Online Casino & Poker News

UK Poker Open Crowns Champion

2005-12-11T02:07:00.000-08:00

Poker has become one of the UK's biggest sports as evidenced by the success of the UK Open Championship. The title and £300,000 went to Croydon resident Ian Frazer, a 46-year-old project manager for Vidette Ltd.

Frazer eventually outlasted the five other finalists which included World Series bracelet winner Brian Wilson and the youngest-ever world poker champion, Julian Gardener. The action was fast and furious, but the last hand typified the intense atmosphere, as Frazer took down the final pot with a simple pair of sixes.

According to Frazer, the battle became one of "us versus them" as other UK players rallied behind him. "All the crew were rooting for me. They thought I was a bit of a character and didn't want the yanks to win."

Although relatively inexperienced compared to some of the other competitors in the tournament, Frazer who has only been playing for two and a half years, he handled the pressure like the champion he is. "I was obviously very excited. I was nervous on the inside but on the outside you really do have to be poker faced. Sometimes my heart felt like it was racing 1,000 miles an hour."

The dad-of-three, however, never let the other players in on his racing pulse, giving a command performance that annihilated those in his path. "I was never intimidated. I have got a very good game and I didn't have any bad luck," Frazer said.

Frazer has already used some of the money won from the 888.com-sponsored tournament to buy a brand new red Ferrari for £120,000. Although he has no plans to quit his job, he does plan on writing a book on how to win at poker called "Win the Frazer Way."

One thing is for certain, Frazer's family no longer hassles him when he tries to get in on some action. "My family use to give me stick at night if I was playing on the computer, but now they tell me to carry on."

North Dakota Poker A Possibility

2005-11-29T02:12:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year North Dakota State Representative Jim Kasper won half the battle in getting legislation passed to legalize online poker in the state, as well as setting up some form of quality control. His proposal passed in the state’s House, but was opposed in the state Senate by an overwhelming majority. Kasper has not given up, and is ready to go to bat for legislation he believes will bring a windfall in tax revenue to North Dakota.

While he has played his cards close to the vest concerning his next steps when speaking with the press, he has been more forthcoming with industry officials. He has approached the gambling industry in search of funding to launch a full scale assault, seeking the needed petitions to get the legislation to pass. The petition is required because in order to pass any laws legalizing online gaming, the state’s constitution would also have to change. Just to get the amendment on the ballet would require 25,688 North Dakota voters to sign a related petition.

Mobile Poker Comes To Poker Channel

2005-11-26T07:10:00.002-08:00

Want to play poker online but don’t have a computer? Or perhaps you have a computer but are struck with the urge to log on to your favorite poker room for a couple of hands on your lunch break, or while commuting? Soon it will all be possible, thanks to a Finnish game company and a British cable channel.

European Game & Entertainment Technology Ltd, or EGET, is the Finnish supplier of money games for mobile Internet and works in tandem with Stream Group plc, one of the leading UK mobile content and applications provides.

Stream, in turn has an exclusive agreement with The Poker Channel to provide mobile poker and other mobile gaming products for its subscribers. The first product has already been launched just last week. A mobile poker game developed by EGET, it will be promoted by The Poker Channel under the brand 'Poker Heaven'.

World Poker Tour Might Be Up For Sale

2005-11-26T07:10:00.001-08:00

How many businesses would mortgage themselves to the hilt to own a part of mega-poker company WPTE, the parent company of the World Poker Tour? Quite a few considering the fever pitch that still rages across the globe for all things poker. Then why is the majority stakeholder of WPT Enterprises, Inc, considering selling off their stake? It seems they need the cash.

Casino developer Lakes Entertainment Inc. of Minnetonka needs to raise some capital, and just might sell all or part of its percentage of WPTE to do it, according to reports Wednesday. Lakes said, in a prepared statement, that it needs to raise $10 million in financing by Dec. 31 and another $10 million by March 1 to keep operating. But then, when the owner of both Lakes and WPT happens to be the same person, such a move might make sense. Both outfits are controlled by Lyle Berman, CEO of Lakes, Chairman of both companies, and Lakes largest shareholder.

Both WPT and Lakes are controlled by Minnetonka businessman Lyle Berman, who is CEO of Lakes and chairman of both companies. Berman is also Lakes' largest shareholder.

Related Links:

WPT

Lyle Berman

Poker Community On WPT

2005-11-26T07:10:00.000-08:00

Steve Lipscomb wants to give it all to poker fans. Lipscomb is the CEO of World Poker Tour Enterprises, Inc, the parent company that operates the World Poker Tour. "With millions of poker players in the U.S. and abroad, we can now offer them a dedicated online community which they can call their own," Lipscomb said in a statement.

He is referring to the new offering to be found on www.worldpokertour.com, built in conjunction with Chipleaders Inc. The online social network is to be built specifically to poker players and fans of all things poker. World wide players will be able to interact with and get to know each other via the network, which offers such features as creating profiles, uploading photos, communicating with friends, making new friends, e-mailing, bloging, organizing activities, sharing information, participating in forums, viewing rank profiles and scheduling events.

Swedes Join Poker Party

2005-11-26T07:09:00.003-08:00

It looks like a another place around the poker table needs to be set as Sweden joins the gang for poker night. A recent decision by Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Bosse Ringholm gives the green light to state-owned gambling monopoly Svenska Spel to create and operate an Internet poker service. Ringholm, who is also the gaming minister, laid down a specific series of restrictions in order to allow the service to go forward.

No one under the age of 18 will be allowed to play on the Internet service, and poker is the only game in town, as casinos and betting exchanges are not allowed. In addition to those and other factors, players have to set limits for themselves up front, indicating exactly how much they are willing to lose.

Ringholm said the reason he is allowing the poker service to go forward is control; by creating a state controlled poker site online, it can be under the states watchful eye.

Aussie Poker On US TV

2005-11-26T07:09:00.002-08:00

It looks like the Australians will get a chance to show Americans how the game of poker is played. Their very own Joe Hachem got the lesson started when he became the first Aussie to win the World Series of Poker this year, along with its record breaking $7.5 Million prize, amid chants of “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oy! Oy! Oy!”

Now a Down Under poker show will be broadcast to US televisions on Fox. Melbourne's Crown Casino poker tournament, in a deal with Fox Sports Net, will give Americans the chance to see the game played on the other side of the world. The 2006 Aussie Millions be filmed at Crown from January 15 to 19. The show will be aired as a 10 part series, to debut at 11pm local US time in March.

The annual Aussie Millions has a purse of $5 million, and the 2006 Aussie Millions champion will pocket $1 million USD.

Related Links

Joseph Hachem

Sexton Gives World Poker Tour Video Game Stamp Of Approval

2005-11-26T07:09:00.001-08:00

With Mike Sexton, poker pro and, along with Vince Van Patton, co-host of the ultra popular World Poker Tour television show, playing a role in the new World Poker Tour video game, you might expect he had some positive things to say about it. He makes a number of solid points in his article for Card Player Magazine that suggest the game holds to the same quality and excitement that the WPT shows are known for.

It is on thing for a video game for poker to claim you get a genuine experience when facing the artificial intelligence of poker pros as your opponents, and another thing entirely for one of those pros to test it out and validate the claim. At the Borgata Poker Open the WPT game was demoed in public, and Mike Sexton gave it a spin. He said in his article that the virtual versions of his colleagues stood up to the best he could give them. In addition he mentions that the WPT game is great because there are customizable rules for poker games, which means the variety of play is virtually limitless.

Related Links

Mike Sexton

WPT

Xmas Hold’em Charity

2005-11-26T07:09:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of year again; candy canes, colored lights, holiday music, Christmas trees, and … poker chips? While holding Texas Hold'em Poker Tournaments for charity has become an all year, anytime, anywhere kind of activity, Christmas time is a great time to think of your fellow man, and the Tri-Town Lodge # 30 of the Fraternal Order of Police are going to do just that, and play some poker to boot.

At the ironically named Outlaw BBQ restaurant on Route 1 in Foxboro, Ma, generous card players will meet to do a bit of gambling for the kids. At $65 for a buy in, all proceeds will be donated the Greater Attleboro Area Council for Children's annual Christmas is for Children.

"We hope to be able to raise over $3,000 for Christmas is for Kids campaign," Sgt. Larry Crosman said. "This is a great program that has been helping families in the Attleboro area for many years. The FOP likes the fact that they area not just handing out presents, but also trying to help the families by providing them with programs and classes that can help change their lives permanently."

Tickets are available at the Outlaw BBQ on Route 1 in Foxboro, Ma. or by calling (508) 222-3182

Winning Video Poker System

2005-09-21T02:00:00.000-07:00

Last time I wrote about mail order systems. This week I would like to share with you some advice on developing a system that can make you a winner or at least help you stay close to even with the Casinos. First let me state that what I am going to recommend is my opinion alone. I have absolutely no financial incentive for the recommendations I am making.

There is no magic potion or crystal pendant you can wear to make you a winner, but with a little work on your part you can come out ahead. This system is not original. I have studied all the information I could and am now recommending what has worked for me. I will supply you with my blueprint and a list of the materials I have used. It will be up to you to decide how best make use of them to fit your needs.

My “Blueprint” for developing a winning system consists of two books and a software program. These are the materials you will need.
The Frugal Gambler by Jean Scott (The Foundation)
Video Poker-Optimum Play by Dan Paymar (The Nuts & Bolts)
Bob Dancer Presents WinPoker by Zamzow Software (The Finishing Touch)

By combining comps and video poker you can come out ahead at the casino. All you need is to understand how to do this. Comps are the way a casino pays you back for your patronage. They can come in the form of cash back or free rooms and food. By learning how the comp system works you can make sure you are getting the most return for your gambling dollar. In “The Frugal Gambler” Jean Scott who has been called the ‘Queen of Comps’ explains how the comp system works. She tells you how to come out ahead by taking advantage of promotions and slot clubs benefits. Most importantly Jean explains how to combine comps and video poker to make you a winner. Her comp advice is practical regardless of what casino games you play.

Certain Video Poker games actually have a payback of over 100% when you play proper basic strategy.. You might ask“ How can a casino offer a game like that?” The answer is actually simple. The over 100 percent payback is for perfect play. The majority of people that play video poker do not know the proper basic strategy for the games they play. They rely on hunches or gut feeling instead of the proven mathematical choices they must make. You also must play the maximum coins to achieve the bonus jackpot for the royal flush. Most royal flushes pays $1,000 for the five coin maximum bet. If you play one coin you get $62.50. You just lost $937.50. and the casino has saved money by not having to pay out extra bonus money.

In his book, “Video Poker - Optimum Play”, Dan Paymar teaches you how to play correctly. His book focuses on three of the most popular games. Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild and Joker Poker. You will learn the proper strategy for these games. Dan also shows you how to determine the payback percentage of a machine and bankroll considerations you will need.

After learning how to play, you must practice until you can play perfectly. You can do this on your computer at home with “Bob Dancer Presents WinPoker” software. Bob Dancer is a video poker expert and writer who collaborated with Zamzow Software to develop the finest Video Poker Tutor on the market. The program comes loaded with 15 of the most popular VP games. It will alert you when you make a mistake in playing strategy. You can also

analyze

any game or hand. This program is the first of its kind designed specifically for “Windows”. A demo version can be downloaded for your evaluation.. If you are serious about learning video poker, the full version is a necessity.

Unfortunately not all casinos offer “Full Pay” video poker games. These are the games with the 100+ percent payback. But by learning how to determine the payback and knowing how to use the comp system you can sometimes still gain the edge.

In the next few weeks I will give a more in depth review of each one of these products. I have found that in MY case these products have paid for themselves many times over. Only you can decide if its right for you. Next time I will share a book review of “The Frugal Gambler”. Followed by a review of “Video Poker -Optimum Play” and then conclude with a review of Bob Dancer Presents WinPoker”.

Golden Reef Casino Review

2005-04-19T15:36:00.000-07:00

Golden Reef sure has done well for a new casino! I was pleasantly surprised to see such a high quality site on arrival, very easy to navigate, with plenty of information about its banking and security methods. After a quick browse, I found the licensing and audited payouts - a good sign for a worthy casino, but what impressed me was the customer service.

Golden Reef Casino offer live operator chat. Fantastic! So of course, I thought I'd put them to the test. Upon entering the chat room I was presented with a "please hold" message. Luckily, within seconds I was chatting to "Jon" He was quick and patient, providing excellent answers to all of my questions. If you're looking for outstanding customer service, Golden Reef's got it.

My next mission on this gambling quest was to download the casino's software. I don't usually play at Microgaming casinos however the download process was straight forward and simple. I was interested to see how speedy their bonuses were processed and try out the games. The download process was quick and easy and within minutes I was asked to enter my username and password.

I appreciated the option to play for fun or real, but tonight I wanted to win. To start off with, I deposited $35 and received a 50% bonus instantly. I had also taken notice of the cash back offer on the website. For every $10 you bet, Golden Reef will give you 1 bonus point. Earn 100 points and receive a free dollar. Entering the casino, I saw the usual blackjack, roulette and some slots, and was presented with the option to download the extra games separately. I tried the video poker, and roulette games as well. But the lure of multi-hand blackjack drew me back. I had so much fun playing here and I tripled my bankroll!

Golden Reef Casino's software continues the web sites theme of Gold Mining, and has nice clean graphics. The game format is intuitive with easy to play games.

Golden Reef has all the Microgaming progressive slots, and I have to admit that I couldn't resist giving them a spin. The minimum $.25 bets and the jackpots of more than $200,000.00 seemed like a good way to stretch my gambling dollar. After an hour or so I felt that I had fared reasonably well having accrued an extra $30.

I cashed out with $130 dollars, not a bad profit. I like to try smaller amounts at new casinos to test them out, and I can safely say that this is one casino I will be coming back to. It seems ideal for both amateur and seasoned gamblers. The website will satisfy any cautious player and the software is sure to please. I recommend you give Golden Reef Casino a try for yourself!

Video Poker - As American As Apple Pie

2005-01-14T12:22:00.000-08:00

The first step in making this happen is to get people to stop thinking of Video Poker as a variety of a slot machine. Many gaming publications put Video Poker in the 'Slots' section. Ask a casino operator and he'll tell you that Video Poker and Slots are pretty much interchangeable on the floor.

The problem is that the focus is on the physical characteristics of the Video Poker MACHINE and not the underlying game that's being played! If your favorite casino had a Video Blackjack Machine playing your basic single-deck blackjack would you expect to find strategy for Blackjack in the 'slots' section of a gaming book or magazine?

It would be hard to argue that physically speaking, a Video Poker machine is pretty much the same as a slot machine. In today's world, take a computer monitor, add in a processor with a random number generator and you've got your machine. In fact, on some multi-game machines you can find both Slots AND Video Poker. But, this is where the similarities end.

In reality, Video Poker is much more like a Table Game, at least in terms of payback, strategy and predictability. In fact, Video Poker may very well have the most complex strategy of any game in the casino. With hundreds of variations and countless paytables, each of which may require it's own strategy, there is probably NO ONE has who mastered them all!

If you wander around the casino, you'll notice that EVERY table game shows the pays of each possible winning outcome. This, along with the rules of the game, is ALL we need to know to calculate the payback of that game and what the proper strategy is. This is true for Caribbean Stud Poker, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker and Four Card Poker. It's even true for casino 'oldies' like Blackjack and the relatively simplistic Casino War. If two tables sitting next to each other show the same paytables for their respective game, the payback for each will be identical!

What about slots? Well, on the front of the machine, you'll see the paytable. If two machines sitting next to each other have the same paytables, do they have the same payback? Who knows?! While slots rely on a random number generator similar to Video Poker, there is no predictability involved because what is being simulated is not based on a real life item (the deck of cards). Thus, we have no way of knowing what the payback of any slot machine is or if two machines have the same or wildly different paybacks.

So, which one of these scenarios does Video Poker sound more like? Walk up to any Video Poker machine and you can readily get its paytable. Given the paytable and the variety of the game (i.e. Joker Poker, Deuces Wild, etc�), you can immediately know the payback and the strategy required to achieve this payback. Sounds a lot more like Table Games than Slot Machines, doesn't it?

Nothing can compare to the paybacks offered by Video Poker machines. While finding 'positive' games (paybacks > 100%) is becoming increasing difficult, finding 99+% payback machines is very possible in most locales if you're willing to look for them. Table games simply do not offer these types of paybacks. Once again, Video Poker wins the day when it comes to giving the Player a reasonable chance to win.

These are just more reasons for Video Poker to become America's National Game of Chance.

Top 11 Player Mistakes in a Casino and How to Avoid Them

2004-10-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

Below are eleven of the most common player mistakes made in today's casinos. See how many you make. Then read and follow the simple steps on how to avoid them. The fewer mistakes you make in a casino, the more you're going to get out of your casino-going experience.

#1. Going to a casino with the idea of making money. Steve Wynn of Wynn Resorts said, "The only way to make money in a casino is to own one. They don't build these ritzy megaresorts and cruise-to-nowhere riverboats on winners." Think of the casino as a place to get away and maybe have some fun...with winning as just a bonus. Only 4% of a casino's players actually go home winners.

#2. Taking checkbook, credit cards, and ATM cards to the casino. Take and play with only the money you can afford to lose. Tkae only one credit card for out-of-pocket expenses: meals, shows, shopping.

#3. Playing with money you don't have. If you run out of money, stop playing. Go home or do something different until its time to leave. Keep away from the convenient casino ATMs and other cash-advance machines. Playing with plastic will come back to haunt you when the bank statements start coming in.

#4. Forgetting you're playing with real money. Casinos encourage you to play with tokens, credits, vouchers, etc. When you do, you forgety you're playing with real money. And you tend to play faster and make bigger bets than you had planned on.

#5. Having little or no knowledge of the game you're playing. Learn all you can about your favorite game. The more you know about it, the more luck you're going to have. So check with your local bookstore, library, Amazon.com, or casino gift shop for a how-to book on your favorite game. [See also the Gambler's Book Club and this site's How-to-play page--ed.]

#6. Having no plan for spending your time and money. Plan each day's gaming activity. Start by splitting the day into playing sessions--with a set amount of money and time for each session. Two hours is the suggested maximum playing time for a session. If the money you allot for a session is going too fast, slow down, bet less, or take a break until the next session.

#7. Continuing to play when losing. The instant you feel you're on a losing streak, set a firm stop point. When you reach it, quit! Don't think the next spin of the reels or throw of the dice is going to do it. Odds are, it won't! When you're in a hole, stop digging!

#8. Playing off all winnings. Set aside some of each win, no matter how small. Betting down to the last dollar is why 96% of casino players go home broke. Always have something to show for your good fortune.

#9. Not joining the casino's player's club. The points you get for playing make you eligible for cash-back awards, free or discounted rooms, free meals and show tickets, and special mail offers not available to the general public.

#10. Playing a slot machine at lightning speed. The true secret of slot playing is to make your money and playing time last as long as possible. And this means playing s-l-o-w-l-y. Don't spin the reels the moment they stop. Pause between spins. By slowing down, you extend your playing time and the life of your bankroll.

#11. Not knowing when to quit. Don't keep playing when your luck runs out or when tired, upset, hungry, bored, or sleepy. When playing stops being fun, stop playing.

Final tip: During his 1798 expedition to Egypt, Napoleon approached the Great Sphinx and said, "I command thee, O Ancient One, to reveal to me the Wisdom of the Ages." The Sphinx replied, "Don't expect too much." Heed these words of wisdom from the Spinx. Leave your expectations at the casino door. Then no matter what may happen inside the casino, you won't be surprised or disappointed.

Video Poker Is Based On Five-Card Draw Poker

2004-10-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

Video Poker is based on five-card draw poker. Therefore, video poker rules revolve around the basics of poker play, but instead of playing against other players, you're playing against a computer. The only true artifact that relates video poker and classic poker is the ranking of poker hands, which occur in each game the same way - based on traditional poker rules.

If you're interested in learning the 'rules' associated with expert play, then what you're truly interested in is video poker strategy, and you should visit our page dedicated to just that. If you're just looking for the basics, and some good pointers, keep on reading!

Video poker is like draw poker. Each player is dealt five cards, and they are given to option of keep as many as they wish, or discarding as many as they wish. Any cards that are discarded are replaced with new random ones . If this second hand achieves a winning poker hand, you get paid. The specific details for video poker rules rely on the style of game you're playing. Jacks or Better for instance pay's gives back what you put into the machine if your hand has a pair at least a pair of jacks.

Smoke Free Casinos?

2004-10-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

A host of gaming experts warned casino bosses this week that their industry is coming under attack by a well-organized and well-funded group of anti-smoking activists that aim to ban smoking in casinos.

The lobbying effort coincides with a major public policy trend to outlaw smoking in public places in many states and cities, they said.

Those bans could lead to lost jobs and revenue as smokers go elsewhere to gamble, shop or otherwise spend money, they said.

At the Global Gaming Expo this week, industry representatives said many casinos also aren't aware of proposed changes to air-quality standards that could end up effectively banning smoking in casinos by requiring expensive makeovers to existing buildings designed to accommodate smokers.

One industry representative said he believes that smoke-free casinos are inevitable and that casinos should consider transitioning their properties to become smokeless over time.

"I don't think it can be stopped," said James Butler, general counsel for Argosy Gaming Corp. "They don't want a partial ban, they want a total ban," he said of the anti-smoking groups.

Butler suggested that casinos could sell nicotine patches and gum instead of cigarettes and could also start sponsoring smoking cessation programs.

Casinos should also get involved in the anti-smoking debate by monitoring local, state and federal legislation concerning smoking and involving employees and customers in the discussion, he said.

Butler also proposed that the casino industry sponsor a multi-day summit to discuss smoking issues and develop an industry-wide code of conduct similar to what the American Gaming Association created to address problems with compulsive gamblers.

Groups opposed to gambling are aligning with anti-smoking advocates to make themselves heard, he said.

The casino industry has grappled with the smoking and ventilation issues for years. Anti-smoking groups claim smoking bans haven't hurt business and that ventilation systems in casinos and other businesses don't remove cancer-causing smoke from the air. But casinos point to a decline in revenue at Delaware casinos since a smoking ban took effect in 2002, saying a ban could drive business to tribal casinos or other casinos in nearby states that allow smoking.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers is an international volunteer organization that creates ventilation standards that are often adopted into local building codes. ASHRAE, as the group is known, has amended ventilation rules to prevent buildings from recirculating smokers' air into non-smoking areas. The rules would effectively require separate ventilation systems for smoking and non-smoking areas, said Elia Sterling, a hospitality industry consultant based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

They rules also call for spaces that contain trace amounts of smoke to post public signs saying they are smoking areas. Entire casinos could be labeled smoking areas to meet the requirements, though an amendment is pending that would change that, Sterling said.

Sterling chairs a new subcommittee of ASHRAE that was created to address the concerns of the hospitality industry, including casinos.

While the newest resorts in Las Vegas may already be in compliance with the ASHRAE rules, many other casinos nationwide may not, experts say. Casinos could opt to go smokeless rather than to refurbish their buildings at great cost, they said.

Some local communities don't necessarily adopt ASHRAE standards into their building codes, which would then apply to new construction or remodeling projects. But casino officials fear that the standards, which aren't enforceable by law, could still become a nationwide model that could be used in lawsuits filed by customers or casino workers against casinos.

Boyd Gaming Corp. won a workers' compensation case based on the fact that an employee's job application disclosed that the worker would be subjected to tobacco smoke, said Ray Murphy, facilities director for the Stardust hotel and casino.

The case law on second-hand smoke has yet to be tested, experts said.

"All we need is to lose one case and it could hurt all of us," Butler said.

Anti-smoking advocates hope to use the ASHRAE standards to pressure casinos to go non-smoking, he said.

Sterling said some members are funded by state money that goes to tobacco prevention programs.

Sterling's company has conducted studies showing that certain ventilation systems in hotels, bars and other places can effectively remove smoke and other particles from the air.

A recent study of the air quality inside the Bellagio resort claims that casino workers at the property breathed the equivalent of smoking one or two cigarettes a year. In other words, the casino's air was better than outside air that's filled with car fumes and other particulates, he said.

The particles measured inside the casino were similar to the levels found in nonsmoking areas of other public buildings in Toronto, for example, he added.

Sterling said casinos could maintain similar results by simply cleaning and maintaining their ventilation systems. He also said casinos can show their air is clean by conducting their own studies.

Last month a member of ASHRAE released another controversial study on ventilation that found very different results.

James Repace, a visiting professor at Tufts University's School of Medicine, found that the level of cancer-causing particles is much higher in the air of smoke-filled bars and casinos than on city streets.

The study focused on the air quality in several businesses before and after Delaware's smoking ban went into effect. After the ban, the air quality inside the businesses was the same as levels measured outside, the study found.

In Nevada, an anti-smoking group has filed a petition to ban smoking in public areas frequented by children but maintains smoking areas in casinos. The gaming industry, which claims the petition could be used to ban smoking in hotel rooms, is supporting a second petition that further maintains smoking areas in some public areas with gaming such as supermarkets and convenience stores.

How Do The Experts Know The Best Way To Play Video Poker?

2004-10-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

Many video poker decisions are no-brainers. The choices will be intuitively obvious to anyone whose card career has passed old maid, go fish, and cut the deck for a dime. For instance, it doesn't take a poker pro or a math meister to know how to handle four sundry hearts and a club.

Or three fours, a six, and a nine.
For the enigmas, there's "expert strategy." As an example, what should you do with a six, a suited queen-ace, and a pair of fours in a jacks-or-better game? Hold the fours hoping they'll mature into two pair, triplets, quads, or a full house? Keep the queen and ace looking for anything from a high pair to a royal? With most pay schedules, the authorities say to hold the pair.

How do the gurus know? Contrary to common belief, not by practice or observation but arithmetic. There's room for opinion, although not in the way many think. Instead, opinion whether an exception that complicates a rule matters enough to merit memorizing. Or whether it's better to guarantee winning at least something on a hand, rather than maximize the expected or average payback.

As an illustration, say you're in a game with nothing wild. Your starting hand is five hearts -- two, four, five, six, and seven. Straights return 4-to-1, flushes 6-to-1, and straight flushes a fat 50-to-1. Stand, and you've got a "made" flush. Discard the deuce and you may be blessed with the straight flush, end with another flush or a straight, or finish in the sewer.
To find the expert strategy based on expectation for this situation, compare the 6-unit certain return by standing, with the statistical average payoff you obtain by discarding the deuce and drawing a replacement. Here's how it would be figured.

You've seen five cards so 47 remain in the deck. Of these, two (the three or eight of hearts) give you the straight flush; your chance is 2/47 of a 50-unit return, so the corresponding component of expectation is (2/47)x50 or 2.127 units. The six remaining hearts (ace, nine, 10, J, Q, or K) recover a flush; your chance is 6/47 of a 6-unit return so the expectation term is (6/47)x6 or 0.766 units.

Any of six non-heart threes and sixes form a straight; this yields a 6/47 probability of 4 units, for a contribution to expectation of 0.511 units. Adding all the expectation terms comes to 3.404 units. This is less than the 6 units you get by standing. The experts therefore say to stand.
How would everything work if, in lieu of the low-card flush, you started with nine, jack, queen, king, and ace of hearts. You could still stand and take your 6 units. Or you could discard the nine on a hunch that the 800-unit royal was in there waiting.Find the expectation for all the alternatives. One card, the 10 of hearts, makes the royal for (1/47)x800 or 17.021 units. A flush is (7/47)x6 or 0.894 units. A straight is (3/47)x4 or 0.255 units. And a high pair is (12/47)x1, another 0.255 units. The expectation results add up to 18.425 units. Much better than the 6 units secured by standing. So expert strategy is to go for it.

Other factors may be more important to an individual, always or at a particular moment, than maximum expectation. Few solid citizens gamble for the greatest long-term profits, anyway. That's what casinos do.

Some players are more interested in a shot at a payoff that will change their lives. They might break a pair of jacks to hold a 10-jack-queen of diamonds looking for the royal. Others prefer to stay in the game long enough to earn a comp for the all-you-can-eat buffet, without crawling to the bank machines in the lobby for more money.

They might stand with a high-card flush as opposed to going for the royal, taking the sure 6 units rather than risking a 46-to-1 chance at an 800-unit return. These options are what "utility" theory is all about.

So, should you follow expert strategy or flout it? Ultimately, it boils down to knowledge. Knowing what's supposed to be "right" and why it is. And knowing when something else may be right for you.

Florida Raises Poker Stakes

2004-10-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

It is difficult to get a state to legalize a new form of gambling. But it is nearly impossible to get the stakes raised once the cards have been dealt.

Florida is the latest example of this political rule.

Racetracks in Florida, like racetracks everywhere, have been searching for years for a way to bring in more gambling dollars. Consistently denied the right to operate slot machines and video lottery terminals, the tracks turned to card games.

Banking Blackjack would have been best, but did not look like it could get through the State Legislature. But poker was a different (political) game.

In 1989, the Legislature decided that the government should not be wasting its time going after small-stakes games. In fact, the law literally called the games "Penny-Ante" defined as "a game or series of games of poker, pinochle, bridge, rummy, canasta, hearts, dominoes, or mah-jongg in which the winnings of any player in a single round, hand, or game do not exceed $10 in value."

Over the years, penny-ante games were allowed to be played not only in people's homes, but also in mobile home parks and publicly owned community centers.
So, in 1996, the Legislature passed a law that beginning January 1, 1997, licensed pari-mutuel facilities could open commercial cardrooms.

Great idea, with just one hitch: cardrooms were stuck with the same penny-ante limits: "The winnings of any player in a single round, hand, or game may not exceed $10 in value. The fee charged by the cardroom for participation in the game shall not be included in the calculation of the limitation on the pot size provided in this paragraph."

Notice the club can charge a fee, which was a good thing, considering it had to supply not only the facilities but also a non-playing dealer.

The plan was to lobby first for penny-ante poker and then get the Legislature to raise the limits. It did not happen.
Imagine what those game were like. The total pot could not be more than $10. I talked with players and operators who said if you had five players at a table, everyone would chip in $2.00 and that was it, no raising, no more bets of any kind.

To get around the low limit, operators tried to expand the definition of "poker." I testified as an expert witness on behalf of the State that a game where each player got two cards and tried to get closer to 21 than his opponent was not poker.

We won, but even the State attorney thought the $10 limit on pots for poker games was silly.
Every attempt to get the Legislature to raise the stakes failed; until last year, when a bill finally made it through both houses. In August, 2003, Gov. Jeb Bush (R.) decided to not to veto the bill. He said limits placed last year on when cardrooms could operate made the bill acceptable. But Gov. Bush's main reason for letting the bill become law was, according to TheLedger.com, "It is changing, kind of, the rules of a poker game, taking away one thing and adding another and that really doesn't expand gambling."

Was he correct?

The bill, HB 1059, eliminates the $10 pot limit. But it replaces it with these new limits: "The cardroom operator may limit the amount wagered in any game or series of games, but the maximum bet may not exceed $2 in value. There may not be more than three raises in any round of betting."

It will certainly change what was nothing more than a lottery into something resembling true, low stakes poker. But will it greatly expand the games.

My guess is yes.

Although there is a limit on bets and the number of raises per round, there is no limit on the number of rounds. Games like 7-Card Stud can get pretty expensive, but there is now every incentive to be inventive. I bet the first thing we see is the rules of Texas Hold'em being changed, so that there is a round of betting after the first down card and after each individual up card.

The lesson is: If you are fighting to legalize a new form of gambling, start with the stakes you want from the beginning. Your chances of getting the Legislature or voters to raise the limits once the law has been passed is about the same as your winning the World Series of Poker.

Loose Deuces

2004-09-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

I like the Loose Deuces games for that juicy 2500 for 5 payout on Four Deuces. When using proper play at the game, the "ducks" will show up once every 4664 hands, on average at the 15/8 version of the game, which has a long-term return of 100.15%.

The problem is that almost 11% of the return comes from the quad Deuces, so if they don't show, you lose like crazy. In spite of that, the frequency of the four Deuces is very appealing, especially when you consider that they are proportional in the pay schedule. That means they pay 500 for 1 coin bet, 1000 for 2 coins bet and so forth. That got me thinking. (Yes, I know it can sometimes be a dangerous thing.)

If four Deuces will show up, on average, once every 4700 hands or so, that's about 8 times more frequently than a Royal Flush and, if one is betting 2 coins at a dollar game, they're worth the same $1000 as the typical Royal at a quarter game. Admittedly, you're betting more, $2 per hand versus $1.25 per hand, but it's not a lot more and, if the VP gods are on your side, you'll get it 8 times as often!

It all sounded good to me and I also knew I could modify the proper playing strategy to hasten the arrival of the four Deuces a bit. This is like always playing for the Royal, by breaking pairs, etc. to draw to three-card Royals. It carries a cost, especially if you make stupid plays, but it will definitely get you a Royal more quickly. The problem is that the Royal will not offset the additional losses you're incurring, unless it comes early on in the process. In other words, even though you're "hastening" the chance to get a hand like a Royal or four Deuces, it doesn't guarantee that is what's going to happen.

So there you are, tossing away pretty good hands, in anticipation of getting a really good hand and it doesn't show up as quickly as you thought. That can add up to some pretty stiff losses. Oh, sure, you'll eventually hit that "target" hand but whatever it pays may not offset what you've given up, so all you've accomplished is to lower the expected return of the game you're playing.

The Game

2004-09-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

Volatility is a major factor in trying to outlast a video poker machine. A large bankroll is needed to weather the storm.

Video poker is a test of skill, but unlike others, it's a test you get to take with no time limit, no judges, nobody looking over your shoulder, and no reason to do anything but take your time, play perfectly, and win! The majority (ok, the vast majority) of video poker players make the wrong choices on what machine to play and how to play that machine (literally which cards to keep and which to let go).

The main cause (other than simply not playing correctly and losing) of novices not taking on the game with any vigor, is the fact that the short term losses can be quite discouraging. A large bankroll is required to beat a machine over time. But the rare offering of a positive expectation for the player should be more than enough to spur you on in mastering this exceptional casino offering.

Video Poker or Slots

2004-09-09T13:08:00.000-07:00

Despite how popular gambling has become around the country, and despite the incredible growth in the popularity of Video Poker, many people still think of slot machines when they think of a casino. Obviously, casinos are still full of them, but only because people keep playing them!

Their lack of knowledge is causing them to lose money for no good reason and to miss out on much of the enjoyment which intelligent Video Poker play affords. In Las Vegas, the "locals" are almost exclusively Video Poker players. Those who stayed on the slots are few and far between now, having run out of money. This is a matter of survival for locals, but even occasional players in these casinos, or riverboats and reservations will benefit from switching to this popular game.

I hope to convince you to kiss your slot-machine goodbye and to open your eyes to the wonderful world of Video Poker. Video Poker machines are much more liberal than slots, with paybacks ranging from 96% to over 100%, while slots range from 90% to 97% in comparable coin denominations. Thus, your chances of winning at Video Poker are far greater; many players have played for years and, with their comps and slot club benefits, are at break-even or better. Best of all, you can easily identify the most liberal machines and be certain of it. With "slots", you are at the mercy of the casino. Two slot machines standing next to each other, looking identical, may have vastly different paybacks - there is simply no way to know.

Video Poker is a far more interesting and challenging form of amusement, allowing your skill to make you successful. Win or lose, every session will provide more genuine satisfaction you cannot expect from a slot machine. Today, every form of tutoring is available at very little cost, in the form of magazines, books, computer software and video cassettes, so it is easy to learn how to play expertly at one or more of the many versions offered.

For a quick start visit here: http://www.video-poker-pages.com

The ..Top Video Poker Versions

2004-09-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

Below I list several top Video Poker versions.
These percentages are maintained with maximum coins per hand, full-pay schedule play and perfect strategy:

1) 10/4 Loose Deuces--4 Deuces pays 2500=100.97%
2) 9/5 Deuces Wild=100.76%
3) 7/5 Jokers Wild--5 of a kind pays 1000, Quad pays 100=100.64%.
4) 9/6 Double Double Jackpot Poker--2 pair pays 1=100.35%
5) 10/7 Double Bonus--2 pair pays 1=100.17%
6) Pick 'Em Poker--pair of 9’s+ min. payout=99.95%
7) 11/7 Triple Bonus Poker--Kings+ min.payout=99.94%
8) 9/6 Jacks+--2 pair pays 2= 99.54%
9) 8/5 Bonus Jacks+--2 pair pays 2, Four Aces pays 400=99.17%
10) 9/6 Double Double Bonus--4 Aces with 2, 3 or 4 pays 2000=98.98%

The first two numbers reflect the payouts for a full house and flush as per one coin payout.
The exception being for Deuces Wild versions--#1 and #2, which reflect the payouts for a straight flush and 4 of a kind as per one coin payout. The minimum payout for Deuces games is 3-of-a-kind.
The actual payout of any video poker machine is determined not only by its schedule but also by how you select discards.

Since playing errors can reduce the payout, just sitting down in front of a full pay machine won't help you unless you learn the correct strategies.

I wish you best luck!

Learning to ...lose!

2004-08-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

I have never saw a player saying, "Hey, I hit two royals yesterday. Is it possible for a casino to intentionally loosen a machine other than change the pay schedule?"

Players never consider this possibility because it wouldn't make any sense for a casino to do it.
It seems to me that players are willing to accept an average gambling experience today, or even slightly worse than average, without complaint. They know that gambling is an up-and-down experience and they take the bad with the good. As long as it isn't too bad.

And they're certainly willing to accept a MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE result. But a MUCH WORSE THAN AVERAGE result is unacceptable. The damn casino must be cheating again!

Remember the bell-shaped curve you learned about back in math class years ago? That applies to your gambling results too. For whatever reason, players are only willing to put up with the upper three-quarters of the curve. The lower quarter (where the biggest losses occur) they want to tear it up and make it go away. To make it disappear they try things like changing machines, changing games, move up or down in stakes, swear off gambling for awhile, or just plain complain about it. All of these techniques do nothing, of course, to eliminate the lower quarter of the bell curve --- which is un-eliminatable.

So what do you do about it? The honest answer is, I don't know. Maybe you have to be born that way. Learning to lose is a big part of your survival as a gambler. Over the course of years, you pretty much get the results you deserve. For the vast majority of people, the decisions they make on which machines to play and how accurately they play them add up fairly.

A number of people believe themselves to be truly unlucky. And, of course, some are! It's a mathematical tautology that one out of twenty players is in the "unluckiest five percent". But far more than that number THINK they are in this group simply because they react to their losing sessions with much stronger emotion than they react to their winning sessions.

Useful Tips

2004-08-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

Read and absorb these playing tips:

If you decide to play a progressive video poker machine that pays 8 coins for a full house and 5 for a flush, play on a progressive where the jackpot is over $250 on a nickel machine, $2,500 on a quarter, and $10,000 for the dollar.
Always bet the maximum amount of coins on a progressive machine to get the bonus for royal flushes.
If you are a novice player, play on the lowest denomination machine until your level of expertise rises.

Deuces Wild Hints

2004-08-16T02:28:00.000-07:00

Deuces Wild is a bit different from Jacks or Better, but so far, the strategy itself doesn't really tell you how different the game plays.

The first thing to know is that while a Razgu (throw 5) occurs between 3-4% of the time in Jacks or Better, it will occur nearly 20% of the time in Deuces Wild!

Sitting there playing for a while and feeling you're not getting your fair share of Deuces? Almost 66% of the time, you won't get one. 30% of the time, you'll get one. 4% of the time you'll get 2 Deuces. The remaining fraction of the time, you'll get three or four.

What are the most common playable hands? 31% of the time, you'll play a Pair. 19% of the time, you'll play a Razgu. 13% of the time, you'll play a single Deuce, and 10% of the time, you'll play a Three of a Kind. This makes up nearly 75% of all hands!

Like all versions of Video Poker, it is imperative to learn the Strategy Table before playing for real money. (you can find it here: Video Poker Strategy)

Deuces Wild, perhaps more than any other version, requires playing with a totally different mentality in terms of what to expect of the hands you are dealt. By knowing what to expect, you can stay focused on playing the right strategy, which in the case of Deuces can be very worthwhile.

Video Poker vs Slot Machines

2004-08-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

The ability to shop around for the best game to play and the opportunity to employ skill make video poker the "electronic gaming device" of choice. The best video poker games are very close to 100% payback when optimum strategy is used.
It is quite possible, therefore, for video poker players to play longer and derive more player benefits from the casino via slot club participation than slot players:

The chances of winning at slots are dependent on a computer program determined by the manufacturer. The chances of winning at video poker are based on the constant of mathematical probability.
Differences in slot machine payback are secrets closely guarded by the casino. Differences in video poker payback are visible to everyone on the pay tables.
Your best chances of winning at slots are based on pure luck. Your best chances of winning at video poker are based on optimum playing strategy.

Bet Sizes

2004-08-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

In video poker, the big choice is whether to play a specific game at all. But once we make that decision, we bet the max. In most cases the only way to increase your bet is to increase your stakes - i.e. from quarters to dollars. Another way is to go from a single line machine to a multihand machine.

In a few casinos the best games may be found in more than one denomination, but in general this is not the case.There are at least two video poker games, namely Fifty Play and Hundred Play, where you have a large choice of bet sizes. On these machines, you may bet 5 coins, 10 coins, 15 coins all the way up to max coins and still get the full value for the royal. There may be bankroll considerations that lead you to make one sized bet over another, but it's hard to come up with an intelligent reason for betting 10 coins this hand, 35 next time, 125 the next, 65 after that, etc.

Actually, there is at least one strategic reason for changing your bet on this type of machine, and that's for camouflage purposes when you're being watched by casino executives....

Without the off-the-wall exception listed above, standardization of bet size is a trait of winning video poker but virtually no other gambling game. Does this make video poker a BETTER game? Maybe not. But it DOES make video poker an EASIER game.

Video Poker is a Beatable Game

2004-08-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

Video poker is a beatable game. It is one of the few casino games where the knowledgeable player can have an advantage over the casino on every bet.
In most casinos, however, at least 80%+ of all video poker games contain a built-in house edge, and in some casinos 100% of the games have a house edge.

The most important factor in identifying those games that are beatable and those games that are not is found by looking at the pay schedule --- which by law is prominently displayed on the front of every machine. ..

Read more at http://www.video-poker-pages.com

Welcome to this new Blog!

2004-08-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

As a fanatic video poker player, I start this new blog devoted to my passion:

Video Poker!

You are welcome to post your thougts, comments, sugestions and everything about
video poker. It's a great game - I mean thousand of different variations of games - and
a lot of people share the same pattion.