Gambling Review, Gambling News & Gambling Strategy

Online Gambling is Good Bet

2006-07-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

The two upcoming integrated resorts might make bricks-and-mortar casinos the talk of the town, but online gambling is where the bigger growth will be, according to some in the industry.
They predict that online gambling will grow at 50 to 70 per cent a year for the next five to ten years. Industry studies also said that by next year, Internet gambling revenues will have grown to US$12.6 billion.

And Realtime Gaming, a software developer for online casinos, says it has seen a 20 per cent growth for the last six years, and gross profit margins of over 36 per cent. With more than 60 clients, the company has handled over US$20 billion worth of wagers over a five year period.

The 5 de Mayo is a Mexican national holiday, "Puebla Battle"

2006-05-03T06:17:00.000-07:00

The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some recognition in other parts of Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico Independent Day which is actually September 16.

On this holiday which dates back to 1862, more than 4,000 Mexican soldiers defeated the French army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico. Today the holiday is not so politically charged and is seen as a celebration which usually involves drinking and partying. Any day that involved celebration usually sees an increase of activity at the online casinos as well.

And the online casinos usually do what they can in order to encourage gambling on their sites by offering special prize giveaways, bonus promotions and even specially themed games on holidays throughout the year. It's a way of encouraging new and repeat players to get in on the action.

Poker One of the Most Popular Search Terms

2005-12-16T05:09:00.000-08:00

Poker is as popular as Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson, and Britney Spears and it blows away 50 Cent and Howard Stern. At least that?s the case with people trolling the Internet at Lycos.

Poker was the fourth-most popular term searched for in 2005 at Lycos.com, falling behind the beautiful Hilton, Anderson and Spears.

Each year, Lycos releases the ?Lycos 50,? a list of the most searched terms for the year. Last year, ?poker? was tenth on the list. Lycos also named poker as the number one ?fad? in 2005, even though poker received that accolade in 2004.

Poker has been in the top 50 terms searched for at Lycos for 86 weeks, and has sat at the second spot for the last two weeks. Poker is by far the most popular search term for a sport, game or hobby this year.

The professional wrestling league WWE was the seventh most searched term; NFL was at 23; XBOX, 24; ?NBA,? 32; NASCAR, 69; and golf, 98.

50 Cent sat at 51, and Stern fell 20 spots to 80.

A Beginners Guide to Online Gambling

2005-12-13T05:38:00.000-08:00

Types of Online Casinos
There are a number of types of online casinos at which you can play. Many of them are Java-based and load directly in your browser. Some of them use Flash or Shockwave, which also runs in your browser but may require the Flash (or Shockwave) plug-ins available from Macromedia.

Both of these types are usually referred to as no-download casinos, even though you have to download graphics and sounds every time you play. The biggest advantage of a no-download casino is that it can be played on most computers and operating systems, and many of these will also work on WebTV.

Then there are the downloadable software casinos, which will only run on Windows-based platforms. File sizes generally range from 5-15 megabytes, so you should make sure you are definitely planning to play at this casino before investing the time to download. If you run Windows, I recommend that you stick to these download casinos. They are generally more stable and secure, and once downloaded minimize communications between your computer and the casino game server, making them ideal for those of you with dial-up connections.

Bonuses
One of the biggest advantages to online gambling is the wide availability of bonuses that online casinos offer. Some casinos give you money right off the bat for you to test out their games. Others require you to make a deposit in order to receive a bonus, which is either a percentage of your deposit added to your account, or a fixed amount received for an exact deposit of X dollars.

For example, Casino A might give you $10 free just for downloading, and $40 additional when you make your first deposit of $100 within seventy-two hours.

Casino B may offer you a bonus of 25% of the amount you deposit up to a certain limit.

The reason that online casinos can offer bonuses like this is simply because they have a much lower overhead cost. Less staff, less equipment, no construction required, etc. And on top of that, they make you wager your deposit (and usually your bonus) at least three times over before you can collect your winnings.

It is very important that you read the terms and conditions which are either posted on the web site or included in your email offer?how many times you must wager the deposit and the bonus, the validity period of the bonus offer, and which games you can or cannot play in order to ensure your winnings are valid.

Making a Deposit
So you?re ready to make your first real money bet? There are usually a number of methods by which you can send the casino money.

Firstly, there?s your credit card: Visa and Mastercard are commonly accepted by nearly every online casino. However, many of you in North America may find that your credit card purchase will be rejected.

This is not because the casino doesn?t want your money; it?s because of a regulation at credit card companies, which forces the merchant (the casino) to identify the transaction as 7995: the purchase of tokens for the purpose of Internet Gambling. Most banks in the US are afraid to accept these high-risk transactions and automatically reject the purchase.

If this is the case, you have two alternative methods of using your credit card?by opening up an account at either PayPal or FirePay. You can tie your credit card to these accounts and the purchase will be identified as a pseudo-cash transaction instead of Internet Gambling transaction. These two methods are now the most common ways by which North American residents deposit money into online casinos?and in some cases casinos will offer an additional bonus if you make a deposit by one of these methods.

Many casinos also offer incentives for making a purchase by Western Union?you can use your credit card to send funds by Western Union online, or you can always go to your nearest Western Union agent and hand over cash. Some casinos will even allow you to deposit money by other methods such as ACH (which is basically an electronic check), or by wire transfer, Neteller or Layeway.

Playing the Games
Most casinos offer a pretty good selection of table games. At the very least, you should be able to find blackjack, baccarat and roulette online; many casinos offer additional table games like Caribbean Stud, Craps, Red Dog, even Casino War and Three Card Poker?but sometimes the names are slightly changed.

Video poker is one of the more popular gambling games?while a few casinos only offer one or two types of video poker, the best casinos may offer as many as 10?15 different games, and some even offer multi-hand video poker.

And then there are slots: hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of different slot machines. Whether it?s single-line, three-line, 9-line, 3- or 5-reel, progressives, bonus games, you name it, they?ve got it somewhere on the Net. The best are the progressive slots, which often pay more?and hit more frequently?than the progressives you?ll see in Vegas. The two largest portals that feature these games are Jackpot Madness and Jackpot Mania.

All of these games are simple to learn?usually just a click or two?and they play as fast as, or faster than, land-based casinos. Some are multi-player, some are single-player; but after you take a break for dinner, or perhaps take the dog out for a walk, there will always be a seat waiting for you when you come back.

Is Online Gambling Safe?
That depends. There are still rogue casino operators out there that are looking for a quick kill but they are in the minority. Most online casinos today are honest, reputable and make payments in a timely manner.

The Best Hand I Ever Played : Poker Lessons from the World's Greatest Players

2005-12-07T15:23:00.000-08:00

The Book of the Month

Book Description
A wise and witty collection of 52 interviews with the best professional poker players in the world (including Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, Phil Gordon, and Annie Duke) in which they recount the greatest hands of their storied careers.

Combining heart-stopping action, dramatic storytelling, larger-than-life characters, and expert instruction, The Best Hand I Ever Played provides colorful, money-making wisdom from the sharpest minds in the game. Whether you're a newcomer in a friendly weekly game, an on-line poker shark, or a veteran of Vegas tournaments, The Best Hand I Ever Played will teach you to talk, think, and play like a pro.

GoldenPalace Review

2005-11-25T10:07:00.000-08:00

Deposit Information $25.00 up to $100.00 using NETeller, myCitadel or Firepay Bonus Amount 300% of your deposit (Receive a 200% bonus when using a credit card to make your first deposit) How Bonus is Received Once you have made your purchase, call or e-mail Golden Palace Casino mentioning Promotion Code A3973 along with your name and account number to receive the bonus Bonus Type First-time player "welcome" bonus Wagering Information

Wager your bonus and deposit four times each. Your deposit and any winnings made from the bonus may be cashed-in but the bonus itself cannot. Follow our link for more promotion details. Craps, Roulette, Baccarat or Sicbo cannot be played until you have cashed in after wagering 4X the total amount deposited or your play balance reaches zero

Comp Points For every $10.00 bet in any game, you'll receive 1 comp point. When you reach 100 points, you'll get $1.00 added to your play balance at Golden Palace Casino Types of Games and Wagering Limits

Baccarat	$1-$500 per hand
Blackjack	$1-$500 per hand
Casino War	$1-$500 bets
Caribbean Stud Poker	$1-$400 bets
Craps	$1-$100 bets
Keno	25¢-$25 bets
Pai Gow Poker	$1-$300 bets
Progressive Games	5¢-$400 bets
Roulette	$1-$25 bets
Sicbo	$1-$300 bets
Slots	1¢-$225 bets
Video/Power Poker	5¢-$100 bets

Banking Type E-Cash World Playing Currencies US Dollars, GB Pounds and Euros Minimum Check Amount No less than the amount of your bonus Check Fee FREE by regular mail How to Contact Casino Via phone, live chat or e-mail Refer-A-Friend Program Up to $20.00 per referral Licensed By/Opened On Kahnawake Gaming Commission - online since 1997 Software Type Playtech

Ten Tips for Texas Hold'em

2005-11-25T09:49:00.000-08:00

1. Be patient - It is very easy to panic and become impatient as you see the players around you winning pots and adding to their chip lead. You have to remain calm and wait for a solid hand. A tournament is a marathon, not a sprint. You must bide your time and chips so that when you do get a hand you have the opportunity to play it correctly and win a large pot. Nothing is worse than getting a monster hand and not having enough chips to make it pay off.

2. Let other players eliminate themselves - Winning is always the goal in a poker tournament. Do you have to eliminate players to win? Yes. Do you have to eliminate them all? No. By sitting back and playing fewer hands (especially in later rounds), players will weed each other out until you are guaranteed to be in the money. At this time, you can become more aggressive.

3.Take risks early - It is inevitable that sometime during a tournament you will need to take a risk in order to have a chance at winning. The important thing to remember is to take calculated risks. This usually means playing looser or taking more chances in early rounds. The blinds are lower in early rounds so laying down a missed hand in an early hand will not eat a huge chunk out of your bankroll.

4. Sit out a round when you join a new table - You will be moved several times during a tournament. Each time you are moved, sit out a few hands to get a feel for the table. Learn how each player plays. This will prevent you from getting caught in a hand and not having any idea of how your opponent plays.

5. Watch for traps - This is especially true in no limit tournaments. One successful trap can make you a winner or knock you out of the tournament completely. Be careful when making a bet with a dangerous board even if you plan to fold if you get raised. These small mistakes will eat away your chips quickly. Recognize the possibility of a trap and try to make a smaller bet to entice your opponent to reveal more information about their hand.

6. Don?t be afraid to go all in - When you?re playing in any no limit tournament, chances are you?ll have to go all in at least once. The key is to not fear going all in, but to recognize when you have the best hand and force someone else to catch you.

7. Avoid pushing all in on a draw hand - Going all in should be reserved for instances when you feel you have the best hand. In order to go all in with any sort of draw hand, you must be getting tremendous pot odds. Be absolutely certain that if you do hit your hand, it will be good enough to win. And even then, think twice. Keep in mind that you are not ahead and you will be putting your tournament life in luck?s hand. By only going all in when you have a made hand, you will force others to get lucky.

8. Try to steal blinds - If you?re in a late position, do not be afraid to make a play for the blinds. For every blind you steal, it?s like not having to post one the next time around. Stealing blinds is great way to tread water while you wait for a monster hand.

9. Be a bully - If you see someone is low on chips, don?t be afraid to push them around. Make them uncomfortable by making larger raises. When they are short stacked they will think twice before risking valuable chips unless they have a lock. Pushing around short stack players will not make you rich, but it is a great way to win several small pots that will protect your lead.

10.Latter rounds - If you have a decent amount of chips you should play extremely tight in the later rounds. This is when low stacked players will be looking to move all in and chip leaders will only be playing the "nuts". Your starting cards become extremely important because it is very likely every hand will result in someone going all in. Adjust your game accordingly. Even if you?re not where you want to be as far as chip count, be extremely patient and wait for a very strong hand.

How the U.S. Is Getting Beat in Online Gambling

2005-11-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

PartyPoker boasts that more than a million people have played for money on its site this year, the vast majority of them Americans, who are technically circumventing the law, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Flush with success--and with profit margins of 60%--the firm went public on the London Stock Exchange this summer. The June 27 IPO, which valued PartyPoker at $10 billion, was Britain's biggest this year. Bhargava shared the pot with two other reclusive co-owners: a Net pornographer named Ruth Parasol, who switched from carnality to cards in the late 1990s, and Anurag Dikshit, an Indian software whiz whom Bhargava met when both were students at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi. They are not three of a kind, but they did cash out about one-fifth of the company. "Poker became a monster," says Bhargava, who sold stock worth $210 million and still retains almost 9% of the firm's equity.

Gaming is going global, and to stock markets, with a force that's making fortunes for a cluster of little-known industry outsiders and giving monstrous headaches to regulators, legislators and traditional casino companies. Poker is growing most rapidly; this year an estimated $2.7 billion will be spent on Online poker games, almost double last year's take and 10 times that of 2002.

That breakneck growth can't continue--one reason PartyGaming's stock drifted below its IPO price--but other casino games like blackjack, as well as lotteries and sports betting, are finding new homes online. According to Warwick Bartlett, who runs the British firm Global Betting & Gaming Consultants, almost $12 billion will be wagered over the Internet this year, or close to 5% of the world's total gross gambling yield. Over the next five years, the consultancy estimates, the total take will soar to about $22 billion, or about 7.5% of the industry total.

Nevada reports casino gambling revenue

2005-11-21T06:32:00.000-08:00

Nevada casino gambling revenue increased 9.63 percent in September from a year earlier to $1.01 billion despite concerns that high gasoline prices would deter tourists, state officials said on Thursday.

Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, the heart of Nevada's gambling industry, reported gambling revenue jumped 17.8 percent in September from a year earlier to $541.22 million, the Nevada Gaming Control Board reported.

Separately, the New Jersey officials said casino gambling revenue in their state rose to $427.9 million in October, marking a 10.2 percent increase from a year earlier, and provided the state government with $34.2 million in taxes.

Gambling revenue reported by casinos in Nevada has increased for 14 consecutive months amid strong economic growth in the state and an upswing in tourism.

The gasoline is a real world-wide problem!!!!

Party strategy grow into action

2005-11-12T07:06:00.000-08:00

PartyGaming, the world?s largest egaming company, has revealed changes to its relationships with its white-label partners Multipoker and Intertops.

PartyGaming has paid US$14.5m in cash for the Multipoker business, assets (including brand and website), player database and intellectual property.

Richard Segal, chief executive of PartyGaming, said: ?PartyGaming?s business strategy is being implemented as planned. We now look forward to the launch of the Party-branded integrated platform in the first half of 2006, which will expand the number of games available to our customers through one account and a shared purse.?

Pathological Gambling Adiction

2005-11-11T07:21:00.000-08:00

Gamblers no longer need to trek to Las Vegas or Atlantic City to find the action they crave. It is available today in their own hometowns. Gambling's tremendous popularity is evident in the recent increase in the number of off-track-betting parlors (OTBs) and riverboat casinos. For most of the industry's patrons, gambling is fun and a form of harmless entertainment. For the four to six percent of gamblers who become problem or pathological (compulsive) gamblers, however, it can be a devastating illness that negatively affects every aspect of their lives.

Gambling can be defined as playing a game of chance for stakes. Gambling occurs in many forms, most commonly pari-mutuels, lotteries, casinos,card rooms, bingo and the stock market.

Pathological gambling is a progressive disease that devastates not only the gambler but everyone with whom he or she has a significant relationship gambling addiction as including three phases:

Winning phase gamblers experience a big win� or a series of wins � that leaves them with unreasonable optimism that their winning will continue.

Losing phase the gamblers often begin bragging about wins they have had, start gambling alone, think more about gambling and borrow money legally or illegally. They start lying to family and friends and become more irritable, restless and withdrawn.

Desperation phase, there is a marked increase in the time spent gambling. This is accompanied by remorse, blaming others and alienating family and friends.

Annie Duke -World Champion Poker 2005

2005-11-08T14:46:00.000-08:00

Born and raised in Concord, New Hampshire, Annie Duke grew up in a family who had cards and competition in the blood. In a home where card playing was the glue that held the family together, everybody not only wanted to win but needed to win.

Duke completed a major in English and Psychology at Columbia University intending to follow in the footsteps of her parents and becoming a teacher. Instead, she enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania for Cognitive Psychology.

In 1991, while Duke was knee deep in doctorate research, she proposed marriage to an old friend, Ben Duke, packed up her life and research and left academia behind for Billings, CO. Living in romantic poverty with her husband, Duke began to play poker in local pokers rooms to pay the mortgage on their first home.

In 2004, Duke beat out an assembly of 234 players in the WSOP $2000 buy-in Omaha Hi/Lo Split and won her first WSOP bracelet. In August of the same year, Duke knocked out 8 of the worlds’ greatest poker legends and won $2 million in the No-Limit Texas Hold'em winner-take-all, invitation-only WSOP Tournament of Champions, established by ESPN and Harrah’s Entertainment.

Duke now serves as a consultant for the online poker site UltimateBet.com to ensure that their rules of poker and tournament structure match those you would find in the famous poker rooms of the Las Vegas strip.Recently, Duke endorsed The ESPN Poker Club product line which offers poker aficionados premium quality poker products of unmatched quality, style and authenticity. The line, which was launched in May 2005, includes poker chip sets, tabletops, tables and other poker accessories. She's amazing player

A-Rodriguez Warned Against Illegal Poker Passion Results In $100,000

2005-11-03T19:07:00.000-08:00

The third baseman, Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez to quit playing poker in illegal clubs. The star slugger had attended games at an underground club with professional card player Phil Hellmuth. A-Rod's card playing might be "dangerous and harmful to his image."

After this news the company of Sports Interaction Poker – submitted a preliminary offer to Rodriguez back in October when he was first seen at illegal poker rooms. The offer included a $100,000 large complimentary account in return for exclusive play at the online poker site. Rodriguez’ agent received an updated offer late this morning.

Takeover bid for Empire Online

2005-11-03T05:47:00.000-08:00

Industry commentators were quick to play down speculation regarding how much PartyGaming might be willing to put on the table should it go ahead with a takeover bid for Empire Online.
After it was announced that PartyGaming had made a preliminary approach, press reports this morning suggested that PartyGaming, the world’s largest online poker room, could offer up to £400m for Empire.
The offer for Empire comes after PartyGaming set up an operating poker platform purely aimed at players on PartyPoker.com on October 10, in effect ring-fencing its existing player base from the platform it previously shared with its ‘skins’ EmpirePoker, Intertops, Coral Eurobet and Multipoker.

On the same day, Empire issued a bullish trading update, saying net gaming revenues had grown 24% in Q3 compared with Q2 2005, before then issuing a profit warning on October 18, announcing that its growth would be 10% below original forecasts as a result of PartyGaming’s platform switch.

The History of Poker

2005-10-31T08:42:00.000-08:00

Poker is a card game, the most popular of a class of games called vying games, in which players with fully or partially concealed cards make wagers into a central pot, which is awarded to the remaining player or players with the best combination of cards. Poker can also refer to video poker which is a single-player game seen in casinos much like a slot machine.

In order to play, one must learn the basic rules and procedures of the game, the values of the various combinations of cards (see hand), and the rules about betting limits. Some knowledge of the equipment used to play is useful. There are also many variants of poker, loosely categorized as draw poker, stud poker, community card poker (a.k.a. "widow game"), and miscellaneous poker games. The most commonly played games of the first three categories are five-card draw, seven-card stud, and Texas hold 'em. Respectively; each being a common starting point for learning games of the type. Dealer's choice is a way to play poker where the dealer chooses what type of poker to play.

The history of poker is a matter of some debate. The name of the game likely descended from the French poque, which descended from the German pochen ('to knock'), but it is not clear whether the origins of poker itself lie with the games bearing those names. It closely resembles the Persian game of as nas, and may have been taught to French settlers in New Orleans by Persian sailors. It is commonly regarded as sharing ancestry with the Renaissance game of primero and the French brelan. The English game brag clearly descended from brelan and incorporated bluffing (though the concept was known in other games by that time). It is quite possible that all of these earlier games influenced the development of poker as it exists now.

English actor Joseph Crowell reported that the game was played in New Orleans in 1829, with a deck of 20 cards, four players betting on which player's hand was the most valuable. Jonathan H. Green's book, An Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling (G. B. Zieber, Philadelphia, 1843), described the spread of the game from there to the rest of the country by Mississippi riverboats, on which gambling was a common pastime.

Soon after this spread, the full 52-card English deck was used, and the flush was introduced. During the American Civil War, many additions were made, including draw poker, stud poker (the five-card variant), and the straight. Further American developments followed, such as the wild card (around 1875), lowball and split-pot poker (around 1900), and community card poker games (around 1925). Spread of the game to other countries, particularly in Asia, is often attributed to the U.S. military. The game and jargon of poker have become important parts of American culture and English culture. Such phrases as ace in the hole, beats me, blue chip, call the bluff, cash in, pass the buck, poker face, stack up, up the ante, when the chips are down, wild card, and others are used in everyday conversation even by those unaware of their origins at the poker table.

Modern tournament play became popular in American casinos after the World Series of Poker began in 1970. It was also during that decade that the first serious strategy books appeared, notably The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky (ISBN 1880685000), Super System by Doyle Brunson (ISBN 0931444014), and The Book of Tells by Mike Caro (ISBN 0897461002).

Poker's popularity has experienced an unprecedented spike in recent years, largely due to the introduction of online poker and the invention of the hole-card camera which finally turned the game into a spectator sport. Viewers can now follow the action and drama of the game, and broadcasts of poker tournaments such as the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour have brought in huge audiences for cable and satellite TV distributors.

Legend of Halloween

2005-10-30T17:16:00.000-08:00

The Origin of Halloween
"Samhain" or "All Allows Day"

The origin of Halloween goes back very far- all the way back to the ancient Celts. The Celts lived in the British Isles during ancient times. The last day of the year on the old pagan calendar, October 31st, served the triple purpose of bidding goodbye to summer, welcoming winter, and remembering the dead. This day was called "Samhain". On the evening of October 31st and the day of November 1st, the Celtic priests, known as Druids, honored Samhain- the god of death. On October 31st, Druids also predicted the future.

According to Celtic legend, Samhain controlled the spirits of the dead and could allow them to rest peace fully, or make them go wild on this night. The Celtic believed that on the night of October 31st ghosts come out of their tombs. The spirit of the dead returned! Druids made big fires to frighten away the spirits of evil and death. The Celtic people dressed in scary costumes to frighten the evil spirits. They dressed as witches, ghosts and skeletons. They also played games to bring good luck in the new year.

After the Roman invasion in 43 AD, Samhain also became a harvest festival. Rome had a festival honoring the goddess Pomona who ruled fruits and garden. The Romans pictured her as a beautiful maiden, her arms filled with fruit, and a crown of apples on her head. Nuts, fruits and apples were part of the Samhain ceremonies. Apples were considered to be sacred and lucky. The colors of Halloween are orange and black. They represent the harvest (orange) and death (black).

Also after the Roman invasion, Christian rites substituted pagan rites. For the Christians, the first day of November was the day of All Saints. It was called All Allows Day (the day of All Saints). The evening of October 31st was All Allows Eve. This was shortened to Halloween. The druid religion went on for a long time in Ireland and Scotland. Halloween continued to be important in both places.

In the XIX (19th) century, Irish immigrants brought their Halloween costumes to the United States. Now Halloween is one of the biggest festivities in the USA. The date of Halloween, October 31st, is on every calendar.

"The Most incredible Ford Escort in the World"

2005-10-30T11:51:00.000-08:00

The light blue 1975 Ford Escort was bought by a Houston lawyer and car collector for US$690,000 (£340,000).

John Paul is the only pope to have owned a vehicle during his papacy, said auction house Kruse International.

The pontiff clocked 96,560km (60,000 miles) on trips to the mountains for hiking and meditating before asking Kruse to sell it for charity in 1996.

The Best Poker Book

2005-10-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Harrington on Hold'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments: Endgame, II

Not for beginners. Very interesting

Before purchasing these books I was read Vol. I why's of expert play are not only explained in great detail but they are explained well enough to make the book a good read. Very few people will ever have the opportunity to play big-time, no-limit Hold'em, but reading this book will give aficionados an inside look at what is really going on with the Biggest Player’s at the center table.

These second books by Dan Harrington are absolutely the best you can buy for playing No Limit Hold'Em Poker. Read them Vol. I & II and keep reading them until you thoroughly understand every concept and know how to apply them to the relevant situations. Vol. II is an incredible source and work book for various levels of play. Covers virtually all of the important information in great detail

Dan Harrington provides solid theory backed by numerous examples

Is Google trying to be everywhere on the Internet?

2005-10-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Rumors surface on the big G and their plans to take on ebay with their own site for buyers and sellers.
the question is... what does it mean?

ChannelAdvisor CEO Scot Wingo notes that some folks in Europe caught a screen shot of Google Base, which looks to be a potential rival to eBay, before Google apparently took it down. It actually sounds like more than that from the description on the page: "Google Base is Google's database into which you can add all sort of content. We'll host your content and make it searchable online for free." It provides examples, from "listing of your used car for sale" to "database of protein structures."

Of course, the latter one wouldn't exactly be a top seller on eBay, but the Webforce blog shows a screenshot of a pretty detailed form for listing real estate. The New Google Blog, with no attribution, suggests Google Base might be introduced today at Google's invite-only Zeitgeist conference.

Actually, it sounds like it might be as much a rival to Craigslist as eBay. Either way, though--~~assuming it's real~~--it will require many more pieces to be in place, such as payment and reputation systems. Wouldn't put it past Google to give it all a shot, but it could be a good long while before Google Base makes headway against the finely tuned franchises of eBay and Craigslist.

UPDATE: Scot has some more clues and interesting thoughts on what Google Base could mean for eBayers. (As do we in our story.) Although Google Base no doubt will give eBay plenty to chew on, I still think Google has something a little different in mind. Besides the name, which doesn't even suggest an overt focus on commerce, the breadth of categories that Google lists suggests it may be focused on the broader market for local ads--not just classifieds but Yellow Pages and radio ads, which often are from local services. Increasingly, eBay is targeting those as well, with its acquisitions of Rent.com and Shopping.com and its own classified-ad forays. So if Google is successful here--and that's a very big if (Mike Arrington at TechCrunch, for one, doesn't think much of the idea)--newspapers and radio stations may have even more to worry about than eBay.

If you really want to dig in to the coverage, Search Engine Lowdown has an extensive list.

PartyGaming sees Q3 revenues rise by 32%

2005-10-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

PartyGaming chief executive Richard Segal suggested the positive reaction of the stock market to the company’s third quarter results vindicated the company’s overall strategy for long-term growth.

“People are seeing the results of us starting to implement our strategy in earnest. The stock market is pleased that it is being reflected in our figures. We have upped the ante and it has been recognised.”

Group revenues in the third quarter to 30 September were up 32% over the same period last year to US$220m from US$166m.

During the period, poker revenues (including skins) were up 38% over the nine months. Although poker revenues over the previous quarter were up only 4%, the company said it added 209,000 new real-money players over the three-month period.

World Series of Poker decided in record 14th hour

2005-10-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS -- Australian Joseph Hachem prevailed in his first World Series of Poker Saturday, winning $7.5 million and snatching the game's greatest crown in the longest final table in the tournament's history.

Only six hands into the two-man showdown at the end, Hachem eliminated Steven Dannenmann of Severn, Md., when he flopped a seven-high straight.

When it was clear Hachem had won, his fans in the room erupted into "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!" Hachem immediately embraced Dannenmann, wrapped himself in an Australian flag and shouted: "Thank you, America."

Hachem's victory was astonishing because he had been nursing a short stack of chips for 11½ hours through the night, waiting for the right moment and avoiding confrontations that could cost him a chance at the 36th annual no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event title.

"I never gave up," he said.

The 39-year-old gambler from Melbourne moved with his family from his native Lebanon in 1972 and gave up a 13-year chiropractic career three years ago to play poker for a living.

Nearly 14 hours into the final round of seemingly interminable poker, Hachem pounced, bringing the tournament to a decisive end about an hour after sunrise.

The final play unfolded slowly as Dannenmann raised before the flop -- three community cards -- was turned over. Hachem called and the dealer revealed a six-five-four flop. Hachem checked, Dannenmann bet another $700,000 and then Hachem raised to $1.7 million.

The turn, or fourth card, was an ace and Hachem threw another $2 million into the pot. Dannenmann raised to $5 million and Hachem went "all-in" with more than $30 million, moving into a high-stakes gear that can either save or break a gambler.

Dannenmann called instantly and then Hachem produced a seven and three, giving him a seven-high straight. Dannenmann showed an ace-three, and needed a seven on the river -- the last card -- to match Hachem's straight. It didn't happen.

Dannenmann said his top priority was to have a good time. He even carried around a small sheet of paper with a list of things he should remember. Two of them were "have fun" and "nothing to lose."

Toward the end of the round, Dannenmann, a 38-year-old accountant and mortgage banker from Severn, Md., said he just wanted to finish the match.

"I got tired," he said. "I was bored of it. I was trying to make moves."

With the bundles of cash, Hachem also won the coveted white gold and diamond bracelet. It's the last time the event will be held at Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel, where cowboy Benny Binion started the World Series in 1970.

Like Chris Moneymaker in 2003 and Greg Raymer last year, Hachem won in his initial World Series, likely changing his life forever.

"A million dollars changes my life, let alone $7.5 million," he said. "It changes everything. I can look after my family, my mum, my kids."

The final group of nine emerged from a field of 5,619 gamblers. They had survived eight days of mind-numbing poker, overcoming unlucky cards and Darth Vaderesque stares at the Rio hotel-casino and Binion's.

When the first cards were dealt Friday, each player was capable of winning if he was willing to make some of the toughest calls of his life.

After Tex Barch was eliminated in a monster three-way pot, Hachem and Dannenmann found themselves heads up. Hachem was in command of $39.9 million and Dannenmann had $16.3 million.

Soon the two would make gambling history when they ended play at 6:44 a.m. -- 13 hours and 56 minutes after the final round began. The table was 18 minutes longer than the previous mark, established in 1983.

To get to that point, the pair had to outlast seven other men -- none of whom wanted to go quietly.

Everyone who began the day at the table was guaranteed at least $1 million.

Mike "The Mouth" Matusow, a well-known professional player who came in sixth in 2001 and 87th last year, had been considered a favorite but was the first to go. He had no regrets.

"I played the six best days of poker in my life," Matusow said. "I'm going to bed happy."

Penn law student Brad Kondracki finished eighth and Daniel Bergsdorf, a Swedish truck driver, was seventh. Scott Lazar was sixth, Irishman Andrew Black took fifth and Aaron Kanter wrapped up fourth, followed by Barch.

About 13 hours into the round, officials dumped the first-place prize in thick stacks of hundreds on a table near the players, causing shouts of "Oh, my God!" For the first time in the tournament, the remaining gamblers saw their elusive goal -- guarded by security men with shotguns.

When Hachem finally confronted the mountain of cash, he asked: "Is this all mine?"

Yes.

Online Poker

2005-10-19T18:18:00.000-07:00

Poker Tips

This collection of poker tips was put together by Mike Sexton (host of PartyPoker.com and commentator for the World Poker Tour), and Linda Johnson (a noted poker player and personality).

Pay attention. Watch and see who's playing in an aggressive or loose way and who's playing tight. Generally, you should try to play the loose players and avoid the tight players, unless you've got a strong hand.
Always be aware of everyone's chip count. Know who has more chips than you and play more carefully against them - a mistake could knock you out. It's usually better to play pots with players who have fewer chips than you do.
If your cards don't match any of the community cards, throw your hand away when someone else bets.
Don’t play every time you have an ace in your hand. However, you can play an ace if it's accompanied by another card of the same suit or by a ten or higher.
Hands to stay with before the flop: pairs (7-7, 9-9), two face cards (K-Q, A-J), or hands that can make both a straight and a flush (8-9, 6-7 of the same suit). Be patient and fold other hands, unless you're in the blind.
In no-limit Hold’em, players can bet all of their chips at any time, so bet aggressively when you have a good hand.
Play fewer hands when you're one of the first players to act, because you'll be 'out of position' and vulnerable to raises from the remaining players.
Do not act until it is your turn; play proceeds clockwise at the poker table.
Be a “bettor,” not a “caller.” (Being aggressive is good.)
If someone raises in a late position (near or on the button), re-raise them a good amount if you are on the blind. Chances are, they don't have a real big hand and they are just trying to steal your blinds. (This style of play, known as going "over the top", is probably the strongest play one can make in no-limit Hold'em.)
The biggest mistake most players make is to act too quickly. When you have an important decision to make, take your time and re-think how the betting has gone and what your opponent might have. Take your time.

source:
http://www.partypoker.com/index.htm?wm=2667104

Online Gambling Beginner's Guide

2005-10-19T17:24:00.000-07:00

Online Casino Beginners Guide

1. Ensure the online casino is licensed. Licensed online casinos are recognized to be legitimate and, as such, offer fair odds, honest gaming and usually great customer support facilities. Don't waste your time on unlicensed online casinos. The following are the most common online gambling jurisdictions: Antigua, Australia, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Kanawhake (Canada), Netherlands, Antilles, Norfolk Island and the UK.

2. Check the casino's gaming software provider. Much like you wouldn't buy an expensive sports car with the 'cheap' tires, so you shouldn't gamble on online casinos that use sub-standard gambling software. Look out for online casinos that offer and promote either Microgaming, Playtech or Cryptologic gaming software. These are the 'Michelins' and 'Pirellis' of online gambling software.

3. Seek out and understand the best online casino bonuses. Unlike in land casinos where players are 'comped' after playing for some time, online casinos 'comp' all new players up front in the form of 'Welcome' bonuses. Just about all bonuses are different so you need to search for the most lucrative ones. However, it is equally important that you read and understand the rules that accompany bonuses before you accept them.

4. Always read an online casino's terms and conditions. Much like you would carefully read and understand a contract before signing it, you must read an understand an online casino's terms and conditions before opening an account with it. Only once you are comfortable, then open up an account and make your deposit.

5. Choose the best payment methods. As the popularity of online gambling has grown, so have the number of secure Internet payment options. Choose one that best suits your needs and make your deposit. Some of the most popular methods include NETeller, FirePay, Citadel, Credits Cards and many more.

How much do you gamble a month?

2005-10-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

More than two hundred	51.3%
More than a hundred	19.1%
Between 50 and a hundred dollars	12.2%
Between 10 and 50 dollars	10.4%
Less than ten dollars	7.0%

Total votes: 115

Online Casino Demographics

2005-10-15T17:28:00.000-07:00

According to recent statistics published in U.S. News and World Report, casino players have a median income of $41,000 and a median age of 47. They wager an estimated $25–$100 per casino visit. Forty-five percent of casino players are men, 55 percent are women.