Category: Gambling and Casinos

I just returned from a week long camping trip and of course I could not help but bring my chips and cards. I took some kids with the scouts to there camp and all day I did nothing.

There where some old kids and some young kids, but they where all going to play just because I had nothing to do. The result of these games would amaze everybody.
Texas holdem is a game of mystery and astonishment, you can never tell what is going to happen.

On this occation, we played a game with 1/2 blids and 6 players. Each player had 40 chips. I tought the young kids who where clueless. They didn’t know how to play, they didn’t know the suites and the combinations. They had no chance of winning.

The other players where around 17 and 18 years old. They where fair players and with my help they mastered some of the basics of texas holdem. They tried to keep the tells off there faces but they really could not. They always stared at the flop like it was going to fly away or something. At that point I focused on there faces.

It was easy to tell when they had cards or not. There bluffs where obvious and there monster texas holdem hands where the same.

Now, when we threw in the young kids, thats when the trouble began. Since they had no idea how to play texas holdem, there was no way they where going to win. As soon as we started, they where betting 3 before the flop. We all went with it thinking they where doing it for fun, raising the stakes.

Thats where it all went down hill. They where pulling out pocket aces, suited connectors, concecutives. They won on the river with straights and flushes. We underestimated them almost every time and checked every time. There hands where unmatched and they won every hand. THey dominated each hand and they didnt even know what they where doing.

We turned them into texas holdem sharks. Once the older guys realized that the younger guys where getting great cards they played tighter and ended there streak.

We all learned a valuable poker lesson that day: Never underestimate your opponents, no matter how old they are or how skilled they are because the cards will come as they will either way.

As ime went on we realized that we could get them to tell us there cards and they would still beat us because they had monster hands every game. This really was nothing I have ever seen.

Nevada, in particular, Las Vegas, is the first place most people think of when you mention the word “casino.” This state is known for gambling more than just about anything else. However, there is more to Nevada than gambling and the fine Nevada casinos.

The Hoover Dam, Pyramid Lake, Lake Tahoe and the vast desert spaces all add to Nevada’s pull as a tourist destination. Its capital, Carson City, is a town full of historical significance and of course, the lure of Las Vegas as a top travel destination, all add to the appeal of Nevada.

Casinos are plentiful in Nevada, with the major concentration of them being in Las Vegas. Almost all of Nevada’s casinos feature a large number of slot machines, table games, dining and entertainment options, with some more upscale than others. Nevada casinos are unmatched in terms of quality and most casinos around the world model their facilities after those found in Nevada.

Starting in Las Vegas, the higher end casinos include: The Aladdin Resort & Casino, The Bellagio, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, The MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, The Excalibur Hotel & Casino, The Mirage, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, to name a few. These Nevada casinos all feature thousands of slots machines, hundred of table games and all of them feature special shows and entertainment options. From Broadway shows to musical performances by top artists to boxing matches, these Nevada casinos are the best of the best and are unrivaled. The Nevada casinos are visually stunning and from fountains to light shows, no expense in spared in the aesthetic affect of each one of the Nevada casinos. Up and down the Las Vegas “strip”, there are a number of smaller facilities, each devoted to helping you win and lose money. Each casino has facilities in place to pamper you, make you comfortable, and encourage you to stay longer, gamble more and spend more money.

Venturing outside of the bright lights of Las Vegas, there is a large of concentration of casinos in both Carson City and Reno.

Reno features the Atlantis Casino & Resort, Harrah’s and the Sands Regency Casino Hotel. Carson City boasts the Silver Dollar Casino and the Carson Nugget. Each of these Nevada casinos are not as large scale as those located in Las Vegas, but feature a nice mix of table games, slot machines and various amenities.

Nevada casinos are the best of the best and a casino can be found in almost any city in the state. The amenities are numerous, the stakes often high and the experience unforgettable. Finally, now and in the future, Nevada casinos will remain a popular tourist attraction.

Nebraska is a state full of surprises. Surrounded by South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas and Colorado, the Cornhusker state has more than five hundred municipalities plus acres and acres of state parkland, hiking trails and other outdoor activities. Nebraska is below the national average for both cost of living and crime. A whopping forty percent below the national crime rate! Hunting and fishing are major pastimes in Nebraska, and collegiate sports are also very big here with the University of Nebraska offering much for sports fans to enjoy. Nebraska is also Lewis and Clark territory and there are many tourist sites related to the famous pair’s work and journeys.

Nebraska also has its share of casinos, including the Iron Bar, Ohiya Casino and Scottsbluff County Keno. Nebraska Casinos are in negotiations in some cases over the types of gaming allowed by state law. You may find blackjack, video poker, roulette and other games at some Nebraska Casinos, but disputes among local authorities and Nebraska Casinos may change the availability of these games depending on the state of the agreements between Nebraska Casinos and the state.

There are plenty of alternative types of gambling available in Nebraska Casinos. Nebraska Casinos can feature electronic bingo as part of the gaming fun. If you have never tried bingo or its electronic counterpart you might want to give it a whirl when traveling through Nebraska. In fact, electronic bingo is found fun by some people as it is very exciting once you get past the stigma of the “Sunday Social” kinds of games usually thought to be reserved for old-age homes or church fundraisers. In Nebraska Casinos, bingo has taken on a whole new dimension. The casino setting and electronic updating of this ages-old game make a re-evaluation of the old stereotypes a very good thing indeed.

A good example of alternative style gambling is found at Scottsbluff County Keno offering just what its name implies, Keno. This is a game where you try to predict the numbers pulled from a set of eighty. The number used may vary from casino to casino, but you can usually pick between one and ten numbers. Payouts depend on the rules at various Nebraska Casinos, but no matter where you go, the more numbers you guess right, the more your winnings increase. The Nebraska Casinos definitely offer something quite different than your standard poker and blackjack, making them worth looking into when you are in the area.

How to handicap College Hoops NCAA March Madness Tournament Edition

It is the time of year when conference championships are almost upon us and there are several keys that should be looked at when handicapping the tournaments during March Madness.
Experience pays off:

One has to look at teams that have played in championships to get back to the championship round. In the last five years teams that have won the championship has made it back to the big game 63% of the time. This has to do with being able to handle the pressure of the big game.

Depth:

Depth is a must for the championship tournament as it will always give an edge to a team when it comes to late in the tournament when teams have played several games over several days. Teams that are strong in depth allow players to be fresher longer and eat up precious time as well as fouls at any given time.

Rebounding:

This one is rather obvious has teams that rebound the ball well get a second chance at missed shots and will often control the tempo of the game for the most part. The teams in conference that have had the rebounding edge has gone to the championship round more often than not.

Free Throws:

Another obvious one is free throws. Teams that can shoot free throws will win games down the stretch and in conference tournaments they are invaluable. With the basics of picking a winner in the conference tournaments out of the way let’s look at some of the intangibles that will make you money ATS.

Ride the Streak:

Hot teams coming into the tournament are always a play in my book. These teams usually get all the bounces, play the game the hardest and take advantage of teams playing out the string. However a note here is if the team is undefeated in conference play when they enter the tournament I suggest a play against them SU and ATS.

Stay away from the last team to make the tournament:

The #8 seed is a dangerous go of things in conference tournaments. They have played the #1 seed before (often twice) and so the #1 seed knows exactly what to expect and is not surprised by the play or the temp unlike March Madness when the lower seeds surprise more often. The #8 seed is not a money maker ATS either as they are just 51% ATS in conference tournaments.

Your upsets will be from the middle of the pack:

This makes sense as the teams ranked #4-#6 are often playing opposition with equal talent or close to it. This is where the dog will become more valuable than not and will have an easier path to getting to the conference championship and often cashing as an underdog along the way.

The conference tournaments to me are very valuable when considering the big dance in March. The reason is simple. When you play close attention to the conference tournaments you are watching teams that will make the Big Dance and you will get insight on how to play them when March Madness starts. For up to date information on March Madness stop by Bang The Book Sports Handicapping Forum at http://www.bangthebook.com