Category : General

Know the rules, rule the game

It has often been said that ‘preparation prevents poor performance’; yet, it is always surprising to see how many online casino players fail to prepare themselves in one of the most fundamental aspects of any online gaming session: knowing the rules of the game.

Although this may sound laughable to some seasoned online casino players, there are still plenty of players who will wager their hard earned money at a game they do not really understand – leading to perhaps the most obvious question that should be lingering at the back of their minds: ‘How do I know if I have actually won?’

Understanding the rules of a game give you a better chance of winning it...

It is easy to understand why some people shun the rules of a game; after all, why bother reading up on a game when you can ‘learn by doing’ and get stuck in and play. This attitude is not flawed in itself; the only aspect that should be reconsidered is wagering money on a game that is not fully understood by a player…

This is particularly true if you take into account the fact that 99% of reputable online casinos also offer a ‘free play’ mode; during which, players can dive head first into a game in order to get to grips with it, without having to instantly lose their money as a result of a lack of understanding!

European Or American Roulette?

Roulette is one of the foremost classic casino titles; it is both iconic and still very relevant to modern day casino players. Even so, there are still a great many people who are unable to name the chief differences between the varying types of roulette – this is often quite unfortunate, as a little knowledge can certainly stretch a very long way…

European roulette is the smart player's choice...

Roulette has become a staple in casinos following a long and colourful history, which has seen some adaptations and changes to the way in which the game is played. The most significant of these changes concerned one which was made in the United States during the 20th Century; at this point, casino owners decided that the game was not yielding enough of a profit for them and so decided to make a subtle change to the roulette wheel that made a big difference to customers – the addition of a second ‘zero’.

The double ’00′ is the crucial difference between American and European versions of roulette; although it may seem trifling, it serves to almost double the house edge – this could mean very big things for a players bank roll (and not in a good way…)

In short, whenever the choice is given, a savvy roulette player should always choose to play the European version – this way, the odds are always in their favour…

Top three strategies when playing the game of roulette

Roulette is a popular casino game at both land-based and online gaming venues. It is also a casino game that is suited to the beginner gamer as it doesn’t require too much skill.

All in all roulette is a game of luck. It is however also an exciting and exhilarating game that allows players to experience a great deal of anticipation.

There are three varieties of roulette wheel; these include the French roulette wheel, the European roulette wheel and also the American roulette wheel.

The French and European roulette wheel come in the shape of a wheel marked with one single zero.

The American roulette wheel however offers a greater house edge as it houses extra double zero slots.

The best way to win in a game of roulette is to understand the rules of betting, this concerns knowing how to bet and when to bet as well as how much to bet.

If you wish to win regularly, there are a number of betting options and strategies you certainly should consider.

There are two forms of betting when it comes to roulette, these include both the outside and the inside bets.

The inside bets come in the shape of the straight up bets, street bets, corner bets, square bets, and split bets.

The outside bets consist of columns and dozens of numbers, high or low figures, odd or even numbers and red or black numbers.

For betting odds, bet on a set of numbers rather than just the sole number, this way you will be in with a chance of winning at least one of them.

The American roulette has a higher house edge, this is why it is better to opt for the European version if you wish to take home a cash payout or prize.

Onlinecasinoking.com is a great place to look if you wish to find a little info on the best UK casino online available.

Most underated online casino games

When people are asked to describe what games are available at their online casinos, they will very often give a description of a narrow array of titles; this will perhaps feature a few favoured online slot titles, as well as staple ‘casino classics’, such as blackjack and roulette.

Although there is nothing wrong with this, it serves to highlight the huge injustice that many online casino players do themselves by not having enough of an awareness of some of the superb titles that they could be engaging in at their favourite online casino! Below are some of the top titles available at most online casinos which manage to ‘fly below the radar’ of most customers:

Baccarat - this is the very definition of a true casino classic; baccarat is a game that can trace its roots back a long way in time and has managed to be consistently entertaining, even in today’s fast-paced climate. In baccarat, players do not play hands themselves, but are instead asked to bet on the ‘player’ or ‘banker’ for who they believe will have the better hand. It is this subtle variation in traditional play that has helped to keep baccarat firmly in casinos worldwide.

Craps is a very underated online title...

Craps - this classic dice game is the epitome of ‘Las Vegas’, however, it is also an incredibly enjoyable (not to mention potentially lucrative) online casino title.

Keno - this title sits somewhere between bingo and a lottery; it is starting to gather popularity amongst casino players for its simple, fast-paced play and big prizes.

How to pick an online casino…

It is certainly an understatement to say that there is plenty of choice when it comes to picking a new online casino to haunt; however, there can be occasions where having so much choice can actually serve to stifle making any sort of decision at all – this is often the case with newcomers trying to hone in on exactly which online casino they want to spend both their time and money at…

Luckily, the internet is a wonderful tool for research and the key point to remember about choosing an online casino is that ‘somebody else has gone through it all before’. With this in mind, it is always worth checking what other people’s experiences have been with the online casinos that you are contemplating giving your custom to.

Choosing an online casino can certainly seem confusing...

While there are plenty of websites that claim to provide unbiased reviews of casinos online, it is always worth obtaining the opinions of real players; only then can you get the genuine inside scoop on how the casino actually treats its customers after all the glitz and glamour of attracting a new player has passed. Our recommendation is Gala. Gala are a full service online casino with a great reputation for offering a range of games and an easy to navigate site. You can also use their chat function to meet other players and learn tips on the go!

It is also worth remembering to trust in the opinions of friends; not only are they going to be brutally honest about the casino with you – if you like what you hear, there is always a chance of earning a little extra cash between you with the casino’s ‘Refer a friend’ scheme.

How to make the most of your online casino experience

With online casinos now an incredibly popular staple within the United Kingdom, there are a growing number of players who choose to frequent them on a casual basis. For many people, ‘casual’ means that they are not getting the most out of their online casino experience – you don’t need to be a semi-professional gambler in order to squeeze a little bit more out of your time at the virtual tables!

One of the most common mistakes that casual casino players make is not claiming all of the online bonuses that they are entitled to. This is a case where the old adage ‘if you don’t ask, you won’t get’ is as true as it has ever been. Although many online casinos are excellent with their customer service and promotions, there are many more who will not advertise their bonuses to existing customers as well as they could. Not every player is automatically entered into their promotional offers, with many requiring that a player must ‘opt in’ in order to be eligible to claim any bonuses.

It doesn't take much to get the most out of your online casino...

By simply checking if your chosen online casino has any promotions available, you could potentially earn a nice little bonus…

The next most common mistake made by casual players is a lack of awareness about the game they are gambling on. Many players choose to ‘have a punt’ or play a game which they do not have a full understanding of the rules for. This is an obvious mistake, as being as aware as possible about what you are staking money on and how it works will more often than not lead to much better results.

Not sure if you know? Give it a go!

Many people are terrified of trying something new at their online casino...

Everyone knows that humans are creatures of habit; people develop preferences, patterns and habits extremely easily. This extends into almost every single facet of our existence – including our online gaming habits!

The latest surveys and research into online gaming habits have shown that many players – just like in real life – do the exact same things over and over and over…. and over and over.

Now, of course, there is nothing wrong with having a preference; it is only natural to have preferences – that makes us all unique and is a wonderful aspect of human behaviour. The problem starts when our habits come as a result, not of preference, but simply because of apathy – or even fear!

Many online casino customers say that the main reason they end up playing on the same titles over and over again at their favourite online casino is not because they have a significant penchant for that particular title; it is often because they are quite simply too scared to have a go at the other titles available!

This is understandable: New things are scary. New things can be confusing. New things should be approached with caution.

While this is true to a certain extent. New things can also be incredibly rewarding and the only reason that most new things are scary is because we don’t fully understand them.

Take Keno for example: many people needlessly tremble at the thought of loading that particular title up at their online casino – when for all intents and purposes, Keno is merely a game that falls somewhere between bingo and a lottery – which isn’t scary at all!

So next time you take a trip to your online casino of choice, face your fears and give something new a go. You never know what rewards await…

Blackjack better for beginners?

It is a well established fact that the more practice and time invested into developing a skill, the more competent an individual is able to become at that practiced area. This is particularly true of games of skill, such as the iconic casino card game class

It appears as though Blackjack is better for beginners...

Blackjack, which pits players against the dealer in an attempt to get as close to 21 (without going over or ‘bust’) as possible.

However, the latest research indicates that copious amounts of practice in the game of Blackjack may not be as useful to a player as it might be in other endeavors…

New studies have indicated that completely new Blackjack players may be at more of an advantage and perform better during their games than those players who have been familiar with the game for a number of months. Although this may sound counter intuitive, it is thought that, given the learning curve that Blackjack players face, a total newcomer may be less aware and hindered by more complex potential choices than slightly more experienced players.

This does not mean that Blackjack fanatics should not be deterred from the game! The learning curve and performance in games does level off as may be expected after a certain time period. Blackjack players with more experience than 6 months tend to perform better than both those who have just started, as well as those who have played for a couple of months.

So, even though it seems that practice does indeed make perfect, total Blackjack beginners aren’t so bad either!

Beginners Guide to playing bingo

Online bingo is very different from the bingo played at traditional bingo clubs, and fortunately it is also a great deal easier. Back in the dark days of smoke-filled bingo halls it was possible to hear a pin drop such was the concentration of the dauber armed bingo players as they shuffled through their stacks of multiple cards whilst the caller shouted out strange names such as ‘legs eleven’ or ‘two fat ladies’. Miss a bingo call and there was no going back; it was far too easy to forfeit a game due to a moment’s lack of concentration.

Playing bingo online is an altogether different experience. The essence of the game is the same, but with modern software you don’t have to do anything; you can let the software play the game on your behalf. Of course you can play manually if you prefer, but even then the software will let you know if you make a mistake and calling bingo is done automatically.

To play the game you simply need to sign up on a bingo website such as Mecca Bingo (which is currently offering a £50 bonus for new players) and find a bingo room that you like. There are many different types of bingo games though the more traditional ones are 75 ball, 80 ball and 90 ball games. Each of these has bingo cards that consist of a grid of numbers.

90 ball bingo cards have three rows and nine columns with five numbers per row; 80 ball bingo cards have four rows and four columns and every square is numbered; and 75 ball bingo cards have five rows and five columns and all squares with the exception of the central one has a number.

With 90 ball bingo prizes are awarded for each horizontal line completed plus a full house (three prizes in total). The prizes on the other games vary between games, but are essentially awarded for horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines along with special patterns.

The best thing about modern online bingo is that you will never lose a won game, even if you leave your computer to make a cup of tea.

Variations of Bingo

One of the great attractions of bingo, especially in online bingo, is the large number of variations that are available. They say that variety is the spice of life, and with modern bingo there is no shortage of spice. There are a huge number of variations that you can find if you go looking for them on the web and in a short article we can only bring you a small sample of them, but to get you going on your journey here are some of the spiciest.

Mecca Bingo has a great bingo variation called Deal or No Deal which is a great take on both the TV show and bingo. It is a networked game with a jackpot of over £10,000. Thisa is how it works. You start off playing conventional bingo ands there are prizes for one line, two lines and full house. Every time a number called a box associated with the number is eliminated. If you win the full house the banker will make an offer for your winning box. Every other player gets the chance to vote on whether you should take the offer and you get to see the result of their votes before you decide on deal or no deal.

Foxy Bingo offers 90 and 75 bingo games with a difference and if you prefer the more traditional bingo games then this is a great place to play them. What makes the 75 ball game a little different from others is that there is a different pattern on every game and the jackpot winner is the first player to complete the pattern.

You will find some terrific bingo variations at William Hill bingo. There you can play 75 ball, 80 ball, pattern and multi-variant bingo, but on fun packed bingo variant is Luck Number Bingo. It is said that in order to win it you need the luck of the Irish, but we think that that is a slight exaggeration; and old luck will do. What you have to do is select your three lucky numbers which you play in parallel with a game of 90 ball bingo. If one of your lucky numbers is called and that call completes a line, two lines or a full house then you win a jackpot. What is great about this game is that you get to choose your own favourite numbers.