Elextra & Jero Online Casino Guide

Archive for April 19th, 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.