Category: Gambling and Casinos

We take you through the first week that Arlene made the conscious decision to stop gambling. This was a very emotional period where Arlene’s self esteem was at the lowest in her life. She’s a single woman who was just about to turn thirty-six years old and her life was crumbling around her.

Arlene decided to share her story of how she made it through her first week as a non gambler. Her goal was to reach out to others who also have a compulsive gambling addiction because she remembers the pain she went through.

From the first day until the seventh day, Arlene went through various emotional revelations that helped her to achieve her goals. She was a special person with a good sense of humor. Even through her self destructive period she always had a smile on her face. For this reason alone people close to her never realized she had a problem gambling.

Arlene easily made it through her first day because she had already depleted her checking and savings accounts. She had also maxed out her credit cards. She fortunately would have to wait three more days till pay day before she could gamble again. In the past she borrowed from friends and then would have to give them half her pay check to pay them back. She remembers the pain she was in with no one she could tell or talked to. She was afraid her family and friends would not understand. She didn’t even understand how this happened to her. She decided to go online and find help. She tried a year earlier Gamblers Anonymous, but it was something that she could not relate to. She found a website called I Stopped Gambling So Can You http://www.istoppedgambling.com. She liked the name of the site and decided to give it a try. She purchased a self help manual and a year membership to the chat room. Her first thought was “How can something under fifty dollars really help a person who has lost thousands of dollars gambling in one year?” Then she thought maybe she shouldn’t spend any money right now. Her mind was playing tricks with her. During this time she was confused, had major amounts of guilt for losing so much money and her self esteem was at her lowest. She decided to make the investment in herself. This was her justification for the purchase. She eagerly read the manual and joined in the I Stop Gambling chat room. A whole new world opened up for her.

In the chat room she met others who could relate to her and help her understand what she was going through. Each and every day she would follow the manual and pop in and out of the chat room. There were times where the chat room was quiet, so she left messages on the tag board of when she would be chatting and other members joined in.

As each day passed during Arlene’s first week, she noticed changes in your behavior. For the first time she was taking it one day at a time. She was planning for her future and starting to realize she could live with out gambling. She admitted to people that she was contemplating suicide because she felt there was no way out. She once told me she wouldn’t mind living in a cave as long as her life was peaceful. Her self destructive behavior and low self esteem was taking its toll on Arlene.

The one other thing that kept Arlene from going back to gambling was the pain she was in and finally realized she can now move forward with an anticipated positive future.

Some people have close friends they can talk to. What ever it takes to share what you are feeling will speed your recovery. It’s going to take time to talk about how you feel. Listening to others that have walked in your shoes will help you start the healing process.

Colorado is a state rich in history and environment. From cosmopolitan cities like Denver or Vail to smaller municipalities, there is a fresh-air, get-outside appeal to every activity in Colorado. It is a state famous for bike-laden residents going to and from their various destinations as well as its world class skiing.

However, not to be too far outdone by its westerly neighbors, residents of the state love the Colorado casinos. There are a number of Colorado casinos dotting the state, with most run by Native American tribes, which offer a perfect day indoors.

Black Hawk, Colorado probably has the largest concentration of Colorado casinos. One of the largest casinos in Black Hawk is the Black Hawk Station Casino, with its offering of more than 900 slot machines and roughly eleven different table games. This Colorado casino also features live entertainment.

The Colorado Central Station Casino is next in line with more than 800 slot machines, several dining options and more. There are also table games and a cozy coffee shop on the premises.

Slightly smaller, but just as entertaining is the Mardi Gras Casino, featuring 700 slot machines and several table games.

Still trolling around Black Hawk, there is also the Golden Gates Casino, a smaller operation with about 250 slot machines and a sole dining option. This would be ideal for those who want an evening of gambling, with the flash and noise of larger Colorado casinos.

Moving over the Central City, Colorado casinos like the Famous Bonanza, with more than 200 slot machines, a restaurant and more or the Doc Holliday Casino with at around 209 slot machines, table games and more.

Not to be outdone, there are also several dog-racing tracks scattered around Colorado. One of the larger-scale operations is the Post Time Greyhound Park, a dog-track in Colorado Springs, featuring a restaurant, among other amenities. The Cloverleaf Kennel Club is another dog-track, this one located in Loveland, also featuring dining options, race books and more.

There are numerous other small-scale casinos around the state, most of which feature slot machines in the hundreds, various table games and a host of amenities. Dining options are usually plentiful at most Colorado casinos, with restaurants offering delectable specialties for casino visitors. Colorado casinos also offer variety; entertainment and fun for those who love to gamble, whether professionally or for something unusual and interesting to do in their spare time.

It’s traded hand to hand, shuffled from one side of the table to the next, and tossed back into the pot time and time again. It sees a lot of action, and represents everything that you bring to the table. Of course you’ve guessed it; I’m referring to the darling of the table, the poker chip.

Poker chips get handled, tossed and raked by everyone at the table. It’s at this time when poker chips tend to pick up not only body oils from the players hands and fingers, but also tiny bits of food and beverages always present at a poker game. After repeated exposure to these conditions, poker chips can begin to change in appearance. The buildup of oils and food particles which get deposited during play will turn any shiny poker chip turn into a grimy token no one wants to pick up.

If your poker chips are beginning to offend your senses, then it’s most definitely time to clean them. Just how you clean them comes down to personal preference, but there are a few general guidelines you can follow to keep your poker chips in pristine fashion, without damaging the chips. Please note that the following suggestions do not cover the cleaning of vintage poker chips. You are advised to seek out a qualified professional to clean vintage poker chips.

Although the choice in cleaning supplies seems limitless, when it comes to cleaning poker chips your choices are considerably narrowed down for you. In fact, there are three very important properties that your chosen poker chip cleanser must possess before it can be considered for use. To prevent damage to your poker chips, make your choice wisely.

When choosing the cleanser you intend to use, it’s important to remember the cleanser must pass the following three very crucial criteria:

Removes Grime Buildup. The cleanser should be able to remove the aforementioned body oils and food particles adequately.

Leaves Ink Intact. The last thing you want is to remove the ink from your poker chips while cleaning. Be sure the cleanser isn’t harsh enough to dissolve ink.

Leaves Poker Chips Hydrated. It may sound a little strange, but poker chips do need a certain level of moisture left in them, or they will become brittle. Avoid using agents such as rubbing alcohol, as it can remove ink and dry out your poker chips.

Some of the cleansers that veteran poker players use to clean their poker chips are mild hand dishwashing detergent, Sterling Magic and Armor All Multi-Purpose Cleaner. When using the Armor All, be sure you get the multi purpose cleaner and not the Armor All tire cleaner or other Armor All products as they will damage your poker chips. Another popular cleanser to use is called Quick’n’Brite. When used properly, all the above mentioned cleansers will clean your poker chips without any harmful side effects.

When cleaning poker chips, it’s best to use a very soft-bristled baby toothbrush, or a very soft cotton towel. Pay special attention to protecting the center design. Try keeping your thumb over the center of the poker chip while using the toothbrush around the outer edge.

Rinse the poker chips in a bowl of water and wipe them dry with a soft towel or terry cloth. After a good gentle cleaning, you can add extra shine by giving them a dip in baby oil to restore luster. As always, due diligence is required by testing your cleaning method on one poker chip to see if you get the desired results.

I’ve got a confession to make. I like playing poker. When you are playing online poker, you will generally notice several different types of poker players. Knowledge of different poker playing styles should lead you to an adjustment of your poker game. Generally, some players you may want to attack right off the bat, others you may want to leave alone. Here are some of the different players’ styles:

Loose
The loose player is someone you need to watch out for. They are characterized by their inexperience and usually play a lot of hands. Seemingly, the loose player is always in the thick of the poker game. Even with a poor hand, he will play until the very end of the game hoping to get some luck with his cards. If you play very aggressive with decent cards, exploiting a loose player shouldn’t be that difficult. Most likely, a loose player will likely reward your efforts.

Aggressive loose
An aggressive loose player raises the pot with nothing and bets no matter what card he has. He always calls bluff at every opportunity and is talkative and brimming with over-confidence. Don’t get egoistical around an aggressive-loose player. And don’t fall into the trap of playing his game and calling his bets just to expose the weakness of his game. When you have the cards to do so, attack them.

Tight
Compared to an aggressive player, a tight player folds at every hand and waits for pocket Aces. They can easily be lured by a bluff. However, when they see signs of intimidation, they fold. Be cautious, however, if they don’t fold.

Aggressive Tight
These type of players are extremely cocky. Until the aggressive tight player gets a good hand, he will opt to fold several times. When he plays his cards, he tends to play like a loose player. He has knowledge of how to get more money for his strong cards. Likewise, he knows how to take it easy and let the other players on the table do battle when his cards are not good enough. You might be in a bit of luck if you are successful in bluffing an aggressive-tight player into a hand. Don’t allow yourself to be played by an Aggressive Tight player.

These are just a few examples of the general classifications of the type of poker players you may encounter at an online poker table. Remember. when you are playing poker, you are playing the personality of your opponent more than your card. Master these styles and quickly identify these players during your poker game.