Online casinos and poker

PENNSYLVANIA — As reported by the Pocono Record: “Even as pressure grows on Louis DeNaples from a grand jury investigating perjury allegations, the Mount Airy owner’s machine keeps rolling along. For the second consecutive week, Mount Airy’s slots parlor posted strong returns.

“Wagers of $48.6 million at the casino far exceeded its closest rival, Mohegan Sun, which brought in $39.4 million. Last week’s performance followed a strong Christmas week when Mount Airy’s wagers topped $51 million.

“…Since it opened in October 2007, Mount Airy has produced the state’s highest payout, which this week exceeded 93 percent. That strategy, according to casino spokesperson Kevin Feeley, is a part of their plan to build a loyal customer base.

“…Speculation of impending charges against DeNaples continues after the arrest of Roman Catholic priest and close DeNaples friend Joseph F. Sica on perjury charges last week…”

MASHANTUCKET, Connecticut — (PRESS RELEASE) — The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation today announced that John O’Brien, President of Foxwoods Resort Casino, has tendered his resignation, effective January 18, to pursue other interests.

Current Foxwoods Senior Vice President of Operations, Barry J. Cregan, 54, will serve as interim President of Foxwoods effective January 18. Mr. Cregan is currently responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of Foxwoods as well as managing the growth and expansion projects underway at Foxwoods. He is also heavily involved with the pre-opening of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods scheduled for May 2008, working closely with Gillian Murphy, General Manager of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods.

With more than 25 years of experience in the hotel and gaming industries, Mr. Cregan brings a wealth of industry knowledge and business expertise to his new position, as well as strong management skills needed to guide the continued growth and success of the enterprise. Prior to Foxwoods, Mr. Cregan held senior management roles at Tishman Hotels, Marriott International, and Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Mr. Cregan also served as President and COO of Trump Plaza Casino Hotel Atlantic City from 1994 to 1998. Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Cregan will work together to ensure an orderly transition.

Tribal Council Chairman Michael J. Thomas stated: “During his tenure, John made significant contributions to the success of Foxwoods, particularly during his nine years as CFO. We wish him well in his future endeavors. As we enter an exciting phase at Foxwoods, we are fortunate to have someone with Barry’s expertise and knowledge in the gaming and hospitality industry to fill the President position on an interim basis. Barry is a strong leader, focused on solid execution and delivering a positive customer experience.”

“Foxwoods is a strong organization with a great brand and great prospects for growth. I welcome this opportunity to work with the leadership team during this transition to continue to implement our strategy during an exciting period,” said Mr. Cregan.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation will begin a search among internal and external candidates for a President to lead Foxwoods during the next phase of expansion and growth.

“It is truly an exciting period for all of us associated with Foxwoods, which includes the opening of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods destination resort in May. We will continue to ensure that leadership is committed to creating a positive environment for all of its employees and focused on providing our customers with memorable experiences,” said Patricia Irvin, CEO of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. “During this transition, the leadership team will continue to passionately pursue our performance objectives and make every effort to execute on our key initiatives effectively. We will begin immediately to conduct a search to fill the President position at Foxwoods.”

“I’ve truly enjoyed serving as President of Foxwoods,” Mr. O’Brien said. “With a solid strategy and a strong management team in place, it’s the right time for me to move on to pursue other interests, including spending more time with my family. I wish Foxwoods and the Mashantucket Pequots continued success in the future.”

MICHIGAN — As reported by the Detroit Free Press: “As nearly every other industry in Michigan tightens its belt, casinos are booming.

“Detroit’s three casinos are making more than they did last year, and beautiful casino resorts are popping up all over the state.

“On the far west side, at Exit 1 off I-94 in New Buffalo, the Four Winds Casino & Resort opened in August, offering lodge-style construction, some pretty restaurants (check out the copper boulder in the Copper Rock Steakhouse) and a hotel and spa. It’s the first casino in the state and one of the few in the country to offer an all-electronic poker room, and it’s ideally placed for a stop on a trip down south or out west.

“The Little River Casino in Manistee (at the intersection of U.S.-31 and M-22) completed a massive renovation in the fall that includes a stone and water-themed exterior.

“…Farther north, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians has been hard at work renovating nearly every facility it owns. Turtle Creek, 4 miles east of Traverse City in Williamsburg on M-72, is undergoing a huge transformation.

“The nearby Grand Traverse Resort & Spa finished its renovations in December 2006, so it’s an alternative place to stay…”

LAS VEGAS, Nevadaa — As reported by the Thoroughbed Times: “One Las Vegas race book has started accepting phone account wagers on Thoroughbred races.

“The race book at Wynn Las Vegas accepted its first out-of-state wager in December. While the state’s gaming control board and gaming commission approved such wagers in 2005, Wynn is the first Nevada race book to add interstate wagering. Wynn currently has just one out-of-state customer.

“…Wynn accepts only phone wagers as current Nevada law does not allow Internet account wagering.

“…Wynn can accept wagers from players in Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wyoming…”

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — (PRESS RELEASE) — Forbes magazine has named MGM Mirage(NYSE: MGM) one of the “Best Managed Companies in America,” as part of its annual Forbes Platinum 400 list of top-performing large corporations. MGM Mirage was one of nine companies recognized in the “Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure” category. The company also made the list in 2005.

“The commitment to outstanding performance from each of our employees made this recognition possible,” said Terry Lanni, Chairman and CEO of MGM Mirage.

The Platinum 400 list includes both American and foreign corporations that have significant presence in the U.S. Contending companies came from a pool of nearly 1,100 corporations that have at least $1 billion in revenue in the most recent fiscal year, a stock price of at least $5 per share and positive equity.

To identify leaders from each industry category, Forbes ranked companies within their industry by many financial metrics, including growth in sales and earnings, leverage, stock market returns and earnings forecasts. From these ranks, each company received a composite score. Next, a financial analytics firm determined an overall score on each company for accounting and governance practices, financial condition and earnings quality. Finally, Forbes’ editors and writers examined the top-ranked companies in each industry and considered factors such as management ability, innovation and leadership.

Number ten on the list is Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos located in Southern New England between New York City and Boston, 30 minutes of each other. They are claimed to be a favorite destination for college-aged gamblers flooding the region annually. You’ll be able to find one of the world’s largest poker rooms in Foxwoods, and world class entertainment and high-end shopping in Mohegan Sun.

The Bahamas are number nine on the list, the islands that are famous all over the world. The resorts located there such the Atlantis, The Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort and the One & Only Ocean Club are attractive not only as gambling spots, but also as bech-themed allure.

The Bahamas are followed by the Bicycle, Commerce, Hollywood Park the Hustler casinos – the major gambling attractions in Los Angeles. There are more than 30 other casinos located along the coast all the way to San Diego.

France is the seventh on the list. Being a wonderful tourist destination with such attractions as the Eiffel Tower, Musee du Louvre, Arc de Triomphe and Cathedrale Notre-Dame, France is regarded to be a wonderful gambling destination. There are more than 450 casinos in the country. The Aviation Club de Paris is considered to be one of the world’s most famous poker rooms due to its exposure on World Poker Tour Broadcasts.

The Mississippi River area, the unofficial birthplace of American gambling, is the next on the gambling list. The immense gambling spirit comes from the casinos lining the Mississippi River coast from Louisiana to Canada.

Lots of famous gamblers come from Australia, home to more than 400 casinos and racetracks. So, Australia is number five on the list. Both the general gambler and the poker player can choose as their places of destination such casinos as the Crown Casino and the Star City Casino located in Sydney at top online casinos.

Cruise ships for gamblers are associated with only one thing – time to gamble. It doesn’t really matter where you are cruising as cruise ships feature some of the best gambling action. So, cruise ships are number 4.

Atlantic City which is the third on the list is the place where such pros as Johnny Chan, Erik Seidel and Phil Ivey made their millions and their marks playing cards at the Taj Mahal and the Borgata. The world’s major gambling brands (Harrah’s, Wynn, Bellagio, Sands) have a large presence in Atlantic City at top online casinos.

Macau has already been called the new Las Vegas. It is becoming bigger than the most famous of gambling destinations. The Venetian Macau, the largest casino in the world by far, has been opened this summer. The size of the casino is really impressive – it is bigger than four American football fields. Macau is number two on our list.

Thanks to the tourism and gambling industries Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing cities in America, and number one on our list. It has become home for mega-casino resorts like the Bellagio, the Wynn, the Sands, Mandalay Bay and dozens of others. Even with Macau quickly becoming the world’s first choice for gambling, there is nothing like Las Vegas having a hotel room and gambling chair for everyone.

Determining pot odds is a crucial part of any poker player’s game. Many players find it difficult to calculate the odds during the intense moments of battle, but calculating your odds comes down to once simple question; How much money will it cost to keep playing this hand and how much money am I likely to make if I catch the cards I need? Knowing the answers to these questions will save you from just giving away your chips at the poker table. A bit of basic math is required here, but if it’s your first time, I promise to be gentle.

Okay, to properly explain this we will need a set up hand. You (let’s call you Johnny) have just been dealt 10 J and the flop is 2 8 9. The pot is currently 1000 (dollars or chips) and your opponent has just bet 300. With this basic information we must first figure out how many outs you have left. Outs are cards that can help you make a winning hand between what’s already in your hand and the flop. You have 2 over cards (10 J), or cards higher than the flop, in your hand, and the deck has three more 10s and three more Jacks, beginning your total outs at 6.

With the flop you now have an open-ended straight (8 9 10 J), meaning that you need either a 7 or a Queen to make your straight. Since we know that there are four 7’s and 4 Q’s in the deck. That gives us an additional 8 outs for a total of 14 outs.

With a total of 14 outs, we can now calculate your odds by dividing them by the number of cards in the deck, 52. 52/14=3.3, giving you 3-to-1 odds on your hand. This is far less confusing than it sounds. All these numbers mean is that for every 3 times these five cards (10 J 2 8 9) are dealt, you should get one of your outs one time, but whether or not you win the hand depends on how you bet.

Now, let’s discuss the bet at top online casinos. Your opponent bet 300 chips so you know have the second part of this equation in order to make a winning bet at top online casinos. You have to call your opponent because he only bet 30% of the pot which means that as long as you have at least 30% of the pot available to call, pot odds are in your favor. But, if your stack is less than 30% of the pot, you should fold and you live to die in another hand. So, to answer the above question; in this example it would cost you 300 chips to call and you could win a 1300 pot. In this instance pot odds are definitely in your favor.

Gamblecraft casino guide highlights Playtech online casinos to be one of the best in terms of software excellence. Playtech’s software offers one of a kind experience to its online players. The unique gaming experience and its state of the art features makes Playtech rank high in Gamblecraft casino reviews.

UK-based Playtech online casinos have been in existence since 1998. Through the years, it has become one of the most trusted brands in casino software games. It separates itself from many other providers of casino software currently out in the market, and it is indeed true. Playtech offers over 60 games within one single, unified interface. It is much like having your very own casino all in one place.

With its single interface, you can freely and conveniently choose from among the different varieties of games in the software. These include one of the biggest selections of video poker and slots games online. Playtech also offers one of a kind ideas and concepts in a number of games such as the blackjack variety called Blackjack Switch - a must play for those who simply love blackjack. There will surely be something for everyone, whatever the skill level or preference. There are even multi-player interactive games to enjoy in pairs or in groups.

Gamblecraft casino, along with many avid online casino players, is impressed about the fact that Playtech casinos give gamers the ability to check the history of their game play actions. Not only that, Playtech online casinos provide high pay-out percentages which are usually over 96%. This rate of payout percentage is way better than the odds offered by the real casinos in Las Vegas and other land based gaming destinations for that matter.

There are many other features that Playtech online casinos offer which is worth mentioning. Their high impact 3D graphics, its ambient music and sound effects make you feel like you are part of a real casino. Their large selection of progressive games offers big jackpots for the lucky ones. Not only that, Playtech software has excellent customer support service which they offer via email or toll free phone.

Playtech online casinos are available as download and Flash versions. The downloaded version may take some time and a few clicks to download and install. However, this can be very advantageous to those who have slow internet connections. On the other hand, the flash instant play software versions are available in the casino site as well. You simply need to log-in and you can play in an instant.

The key points and features of online casinos powered by Playtech make it very favorable to use by all online casino players. Whether you are a newbie or a veteran in casino, you will surely find the challenge you are looking for in these online software.

There are a good number of online casinos running on Playtech casinos software. Playtech online casinos unfortunately have stopped catering to American players since the latter part of 2006 due to the UEIGEA. Gamblecraft casino guide mentions other alternative online casino software for US-based players. Their recommendations include Microgaming and Real Time Gaming.

The Fat Man’s erratic luck was in yesterday: the gambler who for years has won and lost on an epic scale in London’s casinos gained the right to appeal against a £2m debt run up in one spectacularly unsuccessful night seven years ago.

In spring the high court ruled that Fouad al-Zayat must pay his gambling losses, and the rapidly escalating legal bill of the private members’ club Aspinalls, after a dispute which has rumbled on since the Syrian-born millionaire stopped a cheque over a game which he thought unfair.

Online Casinos are very popular and lot of people are playing and gambling. Online casinos can be divided into three groups based on their interface: web-based casinos, download-based casinos, and more recently live casinos. Some casinos offer multiple interfaces.

- Web-based Casinos
Web-based online casinos are different websites where gamblers/users can play casino games such as online Bingo, Black Jack, Baccarat, Poker and many more. They do not need to download any software to their computer. The games are represented in the owner’s browser plug-ins Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave, or Java. Also, bandwidth is needed in order to play the sounds, the images and animations. Web-based are the most popular.

- Download-based online casinos
Download-based online casinos require the user to have a computer in order to download the online casino software for him to play the games and gamble on the online casino. The online casino software connects directly to the casino service provider without browser support. This type of online casino runs much faster than the typical online web-based casino since all animation and sound programs are already located within the software itself. The only drawback to download-based online casinos is the time it takes to download on your computer and there may be a risk of malware and spyware as well.

- Live-based casinos
Live-based casinos are the top notch of online casino. It allows you to directly interface with a real world/live casino just as if you were in it. The player can interact live with other players and live dealers at tables via a real time web window, whether he is playing Poker, Baccarat or Poker.

With these different interfaces, the client has the choice to choose what best suits him and have fun all night long. All online casinos will offer the customer different games, below is a list of the most popular ones.

Cards Games
-Asian stud
-Baccarat
-Blackjack
-Casino war
-Caribbean Stud Poker
-Chinese poker
-Faro
-Four card poker
-Let It Ride
-Mambo stud
-Pai gow poker
-Red Dog
-Spanish 21
-Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker
-Three card poker
-Two-up

Dice / Tiles
-Craps
-Pai Gow
-Sic bo
-Chuck-a-luck

Random numbers
-Big Six wheel
-Roulette
-Bingo
-Keno

Gaming machines
-Slot machine
-Video Lottery Terminal
-Video poker

Online casino games provide to the player a long-term advantage to the real casino. With an online casino, the player has the illusion of being in control, giving him the opportunity to make choices.

There are different online casino games which are exactly the same as a “house”casino.

Table games
This type of game is played on a big table which is covered with a printed felt layout and may contain seating positions for players. There is a dealer located on one side of the table and the players located on the other side of the table. Generally table games are played with dice, cards and other gaming tools.

Gaming machines
The Gaming machines are the slot machines, and are played by only one player at a time and do not require the involvement of casino employees to play, this is why slots machines are a really popular online casino game.

Random number games
Random number games such as the Roulette or Bingo are based upon the choice of random numbers, either from a computerized generator or from other gaming tool.