In most cases, people contend that gambling is a game of chance that is why all winning bets are based on lady luck.
Most gamblers would insist that lady luck is the goddess of fate and chances of winning the game. They tend to believe that one stroke of lady luck on a players fate would definitely bring about winning streaks and endless shots of fame and fortune.
However, the concept of lady luck is basically based entirely on the fate of the person and not on the skill of the player depending on the game he or she is about to play.
No wonder why people always utter, “There goes lady luck again” to somebody who consistently wins the game.
However, the problem lies in the fact that the so-called lady luck is not always consistent from day one until day two or three.
On its entirety, the truth behind lady luck is basically dependent on the stroke of luck that falls upon the person right at that very moment.
On the other hand, mathematicians argue that they can combat lady luck into a more realistic viewpoint by using numbers instead of fate or what their stars tell them.
That is why critics of the “gaming industry” would rather call blackjack, roulettes, and other games in the casinos as part of the gaming industry and not gambling industry because they want to let the people believe that the probabilities of winning is not based on chances or some kind of lady luck but on the mathematical statistics of every move.
The Drawback behind Lady Luck
The problem with people relying on their lady luck to smile at them so as to ward off any bad luck is that the modern game tends to fall back on the superstitious beliefs of most primitive people.
Most of the losers tend to believe that they can ward off bad luck by using some techniques such as spreading some salts to ward off bad elements that bring bad luck.
Some even contend that the color of the clothes attract lady luck to come and sit with them.
The Conclusion
Consider this; some mathematicians contend that the odds of having or getting a royal flush are 1 in 649,739. This goes to show that if people will solely rely to lady luck, chances are they will definitely lose more than winning.
The bottom line: gambling is not about winning, it is entirely based on losing. The only winner is the casino owner who calls for the so-called “house advantage” and there is no lady luck to the rescue.
Monday, 31 December 2007
Trade secrets of online casino winners
The online casino business is so vast that it can probably outgrow the popularity of traditional casinos. With the onset of cyber casinos, interaction of players from around the world can be possible. As any gambling games, online casino can have rule breakers who can manipulate the game to their advantage. But you win and bring home large amounts of money fairly. Intrigued by trade secrets of online casino winners? Here are some of the known strategies and tips.
Winning in roulette
*Bet on only one color and stay with it during the whole duration of the game.
*Once you loose, double up or increase your next bet.
*In the occasion that you win, stick with the number you originally bet on.
Online Poker
*You can download a strategy card for a complete poker system online. Some of them might need your credit card number though.
*Sacrifice your straight or flush cards to convert them to at least one Royal. You might want to trade an ace with two high cards into a four- of –a- kind card. There is a bigger probability that you are going to get the latter.
Slots Machine
*Try to keep track of the average number of spins. When doing so, bet on the lowest available bet.
*Jot down the number of spins with a greater payoff. If your winnings are ten times your bet, stop and count the number of spins that would get you the same amount again.
*Increase your bet on the average number of spins that you have the greatest payoff. This system will make the slot machine to pay a larger pay out when you increase your bet.
Black Jack
*Just like poker, there is a strategy card you can refer to beat your playmates.
*Use only one value chip. In case you lost in one round, add another chip to your bet. On every win, decrease your bet by 2 chips. If you win a bet twice in a row, go back on betting one chip. Doing so, you bet more on the winning hands than you do for the losing hand. This is the way to a big payoff.
There are websites that offer downloadable versions of online casinos without betting with real money. This way you can put to practice some of essential tips provided above. You can buy a book or surf on some websites that offers online casino winning secrets too. Do some research and you will have a bigger chance on winning.
Winning in roulette
*Bet on only one color and stay with it during the whole duration of the game.
*Once you loose, double up or increase your next bet.
*In the occasion that you win, stick with the number you originally bet on.
Online Poker
*You can download a strategy card for a complete poker system online. Some of them might need your credit card number though.
*Sacrifice your straight or flush cards to convert them to at least one Royal. You might want to trade an ace with two high cards into a four- of –a- kind card. There is a bigger probability that you are going to get the latter.
Slots Machine
*Try to keep track of the average number of spins. When doing so, bet on the lowest available bet.
*Jot down the number of spins with a greater payoff. If your winnings are ten times your bet, stop and count the number of spins that would get you the same amount again.
*Increase your bet on the average number of spins that you have the greatest payoff. This system will make the slot machine to pay a larger pay out when you increase your bet.
Black Jack
*Just like poker, there is a strategy card you can refer to beat your playmates.
*Use only one value chip. In case you lost in one round, add another chip to your bet. On every win, decrease your bet by 2 chips. If you win a bet twice in a row, go back on betting one chip. Doing so, you bet more on the winning hands than you do for the losing hand. This is the way to a big payoff.
There are websites that offer downloadable versions of online casinos without betting with real money. This way you can put to practice some of essential tips provided above. You can buy a book or surf on some websites that offers online casino winning secrets too. Do some research and you will have a bigger chance on winning.
Bingo for Beginners
Bingo is probably one of the easiest games on the planet; all you need are bingo cards, bingo chips, the ability to recognize numbers, fast eyes and a prize, even children can do it.
Object of the game:
The object of the game is to complete the pattern called for in a certain game with the lowest number of calls. Patterns are determined before the game starts, it can either be a full horizontal, or vertical, a diagonal, an X, a box, or what they call block out, in which you’ll have to fill your whole card.
The Bingo Card
The Bingo card has the letters B, I, N, G and O across the top indicating five columns. Each column hast a set of numbers ranging from 1 to 75.
The B column has numbers from 1-15, the I column has numbers, 16-30, the N column has numbers from 31 – 45, the G column has numbers from 46 to 60, and the O column has numbers from 61 – 75. Each column may only have 5 numbers from their respective range.
The card forms a grid in which the middle grid, the third row of the N column is labeled free, this cell need not be filled.
The Game
First you need a Bingo card, you may have more than one bingo card at a time, depending on your labeling ability.
The game starts when the host tells everyone the pattern to be formed.
Listen for the fist ball, the host will call out a letter, either B, I, N, G or O, for the column and then a number, e.g. O-70.
Look for this number in your card and label it immediately.
The host continues to call out letters and numbers until someone finishes than pattern required.
The person with a finished pattern should immediately yell bingo! To inform everyone that she has finished the pattern and has won the game.
The host will then verify all the numbers and their position in your card, either by taking your card, or by you shouting out the numbers that made you form the patter.
Another bingo game may resume afterwards, either with the same or different pattern, or same or different prize.
The prize should be immediately given after a Bingo.
Tips
Never yell BINGO if you haven’t formed a pattern yet, this halts the games and can be a bit annoying for other players.
Object of the game:
The object of the game is to complete the pattern called for in a certain game with the lowest number of calls. Patterns are determined before the game starts, it can either be a full horizontal, or vertical, a diagonal, an X, a box, or what they call block out, in which you’ll have to fill your whole card.
The Bingo Card
The Bingo card has the letters B, I, N, G and O across the top indicating five columns. Each column hast a set of numbers ranging from 1 to 75.
The B column has numbers from 1-15, the I column has numbers, 16-30, the N column has numbers from 31 – 45, the G column has numbers from 46 to 60, and the O column has numbers from 61 – 75. Each column may only have 5 numbers from their respective range.
The card forms a grid in which the middle grid, the third row of the N column is labeled free, this cell need not be filled.
The Game
First you need a Bingo card, you may have more than one bingo card at a time, depending on your labeling ability.
The game starts when the host tells everyone the pattern to be formed.
Listen for the fist ball, the host will call out a letter, either B, I, N, G or O, for the column and then a number, e.g. O-70.
Look for this number in your card and label it immediately.
The host continues to call out letters and numbers until someone finishes than pattern required.
The person with a finished pattern should immediately yell bingo! To inform everyone that she has finished the pattern and has won the game.
The host will then verify all the numbers and their position in your card, either by taking your card, or by you shouting out the numbers that made you form the patter.
Another bingo game may resume afterwards, either with the same or different pattern, or same or different prize.
The prize should be immediately given after a Bingo.
Tips
Never yell BINGO if you haven’t formed a pattern yet, this halts the games and can be a bit annoying for other players.
Tips on How to Gamble Responsibly
Aside from becoming one financial roadblock, when one gets addicted to gambling, the preoccupation may just cause him his family and his whole social life. Who wants to be entangled into such problems like those, right?
Gambling is supposed to be fun, not something that will ruin your life. Here are some tips on responsible gambling:
1. Plan to Lose.
This is not being pessimistic. Keep tabs on your losses and give yourself a loss limit. And stick to it strictly. Aside from the loss limit, setting a time limit will also make you one smart gambler.
2. Don't ask for help.
This easily translates to never asking for some borrowed money to continue gambling. If you have determined a quite manageable loss limit, you will never have to borrow money to gamble.
3. Have a break.
Frequent breaks while playing online will not only make you relax, it will also give you time to just rethink how much you have been losing then subsequently quit it.
4. Don't just gamble, mingle.
Incorporate other less wallet pinching activities such as chatting with a new acquaintance or some old friend who also happen to visit the casino. Don't feel guilty when you don't get to gamble the whole night through. Practicing your social graces is also one good way to spend the night. Who knows you might just have let one investment deal pass just because you were too hooked up rolling the dice.
5. Don't play when depressed and stressed.
Just like shopping and eating, it's never a good way to make use of gambling as an outlet to belch out your woes or any trouble. Gambling when you are feeling low will not solve you problem. It might even blow it up to some mammoth proportion you never intended it to be.
6. Say no to ruining your budget just because of gambling.
Stay only with the budget you allocated for entertainment. Money for everyday expenses should never be touched if it's only your craving to roll the dice that you are trying to quench.
7. Don't go chasing your losses.
Acceptance is one mature way to deal with any problem. This does not exclude losing when gambling. It won't be smart to chase your losses since it might make you lose even more.
If all else fails to remind you that gambling should not be taken lightly, remember that casinos are not built as charity houses to give out money. They are making a business out of the gamblers' losses.
Gambling is supposed to be fun, not something that will ruin your life. Here are some tips on responsible gambling:
1. Plan to Lose.
This is not being pessimistic. Keep tabs on your losses and give yourself a loss limit. And stick to it strictly. Aside from the loss limit, setting a time limit will also make you one smart gambler.
2. Don't ask for help.
This easily translates to never asking for some borrowed money to continue gambling. If you have determined a quite manageable loss limit, you will never have to borrow money to gamble.
3. Have a break.
Frequent breaks while playing online will not only make you relax, it will also give you time to just rethink how much you have been losing then subsequently quit it.
4. Don't just gamble, mingle.
Incorporate other less wallet pinching activities such as chatting with a new acquaintance or some old friend who also happen to visit the casino. Don't feel guilty when you don't get to gamble the whole night through. Practicing your social graces is also one good way to spend the night. Who knows you might just have let one investment deal pass just because you were too hooked up rolling the dice.
5. Don't play when depressed and stressed.
Just like shopping and eating, it's never a good way to make use of gambling as an outlet to belch out your woes or any trouble. Gambling when you are feeling low will not solve you problem. It might even blow it up to some mammoth proportion you never intended it to be.
6. Say no to ruining your budget just because of gambling.
Stay only with the budget you allocated for entertainment. Money for everyday expenses should never be touched if it's only your craving to roll the dice that you are trying to quench.
7. Don't go chasing your losses.
Acceptance is one mature way to deal with any problem. This does not exclude losing when gambling. It won't be smart to chase your losses since it might make you lose even more.
If all else fails to remind you that gambling should not be taken lightly, remember that casinos are not built as charity houses to give out money. They are making a business out of the gamblers' losses.
Sunday, 30 December 2007
ILLEGAL FORMS OF GAMBLING..WHAT ARE THEY?
Gambling can come in many different forms and manner, carrying with it risks of varying levels. An individual can gamble and can bet on all sorts of things. Gambling is currently very popular and continues to expand around the world.
Legal forms of gambling are those that are being run directly by charitable institutions, companies for profit or government agencies.
Whereas illegal forms of gambling are those by which bets are placed on underground gambling services, the internet, being such. Gambling among peers or associates such as playing poker or pool that includes real money betting is also considered illegal.
Each City or State has complex rules that dictate legal or illegal gambling. Here are different forms of gambling:
*Casino. This is a form of gambling rapidly growing especially in the internet, as an online gaming site. This is a set up, usually referred to as "the house" wherein players can play in such games of chance, which include slot machines, poker, black jack, keno and roulettes.
*Sports betting. In other parts of the world, this is considered legal. Here in the United States, betting on individual sports events is accepted only as legal in Nevada. This is partly because of the possibility for such events to be "fixed". As certain cases does happen when gamblers pay sports teams to lose in the game.
*Horse racing is the most common type of legal gambling. This is presided over by the pari-mutuel, or French for mutual stake. This system works in such a way that all the betting is place in a fund, where it will be divided among winning bettors, minus a certain percentages that will go to the track.
*Lotteries. This works such that tickets are being sold for a certain set of amount. A portion of the proceeds is given back to the winners, through random draw process. In most cases, while other players choose their own numbers, others allow the computer to pick numbers for them.
Such type of gambling offers different games. There are instant scratch tickets, wherein an individual may win instantly with the right combinations on the ticket and super lotto's that offer increasing jackpots until such time that there is a winner. Eighty percent of States in the U.S. have laws that allow lotteries run by government. Thus, twenty five percent of all legal gambling revenues are from lottery.
*Other forms of gambling include bingo, dog races, pool, playing mah jong and the stock market.
Gambling can be seen everywhere, especially today, where the internet offers a lot of sites where such forms of gambling can easily be accessed. This is why it is important to carefully assess the site or the place that you are in, before making any move.
Legal forms of gambling are those that are being run directly by charitable institutions, companies for profit or government agencies.
Whereas illegal forms of gambling are those by which bets are placed on underground gambling services, the internet, being such. Gambling among peers or associates such as playing poker or pool that includes real money betting is also considered illegal.
Each City or State has complex rules that dictate legal or illegal gambling. Here are different forms of gambling:
*Casino. This is a form of gambling rapidly growing especially in the internet, as an online gaming site. This is a set up, usually referred to as "the house" wherein players can play in such games of chance, which include slot machines, poker, black jack, keno and roulettes.
*Sports betting. In other parts of the world, this is considered legal. Here in the United States, betting on individual sports events is accepted only as legal in Nevada. This is partly because of the possibility for such events to be "fixed". As certain cases does happen when gamblers pay sports teams to lose in the game.
*Horse racing is the most common type of legal gambling. This is presided over by the pari-mutuel, or French for mutual stake. This system works in such a way that all the betting is place in a fund, where it will be divided among winning bettors, minus a certain percentages that will go to the track.
*Lotteries. This works such that tickets are being sold for a certain set of amount. A portion of the proceeds is given back to the winners, through random draw process. In most cases, while other players choose their own numbers, others allow the computer to pick numbers for them.
Such type of gambling offers different games. There are instant scratch tickets, wherein an individual may win instantly with the right combinations on the ticket and super lotto's that offer increasing jackpots until such time that there is a winner. Eighty percent of States in the U.S. have laws that allow lotteries run by government. Thus, twenty five percent of all legal gambling revenues are from lottery.
*Other forms of gambling include bingo, dog races, pool, playing mah jong and the stock market.
Gambling can be seen everywhere, especially today, where the internet offers a lot of sites where such forms of gambling can easily be accessed. This is why it is important to carefully assess the site or the place that you are in, before making any move.
ONLINE GAMBLING GUIDE ...TO A BETTER GAME
When gambling online, select the casino site carefully to avoid being scammed. Review the site wisely. Don't just give your credit card number to the first site you find in the net. Take the time to ask yourself these questions:
*Is the site authentic? Look if it is government licensed. If not, go locate another site.
*Does the site have a twenty four hour toll free customer service support? If not, look for other sites.
*For slot machines and pokers, what is their smallest denomination? Look for a variety in denominations. They should have nickels, quarters, dollar as well as five dollar machines.
*How many versions of video poker do they offer? They should have at least three, because this will be your basis that the site has money for the software, therefore it can afford to pay you your winnings.
*Does the casino site have a place to record and keep track of purchases and cash out?
*What about customer care? Test them. By sending them an email with a question, you can assess their customer service.
*Does this site have a good reputation? What software does it use? Know how to collect your winnings. They should have detailed information about this.
*How many days will it take for you to claim your winnings? Certain sites require you to send them email stating your request. Others give payouts only once a month, and others every two weeks.
*What are the rules about bonuses?
When gambling online, here are a few pointers that should be of help:
*Do your homework. Play only at authentic sites.
*Allot a budget for a day's game. Never go beyond that budget.
*Gamble only with money that you can afford to lose. Don't gamble the money allocated for your home rental. You'll be needing help if you play this way.
*Never mix alcohol and gambling. They simply don't work together.
*Your data is to be protected at all times. When signing up, note that the casino should have a secure and data encrypted link. Identity theft is rampant on the internet.
*Spend ample time reading to familiarize yourself with the game.
*Play by statistics. Know the odds of the game. Study it by numbers. Hunches have no part in gambling.
*Just stick to the game. Never mind the gimmicks. Side bets, insurance and the "crapless craps" are offered in order to lure you to spend more so that the casino will make more money.
*Know when to call it quits. If you are already winning, stop. Don't try to win more, you may end up a big loser. If you are already losing more than your allocated daily budget, stop. There is always another day.
*Expect that you can lose the game. Casinos are in the business because they set the rules in such a way that the house's win is important. Generally, they have the edge over you.
A fact is that ninety eight percent of casino gambling is designed for recreation. Therefore, play to enjoy. To be entertained, you spend money. If it gets to a point where it is no longer fun to you, where you play beyond your means, then stop now, or else, you may not be able to stop later.
*Is the site authentic? Look if it is government licensed. If not, go locate another site.
*Does the site have a twenty four hour toll free customer service support? If not, look for other sites.
*For slot machines and pokers, what is their smallest denomination? Look for a variety in denominations. They should have nickels, quarters, dollar as well as five dollar machines.
*How many versions of video poker do they offer? They should have at least three, because this will be your basis that the site has money for the software, therefore it can afford to pay you your winnings.
*Does the casino site have a place to record and keep track of purchases and cash out?
*What about customer care? Test them. By sending them an email with a question, you can assess their customer service.
*Does this site have a good reputation? What software does it use? Know how to collect your winnings. They should have detailed information about this.
*How many days will it take for you to claim your winnings? Certain sites require you to send them email stating your request. Others give payouts only once a month, and others every two weeks.
*What are the rules about bonuses?
When gambling online, here are a few pointers that should be of help:
*Do your homework. Play only at authentic sites.
*Allot a budget for a day's game. Never go beyond that budget.
*Gamble only with money that you can afford to lose. Don't gamble the money allocated for your home rental. You'll be needing help if you play this way.
*Never mix alcohol and gambling. They simply don't work together.
*Your data is to be protected at all times. When signing up, note that the casino should have a secure and data encrypted link. Identity theft is rampant on the internet.
*Spend ample time reading to familiarize yourself with the game.
*Play by statistics. Know the odds of the game. Study it by numbers. Hunches have no part in gambling.
*Just stick to the game. Never mind the gimmicks. Side bets, insurance and the "crapless craps" are offered in order to lure you to spend more so that the casino will make more money.
*Know when to call it quits. If you are already winning, stop. Don't try to win more, you may end up a big loser. If you are already losing more than your allocated daily budget, stop. There is always another day.
*Expect that you can lose the game. Casinos are in the business because they set the rules in such a way that the house's win is important. Generally, they have the edge over you.
A fact is that ninety eight percent of casino gambling is designed for recreation. Therefore, play to enjoy. To be entertained, you spend money. If it gets to a point where it is no longer fun to you, where you play beyond your means, then stop now, or else, you may not be able to stop later.
How to be Smart with Gambling Scams
With the advent of technological advancements, people can find ways on how to do things differently. The problem is that some of these things do more harm than good.
One of the greatest problems brought about by technology these days are the scams. This is because with high-tech gadgets, most scammers can easily identify the information that they need so as to get hold of a person’s bank account, credit card, etc.
One great example of scams is those that are used in gambling. These fraudulent activities are so prevalent in gambling, especially online-gambling because a lot of people want to earn money. They are so hooked up with earning money that they tend to neglect areas that need careful analysis.
People who fall easily as prey are those who are vulnerable to ads that states about easy money, sure win, or higher chances of winning.
However, there are still ways to deal with these problems. The bottom line is to identify which gambling activity is fraudulent or not.
Here’s how:
1. People should learn to assess things whenever somebody is pushy about a certain thing. Chances are, if they are so pushy, they want to get what they want whatever the case may be. It’s like giving their victim a “now or never” ultimatum.
If a certain gambling activity claims it can’t wait until the next day, chances are, that activity is a scam.
2. Surveys show that when a certain gambling activity is offering lots of money in a short span of time for just a small fee, there is a higher probability that it is a scam.
The bottom line is that, if it looks and sounds too good to be true, chances are it is a scam.
3. If certain rules and regulations are too vague to be understood, chances are it may be a scam. This is because scammers will usually not lay down all the facts. They have hidden agendas or costs that will reap more money once they get their victim on the hook.
4. A gambling deal that would offer something for nothing is definitely a scam. In most cases, people get something without giving in return…at first. What’s more, they even give people a money-back guarantee, which may sound so enticing but all the more it is just like that, an enticement.
So, for people who fall to these kinds of situations, it would be better to be wary next time around. As they say, a person will never know what a scam is unless he knows how to spot one.
One of the greatest problems brought about by technology these days are the scams. This is because with high-tech gadgets, most scammers can easily identify the information that they need so as to get hold of a person’s bank account, credit card, etc.
One great example of scams is those that are used in gambling. These fraudulent activities are so prevalent in gambling, especially online-gambling because a lot of people want to earn money. They are so hooked up with earning money that they tend to neglect areas that need careful analysis.
People who fall easily as prey are those who are vulnerable to ads that states about easy money, sure win, or higher chances of winning.
However, there are still ways to deal with these problems. The bottom line is to identify which gambling activity is fraudulent or not.
Here’s how:
1. People should learn to assess things whenever somebody is pushy about a certain thing. Chances are, if they are so pushy, they want to get what they want whatever the case may be. It’s like giving their victim a “now or never” ultimatum.
If a certain gambling activity claims it can’t wait until the next day, chances are, that activity is a scam.
2. Surveys show that when a certain gambling activity is offering lots of money in a short span of time for just a small fee, there is a higher probability that it is a scam.
The bottom line is that, if it looks and sounds too good to be true, chances are it is a scam.
3. If certain rules and regulations are too vague to be understood, chances are it may be a scam. This is because scammers will usually not lay down all the facts. They have hidden agendas or costs that will reap more money once they get their victim on the hook.
4. A gambling deal that would offer something for nothing is definitely a scam. In most cases, people get something without giving in return…at first. What’s more, they even give people a money-back guarantee, which may sound so enticing but all the more it is just like that, an enticement.
So, for people who fall to these kinds of situations, it would be better to be wary next time around. As they say, a person will never know what a scam is unless he knows how to spot one.
Avoiding Online Gambling Scams Before they Happen
Gambling scams were never as recognized and as widespread as when it finally came in contact with cyber space. Online gambling, although beneficiary for those gambling aficionados, allowing them to gamble and avail of the enjoyment at home, also has some of its downsides more specifically the existence of online gambling scams.
Online scams usually include the refusal of a certain game company to “give you” your winnings. Some gambling scams may even go as far as totally refusing to let you win with absurd probabilities, and then refusing to let you cash out the remaining money you’ve got left.
One way to avoid these scams is to know what they are. Here are two most prevailing online gambling scams that you should be aware of, and should be able to detect easily.
Illegitimate Bonuses
Some gambling companies even go as far as inviting their former scammed customers under the ruse of “bonuses” telling them how sympathetic they are about you being scammed, and offering a bonus if you play with them instead. Just think, where did they get your contact details? Well they got it from that short form you filled out when you joined the first scam casino, and they’re actually looking to rip you off again.
What do they do? When it’s actually time for you to claim your bonus, they say that you are ineligible to receive the bonus.
To avoid being re-scammed, never fall for these types of offers. Even if you haven’t been scammed yet, they’d still send you a bonus offer then refuse to give it to you once you’ve deposited your money. A good rule of thumb with online gambling, if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.
Piracy
One way to know a legitimate online casino is its affiliations and memberships; one such is the Interactive Gaming Council (ICG). However, logos provided by such organizations can easily be copied on the net, and what scammers do, is they imitate, sometimes, go as far as duplicating the design of a legitimate casino to pass off theirs. It is a good measure to look up the name of the online casino on the members list of the certain organization. ICG and others usually provide an easy to browse and search members list on their web sites.
To make sure that the casino you’re subscribing to is legit, type the company name and the word review in the search engine and read about them, you’ll more or less get an idea of how they work.
Online scams usually include the refusal of a certain game company to “give you” your winnings. Some gambling scams may even go as far as totally refusing to let you win with absurd probabilities, and then refusing to let you cash out the remaining money you’ve got left.
One way to avoid these scams is to know what they are. Here are two most prevailing online gambling scams that you should be aware of, and should be able to detect easily.
Illegitimate Bonuses
Some gambling companies even go as far as inviting their former scammed customers under the ruse of “bonuses” telling them how sympathetic they are about you being scammed, and offering a bonus if you play with them instead. Just think, where did they get your contact details? Well they got it from that short form you filled out when you joined the first scam casino, and they’re actually looking to rip you off again.
What do they do? When it’s actually time for you to claim your bonus, they say that you are ineligible to receive the bonus.
To avoid being re-scammed, never fall for these types of offers. Even if you haven’t been scammed yet, they’d still send you a bonus offer then refuse to give it to you once you’ve deposited your money. A good rule of thumb with online gambling, if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.
Piracy
One way to know a legitimate online casino is its affiliations and memberships; one such is the Interactive Gaming Council (ICG). However, logos provided by such organizations can easily be copied on the net, and what scammers do, is they imitate, sometimes, go as far as duplicating the design of a legitimate casino to pass off theirs. It is a good measure to look up the name of the online casino on the members list of the certain organization. ICG and others usually provide an easy to browse and search members list on their web sites.
To make sure that the casino you’re subscribing to is legit, type the company name and the word review in the search engine and read about them, you’ll more or less get an idea of how they work.
The Best Gambling Spots Online
Gambling has always been akin to mentioning Las Vegas in one breath. Nowhere has gambling been as lucrative and as consuming as it is in Las Vegas. Thus, no one has called Las Vegas the gambling capital without due cause.
However, the introduction of the internet has proven that traditional gaming venues are becoming passe.
Thus, here is a rundown of the best gambling spots that you could find online. A word of precaution to the buyer. . .be careful.
Feature Check
There are some features you need to check and verify before going into a website and loading your credit card information.
The website must be licensed. It also must have passed testing by government regulatory agencies. Thus, it must show and prove that it is regulated.
It must have policies against under age gambling, a code of conduct for players and for responsible gaming.
It must also assure the privacy, security and safety of the individual's use. Information needs to be encrypted to keep all client information confidential.
The games matter, thus, featured games must always be up-to-date, interactive and challenging.
Sites to Choose From
If you are into internet gambling, some of the best spots you can go to include:
* Sportsbetting.com is into the wagering system focused in online sports gaming. It has been in operation for 15 years now and one of the largest online sports gaming websites in the world.
* Sands of the Caribbean Online Casino offers a variety of casino games such as video poker, slots, black jack, roulette, and craps. It has been in operation, licensed and established since August 1997. It has won several awards since its operation began, such as the "Best Reputation" award for three consecutive years from the Gambling Online Magazine in 2001 to 2003. It has also been awarded the "Best Payout/ E-Cash Program" from the readers of the Casino Player Magazine.
* Winward Casino is another online casino leader since its operations began in 1998. What Winward Casino has that others don't is its wireless capability that individuals can play via their personal digital assistant (PDA) or cellular phones.
Payouts from these online casino gaming sites are within the range of 95 percent to 99 percent each month. The customer service is also open 24/7 to provide quality service consistently to every player.
These are just one of the few online gambling spots that anyone can check out. But remember, always be alert and look for the safety features of any site before divulging your personal information. Happy betting!
However, the introduction of the internet has proven that traditional gaming venues are becoming passe.
Thus, here is a rundown of the best gambling spots that you could find online. A word of precaution to the buyer. . .be careful.
Feature Check
There are some features you need to check and verify before going into a website and loading your credit card information.
The website must be licensed. It also must have passed testing by government regulatory agencies. Thus, it must show and prove that it is regulated.
It must have policies against under age gambling, a code of conduct for players and for responsible gaming.
It must also assure the privacy, security and safety of the individual's use. Information needs to be encrypted to keep all client information confidential.
The games matter, thus, featured games must always be up-to-date, interactive and challenging.
Sites to Choose From
If you are into internet gambling, some of the best spots you can go to include:
* Sportsbetting.com is into the wagering system focused in online sports gaming. It has been in operation for 15 years now and one of the largest online sports gaming websites in the world.
* Sands of the Caribbean Online Casino offers a variety of casino games such as video poker, slots, black jack, roulette, and craps. It has been in operation, licensed and established since August 1997. It has won several awards since its operation began, such as the "Best Reputation" award for three consecutive years from the Gambling Online Magazine in 2001 to 2003. It has also been awarded the "Best Payout/ E-Cash Program" from the readers of the Casino Player Magazine.
* Winward Casino is another online casino leader since its operations began in 1998. What Winward Casino has that others don't is its wireless capability that individuals can play via their personal digital assistant (PDA) or cellular phones.
Payouts from these online casino gaming sites are within the range of 95 percent to 99 percent each month. The customer service is also open 24/7 to provide quality service consistently to every player.
These are just one of the few online gambling spots that anyone can check out. But remember, always be alert and look for the safety features of any site before divulging your personal information. Happy betting!
EARLY MORNING ODDS
Usually, the night before, or early in the morning of a racing day, the first odds or morning line odds are posted for the day's races. Using this information in the following manner can put many early morning line horses in the money: 1- Any race at any racetrack can be used. 2- Here's what to look for; let's look at the first race today. Race 1 has 8 horses entered in it along with their morning odds ( here on referred to as mlo) Here's how it might look: RACE ONE MLO 1- Misty Eyes---------- 9/5 2- Breakfast Miss------ 5/1 3- Break The Ice------- 6/ 4- Cold Drink---------- 8/1 5- Morning Ice--------- 12/1 6- Thawed Out---------- 10/1 7- Steam Snort--------- 15/1 8- Cracked Ice--------- 15/1 Procedure 1: First, find the 5/1 horse in any mlo listing. In the above example, this 5/1 shot would be Breakfast Miss a@ 5/1. Procedure 2: Look up the jockey/trainer win percentage for Breakfast Miss. Procedure 3: Add the jockey win percentage figure with the trainer win percentage figure. The sum of this calculation, these two figures added together, must be at least 18%. If it is, then this 5/1 mlo is your bet for this first race. Sometimes, you will find that there is no 5/1 mlo in the race or that the 5/1 mlo horse has less than 18% jockey/trainer percentage. If this is the case, then proceed to procedure 4: Procedure 4: If you find no 5/1 mlo play, repeat the procedures 2 and 3 using the 9/2 mlo horse. If there is no 9/2 mlo horse in the race, go to the 4/1 mlo horse in the race and repeat procedures 2 and 3. If you find no 4/1 mlo horse, then go to the 6/1 and repeat the said procedures. If there is no 6/1 mlo in the race, pass the race and go to the next race. You must follow these procedures in the exact order that is written here. Let's Recap: 1- First look for any 5/1 mlo horses in the race(ties explained later. If you find a 5/1 mlo horse, add the jockey/trainer win statistics together. If the jockey/trainer statistics add up to 18% or more, you have your bet for this first race. 2-If there are no 5/1 mlo horses in the race then search for9/2 mlo horses. If you find a 9/2 mlo horse, then add the jockey/trainer win statistics together. If the sum of the jockey/trainer win statistics is 18% or more, then this is your play for this race. 3-If you cannot find a 5/1 mlo horse or a 9/2 mlo horse, then look for a 4/1 mlo horse. If you find a 4/1 mlo horse, then add the jockey/trainer win statistics together. The sum of adding the jockey/trainer win statistics must be higher than 18%, if it is, then this 4/1 mlo horse is play for this race. 4-If you cannot find a first,5/1 mlo horse in the race and second, a 9/2 mlo horse and third, a 4/1 mlo horse, then search for a 6/1 mlo horse and if you find one, add the jockey/trainer win statistics together. The sum of adding the jockey/trainer win statistics together must be more than 18%, if it is, then you have your play for this race. 5- If you cannot find a 5/1 mlo horse, a 9/2 mlo horse, a 4/1 mlo horse or a 6/1 mlo horse, in that exact order, then pass the race and go to the next race. 6- If you find horses that are tied, take the horse with the highest jockey/trainer win percentage figure. That is your play. p.s.s. Almost forgot. Remember these important racing facts: 1- 33% of the time, the favorite wins the race. 2- 67% of the time, the favorite loses the race. 3- 95% of the time, one of the first three favorites in the race, that is, the three lowest odds horses just before race, either wins the race or finishes 2nd. Good Luck. Go have some fun and make some money! Sincerely, King
The Untapped Benefits of Gambling
Some people cringe at the thought of being labeled as a gambler since the stigma would forever hound them. People have different reasons as to why they gamble. Some gamble to forget their problems, others for fun, or to while away the time, those who play seriously and those who are addicted to it. But all is not negative when it comes to gambling as there are untapped benefits of gambling which cannot be seen within the walls of the casino, or the race track, or in the bingo social hall. Employment In Las Vegas, a whopping 60 percent of the employment ratio is attributed to the presence of casinos. Imagine what would happen to Las Vegas if all the casinos suddenly stopped operating. Entertainment Self-discipline is the key. Gambling is for entertainment, as it was intended to be. Others just couldn't handle a loss and always kept right on thinking that the next card would be the one to salvage all that has been lost. But it never does. And these types of gamblers only comprise one-fourth of the gambling population who cannot gamble responsibly. Imagine the other 75 percent who responsibly gamble. These are the people who find the entertainment value of gambling and they are never blinded by the illusion that hitting it big time just once is the key to financial freedom. It is sad that only a small percentage of the gambling population gets the bad rap of how gambling can be so destructive. Families, friends, properties, jobs, crimes and deception permeate the destruction brought about by gambling but it is still a small portion of the gambling population. Charity Work Winnings from gambling activities have contributed in providing the needed financial support of worthy causes. They use gambling activities such as bingos or lotteries with a percentage of the jackpot winnings tied with charity institutions. Some celebrities even show their prowess in card games like poker to provide entertainment for the viewers and winnings for the charity institution they represent. Health benefit Studies have been found that retirees 65 years old and above who gamble have less health issues such as depression, alcoholism and bankruptcy as they find gambling to be therapeutic as it exercises their mind and keep them alert. The study was not conclusive, however, because retiree gamblers are the recreational gamblers who find the entertainment value of gambling. They are healthier because they are healthy to begin with and not because they gamble. In the end, it is not the gambling act itself that makes it beneficial or harmful to the individual. It is the decision of the individual if gambling would rule him or he would rule his gambling habit. posted by King @ 09:31 0 Comments Monday, 24 December 2007 Tips on Beating the Odds! There seems to be a thousand ways to gamble just as are there are a thousand ways and chances to lose. But let's face it, for most betters gambling is not about living the "bet-and-leave-if-you-lose" attitude. They play to win! In any endeavor, it's essential to know the rules of the game in order to play it better and stay on the winning edge. Keeping simple advice in mind and mastering several gaming strategies before jumping into any gambling activity will help you increase your chances of beating the bookies and eventually overpower them. While it's true that this article aims to develop your winning potential, one mustn't forget that gambling is not all about winning. We gamble for fun while keeping a system which helps us defeat the percentage of losing. Here are a few tips which you can apply when engaging in any gambling activity. It is also important to keep in mind that these systems are not perfect but following them offers you a great deal of certainty in winning. • Keep It Small - Going small time won't hurt and is good to your pocket. Big time betting is perfect if you are sure that your chance of winning is always 100%. You may lose your money in the end but you may have enjoyed the activity for a long time. • Bet With Lucky Pals - There are hands and there are hands for gambling. Bet with lucky gamblers of the day. No matter how you master the system operating on every game, if the day does not favor your side then live with it. Joseph Conrad once said that, "It is the mark of an inexperienced man not to believe in luck." • Eye on the Pattern - Go with the flow. Bet on the numbers/players which gets the most wins. Predict its chances by keeping history of their wins and loses. This helps you formulate a decision when risking your stake for them. • Avoid the favorites! - Good betting is impeded by unhealthy judgment about favorite players, numbers, etc. Improve your judgment by weighing the odds while looking at other prospects that get the possibility of winning. • Unleash Your Psychic powers - Confucius implied that the first thing that comes in your mind is usually the best answer to a question. Playing on your inner psychic power pays! • Stop Ahead - Be in control of your winnings. Take over gambling more than it takes over you. • Gamble for fun - While it’s true that some people gamble to win, we must also consider that it was originally created to provide fun and entertainment. Investing in gambling is a bad idea! The Truth About Winning Blackjack Today, more and more people are getting hooked on playing blackjack. In fact, it is considered to be one of the most prevalent and well-liked games in the casino. This is because it is relatively easy to play the game and with the correct strategy, a player can lessen the dealer’s edge and at the same time get an advantage in winning the game. In order to win blackjack, players must get cards that have a total of 21 or closer to it. If the player gets a card over 21, they will end up losing the game. In winning a game in blackjack, there is only one concept that players must bear in mind. They should always remember to utilize the right strategy. In order to win a blackjack game, the player must know the basic strategies. This is because these strategies are considered as the vital element in winning blackjack. The player's capability to use a line of attack and manipulate the game is the basic skills that a player must learn in order to win. So, for people who want to win a game in blackjack, here are some ways how to do it. These things may not guarantee the players to win the game but using them will give them a good chance. 1. Players should know when to hit or stand. Statistics show that 3 out of the 10 people who play blackjack make hits or stands without even knowing when to do it. Most of them merely rely on their instincts. Instincts can be a pretty factor in winning the game but it is not always like that. So, it is a must that a player should know when to hit or stand just by looking at the cards already dealt and the cards of the dealer. The idea of when to stand or hit is directly dependent on the dealer’s card. 2. Players should always assume that the dealer’s down card is 10. This is based on the theory that if the dealer’s down card is a 10 and he gets a 6, chances are he will get the card. If he gets 7, chances are he would either be busted or the player’s probability of getting close to 21 is higher. In this manner, depending on what card the dealer gets, the player can decide whether to hit or stand. The players will then have higher chances of winning. Winning blackjack is, indeed, dependent on the dealer’s card. Is Offline gambling A Dinosaur? Over the past twenty plus years internet technology has developed and attracted millions. It has transformed the way people live. The way people consume products or services has changed drastically. People want instant information and service and by extension, people demand instant cash. In cyberspace a gambler can have easy access to online gaming. Online gaming plays like a real casino but instead of interacting with a dealer at a table you use a web-based software instead. What’s missing online? Apparently the lack of atmosphere or ambience when gambling on the Net was cited in a study as one of the most important aspects of offline gambling that is missing online. The online games on the internet try to imitate the real deal by featuring graphics and text animation. Even including verbal interaction. With every mouse click, the program gives a corresponding sound like coins in a slot machine. The software-dealer starts talking if there are no action or commands given. Despite all of this though, the atmosphere of a casino hasn’t been recreated. The adrenalin rush in a real casino cannot be recreated online either. Playing at home, an online gambler is playing alone and no amount of tinkering in the program can create an atmosphere. The lack of atmosphere prevents a person from gambling with friends. The live casino has been associated with a socializing ambience and a lot of gamblers feel an attachment to the environment. Hey Big Brother! The main reason people give for not shopping in the internet is a perceived risk in security. That perception is much higher for online gambling. Although most sites give an information link to the existing security technology, still the perception remains. Most people experience great discomfort in using a credit card on online gambling. Not only the perceived security issues that gamblers feel uncomfortable with, it is also the lack of any kind of control on the outcome. Online people cannot move from one table to another and make crucial decisions. The reality of losing money on the internet is distorted, most people cannot feel that they are losing money. Simply because of the idea that you’re just sitting at home, how can they lose so much money. All the light shows and sound effects an online casino can muster, it cannot substitute for the action happening inside the halls of a casino. People feel more in control when playing inside a casino, whether it’s strategizing or managing his money. The thrill of having a crowd and the joy of companionship is also a very important plus. Dinosaurs? Maybe, but they are still giants and very much alive. posted by King @ 22:05 0 Comments Tips on Beating the Odds! There seems to be a thousand ways to gamble just as are there are a thousand ways and chances to lose. But let's face it, for most betters gambling is not about living the "bet-and-leave-if-you-lose" attitude. They play to win! In any endeavor, it's essential to know the rules of the game in order to play it better and stay on the winning edge. Keeping simple advice in mind and mastering several gaming strategies before jumping into any gambling activity will help you increase your chances of beating the bookies and eventually overpower them. While it's true that this article aims to develop your winning potential, one mustn't forget that gambling is not all about winning. We gamble for fun while keeping a system which helps us defeat the percentage of losing. Here are a few tips which you can apply when engaging in any gambling activity. It is also important to keep in mind that these systems are not perfect but following them offers you a great deal of certainty in winning. • Keep It Small - Going small time won't hurt and is good to your pocket. Big time betting is perfect if you are sure that your chance of winning is always 100%. You may lose your money in the end but you may have enjoyed the activity for a long time. • Bet With Lucky Pals - There are hands and there are hands for gambling. Bet with lucky gamblers of the day. No matter how you master the system operating on every game, if the day does not favor your side then live with it. Joseph Conrad once said that, "It is the mark of an inexperienced man not to believe in luck." • Eye on the Pattern - Go with the flow. Bet on the numbers/players which gets the most wins. Predict its chances by keeping history of their wins and loses. This helps you formulate a decision when risking your stake for them. • Avoid the favorites! - Good betting is impeded by unhealthy judgment about favorite players, numbers, etc. Improve your judgment by weighing the odds while looking at other prospects that get the possibility of winning. • Unleash Your Psychic powers - Confucius implied that the first thing that comes in your mind is usually the best answer to a question. Playing on your inner psychic power pays! • Stop Ahead - Be in control of your winnings. Take over gambling more than it takes over you. • Gamble for fun - While it’s true that some people gamble to win, we must also consider that it was originally created to provide fun and entertainment. Investing in gambling is a bad idea! posted by King @ 22:00 0 Comments Football Master Football betting. It's not rocket science is it? We all know the strengths and weaknesses of the teams involved, there are only three possible outcomes - win, lose or draw - and as we're saturated with TV coverage these days, we can watch whatever we like to get ahead of the game. Even if you want to try something a bit more exotic, it's not exactly going to need a degree in advanced calculus to predict which player is going to score first or who's going to be ahead at half-time, is it? Take Wayne Rooney - you didn’t need to be an expert to see that every time he played for Manchester United in Europe, he seemed to score a goal. So why not back him to score in every match he plays at an odds-against price? Isn't that what's known as value? Reality check Well, no, actually. That's an example of how many footballer bettors gamble - and why so many of us end up out of pocket, season after season. We all love the game, and follow it closely, so we all reckon we're experts - but, in truth, we're not. Football is by far the most popular form of sports gambling online and is driving the betting boom that has engulfed us in recent years, but too many of us are still making the same basic mistakes every time we place a wager. The problem, of course, is that the odds aren't in our favour. Potentially massive margins against us mean that punters always have to outperform the full-time odds compliers employed by the bookmakers to have any chance whatsoever of coming out on top. The odds of the three outcomes in a football match - win, lose or draw - should equal 100%. But the three prices the bookies put up - say, for example, 5/6 home win, 9/4 draw, 7/2 away win - create margins of anything from 107% to a whopping 116% to guarantee the bookies a profit. That's why the bookies are all still driving around in their Rollers while we're standing in the queue for the bus down to our local Ladbrokes. But that doesn't mean we have to wave the white flag. You can still bet smart enough to beat the bookies, even if the odds are stacked against you. Rules of engagement The first rule is: ignore the bookies' traps. When Hills or Ladbrokes or Coral stick those alluring signs in the window saying things like: 'Manchester United to beat Newcastle United and Wayne Rooney to be first scorer: a £10 stake to win £120', ignore it. United are more than capable of winning and Rooney (you may have noticed) knows where the goal is - but the odds on both events occurring in the same game are extremely slim. In other words, it's a no-value bet. Walk into your local bookie on any Saturday lunchtime and you'll be bombarded by dozens of similar bets. The rule is: ignore them. If the bookie wants you to bet on it, then chances are it represents poor value. Instead, the key to being profitable on football is to follow certain rules that consistently increase your chances of winning. Secondly, you have to put out of your mind all the bad betting habits you've learned, forget which teams somebody told you represent best value and stop backing the famous names just because, well, they're famous. To be a successful football bettor, you need to be a lot shrewder than that. Here are my top-six tips for finding value: 1. ALWAYS LOOK TO BET ON ASIAN HANDICAPS This a great value way of betting on football. With Asian handicaps, the market maker gives the team he perceives to be the less likely winner of a given match a head-start, and the team more likely to win a handicap. These are expressed in goals or fractions of goals [you can find our Markets Explained and Masterclass articles on Asian Handicaps on this very site – Ed]. Because those old spoilers - draws - are eliminated in Asian handicap markets, bookmakers have to bet to smaller margins. So, while even the most enterprising firms are asking us to play to 107% in the 'win-draw-lose' markets, the Asian handicap percentages are only around 103-104%. These are the best you will find in the industry by some way. It means that if you bet only on Asian handicap markets this year you will, in theory, be at least 3% more profitable. With even the best professional gamblers hoping for a return of only 10% on turnover, that small margin could be the difference between victory and defeat for some football punters over the course of the season. 2. ALWAYS LOOK TO SELL PLAYERS' GOAL MINUTES ON THE SPREADS Spread betting is often as much about psychology as it is football knowledge. With many spread bets offering punters the daunting prospect of staring down into the financial abyss of an unknown downside, opting for the comfort zone of knowing exactly what the worst possible scenario is going to be is a trap into which many spread bettors often fall. Nowhere can this be seen more than in the player-goal-minute markets offered by the spread firms. This market allows you to place a bet on the total minutes in which a player scores his goals. So if, for example Wayne Rooney scores once in a game, in the 58th minute, his total goals minutes equals 58. If he scores twice, in the 80th and 85th minutes, his total goal minutes are 165, and so on. With the possibility that a striker could find the net any number of times in a match - and as late in the game as the 90th minute - only the very brave ever really consider a sell, especially as the option to buy means you know how much you'll lose if your player fails to score. The spread firms know this and, anticipating that most punters will want to play safe, pitch the markets artificially high. This makes buying a statistically bad bet in virtually every scenario. The shrewd play, of course, is to take advantage and go the other way. It won't make for an enjoyable match with your heart in your mouth every time the player you've sold gets the ball in front of goal, but the upside is that you're very likely to receive far more cheques with Sporting Index (or IG Sport, or Cantor Sports...) written on them during the course of a season. 3. SPECIALISE IN THE LOWER DIVISIONS Premiership teams live life in the constant glare of media scrutiny. Now, 24-hour-a-day news coverage puts them under the microscope to such an extent that almost every minute piece of news about the clubs in the top flight is constantly in the public domain. If a leading player is injured, suspended or even falling out with his manager, the world and his betting slip are more in the news loop than at any time before. But what about Gillingham's match with Brentford in League One? If Gillingham's top striker is ruled out the day before the game, are the bookmakers really going to be able to get wind of it quickly enough to change the odds when they've got dozens of other matches on their coupons to stay on top of? There's no question that the clubs in the lower divisions don't receive anywhere near as much news coverage as the top-flight teams, and those prepared to do a little homework can often get the latest news before the market makers. Local papers, which are now almost all available online, are a goldmine of information about local teams for the shrewd football punter. 4. AVOID MULTIPLE BETS Walk into any bookies for a flutter on the football and what will you see - a dedicated slip for you to place a single on the team you fancy this weekend? Not a hope in hell's chance. Instead, the only thing you are likely to be able to lay your hands on is a multiple bet football coupon inviting you to try a correct-score goliath or a ten-team 'sections list' accumulator. Not for nothing do the bookmakers actively look to market football as a medium for the most speculative of wagers. They love nothing more than to see a coupon filled with optimistic multiple bets hoping to strike it rich. It may look fun - but it's one of the poorest value bets around. Not only do accumulator punters have to get their bet absolutely spot on to land the cash (how many times has just one team let you down!), but they also have to negotiate the bookmakers' margins a number of times. If you're betting to a bookmaker's percentage of 110% for a single, a ten-team multiple accumulator means you're paying that margin ten times over. Don't do it! The bets the bookmakers hate are singles - so much so, it's only in recent years that they have even allowed them on football. So to maximize your profits don't buy into the bookie spin that to win big on football you have to do it in one, life-changing bet. The temptation of accumulators is obvious, but it's really not worth it. Slowly but mercilessly betting on one selection at a time is the only way to make money in the long-term. 5. CONSIDER ASIAN HANDICAPS RATHER THAN A LAY ON THE EXCHANGES TO OPPOSE A HOT FAVOURITE While the exchanges have been a godsend to most punters, laying favoured teams in football matches when you fancy an upset is not always the best way to go, especially when the side you want to bet against is a long odds-on favourite. In that scenario the Asian handicap can often be as much as a whole goal head-start for the underdog. That means that in the event of your prediction nearly being proved right, but the underdogs you fancy ending up losing by just a single goal, your bet will be a tie on the handicap and you'll get your money back. That's the beauty of Asian handicap bets - you have the safety net of getting your money back on certain occasions, because if a goal head-start or a goal deficit is cancelled out and the handicap ends up being equalled, your stake is returned. If, on the other hand, you had simply laid on the exchanges, someone else would be pocketing your money. The exchanges do provide excellent opportunities - but, again, becoming familiar with Asian handicap betting is advisable. 6. ALWAYS LOOK TO SUPPORT UNFASHIONABLE TEAMS PLAYING ABOVE THEMSELVES One of the biggest traps that punters fall into every season is assessing teams based on who they are, rather than how they are playing. While high-profile sides such as Liverpool, Manchester United and Rangers always start at unrealistically short odds no matter what their current form, smaller clubs who are overperforming continually get underestimated by the market. Last season, for example, West Ham and Wigan have shown themselves to be two of the most competitive teams in the Premiership. Yet before the market eventually cottoned on to this fact, punters refused to believe the evidence of their own eyes, and week after week they were sent off at odds which bore no reflection to their current form or league position. The league table seldom lies, and the most profitable football punters always look to bet on results rather than reputation. These are the golden rules to follow - if you back the advice here for the rest of the season, you won't go far wrong. So get out there and start betting like a winner! posted by King
Football Master
Football betting. It's not rocket science is it? We all know the strengths and weaknesses of the teams involved, there are only three possible outcomes - win, lose or draw - and as we're saturated with TV coverage these days, we can watch whatever we like to get ahead of the game. Even if you want to try something a bit more exotic, it's not exactly going to need a degree in advanced calculus to predict which player is going to score first or who's going to be ahead at half-time, is it? Take Wayne Rooney - you didn’t need to be an expert to see that every time he played for Manchester United in Europe, he seemed to score a goal. So why not back him to score in every match he plays at an odds-against price? Isn't that what's known as value? Reality check Well, no, actually. That's an example of how many footballer bettors gamble - and why so many of us end up out of pocket, season after season. We all love the game, and follow it closely, so we all reckon we're experts - but, in truth, we're not. Football is by far the most popular form of sports gambling online and is driving the betting boom that has engulfed us in recent years, but too many of us are still making the same basic mistakes every time we place a wager. The problem, of course, is that the odds aren't in our favour. Potentially massive margins against us mean that punters always have to outperform the full-time odds compliers employed by the bookmakers to have any chance whatsoever of coming out on top. The odds of the three outcomes in a football match - win, lose or draw - should equal 100%. But the three prices the bookies put up - say, for example, 5/6 home win, 9/4 draw, 7/2 away win - create margins of anything from 107% to a whopping 116% to guarantee the bookies a profit. That's why the bookies are all still driving around in their Rollers while we're standing in the queue for the bus down to our local Ladbrokes. But that doesn't mean we have to wave the white flag. You can still bet smart enough to beat the bookies, even if the odds are stacked against you. Rules of engagement The first rule is: ignore the bookies' traps. When Hills or Ladbrokes or Coral stick those alluring signs in the window saying things like: 'Manchester United to beat Newcastle United and Wayne Rooney to be first scorer: a £10 stake to win £120', ignore it. United are more than capable of winning and Rooney (you may have noticed) knows where the goal is - but the odds on both events occurring in the same game are extremely slim. In other words, it's a no-value bet. Walk into your local bookie on any Saturday lunchtime and you'll be bombarded by dozens of similar bets. The rule is: ignore them. If the bookie wants you to bet on it, then chances are it represents poor value. Instead, the key to being profitable on football is to follow certain rules that consistently increase your chances of winning. Secondly, you have to put out of your mind all the bad betting habits you've learned, forget which teams somebody told you represent best value and stop backing the famous names just because, well, they're famous. To be a successful football bettor, you need to be a lot shrewder than that. Here are my top-six tips for finding value: 1. ALWAYS LOOK TO BET ON ASIAN HANDICAPS This a great value way of betting on football. With Asian handicaps, the market maker gives the team he perceives to be the less likely winner of a given match a head-start, and the team more likely to win a handicap. These are expressed in goals or fractions of goals [you can find our Markets Explained and Masterclass articles on Asian Handicaps on this very site – Ed]. Because those old spoilers - draws - are eliminated in Asian handicap markets, bookmakers have to bet to smaller margins. So, while even the most enterprising firms are asking us to play to 107% in the 'win-draw-lose' markets, the Asian handicap percentages are only around 103-104%. These are the best you will find in the industry by some way. It means that if you bet only on Asian handicap markets this year you will, in theory, be at least 3% more profitable. With even the best professional gamblers hoping for a return of only 10% on turnover, that small margin could be the difference between victory and defeat for some football punters over the course of the season. 2. ALWAYS LOOK TO SELL PLAYERS' GOAL MINUTES ON THE SPREADS Spread betting is often as much about psychology as it is football knowledge. With many spread bets offering punters the daunting prospect of staring down into the financial abyss of an unknown downside, opting for the comfort zone of knowing exactly what the worst possible scenario is going to be is a trap into which many spread bettors often fall. Nowhere can this be seen more than in the player-goal-minute markets offered by the spread firms. This market allows you to place a bet on the total minutes in which a player scores his goals. So if, for example Wayne Rooney scores once in a game, in the 58th minute, his total goals minutes equals 58. If he scores twice, in the 80th and 85th minutes, his total goal minutes are 165, and so on. With the possibility that a striker could find the net any number of times in a match - and as late in the game as the 90th minute - only the very brave ever really consider a sell, especially as the option to buy means you know how much you'll lose if your player fails to score. The spread firms know this and, anticipating that most punters will want to play safe, pitch the markets artificially high. This makes buying a statistically bad bet in virtually every scenario. The shrewd play, of course, is to take advantage and go the other way. It won't make for an enjoyable match with your heart in your mouth every time the player you've sold gets the ball in front of goal, but the upside is that you're very likely to receive far more cheques with Sporting Index (or IG Sport, or Cantor Sports...) written on them during the course of a season. 3. SPECIALISE IN THE LOWER DIVISIONS Premiership teams live life in the constant glare of media scrutiny. Now, 24-hour-a-day news coverage puts them under the microscope to such an extent that almost every minute piece of news about the clubs in the top flight is constantly in the public domain. If a leading player is injured, suspended or even falling out with his manager, the world and his betting slip are more in the news loop than at any time before. But what about Gillingham's match with Brentford in League One? If Gillingham's top striker is ruled out the day before the game, are the bookmakers really going to be able to get wind of it quickly enough to change the odds when they've got dozens of other matches on their coupons to stay on top of? There's no question that the clubs in the lower divisions don't receive anywhere near as much news coverage as the top-flight teams, and those prepared to do a little homework can often get the latest news before the market makers. Local papers, which are now almost all available online, are a goldmine of information about local teams for the shrewd football punter. 4. AVOID MULTIPLE BETS Walk into any bookies for a flutter on the football and what will you see - a dedicated slip for you to place a single on the team you fancy this weekend? Not a hope in hell's chance. Instead, the only thing you are likely to be able to lay your hands on is a multiple bet football coupon inviting you to try a correct-score goliath or a ten-team 'sections list' accumulator. Not for nothing do the bookmakers actively look to market football as a medium for the most speculative of wagers. They love nothing more than to see a coupon filled with optimistic multiple bets hoping to strike it rich. It may look fun - but it's one of the poorest value bets around. Not only do accumulator punters have to get their bet absolutely spot on to land the cash (how many times has just one team let you down!), but they also have to negotiate the bookmakers' margins a number of times. If you're betting to a bookmaker's percentage of 110% for a single, a ten-team multiple accumulator means you're paying that margin ten times over. Don't do it! The bets the bookmakers hate are singles - so much so, it's only in recent years that they have even allowed them on football. So to maximize your profits don't buy into the bookie spin that to win big on football you have to do it in one, life-changing bet. The temptation of accumulators is obvious, but it's really not worth it. Slowly but mercilessly betting on one selection at a time is the only way to make money in the long-term. 5. CONSIDER ASIAN HANDICAPS RATHER THAN A LAY ON THE EXCHANGES TO OPPOSE A HOT FAVOURITE While the exchanges have been a godsend to most punters, laying favoured teams in football matches when you fancy an upset is not always the best way to go, especially when the side you want to bet against is a long odds-on favourite. In that scenario the Asian handicap can often be as much as a whole goal head-start for the underdog. That means that in the event of your prediction nearly being proved right, but the underdogs you fancy ending up losing by just a single goal, your bet will be a tie on the handicap and you'll get your money back. That's the beauty of Asian handicap bets - you have the safety net of getting your money back on certain occasions, because if a goal head-start or a goal deficit is cancelled out and the handicap ends up being equalled, your stake is returned. If, on the other hand, you had simply laid on the exchanges, someone else would be pocketing your money. The exchanges do provide excellent opportunities - but, again, becoming familiar with Asian handicap betting is advisable. 6. ALWAYS LOOK TO SUPPORT UNFASHIONABLE TEAMS PLAYING ABOVE THEMSELVES One of the biggest traps that punters fall into every season is assessing teams based on who they are, rather than how they are playing. While high-profile sides such as Liverpool, Manchester United and Rangers always start at unrealistically short odds no matter what their current form, smaller clubs who are overperforming continually get underestimated by the market. Last season, for example, West Ham and Wigan have shown themselves to be two of the most competitive teams in the Premiership. Yet before the market eventually cottoned on to this fact, punters refused to believe the evidence of their own eyes, and week after week they were sent off at odds which bore no reflection to their current form or league position. The league table seldom lies, and the most profitable football punters always look to bet on results rather than reputation. These are the golden rules to follow - if you back the advice here for the rest of the season, you won't go far wrong. So get out there and start betting like a winner!
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