The answer is two-fold.

Phishing scams in the traditional sense are the result of actions by criminal syndicates. These are the actions of black hat hackers – the corrupt Internet predators – who are searching for ways to retrieve personal account information from people via e-mails. It is hardly hacking if one volunteers the information and therein rests the challenge.

How do Determine if it is a Phishing Scam?

Firstly, it’s important to know just how many online casinos you register at, or attempt to register at. If you are unfamiliar with a specific gaming operator asking for your information then a red flag should immediately be raised. Understand that online gaming operators – the licensed and registered operations – generally do not engage in any such behaviour. They will only verify information with you that you have already submitted to their sites. Therefore think twice before volunteering any sensitive information to online e-mail requests.

Your personal account information is personal. Never send credit card details or addresses and so forth to unknown entities on the web. Emails are the easiest ways of getting information without having to hack for them.

Always check the URLs – the web addresses – of the emails and the associated links you are replying to. Remember that you may well see a hyperlink to a specific casino, but upon further inspection, the actual web address will not be that of the casino you have just registered with. The way in which these phishing and pharming scam artists catch you is by way of specialized software that you download over the net. These tracking cookies are the easiest ways of determining where you have been – your online footprints so to speak!

Ways to Combat Phishing Scams

Throw caution to the wind. Don’t just assume that it’s all above board. Remember the Nigerian scams, the deceased billionaires who want to bequeath their estates to you, or the get rich quick scams for oil companies and so forth? They’re all an attempt to get your personal information and then siphon money from your accounts by using your identity.

The best advice is this: change your passwords regularly. Use maximum online security programs. Clear your cookies and your cache from time to time, use registry cleaners, spyware tools and always remain vigilant. As long as money is changing hands online, there will be phishing scams by the truckload.

Remember that if ever you’re unsure you should always contact the casino in question. Use the telephone, fax or email address to verify whether it was in fact them requesting such info from you.

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What Happened at Sony?

Without raising a ruckus, some 77 million members of Sony’s PSN (Playstation Network) had their personal data hacked. The information that was retrieved included names, addresses and in all likelihood credit card details. As soon as Sony heard the news, they shut down the network. But the good news is that the 3 digit credit card codes were not stored, so they’ve not been compromised at all. The encryption of personal biographical data was not done, so hackers retrieved substantial personal information. This massive internal breach occurred on the 19^th April but details only emerged by the 25^th.  There is little evidence to suggest – at present at least – that credit card data was taken. As stated, the CVC numbers were not stored, so online security should be watertight. Sony recommends that users change their online passwords to enhance their gaming security.

Top Tips for Enhanced Gaming Security

At the top of the list of security tips is privacy. It’s 100% advisable not to share your online gaming password with anyone. But it goes beyond that because few people literally give out their passwords to their online accounts. It goes to the issue of where and how you store your password. Using a laptop or PC that doesn’t lock (or doesn’t have a password) is foolhardy, especially if multiple users make use of your Internet connection and computer. There are multiple password programs that remember your passwords and allow you to quickly and easily log into sites online. Sites like Roboform and others are good examples. If you’re going to use this type of software then take care not to store all your information where others can easily retrieve it. Use encryption protocols, stronger passwords and more sensible alphanumeric codes.

A good rule of thumb is to use longer passwords that contain uppercase, lowercase, letters and numbers. This will make it virtually impossible to guess or to figure out. Don’t use things like your identification number, social security number, birthday or name of your spouse/partner or pet. These rank among the most instantly recognizable passwords. Site security extends beyond the passwords to the manner in which you deposit funds into your online account. Remember that credit cards are generally safe to use, provided they are your own and that you follow proper protocol. Use of credit cards is enhanced by way of a preferred payment processing option in PayPal, Neteller, Ukash, Instadebit, Bank Wire, PaySafe Card, Moneta and others. Debit cards are totally safe ways to provide for secure deposits.

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What can Players expect from this Merger Agreement?

The hope is that the unified front created by the merger will position this super-gaming enterprise well for the time a regulated gaming market comes into being in the USA. This is to say that bingo, poker, casino and sports punting will be well within the sites of this mega-entity. And with so much more bargaining power, its ability to act as a lobbying power will greatly increase. And players stand to benefit from greater freedoms in this regard. Party Poker remains the leading power player in the online poker market. This was especially true prior to the UIGEA restriction in the USA. And for sports betting enthusiasts, it’s Bwin that rules the roost. Together these two major players will provide enough gaming firepower to cover a massive sector of the market. Naturally it’s the players who will benefit most from this business deal. In an exciting development, the Chief Executive Officers of each of the companies will become Co-CEOs. This will allow for a BOD (Board of Directors) comprised of 50% Party Gaming and 50% Bwin directorship. This infusion of knowledge – a combination of the brains trust of both enterprises – will inspire creativity, financial dominance and ingenuity. In terms of actual share ownership, it is estimated that Party Gaming shareholders will own 48.36% & Bwin shareholders 51.64%. The new super-company will then be listed on the LSE (London Stock Exchange).

Big Changes Sit Well with Players and Investors

The power players of the gaming world – PartyGaming CEO Jim Ryan and bwin CEO Norbert Teufelberger – are thrilled with the opportunities this merger is creating. Not only will players benefit from innovative gaming platforms and cutting-edge software, but they’ll also dominate the gaming world. This is true in games like bingo, poker, casino and sports betting. Greater firepower will provide players with more entertainment. This quality-for-money approach is sure to win over the crowds as expansionary moves take place. The financial situation of both companies is sound and there is excess reserve capacity to charter new territory together in search of the ultimate online gaming experience. In terms of strategic, financial and operational capacity, the merger is like manna from heaven. The positive changes set to take place will change the gaming landscape forever.

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Other Top Tips to Avoid Getting Trapped

If you’re looking for something like “Facebook bingo” and visit facebookbingo.com somewhere around the 5^th or 6^th result, you’re likely to be a little disappointed because finding this information will not lead you closer to what you’re searching for. A quick search results in your finding the page – however without Facebook anywhere on the page! In this way the Google search engine queries check into things like keywords, tags, meta-tags and headings among others. It’s wise practice to ensure that your search query is answered fully by the sites that come up after your search. As an example, FacebookBingo.com lists a whole lot of gaming companies that are displayed on Facebook as bingo games. Sure you’re going to see 888ladies and Cheeky Bingo among others, but the title – FacebookBingo.com – is simply misleading as there’s no reference in the text to the said name. So when you go out there on the web and search for online casinos, be sure not to get trapped in the mumbo jumbo of the search engines. There’s simply too much irrelevant content coming up in top search queries. You may well miss what you’re after if you rely too heavily on these results.

Another issue – and one that is very important – is that of online casinos fronting as legitimate operations. These gaming destinations are not preferred and certainly not safe havens for your gaming or your deposits. Any online casino that you wager your hard-earned money at should be a legitimate entity. It is wise practice to check out the gaming license of your selected online casino in order to verify its authenticity first. Taken together these steps should certainly make for a more enjoyable gaming experience.

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What advantages are there to playing on poker networks?

Online poker networks often have player counts where members can quickly understand how many folks are participating in at the live poker tables. This information is regularly updated and provides an instant-glimpse of the stats in real time.

The added advantage of being part and parcel of a large poker network is that you get to enjoy terrific bonuses and promotional offers. Here are some of the prized online poker rooms that you can enjoy gaming at: PartyPoker, iPoker Network, Ongame.it, Microgaming Poker Network, Pacific Poker, Action Poker Network, World Poker Exchange and others.

Players on the same network are automatically pooled together. This allows for uniformity in the gaming platform as well as access to a global player base. The spill over effects – especially with world class networks, is that there is loads more money changing hands. Big poker networks, such as those listed above will provide players with mega poker pots and a fun-filled gaming community. It’s this very aspect which reels in the crowds and keeps them coming back for more.

Online poker networks provide quantifiable information to their players. For example things like whether US players are allowed to game or not, average player count, the software gaming providers and the number of member sites are listed. This makes it easy to get gaming at the right poker network in no time at all. Added extras include bonus codes. These are alphanumeric codes allowing players to receive extra-special promotional offers. For example a network may allow you to receive a sign-up bonus or gift you entry into a tourney, freeroll, satellite or cash game.

The busiest times to play online are between 15:00 and 20:00 according to daily stats reports from poker networks PKR and OnGame Network. Player numbers can quite easily double from 4,000 to 8,000 (in smaller poker networks or as many as 25,000 + in bigger networks) players in a matter of hours.

You can check out the full list of sites on each network right here

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Some folks in the poker fraternity believe that Lindqvro is in fact Viktor Blom. That in itself would prove to be very problematic because Blom is contracted to PokerStars and such a union would comprise a breach of contract. The two players do indeed sport similarities in gaming style but there are some nuances and subtleties that separate their gaming. These include various expressions used in the online poker chat rooms, the bet sizing and various table options that differ. Viktor Blom commented on the TwoPlusTwo forum that he is certainly not Lindqvro and that he only plays for PokerStars. That would certainly make sense because Blom gets to play as many games as he likes at PokerStars and there would be little motivation to play at FTP. As for Lindqvro – he’s all but vanished. Just as quickly as he appeared, he disappeared. His $300k large account for a day’s play remains the only evidence that this enigmatic persona ever existed. Perhaps the next time a big tourney becomes available at Full Tilt Poker he’ll show up – but who knows…

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One of the main differences between online and offline poker is the presence of poker tells. When you play online poker, there is very little opportunity to gain information from your opponents that you can use against them. You cannot see their faces or their actions, so you really only have their betting patterns to go on. But, if you play poker offline, you can see the player, see their poker face, see all their twitches, and gain a lot more information from them. This way, you will be able to have a lot more information to supplement your poker strategy. But remember – your opponents can see you as well, so they may be able to get an advantage over you too!

The other difference between online and offline poker is the speed of the game. When you play at an online poker room, you will be dealt a lot more hands per hour than you would if you were playing offline. When you play in poker tournaments and poker events offline, the dealer has to collect the cards, shuffle them, and re deal them every hand. This takes quite a long time. When you are playing in an online poker tournament, this is all done automatically, so it goes a lot faster.

As you can see, there are not that many differences between online and offline poker. All the rules are the same, the game play is the same, and the skills it takes to be profitable are very similar. So next time you have a chance to play poker offline, don’t be afraid to give it a shot. Just envision that you are playing at your favourite online poker room or one of your favourite poker sites, play your poker strategy, and win!

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When was this all made public?

During the latest World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Nevada multiple poker players from the USA and Canada were surveyed. And all of them used some or other variant of these products for one reason only: to focus on the gaming. These substances work by allowing players to concentrate for longer periods of time and also provide them with the endurance to outlast their opponents. In the same study, stats revealed that some 73% of the players (males in their 20s) were regular users and abusers of these substances for focus and concentration. The remaining players used narcotics to improve retention, stay calm and stay awake.

Poker players are not alone in this

The list of professional people using such ‘enhancement drugs’ is extensive and includes pilots and even musicians. To date, this is the only survey that details what poker players take during games. They were provided with a list containing multiple questions to assess the use of these performance enhancing products. The survey was inconclusive with regards to caffeine. For example workers in the industrial sector and other heavy labor jobs made regular use of coffee to stay alert on the job. There are loads of benefits to using coffee – including those antioxidants. But it’s the caffeine that’s the no-no in coffee. This substance is a stimulant and can have horrid side effects such as the shakes, nervousness and anxiety. Even so, it’s regularly seen at the poker tables. So perhaps it makes a whole lot more sense now that poker players are regular coffee drinkers and probably always will be.

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• Google and other search engines may not be able to effectively filter out non-spam forums from Spammy forums when a search is run on this subject. Therefore it is advisable to run the organic search and possibly even supplement it with the non-organic search results. These paid advertisements may also yield results favorable to poker readers and players.
• Once you’re already inside a poker forum, it is a requisite that players check the messages on the forums to make sure that they are not laced with junk content. This is easily verified by way of threads, posts and subjects that promote content other than what is necessitated. Spammy content comes in many forms, some of which may well be related to the subjects being discussed. Note that spam can be from fellow poker room advertisers trying to get players to their sites. Or it may be from pharmaceutical or adult content companies trying to divert traffic to their sites. The best way to avoid this type of material is not to sign up to these forums.
• Once you’re in the forums, we at Java-Poker.net highly recommend that you see if the poker admins are active. This is a great way to check the validity of the forum. Active admins frown upon spammy posts and threads and actually delete them on an ongoing basis. We recommend signing up to poker forums where the admins and support staff are actively engaged in monitoring the content that gets posted. As a rule we also strongly recommend creating a new email address for use in poker forums. That way if you are subject to spammy mail it will not interfere with your personal email accounts.

A great example of a poker forum is www.neverfold.net.  Players will notice that there are some 4,000 registered forum members. Additionally there are 30,000 threads and some 48,000 posts. That’s certainly impressive by anyone’s admission. Some of the subjects on offer include: Playing Poker, Poker Strategies, Poker General Discussion, Poker Newbies, Tournament Hand Analysis and Ring Game Analysis. These topics are neatly structured and the content is actively monitored to detect and eliminate spam.  Many such poker forums abound and a thorough search will separate the great forums from the mediocre ones.

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