Gambling Blog

After news that Antigua has managed to secure agreement for loses incurred by the “illegal” withdrawal of online gambling facilities in the US, there is concern that the tensions between the World Trade Organisation and the US may well scupper any hopes of an end to the US ban.  But why?

Even though the US authorities have agreed in private that their ban is illegal there are no plans to lift the barriers.   It seems that the US have not appreciated being hauled in front of the WTO to explain their actions, and this has forced both parties to dig their heels in.  While Antigua had originally claimed $3.4 billion per annum in compensation from the US, they have “only” ended up with $21 million a year – a substantial difference to say the least!

The WTO are still pursing the US authorities on behalf of other countries throughout the world, with European counterparts knocking hard on the door for compensation.  However, it seems that while the US were “sympathetic” to the Antiguan claim they will not be so forthcoming with claims from European companies.  This has the potential to blow into a full scale war and there are already rumours of further sanctions against the US in a tit for tat series of actions.  Away from the main headlines the likelihood of the US authorities lifting the ban seems further away than ever, and while many had suggested that recent events were just sabre rattling there seems to be more to it.

The US authorities may well privately be regretting their move to ban online gaming, but in public there have been very few cracks in this policy.  As we approach the end of the US presidential elections it seems highly unlikely that the new president would want to rock the boat by suggesting a lifting of the ban, for fear of upsetting the very strong religious groups in the US.  Now that would be a gamble!

As Poker continues to touch more and more areas of the world, with more people than ever using the various Poker forums available, many are starting to ask whether the sell by date for these discussion areas is fast approaching.  It seems that the quality is not what it used to be, but what really is the problem?

There seem to be a number of concerns about some of the leading Poker forums, including :-

• A lack of quality discussion.  Much of the discussion seems to have turned to more trivial subjects, deflecting form the actual game itself.
• SPAM.  We are seeing more and more self promotion of websites, ebooks and the like.  While many of these may be useful to the beginner, there is a time and a place and this is not it.

While we all appreciate that Poker websites and Poker forums are in the industry to make money, they will only make the real money by offering quality, clean discussions.  Too much SPAM, too much off subject chat will lose many of the new Poker players of today, who are ultimately looking for guidance, for chat and help – something which the very best forums still offer.

As with any popular business on the internet, online Poker has attracted many people looking to make a quick buck, the kind of people who do not actually have an expert knowledge of the game.  In order to be successful in any industry you really need to know what you are talking about and what is actually happening in the industry.

Are forums on the way out?

While many forums are starting to give the industry a bad name, there are still some good forums out there, people who actually take a pride in what they present, know the game and know what players (new and old) want to see and discuss.  We just need more of them!

Over the last few years we have seen many areas of business jumping onto the Poker band wagon, trying to pull in a few extra dollars for themselves.� One industry which has been very active in this area is the Games Console industry where we have seen the emergence of the Playstation 3, the Xbox and the Nintendo Wii to name but a few.�

All of the main games consoles have Poker games available for their fans, but do they really hit the spot? Can they help in the move to �real� Poker? Do they catch the tension of a full blown Poker game?

The chances are that if you ask somebody who has played a Poker console game but not played a �real� Poker game, they would probably be full of praise for the better Poker games, but would you get the same answer from a �real� Poker player? In summary……no

If you are using the console Poker games for fun and laughter, then they have a time and a place, but if you are trying to capture the atmosphere, the tension and the drama then you will probably be sadly disappointed.� Unfortunately, there is no replacement for the buzz which many gamblers get when they have money at stake, when they are pitting their wits against the best around.� This type of tension and atmosphere is almost impossible to recreate on a console game.� But can they teach you how to play the game?

There is some mileage in actually using Poker console games to teach yourself the rules and etiquette of Poker, although why not try one of the �fun money� online sites where you will actually be playing with real Poker players, walking, talking human beings.� These are the people you will come across when you cross over from console Poker to the real deal.� Console Poker games might be fun, but they don�t quite capture the atmosphere and feeling of a �real game�.

For those who check the casino news on a regular basis, one common feature is the differing news and views which come out of the different states of the US.� Some states seem to be pro-casino and some seem to be against them, but why do opinions differ so much and will it ever change?

There are a number of reasons why opinions seem to differ so much which include :-

State Government

In the US each state has its own local government who are in charge of various areas of the local economy, laws, etc.� A lot of the differing views about gambling can be traced to the political�party in power, with the religious right very anti-gambling and vocal in their comments and opinions.

Tourism

Many of the millions of visitors to the US will at some point expect to come across a casino, which is why places such as Las Vegas will always be associated with casinos until the end of time.� In a need to ensure that tourists enjoy their stay and will come back again, many popular tourist states will have a pro-casino policy.

Taxes

When you think of Las Vegas, you automatically think of casinos and gambling arenas.� These establishments not only attract the tourist trade, they pay millions of dollars in taxes to the state and have a massive impact on local spending.� Investment, employment and further trade for nearby businesses are some of the effects which have been seen

Conclusion

In each and every state of the US it appears that someone has an agenda, a plan of attack, and they tend to let nothing get in their way.� The rigourous pursuit of the gambling industry by many local authorities has often been born out of strong political influences, often related to the religious parties - many of which have a strong say in US politics.� Often touted as the land of the free, this is not always the case.

While to those with little or no interest in casino games such as poker, the thought of watching a live poker competition may not have the desired effect.� However, put this opportunity in front of a poker player and you will see a whole different approach - the chance to watch and learn!

The explosion in poker�s popularity has come at the same time as a major increase in the number of satellite TV channels covering live poker competitions.� So which came first?

It seems that while there needed to be an increasing interest in the poker industry to make it worthwhile, the reduced costs of producing TV programs as well as the competitive pricing for those offering TV channels created an interesting opportunity.� The increased coverage of the sport has also resulted in a massive increase in tournament win pots, with figures well into the millions of dollars now common place.

Interestingly, the last few years have seen the emergence of many new poker experts from different areas of the world and society.� It seems that the internet has released a lot of talent, which had until recently been well hidden.� Sponsorships, advertising deals and the like have opened the poker competitions to the masses, with many players going on to make a full time living and gain �superstar� status in the industry.

The number of televised poker tournaments is set to increase in the future, with many of the big casinos and gambling houses keen to put forward large sponsorship deals.� As well as sponsorship deals, we are set to see a new advertising code introduced in the UK, allowing casinos to advertise in the popular press.� Many expect this change of policy by the authorities to create another boom in the industry - possibly something to make up for the current troubles in the us.

As the old saying goes, a good gambler knows when to �walk away�, or in the words of a famous song �Know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, and know when to run�.� This is perhaps one of the most apt thoughts for those playing Poker which is both a game of skill and chance.

Every Poker player will know that there are times when the cards are against you, and every hand you are dealt seems to offer little hope.� This is the time when the good Poker player knows when to call it a day, refresh their batteries and try again the next time.� The worst thing which you can do in any form of gamble is chase the dollar, chase the money you have lost - it is very easy to lose your head, your focus and even more money!

While there are situations in Poker when you may be able to bluff your way to a win, if you use the bluff too often it will only be a matter of time before you are found out.� The bluff is a strategy which should be used sparingly to receive the best returns, it can prove invaluable in certain experiences - most often against players who you know may have a little less �bottle� than you.

If you watch the TV Poker tournaments you will notice that even the professionals know when to fold their cards, and the ones who realise this at an early stage of their �career� are the ones who have a better chance of making it.� Those who believe that they can win with every hand are the ones who could be in trouble, the ones who may leave themselves out on a limb when the final two players are left.