Gambling.Now!

While the [tag]betting exchanges[/tag] continue to have a major impact upon the world of online gambling, they have also opened up a new industry – In Play betting. This is an industry which has grown massively over the last couple of years, with more and more events now available “In Play”. Traditionally it had been the likes of football which were most popular amongst [tag]In Play[/tag] gamblers, but there is also a major customer base in the horse racing, [tag]cricket[/tag] and [tag]tennis[/tag] [tag]betting[/tag] markets.

Is It Safe?

While In Play betting can move very quickly, especially in the likes of horse racing when a horse may unseat its rider or fall at a fence, for those with the time to study the markets, and in possession of a broadband connection (ever more vital for In Play betting), it can be very lucrative. However, it can also be a big big gamble, with many taking very small odds to increase their “pot” on “dead certs”. There is no such thing as a dead cert in any sport!

The major market for such In Play events is the arm chair viewer, who like to have a gamble as they are watching the event unfold. This does have dangers, especially in the horse racing industry!

It is a little known fact that there is actually a time delay of a few seconds between the horse race being filmed, and replayed on the TV, so those advertised as “live” are very often not. While this may seem like a very small delay, it can be vital for those on the track looking to hedge bets on a tiring horse, or lay bets on a horse which has just fallen, with their odds yet to be updated for a few seconds.

As with any betting event, the customer needs to go in with their eyes open and be fully aware of the possible risks and downfalls. Nothing is ever certain in the betting industry, and even less now, as much of it has moved online!

Over the last few years we have seen a massive explosion in the number of betting exchanges, an industry which seems to be constantly growing.

It is at such a level that it has actually had an effect on the business of the traditional bookmakers,  who are now desperate to protect their own business.  Despite a number of tax changes to try and “level the playing field” it appears that many gamblers are still moving their business to the betting exchanges.

What are the benefits of betting exchanges?

The main benefits of betting exchanges are the improved odds for customers, and the transparency which is available for each and every betting exchange market.  It is now simple to see at a glance any changes in the market, and monitor these real time on the internet.  This has offered the astute and alert gambler the chance to try and “piggy back” trends as and when they happen – with many making a lucrative living from this!

The volume of business on these betting exchanges has grown dramatically over the last couple of years and there are rumours than the traditional bookmakers are using these instruments to actually hedge off their own positions – a suggestion refuted by the industry. 

Are their any negative aspects about betting exchanges?

Unfortunately betting exchanges have opened up a whole new market to the public, betting AGAINST horses – i.e. laying off bets.  While this is a legitimate market, there have been recent instances of organised gangs using this method to bet on “fixed” events, with many earning millions of pounds in the process. 

There have been a number of suspensions, court actions and investigations and the betting exchanges have now agreed to flag any “suspicious” activity, and also pass over the details of these accounts as and when the authorities require them.

All in all betting exchanges are set to grow and grow over the coming years, although the traditional bookmakers are sure to continue their constant battle to protect their own markets.  Who is your money on?

TWENTY QUESTIONS

1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3. Did [tag]gambling[/tag] affect your reputation?
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12. Were you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?
13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14. Did you ever [tag]gamble[/tag] longer than you had planned?
15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20. Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

Below is a clearly aligned post to why gamblingnow.com exists. Best tips, no sponsored banner craziness – only minimalist google.

Anyone can learn how to play video poker proficiently. With the correct strategies you can gain a real edge over the casino, even on some lowly nickel machines. If this is not your casino game of choice, it should be!

By seeking out the good games and following some relatively simple playing rules, you can practically eliminate the house edge. If you want a guaranteed win, then you have to own a casino. But if you want to achieve an advantage over the casino (and have fun doing it) then video poker is the game you should play.

Statistics show an average payback of about two percent less than what it would be if everyone knew how to play perfectly. This is why the casinos are able to offer some games with over 100% payback potential, thus making it possible for sharp players to gain an edge over the casino.

Another big advantage of video poker is that the maximum payback can be determined from the payoff schedule posted on every machine. Unlike slots, here the payoff schedule tells you the exact payout percentage, thus enabling you to identify the most attractive games.

The purpose of this web site is to help you with free expert strategies and everything else that helps to play proficiently and become a tough casino customer.

Online casino lots jackpots are the true dream makers of the gambling world. You can choose from an ever-increasing array of life-changing jackpot games. Live jackpot tickers let you see at a glance how much you win if you hit the winning combination that moment.

The value of the jackpot increases by a small fraction with every coin played. As a rule, only players wagering maximum credits per spin will qualify for winning the top prize; but all players (regardless of the number of credits per play) contribute to the jackpot.

If you play less than the maximum coins required, you contribute to the progressive jackpot without having a chance of ever winning it. That’s why, when playing progressives, never bet less than the maximum credits required to qualify for the jackpot.

Whether online or in live casinos, it is every slot players dream to hit one of the big progressive slots. Wouldn’t it be great! What are the odds that you will be so fortunate? Much better than those for winning the million-dollar lottery. Chances are slim, but if you don’t play, you have no chance at all. Huge jackpots are won all the time. Who knows, the next lucky player might be you.

I wouldn’t chase a progressive slot jackpot by betting house and home, but there is nothing wrong in going after that big prize with a portion of your gambling money now and then. You never know when Lady Luck will smile on you.

There are many varieties of progressive games. Knowing which is which will help you pick the one that’s most advantageous to play. Be sure to check around. All land-based casinos, and most online casinos, feature several types of progressive slots.

Individual Progressives An individual progressive slot machine is self-contained, it does not receive from or contribute to another machine’s jackpot.

Linked Progressives As the name implies, linked progressives are groups of machines that are electronically hooked-up to contribute to one common jackpot that can get quite large.

Multi-Location [tag]Progressives[/tag] Hitting the jackpot on one of these machines is what everyone likes to dream about. Hundreds of machines, located in many different casinos, all feed that giant pot of gold. Your odds of winning those millions are about the same as those for winning the lottery. But then, someone always wins the [tag]lottery[/tag] too.

Throughout many brick-and-mortar casinos there are often several banks of progressive slots of identical machines, but offering jackpots of considerably different sizes. You might as well risk your money on the one paying the most. The same applies when you’re shopping for an individual progressive. Always go for the highest jackpot available, just in case!

Always play maximum coins on [tag]progressive slot machines[/tag]. You’d never forgive yourself if you missed out on collecting a top jackpot because you didn’t bet the maximum number of coins. If you want to play one coin at a time in order to stretch your playing session, don’t choose a progressive slot. Playing progressive machines means you have to bet maximum coins, every spin..

You often hear that someone hit a huge jackpot after spending only a minimal amount of time and money on a machine. It is true. the majority of large jackpots are hit within the first few minutes of play. That is not because the machines pay better at the start, it’s because most players don’t stay at the same machine for longer than 10 to 20 minutes. If players don’t win, they move on. So, it makes sense that when a person hits the jackpot, she or he hasn’t been playing that particular progressive slot for very long.

Legislative talks have fizzled, Madigan says

By Ray Long
Tribune staff reporter
Published July 17, 2007 SPRINGFIELD — House Speaker Michael Madigan said Monday that no gambling expansion will emerge from the General Assembly because of a disagreement over how the money should be used, a setback to lawmakers hoping gambling money would help resolve the budget impasse.

With the legislature in its seventh week of overtime, the Southwest Side Democrat’s prediction came after a meeting on gambling with other legislative leaders and officials representing Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

“Based on this meeting, there’s a lack of an agreement,” Madigan said. “That means there won’t be a gaming bill.”

———

Hong Kong: Macau’s gambling revenue in the second quarter jumped 50 percent to 19.57 billion patacas (US$2.45 billion; €1.8 billion) from the year-earlier period, according to figures available Monday.

In the first half of the year, the enclave’s gambling revenue rose 47.5 percent to 37.97 billion (US$4.7 billion; €3.4 billion) patacas from 25.75 billion patacas in the same period last year, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau said.

The casino regulator released the figures on its Web site Monday but did not elaborate on them.

Analysts had earlier said they expected new casinos and a rise in the number of tourists from mainland China to [TAG]Macau[/TAG] would boost the enclave’s casino gambling revenue.

The former Portuguese enclave has boomed in recent years as some of the Las Vegas gambling industry’s biggest names — Las Vegas Sands Corp., [tag]MGM Mirage[/tag] Inc. and Wynn Resorts Ltd. — began building huge casino and resort projects in the city on China’s southeastern coast.

The casinos hope to tap into a huge demand for gambling among mainland [tag]Chinese tourists[/tag] who flock to Macau, the only place in China where casino gambling is legal. The territory returned to Chinese rule in 1999.

Tiny Macau — a peninsula and two islands — is located about 60 kilometers (35 miles) west of Hong Kong.

July 13, 2007MERRIMACK, N.H. –Police raided a pool hall during the night, seizing poker machines and cash and charging the owner with illegal gambling.

Officers say they have been investigating Merrimack Billiards for nine months after getting tips about gambling there.

Edward Mosher, 51, of Dracut, Mass., was charged Thursday night with various gambling charges.

Police say an undercover officer was paid cash several times for his winnings on the poker machines. The machines are legal as long as no money changes hands.

The state now is investigating whether to revoke the pool hall’s liquor license

A Renton attorney is suing the state to overturn its ban on Internet gambling, a topic that has the U.S. mired in international trade disputes.

In a complaint filed last week in King County Superior Court, lawyer and poker aficionado Lee Rousso claims Washington’s online wagering ban conflicts with the U.S. Constitution’s protections of interstate trade.

“I think my chances are darn good,” Rousso told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

State lawmakers approved the Internet gambling ban by wide margins, and it went into effect in June 2006. It extended previous prohibitions on gambling by telephone or telegraph and upped the crime to a felony, rather than a gross misdemeanor.

The lawsuit is being handled by Attorney General Rob McKenna, who is responsible for defending legal challenges of state laws.

No one has been prosecuted under the Washington ban so far, but the state Gambling Commission “will continue with our enforcement actions,” spokeswoman Susan Arland said Monday.

Internet gambling also is prohibited under federal law. But that ban has sparked international trade squabbles with the countries that house online gambling operations.

The $15.5 billion Internet gambling industry is based outside the United States, though about half of its customers live in America. The U.S. law, approved last year, stopped domestic banks and credit card companies from processing payments to online gambling businesses outside the country.

The World Trade Organization ruled in December that the federal law unfairly targeted offshore casinos. The WTO told the U.S. it could keep restrictions against sport betting in place if they were also applied to American businesses, such as operators of remote horse betting.

Rousso’s lawsuit argues that Washington state’s law unfairly protects the in-state gambling industry, including card rooms and casinos.

If he loses in court, Rousso said he would push for another change in state law to make Internet poker legal again. “Our backup plan is to get this done politically,” he said.

Information from: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, http://www.seattle-pi.com/

Can a rubber ducky keep NBC dealing in dough from cellphone messages?

During each episode of the NBC game show, “Deal or No Deal,” a contestant tries to guess how much money is in 26 briefcases. Viewers at home on their couch can also participate by text messaging in guesses. The on-air contestant has the chance to win $1 million; at-home viewers have the chance to win $10,000.

Only catch: at-home viewers pay a 99 cent charge each time they send in a premium text message to enter.

Some of the most popular television shows like “Deal or No Deal,” “The Apprentice” and “One vs. 100″ have been raking in cash from similar text message contests. (They share the revenues with cell phone carriers.) The 99 cent charges are clearly disclosed to viewers. Yet, some viewers are upset about it.

Two game show fans in Georgia, a hairdresser and a secretary, have filed a class-action suit in Los Angeles alleging that these shows’ contests equate to gambling. The suits, reported in Advertising Age in late June, were first dismissed by a judge in Georgia before being filed in federal court in Los Angeles.

The issue at hand, whether the text message contests are promotions or lotteries, is a tricky one. Advertisers and media companies routinely run promotions where users pay to enter contests. Take the famous bottle cap contests long run by Coca Cola and Pepsi. Consumers buy a soda to see if they can win the grand prize. The difference here, the lawsuits say, is that losers in those contests still get to drink the soda whereas losers in premium text message campaigns are left with zero. They gambled – like they would in a lottery or at a casino – and lost.

It’s unclear if the lawsuits will go anywhere, but in the meantime, Limbo, a cell phone entertainment company, is promoting its Web site as a solution to the problem. Limbo has created a point system for text message contests, which lets people who participate in contests earn points that can be redeemed for CDs, magazines, toys and other goodies. Limbo says that the game shows should offer all viewers who participate in their text message contests something in exchange.

It’s not quite $1 million, but maybe the rubber ducky on Limbo’s site will do.