Internet Casinos

Internet Casinos

Online casinos, also known as virtual casinos or Internet casinos are online versions of traditional brick and mortar casinos. Online casinos enable gamblers to play and wager on casino games through the Internet.

Online casinos generally offer odds and payback percentages that are comparable to land-based casinos. Some online casinos claim higher payback percentages for slot machine games, and some publish payout percentage audits on their websites. Assuming that the online casino is using an appropriately programmed random number generator, table games like blackjack have an established house edge. The payout percentage for these games is established by the rules of the game.

Many online casinos lease or purchase their software from companies like Microgaming, Realtime Gaming, Playtech, International Game Technology and CryptoLogic Inc.

Online casinos can be divided into two groups based on their interface: web-based and download-only casinos. Some casinos offer both interfaces.

Some casinos offer 'Live gaming', either exclusively, or as part of a wider online casino offering. In live online casinos, popular casino games such as roulette and blackjack are dealt by real dealers in casino studios, in an attempt to convey more of the atmosphere of a physical casino. Player actions including chat such as 'hit' in the game of blackjack may be transmitted to the dealer; in some online casinos more than one player may 'sit' at a particular 'seat' on the table, and in this case there is no interactivity between player and dealer, the question of which players requested the extra card that the dealer dealt and which chose to 'stand' will be handled by the software. It is usual for players to be able to observe a video feed of the action, and equally common for players to opt to turn it off, if they lack the bandwidth - as the cards are read by OCR and other technology, the video feed is only ever a visual cue.

Web-based online casinos are websites where users may play casino games without downloading software to the local computer. Games are mainly represented in the browser plugins Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave, or Java and require browser support for these plugins. Also, bandwidth is needed since all graphics, sounds and animations are loaded through the web via the plugin. Some online casinos also allow gameplay through a plain HTML interface. Apple devices such as iPod, iPad and iPhone cannot play Flash games as the technology is not supported.

Download-based online casinos require the download of the software client in order to play and wager on the casino games offered. The online casino software connects to the casino service provider and handles contact without browser support. Download-based online casinos generally run faster than web-based online casinos since the graphics and sound programs are located within the software client, rather than having to be loaded from the Internet. On the other hand, the initial download and installation of a download-based online casino client does take time. As with any download from the Internet, the risk of the program containing malware does exist. Still the graphics and sounds at download-based online casinos are most of the time much better than those at web-based online casinos.

Poker Texas Holdem

Texas Holdem

At the beginning of a new game, each player is dealt two cards face down. (Hole Cards)

Each bet of the first two rounds of betting is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $5/$10 game, all bets and raises are $5 for the first two rounds (after hole cards are dealt and once the flop is spread in center of table).

The last two rounds of betting (turn card and river) are set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $5/$10 game, all bets and raises are $10 for the last two rounds.

One bet plus three raises (four total bets) are the maximum amount of bets allowed per betting round. This would consist of (1) a bet, (2) a raise, (3) a re-raise, and (4) a cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and cannot be raised anymore. Once any player has made the third raise (capped the pot), then players will have only the option of calling or folding.

Check-raising is allowed in all online poker games.

Dealer Button
In order to designate which player is the theoretical dealer in Texas Hold em games, a round disk is used. This disk is called the dealer button or simply "the button".

After each hand is completed, the button moves clockwise to the next active player and this player will be considered to be the dealer, and will act on his/her hand last on each betting round. This is also termed playing the button for that game.

Blinds
The player to the left of the button is first to receive a card and is required to post a small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower limit bet rounded down to the nearest dollar. The player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind. The big blind is equal to the lower limit bet. These bets are referred to as blinds because players must post them before the dealer deals any cards to the players. These blinds are similar to the ante that is required in other games such as 7-Card Stud.

Both the small and the big blinds are considered live bets. They have the option of calling, raising or folding when the betting action comes back around to their position. After the flop and after each subsequent betting round, the first active player left of the button is first to act.

When players first sit down to play, they will be required to post the equivalent of the big blind only once or they have the option to "sit out" until it is their natural turn to post the big blind. This rule is in place to ensure game fairness to all players. The rule prevents the possibility of players entering games in late position and then leaving before they are required a post the big blind.

HOW TO PLAY
The dealer deals players their own two private cards face-down.

First betting round

The dealer spreads three-community board cards face-up on the table. This is commonly called "the flop".

Second betting round

The dealer turns over a fourth board card face-up commonly called "the turn card".

Third betting round

The dealer turns over one final community board card commonly called "the river card".

Fourth and final betting round

Players show their hands. This is commonly called "the showdown".

At the showdown, players may use a combination of both, one, or none of their hole cards to make their best five card hand:

If a player uses both of their hole cards, they will use three of the community board cards; or one hole card and four of the five board cards; or all five board cards, which is commonly called "playing the board" betting.

Poker Crazy Pineapple

Crazy Pineapple

Crazy Pineapple Poker is played with a standard 52-card deck. Blinds are posted by players who sit in consecutive clockwise order from the button. Action is initiated on the first betting round by the player to the left of the person who posted blind clockwise from the button. The blinds act last on the first betting.

All players receive three cards dealt face down (hole cards) as their initial hand. The first round of poker betting occurs. Check and raises are permitted. Three cards are turned face up in the middle of the board simultaneously (flop). These board cards are community cards and available to all players. The second round of betting occurs. At this time poker players choose to keep two of their three cards hole cards from their initial hand and discard the third. The next two board cards are turned up one at a time with a round of betting after each card. After the final round of poker betting has been completed, a player may use any combination of five cards (for example, one hole card and four from the board, etc.) to determine their best hand. A player may use all of the board cards (playing the board). The winning poker hand must show both hole cards face up on the table. The best five-card poker hand wins the pot. In the event of a tie, the pot is split equally.