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Real Money Video Poker

Poker is one of the few card games that is as popular in casinos as it is outside them. So casinos often try to come up with variants of the game to attract more players. One of the most successful variants has been video poker. A lot of people are often intimidated by the poker table. They are worried that they might end up making a foolish move in front of other players. So, casinos devised the concept of video poker, to lure those people who would love to chance their hand at the game and test their skill, but were too afraid to do so. Video poker has gained a lot of popularity and can be played at real money casinos online.

History

In the 1970s technology made it possible to attach a TV screen to a computing device. So, the first video poker machines came into picture around the same time when personal computers were being introduced. International Gaming Technologies (then known as SIRCOM) made video poker what it is today, by introducing the first video poker machine in 1979, which was used to play Jacks or Better based on the rules of Draw Poker. As decades passed, the game became hugely popular as people were able to play poker without having to sit in an intimidating environment of a poker table. The game is especially popular in Las Vegas casinos.

How video poker is played

Some people end up confusing video poker with slot machines. The make and look of both is very similar, but the game play is entirely different. Slot machines are based on pure luck. You insert a coin pull the lever and wait for the result. There is a significantly high house edge when it comes to slot machines. In video poker, as is the case with most skill based games in a casino, if you play optimally you can reduce the house edge a lot. Video poker in a way is a hybridized version of a slot machine and a table game. Read More “Real Money Video Poker” →

Real Money Blackjack

Playing blackjack for money has become a favorite pastime of millions across the world. Blackjack is a popular gambling game that combines great odds with fast-paced action. A game of skill and strategy, it has the potential to earn you a ton of cash, provided you play smartly. Here is a look at how to play real money blackjack, and some useful strategies you can employ to make the most of the game.

Basics of real money blackjack

The objective of a real money blackjack player is to make a hand worth close to 21 points without exceeding this number. The numbered cards have a value equal to the number printed on them, i.e., a five is valued at five points, while aces are worth 11 or one, and face cards are valued at ten. You start off with cards dealt face up – the highest hand would be an ace and a ten-point card, referred to as blackjack.

Real Money Blackjack

After you make a bet, two face up cards are dealt to you, while the dealer has a two-card hand, one of which is face down. In case the dealer has an ace or a ten, he will see if the players have a blackjack. His blackjack can beat all player hands, unless there is a player blackjack, in which case there will be ‘standoff’ or ‘push’. In other scenarios, the player blackjack wins instantly at 3-2 odds. Read More “Real Money Blackjack” →

Real Money Baccarat

Baccarat is one of the most popularly played games at casinos around the world. The game has been associated with the social elite. The online version of baccarat is as popular as the original version. There are a number of variants to the baccarat game – these include ‘punto banco’, ‘baccarat banque’ and baccarat ‘chemin de fer’.

Part of the reason for baccarat’s popularity among gamblers is that the game is simple to learn and yet manages to create excitement for the players. Also, unlike other real money casino games, baccarat does not require too many skills from the player, as it is a game of chance. The online version of baccarat is provided at most online casinos.

real money Baccarat

Rules of the game

There are two hands involved in a game of baccarat, the “player” and the “banker”. In a normal casino, up to 14 players and a banker can play at a single table. The objective of the game is to predict which hand would win the game, the player hand or the dealer hand. There are three possible outcomes to the game- the winning hand could either be that of the player or the banker, or it could end up as a tie. The hand with the value closest to 9 is declared the winner. Read More “Real Money Baccarat” →

Online Scratchcards

You must have come across scratch tickets sometime or the other. Together with online bingo, they are present everywhere now and known by various names like scratchie, scratch cards, scratch-its etc. Now even cell phone companies are using scratch cards for storing and selling pin codes. Be it instant lotteries, promotional offers by companies, gambling, or even online games, scratch cards have fans everywhere. Where luck was supposed to be the sole factor for winning at scratch cards, now people have started devising strategies for winning.

History

The phenomenon of scratch tickets dates back to early 1970′s, when scientists used computer algorithms to generate instant lottery. Astro Med Inc. received the US patent for scratch tickets in 1987. Early scratch tickets required users to match a few numbers which were the same as the winning amount. If they scratched off, and numbers matched they won the same amount. As the game started becoming popular, people were required to scratch-off and match particular images or symbols. These games also started to churn out variation of famous gambling games like poker or blackjack. If not games then they used to be linked with a common theme like NASCAR or baseball or comics. Scientific Games Corporation is the major manufacturer of scratch cards around the world. Read More “Online Scratchcards” →

All about Online Casino Bonuses

Online casinos are all about bonuses. There are bonuses on offer in every step and this is one of the reasons why so many players prefer playing casino games online. But are all the bonuses as good as they look? Look carefully and you will come across some pretty tough terms and conditions at times.

Joining bonus

The first bonus that you get in an online casino is a joining bonus. All the casinos offer joining bonuses on the players’ first deposit. Some casinos match the first deposit and some casinos even offer 400% of the first deposit as joining bonus. But how can casinos offer so much money when the player may just walk out with the joining bonus? Here lies the catch – you cannot cash out your joining bonus. You need to make wagers as per the requirements of different casinos and only then can you use the money. Many of the low risk games don’t let you use the joining bonus. Go through the terms and conditions before you join an online casino and see how they treat their joining bonus.

Cashable and non-cashable bonus

Cashable bonuses are those that you can cash out but these bonuses are very limited in number. What you mostly get from online casinos are non-cashable bonuses. These bonuses are also called phantom or sticky bonuses. So, you will see $100 in your account but you will not be able to cash it out. In the case of a phantom bonus the bonus amount disappears when you cash out. Sticky bonuses stay in your account till they expire.

Comp points

Comp bonuses are available both on land based and online casinos. These bonuses can be cashed out or they can be used for complimentary offers and other prizes. However, earning comp points could be tough because of the small amount offered. For example, an online casino may offer 1 comp point for every $10 wagered and the value of 100 comp points may equal $1. So, in order to get $1 as comp you actually spend $1,000. The ratio – a measly 0.10%.

But then bonuses are bonuses and you can use them for increasing your chances of winning. When you use bonuses for playing games you don’t use your own money and any win is an add-on to your existing money. This is why, even though bonuses may not be as liquid as you expect they are still liquid.

Platinum Play Review

Established: 2004
Software: Microgaming
Available platforms: download, instant play, mobile (most existing devices)
Languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Greek, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese
Currencies accepted: £, $, €, AU$, CA$, NZ$, CHF, DKK, SEK, AR$, BR$ depending on the payment method you use
Deposit methods: Credit Card, Debit Card, various prepaid cards, Neteller, Skrill (Moneybookers), Click2Pay, ECOcard, Click&Buy, EntroPay, bank transfer, bank draft, various localized e-wallets
Licensed in: Malta
Support: 24/7 live chat in English, Email, Toll free phone (30 destinations, 8 languages)

Bonuses & promotions

Platinum Play online casino calls its welcome bonus the New Player Promotion. Whatever its name is, its a very attractive package. You start off by getting 1,500 free bets which you can use on any of the 400 games available. Note: You do not have to make a deposit in order to receive the bonus. All you need to do is open a real money account. To withdraw your winning from this promotion, you need to wager your bonus at least 30 times. If and when you decide to deposit at Platinum Play, you will receive a 100% up to $200 match bonus on your 1st deposit.

Besides the cool welcome package, Platinum Play holds promotions which change on a monthly basis. Platinum Play also has an international slots league, where you can choose from two types of slots tournaments. The first type are scheduled tournaments in which you can participate by invite only which you will receive in your email and by the casino messaging system. The second type of slots tournament available at Platinum Play are Sit N Go tournaments to which you need to register. Once the required number of players are registered, the slots tournament will start. As soon as the slots tournament is over the winners will be notified. Read More “Platinum Play Review” →

Real Money Casinos For Mac Computers

Online gambling has emerged as a multi billion dollar business around the world. Gambling sites are always looking to expand and they often do so by targeting anyone who is untouched by the phenomenon of online gambling. Macintosh users fall under one such segment for these sites.

When you look at people who use computers today, you will realize that you can classify them into three categories. The first group has people who use Microsoft Windows operating system, the second has those who use Apple’s Macintosh computers, and then there are those who use open source platforms. Now, 95% of the people use Windows and the remaining 5% comprises mostly of Mac users.

Apple has come back strong after the mid 90′s, when it was in a very bad state, and is growing stronger today. So, the number of people using Macs is increasing. Because of this, it has become very important for online sites to make sure that their software can be used by Mac users as well. If they do not do this, then they miss out on a significant number of people who might be interested in online gambling.

Background

Here is a short note on the history of Mac, and why it is not supported by a lot of online gambling sites today.

Apple was bogged down by a lot of difficulties in the beginning of 90′s. During the later part, the company made resurgence with its state of the art desktops called iMacs. Read More “Real Money Casinos For Mac Computers” →

Real Money Casinos For US Players

The internet has not only changed the way we look at things but has also provided us with alternatives for things we cannot physically access. Casino sites are an excellent example of this. Many people crave for the excitement and the thrill of gambling, but not everyone has access to a land-based casino. For them, the concept of an online casino has been a boon. Online casinos for real money provide you with all the games that a normal casino does, while allowing you the luxury of playing these games from your preferred place, your home, workplace, or a café.

Real Money Casinos For US Players

But in recent years, online gambling has not been a very pleasant affair for US based players. With various laws against it, a lot of online casinos shifted base and stopped catering to the US players. With the strong action taken by the US government against the three major poker sites in recent months, the future of online gambling in the US looks quite bleak. However, there are a few people who are trying to put online gambling back on the US map. Here is a short note on the problems being faced by US casinos, and what the future has in store for them.

Laws against online gambling

The root causes of the problems faced by online gambling sites in the US are a couple of laws that impose restrictions on online gambling. These laws are not very clear and have been widely disputed.

Wire Act of 1961: The Wire Act, or the Federal Wire Act as it is often called, makes certain betting activities illegal. This law was aimed at penalizing people involved in betting activities or wagering via wired communication networks. According to this law, anyone who uses a wire communication facility for sending bets between states or in placing bets on a contest or a sporting event may have to face legal action. Read More “Real Money Casinos For US Players” →