It’s in the Book: Winning Ways – How to Beat the Casinos is an insider’s view on how to beat the house when playing the top three most popular casino table games. Authored by Richard De La Torre, and published by Page Publishing, the gaming book presents proven strategies on how to “beat casinos” in an easy and practical manner.

The basics of playing Blackjack, Craps and Roulette are quite easy to comprehend. The hard part in playing these casino table games is in winning. De La Torre’s book deals with the how’s and why’s of these three casino table games. Reading this book will help both the newbie and seasoned players to have an in depth knowledge of the game so that they could make informed decisions when playing, and greatly improve their chances of winning.

Blackjack Tips

Richard De La Torre’s insights on Blackjack are quite significant. He mentioned that card recognition is an imbalance of face value cards versus face cards. He says that doubling down hitting twelve when the dealer is losing is a great move. Not opting to taking money for insurance if the ratios are favorable is a bad move. It is an advantage of know how to count each card in eight or even just six deck shoe through simple math. De La Torre outlines time tables to follow when a player ends up with stiff hands.

Roulette Tips

Richard De La Torre believes that there are high and low percentages on every bet when playing Roulette. He said that by using ratios, it is possible to cut the house edge down, that betting on columns, or 1st, 2nd and 3rd twelve’s only is a good strategy.

Craps Tips

There is a great amount of bad and good bets when playing craps. De La Torre mentioned in the book that it is possible to minimize losses by hedge betting on particular bets. Now, the author presents various means to hedge bet. He believes that a great deal of crap players do hedge betting without even knowing about it.

De La Torre’s It’s in the Book: Winning Ways – How to Beat the Casinos greatly deals with money management including hedge betting. Gamblers must realize that money management is a very important factor to consider as it is possible to win a great deal of money and in the next instance lose it all due to bad money management.

De La Torre expressed that gambling is not just about playing one’s favorite casino table game. He believes that this book will help gamblers to better their games, and efficiently manage their money.

Which hands are the most profitable in Blackjack? Which hands will give players the best odds to make money? Before we answer that, let us first determine the various starting hands there are in a game.

Considering the picture cards alone and the 10s, there are 33 possible starting hands. They may be grouped as pairs, soft hands or hard hands. The pairs are two cards of the same value, such as 2-2; 3-3; 4-4; 6-6; 7-7; 8-8; 9-9; 10-10; and A-A. The soft hands are those with an ace such as A-2 up to A-10. Hard hands have totals of 9 such as 4-5, 3-6 or 2-7, and any other combinations of numbers from 1-19. A pair of 5’s is not considered starting hands as 5’s are never split but instead are played as hard 10.

The following hands are considered the most profitable when strategically playing Blackjack. They are ranked from first to tenth places.

• A-10
• A-9
• 10-10
• A-8
• 10-9
• 11 (7-4 or 8-3)
• A-A
• 10 (3-7 or 4-6)
• 9-9
• A-7

A Blackjack hand is, of course, the most advantageous and profitable hand because when a player is dealt this hand, he is paid 1.5 times his initial bet if the dealer does not have a Blackjack hand. The odds are usually 6/5, but there are some casinos that offer odds at 3/2. Note though that a player can expect to hold a Blackjack hand at least once in every 21 hands.

Why is A-9 (20) ranked higher than 10-10 (20), and A-18 (19) ranked above 10-9 (19)? The soft hand combinations containing the Aces definitely decreases the dealer’s chance of having a Blackjack (and beating the player) since one less Ace is available from the deck. This makes the soft hands more profitable than the hard hands of the same value.
It is never wise to split a pair of 10’s, and double down on an A-9 hand because they are both profitable. The list of profitable hands shows that an 11 is more profitable than an A-A. Let’s discuss why.

A-A Hand

Splitting an A-A hand is not mandatory as a player can play a soft 12 if he continues the hand. Most card players will settle on continuing on soft 12 if they have counted that there is just a few 10s left in the deck.

The usual play if handed an A-A is to split the pair and consider each pair as 11 because a player can only have one hit for each of his Aces after a split. If a player received 10 for each A for two hands of 21, these are not viewed as Blackjacks for payment is only 1/1.
If a player is in a position to hit an 11, then he gains the favor 60% of the hand, depending on circumstances such as the dealer’s face card. If a dealer’s face card is 10, the favor drops to 54%. It increases to 67% if the dealer’s hand is a 6.

A split mandates a player to double his initial bet. If this initial bet for his A-A hand is $10, he would have to bet another $10 after the split as he now has two hands.

Statistic indicates that both hands are won 30% of the time, and lost both at 13%. Breaking even in one win and a loss is at 42%. Draws comprise the remaining percentage. When dealt with an A-A, the average winning is at 16% the initial bet.

11 Hand

When a player is dealt an 11, he faces the decision of doubling down or not. If he doubles down, the player doubles his initial bet and takes one extra hit. If the initial bet is $10 on the 11 hand, doubling it makes his bet $20 on one 11 hand.

The odds of winning an 11 hand is the same as in hitting an 11 when splitting an A-A – 67% if a dealer’s upcard is six, and 54% if the dealer’s upcard is 10. Playing the 11 hand initially dealt with and one more hit should the player requests, would increase his percentage of winning to 56% when the dealer’s upcard is a 10.

The player should decide if he wants to win 54% of the time with $20 on the table, or win 56% of the time with $10 on the table. The two options are both winning options. Statistics indicate that a 17.6% profit of a player’s initial bet on a dealt hand of 11 can be expected.

Conclusion

A dealt 11 hand is more profitable than a dealt A-A hand. With a dealt 11 hand, there is a greater percentage of a 54-56% profit that could increase to 67%. This return could be matched with a split A-A if the player wins the two hands. It is true that a player’s chances of losing his full stake when doubling down on 11, but the potential for an ROI is more likely as winning when holding an 11 is more probable than losing.

Founded in 2013, Extreme Live Gaming’s role as an online betting software developer specializing in live dealer games has been cemented. Its mission of changing the way that live dealer games were provided and presented was met through the company’s offering of ultra-high-end webcasted games to clients across the globe. NYX Gaming Group recently partnered with Extreme Live Gaming (EGL) as its Open Gaming System (OGS) platform now includes ELG for game distribution.

Betting products by Extreme Live Gaming are offered not only in desktop but also in television and mobile platforms. Live dealer versions of Blackjack, Baccarat, and Roulette are offered by partner casinos. ELG versions are broadcasted in high definition, with highly skilled, professional and attractive dealers. The three table games offered by ELG can be modified, and their interface adjusted to meet the requirements and preferences of clients.

Extreme Live Gaming Blackjack Rules

The rules for Extreme Live Gaming Blackjack are simple enough. The game uses 8 decks. The dealer stands on soft 17, where double after splitting is not permissible. Players are not allowed to re-split, and surrender is not allowed either. A dealer may peel at hole card for Blackjack. The house edge is 0.41% with a return of 99.59%. Side bets for perfect pairs use a 25-12-6 pay table for a 4.10% house edge. For 21+3 side bet, the pay table of 100-40-30-10-5 is used for a 6.29% house edge.

Extreme Live Gaming Baccarat Rules

Extreme Live Gaming’s Baccarat is all about winnings on the Banker paying more. This game is called Nepal Baccarat in Singapore, Commission Free Baccarat in the USA, and Punto Banco 2000 in the UK. Based on eight decks of cards, the house edge for players is 1.24%, for banker is 1.46% and for ties is 14.36%.

Roulette

There are various options for roulette games, from single-zero roulette to triple-wheel roulette games to French roulette games. The house edge is 2.70% for single-zero roulette and all others, and 1.35% for French roulette.

A Swedish-based group ComeOn! which is operating several online casino brands, recently acquired Extreme Live Gaming to supply its complete suite of live dealer games. Included in the package is Love Box Roulette games which will be streamed live from one of its casinos in Gibraltar.

Conclusion

Accredited by eCOGRA, Extreme Live Gaming is a credible and reliable gaming developer that holds gaming licenses from Malta Gaming Authority and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. Because of its collaboration with NYX, ELG is set to be pushed in other online casinos such as 888, and Paddy Power.

The most popular table casino game of all time is Blackjack. Playing Blackjack in traditional brick and mortar casinos or online casinos both offer an exciting and definitely rewarding experience.

There are online casinos offering free blackjack games and thanks to them, it is possible to hone one’s blackjack strategies through these free games. But once you are quite confident in playing any variant of Blackjack, then it is time to test the water in playing online Blackjack for real money.

Here are some tips to consider when you play online Blackjack for real money.

Choose a Trusted Online Casino

There are hundreds of online casinos available to players across the world; but only a small percentage is credible. Now it is not that easy to tell which online casino is dubious as all have attractive and professional looking websites. You can check out our Free Blackjack Money portal to see our recommended online blackjack casinos. Not only are they credible and reliable, they also offer sizeable free money of up to $4,000 and a whole gallery of freebies and bonuses.

Some of these casinos are 21 Dukes Casino, , LeoVegas, Blackjack Ballroom, and Las Vegas USA Casino.

Bonuses and Deposits

Playing online Blackjack for real money calls for a player to deposit funds. This is done through various online payment methods. It is easy enough to deposit funds and qualify for a whole lot of deposit bonuses. However, you should also be aware of how you can withdraw your winnings. Online casinos offer different methods of withdrawals thus you should check out which suits you best. Note that cashing-in chips do take a couple days or so.

What Blackjack Variant?

There are various Blackjack games, with each online casino issuing its very own set of rules and regulations. It is recommended to first learn how to play the classic game of Blackjack thus this is the best variant for a newbie player as the rules are simpler. Variants such as Pontoon and Spanish 21 are for the more experienced player so it is best to stay away from such variations if you are new in the game.

Always keep your cool and use your head when playing Blackjack as there is money to be made when you play online Blackjack for real money.

Apart from seeking the best variety of blackjack games online and the best range of betting limits, blackjack players seek online casinos that offer live blackjack dealer games.

Up until 2006, blackjack players that wanted to play online had to play blackjack games that are run by RNG (Random Number Generator) and that were similar to video blackjack games that didn’t have any interaction with a live blackjack dealer. Now with advanced technologies and high speed internet, innovative gambling software giants have dreamed big to bring your local land based casino to your living room.

With the introduction of live dealer blackjack games from the likes of such software giants as Evolution Gaming, you can now socialize with both the live blackjack dealer and other players from the comfort of your own home in real time. This revolutionary technology makes the online blackjack player experience as close to the casino floor as possible.

Often times, the live blackjack games are filmed and streamed live from state of the art production studios that include VIP studios for high rollers. VIP blackjack gamblers especially enjoy the anonymity of playing blackjack online from the comfort of their own home, but of course the social and interactive nature of live blackjack play is a huge draw for them.

Whereas Evolution Gaming may have revolutionized Live Blackjack in Europe, Ezugi has been the first to offer their live dealer blackjack games for USA online blackjack players. Live Blackjack is becoming a bigger and bigger revenue stream for online casinos around the globe and we expect the technology to continue to advance to offer more tables, more blackjack game varieties, your choice of live dealer, more authentic brick and mortar gameplay and more and more betting options and gamble features.

What would be the next big step for the online casino industry? With the revolution of the Virtual Reality Technology, maybe we will see this tech implemented into Blackjack and other games to make the experience even more real.

The Dakota Sioux Casino off Watertown in South Dakota was the scene of an alleged $10,000 theft on New Year’s Eve way back in 2015.

Based on the investigation of federal authorities, involved in the felony are four individuals, two of which are blackjack dealers in the casino, their pit boss, and a casino client. Charged with theft and conspiracy are Fern Gil (52 years old), Lito Bolocon (44 years old), Jeremy Brown (29 years old), and Jordan Rondell.

Rondell was a frequent guest at the said casino. Authorities confirmed that Rondell frequented the blackjack table and on one occasion allegedly received $10,000 illegal winnings from Gill and Brown, with the consent of the pit boss named Bolocon.

The four were charged but pleaded not guilty. If the court delivers a guilty verdict, the four may face a maximum jail time of 25 years.

As of this writing the defense attorneys have not commented on the issue.

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There are three thoughts regarding the origin of the game of Blackjack.
The ancient Romans love to gamble. They used to play wooden blocks carved with numerical values. The game probably involved reaching a sum with a particular number of blocks.
The Spanish’s version was called One and Thirty. The game involved reaching the sum of ‘31’ with a minimum of three cards.

The most plausible origin of the game of Blackjack is the French version. In the 1700s, French casinos offered the card game Vingt-et-Un which translates to the English “twenty-one”. Advocates claim that this game was an off shoot of French Ferme and Chemin de Fer which were the two leading card games during that era.

Of all the possible origins of Blackjack, 21 or Vingt-et-Un prospered in reach and popularity. This game spread throughout Western Europe. Thanks to French colonists, the game was introduced and thrived in North America. In no time at all, the game of Blackjack were being introduced in Poker rooms, river boats and casinos across the United States.

Of course the rules of the original Blackjack are different from the contemporary version. In the old version, the dealer was the only one permitted to double, and betting was allowed between each playing card dealt. As with all things, the game evolved. Some say Blackjack is just a variation of Baccarat. Nevertheless, the game became a huge success as the public welcomed the new card game.

During the 1920s Prohibition, gambling dens lost customers as it seemed card playing is no fun without the usual liquor. Historians agree that the game of Blackjack was almost wiped out during this period.

After the Prohibition, card rooms and gambling halls were once again filled with liquor-drinking-blackjack-playing patrons. This card game was still called ‘21’ when the first legal casino opened in Nevada in the 1930s. To entice card players to try their luck in Blackjack, some casinos afforded a special bet. This bet had something to do with the Jack of Clubs or Spades (black jacks) plus the Ace of Spades. The odds for these pairings were 10-to-1 odds on the player’s bet. Of course this particular pairing was eventually discontinued but by that time it did not really matter as Blackjack was well ingrained in the psyche of gamers and non-gamers alike.

Innovations in technology make it now possible to play live Blackjack anytime, anywhere.

It is true that Blackjack is a game of skill where some kind of luck is also a factor. This card game is quite random that it is hard to say if one will win or not. Losing streaks are bound to happen. On the other hand, winning streaks are bound to happen too. The best thing that a player can do when playing blackjack is to go with basic strategy. Be it a losing or winning streak, there is just no way how long such episode will last.

Greatest Losing Streaks

Remember Kerry Packer? During one of his losing streaks in Las Vegas, he lost on average $1 million a day. The Australian billionaire lost some $20 million at the Bellagio in 2000 during a 3-week losing streak.

Electronics executive and scammer Omar Sidduiqi lost a total of $167 million at various Las Vegas casinos from 1999 to 2009. He once won $8 million in one day at the blackjack table. What makes this person more memorable is that he used kickback money from clients to fund his gambling.

Controlling Losing Streak

Losing streaks happen to all blackjack players. When this happens, there is no telling when it will end. What to do? The only wise thing to do is to play or prod through it. Why? Well, blackjack do offer the best house odds so a player who plays through losing streaks will do quite well in the long run. And, all losing streaks are bound to stop so playing through it is a good idea more so if the player’s bankroll is sufficient.

By “in the long run” does not mean after a dozen or so hands, but more on thousands or even tens of thousands of hand. Therefore, patience is also a virtue when pertaining to playing blackjack. Nothing good will come out if one chases his losses. No one can rightly tell if he’ll come out the winner in the next few hands.

No to Martingale System

The Martingale System is one technique best avoided during a losing streak. This method is most commonly used in roulette, but can also be used at the blackjack table. How does it work? It’s doubling in the next hand a previous bet that one has lost. Let’s say a player bets and loses $20. His next bet is $10, and loses yet again. Now the player has lost a total of $30. To recoup that player bets another $20 and wins $40. Doubling the size of the last bet for the current game should bring some kind of money the player wins.

The Martingale System does not really work. A player will eventually hit a losing streak and won’t be able to cover the following bets. If a table has a $500 maximum bet, a 7-hand progression of the system will be 5, 20, 40, 80, 160, 320, and 640 dollars. A $5 profit for a $640 bet is unbelievable and a total waste of money and efforts.

Going About Losing Streaks

It is not good to let one’s emotions take part when playing poker. Raising one’s bet because he is upset is termed as “on tilt”. This phenomenon is a sure way to lose more money. The best thing to do is just walk away from the table if it seems that lady luck is smiling.

Another way to cut short losing streaks is to set a “stop limit” or “loss limit”. Once that figure is reached, the gambler stops playing and quit the session.

A video uploaded on YouTube by professional blackjack player Michael Morgenstern seems to show an online blackjack dealer fiddling the shoe to switch cards with a player. The “switch” resulted in a losing hand for the player. Costa Rica’s Global Gaming Labs (GGL) provides the Live Dealer feed to BetOnline and other leading online casinos.

Morgenstern was in the U.S. and was playing at BetOnline’s live dealer online blackjack when he recorded the incident. In the video, the blackjack dealer appears to reach for the shoe, tap his finger on the cards twice, slightly nudged the immediate card up using his finger, and then took the second card in line to the player, then immediately dealt the card to himself.

This caused the dealer to take an 8 card while the player only got a 6 card. If no nudging up of the card was done, then the player could have gotten the 8 card and the dealer the 6 card. In other words, the player could have won if no alleged cheating was done by the blackjack dealer.

Online gamers are now putting in their two cents on the cheating incident, even formulating their own theories about possible casino/dealer cheating. Some pros believe that casinos keep track of cards though RFID chips. Some say that there are recording devices that make it possible for dealers to “hear” which card will come next in the shoe, and that all playing cards are being scanned in the shoe so that the dealer will know which cards to deal for the house to win.

If the blackjack dealer was indeed cheating, why did he do it in front of the player? Did he really need to cheat when he knows he will eventually win because of the house edge?

The alleged cheating happened on January 25, 2017. On February 18, 2017, GGL’s Live Dealer was replaced by Visionary iGaming. On February 20, 2017, BetOnline issued a press release regarding the cheating incident. The online casino clarified that GGL is no longer the provider for BetOnline and that the company will gladly accommodate legitimate complaints about GGL.

BetOnline is in its best effort to distance itself from its previous game provider. It is therefore interesting to watch if online gamers’ confidence on BetOnline will be restored. An interesting thought is that GGL is a third party supplier of Live Casino games so that any direct influence on dealers is a very low probability. As of this writing, Global Gaming Labs is yet to respond on allegations.