casino online

The Rise of Gambling in Macau, a Short History Lesson

Posted by admin | Posted in Gambling Articles | Posted on 31-03-2011

Tagged Under : , , ,

Gambling has been legal in Macau since the 1850’s when the Portuguese government legalized the activity throughout the colony. Since then, Macau has become known worldwide as the Monte Carlo of the Orient. And it’s no surprise that gambling has become one of the most significant parts of the city’s economy.

The casinos only had Chinese games available until Western-style games were introduced in the 20th century. Whereas the most popular Chinese game was once fantan, now the Macau people were able to play blackjack and other sorts of westernized games.

In an attempt to generate a healthy stream of revenue for the government, gambling in Macau was legalized in 1847. In the late 19th century, the government introduced a licensing system for the fantan houses, also known as Chinese gambling houses. It is reported that well over 200 gambling houses were required to pay a very steep gambling rent to the government for allowing them to operate. The first casino monopoly concession was granted to the Tai Xing Company in 1937. However, the company was in fact too conservative to exploit the full economic potential of gambling. The gambling industry witnessed a major breakthrough in 1962 when the government granted the Sociedade de Turismo e Devesoes de Macau (STDM), which is a syndicate jointly formed by Hong Kong and Macau businessmen.

The STDM introduced western-style gaming in unfamiliar territory, and modernized the marine transport located between Macau and Hong Kong. This brought millions of gamblers from Hong Kong every year of its operation. In 1986, the license was extended for another 15 years, but has expired as of 2001. In 2002, the Macau government ended the monopoly system and all together 6 casino operating concessions were granted to the STDM. Among the 6 are Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment Group, a partnership with MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho Chiu-king, and the partnership of Melco and PBL. There are 16 casinos operated by the STDM today, and they are still crucial in the casino industry in Macau. In 2004, the opening of the Sands Macau ushered in a new era for Macau gaming.

Macau has made great strides in the gambling industry. Known as the Asian Las Vegas, Macau has a host of casinos built on the territory, with a few opening courtesy of Las Vegas giant companies. Gambling plays a huge role in the economy of Macau. Many Hong Kong and mainland tourists enjoy gambling there. Few local people in Macau visit casinos, however. Though generally, gambling in Macau can be divided into three different categories: casino games, horse racing and greyhound racing. There also have sports betting which takes place and a number of different lotteries.

Macau is different from a lot of other regions, however. With the explosion of the internet and everything it can offer, Macau still refuses to allow internet gaming in their city. This is a place steeped in tradition. They seem to be doing just fine without the draw of online gaming.

Visit the CasinoMan Blog for more articles and blogs about the lifestyle of the rich and opulent.

Online Casinos and Problem Gambling

Posted by admin | Posted in Gambling Articles | Posted on 29-03-2011

Tagged Under : , , ,

An estimated 20 million people worldwide gamble online at internet casinos. In 2007, Americans (who were technically not allowed to use online gambling venues) spent $34 billion on gambling in bricks and mortar casinos, and that number does not include the amount spent at Native American casinos.

There is no question that visiting a casino or gambling online is an exciting activity. Most people play purely for entertainment, while some online gamblers take the necessary time to learn the skills required for games like the many variations of online poker with the aim of winning money (at least more often than they lose it). For many people, there is a definite “high” associated with risking money on games, and for a small subset of those people, gambling turns into a full-fledged addiction that can cost them their livelihood, their family, and their entire way of life.

Problem gambling can be thought of as a spectrum of problems. While some people do become seriously addicted, others sometimes get carried away in the thrill of betting, lose more money than they expected, and then stop when they realize the consequences of their actions. Others gamble when they are anxious or depressed, coping with life changes and trying to enjoy a temporary distraction from the problems in their lives.

Most people are able to keep their gambling under control by simple measures such as limiting their bankroll and practicing their own standards as to when to walk away after a certain level of loss (or gain, for that matter). But there are others for whom gambling shows signs of turning into an addiction. How can you tell if your online casino visits are no longer an entertaining diversion, but a real problem?

One serious red flag is when a person gambles to obtain money with which to solve financial problems, such as paying bills or debts. Borrowing money or selling important possessions to finance gambling is another strong indicator that a person’s gambling is out of control. If gambling causes a deterioration in a person or their family’s standard of living or general welfare, it’s a problem. And if a person does something illegal (or considers doing so) to fund gambling, that means gambling has gone well beyond being a form of entertainment.

Resources are readily available to those who think they may have an addiction to gambling. Counseling, peer-support groups, step-based programs, and even medications are used to treat problem gambling, though no medications have been approved specifically for treating pathological gambling in the US by the Food and Drug Administration. Gamblers Anonymous is a 12-step program for treating gambling problems patterned after the 12-step program used in Alcoholics Anonymous.

The bottom line is that with gambling addiction, as with any addiction, the addict has to admit he or she has a problem and choose to address it; the problem will not go away on its own. If you or a loved one has a problem with pathological gambling, then a good place to start is either with a local Gamblers Anonymous group (In the US, you can call 888-424-3577 toll free) or at gamblersanonymous.org.

You can gamble at an USA online casino today and you will find any game you like to play at USA online casinos.

Strong Emotions and Casino Gambling – A Dangerous Mix!

Posted by admin | Posted in Gambling Articles | Posted on 28-03-2011

Tagged Under : , , , ,

Strong emotions such as anger and frustration can be dangerous in the casino setting. This article looks at the causes and effects of these emotions, and shows you how to spot the effects in advance – and thus avoid the worst of their effects.

While casino games are entertaining and happily enjoyed by millions of players, both live and online, there will be times where nothing seems to go your way at the tables. It can take a very detached person to withstand losing 20 bets at blackjack in 50 hands, or to see red come up 7 times in a row when they are betting on black at roulette.

Different people respond to losing streaks in different ways. Some people start to ‘chase losses’ by increasing the size of their bets, others may shift from a game they know well to one that gives them the opportunity for a big win to recoup their losses – and still other people will lose concentration and stop playing optimal strategy, since they ‘know’ that they are doomed to lose whatever they do.

What these effects of anger and irritation in the casino setting have in common is that they will change a fun pastime into an experience which can be both expensive and unpleasant. In order to stop emotion adversely affecting your gaming session we recommend that you take the following steps before you place a single bet:

- Only gamble with money you can afford to lose. This is an established and tested idea, yet many players are tempted to grab a little bit more cash if their initial bankroll disappears. Choose an amount that you can laugh about if it were to be lost in a really unlucky run – this should ensure you do not get angry if your cash runs out fast.

- Be aware of your own emotional state. Of course, we can all see the effects when anger or intense frustration strike! What we recommend here is to learn to spot those emotions before they manifest themselves. If you see the signs you can then take action before the ‘angry you’ does any damage to your finances.

- Make a plan for what you will do if you find yourself getting angry. This is key, simply taking a walk for 10 minutes, enjoying the entertainment or switching to a new game and / or lower stakes can all work. Deciding to do this in advance can prevent the hesitation which could allow your emotional state to worsen.

Of course, those losing runs will be balanced by those great winning streaks which we all love over time. By making sure that bad nights do not affect your bankroll to much you will be able keep casino gambling in perspective – and enjoy your time at the tables.

Check out the Cool Casinos Club now for acclaimed guides to the most entertaining Online Casino Games today!

Casino Gambling Systems

Posted by admin | Posted in Gambling Articles | Posted on 25-03-2011

Tagged Under : , ,

Here’s my list of the best casino gambling systems. Please don’t see them as a way to get rich quick, they are for fun only.

Unless otherwise shown, I’ve chosen Roulette as the default game, but many can be used in Blackjack, Baccarat etc. I’m not claiming that these are all original systems, it’s just a collection of the best ones that I could find, or think of

1 – Oscars Grind. Start with 1 on Black or Red. Each time you win, go 1 unit higher until you get a losing bet. Stick to the level you are at until another win, then go 1 unit higher again.

2 – 1,3,2,6 progression. Start with 1, go up the sequence only on a winning bet. Any losing bet, go back to 1 unit.

3- 2 Dozens. Bet 1 unit on a ‘Dozens’ section, and 2 units on another Dozens. If one wins, increase the bet on the losing section by 1 unit, take the bet off the winning section, and place 1 unit on the Dozen that was not covered in the first bet. Carry on, increasing stake by 1 unit a time. If no win, increase bet by 1 unit on the same Dozens.

4 – Paroli Progression. Start with 1 unit. Double your bet after a win, If you lose at any stage, go back to 1 unit.

5 – Fibonnaci Progression. Bet 1 unit. If it loses, bet 1 unit. If that loses, bet 2 units. Any further bets are the sum of the previous two bets like this – 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,…etc. Stop at a winner.

6 – Put 1 unit on the ‘1st 12′ section, and 1 unit on ‘19 to 36′. This covers 30 of the 37 numbers in European Roulette.

7 – Parlay. Bet 1 unit.If it wins, add winnings to your original stake and bet again. If that wins, add all winnings together and bet again. If you are feeling brave, do it again. Go back to 1 unit after any losing bet.

The rest of this article, and loads of general Casino information, can be found on my website.

http://www.reviewonlinecasinos.co.uk

Monte Carlo Gambling

Posted by admin | Posted in Gambling Articles | Posted on 23-03-2011

Tagged Under :

The foundation stone for the first casino of Monaco was laid down when Prince Charles III allowed a joint stock Company to build a casino in his empire, in 1856. Now, one of the most elegant casinos of Monte Carlo is Casino de Monte-Carlo. This magnificent structure was added to Monte Carlo in 1878. It was designed by Charles Garnier who is also the architect of the opera house in Paris. The architecture of this building speaks a lot about the rich cultural heritage. Various frescoes, sculptures, stained glass windows adorn this casino. The casino has also served as an auditorium for various ballets and concerts, attracting international audience. Another attractive feature of the casino is its private rooms which are more royal as compared to their European counterparts. The visitors can enjoy various table games in these lush rooms. The casino also requests its guests to follow a formal dress code.

Another casino is the Le Café de Paris which houses around twelve hundred slot machines. This casino hosts various gambling games. The theme of decoration is Monte Carlo in the late 1800’s. Next one in line is the Le Sun Casino situated in the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel. It is a close resemblance of the famous casinos of Las Vegas. The Le Sporting Monte-Carlo offers its guests gambling games like roulette, baccarat, banque a tout va, blackjack, chemin de fer, and craps. However, this casino is o-pen only during summers.

Apart from gambling, Monaco offers various other facilities which range from Museum and Palaces to swimming and racing. The Musée Océanographique is a famous attraction among the fish lovers. The museum contains 4500 variety of fish. Apart from this, the museum also attracts art lovers because of its metaphorical interiors. Another museum is the Musée National, which has a collection of ancient dolls and figures.

Changing of guards at the Palais du Princeb is one more interesting attraction. This palace was the house of the ancient rulers of Monaco, The Grimaldis. The ceremony takes place at noon every day.

The nature lovers would be pleased to know that Monte Carlo has one of the most beautiful gardens. The Princess Grace Rose Garden contains more than 400 bushes of rose and the Japanese garden has a Zen meditation area. However, most attractive of all is the Jardin Exotique, which means ‘the Exotic Garden’. This garden is known for growing more than 7000 varieties of cacti.

Water attractions in Monaco include two beaches with paid private sections and an Olympic – sized pool located at the port, called Stade Nautique Rainier III. Another event that attracts sports lovers is the Grand Prix Automobile de Monaco. The race is conducted in May each year on a 3.382 km circuit. To complete a perfect holiday, Monaco organizes a circus festival and a fireworks festival each year.

Monaco is a nature’s haven, ideal holiday spot with its mild winters and sunny summers, though gambling and tourism form only 15% of Monaco’s total revenue. One can reach Monaco by air, through the Nice airport which is just 25 miles from Monaco. The SNCF train from France is also a picturesque journey.

Mansi aggarwal writes about monte carlo gambling. Learn more at [http://www.oddsinmontecarlo.com]