Doyle's Room is switching to a more US friendly casino software

Doyle's Room may be at the lead of a new trend in online gambling, as the Internet poker room has decided to switch online poker software providers to allow a return to the US market. Doyle's Room sent e-mails to patrons this week alerting them to massive change on the site, expected to focus on a shift from Microgaming to Cake Poker.

Microgaming decided in November to withdraw from the US market to avoid further legal hassles like the Kentucky online casino domain name case. At that time, all sites powered by Microgaming were required to follow suit and stop accepting new US players. But studies have shown that as much as half of all online gambling involves US players, and a fledgling site like Doyle's needs that base to draw upon.

Therefore, Doyle's will become a member of the Cake Poker network. While Cake has blocked Kentucky players in a protective response to the ongoing court case, players from other states are still welcome. No word has been released about potential returns to prior service by either Microgaming or Cake in light of the appellate victory in Kentucky by online gambling sites.

Meanwhile, rumors persist that other online casinos may choose, or be forced economically, to follow Doyle's move to switch software providers that are still accepting US players. Playboy Casino, which expected to exploit the brand name so well-known in the US, has announced it will shut down next week after two years of struggling to survive following software provider Cryptologic's dropping of US players after the passing of the UIGEA.

More Internet casinos are sure to conclude their best path for survival and growth may lie in placing their companies with software companies still serving the US. With the arrival of new gambling solutions from Rival Gaming and Wizard Gaming, there are a growing number of high-quality, innovative programs to choose from.

Women should indulge in online gambling because...

Here is an interesting fact. Although men dominate the online poker segment, in online gambling as a whole, women have the bigger number. So why should we indulge ourselves in a little online gambling? Below are 8 of the top reasons.

1. Women can ultimately impress their man by showing that they too can kick-ass at online poker, blackjack or backgammon. You can show your man that you can not only play but can earn more money than him as well.
   
2. Online gambling let's you play at the comforts of our home even if you're just in our pajamas. You can focus more in the game since there are no distractions unlike in it's land-based counterpart. Playing online poker from home, rather than dealing with the noise and lights in actual casinos, gives you time to think and concentrate. This helps you play better, which in return helps you win.
3. The payout rates in online gambling sites are higher compared to its land-based counterpart. Higher payout means more profit for you.
   
4. Online gambling sites are more tailored to get better odds. The computer software itself are ruled by Random Number Generator system and is meant to give all the players a fair chance.
   
5. Playing at online gambling sites is easier for you to win. Since you don't have to deal with people and you don't need to put up your poker face to the test. You can smile, you can frown and no one will be there to analyze each and every twitch your eyes made during the game.
6. If you're not as good to start wagering your money, you can always practice using an online gambling site's free play feature.
   
7. Since women are sociable well-beings, you can immerse yourself with different cultures as you mingle with other online players.
   
8. Women can spare themselves being mugged in casino parking lots since online gambling sites have several payment options to choose from.
   

Loose- Aggressive and Tight- Aggressive Poker Game

It is often naturally presumed that whenever you play poker you should employ the Tight Aggressive style of play. With that being said the majority of poker players worldwide do actually adopt this approach. Although the TAG style of play might be the best strategy for no limit cash games it is not always the best tactic to employ when you are playing large tournaments or to a lesser extent single table sit-n-go tournaments.

A common strategy known amongst experienced players is to play in the opposite style to your opponents. Since the majority of players adopt the TAG approach, you may want to consider adding some LAG (Loose Aggressive) elements to your tournament game. This will add an extra dimension to your game; you will constantly keep your opposition guessing by playing a large variety of hands.

After playing poker for a long time I have come to realize that you cannot stick to one particular style of play for a long period. If you are always playing the TAG game you will eventually become too predictable and your opponents will figure out that you only play with premium hands. You will get bluffed at a lot more and won't get paid off with your monster hands. In order to overcome this problem you must be able to effectively mix up your play by shifting gears at the right times to continually keep your opponents on their toes; this is the key to playing solid tournament poker. I'm not saying that you should permanently switch to a LAG style of play, however by simply adding some key LAG elements to your tournament game you should see you a major overall improvement.

Now, what exactly is the Loose Aggressive approach? The LAG player is defined as a poker player who calls and raises a large variety of hands with the intention of outplaying or outdrawing an opponent who is usually holding a stronger hand. This type of player is also very aware and will usually back down when there is retaliation or resistance, However he will semi bluff at a lot more pots and sometimes come over the top if he feels his opponent is weak and cannot call.

This type of variety in a player's game can very easily help them exploit the enormous number of players who don't let a single chip slip into the pot without holding a premium hand in the early stages of poker tournaments. In No Limit Cash Games you can sit around and wait for the nuts all night, but in tournaments and sit-n-gos you don't have that luxury, the blinds and antes are continually eating away at your stack, so you must be making some moves regularly. By adding LAG elements to your game in the early stages of Sit-N-Gos and Tournaments your stack will be better equipped to deal with the frenzied circumstances at the end stages of the game.

When you are using the LAG approach you will probably be able to pick up a lot of small pots without much resistance. If you raise pre-flop with hands like 35 when you are in position and if you only get 1 or 2 callers you are in a good spot to take down the pot a majority of the time. Even you miss the flop entirely the pre-flop raise has put you in control of the hand and if your opponents check to you it is most likely they missed as well (Two Thirds of the time your opponents will completely miss the flop), a continuation bet in this spot will usually take down the pot.

Obviously this tactic won't always work; sometimes you will bet and get check-raised, but that doesn't matter because you should be able to get away from the hand easily and you wouldn't have lost that much. Overall you will accumulate more chips by continually winning those small pots, after all you can't win every pot, and even if you missed the flop with AK or AQ and you got check raised you would most likely have to fold.

Another major advantage that makes the LAG style of play so profitable and enjoyable to employ is the fact that sometimes you will hit the flop hard and make a huge hand, e.g. you flop a straight, a flush or 2 pair. If this occurs it is very unlikely for your opponents to put you on something like 86 or 47, and if they have high pockets or got a piece of the flop you will get paid off in a big way and take down a huge pot.

Although, there are some disadvantages of using the LAG approach. When using this style you will always come across inexperienced players or calling stations that will call you down with bottom pair or AK and absolutely destroy your stack. So to employ the style effectively you must study your opponents very carefully and know who to target. Remember there is no point bluffing a calling station or re-raising with bottom pair if you know your opponent never folds when he hits any pair.

Also by going into the pot with marginal hands you will constantly find yourself holding the second best hand. Whether you are holding middle pair or your kicker isn't good enough, a good LAG player should be able to away from 2nd best hands without losing too much money. However if you are not careful this could seriously damage your stack and jeopardize your chances for the latter stages.

Nevertheless overall, by adding LAG elements to your game in the early stages you should be able to amass extra chips and acquire a nice stack early on. You immediately gain a huge advantage over players who play a cautious, tight game. The extra chips that you accumulate will allow you to survive tough decisions in the end stages and give you some breathing space.

So if you happen to get involved in a race situation in the latter stages you are able to withstand a loss and are not completely crippled. You will have an extra buffer of chips that will be much needed and treasured when you are placed in those situations. On the other hand a player that always pursues the TAG approach will most likely be Dependant on his AK to win a race or be eliminated out of the tournament.

Online Gambling's - UIGEA

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is a part of the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006, or commonly known as the SAFE Port Act. The SAFE Port Act was enacted to cover online gambling and the U.S ports in relation with the continuous threat of terrorism. Title VIII of this Act has covered online gambling and is also commonly known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. This title prohibits the transfer of funds from a financial institution to an Internet gambling site, with the notable exceptions of fantasy sports, online lotteries, and horse/harness racing. Title VIII's main objective is to prevent money laundering by terrorist organizations.

Surprise spread quickly over the online gambling industry when the UIGEA was passed by Congress in 2006. Several publicly listed members of the gambling industry took it so seriously that they ceased taking bets from American players even before having read the Statute. The UIGEA faced severe criticism both internationally and from the online gambling players community in the U.S. The international community that was critically affected by the loss of the players from the US, has pressed the matter that UIGEA has violated WTO standards. Antigua who is a major online gambling destination, has claimed $ 3.4 billion after it has obtained a ruling from WTO. Despite all the protests and criticism, the US authorities remain silent and continue to ignore the issue.

The opposition within the online gambling community is more effective. Online poker players, together, formed the coalition, Poker Players Alliance aiming to speak with one voice in order to promote poker, and to protect their rights as players. Online casino players have also organized the group Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (IMEGA) that aims to foster cooperation between the online industry and government at all levels, and to promote innovation, openness and freedom on the Internet.

The iMEGA went to court in March 2008 on behalf of a client against the UIGEA. The judge rejected the petition but acknowledged that there were deficiencies in the UIGEA that were best addressed by higher courts. The iMEGA has filed an appeal in the higher courts. The Internet gambling industry has challenged the UIGEA on several counts. The foremost is that it violates the fundamental rights of privacy, speech, expression, and conduct. Another important argument is that the UIGEA discriminates against Internet gambling as compared to land-based gambling. There are several arguments that are technical rather than fundamental. The most forceful of these is that the UIGEA does not define Internet gambling and is therefore vague. Several legislative challenges have been initiated against the UIGEA as well. The bill HR 6870 seeks suspension of the UIGEA till all issues raised against the UIGEA have been satisfactorily addressed. The bill S 3616 seeks to identify poker as a game of skill and therefore take it out of the purview of the UIGEA.

The online gambling community has come to terms with the fact that if it wants prohibition of Internet gambling removed then it will have to accept regulation. In fact many have begun to advocate regulation. In addition to the issue of money laundering regulation will address issues like underage, problem gambling and tax avoidance that will therefore increase the credibility of the online gambling industry.

Online Gambling and Banking

Before the US Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act, transactions with online casinos were quite convenient and easy. Today most banking institutions are declining their customers' request to do any type of credit or debit card transactions related with online gambling. The size of your bankroll does not have any bearing at all, banks are simply refusing to carry out this type of transactions, even though this law has not been finalized yet.

Although most major credit card companies do not accept online gambling transactions there are some that do, but then these transactions are treated as "cash advancement" which bear a much higher interest rate. For this reason more and more online gamblers and online casinos are shying away from using Credit and Debit Card payments to handle their online gambling transactions, instead many are opting for online processor services, which have become very popular in the online gambling community.

With the introduction of this new Act on Internet Gambling, more and more online based processor websites are popping up on the internet as these entrepreneurs realized the need for such a service. Today there are many different methods for deposit and payment transactions at online casinos. Some of the popular online companies offering these online processor services are; Bank Wire/E-wallet, Pre-Paid ATM, NETteller, Citadel, Fire Pay, Eco Card and Click2Pay and even though these are all web based companies that are accessible to anyone who has internet access, if you happen to live in the USA, depending on which online casino you happen to log into, you may or may not be able to sign up for these services.

Whatever the outcome of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act, and despite the banks refusal to carry out Credit Cards/Debit Cards transactions relating to online gambling, it is in the interest of the online casino websites as well as the online gambling community to find a way to work around these obstacles and ensure that online gambling will be around for a very long time to come.

Texas Hold'Em Online Poker Lingo

• Bad Beat: When you lose a hand despite having strong odds that supposedly should have been in your favor. For example, if you were holding pocket Aces against a player holding pocket 2s, and your opponent ended up beating you by hitting another 2 on the last card, you would have suffered a bad beat.
• Big Slick: Refers to holding an Ace and King as your two pocket cards.
• Blinds: Texas Holdem is based on what is called a blind structure, meaning that two players at dealer's left-most side must place a bet before seeing their cards. Since they are forced to bet without seeing their cards, or are playing blind, those bets are called "blinds".There are two blinds, the big blind and the small blind. The small blind position must post half the minimum bet and sits immediately to the left of the dealer. The big blind must post the full minimum bet, and sits immediately to the left of the small blind, two seats to the left of the dealer. As the deal rotates around the table, each player takes turns posting the small blind and the big blind bets. This blind structure forces the action on the table since there will always be a pot to win. So, for example, if you are seated at a $1-2 limit hold'em table, the small blind must post $.50 and the big blind must post $1 bet. As play rotates around the table, each player may choose to call that $1 bet, raise, or fold. When it's the small blind's turn, that player only needs to call $.50 to play the hand.
• Board: This refers to the community cards dealt face up on the table. In Texas Hold'em, there will ultimately be five community cards on the board, not including the two pocket cards dealt to each player.
• Button: Also called the "Dealer's Button", this is a white puck that indicates the dealer's position on the table. The Dealer Button rotates around the table, so each player takes turns being "on the button".
• Check-raise: The act of checking a hand, in hopes of luring your opponent to bet, so that you may then raise over him and build a bigger pot to win.
• Flop: This is when the first three community cards are dealt on the board. The fourth card is called the turn, and the final, fifth card is known as the river.
• Flush Draw: A hand where you have 4 of the 5 cards needed to make a flush. For example, if you are holding two clubs, and the board flops two more clubs, you would be holding a flush draw. You would need to draw an additional club to complete the flush.
• Gut Shot: A hand where you have 4 of the 5 cards needed to make a straight, but your 4 cards are not in sequence, and you need a single card in the middle of your straight to complete the straight. This type of hand is also known as "inside straight draw".
• Kicker: This is your tie-breaking card. For example, if you hold an Ace and King, and the board shows Ace, 5, 8, 2 and 6, you will have a pair of Aces with a King kicker. Your opponent may also hold an Ace, but with a weaker kicker, in which case you win the showdown.
• Limp: To limp into a Texas Holdem hand refers to calling the minimal bet to play your hand.
• Maniac: This is a player who plays ultra-aggressively, making big bets on poor cards, throwing money around in the hopes of winning by bluffing and intimidation. Important: A maniac may be a big source of profits!
• Muck: The act of folding one's hand without showing the cards
• Nuts/ Nut Hand: This is the best possible hand at that particular moment. In other words, there is no hand that you can lose to at that moment.
• Pocket Rockets: Also known as American Airlines, because it implies that you are holding two Aces as your pocket cards. Double A or AA, get it?
  
• Rake: This is the commission the house takes from every pot. The rake can be set dollar amounts or a percentage of the pot, depending on the casino.
• Semi-bluff: The act of betting on your hand when your hand is not made yet. So if you have four cards to a straight or flush and you place or raise a bet, you have a chance of bluffing your opponent out of the pot or hitting the card to complete your hand.
• Slow Play: The act of intentionally under-playing a very strong hand in the hopes of tricking your opponent into thinking that he/she has done you in, which leads to him/her betting more in later rounds.
• Smooth Call: The act of just calling a bet or raise with a very strong hand to conceal your strength and keep the attention on the initial raiser.
• Stone Cold Bluff: The act of betting with no real possibility of winning the hand if your bet is called. In other words, you rely on your opponent folding.
• Tilt: This refers to a player who is angry, upset, or emotionally unstable, affecting his/her game in a negative manner.

Source: http://www.flopturnriver.com/

News Clippings: Norway Now Bans Online Gambling

I was actually on my way to bed when I saw this news at OnlineCasinoTopic. It seems that Norway is now on the same page on US' stand against online gambling and casinos. So far the enactment of the law has caused an indignation of the several sectors.

It looks like the country of Norway has decided to take a page from the United States’ book on online casinos and banning them. In 2006 the United States passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The bill was cleverly concealed inside a bill that supported port security against terrorist acts and it was never debated or investigated by the members of Congress before it was passed. The law has since caused havoc with online casinos and poker rooms, causing legitimate businesses in the online casino community to withdraw from the American market and depriving American citizens of the joy of playing. Instead a black market online casino industry has emerged and it is preying on American citizens and growing by leaps and bounds.

Norway has decided to pass a similar law to the UIGEA that makes assisting any online gambling sites a violation of the law, including processing transactions. So far the reaction to the new law has been met with outrage from every sector regarding the way the program has been implemented. The Norwegian financial institutions have stated that the law is ‘unworkable’ and a ‘competitive disadvantage’. Civil libertarians are completely horrified by it.

Additionally, global law experts feel that the law may be violating or conflicting with the national obligations as set by the European Union. Already a complaint about the law has been filed with the European Free Trade Association by the Remote Gambling Alliance. The measure as it currently stands makes any assistance to the online gambling sites illegal and says that the only ‘legal’ online gambling in the country are through sites that are state owned which includes the lottery.

You can view the whole article here.