December 31st, 2010 by Beat Casinos, How To Beat The Casinos, www.howtobeatthecasinos.com

I’d like to wish all readers of the Beat the Casinos blog a very Happy New Year! As we leave 2010 and enter 2011, I hope that you are all looking forward to next year beginning. It’s a chance to turn over a new leaf, to change direction in life, to make plans for your future, and to make new years resolutions to follow. Last year I made a new years resolution to reduce clutter in my life, and I’ve largely acheived that. This coming year, my resolution is to seek “clarity” now that I’ve cleared a lot of clutter and baggage – so I’m really looking forward to it. No doubt I’ll toast the new year this evening with a glass or two of Champagne: a celebration that the current year is over, and that a new one is beginning.

I wish each and every reader of the Beat the Casinos blog a joyous and happy new year! Please stay safe and consume alcohol in moderation. Spend time with the love of family and friends, and have an enjoyable night! If you find yourself at a loose end, why not visit the How to Beat the Casinos forums, and offer some questions or advice? You can find the forums at http://www.howtobeatthecasinos.com/forum/.

December 30th, 2010 by Beat Casinos, How To Beat The Casinos, www.howtobeatthecasinos.com

One of my favourite games at Betfair Casino is ZERO BLACKJACK. Why is Zero Blackjack such a good game to play? Simply, it has great rules and some extra payouts additional to those found in most blackjack games, which allows this blackjack game to be considered a “zero house edge” game. Expected player return on Zero Blackjack (using perfect player strategy) is 100.00% (correct to 2 decimal places). As a casino advantage player, I love to play games which give me a real chance to win big – and Zero Blackjack does this for me. It’s a game I can highly recommend, at a highly reputable online casino.

The Zero Blackjack game is played using 8 decks of cards, re-shuffled after each round. Played just like normal Blackjack, Zero Blackjack has these additional payouts / features:

Suited Natural Blackjack
In Zero Blackjack a Suited Natural Blackjack, where the players first two cards total 21 and are of the same suit (eg Ace of Spades and Jack of Spades), pays 2:1 instead of the standard payout of 3:2 for a Blackjack. A Suited Natural Blackjack does not beat a standard Blackjack and if both the player and dealer have a Blackjack (regardless of whether it is a standard Blackjack or Suited Natural Blackjack), it is always a “push”.

5-Card 21
If at any stage the player achieves a points total of 21 having taken exactly 5 cards on the hand, the player will immediately be paid out at 2:1. A player 5-card 21 beats any dealer drawn 21, but does not beat a dealer Blackjack. The 5-card 21 rule does not apply to the dealer and therefore a dealer 5-card 21 will “push” against a player 21 with less than 5 cards.

Other blackjack rules for this game are also very favourable to the player.

Splitting
When a player is dealt two cards with equal values, with the exception of two Aces, they have the option of “splitting” them into two separate hands. In order to “split”, the initial bet has to be matched. Each hand is then played separately. If the player has two Aces they will not be offered the opportunity to split the hand. A hand can only be split once. A two card 21 total on a split is not a natural blackjack. If the hand wins it will pay even money.

Doubling Down
A player may double if their first two cards total 8,9,10 or 11. When a player doubles, only one more card is dealt and the original bet has to be matched. Essentially, the player bets the hand can be won with one more card. You can also “double down” after “splitting” a pair.

Insurance
When the dealer’s up card is an ace, the player is offered “insurance”. Taking insurance means the player makes a second bet (of half the original bet) that the dealer’s face down card is a ten card. If this is the case, the player is paid 2 to 1 on the insurance bet and the initial bet loses as it is beaten by the dealer’s Blackjack. If the dealer does not have a Blackjack, the insurance bet is lost and the hand is played out as normal.

Even Money
When the player has a Blackjack and the dealer’s up card is an Ace, the player is offered “even money”. Taking even money means the player will be paid 1 to 1 on the Blackjack and not 3 to 2 as normal. Taking even money means the player believes the dealer’s face down card is a ten card. If the player chooses not to take even money and the dealer reveals a Blackjack, both hands tie. If no even money is taken and the dealer has no Blackjack, the player is paid at 3 to 2.

Zero Blackjack at Betfair Casino gives you an excellent chance to win! Play Zero Blackjack now!

December 30th, 2010 by Beat Casinos, How To Beat The Casinos, www.howtobeatthecasinos.com

Betfair Casino offers various blackjack games on the Playtech games platform. These rules apply for the standard Blackjack game on the website. Don’t forget that Betfair Casino offers new players a 200 Pounds welcome package – or as a special incentive to join via our How To Beat The Casinos blog, we can offer VIP casino players up to 500 pounds free using THIS link only! That very special 500 Pounds VIP offer is EXCLUSIVE to How To Beat The Casinos!

The object of Blackjack is for the total of your cards to be closer to 21 than the dealer’s cards, without exceeding 21. In Blackjack, aces count as either 1 or 11, face cards as 10, and number cards at their face value. Blackjack is a beatable game in the short term if you are a skilled player and know what you are doing. I wish you the best of luck playing Blackjack at Betfair Casino – one of the fairest online casinos in the world! Here are the Betfair Blackjack rules.

If you receive an ace and a ten-value card as your first two cards, you have Blackjack and win 1.5 times your bet (if your bet was $10, you receive $25). If the total value of your cards is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, you win your bet amount (if your bet was $10, you receive $20). If the total of your cards is more than 21, you “bust” and lose your bet. If you and the dealer have the same card total (17 and up) neither of you win and your bet is returned to you in a “push”. Blackjack beats a score of 21. Betfair Blackjack follows the standard “Las Vegas Strip” rules, with the following exceptions:

After each round, used cards are returned to the deck and the deck is shuffled.

The player may not split a split hand.

Only one card is drawn to split aces.

The player may double after splitting.

The dealer will not check for Blackjack in any case.

If the player doubles and the dealer’s first card is of value 11 (ACE), and the dealer gets Blackjack, the player loses both his bets. If the dealer’s first card is of value 10, and the dealer gets Blackjack, the player gets the Double bet back.

Split
If your first two cards have the same value, you may split them into two separate hands by placing a second bet equal to the original bet. You will then draw additional cards to each hand. You may draw as many cards as you like on each split hand, but if you split two aces, you receive only one additional card for each ace. If you receive an ace and a ten-value card in a split hand, it is considered 21 and not Blackjack.

Double
If, after you are dealt your first two cards, you think that the third card will allow you to beat the dealer’s hand, you can double your bet. The bet amount becomes twice the original (with the difference taken out of your balance), and you are dealt one more card.

Insurance
If the dealer shows an Ace in his initial hand, you are given a chance to insure your bet against him having a Blackjack. If you get Insurance, an amount equal to half your original bet is placed separately on the table. If the dealer does have Blackjack, you are paid 2 to 1 on your insurance. This way you do not lose your original bet (because you get the 2x half your original bet, plus the insurance amount back). If the dealer does not have Blackjack, you lose the insurance amount, even if you end up losing.

10 Card Charlie
It is theoretically possible for the player to draw 10 cards without going bust. In this case the player’s hand automatically wins, except when the dealer has Blackjack.

Play Blackjack now at Betfair Casino!

December 29th, 2010 by Beat Casinos, How To Beat The Casinos, www.howtobeatthecasinos.com

GiftRap Slot Machine is the latest festive themed slot machine to debut at Virgin Casino. This Microgaming produced online slot machine has five reels and 25 win lines, and you can bet up to 10 coins per line. Large wins are possible, especially in the Gift Grab Bonus Game. The theoretical average return to player (RTP) of the GiftRap Slot Machine is 96.62%.

Three or more Rappin’ Jack Frost symbols must be displayed anywhere on the five reels to activate the Gift Grab bonus game. Once triggered, the Gift Grab Bonus Game will display thirty gifts. You choose Gifts to reveal random bonus win amounts, until you find a Rappin’ Jack Frost symbol. Winnings are automatically collected at the end of the Gift Grab bonus game.

You can win scatter prizes by getting three or more Scatter Spray symbols anywhere on the reels of the GiftRap Slot Machine, at anytime during gameplay. Scatter prizes are great, and the more scatter symbols you get the higher your payout. Additionally, the Wild Bauble symbol is wild, and substitutes for all other symbols except scattered Rappin’ Jack Frost and the Scatter Spray. Get lots of wilds on the reels to get lots of cash in your bank account!

As a special Christmas gift to all of my readers, I’m offering you 10GBP / 10USD / 10AUD or other currency unit equivalent based upon the currency you play in, for joining Virgin Casino or an of the other casinos you join via my blog advertisements, before 31 January, 2011 (extended from 31 December, 2010). Simply join any of the casinos (as a new player) via my blog by clicking on the advertisements you see on the Beat The Casinos blog website, make a deposit to get the maximum available matchplay (e.g. Deposit 100 to get 100 free at Virgin Casino, etc), and meet the playthrough requirements. Once you’ve done this, email me at davewestlondon@yahoo.co.uk, and I’ll arrange to send you 10 currency units of the currency you are playing in, via Paypal.

December 28th, 2010 by Beat Casinos, How To Beat The Casinos, www.howtobeatthecasinos.com

Snap yourself to happiness when you play the Crocodopolis Slot Machine at Virgin Casino. This brand new online slot machine has five reels and 25 win lines, and a bonus feature to really multiply your winnings. During the regular play, the goal is to achieve a winning combination of symbols on any of the selectable lines. Payouts depend on the bet per line played and the winning combination of symbols achieved. The theoretical average return to player (RTP) is 95.36%.

A Free Games Feature is awarded when 3 scattered PYRAMID occur on the reels. 12 Free Games are awarded during which all prizes are DOUBLED, and the Free Games Feature can be re-triggered.

The CROC symbol is wild, and substitutes for all other symbols except scattered PYRAMID. In a feature unique to this slot machine, you can “slide a wild”. Simply position the onscreen slider to move the Wild CROC to any reel (before spinning). The CROC will appear only on the reel selected. On reel 1, the prize is DOUBLED if CROC substitutes in a winning combination. On reel 2, the prize is TRIPLED if CROC substitutes in a winning combination. On reel 3, the CROC expands to cover all three positions on that reel, if there is a winning combination. On reel 4, the prize is TRIPLED if CROC substitutes in a winning combination – and the CROC expands to cover all three positions on that reel. And on reel 5, all symbols are replaced with CROC. The further along the reels you place the CROC, the less often you should expect to be paid out – but when you are paid out, the winnings can be HUGE. You decide the level of risk and return you like.

The Crocodopolis Slot Machine at Virgin Casino will give you hours of fun game play, and huge winning opportunities.

As a special Christmas gift to all of my readers, I’m offering you 10GBP / 10USD / 10AUD or other currency unit equivalent based upon the currency you play in, for joining Virgin Casino or an of the other casinos you join via my blog advertisements, before 31 January, 2011 (extended from 31 December, 2010). Simply join any of the casinos (as a new player) via my blog by clicking on the advertisements you see on the Beat The Casinos blog website, make a deposit to get the maximum available matchplay (e.g. Deposit 100 to get 100 free at Virgin Casino, etc), and meet the playthrough requirements. Once you’ve done this, email me at davewestlondon@yahoo.co.uk, and I’ll arrange to send you 10 currency units of the currency you are playing in, via Paypal.