Scratch And Win With Ease

The lottery companies around the world have a variety of ways to take your money without giving anything back. Cracking t heir strategic code seems hard, but it's not only possible, it's easier than most people realize. The reason why most people aren't chasing serious money with lotto companies is because they give up long before they realize that strategy is how you rise up the ranks of making money. For instance, did you know that scratch and win games have better odds than all other lotto games? The majority of lotto companies leave scratchers as impulse items made to entice you with quick gameplay, and easy options. The easier the game, the lower the prize, but once you get hooked with winning once, you will most likely come back and by that time, you won't be winning much. You could change the course though; it's a matter of looking at several pieces of information.

First and foremost you need to realize that most options are meant to emulate real world casino like games. With that in mind, do not play anything that resembles a slot machine. If you are selecting only 3 boxes and the prize is embedded in the ticket somewhere, do not purchase that game. You are guaranteed to lose 99% of the time.

Second, make sure that you look at all the games. If your local retailer does not allow you to see them, then be nice and ask politely to look at the tickets available. Tell them that you just want to make sure to purchase the right one. If they are friendly, ask which ones are selling the most, and which ones seem to get returned winners often. You'll find insight from them that the average player won't, and once you have the info you need, you're ready to pounce and will gain serious money.

The last step that you're going to want to take is something that very little people do and that's not scratch right away. After you've purchased your game piece, leave it alone for a short amount of time. Get your mind right, relax, and pay attention to what you're doing. If you win, take note of how you got there on the map of your ticket. Take notes, and remember the same steps for next time. Most people don't realize this, but there are usually patterns in the games and once discovered, those same patterns can be exploited time and time again. Take that information all the way to the bank.

Winning The Lottery - The Quantum Leap

From A Double Million Dollar Lottery Winner

Intro

Yes, I have won the lottery - Twice. And no, I do not play lotto the way 99% of the population plays. Perhaps equally important is the fact that very few months go by without me having at least a small win of some kind.

My larger wins include: $1,374,196, $1,008,742, $76,500, $19,612, $15,569, $15,334, $12,565, $10,658, $7,751 and $5,554 - and we will tell you where you can see proof later.

But first, a dose of realism. These wins have been over a period of 6 years - so obviously we do not win every week. Anyone who promises you the secret to winning lotto every week is peddling snake oil - no ifs, no buts. What IS possible is a regular small win of $20-$100, plus a lotto strategy technique that significantly boosts your chances of winning the big one. So what do we do that is different?

ORGANIZE The Lotto Numbers

We ORGANIZE the lotto numbers - rather than try to PICK the numbers. This is the Quantum Leap that has dramatically "improved our luck." Despite over a 100 hundred years of proof that no-one can PICK the 6 winning lotto numbers, most players continue with an approach that has never worked!

Making sure you have all 6 winning lotto numbers is incredibly simple - Play ALL of the lottery numbers! Not rocket science, but it will get more complicated. At its simplest, playing the following multiple entries in any 49-number, Pick-6 lottery GUARANTEES you have ALL the winning lotto numbers somewhere in your overall entry:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20

21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29-30

31-32-33-34-35-36-37-38-39-40

1-41-42-43-44-45-46-49-48-49

As you will see later, we do NOT recommend playing like this - it is presented for simplicity, so that you can see the concept. Later, we will show you a much better approach.

Your big objection is probably that there are TEN numbers, not six. Again, part of our lotto strategy, and in this article we show you two ways to use 10-number entries.

Match Your Outlay to the Lotto Jackpot

A fact most lotto players miss - The cost of playing and the odds of winning are the same - whether you are playing for $1 Million or $100 Million. At $1 million, I would be playing alone, with a $30-$50 outlay only. At $100 Million, I would still be playing with a $30-$50 outlay BUT would join with 19 others so that our collective stake is $600 - $1,000. No-one pays more money than they can afford - but by pooling our efforts we can organize a bigger, smarter entry.

Lottery Systems

Since the cost of playing lotto differs around the world, this has to be a generic overview. Remember that 10-number lotto entry? Well, at an individual level, we need a "cut-price" way to play. A "full" Lotto system 10 requires you to play 210 games (that is how many 6-number combinations there are in 10 numbers).

For 5 sets of 10 numbers, that is 1,050 games in total - within the price range of 20-30 people pooling their efforts for a massive jackpot.

However, well outside the individual play budget we recommend ($20-$50 per week). But - if you view your 10 numbers as 5 pairs, any 3 pairs from 5 pairs can be totally covered in just 10 games, or 50 games overall. So, if 3 of your 5 pairs include the 6 winning lotto numbers - you have hit the lotto jackpot!

The Cooperative Approach

The "Cooperative Approach" has been a cornerstone of our success. When the lotto jackpot is peanuts, we all play alone. When the jackpot starts to swell, we come together and pool our resources for a concerted attack.

You can do this as a family, a workplace collective, or ask your lotto agent to organize a Group Entry.

With $100 Million on offer, 20 people still get to take home $5 Million each. Strange as it may seem, $5 Million is better for your health and well-being than one person winning $100 Million - but that is a whole new article (if you don't believe me, Google what has happened to winners of massive lotto jackpots).

In any other sphere of life we recognize the value of pooling resources and a cooperative approach to problem solving. Not when playing lotto. The lottery could change your life - isn't it time to take a smarter approach than, "I want it all!"

Understand The Game

Can you tell me the exact odds of winning the game you personally play? Most people have either no idea, or only a vague idea. That is a bit like buying one golf club, one ball, heading off to the Golf Club - and expecting to hit a hole in one, without a single lesson! Learn about your lottery - we will give you some tips below - the more you know, the better you go.

Odd and Even Lotto Numbers

Odd and Even lotto number patterns are interesting. Did you know that a lotto result that has 3-odd + 3-even numbers is around THIRTY times more likely to come out than a lottery result that has 6 numbers all even or all odd?

As an example, let's take 1,000 results from the New Jersey 6-49 Lottery. 334 games ended with 3-odd numbers + 3 even numbers - a result you can expect, on average 1 week in 3. Two Odd + Four Even numbers accounted for 224 of the 1,000 New Jersey lotto results, and Four Odd + Two Even numbers accounted for 233 of the 1,000 results.

These three result types accounted for 791 of the 1,000 games - almost an 8 weeks out of 10 occurrence!

In contrast, only 10 games had all odd numbers, and only 10 games had all even numbers. Out of 1,000 games!

It is this kind of "Lotto Intelligence" that keeps the games you play in line with the kind of results of results that occur most regularly.

Consecutive Lottery Numbers

Again, Consecutive Lottery Numbers are interestingly. For 6-ball lotto games you should never be playing 6 numbers that include more than 3 consecutive numbers.

Taking our 1,000 results from the New Jersey 6-49 Lottery again, we see the following: 512 games had NO Consecutive numbers, and 388 had only two consecutive numbers. Between them, the two result-types accounted for 900 of the 1,000 games - or, a result you could expect, on average, 9 weeks out of 10!

This of course is for a 6-number result. If we were playing 5 sets of 10, I would suggest allowing up to 3 consecutive numbers in any 10, but no more.

Lottery Number Sectors

In choosing our lotto numbers, we divide the total lotto numbers into 3 sectors. For a 6-from-49 lottery, this is 1 to 16, 17 to 32, and 33-49. For most weeks, the 6 winning numbers will include between 1 and 3 numbers from each sector. Now, with our 10 number system we can ensure each set of 10 numbers includes 3 from each sector (with 4 from one sector). This practice of matching the games we play to the most commonly occurring result is what we call "Lottery Profiling™." First, determine from the lottery history the result that occurs most frequently - then mirror that in your lottery entry.

For our New Jersey 6-49 example, 669 of the 1,000 fit this "Profile." This is equivalent to 2 weeks out of every 3.

Conclusion

There are "smart" ways to play lotto, and there are "dumb" ways to play. To play smart, you first need to gather Intelligence about what works most often in your lottery - then you need to structure an entry that fits that Profile. The next step is to set up a "Cooperative" to pool funds for massive lotto jackpots. Finally you need a Lotto system. Talking of which, here is how we would structure the 5 System 10's we started with:

3-10-16-22-23-26-34-35-41-47

5-11-14-18-25-27-32-36-45-46

2-6-15-19-24-31-38-39-42-49

8-9-13-21-28-30-33-37-40-44

1-4-7-12-17-20-29-43-46-48

Note that each set of 10 has 5-odd and 5-even numbers (no game can be all-odd or all-even, and most of our games fall in the "Smart Play Zone™." Secondly, there are few consecutive numbers. Finally, there are 3-4 numbers from each sector. (Note that 46 has been doubled, to get 25 odd/even numbers; It was 1 in the original set).

Poker Games - Gaming Without Any Limits

Online Poker games have created a storm in the internet gaming scenario. According to the data collected, there are around 100 million poker players around the world. Acceptance of Poker gaming is quite popular these days as it is more accessible through internet. Moreover, popular TV shows such as World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker have enhanced the gaming.

Very often, poker is misinterpreted as gambling. However, these games require great expertise to defeat the opponents. Even though basic rules of poker games are simple, the player must develop an excellent capability to analyze styles of other players and plan the strategy accordingly.

Estimates reveal that many thousands of dollars are spent for poker, especially for online gaming, tournaments, buying chip sets and training courses. Some people enjoy spending real money through online casino games. There are many sites to track down how many people are engaged in poker games using real money. Online poker sites generate income by taking a percentage of money referred as 'rake 'from the player.

Online poker websites provides wide range of options to select different types of poker games. Many people wish to play poker games for entertainment or spending a few dollars. You can also prefer to bet with a small amount of money in these online games. In these games the betting limit is less when compared to live casinos.

Online poker room is a special option for entertainment within the privacy and comfort of your home. If you wish to engage in more than one game at a time, then online poker website is the right option. You don't have to wait for a seat. Just log on to the particular online poker website and start gaming instantly. Money transaction is quick and efficient to ensure flawless security for your bank account or credit card banking. If you love to proceed with online poker sites, then search for trusted websites that satisfy certain criteria.

Some poker websites offer free games for perfect entertainment. Check whether the site has an option for poker software or web-based poker interface. Clarify different methods of withdrawal and deposits provided by each website. Normally credit cards, ACH transfer, wire transfers from banks, cheques or 3rd party eWallets are supported by these websites. Similarly check whether the site is restricted in your region for gaming with money. You also have to evaluate the rake amount, game variety, bonuses, game features, graphics and usability before selecting the best poker site.

An Overview of No Deposit Bonuses In Casinos

Ever since online casinos came into existence, there has been a trend of giving bonuses to customers. There are many different types of bonuses in an online casino. Some are given when a new customer signs up with the website while others are given so that a player could just play on. A regular player is also given a bonus from time to time. Earlier, most of these bonuses were part of marketing strategies in order to attract more customers or players. However, with time these bonuses have been standardized and almost every online casino website gives bonuses to its players.

The most common types of bonuses are sign up bonuses and no deposit bonus casino. A sign up bonus is actually a one time bonus that is given to a player when joins an online casino for the first time. Most of the websites give an equal amount of money as bonus which you deposited in their account. This actually attracts a lot of people as you get double the amount of money that you deposited. At other times, you may be interested in joining a new casino website, but do trust it or think that it is not completely reliable. You may hesitate and not want to deposit money to their account straightaway. At such times, you are given a no deposit bonus so that you can familiarize yourself with the website's user interface, features and casino games.

A no deposit bonus is actually free money that is given to you by an online casino so that you can check out their premium games without depositing any money of your own. You can even win more money or deposit and risk your money if you want to. No deposit bonuses are usually given to build trust and rapport with customers. Besides trust and rapport, the main motive of an online casino in giving you this free stack of money is to keep you interested in playing. Most of the players who are given no deposit bonuses lose this money and never quit. They eventually end up making an account with their own money.

There is nothing wrong with no deposit bonuses as you can keep all your winnings that you make through this money. However, there are certain conditions that you need to fulfill in order to benefit from such bonuses. Usually, you will have to spend this free money in a stipulated time period or place minimum bets. No deposit bonus is also known as Free play bonus or Free spin bonus. Let us see two major benefits that No deposit bonuses provide to customers.

Benefits of No Deposit Bonuses in Online Casinos

1) No financial risk - You do not have to play with your own finances and therefore, your own money is not at risk. You can play with the free money being offered by the online casino.

2) Rewards - A no deposit bonus casino also ensures many rewards when a customer signs up after losing the free money. This is sort of an appreciation from the casino for playing with them even after losing the free money.

Do People Make Money Playing Online Poker?

About Online Poker

Online poker is a far more accessible game than standard land-based casino poker; you can leave when you want, stop games, withdraw when you see fit and ultimately turn up and play whenever you want to. It's still poker however, there are many adjustments that need to be made when moving from the live arena to the world of online. A frequently asked question is whether it's possible to make money playing online poker?

The short answer is yes, and considerable amounts at that. That doesn't mean that everyone makes money, quite the opposite. The vast majority lose playing online. There will be many contributing factors and I would argue that a large number of these players would lose playing live also. The fact of the matter is that a lot of these players wouldn't play live as they don;t have confidence in their game and in most cases, that's probably justified. In playing online, there is the benefit of player anonymity. Rather than hide behind the fact that you don't need to look into a players eyes when you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar or make a cringeworthy play, it's important to apply the same level of control to your game and emotions.

The fact that only a small proportion of players make any money online, begs the question, why? Simple, as they take the time to learn the game. Here are some simple things that you can do to improve your online game.

Bankroll Management..

One of the most important aspects of playing online poker is that you need to make sure you are well bankrolled and this means having a large stack of cash or chips to fall back on should you run bad. The game sees continual swings and with the element of luck the game brings, more often than not the end result won't go your way, even when you're an enormous favorite for it to do so. The business aspect of gambling is no different when playing online poker. The fact that there are virtual chips doesn't make the money any less real.

Now that we understand that you will sometimes lose as an overwhelming favorite and fluke cards to win when you appeared to be dead in the water, we must protect against these runs. To do this you should limit yourself to not taking more than 10% of your bankroll to the table at any one time (or buying into a tournament at more than 10% of your bankroll). This will mean that when you have a bad run you don't go broke. Remember, it's easier to part with virtual chips than real cash.

Find an attractive welcome bonus..

Most companies offer some sort of bonus or promotion to get your business and online poker rooms are no different. Regardless of how much you play, you have nothing to lose. With most bonuses, the more poker you play, the more you earn. Most online sites offer freerolls for new players and this can be a great way to help build your bankroll.

Don't worry about affiliate links on sites advertising poker rooms. They don't take a cut of anything you would get. They are paid directly from the poker room for referring your business (which is separate from your bonus offer).

Play Games and excel..

There are many variants of online poker that can be played. Obviously it should be fairly clear that you should not take unnecessary risks playing any online poker game that you aren't familiar with, especially for cash. Learn a game and excel at it before you branch out. If you try to take on too many games at once, you will likely never be successful at any of them, not really a trait of winning players. Use the free tables to practice games and do your homework. Watch televised shows and read books on the game. If you do play for cash, start low and crush the game at that level before moving up - always know when to call it quits. It is critical that you don't wager more than you can afford and if a good winning streak comes to an end and you lose a few hands, understand that it is okay to pull out.

Make decisions for a reason..

This is an important one and one that is often overlooked. I see new players online who try to emulate the type of poker they see on TV without knowing why the're playing that way. If you're going to raise a pot, have a plan. What do you do if they call? How many bullets are you going to fire at the pot? Take calculated risks, never make a play unless you know why you're making the play. Raising every hand as you see other people do it isn't going to reward you, you will be playing too many hands and will need to be continuation betting a lot to make any money. Up against good players this isn't going to be a good move as they will be wise to your moves pretty quick.

Understand your opponents and have a plan as to which players you're going to avoid, which ones to target and what your starting hand requirements are. Your game needs the same control and discipline as it would in a live game.

Practice, Practice, Practice..

Mastering any subject takes time, fact. Don't expect to take to the tables and instantly crush the game, this isn't generally how it works. The same is true for any sport or game, and even the top players put in the grind to get to the level they play at. Much of poker is instinctive and this instinct is nurtured over time.

Additionally, you will need to constantly make adjustments to your game. If something isn't working, recognize that something isn't right and look to put it right. There are too many players that just press on in the hope that things will turn themselves around, nine times out of 10, they don't! They just become another losing statistic. Practice your game and keep learning and adjusting until you are playing a winning game.

A final thought..

Hopefully these tips will help keep you on the right track. Remember that you'll be up against players that have considerably more experience than you. Playing online allows you to track players and use tools that are available to help your game. Make use of these tools and keep notes on players, in the event you run into them in the future, they'll prove useful.

How to Survive Being A Lottery Winner

In recent weeks, both the British National Lottery and the Euromillions prize draw have produced more millionaires as a result of players winning large jackpots. One lucky player in the British National Lottery for example won more than £6 million and a winner in the European prize draw received over £37 million. In other draws other players have won much higher amounts, indeed these two lotteries have between them already created several thousand millionaires. Other global lotteries have a similar track record.

Such examples create hope in many people, knowing that winning such a prize would change lives, but we have all heard of situations where suddenly receiving such large sums of money has created problems for the winners. So what should a lottery player do if he or she suddenly finds they have scooped the top prize?

1. Check The Ticket

This might sound obvious, but there have been recent examples of players thinking they have won huge amounts only to find their ticket was for the previous week or they had misread one number. The best way to do this is to check the website of the appropriate lottery administrator.

Many winners admit they have checked several sources before believing they had actually won.

2. Hold On To That Ticket

That small slip of paper is now worth money. Lottery administrators need to see the ticket so find a safe place to keep it. It does not need to be placed with the bank but somewhere secure and where you can find it easily.

Many winners simply keep it in their wallet or purse or in a hidden strong box at home. Others have found more unusual hiding places, such as in a Bible, freezer or in a clock.

The key is to be able to find it again. Imagine how you would feel if you lost a winning ticket!

Winners of smaller prizes should then take the ticket to the shop where they bought it but those with larger wins need to call the lottery administrator using the telephone number on the rear of the ticket. If you are a member of a syndicate the administrator of the syndicate will contact you.

Lottery administrator companies are generally experienced in dealing with big wins so will have a professional team ready to help you. Usually you will visit a regional office where experts will be ready to assist you.

3. Do You Make Your Win Public?

This is a key question. The largest win in the Euromillions prize draw was £161 million won by Colin and Chris Weir in July 2011. They chose to go public with their win but later had to spend some time in hiding to avoid the attention. Another winner earlier this year won £113 million and nobody knows who they were. My personal choice would be to stay quiet.

Winners in Israel and the Far East have started to wear masks to preserve their anonymity.

Again, a lottery administrator will advise you and will respect your decision.

4. Get Good Financial Advice

Handling a large amount of money actually takes some skill. The first step would be to open a specific bank account to receive the lottery funds electronically; one of the first experts you will see is a bank official. Wise lottery winners will also seek out a recommended and independent financial advisor who will look after the money for you and look after the day-to-day administration of your money so you feel under less pressure.

5. What To Do With The Money?

Of course everyone has a different idea of what they want to do but lottery administrators advise winners to immediately take a holiday. The purpose of this is to give you time to relax and get used to the idea of the change in your life. Having a break will help you relax and enable you to make rational decisions about the future. Not rushing into changes usually means lottery winners enjoy their good fortune better.

Another benefit of a holiday is that it enables any excitement about your win to die down. If their are any begging letters and calls you can employ someone to look after them and have your post redirected while you are away. The lottery administrators already have staff trained to do this.

Would you leave work? This is often the first decision people make and is often not as clear-cut as you would think.

A winner of the French Loto draw called simply 'Alexandre' did leave his job but then promptly bought the transport company for which he had worked and saved it from financial collapse.

A supermarket worker won a jackpot of more than £2 million in the British National Lottery three years ago. However Nicky Cusack decided she missed her colleagues and went back to stacking shelves.

6. Enjoy Yourself

Making a lottery win fun makes all the difference. Being stupid with the money won't make you happy and there is a lot of good you can do with it but everyone is allowed to treat themselves a little.

Of course it depends on how much you win, but getting that dream car or house would be great if you had the money so why not? With that out of your system you can then think what to do with the balance but don't forget investing your money responsibly or giving some to those who need it can be fun too.

There is extensive experienced and professional help now available to lottery winners so there is no reason why the experience should be at all stressful. Why not sit back and dream a little about what you would do if you won the lottery? Then buy your tickets and with luck you will be able to put this advice into action.

Keith Braithwaite has had twenty years in and keenly observing direct selling. He is an accredited affiliate in several lottery organizations. Other passions include personal development, painting, drawing, photography cycling, walking and the outdoors generally.

Objectives of Poker and How to Play Texas Holdem

Poker is probably the most popular of all card games in existence, thanks in part to an exciting format, huge sums of money that is regularly on offer, and the swings and roundabouts that come with a game with an element of luck. Even with an element of luck, playing winning poker takes a good amount of skill and some time to master. This guide will take you through some of the basics poker rules and also more generally, how to play poker.

First of all, let's consider what the objectives of poker are in a game of poker. The objective of most is to win money. To do that, players would need to eithermake it to showdown with the best 5 card hand OR force everyone else out of the hand, thus winning the pot. Most games are played against the same standard ranking of hands however, there are a few variants that use slight variations to this standard. For this article we will focus on Texas Hold'em mainly as it's the most popular game and a good place to start out as a new player.

Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em is the party favourite and carries the most traffic, both live and online. It is the game that is featured in most major poker tournaments or televised cash games.

It's known as a community card game for the reason that there are shared cards that are used by all players, when trying to make their best 5 card hand. In short, each player will get two private cards, dealt face down, better known as hole cards. These cards are only seen by the player they are dealt to. Throughout the game there will be a number of betting rounds and 5 community or shared cards that will be dealt. These cards are dealt face up. Players will try to make the best 5 card hand using any combination of the 7 available cards to them (2 private cards and 5 shared cards). This same principle applies across all poker games.

Something that makes the game really unique is that a player doesn't have to have the best hand to win. Imagine you've got ten people and gave them one card each and told them to race up a hill. The person who got up there would be first, automatically winning. If there was a tie, the two players would hold up the card they were given and the highest card would win. Poker is similar in principle. The player who stays in the hand all the way and has the best hand would take down the pot. If there is only one person who makes it up the hill or who stays in the hand, they would be the winner, regardless of the card or hand they held. So if only one made it to the top of the hill, he would win, no matter his hand.

Structure of the Game

Ok, let's look at how the game is actually played. When starting a game, it's normal for each player to be dealt a card. The highest card gets the dealer button or button. The button acts as an indicator as to who is dealt cards first, and also who posts the blinds. The blinds are automatic bets that are made to ensure each pot has some money to play for (or there would be no incentive to play anything but the top hands). The blinds consist of two automatic bets, the small blind, posted by the player to the immediate left of the button, and the big blind, the player two seats to the left of the button. The small blind is usually half of the value of the big blind. Once these bets are posted, all players are dealt 2 cards face down.

Players will now need to decide whether to play the hand or not, starting with the player to the left of the big blind (or 3 left of the dealer button). This would, in large, be down to the two cards the player has been dealt (although there are other factors which I will cover separately). A player has the choice to call, fold or raise. Here are definitions for each action:

Fold- to throw your cards into the muck and take no further part in the hand. By doing so, you lose your stake in the pot.

Call- to match the highest bet made so far. If the highest bet is the big blind, then that must be matched to stay in the hand. If a player raises, all other players will need to 'call the raise' or match it, to stay in the hand.

Raise- this would be a bet that would be more than the big blind and a sign of strength (a good hand). If a player was to raise and all other players folded, he will win the pot by default, regardless of the strength of his hand.

So play moves clockwise around the table until all players have either called, raised or folded.

Once all players have completed this initial betting round, the first three community or shared cards are dealt. These are dealt face up on the table. The first 3 cards dealt in Hold'em are known as 'the flop'. All shared cards that are dealt are known as board cards or referred to as 'the board'. At this stage, players will be trying to assemble their best 5 card hand from the 2 in their hand and the 3 on the board. Some players might already have made their hand and others might need cards, still to come, to make their hand. Either way, with 2 shared cards still to come, players will have a good indication as to the strength of their holding and their chances of hitting one of the cards they may need.

A second betting round now takes place and again players, moving clockwise, have the choice to fold their cards, call or raise. Once this betting round is complete, a fourth community card is dealt face up, otherwise known as 'the turn', 'the turn card' or 'fourth street'. There is then a third betting round with all remaining players and then a fifth and final card (known as 'fifth street' or the 'river card') is dealt to the board, again face up (all shared cards are dealt face up). There is one final found of betting, conducted in the same manner as the previous rounds, and then the showdown.

During each betting round, it is usual for some players to fold their hand, either as the betting is too much for the strength of hand they have, or they fail to hit their cards needed to make a strong hand. At showdown, any player left in the hand would turn over their hole cards to reveal their hand. The best 5 card poker hand wins the pot (which would be a collection of blinds and all bets).

Key additional Points

- If all players fold, leaving one player in the hand, the hand ends there and the remaining player wins the hand.

- If a player is all in (.i.e. has bet all his available chips, he would only be able to win the same amount that had been wagered from each player in the hand). If players who had more than the all-in player continued to bet, a side pot would be formed.

- If two players have the same hand at showdown, the winner is determined by the best kicker. For instance if player 1 has the hand A-A-2-3-4 and player 2 had A-A-2-3-8, both players would have a pair of aces but player 2 would have the next highest card, the 8 (compared with player 1 who's next highest is a 4). Ace is the highest kicker possible.

Where Can I Gamble Online - Safely?

There are very few people who do not like to gamble at least once in a while. It is not only fun, but can be a great way to make a few extra dollars on a small investment. Well, that is depending on the game you play and your level of skill. Although many casinos exist around the United States, the online world has made gambling convenient with the introduction of online casinos. In 1996 there were a mere 15 websites--this number has now grown to 1,400 and counting. Yet, the most important question on everyone's mind is "Where can I gamble online?" There are many factors you should--and must--take into consideration when choosing an online casino. Read on to discover what these all important factors are.

1. The Law

This is where gambling online becomes complicated. Since November 2002 there have been numerous court cases and rulings involving online gambling. Although the Federal Department of Justice has made rulings, what it comes down to at this point in time are the rules of the particular state you live in. If a bet or wager is made online in the state in which you reside and in that state it is illegal to make online bets or wagers, then the state can--and has been known to--seize the profits.

You may also be indicted for illegal gambling, even though it is online. So rule number one: before gambling online in your state, check with your local laws to ensure it is legal.

2. Read Reviews

You might have found an enticing online casino via a directory. However, you want to make sure it is a reputable casino. With most casinos you have to download the software for the casino before you can actually play the games they offer. This means using your credit or debit card multiple times. Although most online casinos are reputable, it is not always safe to give your credit card information repeatedly.

3. Security Measures

The most trustworthy online gambling casinos are those that belong to a large online gambling corporation. One of the best is Belle Rock Entertainment. Not only does this company have many years of happy customers, but a strong financial foundation. This means you are sure to receive your winnings. They also provide an extremely secure platform to make sure their players have no doubt when it comes to safety.

Some security measures include access to account records, asking for secret passwords only you would know and questions and answers to verify it is you who is playing. These are some of the things to look for when choosing an online gambling casino.

4. The Software

There are certain software companies who provide you with the best games and security. Knowing the names of these software companies is a great help when trying to locate the best online gambling casinos. MicroGaming is definitely one of the best, being the most popular. Not only do they offer multiple varieties of Blackjack, they also have numerous other games, including progressive slots.

Boss Media is another software leader, with their games being fast and easy to play. It offers one of the best Blackjack games around, and payout is fast and uncomplicated.

Playtech is another of the best around. This software offers multiple games to suit the needs of any online gambler, and a video poker game with a jackpot to make playing worth your while.

5. Top Recommendations

Now that we have covered some of the factors you should consider, here are some of the most reputable online gambling casinos for you to visit. Thus your answer to that all important question of "where can I gamble online"?:

Las Vegas USA Casino is fairly new, but caters mainly to players in the United States and has an excellent payout rate--97 percent.

The Gaming Club Casino is an oldie but a goodie, having been around since 1995. They pay in both US dollars and pounds, offer more than 100 games and have a payout rate of more than 96 percent.

Sun Palace Casino is perhaps one of the most impressive online casinos, offering a welcome bonus of up to $500 dollars in cash for opening an account to gamble with real money.

With a 97 percent payout rate, Captain Cooks Casino offers 83 different games, paying in US dollars.

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Omaha Poker Rules and Game Structure

The rules of Omaha Poker are not too dis-similar from that of Texas Hold'em. For starters they are both from the same family of card games, better known as community card games. The principle difference between Omaha Poker and Hold'em lies with the number of hole cards that each player receives. The betting rounds and order of play are all the same as in Hold'em.

Omaha Poker Overview and basics

As in most poker games, the aim of the game is to make the best five card hand, from the combination of hole cards and community cards on offer. In Hold'em, players would do this using any combination of their two hole cards and the five that are dealt to the board. In Omaha, each player is dealt four hole cards instead of two and must use two of their hole cards in combination with three from the board.

For those used to playing Hold'em, the additional two hole cards gives players a greater chance of hitting a big hand, and so devalues the standard ranking of hands. In short this means you would likely need a stronger hand in Omaha to take down the pot (as players will be hitting bigger hands more frequently). If you are making the transition from Hold'em, you need to take this into account when determining your starting hand requirements.

Game Play & betting Structure

Before getting started, you will need a deck of cards, a dealer button and items to bet with. Shuffle the deck and deal everyone a card. The highest card takes the dealer button. You will need to agree a blind structure for your game, which can be incremental or static. For the purposes of this guide, let's assume the blinds are 0.50 - 1.

Before any cards are dealt, the player to the immediate left of the button should post the small blind of 0.50 and the player to his left, the big blind of 1. These are automatic bets that are made, regardless of whether players choose to play their hand, and ensures there is incentive in every pot. The button will move clockwise round the table, ensuring every player gets a chance to post the blinds.

The initial deal is four cards, face down, to each player. Then moving round the table clockwise (starting from the player to the left of the big blind), players would decide whether to play the hand or not. As in Hold'em, each player has the chance to:

Fold - choose not to play the hand. By folding, they exit the hand at this point and play no further part in the hand.

Call - a player would be said to 'call' when they match the largest bet made. If no bet has been made, they would match the value of the big blind.

Raise - bet more than the big blind, an amount which other players would need to at least match to stay in the hand.

Once each player has made their decision on whether to play or not, the first three cards, known as 'the flop', are dealt to the board. These are shared cards used by all players and are dealt face up. At this point, players will be able to use their best two hole cards with the three on the board, to make the best possible five card hand.

There is then another round of betting, and again players must decide based on the cards available, whether to continue in the hand. Once all players have acted, there is a fourth community card dealt, better known as 'the turn' or 'fourth street'. This is then followed by a third round of betting.

A fifth and final community card is then dealt to the board, known as 'the river' or 'fifth street'. At this stage players will know whether they have made their hand using any two hole cards and three on the board to make the best possible five card hand. There is a final round of betting, followed by showdown.

At showdown, players turn over their cards and the best hand wins the pot.

Omaha Poker Variations

There are a number of different Omaha Poker variations that are played today. Here are some of the most popular variations:

Omaha High

Omaha High is the standard game that has no betting caps, in which the best or highest hand wins the pot.

Pot Limit Omaha

The most popular is probably Pot Limit Omaha (also referred to as PLO), in which there is a betting cap, in which players can't bet more than the pot (hence the 'pot limit').

Omaha High Low Split

Also known as Omaha High Low or Omaha High Low 8 or Better. The only difference in this game is that the player with the best qualifying low hand shares the pot with the player with the best qualifying high hand. One player could win both - this is known as scooping the pot.