* The first online gambling site was launched in August 1995. It is currently estimated that there are well over 2
000 Internet gambling Web sites offering various wagering options
including sports betting
casino games
lotteries and bingo.

* Internet gambling revenue in 2005 was estimated at $11.9 billion and is projected to double by 2010
according to Christiansen Capital Advisors (CCA).

So what is it about the online casino phenomenon that has so enticed gamblers? Perhaps it is the virtue of it simply being online. There are so many attractions to not having to attend a casino to gamble. The most prominent of these is the intimidation. Online gambling opens up a whole host of games to players who previously never had the courage or interest in observing tables in a land based casino.

Then it is the choice of games. The number of games and their varieties online are astounding. Poker
blackjack
roulette or sports gambling
online casinos offer them all. Lets take a look at a few of them:

Online poker has been partly responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players worldwide. For the year of 2005
revenues from online poker were estimated at US$200 million per month.

Blackjack
also known as twenty-one or Pontoon
is one of the most popular casino card games in the world. Much of blackjack’s popularity is due to the mix of chance with elements of skill
and the publicity that surrounds card counting The slot machine typically pays off based on patterns of symbols visible on the front of the machine when it stops. Modern computer technology has resulted in many variations on the slot machine concept.

The freedom of time and money are added attractions. The online casinos are relatively inexpensive to operate in terms of staff being paid
so they are able to offer players free games. Entering a blackjack room in an online casino is very different to approaching a blackjack table in a land based casino. The speed and intimidation can be high when playing in a ritzy casino. Crucial decisions are made quickly and on the spot. At home
the player is able to slow down and play only when they are ready.

Sadly
with such a growth in popularity has come many online gambling hoaxes. Illegitimate and cheating websites are present on the net and can be deceiving. The most important things to remember when gambling online are the three elements of consideration
prize and chance. All three should be present.

The problem with online gambling is that it is far harder to control. The industry that has to protect itself from the dangers of compulsive gamblers. In the virtual world
this is hard to enforce. A customer is able to sit in their own living room
in whatever state they choose to be in and at whatever age and gamble as much as they desire.

Caution seems to be the only key. Gambling has always been a controversial subject; gambling on the internet is simply an extension of this controversy.

Since online gambling offers the convenience of never leaving your home it’s easier to hide a gambling addiction. You can loose yourself for hours in front of a computer, which can have drastic effects on your relationships with others. Another issue with online gambling is that you don’t feel the impact if you lose money right away. You don’t have chips in front of you to keep track of. Now all you have is a number in the corner of your screen to contend with. With this lack of hands on involvement, it’s getting easier to continue clicking the mouse to place a higher bid. However most gambling websites do not allow the use of credit cards, and credit companies do not allow you to use your credit card on gambling either. With this positive step that credit card companies have taken, American’s will gain a better handle on their gambling debt, by not being able to use debt to pay off deb.

With most online gambling casinos you can’t even withdrawal your winnings unless its over a specified amount which is usually around $50. By doing this they keep you hooked and you’ll find it easy to continue placing bets because the money is already in the account. Online gambling is no only restricted to casinos and slots, but tremendous amount of sports betting takes place online. The Internet has now made it so that you don’t even have to call up a bookie and place your bet; you can simply login and start betting.

Although gambling is becoming a more recognized sport in the industry, especially when they televise celebrity poker and other tournaments, it is still a dangerous sport. It’s understandable that in retrospect every sport is dangerous. The key is to know how to play and to play well. As with all sports you have to take the proper precaution before you play, make sure you know the rules, and have the right equipment. In online gambling the right equipment is a clear head, a complete understanding of your financial situation, and you have to be willing to lose.

All too often people fall victim to gambling addictions. You have that one great win, but after that you might lose continuously, and the next thing you know your down hundreds maybe even thousands of dollars. By no means is online gambling a safe sport, it comes with it’s own set of responsibilities. Being aware of the risks involved and making sure your priorities are straight is one way to gain control over gambling before you start a problem. Having an addiction is losing control over your own free will, and that is something no American wants.

The casinos in Vegas usually turn in a profit of over a billion in a year, so if you feel lucky there can be copious amounts of money to be made but also a huge amount of money can be lost. As ever, poker is a huge favorite amongst many of the tourists that are gambling in Las Vegas and there are several casinos that will oblige their enthusiasm including Bellagios located on the Vegas strip. This is a city that was created for the serious business of gambling so much so that in any given street there are always temptations at your feet and if you have a lot of money on your person, you have to decide where you choose to double your money or lose it all, in the name of fun.

As well as the new electronic games that are on offer, you will also find the traditional slot machine games are still a favorite and because they all belong to a network and there are so many, the amount of money to be won is again massive. Megabuck is the main state-wide network has been known to pay out millions in jackpots over the years. Racing and sport bets continue to be a huge favorite amongst the customers so every aspect of betting you can think of is accounted for.

If poker is your favorite gambling pastime, O’Sheas does not have a poker room but they do have plenty of blackjack tables. Alternatively, Bellagio remains the hot favorite if you would like to become a world class poker player and win with straight odds.

The outcome of every spin of the roulette wheel is independent of any other and is not influenced by prior spins.

Even if you have ten black numbers after ten spins, the chance of getting red in the next spin is the same as to get black.

As roulette is a game of pure chance, you need to know the odds of the bets and place the ones with the best chance of success

American & European Roulette

The odds in Roulette are very easy to calculate.

The wheel is divided into either 37 or 38 slots, depending on whether you are playing the European version (single zero), or the American version which has an extra space in the double zero slot.

The zero space(s) represent the house edge. The house advantage in single zero Roulette is 2.7% and is 5.26% for the double zero game

How to Calculate Roulette Odds

European Single Zero Game American Double Zero Game

(35 – 36)/37 x 100 = -2.70% (35 – 37)/38 x 100 = -5.26%

Bets to Avoid

The bets to avoid in this game are probably all single number bets and the five number bet (only found on double zero wheels) because these types of bets have the largest disparity between true odds and actual payouts.

Bets to Place

If you plan to play Roulette, stick with the bets whose odds almost mirror their payouts. These “even money” bets include betting on Even, Odd, Low (numbers 1 through 18), High (numbers 19 through 36), Red, or Black. All of these wagers pay out at 1 to 1.

Roulette Odds: Best Bet on the Table

Look for a European single-zero wheel that offers the rule ‘en prison.’

If you make an even money bet and the ball lands on zero, the croupier doesn’t rake in your wager. Instead, your bet is ‘imprisoned’ or held hostage, and you are forced to keep it on the table until the next spin. If your bet wins, you can remove it from the table.

This bet cuts the house edge on even money bets in half, down to just 1.35%.

-Beyond simply a good winning streak, a dog’s age is an important factor in determining whether or not it can continue running a solid race. Most male race dogs usually hit their peak race age at around two years old, while female racers hit their peak at around three. Bear this in mind that dogs that are either too young or too old may not be the best ones to bet on.

-Pay attention to the track draw when gathering information on winners. Dogs that regularly perform well in the number one slot may not perform as well if they are positioned in a higher ranking slot (such as slot 5 or 6).

-Be selective in your bets. Long shots may occasionally win and have high payouts; however, the likelihood of you being able to profit from one of these is very slim. Be careful when weighing out the likelihood of you being able to profit from the race as you can easily balance the risk to return ratio in your favor.

-Don’t be afraid to use the book. Every racetrack in the country should have a race book that lists each race, the runners and their histories, as well as the odds. By referencing this book before each race and getting a comprehensive overview of both the runners and their tendencies, you can make a better informed decision when deciding which dog to bet on in each run.

-If a dog is heavily backed a few minutes before a race and its odds are sharply reduced at that time, this may be a good indicator that this is a dog you should place your bets on. As cliche as it may sound, another gambler may have inside information on the race’s outcome and is placing their money on the dog for a particular purpose. If this is so, try to get in on the dog yourself as it might pay off.

-When deciding which dog to bet on, always give your preference to those that race regularly. Dogs that show long periods off the track may be doing so due to injury or some other condition that could affect their racing ability. Bear this in mind when making decisions about what dog you place your bets on, as dogs that have raced recently and show favorable odds are more likely to win than others.

-Finally, do not be too anxious to replay the winnings. While it may be tempting to try to increase your winning margin by even more, it is also important to control your spending at the track and field and take some money home at the end of the day. After all, what is the point in winning hundreds of dollars if you come home in the negative?

The casino is powered by the reputable Microgaming software group, which makes it a member of the Interactive Gaming Council – a group that ensures that member sites operate under a strict code of conduct that guarantees fair and honest gaming. In addition, the casino is licensed and regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

The site is available in multiple languages, including French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Software and Games What more can be said about the superb Microgaming games portfolio? This online casino has hand picked over 200 of the very best Microgaming titles and offers them to its players for non stop entertainment and amazing rewards. The games include card and table games, slots and many progressive jackpot games to really put some punch to those credits.

Microgaming graphics are as realistic as they come, and, combined with superb animations, great sound features and great styles, players will never be bored.

Games to look out for at this site include the entire Gold Series Blackjack collection, scores of video poker variants, including the new Bonus Deuces Poker Wild, exciting reel slots such as Cosmic Cat and Jurassic Jackpot, and a wide range of video slots, including the new Kung Fu Monkey, Pure Platinum, Wooly World and Jewels of the Orient.

The games are available in a full downloadable version or in Flash format for instant gaming gratification.

Bonuses and Promotions To try out the great things on offer at this online casino, players are encouraged to take a look at the many bonuses and promotions being offered. These begin with a great sign-up bonus that rewards new players in an especially generous way, giving away free cash over a three tiered system to really make that cash go far.

Refer-a-Friend bonuses, loyalty promotions and lots of other perks are offered on a regular basis at this site.

In addition, players at Aztec Riches are awarded VIP loyalty points through the very lucrative Casino Rewards program, allowing them to combine their VIP points from any casino that is a member of the program.

Payment and Payouts Banking at this online casino is a breeze, as it is obvious that management has shopped around for the most efficient and hassle-free systems through which players can fund their online casino accounts and withdraw their winnings.

Banking methods include the more obvious credit cards, to the less mainstream but equally effective methods, for the ultimate in convenience and discretion.

Independently reviewed Random Number Generators are employed at this site, and the results published by independent auditors on a regular basis. In addition, players can track their betting and gaming history through handy tools such as PlayCheck and CashCheck to keep an eye on transactions.

Security While this online casino site sets out to provide fun and entertainment for its players, it nevertheless takes its security matters very seriously. The most effective steps are taken to ensure that players are able to gamble in a safe and secure environment, protected by the last word in internet security – including 128-bit encryption whenever data is transferred.

Support Assistance is available through an efficient customer support team 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The call center can be reached via email, toll-free phone numbers and even via live chat for instant assistance in real time. The site also activates a call back service where players simply send an email with their full telephone number and someone from the customer support team calls them right back.

Aztec Riches Casino With its great jungle theme, reputable Micro-gaming software platform, endless games and excellent graphics, Aztec Riches Casino spells entertainment from the word go. Combined with generous bonuses, non-stop promotions, easy banking methods and top security and support, this is one site that is worth a visit by even the most discerning online casino player.

This information was accurate when it was written but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all information directly with the casino.

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