Elextra & Jero Online Casino Guide

Archive for April, 2009

The casino in the United States has a long and often illustrious history. Gambling plays a part in American history from the beginning of the colonies, in the lore of the Wild West, in the history of the underground bars during prohibition, and more. Laws concerning gambling have changed over time, with growing prohibitions against gambling followed by a relaxing of laws.

Attitudes toward gambling varied in the early American colonies. Puritan-founded colonies, not surprisingly, disapproved most strongly of all forms of dice, cards and gaming. Colonies founded by the English were quite tolerant of gambling, and it was treated as an innocent pastime. By the early 1800′s, gambling, and even gaming houses, or casinos, had evolved in the newly founded United States. New Orleans, in particular, was a center for gambling, and casinos and saloons in New Orleans evolved games we still link with the old west, including poker and blackjack.

During the California gold rush, gambling was both legal and widespread, as government offices regulated and licensed the saloon and the casino. Faro, bluff, and dice games were popular. While New Orleans had been the gambling capital of America forty years earlier, San Francisco replaced it as the main site for gambling and casinos due to the free flowing gold of the California gold rush.

During the period between the late 1850′s and early 1900′s, California progressively criminalized gambling. It remained legal in Nevada until 1910; however, the casino never reached the glory in Nevada that it had in San Francisco. Gambling was also criminalized elsewhere in the country during this period. Needless to say, gambling did continue, but it was a phenomenon kept behind closed doors. During the era when gambling was widely illegal, casinos remained in operation in speakeasies, private clubs, and more.

Gambling once again began to be legalized in 1931, starting with Nevada. During the 1930′s, some 21 states legalized racetrack gambling. Gambling continued in Nevada, and with low stakes bingo elsewhere. Casinos began to spring up in Atlantic City, NJ in the late 70′s. In 1987, the Supreme Court made a fundamental decision allowing gambling on Native American reservations, and in the years since, casino gambling has spread throughout the country with modern and thriving casinos in many states. Riverboat casinos began to spring up on major rivers in many states during the same period, bringing gambling full circle to its early roots with riverboat gamblers on the mighty Mississippi in the early 1800′s.

Poker betting tips fall in two categories. What do you do before the flop in Hold’em or Omaha HiLow and what to do after the flop?

In Hold’em before the flop, you would raise the pot if you had a high pair. If no one raised and you were last to act with a small pair, you could consider raising.

Before the flop in Omaha HiLow, the hand should be played without a raise, if all you have is an ace deuce. Ace deuce with two high suited cards to the ace should be raised, as you have many possibilities with this hand. The problem in Omaha is there may not be a low or you could get counterfeited. Raising in Omaha is tricky, as your hand may not make it. A high pair in Omaha is dangerous to raise on, as they can easily be beat. So, in Omaha caution is the rule.

After the flop, many hands are worth raising on, and you now know 5 of the 7 cards to be dealt. Raising does two things for this round of play. It protects your hand and if called makes for a bigger pot. When you have an edge in a pot, you should consider raising as it could win the pot right now. If you are called, the pot will be bigger and if your hand holds up, you will win a bigger pot.

If you are running lucky and the cards are falling your way consistently, consider raising as much as you can until the rush is over. Playing a rush correctly can make a significant amount of money in a short period of time. Bet a lot when you are hot.

If your luck is running badly, consider sitting out a few hands or even quitting. Bad luck does not have to change. It can stay that way for an entire session.

In Hold’em, when dealt two aces, it is very dangerous to slow play them against several callers. They are a great starting hand, but they can be beaten. Make the other players pay to see the next card. Do not let them in cheap. This basic rule gets more players in trouble than any other. Do not insult aces.

Run a bluff early in the game and if caught, do not bluff again for a while. You have set the stage; now let the other players wonder if you are bluffing again.

Asian gambling is now on the rise and increasing by the minute. The government of Asia has relaxed gaming rules, realizing that it brings in tax revenue and funds for the infrastructure. Casino operations are seriously looking into areas of Asia to invest in and develop.

In Asia, gambling is a very unbalanced industry. There are big, commercialized ventures in places like Macau, as well as thousands of tiny, corrupt gambling dens all over Southeast Asia.

It is estimated that the $4.1 billion casino industry will grow 6% every year for 20 years, as legal gambling increases every day throughout the continent. One thing that is causing the rise in gambling is the relaxation of traveling rules in China. In China, there is a large middle class with disposable income. This middle class majority is constantly growing.

Macau is considered the model country for casino operations in Asia. Recently, two new casinos were opened in Macau–Wynn Resorts and Galaxy Casino. Both are headed by Las Vegas casino operations. The Macau casinos are making huge profits, making businessmen and Asia as a whole take notice.

In Japan, gambling is very limited, with horse racing and a game called pachinko being the only legal forms of it. The Japanese have been pressuring the government to lift the casino ban, but this request has yet to be fulfilled.

The Philippines is one of the only Asian countries to allow casino gambling. They are now in the process of developing a hotel-casino in their country.

In central Asia, there is also gambling that goes on, both legal and illegal. The biggest casino in the area of central Asia is called Grand Casino. This operation is located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. In central Asia, there are casinos in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Russia.

As discussed above, there are not many legal casinos in southern Asia. Nepal is one of the few areas that has had legal casinos for a long time–since 1968. Nepal now has six casinos in operation. Sri Lanka and Goa in India also have legal casinos running in their countries. In Goa, there are currently six legal casinos in operation. Cruise-based casinos that pass by coastal India are also quite popular.

The Asian government has said it will allow overseas investors to come and open casinos on their land. The only thing investors must have in order to do so is $500 million up front.

As with any recreational gaming, there is always a good deal of trivia associated with such games. So it is with gambling. Gambling has a rich and intriguing history, so much so that trivia lovers will surely adore the wealth of trivia facts pertaining to gambling. Let’s take a look as some gambling trivia facts below.

Did you know all of the Kings in a standard deck of player cards actually represent real people? That’s right; the Kings are more than Kings in a deck of cards. Due to the fact that a standard deck of cards was created in France during the 15th century, the designer of the cards used historical figures to represent the Kings the deck that they designed. For example, Charlemagne is depicted as the King of Hearts, while Julius Caesar is represented by the King of Diamonds. Likewise, Alexander the Great is represented by the King of Clubs, while King David of the Bible is represented by the King of Spades.

On a similar note, the designer of the first deck of playing cards also decided to represent specific cultures with a deck of cards. Thus, the various suits of the cards represent different cultures that had major influences on the world before and during the 15th century. Therefore, the suits of spades, clubs, diamonds, and hearts represent the Middle East, Greece, the Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire respectively.

Alternatively, let’s take a look at the game of slots for a moment. Did you know that in certain states of America it is still illegal to use slot machines? That’s right; various states throughout the United States do not permit any form of gambling in the state. Therefore, the only way an individual can even possess a slot machine without getting in trouble for possessing it is that the machine meets certain criteria established by the law of the state. What are the criteria? The machine must be considered an antique: it must be at least 25 years old and used for display purposes only. Finally, anyone found in states that do not permit ownership of gaming devices runs the risk of getting fined and the equipment is immediately confiscated.

Finally, did you know that the act of gambling may actually predate documented history? In fact, examples of gambling appear in all civilizations as long as people have been able to write things down. Whether it existed prior to the act of writing however, is anyone’s guess.

Albania casinos have been in the news non-stop since 1994, when the Hyatt Regency opened the first and only casino. While this area of East Europe is very picky on gambling, poker houses were always more common than actual casinos. When the Hyatt opened the casino in 1994, citizens were delighted to have a legal and safe place to play all the games that they were only able to play for fun before. The casino has been a very popular place for both citizens of the area, as well as those that travel there on business or pleasure. Gambling has a long history in this area of Europe, so there was no doubt that Albania would be successful with the Hyatt casino located in Tirana.

While the casino has been a raging success, there was news in the fall of 2006 that Hyatt was threatening to close the casino. The reason for this is that the taxes on the slot machines keep climbing higher and higher, and they have now gotten so out of hand that Hyatt is threatening to close the casino. Chances are that a deal will be made to keep Albania casinos open for business, but taxes will always be an issue. Since the casino has been open since 1994, however, it has become a large contributor to the economy, guaranteeing that Albania casinos will have a permanent place in the country’s culture. If the Hyatt Regency can no longer keep the doors of the casino open, chances are another hotel or casino owner will come along and there will be one to take its place.

Albania casinos compete with many of the poker houses, because poker has long been the favored game in the area. While blackjack, roulette, and slots are popular, all the variants of poker remain the most popular. No matter where you go, it seems that there are poker lovers in attendance. The young, the old, and everyone in between knows the game of poker; it seems to be something that is handed down from generation to generation. Those that do not play poker in the Hyatt casino play in the poker houses, and those that do not want to play for money play for fun with friends and family.

Other than the issues with taxes, there is no doubt that Albania casinos have a place in the future of a country that has a rich history of gambling.

Alaska is better known for extreme climate over much else. Touting an environment that goes from extreme winter weather to harsh, dry, summer climates, many of the activities in Alaska are centered on the great outdoors. Wildlife is abundant, whale watching and Alaskan cruises have become the stuff of dream vacations, and the resources found in Alaska are known for being unrivaled. Make sure to choose casino bonus to have better winning possibilities.

There are close to 650,000 residents living in Alaska, which is the largest state in the U.S. There are at least 365,039,104 acres of land in Alaska, and much of it is devoted to primitive, wilderness areas. This is part of the reason that being outdoors is an important aspect of Alaskan culture.

However, indoor fun is not to be discounted in Alaska as Alaska casinos provide quite a bit of entertainment around the state. Many of the Alaska casinos are owned and operated by Native American tribes. Alaska casinos are spread out all over the state and most offer a break from the outdoors for some fun and excitement inside.

The Atka Ira Council is a casino in Alaska, located in Atka. The casino specializes in bingo and also boasts a bed and breakfast as well as a loaded snack bar.

CBJ Bingo, run by the Tlingit and Haida Indians, is another large bingo facility operating in Alaska. This Alaska casino is located in Juneau and has one of the largest bingo operations in the state.

Other Alaska casinos featuring large-scale bingo operations include: Klawock IRA Pull Tab Shoppe, located in Klawock and Sitka Tribal Bingo in Sitka. These casinos serve the needs of the community around them by offering entertainment in the form of the easy-to-learn, lucrative game of bingo. Bingo is the draw and focus of most Alaska casinos.

One of the more unique Alaska casinos is the Shoonagac Tribal Bingo, located in Kodiak. This Alaska casino features total slots as well as bingo.

While there are not an abundance of Las Vegas-style casinos located in Alaska, there are a number of medium-scale Alaska casinos specializing in gambling ventures like bingo, which are low-profile games, but fun and exciting just the same. The laid-back attitude of Alaskans can be demonstrated in the laid-back vibe of Alaska casinos. They are just as much fun as their large-scale, flashy counterparts and perfect for the population of this large, but low-key, state.