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Fresh up to date news on the gambling world.

4 New Zealand Poker Players to Watch Out For

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

New Zealand Poker

Poker is a global game. It’s popular on all over the world. Whether you’re playing in USA, United Kingdom, Russia or India, there’s famous poker players to watch out for. We’ve looked at the most famous poker players in the world before. But in this article, we will be looking some of the biggest names from New Zealand.

1) Lee Nelson

Arguably one of the most well known of New Zealand based poker players, Lee Nelson has earnt over $2,000,000 from live tournament poker. This retired doctor, originally born in United States, gained notoriety in 2005 when he won two events in the crown Australian Poker Championship. Lee is a force to be reckoned with. He even gains results in PLO and HORSE with a 6th place finish in a 2019 Aussie Millions HORSE event. He stands as number one in the all time money list for New Zealand.

2) Hamish Crawshaw

A Manawatu resident, Hamish Crawshaw is ranked 5th in the all time New Zealand Money List with over $1,000,000 live tournament winnings. This young man won a main event in the Asian Poker Tour earlier this year. He also won a WPT in Vietnam in 2019 besting a field of over 373 players. Hamish knows what he’s doing when it comes to tournaments. I expect him to see him at more final tables in the future.

3) Jan Suchanek

Jan is ranked 3rd on New Zealand all time money list. It’s no surprise as he’s been racking up live results since 2005. A 4th place finish in Aussie Millions HORSE event, a 4th place in WSOP 2019 6 max Limit Holdem and a 4th place in an Australia WSOP international circuit event at No Limit Holdem. These are just a few of his results in the last 2 years, highlighting why he makes our top 4.

4) Thomas Ward

Thomas is another on the all-time top 5 money list for New Zealand, with almost $1.1 million to his name. His best live cash is currently standing at $481,960. That was earnt in a 2015 Asia Pacific Poker Tour event where he came runner up to Jimmy Zhou. A quick search to see recent results show that he’s been playing the WSOP Online at GGPoker and finished 4th for a staggering $1,353,634 in a $5,000 No Limit Hold’em event. Clearly this man knows his way about online too so watch out if you’re on his table!

Conclusion on New Zealand Poker

There you have it, 4 of some of the biggest names to come out of New Zealand. As poker grows and online poker in NZ grows too, you can expect to see more faces emerge from New Zealand. This article has covered just a few poker faces from New Zealand, there’s other names making waves too. Special mentions go to Sosia Jiang, Simon Watt, Josh Egan and Jamil Dia. If you enjoyed this article and would like to see a piece dedicated to your home country, feel free to contact us at info@texasholdemquestions.com and we will see what we can do for you.

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Explore Ways to Enjoy Gambling in the UK

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Gambling UK

When we talk about gambling, it’s easy to think in terms of bookmakers and casinos. In essence, gambling is a wide topic that can slowly affect how we make our daily decisions. This can be as simple as betting with a friend when trying out something new or flipping a coin based on the outcome of a situation that you may involve yourself. Gambling in the UK is not something that only happens when you spin the wheels or play cards with a bunch of friends. And it is not always for real money.

Is gambling a part of human nature? Do we all have an insatiable need to take risks? Some people take gambling too seriously such that they make a living out of it. Others struggle with gambling and have to withdraw to have peace of mind. In the UK, there are a lot of ways to gamble thanks to gamstop gambling and the favorable laws that have been put in place by the government.

Defining gambling

Before we start exploring the different ways that you can enjoy gambling in the UK, let’s discuss what gambling is. Most people define gambling as playing games of luck or trying to predict an unknown outcome to win a prize. The old and broad definition is simply taking a risk in the hope of getting the desired result.

With such a definition, we can comfortably say that everyone in the world gambles to a certain degree. Human beings have been wired to assess risk and reward on both the conscious and unconscious levels. Every day, we take risks and decide the best course of action to get what we want.

We all have different attitudes towards risks and rewards. And we make decisions based on these attitudes. Whether we are playing for real money or not, some are better at assessing and mitigating risks to get the desired results than others.

Ways to gamble

Land-based casinos

There are lots of reputable land based casinos and gambling sites not blocked by gamstop across the UK. Most players in the UK start visiting land-based casinos once they attain the gambling age. These land-based casinos offer a wide range of interesting games including classics like Blackjack, Roulette, craps, and more exotic games like Mahjong, Kalooki, Wheel of Fortune, and Casino War.

As you walk down the streets, you’ll be amazed by the number of global casino chains. These chains enhance consistency and security. You’ll always know what to expect when you get into a land-based casino chain in the UK.

Finding the best land-based casino for you can be simple or tricky. If you live in smaller cities and towns, it becomes harder to get big and reputable casinos. If you live in major cities like London or Manchester, you’ll have a wide range of options to choose from. Before choosing a land-based casino, you should consider the environment and the reputation of the casino. To find out more about the casino, it’s always important to chat with other players and understand the rules before playing any game. Avoid placing bets on disorganized tables and drinking alcohol while playing.

Online casinos

The rapid advancement of technology has led to the rise of gambling sites that don’t use gamstop in the UK. Online gambling sites have a wide range of benefits. First, players can access gambling sites without gamstop on different devices such as desktop, tablet, or smartphone.

This means that players don’t have to travel far to learn how to stop gamstop and access their favorite sites and games. Second, they offer a wide variety of games. In fact, most of them offer much more than what you’d expect to find in land-based casinos. Lastly, players don’t have to worry about their safety and security as most gambling sites in the UK are licensed and regulated by the gambling commission.

Most online sites including gambling sites not with gamstop offer a wide range of bonus offers and promotions to attract and retain players in the long run. By using these bonus offers and promotions and avoiding slots not registered with gamstop, you’ll increase your chances of winning cash, free spins, and many other fantastic prizes.

Sports Betting

There are lots of sport betting companies in the UK that allow sports fans to place real money bets on their favorite teams. Sports betting has been growing in popularity in recent years due to the rise of online gambling sites.

Also, winning cash and other prizes through sports betting is not that difficult. All you have to do is know the facts such as weather, team strength, and team performance history to name a few. Plus, the stakes are low. When the stakes are low, it’s easy to win.

Gambling addiction and Gamstop

Gambling addiction is a common problem in our society today. No one can be addicted to gambling overnight. It happens gradually until you reach a point where it’s difficult to turn back. How do you know if you are becoming a gambling addict? It’s when other important areas of your life such as relationships and finances start to suffer because of gambling.

When you find yourself gambling at work or spending all your money on gambling facilities, it’s important to seek help as early as you can. Gamstop is here to help you restrict your online gambling activities in case you find yourself overdoing it. All you need to do is sign up for the service.

The service will prevent you from using licensed online sites in the UK for a specified period. It is a free service that’s available to players within the UK. You need to find what gambling sites are not on gamstop and avoid them to reduce the chances of becoming addicted.

Conclusion

You are responsible for all your gambling activities. If other areas of your life are suffering because of your gambling habits, it’s time to take a step back and analyze yourself. Gamstop has made your life easier especially if you live in the UK. You need to know the UK gambling sites not on gamstop to play without interference. You can sign up and learn how to cancel gamstop whenever you want.

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Bitcoin Gambling is on the Rise, When Will You Try it?

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Bitcoin Gambling

When Bitcoin gained popularity and boomed in 2017, people could not believe what was going on. Most thought the bubble would burst within a year an it would fizzle out. The concept didn’t resonate with some, with this cryptocurrency confusing to them. Three years later and the doubters are being proven wrong with a share price at the time of writing this article of $10,249. The point I am making is that Bitcoin is not going anywhere and the gambling industry has and is adapting to its usage in a powerful way. The best bitcoin casino and poker sites are easily found now and proudly display their cryptocurrency badges on their site.  This article will briefly look at a few reasons why Bitcoin gambling is popular and what the future holds for it.

Bitcoin is Fast

There are many online casinos and poker sites offering Bitcoin as a payment method. It provides users with a fast way to get funds in their online accounts. Where it used to take days to get money out of a site, it is now much less. Some online casinos are able to process withdrawals very quickly, often less than an hour. This service is perfect for the impulsive and impatient gambler wanting to play online.

Gamblers Don’t Want Attention

Gamblers also like the idea of being anonymous. Bitcoin is perfect for these people. It provides a cloak that if removed will only reveal a bunch of numbers. No name, no address and no email tied. This appeals to many people, particularly those who like to keep their gambling affairs private. People have their own reasons for wanting anonymity, it’s not for me to judge, but suffice to say it’s a widely accepted benefit to bitcoin gambling.

Bitcoin is Secure

Despite the scepticism many hold about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in general, they are actually very secure. What can a hacker do if they access your information? They can’t take money from you. The only possible thread is if you lose your wallet – the same threat as in real life if you drop it in the street. In short, you are very safe to use the reputable cryptocurrencies.

2021 and Beyond

The modern world is adapting and evolving to digital. This is evident everywhere you go isn’t it? It may be pushed faster than anticipated due to Covid-19, and people spending more time in doors but that is the direction we are moving in. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have a lot of appeal in the gambling industry and will play a big part in the future of online gamble. I predict more gambling sites will begin to accept them as a trustworthy payment method. A quick google search will show you there is over ten million results for the phrase “bitcoin gambling”.  There are loads of casino sites and a good few poker sites that encourage cryptocurrency. Clearly there is a demand for it.

It seems it’s a question of when and not if, to when people will move over to this way of gambling. Once a couple of the major sites move to it, their competitors will have to as well. The question in a few years may be will it be the only currency used in online gambling? Time will tell…

If you enjoyed this article and a similar topic request, please contact us and as always, remember to gamble responsibly.

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How Do You Go From Being an Online Player to a WSOP Winner?

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Becoming a WSOP Winner

The first ever amateur poker player to win the World Series of Poker Main Event was Chris Moneymaker in 2003. The American qualified for the tournament through an online satellite and bested 838 other players to win $2.5 million. This moment is credited with kick-starting the online poker craze which boomed in the 2000s. It suddenly became clear that unknown poker players had a chance to win against the professionals and become a WSOP winner. In the modern age, a lot of poker players now learn the game online. They then take their skills to Las Vegas to compete for the ultimate prize. How can the average player replicate these people and have a chance of winning big?

Chris Moneymaker Started a New Era in Poker

Prior to Moneymaker’s success at the paramount poker competition in the world, it was almost exclusively for elite players. Regular tournament names included the likes of Stu Ungar, Johnny Chan, and Doyle Brunson. People with knowledge of the game could have a decent stab at predicting who the final table. But when Moneymaker made the world realise that it was possible for anyone to compete in the competition, it paved the way for a brand new type of player to emerge.

This began a trend where players would train for a lengthy period of time online before taking their skills to live games. Because people were playing at online poker rooms where they couldn’t see their opponents and try to read their behaviour, they had to rely on other techniques in order to increase their chances of winning. This brought about a new breed of poker players who could be considered mathematical geniuses.

The modern player needs to be able to quickly calculate their odds of winning based on the number of outs. At the same time, they are considering their pot odds in relation to how much they have already invested. They are also assessing theirs and their opponents’ stack sizes. There are many variables that need to be taken into account in every hand that some players have got the game down to an almost exact science.

Perhaps the best indicator that poker can now be played in a scientific way with strategy and methodology prevailing over luck is the fact that artificial intelligence has mastered the game. Pluribus, an AI machine designed by boffins at Carnegie Mellon University, recently managed to beat the likes of Darren Elias and Chris Ferguson in a game of six-hand poker.

Scott Blumstein is a Recent Success Story




Caption: Scott Blumstein won the 2017 WSOP when he hit a deuce on the river.

Since the poker boom, a number of WSOP Main Event winners have been players who started off playing online before trying their hand against the pros in Vegas. One of the most recent examples of this type of player is Scott Blumstein. He came out on top against 7,220 other players in 2017 and took home $8.15 million. Prior to completing the ultimate endurance test and winning the world’s premier poker tournament over three days, Blumstein racked up a decent amount of earnings online during his college days.

Blumstein has almost $150,000 in online earnings. Most of which he gained from grafting regularly while studying for his accounting course at Temple University. It took some time to accrue this amount of money, and Blumstein cleverly opted to up the stakes as his bankroll increased. He managed to put himself into a position where the $10,000 buy-in to the WSOP made financial sense. He was well rewarded for his investment.

Is It Possible to Replicate Their Triumphs?

The great news for aspiring poker pros who want to take on the best in the business at the WSOP is the fact that anyone who is dedicated enough has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of players like Moneymaker and Blumstein. Moneymaker was slightly more fortunate than the latter, as he won a competition for a place in the tournament. Blumstein took the approach of a number of professionals and steadily grew his bankroll while gaining vital experience at the same time.

Players who are serious about reaching the big time can use Legal Betting to find a list of the best online poker sites in 2020. This method means that players can find bonuses to get them started in the game. It can prove fruitful if they want to start building up their bankroll straight away by playing in low stakes tournaments.

Poker is a game which requires a lot of practice and patience. Players can play and watch training videos to improve. It also takes a lot of time to get to the top. The beauty is that anyone can win the WSOP Main Event if they put their mind to it. The best option would be to try to replicate Blumstein’s success. Become an expert online before entering the Vegas competition and you may be the next WSOP winner.

The featured image is from Chris Malinao Burgett/ @norestinthewild

Sports Betting Tips for New Players

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Sports Betting Tips

With lock-down measures easing around the world, sports are slowly coming back. With it, comes the sports lovers need to gamble on the events, have fun and hopefully make money. The football season may have just ended but it’s just a few weeks before the major leagues start their new seasons. The US Open is starting in a few days and boxing is thriving with Povetkin scoring an upset knock out over Dillian Whyte in Essex. Whatever sport you’re into, there’s something for you. But are you maximising your chances of winning? This article will provide some useful sports betting tips to help your chances next time you have a flutter.

Pick the Right Sportsbook

The gambling market is saturated with sportsbooks. There are so many options available it can be overwhelming to a new sports bettor. Sites like Bettinglounge are dedicated to providing information on the best betting sites around. This means the most ethical, best value and best operationally too. Don’t just pick the first sportsbook you come across, do some research and sign up to the one that will treat you as their number one customer.

Sign up for Bonuses

If you are signing up to a new site and not getting any bonuses, you’re doing something wrong. All the major sites should offer bonuses in exchange for your custom. This can come in the form of a free bet or matched deposit. Either way, you should be taking advantage of these bonuses. It’s free money! Why wouldn’t you? There’s nothing better than winning money on a free bet.

Find Your Niche

Did you know that there are over 200 recognised sports? It’s amazing that there is such a variety of games for people to play, watch and bet on isn’t it? This is a problem when it comes to betting though. Generally, those who win from sports betting know something about the field. They have a dedicated interest in it and know intimate knowledge that gives them some kind of edge. I recommend sticking to betting on a sport that you know well. Otherwise, you may as well just play roulette.

The old saying “knowledge is power” is true for gambling too. A football fan who knows that West Ham United are terrible at home with an injury to a key player can profit with astute betting. Stick to betting on sports you know well and you will have a better chance of earning.

Sports Betting Forums

There’s a wealth of knowledge available from other sports bettors. Some are professional and are paid for their tips. Sports betting forums are a great place to learn about betting, how to identify when a bet is good and when odds are in your favour. A quick google search brings up over 6.8 million results. Why not join a community and enhance your knowledge of betting?  

Know When to Stop

It’s easier said than done for some people, but knowing when to stop is an important skill in all forms of gambling. Don’t gamble with money you can ill afford to lose, when drunk or tired. These are all recipes for disaster and will almost certainly cost you money. If you want more information on this area, check out our responsible gambling page.

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Who Are The Most Famous Poker Players?

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Famous Poker Players

Poker has generated interest from lots of different specialisms. Many an actor, sportsman and comedian have sat at the felt on equal terms with professionals. The beauty of poker is the opportunity one has to sit with the best, albeit without a handicap. There are few professions where this is possible. This article will share information on some famous poker players with you, please accept our apologies if your personal favourite is not in the list.

Johnny Chan

Johnny will forever be remembered for his role in the 1998 movie Rounders with Matt Damon and Ed Norton. He was cast in the role due to winning the WSOP main event in back to back years (87 & 88) and shared an acting scene with Matt Damon. Johnny Chan is one of the best players around and currently has 10 WSOP bracelets to his name.

Doyle Brunson

Doyle or “Texas Dolly” has been around the poker world for some time. He has been through the different poker eras and is still playing today at the ripe old age of 86. Doyle is known for his aggressive style which was unique at the time. He authored the bible of poker “Super System” which is a must for all poker enthusiasts. Doyle also has 10 WSOP bracelets to his name.

Phil Hellmuth

Love him or hate him, you can’t get away from the “poker brat’s” charisma. There are countless videos of Phil blowing up on camera but the truth is, he’s an amazing tournament player and successful businessman. Phil has 15 WSOP bracelets to his name with a win as recent as 2018. Phil has authored several books with relative success and is, despite his tantrums generally loved by most who make his acquaintance.

Daniel Negreanu

At 46 years old, he isn’t “The Kid” anymore, but Daniel Negreanu certainly sits in good company as one of the most famous players on the planet. The face of PokerStars for 12 years, this Canadian-Romanian has 6 WSOP bracelets. He has gained popularity for his likeable nature and ability to call out opponents’ cards on TV. A skill many professionals have of course but keep quiet, Negreanu has used this skill well to market himself. He is also famed for the small ball poker strategy which exploded in popularity in the last decade.

Phil Ivey

Last but not least, the one and only, Phil Ivey. This man eats, sleeps and breathes poker. He has been known the world over as the best poker player on the planet. For this reason, he has to make the list. The man has been cleaning up cash games for decades and is pure business when it comes to poker. No gimmicks, no showmanship, just business. The fact this man has 10 WSOP bracelets despite his attention solely on cash games is testament to his skill. Simply the best.

Special Mentions

  • Tom Dwan
  • Amarillo Slim
  • Chip Reese
  • Stu Ungar
  • Chris Moneymaker

There are lots of famous poker players in the world. Dislike our list? Contact us and leave feedback.

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Is Poker Gambling or Skill?

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Is Poker Gambling? Skill or Chance?

It’s a question asked by many around the world. In order to answer the question in entirety, we need to look at several questions. Does poker player’s decision making significantly influence the result/outcome? How much skill is required to win? How does poker compare to other games of chance? What does the law say? We will look at each question separately before answering the question “is poker gambling?”.

Does poker players decision making significantly influence the result/outcome?

Texas Hold’em requires players to pick from several options at any one time. There’s no question that the decisions they take influence the result of a pot, cash game session or tournament. One can decide whether to check, fold, call or bet. This freedom of control is an important thing to remember and can’t be understated. Not only can a player decide on this, they also have control over the size of the bet. This means they not only exercise control over whether they continue in the hand but also to what extent and for how much. That’s a lot of influence. Poker player’s bets can affect the result/outcome as a bet can directly result in opponents folding or calling, thus, decision making impacts the result, every hand.

How much skill is required to win at poker?

It’s irrefutable that skill is required to win at poker. When I mean “win”, I don’t mean one hand in isolation. I mean a sample size that would satisfy a jury of sufficient volume. The definition of skill is “the ability to do something well; expertise”. Clearly, anyone who has a decent ITM tournament rate, a positive ROI or is a consistent winner at cash games has expertise in that format. With poker getting harder to win every year, one needs to improve and enhance their skills to continue winning. That aside though, let’s break down a Texas Hold’em hand to deduce many of the skills required in decision making.

Pre-FlopChoosing what hands to play requires understanding of maths, position, table awareness and an appreciation of starting hands value. There are 169 hand combinations (assuming K7s/K7d are the same). Each hand and in a different position pose the same question. Are you playing and if so, how much for?
Flop & TurnOnce you get to the flop, your hand is beginning to come together. Now the game becomes more complex. You need to understand what hand ranges your opponent is likely to have. You also need assess what they perceive of your hand. One needs to quickly identify the relative strength of their hand. Finally, a poker player may also need need to calculate outs – what % you have of hitting your straight.
RiverIf you’ve continued past the turn, you are now at the final round of betting. Now you need to make a decision on whether your hand is best or likely to be best. If you are facing a bet, you need to quickly calculate the pot odds and whether calling is profitable in the long run. Alternatively, you may have missed your draw and consider a bluff. This involves calculating an appropriate bet size, factoring in your opponents’ likely hand and the probability they will fold.

Clearly there is a lot of complex decision making involved. The more complex an event is – the less impact chance has.

Skills required to play poker well

  • Maths (pot odds)
  • Psychology (reading opponents)
  • Mental toughness (ability to not tilt)
  • Budgeting skills (bankroll management)
  • Shrewdness/Ruthlessness (game selection)
  • Accuracy (knowing how much to value bet or bluff)
  • Recall (memorising hands to make informed decisions)
  • Attention to detail (watching opponents to pick up patterns)

How does poker compare to other games of chance?

There’s little comparison between poker and the other casino games. Poker and other games of chance involve money being wagered, the house takes a rake and some use a playing deck e.g. blackjack. That’s where the comparisons end. Other casino games involve very little decision making. They are usually limited to 1 or 2 decisions; how much to bet and which number to bet on. To compare games like roulette to poker, is akin to comparing Snakes and Ladders to Risk just because they are both board games.
There is an exception to the other forms of gambling in sports betting. It’s a combination of skill and chance. There is undoubtedly a lot of skill in learning teams form, finding the best odds and picking the best sportsbooks. Whilst very few make a living from casino games, many are professional tipsters and sports betting professionals.

What does the law say about poker?

The UK gambling commission cites poker is a card game which involves elements of both chance and skill and is therefore classified as a game of chance under the Act by virtue of s.6(2). The law is pretty clear it views poker as a combination of skill and chance.

I contend it is a game dominated by skill with elements of chance. UK law answers yes to the question “is poker gambling?”. The selfish benefit of this is that poker winnings in UK are not subject to tax, unlike many other countries. But this judgement is still painful. When a professional poker player wants to buy a house or get a loan, stating “professional poker player” on their application will always be scoffed at.

is poker gambling

The problem with legality over poker is that those who judge it seem to understate the complex nature of the game. Mike Sexton famously said “poker is a game that takes five minutes to learn and a lifetime to master”. This is one of the truest poker statements. Any Tom, Dick or Harry can learn the rules in a few minutes (check out our how to play article) and sit and play but in order make consistent winnings, you need to become an expert.

Is Poker Gambling? The Conclusion

I concede poker is gambling when taken in isolation on one tournament or hand. This is the extent of my concession. As with many endeavours, the greater the volume, the less impact chance has. Many sports have elements of chance that can impact one result. It’s one of the reasons we love football’s FA cup. To see a minor team, score an upset as an underdog is thrilling. Who would win if they played 10 or 20 times? We all know the answer. You can apply this thinking to poker. The experts can have losing sessions, even a losing month. Have a look at their results at the end of the year and you will see a common pattern. They all win. My conclusion on whether poker is gambling is founded in logic and backed up by personal, empirical evidence too. I have never had a losing year.

Crypto Poker – Have You Heard of it?

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Crypto Poker

First of all, let me preface this article by stating Texas Hold’em Questions does not encourage cryptocurrency gambling. This article is an educational resource for those interested in learning more about crypto poker and it’s existence, together with it’s advantages and disadvantages.

A few years ago, crypto currency swept the world by storm. You remember the news right? The gambling industry took notice too and saw another medium to make money. Online poker was not exempt from this. Some saw a loophole and way to bring back poker players who were thrown out of the market or otherwise dissuaded from playing. Legislation in some places in the world heavily regulate online gambling and make playing online poker very difficult. This led to new websites popping up, offering the chance to play poker with cryptocurrency.

What is Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency is digital money or currency that is secured by cryptography. A clever, complex model that makes it practically impossible to fake or counterfeit. Most cryptocurrency is based on blockchain technology.  Bitcoin was the first famous cryptocurrency, founded in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto. It gained significant jump in share prices in 2013 jumping to $770 by January 2014. At the time of this article, 1 bitcoin is currently valued at $11,272.

How to Buy Cryptocurrency?

In order to gamble on a crypto poker site, you need to have cryptocurrency to gamble with. It’s quite straightforward but there are a few steps. This means registering an account an exchange. There many options here including Binance or Coinbase. After opening an account, you can then open a e-wallet. Most allow you to deposit money with usual methods like Skrill, PayPal or card.  Then, you can buy the cryptocurrency and move it from the exchange to your e-wallet. FYI- The most popular cryptocurrencies to buy are Bitcoin, Ethereum or Litecoin. With cryprocurrency in your wallet, you are then ready to gamble. Sign up to the online poker site you want to play on and transfer from your e-wallet and you’re ready to gamble.

Crypto Poker Sites

There are numerous crypto poker websites around. A quick google search will reveal this. Do your due diligence and read the reviews before depositing. It’s always worthwhile checking to ensure they operate safely. Nitrogensports, Ignition, CoinPoker and Fair Poker are some of the major, trusted cryptocurrency poker sites around. They offer flexible options, pay out fast and offer a decent range of games. There are sites dedicated to proving reviews of these sites. Check out Cryptomaniaks for advice on the best crypto poker sites.

Pros and Cons of Cryptocurrency for Online Gambling

Pros of Cryptocurrency Gambling

Pro – Privacy
It’s far easier to be anonymous with cryptocurrency than the normal cash method. This has some advantages for those who like to gamble without big brother watching.

Pro – No legal restrictions
Where some countries banks won’t allow you to deposit on a poker site, they will allow you to process deposits and cashouts via cryptocurrency.

Pro – Low fees
Generally lower than bank fees to process.

Pro – Softer sites
Most professionals are earning on a living on the major poker sites with real money. This means crypto poker sites are filled with weaker players who view poker as a bit of fun or recreational income.

Cons of Cryptocurrency gambling

Con – Volatile value
Unlike real money currency, cryptocurrency value tends to move more. They are more volatile and increase and decrease in value regularly. This may be stressful for some and increases the overall risk of gambling.

Con –  Less security
Be wary of scams or fraud with cryptocurrency. It’s well established that cryptocurrency is used for malevolent reasons.

Con –  Refund problems
I have not found anywhere where you can claim refunds or chargebacks. I don’t think crypto poker sites have a policy on this.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a real money poker site or a crypto poker site, you need to play well to win. Sign up to our poker training video membership and start improving your game today.

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UK Poker Tax Rules 2020

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

UK Poker Tax

Few love the idea of paying over 20% or more of their earnings to the government.  If you’re a winning player and worried about the tax implications in UK. Don’t worry, I will do my best to answer UK poker tax related questions in this article.

Do you have to pay tax on poker winnings in the UK?

Gambling and poker winnings are not taxed in the UK. This is music to the ears of poker players based in UK. It doesn’t matter whether you play online poker or at the casino. Both are considered gambling winnings and thus not taxable. This law has been in place since 2001 when Gordon Brown, then Chancellor of Exchequer got rid of it. This was largely due to the perceived thread of offshore betting.

There is no tax on poker winnings online or in casinos the United Kingdom. You get to keep 100% of your winnings.

Why is there no UK poker tax?

Simply put, the government makes enough money from the operators themselves. An industry that literally generates billions of pounds every year. There is a tax levy that the gambling operators must pay. Like any other business that operates, they pay tax on their profits. After laws changed in the early 2000’s the UK passed the Gambling Act 2005 and founded the UK Gambling Commission. Both designed to ensure compliance and regulate online gambling.

The Gambling Act 2005

This law had three main objectives; prevention of gambling becoming source of crime or supporting crime, ensuring gambling is fair and open and protecting children or vulnerable parties being exploited by gambling.

What about gambling winnings abroad?

It depends what you mean by abroad really. If you are playing on an online poker site based off-shore, you are safe. The UK Gambling Commission insists that any site offering gambling to Brits have to be licensed. Where they are based is irrelevant. Thus, you are safe here. If you are gambling abroad in USA or any other country that taxes gambling winnings, you should do due diligence of the law in that country. In the USA, you are not required to pay tax on winnings. However, you will need to declare it to IRS. There are a couple of forms you will need to fill in to ensure you can bring back all your winnings. These are the W-8BEN and W-7.

Winnings in Las Vegas are not taxed for UK residents, however, you need to fill in a few forms and show your passport.

Professional UK Poker Tax?

Again, no tax is applied. HMRC makes no distinction between professional poker playing or hobby. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t record keep your winnings though. As a professional, you should always keep accurate records so you know your winnings on a monthly and annual basis. In addition to being common sense, it’s good to retain records if you are ever investigated. If you want help with record keeping, I suggest you read our poker excel dashboard article or ROI article for more information.

Disclaimer

If you are concerned about taxes, please consult a qualified tax accountant or contact HMRC directly. The content in this article is researched but I am not a tax accountant and the article is used as a guide. References to relevant laws and authorities are below.

Football Returns – Time to Bet

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Football Returns

The beast is back! Premier League football returns to our screens on Wednesday 17th June and it couldn’t come sooner for regular sports bettors. Strap yourself in and prepare yourselves for six weeks of nonstop football.

Premier League News

So, what can we actually expect? For one, the viewing figures will be through the roof. BT Sports in the UK released figures that confirmed over 600k tuned in for Dortmund’s match with Schalke. Six times higher than their figures for the same fixture earlier in the season.

Part of why we love the Premier League is the fact that on any given day, any team can beat one another. But a huge weapon in some team’s arsenal, is the 12th man. Their loyal army of fans to push them on. That’s been stripped away so wave goodbye to home advantage. That’ll be reflected in the odds bookmakers are providing too.
I’d strongly argue that the usual favourites are better placed now to get the three points. With 5 substitutions available to be made, the likes of Manchester City are undoubtedly going to take advantage of their stacked bench. With just Pukki and Cantwell netting more than once for Norwich City, they however won’t be too thrilled when turning to their bench.

Football Tips

Big Boys To Win

Comprehensive victories can be anticipated. The big boys will show no mercy and be looking to roll over their weaker opponents. The top six in Germany have all already netted 4 in a game since the return. Bayern, Dortmund and Leipzig managing it more than once. Bayern have won all their games. And apart from their defeat to their title rivals, Dortmund have also won every game. Whilst Leipzig in third are unbeaten.

Fitness

Teams with more advanced training facilities and fitter squads will have a significant advantage. After months of no proper game time or training with teams, those with enhanced facility to train and get players match read will take benefit. Now is not the time to bet on the underdogs in this area.

Playing for something? Bet on them.

Definitely get behind the teams who’ll be fighting for something. The corona pandemic has had a massive financial hit on all football teams. Staying in the Premier League or fighting for European football has added even more value to an already lucrative pay.

Tottenham Hotspurs – Kane and Son are back

Don’t count Spurs out just yet. They’ve managed to recover the injured Kane and Son for one last push at getting into the top 4. But only if they get can all three points in a mouth-watering tie against Manchester United, who are also aiming to push Chelsea off 4th. That’ll be Friday 19th.

Final Thoughts

Football and sports returning is reason to get excited. The bookies will be happier than anyone, after several months of inactivity. Betting shops will re-open on the 15th June in accordance with government guidelines, provided they are covid secure. With many betting shops small in size and machines close together, how they operate safely is a challenge in itself. Many football fans will watch from home. Fixtures will be available for free, through either the BBC, Sky Pick or Amazon. While BT are offering a reduced monthly price too.

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