There aren’t many books out there on baccarat to be honest and so I thought this a good place to start for a review. I’m not really sure why baccarat seems to have come off badly in the publishing industry - it’s a popular enough game and it’s a traditional favourite. Perhaps it’s because there’s so much online – and for free? Maybe it’s because our Casino.com strategy guides are so good that no one need look anywhere else? Anyways…

This Baccarat for the Clueless book is pretty decent – which surprised me. Call me cynical but most of the books I find out there just repeat the same info and change the name of the game. And so, I expected this one to be a bit banal.

I guess most books on casino games are going to be pretty limited due to the amount of chance involved (you can take that shocked look off your face!), but this one covers the latest baccarat systems and throws some facts into the mix – spiced up by the writer’s obvious appreciation for the game.

May seems like an honest enough guy – he makes it clear that you can’t win every time but does offer some nifty suggestions on how to reduce the house edge and improve.

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So you love gambling and playing our online casino games, but do you know the origins of these games?

Are you aware of how they all started or where they originated? Thought not!

Well, in truth – the background to the games makes good reading and so we’re introducing a regular section on how and where games started and how they developed over time to become the games that you know and love today. Here’s an overview to get you started:

2000BC – Egyptians played a game using knucklebones as dice with four sides

1500BC – Chinese players enjoyed an early roulette style game using a spinning disc

210 AD – England’s first ever recorded horse race was run

1895 – the first ever slot machine was built by American Charles Fey

1960 – UK betting shops were legalised

So, were there a few surprises in there? Look out for our history of gambling posts to learn more info about specific games.

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Expect to lose

If you accept that you can lose you are more likely to manage your money. Only take what you can afford to lose to the casino to set yourself an automatic limit. Once you accept that risk is involved, you are less likely to play recklessly. You are more likely to stay focused and incur less loss.

Use a strategy

Make use of all the basic craps strategy that’s out there in books, magazine and the internet. Also make a note of which bets you prefer and what makes you the most money. When you’ve got a basic understanding of what works for you, use it! Build your own strategy and be consistent. Over time you will see how successful your strategy is and you should see yourself making money on the craps table.

Know your goal

Your playing style should be in line with what you want from the game. If you want to be able to play for a long time, then stick to the low risk multiple roll bets such as; Come, Don’t Come, Pass Line or Don’t Pass. You’ll play for longer and get more excitement. If you’re looking to win money, stay away from the low risk bets and go for bets that pay out higher odds such as doubles, any seven or odds bets.

Watch your cash

The golden rule that craps players should always be aware of: only raise your bet when you have won. If you lose, lower your next bet. This may seem opposite to many betting strategies out there but craps is a little different to other games. If you place big bets after a loss, it is likely that you will clear your bankroll before you get to win.

Bet right or bet wrong - but never both!

If you are a right bettor you are a more conservative player and should only make bets which give the house a minimum edge. Typical play would be to place a Pass Line bet and then take maximum odds allowed on that any established point, adding come bets as extras. An aggressive bettor would bet wrong, and choose a Don’t Pass, before laying single odds against an established point.

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For those of you that missed our Casino.com LED boards at the Tottenham game - or even for those of you that saw them and would appreciate a reminder - here’s a peek at how they looked.

Throughout the match we proudly displayed our brand and shouted from the sidelines “Casino.com play NOW!”. I’ve got to say, I thought they looked really impressive - clear and to the point. And they didn’t interfere with the match which in my opinion is a common mistake advertisers often make. You’re there to watch the game after all, right? What do you think?

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Everyone loves a bet, eh? So for the first installment of Weird Wagers, we’re all about death…

No 1: William Hill tells the tale of a deluded hermit in a small town in Venezuela, who challenged villagers to thinking he could hypnotise a jaguar. Unsurprisingly, he was savaged to death.

No 2: One poor Paulo Romero Cedero, an Ecuadorian refugee, claimed ‘abuse on the high seas’ back in Aug 2006. He recounted a grim tale of being soaked in fish blood by the crew of his aunt’s ship (loving family) and thrown overboard and bets were taken as to whether he would be eaten by sharks. He survived – just.

No 3: Prior to the shocking death of Princess Diana, Jeff Carter, a keen gambler from Ogle had a dream of the passing of the princess. Bookmakers would not allow a straight bet on her death, but offered him a royal accumulator, with a payout of a cool £1m on the successful sequencing of four royal deaths (Princess Diana, then Princess Margaret, Queen Mum and then the Queen herself). Only the queen remains, meaning that as long as there are no premature deaths of her offspring, he looks set to pick up his fat cheque.

No 4: Arther Robinson, a 91 year old pensioner bet £500 that he would die by a certain date to cover his inheritance tax bill of £3000. This was the first betting on death that William Hill bookmakers allowed, claiming he put a valid case forward. Sadly for Arther he lost his bet, but news was his wife was pleased.

No 5: In Nov 2006, James Quick (42) was charged with murder after shooting his friend Richard Johnson over a $20 bet they had on an annual college rivalry game. His friend’s wife and several friends told police that Johnson, prior to being shot, had exclaimed “You can’t shoot me, I’m invisible.” Unfortunately for Johnson, he wasn’t.

No 6: Celebrity death pool www.cash4cadavers.com takes sixth spot, where teams pay $20 dollars to enter and pick 20 celebs they feel will snuff it in the next year. Those with the most points at the end of the year, wins the pot.

Check back soon for the next installment of weird wagers…