Archive for the Gambling News category.
December 17, 2009
We received this email from a bloke who wishes to remain anonymous. We think his story’s pretty interesting, so we agreed to share it with our readers. If you’ve been affected by gambling problems yourself, we recommend visiting Gamble Aware for help and advice.
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I wasn’t much of a gambler or anything when I was younger. I had some mates from the rugby club who’d play a few hands of cards and invite me along, but I never really understood what was happening and generally ended up twenty quid out of pocket and none the wiser as to how.
Anyway, when I’d left uni I settled down with a girl and we moved out of my home town for her job. Away from home with not much in the way of personal contacts and ‘home alone’ a lot thanks to the rigours of her job I didn’t get much in the way of socialising.
Gradually though, I made friends when I found a job of my own and it turned out they had a big gambling culture going on. Whenever there was a works night out it always took place at a casino.
Well after a few nights out like this, I really started to get hooked into to it all. It was only when I lost £200 in a night – money we really couldn’t afford – that I realised that I was getting compelled into betting more than I should. For a while I stopped going on the nights out, but when I was alone at home I started checking out online gaming sites.
Before I knew it I was totally hooked. What started as the odd fiver here and there soon ballooned into a situation where I was regularly dropping £300 on the turn of a card. If I was enjoying a “hot streak”, I would convince myself that the whole thing was only positive for me and my girlfriend, and when I was losing badly, I kept going because I knew that things would turn around.
Of course I was wrong. The losses always came to more than the winnings and my girlfriend began to notice that our accounts were low. When she confronted me she didn’t even give me a second chance. She said that I was spending her money that she was putting into the bank for our future. She was right, on reflection, but at the time I just blew up and left her.
I was pretty lucky that a close friend of mine had had prior experience of what gambling addictions can be like. He gave me some amateur help himself, but eventually got me into a program where I weaned myself off my habit. Today I know that I can’t even risk a flutter on the horses in safety and make sure I stay well away from online gaming sites.
So yes, gambling can be a thrill, but I’d advise everyone to keep things in moderation.
December 10, 2009
For many of us, the thrill of gambling is a short adrenalin rush followed either by elation at the win, or despair at the loss. But for some, the thrill of gambling is much darker. Playing online casino games can give the illusion of not using real money, even though you top up your account from your debit or credit card; for some, not physically opening their wallet or purse to hand over cold hard cash makes it seem less real somehow,
All of the online gambling and casino sites detailed here such as 888.com, littlewoodscasino.com and spinpalace.com have policies to ensure responsible gaming, such as the users having to be over the age of 18 to play, or self imposed deposit limits.
But is having self imposed limits enough? For some whose online gambling addiction is too strong for them to break, the answer is probably not, although the online casino sites also allow self exclusion for people who believe their online gambling is becoming a problem. Using the option of self exclusion also means no more future correspondence from these sites, which is a very positive thing; no notification of special offers or other temptations to lure you back in.
Another thing about these sites is that players have the choice to ‘practice’ play. One can play the same casino games, but with no real money being involved at all. However, playing this way means you don’t get to win any real money either. If you are just looking to play for fun then this could be a great option for you, with no risk to your bank balance.
November 08, 2009
Gambling is such a huge phenomenon to the point that it’s accepted as part of the culture of some societies. But have you ever wondered why there are so many people who resort to gambling as a hobby?
When 2,000 people were asked why they gamble, these emerged as the top answers:
Money Problems—many people depend on gambling to remedy their financial problems.
Form of entertainment—this is the most valid reason for gambling. People should look at this hobby as if it is a recreational activity and not a solution to financial crisis.
Instant Wealth—this may be the answer of many gamblers who believe they can be exempted from working in regular offices or at a normal job, once they hit a major jackpot prize. These people may be characterised as too ambitious and lazy because they resort to luck in order to succeed instead of striving hard to achieve financial stability.
Challenging endeavour—gamblers love the feeling of excitement when taking risks even if the games require them to think critically and play strategically.
Escapism—whether a person is depressed or happy, he or she often resorts to gambling to escape their life, world, and reality. These people admit that whenever they gamble, they find solace, happiness, or whatever feeling that opposes their current disposition.
Exhibits Glamour—a lot of gamblers are enticed to gamble because of the “richness” and “luxury” that casinos are known for. Media and advertising play a significant role in this rationale because they portray gambling as a stylish way of spending and that members of the “high society” engage in such endeavours.
Whatever your reason is for gambling, bear in mind that you are spending your hard-earned cash, so be careful and play responsibly!
October 28, 2009
One of the leaders in the global online gaming industry is 888.com. This online source uses Casino-on-net and Pacific Poker rooms as its venues, providing the best gambling products and giving customers a fun, safe, fair, and secure gambling experience.
Some of the featured games include Roulette, Crazy Blackjack, Craps, Keno, and Baccarat. The downloadable casino software also hosts a wide array of video slots from Slot Century to Freaky Fruit, plus various Progressive Jackpot Classic Slot Machines, Classic Video Slot Machines, and various video poker versions. The poker room also provides poker enthusiasts with games such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi, and 7-stud.
888.com promotes responsible gaming, therefore not allowing anyone under the age of 18 to play any of the online games. With thousands of transactions daily, 888.com also provides tight security for the financial transaction of their customers. Credit card processing for online gamblers is safely handled by Intersafe Global Limited, ensuring that all data transfers are secured and stored with protection using the latest firewall security.
To ensure fair play, 888.com uses a Random Number Generator (RNG) to generate random results. The results are also reviewed on a monthly basis by professional auditors.
888.com takes pride in its reputation to guarantee customer satisfaction by offering 24-hour, 7 days a week customer service assistance in 11 different languages by phone, email, and live online chat.
888.com also received numerous awards, including the Gold Readers Choice Award for TOP CASINO by The Gambling Online Magazine Awards 2007 and Casino of the Year by Egaming Awards 2007.
October 12, 2009
Even though the world is currently experiencing recession, there are still notable persons and families that qualified to be part of the “Rich List”, produced by ‘The Sunday Times’. The names listed are from different industries, but we shall focus on the icons from the online gambling industry that made it.
The owners of the prominent website Bet 365, Peter and Denis Coates, earned the sixth spot on the list due to their joint wealth, amounting to £400 million.
Victor Chandler gained the 13th spot on the list for being “a famous bookmaker in the world.” He manages the Victor Chandler International website. The company was primarily a land-based casino, which his grandfather started. Chandler shares the spot with Mark Shuttleworth, a stakeholder in Thawte Consulting. His company is significant in the online gambling industry since they certify the financial security systems of many reputable online casinos.
Meanwhile, the eminent PartyGaming group had three entries in the list. Russell De Leon and Ruth Parasol, co-owners of the company, had a joint fortune of £700 million. Ruth was a key player in the company’s success since she founded the company as a network of gambling sites in 1997. She later on teamed up with Russell when they wed in 2003. They were recognised as the second placers.
Following them on the list is Anurag Dikshit, another PartyGaming owner with a fortune of £559 million. Landing in the ninth spot of the list is another major stockholder in PartyGaming, Vikrant Bhargava.
The top spot belongs to Peter Cruddas, a security dealer with £1,000 million to boast.
September 18, 2009
Yes, gambling can be a source of fun, and good, safe entertainment, but sometimes there are people who gamble beyond what they can own, who seek financial help from family and friends in order to have the means to gamble, and who end up totally bankrupt.
With the advent of so many online casinos that offer the traditional games, such as blackjack, roulette, poker and the like, addict gamblers do not have to go to Vegas anymore to lose their money. As long as they have their cheque books, ATMs, and credit cards, they can continue to gamble without thinking of the consequences.
This is the reason why many online casinos, such as spinpalace.com/uk, 888.com, jackpotcity.com, bet365.com, littlewoodscasino.com, ladbrokes.com, intercasino.com, and sports.williamhill.com, promote responsible gambling. Though money is important for the owners of these sites, they still recognise that there are a number of people who turn to gambling not only as a form of entertainment but as an addiction.
There are numerous tips on how to practice responsible gambling, one of which is to gamble with a companion who is not a fan of gambling and betting, so that there will be someone who can remind the addict gambler to stop when he starts losing big amounts. This advice is backed up with research that proves that gamblers who have problems usually gamble alone, since they don’t want their contacts to know the extent of their gambling.
Furthermore, a famous quote that addresses this issue came from Kin Hubbard, who said, “The safest way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket.”
September 03, 2009
There is a difference between online gambling and land-based gambling, culturally. People who go to land-based casinos usually delight in the thought of interacting with others and experiencing the bright lights and sounds of being inside the casino, while those who prefer to stay home may find more comfort in their privacy and anonymity. Though it all depends on a gambler’s preference, online gambling can give the player a bit of an edge. One doesn’t have to be conscious of keeping a poker face. Another advantage is the availability of games to play and the options to play them in a different language and using different currency. Payouts can be higher in gambling online as well, with a cash bonus that can reach up to 500% of the actual deposit.
Understanding the rules and strategies of online gambling is important. Gambling should be fun. One has to know that greed is the reason why most players lose while gambling online. Once a player starts winning, the urge to win more keeps haunting the greedy mind. The best strategy is to know your goal first before placing your bet. This goal must be achievable. If you want to gamble a minor amount, hoping that it would reach a value a hundred times higher than its current value, then this is pretty impossible. A realistic goal of doubling it is more likely to happen. If one prefers online gambling just for fun without thinking too much about the financial aspect, low limit table games or 25 cent machines like video poker are available and will not take too much from your wallet.
To put yourself into a good position before gambling means to set goals and stick to them. Discipline, common sense, and control are keys to winning in a casino.
April 17, 2009
Bingo Zone is owned and operated by the Lycos Network, a subsidiary company of Daum Communications Corp. whose headquarters are based in Korea but has an American branch office in Massachusetts. Their games are designed by Lycos subsidiary Gamesville, “wasting your time since 1996”. Like other Gamesville sites, you are able to play 100% free, or become a member to receive special bonuses and access to member only games.
Bingo Zone advertises itself as “the World’s Best, Longest-Running Online Bingo Game!” There are continuous live bingo games every few minutes running 24/7 with progressive cash prizes. Downloading and membership is free, and guests are encouraged to practice their online bingo skills through the “Play Now” and “Guest Play” buttons, though no cash or other prizes are at stake.
Besides the actual games that are played, there are four additional sections that the customer might find of interest. The Bingo History section gives the game’s history from its beginning in Italy in 1530 to the present. The Bingo Booster Club section allows customers to join and thus, receive by email, updates on all new bingo games.
The Bingo Trivia section gives all sorts of anecdotes and titbits about the game such as the fact that approximately 2 ½ million regular bingo players are women and 30% of all players are under 35. The Bingo Lingo section provides a glossary of abbreviations and letters that people in chat rooms like to use.
March 09, 2009
These days, due to the poor markets, online gambling sites are shutting down. Here is an example of one such site and how it is going about accomplishing the task.
Lasseters Online Casino posted a message on its website that states the decision by its parent company’s board of directors to shut down the site. The site has been in operation since 1999. The site is involved in handling withdrawals as of now. All the members with funds have been requested to submit their withdrawal requests by the 24th of October, 2008.
The statement on the website says that the members have reached this decision because the viability of the casino to sustain profits currently and in the future seems to be unlikely. The casino has been in loss for the last 2 years and according to research and analysis it seems that it will stay in loss. The parent company has no choice but to withdraw its support.
The site officially shut shop on the 10th of October. Access to information about personal accounts is still available. This is to give people a chance to withdraw whatever money they have in their accounts before the company withdraws its web presence.
The management of the casino has expressed deep felt sorrow for their current decision to shut down. They have posted a message for the customers thanking them for their support and loyalty over the period of 9 years that the casino operated. Lassetters is one of the oldest online casinos and runs on the Orbis OpenBet platform.
The site offered games like Baccarat, Blackjack, Pontoon 21, Three Card Poker, Red Dog, Keno, Roulette, and Snapjax along with a wide variety of slot machine games.
February 21, 2009
The news is full of reports about S 3616. It’s an Internet Skill Game Licensing and Control Act and has been introduced by Robert Menendez, NJ Senator. The bill addresses the need for issuing licenses for Internet gaming facilities that involve skill. It will provide a full framework of regulations for skill oriented online gambling games. It is a very significant bill, however since the 2008 Congressional session is closing soon it is hard to say whether it will be passed or not.
The bill goes on to define a skill game over the Internet. It lists simulated cards and dice to be the features of the game that players use to play, but in order to win the players have to depend on their skill. The games recognized are poker, mah jong and bridge. This bill is the first of its kind that recognizes online poker as a skill game.
It creates a framework of licensing and regulation that makes it illegal for anybody to operate an online gambling site without acquiring a license. It provides methods of obtaining such licenses. It lists out the criteria needed to acquire a license and gives the required information for applicant’s full disclosure based on a thorough background check.
This bill makes allowances for individuals from tribal lands and states not to conform to the bill if desired. Every company will get 90 days if the bill is passed to acquire or apply for the proper licenses. No betting on sports leagues or other contests involving sports is allowed.
Every license will insure that there is a proper regulation on underage gambling, tax evasion, money laundering, fraud, and addictive gambling.