Play Craps

Craps Game

Craps has to be one of the most exciting games that take place in a casino. The fun at the table usually makes this one of the loudest games on the floor, always getting heads to turn towards the action. Craps is a game where you will find groups of players standing at a table, all participating in active bets. The game itself is pretty straightforward, you throw the dice and you simply have to guess the value of the outcome. If you don’t have your favorite craps strategy yet, it would certainly be the best practice to be equipped with the necessary knowledge about Craps strategies used and the craps bet types that are available to you. If you don’t know them, then don’t worry too much as the betting types are pretty easy to get used to and usually you have one type of bet with the next type being the exact opposite. JohnniePoker site was created to help you understand and choose the best craps strategy. You just need to get used to the game and you’ll realize just how much fun it can be!

Craps Rules

Playing craps online is a very fun alternative and it’ll give you better odds than real/offline casinos. You just need to start by getting acquainted with the people at the table — there are four who are in charge.

You have the ‘BOXMAN‘ who is the boss. The ‘boss’ sits right behind the middle of the table and is there to see and monitor everything that goes on during the craps gambling game.

Then you have ‘THE DEALERS‘. There are two dealers placed on either side of the ‘Boxman’ and they are in charge of handling players on their respective sides. Their main job is to pay the winners and withdraw chips from the losers.

There is the ‘STICKMAN‘ – the fancy guy with the stick- who is in charge of the dice. As soon as all of the bets have been placed, the ‘Stickman’ grabs sets of dice and directs them towards the shooter. At this point, the player can decide which set of dice they want to use and then will be ready to play. The player has to then roll the dice across the table and they have to hit the wall on the other side.

Everything else you need to know will be explained throughout the detailed information below. Read on and get Craps suave!

One of the best betting options in any casino is by far the game of Craps. The house edge in craps is around 1.41%and this works out at more than triple that of roulette and considerably better than slot machines. Keeping this in mind, you are more likely to get an expected return of around 99c in this game. However, to do this and get great odds, you would need to only make the best bets and avoid the “crap” ones. Delve into our Craps lessons and we will reveal all the tricks that you need to watch out for.

Here is a game that is bound to offer you heaps of entertainment, as it’s pretty normal to see and hear players shout and scream when they win at Craps.

Since this is a game where you actually roll the dice yourself, it gives you that feeling of determining whether you’re going to win or lose, you’re in control! In all other table games, you have someone else in charge of dealing you the cards or spinning the little marble. That’s why Craps is so much better!

(Read more about bet types, win rates and payouts in the Craps Bet Types section below and also the Craps Glossary at the bottom of this page)

How many different bets can you make in Craps?

There are so many different bets a player can make in Craps that if we had to try to cover them all, we would still be here explaining all of them many months down the road. So keeping this in mind, be aware that there are only a few bets that are ‘must know’, the rest aren’t worth concerning yourself with anyway. So how do you master this game? Simple, print the picture (to the right), then follow the examples below by moving the chips and a marker around on the printout. Now it’s time to get down to business and see how the game is played.

How to roll the dice?

Every player will get a turn at rolling the dice. A person that rolls is called a ‘shooter’. Whether you’re a shooter or not, you still bet on the same roll of the dice. A shooter gets to keep rolling until he actually ‘sevens out’. From here on another player gets to roll. When a player ‘sevens out’ it means they have rolled a seven at the wrong time.

What sort of game is Craps?

It’s a game of rounds. The game starts off with a Come-Out Roll meaning the first roll of a round, the round that may last for just a single roll or for several rolls, depending on the type and time of the roll. If you get mixed up, don’t worry the following Come-Out Roll would be on the way where everything starts over. When the dealer turns the hockey puck on the table to ‘OFF’ and says ‘coming out’, this would mean the game is on the verge of a come out roll, meaning a new round would be starting – awesome!

What does a Craps table look like?

The Table

All craps tables are covered in feeling, very similar to other poker or blackjack tables in a casino. On it, you will find the craps betting types that would be printed on felt. Here you will have the spaces where you can place your bets. In the center, one can find the area where One Roll Bets and Hardways can be placed. At the end of Craps’ tables, you will notice the sections where Come, Place, Pass Line, Field, and other bets are placed. Both ends of the table are identical. The normal colors of a craps table would be green felt with white lettering, however, sometimes you get casinos that would change them.

Craps Table Layout
Craps Table Layout

Who else can you spot the table?

A craps table can be spotted by the numerous number of people that stand around it, it easy enough to tell you that there is a minimum of four casino workers standing around a craps table. This will help you identify these tables even on a rather quiet night. The tables are also rather longish.

You choose which craps to play

For many online fanatics, there are many aspects they are in favor of when playing in online Craps casinos and there is much more reason they love this apart from the fact of never having to leave their home. On the other hand, however, players who spend time at offline craps casinos will tell you that the atmosphere of live craps games can simply never be matched. They also like to let it serve as an outing and they tend the find the game more realistic when dealing with live dealer craps.

Craps Online Casinos Advantages

By playing craps online there are many other advantages that online gaming brings with it. There is the mobility of giving you the chance to take your favorite craps games with you wherever you choose to go, and there is also the advantage of all craps games being as close as your computer. The play is always available to you after just a few clicks or loading time and the time that you save from traveling to physical casinos results in longer gambling sessions.

In addition, money that you would usually spend on transportation, fuel, and meals can be put towards a bigger gaming bankroll. When visiting online casinos however do not just be lured in by the welcome bonuses on offer, be sure to check out all the wagering requirements as these will obviously vary between one casino and another. It is always beneficial to look out for high bonuses and low wagering requirements because this way your chances increase. See our ranking of selected bonuses for an online casino where we combined highest welcome offer you can get when playing craps with lowest wagering requirements. That would allow you to maximize the chances to not only lose as little as possible but even to withdraw some cash.

These are our suggestions on how to start the play: Search for free no deposit bonus and play to minimize the house edge of online craps casinos.

Pick the craps strategy which will reduce the house edge to less than 1%. There are three-bet types that allow you to do this best, and these are the [passline], the [come]and [taking odds]. Ideally, if you want to increase your chances of winning at online craps we suggest placing a come bet or a new pass line bet on each roll. This is a system where you will see a lot of money going from one player to another so there will be winning days as well as losing ones. This is the system that most prolific craps betters use, a system that keeps you hot in the action with a chance for winning big while playing with the lowest house edge.

There is one alternative system that provides odds that are slightly better and you can achieve this by placing a bet that is opposite to the one we just explained above. Here you would need to place a Don’t Pass or Don’t Come bet on each roll and follow this by laying the maximum odds possible. When you lay odds don’t forget that it will cost you more than taking odds. This kind of craps strategy can drive you towards bigger swings with a higher risk.

Here you can check other winning strategies and learn all about bet types.

Number Generation

In a land-based casino, craps is a very fast game played by the throwing of a set of dice and the same notion and intense action can also be found via online craps. The same great game was invented for players who choose to play online in the virtual form using software simulators. Have a read through the below information where we speak about number generation. When a player is wagering at craps in an online casino the dice are not rolled from a physical dealer. It is a software that simulates all of the actions. When using software the outcomes have to be such that they cannot be predicted in order to ensure fairness. This is known as the random number generator (RNG), the component of the software that makes all this possible. When talking about live casinos, however, the process that generates the outcome is performed by physical processes.

With the online RNG, the events on the screen happen easily and promptly. However, when you look at the sequence of happenings within the software, this is a bit more complicated. The RNG is activated when the event is set off, this happens by the throwing of the dice. Here the software generates a number by chance which in return is linked to a particular event. In craps, this will happen by the RNG generating two numbers for the two dice that have been rolled. Each number would obviously be from 1 to 6.

When an online casino uses such software, once installed, the software, including the RNG are deeply tested and after this has been done and approved, it is sealed.

No online casino powered by the software or the software provider itself can tamper with the software. In fact, as a more elaborate precaution, online casino gaming authorities demand that the RNG is checked every now and then for randomness. This way, more peace of mind is given to casino players that the games are probably fair and safe.

Drawbacks of playing online craps

If on the other hand, you are a person who loves being out, loves crowds and likes a bit of action, then online craps might have some drawbacks. For instance, online craps do not come with interaction, there is no dice throwing, no people to cheer when something happens and no live energy. A real-life casino allows you to feel more energy while playing.

Basic Play

The first thing you need to do is find a craps table and be sure that the minimum bet amount is within your budget range ( here you can check how to manage the money when playing craps). Then you need to put down on the table the money you are ready to bet so that the dealer will exchange it for chips. When changing chips back to money, however, this cannot be done at the table, you need to go to the cash desk.

Players take it in turns to roll the dice and if you walk up to a table and someone is rolling, you then have to wait until the following “come out” roll prior to placing your bet. As soon as a shooter rolls a seven after a point has been established better known as ‘sevening out’, the next player will become the shooter.

In order to lay down a Pass Line Bet, you put your bet on the Pass Line prior to the shooter rolling his come out roll. For instance, if you bet $10. The shooter starts off with a hot hand and rolls a seven straight away, this would mean that you have doubled your money and you now have $20. At this point you can choose to either collect your winnings and leave your original bet on the table or else you can do what is called ‘ pressing your bet’. Let’s say you decide to do this.

At this point the shooter happens to roll an 8, therefore the 8 becomes the point. Remember before you see a 7 now, you would want to see another 8. Here the dealer places a white puck on the number 8 in The Place Bets section to mark the point. If instead of a white puck there is a black puck showing, then this means that no point has been set.

Now the next roll happens to be a 3, after that a 5 and last but not least two fours or better still an 8 the hard way. This would mean that you have just doubled your money one more time. Here you can choose if you want to collect your winnings or put down another one for the next roll. And there my friend is all you need to know about the most basic craps game.

For anyone to whom the basic play is already known, we have also explored some of the more advanced tactics and strategies to win at online craps in the section titled Winning Strategies.

Table Etiquette

  • When you’re rolling dice, don’t polish them or blow on them, simply shake them in one hand and roll them to the back wall down the table.
  • When you roll them, try and keep them on the table because if you don’t the roll will not count.
  • Except for the Pass Line, Field, Don’t Pass Line, Don’t Come or Come, never reach into portions of the table, you place your own bets in those areas. For the other areas, the dealer must place the best for you.
  • Unless you are leaving the table, don’t exchange lower denomination chips for higher denomination chips.
  • Never touch the dealer.
  • When you’re telling the dealer how much and where you want to bet, speak clearly.
  • While the dice are still in the middle of the table make sure you get your bet in early. Late bets can give the impression as though you are past posting. As well, after the shooter has the dice, most dealers won’t take bets.
  • According to your position at the table, dealers usually have systems for paying winnings, just be calm and wait for your turn to be paid.
  • While you’re waiting to be paid, be sure not to touch your chips.
  • It’s best to place your best on the table closest to where you are standing.
  • Just as the dealer would be about to pay you, now is the time to tell him if you would want to press your bet. This would save him having to count out your chips twice.

Craps Table with No House Edge

I mentioned that the pass line bet at the craps table has a house edge of only 1.41%, and that’s a great deal. But there’s an even better bet at the craps table that isn’t labeled. It’s called the “odds bet” or the “free odds bet.” When a shooter makes a come out roll in craps and sets a point, you can place an additional bet called the odds bet. This bet pays off at the same odds as you have of winning the bet. This means that the bet has no house edge at all.

The following are the possible point numbers in craps:

  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10

The odds bet pays off when the shooter makes the point before rolling a 7. If the point is 4 or 10, the bet pays off at 2 to 1 odds. If the point is 5 or 9, the bet pays off at 3 to 2 odds. If the point is 6 or 8, the bet pays off at 6 to 5 odds. I should point out that you’ll lose the odds bet more often than not, but when you win, the payoff is enough that in the long, you’ll break even.

When you combine the 0% house edge with the already low edge on the pass line bet, the house edge for all the money you have in action drops significantly, too. Casinos base their maximum bet on the odds bet on a multiple of your original pass line bet. Some casinos allow 2X, 5X, 10X, or even 100X odds.

The more you can bet, the lower your cumulative house edge becomes. The pass line bet plus the free odds bet is the best bet in the casino that doesn’t involve any kind of skill. (Counting cards plus basic strategy is a better bet, but it takes tremendous skill. Video poker requires being able to choose the right pay table and then making the right decisions on every hand.)

Casino Bonuses Explained

Casino Bonus

Without casino bonuses, it would be a race going downhill for online gamblers no matter their level of experience! Casino bonuses are absolute lifesavers when it comes to online casino games. This is what you are about to learn on this website dedicated to casino bonuses.

Become an expert in online casino bonuses and take full advantage of the wide range of bonuses and offers out there. JohnniePoker.com sets you up with an online casino guide developed by bonus enthusiasts for bonus seeker with the purpose to set you up for success. When seeking bonuses keep in mind general aspects to evaluate the worthiness such as wagering requirements, cashable bonuses, welcome packages and many more.

Aspect such as extending your playtime and increase your bets give casino bonuses a superpower over players, but it often implies that money withdrawal becomes difficult. To help you avoid problems as such, JohnniePoker.com created a list of the most common used bonus types, terms and what do they imply, so that you can take the optimal decision when picking a casino.

First deposit casino bonuses:

The most popular and widely available bonuses out there. Deposit match bonuses are a percentage match of your first deposit amount, that in most cases is added to your gaming balance on top of your deposit amount.

It is often hidden under the welcome bonus packages which consist of other two bonuses- second and third deposit bonus. This type of bonuses carries wagering requirements which increase the difficulty of cashing out wins. Moreover, take note that once you accept the first deposit bonus is automatically applied to all the other deposits offered in the welcome package.

Online Casino wagering requirements are calculated as in the following example: 100% match bonus up to $/€/£100 with wagering requirements of 40 times the bonus amount, meaning that if you deposit $/€/£100 the casino will add to your account $/€/£100 and in order to withdraw money you will need to wager $/€/£4000 ($/€/£100×40= $/€/£4000) in order to withdraw your winnings. If you are a newbie to online casinos we highly recommend that you read our start guide and FAQ section.

Categories of deposit bonuses

Package Bonus: a range of separate deposit bonuses with wagering requirements on the deposit and bonus. This type of bonus is made out of several deposit matches on concomitant deposits and they are usually combined with free spins, free money, and free play.

Cashable bonus:

A percentage match bonus with gaming requirements prior to withdrawal to the deposited and allocated bonus amount. Cashable implies that you are allowed to withdraw your win once you complete the gaming requirements.

Exclusive bonus:

This type of bonus has been specifically negotiated for JohnniePoker.com based on our experience in the industry and the feedback we get from you. They generally come with a bonus code, are unique and cannot be found on any other website.

Cashback bonus:

This implies real cash back given from the casinos to their depositing players. While most of the times they come without wagering requirements it’s worth noting that some casinos have wagering requirements. This type of bonus is common in VIP casino programs and seldom as an alternative to the package bonus.

Free spins bonus:

This type of bonus often come combined with casinos’ welcome packages and it entails that a given amount of spins will be allocated to your account either on registration, deposit or both, to be used on one or a series of slot games. The value of free spins bonuses varies from casino to casinos, but most often they have a cumulative value of not more than $/€/£5 unless specifically mentioned as high-value free spins.

VIP Bonus:

Personalized and targeted bonuses for high rollers and loyal players. This type of bonus is part of the privileged VIP package and offered only to carefully selected players based on their deposits, play patterns and withdrawal habits.

No deposit casino bonuses

No deposit bonuses come in the form of free cash and free spins on registration. These types of bonuses generally have wagering requirements and casinos limit or do not allow withdrawal. Casinos impose limits or do not allow withdrawals to avoid bonus abusers.

Free bonus, Free play bonus or Free cash bonus:

Such bonuses are added to your account with the sole purpose to be used for free selected games and often they don’t have a contribution to the play-through requirements. Typically, available for new incoming players on registration.

Article by: adminz

Casino Strategy

Casino Strategy

During the past 50 years, the name Las Vegas has become synonymous with gambling. Nine out of 10 visitors gamble while they’re in town. It is almost perverse to visit Las Vegas and not gamble. But while unreasonable expectations can lead to disappointment — or worse, as in the loss of a lot of money — the key to having a good time is to approach the casinos with the idea that, contrary to popular opinion, you can win or, at the very least, get much more than your money’s worth of playing time. Your success depends less on being lucky than on being familiar with the rules of the games, being aware of the concepts behind the games, and being conversant with the strategies that enable you to play not only with confidence but also with a fair shot at walking away a winner.

The House AdvantageThe first important concept to understand about gambling in Las Vegas is that the odds for all the games provide an advantage for the casino (“house”), generally known, appropriately enough, as the “house advantage” (or “edge” or “vigorish”). The casino is a business, and wagering is its product. Because the house establishes the rules, procedures, and payoffs on every game, it builds an automatic commission into every bet to ensure a profit margin.

Here’s how it works. Let’s pretend that I’m the house and you’re the customer and we’re betting on a series of coin flips. The deal that I make with you is that every time the coin lands heads up, I win and you pay me a dollar. Every time the coin lands tails up, you win — but I only pay you 90¢. The law of averages maintains that out of every hundred coin tosses, heads will win 50 times and tails will win the other 50. If I take a dime out of every one of your winning payoffs, the longer you play, the more dimes will wind up in my pocket. If you started with a $50 bankroll, after 1,000 tosses, even if you win half of them, you’d be busted out. (Because it requires two trials — win one, lose one — for the house to make its 10¢ “commission,” your “negative expectation,” or house edge, in this example is 5%.)

The second important gambling concept is known as “fluctuation” (or “variance”). In plain English, we’re talking about “luck.” Looking at our coin-toss game through the lens of averages, if you and I flip a coin 1,000 times, it’s reasonable to expect that the coin will land heads up and tails up close to 500 times each. However, if we flip the coin only 10 times, it’s conceivable that the coin could land heads up only twice or as many as eight times. Now let’s say that we made the same betting deal as above but we limited the number of tosses to 10. This would largely eliminate your 5% disadvantage and leave it up to “the luck of the toss” or, in other words, the fluctuation. Thus, a short-term fluctuation in the law of averages eliminates the long-term threat of the negative expectation.

How do these concepts — the house advantage and negative expectation, as well as short-term fluctuation — apply to the choices that you make as a casino customer? Your decisions, based on these concepts, will determine not only what you play, but also how you play, how long you play, and, ultimately, how well you play.

Luck Versus the EdgeThe average “gambling bankroll” (cash carried for the sole purpose of gambling) of a Las Vegas visitor who plans to spend some time in the casino is roughly $500. This is a crucial statistic. The amount of your bankroll and your preferred style of “action” (how you risk your bankroll) define your relationship to luck and the house edge.

Basically, the parameters of gambling action are fast and slow. Some people, though they’re in the minority, like their action fast and loose and high risk; these are true “gamblers,” in the old-fashioned sense of the word. The extreme version of this type of action is to take the whole $500 bankroll and lay it down on a single play — say, red or black on the roulette table. The odds are not quite even. The green 0 and 00 on the roulette table give the house an advantage of 5.26% (Roulette, below). Still, even though the odds are less than fair, the immediate result will be the same: double or nothing.

Making one play eliminates both the law of averages and the long-term threat of the house advantage; here you rely solely on the luck of the draw. If you want to go on a roller-coaster ride of luck, with a minute or so of adrenaline-pumping, heart-pounding excitement, lay it all down at once. In a matter of moments, you’ll either have twice the money you arrived with or none of it.

A less extreme version of this wild ride is to break your bankroll into two units and make two bets. Here you can either double your money, lose it all, or break even. Similarly, if you separate your $500 bankroll into five units and make five bets, or 10 units and make 10 bets, your ride lasts a little longer and your outcome is a little less black and white: You can double, bust out, break even, or come out somewhat ahead or behind. Still, the cumulative danger of the house advantage barely comes into play.

Luck can supersede the house advantage, but only in the short run. And though luck accounts for winners big and small — such as the California nurse who lines up four Megabucks symbols on the $3 pay line to win $9 million or the $2 dice shooter who parlays a hot hand into a couple of hundred bucks — the lack of luck can obliterate a bankroll faster than a crooked S&L.

Besides, most people who come to Las Vegas like to gamble for as long as they can without running out of money. These people take their $500 bankrolls and split them into 100 units to make $5 bets, 250 units for $2 bets, 500 units for $1 bets, or even 2,000 units for 25¢ bets. This guarantees plenty of time for the law of averages to even out the fluctuations. On the other hand, it puts the house advantage and the negative expectation right back into the game.

So how do you play as long as you like without the certainty of the house advantage grinding your bankroll into dust?

The Good BetsThe first part of any viable casino strategy is to risk the most money on wagers that present the lowest edge for the house. Blackjack, craps, video poker, and baccarat are the most advantageous to the bettor in this regard. The two types of bets at baccarat have a house advantage of a little more than 1%. The basic line bets at craps, if backed up with full odds, can be as low as.5%. Blackjack and video poker, at times, can not only put you even with the house (a true 50-50 proposition) but actually give you a slight long-term advantage.

How can a casino possibly provide you with a 50-50 or even a positive expectation at some of its games? First, because a vast number of suckers make the bad bets (those with a house advantage of 5%-35%, such as roulette, keno, and slots) day in and day out. Second, because the casino knows that very few people are aware of the opportunities to beat the odds. Third, because it takes skill — requiring study and practice — to be in a position to exploit these opportunities the casino presents. However, a mere hour or two spent learning strategies for the beatable games will put you light-years ahead of the vast majority of visitors who give the gambling industry an average 12%-15% profit margin.

Comps, Clubs, and CouponsNot only can you even out the odds to a certain extent, but you can also take advantage of the various attractive incentives casinos offer so that the suckers will stay and play — and, in the long run, lose, due either to house advantage or basic ignorance. These available, profitable, and somewhat prestigious incentives are known as “comps” (short for complimentaries) or “freebies.” The most common comps are free parking in downtown parking structures (all you have to do is walk into the casino and validate your ticket at the cashier window) and free cocktails (all you have to do is play at any table or machine). Other comps range from a “line pass” (the right to proceed directly into a showroom or restaurant without having to wait in line) all the way to a penthouse suite complete with private swimming pool, butler and chef, and round-trip airfare from anywhere in the world. It all depends on how much you’re willing to risk: Comps are calculated by multiplying your average bet by the amount of time you play by the house advantage.

Say, for example, you play at a $25-a-hand blackjack table for eight hours. The casino expects you to participate in 60 hands an hour and lose at a rate of 2% (what the casino calculates as its average advantage). Sixty hands an hour times $25 a hand times eight hours times 2% equals $240. Of that anticipated profit, the house is prepared to return 30%-40% to you in complimentaries in order to “reward” you for your action. Thus, under the described circumstances, you’ll qualify for $72-$96 worth of comps, whether you win, lose, or break even.

To be eligible for comps, you have to get “rated” as a player. When you sit down to play, have the dealer call over the pit boss — the person who supervises the action on the gaming tables — and tell him that you’d like to have your play rated. The pit boss will fill out a rating card with your name, average bet, and length of play. These data are input into the marketing department computer; based on your “comp equivalency” (for example, the $72-$96 you’ve qualified for), you’ll be provided free food or room or perks. The kings of comps are the “high rollers,” those willing to risk a lot of money at high-stakes games.

Slot clubs are another good way to reconcile the house advantage with playing for as long as you like. These clubs, introduced in the late 1980s to give slot and video poker players some high-roller status, are similar to frequent-flier programs offered by the airlines. It costs nothing to sign up for slot clubs and the benefits can be substantial. When you become a member, you’re given a plastic card that you insert into the gaming machine you’re using; the card tracks your play and you receive points based on the amount of money you risk. Slot-club points can be redeemed for free gifts, food, rooms, invitations to special parties and slot tournaments, VIP status, and even cash. You can join slot clubs at as many casinos as you like, then play at the places that offer the best perks.

Finally, the best bet in any casino is one that is accompanied by a gambling coupon, known as a “lucky buck.” These are most often found in hotel “funbooks,” small coupon booklets given out free for the asking at casinos; generally all you need is a hotel room key and an out-of-state ID (this prevents locals from taking advantage of the valuable promotions). Most funbooks contain coupons that return 7 to 5, 3 to 2, even 2 to 1 on even-money wagers.

Playing with coupons gives you a decided advantage over the house. In our coin-toss example, you’d wager a dollar of your own and a coupon for another dollar. If you win, I’d pay you $2 (for a return of $3). That extra dollar, though it might not seem like much, would pay my commission on 10 additional coin tosses. Furthermore, because some of the major hotel-casinos and most of the smaller ones distribute free funbooks, you and a partner can collect a dozen of them and then go on a “coupon run.” You make even-money bets backed up by coupons, touring a number of casinos while you’re at it. Done properly, you could conceivably fill up an entire Las Vegas visit making positive plays with lucky bucks.

Article by: NYTimes

Top 10 Beginner’s Online Casino Guide

Beginners Guide

The world of online casinos can be both overwhelming and perplexing, especially for new players. Here’s our top 10 beginner’s guide to make it easy for someone new on online casino.

Since I began playing in 2001, my knowledge of gambling and mastering the online dimension have grown immensely. I would like to share my knowledge and experiences of playing online with you to make your introduction to the world of online casino an easier and more enjoyable process!

In the following guide, I have answered ten important questions I faced as I began playing at online casinos. I hope this top 10 guides will give you some tips and tricks in your journey to online casino.

The Top Ten Questions Beginners Ask on Online Casino Guide

  1. What is an online casino?
  2. Is it safe for me to play at online casinos?
  3. Is it legal for me to play in online casinos?
  4. Are online casinos fair?
  5. Can I really win?
  6. How do I withdraw my winnings?
  7. How do I deposit money in an online casino?
  8. Am I a compulsive gambler?
  9. How are the casinos rated and reviewed at johnniepoker.com?
  10. Which games and strategies are preferable?

After several years of online gambling, I continue to enjoy, play and succeed in online casinos. However, one big difference nowadays is that I am more selective of where I play. I enjoy smooth gameplay, realistic and aesthetic graphics, bonuses (extra money provided by the casino), great jackpots and fast payouts. That is why LasVegasUSA Casino stands as my favorite casino – offering all the best in the features that really enhance an online gambling experience.

1. What is an online casino?

An online casino is an internet-based mechanism of gambling that allows real people to play in a virtual environment. Although you do not necessarily have to gamble real money, you have the option to participate in real, live bets with other players and the online host. Most casinos offer the spectrum of classic games like BlackjackPoker, Roulette and Slots, but there is also an emerging area for alternative games. There are two types of casinos: The first are the Download Casinos which include the majority of online casinos. Download casinos require you to download and install a free software program before you can play. It usually takes no longer than 15 minutes to complete this process and it is worthwhile since these download casinos have the best flow, graphics, sounds, and features. The second types of casinos are No Download Casinos. They offer you instant play from any web browser because they use Flash or Java Technology.

2. Is it safe for me to play at online casinos?

When we began playing at online casinos, we were naive in terms of what casinos were safe to play in and which weren’t. However, with over 6 years of experience and having played at more than 300 online casinos, we can confidently say that online casinos are safe. In all of our experience, we have never experienced any kind of misuse of our credit cards or account information. A good indication of whether a casino is a reliable site is by which software they use. The biggest software providers (Boss Media, Cryptologic, Playtech and Microgaming) are quoted on the stock exchanges, and would not dare risk their reputation and place a priority on securing the money of their customers.

Most casinos use a 128-bit encryption which means that the possibility your information would end up in the hands of others is 1 to 340,282,366,920,939,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. With odds like those, it seems it is safer to play at an online casino than physically crossing the street to get to your local casino.

3. Is it legal for me to play in online casinos?

There is not one, overarching answer to this question. Different countries have different laws in regard to gambling and online gambling. If you have questions regarding the laws in your area, please contact your local authorities.

That being said, I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted for playing in an online casino. One thing to keep in mind is that when an online casino accepts your address in the registration form during the sign-up process, the casino absorbs all responsibility. The casino will be the one targeted if it is not legal for you to play online.

4. Are online casinos fair?

With more than 2,000 different online casinos on the web, casinos are highly competitive to win the gaming time of their customers. Online casinos recognize that if a customer is not satisfied, they are not more than a click away to switch to a different casino. Therefore, the major software providers make sure that the software they provide ensures the highest quality game with the best payouts. Additionally, the best online casinos also have accountants that manage their game payouts. For example, PricewaterhouseCoopers gives monthly statements of all casinos using the Microgaming Software to all continual monitoring of their casinos’ activities. These statements can be viewed at the casino’s homepage.

Compared to traditional land-based casinos, the payout from online casinos is notably better (between 96-99%) which is due partly to lower expenses and higher competition between online casinos. Online casinos still, however, bring in enormous profits. Because they recognize they can still bring in grand revenues while offering great games and fair payouts, it is advantageous to them to offer honest, quality games in order to maintain both their reputation and their bottom-line.

In summary, I would definitely conclude that online casinos are fair.

5. Can I really win?

As in all casino play, gambling is a risk. There will be games you will win and games that you will lose. However, you can definitely improve your chances of winning and optimize your gambling experience by playing well and choosing the right strategy.

It is definitely possible to win big while online gambling! We have seen several examples from our very own JohnniePoker.com users with photos of their big wins and stories about winnings that exceed the thousands of dollars.

6. How do I withdraw my winnings?

There are usually several options to retrieving your winnings. Each website has its own specifics. Below are the four most common withdrawal options:

Cheque: You can choose to receive your winnings on a cheque. This will be sent to you via the postal mail and will take a few days to get to you. Some casinos might charge you $1 for the mail fee but usually, this service is for free. Also, remember that your bank might charge you a small fee to deposit the money into your bank account.

Cheque via Courier: For immediate delivery, you can have the cheque handled by quick companies like UPS or FedEx who will make sure that the check is in your hands within a few days. Depending on how much you’ve won, they will charge you about $30 for their service.

Wire transfer Wire Transfer: With wire transfer, you can have your winnings transferred to your bank account right away. It is quick and easy but usually, the casinos will charge you a fee for this service, so it is only recommendable if you win a lot.

NETELLER NETeller account: This company is quoted at the London Stock Exchange and provides secure transfer service of your money online. You can create an account for free at www.neteller.com and use it for deposits and withdrawals from all online casinos. You do not have to pay any fees and your winnings will be transferred to your account in a couple of days, making it a convenient option for your deposit/withdrawal needs.

7. How do I deposit money in an online casino?

There are several ways to make a deposit at an online casino:

Credit Cards Credit Card
You can deposit money right away at all online casinos with a credit- or debit card. Cards like Visa card, Mastercard, Diners Club, Eurocard, etc. are accepted at most online gaming sites.

NETELLER Neteller Account
In case your credit card has been denied due to bank restrictions or deposit limits, then NETeller is another option for you to make a deposit at an online casino. As mentioned above, you can create an account for free and use it to make deposits as well as withdrawals.

Wire transfer Wire Transfer
This method will transfer money from your bank account to an online casino. However, it does take some days for the transaction to be completed and is therefore only recommendable if you cannot make a deposit by credit card or if the deposit you wish to make is too big to be completed by credit card transaction.

PaySafeCard Paysafecard
This card can be purchased in your local shop and can be used for payments on several internet sites. You can find the nearest local seller at www.paysafecard.com. To use it you have to type in the PIN code and Password (these you will find on the Paysafecard) and the current amount you bought will be transferred to the casino accordingly.

8. Am I a compulsive gambler?

Although intended to be an exciting, entertaining and enjoyable experience, gambling can become an obsession. When one feels an uncontrollable obsession to win that consumes their life and distorts their judgment, they can be diagnosed as a compulsive gambler. People become addicted to gambling for several reasons–it allows them an escape from reality, offers them a bit of excitement and distracts them from life outside the game. Compulsive gambling can result in bankruptcy, debt, ruined relationships and a plethora of other problems. There is surely a blurred borderline to this phenomenon that makes it difficult to say precisely when you are obsessed about playing or just eager to win in a healthy way, but a golden rule is that you should never play with money you cannot afford to lose. Also, remember that gambling is meant to be fun.

If you might have a gambling problem then please consult your doctor or visit: www.gamblersanonymous.org

9. How are the casinos rated at JohnniePoker.com?

We put a great effort into carefully trying and testing casinos before we review and recommend them at JohnniePoker.com. Casinos are tested by either Jesper or me by making a deposit and playing at the casino to see if it works according to our standards of fair games, reliable payouts, and good support service. If so, we rate the casino upon the following criteria:

  • The quality and quantity of the signup bonus and other promotions
  • The quality and quantity of games, the software design used and other advantageous features
  • The quality and quantity of support – for example, if live help is offered and if they give precise and fast answers to our questions
  • The time it takes to complete payments

10. Which games and strategies are preferable?

In my opinion, Blackjack is the best game to play online due to both the high payout potential and the overall thrill the game incites. It is a game that requires both skill and strategy on how to play your hand — therefore I find it more exciting than games that only depend on pure luck.
It is always enjoyable to play other classic casino games. Games like Roulette, Video Poker and Slots always provide a great time. One of Jesper’s favorites is “Let it Ride Poker” because you get the chance of hitting the Jackpot with a nice Royal Flush.