Ira Rubin Pleaded Guilty

On 02.13.12, In Uncategorized, By Vivi

Ira Rubin Pleaded guilty last month to several counts related to breaking US gambling laws while deceiving several US banks. Rubin, who has been living in Costa Rica for the past several years due to telemarketing fraud charges, assisted the three major sites involved in the indictment last April 15th. Rubin pleaded guilty to one count of breaking US laws against internet gambling and one count each of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, and also participating in a money laundering conspiracy.

The three sites involved were Absolute Poker, PokerStars and Fully Tilt Poker. Along with Rubin, Brent Beckley, co-owner of Absolute Poker also pleaded guilty to similar charges late last year.

According to this article: http://blogs.wsj.com/corruption-currents/2012/01/17/man-pleads-guilty-in-us-internet-gambling-crackdown/ Rubin helped the sites transfers tens of millions of dollars in illegal gambling wagers. Currently the US Government does not regulate online gambling. That fateful April day that left visitors an all black screen informing them that the domain had been seized by the Government was a disturbing realization that the online gambling industry needs a little bit of Government regulation. In fact, the online gambling industry may be the only industry vying for the Government to get involved.

It’s no surprise that the “cash-strapped” economy couldn’t use the 40 billion dollars in tax revenue that could be generated in just ten short years on just poker. If the whole industry were to be taxed it could make a significant dent in the US debt. The only question not if, but when?

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Trump Casino To Go Virtual

On 11.28.11, In Uncategorized, By Vivi

The latest news in online gambling is that many top casinos in the US are finally pushing for online gambling to be regulated. In the past these casinos have seen online casinos as a threat, but now they are devising plans to get their cut of the business.

For the past several years Atlantic City has continually seen a decrease in revenue. Trump Casino’s Donald Trump has decided it is time to do something about the decrease in casino gamblers by hopefully making an increase in online casino gamblers.

In an article I read on: http://www.Bing.com/news Trump talks about his partnership in an online casino venture. He is planning on expanding the Trump Brand to online gambling where he feels that the US is missing out on a lot of revenue that is being spent overseas through wagers.

Trump has “determined that such a joint venture represents the most advantageous for the company to participate in opportunities in online gaming at minimal cost to the company.”

The problem is many legislators are not seeing this issue from the point of view Trump inhabits. Governors such as New Jersey’s Chris Christie feel that putting a government “Stamp of approval” on online wagering will eventually lead to the demoralization of society as we know it.

There are many advocates for regulating online gambling. It may even be the only industry out there that is actually vying for government interference. So what is the problem? Officials don’t feel any real urge to make a decision. They are busy dealing with the economy, healthcare and unemployment to vote on the two bills trying to be passed through legislation.

So for right now the only thing to do is wait.

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A Petition for Online Gambling Regulation

On 11.14.11, In Uncategorized, By Vivi

There is so much controversy surrounding online gambling these days, and so many supporters looking for a change. Americans want to make sure they get that change. What they are asking for is very specific and seems to be quite reasonable: “A strictly regulated, safe industry here in the United States. Parents must be assured their children cannot gamble online. American consumers must be protected.”

There is a petition, produced by the people, circulating to get our rights heard. Existing laws on online gambling are simply not working. Maybe because there are no actual federal laws prohibiting online gambling, just some states have their own laws. It comes down to the government not having the proper tools to shut down any gambling site that may be operating illegally. The US online gambling atmosphere has at times even been compared to the “wild west” meaning there is no regulation so there is nothing to prevent minors from gambling, along with no consumer protection.

This petition is a step in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go. It seems as if the regulation of online gambling in the US is so close, yet so far away. Many prominent casinos in the US are also trying to help out the cause. Donald Trump, of Trump Casinos is very vocal about the issue, and has already started working with affiliates and forming partnerships for when the US eventually passes the legislation through the House.

But even though everything seems to be moving in the right direction there are plenty of government officials who do not want online gambling moderated anytime soon. One such supporter is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. He personally feels that by putting a “government stamp of approval” on online wagering, it will lead to gambling parlors popping up everywhere.

So for the time being we will just have to place our bets at a euro casino online.

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Best Casino Promotion

On 09.06.11, In Online Blackjack, Online Casino, Uncategorized, By Vivi

Sometimes I like to go through my favorite websites and find the best promotions. Right now I’d have to say my favorite is the Crazy Days Promo from Silver Oaks Online Casino. Sometimes promotions can get boring, and repetitive, but this is the Best Casino Promotion online right now. There is something for everyone and a different special each day of the week. Let’s go through them, so you have a feel for it.

Sunday is Free Chip Day! Depending on how much you deposit, you will receive a bonus. They start at $15 and go all the way to $125.

Monday is Happy Hour! Start the work week off right and get a 150% extra on your bonus between the hours of 5pm and 7pm.

Tuesday: My personal favorite! Double comp points on all Blackjack games all day!!

Wednesday: $50 free chip. If you have made a deposit Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, you can claim your free $50 chip at anytime on Wednesday.

Thriller Thursdays: Go ahead and please take advantage of this one. For every $25 you deposit, you receive $55! Sounds crazy right? You can’t beat that.

Friday Freebie! Wager $50 on any new game, and receive $10 free just for trying one of their new games.

Saturday: Let the games begin! Double comp points on any of their Super Sport Games like FruitBowl XXV, Hockey Hero, King of Swing, Medal Tally, and Field of Green.

I don’t know how long the Crazy Days Promotion will be going on so be sure to check it out, I’ll see you there.

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Dealer’s “Tells” Tell a Lot

On 08.31.11, In Uncategorized, By Vivi

When playing black jack you have one objective: Beat the dealer. What if you could not only beat the dealer, but actually know what they are thinking, and what cards they are holding?

Knowing a dealer’s tells is an acquired skill, but a very helpful one. It has a lot to do with facial expressions, and subconscious movements. You’re not expected to know how to do this your first sit down at a table, it will come with time.

Not every dealer is the same. Your best bet is to survey the casino and observe the mannerisms of different dealers. Some are stone cold, while others are very casual, and obvious, so to speak. As soon as you’ve found the table you’d like, sit down and play for a while. This skill is not going to perfect itself. Eventually you will get a feel for the dealer, and be able to tap into their subconscious.

Figuring out the dealer’s hole card or facedown card is the first step. The dealer isn’t actually playing with their own money so they tend to be less careful with their “poker face”.

First pay attention to how long the dealer looks at their card. Also, pay close attention to how much the card is bent; this can give you vital clues as to what the card may be.
Dealers tend to bend a stiff card (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) up higher and for longer than paint cards to assure that it is not an Ace.
If the dealer is holding a paint card (any card higher than 6) they will most likely look at the card very briefly, and if it is a face card, hardly even look at it because they will be able to tell almost instantly, with hardly even bending the card.

This is a great tool whether you’re a novice player, or have been playing your whole life. You are now on your way to becoming a Black Jack Master Go out and try it!

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Automated Blackjack Tables Finish Rollout

On 07.13.11, In Uncategorized, By Vivi

Towards the end of last year, in November, a company specializing in poker tables announced that it was expanding it specialties to include other automated casino gaming tables, the first of which was going to be an automated blackjack table. That automated blackjack table system was launched as BlackjackPro and installations began in the early part of this year.

Some in the industry were skeptical about an automated table whose rules and payouts could be changed to suite the casino’s desires to create blackjack variations. But there were others who liked the idea of the automated tables and welcomed them into their casinos.

One of the biggest differences between the BlackjackPro tables from PokerTek when compared to other automated blackjack tables is that there is only one playing screen which is shared by all players at the table as opposed to individual screens. According to PokerTek, having one screen brings players together and builds a sense of camaraderie.

And this feature seems to be doing just that; the BlackjackPro tables have been a success. In half a year since the line of automated blackjack tables was rolled out all ninety six BlackjackPro tables have found places on casino floors across the country and on cruise ships. Now more casinos and cruise lines are requesting orders of BlackjackPro tables, and PokerTek is getting ready to produce more BlackjackPro tables according to their CEO, Mark Roberson: “In response to the favorable product performance and customer demand, production is underway to provide additional inventory for second half installations.”

So it seems the single center screen is a hit and a success in bringing blackjack players together. Casino blackjack players are bound to see more and more BlackjackPro tables out on the casino floor in the coming months.

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$15.1 Million for AC Blackjack Player

On 05.25.11, In Uncategorized, By Vivi

I am sure you recall the last time I posted it was about an unnamed blackjack player who won $5.8 million from the Tropicana in Atlantic City in a high stakes blackjack game. That unnamed player is now revealed to be Don Johnson, and he is being very closed lipped about his blackjack strategy.

He admits that he does not use card counting as a part of his strategy though. Johnson has been playing and studying the game of blackjack for fifteen years, slowly working on his strategy. What started out fifteen years ago as $25 bets per hand have moved up to as much as $100,000 per hand at the Tropicana. And while he obviously has a sound blackjack strategy, Johnson also attributes his success to money:

“[The casinos] beat most people in the long run because the average person will not have the bankroll. But I have my own bankroll. If you can take the swings, you are going to win. You also have to understand the math.”

Johnson raises two very good points: 1. Smart wagering and, 2. Knowing the game.

Notice that I said that Johnson started out with what is for him to be small wagers. What this means is not going to the blackjack table or to an online blackjack game and wagering the most you can on a hand. Start small and build your bankroll slowly.

Know the game. Know blackjack. Take the time to study the game, its rules, its odds and work off of some basic strategy. Basic strategy is a good place to start, but it is not the end-all of blackjack strategies. Look at the game’s math and odds.

The $5.8 million won at the Tropicana was the icing on the cake for Johnson. He had two other big wins that make up the largest portion of his wins. The other big wins were $5 million at the Borgata and over $4 million at Caesar’s.

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Millions Won in Blackjack

On 05.19.11, In Uncategorized, By Vivi

This is not a story of an online blackjack player, but the amount won was too high for me to ignore. At the end of April a player in Atlantic City, New Jersey won $5.8 million from playing blackjack. If there was ever a question of whether or not you can make money from playing blackjack, that should quash the notion that you cannot because yes, you can.

The win happened at the Tropicana Casino and Resort. The recession and struggling along economy has hit the second largest gambling center in the United States pretty hard. The New Jersey governor, Chris Christie, has even gone to the length of passing a few bills to revitalize Atlantic City. Atlantic City is one of the largest sources of income through tax revenue for the state.

In addition to the government’s efforts, the casinos themselves are doing what they can to help drum up some business. For the Tropicana, their tried offering high stakes blackjack games as a way to bring in patrons. It would be an attractive game but at the same time the higher than normal wagers would allow the casino to make some profit.

But that all backfired when the unnamed player won $5.8 million. The Tropicana summed it up as a stroke of bad luck for them; they reportedly would have made a nice profit in April had it not been for that $5.8 million. While I do not wish anyone any ill luck, this does give the Tropicana the chance to feel what it is like for a player to lose so harshly.

For players it does show that money can be made from playing blackjack. It is just a matter of skill and using blackjack strategy.

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Advancing Your Blackjack Strategy—Bet on Another Player’s Hand

On 12.17.09, In Blackjack Strategy, Online Blackjack, Uncategorized, By Vivi

You can advance your blackjack strategy, lower the house edge a little more and possibly win a little extra money by betting on another player’s hand.

The reason you might want to bet on another player’s hand is because your neighbor may have an advantage but is hesitant to bet any more money on the hand.  If you bet on their hand, you can lower the house edge on that round by around 0.15%. And you can even make a little extra money off their hand.

Let’s say that you are playing at a table where everyone has bet the minimum of $20. The player next to you has been dealt 7-4 and the dealer has a 10. Your basic strategy will tell you that the best play for your neighbor is to double down. You see him hesitating to put forth another $20, maybe he tries to double for less with $10. You can offer to cover the other $10 so that both you and the other player can take full advantage of that hand. Now you have the chance of winning money off of your own hand and your neighbor’s.

Another good time to go in with another player’s hand is if he is dealt a pair of 7s and the dealer has a 6. Blackjack players know that 7 against a dealer’s 6 is a moneymaker. The other player should split the pair of 7s. Let’s say that he puts forth another $20 to split but is dealt another 7. He should split again. But if he does not, offer to cover the bet of the second split. Again, you are helping to lower the housed edge a bit and stand to win a little extra if that hand beats the dealer’s.

Something to remember is that blackjack is played as a player versus the dealer, even though there are other players at the table. The dealer represents the casino. And by helping out your fellow players, you are helping other players to beat the casino and have the casino pay players, rather than players losing money to the casino.

The point of having a blackjack strategy is to lower the house edge and win more money. Incorporating betting on another player’s hand is a nice addition to your blackjack strategy since it can work to accomplish those things. It also has the bonus of making you look like a nice player.

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Online Blackjack Can Improve Your Health

On 12.10.09, In Online Blackjack, Online Casino, Uncategorized, By Vivi

It has been shown in several studies that playing online games, such as online blackjack can actually lower your stress.

Studies at Oxford University in the UK and at McGill University in Canada have found that after playing games online, participants had lowered the amount of the stress hormone cortisol by an average of seventeen percent. Participants also found that they felt happier afterwards as well. Similar results were found in a study conducted by an Eastern Carolina University in the US.

The reason proposed for lowered stress and a happier feeling is that playing games online serves as an escape mechanism. When one’s mind is focus on games, such as online blackjack, their mind was diverted from the worries, anger and frustration that was causing them to be stressed.

As it pertains to online blackjack, after seeing the results from these universities studies, an online casino conducted its own independent casual survey. They found that 74% for their online blackjack players felt that they were less stress and happier after playing; they felt that playing was good for their health.

The remaining 26% of those online blackjack players did not feel that their stress had been reduced. Of that 26%, the majority of those players were playing in high stakes games. With large amounts of their money on the line it is no wonder that their stress was not reduced.

Stress has been linked to health issues including hearth problems, a reduced immune system, irritable bowel syndrome and headaches. Stress has also been linked to cancer as a possible contributing factor. Destructive behaviors are also linked to stress: excessive drinking, social instability and over eating, all of which can cause more health related issues.

So if playing some low stakes online blackjack can lower your stress a bit, you might want to give it a try. Or if you are not in the position to wager money, you can even try playing for free at online casinos.

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