Category Archives: Blackjack

If any person tells you that video poker is not a slot game, then after reading this, you will have good authority the right to call that person an idiot and you can educate them thereafter. Here we share with you why video poker is the slot machine game you never knew you loved. If you thought you were playing a card game, then, unfortunately, we must pop that gaming bubble and tell you that you were, in fact, playing a casino slot machine all along.

Not many players know about programming, why would they, their interests are playing and making money. Well, by knowing a thing or two about how online casino games are made, players can actually benefit when it comes to gaming choices.

Programming is essential information, like buying a car, knowing about the mechanics is beneficial to understanding the performance. The same can be said of games online, dont believe us? Lets just present two random examples.

Example One Blackjack: Blackjack is a card game that comes with a house edge of 1.48%. Roulette has an edge of 5.26%, the edge being the advantage the casino has over the game. Which is the game you are going to play? The answer is, of course, blackjack, it is a near 50/50 game, giving you a far greater chance of winning. The odds are indicative of the games development and how it is programmed.

Example Two Algorithms: The casino world is built on two algorithms. Both online casino games and land-based games are built the same. The RTP or Return to Player algorithm is based on a cost percentage, the casino will take x-amount of the funds put into a game and will payout x-amount. The RNG or Random Number Generator produces winners and losers based on random generation of change through a 30 billion numerical code. In short, RTP game performances are based on the expenditure of the casino members. And RNG game performances are based on computerized chance.

These are just two examples of how performance can affect the outcome. There are over 5,000 different online slot machines alone, and video poker is just one of them being influenced by slot programming. Once you become aware, you really dont have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure it all out.

Video poker is one of the most popular games online, in fact, players in Poland rank it as number one in the top 5 list of polish online casino games. Professional comparison site kasynopolskaonline.com in fact records more hits for video poker than slot machines at 3x the interest. But it might surprise these players from Poland to learn their favourite game is actually a slot machine.

Heres Alex Nowak, a programmer at kasynopolskaonline.com: In Poland, card games are the most popular form of gambling, its social and its exciting to play. When we introduced video poker to our list of free demo games, the interest was immediately noticeable and nearly had more internet traffic than our popular online slots games page.

Slots are the benchmark of all gaming online, slot machines are the most popular game, the most diverse. The gaming is pretty much self-automated, all you need do is press the spin button and thats about it, other than set the cost levels per-spin.

The model is ideal because the programming means you can dictate how frequently it pays out, yet regardless of this, such is the appeal, players will return time and time again.

Video poker has inherited this very same model. You have a popular card feature, with this comes many variants like Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, and Deuces Wild. Your gameplay approach is like that of slots, you only need to press the deal button unless you hold cards that you wish to keep in order to help build your card hand. And, of course, the internal programming is the same.

Every card of the video poker game is a reel, every deal is a spin, every outcome a calculation of the programming. The performance of all video poker games online is the same, whether they are built by Spin Games or Microgaming, the rules are exact, the games design style is the only factor that helps to separate them.

When you press deal button, the cards of the game will go through the spin cycle as a slot does, if you align the right symbols or in this case suits, you will gain a better return. The method is like for like in every sense. The value of the suits themselves and the worth of a hand is exactly like that of a slot paytable, a royal flush is exactly that of 5 matching high-priced slot symbols.

The option to hold and swap cards is just like a bonus feature, to a degree. A slot bonus round doesnt guarantee a win but is sold under the idea that it can reward a better return. Its the same with the holding of cards, the idea that you can get better cards in return for the swapped one. Its the same concept of play.

What can be said in favor of video poker is that the odds of a return are more improved than the online slot machine. The video poker games, most noticeably have a greater return in odds at almost 100%, whereas slot machines peak at about 97% on average.

Now, we dont expect this to change how video poker players play the game, but you can now be more aware of the programming in games and how they really affect the performance. And remember, it is always best to test-drive them first while they are in their free demo format before playing for real money.

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Video Poker Games are the Online Slot You Never Knew You Loved - Gameindustry.com - GameIndustry.com

The Labouchere has become a favorite betting system among many roulette players. It offers roulette gamblers the following three advantages:

Considering how popular the Labouchere is in roulette, you may wonder if this system even applies to other real money gambling games.

The following guide discusses this betting strategy more in depth, why its so popular among roulette players, and if its ultimately worth using with other games.

The Labouchere offers more flexibility than any other gambling system. It calls on you to create a number string that leads to your desired profit.

This number sequence can be anything that you want it to be. For bankroll purposes, though, you should probably keep your sequence and desired profit realistic.

For example, you might produce the following number string: 2, 4, 3, 2, 5 = 17

These numbers can either represent actual dollars or betting units. Dollars are good for online casinos, where you can wager as little as $1.

Betting units as a measure are more popular in land-based casinos, where you must wager at least $5 or more. If the minimum wager is $5, then four units would equal $20.

After determining the sequence, you add the first and last numbers to determine your bet size. In the case of a win, you cross out both numbers involved. When you lose, youll simply add the bet at the end.

Heres an example on putting everything together:

This system is extremely popular among roulette players for these main reasons:

Regarding the first point, betting systems mainly work well with even-money bets. After all, systems are volatile and not suited for riskier bets and slot machines.

Roulette offers three even-money wagers, which is more than most casino games. These bets include high/low, odd/even, and red/black.

As for the second point, basic roulette strategy revolves around which game you choose. You just need to pick French Roulette (98.65% RTP) or European Roulette (97.30%) to achieve high RTP. These games are better comparatively than mini roulette (96.15%) and American Roulette (94.74%).

With that said, many players like adding more layers to roulette strategy. Betting systems provide this complexity and make the game even more entertaining.

The Labouchere isnt solely relegated to roulette. You can use it with other games that feature even-money bets, including the ones below. Heres a look at how well the Labouchere translates to a few other games.

Baccarat features two main wagers that are worth placing, including the banker and player wagers. The banker hand features 98.94% RTP, while the player hand offers 98.76% RTP.

If you want the absolute-best payback, then you can just focus on the banker bet. The player hand isnt a bad wager either, though, if you feel like switching things up.

Both bets are actually better than French and European Roulette. They also win at a higher frequency too. The banker hand wins 50.68% of the time (not counting ties), and the player hand wins at a 49.32% clip.

When you use the Labouchere with either of these wagers, youll enjoy lower volatility and a slightly better chance of winning than with roulette.

Blackjack RTP varies based on the rules involved. With the absolute-best rules, such as 3:2 natural payouts and a single deck, blackjack offers 99.70% RTP.

With the right game, you cant do any better than blackjack regarding your long-term chances of winning. When it comes to the Labouchere, though, youll experience a little more volatility.

After all, youll only win around 42% of blackjack hands. This win frequency is lower than any other game discussed in this post. You want to keep this in mind when using the Labouchere with blackjack.

The reason for the high RTP and lower win frequency is due to bonuses for naturals, doubling down, and splitting hands in favorable situations.

Craps offers several even-money bets, including pass line, dont pass line, come, and dont come. These four wagers offer the following payout percentages:

You can even back these bets with odds, which pay at true odds and, thus, dont carry a house edge. You must wait for a point number to be established before betting odds.

Heres a look at how the payback increases with odds involved:

The Labouchere causes some complications when combined with odds. The latter already requires you to increase bets at various points. The Labouchere, combined with regular wagers and odds, creates further volatility.

If a tables minimum bet is $5, youll need to wager $15 total for a pass line with 2x odds. Assuming you must risk four units, for example, then youll be betting $60 total.

Long story short, you might just want to play craps with odds bets and forget about the Labouchere. Of course, you can always use this system without the odds too.

No matter which game you use the Labouchere on, you want to do everything possible to create a winning gambling strategy. The following tips will help you earn more money with this system.

The Labouchere can become rather risky when youre in a losing streak. At this point, it causes you to place bigger and bigger wagers.

You can mitigate your risk by playing at online casinos. The low minimum wagers ensure that you can use this system as cheaply as possible.

Most of your bets wont even be above $10even when youre in a losing streak. If youre low roller, then you definitely want to focus on mobile casinos.

You should go into this system with an idea on how much money youre willing to risk. If you can only afford to lose $50, for example, then you shouldnt exceed $50 in losseseven when in the middle of a sequence.

Assuming you have a larger bankroll, then you might still set a stop-loss limit. For instance, you could quit any session when youve lost $100.

Stop-loss limits help ensure that you dont get frustrated and gamble too much money. They also work to preserve your bankroll.

The Labouchere gives you the option to aim for 1,000 units if you want. However, such a lofty goal also puts you at much more risk.

With that said, you should focus on more realistic goals. Aiming for anywhere from $20 to $40 in profits is a conservative strategy.

Of course, you can always set higher profit goals later on. But you should dip your toes in the water by going for a $20 profit in the beginning.

The Labouchere betting system isnt just for roulette. It can be applied to any casino game with even-money bets. Of course, not all of these games are exactly the same when used with this casino betting system.

Blackjack, for example, features the highest RTP at 99.7%. But it also has more volatility due to the lower win frequency (42%).

Craps can offer up to 99.64% RTP when combining a dont pass line bet with 3x odds. However, it too is volatile because odds require risking more money.

French roulette and baccarat are, by comparison, less volatile. However, they offer slightly less payback than the other games covered here.

Outside of these minor differences, any game with even-money wagers will work well with the Labouchere. You dont only have to use it on roulette.

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Labouchere Betting System - How It Works in Casino Games - BestUSCasinos.org

Dublin, 22nd February 2021 KamaGames, the largest European social mobile poker operator, has announced their 2020 end of year results.

The company not only celebrated 10 years in business but also reached the mark of 150 million unique players and showed record revenue and profit numbers. In the previous year, KamaGames grew their revenue by no less than 38.4% more than 1.5 times the social casino market average of 24.4%. In contrast, during this time, the mobile gaming market grew by 18%.

KamaGames attributes its successes in 2020, in part, to the rollout of new content and update of games hosted within its apps. Among these 2020 updates are:

In 2020, KamaGames flagship title, Pokerist, remained the third largest social poker player in the world and the leader in no less than 12 countries. KamaGames also rose to become the #1 poker app by revenue on iOS in Spain.

KamaGames second-largest product, Blackjackist, also grew by more than 40% in revenue, more than half of which came from the U.S. KamaGames Blackjackist currently stands as the global leader among social blackjack games

KamaGames other titles also remained leaders in their market in the previous year. For instance, Roulettist showed 70% revenue growth and is still the largest social roulette game in the world.

Another key component to KamaGames success in 2020 was the cultivation of key partnerships with quality brands. One such partnership included the launch of the Hard Rock Blackjack app in connection with the globally recognised Hard Rock brand.

KamaGames also made advertising campaigns with global UFC athletes such as Tony Ferguson, Colby Covington and UFC champion Petr Yan.

About KamaGames:

Established in 2010, KamaGames is the largest European social mobile poker operator.

Employing over 250 staff, KamaGames has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.

KamaGames flagship title Pokerist has been localised into 29 languages, was the #1 grossing app in 101 countries on the App Store and one of the top 5 grossing apps in 45 countries on Google Play.

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KamaGames end of year results reveal sixth year of consecutive growth - CalvinAyre.com

Bitcoin went mainstream in the last four years, and with it, many online casinos began to accept cryptocurrencies. The key advantage of blockchain technology being used in the online betting, gambling and casino sector is that it provides transparency in database transactions.

Currently, there are a lot of new and upcoming open source lotteries, for example, where the return to player ratio is usually kept a secret. And while players are typically skeptical, possibly assuming it was a scam site, by using blockchain they can see exactly how the transactions are processed, solving this problem. When you gamble online using blockchain, if you lose your money you can see where it goes in the system. This means you can see exactly how much the website earns from your deposit, and how trustworthy the site is.

In the coming years, the use of blockchain in online betting or casinos will accelerate and become even more mainstream. We are already seeing projects that are disrupting the space by basing their infrastructure entirely on blockchain payments. This gives complete peace of mind to their players and is proving increasingly popular.

The challenges blockchain solves

Many online gaming sites hosting nontraditional games like blackjack or poker, are not regulated by the likes of the UKs Gambling Commission or the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). If this is the case, such sites often offer no intelligence on how they select winners, who is winning, and whether winnings are being returned to players. As such, they could be a scam site.

Blockchain resolves this for customers because, in this context, it replaces the need for those regulators. This is because of blockchains technology and the transparency of transactions, you can see what happens to your money and deposits, as well as having visibility on which other players loss has added to your winnings. It will also be clear the amount that the site earns from each transaction, ensuring players do not feel cheated.

Gambling vs Crypto

There is not a huge intersection of people who are interested in both gambling and cryptocurrencies. Gambling has been around for hundreds of years, whereas crypto is a relatively new concept so it mainly attracts younger and more tech savvy people.

Those interested in gambling are attracted to it for the entertainment and are typically not afraid to lose their money. For the younger cohort, however, gambling is not typically appealing as they want to see a return on their investment but also understand that the house always wins, so its a risk.

For this type of person, crypto is a way of transacting, similar to those who do Foreign Exchange (Forex) trading. If they invest in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or other well-known currencies, and keep it there long term we are talking years, not days - they are going to see a good return.

The risks specific to gambling using cryptocurrencies vs. fiat

The risks are the same for crypto and fiat when it comes to being scammed, with some lesser-known sites aiming to steal funds or refusing to pay out, although how this is achieved may differ. But there are also ways to reduce risks for both currencies and using well-known gambling sites is key.

If games hosted by online gaming or betting sites are audited by regulatory agency, as they should be if operating using fiat, the games are highly unlikely to successfully scam you. That being said, the site itself might still try to scam you, perhaps by saying that the player has not provided the right documents or attempt to avoid paying out if the player wins.

It is ultimately safer for players to use crypto-based gambling sites due to the transparency of crypto and blockchain, enabling players to track and trace their funds. However, crypto-based scammers have less work to do to achieve their goal. For example, they do not have to integrate a normal payment gateway into their site or have escrow funds. This enables the site to steal your crypto or refuse to pay out, simply because it is not regulated.

Anyone can create a website, host games and claim it is a gambling site, asking users to deposit crypto to start playing. But then it fails to work. Unfortunately, its actually easier to create a scam site like this, but the good news is crypto is becoming more mainstream so there are already well established gambling sites that use it, and as such, the likelihood of being scammed is much smaller.

The regulatory issues between blockchain, cryptocurrency and gambling

When it comes to issues regulating blockchain, crypto and gambling, tracing the source of funds is key. If players make a deposit using credit cards or bank transfers, it is much easier for regulators to trace. This is because they need a bank account, and to open a bank account they must first provide identification and complete verification checks.

In addition, banks must prevent money laundering so will ask the account holder about unusual activity or where funds are coming from. But with crypto, users can send a deposit to a wallet ID, and because its not audited, the money can come from anywhere, and from any type of activity.

Regulators want proof of where the money is coming from but are unable to force players to reveal this information. And, if the sites operators dont have strong measures to ask for source of funds, then it wont be possible to trace its origins. It is for these reasons, that crypto unfortunately is the best way of laundering money.

The need for tighter ID checks

Crypto-based gambling sites should be regulated the same way as those operating with fiat, complying with regulations and requiring identification of the customer, such as the date of birth, as well as requesting the source of funds. However, this is not done often for crypto-based sites because it is not a prerequisite.

In addition, many gambling sites are based in countries such as Georgia or Armenia where it is not as heavily regulated or monitored. While many payment gateways wont provide their services to sites that are based in risky jurisdictions, crypto-based sites are thriving there because they do not need to ask permission to accept payments.

Regulators are trying to be stricter and put policies in place for crypto-based transactions, but its going to be a long journey and tricky road ahead. For now, as long as players accept the terms of service then it is up to them to decide whether they believe the site is not fraudulent.

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How are crypto and blockchain are being utilised in the gaming sector? - Finextra

BORN in the south of Holland Anita van de Berg Lady Jazz started singing when she won the first prize at a singing contest.

My brother won the first prize for the men!, said Anita, whose singing debut in Spain was in Benijofar.

Influenced by Billy Holliday and Amy Winehouse, Anita said: My singing debut in Spain was in Benijofar, and soon after that I was the support act in Torrevieja for Earth, Wind and Fire.

Seventies and eighties legends Earth, Wind and Fire hits include: Boogie Wonderland, Got to Get You Into My Life, September and Lets Groove.

Having performed in Spain and Holland, Anita and her husband emigrated to Spain: We chose to move to Spain because of the lovely weather!, she smiled.

Looking back on her early years, Anita reflected: I wasnt singing at school. I got all my papers but didnt like school.

Anita, who hobbies include singing, gardening and her wardrobe, said: When I finished school I started modelling, while working as a Blackjack dealer in Casinos.

I have been behind tables, dealing for many years in several countries, including Holland, Belgium, Germany and Austria.

Anita, who has performed alongside many famous people, said: I have been the support act for Ray Lewis a few times, the former lead singer of The Drifters.

On the person she would like to meet, Anita, who only started singing in recent years, said: I would like to meet Tom Jones one day!.

*In Part 2 of The Leader Exclusive interview Lady Jazz speaks about her time in Holland in a Girls Group, and on the coronavirus situation, that has stopped her performances in Spain under lockdown.

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ALL THAT JAZZ! - The Leader Newspaper Online

Youd be hard-pushed to find a sector that hasnt grown exponentially online in the last few years.

With devices becoming smaller and smarter combined with brands creating fast apps and mobile-friendly websites, is it any wonder?

Grand Review Research found that the online gambling market is likely to be worth a massive $127.3 billion by 2027. They noted that the freemium model is one of the most significant contributors.

Many gaming apps will have the freemium model; it is a combination of free and premium models. The app or game base is free, but to progress or get more functions, you need to upgrade to a paid subscription. The free base models usually have ads and paywalls; you can generally get some more functions by sharing the app, following the developer on social media, or waiting for more lives/in-game money.

Poker Player Research has found that there are 23 million regular online poker players, 15 million of whom play for real money. Daniel Negreanu is the wealthiest poker player, estimated worth is $50 million. He works on a strategy that includes reading people, has a purpose, doesnt show if you have, doesnt bluff, and is undoubtedly one to calculate pot odds.

Statista research shows that the UK gambling industry in 2018 was worth approx. 14.4 billion

While there are many games, roulette, blackjack, slots, and poker are the most popular.

The move to online has been a gradual progression for most players. Similar to online shopping, you are free to browse for as long as you like, and eventually, when you find what you want, you can try it on.

In most cases free to play options are available and can give people a relaxed entry into the online gambling world. If you dont like the game, you can take your time to find another one.

Once upon a time, no one had the internet, then when they did, it was a slow wired connection. Fast forward to modern times, and most people have the internet in their pocket at all times.Its faster, cheaper and most companies have mobile-optimized websites and apps.The freedom of the pocket-sized computer (aka the smartphone) means that people can play anytime anywhere.

Brick and mortar casinos are fun, and they bring a bit of glitz to the whole affair. Yet, mobile and PC online gambling are easier. Apps and mobile websites are designed for easy sign-up, displaying the most popular options and allowing for top-up or free play.When playing on your PC or laptop, you might have more options, but it is still streamlined. Your account area may even have options for how much you can play and your spending limits.

One of the biggest and most exciting things about gambling online is the plethora of bonuses.Some of the most common bonuses:

Bonuses can help you make the most of your gambling cash.

Most age groups adopt and use modern technology, including tablets, smartphones, and more. Specifically looking at the UK, in 2020, there were 16.9% of 16-24-year-olds that gamble online. (The National Lottery has an age limit of 16, other gambling is 18).

The jump between 2016 and 2020 is the 35-44 age group, moving from 21.5% to 29.3%. Perhaps one of the most surprising leaps is the 55-64-year-olds from 16.5% in 2016 to 23.5% in 2020. Most age groups enjoy gambling to some extent, but the increase in young adults is notable.

Why? Well, because they grow up with access to smartphones and a deeper understanding of the internet. As well as having developers who understand what people want and need. The younger generations are early adopters to most online trends.

If you need to improve your poker game, check out how top poker players improve their game.

While land-based casinos are fun, there is something about online poker that just makes it better.

If you only have a small wind of time in todays busy life, then online poker is the perfect way to spend it. Land-based poker games can take a while, and of course, you are bound to your seat.Online poker gives you the freedom to play high-speed automated games. Some poke sites can deal up to 90 hands per hour. In comparison to land-based dealing, 25-30 hands per hour.

Land-based casinos can only offer so much in terms of styles, game variants, and other options. Online gives you more options than you might know what to do with! Game options can include:

Online poker is as flexible as you are. You can leave for a few hours or days and come back.In-person poker requires a commitment of time that not everyone has to give.Not to mention that online poke is often cheaper and has more bonuses than land-based poker too!

What does the future of gambling hold? With developers making smarter games, we will likely see a steady increase in the rate at which people are using their mobile phones to play poker.

Link:

How the Poker industry flourished online! - The Courier

Blackjack Basic Table Rules

When you play the house, you play against the casino, which is represented by the dealer. The dealer deals one card face up to each player, from left to right, with the last card going to the houses hand, which is face down. The dealer will then deal one card facing up to each player and then the house.

After the initial deal, the blackjack rules indicate that the dealer will ask each player, in succession, if he/she needs one or more cards. As the player, you can ask for one or more cards(called a hit)until you either go over 21 (bust), or you think you have the best possible hand.

Once you have all the cards you need, you stay or stand; meaning you signal to the dealer that you dont want any more cards. Each subsequent player then decides whether to hit or stand.

After all the players have completed their hands or gone bust, the dealer reveals his or her down card. Depending on the cards in the dealers hand, the blackjack rules at the table will dictate whether the dealer will hit or stand.

Once the dealers final hand is established, all players who did not go bust compare their scores to the dealers hand. Those who beat the dealer win, while the rest loseunless they tied, which is called a push.

A push is considered no action, and refunds the players bet. Some casinos, though, might declare a push to be either a loss or a win for the player. The casinos 21 rules should say exactly how they handle such ties with players.

To understand how to beat the house, you need to know how the dealer is affected by the casinos 21 rules for dealers.

The dealer essentially plays by the same strict set of casino rules at all times. Those blackjack rules are designed to protect the house advantage over the long term by ensuring the dealer plays a simple, mistake-free game every time.

Over the long run, that means the house will earn a profitno matter how many card players try to beat it over time.

In fact, the more people try to beat the house, the more the house will win from those who are gambling without abiding by a similarly strict set of blackjack rules. When its the dealers turn to reveal the hole card (which is the card dealt face-down), the dealer will use the same rules every time to determine his or her next move.

If the card total is 16 points or lower, the dealer will always draw another card from the deck. The dealer will continue drawing cards from the deck until the house hand has at least 17 points, or until it goes bust by going over 21. If the dealer has 17 points off the deal without an Ace, most blackjack rules say the dealer will stand, even if a 21 player has a higher total.

The dealer also might have a soft 17 hand, which is one that includes an Ace and any other cards whose combined value totals six points. Both land-based casinos and online blackjack casinos that support live dealer blackjack require dealers to take at least one more card with the dealer has a soft 17 showing. The dealer will continue taking more cardsuntil the houses hand either becomes a hard 17 or higher, or the hand goes over 21 and goes bust.

While playing blackjack, as soon as a player is dealt a winning hand, the house pays out immediately. The only time the player will not receive an immediate payout on a blackjack 21 hand is when the dealers face-up card is an Ace, or any card worth 10 points.

The reason for this is that if the dealer also holds a blackjack hand, then the round is considered to be a draw or a push.

In the case of a push, the player gets his or her bet back, and the game is declared no action. Some casinos, though, will boost their advantage by giving the house an automatic win whenever it has a blackjack 21 score, even if the player does, too.

These games are the most unfavorable to the player and should be avoided. That makes it very important to ensure you know the house blackjack rules before you begin gambling.

The table limits in blackjack vary from one casino to the nextboth in land-based and online gambling casinos. The table limits usually start at a minimum of $5, while online casinos even offer hands of only $1.

Each casino might also have a maximum betting amount, which can range anywhere from $50 to $50,000. Those casino tables are high-limit tables that typically have just one or two players going against the house. Most 21 gaming tables accommodate up to six players, but the cost of high-limit tables generally limits the number of players.

Insurance essentially is a bet on whether or not the dealer has 21 right off of the deal, and requires players to lay half their initial wagers. If the dealer has 21, the house will pay the insurance bets at 2:1. That payoff will wipe out the loss from the initial wager.

If the dealer does have 21, the player will lose the initial bet but will receive a 1:1 payout on their insurance amount, and so they will receive that same amount back. If both have 21, most blackjack rules say that is a push.

Some casino 21 rules, though, give ties to the dealer when it comes to a blackjack. In most cases, though, a push results in the player getting back his or her wager. Its as if the hand never happened. If the dealer does not have blackjack, anyone who bought insurance will lose that amount, regardless how the rest of the hand plays out.

Players also can decline any additional cards with a stand.

It is important to note that players have a variety of options to choose from after their first two cards are dealt. The decisions they make should take into account the cards held by other players at the table, as well as the dealer. In most cases, a player normally stands when the point value of their cards is between 16 and 21.

If a dealer has less than 17, they must continue drawing cards until they reach 17 or above, without going over 21. Once the dealer reaches a score of 17 or more, he/she will then stand.

The dealers score is then compared to the score of each player. If the scores of the player and the dealer are equal, the player receives their original bet back, and this is a push.

Should the dealer bust or go over 21 at any point, all the players at the table will win and receive a 1:1 payout. Any player who had blackjack would have already been paid out at least 3:2 during the round and as much as 2:1.

Depending on the casino, some will let players cut their losses by surrendering half their bets after the initial deal. An early surrender allows the player to surrender when a 10 or face card is drawn without checking the hole card for blackjack.

That could be preferable if the dealer is showing a particularly strong hand, like an Ace. A late surrender allows the player to surrender after checking the hole card, but before the dealer reveals his or her hand. Many players view the early surrender as more favorable, especially if the dealer is showing an Ace.

If the dealer deals you two cards with the same blackjack card value, the rules of blackjack say you may split them into two separate hands by placing another bet equal to your initial wager. For example, virtually all players of 21 will split a pair of Aces by placing an additional bet to create two potentially winning hands. After receiving two more cards, the player determines whether to hit or stand with each of the two hands he or she now has.

Sometimes, after splitting the cards on an initial deal, some casinos will allow a re-split if the player winds up with another hand with two cards of the same numerical or face value. Depending on the cards dealt, splitting your cards can double your chances of hitting a blackjack.

Splitting cards can also at least double your potential winnings from the same initial hand dealt. Highly skilled players will assess their card values versus the card showing in the dealers hand to determine when splitting cards is the wise play. Most will not split a pair of cards worth 20 points, for example, while all will split a pair of Aces.

Blackjack rules say that when your first two cards are identical, you may split them to create two different hands.Knowing when to split your dealt hand is an important element of taking the edge away from the casino and back in your favor. For example, the two hands you ALWAYS split are a pair of aces or a pair of 8s.

Having two 8s in your hand leaves you with the worst position you could be in blackjack: 16, it never has much of a chance to win. But if you do split, you increase your chances of getting two hands of 18.

Many experienced blackjack players are hesitant to split 8s when dealer is showing an 8 or higher. The thought is that if they get two hands of 18, theyre still probably going to lose, so splitting would cause them to lose twice as much.

This makes sense, but, when looking into the analytics over time, it doesnt hold up mathematically. The math shows that splitting 8s, although it puts twice the wager, will lose less over time.

No matter what, a pair of 8s against a dealers 9 or 10 is a bad situation. Youll lose more than you will win. But the goal in blackjack is to keep your losses to a minimum by choosing the strategy that will lose less than other options.

Here are the numbers

16 against a dealer 10: on average youll win only 23 times out of 100, so basically 23% of the time. But when you have a pair of 8s, you have a chance to increase your odds: you can split your 8s and play each 8 against the 10. Why do this? Because when you play an 8 against a 10, youll win this hand more times. 38 times out of 100, which is a 15% higher probability than option one.

Another popular play that could double your potential winningsand losseson a particular hand is the double down. The double down allows you to double your wager after the initial bet, but you only get one more card. If that one additional card is enough to beat the dealers eventual hand, you win double the amount of cash. If it does not beat the dealers hand, you could wind up losing double your initial bet.

Many skilled players use a strict system based on statistical probability to determine the ideal times to double down. As with splitting cards, that assessment includes what the dealer is showing off the deal, plus other cards that might already have gone into play. The number of decks used also affects the ideal strategy for playing 21 and considering when to double down on your bet.

Many casinos play by the traditional 21 rules that were once popular on the Las Vegas Strip, which is traditionally called American 21 Or Vegas Rules. This is considered one of the more liberal blackjack games.

Dont expect casinos on the Vegas Strip to offer these rules any longer, however, unless youre playing at high-limit tables. These games are more common online and at small casinos that focus on locals. Yet, the game has many other versions with their own subtle rules changes.

An examplethe Reno rule only allows doubling down on a hard 9, 10 or 11.

That is similar to the European variation ofonly being able to double down on a hard 10 or 11. This rule is not favorable to the player because doubling down with a soft 12-18 is favorable in a lot of situations when playing 21.

Most countries outside the U.S.and a few U.S. statesalso play no-hole-card blackjack 21, where the dealer initially only gets one card dealt up. That leaves an extra card in the deck for the players to get, and it could be an Ace at just the right time.

A side bet in blackjack is an optional bet made in addition to the standard play. They are not offered at all tables and are more common online than offline. The only side bet that is standard at just about all tables is insurance.

There are a very wide variety of blackjack side bets. Most of them involve theplayer being dealt certain initial cards (like a specific pair), the total of the initial deal reaching a certain number, or the dealer busting on their first drawn card.

Side wagers almost universally have a much higher house edge than the game of blackjack itself and are usually not regarded as a good bet for the average player. They can be put to use by skilled card counters in certain situations, however.

No matter which blackjack rules your favorite land-based and online casinos use, you can adapt your game to the rules and stand a better chance of winning more often.

At a live casino, the table limits are usually posted prominently on a sign at the table. The rules may be printed on the table, or you may have to ask the dealer about them. The casino may advertise the number of decks that they use, but they are generally not obligated to do so; youll have to either look at the shoe and estimate or ask the dealer.

At an online casino, reputable online blackjack casinosshould make the rules available before you enter a table, and there is usually a button you can press to get a refresher if need be (if anything is not constantly visible on the screen). Do not deposit real money into your players account until you can verify that the casinos rules are visible at all times and fair to players.

At brick and mortar, policy varies from property to property, but it is very common for casinos to allow players to use strategy cards. Some evensell them in their gift shops! Some properties may not want it placed on the table, however (as part of a general policy of not allowing anything on the table). Some may also ask players to put it away if other players feel it is slowing down the game too much.

If you arent sure of the house policy, simply ask the dealer before sitting down.

21 games and exotic blackjack variants usually have all sorts of unusual rules, some of which are much more favorable to the player. However, they also tend to make up for this with very poor payout rates for natural blackjacks, and also may give the dealer the win with certain types of pushes.

If you sit down and do the math, 21 variants and oddball blackjack games usually end up having a more unfavorable house edge than standard blackjack, even though the rules might seem more liberal at first.

The common blackjack rules that actually tilt the game in the players favor (assuming perfect strategy is used) are as follows:

If all these rules were included, collectively they would provide the player with about a 1% advantage on the dealer. Of course, when casinos include these rules, theyll also include less favorable rules in the mix to offset them and preserve their house edge.

The most favorable possible table youll be able to find in reality is a single deck game that pays 3:2 on blackjacks and early surrender allowed, but expect high table limits in return for the lowered house edge.

Yes, they make a huge difference. Changing the blackjack payout to 6:5 alone provides the casino with a 1.39% boost to their house edge. Thats why it is used to offset the players advantage at so-called liberal games. No rule change at blackjack gives the house more of an advantage other than allowing the dealer to win pushes.

To the average blackjack player who is not counting cards, it makes very little difference in terms of expected return and house edge. Card counters want as few decks as possible to simplify their counts, however.

Some blackjack tables have a practice of discarding the first card from each new shoe before beginning play. Rules about seeing this card vary from place to place, sometimes even from dealer to dealer.

Some show it to the table automatically, some have to be asked, and (rarely) some casinos have a policy of never showing it to the player.

Card counters would, of course, prefer to see the burn card, but generally dont regard it as a big deal if they cant, as there are usually some quantity of cards behind the cut card that they will never get to see anyway.

This practice actually wasnt designed to deter card counting. It was actually designed to prevent an unethical trick called card steering.

It prevents players (or shady dealers) from marking the top card, or from accidental exposure to players prior to the deal. If the casino wants to burn cards to deter card counting, they would periodically burn several cards in the middle of the shoe to more effectively mess with player counts.

Now that you know the basics of 21 card game rules, you can have fun playing online and casino table games for real cash or just for fun. The more you study particular games and learn to apply basic blackjack 21 strategy, the more you just might find yourself beating the house and winning more cash.

All it takes is some skilled play, combined with a bit of timely luck on your side after you master the blackjack basics.

If you love the social aspect of playing blackjack at a land-based casino but dont want to spend the extra money required to visit one, playing blackjack at a live casino with real dealers is the perfect solution. Live dealers give players the authentic casino feel while maintaining the privacy and convenience of playing in your own home, or even on a mobile device. You will gain access to a live dealer table through high-quality video streams, and all the cards that are dealt are actual physical cards that you will see on the table in the video.

Most live dealer online platforms even have a chatbox. This creates the social environment that you may be craving by allowing you to communicate with the dealer and other players seated at your table. If you have a question, you can ask the dealer and he will promptly address your question and identify you by your username. These live dealers are professionals they are blackjack experts and can assist you as if you were playing in a brick-and-mortar casino.

There is a perfect live dealer for every type of gambler out there. If the first dealer you play with does not match up to the vibe you are looking for, it is easy to find another table at which you can be seated. This is the best part you can grow to form friendly gaming relationships with your favorite dealer, and even the other players.

Like a typical blackjack table, live dealer tables have seven seats. Betting usually starts at $5 per hand, but if you are more of a high-roller, you can easily find tables with stakes of $1,000 and more. The rules at live dealer blackjack tables are typically the rules you are used to playing with, but it doesnt hurt to check the rules of each specific table before placing your bets.

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Blackjack Rules - Learn How to Play 21 - [Tips & Best ...

Colin A. Young| State House News Service

BOSTON The Mass. Gaming Commission decided Wednesday to work towards filing an amicus brief in a lawsuit that alleges Encore Boston Harbor has been duping customers by paying out at less favorable odds for blackjack wins after commissioners previously agreed amongst themselves that weighing in could give the perception that the regulators were siding with the casino they are meant to oversee.

At issue is aclass action complaintfiled in U.S. District Court in 2019 alleging that the Everett casino "brazenly" stoleand will continue to stealfrom customers by ignoring "established rules of the game of Blackjack to increase its statistical advantage and lower the lawful payouts owed to its customers." The complaint takes specific issue with the Wynn Resorts casino paying out a blackjack -- when a player is dealt an ace and any card having a point value of 10 -- at 6-to-5 odds rather than at 3-to-2 odds.

"While this may not sound significant, an analysis using conservative estimates and assumptions suggests that the aggregate loss to Massachusetts consumers is astounding. Assuming an average wager of $50.00 per hand and 80 hands of Blackjack per hour, Encore's customers can expect to lose $35.60 per hour more than the losses they are already expected to incur in a fair Blackjack game that complies with Massachusetts law," the suit alleges. "This means Encore is stealing $85,440.00 from its customers each day, or well in excess of $30 million each year."

Encore Boston Harbor has said the lawsuit is without merit and an initial 2019 Gaming Commission investigation into the allegation found that the casino was not violating any Gaming Commission rules or regulations and the commission has not taken any enforcement action.

Because a similar case against MGM Springfield that was dismissed by the Mass. Superior Court is now before the Supreme Judicial Court on appeal, the parties in the U.S. District Court case "requested and the judge agreed to provide the question bearing on the central issue in the case to the SJC for review to help ensure that the matters are resolved on uniform legal grounds," Gaming Commission General Counsel Todd Grossman said Wednesday.

The justices of the SJC have since issueda requestfor amicus briefs on the question: "Did the February 11, 2019 version of the Rules of Blackjack that were published by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and posted on its website ... permit a Massachusetts casino to pay 6:5 odds to a player who was dealt a winning Blackjack hand, while not otherwise playing by the '6 to 5 Blackjack Variation' rules that were articulated in Rule 6a of the February 11, 2019 version of the Rules of Blackjack?"

The SJC is scheduled to hear arguments in the case against Encore Boston Harbor on April 7.

Grossman said he was approached weeks ago by lawyers representing the defendants in both cases who inquired about the commission's willingness to file a brief in either case and the four gaming commissioners discussed the matter in two January executive sessions.

At the time, commissioners agreed that they would not file a brief on their own, but would reconsider if a court made a formal request. Chairwoman Cathy Judd-Stein suggested commissioners were hesitant in January to get involved in the matter out of concern that it could be seen as forfeiting the commission's neutrality.

Now that the SJC has issued a general request for amicus briefs, the commission voted 4-0 Wednesday to begin the process of filing a brief. That process involves making a request to the attorney general's office, which makes the ultimate determination as to whether the brief will be filed. Grossman said briefs will be due around March 17.

The commissioners did not discuss Wednesday what the brief would say, but the commission's previous decisions and actions suggest that the regulators will tell the court that the 6-to-5 payout was in keeping with the rules as they stood at the time the suit was lodged.

"We were very confident in our earlier briefings that the licensee had complied with the rules of the game," Judd-Stein said Wednesday.

After the complaint attracted media attention in July 2019, the commission discussed the matter at a public meeting attended by casino officials and the attorney representing the plaintiff. Atthat meeting, Bruce Band, assistant director of the commission's Investigations and Enforcement Bureau, said that his team of investigators "reviewed the claims and have preliminarily found Encore to be in compliance with the commission's rules and regulations for paying out blackjack."

Band said the commission's rules for blackjack used "6-to-5" in two different ways: one to refer to a variation of blackjack that uses different dealing procedures than the standard game. That variation is authorized in Massachusetts but had never been dealt, he said. The other reference to "6-to-5" in the rules relates to standard blackjack and "includes options for the gaming licensee to pay out those wins at 3-to-2 or 6-to-5."

Band said the payout for a blackjack must be displayed on each table at the casino and that the IEB's preliminary investigation found that the payouts for blackjacks were properly displayed on Encore Boston Harbor's tables.

Executive Director Karen Wells, who led the IEB at the time the lawsuit was filed, said Wednesday that there were two things that "are important in establishing that there is information out there publicly demonstrating the integrity of the game at the Massachusetts casinos." She pointed out to commissioners Wednesday that "the IEB purposefully did not take enforcement action against either casino at the time these lawsuits were filed or since then."

Wells also reminded commissioners that theyapproved blackjack rules changesin October that Grossman said were "designed to ensure clarity."

All references to the "6 to 5 variation" of blackjack were removed from the commission's rules, which the commission said at the time would "remove the confusion between the game of blackjack using the option to pay blackjack at odds of 6 to 5."

"The changes ... address these concerns and clarify the meaning of 6-to-5 by eliminating the 6-to-5 variation from the game of blackjack and we think that that addresses the issues," Carrie Torrisi, the Gaming Commission's associate general counsel, said in October as she updated the commission on the two blackjack-related lawsuits and detailed the rules changes.

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Gaming commission seeking to file brief in blackjack case - Fall River Herald News

Games within games are a common feature within many titles, and players can often get caught up spending more time playing the extrasinstead of the actual main story! From Snake to eight ball pool, there are all kinds of mini-games that have appeared in past titles however, one reoccurring type of extra content is that of casino games.

There are certain aspects of different kinds of gaming that tend to be universally popular amongst gamers. Live streaming has become a major area of interest for a lot of gamers, and casino games such as live roulette and live blackjack have utilised streaming technology and have been able to attract new players through this format. In addition to this, casino gameplayhas often been combined with video games, with online titlesmany a time utilising mainstream titlesas inspiration for roulette and slot themes. Similarly, casino games such as roulette and blackjack have been included as playable features in some video games. Lets take a look at some popular titles that have included fully playable casino mini-games

The Fallout series is renowned for the vast variety of adventuresavailable in the post-apocalyptic world that the games are set in. With the exploration comes a bunch of different extras and mini-games, and the fitting selection for Fallout: New Vegas includes the option to play table games in the casinos. To gamble in the Fallout casinos, you have to exchange your precious bottle caps (the in-game currency) for chips. There is then a selection of casino games to choose from including roulette, blackjack, and slots. Of course, due to the recent apocalypse, the casinos are unusually quiet for Vegas, however, there is still plenty of fun to be had by taking part in theVegas classics.

Throughout the world of Far Cry 3 there are various Texas Hold Em poker games set up that you can attend to! Poker plays a fairly significant part during some of the cutscenes of the game; however, you cant actually control the hands during these scenes. Not to worry, as you are able to play poker in eight different locations in the North and South Islands. The games are typically located in the back of bars or other secluded areas, and you play against three opponents;each with slightly different playing styles. The poker mini-game within Far Cry 3 is a realistic and entertaining simulation, whilst also being an opportunity for new players to learn the basics of poker. You can play the games at different difficulty levels, which means that the AI you are playing against will play in more complex and challenging ways.

Mini-games are usually a welcome addition by gamers, as it gives them something extra to do if they are bored of following the main storyline. Casino games have evidently resonated with a lot of casual gamers, as they continue to appear as optional extras in different titles.

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The Use of Casino Games as Extra Content within Video Games - Gameindustry.com - GameIndustry.com

Daniel Big Dan left Goethals Union Neuchtel, fourth in Switzerland, to become a shark trainer and coach for Antibes, No. 14/18 in the French Pro B Championship.

In the 1990s, Daniel Gothals championed the Sunair Ostend and Spirou Charleroi colors. As a coach, he was active for the first time in womens basketball, including in Waregem which he celebrated with the national title in 2011, in Namur and with the national team. He next coached Kangoeroes Willebroek (2014-2017) and van Bergen (2017-2019) in mens basketball. A year and a half ago, Goethals moved to Neuchtel, Switzerland, and last season, Neuchtel became vice-champion and reached the cup final. As a result, Gothals was named Switzerlands Best Coach of the Year. He had signed a two-year contract with Neuchtel, which he extended for another two years.

With the sharks in Antibes, Goethals signed a two-and-a-half-year agreement, so until June 2023. In life you sometimes get opportunities that you cannot refuse, Goethals responds to his move to traditional club Antibes.

Pascal Angelis started working for Canadian Ottawa Blackjack Club

Pascal Angeles, 48, became the International Scout Manager for the Ottawa Blackjack Team of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Resident of Ostend, who has moved to Limburg, has been a head coach of several Belgian first-division teams for fifteen years. In the fall of 2019, Sam Rozsert succeeded him in Spiro Charleroi when Angelus stepped aside to focus entirely on his sick son Sir.

Now sir has recovered and Pascal Angelis can professionally regain his passion for basketball. Angeles has just been appointed director of international reconnaissance for Ottawa Blackjack.

In this Canadian club position, Pascal Angelis will work closely with General Manager Givuhn Shepherd a Spiro Charleroi player four seasons ago and his assistant Andy Rawin to explore and recruit international talent. He will also provide Ottawa Blackjack with updates on team developments and players from the major European leagues where the Canadians are active.

Derover moves to Brussels

The Belgian basketball club announced today, Saturday, that there is news of transfers in the Belgian basketball competition, because the games distributor Terry Derover will leave Michelin in the first division basketball team to join his teammate in the series Phoenix Brussels next season. In addition to being a player, he will also be the coach of the youth academy. The 29-year-old from Brussels has this season in Mechelen well with an average of ten points per game.

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Daniel Gothals leaves Neuchtel in Switzerland and chooses ... - Aviation Analysis Wing