In 2006, the United States Government passed a law we now call UIGEA. This is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act, and short of actually making online gambling in this country clearly illegal, it totally confuses matters. The Act is tagged onto an obscure Wire Act – dated 1961? – which is relevant to the transfer of funds over the airwaves or something. It essentially makes things really difficult regarding credit card payments and also e-wallet transactions.

Financial institutions are penalized severely for allowing online gambling transactions to take place. Then a swoop on the four major US online poker sites took place on the 15th April 2011, this was the ultimate death knell for most online gambling in the US. There are very few site who wish to go to the trouble to offer games to US players any longer, and even BODOG has pulled out of the US industry as of the end of this year.

Any US online casinos still left operating are taking a very big chance – who knows when they might not also have their domains seized. It is drastically unfair, against World free trade principles, and completely paradoxical that the United States of America considers itself to be a government whose people are living in “the land of the free”. To all intents and purposes online gambling laws in this country are to protect people from themselves, or to be completely brutal – from their own stupidity. Honestly it is all just about money, and about this government wanting ‘total’ control.

Back in the 1930′s Ayn Rand said “We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force”, and UIGEA is only one example of this type of control.

While the rest of the civilized world has realized online gambling is here to stay, the US Government is being manipulated by money, or should I say – their lack of ability to manipulate this industry’s money. But let me get off my soap box.

Suffice it to say that US online casinos don’t have it good as far as free trade is concerned. Online payment processing companies are struggling to find more loop-holes and the DoJ is closing in on all big operators. Any US player wanting to gamble online is then also now taking a risk. When a mainstream industry is made illegal in this way, there are always bootleggers out there trying to make a fast buck. This means no regulation, and no recourse for any US online gamer who is willing to take even more of a risk. Sadly even online casino listings which promote US sites, are – in good conscience – dropping long-time clients as fast as hot-cakes. Essentially folks, if you gamble online in the US, you are taking a really big chance.

There are not a great many mistakes we can make when playing blackjack, the same applies to playing online blackjack, however, the ‘no mistake’ rule only applies when playing by Basic Strategy, or Basic Strategy Plus. Stick to the strategy plan, and everything turns out OK, but just in case you have decided to break all the rules, there are a few mistakes to avoid and we take a brief look at some of these.

Don’t play because it “Feels Right” – There is no such thing as feels right when playing online blackjack, this is a very straightforward game, and unless you are John Edwards, we don’t even contemplate feel. Losses due to bad luck don’t cut the mustard, there is only bad play. If you have got a feeling ignore it and stick precisely to basic strategy.

Forget about insurance – Insurance is not the only sure bet in blackjack, no matter what the dealer says. The dealer has always been wrong on this wager and he does not want you to win anyway. It is a complete waste of a bet, and you never make more money in the long run by taking out insurance – unless of course you are a card counter, then it’s a different story.

Double down more regularly – sometimes the timing is right to double your bet, sometimes its not. Not enough players double down and there are specific situations when doubling down should take place. Statistically speaking when the edge is yours to win the hand, you should always take the plunge. Don’t see this as a leap of faith, see it as good strategy. If you are too afraid to take the risk, you shouldn’t be playing online blackjack – go back to the penny slots. Tip: memorize as many double down combinations as you can.

Never think you are due – you are not! No online blackjack or any card player ever is. If you are on a losing streak, you can and will lose again; the same applies to winning. Hand histories carry no influence on the outcome of what the next hand will be, and odds remain unchanged. Tip: card counters use advanced statistical techniques to calculate winning odds, it is not only about counting cards.

There is no bad table position – in poker this applies, in blackjack there is absolutely no bad position at the table – get over it.

Cut your losses and surrender – there is a reason why some games of blackjack allow the player to surrender, take advantage of this when need be. Again, revert back to blackjack strategy.

Speaking of strategy – always have your strategy card up to date and at your right hand, even in a live casino; it’s allowed! Play by strategy, strategy, strategy and blackjack is one of the few casino games, where you can almost beat the house edge, but only when using strategy!

Play poker and undoubtedly you will find this is a head game, experts talk about poker psychology all of the time. Some players don’t get this and they believe poker psychology is all about the bluff; nothing could be further from the truth. According to Anthony Holden ~
“Whether he likes it or not, a man’s character is stripped at the poker table; if the other players read him better than he does, he has only himself to blame. Unless he is both able and prepared to see himself as others do, flaws and all, he will be a loser in cards, as in life”.
And this describes poker psychology to the very last chip on the table.

Like any other sport you partake off; just because you win an Olympic Gold at age 18, does not mean you have reached the pinnacle of your success. If you think you are the best at this stage; whether you are swimming a relay or potting a polo puck (is it called a puck?), then your ego will never allow you to improve. Four years later when you return to the Olympics, if you have not improved, you will be at the bottom of the pile. When you play poker exactly the same applies. In order to understand you game better, you have to strip yourself bare, be true to yourself and never cow-tow to an ego

The major difference when you play poker; is you generally don’t have a coach to help you identify holes in your game. Anyone in the whole world can walk up to a WSOP Main Event, as long as they have their $10 000 buy-in! Plunk the money down at the registration table on the day the event starts and participate, so it is every man’s or woman’s game! You have to be 18 to play, but you don’t have to be 70 to stop and this is also what gives people who play poker a psychological edge right away. They know there is no limit of possibility to this game. Age, sex, color, creed, level of disability or ability, does not matter, all you need to be concerned about is – can you play poker?

No Fairy Godmother is going to wave their magic wand and improve a hole in your game – they are all too busy at Disney. This is relative to psychology not skill. If you think you are a really great player and cannot look inside yourself sufficiently to see that you play poker and stink, then you would be better off playing bingo. Play poker and the learning never stops, there is always possibility to improve your game and be realistic about it.

In a nutshell, anyone can play poker and anyone can play successfully, but only the player with the ability to strip down his own character and understand it well, will be a truly winning player.

The one thing about playing slots which can be dangerous, is that these type of games are so much fun they can become addictive. If you are playing for money every time and you don’t take care what you do, you may end up with a gambling problem, or possibly very rich! The beauty of playing freeslots online is you can slot until you drop and never have to worry about even spending a penny. These games are available to play at most good casinos online and you don’t even have to register as a member to play; but this is not the case with all online casinos – you first have to register and login to play and you still can’t play all of the games.

Playing free slots games can prepare you, help you get used to it and find out the best way to play. Slots are completely random games, therefore strategizing is a waste of time, there is no way to change a winning outcome. But you could call it strategy to trial freeslots to see what coin range will fit into your budget and how to spread out your bankroll. Let’s call it an exercise in quantifying random adventure, rather than strategy!

Freeslots come in all shapes and sizes and all types of themes, but the easiest way to find a theme you enjoy is to first find a site that you like which allows unlimited play for free. As an exercise, I chose Victor Chandler Casino, because I like Net Entertainment games and I k now they allow free play. Simply click on the slots tab, and the first video slots game which caught my eye, was Jeff Wayne’s “War of the Worlds”.

This game can be played through Flash in “Enhanced 3D Animation mode, with rich audio and in a reduced version. I chose the recommended (rich) version and this is currently loading as we speak. Please note, I have not registered at this site (although I am seriously thinking about it!), and it is allowing me to play this brilliant sots game in “demo” mode. Let’s just say that this is an “entertainment experience” the music is completely fabulous and you get to play slots while you listen. This is a massive 100 pay line game, and playing for the minimum maximum wager, if that is what you call it; costs £€$5.00.

This site features some unbelievable slots; titles such as Arabian Nights, Spellcast, Blood Suckers, Boom Brothers, Beetle Frenzy – there are so many, and all can be played for free. There are also a huge amount of casino table and other games to choose from; it really is a superb site. They are not the only online casino where you will find freeslots obviously, but I have certainly found it to be, one of the fastest and least troublesome for free fun.

There is only one kind of casino and that is a gambling casino, there is no other reason why any person would pay a visit to a casino if it did not offer gambling. Imagine walking into your local bingo hall or gambling casino and them telling you, you can play the games of chance on offer for fun, but there is no way you can win. This is why it is rare to see adults, unless they are geeks, playing games in amusement arcades. Although, even amusement arcades offer incentives to play!

I remember playing in arcades with the kiddies but since my kids have grown up, I don’t know if things have may have changed. We used to take them there for treats – birthdays and such; find all the games which offered the most tickets and were the easiest to win, then take reams of tickets up to the cashier so the kids could choose prizes. If we found a game that was messed up and paying out more ticket than it should, we played it again and again, no matter how bored the poor child was. Our gambling spirit was telling us – win more, no matter what the child thought!
“But mummy I want to play another game, I am tired of this one”
“Look it is giving us so many tickets, let’s play it some more and you can choose bigger prizes”
“I don’t care about prizes!”
“What?”
It is this avarice which compels us to play games at gambling casinos, and why we find them to be so much fun. But there is something a little more insidious than just fun and do you know why gambling casinos may be so addictive for certain people? Also why we adults love it so much? – Dopamine!

In biological research, and I’m not into vivisection – I hate the bitch; but when a monkey is given a task and rewarded for it, the release of dopamine to the brain is stronger during the anticipatory time between completing the task and receiving the reward. This may be why problem gamblers sometimes lose all their money, as the strongest release of dopamine to the brain comes from the anticipation of winning – not from actually winning, the greater the uncertainty, the larger the dose of dopamine is delivered to the brain and the higher the gambler gets.

Poker players sometime bluff far more often than they should to feel this high and this is bad for their game. Crystal Meth, stimulates dopamine production in the brain and this is why it is so addictive. Ok, so we have gone from kiddies arcade games to crystal meth with barely taking a breath; the point being made here is, the gambling casino is fun, but should also be treated with respect and self discipline.

Known as the gambling capital of the world, this city is a must visit for those who love the ‘gamble’. Las Vegas offers its visitors sights and sounds like no other and Vegas gambling is an experience that you will just not be able to replicate anywhere else in the world. With more and more people becoming addicted to games like poker, black jack, roulette etc. gambling has become legal in many countries. It is also an excellent revenue earner.  You will find that there are any numbers of licensed gambling dens in places like the UK, France etc. This of course has also posed a significant threat to the Vegas gambling industry. Let’s have a look at what Las Vegas can offer a tourist, in terms of gambling games and otherwise.

The poker comeback
One of the most noticeable differences about Vegas gambling is the turnaround of poker. This game has made a remarkable comeback. It is now fresh and hip. There are fresh perspectives and improvised versions of the game circulating Las Vegas. Today the game of poker is played in snazzy, hot and happening casinos. This in itself has proven to be a major attraction! You will find all kinds of people playing poker from amateurs to the professionals. This is the same game that used to be played in shabby rooms filled with smoke.

The ever enticing casinos
The casinos of Las Vegas are the highlight of any Vegas gambling trip. The casinos in this city are irresistible to everyone from famous celebrities to the general tourists. The neon lights, the colours, the excitement all make part of the enchantment. The latest lounges are the ones where the stakes are high. These lounges also come with private gaming rooms which in itself makes it more alluring to the gambler with all the money.

The good old slot machine
If you thing that the casino tables and the poker rooms might be a bit intimidating on your Vegas gambling trip, there is something for you as well. Slot machines are also big in Las Vegas. They are the ideal gambling device for someone who does not know the trade secrets of the other games or for someone who just wants to have a little fun gambling relatively safely. This single player game can be a lot of fun.

The frills and thrills of Vegas
Thanks to all the competition that Vegas is now facing from other cities, it has truly become an exotic destination. Vegas gambling is not the only thing there is to do here anymore. The city is filled with sights and sounds, each one more thrilling and enchanting that the other. Whether you want a night on the town partying or you want an exotic meal or you want to just shop, Vegas has it all on offer. The city is home to some of the best chefs in the world. It also has to its credit some of the finest hotels and retailers giving you a truly unique experience when you visit.