By Samantha Williams

You have probably seen plenty of movies where the good guys get caught out for trying to use systems such as card counting in casinos. Well we have actually got news for you, apart from card counting which can get you banned when you play blackjack, gambling casinos actually welcome it when you come into a casino to try out a system.

It is a challenge for them, because they absolutely don’t work! There is no system in the world that will change the house edge, although this can be manipulated to a very small degree. The house edge is calculated using highly scientific equations to account for standard deviation and all kinds of variables before it is put in place, and the same calculations have been used since casinos have existed. They have not changed or improved upon, because there is no way to improve them. They are quite literally foolproof.

If anyone tries to sell you a system for beating the house edge, you will lose your money twice. When you purchase the system and when you lose your money in the casino!!

While a gambling casino system can affect short term outcomes in terms of bankroll, only three categories of system are ever able to do this. These are a negative system, positive progression and the hedge system.

Money management is a positive progression system, but it is not necessarily a winning system, it is pure and simple money management, when you win you wager more, when you lose you wager less. Only the outcome at the end of the gambling session determines whether you are a winner or a loser, but the house still earns its edge!

The Martingale system calls for the player to increase bets with the hopes of earning back losses, this is a negative system and it is very dangerous. If you are in the mood to lose your shirt and you can afford it, then by all means use Martingale, however, experts recommend this should never be used.

The Hedge system is designed so that two bets hedge each other, the point is to slowly grind out a small profit, and craps players often hedge bet. For example they may make a $10 “don’t Pass” and place $6 a piece on the 6 and 8. In this way if the shooter throws sixes or eights a nice profit is made, if they throw sevens out, the loss is only $2.

Systems only work in the short term, by taking advantage of probability fluctuations, however most gamblers who buy systems believe them to be for long term gain. This is definitely not the case, because most system users don’t quit when they should and give all or most of their profit back to the casino. In the long term, the casino always wins on house edge – this it is why they are profitable businesses. If you win, be happy, pick up your winnings and flee like the wind!

By Samantha Williams

There are so many variations of video poker games, but believe it or not, most of these games have their basis in Jacks or Better. To make the games more interesting, deuces and aces are introduced, as are jokers and other cards which act as wild cards.

This makes the game more fun and definitely more interesting as well as improves the chances of winning. Remember to always consult the pay tables when you are playing video poker because these tell you what strategy is required for you to win.

I once found an online video poker game which told me that I was making a mistake every time I held or discarded the wrong card. Of course this was when I was playing in free mode, but I never added that game to my favorites and I could never find it again.

If you ever manage to find a game like this, hang onto it and use if for practice, it really helps to know what the machine considers to be the best play, because it improves your strategic video poker thinking.

Also, take your time when you play, you are playing against the banker not the clock, there is no one there to rush you! I once watched a video poker player make the wrong move and discard incorrectly (and stupidly) to lose over $10 000, because he was rushing his game. I nearly fainted right there behind him, was he ever kicking himself. He looked back at me and said “I just f*$#ed up, didn’t I?” all I could do was nod my head – speechless!

Pick a video poker game that you know will be fun – today software design companies are coming up with some great innovations for online video poker games. Take for example Real Time Gaming, they have two great new games, one called Pick’em Poker and the other called Mystery Bonus Poker.

Pick’em Poker starts with 9′s or better as its base and the top hands pay out much better than Jacks or Better based games. Because more winning hands are available, the prize money is bigger, but the game is also more difficult to play – check it out if you feel like playing video poker which offers a bit more of a challenge.

Mystery Bonus Poker has a Jacks or Better as a base and the pay tables are much the same. However there has to be something mysterious about this game according to the name and there is.

When the player clicks on the draw button after placing a wager, a mystery bonus wheel spins. It reveals a poker hand and then the cards are dealt. The players final hand has to match with the bonus hand, and if it does the player receives a double payout. So here is an online video poker game that will keep you enthralled for hours – it certainly did me!