There are few if any people that do not know that it’s illegal to play online poker in America, but how many of us know that the same applies to a part of the United Kingdom? This is Northern Ireland and a move is afoot to get the law changed and most, if not all, of us British poker players support their quest to have the freedom to play this great game.
The story really begins for us around 2006 when a private members club called the Cavendish Club was raided by police during a major monthly poker tournament. Police seized both club’s poker equipment and members’ cash. The club’s representatives attended a Magistrates Court to challenge the seizures and to also attempt to have poker recognised as a game of skill so that it would be an illegal activity in Northern Ireland under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act. However, their pleas fell on deaf ears as the Resident Magistrate deemed that poker was not a game of skill and is therefore illegal to play, commercially, in Northern Ireland.
It seems that it perfectly ok to play games of chance such as the lottery, or betting at the bookmakers, but they do not permit the playing of poker, which we all know has a large element of skill, psychology and mathematics involved. Some laws are very strange!
Betting on the UK’s premier horseracing festival is expected to top £25 million and much of that figure is likely to be wagered on the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Already, tips and forecasts for this major jump racing event are appearing on the internet, giving students of the sport vital information before they finally decide to chance their money on the outcome.
Before thinking about Cheltenham Gold Cup betting it is always advisable to read the various online guides. Checking out the format of the event is also helpful. Prior to the race there will have been a series of Cheltenham Gold Cup trials and it is a good idea to see how horses have performed in these before wagering money on them.
Of course, when planning to become involved in Cheltenham Gold betting it is essential to know just who the runners and riders are. These are already being published on horseracing specialist and betting websites. It is also a good idea to check who the trainers are in the event, particularly those who have achieved previous success.
Having made decisions based on the information provided, the next thing is to choose an online bookmaker with whom to place your bet; there is no shortage of bookmakers to select from. Many of these companies will also be offering free bets in a bid to entice punters to open accounts with them, so it is always worth checking these out for the best offers.
The current problems going on with the Euro throughout Europe’s Eurozone is starting to wreak havoc on casinos throughout Switzerland, especially in Ticino, which is near the Switzerland – Italy border and has the largest concentration of casinos found anywhere in Europe. While Ticino is no Las Vegas, it does have a number of casinos, include the largest in Europe.
All of this may not be as simple as it looks because employees as well as suppliers are paid in Swiss currency, Francs, while most people play the games in Euros, which has lost approximately 25 percent of their total value since the onset of 2010. While Italian players still use the same amount of Euros, the Euro crisis means much fewer Swiss Francs. There are no exact predictions for the future if the Euro crisis continues other than that the Ticino casinos will have start reducing investments and costs if the exchange rate does not start going in their favour.
Jan
18
Everyone is familiar with the game of bingo and how it is played. One of the main reasons people play bingo and try out games at all kinds of online bingo sites is that it is a fun pastime with the promise of potential winnings.
But you should also remember that it is wise to be alert at all times. You have to be focused on your computer screen and ready to spot the numbers in case they appear on your cards. This is the same as looking at your cards if you go to a traditional bingo hall. If you miss a number and you are too slow calling out to say you have won, you might miss out on a prize.
This is why alertness is so important. If you are new to bingo and you are playing online you should try a few free games first. There may be bingo games you can play for fun where there are only virtual prizes, so it does not matter much if you do not spot a number and click on it to mark it off.
Some websites do provide automatic features that cross off the numbers for you on your screen. Of course you will not get this feature if you are in a real bingo hall. This means that if you are playing online to become more familiar with the game in general, it is better to be alert than to rely on a feature that will not be present in the hall itself.
As you can see, it is wise to consider your motivations for playing bingo before you get started. If you have a budget to stick to, you want to be sure you are getting the most from every game you play, and you will if you concentrate fully.
Jan
17
A whole host of British players have been nominated for an award in the 11th edition of the European Poker Awards takes place at the Aviation Club de France on January 25th 2012 There are a total of nine categories for this year’s awards including Internet Player of the Year, Europe’s Leading Lady, Rookie of the Year, Best Tournament Performance, and the coveted Player of the Year award.
Of the six nominations for the Player of the year award two Brits, Jake Cody and Sam Trickett. They are up against Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, Eugene Katchalov, Andrey Pateychuk and World Series of Poker Main Event champion Pius Heinz. Cody and Trickett are also nominated for the Best Tournament Performance category, and the rookie of the year award see Sam Holden nominated. Victoria Coren and Liv Boeree are up for the Leading Lady award. Come the 25th January and we will find out who has been successful.