Category: gambling

ONLINE GAMBLING SCAMS…HOW TO AVOID THEM

As the online gaming business flourishes on the internet today, so do online gambling scams. These scams are rampant.

There many online casinos that are not “real”. They look like casinos, offering games and prizes. Often many fall victim to such traps. People trust too much and are usually misled by such disguises.

Certain casino sites are a scam in itself. These sites offer pretty much the same as the authentic sites. Once you have deposited your money, you might be surprised that they have rules that prevent you from withdrawing your funds. It is always better to read and understand the rules before registering.

Bonus scams targets players that have been banned or moved to other casino sites. This is the simplest and most effective of all scams. Casinos are in need of continuous flow of fund deposits from gamblers. Thus, bonuses attract players in. They do this by sending emails to prospects, stating that they are entitled to certain bonuses once they deposit money to their existing accounts.

After a deposit has been made, casinos will state that a player is not qualified to receive a bonus. Yet players still continue to play their deposits. This is what casinos are expecting to happen and they have achieved their goal.

If you do suspect that you are a victim of such a scam, do the following:

*As soon as possible, stop making deposits.

*If you can cash out, do it immediately.

*Contact the site’s customer care if your cash out attempt failed.

*They should respond within forty eight hours to your inquiry. If not, contact them again.

*If credit or debit cards were used to deposit funds, contact the establishment to inform them that you might have been a victim of internet fraud. So they could take all the necessary precautions. And as needed, cancel your credit card.

*If you have used Neteller take out all funds left in that account.

*If ten days have passed and still no contact was made by the casino site, contact them again. State your demand firmly.

*The Online Players association can be of help in mediating to settle disputes between parties. Ask their assistance.

*Wait and hope that all will be settled.

*Report to certain web portals the incident. So this won’t happen to other players.

Here is a list of some blacklisted casino sites:

1LuckyGambler.com

DiamondCoastCasino.com

100kcasino.com

ExcelsiorCasino.com 2

000-casino.com

GalaxyCasino.com

Casino-Titanic.com

aaaacasino.com

games4money.com

AceInTheHoleCasino.com

GoldKeyCasino.com

WinForReal.com

HighRollerCasino.com

Americas-OnlineCasino.com

i-Casino.com

BlackBananaCasino.com

Java-Casino.com

BlackWidowCasino.com

Ladydream.com

BubbasCasino.com

BugsyOnline.com

MagicOasis.com

CasinoBar.com

NYCcasino.com

CasinoClub.com

PlanetRockCasino.com

VegasOddsCasino.com

CasinoExtreme.com

RealBet.com

CasinoHeat.com

CasinoKingTut.com

CasinoLuxor.com

CasinoOfTheKings.com

MonteCasino.com

CasinoOnAir.com

AcesKasino.com

Thevirtualcasino.com

ClubVIPCasino.com

CrystalCasino.com

One would be surprised to see such a long list. Keep in mind, there are as many “fake” casinos as there are “real” ones. Always check the site carefully. Better be sure than sorry.

The Untapped Benefits of Gambling

Some people cringe at the thought of being labeled as a gambler since the stigma would forever hound them. People have different reasons as to why they gamble. Some gamble to forget their problems, others for fun, or to while away the time, those who play seriously and those who are addicted to it.

But all is not negative when it comes to gambling as there are untapped benefits of gambling which cannot be seen within the walls of the casino, or the race track, or in the bingo social hall.

Employment

In Las Vegas, a whopping 60 percent of the employment ratio is attributed to the presence of casinos. Imagine what would happen to Las Vegas if all the casinos suddenly stopped operating.

Entertainment

Self-discipline is the key. Gambling is for entertainment, as it was intended to be. Others just couldn’t handle a loss and always kept right on thinking that the next card would be the one to salvage all that has been lost. But it never does. And these types of gamblers only comprise one-fourth of the gambling population who cannot gamble responsibly.

Imagine the other 75 percent who responsibly gamble. These are the people who find the entertainment value of gambling and they are never blinded by the illusion that hitting it big time just once is the key to financial freedom.

It is sad that only a small percentage of the gambling population gets the bad rap of how gambling can be so destructive. Families, friends, properties, jobs, crimes and deception permeate the destruction brought about by gambling but it is still a small portion of the gambling population.

Charity Work

Winnings from gambling activities have contributed in providing the needed financial support of worthy causes. They use gambling activities such as bingos or lotteries with a percentage of the jackpot winnings tied with charity institutions.

Some celebrities even show their prowess in card games like poker to provide entertainment for the viewers and winnings for the charity institution they represent.

Health benefit

Studies have been found that retirees 65 years old and above who gamble have less health issues such as depression, alcoholism and bankruptcy as they find gambling to be therapeutic as it exercises their mind and keep them alert.

The study was not conclusive, however, because retiree gamblers are the recreational gamblers who find the entertainment value of gambling. They are healthier because they are healthy to begin with and not because they gamble.

In the end, it is not the gambling act itself that makes it beneficial or harmful to the individual. It is the decision of the individual if gambling would rule him or he would rule his gambling habit.

How to Deal with a Gambling Problem

A gambling problem usually occurs when a person over indulges in gambling, ending up being indebted and having dysfunctional relationships with loved ones.

First of all, Gambling is addictive. The risk and the winning can have a psychological effect on a person, making him unreasonable and irrational.

The first step to solving a gambling problem is acknowledging it. Gamblers Anonymous have the following set of questions to test if you indeed have gambling problems.

1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?

2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?

3. Did gambling affect your reputation?

4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?

5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?

6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?

7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?

8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?

9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?

10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?

11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?

12. Were you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?

13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?

14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?

15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?

16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?

17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?

18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?

19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?

20. Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

A problem Gambler would answer Yes to at least seven of these questions.

If you are indeed a problem gambler, the following tips should help you out of your gambling ditch:

* Never take credit cards or an ATM card with you when you gamble, just take the amount that you intend to spend that day.
* Limit the time you gamble.
* Remember, there are more chances of you losing than winning.
* When you win, keep the money and have an agreement with yourself not to use it.
* When you run out of money, give up, never borrow cash for gambling.
* Never hesitate to ask help from a buddy. Bring a gambling buddy whos not addicted and ask him to keep you in check.

Compulsive Gambler: How to detect one?

A compulsive gambler is a person who is not able to resist the urge to gamble. The compulsiveness leads to severe personal and social consequences. The desire to gamble becomes so difficult to control that stress can only be calmed by gambling more.

1. Walks, Talks and Breathes Gambling.

The compulsive gambler preoccupies himself with gambling. He tells story of previous experiences. The compulsive gambler often discuss with anybody willing to listen, his new schemes or next winning strategy.

2. More, more and more.

The compulsive gambler finds himself gambling more and more money. In most cases he is not gambling for a bigger prize but for an increased thrill or excitement. The time he spends gambling usually lasts longer than planned.

3. Cant Stop, Wont Stop.

The compulsive has repeatedly been unable to curb his gambling. Worse, he becomes irritable and restless when attempting to cut back or stop altogether. Unfortunately, gambling is a way of escaping or relieving his problems.

4. Lies, lies and more lies.

The compulsive gambler starts lying to family and friends in order to hide his habit. But lies and brags about winnings. He denies having a problem when confronted. Often becomes angry if the issue is pursued. The lies start to become a way of life for the compulsive gambler.

5. Show me the money.

He starts depending on others to help in dire financial situations. He often borrows from family and friends to support his increasingly worsening problem. Mortgages and loans are refinanced. Life insurance is cashed in, as well as his 401k. The gambler may then start committing fraud and theft to finance gambling.

6. Self Destructing

Career is jeopardized or relationships with loved ones and friends are eroding. There is a tremendous amount of shame and remorse felt after gambling. Will consider or attempt suicide due to extreme helplessness of situation.

7. Losing control.

A shift in personality often happens to the compulsive gambler. He starts being manipulative, irritable, argumentative, critical, and controlling. The compulsive gambler starts losing interest in his regular activities and hobbies. Then makes poor excuses or evades questions of his whereabouts. Often withdraws from love ones and friends. Sees gambling as a way to cope and deal with his problems.

8. No Sense of time.

The compulsive gambler begins gambling to celebrate and in crisis. He starts spending his time gambling on holidays and special events.

Prevention is difficult and will not always be likely. Counseling may help people who are more susceptible to compulsive gambling. People who know of relatives that are compulsive gambler might be at risk and must be especially wary.

Avoiding Online Gambling Scams Before they Happen

Gambling scams were never as recognized and as widespread as when it finally came in contact with cyber space. Online gambling, although beneficiary for those gambling aficionados, allowing them to gamble and avail of the enjoyment at home, also has some of its downsides more specifically the existence of online gambling scams.

Online scams usually include the refusal of a certain game company to give you your winnings. Some gambling scams may even go as far as totally refusing to let you win with absurd probabilities, and then refusing to let you cash out the remaining money youve got left.

One way to avoid these scams is to know what they are. Here are two most prevailing online gambling scams that you should be aware of, and should be able to detect easily.

Illegitimate Bonuses

Some gambling companies even go as far as inviting their former scammed customers under the ruse of bonuses telling them how sympathetic they are about you being scammed, and offering a bonus if you play with them instead. Just think, where did they get your contact details? Well they got it from that short form you filled out when you joined the first scam casino, and theyre actually looking to rip you off again.

What do they do? When its actually time for you to claim your bonus, they say that you are ineligible to receive the bonus.

To avoid being re-scammed, never fall for these types of offers. Even if you havent been scammed yet, theyd still send you a bonus offer then refuse to give it to you once youve deposited your money. A good rule of thumb with online gambling, if its too good to be true, then it probably is.

Piracy

One way to know a legitimate online casino is its affiliations and memberships; one such is the Interactive Gaming Council (ICG). However, logos provided by such organizations can easily be copied on the net, and what scammers do, is they imitate, sometimes, go as far as duplicating the design of a legitimate casino to pass off theirs. It is a good measure to look up the name of the online casino on the members list of the certain organization. ICG and others usually provide an easy to browse and search members list on their web sites.

To make sure that the casino youre subscribing to is legit, type the company name and the word review in the search engine and read about them, youll more or less get an idea of how they work.

Tips on Beating the Odds!

There seems to be a thousand ways to gamble just as are there are a thousand ways and chances to lose. But let’s face it, for most betters gambling is not about living the “bet-and-leave-if-you-lose” attitude. They play to win!

In any endeavor, it’s essential to know the rules of the game in order to play it better and stay on the winning edge. Keeping simple advice in mind and mastering several gaming strategies before jumping into any gambling activity will help you increase your chances of beating the bookies and eventually overpower them.

While it’s true that this article aims to develop your winning potential, one mustn’t forget that gambling is not all about winning. We gamble for fun while keeping a system which helps us defeat the percentage of losing.

Here are a few tips which you can apply when engaging in any gambling activity. It is also important to keep in mind that these systems are not perfect but following them offers you a great deal of certainty in winning.

Keep It Small – Going small time won’t hurt and is good to your pocket. Big time betting is perfect if you are sure that your chance of winning is always 100%. You may lose your money in the end but you may have enjoyed the activity for a long time.

Bet With Lucky Pals – There are hands and there are hands for gambling. Bet with lucky gamblers of the day. No matter how you master the system operating on every game, if the day does not favor your side then live with it. Joseph Conrad once said that, “It is the mark of an inexperienced man not to believe in luck.”

Eye on the Pattern – Go with the flow. Bet on the numbers/players which gets the most wins. Predict its chances by keeping history of their wins and loses. This helps you formulate a decision when risking your stake for them.

Avoid the favorites! – Good betting is impeded by unhealthy judgment about favorite players, numbers, etc. Improve your judgment by weighing the odds while looking at other prospects that get the possibility of winning.

Unleash Your Psychic powers – Confucius implied that the first thing that comes in your mind is usually the best answer to a question. Playing on your inner psychic power pays!

Stop Ahead – Be in control of your winnings. Take over gambling more than it takes over you.

Gamble for fun – While its true that some people gamble to win, we must also consider that it was originally created to provide fun and entertainment. Investing in gambling is a bad idea!

Lady Luck versus Mathematics: The Truth behind Lady Luck

In most cases, people contend that gambling is a game of chance that is why all winning bets are based on lady luck.

Most gamblers would insist that lady luck is the goddess of fate and chances of winning the game. They tend to believe that one stroke of lady luck on a players fate would definitely bring about winning streaks and endless shots of fame and fortune.

However, the concept of lady luck is basically based entirely on the fate of the person and not on the skill of the player depending on the game he or she is about to play.

No wonder why people always utter, There goes lady luck again to somebody who consistently wins the game.

However, the problem lies in the fact that the so-called lady luck is not always consistent from day one until day two or three.

On its entirety, the truth behind lady luck is basically dependent on the stroke of luck that falls upon the person right at that very moment.

On the other hand, mathematicians argue that they can combat lady luck into a more realistic viewpoint by using numbers instead of fate or what their stars tell them.

That is why critics of the gaming industry would rather call blackjack, roulettes, and other games in the casinos as part of the gaming industry and not gambling industry because they want to let the people believe that the probabilities of winning is not based on chances or some kind of lady luck but on the mathematical statistics of every move.

The Drawback behind Lady Luck

The problem with people relying on their lady luck to smile at them so as to ward off any bad luck is that the modern game tends to fall back on the superstitious beliefs of most primitive people.

Most of the losers tend to believe that they can ward off bad luck by using some techniques such as spreading some salts to ward off bad elements that bring bad luck.

Some even contend that the color of the clothes attract lady luck to come and sit with them.

The Conclusion

Consider this; some mathematicians contend that the odds of having or getting a royal flush are 1 in 649,739. This goes to show that if people will solely rely to lady luck, chances are they will definitely lose more than winning.

The bottom line: gambling is not about winning, it is entirely based on losing. The only winner is the casino owner who calls for the so-called house advantage and there is no lady luck to the rescue.

Gambling Addiction: How to Get Rid of It

There are many vices lurking in the society today. One of which is gambling.

Whats even worse is the fact that people who are so hooked up with gambling have the tendency to get addicted to it.

Addiction is a serious social issue that society is still trying to muster. With gambling addiction, gamblers just dont lose money but life and family as well. That is why it is extremely important to solve the problem.

In reality, there are available measures and methods so as to treat gambling addiction. Some of which are:

1. Through medications.

Usually, gambling addicts are treated through medications in the form of anti-depressants or what medical experts call as Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or the SSRR. This medication has been proven to treat pathological gamblers or those who feel the blow whenever they win.

2. Through psychological treatments.

Most psychologists contend that the problem of gambling addiction is often associated with a problem on their cognitive behavior. Hence, it would be better to let the gambling addicts undergo cognitive behavior therapy.

In this process, the gambling addicts are taught how to get rid of the negative ideas and replace them with positive ones.

3. Through group therapy.

Group discussions are also effective in treating gambling addiction. Through this method, gamblers will get to interact and discuss their own personal problems that led them to gambling.

One great advantage of this therapy is that gamblers get to listen to other gamblers stories. They will be able to understand some angles that may sound just like their very own situations but were unable to identify them because of the feeling of rejection or shame.

Gambling addiction must be stopped at once. It has already dominated the society and even perpetuated the problem among college students. In 2004, the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania has reported that 11.4% of their male students are fond of betting cards at least once a week. This was deemed alarming because they had only 6.2% on the previous years report, which made it an increase of 84% in just one year.

Moreover, according to the Journal of Gambling Studies, gamblers who are college students make up 1.6% of the total population. It may seem little at first but the fact that the percentage is gradually increasing is enough to cause alarm.

So, the best way to cure treat gambling addiction is to lessen the chances of playing. This is because the more people can play the greater chances they get addicted.

Tips on How to Win Texas Hold em Poker

When people speak of poker, there is one name that cuts above the rest of the poker classificationthe Texas Hold em poker. This type of poker is considered to be the most popular type being played in the casinos today, whether online or in real casinos.

Generally, Texas Hold Em Poker starts with a batch of two players situated at the left of the dealer button. This dealer buttons refers to the round disc being passed on clockwise on each player. It signifies who will be dealer in the event that the deal was move forward from one player to another.

The betting starts on the first part of the game where the money is placed into the pot before dealing the cards. Normally, the first blind is the one that places half of the required minimum stake. The first blind refers to the player situated at the left of the dealer. The second blind, on the other hand, is the one responsible in placing the full minimum required bet.

Since the very object of the game is to win whatever is in the pot, it is best to know some rules or strategies so as to get an edge over the other players. Heres how:

1. The table.

When a player is playing Texas hold em poker, the best thing that he or she should consider is selecting the table. This is because players, regardless of their skills in playing the game, will be constrained to give their best shots if the table is too assertive, too rigid or too loose, or if it consists of players that are more skillful.

The bottom line: Even if the essence of winning the game is directly affected by the skills of the player, it is still best to play on a table that has few raisers but many callers.

The logic behind this concept is based on the fact that the more raisers there are in a table, the lesser the chances of winning the game.

2. When a player is in the early position, it is best to raise with K-K, A-K, and A-As, then, with A-Qs, Q-Q, J-J, A-K, T-T, have a call and then fold everything else.

3. For players who already have a remarkable hand starters, especially when he or she has a high pair, say JJ or even higher, it is best not to hesitate raising it before the flop.

Indeed, playing Texas hold em poker requires skills also. It is not all based on gambling. This just goes to show that games like this requires both luck and skill to win the pot.

ONLINE GAMBLING GUIDE …TO A BETTER GAME

When gambling online, select the casino site carefully to avoid being scammed. Review the site wisely. Don’t just give your credit card number to the first site you find in the net. Take the time to ask yourself these questions:

*Is the site authentic? Look if it is government licensed. If not, go locate another site.

*Does the site have a twenty four hour toll free customer service support? If not, look for other sites.

*For slot machines and pokers, what is their smallest denomination? Look for a variety in denominations. They should have nickels, quarters, dollar as well as five dollar machines.

*How many versions of video poker do they offer? They should have at least three, because this will be your basis that the site has money for the software, therefore it can afford to pay you your winnings.

*Does the casino site have a place to record and keep track of purchases and cash out?

*What about customer care? Test them. By sending them an email with a question, you can assess their customer service.

*Does this site have a good reputation? What software does it use? Know how to collect your winnings. They should have detailed information about this.

*How many days will it take for you to claim your winnings? Certain sites require you to send them email stating your request. Others give payouts only once a month, and others every two weeks.

*What are the rules about bonuses?

When gambling online, here are a few pointers that should be of help:

*Do your homework. Play only at authentic sites.

*Allot a budget for a day’s game. Never go beyond that budget.

*Gamble only with money that you can afford to lose. Don’t gamble the money allocated for your home rental. You’ll be needing help if you play this way.

*Never mix alcohol and gambling. They simply don’t work together.

*Your data is to be protected at all times. When signing up, note that the casino should have a secure and data encrypted link. Identity theft is rampant on the internet.

*Spend ample time reading to familiarize yourself with the game.

*Play by statistics. Know the odds of the game. Study it by numbers. Hunches have no part in gambling.

*Just stick to the game. Never mind the gimmicks. Side bets, insurance and the “crapless craps” are offered in order to lure you to spend more so that the casino will make more money.

*Know when to call it quits. If you are already winning, stop. Don’t try to win more, you may end up a big loser. If you are already losing more than your allocated daily budget, stop. There is always another day.

*Expect that you can lose the game. Casinos are in the business because they set the rules in such a way that the house’s win is important. Generally, they have the edge over you.

A fact is that ninety eight percent of casino gambling is designed for recreation. Therefore, play to enjoy. To be entertained, you spend money. If it gets to a point where it is no longer fun to you, where you play beyond your means, then stop now, or else, you may not be able to stop later.