• Video slots
• Video poker
• Classic slots
• Card games
• Table games
• Specialty offerings

There are six advantages to playing at VIP Slots Casino. These include:

• Secure software
• Flash casinos available
• Strong bonuses
• Good VIP program
• Plenty of tournaments
• Diversity of games

One of the most important areas of online gaming is security. This includes for transactions and to avoid cheating within each game. VIP Slots Casino delivers with some of the most secure software available.

Another nice addition to their software plethora is the availability of Flash-based casinos. Also known as instant play, this allows users to play various games online without the need for a bulky, slow download. The flash-based software is easy to navigate and lightening fast.

Another advantage is the strong bonus and solid VIP program. The bonus is to attract new players and the excellent VIP program is to keep them. Additionally, the casino excels in the number of tournaments offered. This includes freerolls and competitions for almost every game they offer.

In addition to these other wonderful features, the software provides the user with a large diversity of games with the ability to accommodate all players. The full download provides over 100 games. The specialty games previously mentioned include Dazzling Dice, Keno and Bingo Bucks.

Unfortunately there are two primary disadvantages to playing at VIP Slots Casino including:

• Compatible with Windows
• No banking bonuses

Those using Macintosh computers to do your bidding, move along. One of the most significant disadvantages is that the casino software is only compatible with Windows operating systems. Another shortcoming is the lack of banking bonuses that are often found at competing online casinos.

VIP Slots Casino is another popular choice for many online gamblers due to the many advantages and little disadvantages offered to the player. With the backing of Vegas Technology software, it is difficult to compete with this casino. With a few tweaks, this gaming site could become the ideal online casino for all players.

Casino Policy

All casinos should have some type of policy on how to handle skilled players. This is commonly decided by upper casino management and verified by the legal counsel. The result of this collaboration is specific procedures that confirm how to handle players of high skill that are less than desirable customers.

Liabilities

Skilled Blackjack players do not hugely affect the casino’s bottom line. Instead they are a liability when practicing fraud by using false names. Another liability is that these players are using card counting methods which can be discovered through their betting and playing patterns.

Single card counters can easily be detected by surveillance and/or security. As a result, their income is minimal. On the other hand, card counting groups that risk little money and place large wagers when the cards are favorable can impact the pit income greatly when allowed to operate for an extended period of time.

The biggest liability is the actual lack of policy for handling these players. Without a procedure, the casino staff can mishandle patrons resulting in terrible public relations with potential customers. Also, this type of behavior often leads to lawsuits against the casino because they are treating players like criminals.

Why a Policy is Important

A detailed policy must be implemented prior to the opening of a casino to avoid these situations. There are too many areas where public relations can greatly diminish as well as legal battles can ensue as a result of improper customer relations. There is so much potential for liabilities within the casino business. Some are easily noticeable while others are hidden.

It is a shame when situations such as the previous go overlooked and the casino must engage in legal battles and poor press when it could have simply been avoided with policy and procedure. Once a policy is in place, security, surveillance, management and floor personnel will develop a better understanding as to how to manage these individuals and save the casino from the trouble and hassle of negative results.

The Process

It is important for players to first evaluate different loyalty programs as they vary greatly. During the evaluation, factor in the pros and cons of the overall casino, the graphics, number of games, number of players, etc. Most programs utilize comp points based on the amount wagered. These comp points can be used to purchase items from their store, buy-ins for tournaments and equate to real cash back.

There are always guidelines as to how much the player must bet and how much each credit is worth. Also review the method in which credits are given to the player. Some are credited each day and others each week. Credits added each month are much more difficult to track. Also, the larger the number of credits, the better chance there is of a mistake being made.

An additional area to consider is how long the casino will honor unredeemed comp points before they expire. If they expire in a short period of time then it is not feasible and worthwhile to deposit your money. If they never expire and the casino is full of activity (meaning they won’t go under), then you should play here.

Betting Levels

Many casinos base their reward programs on the amount of money wagered. This is consistent with bonus reloading. For instance, a reload bonus of 5 percent may be a low tier while 10 percent may represent high deposits. Players should take full advantage of this tiered structure. Also, many casinos provided a quicker turnaround of comp points for those at higher betting levels, commonly referred to as VIP levels.

Players should not solely rely on the casino to track their comp points. Keep a spreadsheet handy for tracking. Also, if on the border between regular and VIP levels, it may be beneficial to wager at a higher level just to reap the increased advantages of that stage. Casino loyalty programs are a great way for the player to earn more from their betting. Also, they are an excellent method of keeping players at their gaming site.

There are two variants that should be avoided altogether. These include:

• Mini Roulette
• American Roulette

Mini Roulette contains the numbers 1 through 12 and 0. The rules are the same in that all bets lose if the ball falls on 0, except those that wagered on 0. Since there are less numbers on the board, 0 will occur much more frequently resulting in a high house edge of 7.69 percent. Since the edge is even higher than slots, it is a mistake to wager on this variant of Roulette.

American Roulette is a popular variant of the game. The board contains 38 total numbers: 1-36, 0 and 00. Once again all bets automatically lose if 0 or 00 is called, other than those that wagered on 0 or 00. Consequently, the house edge is 5.26 percent, which is also higher than the other variant of Roulette as well as most slot games.

There are two variants that will maximize profits and should be played including:

• European Roulette
• French Roulette

Although not offering the lowest house edge, the most popular form of the game is European Roulette. There are 37 total numbers, 1 through 36 and 0. Again, all bets lose if 0 is called, except those that bet on 0. This is a better game option because there are more numbers and only one that is an automatic loss. Also, the house edge is only 2.57 percent, a considerable improvement over slots and the other two Roulette variants.

French Roulette follows the same structure as European Roulette except one rule: La Partage. If 0 is called, half of all wages not placed on 0 are returned as opposed to an automatic loss. Therefore, the house edge is only 1.35 percent. The only issue is that French Roulette is not offered at many online or land-based casinos.

When searching for a Roulette game, it is advantageous to select French Roulette. If unavailable, the next best variant for maximizing your winnings is European Roulette. Try to avoid American and Mini Roulette games as the house edge is much too high.

As of 2010, there are 833,000 active slot machines in the United States. This is an increase of 233,000 machines from 2005, according to the American Gaming Association. Gamblers are currently spending only slightly more on slots when inflation is adjusted. This survey was conducted in well-established gaming states such as Nevada, New Jersey, Iowa and Illinois.

In 1992 Las Vegas, slot players wagered an average of $70 per session. In 2008, slot players bet an average of $80 per session after being adjusted for inflation. Players during this recession are wagering millions of dollars less than during the large growth years.

On June 30^th, 2010, it was announced that there were 168,504 active slots in Nevada. This equals the number found in Nevada in 1997. This apparent decline contradicts the overall growth of the gaming industry.

This trend stems from a consolidation of games into one machine. In 1997, different slots had single wagering games in their system. In 2010, there are multiple games in one machine to add convenience and differentiation for the player. Multiple game machines include games such as:

• Several varieties of poker
• Keno
• Slots

Each machine contains a user-menu to select which game you want to play. This new equipment helps all casinos cut costs drastically by not needing to have as many machines on the gaming floor. This cuts taxes and maintenance costs on unused machines. Large casinos like The Rio, MGM Grand and Circus Circus have eliminated 1,200 slots since 2001.

This is a major advancement for the gaming industry. As gaming technology improves, the selection of games will increase with the number of gaming machines decreasing. The areas where slot games once were could host newer, more profitable games or equipment. Therefore, these machines are not only great for cost savings, also for the generation of profit.

As more casinos across the country add these cost-saving, profit-generating machines to their gaming floor, the decline in gaming may turn-around and begin to see great improvement. All this due to an advancement in gaming equipment technology.

Their Savior

The Riviera Holdings Corporation is being bailed out by investors. Hotel and gaming guru Barry Sternlicht of the Starwood Capital Group has acquired most of the debt and plans to save the company.

The Numbers

In the second quarter of this year, the Riviera Holdings Corporation lost $4.2 million vs. a loss of $13.5 million just one year ago. However, revenue was down slightly over $2 million. These loses can be attributed to their isolated location at the Northern end of the Las Vegas strip in addition to the economy. With an abundance of hotels rooms and expo center space, all gaming properties are struggling.

During the past economic boom, each acre on the Riviera’s property was worth $30 million. This has significantly declined to $6 million per acre. This is attributed, once again, to their location as well as a lack of development of the surrounding area.

Recent Announcement

This past Friday, the company announced that they are planning to conserve cash with little investment in capital improvements. New, small improvements include, window treatments, exterior paint, exterior and interior signage improvements and elevator upgrades. Other improvements include, new slot machines and gaming software and hardware. These will be applied to both of their locations.

The Reorganization Plan

The proposal includes replacing its $291 million in debt with a $50 million term loan and possibly another $30 million. After the company emerges from the debt, it will be worth $216.5 million.

Projections

Maintenance and spending will jump from $3.6 million in 2010 to $9 million by 2015. Also, net revenue is expected to increase to $140 million by 2011, $145 million by 2012 and $171 million by 2015. Interest will resume once they emerge from debt will cause the company to lose additional money until 2015.

Many casinos are opting for bankruptcy with reorganization. Like in sports, the casino industry is experiencing a few rebuilding years. They will remain in decline then emerge stronger than ever. Once the Riviera and other properties are able to reinvest in capital projects and improvements, they will become quite the spectacle.

There are four areas where confidentiality is completely necessary. These include:

• Information about personnel
• Information about patrons
• Intelligence information regarding operations and investigations
• Surveillance room operations and personnel

Information regarding casino personnel must be kept in a secure area that houses the server. This includes top-of-the-line network security to fight off hackers and invaders. Personnel information usually consists of address, phone number, background check information, banking information (for direct deposit) and other vital aspects of individual’s livelihood.

This is also consistent with information regarding patrons. Credit card numbers, banking information, addresses and phone numbers are all stored for guests of the hotel and casino. This type of information must be secured and kept confidential to any outsiders as well as many employees of the establishment.

Information is brought to the surveillance room in many ways, but the most prominent method is video camera as it sees and records everything. Other methods include, inside and outside sources, executive personnel, security officers, radio, formal and informal reports, staff interviews and customer complaints. This is all information that must stay under wraps, especially during operations or an investigation.

When security and/or surveillance are conducting an investigation, they must keep all details hidden from the public. This is extremely important as any leaks could tip off a potential perpetrator allowing them to compromise the investigation, the game they are playing, employees and patrons. Law enforcement personnel are told the information required who also follow confidentiality until the correct time.

Finally, information regarding surveillance room operations and the personnel involved is a big no-no. This ties in to keeping the information confidential regarding investigations and employees. Anything that goes on in the surveillance room about any action or employee must remain in the surveillance room. Your supervisor or the director will decide who needs to know what information.

Like all businesses, casinos (and more specifically the surveillance room) have strict confidentiality agreements with their employees due to the criminal activity that may occur in a casino. Signing that agreement means you are upholding the company’s policies and can be terminated if broken. When the time is right, your superior will release the proper information to the correct people.

Luckily, there are a few tips for novice video poker players. These pointers include:

• Avoid multi-hand games
• Choose the most basic variant
• Research different online casinos

Online casinos make these tasks much easier for new players. The video poker games are usually divided into two categories; single hands and multi-hand games.  Single hand games are just that, one hand per session. Conversely multi-hand games can range from 4 to 100 simultaneous hands. An increased number of hands equates to faster-paced game play and a more interesting experience. Ideally, new players should begin with single hand games until they feel comfortable.

Since there are so many different types of video poker games available, it is important to choose the most basic variant which is Jacks or Better. This is because the play is simpler than other versions and the strategy is easier to learn. Other types add new elements that improve variety, but might be confusing to a new player. Additional variants include; the addition of wild cards, Deuces Wild and Aces and Faces.

Most online casinos offer video poker with the Jacks or Better variant. However, does one software provider have an easier Jacks or Better game than another? The rules and payout will be the same, there is a single feature found in some casinos that make the game play much easier; when a player has a winning hand combination the software automatically marks them as “Hold”. This feature prevents new players from throwing away a winning hand.

As a result, new players should conduct research to find online casinos that offer this feature. It can easily be found by perusing different casinos and even emailing the support desk so you do not have to sign up at multiple sites to find this beneficial feature.

New players to video poker should not be disheartened by finding the simplest version of video poker. Instead, look at it as making an informed choice as a customer and saving your hard earned money from placing wagers on complicated games. By practicing and following the previously mentioned tips, you will be able to advance to different versions quickly.

The Games

GoCasino offers over 100 casino games; all of which can be played in practice mode or live against other patrons. Games can be access through a downloadable application with a preview option of each game prior to the download.

The Bonuses

There are many different sign-up bonuses offered with the most prominent being the “Massive Multi-Deposit Welcome Bonus.” This allows new players to the casino to deposit up to 20 times with a maximum matching bonus of $20,000. Also, there are surprise weekly bonuses awarded at the discretion of the casino. To qualify, you must be engaged in a game.

Registration for Live Games

There are a few methods for registering to play in real money games. Major credit cards can be used to fund the account, which is usually the most convenient and fastest way. Another option is the Solid Debit Card as well as Neteller and Click2Pay which are only available outside of North America.

Tournaments

GoCasino also provides various types of tournaments throughout the month. These mainly consist of video poker and slots. There are both free entry and paid entry options. Different variations of tournaments occur almost every day.

Advantages

There are a few advantages that GoCasino offers over other online gaming sites. First, all players are eligible for comp points which can be used for tournament buy-ins and various other prizes. Also the welcome bonus is one of the best in the industry. Furthermore, there are always plenty of tournaments to choose from each day. Finally, the interface is extremely user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing.

Disadvantages

There are only two primary disadvantages. First, the funding options are limited. If you live in North America, you can only use a credit card. Second, there are not many progressive gaming options as found at many other casinos.

Despite the few disadvantages, there are plenty of advantages that make this a top-notch casino. Its popularity is primarily attributed to its tournaments and welcome bonus. As they expand and make modifications based on consumer needs, GoCasino will surely add additional banking options and progressive games to further attract new players.

Due to this high chance of receiving one of these 16 cards, a strategy can be formulated. The following simple strategy is not as good as analyzing and utilizing data from computer simulations to formulate strategies. However, this helps the player understand the significance of value 10 cards in Blackjack and can assist with creating a solid strategy for when the value 10 card is not present.

There are only two options for this simple strategy. These include:

• Stay
• Hit

All other situations can be added later to create a much more complicated strategy but we will focus on the simple approach for the time being. This strategy is based on the postulation that the next card distributed to either the player or dealer will be of 10 value. Since almost one-third of all cards hold a value of 10 in the game of Blackjack, this is a reasonable hypothesis. If your total hand value equals 11 or less, then you must hit as exceeding 21 is impossible, even with a 10.

If your hand value from the first two cards equals 12 or more, the best action to take is stay. Since 31 percent of all cards are valued at 10, it is likely you may bust. However, this is based on the dealer’s face-up card. If between 2 and 6, it is likely they will have to draw another card. Chances are the hand is a 12 or 16 which means the dealer must draw. If the card is a 10, the dealer will bust and you win.

If the dealer’s card is between 7 and 11, with a 10 face-down they could have 17 to 21. Therefore, it is pointless to stay on a 12 to 16. It is best to take the chance and hit for one additional card. If the hand is 17 or higher, it is competitive and best to stay.

For committed Blackjack players, using this strategy can be an improvement in edge for the player by up to 1 percent. This may seem little, but in the long-run it is quite a significant advantage.