Archive for Blackjack
04.02.09
Posted in Gambling News, Blackjack at 11:31 am by webmaster
Over the weekend Drew C. from TX stunned everyone in the Bodog Casino with a spectacular win of $127,308 while playing Let em Ride Poker.
Some of the other big weekend winners included:
- David G. of TN (who is a Bodog Casino celebrity of sorts) played Lion’s Lair and Aztec’s Treasure slots and came across his very own treasure chest worth $14,172!
- Our top online BlackJack winner this weekend was Leroy B. from PA who banked a cool $12,125.
- Next on the Bodog BlackJack charts was Josh D. of IN with winnings of $8,735.
- It rained money on Steve J. from FL who raked in $7,966 playing Rain Dance online slots.
- Barbara W. from SC was up next with a total win of $7,847 from some of the most thrilling online slots games: Penguin Power and Prince of Sherwood.
- The BlackJack masters of the Bodog Casino continued to impress with Stanley T. from CA cashing out on $6,895 and Terri M. from AZ with $6,521.
- Our biggest Baccarat winner was James Bond’s twin Kiet C. from LA, displaying equal prowess in Baccarat as Bond. He walked away with $5,517!
- And then we have Linda C. from TX who hit a $4,999 jackpot while playing Goldbeard slot. Nice one!
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02.19.09
Posted in Gambling News, Blackjack at 8:24 pm by Mike
Just off the international media scene, Nevada’s Gaming Control Board has released a warning about an iPhone application said to make card counting more accessible to the average blackjack player.
According to the release, the Northern California Tribal Casino originally caught wind of the program called “A Blackjack Card Counter,” which can be downloaded and used on either an iPhone or an iPod Touch.
Released on Jan. 15, the application gives users a choice of four card-counting strategies and calculates “significantly more accurately,” according to the Gaming Control Board.
In a memorandum that the Nevada Gaming Control Board circulated to casinos, board member Randall Sayre sounded the alarm about Blackjack Card Counter, an iPhone application that sells for $1.99 on Apple Inc.’s App Store.
“This program can be utilized on either the Apple iPhone or the Apple iPod Touch portable music player,” Sayre said in the memo (download PDF). “Once this program is installed on the phone through the iTunes Web site, it can make counting cards easy.”
It’s currently being advertised with an “As Seen on CNN” stamp for $1.99.
Among the application’s features is a “Stealth Mode,” which shuts off the iPhone screen - making the phone appear to be turned off. However, the user can still continue to track cards by pressing the screen at the spots where the keys would normally show.
Computerworld reports that Blackjack Card Counter is not the only app for card counting on the App Store. The rival “Card Counter,” a “card-counting practice program”, sells for $2.99. Card Counter is more popular than Blackjack Card Counter; the former is currently No. 30 on the App Store’s list of best-selling games.
Is it legal?
“Just as a reminder, use of this type of program or possession of a device with this type of program on it — with the intent to use it - in a licensed gaming establishment, is a violation of NRS 465.075,” said Sayre. Counting cards with a device is a felony under Nevada law and is punishable by prison terms of between one and six years, or a fine of no more than $10,000, for the first offense.
… MMmmm? Well, I’m off to download it to the iphone I won a couple of months back at Bodog Casino.
>> Check out the latest casino news and player reviews on site at CasinoLabRat.com.
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10.21.08
Posted in Casino Bonuses & Promos, Blackjack at 9:46 pm by Mike
- Have you ever wanted to see Dublin?
- How about Paris?
- Wait…how about both!
You could be one of 7 players to win the new contest at DublinBet Casino and Card Room - and be headed to Dublin for an exclusive poker tournament where you could win a trip to Paris!
The promotion is called Luck O’ the Irish, and each week a real money player at DublinBet will be selected to win an all-expense paid trip for 2 to Dublin. While in Dublin the winners will enjoy 2 nights stay, a walking tour of the city, a tour and lunch at the Guinness brewery, and then on the 2nd night they will participate in a poker tournament that will be held at the Fitzwilliam Card Club, which is where the Live Dealer games are hosted for DublinBet.
This event will take place on Thursday and Friday, December 11th and 12th.
The winner of the poker tournament, and his/her partner, will be picked up by limousine the next morning from their hotel and will fly to Paris for 2 days courtesy of DublinBet, where they will enjoy 2 nights accommodation, a city tour, and a dinner and show at the famous Moulin Rouge.
How cool is that?
The player draws will be held each Thursday at 8 pm GMT live from the casino, on camera, for 7 weeks with the first draw to be held onThursday, October 16th. To be eligible you must have made a minimum €50 deposit, played through at least 3 times (i.e. wagered a minimum of €150), and have sent an email to the DublinBet Support team to register with the words “I’m Feeling Lucky” in the subject line.
You can earn 1 additional entry each week if you make a new deposit and meet the play-through requirements.
Good Luck!
DublinBet is renowned for it’s Early Payout Blackjack - it’s just great - but they offer some of the best live dealer casino play on the net as well. Games are streamed live from Fitzwilliam Card Club in Dublin so you get a far more interactive feel as you play - other land based players can be dealt into the game you’re playing online from home. Fun.
For more on DublinBet Casino check out the latest reviews here: (Sorry, no USA based players due to US legislation)
>>Review of DublinBet Casino at CasinoLabRat.com
>>GoonersGuide.com review and rating of DublinBet.com Online Casino
>>Compare Dublinbet to other popular Live Dealer Casinos here.
PS: For a limited time you can receive an even better join bonus (100% to Eur200 instead of 100% to Eur100) when your first DublinBet deposit is made using MoneyBookers. Enter promo code: Money200 when you make your deposit to take advantage of this offer.
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08.23.08
Posted in Casino Bonuses & Promos, Blackjack at 12:29 am by Mike
We’ve been a bit slack on our Casino blog posts lately (Olympics fever I guess, sorry! It’s not as if we’ve been competing personally mind you 
)
Here’s the latest player competition at Bodog Casino:
Starting today and running until Oct. 1, Bodog Casino will be awarding 10 lucky Blackjack players a $100 bonus each week for a total of $1,000 in weekly bonuses. After six weeks of what will undoubtedly be an intense competition, the top five Bodog Casino Blackjack players will be awarded a brand new Apple* MacBook® computer worth over $1,600!
For a shot at $1,000 in weekly bonuses and five MacBook® computers, visit Bodog Casino.
The Bodog Casino Blackjack leader board is updated daily and gives players the ability to track exactly where they stand from one day to the next. Competition weeks run Wednesday-Tuesday, starting today. At the end of every competition week, the top 10 players who’ve hit the most natural two-card Blackjacks in the preceding week will be awarded a $100 bonus. After each week’s bonuses have been awarded, the leader board is reset and the weekly competition starts all over again. Best of all, there is no limit to the number of times a player can win. Ending up in the top 10 each week for six weeks straight could bank a player $600 in bonuses and a shot at one of five grand prizes of an Apple* MacBook® computer worth over $1,600!
After six weeks, when the competition comes to a close on Oct. 1, the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the top five players to hit the most natural two-card Blackjacks over the course of the entire six week competition will each be awarded a brand new Apple* MacBook® computer valued at more than $1,600.
“Blackjack has always been one of Bodog’s most popular casino games,” says Morris Mohawk Gaming Group CEO Alwyn Morris. “So we’ve decided to sweeten the pot for new and existing Bodog Casino Blackjack players by offering up some fantastic prizes. Players have a shot at winning $600 worth of bonuses and a beautiful new MacBook® computer.”
To give players an extra leg up, Bodog Casino has released a downloadable interactive Blackjack strategy card – Blackjack Mastermind - with preset suggestions on how to play any given Blackjack hand. Blackjack Mastermind is completely player configurable, giving players the ability to adjust and change the default suggestions to match their own preferences and use as a guide while playing.
To download Blackjack Mastermind and for more details on Bodog Casino’s Blackjack competition, visit Bodog Casino.
About Morris Mohawk Gaming Group
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG) is located in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake just outside Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission to offer gaming services from Kahnawake to users worldwide. The Antiguan-based Bodog has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with MMGG to allow this group to use various elements of the Bodog brand within North America to support MMGG’s marketing activities. MMGG is led by Olympic Gold medalist, Order of Canada recipient and First Nations’ leader Alwyn Morris.
About Bodog
Bodog has its head office, and is licensed in, the Caribbean nation of Antigua. The Bodog group of companies includes an online Sportsbook, Casino, Poker Room and a suite of other world-class gaming products. Bodog does not offer “for money” gaming services in North America. Gaming services offered and operated in North America under the Bodog brand are made available exclusively by Morris Mohawk Gaming Group.
* MacBook® is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. Use of the MacBook® trademark is referential only and neither this promotion nor its sponsor, nor any related service or product, is endorsed, sponsored, or otherwise affiliated with Apple Inc.
>>Latest detailed review of Bodog Casino
>>Compare Bodog Casino to other online casinos popular and safe for US residents here at CasinoLabRat.com
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07.20.08
Posted in Gambling News, Blackjack at 1:54 am by Mike
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games and is played by millions of players the world over. Players have always sought a method or strategy that offers them the best chance of success. Because of the random way in which cards are dealt in Blackjack, sustained winning and losing streaks do occur and while playing Optimal Strategy Blackjack is no guarantee of success, it does offer the best odds over a sustained period of time.
The table below shows you Optimal Blackjack Strategy (how to play the best mathematical odds). Depending upon which cards you hold and the value of the dealer’s face-up card there are courses of action you can take which are considered to be statistically the most advantageous way to play.
A “hard number” is one which is made up of two cards not containing an Ace. A “soft number” is one which contains an Ace and has two potential values. For example, if you have A-5 then you have either 6 or 16, giving you more options than if you have 10-6 to make 16.
Opimal Blackjack Strategy recommends that you should not split 10s, that you should look to double down when you have eleven, against anything other than a dealer’s Ace, and that you stand with 12 against a dealer’s 6. This may not be the way that you usually play, but it has been mathematically determined to be the best way of increasing the odds in your favour.
Here are some basic Blackjack tips professionals think you should always adhere to;
- Always split Aces, except when the dealer is showing an Ace
- Do not split a pair of 5s
- Stand on a hard 13 through to 16 if the dealer is showing a 6 or lower
- If the dealer is showing a 4,5 or 6 you should stick on 12
- You should always continue to hit until you have 17 or better if the dealer is showing a ten
- Always stand once you have a hard 17 or higher. The odds of you not busting are far too low for it to be worth the risk
- Always stand when you have A-8 or A-9
Hard and soft - tricky seventeen: A lot of players find 17 a difficult number in Blackjack. It is always sensible to stand on a hard 17, but here we demonstrate the same is not the case with a soft 17 (an ace and a six). Though 17 is a good hand, you have the chance to improve your holding without the fear of busting.
Drawing any card with a 10 value will mean you still have 17, while an Ace, 2, 3 or 4 will improve it. That leaves only a 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 to weaken your hand. As you can see, eight cards either improve or maintain the strength of your hand and only five weaken it. This means that soft 17 is sometimes a good time to Double Down.
Play your hand, not your stake: Whether you are following optimal strategy or your own system, most players agree that it’s important to make decisions based on your cards and not the value of your stake. For example, if you’ve been dealt 14 and the dealer is showing a 10 then the optimal strategy is to hit and take another card.
However, if a player is playing too high a stake for the size of their bankroll they will often stand, because they don’t want to risk busting their hand. If you find yourself in this position it might be a good idea to make your stake a little smaller.
Doubling Down: Playing a stake which is out of their comfort-zone can also cause players not to take full advantage of the “Double Down” option. Doubling Down enables the player to gain full value when they have a good situation. If a player’s original stake is too large, they are often discouraged from making the Double Down, and are unable to gain that value.
Splitting pairs: In contrast to the reluctance players sometimes feel to Double Down, they are often too keen to split pairs of 10 value cards. If the dealer is showing a 5 or a 6, the player tends to think they have an easy chance to win two hands.
However, why would you want to break up one of the best Blackjack hands you can be dealt, and risk making two worse hands? There are many times when you should split your paired cards but when you are dealt 20 it is a good idea to stand every time.
The most popular online casinos for Blackjack: (And where we like to play Blackjack)
Bet365 Casino (Fast-play standard single player, 3-player and 5-player Blackjack games, no USA players)
Blackjack Ballroom Casino (39 Blackjack variants, stylish single-deck through to eight deck games, US OK from 39 States)
Bodog Casino (No download Flash Blackjack or download for more game options , US players welcome too)
Our current favorite Blackjack game: High Streak European Blackjack Gold at Blackjack Ballroom. The High Streak Bonus wins pay up to 10 to 1 for a winning streak and the game is almost photo realistic.
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05.02.08
Posted in Casino Bonuses & Promos, Blackjack at 9:52 pm by Mike
Popular Irish online casino and card room DublinBet has a great player competition now on. You can win a trip to one of two amazing Grand Prix events just by playing your favourite casino games - like early payout Blackjack!! (our favourite) - and you get a entry to the lucky draw for every €50 deposited.
LUCKY GRAND PRIX DRAWS IN MAY (Silverstone) and JUNE (Monza)
For every €50 deposited between now and May 31, 2008, you will earn one entry* into a draw for a trip for 2 to the Grand Prix at Silverstone!
For every €50 deposited between June 1st and June 30th, 2008 you will earn one entry* into a draw for a trip for 2 to the Grand Prix at Monza!
Each trip includes race tickets, accommodation, transfers, and €1,000 total cash for air travel and spending money.
Watch the Live Draws from the Fitzwilliam Card Club in Dublin on June 9th and July 4th, 2008.
>>Not yet made your first deposit with Dublin Bet? Earn a 100% Initial Deposit Bonus up to €100.
>>For more about DublinBet, like who can play and which currencies and payment methods are accepted - and of course what casino games you can play check out the latest May Casino Review of DublinBet.com here at CasinoLabRat.com.
*Note: Maximum 10 entries per player account per draw. One times play through required (€50 in action per €50 deposited for each draw entry.) Please see the DublinBet website for full bonus terms and conditions. Promotion ends June 30, 2008 at midnight GMT.
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03.13.08
Posted in Uncategorized, New Games, Gambling News, Slots, Blackjack at 10:07 pm by Mike
Once the leading online payment method, Neteller has been through some major trials recently. This has been mainly due to American legalists deciding that the US Government wasn’t getting enough of the tax-take from the online gambling habits of their citizens. They put the squeeze on online payment mechanisims like Neteller which has had major ramifications on all online gamers, not just Americans.
It’s time non-US players dusted off their Neteller Accounts though as Neteller is on the road to recovery. Here’s the industry commentary:
“Online payment provider Neteller reported a pre-tax loss of $185.7 million, but said that it was on the road to recovery. Chief Executive Ron Martin said that operations had been scaled down since the US crackdown on online gambling, adding that he was comfortable with 2008 forecasts. Neteller plc has reported a 15% increase in annual revenues from continuing operations to $69.1 million, buoyed by strong growth in Europe and the Asia Pacific regions.”
This is great news as Neteller, (and the Neteller money card that we love!) really do provide an easy and safe way to make online casino payments and withdrawals.
Check out the best online casinos that you join and play with Neteller: (Sorry, no US players)
Microgaming: Ladbrokes Casino (Try the new Lara Croft Tomb Raider II Slot game Sequel - The Secret Sword. We’ve been hanging out for this slot game but there are over 300 other casino games to choose from too at Ladbrokes Casino)
Playtech: Bet365 Casino (A very professional operation with excellent blackjack and new 25, 30 and 50-payline slots that are well worth a look)
Cryptologic: William Hill Casino (Our favourite game here is Power Blackjack, like power poker but 50 blackjack hands at once. Very cool. Some fo the best slots on the net like the Marvel comic themed ones X-Men and Wolverine, etc. too)
Wagerworks: PaddyPower Casino (Excellent lucky streak blackjack that increases the payout for a win the more sequential wins you get… Great 5 reel interactive slots machines too like Bay Watch, Monopoly, Cluedo and Elvis - a new triple game)
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01.09.08
Posted in New Games, Blackjack at 9:28 pm by Mike
Casino software specialists, Microgaming, released a new enhanced Blackjack variant yesterday that we predict will keep players coming back to casinos for years to come.
Each month the Microgaming team releases new casino games, adding to the already huge selection available online, but this new Blackjack is outstanding. As part of the Microgaming Gold Series of Table Games it features photo realistic images and offers some new gamble options that we think good (and lucky) Blackjack players will jump at!
New High Streak European Blackjack Gold lets you enhance your play with the High Streak side bet and progress along a generous chain of payouts - 4th High Streak wins pay at 10:1! What? Well, the more hands you win consecutively, the bigger the payouts get.
Some basics: This new Blackjack is played with 2 standard blackjack decks, the dealer must stand on all 17s. There is no peek option, and you can double down on 9, 10 and 11. You can split once to make 2 hands, but not unlike 10 value cards. A split Ace and a 10 count as 21 not BJ.
The Side bet options on this new Blackjack game really are pretty cool.
Once you win 2 hands in a row having placed side bets, the second consecutive win initiates “High Streak”. The 2nd Streak win pays 1 to 1. When your next consecutive hand is a winner, the 3rd Streak win pays 2 to 1, and your payout options progress accordingly for the next hand. If you win that hand too, your 4th streak win pays 5 to 1… and any 5th streak win pays at 10 to 1 ! The bonus bet pushes if the hands tie.
When you lose a hand, you lose all High streak side bets and have to build up the side betting lines from scratch by winning consecutive games again…
Sounds complicated? Far from it! To get into this extra betting action just place a side (high streak) bet when you bet as usual, and as you win, you’ll be promoted up the payout levels automatically. Easy - and profitable!
Here’s some help: Blackjack Basic Strategy
We suggest you check this new Microgaming Blackjack out at these top casinos: (You can play it for free as a guest or register to play for real money)
Wild Jack Casino (Players welcome from around the World including 39 US States)
Spin Palace Casino (UK owned and one of Europe’s most popular online casino venues)
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01.05.08
Posted in Casino Bonuses & Promos, Blackjack at 8:04 pm by Mike
Our favourite Irish Casino DublinBet.com is running two lucky player draws in January and there is no limit to the number of entries you can have.
1. Win a Dell notebook computer, a trip to Ireland or €1500 in cash at Dublinbet in January. Just deposit and play €300 or more for an entry.
2. Players who deposit and play €100 or more are in a lucky draw for prizes of €500.
This promotion ends January 31 and the prizes will be drawn LIVE** on DublinBet, Tuesday February 5, 2008!
(**DublinBet in addition to offering great “standard” computer based online casino games - and some simply awesome early payout blackjack - is one of the top streaming video based Live Dealer casinos available on the net)
Here are the prize Details:
- DELL XPS M1530 laptop prize package ships direct from DELL. Maximum configuration value of prize is €1,500 including VAT and shipping.
- Win a trip to Ireland prize package is valued at approximately €1,500 and includes: Up to €1,000 Flight Credit –, 3 Days 2 Nights accommodation – deluxe room for 2 including high-speed internet access, Two 1-Day Tours to explore beautiful Ireland – a selection of tours will be provided for you to choose from - prize balance up to €500 in chips at the Fitzwilliam Card Club.
- Players may choose to take the equivalent prize package of €1,500 in CASH to your player account!
>>Check out Dublinbet
>>Read a detailed casino review on DublinBet
>>Compare the latest January Casino bonuses and promotional offers
Good luck from the team at CasinoLabRat.com!
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12.28.07
Posted in Casino Bonuses & Promos, Blackjack at 10:31 pm by Mike
You’ve still got a chance to win a trip for two to Ireland (or a cash equivalent, your choice) courtesy of DublinBet online casino. Any deposit until midnight December 31 gives you an entry in the lucky draw. The more deposits you make, the more chances you have to win.
The draw will be held live on DublinBet.com January 2nd 2008!
That’s airfares, accomodation, €500 in free chips at Fitzwillian Card Club & Casino and 2x 1 day tours of beautiful Ireland.
There is also a count down to New Year running at DublinBet where you can claim up to €1500 in bonus casino chips…
By the way, DublinBet in our view offers one of the best Blackjack games on the net. You can play Early Payout Basic Strategy Blackjack either as a standard online casino game or against a live dealer (who is usually a dude called Sean or Mick or a cutie called Colleen… well, no we’ve actually had mostly non Irish named dealers, like Damian and Stuart).
We’ve had feedback that several readers who joined DublinBet having read about them in CasinoLabRat.com have had a STUNNING month payout wise in December… Fancy YOUR luck in January?
Check out DublinBet.com (Sorry, no US players due to America’s stoopid gambling laws)
Read more about DublinBet in the latest casino review on site at CasinoLabRat.com.
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