Posted on August 11, 2009 - by admin

Taxation Killing UK Gambling Industry

The UK gambling industry has just about had enough of the increasing levels of taxation imposed by our government and in order to survive are being forced to set up offshore. The countries with low gambling taxes are the ones that are expected to benefit from these moves and countries such as Gibraltar, the Isle of Man and Malta have been named as potential destinations.

Low gambling tax economies had before proven popular with betting organisations during the establishment of online casinos around a decade ago. There used to be a levy of 9% of the value of a bet that had to be paid to the government every time a bet was placed, and online this simply was not viable, so these online ventures were set up overseas in order to bypass the levy. The UK government, not willing to lose all taxation on these online operations, agreed to stop the levy and replace it with a 15% tax on profits rather than bets.

In these times of relative austerity as compared to the early years of this century, this 15% rate of tax has proven to be a heavy burden for the industry, and they feel that their hand has been forced. Competition with overseas online gambling operations that do not have to pay these levels of tax is proving to be the deciding factor.

The UK government is not too pleased about all this and consider themselves betrayed. This is vehemently denied by the industry which states that times have changed and the online industry has developed far beyond what people considered possible a decade ago. Neither the government not the industry were able to forecast the amazing growth of this sector, possibly fuelled by a booming economy and lots of disposable cash.

It is believed that the government is unwilling to take this loss of tax revenue lightly. Draconian reprisals and new taxes are anticipated, particularly with regard to slots and roulette machines.

Posted on February 19, 2009 - by admin

Bingo Lingo for You

An interesting bunching together of the obvious and the metaphorical, bingo terminology probably developed as the situation decreed.
For instance, you are ‘waiting’ if you are waiting for only one more number that completes your bingo pattern. Equally representative is ‘false alarm’ when someone calls ‘Bingo’, thinking they have completed the pattern. It is also grandiosely called ‘social error’, more colloquially ‘bongo’. In contrast to this obvious explanation is the alternative term for ‘waiting’ – ‘cased’. For reasons best known to the originator of the term, you are ‘cased’ for the same reason that you are ‘waiting’.

‘Breaking the Bubble’, meanwhile, is synonymous with a breakthrough. The simplest bingo pattern requires 5 numbers in a single row or column, so you have broken the bubble only when that happens. A very lucky bingo-er might get it in the first five numbers called. Then there are the enthusiasts who call out Bingo when they see the next number on the screen; remember it has to be ‘called out’ before you can yell “Bingo”. These guys are ‘jumping the gun’.

Bingo also has a ‘standard’; translate that to mean that all numbers with the same second digit as the first called number are considered called, including the single digit number in the matrix. ‘Wild numbers’ add a dash of the unknown and the picking of wild numbers is called ‘forwards /backwards’. If the first number picked is 59, then all numbers starting or ending with 5 are considered called numbers, also those ending with 9. There are no numbers that begin with 9, in bingo. The players get to daub out several numbers, in this instance!

Posted on February 2, 2009 - by admin

The Old Undying Art of Gambling

To gamble is a psychological urge present in humans since the dawn of civilization itself. It is found in all human beings in varying degrees. It can also be stated as an act to comply with the immediate gratification of a basic need that would otherwise result in a monotony of existence. It is an inherent quality, or rather disqualifying aspect, in man since the ancient days and has been viewed in bad light due to its often unsocial and self destructive character.

The term ‘gamble’ is more readily associated with the wagering of money. Here in the casinos, public places, saloons or bars, the very idea is to make a pot full of money through gambling of various types. Here, in practice, one person’s win is another person’s loss. A winner on one day may even turn out to be the biggest loser the next day. A few wise ones quit while they are ahead, and made the most of their winnings. Most types of gambling, for instance the lotteries, slot machines, bingo or poker and many others, are unpredictable and hence require no knowledge or any special skills. One might say that here luck, and only luck, counts. In the case of gambling, such as horse racing, grey hound racing, soccer betting and other sports betting, a degree of skill is required and hence is to some extent predictable. In fact, people tend to gamble even if there are rules or a total ban. It is but human nature to revolt.

Posted on January 29, 2009 - by admin

The Extended Uses of Bingo

Gambling is gambling, the puritans would say, and would strive to keep it under wraps and away from the pure and innocent minds of children. But innovative minds have seen the ‘good’ in the ‘bad’ and in the nineteenth century, bingo was widely used in Germany for educational purposes to teach children spelling, animal names and multiplication tables.

Apparently, teachers in America also use bingo in the classroom. It would be more than an adequate replacement for flash cards. The 5*5 matrix can better represent a network of associations. It seems an ideal method for teaching meanings of related words, especially for those who are learning English as a second language. The matrix might also make a better mind map than those in existence. Teachers of language can really exploit the format to help students generate their own personal thesaurus. And if it can be electronically generated, ‘Bingo’! The colors and bright pictures, not to mention the ease of manufacture, would reinforce the lesson, for sure.

Bingo has actually touched the everyday lives of even non-gamblers. The “bingo logic” of chance numbers is used on the now-popular scratch cards. Each card has a pre-drawn number that is hidden until the card is scratched. When the consumer scratches the card, he ‘matches’ the number against the winning number, and if he is lucky, gets a car or a refrigerator or a free trip or whatever. Even a puritan would not refuse a free trip, would he?

Posted on January 3, 2009 - by admin

Swift Deals At the Poker Table

Picture this! It is the usual evening time at the great hall with its unique bar and counter, and there are several games of poker in progress. The atmosphere is tense, and you hear the shuffling of the cards being dealt on each table and the whispering voices of people, some sitting and some standing, while some are leaning against the wall or on the backs of the chairs already occupied by players. Most of them are excited, anxious, and driven by an urge for that quick buck. They are making the most of the situation by betting on the cards laid face down, and are either smoking or drinking, or both. An occasional shout rises up from one of the benches followed by deep sighs, exclamations, and often annoyed thumping on the poker table as a pot is claimed by the winner. The great game of poker is in full swing.

Poker is a game played by two or more players. The game is played by previously setting the rule for the winner, with either a high hand or a low hand. Poker usually proceeds in an anticlockwise direction and the first round begins with a forced bet. Each player either tries to match the previous bet money, or folds, or withdraws. The previous bet can be either matched or raised as the case may be. When all the players have either folded or matched the previous bet, the round ends. If there is more than one player who stays matched while others have folded, then the hands are shown and the winner takes the pot. If only one player has folded then the pot money is divided amongst the others.

Posted on December 28, 2008 - by admin

A Whole New Way to Gamble

Gone are the days when you had to visit a particular city or place to enjoy a game of blackjack or slots. Today you can do it from almost anywhere in the world, as long as it is legally allowed, sitting in the comfort of your home and enjoying a drink or chatting with family while you try your luck.

However, before you plunge headlong into the world of online gambling, do ensure you know what you are dealing with. Gambling can be addictive, and many people have lost their life’s savings trying to earn a few quick bucks. Also ensure that the sites you visit are legitimate and that they provide adequate security and assistance. Try not to start playing for real money unless you know how the site works and if it is a legitimate operation or not. Many well established gambling sites even take beginners under their wings and help them out until they are confident enough to fly on their own. You can also find a number of casino reviews online, which will help you choose the right kind of site/s.

Online gambling can be fun, as long as you know where to draw the line. Many online gambling sites also provide help to people who may feel that they need to stop but are unable to do so. You can also opt to suspend your account for a certain period of time until you are sure that you no longer feel threatened about going overboard with your gambling habits.

Posted on December 2, 2008 - by admin

Cruise Casinos Can Be Great Fun

Millions of people go to casinos for fun, relaxation, and to try their luck at winning some money. Most cities in the world have casinos, though there may be some that have banned gambling, and any game or sport associated with gambling is strongly discouraged. Where legal, a casino can be housed anywhere - but is more popularly found associated with shopping centers, hotels and cruise ships.

If you happen to take a vacation on a cruise liner, you must visit the casinos on board. Most of the luxury liners offer the entire range of casino games, and because you are floating on water, trying out your luck is just something you need to experience to feel the actual thrill. Some of them run the casino round the clock. And while at sea you have nowhere else to go, except maybe to visit the other facilities on board, so there is no reason why you should not enjoy a late night session of poker or blackjack. The difference between a cruise casino and an on-land casino is that in a cruise people are on vacation and are not gamblers in the true sense. They are just there to have a good time, and if they happen to win some money then the cruising experience is only enhanced. However, in the case of an on-land casino, you can have some quite serious gamblers whose only purpose of being there is to win money. Entertainment or pleasure are the last things on their minds. The only thing that matters to them is winning.