Yesterday we explained how legal sports betting continues to gain popularity, but even with these trends, there are tons of illegal gambling websites out there. The problem with these sites is that you really have no idea which ones are legitimate, and you have little recourse when things go wrong.

This article by Richard N. Velotta in the Las Vegas Review-Journal shines a light on the problem. Velotta explains how the American Gaming Association has made it a priority to encourage the public to bet responsibly with licensed operators and avoid illegal offshore websites. Despite this, illegal gambling websites continue to operate and can be difficult to track down and shut down. He describes the case of a Canadian gambler who has been unable to collect his winnings on a $225,000 jackpot he won playing blackjack on BetOnLine.ag, an internet domain in Antigua. Read the story and you’ll see the details.

Why do betters still use illegal gambling websites?

There are plenty of reasons why these sites are still in business.

Firstly, you have to consider that betting hasn’t been legalized everywhere, so many betters are still shut out of the legal betting market depending on their state of residence or jurisdiction.

Secondly, illegal gambling websites often offer better odds and higher payouts than their legal counterparts. This can be attractive to bettors looking to maximize their winnings, even if it means breaking the law. This also applies to local bookies.

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We’ve all been there. You’re playing blackjack and some idiot at the table keep making idiotic decisions. And sometimes those decisions negatively affect your hand. If you’re betting big dollars, that can really hurt.

More often than not, someone at the table will get really pissed off at the novice player, and that often leads to silly shouting matches.

Avoid being the angry player at all costs.

This scene from the television show “Entourage” offers a good example of why you shouldn’t get angry.

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Part of the fun of being a high roller is just the ability to let go and enjoy the ride. You can bring a big stack to the casino and life isn’t going to change at all if you blow it. The same goes for the ordinary gambler who wins a big parlay early in a casino trip and then lives like a high roller for a while with those winnings.

The key of course, as with most things in life, is knowing when to stop. This may be tricky, as we can all get a little wild when we’re in the zone. But there’s a difference between wild excess and sheer stupidity.

Which brings us to the latest example of high rollers taking things way too far. This story takes us to the historic city of London where one can find plenty of ways to enjoy your vices. A 62-year old gentlemen went on a 72-hour gambling bender which resulted in separating himself from £3.9 million of his net worth. That’s around 10% of his claimed net worth, so naturally this one stung a bit. Can you imagine losing that much money playing baccarat? It’s absurd.

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If you’re planning to make a bit of money playing cards, there’s a few things you need to bear in mind. Firstly, what are you playing and who’s it with? You’ll have better luck playing Blackjack in a casino where the dealer stands on soft 17. Second, is there anything you can use to increase your advantage? Things like an online casino bonus so you don’t need to use solely your own money. And finally, do you have a good grasp of the odds and probabilities involved? Well, the first two are on you, but luckily this infographic gives you a handy breakdown of some of the essential numbers involved so that you can get to grips with the maths before you sit down at the table or computer to play some games! The most important sum you’re going to see running through here is 1/52, the odds of a single card being dealt out of the deck.

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Playing slot games is a great way to get your heart pumping.

But one question remains unanswered: which is better, online slots or real machines?

For convenience: online slots.

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of playing online games is the ability to play anywhere, anytime. Avoid the hassle and expense of travelling to an actual casino and instead enjoy easy access to your favourite slots on your laptop, tablet or mobile.

Being able to play slot games on your phone also helps you spend much less than you likely would in a real gambling venue. You can easily stop and log out when you’ve reached your budget, rather than feeling a need to keep on playing simply because you’re stuck inside a casino and the night’s still young.

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