Gambling Blog

World-class poker looks likely to join surfing and sunshine as one of the great products of the state of California.

Soon after San Francisco psychologist Jerry Yang took the top title at the 2007 World Series of Poker - following on from the 2006 victory of Jamie Gold, from Los Angeles - it has been confirmed that the forthcoming California State Championship will be the biggest ever.

Set to take place at the LA Commerce Casino, the event will feature a variety of tournaments in the world’s largest poker room, with players from outside of the state invited to try their luck against some of the West Coast’s finest.

For 20 days from September 4th, 19 events are scheduled to take place, with buy-ins ranging from $220 to $2,580 for the main event and the organisers have confirmed that jackpots of at least $300,000 are guaranteed for the September 16th and 23rd events.

Cheri Dokken, director of the Commerce Casino Tournament, said: “The California State Poker Championship is a great opportunity for a West Coast poker player to establish a name. 

“Winning this event says you’ve arrived.

“The competition is strong and the rewards ample. With the high-quality poker at the California State Championship might even be incubating the next WSOP or WPT champion.”

As we have seen the reality TV market grown, we have also seen the introduction on reality TV gambling - an event which you can watch from your own arm chair and use your personal opinion to “win” - well that’s the theory - but is it really that simple?

Unfortunately, reality TV gambling has become one of the most difficult markets to predict, and often the hardest to try to “fix”, as many betting syndicates have found out to their dismay.  It seems that there is nothing more unpredictable as the public vote, with many people voting with their hearts rather than their heads - a recipe for disaster in the gambling industry.

While there is no doubt that we have the seen the betting markets indicate some of the many to leave for example the Big Brother house, these are often “dead certs”, where the press and public have vocally displayed their displeasure.  It is the more general reality TV gambles which are harder to predict, the one out of ten to win, the one out of ten to leave - markets in which public opinion will over run any attempted betting “coups”.  As a consequence, these difficult to predict markets also offer the largest potential rewards if the gambler is able to “tap in” to the public opinion.

Despite numerous high profile attempts to influence the result of various reality TV programs, it is proving a market which the professional gamblers are leaving alone.  They seem to have been left to the “Grand National” posse, those who only have a couple of bets a year.

Even though the professional gambler likes to see a degree of uncertainty in a betting market to make the best returns, voting with your heart rather than your head can blow many betting strategies out of the water - something which many are looking to avoid more and more.

While the horse racing market is one of the biggest gambling markets in the world, how many people who gamble on the horses have actually been to a horse race meeting? Surprisingly, many people who have a major interest in horse racing have never actually been to a meeting, never felt the buzz of seeing your horse flash past the post, never experienced the thrills and spills of a full racing card.

In the past horse racing courses have often been very basic, with only the simplest of amenities with many areas of the stands wide open to the elements.  However, there have been some dramatic changes over the last few years, with millions of pounds ploughed in to improve facilities, adding hotels and casinos and improving the standing and seating areas for the fans.  It is only of late that many have realised the value of the assets which they are sitting on, the value of the land and the very low return on investment in comparison.

We are starting to see a new type of track, ones which offer some of the best amenities around, the best service and better access routes.  Horse racing has actually entered the family day out arena, offering a unique atmosphere of enjoyment and anticipation, highs and disappointment.  For those who have not yet been to a meeting, they are really missing out on a  great day (or evening) out.

Many of the online gambling sites have arrangements with some of the largest race tracks around the country, routinely offering free of reduced tickets to their members.  This has helped to increase attendance figures, which have been slowly rising for some time, as well as the increased turnover on horse race betting. 

If anything, the recent actions by the authorities against parties looking to take advantage of the sport have given the traditional race goer a little more confidence in the sport - a sport fit for Kings!

The World Poker Association (WPA) is to release a new set of ethics standards for the game designed to be used a poker tournaments of all levels across the world. 

However, first and foremost, the new ethics code, which the WPA has drawn up to cover all aspects of professional poker behaviour, is to be mandatory for players wishing to become a member of the organisation or to play in one of its events. 

The new code covers relationships between players, players and dealers and, with management and sponsorship becoming an increasingly important aspect of the modern game, players’ relationships with outside parties.

Collusion of any sort is strictly banned at any gaming table while the new initiative also puts down guidelines designed to uphold the professionalism and image of the game. 

Wendeen Eolis, vice chair of the WPA and chair of its ethics committee, said: “The Ethics Code is the cornerstone on which the WPA has established itself as a single, unified voice for millions in the commitment to professionalism in the worldwide poker community.” 

These latest developments come ahead of November’s World Poker Congress in Malta, which will see the game’s leading organizations discuss how to best expand the appeal of the game. 

While the betting exchanges continue to have a major impact upon the world of online gambling, they have also opened up a new industry - In Play betting.  This is an industry which has grown massively over the last couple of years, with more and more events now available “In Play”.  Traditionally it had been the likes of football which were most popular amongst In Play gamblers, but there is also a major customer base in the horse racing, cricket and tennis betting markets.

Is It Safe?

While In Play betting can move very quickly, especially in the likes of horse racing when a horse may unseat its rider or fall at a fence, for those with the time to study the markets, and in possession of a broadband connection (ever more vital for In Play betting), it can be very lucrative.  However, it can also be a big big gamble, with many taking very small odds to increase their “pot” on “dead certs”.  There is no such thing as a dead cert in any sport!

The major market for such In Play events is the arm chair viewer, who like to have a gamble as they are watching the event unfold.  This does have dangers, especially in the horse racing industry!

It is a little known fact that there is actually a time delay of a few seconds between the horse race being filmed, and replayed on the TV, so those advertised as “live” are very often not.  While this  may seem like a very small delay, it can be vital for those on the track looking to hedge bets on a tiring horse, or lay bets on a horse which has just fallen, with their odds yet to be updated for a few seconds.

As with any betting event, the customer needs to go in with their eyes open and be fully aware of the possible risks and downfalls.  Nothing is ever certain in the betting industry, and even less now, as much of it has moved online!

As any player knows, poker is about more than calculating odds and weighing up the risk.

While the programmers of Polaris gave their computer the ability to bluff, ultimately it was the humans that came out on top in the world’s first “Man versus Machine” poker match, held in Vancouver, Canada, recently. 

Given the advanced nature of the technology developed by scientists at the University of Alberta in Canada, it was up to two of the poker world’s biggest names to take up the challenge, with Ali Eslami and Phil “the Unabomber” Laak playing four hands against Polaris.

With the pair in separate rooms and with the computer playing both simultaneously and every effort made to reduce the element of luck, the first round of around 500 hands ended in a draw, with Polaris then taking the second.

However, after the programmers tweaked their computer, the pros went on to win the two remaining rounds and walk away with a £50,000 prize.

“We won, not by a significant amount, and the bots are closing in,” Mr Laak told the New York Times.

“I literally felt the same feeling that you would have if you beat 500 people in a tournament and won $1m.”

With the Canadian team having already produced an unbeatable draughts-playing programme, they are confident that their time will come. 

Over the last few years we have seen a massive explosion in the number of betting exchanges, an industry which seems to be constantly growing. 

It is at such a level that it has actually had an effect on the business of the traditional bookmakers,  who are now desperate to protect their own business.  Despite a number of tax changes to try and “level the playing field” it appears that many gamblers are still moving their business to the betting exchanges.

What are the benefits of betting exchanges?

The main benefits of betting exchanges are the improved odds for customers, and the transparency which is available for each and every betting exchange market.  It is now simple to see at a glance any changes in the market, and monitor these real time on the internet.  This has offered the astute and alert gambler the chance to try and “piggy back” trends as and when they happen - with many making a lucrative living from this!

The volume of business on these betting exchanges has grown dramatically over the last couple of years and there are rumours than the traditional bookmakers are using these instruments to actually hedge off their own positions - a suggestion refuted by the industry. 

Are their any negative aspects about betting exchanges?

Unfortunately betting exchanges have opened up a whole new market to the public, betting AGAINST horses - i.e. laying off bets.  While this is a legitimate market, there have been recent instances of organised gangs using this method to bet on “fixed” events, with many earning millions of pounds in the process. 

There have been a number of suspensions, court actions and investigations and the betting exchanges have now agreed to flag any “suspicious” activity, and also pass over the details of these accounts as and when the authorities require them.

All in all betting exchanges are set to grow and grow over the coming years, although the traditional bookmakers are sure to continue their constant battle to protect their own markets.  Who is your money on?

Yet another of Las Vegas’ historic venues is up for sale, with the New Frontier Hotel likely to be changed beyond all recognition by developers.

The venue originally started life as a nightclub in the 1930s before opening as a hotel and casino in 1942.

It was in 1956, however, that the New Frontier really came to the world’s attention as it hosted the first of the many Las Vegas performances given by Elvis Presley.

Between April 23 and May 9 of that year Elvis played several times at the venue, coinciding with his single “Heartbreak Hotel” reaching the number one spot in the chart.

In addition, the Frontier has also been the location of the final concert of Diana Ross and the Supremes in 1970 as well as being the long-time home of the Vegas entertainers Siegfried and Roy during the early years of their act.

It has to be said that “F1” racing is the ultimate glamour sport, attracting the rich and famous, making grown men and woman drool at the speeds reached on the tightest of tracks, and coining the phrase “Pit Lane Babes”.  It really does seem to have everything, speed, money and glamour!

However, there seems to be a potential flaw in the racing / gambling side of the industry, a flaw which can often be exploited - not all of the time, but at opportune moments - but what is it?

For many years we have seen the F1 teams work on team orders, which effectively means that “unofficially” one of their drivers holds “number one” drive status, something which is vital when trying to secure a big name - and the big sponsorship deals.  We have seen situations in the past where this team status has been used to ensure that the “number one” driver has the best chance in each race, something which can, and has, effected the outcome of races and ultimately gambling wins.

In the current F1 series we saw “rookie” drive Lewis Hamilton contacted by his team mid race, and told to “pull back” to allow team mate, and “number one” driver Fernando Alonso a clear shot at wining the Monaco GP - Alonso finished first with Hamilton second.  There was uproar in the gambling industry, with many unhappy punters calling for an investigation.  An official investigation was held and the McLaren team were cleared of any wrong doing, with the authorities claiming their tactics were legitimate and did not effect the outcome of the race.

The fact that the F1 authorities have effectively “rubber stamped” the idea of “team orders” may offer some interesting gambling opportunities in the future, something that any F1 enthusiast should look out for.

Few poker enthusiasts will get to sit at the same table and compete with poker legend Phil Hellmuth.

However, a mobile media company is to give gamers what it believes is the next best thing, a the mobile Texas Hold’em 2007 with Phil Hellmuth game.

As well as being able to play against a virtual version of the man himself, players are also able to pit themselves against other poker players from around the world using the mobile technology in a true multiplayer heads-up mode.

Hellmuth, who recently made history by claiming his eleventh WSOP gold bracelet welcomed the innovation and the way that it lets players develop their skills without having to head down to their nearest casino.

“Technology, technology, technology!” Phil enthused.

“I’m amazed at how crisp and clear the new PHTH  (Phil Hellmuth Texas Hold’em) game looks on a cell phone! Not to mention the ease of play and the new options, it cutting edge baby.”

No doubt numerous pros will be getting hold of a copy of the game in order to hone their skills during their forthcoming trip to London for the inaugural WSOP Europe tournament, where Hellmuth has pledged to make history yet again.

As we approach the curtain raiser to the UK football season, we are starting to see the reappearance of the pundits, the experts, the ones who will tell us how to make money - yeah right! It seems that each and every football fan thinks that they are a pundit, offering advice about who will win the Premiership, who will go down, and a “good outsider” for the FA Cup.  This year will be no different…..

With Chelsea continuing their massive spending campaign it seems that they will be vying for top spot with their old rivals Manchester United, the champions of 2006/07, although there may be another gate crasher to the party in the shape of Liverpool.

While it may be a little too early for Liverpool to be challenging for the title, Rafael Benitez is putting together a very strong squad for the forth coming season.  He has sold relatively few players (although there is time yet) and brought in some top class strike power and midfield maestros.  It seems that the club may be about to build upon their strong defensive record, by adding further goals to their armoury.

Among the other also rans we see the likes of Arsenal still in the mix, but with a difficult pre-season and influential players coming and going, 2007/08 may well be another bedding down season for Wenger’s boys, but what odds an FA Cup run?

As we see the likes of Sunderland and Birmingham rejoin the top flight, it seems that both clubs are looking to make a fight of it next year, shelling out millions of pounds in the transfer market of late.  While usually the newly promoted teams are favourites to go back down again, there may well be a change this year if the quality of signings are anything to go by.

There is nothing like the count down to the start of a new season, a season which we all hope will be as dramatic as last year.  There is only one thing certain in the Premiership - expect the unexpected!

Everest Poker has announced that the final of its several-months long Avalanche tournament will take place on board a cruise ship in the Mediterranean.

The final is scheduled to take place after the online poker final in September, with the top ten players from across the globe to be invited on board the ship to play for a guaranteed top prize of at least £200,000.

In addition to playing the final table within the on-board casino, which is to be reserved solely for the event, the players will cruise from Athens, Greece to Georgia, stopping off at several islands along the way, including Mykonos and Rhodes.

“We really wanted to make the last round of the game special, and this certainly fits the bill,” said Jonathan May, Everest Poker’s property manager.

“I can’t imagine a better way to finish a long tournament like this.”

The news comes soon after the conclusion of the biggest event in the poker calendar, the World Series of Poker Main Event, which saw the psychologist Jerry Yank take home more than $8 million.

Despite having one of the busiest horse racing calendars in the world, it seems that the UK horse racing viewer cannot get enough races to gamble on.  Over the last few years we have seen massive investment into many of the UKs top horse racing tracks, with companies such as Arena Leisure behind much of the developments.  Not only have the much improved track services gone down well with regular “punters”, it has brought a whole new crowd into the horse racing scene.

The explosion in online gambling has also opened up many new markets for the UK gambler, and it is now possible to watch and gamble on horse racing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! When the UK racing finishes, at say 5 o’clock with an afternoon meeting or 9 o’clock with an evening event, it is time to move to the US where racing continues up until 1 am (GMT).  After the US racing is complete, we then see the likes of Australia and Hong Kong kick in until the early hours of the morning, at which point South African racing comes to the fore.  Then UK racing, and…….

This massive increase in interest has forced many of the major bookmakers to cover overseas horse racing in more detail than ever before.  Rather than token gestures, we are starting to see some real quality coverage in the UK, allowing the UK gambler to not only place their bets, but also research their tips as well. 

Each and every horse racing industry in different countries has its own unique style and characteristics, with many of them so different. We have the grass tracks of the UK and the dirt tracks of the US, with distances, shape of the course and styles of riding so very unique.  It seems that the major differences are offering a challenge to the UK horse racing enthusiast, a challenge which more and more and willing to take up.

The makers of a slot machine based on the ’70s computer game Pong are confident that their innovation will prove a hit with players, though they are still waiting on official approval.

Under US gambling regulations, slot machines are required to have an element or randomness within their base game, meaning that the makers have only been able to include the skill-based Pong as part of a bonus round.

Following deliberation, the Gaming Control Board gave the game the green light, passing the matter on to the Nevada Gaming Commission, which needs to give its approval to the game before it can be introduced into casinos.

While some experts have said that skill-based gaming will never really take off as players like the random element and the fact they have the same odds of winning as the next person, Bally, the firm behind the game, are confident that the nostalgia element will ensure that the Pong slot-machines are a big hit with casino visitors from the Baby Boomer generation.

“Ever since we showed it a couple of years ago, there’s been a great deal of interest,” said David Schultz, the company’s director of video games ahead of the Commission’s decision, set to be made later this week.  

The world’s first man versus machine poker challenge is set to be held in Canada, with the event’s organisers expecting a close contest. 

Scientists at the University of Alberta have developed the Polaris, the most sophisticated poker-programme ever, after years of research, enabling it with the ability to read an opponent’s pattern of play and even with the ability to bluff. 

Phil Laak and Ali Eslami are the human players to take on the machine in the two-day Texas hold’em tournament at the Hyatt regency hotel in Vancouver, with the prize pot to total £23,000. 

“I won’t be able to read its face, but equally, the computer won’t know if I’m having a manic moment or if I’m starting to rush,” Mr Laak said. 

“I can say out loud: ‘Computer, I’m going to bluff you now.’ But it’s a strong program. 

“It’s going to memorize my betting patterns right away and my game is not perfect.” 

While Dr Jonathan Schaffer, the lead scientist behind the project, believes that the humans should come out on top over the course of the 500 hands, the American Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence is confident that machines will one day gain the upper hand, though so far they have only produced an unbeatable draughts-playing program.