Indiana casinos are located in the ″Hoosier state,″ a Midwest state at the ″crossroads of America.″ Indiana, with a population of over 6,000,000 and an area of 35,867 square feet, is known for agriculture, manufacturing, and mining of decorative limestone. The capital of Indiana is Indianapolis, the ″amateur sports capital of the world,″ with a population approaching 2,000,000. The largest single-day sporting event in the world, the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, is held in Indianapolis.

Gambling in Indiana casinos is very popular and there are a number of riverboat casinos in the state, where the minimum age for gambling is 21. Some of the casinos are open from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Midnight, seven days a week, and others stay open for 24 hours. Indiana casinos offer a variety of table games, such as blackjack, roulette, craps, and several types of poker, including Pai Gow, Draw, Stud, Let It Ride, and 3 Card, as well as frequent poker tournaments.

The majority of the larger Indiana casinos are open for 24 hours, such as Caesars Indiana, in Elizabeth, with 93,000 square feet of gaming area, 2,349 slots, 120 table games, including poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat, 10 restaurants, and a hotel. Another large Indiana casino, the Argosy Casino and Hotel, in Lawrenceburg, is open 24 hours and has 74,300 square feet, 2,384 slots, 87 table games, and five restaurants. In addition, the Resorts East Chicago Hotel and Casino has 53,000 square feet, 1,966 slots, and 50 table games.

There are several smaller Indiana casinos, as well, including the Majestic Star in Gary, also open 24 hours, with 43,000 square feet, 1,600 slots, and 47 table games, and the Horseshoe Casino, in Hammond, with 42,573 square feet, 2,000 slots, 49 table games, several bars, and restaurants. Another popular Indiana casino is the Grand Victoria Casino and Resort, in Rising Sun, open Monday through Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., and Friday through Sunday, open for 24 hours. This 40,000 square foot casino has 1,497 slots, 36 table games, and four restaurants.

Indiana casinos bring an enormous amount of revenue to the state and the enthusiasm for gambling in Indiana is widespread. It is estimated that Indiana casinos in Northwest Indiana rank third in the gambling market of the United States. The worldwide appeal of poker tournaments and the excitement of gambling in Indiana casinos continue to attract more travelers, boosting the economy at a remarkable rate.

The basics:

The object of the blackjack game is to accumulate cards with point totals as close to 21 without going over 21. Face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) are worth 10 points. Aces are worth 1 or 11, whichever is preferable. Other cards are represented by their number.

If a player and the House tie, it is called a ″push″ and no one wins. Ace and 10 (Blackjack) on the first two cards dealt is an automatic player win at 1.5 to 1, unless the house ties. A player may stand at any time.

Playing The Game of Blackjack:

To win you need to beat the dealer without going bust. When your cards total more than 21, you go bust and you automatically lose. The winner is whomever's cards total closest to 21. You get to 21 by adding up the numbers of the cards.

The blackjack table seats about 6 players. Either six or eight decks of cards are used and are shuffled together by the dealer and placed in a card dispensing box called the ‘Shoe’.

Before receiving any cards players must place a wager. Then the players are dealt two cards face up. The dealer gets one face up, one face down. Each player in turn either stays or takes more cards to try and get closer to 21 without busting. Players who do not bust wait for the dealer’s turn. When all the players are done, the dealer turns up the down card. By rule, on counts of 17 or higher the dealer must stay; on counts of 16 or lower the dealer must draw.

If you make a total of 21 with the first two cards (a 10 or a face and an Ace), you win automatically. This is called ‘Blackjack’. If you have Blackjack, you will win one and one-half times your bet unless the dealer also has Blackjack, in which case it is a Push or a Tie (or a Stand-off) and you get your bet back.

The remaining players with a higher count than the dealer win an amount equal to their bet. Players with a lower count than the dealer lose their bet. If the dealer busts, all the remaining players win. There are other betting options namely Insurance, Surrender, Double Down, Even Money and Split.

Insurance: side bet up to half the initial bet against the dealer having a natural 21 - allowed only when the dealer’s showing card is an Ace. If the dealer has a 10 face down and makes a blackjack, insurance pays at 2-1 odds, but loses if the dealer does not.

Surrender: giving up your hand and losing only half the bet.

Early Surrender: surrender allowed before the dealer checks his cards for blackjack.

Late Surrender: the dealer first checks to see if he has blackjack (21). If he does, surrender is not allowed.

Double Down: you may double your initial bet following the initial two-card deal, but you can hit one card only. A good bet if the player is in a strong position.

Even Money: cashing in your bet immediately at a 1:1 payout ratio when you are dealt a natural blackjack and the dealer’s showing card is an Ace.

Split Hand: split the initial two-card hand into two and play them separately - allowed only when the two first cards are of equal value. Use each card as the start to a separate hand and place a second bet equal to the first.

Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace, or with an Ace valued at 1 is said to be Hard in that it can only be given one value, unlike a Soft Hand. (You can value an Ace 1 or 11 to suit you).

Soft Hand: A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 is called a Soft Hand.

House advantage:

Without basic strategy about a 7% average. With basic strategy 0.5% or less. Card counting can reverse the advantage up to 1% to the player.

Soon you'll be on your way to play with the big dawgs in Vegas!

Copyright 2006 Matthew Solice All Rights Reserved.

North Carolina is relatively new to gambling. The first North Carolina casino was introduced in 1994. North Carolina casinos are run by the Cherokee Indians. North Carolina has much to offer casino visitors with its Atlantic Ocean shoreline and beautiful beaches. North Carolina provides an ideal getaway for the gambler who doesn’t want to spend the whole time in the casino.

North Carolina became the 12th state on November 21, 1789. It covers 53821 square miles with 301 miles of coastline. Additionally, North Carolina has two nicknames: it is known as Old North State or the Tar Heel State. The population as of December 2000 is 8,049,313 people. Finally, North Carolina offers great weather and a climate that is family oriented to visitors.

The Cherokee Indians opened the first North Carolina casino in 1994. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino offers video gambling only, no table games. The video gambling options include poker, slots and blackjack, among others. The games offered are all skill based, even the slots. The slot games differ from non-skill based slots because there are two spins and the player chooses to keep or discard the results from the first spin. In the contract signed between the North Carolina state government and the Cherokee Indians that set up the casino it is guaranteed these video gambling machines have a minimum return of 83%.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino is open to gamblers over 21 years of age. The casino operates 24 hours a day. It is located at 777 Casino Drive in Cherokee, just 55 miles southwest of Asheville. There is an attached hotel with 252 rooms available. There are also five on-site restaurants. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino is family oriented with a childcare center and 1,500-seat entertainment area. Parking is free for casino guests. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino offers a great vacation option for families or singles.

North Carolina casinos are very different from the glitzy casinos found elsewhere in the United States. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino provides comfort and entertainment under one roof for the convenience of guests. Visitors to North Carolina must stop in and enjoy the casino. When not in the casino guests can enjoy the entertainment or dining provided at the casino or they can venture out to enjoy the lengths of beaches that North Carolina has to offer. North Carolina provides casino fun and beach relaxation for the ultimate in vacation destinations.

In part 1 we have looked at the basics of the game and how to learn to play blackjack, now its time to learn how to win.

It's easy to learn to play blackjack and the good news is, it's easy to win, providing you follow the basic rules below.

The odds

By using computer simulations, it has been proved that certain cards are favorable to the player and others to the dealer.

Depending upon what cards have been played, you can determine what cards are left, and the cards you know are in the deck will dictate how you should play your hand

For example, if more cards are left that favor the player, the player and can raise the bet size to capitalize on the increased odds of success.

This is known as card counting and if you learn to play blackjack you need to learn how to card count.

Why? Because it puts the odds in your favor and allows you to win longer term.

Card counting in conclusion tells the player to make choices that give him an edge over the casino.

Before we discuss card counting lets make to important points

1. Card counters do not memorize every card that they have seen dealt out of the deck.

2. Card counting is not a predictive theory where you know for certain what cards come out the deck. It is a probability theory that will put the odds in your favor over the long term.

Any player needs to appreciate they will lose short term, but of course its long term gains their after.

Learn to play blackjack – basic strategy

Many different ways have been researched to count cards. They all aim to keep track of the cards played from a deck.

Before you start to card count, you need to know blackjack basic strategy.

All card counting methods use it as a base.

It gives you the best way to play in relation to hands that have already been dealt.

It’s easy to learn, and is soon committed to memory before this is achieved you can rely on pre printed charts which are available free on the internet.

Basic strategy lets you play at just under even odds against the casino.

Card counting however allows you to have the edge in your favor –This means longer term you can beat the casino

A simple card counting method

This is a simple method anyone can use and is highly effective. As we already know in blackjack a deck rich in face cards is an advantage to the player

For example, if you are playing a multiple deck, and after a few hands, you observe that very few face cards or aces were played, then you have a scenario where the next hand dealt the odds favor the player.

And you can up your bet accordingly.

A simple card counting method involves simply looking for extremes.

The absence or predominance of exposed high cards is easy to spot by any player.

You may play several hands where the mix of face cards and low value cards are about even.

As soon as you see a decrease in exposed high value cards, you should increase your bet size.

Why? Because the odds of a face card now being dealt have also increased which favors you the player and you need to take advantage.

It’s simple and effective in putting the odds in your favor and is perfect novice's introduction on how to card count.

You can use more complicated strategies but you need to test them the fact that their complicated does not mean there any better than the one above which is free.

Check results and do your homework

Learn to play blackjack and win big

It's easy to learn to play blackjack and the good news it's also easy to win if you follow the above advice – Good luck!

They say the house always wins…

Though there is no casino game in which the player has a greater advantage than the house, blackjack is the only game in which players can use strategies to ensure that the house has the least amount of advantage. So if you thought blackjack was simply about holding your breath and hoping for the elusive 21, you're wrong!

This beginner's guide to blackjack will give you some insight into the history of the game, basic strategies, card counting and the various online casinos that offer this exiting card game.

The History of Blackjack Somewhere around 1700 the French began playing a card game known as "vingt-en-un" or "twenty-one". The game began to gain popularity in the United States when casinos began offering fantastic payouts to players who drew an Ace and a Jack of spades or clubs (hence the name blackjack). Though casinos today offer greater payouts to players who are dealt an Ace and a face card (King, Queen or Jack) the nickname derived from its heyday has stuck. In more recent years the game has moved online, with online blackjack becoming one of the most popular casino games available on the Internet.

Blackjack Basics

The basic premise of the game is to be dealt cards totaling up to 21. Each player is dealt two cards. When a player is dealt a 9 or lower value card and an Ace they have been dealt a soft hand. When the player receives no Ace cards it is known as a hard hand. Once the cards have been dealt all players at the table, including the dealer (who keeps one card face down), each player is given the opportunity to make one of six decisions:

Requesting another card (Hit): When a player says hit me the dealer will deal him another card, if the addition of that card makes the total greater than 21 the player will have lost and be excluded from the game, if the card pushes the total to 21 the player wins and if the total has not yet reached 21 they are still in the game.

Keeping the hand you've been dealt: If a player is happy with the hand they will stand. Once this has happened the dealer will reveal his or her hand and the player who has accumulated 21 or the closet to 21 will win.

Doubling Down: A player may request to double down which doubles the bet they have placed. Once you have taken this action you can only be given one more card. The specifics of doubling down are usually specified by the table or casino rules so before playing make sure you are familiar with the house rules. If you are playing at an online casino this is usually quite easy.

Split: if a player is dealt two cards of the same value (two 8's for example) he may split them to create two different hands. If you chose to split your hand you will have to place a new bet equal to the original bet.

Surrender: Some casinos will allow players to surrender the hand they have been dealt along with half of the original bet they placed before the dealer checks his hand. Once again it is important to ask the dealer for clarification on the table rules or check the rules section on the online casino you are playing on.

Insurance: When the dealers face up card is an Ace players have the option to take out insurance. You will place half of the original bet before the dealer checks his cards; if the dealer has blackjack you will win the insurance bet but still lose the original sum – which is clearly better than losing the whole lot. Unfortunately if the dealer does not have blackjack the player loses the insurance. It's a risk but one that is well worth it, if used as part of a clever strategy.

Once a player has stood or gone bust by going over 21 the dealer will show his hand and will continue to deal himself cards until one of the following things has happened: if he has reached 17, a dealer will not usually draw another card if his cards total 17 due to the likelihood of going bust, if he has drawn 21 or if he has gone bust.

Basic Strategies

There are several strategy charts which will help you go from beginner to pro but the following suggestions will give you a good idea on what to do and what not do: If your hand equals 17 or higher, but you have not gone over 21 – Stand. If you have been dealt a hand with two Aces or two 8's split! If you have been dealt a hand with two tens or two face cards don't split.

Card Counting

Card counting is one of the most popular blackjack strategies; it is the ability of players to mentally count; commit the cards played to memory and to judge how many high cards remain in the deck. This strategy has been banned by most casinos but isn't really illegal as long as the player is not using a mechanical device to do so. Card counting is not possible when playing blackjack online as the deck is usually automatically shuffled after each hand.

Playing Blackjack Online

There are several online blackjack sites that offer various forms of the game. Whether you wish to play classic, advanced or high limit blackjack or if you wish to play in an online blackjack tournament you will find an online casino offering you exactly what you want.

The only thing better than hearing the dealer shout blackjack when looking at your cards is looking down and seeing an Ace and a Jack in one of the black suites – not only is the payout sweeter the satisfaction is far greater.

How are your basic math skills, my friend? Come on, be honest. If you made a point of snoozing through all those grindingly dull high school mathematics classes, you may actually have a good reason to regret it, especially if you like to play blackjack. This is because many online gamblers who enjoy the game of blackjack like to do a bit more than play the standard version of the game. The simple object of drawing cards close enough to 21 without busting can undergo quite a bit of complexity when the strategy of optimal blackjack is brought to bear. Optimal blackjack relies on a more sophisticated mathematical approach to the game, rather than some of the more intuitive modes that players of standard blackjack are likely to employ.

The optimal version of blackjack is based on the relative frequency of each count level, combined with the player advantage at each count level. Each count level is derived from a simple coin toss involving a 'biased coin.' Under the aegis of optimal blackjack strategy, the ideal betting strategy is found by assuming that no restrictions are made on the player’s bets. The player is free to sit out negative situations or to play a free hand by conceptually betting zero and receiving cards, but getting payoffs of zero to correspond to the bet size of zero.

The ideal betting strategy is simply to bet zero if the count indicates that the player’s advantage is negative, and to proceed with a normal bet when the count is favorable. Thus, as an example, if you have a 3.3% edge, you would bet 3.3% of your bankroll. With me so far? Good. Since the variance for blackjack is generally about 1.25, the proper bet will be about 80% of the bet size computed by the biased coin approximation.

You must be prepared to deal with the possibility that some constraints may be placed on the size of each bet. In this case, the betting strategy will have to be different than the optimal betting strategy for ideal bets. The most common constraints found at a blackjack table are the table limits. A typical $5 table will have a $5 minimum bet and an $500 maximum bet. These table limits tend to interfere with ideal betting, especially if the player is required to bet at least the table minimum on every hand that is dealt. Another example of constraints is when a player whose strategy involves card counting is forced to limit his or her bet spread to some small range in order to avoid detection. It is customary to use a bet spread somewhere in the range of 2:1 to 8:1 for typical blackjack games.

As you can see, there's quite a bit of science involved with the optimal approach to betting in blackjack, but all that work can yield substantial benefits when put into correct practice. Who said math can't be fun? Now don't you wish you'd paid just a bit more attention to the teacher in high school, instead of daydreaming about winning the big football game and taking the prom queen out for a few victory laps on your two-wheeler? Well, don't beat yourself up too much. It's never too late to learn, after all.

Guessing is not a successful winning strategy; just ask anyone who isn’t winning money at the casinos. Although gambling is a game of luck, you can increase your chances of winning by betting only on games requiring skill. Blackjack and poker, for example, are examples of games that require some skill in order to win. If you want to increase your chances of winning big when betting, I recommend choosing games that require skill. If you bet on games that require no decision making on your behalf, slots for example, then you are gambling. Gambling, unfortunately, does not win in the long term (only skill does). Here are a few tips to consider the next time you feel like gambling.

Tip One - Never Gamble

Gamblers generally lose in the long term. Only bet on games that require the use of skill. In this way, you can turn the tables on the casino because if you have enough skill, you will win more often.

Tip Two - Set A Budget

Some days you will not win. In order to minimize your losses, you should set a budget and stick to it.

Tip Three - Study Strategy Guides

These will help you to win on skill games such as poker, and blackjack. In order to win on strategy games, you need to make sure your knowledge and skills are up to scratch.

Follow these tips and you will win more often than the average gambler. In order to become an exceptional player, you need to know more than the average player, and possess more skill.

In any casino game, knowing the factors that affect your chances of winning are all important. Here you will find everything you need to know about playing with favorable rules.

Keep in mind you can be an expert card counter but unless the rules are in your favor you will lose.

Casinos are not going to advertise that the chances of winning at their game are less than if you play in other casinos, but the fact is some casinos offer far more favorable rules than others and you have to find them and play in them.

Bring Those Odds Down - Look for the Favorable Rules

Any blackjack player can increase their own odds advantage by including in their strategy 'card counting', which will eventually shifts the odds advantage in their favor.

Card counting is not enough as we have said; you must play blackjack with favorable rules.

The calculated odds of different rules below show how favorable and unfavorable to the player they are.

They can make the difference in winning and losing, so note them.

Rules Favorable to the Player

Early surrender +0.62%

Late surrender Single deck +0.02%

Double down after splitting +0.13%

Drawing to split aces +0.14%

Re splitting of aces +0.03%

Double down cards any number +0.20%

2:1 payoff blackjack +2.32%

Rules Unfavorable to the Player

no doubling on hard 11 -0.89%

no doubling on hard 10 -0.56%

no doubling on hard 9 -0.14%

no doubling soft hands -0.14%

dealer hits soft 17 -0.20%

dealer takes no hole card -0.13%

2 decks (v single) -0.35%

4 decks (v single) -0.51%

6 decks (v single) -0.60%

pairs no re splitting -0.05%

Card counting plus the infleunce of the casino rules can clearly be seen in numbers of decks.

By increasing the number of decks used in play the casino shifts the odds in their favor.

Understanding this fact is essential for any player before they play a game. Card counting is severely effected by the number of decks used.

For example, in a single deck game, of a player against a dealer - a +2 count is a 2% advantage to the player. As the number of decks is increased, with more cards to be dealt, the increased remainder of cards reduces the odds of success for the player.

Card counting How to make money

Is simply a probability theory whereby you calculate the odds of winning by the number of cards in play to decide what cards may come out of the deck.

With multi decks the odds are obviously reduced, as there are simply more cards to come out of the deck and your probability of being right is reduced.

In conclusion, the more decks the more cards there are to be dealt and the less your chances of winning are. Card counting + Favorable rules = long term success

As carding counting gives you an edge of just 2%, you can see how critical the number of decks used are.

You can also see how other rules affect the odds, our example of number of decks is just one variable influencing your success but as you can see there are many others. Take your time and find a casino that tips the odds in your favor.

So if you want to make money card counting you must combine this with favorable rules or your skills will be wasted.

Poker and the war within

The lady woke amidst terrible annihilation, the light were out, the field lay stone still with no signs of life and then the war struck with a might that was never seen before. And in between the craze of the apocalypse, I used my simian instinct to lay head down from the branches to lift her up. Then the play started again with a bang. That’s exactly what happened, that’s what burst with the game of poker, the war, the bet, the stumble and then the resurrection for the new deal. You strip yourself of all human instinct and sit before the dealer for a new deal of poker . And when history repeats with a game of poker online, the same feel of might captures you taut. The fun here remains unshared; the game here makes you prosperous and the war here forces you to have more.

An itch to bet

Then struck the second blasts, you turn around and see the challenge you face in blackjack. You sit still, you caress your itch to touch the cards and then you finally end up with the ace. The dealer retreats and the final blow was yours; you have won the war. The booty you carry home is plenty and the complement that is in store for the victory is the online blackjack that the enemy surrendered. The war over and the play begins. Now it is warm and the cozy breeze covers the delight you always longed for amidst the play; the play starts, the online adventure begin; the experienced veteran in you reminded by the war again wins the black jack.

As the game progresses

You feel that this is the end, but in fact that’s where online black jack and poker online begin. You feel the heat exhausting but that’s again where the game builds up the untold fascination within, to erupt. You feel that you are stripped of the delights, but that’s exactly where the new hunt in strip poker challenges you with a better option. On the whole what starts is forced never to stop. However facile your imagination, count on this, your passion to poker builds up as the game progresses and from there on the veteran starts dictating the terms, terms that could enrich you with a mild yet sharp kick of a tipple, sharp enough to progress without mercy.

Nigeria is a country in Africa that has legalized gambling in casinos. The first and the largest of the two Nigeria casinos is in the NICON Hilton Abuja, located in the center of the business area of the capital city and known as the city’s top hotel, especially due to its spectacular city views. Executive guests have their own VIP room and the hotel provides a free continental breakfast.

For business people, the Hilton Abuja has twenty-three meeting rooms within its business center, which are all equipped with wireless Internet connections, as well as a conference hall that will seat up to 1,200. The Hilton Abuja also houses a swimming pool, three squash courts, and a fitness center with massage facilities and a sauna. During the weekends, guests can enjoy live entertainment and the carnival-like atmosphere of the country.

The Hilton Abuja boasts numerous dining facilities. There is a café for quick meals and a restaurant that provides Oriental cuisine and Mongolian fare, all with an a la carte menu and themed buffets. There is also a piano room with live music that you can enjoy, along with the available snacks. Then, there is the Zuma Restaurant which offers romantic dining overlooking the hotel’s central courtyard and water fountain. In addition, there is the Capital Bar offering various snacks and live music. The hotel offers a lot of amenities including a barbershop, a beauty salon, gift shop, florist, playground, children’s menus, and a large variety of children’s activities.

The Le Meridien Eko Hotel and Casino is the second of the Tunisia casinos and is open daily from 10 am to 6 am. It has fifteen gaming tables including blackjack, roulette, and poker. The hotel also has 605 rooms including five suites, all with their own Internet Broadband access. The casino has a casual dress code and is English speaking. Fortunately, this casino is conveniently located only 20 miles from the airport, providing its guests easy access.

The Le Meridien Eko Hotel and Casino is situated in Lagos in the city’s most important business district. The hotel overlooks Kuramo Lake and the Atlantic Ocean, offering stunning views for its guests. The hotel offers many amenities including a baby sitting service, a business center, gift shop, barbershop, health club, swimming pool, and tennis court, to name but a few. There are also three restaurants, all serving international cuisine, and bars onsite for the convenience of the hotel guests.