Most of the time these bonuses hurt you more than they help. There are a few exceptions of course, but they are rare.

To understand the problem with online gambling bonuses, you have to first understand the history of bonus offers. You see, bonuses were not always a bad bet. In fact, at one time taking advantage of bonus offers would actually give you an edge over the casino or sportsbook. Once word spread, a whole new group of players emerged called “bonus hunters”. These players made a hobby of finding bonus deals, completing the wagering requirements as efficiently as possible, and then cashing out.

It didn’t take long for gambling sites to see what was going on and make changes to their bonus wagering requirements. Before, you might find a  100% up to $100 bonus with 10x wagering requirement and no game restrictions. That meant that you could deposit $100, get another $100 free, and all you had to do wager a total of $1000 ($100 x 10) to cash out. So players would play blackjack and flat bet $1 per hand for 1000 hands. Following a basic strategy chart, you could easily cash out the majority of the bonus.

Now, you’re more likely to see a 100% up to $100 bonus with a 25x wagering requirement and most games except for slots and keno restricted – meaning if you play those games while clearing the bonus, you run the risk of having your bonus and any winnings voided (ouch). Not only that, most bonuses are now “for wagering purposes only”. So when you cash out the bonus money is deducted from your balance. Doesn’t sound too player-friendly to me.

Sometimes the requirements aren’t that bad with poker rooms, bingo, and sports betting bonuses. And sometimes even with casinos you may want to claim the bonus money if all you play are slot machines. That’s because you’re usually playing for large wins that could more than cover the amount of the bonus money when you cash out.

Personally, I believe bonuses (especially casino bonuses) haven’t gotten so bad that most are not worth the hassle. However, the main lesson here is this; if you plan to bet money online and are considering taking a bonus, be sure to read and understand the terms and conditions.

While insuring your property is almost always a good bet, blackjack insurance is almost always a bad bet.

If the dealer has an Ace showing, he or she will ask if you want to “buy insurance” before the hand plays out. You may put up to half your original bet on insurance to win 2:1 if the dealer has 21. Essentially, you break even on the hand when the dealer has blackjack.

Taking insurance in blackjack is one of those things that sounds good logically. But in the end, the casino is the only one making money with it.

The reason it’s so tempting to take insurance is that basic blackjack advice is to always assume the dealer’s down card is a 10. So why is taking insurance in blackjack a bad idea? Because the odds just don’t add up.

In any single deck of cards, there are 16 cards which are have a value of Ten (10, J, Q, K, each of four suits) and 36 which don’t. So the odds of the dealer having a Ten are 36:16 or 9:4, which equals 30.77% or about 1/3 of the time. However you are only being paid out 2:1 (8:4) for a 9:4 event, so the house clearly has an edge on the insurance bet.

Some articles, books and forums bring up the fact that in certain situations where the shoe has more tens that usual, it’s to the player’s advantage to take insurance. The only way to know when that situation occurs is if you can count cards – something that is difficult to learn and get away with these days.

So take the advice that most experts agree on; always avoid taking insurance in blackjack.

When I turned 21 I was anxious to go to the casino for the first time. My father and brother made special trips a couple of times a year and I looked forward to joining the fun. When we got there I was surprised by how much money my brother was throwing around. He would walk around casually putting $100 into $5 slot machines and betting hundreds at the roulette table.

Here’s the “system” he taught me on my first trip to the casino:

You watch the roulette board and wait for a long streak of red or black hits. So let’s say black has hit 4 times in a row, you bet on red. If black hits again, you double your bet on red. You continue to do this because eventually, the ball HAS to land on red. You always end up winning double your original bet.

I would watch my brother wait for a streak of red or black hits on the roulette board. Then, he would put $100 on the opposite. If he lost he would double the bet. Sometimes the bet would get up to $800, but he always won his money back +$100.

I was shocked that beating roulette was this simple. It wasn’t until I lost over $1000 in a matter of minutes that I took the time to learn why this strategy is a bad idea.

Later that same year on vacation, a friend and I visited a casino. I was eager to test out the system my brother had shown me. Everything went great for the first half hour or so. I was up to several hundred dollars. Then my luck changed.

The roulette wheel hit black 4 times in a row so I decided to bet $100 on red. The wheel landed on black again. So I put my remaining $200 on red and it hit black yet again. I ran to the ATM to get another $400 to put on red and, to my horror, it landed on black for a 7^th time.

I felt out of control and desperate to get my money back and I just knew that the next spin would be red. I ran back to the ATM and withdrew $800 in a last ditch effort to “get even”. I put the $800 on red and watched anxiously and the wheel spun.

For once the ball didn’t land on black, it landed on 00. I was in shock and disbelief. The roulette dealers even looked like they felt sorry for me. At that point I walked out of the casino in shock, vowing to never again rely on any gambling systems.

From that point on I spent time reading about different games and how the odds work. Here’s the big problem with the “system” my brother taught me.

It was actually a mix between the Gambler’s Fallacy and the Martingale betting system. As it applies to roulette, the gambler’s fallacy is when I bet on red because black hit 4 times in a row previously.  The fact is, each spin of the roulette wheel is independent, meaning that black has just has much of a chance of being hit on the 5^th spin.

Casinos use that well-lit roulette board for a reason. They want players to believe they can predict the outcome of the next spin, when in actuality, there’s no way to do so.

Have you fallen into the trap of The Gambler’s Fallacy? Share your story with us below!

According to a 2010 survey conducted by the UK Gambling Commission, there was little or no statistically significant increase in problem gambling after they legalized online gambling.

I already suggested that the recent U.S. government crackdown on online gambling sites is a good sign of upcoming regulation. I believe regulation will be a good thing because it will result in safer gaming websites, more money for problem gambling programs, and less underage gambling.

Safer Gaming Websites

To get an idea of how regulation makes online gambling safer, I asked my friend Jim – Internet gambling expert and owner of OnlinePokerSites.co.uk – to chime in on the regulation of online gambling in the U.K. Here’s what he had to say:

Every gambling commission has its own rules, objectives and charters. For the most part though, all the major ones, specifically GRA in Gibraltar, LGA in Malta, Gambling Commission in UK, licensing bodies of Antigua, Alderney and Isle of Man, all share common objectives, each just happens to word the same objectives differently.

The three most common ones you’ll find worded one way or another are:

1) Prevent the exploitation of minors and other vulnerable persons.
2) Stop gambling from encouraging crime and disorder
3) Ensure the games are fair

The primary strategy that gambling commissions employ to achieve these objectives is strict licensing policies. A gambling site seeking a license must first pay a considerable fee.

The approval process involves rigorous background checks, close examination of financials and business plans, an interview with follow up interviews and finally a waiting period.

It’s an expensive, complex, and difficult process to get a gambling license. Of course the final stage is acceptance and approval during which the gambling site agrees to follow a code of standards which are in line with the gambling commissions objectives.

While he does go on to say that a lot of the safe guards provide little player protection. I think the most important thing to note is that regulation means having strict licensing requirements for online gaming operators. This in turn will help ensure that only legitimate gaming companies are allowed to promote within the U.S.

To read more about what goes into regulating online gambling, I suggest reading this onlinepokersites.co.uk article.

More Money for Problem Gambling Programs

Obviously, one of the biggest reasons for the government to legalize Internet gambling is more tax revenue. Besides a significant boost to the U.S. economy, legal gaming revenue would fund more problem gambling programs.

Less Underage Gambling

Most offshore gambling sites allow 18 year olds to sign up and gamble. It’s also not that difficult for a teenager to steal their parent’s credit card and id in order to gamble. With legalized online gambling, there will be more safe guards in place to prevent minors from gambling illegally.

While it may be a long time before we see legal online gambling in the U.S., I think it’s on the way. Hopefully, legalized Internet gambling will be a lot safer with more control over underage gambling. And as long as a portion of the additional gaming revenue goes to problem gambling programs, I think America will be much better off.

Do you agree or disagree? Will legalized online gambling in the U.S. make things better or worse?

Following the seizure of Pokerstars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker, prosecutors took aim at several more prominent poker sites and online sports betting sites.

Over the last month, the U.S. government’s actions have literally decimated major online gambling websites that had built their businesses accepting illegal transactions from United States citizens.

In addition to all the websites shut down by the government, nearly a dozen U.S. facing online casinos shut down, almost without warning. And while the casinos weren’t specifically targeted by the U.S. DOJ, they were promoted mostly to U.S. players.

At first glance, it looks like the United States is just following up on the UIGEA by taking a hard stand against illegal online gambling – a move that could very well decrease the number of gambling addicts in America.

But after closer examination, it’s clear to most that U.S. politicians have their own agenda, and it’s all about the money. For one, they started with poker sites.

Poker is the most popular form of gambling in America. Most people who play poker online contend that poker is a game of skill. Even most experts agree that poker does not pose the same risk for problem gamblers as casinos, lotteries, and sports betting. So why target online poker?

After the 2006 passage of the UIGEA made it illegal for gaming sites to accept money from U.S. citizens, major poker sites continued to heavily promote themselves in the U.S. media. Sure, federal prosecutors wanted to make an example of them, but they almost want to get their hands on the billions of extra dollars per year in tax revenue.

As far as the effect it will have on problem gambling; I don’t see it having a lasting benefit to people who have a problem with gambling addiction.

There are still online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites that accept U.S. players – most far less reputable than the sites targeted by the U.S. government. People who want to gamble online will ultimately find a way.

What do you think? Will the ban on Internet gambling in the U.S. stay in place, or is regulation coming? Does this move have a positive or negative impact on problem gambling in America?

Now, anyone with a computer and Internet connection can gamble on everything from casino games to sporting events.

But there are a lot of people who want to gamble but don’t trust online casinos and gambling sites. Live dealer casinos may change all that.

At live casinos, players can participate in casino games such as blackjack that are dealt from a real casino via live streaming camera.

Here’s just a tidbit of what one website about live blackjack says:

Live online gambling completely revolutionizes online blackjack. Besides all of the obvious benefits like being more fun and realistic, the live video serves a major purpose. There is no better way for an online casino to prove its legitimacy. First of all, since you can watch the cards as they are dealt, you can be sure that you are getting a fair game. Even with industry standards in place and third party testing, having to rely upon a real number generator to power your game always leaves some room for doubt.

The trust factor is one of the biggest things players look for when choosing to gamble online or not. And live dealers definitely make online casinos appear more legitimate.

Right now, there are a limited number of live casinos, but as the trend continues to grow, so will the number of new online gamblers, which in turn will increase the number of problem gamblers.

What do you think? Does having a live dealer make a casino trustworthy? Will live casinos increase the number of gambling addicts?

Contending with a billion-dollar budget shortfall, state officials are on the verge of cutting the funding source for gambling addiction services in half. And problem gambling experts fear the consequences.

Nevada currently funds problem gambling programs through taxes on slot machines. Since 2005, $2 of the taxes on each machine has flowed into a special fund dedicated to problem gambling, which supports both treatment and prevention services.

The state’s proposed budget, which is close to being passed, would halve that for the next two years.

This wouldn’t be the first time Nevada officials have raided the problem gambling account to balance the budget. Last spring, the legislature siphoned $850,000 from the fund to plug a shortfall. That left only about $448,000, which was used exclusively for gambling addiction treatment. Funding for prevention and training was cut entirely.

Addiction treatment programs are expected to receive an allotment of roughly $654,000 this year, thanks to the $1 fee, said Laurie Olson, who administers gambling grants for the state. While that is more than the slashed budget from last year, it’s still below previous years’ levels.

But prevention and training services, which received $384,000 two years ago, are once again being left out in the cold.

Shocked? Not me. Think about it. Nevada’s budget almost entirely depends on gambling revenue. By cutting services to prevent problem gambling they are killing two birds with one stone. Less money spent and more gambling revenue from problem gamblers.

What do you think? Is the Nevada state government purposely cutting these programs to earn more gaming revenue?

What should I do if i feel that I’m developing a gambling problem? I already know that i have an addictive personality. I’m an drug addict in recovery. I’ve been clean for over five years. But i’m beginning to feel that i might be creating a gambling problem. Lately i’ve been playing the pokies whenever bored and before i know it i’ve lost $ 100 when i was only intending to put $ 20 in. Should I be looking for support?

Nick, you should like a very self-aware guy. I commend you on being drug and alcohol free for the past 5 years. However, it sounds like you may be starting to swap one addiction for another. Spending more than you intend to is definitely one of the signs of gambling addiction. Some people are more genetically predisposed to addiction. And since you’ve already identified an addictive personality in your own life, it makes sense to stay away from gambling altogether.  Instead of gambling, look for another hobby that will give you enjoyment such as competitive sports.

What do you think? Post your response in the comments below!

This episode of “NIH, on the Inside,” explores gambling addiction and research being conducted at the National Institutes of Wellness to comprehend why teenagers are much more likely to take risks.
Video Rating: five / 5

A new report published right now by Juniper Study has discovered that a mixture of mobile casino, lottery and betting service launches in significant emerging markets led by China allied to liberalisation of remote gambling legislation across the US and Europe will see the scale of annual wagers on mobile gambling exceed $ 48bn by 2015.

The report studies gambling services on a country-by-country basis. It finds that, in recent years, the Japan Racing Association’s iPAT service had been responsible for the bulk of global mobile gambling transactions, with casino/betting services in the UK accounting for considerably of the remainder. Even so, the sharp surge in adoption of the mobile lottery service launched by VODone will support propel China into third location in terms of mobile gambling transactions.

Meanwhile, the US market is also poised to see the introduction of its 1st mobile lottery services. According to report author Dr Windsor Holden, “State lottery providers are anxious to explore new distribution channels, with US lottery sales from standard outlets in decline. The upshot is that many lotteries are in the latter stages of discussion with mobile technology providers with a view to launching mobile lottery services in 2011.” In addition, the report observes that impending legislative adjustments in the US may herald an opportunity for mobile casino operators in the medium term.

Other findings from the Mobile Gambling Markets report include:
End-users have eschewed multiplayer mobile gambling apps, preferring to multitask whilst playing “snacking” applications

While Apple has begun to permit gambling apps to be sold via the App Store, the majority of service providers are opting for a browser-based approach

A whitepaper exploring the mobile gambling marketplace, Excellent Odds for Mobile Gambling is accessible to download from the new Juniper Analysis website right now. To explore further functions of the new web site and to register for free of charge whitepapers/blogs, please go to http://www.juniperresearch.com.

Further details of the study ‘Mobile Gambling Markets: Casinos, Lotteries &amp Betting 2010-2015’ can be downloaded from the Juniper site.

Juniper Investigation provides study and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and business commentary.

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