Aug 29 2009

Online Casino Bonuses Keep on Climbing

Back in the late 1990’s when the internet casino industry was still in its infancy, bonuses of $20 to $50 were the norm. Anything approaching $100 was considered a stand out offer. Fast forward to today, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a casino offering less than $100 and some casinos are handing out upwards of $5,000 to new players.

The online casino industry has always been a very competitive one. From 1997 when Intercasino (laying claim to the first casino online) started taking bets to 2000, around 1,500 casinos flooded onto the internet in something akin to a gold rush, and competition for new players was fierce. But the carrots that are now being dangled are a quantum leap from those offered back in the ‘old days’ and a good portion of the increases have occurred in just the last 2 years.

For those uninitiated with the industry, bonuses as the name suggests, are real money contributions made by a casino to a player’s account. They come in many forms and sizes, but the most common is the new player sign up bonus. That is, a player opening a new account with a casino and depositing real money, will have his or her account credited with additional cash following the deposit of their own cash. So if a casino is offering a 100% match bonus capped at $500, for every dollar deposited by the player to $500, the casino will match it dollar for dollar. Some offers are structured to include multiple match bonuses with varying percentage matches for each.

The bonus money is real and belongs to the player, although there are strings attached. In order to prevent players signing up and then immediately withdrawing bonus funds, there are always ‘times wagered’ conditions attached. Usually you will need to turn that cash over 15 or 20 times playing one of the casino’s games before you are eligible to withdraw it.

Currently, a handful of casinos are offering an astronomical $5000 in multiple deposit sign on bonuses. This is a lot of money for any business to hand out to customers as an inducement to try their product, and one has to question whether casinos are reaching a point where their bottom lines are being severely impacted by these promotional strategies.

It also indicates that the industry is having to compete harder than ever before for new players. This is despite the fact that after quickly reaching a saturation point, the number of casinos online has not changed significantly over the last 5 years. So the market is either becoming more discerning, shrinking, or being cannibalized by other gambling options.

One likely contributing factor is the US government’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Law. Passed in late 2006, the legislation aim was to prevent US residents from accessing offshore gambling operators by rendering it illegal for payment processors (Mastercard, VISA etc) from facilitating payments from Americans to these operators. While many US players continue to gamble online despite UIGEA, its impact on the world’s online gambling market size must be considerable when you consider that prior to its enactment, Americans comprised half this market.

Whatever the reason, the fact remains – bonus amounts are now at ridiculous levels.

By: Milton Shaw


Aug 26 2009

Casino Winning Advice, Tips & Strategies Revealed!

So I thought I’d throw together my best collection of gambling tips you can use to win more money at the casino while you’re gambling. The whole name of the game is to win as much money as you can. The very best advice I am about to give you is this. Keep a limit to your losses and a winnings limit. Once you hit either, stop.

Casino winning advice & strategies #1 – You will typically find the looser paying slot machines near the bar or lounge. Some areas where you will find tighter paying machines include around the table games. Simply because the casino does not want their table players annoyed by the sounds of winning machines.

Casino winning tips & advice #2 – When you are playing blackjack, I highly recommend that you hit on a 16. You will lose if the dealer hits higher then a 16, so why not take the added risk of taking another card. Cards 1-5 can land you a win on your hand of blackjack!

Casino winning strategies & advice #3 – Whatever you do while playing roulette don’t fall for betting on: 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. They have a 2.5% greater edge towards the casino winning then the other bets. Another good tip to win is to stay away from the single number bets. Since they are hard to win.

Casino winning tips & strategies #4 – The best paying game that is played in most casinos is none other then poker. Study up on this game if you don’t know it well and practice daily. You can actually win more money from playing poker then most casino games so play it!

By: Michael Vickers


Jul 21 2009

Casino Guide of Certain Terms

If you are a person who has an ample interest in casino and are about to try your luck at any casino table, you will require a Casino Guide in order to comprehend the language that is accepted round the table. This language is accepted throughout the world in almost all casinos. Knowing these language will not only increase your confidence but will also prove you as a pro even though you are a first time visitor of casino table. Without knowing these certain terms you will never be able to know that the amount of money that you are investing in the game is termed as Bankroll among the casino goers.

A good casino guide is really important for the first time casino goers. The new casino players also can take the guide of these guides as knowing the terms will only make them mature. The next time you hear the word Bluff in the Poker table do not get confused for that is to term a player who is trying to drive the other players out of the game worthlessly.

Call the card you remove from the deck before dealing a card in the community cards a Burn Card. Never get frustrated if you are winning Comps during your initial visits to casinos as this means a complementary gift that is delivered to the players. You can also receive comp points in case you are willing to play more on the casino.

The terms mentioned in the casino table forms a different language, a very own language of the casino maniacs. In order to prove you as good as well as practiced casino goers, only winning luck is not enough. It is all fun and you should try to look smarter as you play.

A casino guide of the terms will help you a lot. It is better for you to invest in even money as that signifies a bet that promises to pay you back the same money you gamble. The Jack, the Queen and the King are called as Face Cards in the deck of cards. In old casinos you may meet a High Roller. A High Roller is a player who wins as well as loses big though betting a bit. Do not call the money you wager an investment but a Bankroll for that is the proper term for it.

Though there are different terms applicable to different games of casino, a casino guide is always a good help. It is always useful that you refer a glossary meant for casino games whether you go playing poker or try your luck through slot machines. Being a favorite game of gambling throughout the world, almost equal terms are used in all casinos in every corners of the world. In this way, knowing the terms properly, you can communicate with persons representing all the countries through the casino table.

Never forget to refer a casino guide before trying your hand at the casino table for winning the game requires knowing a certain rules as well as strategies. It is the terms as well as strategies that will make you a practiced hand in casino in due course of time.

By: Tyler James Ellison