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		<title>Stay In The Star City Hotel The Next Time You Visit The Land Down Under</title>
		<link>http://www.na2.org/casino/stay-in-the-star-city-hotel-the-next-time-you-visit-the-land-down-under/</link>
		<comments>http://www.na2.org/casino/stay-in-the-star-city-hotel-the-next-time-you-visit-the-land-down-under/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:33:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Fraser Brown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Casino]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[accommodation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apartments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[casinos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[destinations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hotels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[star city]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sydney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vacations]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Are you planning a trip to the spectacular city of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia? The consider making your lodging destination the <a href="http://accommodationsydney.tv/Hotels-Sydney/Hotels-Sydney/star-city-hotel-a-apartments.html">Star City Hotel</a>. This 5-star hotel complex offers excellent accommodations to the traveller, and is ideal for leisure or business. Breathtaking views of the city of Sydney and Darling harbour are only one part of the attractions this world-class destination. The facilities and amenities are equal to those anywhere in the world.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Are you planning a trip to the spectacular city of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia? The consider making your lodging destination the <a target='_blank' href="http://accommodationsydney.tv/Hotels-Sydney/Hotels-Sydney/star-city-hotel-a-apartments.html">Star City Hotel</a>. This 5-star hotel complex offers excellent accommodations to the traveller, and is ideal for leisure or business. Breathtaking views of the city of Sydney and Darling harbour are only one part of the attractions this world-class destination. The facilities and amenities are equal to those anywhere in the world.</p>
<p>This establishment is first class. Far more than simply a place to spend the night, it can dazzle visitors with a wide range of entertainment and activities. This hotel is the centerpiece of the Star City Casino complex, and is a magnet for those who wish to test their gaming skills, and give Lady Luck a run for her money. This venue offers a wide array of bars, restaurants, conference rooms and banquet facilities ideal for groups.</p>
<p>The gaming complex is the second-largest in Australia, and is the premiere legal casino in Sydney. The operators recently began a revamping and refurbishment of the entire Star City Casino, and it is expected to reach completion in 2012. The new buildings will be re-oriented to face Sydney Harbour, with a unique casino entrance on the harbour side.</p>
<p>Once inside the casino, a visitor is overwhelmed with choices. There are table games, electronic gaming, Baccarat, Keno, even private gaming if requested. Don&#8217;t assume, however, that you need to be a high-stakes roller to have a good time. There are restaurants and bars in the gaming area, and a variety of other entertainment is available right there in the complex.</p>
<p>Other entertainment choices include musical theatre and dance at the Lyric, live entertainment at the hotel bars, or even big-screen sports events. The hotel&#8217;s Grand Harbour ballroom provides a stunning setting for group events, and accommodates up to one thousand dinner guests. This room enjoys a spectacular view of Sydney Harbour Bridge, and is ideal for presentations or ceremonies.</p>
<p>Do you want to be catered to and pampered like royalty? Then choose to stay in a luxury suite. They are equal to those in any world-class hotel destination, and the rooms include saunas, Jacuzzis, multiple bathrooms, and all the amenities you want and need. Butler service is available when requested. And, all guests, not just those staying in a suite, have access to the Turbines Health Club. Located on Level Five, you can work out the muscle kinks with the latest in gym equipment and qualified instructors. Relax afterward in one of two spas, or take an invigorating sauna.</p>
<p>Most hotel rooms come with a view, and are modern, spacious and comfortable, with contemporary furniture and marble bathrooms. For those who may be planning a longer visit, think about staying awhile in one of the Serviced Apartments. They feature kitchen and laundry facilities, high speed internet, separate dining and living areas, and most have balconies. Guests can enjoy the breakfast buffet, and the attentions of a well-trained staff.</p>
<p>The Star City Hotel makes experiencing the attractions of Sydney easy. It is only two km from the city centre, and an easy walk to the nearest metro station. Trams from the hotel center connect with other downtown destinations. The hotel provides convenient access to shops and restaurants in Cockle Bay and Darling Harbour, and is ideal when you are planning on spending time at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. This establishment has something for everyone. If you crave luxury, entertainment, fine dining and magnificent facilities, this could be your place to stay in Sydney.</p>
<p>Fraser Brown is known as a seasoned writer that is actually a <a target='_blank' href="http://accommodationsydney.tv/">Sydney Accommodation</a> expert and is extremely well known for working away at Sydney holidays and information campaigns</p>
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		<title>All-Inclusive Fun At Star City Hotel</title>
		<link>http://www.na2.org/casino/all-inclusive-fun-at-star-city-hotel/</link>
		<comments>http://www.na2.org/casino/all-inclusive-fun-at-star-city-hotel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Feb 2011 08:55:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Fraser Brown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Casino]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[accommodation]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[hotels]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[star city]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[The Star City Hotel in Sydney is more than just a hotel. Inside find all the entertainment you could need for an exciting weekend away. Meet friends here for a get away and spend the night or just come to take part in one of the many attractions by day. Look out over views of Sydney Harbour Bridge, Pyrmont or the vibrant city of Sydney from your comfortable accommodation or fine restaurant.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Star City Hotel in Sydney is more than just a hotel. Inside find all the entertainment you could need for an exciting weekend away. Meet friends here for a get away and spend the night or just come to take part in one of the many attractions by day. Look out over views of Sydney Harbour Bridge, Pyrmont or the vibrant city of Sydney from your comfortable accommodation or fine restaurant.</p>
<p>Facilities include the gym and pool you want from a hotel, plus more. Stay a few days and try the cuisine in several different restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Check out the many bars. Book tickets for live entertainment, some of it free. Stick around to watch sports in a lively environment with other sports fans. Star City also houses the only casino in New South Wales.</p>
<p>Stay in one of the comfortable hotel rooms where high speed internet is provided. Watch your LCD TV to relax or catch some news for Sydney and the world. Adjust air conditioning or heating as you like it. Take a plunge in the indoor/outdoor pool after working out in the fitness room.</p>
<p>Splurge a bit more with a Star Suite. This gives you LCD TV in the sitting room, set apart from the bedroom. Another LCD TV is installed over the spa bath. You are treated like royalty here. Apartments contain one, two or three bedrooms. Couples can get cozy or families spread out. Make use of laundry, cooking and dining facilities, right in your room. <a target='_blank' href="http://accommodationsydney.tv/Hotels-Sydney/Hotels-Sydney/star-city-hotel-a-apartments.html">Star City Hotel</a> offers packages, too, so explore their options. Bring the kids for some excitement during school holidays. Take your wife for an intimate anniversary weekend. Siblings who share a love of fine food might try their culinary break.</p>
<p>A fantastic range of restaurants waits to welcome visitors for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some make a perfect setting for all ages while others carry a policy of adults only. For the all-you-can-eat experience including prawns, try Garden Buffet. Adults might like Fat Noodle, where Asian food also gives direct access to the casino. Seans Restaurant and Tapas respectively serves a range of fine menu selections. In his kitchen, choose from seafood, red meat and more.</p>
<p>Select from a refined or sporty atmosphere; wine bar or coffee and cakes at one of the several bars. Lounge Bar brings you barista quality coffee and wonderful snacks in a comfortable setting made just for sinking back. Combine the cocktail bar experience with gambling at Oasis. Seans Bar and Lounge is an extension of his Tapas restaurant with a long wine list as well. Thirty-six offers a range of vodkas.</p>
<p>Entertainment runs the gamut from family fun to a sophisticated stage repertoire. Take in a familiar play or enjoy an ethnic dance show. Listen to music performed by Australian favorites or take the kids to see magic performed on ice.</p>
<p>The sports bar makes viewing an anticipated game easy. In fact, just try getting away from the excitement, with huge screens all around you. Featured games air from all over the world including international Cricket Test Matches.</p>
<p>Fraser Brown is a professional correspondent that is a <a target='_blank' href="http://accommodationsydney.tv/">Sydney Accommodation</a> expert and is also recognised for writing on Sydney travel and information campaigns</p>
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		<title>Playing For Money In A Casino Olympia</title>
		<link>http://www.na2.org/gambling/playing-for-money-in-a-casino-olympia/</link>
		<comments>http://www.na2.org/gambling/playing-for-money-in-a-casino-olympia/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 08:23:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Juliette Clemons</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gambling]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Playing games for money has always been appealing to people. This gives people a chance to make money while having fun. This is what a casino Olympia is for. People can come together and play games of chance and skill with the added possibility of winning more cash than they might have dreamed was possible. This is what makes it all so exciting.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Playing games for money has always been appealing to people. This gives people a chance to make money while having fun. This is what a casino Olympia is for. People can come together and play games of chance and skill with the added possibility of winning more cash than they might have dreamed was possible. This is what makes it all so exciting.</p>
<p>Many of the games depend entirely on chance but there are those that take a certain amount of skill. These games should be studied beforehand so that you know how they work. This will give you a better chance at winning and there are ways in which you can practice without having to spend money on a game that you might not understand.</p>
<p>If you do not understand the rules of the game then you might want to search for online games that will give you a chance to practice without gambling your money. These can be found in casinos online and they offer this service in the hopes that people will use them. They offer such a wide variety that almost any game can be played through this.</p>
<p>Whether you are playing games of skill or chance, you may want to pick carefully. There are certain games which are more complicated than others and you do not want to become overwhelmed and lose your money because of this.</p>
<p>If you are looking to play for small amounts of money then you may want to play in certain areas of the casino. There are also places allocated to higher bets where people bet and end up losing or winning much larger amounts of money depending on what they play.</p>
<p>These places allow average people the opportunity to win a lot of money. Not only do they allow you to play the games and win a certain amount but they also offer jackpots. These jackpots can be random or they can be part of the game itself. This is where the big money is.</p>
<p>Playing should always be done with the utmost care. Although you can win large amounts here you can lose even more easily. Always play with money that you do not need and never play games that you do not understand. This is the only smart way to play. You should also remember to have fun whether or not you win. The real enjoyment comes from the game not the winnings. </p>
<p><a target='_blank' href="http://www.luckyeaglecasinohotel.com">casino Olympia </a></p>
<p>Looking to find the most comprehensive information on <a target='_blank' href="http://www.luckyeaglecasinohotel.com">casino Olympia </a>?</p>
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		<title>Finding Slots That Are Ready To Pay Big Jackpots Right Now!</title>
		<link>http://www.na2.org/gambling/finding-slots-that-are-ready-to-pay-big-jackpots-right-now/</link>
		<comments>http://www.na2.org/gambling/finding-slots-that-are-ready-to-pay-big-jackpots-right-now/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:36:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bobby Jameson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gambling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beat the slots]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Casino]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[casinos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gaming. online gambling]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[slot machine]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[win at slots]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The most famous Zig Zag Method is one of the more widely used strategies that people use today in search of loose slot machines. It is unknown why it became known as the Zig Zag Method. Possibly because the player Zigs and Zags back and forth through the casino looking for a slot machine where that someone is just stopping there play after not winning any and in an ideal situation they have been losing on that same machine for several hours. Either way, the Zig Zag Method has no scientific evidence to back up those claims.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The most famous Zig Zag Method is one of the more widely used strategies that people use today in search of loose slot machines. It is unknown why it became known as the Zig Zag Method. Possibly because the player Zigs and Zags back and forth through the casino looking for a slot machine where that someone is just stopping there play after not winning any and in an ideal situation they have been losing on that same machine for several hours. Either way, the Zig Zag Method has no scientific evidence to back up those claims.</p>
<p>With the Zig Zag method, the gambler is in search for certain patterns on the slot machine reels.  For example, imagine that cherries are a jackpot symbol on a particular slot.  The Zig Zag method player goes through the casino floor looking for a slot with the correct set of cherries on the slot reel.  If two cherrie are on the payline and a third cherry is one line off the payline, this is the Zig Zag theory.  In theory the slot machine reels are getting ready to line up and you could soon hit a big jackpot.</p>
<p>In today&#8217;s times however, slots now use what is called a random number generators or an (RNG). These random number generators are internal pc&#8217;s which add up the probabilities and then determine what symbols to display for each of the slot reels. Every time you place your bet and pull the handle on a slot machine a random number generator determines the positions of the slot machine&#8217;s symbols on the reels.</p>
<p>This lets us know that all spins on a slot machine is independent and on it&#8217;s own of any other pulls from a slot machine. The random number generator (RNG) makes each and every spin random. Now you see that that is why that they call it random.</p>
<p>There is a pretty widely-known theory that the casino staff place the &#8220;loosest&#8221; slot machines closer to the entrance and exits of the casino. Slot machine gamblers going in the casino see other gamblers winning at these slots and decide they want to play. With this theory, slots players should always try the slots near the entrance doors and exit doors of the casino, these may be the loosest slot machines on the casino property.</p>
<p>Another variation of this method is that casinos place loose machines in the areas most visited, like near the cashiers, the restrooms or the casino gaming table. So, instead of gambling at the machines near the front entrance, you should play the machines where casino traffic is heaviest.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s one flaw in this theory, which is the idea of slot machines&#8217; &#8220;hit frequency&#8221;. A hit ratio is the percentage of spins that a machine pays off instead of takes your money. The thing is, one machine might have a higher hit frequency, while another slot machine might have fewer hits, but pay off more when those hits happen.</p>
<p>A casino could place a machine with a high hit frequency near an entrance or heavily walked spot, but that doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean the machine is paying off more than machines in other parts of the casino. In fact, it could be just the opposite. Casinos owners aren&#8217;t in the business of just giving away money, so they will come up with inventive ways to get the same results.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t expect to always see loose slots near the entrance of the casino. Actually, casino staffers know all about these myths. In my experience, I think the casino places slot machines with smaller payback percentages where slot players may be likely to sit and play.</p>
<p>Learn more about <a href='http://www.slotmachinesecretsrevealed.com'>how to win at slots</a>.  Stop by Bobby Jameson&#8217;s site where you can find out all about <a href='http://www.slotmachinesecretsrevealed.com'>slot machine tips</a>  and how it can multiply the amount of money you usually lose by 10 and start bringing that number home!</p>
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		<title>Understanding NFL Totals</title>
		<link>http://www.na2.org/gambling/understanding-nfl-totals/</link>
		<comments>http://www.na2.org/gambling/understanding-nfl-totals/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 May 2010 07:26:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ross Everett</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gambling]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[For the NFL handicapper, understanding the methodology behind NFL totals (also called over/under numbers) is also a crucial component of his wagering arsenal. For those not familiar with NFL totals, its the large number you'll see accompanying most pointspread betting propositions. For example, the 2009 Superbowl line opened with Pittsburgh a 6 point favorite over Arizona. The total was set at 47. Simply stated, the total allows the better to decide whether the combined score between the two teams will go OVER or UNDER. In the case of the aforementioned Superbowl, Pittsburgh won by a final score of 27-23 meaning that bettors who backed the OVER cashed their tickets.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For the NFL handicapper, understanding the methodology behind NFL totals (also called over/under numbers) is also a crucial component of his wagering arsenal. For those not familiar with NFL totals, its the large number you&#8217;ll see accompanying most pointspread betting propositions. For example, the 2009 Superbowl line opened with Pittsburgh a 6 point favorite over Arizona. The total was set at 47. Simply stated, the total allows the better to decide whether the combined score between the two teams will go OVER or UNDER. In the case of the aforementioned Superbowl, Pittsburgh won by a final score of 27-23 meaning that bettors who backed the OVER cashed their tickets.</p>
<p>To the uninitiated, betting on NFL totals can seem very arbitrary&#8211;like office pools where players pick the final score of a game. In reality, they&#8217;re a favorite tool of serious sports handicappers. Many are of the opinion that its easier to accurately foretell the *type* of game that will transpire between two teams rather than who will actually win and by how much. Like NFL pointspread wagers, the ability for a bettor to pick is spots is also a valuable asset as a successful handicapper can look for situations where the total itself is off as well as more subjective factors (weather, injury or matchups) that can contribute to the scoring output or lack thereof.</p>
<p>The basics of setting NFL totals are fairly simple: the bookmaker looks at the offensive and defensive data for the two teams and constructs a number based on points allowed and points scored. If one team had scored 275 points and allowed 350 in their previous sixteen games that&#8217;s a total of 625 and their opponent had scored 285 and allowed 400 (685) over 16 games that translates to just under 43 points per game. Add the two numbers together, divide by two and you&#8217;ve got a base total of 40.5.</p>
<p>At this point other factors are considered such as the significance of key numbers like 3 and 7 on final scores, weather conditions, injuries, playing surface, etc. Another component that is important is the qualitative matchup between the offense and defense of each team&#8221;meaning that a team with a strong defense will be more likely to dictate the tempo&#8217; of a game resulting in a lower final score. All of these factors weigh into a final NFL total that is posted for betting.</p>
<p>Of course as in the case of the NFL pointspread, public perception is a crucial component of the linesmaking process. For example, the conventional wisdom is that bad weather like rain, snow, or sleet results in lower scores and for that reason a bookmaker will shade the total accordingly. However, its not quite that simple&#8211;some handicappers would maintain that sloppy weather can produce higher scores in certain situations.</p>
<p>In conclusion, NFL totals are a very good opportunity for a hard working handicapper to leverage his information about a situational matchup to find good wagering value. Like most elements of the sports handicapping discipline, its not easy to stay a step ahead of the bookmakers who have access to the same weather and injury&#8211;and have factored it into the number&#8211;but is a very entertaining and potentially rewarding challenge for the NFL betting enthusiast.</p>
<p>Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">soccer betting</a>. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">sportsbook directory</a> sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.</p>
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		<title>Understanding The Kentucky Derby For Horse Racing Novices</title>
		<link>http://www.na2.org/gambling/understanding-the-kentucky-derby-for-horse-racing-novices/</link>
		<comments>http://www.na2.org/gambling/understanding-the-kentucky-derby-for-horse-racing-novices/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 May 2010 07:13:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ross Everett</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gambling]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Although the Breeders' Cup is nipping at its heels, without a doubt the Kentucky Derby is the biggest horse race of the year in the United States. This is a race that attracts many fans from the general public that typically don't follow horse racing. A thorough understanding of horse racing, and which horses will win and why is a complex discipline that requires extensive specialized knowledge.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Although the Breeders&#8217; Cup is nipping at its heels, without a doubt the Kentucky Derby is the biggest horse race of the year in the United States. This is a race that attracts many fans from the general public that typically don&#8217;t follow horse racing. A thorough understanding of horse racing, and which horses will win and why is a complex discipline that requires extensive specialized knowledge.</p>
<p>A true fluency in horse racing takes extensive study, but here are a few concepts that can help anyone better understand and enjoy the Kentucky Derby. Until recently, the Derby was a race dominated by the favorite. Since Spectacular Bid won the Derby in 1979, however, you can count the favorites who&#8217;ve won the race on one hand with fingers left over. In other words, the easiest way to pare down the field for a horse racing novice is to simply eliminate the popular favorite from consideration.</p>
<p>So why has the favorite done so poorly in recent years? One theory suggests that it is a by-product of the hype surrounding the race. Novice horse fans back the favorite, making it more of a popularity contest than anything else. The reality is that the horse with the most hype is not always the best horse.</p>
<p>Post position is also something that the horse racing neophyte should pay attention to. Obviously post position number 1 is an advantage relative to the outer ones, but it hasnt been a strong edge over the other inside positions. Twelve Derby winners have had the #1 position going into the race (the most of any position) but positions #4 and #5 have had ten winners each. In terms of percentages, positions #1 through #5 have yielded 49 winners (or just under 40%). On the other hand, the outermost positions (#11 through #20) have had just 16 winners (or just under 13%). It is important to note that theres not always that many horses in the race, which would obviously result in few higher posts winning. Still, concentrating on horses with favorable post positions is another way to pare down a field that you know little about.</p>
<p>A horse&#8217;s lineage and breeding is also an important factor in the race. While this may be the most complex and demanding area of horse racing, there is a simple rule of thumb that can help a novice for this race. Most high level race horses are born in Kentucky. Well over 80% of Derby winners have also been born in the Bluegrass State. So just eliminate all horses that weren&#8217;t born in Kentucky. Then consider a horse&#8217;s gender and eliminate any horse that isn&#8217;t an intact male (geldings and fillies). Over 90% of all Derby winners have been intact males, though a gelding did win the race in 2003 (Funny Cide). For the horse racing novice, however,this is another good way to pare down the field.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t forget to consider dosage index numbers. These are a complex mathematical formula that measures a horse&#8217;s breeding lineage plus his past performance. You want to look for horses with a dosage index of 4.00 or less&#8211;over half of Derby winners have met this criteria since dosage numbers came into common usage in the mid 1980&#8242;s.</p>
<p>If you want to learn about horse racing in more depth, there are countless books available to introduce you to the subject. For a recreational fan who just wants to have a better understanding of the Kentucky Derby, these rules can help.</p>
<p>Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">World Cup betting</a>. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">sportsbook directory</a> sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.</p>
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		<title>The Strange Life Of Poker Legend Stu Ungar</title>
		<link>http://www.na2.org/poker/the-strange-life-of-poker-legend-stu-ungar/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:07:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ross Everett</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[One of the cruel ironies of human existence is that bountiful gifts are often given to those who cannot handle them. Beauty and money come immediately to mind, but talent in a particular discipline is often bestowed upon those who cannot maximize it to its greatest potential. Still others are unwittingly destroyed by some trait or characteristic that makes them exceptional. That's what makes an athlete like Michael Jordan so exceptional-seldom are awesome talent, desire, discipline and dedication found in the same package in such prodigious abundance. The mass of humanity often reaps the benefits of their talents despite their external flaws. Such was the case with poker great Stu Ungar, who was found dead in his room at the Oasis Motel in Las Vegas on November 22,'98.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the cruel ironies of human existence is that bountiful gifts are often given to those who cannot handle them. Beauty and money come immediately to mind, but talent in a particular discipline is often bestowed upon those who cannot maximize it to its greatest potential. Still others are unwittingly destroyed by some trait or characteristic that makes them exceptional. That&#8217;s what makes an athlete like Michael Jordan so exceptional-seldom are awesome talent, desire, discipline and dedication found in the same package in such prodigious abundance. The mass of humanity often reaps the benefits of their talents despite their external flaws. Such was the case with poker great Stu Ungar, who was found dead in his room at the Oasis Motel in Las Vegas on November 22,&#8217;98.</p>
<p>The only way to accurately describe Ungar&#8217;s poker skills is to evoke a sports metaphor&#8211;Ungar&#8217;s skills at the card table were like those of Michael Jordan or LeBron James on the basketball court. Ungar&#8217;s greatest accomplishment was his three World Series of Poker victories, an accomplishment not far removed from Michael Jordan&#8217;s six NBA titles. While countless volumes have been written on poker strategy, Ungar&#8217;s understanding of the game was almost instinctive. Although he won millions playing poker, the amazing reality was that it was essentially a &#8216;plan C&#8217; for him as a professional card player. He started as a Gin Rummy prodigy, but quickly ran out of willing opponents in his native New York. He then moved to Nevada, and cleaned out the gin players in the Silver State. He turned to blackjack out of necessity and was almost instantly successful, only to be barred as a card counter at a number of Las Vegas casinos. Needing a new way to earn money as a card player, he took up poker.</p>
<p>The cruel irony of Ungar&#8217;s life, however, was that masterful as he was at the poker table he was equally as inept at life beyond the casino walls. He was addicted to drugs for most of his life, and gambled away millions betting on sports and golf (a game he played despite being horrible at it). After his WSOP win in&#8217;97, he was nearly broke and wasted away from drug use by the time the&#8217;98 tournament rolled around. Vegas casino owner Bob Stupak bankrolled him, but as the games began Ungar cowered in his darkened hotel suite at Binion&#8217;s unable to pull himself together enough to play.</p>
<p>Other stories of Ungar&#8217;s troubled life away from the poker tables evoke the same theme: buying a new Mercedes with cash after a WSOP victory and driving it until it fell apart from lack of maintenance; signing mortgage papers as he played in the Dunes poker room; losing 1.5 million dollars betting on sports in the course of a weekend.</p>
<p>Ungar&#8217;s death came as something of a shock as he&#8217;d shown signs of cleaning up his act. Longtime friend Bob Stupak and helped pay off his debts and staked him in the major poker tournaments. Ungar was found dead two days after the two had drawn up a formal contract. Ungar also left behind an ex-wife and a teenage daughter, who still live in Las Vegas. Though the official cause of death was listed as a &#8216;heart attack&#8217;, there were a mixture of drugs found in his system including cocaine and methadone.</p>
<p>Most of the famous gamblers of Las Vegas legend-guys like Puggy Person and Doyle Brunson&#8211; have been tough, larger than life individuals with a healthier than normal dose of self-preservation skills. In this respect, Ungar was an anomaly among gambling greats-he was physically frail and almost completely helpless away from the poker table. With a handful of cards and a pile of chips, however, he became a ruthless and indomitable warrior. His story is certainly not one that the modern day, publicity conscious Las Vegas will celebrate. He will be remembered, however, as part of the tradition that gives the city its unique character. From the mobsters that pioneered the city, to the Rat Pack that civilized it, to the corporations that cleaned it up, characters like Stu Ungar have provided the spice that makes Las Vegas America&#8217;s &#8216;Paris in the desert&#8217;. Ungar may never have a statue on Fremont Street, but his spirit will live on.</p>
<p>Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer who covers travel, poker and <a href="http://www.anattasports.com">sports handicapping</a>. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily <a href="http://www.anattasports.com">free sports picks</a>. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and scuba diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.</p>
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		<title>An Introduction To Horse Race Betting</title>
		<link>http://www.na2.org/gambling/an-introduction-to-horse-race-betting/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:09:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ross Everett</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Sports gambling is a popular pursuit because everyone understands the basics of how teams win and lose and why. Horses, meanwhile, are an entirely different animal"no pun intended. It is a complex discipline unto itself, and a sound background in handicapping sports doesn't insure success, or even mediocrity in handicapping the ponies. In fact, the history of sports betting is replete with successful gamblers that had a weakness for horse betting, with an emphasis on the word weakness. Most notable, perhaps, is the former resident handicapper at CBS, Jimmy The Greek Snyder. The story goes that The Greek was a first rate sports handicapper, but he couldn't pick the winner of a one horse race when playing the ponies. The bad news for The Greek is that he enjoyed playing the ponies nonetheless, and often frittered away the money he won at the other end of the sportsbook.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sports gambling is a popular pursuit because everyone understands the basics of how teams win and lose and why. Horses, meanwhile, are an entirely different animal&#8221;no pun intended. It is a complex discipline unto itself, and a sound background in handicapping sports doesn&#8217;t insure success, or even mediocrity in handicapping the ponies. In fact, the history of sports betting is replete with successful gamblers that had a weakness for horse betting, with an emphasis on the word weakness. Most notable, perhaps, is the former resident handicapper at CBS, Jimmy The Greek Snyder. The story goes that The Greek was a first rate sports handicapper, but he couldn&#8217;t pick the winner of a one horse race when playing the ponies. The bad news for The Greek is that he enjoyed playing the ponies nonetheless, and often frittered away the money he won at the other end of the sportsbook.</p>
<p>Were not going to suggest that the information here even scratches the surface of what you need to know to become a serious horse handicapper. There are countless books, DVDs and other media that you should check out if this is your goal. If you&#8217;re interested in simply knowing the basics so that you can enjoy a day at the track, here are some basic concepts of horse handicapping:</p>
<p>Reading in Fundamental: The first thing you should do when you arrive at the horse track is to purchase a track program and a copy of the Daily Racing Form. The Daily Racing Form (or DRF for short) is the Wall Street Journal of the horse handicapping set. The track program will offer much of the same information about the specific track, but is frequently in a more user friendly format than the often arcane DRF. The basic stats you&#8217;ll find in these publications are the names of the horses, jockeys and trainers, the morning line odds, and the types of bets available for each race. You&#8217;ll also have past performance charts, which are the bread and butter of serious horse handicappers. These charts reveal a lot about a horse and what they&#8217;ve done on the racetrack, including its record, where it ran, the quality of competition it ran against, and what position the horse was in at various points in the race. Most tracks have customer service types that are helpful in clearing up anything you don&#8217;t understand. While asking the personnel in a sports book who they like isn&#8217;t a wise idea, its OK at the track for a reason well now discuss&#8221;you&#8217;re not playing against them.</p>
<p>The House Doesn&#8217;t Care Who Wins: One thing that is important for the sports bettor to remember when playing the horses is that its a parimutuel situation. In other words, you&#8217;re not playing against the house, you&#8217;re playing against the other bettors. The track just facilitates the betting and acts as a middleman, handling the money for a fee (15 to 25 percent of the parimutuel pool). Another difference is that the track odds are determined by how much money is bet on each horse. If everyone bets on one horse&#8221;whether it is the best horse, or just has the catchiest name&#8221;it will go off as the favorite. Long odds on a horse doesn&#8217;t necessarily indicate a bad horse, but just one that the wagering public isn&#8217;t investing in. Sometimes this can be one and the same, but not always.</p>
<p>The odds in the newspaper are known as the &#8216;morning odds&#8217; and are essentially educated opinions. They&#8217;re not much different than &#8216;overnight lines&#8217; in sports betting. They can serve a function for handicapping, but often will not reflect what will transpire when the actual betting begins.</p>
<p>The Basics of Handicapping: Even expert handicappers approach the sport differently and, like his sports gambling counterpart, may place greater emphasis on the importance of certain data than other handicappers. Some handicappers place a great deal of weight on a horses past performances, including the quality of opposition hes run against. Others place greater value on recent workouts, and still others go to the paddock to eyeball the horses and try to determine which ones are ready to run.</p>
<p>Once a bettor reaches a conclusion about what he thinks will happen in a given race, it is still subject to the odds that are available when betting. This is similar to sports gambling, where an underdog may be more attractive due to an excessively high payback potential than he would ordinary, or, conversely, a clear favorite becomes an unattractive wagering proposition due to a prohibitively high price. Its all a matter of the math&#8211;if I could speak to the teenagers of America, I&#8217;d try to impress upon them the importance of doing well in math for no other reason than its importance in all forms of gambling.</p>
<p>Training and bloodlines: Handicappers often focus on a horse&#8217;s breeding lineage, considering the quality of the bloodlines and the racing pedigree of his parents and grandparents. Others put great focus on a horse&#8217;s trainers. An &#8216;A-list&#8217; trainer can often get the most out of a horse much in the same way an elite level NFL coach can cause a team to &#8216;over perform&#8217;.</p>
<p>Jockeys: Jockeys are independent agents, and thus to make the most money they need to win the most races. The more a jockey wins, the better &#8216;rides&#8217; he gets and the more money he makes. Surprisingly, many serious horse players put minimal importance on the jockey. It&#8217;s essentially a case where even the best jockey can&#8217;t win with a bad horse. In other words, if a jockey is seen as &#8216;competent&#8217; there are many other more significant factors for the handicapper to consider.</p>
<p>Dedication and Discipline: There&#8217;s not a set formula for successful horse handicapping, so try different things and find what works for you. And, as always, don&#8217;t go overboard with the money you wager and particularly until you get a feel for what you&#8217;re doing. If you&#8217;re interested in learning more, check out the Daily Racing Form website.</p>
<p>Ross Everett is a well known freelance writer specializing in travel, poker and <a href="http://www.anattasports.com">sports handicapping</a>. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily <a href="http://www.anattasports.com">free sports picks</a>. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and deep sea diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.</p>
<p>categories: horse racing,gambling,sports,recreation,hobbies,travel,entertainment,animals,marketing</p>
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		<title>Profitable Sports Gambling Begins With Discipline</title>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Mar 2010 08:41:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ross Everett</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gambling]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[There's a strange dichotomy between the complexity of high level sports handicapping and the amount of theoretical literature on the subject. While successful sports betting is a complex and difficult pursuit, there's very little that's been written on the subject from a serious theoretical angle. For that reason, it can be helpful to delve into the wealth of books available to the serious poker player for insights that can be applied to sports betting.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There&#8217;s a strange dichotomy between the complexity of high level sports handicapping and the amount of theoretical literature on the subject. While successful sports betting is a complex and difficult pursuit, there&#8217;s very little that&#8217;s been written on the subject from a serious theoretical angle. For that reason, it can be helpful to delve into the wealth of books available to the serious poker player for insights that can be applied to sports betting.</p>
<p>Poker&#8211;like sports betting&#8211;can be a profitable endeavor, and one in which knowledge and skill can counteract the theoretical odds against him. Legendary poker theorist Bob Caro once noted that while there are some professional poker players, sports bettors or blackjack players there&#8217;s not a single professional roulette player.</p>
<p>The reason for that is that the house advantage in roulette is too high to overcome by any combination of skill, money management, strategy or discipline. To throw in another Caro concept, its a case where the decisions made by the roulette player simply don&#8217;t have a role in overcoming the house advantage. Over the long haul whether you choose red or black, even or odd the house edge remains the same.</p>
<p>Caro stresses the paramount importance of discipline to a poker player&#8217;s long term success and profitability. It&#8217;s important to keep in mind that to succeed as a professional gambler that you need to approach a trip to the casino with a diametrically opposite mindset to that of the recreational gambler. A recreational gambler heads to the casino to *avoid* discipline and &#8216;unwind&#8217;. The professional uses discipline to his advantage.</p>
<p>Caro&#8217;s emphasis on discipline in poker is also true for the serious sports gambler. The foundation of a professional sports bettor&#8217;s long term success is to approach it with the same discipline, rigor and professionalism that he would any other job. If you continue to think about it in the same terms as the recreational gambler does, you&#8217;re in for a difficult road. The more seriousness that you bring to your sports betting, the higher the likelihood that you&#8217;ll be successful.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s nothing wrong with being a recreational sports gambler, or a recreational gambler of any sort. They&#8217;re vital to those of us who do this for a living since they&#8217;re what keeps casinos and sportsbooks in business. Ultimately, the best handicapping is pointless without a sportsbook to take the action.</p>
<p>The life of a professional sports bettor isn&#8217;t for everyone, and if you just want to bet recreationally and have fun with it that&#8217;s great. While a few theoretical tips here and there won&#8217;t hurt, the only discipline that really matters for a recreational player is the same thing for any other hobby&#8211;don&#8217;t spend more on it than you can afford to. After that, you&#8217;re on your own to have fun with it.</p>
<p>Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports and is in charge of providing daily <a href="http://www.anattasports.com">free sports picks</a> to a variety of websites and broadcast media outlets. He is a widely published freelance writer specializing in <a href="http://www.anattasports.com">sports handicapping</a>, horse racing, wombat breeding and falconry. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a wombat.</p>
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		<title>First Casino in Singapore Opened.</title>
		<link>http://www.na2.org/casino/first-casino-in-singapore-opened/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:14:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ramon van Meer</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Singapore for a long time has been developing into a global location, and now the island city-state is opening their doors to their very first casino. The casino has opened this weekend on Chinese New Year and the cards appear as though Singapore will once again be rising, as high-rollers all over the world start to check out the city's newest attraction.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Singapore for a long time has been developing into a global location, and now the island city-state is opening their doors to their very first casino. The casino has opened this weekend on Chinese New Year and the cards appear as though Singapore will once again be rising, as high-rollers all over the world start to check out the city&#8217;s newest attraction.</p>
<p>Singapore is predicting that the Resorts World at Sentosa by Genting Singapore will greatly help the economy via tourism income. This will lead to a booast towards the luxurious services.</p>
<p>The resort construction of the Resorts World at Sentosa totals $4.7 billion and is the very first of two casinos that the city-state has put into operation in efforts to build reputability as a manufacturing and banking hub, hoping to take the limelight from Macau, Malaysia and Australia. And, the talk of expanding to the United States has been discussed.</p>
<p>The introducing of the casino has had visitors streaming in- graciously greeted by a traditional cultural lion dance. On the foyer, five employees posed as Roman statues, with 1 carrying a giant gambling chip, another a huge replica of a deck of cards, and a third a huge replica of a die.</p>
<p>Foreigners were in high numbers and local residents appeared as well, however, with the $70 charge to local residents, numerous passed the scene. This is all a part of the government campaign to discourage residence from the addiction of gambling.</p>
<p>With a rural population wealthy in millionaires, the Resorts World at Sentosa is likely to bring in a lot more to the area. At the least, the addition of the casino is likely to double visitor rate to 17 million to the city-state by 2015 building a significant increase in travel related revenues.</p>
<p>Want to see it with your own eyes? Fly Cheap to Singapore right now. Some travel agencies have specials going on with this great happing. To find more information on the current best deals go to <a target='_blank' href="http://www.letsflycheaper.com/singapore-cheap-flights.php" title="Singapore Cheap Flights">Singapore Cheap Flights</a>.</p>
<p>Want to find out more about <a href="http://www.letsflycheaper.com/singapore-cheap-flights.php">Singapore Cheap Flights</a>, then visit Lets Fly Cheaper to get the best airfare deals available.</p>
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