Casino Cash Cow

You’re in the casino, lights are flashing, electronic machines are chiming, you have a pocketful of money, and your heart races as the excitement builds. You see the craps tables in the distance. Your pace quickens. The three people at one table are quiet; not much action. The 15 people at the other table are cheering, laughing, clapping, high-fiving, and hugging each other. You think, “Wow, that table must be hot.”

There’s one open spot at the end by the fat guy. You think, “I don’t know if I can squeeze into that spot. I’ll wait for another one.” Before you finish your thought, someone dashes into that last open position, squeezing in sideways between the fat guy and the drunk with a cigarette hanging off his lip. You think, “Oh, man, that guy took my spot. That’s okay, I’ll get the next one.”

You stand in the background, jockeying for position to see the action. You count the number of players on each side of the table, confirming that no more players can squeeze in. The shooter is on fire. She rolls number after number. A drunk yells, “Winner, winner, chicken dinner!” The gorgeous woman on the other side of the drunk is thrilled and hugging everyone at that end of the table. The players’ chip racks are filling up with red, green, and black chips. You wait. You watch. No one leaves. You continue watching. Everyone wins gobs of money. Except you.

What just happened here? Fear. You’re new to the game; you’re not sure of what to do; you let fear take control. Not enough room by the fat guy was just an excuse for not taking the only open position at a hot table. The result–you lost out on winning tons of money.

It’s natural, it happens to everyone. If you’ve never played craps, you’ll probably be scared crapless (pun intended) of walking up to the table, plopping down your money, and making that first bet. It feels worse if you have to do it alone without someone to guide you or give you confidence.

Accept it. You’ll be nervous the first time. But don’t let it keep you from playing. After about 10 minutes, your fear will be gone and you’ll laugh and holler with everyone else. Just take a deep breath, walk up to the table, and get over your fear.

Now you know!

Bill Enslen is a reliability engineer who routinely works with statistics. Having played and analyzed the game for 25 years, he has compiled his winning secrets in a new eBook, which you can sample at http://www.learnthesecrettocraps.com/.

Given the massive popularity of the NFL, it’s surprising that the sport is shrouded in so much betting misunderstanding and misconception.

Let’s try to separate betting myth from reality:

Myth #1: Betting lines are created to beat the public.

Reality: With the exception of the Super Bowl, the public plays almost no role in the linemaking process. The betting line is created and adjusted to meet the opinion of professional gamblers because it is they, not the casual fan, who bets serious money on the game.

Myth #2: Betting lines get balanced action.

Reality: While the goal is to construct a betting line that is of equal attraction to both favorite and underdog players, it rarely works out that way. More typically, a third of the games on the NFL schedule will have an insignificant amount of betting to cause much of a concern, another third will have active but balanced betting and the remaining third will have mostly one-way action. Traditionally, how the house fares on these lopsided games, called “decisions,” determines whether books win or lose.

Myth #3: Bookmakers have inside information that they use to establish “trap” games.

Reality: Nowadays, with nearly everyone having access to the Internet, it’s not so much the information as how well that data is interpreted. Bookmakers still may occasionally receive information regarding injuries or weather changes before players, but thanks to technology, that advantage often can be measured in seconds. Many years ago, if a bookmaker found out some significant nugget of data, he might try to lure the bettor to the “wrong” side. Those days are gone as inside information has all but ceased to exist and there is no such thing as a “trap” game.

Myth #4: Bettors have the edge early in the season because oddsmakers and bookmakers need more time to assess the teams.

Reality: More hours are spent analyzing the opening week of the NFL season than any other is. A detailed, in-depth assessment of NFL teams begins more than a month before the opening kickoff. While it’s true that teams often do not tip their hand during the preseason or against weak, non-divisional foes, players are in no better position to uncover this deception than are bookmakers. Historically, the first six weeks of the season have been very kind to bookmakers. That’s probably not just luck.

Myth #5: Professional gamblers pick their spots, betting just a couple of games a weekend.

Reality: Actually, sophisticated gamblers bet a lot of games. Think of it this way: If you’re a successful gambler, why risk serious money on just a few games where a freak play or an official’s call can make you a loser? The wider the net is tossed, the less of a factor luck becomes in the outcome.

Myth #6: Wiseguys bet more on games they really like.

Reality: More than any misconception, this myth probably best illustrates the difference between how professionals and amateurs think. A professional gambler believes that if a game is worth betting, it’s worth betting significantly. Professional bettors generally wager approximately the same amount on every game they play. The concept of a “best bet” is a media creation that is foreign to professional sports bettors. Professional gamblers believe all their bets are good ones; that’s why they make them.

Myth #7: Bettors can win by concentrating on a specific conference, division or region.

Reality: Not likely. It’s not enough to have one specific area of expertise because the NFL schedule demands that teams play half their games outside their own division. Knowing the strength of a team is worthless if you don’t also know the strength of the opponent.

Myth #8: Statistical wagering trends are important.

Reality: Technical analysis may be popular but it’s hardly meaningful. Professional bettors put little faith in the favorite/underdog, home/away pointspread analysis that so often is cited by gridiron “handicappers.” It’s just another method of backfitting dismissed as irrelevant by wiseguys.

Myth #9: It’s never wise to bet on rumors

Reality: Oh, yes it is. For example, if a professional bettor hears a rumor that Peyton Manning has the flu and is too ill to play quarterback for the Colts, he’ll quickly bet on Indianapolis’ opponent. If the rumor is correct, the gambler has stolen the line on a game that’s certain to change. If the rumor is false, then he’s played Indianapolis’ opponent at a fair price. Since most lines are accurate, the bettor takes little betting risk in chasing a rumor.

By Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com/ . The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering betting: http://www.thegreek.com/ and all other major sports. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com/.

Just as the World Series of Poker (WSOP), introduced the world to big-time poker tournaments, so has the World Poker Tour revolutionized the game as seen on television. The World Poker Tour is not only entertaining, but is a valuable source of information for new players. Take, for instance, the “WPT Cam”, an amazingly innovative camera about the size of a lipstick tube. This little device, introduced on the WPT in 2003, allows viewers to see the player’s hole cards, adding to the drama of the game by revealing the strategies behind the player’s high stakes bets and bluffs.

Then there are the WPT hosts. Whenever the hosts speak to the audience using specific poker terms, a drop-down box appears with an explanation of those terms so that viewers new to the game will gain a better understanding of their meaning. As a result of this type of programming, the WPT as seen on the Travel Channel, has undoubtedly recruited literally millions of new fans and players worldwide.

World Poker Tour face-to-face tournaments are held each year from May to the following April, ending with the World Poker Tour Championship Event being held at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Sixteen preliminary WPT tournaments are held at various locations world-wide which lead to the final championship event.

Final tables at each of the preliminary WPT Tournaments are televised, and the winners receive, in addition to their prize money, a paid entry fee – worth $25,000 – to the World Poker Tour Championship at the Bellagio.

These preliminary tournaments are one way to obtain a seat at the WPT final event. Players can enter directly into the championship games by paying the $25,000 entry fee up front, or enter various satellite tournaments – for a smaller buy-in – that will prepay the WPT Championship entry fee for the winners. In fact, the Bellagio hosts a satellite tournament during the weeks preceding the final event with a prepaid entry fee to the WPT Championship awarded to the winner.

The final table at the World Poker Tour Championship Event is televised from the Bellagio by the Travel Channel and viewed by a live audience. The prize money has increased considerably since the WPT’s beginnings with the prize pool for the 2006 WPT Tournament expected to exceed $12 million, and the first prize over $4 million.

Consisting of Texas Hold’em No-Limit tournaments, the World Series of Poker is heading into it’s fourth season as one of cable television’s most popular shows. The WPT is the brainchild of television producer Stephen Libscomb, who is the CEO of WPT Enterprises, a publicly traded entity controlling the World Poker Tour.

Kenneth Bateman writes numerous articles on the subject of poker and its players. To read more player profiles, visit this http://www.xlpoker.com.

Are you considering giving on-line gaming, poker to be exact, a, try? In this author’s opinion the pros far outweigh the cons; here are several of many reasons why you may tend to agree.

There are numerous reasons to play poker, specifically Texas Holdem, on-line. Having played both the old fashioned way (brick and mortar) and the more high tech option I find that for the first time in all my 45 years actually embracing technology.

If one plays any form of poker for camaraderie, fun or just plain human contact then perhaps virtual play is not the best option. If sheer competition, playing a lot of hands, testing your skill level and hopefully earning a little coin is the goal then on-line play should be considered second to none.

Probably the most obvious reason to give online poker a try, and by try I mean at least 30 days of serious play at whatever level you feel most comfortable; not one minimum deposit session where you make a bad call lose your roll, stomp your little feet never to return, would be the convenience.

All that’s required is a relatively current computer and an internet connection (please don’t play with dial-up).

If you’d rather not clean up you can play, if you scare people in public you can play, if you are agoraphobic you can still play.

In short you can always find a game on-line, 24 hours a day seven days a week. Nothing beats the feeling of cleaning fish at three o’clock in the morning staring at your screen in your underwear.

Always remember to keep plenty of snacks and your energy drink of choice close at hand if you plan on a long session.

Many players are under the impression that it is a major disadvantage not being able to see your opponent.

I wholeheartedly disagree and let me tell you why. Not only is not having to see your opponent a plus, not having to listen to them is at least as much of an advantage. Wah, no more tells. If that’s the case then I’ll gladly call you a waaahmbulance.

If you have been playing Texas Holdem for any length of time you should realize that tells are not as important as once thought.

Sure the concept made Mike Caro rich. Yes I purchased his overpriced door stop as did many others.

Individuals, myself included, play poker in patterns, even the top professionals, but that’s another article for another time.

One last thought on anonymity, on-line no one can see you sweat. If you don’t handle your bad beats well or just overreact when you get outdrawn on the river then consider the internet a godsend.

Playing Texas Holdem, or any other form of poker for that matter on line can be a real time saver. If there is only time for a couple of hands, there is no car to drive, no plane to catch, even the walk to the poker room, sometimes in inclement weather, becomes a thing of the past.

There are so many options and places to play on-line that you never have to wait to play, unless of course you come across a live game where the fish outnumber the sharks and it thus becomes profitable to get on the list. Even if you do put yourself on a waiting list there is always another game to play in the interim.

Nothing makes dinner at the computer taste quite so good as cracking someone’s pocket aces or the often held onto big slick with the mere click of a mouse.

In Las Vegas or any other poker Mecca around the globe if you don’t care for the game or even the card room you’re in then it’s “these feet were made for walking”. On-line a new game is only a click away.

Texas Holdem not working at the moment? Just click and you are now seated at a virtual 7 card stud table or Omaha, even Pineapple (whatever that is) or any number of poker games situated all over the web. (Need to find a site? Try http://OneStopHoldem.com ).

Many sites offer blackjack and other popular casino games when you’re ready for a change of pace or are perhaps looking for a way to kill time while waiting to win your seat at the next World Series of Poker main event.

Finding the stakes you want when you want them is another consideration as to the superiority of on-line play.

Let’s get personal.

On my last trip to Las Vegas (June 2006), I made a conscious decision to play Holdem at downtown casinos exclusively to gather review material for http://OneStopHoldem.com, a website for which I am a major contributor.

If your game of chance is something other than $1/$2 no limit Texas Holdem or $2/$4 limit Texas Holdem please don’t hold your breath in downtown Las Vegas.

Omaha, what’s Omaha? Forget playing Omaha hi/lo split with pot limit on the river or any other pot limit game for that matter and don’t ask for a kill game either unless you like being disappointed.

My apologies and thank you for allowing me to vent, this is obviously a whole other article.

Where were we? Oh yes, on line you can play for pennies or dollars, really big dollars, just be realistic as to your bankroll and skill level.

Also, if you happen to suffer a bad beat or have a less than optimal run of cards you can always drop down a level and build your bankroll and composure back up at a pace you find comfortable.

Faster game play is what attracts many of us to on-line play. More hands per hour, at least twice as many, equates to a greater potential for wins and profits.

Who can say no to that?

Many poker sites offer turbo or otherwise accelerated games in which every player involved must make their decisions somewhere in the ten seconds or less range.

A few sites even offer the option of play on up to four tables simultaneously, a feature which may be considered both enticing and scary.

By the way if you decide to give multi table play a go please be sure your game is up to speed and you are in the proper mind set with no distractions.

The final point up for discussion, but by no means the last, would be the ease of record keeping on-line.

Most sites offer hand histories as well as records of tournaments played. Detailed accounts of all financial transactions, hopefully leaning towards the withdrawal end of the spectrum, are readily available.

Many sites also offer note taking and player tracking to assist in keeping tabs on you fellow poker enthusiasts.

All this adds up to a fairly accurate method of not only dissecting but also analyzing one’s play.

To sum things up if you are not currently playing poker on-line, consider giving it a try. If you do decide to play for money please do so responsibly and never with money which should be reserved for the necessities of life.

L. Jon Lopez is the cofounder and primary contributor for the website http://OneStopHoldem.com. Any and all comments can be directed to LJonLopez@OneStopHoldem.com. We welcome your comments on all things poker.

Buying a game table for your family game room can be a daunting task. But after reading this article you’ll be up to that task!

Let’s talk about the tables and features and which table or combination of tables would be perfect for some good old fashioned, family fun!

Air Hockey Game

An Air Hockey Game gives you what every sports fan wants, high-speed and intense competition. It’s arguably the fastest table game played even more so than table tennis. But is it the right choice for your family?

There was a “basic” air hockey tabletop game in my home growing up. It did get some use and it was fun for short periods of time. Needless to say during get-togethers the table was put away to play pool and not seen again for weeks at a time. Though if we had a standalone air hockey table then I’m sure it would have been used more often.

Each manufacturer offers something a little different in their tables. One example would be the width, is it 2-player or 4-player. Also the tabletop colors and designs vary. Usually they’re blue or white and the table may or may not be painted to look like a real ice rink. Another fun feature is electronic scoring. Some cheer and boo while others only tell the score and have overtime play features.

In my opinion air hockey game tables are a plus to any game room. But they are not good enough to be the “only” game if you’ll be having a lot of large get-togethers.

Billiard Table

Billiard Tables in recent years have improved. The designs and colors can be custom made to suit your desires and to match your home game room.

I grew up having a pool table in our home game room. It was a basic 7-foot bar room sized green felt table. Nothing too fancy but it didn’t matter because it was used often especially on the weekends.

Some billiard features are really neat. For example some manufactures will let you decide the color felt you’d like. If that’s not enough you can also get a table that has a University Logo, MLB Team Logo or NFL Team Logo in the middle and you can get matching billiard balls.

When it comes to designs you can find solid wood tables, laminate tables and other contemporary table designs. There are indoor and outdoor styles available also. If you want something really different you can buy a black light pool table, a Harley Davidson themed table or even a NASCAR themed table among others.

But they’re not just about looks they’re also about family fun. With a pool table you can play a wide variety of games. Also children learn how to make cuts and bank shots. And there’s a thought process involved with every shot that only Shuffleboard comes close too. It’s a strategy game that’s fun for the whole family.

In my opinion pool tables are a game for the whole family. They can also be the only game in your game room. Because of the skills involved and the variety of games that can be played, a pool table is a great choice for good old family fun get-togethers.

Foosball Game Table

Foosball Game Tables are great for kids of all ages. Not quite as fast as air hockey or as strategic as billiards, foosball is still a great game. It does however have a speed value that billiards doesn’t have. It basically has a bit of everything in it.

I never had a foosball table but a friend of mine did. We’d play for hours and the good part was that it was big enough for 4 players at a time. You can be the goalie/defense or the front scoring line or both if playing by yourself. You really need quick reflexes to be tops in this game.

What does a foosball table offer you? The quality of the wood or player colors can be changed but you basically just have your four legs and the table. Some tables are oval instead of rectangular and this makes it safer for young children. Also look for tables that have raised corners on the playing surface so the ball won’t get stuck like in the older versions.

Are they great family fun? In my opinion it depends on the age of the players. For older kids and adults they can be a lot of fun but definitely not for younger children. It’s too hard to switch handles and younger children need something to stand on to play. It’s easier to swing at a puck or hit pool balls. If you’re children are older then a game room sized foosball table would be a great addition. If you have a pool table already then foosball would be a great second game.

Shuffleboard Game Table

Now here’s a game table that has been overlooked for years. So let me be one to say that shuffleboard is a game for everyone.

When it comes to the designs and colors of shuffleboard games there are only a few differences. One difference is table length ranging from 9 to 22 feet. There are also features like bumper rails, which make the game easier to play for children. Plus depending on the table you may have a triangle scoring zone or a basic 3 or 4 line, scoring zone. This game does have some nice family friendly features.

The playing of the game offers up strategy. You can use your pucks to block shots, score points or to knock opponents pucks off the table. Also you can play one on one or with teams.

In my opinion this is the only other stand alone game for a home game room besides a billiard table. It’s similar to pool in that strategy is used to win. Also it’s easy to play for all ages, although adults seem to enjoy this game more than kids. Kids tend to get bored from the slow action. Definitely find a place to try this game out with your family before purchasing.

Table Tennis / Ping Pong Tables

A Ping Pong Tables is great fun. Adults love to play, kids love to hit the balls around and everyone has a laugh. But is it the best table game for your family? No.

I don’t hate the game of ping-pong. We had a tabletop version in our home growing up. We played it more in our teenage years but as children we’d just end up chasing the ping-pong balls. If you’re a professional player then you’ll disagree with me but for the average family player it’s a game for older children and adults.

The features are all pretty much the same including the size of each game. You do however have a choice of tabletop colors, (green, black or tournament blue). And you can buy fold up tables to give your room more space when not using the table. Also paddles can be different colors and balls come in many colors and fun designs but that’s about it.

In my opinion ping-pong is a challenging and fun game. It can be a very fast game for more advanced players and it definitely takes a lot of good hand-eye coordination. Is it a good stand alone game for your game room? Obviously I think not but it is a great third game. Wait until the children are older before adding one of these unless it’s your game of choice.

In closing a combination of a billiard table or shuffleboard table, air hockey or foosball and ping-pong would work well. You’d have a nice selection of games to please everyone. Also the skills needed to play each game are different, from making bank shots and using strategy to using quick thinking and reflexes you’ll get a bit of each with a combination of games.

If you’re still undecided have a look at “combination game tables”. Just remember that no matter which you choose you’ll have hours of fun and game tables only add and never take away from your home game room!

Visit http://www.game-room-decorating-ideas.com/game-tables.html to find more useful information on selecting a fun family game table.

Or visit the http://www.game-room-decorating-ideas.com home page to get started on creating the ultimate home game room.

Joe Schmieder is the Webmaster of http://www.game-room-decorating-ideas.com.

Certainly there is no shortage of advice and tips when it comes to subject of improving your golf game. I alone am constantly being asked on how to improve on the various parts of someone’s golf game.

Tips and advice, although a good place to start, aren’t the panacea for all that ails one’s golf game. All the advice in the world is only as good as the person’s desire to practice and implement the advice.

Practice is essential. Just playing more and more isn’t practicing. If you’re serious about improving your game you have to practice on a regular basis.

Think about it for a moment. If you bemoan your sand play, but the only ‘practice’ you get is when you are on the course playing, how much practice and attention is your sand game receiving? Not much. During the course of an actual round of golf how many sand shots will you be required to execute? Even with a bad day on the beach not many at all. If this is you, don’t be frustrated when you blade your sand shots way over the greens and triple bogey holes.

Practice not only improves your ability to make shots… the added bonus is that it also improves your overall confidence in your game. Golf is like anything else, what you get out of it is directly related to how much you put into your game. Even if you don’t have the time for prolonged practice sessions, try to take advantage of any free time just to grab a club and work on your swing. The road to improvement isn’t how long you can practice at any given time; rather it is how often you can practice if even for a short time.

Next, if you gotten yourself into the habit of regularly practicing; then when you do play your rounds of golf then take them seriously. Learn to control your emotions and focus on each shot. Every stroke counts and they all add up one at a time, so take your game seriously. This doesn’t all mean you take the fun out of the game, you just increase your focus and purpose.

Since you are now practicing regularly (even if only for a short time) and playing with more focus and purpose, your game is beginning to improve. If you haven’t by now you should look at upgrading your golf clubs. I’m suggesting that you break the bank on your next set of clubs, but if you’ve never been fitted properly for a set of clubs you will, at some point, limit your improvement progression. Also, since your practicing more and playing better, your swing will be settling into a more consistent routine. As a result, getting some properly fitted clubs will be a better investment, than if your swing was about to dramatically change.

As your game continues to improve, the areas of your golf game that need attention and improvement won’t be so glaringly obvious. So, the next level of improvement will take a bit of analysis. I always encourage people at this stage of their development to keep stats on their game. When you do this your are able to pinpoint trends and weaknesses in your game that you may not be so readily able to determine just by trying to evaluate on a round by round basis. So start keeping track of your fairways hit, greens in regulation, 3 putts, putts that you miss inside of 6 feet, sand saves, up and downs from around the green.

By now you are well on your way to playing significantly better golf. I know that the short time span of this article isn’t directly related to the time you’ll need to spend to improve your game, but if you persist with your practicing you’ll prevail. So, by now you’ve come full circle and now need to continually evaluate your golf game and improve on those trouble spots and weaknesses.

Aside from the obvious benefits of improving your golf game which is lowering your handicap, is now you’ll really begin to appreciate the beauty, the challenges, and the uniqueness of each and every course you play. Each course will take on it’s own personality for you. Because, let’s face it, all the courses look about the same from the rough or the trees.

Jeff O’Brien offers instruction and insight on golf that will get your golf swing and golf game on track or off to a good start by establishing a good foundation on which you will build your golf swing and game. Please visit (http://www.golf-ology.com) for more of Jeff’s golf tips, aricles and online golf lessons.

You are probably familiar with the exceptional benefits of playing a game. Regardless of one’s age and physical ability, games such as golf , billiards, board games, etc. are considered to be those types of recreational activities that people select to try in order to increase their mental and/or physical skills while enjoying the excitement. But since games are played primarily for the mere enjoyment they offer, some people tend to consider them unnecessary and a waste of time. Nothing could further away from the truth. Games increase a person’s capabilities and assist in developing a better understanding of ourselves. Games should be fun for one to want to continue practicing them, but they can also have an educational nature. Most importantly, games can affect a person’s psychological state leading to excitement and the feeling of one being proud for an accomplishment. Games are not a waste of free time. Actually free time is the time one should devote in exploring his or her abilities through games and have fun in educating and exercising his or her body and mind.

Generally, a game consists of a goal that its players try to reach and usually has a set of rules within which a person has to succeed accomplishing the desired objective. These commonly agreed boundaries exist so as to test peoples’ skills and invite them to develop new ways in managing the obstacles that might hinder them from attaining the game’s goal. But, due to the vast variety of known games all around the world, agreeing on a single definition has been rather challenging. People in different time periods, countries, and contexts, have tried to capture the essence of games and come up with a classification that could serve all games’ purposes. Upon examining some etymological dictionaries, one can conclude that games are a creative expression of the human spirit through the creation of an activity that has an entertaining, instructive and competing element. Regardless if a game is played by a single individual or requires competing teams, involves physical as well as mental activity, has a concrete or loose set of rules and structure, needs some or all of the available resources, it always leads to an outcome. There is usually a winner and a looser and whether a participant belongs to the one or to the other side of this simple distinction makes all the difference in the world.

With the plethora of existing games for different target groups like kids, teenagers, adults or seniors, anthropologists have proposed their classification under three major clusters. One can decide to play a game of skill, which can be mental or physical. Checkers for example use their mental skills to successfully complete a game of chess, while runners use their body’s capacity to overcome natural obstacles like that of wind and gravity, or their own bodies’ ability to outrun itself. The second game category is that of strategy games, like the Monopoly board game that requires from participants to reach a particular outcome over a specific time frame based on their available resources. Third, there are games of chance that base their popularity on economic insecurity and are associated with cultures that place a high value on personal responsibility. Finally, people tend to play mixed games. These games, like soccer (football) and basketball, involve both physical skill and strategic thinking and in many cases their outcome is based on chance.

Now that you know how important is for you to play games, next time someone invites you to participate in another friendly baseball match do not try to avoid the invitation because you think it is a waste of time. Games, despite their character can help you clear your mind and can change your mood. Thus, tomorrow get up, pick your favorite game, find your opponents, make it your new hobby, and experience the tremendous effect a game’s round can have in your life.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://everythingaboutgames.net/ – In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://totallytraveling.net/ and http://livingtheoutdoorslife.com/.

The first Sunday in October can mean only one thing and that’s Paris in the autumn for the Prix de l’Ac de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 1. Not content with staging Europe’s premier Group1 contest for middle-distance racehorses, the French racing authorities have done plenty to develop this day as a fixture to match next month’s Breeders’ Cup bonanza at Churchill Downs, Kentucky

As well as the Arc, there will be five more Group One contests on a stupendous Sunday’s action for racing fans. Knowing where to start as a punter is half-the secret to success on a busy and brilliant day.

As ever the name of French trainer Andre Fabre is the essential starting-point for trying to find the winner of the Arc. No trainer has done as supremely well in the great race as the French master, successful five times since 1992 and as concerned as ever to land a sixth Arc to his recent tally.

Fabre supplies a three-pronged attack to this year’s prize beginning with Hurricane Run, last year’s Arc hero who is sure to be thereabouts again but struggled to land a below-par renewal of the King George at Ascot in July. Perhaps this time around he will be upstaged by his hugely talented stable companion Shirocco, who has been aimed at the Longchamp spectacular all season according to connections.

Getting stronger and better with age, Shirocco should be hard to beat in the Arc especially if the ground enjoys any give in it on Arc day. Andre Fabre’s horse is at his best with cut underfoot. The same wouldn’t be true of Japanese superstar, Deep Impact, whose connections are absolutely set on winning the Arc. Whether this top-notch colt can overcome unsuitable ground, the lack of prep race and the transition to a European climate is doubtful but he clearly adds spice to a cracking contest.

The rest of the Arc card features five more Group one races with Reverence likely to take the world of beating in the Prix de l’Abbaye over the minimum trip while the possibility of a clash between Ouija Board and Alexandrova in the Prix de l’Opera is a mouth-watering prospect. Elsewhere Andre Fabre will be attempting to better his record as the leading French-based trainer with his three-year-olds of particular note. Fabre tends to target the Prix du Cadran on Arc day each season, and his leading entry should be noted.

It’s a quiet weekend after the thrills of spills of the Arc and Cambridgeshire weekend with Ascot staging the day’s premier meeting on October 7. As ever the two-year-old sprinters take centre stage in the Cornwallis Stakes and the Willie Haggas-trained Enticing could be an interesting runner in this 5f event.

Over at York there’s a traditionally insoluble afternoon of large field and tricky handicaps headed by the Coral Sprint Trophy. Given the shock results in this 6f handicap it’s no wonder that bookmakers are keen to sponsor such races. On the same card the two-year-olds add some respectability to proceedings courtesy of the Listed Rockingham Stakes and the Barry Hills-trained Captain Marvelous is name to look out for among the entries.

It’s top drawer action at Newmarket on Champions Day, October 14, with two Group 1 contests heading an afternoon of superb action. Throw in the second leg of the autumn double for good measure, stir in the Rockfel, Challenge and Darley Stakes and you have the recipe for a perfect day’s racing.

When it comes to finding the winner of the Champion Stakes, looking for something fresh isn’t a bad policy. Most of the winners of this mile and a quarter contest haven’t endured the rigours of a long hard season. That’s certainly true of Derby hero Sir Percy and Henry Cecil’s rapid improver Multi Dimensional but whether these talented three-year-olds are up to lowering the colours of the older horses is open to question.

In the Challenge Stakes John Gosden’s Sleeping Indian could well prove hard to beat while Sir Gerard can take the Darley Stakes before heading off to Dubai and the winter sun. The James Fanshawe-trained colt has been sold to Sheikh Mohammed and is almost certain to race next season in the deep blue Godolphin colours.

In the Dewhurst all eyes will be upon Jim Bolger’s Teofilo should he make this Group1 contest his last race of a scintillating two-year-old season. This terrific prospect would tackle the world of beating but in his absence the Paul Cole-trained Strategic Prince might be the one to take advantage. He isn’t in Teofilo’s class but this has been his target since a pattern success at Goodwood in early August.

The main Flat action switches to Newbury after the high-points of Champions day and John Gosden’s Broghill could be a name to note in the October Yearling Stakes on October 20, the first day of Newbury’s two-day meeting that now includes the Racing Post Trophy on October 21. Mick Channon will be hoping that Halicarnassus can build upon his big reputation in that final Group 1 prize for juveniles while Aidan O’Brien will be attempting to build upon his bright record in the race and any runners from his Ballydoyle operation should be noted.

On the same day as hosting the Racing Post Trophy, Newbury also stages the Horris Hill Stakes and Jeremy Noseda’s Ready for Spring is being primed to take this prize while in the St Simon Stakes Geoff Wragg will be hoping that Dragon Dancer can lose his maiden tag at last. It seems scarcely believable that this frustrating type almost landed the Derby back in June at 66-1.

The dying embers of the 2006 turf Flat season share the spoils at Newmarket on October 28 with jump racing at Wetherby. At the former track there’s a valuable two-year-old contest in the guise of the Zetland Stakes and any runner from the Mark Johnston squad should be heeded here while over at Wetherby Star de Mohaison would have the look of a good thing if he begins his season in the Charlie Hall Chase. Finally, some of the top two-mile chasers will be strutting their stuff in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter and the outcome of this grade prize will be a pointer to the pecking order amongst the two-mile titans.

Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for the UK horse racing betting site http://GG.com – horse racing betting, information, free daily tips, free expert articles, free 4 year form database, free alerts, free racing commentary, compare odds, forum and more!

UK casinos, and casino gambling. Why are we so addicted, and will the governments new proposals help to fuel this casino addiction?

Since the dawn of gambling, where ancient civilisations would offer their wares, betting on all manner of occasions, from animal races to sporting events, and since the first recognised casino houses, men have pitted their wits or put their faith in the gods in an attempt to increase what little money they had, or to regain what they had previously lost.

Of course you can reach far back into ancient times to recognise the influence of Asian and Egyptian cultures, where gambling on peoples lives and the outcome of sporting events in large arenas was common, as was the use of knuckle bones as dice. Casino houses nowadays provide a more modern background. Said to be of Italian origin dating back to the 1700s, and made popular by the Americans who first experienced casino houses back in the 1800s, they have now become a popular feature of city entertainment throughout the modern world.

Gambling itself is deeply embedded in many cultures and civilisations. From the Far East to the Western Worlds, whether simply tossing a coin to decide a fate, or offering odds on sporting results, gambling is inherent in us all. In the UK alone 300,000 people are said to have a gambling addiction with some 6.5% of these related to casino gambling.

But what is it about gambling that makes it so addictive. For example, is winning at casino games all about the money? Of course, it is the ultimate aim for any player to depart with as much of the casinos cash as possible, and for most amateur players the aim is to at least come away without losing too much of your salary. But really casino addiction can be more about the feeling and the euphoria of winning rather than the actual cash prize gained.

It is this state of euphoria which is said to be the main cause of gambling addiction rather than the chance of increasing your profits. Most top gamblers, that is, most gamblers who play with big money, do not necessarily need the prize money on offer. Many stars who currently earn millions of pounds each year are heavy poker players and casino gamblers themselves, and do not necessarily need the money. Of course winning one million pounds in a casino, for example, will change most peoples lives, and would be gratefully received by anyone with any degree of wealth, but there are many big gamblers out there who are losing thousands of pounds per night, just content with the thrill of playing, and addicted to the adrenalin highs and lows that can be experienced when gambling at a casino. The social element and the feeling of escapism are two other ingredients that can fuel gambling addiction. TV and films have also gone some way to promote a glamorous feel to the industry.

Researchers from the Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit at Manchester University UK are investigating decision making strategies in order to discover why pathological gamblers feel the need to gamble, usually in an uncontrolled way and usually in spite of previous heavy losses.

They are also investigating what brain areas may be involved in the creation of these decision-making strategies. They are also interested in brain areas involved in the urge to gamble, the precursor to the act of gambling.

Pathological gamblers appear to have different decision making strategies in certain situations compared to non gamblers, for example, when faced with choices which have delayed rewards as opposed to instant gratification. These decision-making strategies are thought to contribute or cause pathological gambling behaviours.

The turnover from gambling in the UK is said to be around £42 billion per year. Over £1.5 billion of this goes to the government in taxes. And while the UK government’s new gambling commission are looking at ways to ensure that gambling is conducted in a child friendly, crime free manner, the recent proposals and changes make it easier to join casinos. The government proposals are also said to allow the construction of las vegas style gambling resorts in the UK. So while gambling is something we may all love to do on occasion, the addiction itself is a big problem. However, with the recent casino proposals the government seem as addicted to providing gambling solutions as much as the UK population are addicted to gambling itself.

Written by Morgan Collins for http://www.vipcasinoclub.co.uk. Living and working in Spain.

The revealers of the games have gone a step more far in the manufacture of much more pleasant electronic games. Using the Internet, the revealers of the game have introduced a new sort of the games, games online. Here it is a certain information on how playing these games for free online.

How many times have to you practiced surf the Internet that looks for a decent site of the game and found one that offered the free games so that you play, anyone with a free test to that new launching that there are been dying to verify towards outside, or a “favourite oldie but goodie” that you can unload or play online immediately. Everything goes ahead perfectly until… To do explode-raises, the truely annoying flags and others tidbits begin to ruin your diversion and to destroy your computer. Now you must upper clear everything that you have unloaded, with of hopes that license of these annoyances along with they.

The truely better means to avoid these frustrations are to direct from the beginning clearly of them. To find a confidence site worthy, frees online of the game that does not allow such annoyances (typically a form anunci-for of the site making the money) can be a difficult task, time spendthrift, for is very few sites there that will give a good experience you. That one is because we are here cutting to traverse the chaos for you.

The beauty of online free games is that 24 hours to the day are available, seven days to the week, daily of the year. Whereas some require a direct transference, many browser-are based, only needing the allowed flash to enjoy the graphs of the game. There are also free games online for each member of the family, of the tied free games in the demonstrations of the television of the children to the falsified games, interactive that repeal the adults.

Riza ERGUN organizes 1300 Free Online Games at http://www.kongame.net.