GAMBLING CENTER

Archive for August, 2010

Sports Betting rules: (How to bet, types of bets.)

The basics

The main object of sports betting is to beat the ‘Oddsmakers‘ or the ‘Odds Compilers‘ and win some money. Additionally, placing a bet on your favorite sport event makes the game exciting and more enjoyable.

Betting is done through Sportsbooks (US) or Bookmakers (UK) entities that accept bets. You can bet on the outcome of several sporting events, such as; Baseball, Basketball, Football, Tennis, Hockey, Snooker and Soccer games.

To place a sports bet, you go to a sportsbook, physical or online. You could also bet over the phone with many sportsbooks. Note that a sports book or sportsbook is not the same as an oddsmaker. The sportsbook simply accepts sports bets. An oddsmaker is a person who sets the betting odds.

You need to state what you are betting on by making a selection, the type of bet and the amount you are wagering. Your selection will obviously depend on the odds offered, so you will want to examine the range of odds available before you make a decision.

There are many types of bets you can place. Some sportsbooks may offer more betting varieties and combinations than others. Below is a list of the more common types of bets.

• Straight bet or Single. This is the simplest and most common bet. You bet on a winner at given odds.
• Point Spread. This bet lets you bet on a winner from two selections who have been made equal by allocating appropriate points to the underdog team. The Point Spread is the number of points allocated and is shown with a + sign for the favorite and a – sign for the underdog. The favorite has to win by more than the Point Spread for you to win, otherwise you lose your bet even if the team wins. Inversely, if you bet for the underdog, that team has to lose by less than the Point Spread for you to win. If the favorite wins by the exact Point Spread, then it is a push or a tie. You get your bet back. To eliminate a tie result, the oddsmakers sometimes include a half point spread. Since scores use full numbers only, one team has to win outright.
• Buy Points. Also, to buy Key Points. Move the Point Spread favorably at a price.
• The Moneyline. This establishes the odds for each team but inversely proportional to what would have been a Point Spread, and is indicated by a + for the underdog and a – sign for the favorite. Say team A is favorite and quoted at -180 and B is the underdog at + 120. The bets offered would be 10:18 odds-on for the favorite, and 12:10 for the underdog. For every $180 you bet on A you would win $100 or lose $180, but for every $100 you bet on B you would win $120 or lose $100.
• Total. A bet for the number of points scored in the game by both teams combined, including points scored in overtime.
• Over/Under. A bet that the combined number of points scored by the two teams in the game will be Over or Under the total set by the oddsmaker.
• Parlay or Accumulator. A multiple bet. A kind of ‘let-it-ride’ bet. Making simultaneous selections on two or more games with the intent of pressing the winnings of the first win on the bet of the following game selected, and so on. All the selections made must win for you to win the parlay. If a game is a tie, postponed or cancelled, your parlay is automatically reduced by one selection; a double parlay becomes a straight bet, a triple parlay becomes a double. A parlay bet can yield huge dividends if won.
• Teaser. It is like a parlay, but with the option to add or subtract points (called ‘moving the line’) from one or more Spread bets. When betting a teaser additional points are either added to the underdog or subtracted from the favorite. The odds vary according to the number of points the spread is moved and the number of teams combined to form the teaser. As in the parlay, all selections must win for the teaser to win. Teasers odds are usually worse than the parlays.
• If-wager. A bet that allows the bettor to make a second wager, up to an equal amount, pending a win on the first selection.
• Open Wager. Open wagers allow the bettor to play teasers or parlays making a selection at different times and even different days.
• Future. A bet on a future event. At the start of each season, the sportsbooks give out odds for teams to win a certain championship. The odds change as the game date approaches and in most cases get shorter, but if you win you get paid at the original odds that you took. This is possibly one of the most profitable bets if you have considerable knowledge of the sport that you are betting on including the players, and a good sense of judgement.
• Exotic Bets. Betting on unusual events. Some sportsbooks post odds and take bets on a wide variety of other sports related events and activities. A few others will take bets on just about anything you can think of.
• Proposition Bet or Prop Bet. An offer of bets at odds and conditions chosen by the sportsbook, usually on ‘Exotic’ bets.

Rules and how to play Bingo, number calling, and online bingo:

Bingo is played in halls. Bingo rules and payouts and play variations vary from place to place. Bingo brochures detailing particular games, rules and payouts are usually available at each respective location.

Basically, players buy cards with numbers on them in a 5 x 5 grid corresponding to the five letters in the word B-I-N-G-O. Numbers such as B-2 or 0-68 are then drawn at random (out of a possible 75 in American Bingo, and 90 in British and Australian Bingo) until one player completes a ‘Bingo‘ pattern, such as a line with five numbers in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row on one of their cards and wins the prize. There are many possible patterns to play for.

A bingo Card contains 24 numbered spaces and one free space (blank), with which you play BINGO. The numbers are assigned at random on each card and are arranged in five columns of five numbers each by five rows (5 x 5 = 25 in total including the blank square).

The numbers in the B column are between 1 and 15, in the I column between 16 and 30, in the N column (containing four numbers and the free space) between 31 and 45, in the G column between 46 and 60, and in the O column between 61 and 75.

Players have thousands of unique (unduplicated) cards to choose from. Some manufacturers print unduplicated series of 6,000 cards. There are also series of 9,000 cards available. Hard cards and Flimsy cards have a series number printed on them. For example, card number 1252 will always have the same numbers in the same spaces.

Bingo in the United Kingdom and Australia

In the U.K. Bingo is played mainly in large halls with cash prizes, the larger commercial concerns are linked up with other halls during one particular game in the evening and large cash sums can be won on these.

It is also played in nearly every seaside town in the U.K. on screens in front of the player who pulls a slide across to cover the number called, but, presumably because of our gambling laws, there are no cash prizes, just various items like cuddly toys.

The other times Bingo is played, again for prizes, not cash, is in a myriad of local halls or schools around the country, usually as a fund raiser for various concerns like an old people’s Day Centre. Here the prizes are donated by shopkeepers and businesses in the town and surrounding area and the atmosphere at these Bingo games is usually very relaxed and a fun evening out where everyone is welcome, even children.

The prizes vary for these games but on average a prize for any one line is worth about £1.00 – £2.50 (depending on who is organising the bingo evening), any 2 lines would be worth about £2 – £5 and a full house (all the numbers on a card) worth £5 – £10. They could be boxes of chocolates, bottles of wine, a grocery hamper, a voucher from a local butcher for meat or a cream tea for two at a local tea-shop or even 2 free passes to a swimming pool. Anything really.

U.K. (and Australian) bingo cards have three lines and nine columns (see picture above) and usually come in “Books”; single or multiple. A single book would contain ten 10 pages (10 cards) each of a different colour: Gold, Lime, Violet, Yellow, Pink, Grey, Orange, Blue, Red and White.

A multiple book has 6 single books. Each page in a multiple book has 6 cards of the same colour. The 6 cards on a page are joined with perforated edges and can be pulled apart. Experienced players will play all 6 books and inexperienced players or young children may only play 1 book, or even a single card.

As well as books, there are also single sheets of bingo cards sold with the 6 sections on (six cards) and these are called “Flyers”. Again you can buy just one section or 6 to suit your pocket or your experience. The flyers cost more per game than on the books but the prizes are usually worth a bit more.

In the large towns and cities Bingo is fairly “big business” and people play in deadly earnest, hoping to win that elusive jackpot. In small towns and villages it’s much more of a social occasion with amateur callers and a lot lighter atmosphere.

Australia uses the same bingo cards as in the U.K. In Sydney and Melbourne the callers are incredibly fast. In Perth they call a lot slower.

Number calling

The numbers are announced quickly by the Caller, so you must pay careful attention to the numbers that are called and mark them quickly and accurately on your card(s).

The caller keeps calling numbers until one or more players claim BINGO. Then the game stops and the numbers are verified. If there is a winner, the prize is awarded and a new bingo game begins with new cards. If there is more than one winner, the prize is split among all the winners.

In Las Vegas many variations including Letter X, Six Pack and Coverall Bingo are offered. Additionally, some places offer special progressive payouts as high as $10,000.

Electronic Bingo

Computers are changing the way we play the bingo game in bingo halls. In the past few years many bingo players have moved to portable, handheld bingo computers or devices that allow them to play multiple cards at the same time with ease.

Electronic bingo devices have a tracking mechanism so players will never miss a bingo, even if they are playing multiple cards.

Players using these devices simply listen for the caller to call the next number and then punch the corresponding key on the machine. The computer automatically scans the electronic bingo cards to see if the number called is there and marks it for all the cards that have that number.

If one of the cards gets a bingo, the player will know and it is up to him or her to alert the caller by shouting BINGO.

Different types of electronic bingo devices are available. One of the more advanced systems features a colour screen showing several bingo cards at a time and with sound effects.

Some handheld devices can hold up to 200 bingo cards per game. However, certain bingo halls may limit the number of cards that can be played at one time.

Online Bingo

When playing online, your bingo cards are randomly selected for you. Most online games give you 3 or 4 cards. Other games let you take more.

Every online bingo game has a caller or a display board for the bingo numbers. The game pattern is also displayed. Some games automatically mark the numbers on your card for you.

Poker is a daunting game of skill, strategy and blind luck but for all players, whether novice or pro, there are a few things you can do to help put the odds in your favour. Here are seven of the best tips for poker players of all standards.

Don’t Play Every Hand – It’s OK to fold!

The biggest mistake beginners make is playing far too many hands. You have to remember that playing more doesn’t mean winning more! Learn quickly that sometimes it is best to get out early.

Don’t Play Drunk

This is as simple as it gets. If you’re drunk your judgment will deteriorate. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a few drinks will relax you; it’s just likely to make your game looser. A few drinks with friends are fine but if you want to play seriously then stay off the sauce.

Don’t Bluff Just For Bluffing Sake

Bluffing needs to be learned. It only works sometimes and on some types of players. Never bluff just for the sake of bluffing.

Don’t Stay in a Hand Just Because You’re Already in It

Once you’ve realised that a hand is unlikely to be a winner don’t feel that you should stick it out just because you’ve already put a lot of money into it. It’s best to jump out with some money than to have to leave with none.

Don’t use poker as Escapism

For the same reasons as drinking, this doesn’t apply if you’re just playing with friends but if you are playing seriously then you should be focused. If you are in a bad mood then you are likely to lose focus and play emotionally rather than rationally. If at any point in the game you feel yourself getting angry or frustrated you should get up and take a break for 10 minutes or so.

Do Pay Attention to the Cards on the Table

For the beginner it’s enough just to remember the basics and what you have in your hand. Once this is learned it is very important that you know exactly what is on the table and what it means for you and could potentially mean for others. Learn the game you are playing and study it.

Only play at a level you are comfortable With

Always play within your limits of money and skill. Playing to impress people will only leave you with egg on your face, and most importantly NEVER play with money that you can’t afford to lose. When you have been winning consistently at a certain level it’s OK to progress but don’t be afraid of moving back down if it doesn’t work out. It’s pretty obvious, as the stakes increase so will the ability of the other players, so be aware of this.

Many of us fly to Vegas or Atlantic City when we get the urge to gamble. Some times we win, most times we lose. Ever wonder why?

Yes, everyone knows that the house has slightly better percentages than the players but that is not the main reason why they come out ahead.

Here are the real reasons that people lose at land based casinos:

1. Free alcohol – your reasoning is dulled and you start making stupid mistakes
2. Scantily clad women – the casino uses these women to distract you.
3. The ringing of the slots and the cheering of the crowds – This gives you a false sense of hope. If all of those bells are ringing, somebody must be winning. Why not you?
4. The lighting – the casino deliberately creates an atmosphere where time is meaningless. Have you ever noticed that there are no clocks? This keeps you playing longer than you would have if you could see day turn to night.
5. Oxygen – many casinos pump in oxygen to give you a bit of a buzz so you can play longer

The advantages of an online casino:

1. No alcohol. You can choose not to go to the fridge and get that beer. You also don’t have anyone pushing it on you.
2. You can shut off the sound on your computer. Without the sounds, you are less likely to allow your emotions to run wild. You will also think a lot clearer when betting.
3. No scantilly clad women. You can shut off the tv, and radio and tell your girlfriend or boyfried to put some clothes on.
4. Most of us have windows so we can watch time pass. More importantly, you should wear a watch and preplan how long you will spend gambling on each round. You can also keep an eye on your funds. No need to count chips. The screen tells you how much you have won or lost.

For all of these reasons and more, gambling online makes more sense and gives you a better chance of adding to your billfold. Just remember, once you have reached your predetermined win – log off and get out of the house! That way you will actually keep your winnings and watch them deposited straight into your bank account.