En-Casino

New Zealand Pokies Spending
Spending on poker machines has always been quite high in New Zealand's gambling market. Over the past few decades, electronic gaming machines have become increasingly popular, but this year, the industry is seeing spending at a high.
From January to March of this year, New Zealand pokie players spent $5.2 million more than they did over the same period of time in 2010. The total pokies spending for the first quarter of the year was $205.1 million, marking one of the biggest increases since 2007.
One of the most interesting cases is the area of Christchurch. After the Earthquake, many of venues housing poker machines were shut down. However, spending on poker machines increased by 3.2% to $19 million.
The massive jump in spending is particularly unusual because New Zealand seems to be going through a tough financial time. Between the weak economy and rising inflation costs, it would be thought that residents would spend less on recreational gambling, but the opposite has happened. As such, researchers want to discover the reason behind this.
According to Todd McLeay of the Lotteries Commission, he believes that pokies provide players with an optimistic outlook. While financial situations may look bleak, pokies provide momentary gleam of hope that a single spin could change a player's life. In many cases, players do achieve that, as several jackpots worth thousands of dollars have been paid out over the course of the past year.
These numbers, however, are still not as shocking as they were half a decade ago. In 2004, pokie spending was at an all-time high. It was a year after the country's Gambling Act was passed and gambling expenditures reached $1 billion. Spending has certainly settled down since then, putting to ease those concerned about rates of problem gambling - an analysts believe that the recent upswing is not a cause for alarm.
These numbers apply only to land-based poker machines and do not include money spent on online slots and pokies. They are currently not regulated by New Zealand's government, and no data exists about spending on online games in particular. The government is looking at regulating the online market in the future, so similar data may be accumulated soon.
With so much money being spent on pokies, it is no wonder that they make up nearly 50% of all gambling expenditures across New Zealand. All other forms of gambling, including casino games and the lottery contribute the other half.

Is Mobile Casino Gambling Actually Safe?
In recent years, mobile casino gambling has become very popular however some people may be a bit cautious as to how safe it really is. Well in actual fact gambling in a mobile casino is just as safe as gambling in a normal land based casino or online casino via your computer providing you have done a bit research on the site you wish to join.
There are thousands of mobile casino sites that you can choose from but be careful as there may be some that are not as genuine as they claim to be. Unfortunately there are many dishonest people in the world who may try to steal from you by setting up rogue sites so before you sign up to any just make sure you do a bit of detective work. Take a look at some online reviews or ratings given to the sites so you can find out a little more before you proceed and use them.
The different platforms used for mobile casino gambling come fully equipped with very similar payment and withdrawal methods to their online pc versions. In some instances mobile casino software can even offer additional payment choices and players can connect this with their mobile phone account. Fraud or hacking is not an issue to be concerned with as a highly advanced firewall and SSL encryption is put in place to prevent unauthorized users accessing your account. This is a very important safety device which needs to be applied as sadly there are deceiving people that will take any opportunity to get hold of your precious cash.
We are all familiar with mobile banking and how convenient it can be when you have forgotten to pay important bills. You are able to log in securely to your bank account and pay an outstanding credit card balances or other utility bills without having to go to an actual bank or wait until you get home to log in to a computer. Mobile casino gambling also offers the same convenience as it allows you to play your favorite casino games like mobile poker, slots or roulette from whatever location you happen to be in so you don't miss out on that chance to win the big progressive jackpot.
Today's generation is extremely reliant on the convenience of their mobile phones. While there are still a few restrictions with mobile casino gambling, most of the security issues have been dealt with so mobile casinos are likely to be a huge hit in the coming years.

Card Counting Team Play - Maximize Your Win
Team play in blackjack is a concept that should be explored by every advantage player. Although winning at card counting can be very lucrative team play done correctly can be even more lucrative.
Let's look at team play and what it means. By definition, it means two or more card counters pooling their resources and talents for the common goal of making money counting cards.
There is one huge benefit to team play that we need to discuss. Bankroll...
This simple concept is what makes team play so appealing. Simply stated, If you have a $5000 bankroll your big bet would be $33.33, according to the Money Management chapter on our website.
But, let's say you and two friends form a team and you all have $5000, you now have a $15,000 bankroll and each of you can use your individual $5,000 as if it was $15,000. This gives each of you the playing power of a $15,000 bankroll. Your big bet would now be $ alone is enough reason to form a team.
This concept involves each player going out on his own and playing his own sessions.
Because of the money involved the teammates must be friends and they must be honest otherwise this team will be doomed to failure. Trust is the key factor in team play. The other factor is ability. You must be able to determine your teammates card counting ability and help each other improve. After all, you wouldn't want someone on your team that plays badly and loses more than he wins.
Compensation also becomes an issue. Does each player keep his own winnings. I don't think so. Whatever plan for payment the team decides on must be adhered to. Suggestions...
On payoff day...there must be an agreed upon payoff day. Pool the profits. Then turn in your expenses... you should have agreed on what expenses are to be repaid.
Pay each player for his expenses, then split the profits using a prearranged formula. The one I like is to divide the profit into two equal parts. Each player will receive an equal share of the first half. The second half will be paid by the hours each player has logged.
Let's do a theoretical split. There are four players. They decide to split the profits on the 1st of each month. On Jan. 1st they pool $17,000 in profit, quite a tidy profit. All players turn in their expenses. There are $1000 in expenses leaving $16,000 to split four ways. Pile #1 has $8,000 to be split equally, so each player receives $2,000. Pile #2 also has $8,000 to split according to hours played.
o Player A played 40 hours
o Player B played 60 hours
o Player C played 45 hours
o Player D played 55 hours
Add all of the hours together and you get 200 total hours then divide 200 hours into $8,000 to determine the hourly rate. That's $40 per hour. Now multiply each players hours played by 40 to determine their pay.
o Player A's Pay is $1,600 for the hours played plus $2,000 for a total of $3,600
o Player B's Pay is $2,400 for the hours played plus $2,000 for a total of $4,400
o Player C's Pay is $1,800 for the hours played plus $2,000 for a total of $3,800
o Player D's Pay is $2,200 for the hours played plus $2,000 for a total of $4,200
Again, I must stress that each player must be honest and trustworthy otherwise the team will not last long. Honesty and trust are, by far the biggest reasons for teams failing.

How to Split Cards in Blackjack
Once new players grasp the basic strategy of blackjack the first thing they generally ask is, "When and why should I split my cards?"
Generally any card that starts with "F" should not be split; this is a simple rule to go by. So Face cards, Fives, and Fours should not be split.
The reason for not splitting face cards is pretty straightforward. You do not want to throw away 20 which almost guarantee you a winning hand.
Fours and fives also shouldn't be split, splitting these cards only set a player up to get a very low end chance of winning, "14" or "15" or worse.
So why you might ask why split other pairs? This is a bit trickier as the general rule of thumb here is only to split when the dealer is showing an up card of between 4-7.
The reason being that you're better off taking the chance to double your money when the dealer has shows a bust card.
Splitting Aces, as with any gambling venture you par take in it is essential you are aware of the house rules. These rules can differ when faced with Ace Ace. Obviously you want to split these cards, two is useless, and the other option being 12 is also no good for the player.
So you have to split aces EVERY time. Most Casino's have a rule with regard to splitting aces, generally most stick with the one draw rule. This means that you can only draw one card to each Ace.
It is also a common rule that casino's will not honor a true blackjack when you receive a face card on a split ace. This eliminates the bonus payout.
Splitting eights, a lot of professional players will only split Aces and Eights. The reason being the four horseman as they were known ran these cards through a mathematical algorithm and it was determined that the player splitting the eights has a much higher probability of winning the hand splitting the 8's then standing on 16.
The four horseman were (Roger Baldwin, Wilbert Cantey, Herbert Maisel and James McDermott). They ere responsible for creating what is known today as basic mathematical strategy. We will discuss these fellows later on.
So you know have a good grasp on when and why you should be splitting cards at the blackjack table. Splitting is an essential part of the game, and provides excellent opportunity for player edge and increasing ones bankroll.
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Blackjack and Card Counting: Different Popular Methods
Unlike other casino games that rely solely on luck, blackjack is a game where players can make use of certain mathematical and card counting skills to gain an advantage over the dealer. The term card counting is not a process of memorizing each and every card coming out of the shoe as what an autistic savant like Rain Man would do. Counting cards in blackjack means keeping track of the ratio between high and low values of the cards left in the deck.
The principles behind this process were first discovered by Edward Thorp, considered the father of blackjack card counting, who published the book "Beat the Dealer" way back in 1962. This book is practically the main proponent for the blackjack revolution, prompting casinos to take action against this method. The process of card counting is actually not illegal since technically you're just keeping track of the cards and not cheating in any way. However, casinos obviously frowned upon this practice and would ban players caught counting cards.
Before you can successfully apply the different popular methods for card counting in blackjack, you must first understand the basic mechanism of how the process works and how you can practically and successfully apply these methods - and achieve success in this game.
Popular Methods for Blackjack Card Counting
There are two basic systems for blackjack card counting: balanced and unbalanced. In a balanced card counting system, counting down the entire deck of cards would give you an end count of 0. The popular methods for this involved the Hi-Lo, Hi-Opt 1 and the Hi-Opt 2 systems. Unbalanced counting on the other hand is a system of counting cards where you will not end up with count of 0 after you have gone through the whole card deck.
* KO Card Counting Strategy
KO or Knock-Out card counting system will not end up with a count of 0. The strategy involves adding an extra +1 value for every 7. Since there are four 7's in a single deck of card, you will end up with a count of +4 if you counted down the whole deck. The developers of this strategy, which is attributed to authors Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchsln, described that it would be difficult for players to mentally convert the true count and the running count back and forth - particularly if you're playing in an environment full of distractions such as in casinos.
You will only be using +1, -1 and 0 in this strategy so it's really not difficult to keep count but it is very important that you keep your focus and attention on the table. You'll need to master the value of each particular card so you can have the most accurate count as possible. You need to know the running total throughout the game and the count will not reset until a new shoe is shuffled. A high positive count will tell you that there are only smaller-valued cards left on the deck. The opposite is then through if you have a negative running count.
The following are the designated card values in this strategy:
• 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, 6's and 7's = +1
• 8's and 9's = 0
• 10's, J's, Q's, K's and Aces = -1
Although the KO card system was designed to make it slightly easier for the player to perform card counting, you will sacrifice some percentage of your accuracy. It all boils down to how much you are willing to invest for something that is easier to use but with less chances of winning. This system however, is just right for people playing the game once-in-a-while or for recreational purposes.
* Hi-Lo Card Counting Strategy
This strategy was created by Harvey Dubner and is a simplification of Dr. Edward Thorp's Ten-Count system. Also called the High/Low System or the Plus/Minus system, the Hi-Lo card counting strategy will make it easier for beginning or intermediate blackjack players to use in an actual blackjack table and is most often used by blackjack teams.
To learn this system, you need to master the respective values of each card in the deck. As a general rule, the small cards 2 to 6 are counted as plus 1 while the big cards 10 to A's are counted as minus 1. The middle cards or neutral cards 7 to 9 will not change the running count. This is considered a balanced system. In summary:
• 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, 6's = +1
• 7's,8's and 9's = 0
• 10's, J's, Q's, K's and Aces = -1
You need to take note of how the running card count is affected as each card is dealt but would need special note of how many smaller cards are already played. The less small cards remaining in the deck will increase your chances of getting higher values or even a blackjack, and the reverse otherwise, allowing you to make adjustments in your betting patterns.
* Hi-Opt 1 Card Counting Strategy
Hi-Opt or Highly Optimum card counting strategies are designed for use for more advanced blackjack players. There are two versions for this system and the first one is also referred to as the Einstein Count. It is more mathematically advanced and can provide a slightly bigger edge for the players using this system however -- it is more complicated to use and will require more focus on the table.
To avoid confusion with other card counting systems, the player must master the following chart that designates the values for every card:
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 J Q K A
0 +1 +1 +1 +1 0 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 0
Although the Aces are not generally tracked in this system, some variations to the strategy make use of external things to keep track of how many Aces have already been played such as using chips, fingers or even your feet.
* Hi-Opt 2 Card Counting Strategy
The Hi-Opt 2 card counting strategy is the more advanced high optimum card counting system and is used by more advanced blackjack players. This is more complicated to use and usually only seasoned professionals make use of this system, giving them only a small extra edge when used. The system requires an even extra effort of focus on the table and incorporates some cards valued at 2 which make it even more complicated.
The value designation for each card is shown below. From the chart alone, you can see that this is more complicated than other systems that only use 1 plus/minus 1 value:
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 J Q K A
+1 +1 +2 +2 +1 +1 0 0 -2 -2 -2 -2 0
Again, Aces are not generally tracked in the running card count but are tracked externally using marjers such as chips, fingers or even your feet. As a balanced system, your count should end up at 0 after all cards in 52-card deck is played - otherwise something went wrong with your count.
Making Card Counting Effective
The success and effectiveness of card counting does not entirely depend on how well a player can count or keep track of the cards, but more on how he can perform the same skills while in an actual blackjack casino table laden with all the noise and distractions that are typical with such places. Aside from that, the player must learn how to camouflage how they count during the actual play - and avoid getting the attention of the casino pit bosses.

Blackjack Card Counting Pro
Card Counting in Blackjack is somewhat a thing of the past. And for the most part people feel that card counting is old school and were only a benefit when casino's and backroom parlors used one or two decks.
Now day's players are faced with 6-8 decks. As discussed in an early article we touched briefly on the card counting aspect.
This article will break down the basic concepts; anyone can become a card counter. The most important aspect is concentration and you also have to have a decent grasp on mathematics.
The Hi-Lo count system assigns simple values to a group of cards. The following values are given to the cards.
Low Cards 2-3-4-5-6 receive a value of {+1}
No Count Cards 7-8-9 receive no count {0}
High Cards 10-J-Q-K-A receive a value of {-1}
Now let's have a look at the groups:
Low Cards are not good for the player. Low card's turn bad totals into good hands: i.e. dealer has 12-16 a low card can turn those into 17-21 rather easily.
There is nothing worse than a dealer drawing to 15-16 and then nailing a 6 or a 5 to bust everyone.
No Count Cards- a lot of people ask me why not count the 7-8-9, simple answer is that these cards do not help the dealer nor the player so are assigned a zero.
High Cards -These cards are great for the player but not so for the dealer. High cards aide in achieving your 21 and also help bust the dealer.
So the cards are dealt, when you see a low card you add a point, for every low card that comes off, you gain an advantage over the dealer.
When this number gets high, we know that we are going to get a streak of good cards very soon and should bet accordingly. The opposite when the card count is in the high negative
People often ask, what makes it easier for the player when there is 1 deck compared to 6-8 decks? Simply put casinos implemented additional decks to the shoe in order to scare off card counters.
Early on this did diminish the edge the counter had, however professional counters began working in teams to get around the increase in the number of cards per shoe. Casino's further complicated the process by what is known as 'deck penetration'.
This is basically a percentage of the shoe that it dealt before it is re-shuffled. Most casinos' use a cut off card and deal anywhere from 60-75%.
If a player can concentrate and maintain the count there is still a profitability edge to the player. This is based on the number of decks in the shoe, the percentage of cut off.
So you have all the information you need. All that is left for you to do it practice the method. Take a few decks of cards and simulate a black jack game.
Keep track of the count. It is very important that you try to get good at the count as well make it look like you are not trying to count. This can be difficult. Have fun.