliers are Realtime Gaming and Cryptologic. Because there are so many casinos contributing their wagers, the total jackpot tends to grow rapidly and can easily add up to millions of dollars in potential winnings. Due to the cost of operating these machines the payout percentage for these types of progressives is substantially lower than the other kinds of slot machines.

With million dollar jackpots hanging in the balance it’s no wonder why networked progressive jackpot machines are such a draw for players. However, it’s important to remember that the odds of winning these jackpots is very similar to that of winning a national lottery. It can definitely happen, but it’s rare. If you want a better chance of winning you might want to stick with proprietary or stand-along progressives. You could also divide your bankroll, allocating a set budget for high risk/reward games and leave the rest for more conservative play. This gives you more entertainment value because you’ll be able to play longer, but still has the thrill of chasing a mega-jackpot!

Online Baccarat Myths – Discover the Real Deal

July 27, 2014 Jeff Mott

When people describe the game of online baccarat they will often reference James Bond. This is because baccarat was the game favored by the iconic English spy. Bond represents the ultimate in style and prestige. Baccarat’s association with the notorious spy has both helped and hurt the game. It has definitely increased the profile of the game and contributed greatly to its popularity. However, it has also made the game seem far more intimidating to play than it actually is. But that is just one of the many common misconceptions when it comes to the game of online baccarat. Below are some other myths that have persisted throughout the years.

Online Baccarat Myth #1: The Martingale System

If you’ve spent any time researching betting strategy you will no doubt be familiar with the Martingale system. This controversial strategy can be applied to many different games including blackjack and baccarat. It is based on the idea of doubling one’s bet after each loss so that a win would not only cover all previous loses, but would also generate a profit equal to the original wager. Because the Martingale system only works at tables that have no maximum betting limits, you’d have to do some looking around to even locate such a table. You also need a substantial bankroll that lets you cover the exponential cost of doubling your wagers. Most players don’t realize until it’s too late just how fast a $10 bet can turn into $1,000.

Online Baccarat Myth #2: Counting Cards

Card counting is highly effective way for blackjack players to beat the casino. Contrary to popular belief, the practice is not illegal. However, most casino prohibit card counting one, which does suggest that it does indeed work. And yet, because baccarat and blackjack have some things in common people will often mistakenly believe that the principles of card counting can be applied to both games. This is definitely not the case. Unlike in blackjack, the cards used in a game of baccarat don’t get returned to the shoe. So not only is card counting virtually impossible to do in a land-based game of baccarat, it’s entirely impossible to do with online baccarat.

Online Baccarat Myth #3: Profitability

All casino games have a house advantage. This means that over an extended period of time, everyone loses. That being said, baccarat holds just a 1.24% advantage over the player. This makes online baccarat a far more profitable game than other casino games such as roulette and can be a much better investment than slots.

Online Baccarat Myth #4: It’s a Highroller’s Game

As was stated at the very beginning of this article, online baccarat has a reputation of being a glamorous, exclusive card game. The simple truth is that you need little-to-no-skill to play online baccarat. You don’t even need to know what the cards mean before you start playing; it’s that easy. So don’t be intimidated by the game. It’s one of the most accommodating games you’ll find at the casino!