90 Ball Bingo: Where and how it started

Most people nowadays know 90 ball bingo only as an online casino game, but actually has a long and colorful history offline. To start off, 90 ball bingo was not intended for gambling or casino.

This bingo variation originated in the United Kingdom way back in the 16th century. It was introduced then as a state-run lottery game and was more of a community activity event. Then this lottery game spread throughout Europe. By the 18^th century, it had evolved and developed into a bingo type of game.

In those times, the game wasn’t yet called Bingo; although games like lottery, tombola, housey-housey (famous in military camps), and beanie (famous in carnivals) have already come out and were played pretty much like how 90 ball bingo is played today.

Then in 1929, Edwin Lowe, the acknowledged inventor of 75 ball bingo, named the game as bingo. He happened to stop by a carnival wherein people where playing beano and someone (who had the number of his cards completely marked) shouted ‘bingo’ instead of beano. Lowe then went home and, as a happy camper, commercialized the game, sold it as a toy set, and called it bingo.

Later in the century, the game’s popularity rose and moved outside the United Kingdom. It eventually reached the United States and captivated American audiences.

Nowadays, thanks to technology, 90 ball bingo has become more known, and has even captivated players from Asian and Latin American countries. In fact, 90 ball online bingo is now one of the most popular online casino games offered by top casino portals.

Indeed, bingo has come a long way. Yet from the early paper cards to the latest virtual cards, virtual callers, and virtual payouts, the game and its enjoyment factor is still the same. And however it basically still ends with that awesome resounding shout: BINGO!

Server-based Gaming: Along the Course of Time

Around middle of 2005, server-based gaming was still in the process of realizing what seemed to be a good concept for casino’s slot machines. Three years after, in 2008, server-based gaming realized full fruition. Manufacturers and operators started offering server-based slot machine games. A certain casino in MGM, for one, converted an entire floor of slot machines to offer the server-based gaming platform.

Basically, server-based gaming gives both the players and the operators the freedom to customize their gaming according to what they want. Operators can choose which features to use and include in their slot machines, according to individual preferences. These preferences include the ability to ‘change themes, promotions, the amount that can be wagered and the hold at a touch of a few keystrokes.’ Of course, this is exactly what made the platform very attractive to casino players.

On the players’ side, server-based gaming, allow a number of players to play across a series of machines and will also make it possible for the machine to keep track of the players progress. This allows player to rejoin in the previously saved game from a server even if the player plays at a different location.

Since its breakthrough in 2008, and it’s subsequent popularity among gamers, server-based gaming hasn’t gone all-out to casinos yet. Some still prefer the old slot machines. People even testified that sliding a coin through a machine and hearing the coins jingle as they drop on the plate was way more fun than online slot machines.

But the (cliché) argument remains; technology is rapidly advancing. Embracing what’s new doesn’t really mean forgetting the traditional. It’s true that many of the older generation and the traditional casino die-hards are no fans of online casino. But they are only a segment of the population. That’s why land-based casinos are still raking in a lot of cash. Meanwhile, those who prefer the online media may also enjoy casino games through their computer consoles and mobile devices.

Become a Professional Poker Player

The journey from amateur to Professional Poker playing

Often I get asked – what makes a poker player a professional one? And my usual answer is – there isn’t any magic component of a list of rules to live by that will turn you into a professional poker player. Each person is unique and each of us usually has a different starting point. Some of us played since they were three years old, and some of us played for the first time in their twenties. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the first out of the two above will play better than the one will less years of experience; it just means that the path these two people will need to take on their journey of becoming a professional poker player is different.

Should I buy a ‘Learn how to play pro Poker’ book?

Well, this really depends on whether you are the type of person who usually manages to learn from books. If you are, than yes, defiantly buy a book. ‘Poker lessons and tips’ or ‘Poker for beginners’ books are an excellent way of improving your technique. There are many professional poker players who are willing to share their experience in order to earn extra cash from books selling. On the other hand, If you never had a good connection with books, don’t start with poker books. Enjoying the game will not turn you over night into an enthusiastic reader and will not give you the sadden ability to learn out of books.

Should I participate in poker forums?

Poker forums are a great way to get some answers for question or indecisions you may have for how to handle yourself in certain situations when you’re playing a poker game or a Texas Holdem tournament. The popular forums might even provide you with an almost instant answer to any question. Generally forums are a great example of the internet global community and how people enjoy helping one another if they can. Poker isn’t different in that way and you’ll always find someone that can and will answer your question.

Should I play in real money poker games?

Real money poker games are a great way to get you toughened up and turn your amateur gaming to a more professional one. When real money is involved you tend to be more careful with your decisions. Of course, you shouldn’t start playing with real money till you’ve played some free online poker games. There’s no point in jumping into the deep water till you’ve at least learn how to swim, or at least master the movements you need to do in order to prevent yourself from drowning. Free poker games are available in many forms. Two major ones are: free flash games, usually can be found in free games sites and the free games that are available in all major online poker rooms that offer real money poker games.

Should there be an online poker income tax?

Almost every source of income of every individual faces the word TAX. According to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, tax is a charge usually of money imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes.

The popularity of online poker has undeniably risen from where it took off. More people playing, betting, and winning. Some play poker for fun, while others treat poker as an alternative source of income aside from their usual 9-5 job.

Since people are earning from online poker, is it just right to impose tax on it too?

Other countries, like Canada, have imposed taxes on online poker. Maybe because they could see that it brings in more income to people, meaning for revenue or money for public use - and it's a good thing if it really would go for public use.

Other countries who ban online poker, or that it hasn't been legalized yet may not have seen this little advantage of the game. It could help one way or another. But that's speaking about the advantages of placing income on online poker on the side of the authorities or government.

The big question would be: would the people playing online poker like the thought of it? Maybe yes, if they do think about the welfare of most people and if they do think that it could help the community, state, or country in a way. But others may not like it. It's their alternative way of living, they earn extra money in playing the game to somehow help them earn extra money to get pass the day. With crisis looming over the corner, people would want to earn extra and earn big.

Would the people go for it? Would the people like the thought of it? Would the people love the effects of it? The things is... it's money matters, and it's complicated.

Iowa’s Online Poker situation a sudden turn

Long before, when legislators were eyeing to legalize online poker in United States, Iowa had the closest and most possible chance of having online poker not only legalized but also expanded in their state, they could have been the first state to have that “precious” legalization.

But what seemed to be a sure shot suddenly turned a little twist in the story. After two weeks of deliberation, the dreamy legalization of online poker in the state was erased and totally out of the picture. Iowan legislators cannot decide on what to do and how to do it. Plans on legalizing and expanding online poker in the state have been abandoned. This decision has been the result of long debates and arguments thrown by both sides of the case. Clearly, the opposition won.

While other states still have a pending case to solve regarding legalization of online poker as well, this case would most likely happen. The longer the debates, the more time would the opposition have to persuade the ones who agree to go to their side. The end part would be, if indeed they would be persuaded or if they’re will is strong enough to really pursue the legalization of online poker.

Online poker rooms’ St. Patrick’s Day Special

You don’t need four-leaf clovers, leprechauns, and golden nuggets to get lucky because online poker rooms themselves have brought in some luck for their loyal online poker players.

Different freebies and discounts are given by online poker rooms so that their players would enjoy their share of luck on their St. Patrick’s Day specials. Some poker rooms offer a 50% reload bonus so that players could continue with their play - that’s double the gameplay and fun! Others offer bonuses on St. Patrick’s Day upon making a deposit and players would also receive additional funds once they unlocked a certain score or level. While some poker rooms, amazingly, places a huge amount up for grabs – a whopping $50,000.

With big bonuses and a big cash prize at stake on different online poker rooms, players would surely want to play in different poker rooms to take advantage of the poker game that they used to play. And this only happens on St. Patrick’s Day!

Online gambling arrests in China rampant

Looks like the Chinese government are taking serious measures regarding online gambling.

Around 210 are confirmed to have committed online gambling crimes while 918 others are in custody. These numbers grew rapidly in just a span of 13 days. The efforts of the Chinese government in enforcing strict measures on online gambling have been all out in full force. They have issued a warning on cracking down illegal online gambling within the country including anyone who is operating, advertising, or any ties with an online gambling site.

This kind of enforcement, not meaning to judge how China does it, may bring a negative impact to the face of online gambling to the world. People from other countries have been trying their best to legalize online gambling only to see such scenario from other part of the world. It might not happen to where they are but it can be an inspiration to those who oppose the legalization of online gambling.

Are your credit cards still safe?

There were a couple of posts on the web regarding the use of credit cards and other debit cards when making a deposit in online poker rooms. Most of them are warnings on when, where, how to use these cards in utmost safety that they wouldn’t fall in the hands of fraud… or even in the hands of the law.

Gambling online is an enough risk. You are already risking the money that your are betting whether you would gain something from it or you would lost it entirely. The risk of disclosing important personal information to a website that you don’t know who’s running is also a huge risk. You don’t know if confidential information are safe enough that it would not be used for scams and other fraudulent activities that some crooks could think of.

The danger of the use of credit cards is no news and is really one of the main concerns of online gaming and online gambling. These cards can easily be used and manipulated once it get in the wrong hands. Even though the information you give would be something that people could not do anything to go over your account, but people who are wise enough to know how to connect the dots would easily penetrate into that teeny-weeny security that lies between you and the bank.

Basically, your credit cards are safe if they are in the safe hands and if the confidential information is indeed kept confidential, then there is nothing or just less to worry about.

Online gambling on the line

What seemed to be a long protest to legalize online gambling still remains but a dream to many poker fans. They have had a share of momentum when more and more people, even officials, who stood by their side and helped them push the legalization of online gambling. Although lately, that has not beent he picture. The Feds are on the run.

Just recently, a man has been caught and pleaded guilty in front of the jury for hosting online gambling in US states to a company in Costa Rica. This probe also brought famous online gambling company, Doyle's Room, in danger. The government's federal probe against illegal online gambling have been heading strong and are really investigating further on the issue.

This scene doesn't only happen in United States. The same case goes to South Africa. The country's online gambling has been temporarily stopped and is now illegal on the place. There have been no proper laws and regulation of online gambling, thus they would need to further study and investigate the case.

With these scenarios going on in the online gambling industry, it is still too far and too impossible to say that online gambling would really be legalized.

A flashback on online gambling

The history of online gambling dates back in 1994, although systems and programs to make such has been there long before the internet has been introduced. It started with Carribean's Free Trade and Processing Act. Since then, people from different parts of the globe have the free reign to put up their own online casino. With the growing demand, software developers didn't lack the initiative to make and further update the needed software to operate and online casino.

In 1998, the world's festivity over the rise of online gambling was seemingly cut short. During that year, U.S. Senator Jon Kyl opposed online gambling with his Internet Gambling Prohibition Acts making it illegal for US companies and citizens to participate in any online gambling or online casinos. From then on, other countries have also made other laws with regards to the restriction of online gambling.

Today, online gambling has boomed into a wide and huge industry that a number of people - of different ages and gender. Its popularity rose tremendously that even in courts, poker players fight for its right to legalize it. It would be a long run but for these people, they would fight and do everything just to legalize an industry that they deem potential to the economic growth of the country.

Online gambling software work on security issues

Whether it's past or future security issues, online gambling software providers and developers are working double time to ensure that players would be completely secured. Even if they have placed the best of what they could do regarding security on their software and casinos, sometimes, the inevitable still happens - coz that's what technology is about.

Technology grows, expands, upgrades through time. At times, it would be a bit easy to catch up, and sometimes catching up gets too tiring that technology already left us behind.

As time goes and technology grows, people learn the ins and outs of software development, thus it's easier for them to do something else that is unproductive and, most of the time, harmful to the software and to the end users. No matter how advanced of a programming software developers are using, in time, would be compromised.

So as a new year welcomes the world of technology, the possibility of hacking, data mining, and phishing would once again threaten these online gambling software. And since online gambling software contains a lot of personal information and even access to bank accounts, tremendous research and change is needed to further develop its security.

Online Gambling's rise could also be its fall

Undeniable popularity. Fighting for their rights. More and more players sign-up. Different games, styles. Easy and accessible. All these is what online gambling is all about.

It had become popular over the years with a lot of different variety for each of online gambling games. More and more people are getting into it and more companies has been embracing this kind of change too.

But as online gambling became enticing to many, more are also getting hooked and is risked to become a compulsive gambler. With a chance to win a huge amount of fortune with just a click of mouse, the game could really be addictive especially if a new player has been welcomed with a big win. Win or lose, a player would want to play again either to win more or to try and win back the amount lost. Time will come and that person will strongly be obsessed and addicted to the game.

Compulsive gambling is not a new issue - with or without online gambling. The number of compulsive gamblers in traditional casinos alone is high. Now that it has become more accessible, the more that compulsive gambling has soared in numbers. This is one factor that makes it difficult for online gambling to be legalized in US.

What could give a possible rise of popularity, revenues, marketability, and the likes to online gambling, the after-effect (whether long-term or short-term) may at the same time bring it to the brink of its downfall.

An addition to Sega's gaming platform

Sega, a gaming industry known for its various and top-selling video games, just adds something to their online gaming platform that most people would probably look forward to.

Sega recently acquired casino games from CTXM, an online casino provider. Sega is hoping that the entry of this new online gaming platform for their company would also give an impact on the online gambling industry. Compared to their competitors, Sega is taking a step further in giving out games that would interest their audience even more. Since online gambling has been very in demand for the past year and since the market is growing in numbers, the company could hope for an edge versus competition.

Now, Sega's line-up would be more than just Sonic the Hedgehog running around your screens or exciting fight scenes of Virtue Fighter. They offer more than that - they now have poker, roulette and blackjack to add their growing list of online games.

To experience Sega's new online gaming platform involving online gambling, visit SEGAPoker.com and SEGACasino.com.

Easy Online Casino Signup through your mobile phone

2009 could be called the Rise of the Smart phones. Undeniably, smart phones have been in anybody’s hand. People walk around the street with that little device in their hand – little device but with big (overly huge) possibilities of doing everything and anything. That’s smart phone for you.

If you’re into online gambling and would love to bring your online casino everywhere you go, with technology these days that’s nowhere near impossible.
Smart phones plus online casinos – an equation made possible by software companies who has been working on smart solutions to enable users to bring their online casino experience with them wherever they go. They do this minus the great risks of privacy and security invasion.

Thanks to Microgaming software, it is now easy to sign up in an online casino through your smart phone with high security. Plus, it’s easy. All you need is to register your phone number or email address and country number, receive an email with your activation code, activate your account, and you’re good to go.

Easy. Simple. Secure. That has been the thing for online casinos nowadays. Maybe in the near future, more and more software companies and online gambling operators would cater into these new technology of online casino gaming.

Online Casinos: More than just grabbing the bucks

Online casinos. Often thought as a place where people gamble taking out all their money and try their luck to double it. People would think that online casinos are places of temptation and sin that could lead to further destruction. People judge it in just what they see outside not knowing that for these poker players, it is something more.

For casino players, they see online casinos as an avenue wherein they could break free from the stresses of work and other things that they are busy about. Yes, it could be for the money and all, but there are really just players who play for the sake of playing. Money might still be at risk but these players don’t really place all their bets in. They probably are the wisest players when it comes to financial risk involving online casinos.

Online Casinos: Helping an aging mind’s mental stimulation

“Studies have shown that 70 percent of elderly people in the US had participated in a gambling game of some sort in the last year.” –Ed Bradley

You got that right. Studies in the University of Pennsylvania and Penn State University showed that indeed, more and more elderly or aging people get themselves involved in various online games lately. This is because online games in online casinos (like blackjack and poker) help stimulate the mental ability of the elderly. These aging people are not only exercising their brains on how to operate the computer but they are doing more to that – they are strategizing and trying to gain focus as they play in online casinos.

These kinds of activities, as study shows, help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia – two diseases that comes in aging people. Highly-encouraged or not, online games in online casinos indeed help aging people to still keep their full mental function and slow down its deterioration.

FBI says cheating is easy in online poker

News has it that FBI finds online poker cheat-prone.

According to a top FBI official’s letter to US Rep. Spencer Bachus, online poker could easily be cheated and could be done in various methods. Written on the 13^th of November, Shawn Henry said that “online poker vendors could detect this activity and put in place safeguards to discourage cheating, although it is unclear what the incentive would be for the vendor.”

What Henry said might be correct. Quite a few times, keen observant have seen such glitches in online poker. But the thing is, he should have not generalized his conclusion as true to all online poker operators, online casinos and poker rooms. The fault of one can’t be the fault of everybody. If one has ruined reputation because of its vulnerability to online poker cheating, it should not speak and stain those online poker operators who have had a good performance.

This testimony could be used against online gambling legalization, but it is not a strong enough argument to put down a strong force of followers of online gambling. They would need more proof on this than just mere observation and letters with statements that online gambling is prone to cheating. They would need more than just the drive to stop or slow down the move to legalize online gambling.

Celebrate Christmas in Online Casinos

No, no, no. I don’t mean spend your holidays facing the computer and play online poker and the likes. I don’t think your family would like that thought (they might hunt me down if I’ll say so!). What I meant is just probably feeling the spirit of Christmas when you log in to your favorite online casinos.

If people are jumping up and down in decorating their homes, offices, vehicles, and even their gadgets, then why can’t online games software developers and online casino operators have the same Christmassy look and feel in gaming?

Probably by now, an online casino or two is designing their sites to make their constant gamers feel that it is Christmas. Poker tables, online slots, and other online games can be designed as such to give a little scent of Christmas in their scene.

It’s not much on sensationalizing Christmas. It’s more on giving people a tinge of the Christmas season so that win or lose, they would still leave the online casino happy and satisfied.

Online gaming issues: Are we losing culture and ethics?

The virtual world – a little haven for people who are sort-of anti-social, and probably their preferable place to socialize instead of doing such in the real world; and in this kind of world where you communicate to someone quite anonymous with only a pseudonym and/or picture as identity, it is easier to make enemies and more difficult to make friends.

Zooming in, online gaming comprises more slice of the pie in the virtual world. People would love to have a few games at hand, wanting to excel on it compared to millions of people who want to do just the same. And in the virtual gaming world, can we still think of proper attitude, culture, and gaming ethics? First things first, are there such thing?

There may not be any but common sense would tell us that there is. Where are all the manners that our parents teach us while we were kids? In online gaming, they are forgotten.

China aired out on the goal of most online games: killing monsters and even human characters. They see this as something that would influence the physical activities and mental thinking of minors. True enough, most online games (especially RPG) are violent and full of gore. But there is more to violence than what people see on the game. Outside that is something more dangerous.

In an article found through the net entitled Online Gaming’s Dirty Little Secret, it stated:

Fast-forward to the current generation of games, and hearing racial epithets like the "n word" or homophobic slang like the "f word" shouted online is more commonplace than you might want to believe. Meanwhile, women who play in the male-dominated world of online gaming sometimes find themselves the victims of sexually suggestive comments and gender-based taunting.

We rant about these but, who should take action? There are not much regulations with regards to online violence. Some countries have, some countries don’t. Measures should be taken but if it’s online, it is quite inevitable.

Game developers should take the first step with regards to this matter since they’re the ones who are feeding the people with violence. With their games, it is like telling the people that violence is fun. It may not be their main goal in making such games but, have they thought about it when they made such games? Maybe no. Or maybe yes – but maybe they just disregarded ethics over marketability.

Social Media on online poker? Possible.

Online poker software has become plain and too simple. It has stayed that way for quite a long time that most players are used to the boring facade they see while they play. The usual interface, the usual actions - entirely the usual gaming. It stayed long that way because it's what's working for everybody. Players of all ages, novice or veteran, or those who are used to playing online or those who play traditional finds the online poker software working for them. They could play any game and at any table that they want, and they could make use of that old platform, use it as an advantage and earn like there's no tomorrow.

But what if an online poker software company would include social media to online poker? It is highly possible.

A lot of gaming companies are now including social media in their gaming. Some would acquire existing social gaming platforms while some do a little gamble and try something new and place their games on social networking sites. Slowly but surely, it is working for them, and it is working for the gamers. How much more in poker?

Online poker is widely played. With proper control over the money at stake and with enticing game bonuses, this online game has been known worldwide and even invading reality television. It's popularity is undeniable. And so does social networking. With these two combined, it would be a winning platform already.

Imagine players getting so excited to play and would really try their best so that they can brag themselves on Facebook! Or probably players can invite other players to join in their table, or even encourage them to get into online poker. It's hitting two birds with one stone.

So probably in the coming days, we would expect that kind of online poker platform to come to surface.