As a member of online poker room UltimateBet’s team of pros, Adam Levy may have been taken aback when the site’s cardroom consultant, Phil Hellmuth, berated him for five minutes straight at the 2008 WSOP main event, but he didn’t let it show. Hellmuth accused him of being a donkey, of being lucky, of pretty much everything short of cheating him out of a win, but donkeys don’t win over $3.2 million at the tables in just over five years, mostly in smaller tournaments. Adam, who plays as “Roothlus” on multiple poker sites — from places like Casino Las Vegas to Casino Japan — has made a name for himself by being “that guy.”

 

 

Born in Flushing, New York, Adam’s first card game was Magic: The Gathering, and he’d regularly attend events with his friends that were centered around the card game. One day, someone brought up the idea that they should try poker and he went from collectible card games to something that can be played with a deck purchased at any corner store in America.

Levy’s a genuinely curious player, who feels like he should learn something new every day. His willingness to discuss his game and ask other pros about things has made him a valuable resource for a lot of online poker players. He regularly answers questions on the UltimateBet blog, a veritable poker school for people of all skill levels, and is very frank about how admiration about players both old and new to the game. “Patience really is crucial. Try to talk to as many different people about poker. Bankroll management is so important as well,” Levy said in an interview on the UltimateBet website. You’re never too good to appreciate and seek out poker tips to improve your game.

As an online poker pro, many people assume that Levy’s routine is to simply get out of bed and crawl to the computer, but that’s not the case at all. “I generally get up an hour or two before I start playing poker. I try to not roll out of bed and jump on the computer. It’s just a bad habit. If I don’t shower, have breakfast, etc. in the morning I just don’t feel totally at 100%.” He says. This routine also mirrors his real-world tournament experience, in which he tries to go to bed early, dress nicely, and go in with a positive attitude.

Levy realizes he’s lucky to be able to play poker as a professional, but even those that treat it as their job can still find some excitement at the tables. “There is nothing more exciting or gut wrenching than No Limit Holdem. You can be dead to rights in the hand and someone can hit a miracle card to stay alive.”

Follow Levy online at UltimateBet under the username “Roothlus,” or watch any poker tournament on TV. If you see Phil Hellmuth flipping out, there’s a chance that Adam could be getting it with both barrels again.

Elvis may have left the building some time ago and Las Vegas could be a many hours plane-ride away, so if you wanted to gamble there is always the option of an online casino.  These have erupted into our consciousness over the last few years and considering that many of us only sent our first email around 10 or 11 years ago, the scope and speed of development of the online casino industry is impressive, to say the least.

So what is so great about an online casino?  If you have never been, or it’s been a while since you have visited one, might I recommend a return visit sometime soon?  There are simply hundreds of online casino games to be played.  Even within one specific type of game, there might be tens of different game options to keep even the most demanding of gambler content in their chosen online casino.  If poker is your thing, you can find games appropriate to your level, both in terms of skill and also often by how much you are willing to wager (the two usually go hand-in-hand, though not always).  Perhaps it’s Blackjack that lights your fire and here again; there are dozens of different ways that you can be involved in your favoured game.  The other great thing about an online casino is that the technology used in it has developed so quickly that there will be improvements and tweaks to the already impressive array of games.

With an industry incapable of standing still, don’t you think it might be time to try an online casino?

There are as many types of online casinos, catering to the needs of their assorted punters, as there are gamblers looking at each casino, to discover, which one has got their name on it.  In the same way that it is impossible to pigeon-hole an online gambler, you can’t neatly box online casinos – there is just too much variety.  The thing you will assuredly find though, whatever time of the day you choose to play (though of course 8:00pm EST, is the middle of the night for someone in the Middle East), is a like-minded person, who is looking for a way to have some fun and wile away a few hours, relaxing at the virtual tables of an online casino.

The choice of games at online casinos is pretty staggering.  Blackjack your thing, then you’ll find it there.  There is any number of poker games going on too; Hold’em, seven card stud, Omaha – you name it, decent online casinos will have it.  They are beginning to take note of the demographics of those who play in online casinos (i.e. a large percentage of women and young people) and have adjusted their games to suit their needs – more arcade play, perhaps more puzzle-type games too.

In terms of how you play in online casinos, there is also a wealth of choice.  Play through your web-browser for a quick start, play download software from the online casino of your choice for an enhanced visual and audio experience, or play live, like you are actually there in the casino on the screen. 

Online casinos are changing rapidly, don’t miss out.

The most important aspect of any online casino is how they safeguard your money.  Before you begin to gamble online, you will first need to deposit money, and before you do this you must be aware and comfortable with the casinos online deposit methods.  Many people no longer feel safe sharing their credit card information online, and for good reason, as all online business have had to contend with outside persons trying to access their client’s credit card information, including internet gambling sites.

Online Casinos have combated this problem by incorporating the services of a number of well known and trusted online merchants who allow you to deposit, withdraw, and transfer money directly through their sites to the casino.  You can still deposit funds using most major credit cards, but your information is kept secret and inaccessible.  You may also choose to wire transfer/direct deposit funds directly from your bank account to the online casinos deposit system.

 Some of the most well know online merchants who provide online casino deposits are NETeller, FirePay, Citadel, and CentralCoin.  Each provides different services depending on the casino.  Some casinos allow you to buy credits online; others allow you to use methods that equate to an online wallet.  Take the time to know your casinos methods and check which online merchant they recommend to make an online casino deposit on their sites to avoid using your credit card directly.  Best of all, you might just find your casino rewarding you safeguarding your online casino deposits as many now give you 10-20% of your deposit amount as a reward for using these online merchants.  After all, it’s only good business for the casinos that your money is kept safe and you are kept happy and gambling!

As a backgammon tournament player, you will undoubtedly wonder what the difference is between online backgammon gambling and its offline counterpart. There are some obvious physical differences and online gambling has the added features that can only be found on the internet, but generally speaking, there is not much different when we consider the framework of the game. We examine some of the main differences:

The convenience factor: When players want to play at an offline gambling tournament, they will need to physically make their way down to the location and play against other players on site. In comparison, online backgammon gambling allows you to access the tournament from the comfort of your own home (or office) and take part without leaving the room.   The hours: Offline gambling tournaments are usually restricted to a certain day and hour. When playing online backgammon, you can always be sure to find a tournament beginning soon. In addition, you are not restricted to the opening and closing hours of the online backgammon site as they operate 24/7.

Legal Moves: When playing in a live tournament, you need to take extra care not to make illegal moves because your opponent has the final say on whether the move is allowed or not. In online backgammon gambling, players need not worry about making illegal moves.   Pip Counting: Playing online has the added advantage of providing you with an automatic pip count on most sites. When playing offline, players need to do the pip counting themselves.