I am willing to bet that many readers of Carolina Gambler enjoy watching the fights that MMA puts on. Regardless of whether you do or don’t, one has to admit that Dana White has done a terrific job of continuing to make mixed martial art fighting a recognized sport.

Now fight fans can even become members of a MMA Fantasy Poosl, and one of the latest and among the fastest growing is none other than MMA Victor.com Fantasy Pool.

The website was started in early 2010 from a group of friends wanting to challenge each other on their MMA knowledge at each event, and wanted a cool way to do it online for everyone to see how each other were competing. From this small idea they continued to add new features to the website and enhanced the information provided for fighters and MMA events to help new users who join make the right choices for their fantasy picks.

While the site is still small by some standards, as I wrote earlier it is continuing to grow at a rapid pace. This is a great site for MMA fans to join and grow with. They continuously adding new features and enhancements to the website and service, along with keeping  MMA events and fighter information up to date. It’s pretty obvious that MMA Victor.com wants to ensure the ultimate experience for all members; both new and older alike.

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Basketball Wagering

Basketball is one of the four major sports and betting on the game follows a similar pattern as that for football. So if you have been betting on football, basketball wagers would not at all be a problem for you. However, this article is aimed at those who are relatively new to the field of sports betting, as a run down on the types of bets that a basketball bettor can place.

Betting the Point Spread

This is the most common type of bet you’d find in football as well as in basketball betting. The point spread can be defined as a handicap placed on one of the playing teams for the purpose of betting. It is designed to give both teams participating in the match an equal chance of winning. In a basketball match, one team is usually better than the other and is known as the favorite while the other team is known as the underdog. If all sports gamblers would bet on the favorites, they would all take away winnings. The bookmakers however, make both the teams attractive to the gamblers by introducing a point spread for that match.

Betting on Totals

Betting on totals is also known as betting Over/Under and this is the second most popular method of wagering in basketball after the point spread. Here you bet on the total points scored by the playing teams going over or under a certain number. The combined score expected to be made during the match will be posted by the bookie and the bettor must bet either on the total going over the listed score or below that. If the combined total score in the match is exactly equal to the predicted total, then no money is paid out to the bettors.

The point spread and betting on totals are the two most common basket ball bets that can be placed and are the easiest to understand. However, a basketball bettor has a couple of more options when it comes to online basketball betting. Let’s take a look.

The Money Line Bet

The money line bet is a bet on the winner of the game without considering a point spread. Money line wagers are made using odds because the team is given more than a 50% chance of winning the basketball match. To take an example, the money line odds presented on a match between Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks might look something like this: Boston Celtics -300 and New York Knicks +240. This means that sports gamblers favoring the Celtics to win must but up $30 to win $10 while those favoring the Knicks must put $10 to win $24.

Parlays and Teasers

Basketball bettors have the option of betting Parlays and Teasers which are sometimes known as exotic bets. In a parlay bet, the gambler must correctly predict the result of two or more games. He or she has the option to use the money line while betting against the point spread. With Teasers on the other hand, the bettor can use the point spread which can be adjusted in his favor.

Parlays and teasers offer the potential for a big payoff with a relatively small wager, but they are risky bets. The predictions you make must come through for all the games you have bet on. Even if a single game is the wrong pick, your entire parlay bet is lost. As a novice basketball bettor you might want to stick with the simpler bet, namely the point spread or the bet on totals before you opt for Parlay bets.

The rise of Internet and video gaming that resembles the old days of video poker in South Carolina could be something the Legislature is forced to confront this year, a Charleston lawmaker said Friday.

State Rep. Leon Stavrinakis said there’s “kind of a new breed of machine out there” where purveyors are using the term “sweepstakes” instead of “payouts” to promote play in Internet cafes and other sites.

“I would not be surprised if some momentum started building on it and we ended up with a little bit of a battle,” he said.

The comments came after Charleston City Council this week moved to place a six-month moratorium on approving zoning, permitting and licensing for any new Internet cafes or arcades. The hiatus is designed to give the city time to explore the rise of gaming businesses where patrons can use a personal computer to log on and play video games that resemble electronic slot machines regularly featured at full-scale casinos.

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Two such businesses have sprouted in the city in recent months, both in West Ashley strip malls. Both charge patrons for using Internet time on the dozens of PCs they have inside that can be linked to games tied to cash wins but referred to as operational sweepstakes.

The frequency of such sites has grown around the state in the past year, with police, zoning and court actions triggered in Greenville, Sumter, Georgetown and Beaufort. In some cases, magistrates have ruled the play does not violate the state’s anti-gambling laws.

For instance, a Georgetown County magistrate last year ruled machines that follow the sweepstakes model of play are compliant under state law, according to published reports.

South Carolina lawmakers have only recently worked to combat the effort.

Last week, state Rep. Phyllis Henderson, R-Greenville, offered a bill she said is designed to outlaw the use of casino-type video games in sweepstakes scenarios. She didn’t know how the bill might cover personal computer hook-ups in cafes but added the entire focus of her effort might have to expand to include regulating them as well.

“If we’re taking it all at once, we might as well,” she said Friday. State senators are behind an effort as well.

Stavrinakis, a West Ashley Democrat, said a difficulty for the Legislature is in writing a bill that targets certain aspects of the sweepstakes, which might be labeled as cloaked gambling, while at the same time not affecting other areas, such as sweepstakes offered by grocery store chains.

Video gambling became illegal in the state in 2000, but various efforts have been made to bring the games back since then, in different forms.

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2012/jan/28/state-may-tackle-internet-gaming/

The Catawba tribe, South Carolina’s only federally recognized Indian tribe, have filed a suit against the state stating that they should be allowed to offer gambling on its reservation. The state only allows gambling boats to operate off the coast at the moment. It was in 2005 that state legislators passed the Gambling Cruise Act, which set rules and regulations for gaming ships that are allowed to operate three miles off the ship’s coastline.

Chief William Harris argued that gaming is crucial for the tribe, “Native Americans suffer disparate treatment, but the law is supposed to mean we do not get treated differently by the government because of our race, the color of our skin or our unique beliefs, customs and culture.” According the last consensus the Catawbas’ per capita income was $11,000, and unemployment on the reservation was more than double that of South Carolina.

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Plans for the casino would include two hotels with 750 rooms and a 220,000 square foot gaming facility. It’s also estimated that the casino would bring more than 4,000 permanent jobs. York County would see nearly $260 million in annual economic activity, while the state would reap $100 million in annual gaming fees and about $9.8 million in sales and income taxes.

Bet365 Online Live Casino

Bet365.com is a reputed and popular online gambling brand that offers a casino, poker room, sports betting and bingo room. With millions of customers in UK, Europe and the rest of the world, the Bet365 Group is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission as well as the Government of Gibraltar. The Bet365 Live Casino or Live Dealer as it is sometimes called is a part of the Bet365 Casino offerings.

Bet365 was among the first to offer the facility of a live casino to its customers. Essentially, the Live Dealer feature is similar to the standard Bet365 Casino, but there is a live video feed of the dealer room right to your computer. So, you can see all the action taking place in the dealer room; not only that, you can also interact with the dealer as well as other players in the room. Bet365 Live Casino offers a number of popular casino games, and these include Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat and Sic Bo. There is the European Dealer Room and the Asian Dealer Room at the Bet365 Live Casino so you get to play two versions of Blackjack, Baccarat and Roulette. Most other Live Casinos do not offer Sic Bo, so this game is unique to Bet365.

To play at the Bet365 Live Casino, you only need to download the casino software and begin playing. Of course, you need to open an account at Bet365 to access the Live Dealer Casino. The Bet365 Live Dealer can also be accessed through the Flash Instant Play version of the software.  The live dealer games, betting interface and video feed are managed by Playtech, the most reputed casino software provider in the gambling industry.

So what makes the Bet365 Live Dealer Casino better than the rest of the pack? Well, Bet365 is no doubt the best in that it is a single wallet system across all its services. That means you can also play at the poker room or use bet365 sports betting with the deposit you made in your account for the Live Dealer Casino. Besides, you get to play Sic Bo in the Asian Dealer room only at Bet365; no other Live Dealer Casino offers the game.

Bet365 Casino offers some amazing promotions. Presently, the ongoing promotions focus on the Christmas festivities so players are busy trying to collect comp points to win fabulous prizes for the 12 Levels of Christmas. There are plenty of other promotions as well including the Festive Bonus Boost, the Santa Surprise Bonus on the Santa Surprise Slots Game and the VIP Scheme.

In fact, there is a special Live Games Giveaway Promo for the 10th, 25th and the 31st of December, 2011. Under this promo, players can win a share of $10,000 by playing Live Blackjack, Sic Bo, Baccarat Roulette and Casino Hold’em. There are 200 prizes to be won of which the top prize is a $1000 cash prize. Check out the Bet365 site for the Live Games Giveaway Prize Tables for more details as well as the wagering terms and conditions.

Best Internet Casino Experience

Gambling on the internet is the latest pastime that people have taken up with enthusiasm ever since traditional casinos went online.  No more spending time planning a trip to the local casino or traveling to and fro, braving the weather or spending on fuel. With online casinos, it became very easy for people to get their gambling fix at any time and from anywhere.  The only thing essential was a computer with internet access and of course the spare time… Today let me give you some useful tips to make your online gambling experience an enjoyable one.

Shop Around for the Best Internet Casino

Much of your gaming experience depends on the online casino you join. The internet is full of gambling websites, all promising a superior gaming experience, lots of bonuses and the best of casino games. But, not all online casinos are reliable and trustworthy. Before investing money at the casino, it is important to gather all the information you can get. The best way to do this is to check out at online forums and message boards what others have to say about the casino you are interested in. You’ll get an honest opinion and first hand information from the players at the casino to help you with your selection.

Look out for Good Bonus Offers

For many gamblers, the best internet casino experience is all about the money. Online casinos have one unique feature – all of them offer bonus which is extra money to play with. Mind you, this is never free money as some people will have you believe. The bonus offers come with wagering conditions and these need to be completed before you can withdraw the winnings if any, from your casino account. Bonus offers can be as small as $ 50 or as high as a couple of thousands depending on the casino. Wagering conditions also vary. For instance, some casinos might have you wager the bonus and deposit amount say, five times while others may expect you to do it 50 times. Before taking up the bonus offer, it is important to check if you can achieve the wagering targets comfortably. If not, it is best to skip such offers.

Don’t go by Superstitions

Gamblers are a superstitious lot and many online players have certain beliefs that certain actions may bring good luck or vice versa. For example, some online players get this feeling that they are due to win in the next round and they place large wagers. This happens more at slots and video poker machines. Players feel that since the machine has not posted a win in many hours, it will most likely post a winning combination at the next spin. In reality though, nothing of the sort happens and the player loses his wager. Remember, the random number generator works randomly and you can never predict what the next spin will throw up. Never gamble like you might be due to win the next spin. When you bet at an online casino, always keep your emotions in check to enjoy the best internet casino experience.

Be an informed Player

To enjoy the best internet casino gaming experience you must be an informed player, aware of all the choices and options available to you. This is especially true in case you like to play progressive jackpots. Like I said before, each casino has different rules and offers different options. Progressive jackpots at one casino may pay out $25,000 while another may be a paying out a million dollars. And therein lies the difference. As a player, make sure that you have all the details on hand and make your selection based on the facts available to you to avoid being disappointed with your online casino gaming experience.

Gambling on the Internet

The recent years have seen the rise of internet gambling to unprecedented levels. Although gambling on the internet is a fun activity, there are many risks involved that every player must be aware of. The first and foremost risk is that of gambling addiction. Other risks of gambling on the internet involve scams and rogue internet casinos that are out to con people and relieve them of the money they’ve worked so hard for.

Risk of Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction or problem gambling can be broadly defined as the need to continue gambling despite being aware of its negative consequences. Players addicted to gambling feel restless when they are not gambling or they have the urge to spend more and more on wagers to get the enjoyment out of it. They get so obsessed with gambling that they are prepared to beg, borrow or even steal to pay for their gambling habit.  A player’s gambling addiction can have a serious effect on his physical and mental health, while leading him into financial troubles causing disruption of family life and relationships.

Gambling by itself is very addictive if you don’t practice discipline, and gambling on the internet can add to this problem due to the convenience and ease of access of an online casino from anywhere, at anytime.  The only way to avoid gambling addiction is to play responsibly and practice self discipline. Responsible players always set limits to the amount of time and money they will spend at an online casino and adhere to those limits. The key to responsible gambling is to quit when you are ahead and not chase losses.

Risk of Scams

The internet reaches far and wide and online scams are pretty common. Gambling on the internet poses a major risk of being cheated out of your money by rogue casinos or fly-by-night operators. The only way to keep your investment safe at an online casino is to be an alert customer. While selecting an online casino to join, do your research well. The casino you are joining must be legitimate and to verify this, you might want to check out the site’s certifications.

Generally, seals of certification are prominently displayed on the website’s home page. However, today, with all the technology available, it is quite easy for rogue casinos to copy designs and layouts of legitimate online casinos and present them as their own. To get around this problem, players can visit the certifying authority’s website to check if the site is indeed listed there.

Identity Theft

The increase in online activities such as banking, shopping and gambling on the internet poses the risk of identity theft. Customer data is being transmitted continuously to and from online casinos leaving it vulnerable at various points. If the online casino fails to use the latest encryption protocols or security measures to safeguard player privacy, then data might be open to identity theft.

Here again, the player must be alert to ensure that he joins a trustworthy online gambling site that has all the security checks in place. Gambling on the internet is all about being an informed player, hence it is a good idea to visit online gambling forums and review sites that will give you useful first-hand information from other players’ experiences.

How to Avoid These Risks

There’s no better way to avoid risks of gambling on the internet than by being an educated player. Ensure that the online casino you are joining is legitimate and licensed by a reputed licensing authority before giving out your banking details or depositing money. Test out the site’s customer service department with questions and judge their response. Usually, rogue casinos don’t bother with things like customer service or registration with licensing authorities. Gambling on the internet can be an enjoyable experience if we take the right precautions.

Representative Bakari Sellers (D) of Denmark has proposed a gambling bill across South Carolina in hopes of having a discussion on the topic when the legislature reconvenes in January.

I have stated in the past that a casino in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina could be a huge success. The old mall site  on Highway 17 business has stood empty for more years than I can remember and would be a perfect place to have one. Plenty of access, the Convention Center right across the street and the Atlantic Ocean only a few blocks away.

Having a casino in the county would bring in some much needed jobs that pay well. And the state would capitalize on it by earning millions in tax dollars. That is tax revenue that only cost those who use the facility and not anyone else. Millions are bet every weekend illegally in South Carolina on sports, so why not make it legal and get the tax money. All the hotels would probably be packed year around too which would help create more year round jobs and sales taxes too.

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We already have the lottery which is nothing but a state run gambling service of sorts, and don’t forget about the casino boats that take off from Little River.

This is a free country is it not, so is it not time to give adults the freedom to gamble and play cards in a land based casinos too?

The proposed bill would allow each county to decide whether or not to allow gambling. Rep. Sellers believes statewide gambling could bring in an average of 40,000 jobs and $1 billion in revenue.

Read more here: Statewide gambling initiative should come up in January session

For those new to online casinos

Real money online casinos are a fairly new invention that are starting to grow in popularity across the world. These casinos allow people to enjoy all of the fun and excitement that come along with gambling in a casino, without making them ever have to leave there homes. There are many different kinds of casino games that can be played in these online casinos.

One of the most popular casino games that can be played on the internet is poker. Online casinos allow you to play various kinds of poker, live, against real people from all over the world. The types of poker vary from Texas Hold’em to Five Card Draw. There are many ways in which online poker can be played through real money casino sites and that is one of the reasons why poker remains one of the most popular games that can be found in online casinos.

Another game that can be played in almost all real money online casinos is blackjack. Blackjack is a relatively simple card game that a lot of different people can enjoy. Due to the fact that the rules of blackjack are so simple, and also the fact that in comparison with the other casino games blackjack has a high winning percentage, blackjack is another casino game which is very popular to play online. The fact that blackjack is a game that can be played either with a lot of strategy incorporated, or in a very casual way that basically needs no thinking at all, makes it so that blackjack is a game that is appealing to all kinds of different people.

Another staple of the real money casino industry is the option that people have to play online slot machines. The slot machine is one of the most iconic games that is associated with the casino industry and online casinos allow you to enjoy this game from the comfort of your own home. The most appealing thing to many people about slot machines is that it really does not take any kind of strategy to play this game. All you have to do is push the button and watch what happens. If you are looking for a casino game that you can enjoy without having to put forth very much effort, then an online slot machine would be the perfect match for you.

In conclusion, there are many great things that online casinos have to offer. Even though you do not have to travel to an actual casino to participate, you can still enjoy many of the various gambling games that normal casinos have to offer. Online casinos have a good selection of online gambling games that include online poker, blackjack, and slot machines. Online casinos are a good way for people to have the opportunity to gamble in many of the same ways that they would in a traditional casino without having to leave their house. This provides a good deal of convenience and it also provides a way for to enjoy casino games even if they do not particularly enjoy the atmosphere of a casino.