The top 3 Macau casinos

Macau is currently the highest gambling revenue producing city in the world. There are more people coming to Macau to gamble than there are to Las Vegas, and the city made five times the gambling revenue Las Vegas made the past year.

Macau is home to a few of the largest (including THE largest) casinos in the world. There are 33 casinos in the city, all open 24 hours a day, with more soon to open their gates to an ever increasing number of gambling-hungry players.

In this article, we will present some of the best gambling destinations in the city:

1. The Venetian Macau

This is the largest casino in the world, with a surface of over half a million square feet. This much larger replica of the Las Vegas Venetian cost over 2 billion dollars to build, but the 80.000 people playing the casino each day probably helped absorb the costs pretty quickly. In fact, someone has informed us that the current figure is actually slightly lower than the actual cost.

There are over 2000 slot machines in this casino, and over 500 gaming tables. Baccarat is the most popular choice by far, but you can also enjoy stud poker, blackjack, roulette, sic bo, or craps.

The hotel has about 3000 luxurious suites, and offers its guests access to high quality entertainment, brought by well known stars such as Beyonce or Lady Gaga.

2. The Wynn Macau

Wynn Macau

Opened in 2006, Wynn Macau is now one of the largest hotels in the city, with 1000 rooms and suites.

The casino is not spectacularly large, only 200,000 square feet, but it offers players an intimate, classy décor which some will certainly appreciate more than its flashier neighbors. The Wynn is a luxury casino, and this is reflected in the minimum bets as well, which are higher than in other casinos.

The resort also has two luxury spas, eight restaurants and three bars, as well as a high-end shopping area where you will find well known brands.

Guests and passers-by can also enjoy all day long, every 15 minutes, the beautiful light and water shows on the lake in front of the resort.

3. The Grand Lisboa

The Grand Lisboa is the highest structure in Macau, and one of the highest 25 structures in the world. At night, the entire façade of the building is illuminated by color-changing lights.

The casino here stretches on four floors and features 730 slot machines and over 400 game tables. You can play a variety of games, from baccarat to poker and roulette.

The hotel has over 400 rooms and suites, but lacks in term of entertainment. Except for the Crazy Paris Show running daily between 2pm and 2am, a gym and a small spa, there is little else that could keep you entertained. There is, however, a restaurant starring well known chef Joel Robuchon, as well as 8 other restaurants and bars.

Whether you’re interested in visiting an exciting, fast-paced, buzzing casino, or a luxurious, discrete gambling establishment, Macau has it all. So don’t hesitate to visit someday, especially since new casinos are expected to be launched every year.

Signs and symptoms of problem gambling

Compulsive gambling is just like any other addiction – it is a progressive illness that consists of a series of phases, with each phase accompanied by its own warning signs. The time taken by a gambler to experience the onset of gambling symptoms usually depends on the type of gambling. Moreover, there are several forms of gambling that do not allow for breaks in play. The signs of compulsive gambling can be delayed in such cases as players are not offered a chance to secure more money in between games. In most cases, the addiction can be found in gamblers within 12 months.

On the other hand, non-continuous forms of gambling tend to lead to a number of difficulties over the long run. For example, gamblers playing card based games are more likely to experience compulsive gambling symptoms much sooner than others.

The difference between action and escape gamblers

Compulsive gamblers usually fall into two categories – action gamblers and escape gamblers. Both gamblers suffer from low self esteem, but action gamblers are considered to be more outgoing, manipulative and egotistical as they believe that they can beat the odds using the skill. On the other hand, escape gamblers primarily see gambling as a means of escaping from their problems.

Signs and symptoms of compulsive gambling

Behavioral Signs

  • Skipped family events

  • Conflicts over money

  • Leaves children alone and is less concerned about them

  • Prone to use alcohol or drugs more often

  • Changing patterns of sleeping, sex or eating

  • Talks about gambling all the time

  • Has legal problems related to gambling

  • Begins to ignore self care and work related matters

  • Is late for school or work

  • Is missing for long periods of time

  • Neglects responsibilities

Emotional Signs

  • Depressed or suicidal

  • Anxious and withdrawn

  • Prone to frequent mood swings

Financial Signs

  • Increases working hours or number of jobs without any increase in income

  • Always close to being broke

  • Constantly borrows money from people

  • Cashes in savings accounts and/ or insurance plans

  • Family members complain about money and/ or valuables missing.

Health Signs

  • Frequent headaches

  • Loss of appetite or eating too much

  • Problems in sleeping

Things compulsive gamblers are prone to

Most compulsive gamblers are prone to –

  • Being energetic, restless and extremely competitive

  • Focused around money for everything

  • Have constant distortions such as overconfidence, denial, a sense of control or superstitions

  • Generous to the point of extravagance

  • Binge workers or workaholics who wait till the last moment before they begin to work hard

Differentiating between Normal Gambling and Compulsive Gambling

Gambling has often been described as a form of wagering or betting where the outcome of a particular event depends on chance or a combination of chance and skill. Normal gambling is considered to be extremely healthy and it is known to be a popular form of entertainment. However, compulsive gambling is a disease and is quite similar to alcohol or drug addiction. Normal Gambling, also known as Social Gambling generally occurs with co-workers and friends. It lasts for a limited period of time and is not driven by money. On the other hand, compulsive gambling is when the gambler simply cannot stop gambling and begins to make it the center of his/ her entire existence.


Finding the Right Casino for Your Skill Level

Finding a casino that suits your skill levels is extremely tough. And it’s not a matter of choice. Heading over to the wrong casino can end up hurting your bankroll in a major way. Here’s what you need to do in order to find the right casino for your skill level. Most casinos are very similar in terms of the gambling experience that they offer. However, the size of the tables and the bet limits that these casinos offer to their players can be dramatically different. For example, the craps and baccarat tables of some of the biggest casinos in Vegas might offer the same play as the one offered by your neighborhood casino, but the table limits greatly differ since Vegas casinos have all sorts of tables – ones that suit high rollers as well as those that are perfect for conservative players.

harrahs casino

All you need to do is look at skilled gamblers. You will see that they are always on the lookout for casinos that can improve their odds by offering them with bonuses, promotional offers and coupons. They also pay a great deal of attention to the table limits and the Returns to Player, also known as RTP or House Odds. For example, a casino offers 10x odds in a game of craps. This means that players are allowed to place a maximum bet that is equal to 10 times their original bet.

The point of this example is to help you understand that casino game strategies have nothing to do with choosing the right casino. The skill levels required to gamble in any casino are likely to be the same. What differs is the odds offered by the casino. It also takes a considerable amount of skill in order to find casinos that offer the best value for money. This process is known as “odds shopping” and it is a common feature in sports betting as well.

You can also compare gambling to your shopping experience. Would you ever shop at a store that charges a higher price for a product that is available for less elsewhere? It’s the same with casinos. Saving money helps you to maximize your advantage and give yourself an actual chance of being able to beat the house. It doesn’t take an Einstein to understand that the more money you save by using bonuses, features and odds that work to your advantage, the more realistic chance you offer yourself of actually winning some money.

Moreover, if you don’t have to stress on your bankrolls, you should also be able to make better decisions and enjoy the game that you wish to play. It also helps to ensure that you don’t play beyond your levels. Playing at a table where the betting limits are too high for your bankroll or your skill level is the simplest and fastest way of losing out all your money. If the limits are too high, simply move on and look for a casino that offers betting limits according to your liking.

Popular themes in online slots – Part 2

Continuing with where we left off in the Popular themes in online slots – Part 1, this post offers you with insights into some of the other themes worth checking out. Even though we have given our themes serial numbers, it is quite impossible to give them rankings. After all, how you compare Star Trek to The Lord of the Rings. It’s impossible. Anyways, here are a few more themes that are definitely worth checking out.

07. Crazy Pizza Slots
Crazy Pizza Slots offered its players with a uniquely refreshing theme that is based on a concept and not some character or movie. What made it particularly popular was its refreshing gameplay, huge jackpots and a vast betting range. The Crazy Pizza slot became an ideal option for conservative slot players and all players vouch of having a blast while playing the game.

08. Marvel Series
Who hasn’t heard, seen and dreamt about characters and superheroes from those MarVel comics? Well, now there’s yet another medium where you can check them out. There are a number of slot machines based on popular Marvel characters such as the Iron Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk. Each of these slots were timed around the release of their respective feature films and all of them managed to generate plenty of interest in the world of slots.

09. Caesar’s Empire
The Caesar’s Empire revolves around the stories of Julius Caesar, the most popular character of Rome. His undeniable and unquestionable power allowed him to achieve great conquests into previously unknown territories and his sophisticated military strategies are marvelled even today.

10. Diamonds are Forever
Diamonds are Forever has simply been based around those wonderful looking gems that can melt any woman’s heart. The designs offered by the slot are actually amazing and the sight of a huge sparkling diamond at the very center attracts countless women to the game. Moreover, the game also offers a seamless gameplay, a classic theme, a wide betting range and an impressive jackpot feature.

11. The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings, an epic adventure cum fantasy revolving around wizards, elves and hobbits became a rage in the early 2000s. Even after a period of 14 years since the first movie was launched, The Lord of the Rings still commands a huge following. Its on-screen popularity soon made it popular in the world of slots. One of the best Lord of the Rings slots was designed by Microgaming, a household name in the world of slots.

Harry Pottah

12. Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The list just goes on and on. This J.K. Rowling creation not only cast a spell on the world of books and the world of movies, but it also managed to become extremely famous in the world of slots. There are countless Harry Potter slots out there, with each promising to outdo the other with a range of exciting features and Harry Potter stories.

Popular themes in online slots – Part 1

Thousands of themes have been offered to slot lovers over the years. World history and folklore has offered us with a number of exciting characters of whom we have studied or read about ever since opening our eyes. As kids, almost all of us were inspired by these amazing fantasy filled adventures and journeys to eternal riches. It might not be possible to relive these beautiful stories in our storybooks anymore, but the online slots of today offer an excellent alternative. Online slots revolve around all sorts of themes that interest people – love, relationships, mysteries, folklore, locations, destinations, human behavior, festivals, sports, action, entertainment, drama, etc. Here is a list of some of the most popular themes in online slots.

01. Achilles
The Greek warrior cum hero was not only known for his magnificent looks, but also for his superhuman strength and cat-like reflexes. There are a number of slot games that have brought this popular Greek warrior into our living rooms and our dens. Not only are they based on Achilles, they offer us an insight into his story as well.

02. Wheel of Fortune
The Wheel of Fortune was considered to be one of the most successful game shows in the world. It was extremely popular across most countries and an easy show to watch and follow. Anyone who has ever been to Las Vegas would vouch for the fact that the Wheel of Fortune is not just a show – it has been immortalized in the form of a slot machine, and an exciting one at that.

03. Rudolph’s Revenge
We’ve all heard of Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. We’ve all seen him transport Santa above our rooftops and chimneys at one point of time or the other. Now, Rudolph can also be seen in an exciting slot named Rudolph’s Revenge. Keeping in line with his giveaway attitude, Rudolph promises players with an exciting range of features and magnificent wins. Oh, he offers a progressive jackpot as well.

04. Star Trek
Who hasn’t heard of Star Trek, the biggest franchise in television and film history. The epic series boasts 11 feature films and 6 TV series that total to about 30 seasons. Star Trek is also known to have an amazing fan following all over the world. No wonder, it finds itself in the world of slots as well. Many fans are also known to be attracted to these Star Trek slots simply because of the theme.

05. Cleopatra’s Gold
Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian Queen was known for her breathtaking beauty and her mesmerizing looks. It is also said that she used to sleep with a gold face mask every night to maintain her good looks and her perfect skin tone. A slot has been themed around this beautiful yet extremely intelligent Egyptian queen and it promises to offer players with excellent insights into her mind boggling wealth and amazing beauty.

06. The Hangover
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Unfortunately, not when it comes to The Hangover. The movie became a major hit all over the world and simply increased Las Vegas’s popularity manifolds. The epic movie also found a place in the world of slots once a series of slots revolving around the movie were launched.

Choosing the right online casino

Choosing online casinos is not just about determining its reputation and the kind of bonuses and cash prizes that it offers. In order to choose the right online casino, you need to look at a number of aspects. Making that extra effort in searching for the right casino can help you save a lot of hassles and issues later on. Here are a few things to look out for when choosing the right online casino.

Make sure that the casino is licensed

All online casinos are required to be licensed by the proper authorities. If a casino is unlicensed, it is operating illegally and all players who play in these casinos will not be offered the proper player rights and security. All licensed casinos mention their licensing details on their websites. You also need to understand that some jurisdictions are considered to be more reputable as they are more tuned to the industry standards.

Make sure that the casino has a proper reputation

All legitimate online casinos are known by their reputations and the trust that they manage to instill in their players. To ensure that you receive a hassle free experience, you need to ensure that the casino you choose has a verifiable reputation. The reputation of any online casino can easily be verified by reading the user reviews that these casinos receive from their players on casino forums. You should be able to find all sorts of reviews, complaints, issues and problems with regards to any online casino and easily distinguish the best from the rest.

Make sure that the software suits your requirements and style

There are five major platforms that online casinos operate on – Playtech, Realtine Gaming, Microgaming, Wagerlogic and Boss Media. Each platform has its own graphics, user friendliness, animations and interface. The best way to determine which platform is the best for you is to play demo games that all platforms offer. You can also create guest accounts at online casinos and play for fun in order to get a hang of the gameplay before you play with real money.

Verify the banking methods being used

It is pointless to register with casinos that do not offer you the desired methods of depositing and receiving funds. While most casinos offer a variety of credit cards, certain cards cannot be used. You should make sure that you verify the banking policies and check that the banking operations of the online casino matches your own banking methods.

Ensure that you get good deals and bonuses

A number of online casinos offer their players with exciting rewards and bonuses for registering with them. Casinos also offer their players with various kinds of deals and promotions from time to time to help make things more attractive. Make sure that you choose an online casino that offers you the best deals for your requirements. All you need to do is go through user reviews to understand the kind of deals being offered by the various casinos.

The online casino should have a proper customer support system

Proper customer support is a must when it comes to online casinos. One of the most common problems that users face with an online casino is with its customer support systems and policies. You need to ensure that you check out the reviews that the customer support mechanisms of your chosen online casino receive before signing up. You could also speak to the support staff to assess their response times or send a test email to the casino to see how long they take to get back.

Spending those few extra hours before you sign up with an online casino can help you to ensure that you save yourself from hundreds of hassles and issues later on.

Top 5 Female Poker Players in the World

Despite being known to be a man’s game, women and poker have become inseparable of late. Large scale poker games are no longer known to be a man’s world. There are a number of beautiful women around the world who are equally fascinated by the game of poker and can actually play as well as (if not better than) men. Women are known to spend time gambling their money online, take part in major poker tournaments and enjoy women only poker events. Yes, the excitement that poker has to offer plays a major role in drawing women towards the game, but the success achieved by some of the legends of the game such as Annie Duke and Jennifer Harman cannot be ignored either. These ladies have been an inspiration for millions of women all over the world and are directly responsible for attracting countless women to the game of poker. To honor all such women, this list salutes the Top 5 Female Poker Players in the World.

  • 01. Kathy Liebert
  • Considered to be one of the leading professional poker players in the world, Kathy Liebert has won a number of honors and tournaments over the years. She is also known to be extremely popular in the poker community. Her rise to fame came with the 2004 World Series of Poker when she managed to win a paycheck $110180. Kathy also joined the elite list of World Series bracelet winners, thereby taking her stock in the poker world all the way up to first place.

  • 02. Vanessa Selbst
  • Vanessa Selbst is famous for having won more money in live tournaments than any other woman on earth. She is currently being sponsored by PokerStars and has managed to amass a fortune of almost $9.6m over a span of 8 years by playing poker. She even managed to win 7 figure prizes on two separate occasions. Whoever said that it was impossible to win while gambling? Selbt has already earned approximately $1.4 million in the year 2014 and is famous for being a major inspiration for men and women gamblers alike.

  • 03. Annette Obrestad
  • Annette Obrestad started off her poker career at the tender age of 15. Despite entering at such a young age, Annette managed to flourish in a game that was essentially known to be dominated by men at the time. Soon, she built an image of being one of the most aggressive younger players who had excellent results to back up her claims. Annette currently holds the honor of being the youngest ever World Series of Poker bracelet winner, a coveted prize that she won at the age of 18.

  • 04. Liv Boeree
  • Liv Boeree shot to international fame in the year 2010 when she managed to win the European Poker Tournament Main Event in San Remo. The victory made Liv a household name and brought her a mammoth sponsorship deal with PokerStars. Liv might have faced problems adjusting to her new found image and living up to the expectations ever since, but she still holds the headlines as one of the most commonly photographed female poker players in the Euripeak circuit.

  • 05. Vanessa Rousso
  • Vannessa Rousso, known to be more popular as “Lady Maverick” (her online screen name in PokerStars), is a law student at the University of Miami as well as a recognized poker player and teacher. She runs a unique poker school that goes by the name of Big Slick Boot Camp. The school teaches poker strategy to interested students and it is known to combine Sun Tzu’s book “The Art of War” to poker strategies.

    Casino comps

    Casino comps are a great feature which, unfortunately, is ignored by many players. Short for complimentary, comps are basically free items and discounts which the casino offers to registered players as a token of appreciation for the money they’ve spent in the casino.

    Many players believe that there are hidden strings attached to comps, or that only players gambling thousands of dollars each time they visit can enjoy these offers. However, the truth is that comps are given as a way of convincing players to return to the casino, and it’s in the establishment’s best interest that all players return, no matter how much they spend.

    There are various levels of comps, depending on how much you’ve played. The smallest comps are small items such as caps, pens or key chains with the casino’s logo. The biggest comps are free food or free lodging, although some exclusivist casinos offer their loyal players comps such as luxury trips around the world. But even if you don’t play enough to qualify for high level comps, you may qualify for discounts to various restaurants, bars and coffee shops within the establishment, or to a discount to the rate of rooms in the hotel. This is a win-win situation, as you get to save some money, while the establishment wins money and a satisfied, returning player for their casino.

    While most casinos offer their players free drinks while they play, to take advantage of the other comps you will need to register to the casino’s player club and use the player card you receive, every time you play the tables or the slots. The card registers the amount you play, and you get player points for every spin, game or hand played.

    But even so, it’s most likely that the casino staff won’t come to offer you any comps. You need to ask if you are eligible for any. Don’t be shy! It’s your right as a loyal player of the establishment. It’s enough to tell the hostess or the receptionist that you are interested in a certain comp and ask whether you’re eligible for it, and they will be more than happy to assist. In case you receive a negative answer, don’t try to intimidate the staff, and don’t feel discouraged either. Ask how many points you are missing, and decide if it’s possible and worth it to get the points you are missing for that certain comp.

    Comps are a great way to receive maximum value for the money you spend gambling. Don’t hesitate to ask for the comps you are interested in, but do it politely. The rule of thumb is that if you get a negative answer you shouldn’t insist and, if you receive the comp you wanted you should thank the member of the staff who made it possible.

    MOBILE CASINO GIVING FIRST HUGE PRIZES

    We have been saying for a while now that mobile casino is the future of online gambling. Nowadays, everyone carries a smartphone or a tablet (if not both) The mobile devices have become an extension of our body, and everything has gone mobile. Casino and gambling are not an exception, so if you like playing casino games, you should definitely start trying to play in your phone or tablet.

    Actually, last month, a Swedish player got a very good prize playing Mega Fortune. Imagine you are playing slots in your smartphone, and you happen to hit the jackpot and win over 600.000€ just by playing your favorite slot game.

    Mega Fortune is one of the most popular online slot games that you can find in the market and has given some of the biggest jackpots and prizes in online casino for quite some time. But at the moment you can also win big amounts of money in mobile casino, the latest trend.

    But this are not the only great news in case you like mobile casino games. Recently we got to know as well that a guy from The Netherlands set a new record in mobile casino prizes with over $1m jackpot. And you know what’s the most curious about it? He just played using a birthday gift voucher that absolutely changed his life forever.

    Try to picture the situation….you are traveling in a train, and next to you there is a guy playing mobile casino games on his Ipad. Suddenly, his Ipad gets crazy, and so does the guy, who just became rich by playing online slots on a mobile device. Crazy, isn’t it? Well, you just need internet connection and a bit of luck. You could be the next one, so next time you decide to play online casino games, why don’t you try it from your mobile phone?

    Poker Tour Event Caught In The Riots Of Ukraine

    About 150 players of the Russian Poker Tour are experiencing the critical situation that Ukraine is living at the moment. The news keep bringing every day new images of protests and riots, and the clashes between the protesters and the armed forces are escalating in both dimension and violence.

    Director of the event, Oleg Udovenko declared that their concern is not only to guarantee the safeness and security of all tournament participants and staff members, but also to show their support to all Ukrainian society, hoping that the situation would be solved soon, for the best of the country and its people.

    Asked about what is the organization plan, he said there is not much they can do other than waiting until the situation calms down a bit and then provide all possible help to the participants to return to their home countries. He declared that the club has shut their doors, so no one can come in, and no one is allowed to leave. Participants have taken the measure as something necessary and they are cooperating. Some of them even continue playing.

    UKRF

    Udovenko declared that participants are starting to be really tired about the situation, but the security comes first, and they have got the recommendation of not letting anyone out.

    According to the last news, at least 25 people have died, 9 of which would be policemen. UE is starting to show some moves and has called Ukraine government to stop the violence and find a peaceful solution to the clashes, if they don’t want any punishment. Barack Obama also made a call for peace to Ukrainian prime minister.

    One UEFA Football game which was supposed to be played today in Kiev has been moved to Nicosia, in Cyprus, because the necessary security around the game couldn’t be guaranteed.

    Some of the players now complain about the decision of bringing the tournament to Ukraine, because the political tension has been on for a while now. However, no one forced them to attend the event, so I don’t see any reason to complain.