Helt siden online-gambling såvidt begynte å dukke opp i Norge på tidlig 2000-tallet, har nordmenn vært blant de folkeslag i verden som har vært mest ivrig i spill på nett i forhold til vårt folketall. Det startet med små pokersites som PlanetPoker og Paradise Poker, og senere fulgte store aktører som Party Poker og Pokerstars. Sammen med pokerboomen som valset over landet vokste også interessen for å gamble på andre ting fram. Muligheten for sportsbetting og casino på internett dukket nå opp på nordmenns horisont.

Paradise Poker – en av nordmenns første nettcasino

Det var allikevel ikke før ut i 2006 at markedet for norsk nettcasino virkelig eksploderte. Da skjønte aktørene at de kunne kjøre på med TV-reklame på Viasat og andre kanaler gjennom et smutthull i lovverket. Samtidig vokste Norgesautomaten seg stor på å reklamere for de såkalte norske spilleautomatene på nett. Det superprofitable norske casino-markedet online var igang for fullt!

Hvem startet med norske nettcasinoer?

På mange måter var det jo Norgesautomaten som virkelig definerte begrepet “norsk nettkasino”. Senere har etterligninger kommet som Norgesspill.com, Norskespill.com og Norskevinnere.com. Flere av disse er absolutt gode norske online casinoer, men det er selvfølgelig alltid originalen som vil stå igjen som den virkelig gode aktøren.
Forhåpentligvis kommer det flere gode norske nettcasinoer framover, og vi har gode kilder på at det dukker opp noe spennende i nær framtid.

Edit: Oops, a little late!

According to reports, Apple is expected to come up with two new models of the iPhone in the year 2014. However, unlike all other releases, the two new releases are expected to be completely different from all other devices and models that Apple has launched till date. It has been projected that the iconic phone manufacturer plans to introduce a 4.7” iPhone 6 along with a 5.5” iPhone Phablet. The iPhone 6 should hit the markets by the month of September while the iPhone Phablet could take a while longer to arrive.

Source: Recode.net

The 4.7″ iPhone 6 is also expected to feature a completely redesigned face and a 1704 x 960 pixel display. The 5.5″ iPhone Phablet is expected to go along with similar features as well as a full HD screen. The move to a larger screen size is a direct result of the widespread popularity achieved by the 5+” Android Smartphones available in the markets.

Apple phones are also expected to roll out a brand new A8 processor, a usual range of 16 – 64GB storage units and a Touch ID scanner. Another exciting rumor that has come up is that the iPhone 6 is expected to feature the CAT 6 LTE, an NFC chip that allows mobile payments and wireless charging capabilities. The NFC inclusion is particularly significant for the mobile payment industry at large. TouchID is also likely to be brought into the mix and will most certainly help out with transaction verifications. A website in Romania claims to have laid its hands on the iPhone 6 dummy and has measured the same. According to the website, the iPhone 6 is expected to have dimensions of 137.5 mm x 67 mm x 7mm.

The iPhone is also expected to offer an enhanced user experience and a greater level of interaction between the phone and the user. How much of these specs and rumors turn out to be true cannot be ascertained at the moment, but if the initial pictures are anything to go by, we could be in for a treat with the iPhone 6 and the Apple phablet.

In addition to the iPhone 6, Apple plans to roll out its very first smartwatch in the month of September as a sister device to the iPhone 6. The company is already said to be in an accelerated production mode in order to be able to meet its September targets. Rumors of the iWatch have been circulating ever since the company‘s patent application for a smart wristband was made public in the month of February 2013.

As always, you should take all reports about upcoming Apple products with a word of caution. The delays are always expected and the rumors are likely to intensify with every passing day. However, until we hear more about the company’s plans for launching the iPhone 6, all we can do is speculate.

The craps tables are probably one of the loudest and most fun places in a casino. Unlike poker or blackjack, where players focus on the game and winning strategies, craps is more of a collective game. Everyone at the table can win, just like everyone at the table can lose. With an almost 50% chance of winning, craps players enjoy more winnings than your average slot machine player, and their wild cries of joy are proof to that.

While the excitement at the craps table is the reason behind many players’ decision to learn how to play this game, the intimidating look of the craps table itself, with its many unfamiliar numbers and symbols is the reason preventing many of them to actually carry on with their decision.

The game looks pretty complicated. I mean why would you need up to 4 staff members for a single table if it’s not a complicated game, right? Well the truth is that craps is pretty easy to learn. The staff members are there because each of the up to 20 players can bet multiple bets, so they need to be there in order to make sure that everything is done to the casino’s standards of quality. This is even more important considering that craps is the fastest casino table game. A craps table can see as many as 100 dice rolls per hour. That’s pretty huge!
Because of the speed of the game, the house settles for a pretty low profit margin, one of the lowest in casino games. After all, happy players will play more, which will increase the house’s profits.

Although there are over 40 bets you can make, most of them have pretty bad odds. This is why, in order to start playing craps you only need to know about the passline bet.
Placing a passline bet means that you’re betting the roller will get either a 7 or an 11. If he does, then you win. If he rolls a 2, a 3 or a 12, then you lose your money. Any other number, called point number, leads to repeated dice rolls, until the outcome is either the point number, or seven. In case the player rolls the point number first, you will get the value of your bet back. If he rolls a 7, you lose your bet.

If you wish to complicate things a little, you can choose to place an odds bet. Odds bets are placed once the point number was rolled. You bet on twice the amount of your passline bet in order to increase the payout if the player rolls the point number. If the point is 6 or 8, you get paid 1.2 times the value of the bet. If the point is 5 or 9, you get paid 1.5 the value. For 4 or 10, you get paid twice the bet value.

Craps is a really easy and fun game to play once you get the hang of it. Many casinos offer free tutorials for craps, and we can only encourage you to take advantage of such opportunities. You will probably not regret it.

Money management is never exciting to read or talk about, but it is extremely important nonetheless. Forget about money management while gambling and you’re likely to see your bankroll as well as your hard earned money disappear in no time. Remember, if you wish to be careful with your money, you need to allocate an amount for gambling and stick to it.

Even though gambling has gone mainstream in the past decade, gambling is ultimately a form of entertainment only. You need to ensure that you restrict gambling to being a mode of entertainment by not letting it influence or affect your lifestyle. It always helps to understand that you’re never likely to make a profit while gambling. Therefore, looking at your bankroll like an entry fee helps you to prevent yourself from suffering heavy losses or being disappointed in the end.

You should always understand that the casino has an edge. Therefore, there’s hardly any chance of you ending up winning money while gambling in the long run. You should be realistic in your goals and determine a limit as to what you should “risk”. Furthermore, always make sure that you divide your bankroll into multiple sessions. Ideally, you should never use more than 10% of your bankroll on a single session. If you end up losing the allocated money, stop playing for the day and come back later.

The good news about budgeting is that once you start tracking your expenses and budgeting your bankroll, you will be able to understand which games you’re better at. This should help you to start enjoying those games even more, particularly because there will be days when you come back with more money than you entered the casino with.

Look for games that suit your bankroll and your budget. For example, it always makes sense to start off at a $2 – $5 table when you have $100 to play with. The moment you go for something like a $10 – $20 table, you could end up losing your entire bankroll in a couple of rounds itself. Ideally, you should choose the bet limit based on your budget. Simply put, the total money that you have should allow you to play at least 20 rounds on a given day.

Finally, you also need to determine whether to choose limit games or no limit games. If you’re looking for the best returns, you should go for a no limit game. However, a no limit game is likely to feature pros and it definitely requires you to have a huge bankroll. If your budget and skill levels don’t suit a no limit table, be content with a limit table. However, if you do have enough money to try your luck at a no limit table, don’t restrict yourself by playing at a limited table. You might end up losing your chips in a single round and might not be able to play anymore on a given day, but you also offer yourself with the best chance of making some serious money at a no limit table.

How to play Razz Poker?

Razz poker is a unique poker variation that has become extremely popular all over the world at a much faster pace than most other variations of poker. It is a low-ball game where players are offered with a total of 7 cards. The best 5 card hand wins the game. One of the main differences in razz poker is that flushes and straights don’t count. As a result, the best possible hand is A, 2, 3, 4, 5.

The Gameplay

There are a number of stages in which Razz poker is played.

1. Ante – Before beginning the game, players must play a nominal amount (depending on the bet limits). Basically, this amount can be considered as the cost of playing the game.

2. Third Street – Once all players play the Ante, each player is dealt with three cards, two face down and one facing up. The player with the highest card (the one that is facing up) must start the betting round. They must play an amount that is equal to the initial buy-in or increase the bet. The betting continues clockwise until it is complete.

3. Fourth Street – Once the first round of betting is complete, players receive another card facing up. The player with the lowest exposed hand begins the second round of betting.

4. Fifth Street – Once the second round of betting is complete, players receive another card facing up. The player with the lowest exposed hand begins the third round of betting.

5. Sixth Street – Once the third round of betting is complete, players receive another card facing up. The player with the lowest exposed hand begins the fourth round of betting.

6. Seventh Street (also known as the River) – Once the fourth round of betting is complete, players receive another card facing down. The player with the lowest exposed hand begins the fourth and last round of betting.

7. The Showdown – If more than one player remains at the end, the game goes into a showdown. Showdowns must be exposed clockwise. The player with the best five card ace to five card low wins the entire hand.

Razz Hand Values

Razz hand values aren’t difficult to figure out. Any hand that has a 6 high beats a hand with a 7 high. Similarly, a hand with a 7 high beats a hand with a 10 high. The best way to look at your hands is by placing them from high to low. Therefore, if you hold a 8, 7, 5, 2, A (ace is a low card in Razz poker) combination you can beat the player holding 8, 7, 6, 3, A. Your main goal is to make the lowest possible hand using the seven cards allotted to you. Remember, something like a pair is extremely bad. Even cards like K, Q, J, T, 9 would win against a simple 5, 4, 2, A, A.

Razz Poker Strategies

• The most important thing to consider is your hand selection. Pay heed to your cards and check out the exposed cards of your opponents to determine the strength of your hand.

• It is also important to utilize your door card. If you have the lowest door card that is facing up, you should look at raising the bet, even if your hole cards weaken your position.

Deposit bonuses have become all too common in online casinos. All sorts of deposit bonuses offer pretty much the same thing – a certain “extra” amount for depositing money with an online casino. As simple as this concept might sound, it is actually known to be quite complicated. There are a number of factors that determine the real value offered by a deposit bonus – yes, there are two values – the value being advertised and the true value of a deposit bonus.

If you’re aware how a deposit bonus works, skip to the next paragraph. If not, read on. An online casino offers its customers with a 100% bonus when they deposit $500 into their casino accounts. Therefore, if a customer deposits $500, he/ she is offered with a balance of $1000. However, the bonus amount offered is not free from restrictions. For example, players are not offered with access to the bonus money directly. They need to earn it by playing with their real money at select gaming rooms. These rooms shall release the money in small increments. Moreover, bonuses almost always have a shelf life. Any unearned bonus automatically becomes expired.

Here are a few things that you need to look at while determining the true value of a deposit bonus. Firstly, you need to see whether the deposit bonus can be cashed or not, once all gambling requirements have been completed. Cashable bonuses are always known to be more favorable as it can be extremely difficult to make money from the non-cashable ones.

If and when you find an online website offering a cashable bonus, you also need to look at the gambling specifications mentioned by the website. For example, the games that you are allowed to play with this bonus should include ones that have a lower house edge, i.e., ones where you can actually end up earning. Some of the most common games that have a lower house edge include blackjack, video poker, baccarat and roulette. You should also try to understand how much you would probably end up losing before you can cash out the bonus being offered.

Another way of determining the true value of the deposit bonus is to use a simple formula. Here’s what you need to do –

• Take the total rake amount that is needed to be paid in order to clear the bonus and the total bonus amount.
• Divide the rake amount by the bonus amount.
• The higher the percentage that you get by dividing the two, the better the value you are offered by using the deposit bonus.
• Remember, any percentage that is above 25% is worth taking and anything below 10% is way too low.

Calculating the true value of a deposit bonus might seem to be a lot of work, but putting in that extra effort can actually help you yield excellent returns. You should also remember that the true value of a deposit bonus differs from one online casino to the other.

Ever wanted something more than those Friday night poker games with your friends? Ever wanted a game of poker that is more than fun and camaraderie? Well, there are a number of people who believe poker to be serious business and they actually make serious money out of it as well. Playing the game on the big stage, calling the shots and beating some of the greatest pros in the world is something that many guys dream of, but something that very few manage to achieve. Here is a list of the top 5 male poker players in the world.

01. Phil Ivey

Phillip D. Ivey, popularly known as Phil, boasts of having 11 World Poker Tour title and 7 World Series of Poker bracelets. Known as the Tiger Woods of the Poker world, Phil has participated in a total of 8 World Poker Tour finals. With earnings of more than 12 million from poker, he is currently ranked at the very top of the list of top poker players in the world. No doubt that he is one of the most feared cash game players in the world of poker.

02. Antonio Esfandiari

Antonio Esfandiari is famous as the youngest ever poker player to be named as the champion of the World Poker Tour. He was born in Tehran with the name of Amir Esfandiari and changed his name after shifting to San Jose. Antonio is particularly famous for his skills and is never afraid of losing the game. Popularly known as the magician in the poker world, he has a unique way of multiplying his chips for the camera.

03.Erik Seidel

Erik Seidel started out his journeys in one of those backgammon tournaments before taking his skills to the stock market and finally to the game of poker. Erik managed to achieve name and fame with his very first major poker tournament, the 1988 World Series of Poker. He has amassed 7 World Series of Poker bracelets and presently resides in Las Vegas.

04. Daniel Negreanu

Daniel Negreanu is a Canadian born poker player who boasts of having 2 World Poker Tour titles and 4 World Series of Poker bracelets under his bet. Daniel is famous as the most liked player in poker and is also known for his extremely friendly nature and unique poker talents. Daniel was appointed as the Poker Ambassador by Wynn Las Vegas, which allowed him to play for any stakes at the casino. Daniel has also taught at the Poker School Online and has given personal poker lessons to celebrities like Tobey Maguire.

05. Phil Hellmuth

Phil Hellmuth, famous for being a poker brat, boasts of a mammoth 11 World Series of Poker bracelets. He is considered to be a living legend and is one of the only 3 players in the history of poker to get 10 WSOP bracelets. However, what makes Phil even better is that all WSOP wins made by him have been in Texas Hold’em events. Hellmuth became the youngest ever player to win a World Series of Poker Main Event in the year 1989 after defeating the then champion Johnny Chan at the age of just 24.

Online gambling has been a major attraction to a number of users around the globe. A huge amount of time is spent by many playing their favourite games. Gradually with time it turns out to be more of addiction than just fun. Besides that, online gambling pose significant threat to the users which people tend to overlook. With growing cyber threats all over the world, hacking of accounts, of tracking personal information can lead to disastrous results.

Online casinos may be vulnerable to a wide array of criminal activities. Fake identities or criminal proceeds can be easily used while transacting via online casinos.
Some of the major problems or risks associated with online casinos are:

1. Sudden closure of websites or refusal of paying back money of customers may result in significant loss to many online gamers since there is lack of credibility and accountability.
2. Access to credit/debit card details to fraudsters may create problems and can become a possible threat of hacking financial accounts of people. It may actually be possible in case an online gamer is unable to detect an illegal website.
3. With personal information being shared while creating an account n such websites, problem of image personification could be another possible threat.
4. Also, personal information being shared can possibly be sold to other organisations thus resulting in increased number or spam emails and calls.
5. Children and teenagers (minors) who are usually not able to understand the pros and cons of such websites may actually end up misusing it since real identity can be easily faked over internet.
6. Easily accessibility to internet casinos can become a nuisance for those already suffering from addiction to online gambling.
7. Another major problem with online casinos is not setting up an upper limit of spending for the users. This can result in out of the pocket spending by many while not realising the consequences attached to it.
8. Online casinos have gradually resulted in increased problems of money laundering.
9. Unscrupulous gambling websites usually have malware, Trojans, viruses’ installed on their website thus crashing the machines of the users.
10. Usually with online gambling problem is realised only when the damage is done and hence precautionary measures are not taken.
11. Interaction with strangers especially by children could create problems if they share personal information.

With so many possible threats attached to online gambling, it is important for users to be aware of them. It is also important to realise the thin line attached between enjoyment and addiction in online gambling. It can lead to disastrous and irreversible results if not checked on time. Several websites will lure their customers into it, but one has to be their own best judge and act wisely and decide what best serves their interest. Thus there are a number of risks involved with online casinos and one needs to be extremely careful when using them.