Playtech has been on the rise recently, acquiring new companies and making deals that promise to position them as the number one software developer in the online casino industry. After acquiring the entire share capital of Ash Gaming, Playtech made a deal with prominent bookmaker William Hill, earning them a respectable 125.5 million for the year. This is an increase of 22% from the 103.1 million they earned the year before. The chairman of Playtech ws quoted as saying, “In view of the company’s board changes and progress in the last year, Playtech looks forward to an exciting year ahead with potential new joint venture partnerships, new licensee prospects and a commitment to joining the Main Market.”

With this new capital and a clearly growing enterprise, it’s no wonder that Playtech is also looking to expand into new areas of the market. The company has already applied for a license in Nevada, where online gambling legislation is soon expected to be passed as part of a new movement in the USA to make intrastate gambling legal. It has also established itself with an Italian iPoker network and will soon be supplying poker and casino games to Casino Gran Madrid, a prominent and well-respected operator in Europe. There is also an agreement between Playtech and Olympic, one of the biggest groups in Eastern Europe.

As if all of that were not enough, Playtech has also recently signed a software agreement with the group Grupo Caliente, out of Mexico. Plans to enter the Spanish market next are already underway. When it comes to internet casino gambling online, Playtech is eager to establish itself as a world-leader, and seems well on its way to doing so.

I mentioned in my first post that it’s important to preview online casino games and practice before you play with real money, especially in a game like craps where there are lots of rules to learn and different bets you can make with varying house edges. There are a few other things that are important to consider as well, before you register and deposit with a casino- and all of them have to do with player responsibility. We have a habit of assuming that as customers of these online gaming sites, that we have the highest say-so, and it’s their job to cater to us in order to get our business. But in the realm of online casinos, it’s very different.

Online casinos have a much harder time keeping track of their patrons and are more susceptible to fraud than traditional brick and mortar casinos are. It’s also easier for operators to set up a ‘rogue’ casino and defraud you, the player. Because of this, there are a multitude of ways that you could end up missing out on what you think are legitimate winnings, and ways you could have your money taken without any recourse for recovery. Some responsibility is going to fall on your shoulders if you want to have a good time gambling without fear of wasting your hard-earned dollars.

First of all, it’s your responsibility to check out the casino you’re interested in playing at before you make a deposit. This is because you want to be sure the casino isn’t rogue. A rogue casino is one that doesn’t abide by rules of fair play. They’ll often let you deposit and lose your money, but when you win, they’ll disappear or refuse to respond to you and never pay out. It isn’t difficult to look this information up beforehand. Simply do a search and make sure the casino is listed on an accredited casino list compiled by a reputable source. See what other players have said about the casino. Check out the software they use, and what jurisdiction they’re licensed in. It might sound like a lot of effort, but when you’re playing with real money, the investment of time is always worth it in the end.

The other responsibility you have is to read the site’s full Terms and Conditions. It’s far too easy to break a rule if you haven’t read them, especially as some of them can seem downright weird or difficult to understand. If you register with the site, you’ve officially entered a binding agreement with the casino to abide by their rules. Break one- even on accident- and good bye cash winnings. If you read the T&Cs and there’s something you don’t understand (such as how the wagering requirement works), ALWAYS ask customer support about the rule first.

We aren’t accustomed to believing that we have a lot of responsibility when it comes to playing around and having fun online. But in this case, the responsibility you have is to yourself. Do yourself a favor and put in the extra legwork before gambling. It’ll be worth it when that first check comes in from the casino.

Craps is definitely one of those games where a person can benefit by practicing first. It will help you learn what different kinds of bets can be made and when, as well as which bets turn out to be the most profitable over time. Of course, there is no real ‘system’ for beating craps all the time. It really does come down to your luck (hence being such an incredible game of chance); but you can have a system worked out for when you’re on a losing streak so that you don’t lose too much money. You can also learn how to maximize your betting options, and most importantly, learn when to be conservative with your bankroll. All of which can help you successfully earn real money while playing in an online casino.

The first general rule? Play every craps game you want to try in a ‘free play’ or preview mode first. While it might not seem as exciting to gamble with play money, in the long run you’ll be glad you took the time to work out what method of wagering best works for you. Remember, the casino always has the house edge. This means that over time you are more likely to lose than you are to win. However, by practicing and getting comfortable with the game you can determine what types of bets pay off more frequently, and hone your own style of game play. This makes you far less likely to lose.

Check out the extensive gambling resources at DMOZ.org for free craps games online where you can get in some good online gambling practice..

For information on betting ‘systems’ and how they can help or fool you, see http://www.Gambling101.org.