Category: Gambling and Casinos

Casino bonuses are when a casino offers a bonus in the form of free money or chips to players. These bonuses are used to entice new players to come into the casino and play their favorite games of chance. These bonuses are also given to current players to thank them and to encourage them to return to play again at another time.

Casinos offer the bonuses in two separate forms, the first deposit bonus and the loyalty bonus.

The First Deposit Bonus

A first deposit bonus is when the casino gives the player money to thank them for joining as a playing member. This casino bonus is most often paid after the player has signed up and paid their very first balance into their casino account. In some instances, when the player makes an initial deposit the casino matches the deposit. The matching bonus does have a limit, which is most often set at one hundred dollars. At other times the bonus may a percentage of the amount the player deposits.

Percentage deposits rarely exceed a maximum of fifty percent of the player’s deposit total. These percentage deposits may also require a minimum deposit of two hundred fifty dollars or better. Of course the deposit amounts and the matches put forth by the casino will vary from one casino to another. Casino bonuses also tend to change on occasion.

The Loyalty Bonus

Loyalty bonuses are given to casino clientele as a gesture of appreciation for the continued patronage of the player. Usually, these loyalty bonuses are given out on the first deposits made in any given month. The percentage may be a fixed percentage, or may increase slightly with continued month by month player loyalty. Loyalty bonuses can also have a lower percentage per bonus, but the bonus would be applied to every deposit made in the month.

In exchange for the loyalty bonus, the casino has expectations of the player. The player must agree to and abide by all casino terms and regulations regarding conduct, accuracy of personal information, and the conditions which apply when cashing in the player’s chips.

If a player accepts a bonus, they are expected to fulfill a wager through requirement. A wager through requirement is a clause which requires the player to bet a minimum amount of money before they can qualify to receive the bonus. This information is usually found in the casino’s terms and conditions statement.

The theory of evolution was thanks to Darwin spending a great deal of time by himself on a secluded island poking and examiing the local creatures while he formed opinions about where the species came from including us lowly human beings. Had he spent those years in stranded in Las Vegas the theory of evolution might have been a result of examining and poking players. And boy what a different tell it would tell!

No one can really tell you how the evolution of poker players actually came about. Not even Darwin because he chose the secluded island rather than the far mor entertaining Vegas players. Perhaps the types of poker players that have evolved began with the caveman. As he huddled in his cave with his other cavemen betting twigs while using cards chiseled from rock. Now there’s a challenge!

What we do know is that there are two distinct species of poker players that can be seen hanging around the casino which is their natural habitat. After all a poker player is as natural to the casino as a caveman was to his club.

The first type of player you can spot is called the loose player. When most people think of a loose player their mind conjures up images of a sexy Madona with her big red lips and short skirt. That may be an accurate image of loose but not in the poker world.

Loose poker players are actually very aggressive. A loose player will take a lot of risks while chasing the big rewards at the end of the rainbow or should we say poker table. They play a lot of hands and are less likely to fold when challenged. But there are also two kinds of “Loose Players.”

There is the passive loose player who regards pot odds as only a friendly suggestion. They seldom fold and will continue to call regardless of the strength of their hand, or what they believe the strength of their opponents hand is. They are the perfect example of the eternal optimists believing that at any moment any two cards can make the difference. What makes them passive is that they will call almost every time, but rarely raise. They will stay in the game to the bitter end, but do not add that extra element of risk. Almost as a rule, these folks don’t bluff well. Passive-loose players are die a slow financial death at the table but you have to give them an A for their attitude.

The other type of loose player is an aggressive loose player. They are the Spiderman of the the poker world. They are extremely aggressive and see raising as form of worship to the card gods. These players have no problem raising before and after the flop, because they attempt to bully the table. Poker players with this style are very good at winning a lot of small pots but when it comes to the big pots and the big bucks they tend to loose their momentem and peter out.

The second type of poker player is the tight player who doesn’t play a lot of hands and who always folds when circumstances and pot odds are not in their favor. They do not thrive on a steady diet of raises. They much prefer to call or fold while picking their fights to mount a vigorous offensive. There are also two types of tight players.

A passive tight player is genetically programmed to avoid risk. Even when the hand is big they are more likely to call then ever think about raising. You will die of boredom if you are waiting for a passive tight player to bluff. There’s just no bluff in this type of player. Instead they play a very straightforward game and fold very easily.

An aggressive tight player is quite the opposite. This is the Rambo of poker, believing heavility in picking their own poison. They will fold when the odds are not in their favor. They will see the flop with a decent hand, and that is when their more aggressive tendencies will emerge. They will go after the money at that point.

It is a good idea to identify the types of poker players at your table. Then you can adapt to the style of the table. You may find yourself morphing into one of these types over time. But I’m telling you being a chameleon will benefit you a lot more in the long run. Leave the psychology to the other guys and gals!

Poker, looked at simply as a card game rather than a social phenomenon, has three main varieties. “Draw poker” is the simplest version of the game; the more complex “stud poker” was the most popular form for a long time; and “hold ’em” poker, usually called Texas Hold ’em, is the version that most casinos and poker rooms offer today.

Poker Basics

These basic categories have a number of differences, but they also have a number of similarities. To begin with, poker is always played with a standard deck of 52 cards, without the jokers. In many variations of poker, the players pass a “dealer puck” clockwise around the table, so that every player gets a turn as dealer. And in all poker games, the bets are placed with poker chips. All of this is just the bare bones of getting started. As you play the game, you’ll find that, no matter what variety of poker you’re playing, there are other, more important similarities.

In poker, whether you are playing a 5 card or 7 card varieties, the point of the game is to form a 5 card combination in your hand that outranks those of the other players. At various points in a hand of poker, you can place bets, receive additional cards, or discard and replace cards. At the end of the hand, the player with the strongest hand wins the money in the pot.

All of that is obvious. Most people know that much about poker. But what about the basic rules of the different variations? This is where poker can get confusing. It shouldn’t, though. Let’s take a look at the main varieties of poker.

Draw Poker

In draw poker, every player is dealt a full hand, face down, at the start of the game. Once you have your hand, make sure that no one else can see it, and take a look at your cards. Use what you see to place your initial bet. After the first round of betting, players can choose to discard and replace some of their hand; this is the “draw.” When the draw is complete, there is a second round of betting, after which the player with the best hand wins the pot.

Stud Poker

Stud poker is different. In stud games, each player gets one or two “hole cards,” face down, to start, after which the rest of his hand is dealt face up, for everyone to see. The dealing is interspersed with several rounds of betting, giving stud players a chance to watch their opponents, and to study the other hands on the table. After the final card is dealt, the players have the last round of betting and then the “showdown,” to determine the winner.

Hold ’em Poker

Hold ’em poker is similar to the stud games. Seven cards are dealt, with each player getting two hole cards. The remaining five cards, however, are the “flop,” a communal hand in the center of the table. Players must use at least one hole card to form a winning hand with the cards in the flop. Because hold ’em players form most of their hand from the communal cards, they “know” what most of their opponents “hold.” This gives the players much more of a chance to bluff and strategize during the game. Hold ’em poker has been called the “thinking man’s poker” because of this.

Always learn the rules of the specific poker game before you play. Poker is fun, but it can be hard for a novice to do well. You can find rule books, as well as other poker supplies, online at http://www.ShopWorldPoker.com.

Very few teams win 21 of 23 games and still find themselves on the ground floor but that is the case with the Minnesota Twins and the AL Central division. They have won 11 straight but the Tigers and White Sox refuse to let them into the party as we head to the All Star break.

Joe Mauer will part company with his teammate Justin Morneau who was neglected by AL manager Ozzie Guillen when he filled out his all star roster this past weekend. Mauer leads the majors with a ridiculous .391 average and has fought off stomach complications to remain in the lineup. His buddy Morneau has been on fire of late hitting safely in 11 straight games and in 22 of the past 23 games, going 39-for-91 (.429) with 11 homers and 33 RBIs in that span. As mentioned the Twins have won 21 of those 23 games.

The Mets are lucky they are playing in the inept NL East division as they have been less then stellar yesterday. They have been outscored 55-24 in the past 7 games, including Monday’s 11-1 shellacking at he hands of the inept Pirates. Pedro Martinez was originally scheduled to start the series opener against the Pirates but was pushed back because of a sore hip. The Mets aren’t sure if Martinez will start again before the break but manager Willie Randolph said he isn’t concerned about his star right-hander.

The San Francisco Giants have a chance to move into first place in the NL West prior to the break and considering their hitting has been non-existent, manager Felipe Alou must be happy. The Giants, who are 3-2 on their season-high 11-game road trip, will send ace Jason Schmidt (6-3, 2.73 ERA) to the mound in hopes of recording the team’s first four-game winning streak of the season.

San Francisco won five in a row last Sept. 16-21.

Schmidt is 0-1 in his last four starts despite a 3.42 ERA and .235 opponent batting average in that span, as the Giants have provided him with just seven total runs of support in those outings.

Two pitchers who are pulling down a lot of jack oppose each other today at Wrigley Field and both have been awful this year. Andy Pettitte and Mark Prior will try and get untracked for their stumbling teams. Pettitte, a two-time All-Star, allowed five runs — two earned — and 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-0 loss to Detroit on Thursday. With Thursday’s defeat, he matched the nine losses he recorded in 33 starts a year ago. Pettitte has not lost 10 in a season since going 15-10 in 2001 with the New York Yankees.

The left-hander is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in his last three starts since a June 13 victory over Chicago. Pettitte allowed one run and five hits in seven innings in that 9-2 victory, and is 1-2 with a 3.82 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs.

Chicago counters with Mark Prior (0-3, 9.00), who looks for his first win of the season and tries to avoid losing four straight starts for the first time in his career. Prior gave up five runs, eight hits and four walks in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-4 loss to Milwaukee on Thursday.

The 25-year-old right-hander has not made it out of the sixth inning in any of his three starts this season. Prior is 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 12 career starts against the Astros.

Bob Acton

Online Sports Betting