An individual plays only when he is human in the full sense of the word, and he can be wholly human only when he is playing.  Friedrich Schiller

The history tells us that in 49 B.C. the famous ancient Roman commander Julius Caesar, having won brilliant victories over barbarian galls, wanted to seize supreme power in the Eternal City. Then the frightened senators forbade him and his troops to return to Italy.

Without hesitations, the commander announced about his decision regarding the senate ban by saying “Alea jacta est” (”The die has been cast”) and crossed the border river Rubicon. This led to lingering civil wars in Rome, which became one of the most significant events in ancient history.

The words of the ferocious dictator became proverbial, however, today there is hardly a person who thinks about its real meaning. As it turned out, the Great Caesar actually cast the dice. So great was his passion to gambling, that he deeply believed in the magic ability of the dice to predict the future.

The public opinion hardly favors gamble and everything connected with it. Conversely, in those times the word “player” was nearly a swearword - so huge was the contempt of the majority of people to those who gave the game its due.

But at the same time ancient people understood perfectly well that the thirst for gambling could not be eradicated. The Greeks with their characteristic rich imagination invented a myth about the goddess of the fate Tyche (the Romans called her “Fortune”), who gave birth to Zeus’ daughter, and this girl was endowed with the gift of inventing various dangerous amusements, which caused the people to lose a lot of money, cheat, scuffle and committed suicides.

Tyche loved her daughter and thus winked at her cruel pranks. She even presented her with a large beautiful house, to which her daughter allured the most credulous players to make them miserable.
More than two thousand years passed since those times, and today hardly anyone believes in fortune-telling by throwing lot and myths about the goddess Tyche, but there is one thing that has not changed. It is the human need for the game. This unquenchable desire stipulated for the fact that in the course of time special premises were built for gambling - as if the ancient Greek legend came true.

In these establishments visitors played with each other in these and paid a part of their winnings to the owner - or played with owner and then, if they lost, they were to pay the whole amount of the bet to the casino owner. Approximately in the 16th century such establishments came to be called by the Italian word “casino”, which has not changed its meaning up to now.

Gambling houses irrepressibly attracted people with different characters, different talents and varying financial possibilities. The list of famous casino frequenters, compiled by the largest casinos in Europe, includes such celebrities as chancellor Bismarck, composers Berlioz and Brahms, the writer Dostoyevskiy, the poet Mayakovsky and the automobile king Citroen.

Reverberating fame, however, did not prevent these people from insidious tricks of Fortune. Admittedly, some celebrities were often lucky and they won a lot. For example, Citroen was such a lucky player. He loved to play for high stakes, in order to impress other rich men. Journalists never grew tired of writing that the automobile king is as lucky on the green cloth, as in business.

Others mostly lost. For instance, Mayakovskiy was such an unlucky fellow. He loved billiards, cards and particularly the roulette. During his trips abroad the poet run into unprecedented debts, because he was lucky only at billiard table, but by no means in the roulette.

Gambling houses are known not only by their frequenters, but also by various legends that surround these establishments. The most enduring is the story how a certain Frenchman monsieur Blanchard won twice in “Casino Monte-Carlo”. When he intended to enter this casino for the first time, his hat was spoilt by the dove. Blanchard interpreted this as a good sign and was right. The player managed to win several thousands. Then he intended to go to casino once again, but on condition that a bird would spoil his hat for one more time.

He had to wait for the new dove for several days, but his expectations paid for themselves. The Frenchman was lucky that time and he won even more than before. After this, the doves displayed no interest in Blanchard and he could not win. However, all inveterate players believe that if the bird marks you before the visit to the gambling house is a true sign of good luck.
Clearly, it is nearly impossible to get rid of all possible troubles completely, because even trifle losses somewhat spoil the mood. But they also make the triumph more delightful and allow you to feel the sharp fascination of victory over chance. Thus, it is hardly expedient to worry in advance, you should just be always be at the ready and treat the game lightly, although with deep respect, as if it were a close friend of yours.

Casino Bonuses – what is the truth behind it?

There is a lot of competition in the online gambling market today. Each day, new casinos form, old ones regroup and change owners, and the supply is nearly endless.

When a player is looking to choose in which casino to play, he (or she), has many different factors to consider:
•    Do I like the look of the casino?
•    Does it have the games I’m interested in?
•    Do I know anything about the Casino?
•    Did someone recommend it to me?
•    Does the customer support efficient and offers around the clock help?
•    But most importantly I ask myself – what’s in it for me? What do THEY offer me to play at their casino of all places?

This is where the Bonuses come into play.

You will not find anywhere online a casino that does not offer some sort of bonus.
Some offer first time deposit bonuses, some offer loyalty bonuses, some offer 2nd and 3rd deposit bonuses and some have invented all sort of tricks and treats in order to attract the player to their casino.

We will now try to make a little order in the ever growing world of casino bonuses, and try to explain what they mean.

First deposit bonus:
This is a bonus a player can collect only once, when making the first deposit. Usually it is the biggest bonus he casino offers, and you can find places offering bonuses of up to 1000$.
In order to claim the bonus, you have to deposit a specified amount, usually close to the bonus amount (or sometimes even more), and play with a certain amount of money before you are allowed to cash out.
The standard is between 4 times and 12 times the amount of the bonus or combined bonus + deposit. (For example – if you deposited 100$ and received 100$, you will have to wager at least 800$ (4X(100$+100$)) in order to cash out. This means you can put the 200$ on the roulette, win, put another 400$, win, and now you have played the due 800$ and you can cash out.

Read the fine print in the term & conditions for each offer, there you will see what is the amount needed, and if there are games banned from the bonus play.

Second, Third etc. deposit bonus:
Same rules apply here – but every player can enjoy the bonus – even an old timer at the casino, provided it is their 2nd or 3rd deposit. (or more –depending on the casino).

Monthly bonus:
Some casinos will give you a bonus for the first deposit of each month.
Same rules apply here – read the T&C.

Players club or Comp points:
Most casinos will reward players with credit for money spent, and allow them to receive money back for a predetermined amount of points. Read each casinos rules concerning the exchange.
Some places will let you use the points you earn to get merchandize or enter special private tournaments.

Bonus when using different depositing methods:
If you are using services like NETeller or Citadel or any of the sort, some casinos will offer you extra 10 or 15% bonus. This is in order to advance new methods, and reduce the dependency on credit cards.

Your loses back or extra winnings:
This is a bonus that is rarer than the others, but it allows you to get some of your loses back (usually about 10% back), and if you are a winner, the casino adds to your winnings (usually about 1%).

VIP Clubs
Most casinos will have some sort of VIP program, allowing veteran players and high rollers to each more Comp points, have better exchange rates, play in private games and more.

These are the most common bonuses today. Some times a casino will add something special, a little extra, a promotion for a special occasion (Christmas, Halloween, etc.), and details on each one you can always read in the home page of each casino.

Before you start playing, there is one thing you need to know, and that is how to play – after that you’re on your own…

Caribbean Stud Poker is variation on the standard five-card poker that can be found both in brick and mortar casinos and online. Here is a brief rundown on how the game is played. Each player starts by making a wager with the option to make an additional wager on the progressive side.

In Caribbean Stud Poker the player can make a side bet of $1 that pays out for hands of a flush or better.  Payoff tables vary but always feature a progressive jackpot that pays the whole jackpot for a royal flush and 10% for a straight flush. If two players had a royal flush in the same hand the player closest to the dealer’s right wins the jackpot and the second wins whatever the jackpot is dropped to. In most casinos, the second jackpot is $10,000. This is done because the order of play is from the dealer’s right to left. If two players score a straight flush, the player to the dealer’s right gets 10% of the jackpot and the other player gets 10% of what is left over.

While it may seem like a good investment to lay down one dollar in the chance of winning over ten thousand the chances are stacked very high that you will never see your dollar again.

Players are then dealt five cards each, as is the dealer. All cards are dealt face down with the exception of one of the dealer’s cards that is dealt face up.
After checking their cards players must decide to raise or fold as usual for poker games. Players that fold forfeit their cards and all wager placed on the game. To raise a player must wager twice the game ante.

The dealer turns over his remaining cards and compares them with the players. Card ranks are the same as regular poker with the additional condition of the dealer ‘qualifying’. This is where the Caribbean poker comes into it’s own.

The dealer must be showing an at least an ace and a king or higher to qualify. If the dealer does not qualify the player wins even money on his ante wager and the raise is pushed. On the other hand if the dealer qualifies he beats the player and both the ante and the raise go to the house. If however the dealer qualifies but still loses to the player, then the ante pays even money and the raise pays according to the house pay table. Pay tables can vary to be sure to check it before you play.

If the player and dealer tie then both the ante and raise are pushed. The progressive side bet is paid out based on the value of the players hand. The pay out tables for the progressive bet can also vary.

Caribbean Stud strategy is complicated and only the most skilled players can apply one. As a general rule though you should always raise if you have a pair or higher and always fold if you have less than required qualifying hand for the dealer.