Learn How to Play Mahjong: Ultimate Guide
Content Team
1 year ago
The game of Mahjong consists of tiles and is played by four players. The Qing dynasty is credited for developing it, which spread across the globe by the early 20th century.
Known as Sparrow because of the clacking of the tiles that resembled the chattering of sparrows, its origins are unknown. However, one theory suggests that it’s an adaptation of an earlier card game called “madiao.” Depending on how you shuffle the tiles, locals have also referred to the game as “dry swimming.”
It’s a game of strategy, luck, and skill, and I’ll cover everything you need to know, from the basic rules to the gameplay.
What is Mahjong?
The South China Morning Post reported that Mahjong, or Mah Jongg, originated more than 300 years ago in China. The game requires four players and is widely played in Asia and around the globe.
After being introduced to the United States around 1920 by Joseph P. Babcock, an American businessman who had lived in China, the game gained particular popularity. New York’s Abercrombie & Fitch was the first to sell Mahjong sets.
The game of Mahjong consists of 144 tiles, each displaying an illustration from one of five categories. Chinese symbols or characters are used in the illustrations.
Equipment Needed for Playing Mahjong
Before I explain how to play Mahjong, I’ll list the equipment you’ll need in the sections below.
Tiles
There are 144 tiles in a Mah Jong (Mahjong) set, usually 30 x 20 x 15mm. Plastic has replaced bone or ivory as a common material for these sets. Below, you can learn more about the types of tiles in Mahjong:
- Four sets of nine circle tiles numbered 1-9.
- Among the 36 tiles, nine are in each of four sets.
- Each set of bamboo tiles contains 36 tiles numbered 1-9.
- 1. A sparrow or rice bird often depicts one of the bamboos.
- 2. Red and green bamboos represent 1, 5, 7, and 9.
- 3. The other bamboo tiles are represented only by green bamboos.
- Each of the four winds is represented by four tiles.
- The tiles have 12 dragons:
- Four Red dragons, which represent bright red characters.
- Four Green dragons represent bright green characters.
- Four White dragons, which represent completely blank tiles.
- A capital letter ‘P’ is used to denote a white dragon, which stands for ‘Pai,’ which means pure or white.
Suits
A mahjong set has numbered tiles called suits. Namely, there are only three suits in Mahjong, bamboos, characters, and dots numbered 1 through 9. There are four tiles of each suit, making 108 tiles in all. Since suit tiles can be chowed, punched, konged, or paired, they offer the most flexibility.
Honors
The Wind suit is one of two honor suits. Each tile features a compass direction character — north, east, south, and west. In order to recognize and organize this suit, you must learn to read the cardinal direction characters in Chinese.
There are four sets with four tiles each. Therefore, there are 16 wind tiles in each game set.
Arrows, or dragons, are the other honor suit. Each set of arrow tiles has three tiles. As a result of ancient imperial exams, archery, and Confucius’ cardinal virtues, this trio has multiple meanings.
Seasons and Flowers
Flowers can be worn as an optional suit. Each tile has a picture of a flower and a number ranging from one to four. Interestingly, each region has its way of playing the flower suit. Flowers can be used as wild cards to complete tile combinations or as a Joker in card games. Moreover, you can earn extra points by using flowers.
As with the flower tiles, the seasons are associated with a specific wind:
- Spring – East
- Summer – South
- Autumn – West
- Winter – North
Even though each season has only one tile, all four-season tiles match.
Wild Card or Jokers
Joker tiles can be used in assembling a hand, but for example, you can use four jokers in Southeast Asian and Chinese mahjong variations, including Shanghainese mahjong. On the other hand, you can use eight jokers in American Mahjong.
Dice
To determine seating and wall breaking, dice are used. There are usually two to three dice in a typical set. Therefore, it would be sufficient to use any six-sided dice. There are, however, some differences between mahjong dice and normal board game dice, including rounded corners and red numbers one and four.
Score Cards
In Mahjong, hands range in difficulty from 1 to 88 points, and a simple sum is derived by adding the points from each hand. In order to win, Mahjong can be declared with a minimum of eight points in the official Chinese version. Using a scorecard, you can keep track of your score.
Wind indicators
Wind indicators display the current wind speed. Usually, it’s held by the east (dealer). American Mahjong is referred to as a bettor, as the fifth player bets on who will win.
Different sizes and shapes are available, but generally, the most common forms are a rotating cylinder, disc, or cube and its placeholder.
Scoring Sticks and Coins
There are many ways to play Mahjong, considering many elements such as points, cash, coins, or chips, but the most popular method is with scoring sticks, also known as ”bones”.
This set is ideal if you have a Mahjong set without scoring sticks or prefer to play with more sticks.
Racks and Pushers
Tiles are held in racks while pushers, also known as “extending arms” or “helping hands,” push the wall into place. Note that racks and pushers were traditionally separate. However, the modern set includes racks attached with pushers to make it more convenient.
How to Play Mahjong?
There are variations of the game in different regions, but the basic rules of Mahjong are the same:
- Face the illustration down as you shuffle the tiles.
- Dice are rolled, and the dealer gets the biggest roll, and the person to their right is the first to play.
- The players choose 36 tiles and arrange them into two rows of 18 each.
- After that, the “walls” are pushed forward, leaving a space on the table for discarded tiles.
- As the players take turns, they draw thirteen tiles from the pool, or the dealer divides them.
- When the first player draws a tile from the pool, he or she can keep it or discard it so that their total number remains 13. Then, this process is repeated in a circle by the players. After that, you can take a new tile or pick up one discarded by another player.
- Pong or Kong melds are formed when a player discards a tile, regardless of their turn. Compared to a Chow meld formed when the player to your left discards a tile. Note that a meld made using a discarded tile has to be announced and displayed to the other Mahjong players.
- The player with four melds, or suits, and a pair wins. The total number of tiles required is fourteen.
How to Read Score Cards?
Red, blue, or green numbers or letters represent the hands on a scorecard. Using different colors means using different suits since the colors aren’t specific to a particular suit. For example, there are no suits for flowers and zeros, which will always be blue.
| 1-9 | In accordance with the tile’s specific number (excluding flowers) |
|---|---|
| N,S,E,W | North, South, East, West |
| D | Dragon |
| R | Red Dragon |
| G | Green Dragon |
| 0 | White Dragon (Soap) |
| F | Flower |
To organize the scorecard, you can use common patterns to categorize hands:
| Year | A year’s patterns, such as 2023. 2’s, 0’s, and 3’s would be used in such cases. The white dragon is always used as a zero. |
|---|---|
| 2468 | Patterns that require even numbered tiles. |
| Change-up | This section varies |
| Quints | A hand with at least one quint (5 identical tiles), at least one of which is a Joker. |
| Consecutive Runs | Patterns of consecutive numbers. |
| 13579 | Patterns that require odd-numbered tiles. |
| Winds-Dragons | Patterns requiring wind and dragon tiles. |
| 369 | Patterns using 3’s, 6’s, and 9’s. |
| Singles and Pairs | Patterns with single and paired tiles. |
There are several different combinations for each hand. It’s possible to find combinations with non-matching tiles, but most have at least two matching identical tiles.
| Pair | Two identical tiles. |
| Pung | Three identical tiles. |
| Kong | Four identical tiles. |
| Quint | Five identical tiles, with the use of Jokers. |
| Sextet | Six identical tiles, with the use of Jokers. |
Each hand has a value for scoring or gambling. The hand is marked with an ‘X’ or ‘C,’ depending on whether it is exposed or concealed:
| E | Exposed |
| C | Concealed |
The Charleston (American Mahjong)
The “Charleston” sequences before the gameplay are one of the main differences between American-style Mahjong and other Mahjong styles. Charlestons are exchanges of tiles among players. By passing tiles to other Mahjong players during the Charleston, players can get rid of tiles they don’t want.
There are three stages to the Charleston:
- The First Charleston (required)
- The Second Charleston (optional)
- The Courtesy Pass (optional)
Let’s examine each stage in more detail in the following sections.
First Charleston
You, as a player, must perform the first Charleston regardless of how many hands you have drawn from the wall. The step consists of three passes:
- 1st pass — To the right of each player, three tiles are passed.
- 2nd pass — Players pass three tiles to each other.
- 3rd pass — It’s the responsibility of each player to pass three tiles to the player on the left. When you perform this step, you can choose to perform a “Blind Pass” by taking one, two, or three tiles and passing them to the player to your left.
Second Charleston
Performing the Second Charleston is optional and must be agreed upon by all players. Three passes are involved in this step:
- 1st Pass – Each player passes three tiles to the player on their left.
- 2nd pass – Players pass three tiles to each other.
- 3rd pass – Players pass three tiles to their right. It is possible to perform a “Blind Pass” at this step.
Courtesy Pass
When the First Charleston and Second Charleston are completed, two players who sit across may want to perform one last pass. Depending on the lesser tile request, one, two, or three tiles can be passed. The courtesy pass won’t be completed between a player and the player if no tiles are exchanged.
When all Charleston steps have been completed, the game can begin.
Tips for Playing Mahjong
If you still wonder, “how do you play Mahjong?” don’t worry, as I will explain several Mahjong gameplay tips in the following sections, such as drawing and discarding tiles, calling tiles, rules of joker in Mahjong, how to end the game, and some common errors.
Discarding and Drawing Tiles
The excitement begins as players attempt to improve their hands. Since East has 14 tiles, it discards a tile when it starts the game. Unless a discarded tile is called (claimed by another player), the turn passes to the next player on the right.
Next, a tile is drawn from the wall. Next, the tiles are taken from where the walls were broken. Finally, when two tiles are high; otherwise, the bottom tile is picked.
In either case, the drawn tile can either be discarded or placed in the player’s hand and discarded similarly. Their names are announced upon discarded tiles being placed face up in the center of the table. It won’t take the other players long to figure out which kind of hand you want to build when you discard a tile.
The turn moves to the next player on the left if the next player does not call the discarded tile on the right. Drawing the card, discarding it, and continuing the turn is continued until an interruption occurs by a call.
Calling Tiles
During the play, any player may use the tile they just discarded if it completes either a pung, kong, quint, sextet or some other exposed hand combination (the types of hands marked with an “X” on the scorecard).
- When a hand consists of only one tile, it is not permitted to call one for it to be completed.
- To complete the Mahjong hands, each tile must form a pair with the adjacent tile.
- Those tiles discarded before the most recent update are called dead tiles.
If a player calls for a discarded tile, and that tile doesn’t result in Mahjong, the combination completed by that tile is exposed face up on top of the rack and that combination cannot be changed for the rest of the game. Following the discarding of the tile, the player will discard a tile, and if no one else calls it, the turn will go to the player to the right. Some players’ turns may be skipped when a tile is called.
If several people call at the same time, provisions are made as follows:
- Any tile a player calls to complete the mahjong hand trumps any tile called by any other player.
- As long as none of the calls make sense in terms of completing a mahjong hand, the discarded tile will be given to the nearest player to complete the hand.
You must draw all the tiles in your hand from the wall to hit a concealed hand (the hand with a “C” next to its value on the scorecard) that has been concealed. Except for the last one, which allows you to declare Mahjong, none of these things may be called tiles except for the last one.
Joker Mahjong Rules
In addition to tiles used in a pung, a kong, a quartet, and a sextet, jokers can replace any tile in any combination. As a result, you cannot use tiles for completing a pair or a single tile if you have one in hand.
It is possible to exchange the joker for a tile in an exposed combination when a joker is substituting a tile if you happen to have the tile that is being replaced:
- Draw a tile from the wall as usual on your turn, or call for a discard before the turn.
- Substitute the substitute joker for the actual matching tile. It is possible to exchange multiple matching tiles for the exposed jokers.
- If you want your hand to remain populated with the right number of tiles, you must discard a tile.
As long as the joker creates a combination, you do not have to expose any tiles when you exchange for it. In addition, it is permissible to exchange jokers in dead hands (hands not in the game due to a rule violation).
How to End the Mahjong Game?
The game of Mahjong ends when a player declares that it has ended or when they have drawn all the tiles on the wall.
The game of Mahjong is created when the scorecard is filled in with tiles from the wall or tiles called from a discard. In addition, it may be added a tile from the wall. It is the player who declares “Mahjong” who wins the game.
To determine the payout to the winner is based on the value of the hand and the way that Mahjong has been created:
| Type of Mahjong | Payout |
|---|---|
| Mahjong made off a discard. | Discarder pays double the hand’s value to the winner. Other players pay a single amount. |
| Mahjong made off a draw from the wall. | Each player doubles the value of each hand. |
| There are no jokers in Mahjong, and it does not fall into the Singles and Pairs category. | Winners of discarding hands are paid four times the hand’s value. Other players pay double. |
| A draw from the wall is used in Mahjong, which contains no jokers and is not categorized as Singles or Pairs. | Four times the hand value is paid by each player. |
Draw
As long as no Mahjong is called, all tiles from the wall have been collected, and the last discard has been made. The result of this is that no payouts are made as a result.
Mahjong Game Rules for Errors
Incorrect discards, incorrect exposures, and incorrect calls of Mahjong are some errors that can happen. In these types of situations, there may be penalties that have to be paid. As a general guideline, here are some general guidelines regarding errors:
| Error | Penalty |
|---|---|
| The table has been touched or announced by an accidentally discarded tile. | Tile cannot be taken back. |
| A tile has been announced incorrectly. | Tile cannot be claimed. |
| Tiles are called but not exposed. | The call may be retracted. |
| An incorrect exposure has been made. | The exposure may be corrected before discarding. |
| A player has too few or too many tiles. | At the end of the game, the player’s hand is dead (out of the game), but the winner will receive the same payout as all the other players. |
| There are too few or too many tiles for three players. | The game is replayed. |
| Based on the tiles exposed on a player’s rack, another discovers that the player’s hand is impossible. | The player’s hand is dead. |
| Mahjong is declared incorrectly in this case, but the hand has not been exposed. | No penalty, and the game continues. |
| Mahjong is declared incorrectly, and the hand is exposed. | A player’s hand is dead. In this game, the player pays the winner. |
Conclusion
Mahjong is an excellent way to learn about Chinese characters, culture, and tradition, keep your brain sharp, and, most importantly, have fun. Learn the different variations of this game, and design your strategy based on your knowledge of the different tiles.
FAQ
How many players are in a game of Mahjong?
Three or four players can participate in the Mahjong game.
How many tiles are used per Mahjong game?
A Mahjong game requires 144 tiles and two dice. However, the way people play varies from country to country due to cultural differences.
How long does a game of Mahjong take?
The Mahjong game can last around two hours.
Is Mahjong Chinese or Japanese?
Mahjong originated in China in the 19th century.
How many Mahjong pieces do you start with?
There are many variations of Mahjong, but usually, a player starts with 13 tiles
Is Mahjong good for your brain?
It’s found effective in middle-aged and elderly people that playing Mahjong improves attention, logical thinking, and short-term memory.
Is Mahjong based on luck or skill?
Mahjong game is a game of skill and luck, 25% and 75%, respectively.
Is Mahjong difficult to learn?
It’s not the easiest game to master, but the basics of the game can be learned in no time.
The World Cup 2022 in Qatar will mark the second time an Asian country has been selected to host one of the most popular events in the world, after the joint venture of Japan and South Korea in 2002. Qatar is the smallest country ever to host, and previously that was Switzerland, which hosted the 1954 tournament. However, Switzerland is more than three times the size of Qatar and was only required to host 16 teams.
TIt certainly was a surprise in 2010 when the Asian country won their bid. Eleven associations expressed interest in hosting, but in the end, Qatar defeated 4 other finalists: the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
About the Competition
The World Cup 2022 is scheduled to take place between November 21st and December 18th. For the first time, the World Cup won’t be played during the summer months but in mid-season due to the high temperatures in Qatar.
This year will be the last time the World Cup is played in the current 32-team format, where they'll be divided into eight groups with four teams, meaning that two teams from each group will move on to the Knock-out stages. Namely, FIFA expanded the 2026 World Cup to 48 national teams.
In Qatar will participate:
13 teams from Europe (UEFA)
Four teams from South America (Conmebol)
Six teams from Asia (AFC)
Five teams from Africa (CAF)
Four teams from North America (Concacaf)
How Does the World Cup FTP Competition Work?
Every player in the WC F2P competition needs to predict the results of the six fixtures proposed by the system. Getting this right would be an extremely impressive accomplishment. What's interesting to know is that the reward is equally impressive — Wikibet will award a €5000 prize to the lucky player who uses his or her football knowledge to guess all the results correctly.
To participate in World Cup free-to-play competition, players only need to register on their preferred website, which is part of the grand World Cup Free-to-Play network. After that, they are free to predict the results and win the prize.
Participating Teams
In the sections below, we'll provide information for each team.
Group A
Qatar
Since the time of winning the bid in December 2010, Qatar clubs have worked on promoting the competition by acquiring household football names. For the last couple of years, football legends like Xavi, Laurent Blanc, and Zico have been coaches in the Qatar Stars League. Moreover, Xavi participated as a player in the final years of his career, and Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto'o, and many other experienced players did the same. Qatar's national team consists of players that only compete in their national league. They are heavy underdogs in the competition, led by Spanish coach Felix Sanchez.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is the group's favorite, and in its history, the national team reached the final game three times (1974, 1978, and 2010) but never managed to bring the trophy home. The Dutch never lost a World Cup soccer match by more than a goal. The 2022 team doesn’t have the star players the Netherlands used to have (Wilkes, Lenstra, Cruyff, Neeskens, Rijkaard, Gullit, Van Basten, Robben, Van Persie). Still, the team coached by the eminent Louis van Gaal qualified in an impressive fashion, with only one defeat and a 25-goal difference.
Ecuador
Somewhat a surprise, Ecuador booked a trip for WC and left Chile and Colombia without qualification. Ecuador qualified for four out of the last six World Cups, the first time being in 2002, and their best result was in 2006, when they reached the round of 16. Experienced Argentinian coach Gustavo Alfaro built a hard-fighting team that looked to Enner Valencia, the best goal scorer in national team history, to put them over the top in close games.
Senegal
A long time had passed since Senegal beat the defending champion France in 2002, in its first World Cup appearance, when they reached the quarter-finals. Senegal entered the WC on a high note, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in January for the first time in history. The attack revolves around Sadio Mane, a Champions League winner with Liverpool FC who transferred to Bayern Munich this summer. Team captain Kalidou Koulibaly also switched teams and became a member of Chelsea FC. Team manager Aliou Cisse, captain of the 2002 team, has many players from the English, Italian, Spanish, and French leagues at his disposal.
Group B
England
England came close in the last two big competitions. Manager Gareth Southgate took over the team without expectations and inserted new blood immediately, which he continues to do. As a result, the team qualified for the WC, without a defeat and with only three goals conceded. Captain Harry Kane is surrounded by young talents that need to prove they are ready to take the next step. The team also had a chance to beat the USA national team, which put a dent in England’s 2010 WC hopes when they fought out a draw that led England to a massive defeat against Germany.
Wales
The Wales national team qualified for the World Cup, the second time in history and the first time since 1958. Gareth Bale, captain and Wales's best scorer ever, scored all three goals in the second qualifying round when Wales beat Austria and Ukraine to qualify. He and fellow experienced players Aaron Ramsey, Chris Gunter, Wayne Hennessey, and Joe Allen, led by former national team player and now coach Rob Page, have one last campaign to secure their place in history after finishing third in the UEFA 2016 European Championship.
United States of America
The USA is hoping for a good tournament before playing on their own home field in the 2026 World Cup. In 2018, they broke a streak of six consecutive trips to the WC after an embarrassing defeat by Trinidad and Tobago that allowed Panama to qualify for the first time in history. After that, coach Gregg Berhalter took over the team and had an impressive 76%-win percentage. He looks towards younger players that got their chance in the top European leagues in the last couple of years:
Christian Pulisic
Weston McKennie
Brenden Aaronson
Sergino Dest
Tyler Adams
George Weah’s son Timothy
Iran
Iran qualified dominantly by finishing first in their group in both the second and third rounds, in front of South Korea, with a better score in direct matches. Iran has an experienced side, and they qualified for the third time in a row and the fifth time in the last seven World Cups. Croatian coach Dragan Skočić counts on forwards Sardar Azmoun, Mehdi Taremi, and Karim Ansarifard, led by captain Ehsan Hajsafi to give them an opportunity to keep them in games and reach the Knockout Stage for the first time in the national team history.
Group C
Argentina
Lionel Messi, one of the best World Cup players, has the last chance now in Qatar to win the trophy for Argentina and match the success of Diego Armando Maradona.
The most capped player and the best scorer in the history of a two-time World Cup winner is playing with a whole new group of players, and only he and Angel Di Maria have had the experience from the 2014 World Cup Final game when Germany beat them. Team manager Lionel Scaloni hopes that a new generation of players that have already transferred to the European top three leagues (England, Italy, and Spain) can help Messi reach that final step.
Poland
Another football legend hopes to reach the heights of his predecessors. Robert Lewandowski and his team look to make amends for a very bad outing in 2018. Czeslaw Michniewicz coached only one qualifying game during the play-off final against Sweden because previous coach Paulo Sousa left to coach Flamengo 3 months before. Nevertheless, Poland has enough talent in the top European leagues to make some noise and try to repeat the success of the 1974 and 1982 teams that finished third.
Mexico
An experienced side, led by an even more experienced coach in Gerardo Martino, like the USA, hopes to record a good result before hosting the World Cup in 2026. This is the last chance for players who left their mark on the national team, like captain Andres Guardado, Hector Herrera, Raul Jimenez, Guillermo Ochoa, and Hector Moreno, to go past the quarter-finals, which is Mexico’s best result since 1970 and 1986. They will seek help from talents like Hirving Lozano, Jesus Corona, Santiago Jimenez, Jorge Sanchez, and Edson Alvarez.
Saudi Arabia
Like Qatar, all the Saudi Arabian players perform in their country’s top league, but unlike them, this is Saudi Arabia’s sixth World Cup. Since their debut in 1994, they haven’t gone past the group stage. The team’s biggest asset is coach Herve Renard, who has experience coaching four African national teams, having won two Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, and he qualified for the 2018 WC with Morocco, ending the country’s 20-year wait.
Group D
France
In 2020, France hoped to repeat the success of the 1998/00 generation, which held both World Cup and European Championship trophies. Unfortunately, manager Didier Deschamps couldn’t do what he did as a captain of the French team as a coach. However, now he does have a chance to defend the World Cup trophy, which he couldn’t do as a player because he retired in 2001. France is among the top favorites for the trophy. They field a star-studded team with Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, Ngolo Kante, and Antoine Griezmann, supplanted by new talents in Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.
Denmark
Denmark had an outstanding qualifying campaign, having won 9 out of 10 games, with the final game resulting in a loss after the team had already qualified. The team also conceded only three goals. Manager Kasper Hjulmand has constructed a team that has a chance to go past the quarter-finals for the first time in history. The vast majority of players perform in the top 5 European leagues. They rallied around Christian Eriksen and his miraculous comeback to the field after his cardiac arrest at the 2020 Euro Cup.
Tunisia
Qatar 2022 marks the sixth time Tunisia qualified for the World Cup, but the team never went past the Group Stage. They finished in front of Equatorial Guinea and Zambia in Group B of the second qualifying round and then beat Mali 1-0 on aggregate to secure their place in Qatar. Coach Jalel Kadri got his chance to lead the team after being an assistant two times. His squad, led by captain Youssef Msakni, plays in leagues worldwide, but not many have top-tier experience.
Australia
Australia qualified for the fifth time in a row, sixth time overall, and only once went past the group stage. The team qualified through the AFC qualifiers. They had all eight victories in the second round, but things didn’t go as smoothly in the third round. They finished third behind Saudi Arabia and Japan and only qualified after beating the UAE in the fourth AFC round and then Peru in the Inter-confederation play-off. Former Australia player Graham Arnold coaches the national squad, and the team is made up of players mainly performing in British leagues, with some home-grown talent getting the opportunity.
Group E
Germany
The four-time WC champions qualified easily, with nine wins in ten games and a 32-goal difference. The vast majority of the team plays in the Bundesliga, and as always, the squad’s biggest advantages are their camaraderie and determination. The team got the extra kick they needed when charismatic Hansi Flick took over the team from long-time coach Joachim Löw. Currently, they are on a 13-game unbeaten run and are, as usual, among the top favorites to win the tournament.
Spain
Spain is looking to win their second trophy. After three consecutive wins at big tournaments between 2008 and 2012, the team suffered several unexpected exits, but resurfaced in Euro 2020 when they finished third with a young, up-and-coming team led by coach Luis Enrique in his second stint with the team. The squad captained by Sergio Busquets features young stars like Pedri, Gavi, Ansu Fati, Dani Olmo, but also those with heavy experience like Jordi Alba, Cesar Azpilicueta and Koke.
Japan
Japan didn’t miss the World Cup after appearing for the first time in 1998. In six trips, the team reached the round of 16 three times and could be looking to go beyond that. Head coach Hajime Moriyasu has players from Europe’s top leagues at his disposal, led by captain Maya Yoshida. In recent years, Japan’s best players have competed in the German Bundesliga and English Premier League and acquired much-needed game experience.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica has become a force in Concacaf recently, but they had to beat New Zealand in the Inter-confederation play-off this year to qualify. Joel Campbell scored again to book the team’s second flight to Qatar. Along with Campbell, three other players have more than 100 caps for the national team: Keylor Navas, Celso Borges, and captain Bryan Ruiz. They lead the team coached by Colombian Luis Fernando Suarez, but it would be hard to expect them to surpass their best result when they reached the quarter-finals in 2014.
Group F
Croatia
In the last tournament, Croatia achieved the best result in national team history by reaching the final game, where France beat them. The team kept the majority of its core team and manager, Zlatko Dalić. the legend Luka Modrić is still captaining the squad, but also Ivan Perišić, Mateo Kovačić, Mateo Brozović, Dejan Lovren, Domagoj Vida, are expected to be present in Qatar. Twenty years before Russia, Croatia finished second and competed three times with exits from the group stage.
Belgium
The Belgian side has for years been marked as a team expected to go deep into the competition. Their stars play for some of the world’s best clubs: Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, and new AC Milan player, young Charles De Ketelaere. Manager Roberto Martinez has one more chance to bring this generation to World Cup glory. Their best finish was third place in Russia four years ago, and they qualified convincingly with six wins in eight matches.
Canada
One of the biggest surprises in the qualifications was the way Canada qualified. They finished in first place in the second round of Concacaf and left Mexico, the USA, and Costa Rica behind them. Head coach John Herdman won two bronze medals with Canada women’s national team and now manages the men’s team to qualify for its second WC, 36 years after their debut. Offensively, the team relies on young stars Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David and captain and most capped player Atiba Hutchinson.
Morocco
Led by former Yugoslavian football legend Vahid Halilhodžić, Morocco qualified with six wins in six matches in the second round and a convincing 5-2 aggregate win against DR Congo in the third round. Romain Saiss captains the team that relies on Youssef En-Nesyri for goals. Most of the squad plays in Europe, with some players having top-level experience.
Group G
Brazil
The five-time World Cup champions are consistently among the favorites, but they are looking for their first title since 2002. Head coach Tite got the second chance after the quarter-finals exit four years ago. Brazil features some of the best players in the world in their respective positions: Neymar, Alisson, and Casemiro, but also eternal players like Dani Alves and Thiago Silva. As a result, they finished first in the Conmebol qualification without a single defeat. Interestingly, Brazil also played in a group with Serbia and Switzerland in the 2018 WC.
Serbia
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s late goal against Portugal secured Serbia’s first-place finish in UEFA qualifying Group A. This will be Serbia’s 13th World Cup, but third as an independent country. The team participated nine times as Yugoslavia and finished fourth in the inaugural World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay and 1962 in Chile. In 2006, the team finished last as Serbia and Montenegro. Football and national team legend Dragan Stojković coaches the team led on the field by Ajax player Dušan Tadić. Besides Mitrović, Serbia also has a new Juventus player Dušan Vlahović spearheading the attack.
Switzerland
The Switzerland team also had a great qualifying campaign. They finished in front of European champions Italy, who later failed to qualify through a play-off. The squad has a new manager, former national team player Murat Yakin. Still, the team kept the core from Russia: Xherdan Shaqiri, Grant Xhaka, and Yann Sommer, and they're looking at Haris Seferović and Mario Gavranović, two players of Balkan descent, to score goals.
Cameroon
Cameroon is the first African side to reach the quarter-finals, a feat they achieved in 1990 when Roger Milla became a World Cup legend. Since then, the team has exited the competition in the group stage five times in a row. They suffered six losses in the last two tournaments in six games. With Samuel Eto’o retiring, the head coach and Cameroon’s most capped player, Rigobert Song, looks to captain Vincent Aboubakar to provide goals, along with Bayern Munich player Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Group H
Uruguay
Two-time champion Uruguay (1930 and 1950) always fields hard-fighting squads. There will be no exception in Qatar, where new head coach Diego Alonso will try to repeat the success of his predecessor, Oscar Tabarez, who led the team to 4th place in 2010. This is the last chance for some Uruguayan legends to participate in the WC, starting with Luis Suarez, but also for captain Diego Godin, Edinson Cavani, goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, and Martin Caceres.
Portugal
The Portugal national team managed to bounce back from a last-minute loss to Serbia in the final game of the European qualifying group stage by beating Turkey and North Macedonia in the play-off. This could be the final shot for the best player in Portugal history, Cristiano Ronaldo, to reach World Cup glory. The team has enough talent and is led by result-oriented head coach Fernando Santos, but so far, the squad couldn’t reach the heights set by Eusebio, who led the team to a third-place finish in 1966.
Ghana
Ghana will participate in its fourth WC in Qatar. The national team was one of three African sides to reach the quarter-finals, and they came closest to the semi-finals. They needed the team’s most capped player and best scorer, Asamoah Gyan, to score a penalty against Uruguay in extra time, but he failed, and Ghana was knocked out in a penalty shootout. The new coach, Otto Addo, was appointed before the third-round double-leg match against Nigeria, and he managed to qualify the team on away goals.
South Korea
South Korea qualified ten times for the World Cup before Qatar, and only two times did they pass the group stage — when they were hosting in 2002 and reached the semi-finals and in 2010 when they reached the Round of 16. Portuguese coach Paulo Bento is counting on captain Son Heung-min, a seven-time best footballer in Asia award winner, to lead the team past the group stage. They qualified easily, with 12 wins in 16 matches.
Conclusion
Even though some circumstances are different, there's no doubt that World Cup 2022 in Qatar will be a sensation around the globe, like all the previous World Cups. It will be interesting to see how the national teams will approach this mid-season system of competition, what team will find the edge that will help them reach the final stages, and in what form will players appear after just half a season of club football.
August 12, 2022
Posted by Content Team
Gambling platforms frequently use various bonus programs to attract and retain players. Some of these incentives include welcome bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, free spins, and loyalty prizes.
However, as the popularity of these bonuses grows, so does the problem of bonus abuse. Some players deliberately seek loopholes or opportunities to exploit these offers. This abuse might range from opening several accounts to betting tactics violating the bonus conditions, calling for a more in-depth understanding of the problem.
We detail what constitutes bonus abuse, its different forms, and, most importantly, how gambling establishments can defend themselves from such shady tactics.
What is Bonus Abuse?
Bonus abuse is a deceptive activity in which players exploit promotional incentives and leverage them in ways that were not intended, particularly for new players.
While bonus misuse is not illegal, it violates the terms and conditions of most online casinos. The user's bonus money and earnings are confiscated when caught, and the deposit may be frozen.
Experienced fraudsters create new identities and IP addresses using technologies such as betting bots, virtual computers, and emulators. They use Socks5 proxies for this objective.
Reasons Why Fraudsters Target Online Gambling Platforms
The scale and continuing development of the sector provide appealing prospects for fraudsters aiming to exploit weaknesses for financial gain. The worldwide online gambling industry reached $95.05 billion by the end of 2023, with a CAGR rate of 8.54%. The answer lies in the following concerning stats:
Approximately one out of every four accounts generated on gambling sites is fake.
Around 4% of logins are account takeover attempts.
An inexperienced fraudster can make up to $20,000, while a skilled one can earn up to $600,000 monthly.
The process often begins with sign-up, where fraudsters utilize disposable email addresses, false identities, and stolen credit card information to avoid KYC checks. This is referred to as gnoming or multi-accounting.
Grifters create several accounts to circumvent the one-time limit attached to most incentives. Multi-accounting zeros in on promos such as free bets, no-deposit, and other gambling bonuses that don't require a deposit.
Main Bonus Abuse Methods Across Gambling Platforms
Bonus abuse in online gambling manifests in a variety of ways and carries specific consequences. Below, we'll look at some of the most common types of bonus fraud and their effects on the industry.
Arbitrage Betting in Sports Betting
Arbitrage betting, or arbing, refers to taking advantage of disparities in odds given by several online sports betting platforms to ensure a profit regardless of the event's outcome. While not prohibited, sportsbooks consider it bonus abuse when combined with bonus offers.
Betting syndicates are known to employ this tactic as a coordinated strategy. The collective approach significantly increases the scale of arbitrage betting, making it a more complex challenge for online betting platforms to manage.
Identity Theft
Identity theft in the context of online gambling is a fraudulent practice in which individuals create several accounts on gambling sites using stolen or fictitious identities. They employ modern technology to conceal IP addresses and use personal information to create credible profiles, evading basic detection measures.
Because they use actual personal information, opened accounts with stolen identities seem authentic. This appearance of legitimacy makes it difficult for online gambling platforms to distinguish them from real accounts.
Facial recognition software has emerged as a powerful weapon in the fight against online gambling identity theft. This technique entails biometric verification—identification by requesting users to upload a live photo or video for face recognition, discouraging efforts to create false accounts using images, videos, or masks.
Chip Dumping in Poker
Chip dumping occurs in online poker rooms and entails one player intentionally losing chips to move funds. It's used to meet wagering requirements, unfairly leverage promotional offers, or launder money. For instance, a player could use a welcome bonus to acquire chips and dump these on a colluding player, who can meet the playthrough requirements more easily.
Chip dumping can be difficult to identify since it might emulate the natural flow of a poker game. It may go overlooked unless there's a trend or the amounts are significant. Poker's inherent unpredictability and element of bluffing make it an ideal setting for such techniques. For money laundering, it provides a seemingly legitimate way to win money at poker, thereby cleaning the illicit funds.
Malicious Affiliating
The complexity of malicious affiliating lies in its multi-layered approach. Fraudsters must understand affiliate programs' workings but also need the technical knowledge to manipulate or generate traffic.
This scheme is present in various online betting markets, including standard gambling, gaming, fantasy sports, and sports betting platforms.
The tactics include manually entering fake leads into a gambling project's CRM system or using bots to generate artificial traffic. These bots can register accounts and make deposits, using diversionary tactics to appear as legitimate users. Generating traffic can enable the following:
Commissions on cost per click (CPC);
Visitors to websites that pay out cost per thousand (CPM) commissions;
Leads exclusively interested in sign-up incentives to earn a cost per lead (CPL) commission.
How Can Gambling Platforms Safeguard Against Fraud?
Implementing protective measures is not just a matter of compliance but also a necessity for ensuring the integrity of operations and safeguarding players. By applying anomaly detection systems, machine learning algorithms, as well as IP and device tracking tools, gambling platforms can effectively identify and deter fraudulent activities, thus protecting both their players and their business.
Identity Check
KYC procedures are crucial for verifying the identity of players by checking government-issued IDs, proof of address, and other personal information. Incorporating facial recognition technology improves the KYC process and is particularly effective against identity theft and multi-accounting.
Funds Verification
Understanding and monitoring the flow of funds is essential in combating financial-related fraud like money laundering. AML procedures are designed to monitor and report suspicious financial activities, large transactions, and unusual patterns of deposits and withdrawals.
Continuous Client Surveillance
Ensuring a player's legitimacy doesn't end at account creation. Regular monitoring can help identify unusual behavior post-verification—recognizing patterns indicative of fraudulent activities, such as consistent large wins from a single source or frequent maxed-out withdrawals.
An Ongoing Battle Against Bonus Abuse
The issue of bonus abuse in online gambling is multifaceted, presenting unique challenges to players and operators. Each of the analyzed practices undermines gambling platforms' integrity and poses significant financial risks.
To counter these threats, gambling companies adopt robust protective measures, stringent identity checks through KYC procedures and facial recognition technology, ensure funds verification with comprehensive AML protocols, and maintain continuous client surveillance to detect and address any irregularities post-account creation.
We can't stress enough that engaging in bonus abuse is not advisable. Besides breaching the terms and conditions of online gambling platforms, it carries substantial consequences. Players caught indulging in such practices face severe penalties, including the confiscation of winnings, account suspension or permanent bans, and, in extreme cases, legal action. Furthermore, such activities can lead to a loss of trust in the online gambling community.
The fight against bonus abuse is a continuous one, necessitating adaptability on the part of operators. These platforms can offer a fair, safe, and entertaining experience for all genuine players by staying ahead of the curve with improved defensive measures and supporting responsible gambling behaviors.
December 27, 2023
Posted by Ilija Jaksic
How to play Blackjack in online and brick-and-mortar casinos? What is a soft hand, and what is a hard hand? Here, you’ll find answers to all these questions and much more.
I’ll provide insights regarding betting strategies you can utilize, Blackjack etiquette, differences between a hard and soft hand, card values, and everything else you’ll need if you want to start playing the Blackjack card game.
What Is a Blackjack Card Game?
Blackjack, also known as Vingt-Un or Twenty-One, is a card game played with a 54-card deck where the goal is to get as close to 21 points as possible without exceeding it. Unlike some other casino games, Black jack or Blackjack is played against the dealer, no matter the number of opponents.
If you already know some of the basics of this card game, you can try playing it online for free (or for real money) or in land-based casinos. There are many various versions of Blackjack you can try.
However, if you want to learn more in-depth about how does Blackjack work, stick to the end, and you'll be ready.
Blackjack Rules You Should Know
In blackjack, there are a variety of rules and deck counts that need to be followed. There are several ways to play blackjack, but one of the most common ways is to use a shoe (a plastic device that distributes cards). Currently, there are still single-deck and multi-deck blackjack games in casinos. This article will illustrate how to play blackjack with six decks of cards, which is the most common game. The step-by-step process is as follows:
A player purchases chips
A player places a wager
A player receives cards from a dealer
A player plays a hand
A dealer plays a hand
Payouts
Buying Chips
As a requirement for playing the game, chips must be used. You'll have to exchange cash for casino chips at casinos that no longer accept cash. It's as simple as walking up to the table and putting your money on the felt. The dealers will never touch your money. There's a rule that prohibits dealers from taking items from players.
You can see the amount of money on the table as soon as the dealer lays it out. A pit boss will verify it. After you buy in, a dealer counts out chips and pushes them toward you. Once you have the chips in your hand, you can begin betting. Your dealer will arrange the buy-in amount on the felt so cameras can see it. For $1,000, this is what buying in looks like.
Placing a Wager
At the start of a round, you first place a bet in the betting circle (sometimes a square or just the casino logo on the felt). There will also be a small sign that tells you what your betting limit is on the far right or left side of the table. On most US poker tables, a minimum wager of $5 per hand needs to be placed. This may vary depending on the casino and its regulations.
Dealing Cards
As soon as players place their bets, the dealer deals one card face up to each player and themselves. Another round of cards is dealt face up to every player, but the dealer's second card is dealt face down.
Deciding How to Play a Hand
In blackjack, you can decide to hit, stand, double down, split, and surrender, depending on the cards you're dealt.
If you like your cards, the dealer will move on to the next player. That means you've decided to stand. The hand signal, in this case, is waving your hand horizontally over the cards.
If you wish to hit, the dealer will give you more cards, one after another, until you reach 21 or decide to stand. There's no limit to the number of cards you can take as long as you stay under 21. Tap the felt with your finger to signal to the dealer that you want another card.
In blackjack, you also have the opportunity to double down or increase your initial bet. If your hand total is favorable to you, but you need one more card to make it a winning combination, doubling your initial wager will allow you to take only one more card. To take more cards, you must place your initial wager on the left side of your original wager. Technically, you can "double for less," but it isn't a good idea most of the time.
You can also place a second wager if you have an equal-value pair of cards, and the dealer will divide them so that each becomes the first card in two new hands. It's also possible to deal with a face card this way. If, for example, you have a King and a Jack in your hand, you can split them because they both have the same value, even though they're not a pair in reality.
To indicate that you wish to split rather than double down, make a "peace sign." You will receive a second card when the dealer makes two hands out of your first.
Finally, can surrender your initial hand in exchange for half of your original wager if you don't like it. Using your finger, draw a line across the felt behind your bet to indicate that you want to surrender. It's common for dealers to confuse this signal with the hit signal. If you want to be safe, just utter the word "surrender" and make a hand gesture for the cameras to see.
Payouts
You and the dealer have played your hands according to the 21 card game rules. Therefore, there are two possible outcomes.
When the dealer busts, each hand still in play on the table will receive even money (1x the wager).
The dealer will deal cards (17 through 21). It's just a matter of who has a better hand if your hand is still in play. The dealer sweeps your wager in that case. The dealer pays you a one-time bet if you have the higher hand. If your hand total equals the dealer's hand total, it's considered a push, so you keep your money but don't receive your wager as a reward.
We have now reached the end of the round. Therefore, the cards are swept, and you start over.
Basic Blackjack Strategy You Can Employ
As you make your decision based on the cards you hold and the cards that the dealer shows, you employ the basic strategy to help you make the right decision. It's possible to calculate the most advantageous strategy for every possible combination of a hand and the dealer's up card. This strategy was developed by a computer based on millions of blackjack rounds to determine the best way to play each hand combination. For this reason, blackjack will never be a guessing game.
Player Hand Resolution
You can expect different outcomes depending on the situation.
When dealt a hand where the basic strategy dictates that you shouldn't take any cards, you made the right move by standing.
In order to make a hand, you must take more cards (hit, double, split) and reach 21 or under without busting.
If you bust or surrender your hand, you're out of the game. When your hand busts, you immediately lose the wager you placed. This is beneficial to casinos. Since the player busted first, they still keep their money despite the dealer busting.
As long as your hand hasn't busted and you haven't surrendered, the dealer has the option of playing their hand. The dealer then turns over their hole card and adds two cards. There is an automatic requirement that dealers stand when their hand totals 17 or more. If the dealer has a hand total of 16 or under, they will take additional hit cards. Unlike players, dealers can't double, split, or surrender and must play their hand the same way every time. The only exception is when the dealer has a 17 consisting of an ace and a 6.
Depending on the casino, the dealer may decide to hit this hand because it counts as a 7 (since the strength of an ace can be determined in various ways), which will give them a chance of getting a better hand. The casino has an advantage when the dealer stands on all 17s in a row. The dealer usually indicates whether a soft 17 will be hit on the felt, so you know what to expect. Furthermore, dealers aren't allowed to deviate from the casino's rules.
Blackjack Card Values
Fortunately, it's very easy to figure out the total value of your cards at any given moment, which is good news.
The value of cards 2 through 10 is the same as their number. In addition, all picture cards (i.e., jacks, queens, and kings) carry a value of 10. So that leaves us with the ace, which may be worth 1 or 11, making it a valuable card to receive because it gives you a variety of options.
As a result, your blackjack card value chart should look something like this:
Ace: 1 or 11
2: 2
3: 3
4: 4
5: 5
6: 6
7: 7
8: 8
9: 9
10: 10
Jack: 10
Queen: 10
King: 10
In blackjack, 52 cards are used as part of the standard deck. Depending on the number of players at the table and the preference of the casinos, the game can be played with up to eight decks. After most rounds, the dealer would have to stop and shuffle a single deck.
Hard vs. Soft Hand in Blackjack
When it comes to blackjack hands, there is only one card that makes the difference between a hard hand and a soft hand—an ace.
Soft Hand
As soon as the player is dealt two cards at the beginning of the game, the player is considered to have a soft hand if one of those cards is an ace. That's because the ace can either be a 1 or an 11. It all depends on the other card. Having a soft hand implies more liquidity and that the player has more choices.
Hard Hand
In contrast, in blackjack, a hard hand is when there is no ace in the hand. Therefore, a hard hand leaves the player with no options in certain situations.
Betting Rules for Blackjack
As with any other casino game, blackjack tables have a set of bet limits that all players must adhere to. A game's minimum and maximum bets vary based on whether it's designed for high rollers or low-stake gamblers, but they generally range from $2 to $1,000 for the minimum and maximum bets, respectively.
In blackjack, players must make their wagers before any cards are dealt. The game begins after that.
Even Money Rules
If a player has blackjack and the dealer's up card is an ace, the dealer may offer even money. The player accepts a 1:1 payout on their original bet before the dealer checks for blackjack. Generally, this bet isn't recommended since players are statistically better off not taking it.
How to Play Blackjack: Step-by-Step Instructions
Now that we've discussed blackjack rules, let's see what strategies you can employ to maximize your winnings.
Number of Decks
Blackjack can be played using one or multiple decks of cards. The number of decks affects the house edge. In other words, the house edge increases as more decks of cards are included in the game. Also, the more decks are used, the higher the complexity of the game.
In modern blackjack played in most land-based casinos, six to eight decks of 52 cards are typically used. When playing online blackjack, up to eight decks of cards are normally used. Live dealer blackjack, on the other hand, is streamed online, but it feels like a real casino. Typically, eight decks of cards are used in live dealer blackjack, but it's possible to play with six decks of cards.
Hitting
In order to receive another card, a player must "hit." No additional wager is required, and you can hit as many times as you like. Depending on the dealer's up card, you'll have to decide whether to hit or stand. It's generally recommended that players don't hit if the dealer's up card is a 6 or lower unless their hand is an 11 or lower.
Splitting
In the event that a player has two cards of equal value, they can split their hand and play them separately. A player must match their original bet to cover their new second hand.
Among all moves, splitting has the most variations in rules. It's possible for players to split up to three times per round in casinos, resulting in four hands per round. If players are uncertain of the casino's betting rules, they should always ask the dealer or check the blackjack variation rules.
As long as the dealer's up card is 7 or lower, pairs of aces and 8s are always worth splitting in Blackjack.
Standing
In order to end a turn, players should stand if they're satisfied with their hand. All players (including the dealer) draw cards until they've completed all their hands.
After a player stands, their turn is over, and the rules state that they can't make any more bets. Players generally tend to stand when their hands have a value of 17 or more and 13–16 unless the dealer has an up card of 7 or higher.
Doubling Down
Doubling down can double a player's bet, but it's risky. In order to receive one extra card, players must match their original wager; they can't hit afterward. Dealers will give players face-down cards and must wait until all wagers are settled before the dealer flips them.
In some blackjack games, you can only double down once per round if their hand value is 9, 10, or 11. Doubling down in Blackjack is a good idea on most hands containing 10 or 11 and can pay off on many hands containing aces and 2–7, but only if the dealer's up card is low.
Surrendering
In some blackjack variations, players can return their cards and receive half their original bet if they have a bad hand. Players who wish to surrender must do so before drawing any further cards. Surrender rules at casinos are generally divided into two categories:
Early surrender: Before a dealer checks for blackjack, a player can surrender and pay only half of the initial bet.
Late surrender: After a dealer checks for blackjack, a player can surrender and take half of the initial bet only if the dealer doesn't have a blackjack.
Blackjack games with early surrender are rare. However, early surrender is available in a few RNG-powered PlayTech games, for instance.
It should be noted that some blackjack variations don't offer surrender as an option. As a result, the odds for players are generally worse in these blackjack games.
Blackjack Etiquette
If you're wondering, "how do you play blackjack?" it's important to understand and learn the basic rules of the game.
Blackjack etiquette is also important to follow to play the game effectively. Those new to the game who don't know the rules might get confused. It's essential to know what to do and what not to do to avoid embarrassment and enjoy the game. These blackjack table etiquette tips will help you avoid being a nuisance at the blackjack table.
Don't hand your money to the dealer
Never give cash to the dealer. In a Las Vegas casino, it's never allowed for a dealer to take the money out of your hand. It's not personal, but it's a casino rule. Before placing your cash on the table, wait for the current round to end. The dealer will spread out the equivalent chips before sliding them to your side of the table. If you wish to purchase chips of a particular denomination, tell the dealer.
Keep your cards in one hand
Make sure that you only use one hand when you are holding cards. In order to prevent the switching of cards, this rule is in place. It's easier for a player who uses two hands to switch cards than a player who uses only one hand.
Table cards should never be removed
Keep in mind that you should never remove your cards from the table at any point during the game. It's recommended that the cards are seen by other players, the dealer, and the security cameras.
Once the dealer calls "no more bets," don't touch your chips.
After you've placed your wager and the cards have been dealt, you aren't allowed to touch your chips until the end of the game. Your chips can only be collected after you've won. However, if you lose, the dealer will collect your chips for you.
Don't touch the cards when they are dealt face up
The shoe-dealt version of blackjack involves players receiving both cards face up and the house receiving one card face up and one face down. Players can't touch the cards. Instead, you indicate a "hit" or "stand" by using your hand motion for another card or signaling to the dealer if you're standing. Cards and chips can only be removed or moved by the dealer.
Signal your decision, don't say it
You must communicate your decision to stand or hit in Las Vegas through hand signals. Instead of saying "stand" or "hit," signal your decision to the dealer. Security cameras serve to record the game. Don't let hand gestures intimidate you. The dealer will be glad to show you the signals if you're new to the game.
Conclusion
Now that you know the rules of Blackjack, card values, hard and soft hands, moves, and all other instructions on how to play Blackjack, you can check a cheat sheet for Blackjack that you can use while practicing. If you already know how all these things, you can try to learn card counting, which can be a valuable skill in Blackjack.
Lastly, I’ve prepared frequently asked questions regarding Blackjack.
FAQ
Is blackjack skill or luck?
There are specific rules and tactics you can employ to win a blackjack game. For that reason, blackjack is considered a game of skill rather than luck.
Should I hit or stand on 16?
If you hold a hand of 10 or 12 to 16, it's best to hit. If you hold a 17 and over, it's wise to stand. It's important to note that when a dealer has cards 7–9, your chances increase because they can't make a blackjack.
How much should you bet in blackjack?
A typical blackjack bet ranges from $10 to $10,000 per hand. There's a little wiggle room—you might only find $20–$5,000 or $5–$20,000. A large casino blackjack game typically accepts between $10 and $10,000.
Is ace 1 or 11 in blackjack?
The value of Aces is 11, but if you need it to get to 21, it can be counted as a 1.
Do you hit on 15 against a 10?
In case you hold 15 in your hand that consists of an 8-7, you should hit against a dealer’s 10.
What does it mean Blackjack pays 3 to 2?
A 3:2 payout means you’ll get $3 for each wager of $2. This payout ratio is a standard one, giving a casino a slightly higher house edge.
December 18, 2022
Posted by Content Team
The 21st century so far has been marked by the rapid development of technologies that have affected many industry sectors. One of them is definitely iGaming. Online gambling is now more accessible than ever thanks to a fast, dependable internet connection and the most recent iGaming technology advancements.
Despite the fact that the gaming sector's market value increased to 155.89 billion dollars in 2020 (Clement, 2021), the current casino industry figures reveal that the world of iGaming is developing further.
In this article, I will explain what the iGaming industry is all about and which technological innovations have the most credit for the current and future sector development.
What is iGaming?
Before we dive into the topic, let’s take a quick reminder of what iGaming actually is. The iGaming industry usually refers to any type of online casino gambling and the game software that supports it. It's an umbrella term for all types of online betting, even if there's no actual gaming software involved. Therefore, this includes:
Virtual sports
Live casino games
Table and dealer games
Sports betting
Slots and jackpots
It started to develop in the 1990s with increased internet speed and the commodification of computer technology for regular households. More and more people started moving to digital spaces for entertainment, and the casino industry was no different. The international judicial system had to adapt to gambling laws, as moving to the online space provided more opportunities for players to access casinos and more opportunities for casinos to make a profit.
Special gambling licenses had to be given to the companies operating online casinos, which to this day isn’t allowed in every country. Although many of the current online casinos have a Curaçao iGaming license, in the 90s, Antigua and Barbuda was the first to recognize the opportunity to give offshore casinos gambling licenses, which would then be available across the world.
Seeing the market potential iGaming had, many countries started implementing policies that would make it easier for investors to enter the industry. Although many online casinos are restricted in the United States, in 2018, the Supreme Court adopted new laws and repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) to enable its investors to get involved in such a booming market. The projected value for the iGaming industry in 2026 is expected to be over $100 billion (Technavio, 2022). It's no wonder this is the case, as the development of iGaming technology has been a game-changer over the last few years and is one of the main reasons why this industry is on the rise.
Revolutionary iGaming Technology
The iGaming industry depends on the most recent technological advancements as it expands. However, while some of these innovations become trends, others help define the whole sector's direction. Let’s look at four technological innovations that have and will change the iGaming landscape.
#1 Blockchain Technology
There's a reason that the iGaming industry has achieved such an expansion at the same time as the development of blockchain technology. Technological innovations from the blockchain sector have brought more gambling security while giving new payment opportunities and more accessible storage options to players and online casinos. The influence of blockchain as the leading iGaming technology can be seen through cloud-based storage, cryptocurrency, and the appearance of blockchain casinos.
Incorporating the latest technological developments, online casinos employ cloud computing to handle and store player information while improving operational efficiency. The most recent developments in cloud-based technology can help the gaming industry reach and maintain millions of players globally.
In nations where it's illegal to gamble in brick-and-mortar casinos, cloud computing offers gamblers a safe haven where they may play casino games without worrying about facing legal ramifications. Online crypto casinos are not as liable to these restrictions as their physical counterparts, which is why crypto-only online casinos are becoming one of the main online gambling trends. The participants' information confidentiality and anonymity are guaranteed by the encrypted storage mechanism, which minimizes security threats from the outside.
Moreover, blockchain development has enabled new digital currencies to emerge. Most popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum are becoming omnipresent in online casinos. Crypto and FIAT payment options have become a new standard for all online casinos. With the help of this new technology, gamblers can receive their winnings immediately, which is a significant improvement over the high fees and drawn-out payout processes associated with credit reimbursement, bank transfers, and e-Wallets.
Blockchain methods have become so integrated into the iGaming industry that many young casinos use only cryptocurrency. The benefits for players are obvious:
Faster payouts
Guaranteed anonymity
Better security
Game developers are also taking note of the blockchain integration and are now developing games compatible with FIAT and cryptocurrency. Furthermore, some new games are compatible only with crypto, so bets can only be made in cryptocurrency. This shows that blockchain technology has substantially changed the iGaming industry and will likely be a huge part of its further development.
Augmented and Virtual Reality
Maybe the most intriguing iGaming technology is virtual reality. Augmented and virtual reality allows online casinos to simulate the casino experience and offer a digital substitute for conventional sit-down gambling. While virtual reality (VR) is entirely based on the digital world, augmented reality (AR) incorporates elements of the digital environment into physical reality. These innovations are becoming more and more important for online casinos as they have the means to bring the full casino experience to players in any environment they are currently in.
AR and VR have enabled the creation of new forms of online casinos. For example, there are now "video casinos" that allow users to connect with other online gamblers while seated at actual gaming tables. Utilizing special 3D cameras, the gameplay is streamed to online gamers, letting you fully immerse yourself in the experience. However, the technology is still at the beginning of its development, even though some of its main concepts date back to 1957.
For instance, the graphics in virtual reality are a long cry from those in contemporary video games. In addition, virtual reality hardware is pricey and hence far less widely available. In order to maximize the benefits of VR technology, you will also need a powerful PC, which raises the price even further. Considering the costs and the low-quality graphics of VR games, virtual casinos might need some more work to do before they become a standard in the industry, especially if we consider the development and ease of mobile gaming.
Virtual reality has limitless potential, even though its current condition is far from ideal. The good news is that many businesses have already made significant investments in the creation of virtual technology. VR is currently primarily used in the video game industry, but it will surely enter the iGaming sector more. With better graphics and accessibility, VR might become an integral part of the iGaming industry in the future.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have transformed every industry possible, so iGaming is no exception. Self-learning algorithms have allowed online gambling companies to better personalize the experience for the players. The online casino sector's use of AI analytics enhances the player experience, spots fraud, and improves data-driven business choices.
With the advent of modern iGaming tech, online casinos can now monitor player history, betting patterns, preferred games, and a myriad of other "signals" of player activity. A more individualized player experience, a safer gaming environment, and more operational effectiveness are made possible by the analytics layer's actionable insights and data usage for the iGaming technology stack.
The same is true when it comes to iGaming advertisements. The algorithms can differentiate potential customers and their preferences through a thorough analysis of the data and find the right way to place the service in front of them. Vital details like a user's betting preferences are collected when they visit a betting site and are used to customize offers, bonuses, and other services. This raises revenue while bringing down marketing expenses. So, using machine learning algorithms benefits the player and the online casino company.
Mobile Gaming
One more very important iGaming technology development is the vast improvement in mobile gaming. Most gamers nowadays want access to their games at any time and place, so game developers started massively optimizing their games for mobile devices. Online casinos did the same, with their websites available on all devices and platforms to maximize the potential audience group. The development of stronger devices and better mobile graphics has allowed this transition to go smoothly.
Stronger internet connections are also a big factor in mobile gaming development. In addition to enabling faster game downloads than current 4G networks, 5G networks also support the growth of mobile-based cloud gaming services and augmented reality (AR) games. One million devices can be supported by 5G in a single square kilometer, encouraging more people to play mobile games, especially multiplayer ones.
In 2021, mobile gaming accounted for almost 57% of global video game revenue (Thematic Intelligence, 2022). We can see the shift towards mobile happening in real-time, which benefits the iGaming industry. Mobile casino games are simple and do not need a large amount of power to be run like some video games do. Therefore, it's perfectly suitable for mobile devices, and I believe these two industries will continue to grow together for years to come.
iGaming Technology Final Words
Several iGaming technologies have enabled the online gambling industry to develop rapidly. Blockchain technology has brought more digital security to the players and various payment options guarded by encryption.
Although still in development, AR and VR have an interesting effect on the player experience in online casinos, as they can get real-life casino experience from the comfort of their home. The development of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms has allowed casino companies to enhance the gambling experience with personalization and help with their advertising efforts while lowering expenses.
Mobile gaming is probably the most important iGaming technology as it has become the main video game outlet. It will be very interesting to see how iGaming will continue to develop, but one thing is certain: These technologies will be involved in one way or the other.
January 10, 2023
Posted by Content Team
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