I ran across this warning from onlinecasino.com and I thought it was important news to get out there.

It’s about March Madness. You know, the NCAA basketball tournament.

Everyone I know at work plays the brackets… it’s great fun and money can be won.

But, as March Madness approaches this week, sportsbetters should be aware of threats that target the online gambling industry.

What we like is the passion and drive of the players, which creates a stir among sportsbetters, who are looking for more thrilling events than those involving often-complacent professional players.

As a result, the online sportsbetting industry experiences one of the biggest influxes of wagers around this time every year, rivaling such popular events as The World Cup (I can’t wait for that, in a few months) and The SuperBowl.

However, it is very easy to get caught up in the excitement of March Madness, and forget about the dangers lurking online.

Although most online casinos are safe and reputable places to spend your money, hackers and other scam artists take advantage of the busy season, so players should be on the lookout for suspicious behavior.

So watch out.
Players should be aware of websites that simulate online casinos.

During March Madness, it is not uncommon for new websites to be launched, claiming that they are certified online casinos.

These websites will spread viruses and other malware that can steal the registrants personal information. This is why players must always do their research, checking out sites that review online casinos.

To combat these threats, software developers are also doing their part. BitDefender, for example, is stepping up its game during this year’s March Madness, with new offerings to help protect sportsbetters.

Players should examine all of their options before registering, to ensure a safe and prosperous experience.

Get it? Great.

Now go play.

Titan Poker, one of the best (and coolest) online poker websites out there, will be hosting a major $1 million event this coming weekend.

If you want to play, there are a few ways to enter. One, of course, is to buy in directly for $535. Check it out by going to www.titanpoker.com.

Other promotions that Titan Poker is currently running include the Fort Knox Jackpot SitnGo Tournaments, which are six player tournaments that have $50 + $9 buy-ins, and when a player wins six tournaments in a row he will win a progressive jackpot.

There’s also a $750 compensation prize for any player that finishes in either 1st or 2nd position in six consecutive tournaments.

The group is also running a $50K rake race this month. There is one race available for cash players and another for tournament players. All VIP Bronze players and new players will receive double prizes if they make the money.

Not everyone in the U.S. knows about Titan Poker, but that will likely change as more and more players check it out.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

If you are new to Titan Poker: Don’t forget, when you download Titan Poker, add in your Titan Poker bonus code. This is very important, say officials at Titan Poker, as you are entitled to a bonus when you begin playing poker.

Now, I’ve heard everything.

Some idiot scientist now claims that a pre-disposition to gambling (which I enjoy, by the way) may be caused by a gene.

This was recently reported on CNN.

The scientist is calling the gene D-2 receptor. And it is said that the gene is stimulated by the use of substances beyond moderation.

Drinking, maybe I can believe. But a love of gambling. C’mon.

This is the stuff that pisses me off. Let scientists discover a cure for cancer, OK?

I think they’re pushing towards considering problem gambling a treatable disorder, like the flu or something.

Scientists are already postulating a relationship between dopamine production and compulsive gambling. The new study goes even further to alleviate concern that online gambling or the proliferation of gaming outlets and casinos leads to increasing numbers of problem gamblers, and makes those asserting that certain forms of gaming are “the crack cocaine” of gambling to appear the fool.

Translation: if you have the gene then you are predisposed to heavy gambling. If not, have a ball. Don’t worry, be happy.

What a bunch of crap.

What do you think?

Robert J. Summers

Gambling is one of the most fun activities that you can engage in. Of course, as with most anything else, you need to follow some guidelines which will help you get the most of the activity. I read an interesting feature at Buffalo News by Robert J. Summers, where he laid out the 12 Commandments of Gambling. I think you’ll like it too. Here’s the low down.

1.Get real.
2. Build a separate bankroll.
3.Risk not thy whole wad.
4.Pace thyself.
5. Don’t drink alcohol and gamble.
6. Don’t drink too much and get off the bus at the wrong casino.
7. Set loss limits and “win” goals.
8. Press when you win, stay when you lose.
9. Get good at something.
10. Keep it down, buddy.
11. Don’t be afraid to quit while you’re ahead.
12. Be even less afraid to quit while you’re behind.

Most of these are common sense, if you think about it, but we all need to be reminded of even the most obvious things every now and then. Of the 12, I think that I could use most work on pacing myself. You see, I tend to get overexcited when faced with the prospect of spending time in a casino. More so, when I think of the possibilities of winning, I sometimes lose sight of the long term. Another point I can work on is quitting while ahead. I don’t know about you but there is something good about winning and walking away from it all can be a tad difficult.

Which of the commandments do you think you need to work on the most?

In the previous post, we talked about some things that you should consider when playing at any casino. While some people take these things for granted, there are those who are totally clueless and, without having any bad intentions, end up pissing other casino patrons off. In order to avoid that, here are more tips for good gambling etiquette.

Love playing craps? Make sure that you are above suspicion by rolling the dice in such a way that they hit the back wall of the table. There are really no clear and cut rules regarding this BUT it is a good way of assuring that the rolls are random.

How about blackjack? If the table you are playing blackjack at deals cards face up, do refrain from the urge (yeah, I understand that it can be a strong urge) to touch them. As a matter of fact, in the old days, casino dealers used to smack the hands of blackjack players who touched the cards dealt face up. Lucky for us, this is not the norm anymore. Still, face up cards should be left as they are when they are dealt.

Still on the subject of blackjack….Technically, you can join a table at any point in the game. However, it is just polite to ask the existing players if they would prefer that you join after the shoe ends. Again, there are no rules about this, but some people prefer that new players join when the cards are shuffled yet again.

That’s it. Don’t forget to smile and say thank you and please! 

Gambling is supposed to be fun for everyone involved. Nothing ruins a good night of gambling at the casino than a person who is obnoxious, rude, and thinks of only himself. Oh, but we know that in real life, we are bound to run across these people. In fact, I have to say that most every time I go to the casino, I see at least one person like this. Then again, it does not mean that I want to be like that person! To avoid being that person that everyone hates, read and follow these tips.

Don’t hog the machines.
The more machines you play, the more chances you have of winning right? I am talking about video poker machines, slot machines, and other similar games. When there aren’t too many people around, I guess it is fine to play two, three, or even more machines. But when people start coming in, do give the others a chance. Just because you got there first does not mean you should hog all the machines to yourself!

Make your breaks short or give up your seat at the table.
If you are in for a long night (or day) of gambling, the chances are that you would take breaks every now and then. This is but normal and acceptable. A quick run to the washroom is fine. But if you are planning on eating a leisurely lunch, you might want to give up your spot and let other people play.

When playing roulette, don’t be too eager to place your next bet.
I know that placing bets is exciting, but you might want to wait for the dealer to finish the payout and remove the marker off the winning number before you throw your bet down. This will help prevent possible confusion and the dealer will thank you for it.

(to be continued)

I have been dubbed a control freak here and there. Naturally, I would balk at the label; but if I think that if I thought about it more, I would probably see some truth in that statement. And speaking of control, I read a really old article about gambling, which really made sense to me.

The article is from The Metro and states:

The key to being a successful gambler lies in the word ‘control.’
When you have control over your gambling, your visit to the casino (online or otherwise) can be an entertaining and hopefully a profitable experience.

I couldn’t agree more! Control is a very important thing is most any activity, and gambling not an exception.
If you have self-control, then you will not only avoid gambling problems but you would also increase your winnings in the long run. Here are some concrete ways by which control can do this.
If you have self-control, you will NOT chase your losses. You will know, at the outset, how long you will play, and how much you will spend on gambling. You will not be tempted to continue playing through your losing streak just because you know “in your heart” that you will break that streak and recoup your losses. Instead, you will stand up, call it a night, and come back another day.

If you have self-control, you will spend time and effort to hone and sharpen your skills continuously. You will not just jump into the water and hope that Lady Luck will grace you with a kiss. Instead, you will learn the basics of whatever game you want to play. You will go one step further and learn the advance strategies and techniques that will give you the edge to win.

So what’s wrong about being a control freak?

You can bet on most anything these days, and American Idol is not exempt from this. To be honest with you, if you had asked me about American Idol about a month ago, I wouldn’t have been able to answer you. It is a bit different now, and I have to admit, I am kind of hooked on the show. It is the first time that I have followed the show and it is actually pretty entertaining. Add to that the excitement of betting and you have a winner!

As of today, there are only 8 contestants left in the show. Pretty soon, we will be watching the last couple of singers there and hearing about the new American Idol. Gamblers are now placing their bets as to who will be in American Idol’s final three, and who will be the next American Idol.

According to some Vegas gamblers, the top three will be Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey, and Kris Allen. Adam Lambert is the favorite when it comes to the ultimate winner.

So when it comes to betting on these people, you will not probably win much if you bet on Adam Lambert. This guy’s just good – and that is an understatement if anything. I would actually place my bet on the two other guys since they have an impressive fan base and they are actually good as well. Another thing to consider is Allison Iraheta, the 16-year-old girl who sounds like she has been singing forever. Perhap, the judges will use their single “save” of the season on her, and keep her in the running.

So who’s your bet for the next American Idol?

You might be wondering what a gambling list is. You might even look it up online. I am not sure if you will find something using exactly that term but I am sure that you will find articles and tips to that effect. What I mean by a gambling list is a list of specific points that you consider requisites before you engage in a gambling activity.

For example, you have to have a certain figure when it comes to the odds. Or maybe, you need the house edge to be at a certain percentage. And so on.

Now why would anyone need a gambling list? I can think of a thousand and one reasons but let me stick to the most important one.

As you may already know, there are so many gambling activities that you can engage in. You can play table games such as poker and blackjack – and there are countless varieties of each game. You can play the video versions of these games – and again, there are a myriad varieties of each. There are also other gambling events such as sports betting; name a sport, you have a gambling event.

So, with all these, you need to have a criteria that will help you determine which event you should spend your money on. Otherwise, the risk might not be worth it and you will end up losing more money that you can afford. And that, I am sure, will be a problem.

Do you make it a habit to make resolutions at the start of each year?  I have long ago given up on this as I would normally forget about my goals midway through the year.  However, I do realize that setting goals are important and it really is up to me to follow through.  This year, I am going back to this old habit, with the hopes of being more successful in achieving them.

One area wherein I want to make goals is with respect to gambling.  It is very easy to get way too engaged in gambling and I want to make sure that I go about this hobby in the best possible way.  Here are some resolutions that I have in mind.

Set aside a specific amount each month
Every time I get my pay, I will now set aside a limited budget which I can spend solely on gambling.  This will serve me two ways – I can gamble all I want as long as I am within the budget and I will not be able to touch money that has been set aside for other purposes.

Make a log of all my gambling expenses
This will help me track exactly how much I spend on gambling and this will also make it easy to detect if I am spending too much.  On another note, it will also help if I ever have to file tax papers due to gambling wins.

Learn more about a game that I do not play much
I tend to focus on those games that I am well versed in and I think that this is a good idea.  However, I would like to expand my horizons a bit and learn something new or at least hone my skills in something that I do not normally play.

How about you, what are your gambling resolutions this year?