Reason #2 why the Wizard likes Bovada:

No-hassle practice games

Most online casinos spend more effort trying to separate you from your money than they do trying to give you a good experience. They have all kinds of popup windows, they usually make you download their software, and if they do offer play-in-browser games then you have to register an account before you can play. And if you register they start sending you emails trying to get you to deposit real money.

But Bovada is different. They have no popup windows at all, and their practice games play right in your browser, with no download, and no registration required. You don’t even have to give up your email address. It couldn’t be simpler: just one click and you’re playing the game.

I wish all online casinos showed this much respect for their players. Other casinos practically ask for your first born child to play for free. Meanwhile Bovada is patient and does not twist anybody’s arm to play for real money. You can play as long as you like for free with no obligation. The real-money games are available if that’s your preference, but if not, you can play the free practice games for as long as you like without hassle.

Visit Bovada

Ask the Wizard #7

Edition Date: Mar 18, 2000

Just set up an account with Islandcasino today. On their Perplexa BJ games, what are the shuffle points for the one- and six-deck games? I presume one deck is shuffled after every hand. What about six decks?
— Jay from USA

Both games are both shuffled after every hand. Thanks to Darla with Gambler’s Palace (another Perplexa casino) for her help on this one.

Current odds for a boxing match between Vargas and Quartey are -240 Vargas and +190 for Quartey. How does this work if I put $100 for Vargas or $100 for Quartey?
— Steve from Albuquerque, New Mexico

$240 bet on Vargas will win $100. A $100 bet on Quartey will win $190. Of course you can bet any amount but the winnings will still be in the same proportion. If you bet $100 on Vargas you will win $100*(100/240)=$41.67. Stay tuned for my new section on sports betting planned for this April.

I have never been to Las Vegas so I was wondering are you allowed to use one of those cards for Black Jack that tells you when you should hit or stand, etc.. when you are sitting at a table.
— Paul from Calgary, Canada

Yes you can, they even sell them in the casino gift shops. However it is bad etiquette to slow down the game by checking the card frequently. The least you should try to do is memorize what to do with a hard total, these situations happen most of the time. If you get a soft hand or a potential split then feel free to check the card.

In high-low poker, can a pair of aces be a lower hand than a pair of threes, or other pair?
— Isaac from New York, New York

Yes, I believe so. In low-ball aces are low, and thus a pair of aces would beat a pair of threes.

Why don't you hear about people trying to counterfeit casino chips? It seems to be way easier than trying to print US money.
— Bob

I had to defer to Gus FanFassian for this question. Here is what Gus says,

"The reason you don’t hear more about people counterfeiting poker chips is because of the cost and the intricate methods that are required to produce the chips.There are very few poker chip manufacturers. It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the machinery and different commodities neccessary to make poker chips. It costs, on average, $10,000 to $20,000 just to have your own mold manufactured, let alone counterfeiting casino chips.

The other factor, is the formula used in making the chip. Just pouring clay into a mold doesn’t cut it. If you don’t have the correct amount of ingredients, your going to have a piece of clay that might resemble something close to a poker chip, if it doesn’t fall apart first. Making poker chips might sound easy, but in truth, it isn’t.

Besides, the casinos are very alert to counterfeit chips and can spot them almost immediately. I heard of a case in Canada, where some counterfeit chips were being circulated at a casino. They were spotted right away. The casino immeditately removed the chips from ALL THE TABLES, and replaced them with back ups, of different color and marks. The guys passing the bad chips were caught and when their car was searched, some $80,000 (Canadian) worth of bad chips was found in the trunk. The quality wasn’t that good, to begin with. It’s just to costly and to demanding to counterfeit chips...that’s the bottom line."

Thanks Gus for your help. For gambling supplies I highly recommend his business. I have purchased poker chips there and was very pleased with the product and the service.


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Reason #2 why the Wizard likes Bovada: No-hassle practice games Most online casinos spend more effort trying to separate you from your money than they do trying to give you a good experience. They have all kinds of popup windows, they usually make you download their software, and if they do offer play-in-browser games then you have to register an account before you can play. And if you register they start sending you emails trying to get you to deposit real money. But Bovada is different. They have no popup windows at all, and their practice games play right in your browser, with no download, and no registration required. You don’t even have to give up your email address. It couldn’t be simpler: just one click and you’re playing the game. I wish all online casinos showed this much respect for their players. Other casinos practically ask for your first born child to play for free. Meanwhile Bovada is patient and does not twist anybody’s arm to play for real money. You can play as long as you like for free with no obligation. The real-money games are available if that’s your preference, but if not, you can play the free practice games for as long as you like without hassle. Visit Bovada	Ask the Wizard #7 Edition Date: Mar 18, 2000 Just set up an account with Islandcasino today. On their Perplexa BJ games, what are the shuffle points for the one- and six-deck games? I presume one deck is shuffled after every hand. What about six decks? — Jay from USA Both games are both shuffled after every hand. Thanks to Darla with Gambler’s Palace (another Perplexa casino) for her help on this one. Current odds for a boxing match between Vargas and Quartey are -240 Vargas and +190 for Quartey. How does this work if I put $100 for Vargas or $100 for Quartey? — Steve from Albuquerque, New Mexico $240 bet on Vargas will win $100. A $100 bet on Quartey will win $190. Of course you can bet any amount but the winnings will still be in the same proportion. If you bet $100 on Vargas you will win $100*(100/240)=$41.67. Stay tuned for my new section on sports betting planned for this April. I have never been to Las Vegas so I was wondering are you allowed to use one of those cards for Black Jack that tells you when you should hit or stand, etc.. when you are sitting at a table. — Paul from Calgary, Canada Yes you can, they even sell them in the casino gift shops. However it is bad etiquette to slow down the game by checking the card frequently. The least you should try to do is memorize what to do with a hard total, these situations happen most of the time. If you get a soft hand or a potential split then feel free to check the card. In high-low poker, can a pair of aces be a lower hand than a pair of threes, or other pair? — Isaac from New York, New York Yes, I believe so. In low-ball aces are low, and thus a pair of aces would beat a pair of threes. Why don't you hear about people trying to counterfeit casino chips? It seems to be way easier than trying to print US money. — Bob I had to defer to Gus FanFassian for this question. Here is what Gus says, "The reason you don’t hear more about people counterfeiting poker chips is because of the cost and the intricate methods that are required to produce the chips.There are very few poker chip manufacturers. It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the machinery and different commodities neccessary to make poker chips. It costs, on average, $10,000 to $20,000 just to have your own mold manufactured, let alone counterfeiting casino chips. The other factor, is the formula used in making the chip. Just pouring clay into a mold doesn’t cut it. If you don’t have the correct amount of ingredients, your going to have a piece of clay that might resemble something close to a poker chip, if it doesn’t fall apart first. Making poker chips might sound easy, but in truth, it isn’t. Besides, the casinos are very alert to counterfeit chips and can spot them almost immediately. I heard of a case in Canada, where some counterfeit chips were being circulated at a casino. They were spotted right away. The casino immeditately removed the chips from ALL THE TABLES, and replaced them with back ups, of different color and marks. The guys passing the bad chips were caught and when their car was searched, some $80,000 (Canadian) worth of bad chips was found in the trunk. The quality wasn’t that good, to begin with. It’s just to costly and to demanding to counterfeit chips...that’s the bottom line." Thanks Gus for your help. For gambling supplies I highly recommend his business. I have purchased poker chips there and was very pleased with the product and the service.
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Ask the Wizard #7

Just set up an account with Islandcasino today. On their Perplexa BJ games, what are the shuffle points for the one- and six-deck games? I presume one deck is shuffled after every hand. What about six decks? — Jay from USA

Current odds for a boxing match between Vargas and Quartey are -240 Vargas and +190 for Quartey. How does this work if I put $100 for Vargas or $100 for Quartey? — Steve from Albuquerque, New Mexico

I have never been to Las Vegas so I was wondering are you allowed to use one of those cards for Black Jack that tells you when you should hit or stand, etc.. when you are sitting at a table. — Paul from Calgary, Canada

In high-low poker, can a pair of aces be a lower hand than a pair of threes, or other pair? — Isaac from New York, New York

Why don't you hear about people trying to counterfeit casino chips? It seems to be way easier than trying to print US money. — Bob

Just set up an account with Islandcasino today. On their Perplexa BJ games, what are the shuffle points for the one- and six-deck games? I presume one deck is shuffled after every hand. What about six decks?
— Jay from USA

Current odds for a boxing match between Vargas and Quartey are -240 Vargas and +190 for Quartey. How does this work if I put $100 for Vargas or $100 for Quartey?
— Steve from Albuquerque, New Mexico

I have never been to Las Vegas so I was wondering are you allowed to use one of those cards for Black Jack that tells you when you should hit or stand, etc.. when you are sitting at a table.
— Paul from Calgary, Canada

In high-low poker, can a pair of aces be a lower hand than a pair of threes, or other pair?
— Isaac from New York, New York

Why don't you hear about people trying to counterfeit casino chips? It seems to be way easier than trying to print US money.
— Bob