Tag Archives: gamble

How to Get Started on The Slots

Did you know that fruit machines have been a part of British culture since the late 19th century.? What started as a basic machine with a a simple automatic mechanism has since evolved into a huge industry, with contemporary games offering big cash jackpots and a wide range of interactive features and bonuses. Here are a few tips on how to get started on the slots.

1. Understanding Basic Play

Although slot machines will vary depending on the manufacturer and casino, many share the same features. You will need to match different combinations of symbols on the reels in order to generate prizes and access bonus content. Although traditional slot machines include a pulley to activate the reels, many contemporary slot machines can be generated just by pressing the relevant buttons. Some games have an autoplay feature which will trigger the reels to spin automatically during each round.

2. Using scatter symbols and wild symbols

Scatter symbols and wild symbols can increase your chances of winning when playing slots, and can be used to substitute symbols on the reels in order to match a winning a combination. Before you play the slots, always determine the value of each symbol, and the different combinations you will need in order to generate the jackpot or access interactive features like free spin rounds. These values are usually printed on the front of the fruit machine.

3. Increasing your chances of winning

Many slot machines are based around a theme, and might include other aspects from traditional casino games such as poker or roulette. Free spin rounds can be used to increase your chances of jackpot, while other bonus content – such as risk games – can provide you with additional features during the game. An example of a risk game might be to guess the next number in a sequence, determine the correct colour of a card, or decide whether the next card will have a value higher or lower than the last. Multipliers can also be used as a way to increase the amount of money that you in.

 

Speak The Language – Popular Punto Banco Terminology

Punto Banco is a popular card game which is actually quite similar to baccarat in some respects. It is played on a semicircular table and up to twelve different participants can play in a single hand. Interestingly enough, it is said that most versions of baccarat played within North America are likely to instead be Punto Banco.

 

Game Play

Six or eight decks of shuffled cards are used. They are placed within a “shoe” so that players will be able to deal the cards themselves during their turn. As in many other games, each card represents a specific value (aces are one, tens and face cards are zero and all numbered cards correspond to their own quantities). Once each player receives a total number of cards, the casino can play the hands as they are or opt to draw more from the shoe. The object of the game is for the players to get as close as possible to a total value of no more than nine. Also, the players can also choose which seat to sit in (as this will affect the cards which are received). It should finally be noted that Punto Banco (literally “Bank Player” in Spanish) offers one of the best house edges in gambling.

Terminology

The terminology of this game is as interesting as the action itself. So, it proves wise to take a look at some of the most common phrases. These will include:

Banker bet: betting that the banker will ultimately win.
“Carte”: the term used when a player wishes to receive another card.
Croupier: dealer.
Le Grande: a French term literally meaning “The Big”. This occurs when a hand totals nine points.
“Petite”: a hand that totals eight points (“petite” means “small” in French).
Cheval: the rule that a player can bet on two hands. Note that he or she must win both.

This is a brief description of the game of Punto Banco. By learning the basic strategy and terminology, the next winning hand may be just around the corner!

Top 5 Blackjack Strategies

Blackjack is a game of skill as much as luck, that is why there are as many strategies for playing the game as there are players; here you will find the top five blackjack strategies which net results on a frequent enough basis to make the game a challenge and a reward.

1. Easy On The Wine and Spirits

Yes, Blackjack is a game of strategy where most of the work goes on inside the mind of the player and the dealer, you really can’t beat the dealer or the other players unless your thinking is sharp and you are feeling mentally prepared. Having a little too much alcohol can lead to sloppy mistakes, bad moves, and slow reactions at the table – this can be a real game spoiler!

2. Develop Your Own Basic Strategy

There are many books about developing strategy as well as apps and computer games which will help you to improve your ‘plan’ for each hand which you are dealt; each player will have their own strategy at the start so the more comfortable you are with your strategy the more likely your odds of winning become. One resource is Dr Edward O Thorp’s guide Beat the Dealer which offers you ways of having as little as a 0.5% disadvantage against the house.

3. Read The Limits

It is a common, albeit rookie mistake to sit down at a Blackjack table and not know the basics of how this particular game will run, make sure you understand all of your options – surrender early or late – minimum and maximum bets per hand, what are the first cards which you can double down and which two first cards can you split – in addition to how many times they can be split, and of course be sure that you are on a standard Blackjack game.

4. Pick a Friendly Dealer

It makes for a nice experience, though you are betting against the house your dealer is a representative of that house and as such having a friendly, outgoing dealer can really enhance or detract from the overall experience of the game. Find a dealer who matches your preferences – reserved or outgoing, gregarious or shy, and you will enjoy yourself more.

5. Know Your Limits

Decide ahead of time how much you are willing to wager, and don’t go beyond that. This will ensure you do not bet more than you wanted out of frustration. Some players prefer to only wager one quarter of what they want to bet at a time while others like to start with heavier bets.

Be comfortable with your own knowledge and style and the Blackjack table will always be a welcoming place for you at any casino.

How to Wager – A Guide to Craps Bets

If you hope to excel in the enticing game of craps, there are a handful of bets that you should become familiar with. Although this list can be rather exhaustive, let’s take a look at five of the most common.

 

Pass Line

This is the most popular position. You will bet that a 7 or 11 is scored on the come-out roll. A bet will lose if a 2,3 or 7 is instead the result. A “point” will be established if any other numbers are rolled. This bet pays out even money.

Pass Line Odds

This bet is made after the point has been created as described above. Most rules state that the pass line odds can be a multiple of the original pass line bet. If a point is again rolled before a 7, you will win. Note that there is no house edge with this variant.

Don’t Pass Line

As you may have guessed, this is the exact opposite of a pass line bet (you win if you roll a 2 or a 3 but lose if a 7 or 11 is the outcome). If you score a 12, this is called a “push”. After this, you will win if you roll a 7 and lose if you roll the point.

Don’t Pass Odds

One again, this is the exact reverse of taking the odds; you win if a 7 is rolled before the point. Normally, this number can be a multiple of the original don’t pass bet. Payouts depends upon how common the point is (such as 1 to 2 and 2 to 3).

Come

This bet can be made at any time (assuming that the point has already been established). As with the pass line position, you will win if you roll a 7 or 11 and lose if a 2,3 or 12 is the end result.

While these strategies can take a bit of time to understand, craps is actually quite easy to master with patience. So, expect to enjoy a fun (and potentially rewarding) experience!

5 Popular Roulette Strategies

Punters have been working hard to try and devise a guaranteed ‘winning tactic’ to bring to the roulette table for just about as long as the wheels themselves have been a casino mainstay. Eager gamblers play upon all manner of statistical intricacies when considering where to place those chips, and the variety of strategies on offer is dazzling in its depth and breadth. Here’s a brief outline of five of the most popular approaches.

 

The Martingale

Odds are (no pun intended!) that even if you have only a cursory knowledge of roulette then this is what springs to mind when somebody mentions ‘roulette strategy’. It’s a progressive betting system often employed by novice players, promising an eventual windfall by doubling up the subsequent bet following a loss – the idea being that sooner or later your luck will change and you’ll have one big payout.
The d’Alembert

Playing on the notion that, all things being equal, the roulette wheel will even out over time, this strategy has you decreasing winning bets and increasing losing bets – the logic here being that once a given outcome has happened once, it is less likely to happen again.
The Shotwell

Players employing the Shotwell approach to roulette betting smatter their chips around the board to create an equal distance between betted-on numbers on the wheel. By limiting the spaces between your numbers to no more than three increments, you never, as proponents of this system would argue, have less than a one in four chance of a big win.
Oscar’s Grind

A nice and simple up-as-you-win approach to roulette betting, Oscar’s grind involves repeating bets when you lose, and increasing them incrementally when you win; any given time you never bet more than what is needed to recoup previous losses, with an added single-unit profit margin, allegedly spelling victory in the long term.
The Paroli of 3

Much like Oscar’s grind above, this is an up-as-you-win system, but with much more aggressive betting. As long as you are losing, you bet one unit. When you win, you then bet double your stake plus one, with the overall goal of three even chance wins for a steady payout.

Poker – When to Fold ‘em

Poker is all about risk and reward but good players know when the risks outweigh the rewards and when it’s time to cut their losses and fold. Thus, mastering when to fold is as important as any other skill a poker player needs to win.

Although the least spectacular play, folding will save you money when done at the correct times. Smart players are players who fold when the risks are too high and go on to bet intelligently when the risks are acceptable.

There are a few basic situations where you will want to consider folding:

1. You are sure you are holding the worst hand.
2. The chance of improving your hand is very low, compared to the pot odds.
3. You are unsure where you stand with your hand, but a big call would be necessary to remain in the game. Folding would be playing it safe.
4. You currently have good odds, but it is highly likely that someone later will make it too expensive to continue when betting returns to you.

It might be obvious, but there are basic situations where folding is not a good idea:

1. If you have the choice to check or fold, check.
2. You know your hand is the best.
3. You know you probably have the worst hand but you are getting good odds to improve.
4. If you are behind, but are pretty sure you can bluff your opponents.

The choice about whether to fold or not usually boils down to pot odds, that is, the odds of you winning the pot with your current cards and the cards showing. Pocket aces before the flop, for instance, are great odds until the river shows your opponent has a potential for a three of a kind or straight. The choice then, might be to try and bluff instead of fold. Of course, your opponent is doing the same analysis and is facing the same decisions. Ultimately the choice is yours. Faced with poor odds, folding shouldn’t be considered a cowardly option, but a smart one.

The Definitive Guide to Punto Banco

Punto Banco is a hugely popular card game that gets players totally hooked. It is a game of chance which is dependent on the cards the player receives. This means that players have just as much chance to win as anyone else, because no skills or form of strategy is necessary. The winning hand will be either the Player’s or the Banker’s. The winning bets depend on the casino, however in most cases, 1-1 (even money) is given for Player’s bets. The house edge is quite low at approximately 1%.

 

The game is very similar to Baccarat, except that there are not any optional plays, and there are fixed house rules as to how the cards are dealt. There is a shoe (which houses four, six or eight pre-shuffled decks. A card sized piece of plastic, which is usually yellow, is included in the shuffling, and is the sign which shows the shoe’s last coup.

The aim of the game is for players to bet on the winner of the two hands given to the players and the bank. The winner is the one who has 9, or the closest to it. This is calculated when the card values are added together, and the last digit is used as the accepted number.

The different rules for the players and banker mean that if in the beginning, the player has between 0-5 as a total card value, he is eligible to draw another (third) card. If his total is 6 or 7, then he has to stand. If the player only has 2 cards, then the banker has to follow the same rule as the player, and has to regard only his own cards, and the 0-5 and 6 or 7 card rule applies. There are more complicated rules if the player draws a third card.

If at the end of the deal, if the Player and the banker have scored the same value, it is classed as a ‘tie bet’, which is awarded with 8-1 odds. In this instance the bets on both sides stay active for the following game.

If you want a game of Punto Banco come on down to Les Croupiers. We’re happy to serve both first timers and experts. 

5 Odd Chinese Superstitions Which May Just Bring You Luck

Chinese superstitions can be prevalent within Asian gambling culture. For example, baccarat players in Macau believe that even the manner in which cards are squeezed or creased can determine the outcome of a game. Practice these 5 Chinese gaming rituals and who knows? You too may hit a winning streak!

Mind Your Numbers

In Chinese culture, certain numbers are considered to be lucky depending on their similarity to words that sound prosperous.

The number 8 is therefore a very lucky number, as it sounds much like the Cantonese word for “prosper” or “wealth.”

To create fortuitous outcomes, Chinese gamblers often combine the number 8 with other lucky numbers such as 3, 6 and 9.

Wear Red

The Chinese believe the colour red to be a symbol of life, joy and prosperity.

Therefore, wearing red at a casino (and in particular red undergarments), is thought to appease the gods and bring players good luck.

Side Entrances

Many Chinese gamblers think it bad luck to enter a casino through the main entrance. There are two reasons for this.

Firstly, it is thought that these doors have been cursed by Feng Shui masters.

Secondly, they believe that if you happen to rub shoulders with a loser on his way out, his bad luck may be transferred to you.

Trends

Chinese players will often obsessively looks for patterns or trends in a game.

If a player wins 3 times in a row, they will bet on the player winning a fourth time.

If a player starts to lose, they will bet against him to improve their chances.

Players can often be seen studying other tables looking for these patterns.

Wash Your Hands

If you hit an unlucky streak, the Chinese believe it is best to go and wash your hands and so wash away your bad luck. Some even carry their own lucky soaps for this very purpose.

Conversely, it is considered bad luck to wash your hands whilst winning, as this will wash away good luck.

These superstitions may seem odd to some, but with millions to be won at casinos, they may be worth some serious consideration.

The Ultimate Guide to Successful Poker Bluffing

Have you got a good poker face? Do know when to hold’em and when to fold’em. Here are a few simple pointers on bluffing in poker.

Bluff Believably

Make sure your bluffs are believable. Remember your opponents are trying to determine your hand strength and your decipher your play; if your bluff doesn’t make sense you’ll likely get caught and lose the pot. If you check pre-flop and flop but the suddenly raise on the river, it will be obvious that you are either bluffing or a weak player. Bluffing is most believable when you could potentially have a winning hand and no one knows you don’t. For example if a pair of Ace’s is on the table and you bluff opponents may think you have an ace in your hand giving you an intimidating 3 Ace’s. However if the community card pool is JH 2D 7S 8S and you suddenly start to raise when you get 3C on the river, it will be obvious you are bluffing because the best you could likely have is a pair.

Bluff To Win Pots

Often the best time to bluff is to save a pot gone bad. Say you have a heart in your hand and two more come down on the flop, you raise hoping for a flush. Your opponents call. On the turn you get another heart..you still have a shot at your flush on the river so you bet again, your opponent calls. On the river you get a diamond. You didn’t get your flush but your opponents doesn’t know that. Since you’ve been betting consistently it will be believable for you to try and take the pot now. If you bet with a weak hand your opponent will likely think you have a flush and fold the pot to you. Be careful to watch your opponents play as well in case he was also looking for the flush.

Bluff in Moderation

Last but not least, don’t over bluff. Bluffing is a powerful poker tool and should be used when it is needed, but don’t over do it.

The Surprising History of Slot Machines

Slots are a popular casino game and one of the simplest to play, with the spin of the wheels for a small investment providing the chance to win big. This type of gambling game has been around for many years now and its history goes all the way back to the end of the 19th century.

The Beginning

The evolution of slots started with simple machines that were based around poker and had playing cards on the wheels. However, the development of the first three-wheel slot machine that was recognizable in comparison to what can be found in casinos today is attributed to Charles Fey of San Francisco. He put together a mechanical device in the mid-1890s, which was known as the Liberty Bell because this was the symbol that gave the top payout. Unlike previous machines, Fey’s incorporated an automatic payout system based on the combination of symbols showing on the winning line and this helped his machine become a huge success.

 

Getting Fruity

This encouraged others to get involved in the business during the early 20th century, with Chicago-based Herbert Mills being one of these. He is the man generally credited with introducing many of the fruit symbols that are so familiar on today’s machines. State gambling legislation against the use of these first slot machines led to payouts other than cash to get around the laws banning them. Many offered the chance to win chewing gum or food to the players pulling the handle.

Mechanical Rise

The rise of mechanical slot machines continued until the early 1960s when Bally Manufacturing produced the first electronic versions of the game. These machines were operated by pushing a button rather than pulling a handle and the technology made them much more secure. This allowed the introduction of bigger payouts, which helped the slot industry grow. Video machines were developed in the mid 1970s by the Fortune Coin Company, with these first introduced in the gambling mecca of Las Vegas. This technology enabled 5, 7, and even more reels to be played, and video technology has become the industry standard for the slot machines that are played today.