Roulette Table: English company to supply casino props for new Bond film
A Potteries roulette wheel and casino table manufacturer has landed a blockbuster role to supply props for the latest James Bond film, Casino Royale. Workers at TCS John Huxley, which employs around 40 people at Festival Park, say the firm has been contracted to produce goods for the film starring blond Bond Daniel Craig.
Details of the contract have remained under wraps, although the company is responsible for making equipment for casinos including Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and the Belaggio - where heist film Ocean's Eleven was set - reports The Sentinel
A worker, who did not wish to be identified, said: "We are the world leader in the manufacture and supply of casino equipment. We have been commissioned to manufacture the equipment for the new James Bond film, Casino Royale."
The worker said the staff at Festival Park were responsible for making equipment used in casinos worldwide.
Last May the company provided equipment for the Wynn gaming resort in Las Vegas.
It also supplied all gaming tables, including poker, craps, baccarat and illuminated roulette tables for the IP Hotel and Casino, the first casino to reopen in New Orleans after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina last year.
Reports have said the Bond film will also feature the new Aston Martin DBS, bulldozers made by New Holland, and Bond will be filmed playing poker using cards made by Belgian-based Carte Mundi.
However, spokesman for TCS John Huxley declined to comment on either any contract or about the latest film.
In December 2003, The Sentinel reported how the company relocated its distribution and manufacturing operations to Festival Trade Park and planned to take on an extra 40 people.
At the time, the company said the Festival Park operations were geared up to produce about 600 roulette wheels a year as well as a portfolio of other gaming-related products.
Anne Bennett, marketing director of London-based Eon Production, which has overseen the production of every James Bond film, also remained tight-lipped.
Speaking from Prague where production is taking place, she said: "We will not comment until after the launch of the film."
Casino Royale is due for release in November.
Graham Bowen, co-founder of Shelton-based film-production company Bomark Films, said the James Bond franchise was one of the most powerful platforms on which to promote products.
Mr Bowen said: "Not as many people had really heard about Aston Martin cars until James Bond drove one; the same happened with the Lotus.
"If you can get a film association with Bond then it can be massively beneficial. It's one of those deals where companies are willing to pay to get their products on board."
Richard Grisdale, creative director of Stoke advertising agency Grisdale Lesniak Swann, said: "There's a lot of cynicism about product placement, but it is great news if the company has been approached to supply products to the film. The only difficulty is that a roulette table is not as immediately recognisable as an Aston Martin. They would need some expert advice to capitalise on the profile."
Thanks to `David` for the alert.
Details of the contract have remained under wraps, although the company is responsible for making equipment for casinos including Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and the Belaggio - where heist film Ocean's Eleven was set - reports The Sentinel
A worker, who did not wish to be identified, said: "We are the world leader in the manufacture and supply of casino equipment. We have been commissioned to manufacture the equipment for the new James Bond film, Casino Royale."
The worker said the staff at Festival Park were responsible for making equipment used in casinos worldwide.
Last May the company provided equipment for the Wynn gaming resort in Las Vegas.
It also supplied all gaming tables, including poker, craps, baccarat and illuminated roulette tables for the IP Hotel and Casino, the first casino to reopen in New Orleans after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina last year.
Reports have said the Bond film will also feature the new Aston Martin DBS, bulldozers made by New Holland, and Bond will be filmed playing poker using cards made by Belgian-based Carte Mundi.
However, spokesman for TCS John Huxley declined to comment on either any contract or about the latest film.
In December 2003, The Sentinel reported how the company relocated its distribution and manufacturing operations to Festival Trade Park and planned to take on an extra 40 people.
At the time, the company said the Festival Park operations were geared up to produce about 600 roulette wheels a year as well as a portfolio of other gaming-related products.
Anne Bennett, marketing director of London-based Eon Production, which has overseen the production of every James Bond film, also remained tight-lipped.
Speaking from Prague where production is taking place, she said: "We will not comment until after the launch of the film."
Casino Royale is due for release in November.
Graham Bowen, co-founder of Shelton-based film-production company Bomark Films, said the James Bond franchise was one of the most powerful platforms on which to promote products.
Mr Bowen said: "Not as many people had really heard about Aston Martin cars until James Bond drove one; the same happened with the Lotus.
"If you can get a film association with Bond then it can be massively beneficial. It's one of those deals where companies are willing to pay to get their products on board."
Richard Grisdale, creative director of Stoke advertising agency Grisdale Lesniak Swann, said: "There's a lot of cynicism about product placement, but it is great news if the company has been approached to supply products to the film. The only difficulty is that a roulette table is not as immediately recognisable as an Aston Martin. They would need some expert advice to capitalise on the profile."
Thanks to `David` for the alert.
Roulette Table: 'MUDDY GRAS' AT LIM CHU KANG
FOLK music drifts through the smoky night air.
Huddled around several gambling tables, groups of men flirt with Lady Luck.
In another corner, some men are with ladies of the night, and they are clearly up to a lot more than flirting.
Want a drink?
There's cheap alcohol.
Want a cheap smoke?
There are contraband cigarettes on sale.
All this happens in the middle of an open field in Lim Chu Kang.
The New Paper on Sunday staked out the spot for a week after a tip off.
It wasn't easy finding the illegal vice den, which is 30 metres from the main road.
To get there, one needs to drive on Neo Tiew Road before turning into a narrow dirt road.
The den is set up near a makeshift market located behind several blocks of hostels that house foreign construction workers.
The market opens at 7pm. Sellers display vegetables, fruits and fish on the ground.
A man who drives a pickup and his woman assistants appear to operate the market.
Foreign workers returning to their hostels usually stop there to buy their groceries.
With the market attracting customers, the sex and gambling followed, according to foreign workers we spoke to.
CAREFUL
But the workers weren't the only ones lured to the vice activity.
On the nights when we observed the den, there were Singapore-registered vehicles parked along a gravel road near the field.
This is what we saw on one particular night:
At 7.30pm, the operators of the vice den - consisting of six men and four women - arrived.
They were careful. First, they looked around for signs of the authorities.
Four men were deployed in different areas.
About 15 minutes later, all four men reported to one man at the centre of the field, before getting a thumbs-up to start work.
Once it was established that the coast was clear, some headed to the bushes where tables and chairs had been stashed, while the others started small fires to smoke out the mosquitoes.
Soon, foreign workers were lingering at the tables and chatting with the operators.
At the gambling tables, the 'banker' refused to start the game until more players joined in.
At 8.30pm, more gamblers trickled in, kicking off the night of illicit fun and entertainment.
At the gambling corner, up to five tables were set up for 'high-low' (a Thai dice game). It was the only game available.
'High-low' is played on top of a special plastic mat with markings similar to a roulette table.
The 'banker' would place the dice on a saucer covered with a small basket. Punters have to guess the outcome - whether it is high or low.
Using candles as their only source of light, seven bare-bodied punters placed bets of between $2 and $10 at one table.
As the 'banker' was about to lift the basket, the punters shouted 'xiao' and 'da' (small and big in Mandarin).
The winning group cheered the loudest.
Around 8pm, eight scantily-clad women arrived on motorcycles.
They were greeted by wolf whistles from the men waiting in the shadows.
They made their way to the edge of the field where bushes became bedrooms.
Plastic sheets were placed on the flattened vegetation. This is where the women would have sex with the men.
The eight women were providing sexual services to the men at about $20 a go.
There didn't seem to be enough women to go around.
Men squatted less than 5m from the bushes where the women were apparently having sex with their clients, drinking and joking with one another while awaiting their turn.
The queue was not orderly. At any time, 15 to 20 men would be waiting.
Some swatted mosquitoes, looking impatient.
Sometimes faint giggles could be heard from the women or the head of a customer would emerge from the bushes.
There was also a makeshift drinks stall - with cans of beer and soft drinks placed in a big styrofoam box filled with ice.
A can of beer cost $4. Contraband cigarettes from Malaysia also went for the same price per pack.
We spotted about 100 men visiting the vice den.
What makes the Lim Chu Kang vice den different from those highlighted in previous media reports is this is situated less than 10m from the workers' hostels.
Said a 26-year-old worker living in one of the hostels, who gave his name only as Raja: 'They used to gamble on pay day at the end of the month. But now you can see them gambling almost every day.
'It's not fair to the majority of us who only want to shop for vegetables. What if there's a police raid? We would probably be arrested for just being in the area.'
True enough, the cops, who had already got wind of the illegal activities, gatecrashed the party last Friday night.
The sight of a police patrol car in the area sent about 40 men in the field scurrying for cover.
Some fell while trying to escape, while others ran helter-skelter into the bushes. Some even left behind their bags and shoes.
In 30 seconds, the field was deserted.
The police said they have been monitoring the area.
Since March 2004, they have conducted several raids in the vicinity. As many as 70 people have been arrested for trespassing and immigration offences.
CIGARETTES SEIZED
But, during last Friday's surprise check, no arrests were made. The police confiscated a bag containing contraband cigarettes.
We overheard police officers questioning people in the area, but they denied any knowledge of the illegal activities.
When contacted, a spokesman for one of the hostels, who did not want to be identified, said: 'About half a year ago, some of our workers were caught by the police in a raid. One or two of our employees admitted to gambling.
'I had no choice but to send them back home to show the rest that we were serious.'
Huddled around several gambling tables, groups of men flirt with Lady Luck.
In another corner, some men are with ladies of the night, and they are clearly up to a lot more than flirting.
Want a drink?
There's cheap alcohol.
Want a cheap smoke?
There are contraband cigarettes on sale.
All this happens in the middle of an open field in Lim Chu Kang.
The New Paper on Sunday staked out the spot for a week after a tip off.
It wasn't easy finding the illegal vice den, which is 30 metres from the main road.
To get there, one needs to drive on Neo Tiew Road before turning into a narrow dirt road.
The den is set up near a makeshift market located behind several blocks of hostels that house foreign construction workers.
The market opens at 7pm. Sellers display vegetables, fruits and fish on the ground.
A man who drives a pickup and his woman assistants appear to operate the market.
Foreign workers returning to their hostels usually stop there to buy their groceries.
With the market attracting customers, the sex and gambling followed, according to foreign workers we spoke to.
CAREFUL
But the workers weren't the only ones lured to the vice activity.
On the nights when we observed the den, there were Singapore-registered vehicles parked along a gravel road near the field.
This is what we saw on one particular night:
At 7.30pm, the operators of the vice den - consisting of six men and four women - arrived.
They were careful. First, they looked around for signs of the authorities.
Four men were deployed in different areas.
About 15 minutes later, all four men reported to one man at the centre of the field, before getting a thumbs-up to start work.
Once it was established that the coast was clear, some headed to the bushes where tables and chairs had been stashed, while the others started small fires to smoke out the mosquitoes.
Soon, foreign workers were lingering at the tables and chatting with the operators.
At the gambling tables, the 'banker' refused to start the game until more players joined in.
At 8.30pm, more gamblers trickled in, kicking off the night of illicit fun and entertainment.
At the gambling corner, up to five tables were set up for 'high-low' (a Thai dice game). It was the only game available.
'High-low' is played on top of a special plastic mat with markings similar to a roulette table.
The 'banker' would place the dice on a saucer covered with a small basket. Punters have to guess the outcome - whether it is high or low.
Using candles as their only source of light, seven bare-bodied punters placed bets of between $2 and $10 at one table.
As the 'banker' was about to lift the basket, the punters shouted 'xiao' and 'da' (small and big in Mandarin).
The winning group cheered the loudest.
Around 8pm, eight scantily-clad women arrived on motorcycles.
They were greeted by wolf whistles from the men waiting in the shadows.
They made their way to the edge of the field where bushes became bedrooms.
Plastic sheets were placed on the flattened vegetation. This is where the women would have sex with the men.
The eight women were providing sexual services to the men at about $20 a go.
There didn't seem to be enough women to go around.
Men squatted less than 5m from the bushes where the women were apparently having sex with their clients, drinking and joking with one another while awaiting their turn.
The queue was not orderly. At any time, 15 to 20 men would be waiting.
Some swatted mosquitoes, looking impatient.
Sometimes faint giggles could be heard from the women or the head of a customer would emerge from the bushes.
There was also a makeshift drinks stall - with cans of beer and soft drinks placed in a big styrofoam box filled with ice.
A can of beer cost $4. Contraband cigarettes from Malaysia also went for the same price per pack.
We spotted about 100 men visiting the vice den.
What makes the Lim Chu Kang vice den different from those highlighted in previous media reports is this is situated less than 10m from the workers' hostels.
Said a 26-year-old worker living in one of the hostels, who gave his name only as Raja: 'They used to gamble on pay day at the end of the month. But now you can see them gambling almost every day.
'It's not fair to the majority of us who only want to shop for vegetables. What if there's a police raid? We would probably be arrested for just being in the area.'
True enough, the cops, who had already got wind of the illegal activities, gatecrashed the party last Friday night.
The sight of a police patrol car in the area sent about 40 men in the field scurrying for cover.
Some fell while trying to escape, while others ran helter-skelter into the bushes. Some even left behind their bags and shoes.
In 30 seconds, the field was deserted.
The police said they have been monitoring the area.
Since March 2004, they have conducted several raids in the vicinity. As many as 70 people have been arrested for trespassing and immigration offences.
CIGARETTES SEIZED
But, during last Friday's surprise check, no arrests were made. The police confiscated a bag containing contraband cigarettes.
We overheard police officers questioning people in the area, but they denied any knowledge of the illegal activities.
When contacted, a spokesman for one of the hostels, who did not want to be identified, said: 'About half a year ago, some of our workers were caught by the police in a raid. One or two of our employees admitted to gambling.
'I had no choice but to send them back home to show the rest that we were serious.'
Roulette Table: May The Odds Be With You
by AnteUp - GamblingLinks.com/GamblingLinks.com Staff © 2006, Reproduction without permission strictly prohibited. All company and product names in this document are the property of their respective copyright and/or trademark holders.
As far as the people who write dictionaries are concerned, the thing is simplicity itself: Rou·lette (roo-let') n. A gambling game in which the players bet on which slot of a rotating disk a small ball will come to rest in. For players, however, the game is infinitely complex, an intricate mathematical puzzle daring you to devote substantial amounts of your money and life to solving it. The intense battle of wills waged against the merciless wheel, the challenge of a lone person trying to surmount a sheer cliff against all odds, are probably why roulette is just as popular now, if not more so, than it was when the canvas cover was pulled off the first layout almost three hundred years ago.
Around the world, in online casinos and offline casinos, the spinning roulette wheel is played, studied, enjoyed and even, occasionally, beaten by scientific gamers, long-shot plungers, casual players and every other type of gambler. It is so popular that two expressions directly related to roulette have become so deeply embedded in our language and culture that few people have the slightest idea where they came from. The first is "broken on the wheel," which originally was used to describe wealthy playboys who, having lost their fortunes at the roulette tables in Monte Carlo, went for a stroll in the nearby ocean and never returned. The second "roulettism" -- breaking the bank -- is more cheerful. It referred to playboys who, having beaten the Monte Carlo wheel, sailed out to sea on a yacht instead of their wingtips. One additional bit of lore: Since the sum of a roulette layout's numbers - today as always - is 666, the same as the biblical "number of the beast," a persistent legend holds that Francois Blanc, the godfather of the Monte Carlo casino industry, once traded the game's secret to the devil for a better soul with which to enter eternity.
As you've probably guessed from the name, roulette - which means "small wheel" in its native tongue -- is a French invention, reaching America via New Orleans in about 1800. Though the game was first played in Paris in the mid-1700s, the center of the roulette world moved to Monaco after France criminalized gambling in the early 1770s.
European roulette wheels, often called French wheels in deference to their country of origin, contain 36 numbered slots plus a zero slot. American wheels also have a double zero slot, thus increasing the odds favoring the house from a bit over 2.5 percent to a little over 5 percent. This makes playing at an online or offline casino's European roulette wheel a better deal than playing on an American wheel. You can also improve your odds by wagering on a game where an en prison, surrender, La Partage or similar rule is in place These rules, common in European roulette, allow players to re-wager some of their losing bets if the ball lands on zero.
Bets can be placed on individual numbers, 0 (and in American roulette 00), groups of numbers, odds or evens and blacks and reds with winnings proportional to the odds against each proposition. For example, the simplest possible roulette wager, a straight bet on red, black, odds or evens, normally pays two to one. The house edge consists of the "0" and - if present - the "00," which are neither red nor black (they're green, actually) or odd or even.
For whatever reason, perhaps the mathematical purity of the game's odds or the fact that it's been around a long time, more systems for beating those odds have been devised than for any other form of casino gambling. Unsurprisingly, none of them work for degenerate gamblers or hardcore roulette addicts. Unlike, say, poker or blackjack, you can't improve your odds at roulette by increasing your knowledge of the game and skill at playing it. On the more positive side, however, some of the roulette systems do work in the short term if the gaming gods happen to be with you and you have the brains and moral fortitude to pick up your chips and quit while you're ahead.
The most common, oldest, easiest and most dangerous-to-your-bankroll roulette betting scheme is the Martindale, which is so seductive and easy to understand that it is now commonly used by crap shooters, slot players and even golfers who wager on a per-hole basis. The Martindale, beloved by millions of gamblers who have no idea that they're even using a system, is the original "double or nothing" bet. It calls for doubling your bet every time you lose and dropping down to your original bet and starting the sequence over when you win. The idea - cover all your losses and maybe even make a profit on a single wager -- is as logical as it is asinine. Even if you print your own money and there is no maximum betting limit at your favorite roulette table, the Martindale system is unlikely to make you a long-term winner - the odds on each spin of the wheel favor the house. The most the Martindale can do - long term - is theoretically limit your losses to the house percentage. In the real world, however, the Martindale cannot do even that. For one thing, it does suppose you have infinite money with which to keep doubling your bet. Do you? And even if you are richer than Bill Gates and the head of the Russian Mafia combined, you'll eventually - inevitably - run into a string of losses that would require a "Martindale" bet higher than the table limit to continue with the system. The Martindale can, however, make you a winner in the short run if you happen to employ it on a particularly luck day. For example, you bet a dollar on the number 3 and lose. So you bet two bucks on three and lose again. Next you bet four dollars on three, etc. Let's say the wee ball plops into three when you're at the ten-dollar level. Your winnings? $350. Your total wagers? $55.
Though the origin of the Martindale system is shrouded by history, the d'Alembert betting scheme for roulette was named after the French mathematician who first postulated the Law of Equilibrium, which states - in its simplest form - that if you flip a coin 60 times and it comes up heads the first 20 times, it will come up tails 30 out of the next 40 flips. Using the d'Alembert system you start with, say, ten dollars. If you lose, you increase your bet by one unit - in other words, you bet 11 dollars. If you win, you decrease by one unit and bet nine. In theory, according to d'Alembert's law, you will win as many times as you lose, giving you a net profit of one dollar for each win.
Please, please remember that I am only reporting on these systems, not devising or recommending them. In fact, when it comes to the d'Alembert method, I've never even been able to understand it, so don't bother e-mailing me for further elucidation. For it to work, in my puzzled opinion, something on that lovely green, black and red layout would have to offer a 50/50 betting proposition and nothing does. Now that that's out of the way, let's move right along to the third most popular roulette betting scheme: The Labouchere, aka Cancellation, System.
Like the d'Alembert system, this one is based on the laws of probability, but it also takes into consideration the fact that the odds favor the house and that the chances of the same things happening an equal amount of times in a fixed and limited time period are unlikely. Here goes. Visualize, type, or write a sequence of consecutive numbers … let's use 5,6,7,8,9,10. Add the first and last number together and bet the total -- $15 - as your first wager on one of the 2/1 propositions on the layout, let's use "red" for this example. If red wins, discard the 5 and 10, and bet another $15 (6+9) on red. If that wins, bet another $15 (7+8) on red. If that wins, you've run out of numbers, you've won $45 and it's time to quit. It gets a bit more complicated when you lose. In this scenario, if your first bet is $15 (5+10) and black comes up, you delete the 5 and add the $15 you lost to the end of the list, making your next bet $21 (6+15). If you lose that one, you drop the six and add the $21 making bet number three $28 (7+21). If you win that one, drop the 7 and the 21 and bet $23 (8+15). As you can see, the idea is that eventually the laws of probability will catch up to you and you'll be left with no numbers and a profit equal to the total of your bets - if you don't run out of money first.
The Labouchere system is better than the Martindale in the sense that increasing the bets incrementally rather than doubling them up burns through a gambler's stake more slowly and makes it less likely that the whole scheme will be undone by a player running up against the table limit (unless, of course, his or her initial bet is overly large.) Labouchere also has an advantage over the d'Alembert in that it is possible to leave the table a winner even when your proposition (in our example "red") comes up less than 50 percent of the time. All that said, over 250 years worth of experience seems to indicate that system players at the roulette table have no better odds of winning (or losing) than someone who just walks up and bets their heart. However you wager, you've got roughly the same chance to "break the bank," get "broken on the wheel" or, if you're like the vast majority of us, have a lot of fun while either winning or losing a few bucks.
As far as the people who write dictionaries are concerned, the thing is simplicity itself: Rou·lette (roo-let') n. A gambling game in which the players bet on which slot of a rotating disk a small ball will come to rest in. For players, however, the game is infinitely complex, an intricate mathematical puzzle daring you to devote substantial amounts of your money and life to solving it. The intense battle of wills waged against the merciless wheel, the challenge of a lone person trying to surmount a sheer cliff against all odds, are probably why roulette is just as popular now, if not more so, than it was when the canvas cover was pulled off the first layout almost three hundred years ago.
Around the world, in online casinos and offline casinos, the spinning roulette wheel is played, studied, enjoyed and even, occasionally, beaten by scientific gamers, long-shot plungers, casual players and every other type of gambler. It is so popular that two expressions directly related to roulette have become so deeply embedded in our language and culture that few people have the slightest idea where they came from. The first is "broken on the wheel," which originally was used to describe wealthy playboys who, having lost their fortunes at the roulette tables in Monte Carlo, went for a stroll in the nearby ocean and never returned. The second "roulettism" -- breaking the bank -- is more cheerful. It referred to playboys who, having beaten the Monte Carlo wheel, sailed out to sea on a yacht instead of their wingtips. One additional bit of lore: Since the sum of a roulette layout's numbers - today as always - is 666, the same as the biblical "number of the beast," a persistent legend holds that Francois Blanc, the godfather of the Monte Carlo casino industry, once traded the game's secret to the devil for a better soul with which to enter eternity.
As you've probably guessed from the name, roulette - which means "small wheel" in its native tongue -- is a French invention, reaching America via New Orleans in about 1800. Though the game was first played in Paris in the mid-1700s, the center of the roulette world moved to Monaco after France criminalized gambling in the early 1770s.
European roulette wheels, often called French wheels in deference to their country of origin, contain 36 numbered slots plus a zero slot. American wheels also have a double zero slot, thus increasing the odds favoring the house from a bit over 2.5 percent to a little over 5 percent. This makes playing at an online or offline casino's European roulette wheel a better deal than playing on an American wheel. You can also improve your odds by wagering on a game where an en prison, surrender, La Partage or similar rule is in place These rules, common in European roulette, allow players to re-wager some of their losing bets if the ball lands on zero.
Bets can be placed on individual numbers, 0 (and in American roulette 00), groups of numbers, odds or evens and blacks and reds with winnings proportional to the odds against each proposition. For example, the simplest possible roulette wager, a straight bet on red, black, odds or evens, normally pays two to one. The house edge consists of the "0" and - if present - the "00," which are neither red nor black (they're green, actually) or odd or even.
For whatever reason, perhaps the mathematical purity of the game's odds or the fact that it's been around a long time, more systems for beating those odds have been devised than for any other form of casino gambling. Unsurprisingly, none of them work for degenerate gamblers or hardcore roulette addicts. Unlike, say, poker or blackjack, you can't improve your odds at roulette by increasing your knowledge of the game and skill at playing it. On the more positive side, however, some of the roulette systems do work in the short term if the gaming gods happen to be with you and you have the brains and moral fortitude to pick up your chips and quit while you're ahead.
The most common, oldest, easiest and most dangerous-to-your-bankroll roulette betting scheme is the Martindale, which is so seductive and easy to understand that it is now commonly used by crap shooters, slot players and even golfers who wager on a per-hole basis. The Martindale, beloved by millions of gamblers who have no idea that they're even using a system, is the original "double or nothing" bet. It calls for doubling your bet every time you lose and dropping down to your original bet and starting the sequence over when you win. The idea - cover all your losses and maybe even make a profit on a single wager -- is as logical as it is asinine. Even if you print your own money and there is no maximum betting limit at your favorite roulette table, the Martindale system is unlikely to make you a long-term winner - the odds on each spin of the wheel favor the house. The most the Martindale can do - long term - is theoretically limit your losses to the house percentage. In the real world, however, the Martindale cannot do even that. For one thing, it does suppose you have infinite money with which to keep doubling your bet. Do you? And even if you are richer than Bill Gates and the head of the Russian Mafia combined, you'll eventually - inevitably - run into a string of losses that would require a "Martindale" bet higher than the table limit to continue with the system. The Martindale can, however, make you a winner in the short run if you happen to employ it on a particularly luck day. For example, you bet a dollar on the number 3 and lose. So you bet two bucks on three and lose again. Next you bet four dollars on three, etc. Let's say the wee ball plops into three when you're at the ten-dollar level. Your winnings? $350. Your total wagers? $55.
Though the origin of the Martindale system is shrouded by history, the d'Alembert betting scheme for roulette was named after the French mathematician who first postulated the Law of Equilibrium, which states - in its simplest form - that if you flip a coin 60 times and it comes up heads the first 20 times, it will come up tails 30 out of the next 40 flips. Using the d'Alembert system you start with, say, ten dollars. If you lose, you increase your bet by one unit - in other words, you bet 11 dollars. If you win, you decrease by one unit and bet nine. In theory, according to d'Alembert's law, you will win as many times as you lose, giving you a net profit of one dollar for each win.
Please, please remember that I am only reporting on these systems, not devising or recommending them. In fact, when it comes to the d'Alembert method, I've never even been able to understand it, so don't bother e-mailing me for further elucidation. For it to work, in my puzzled opinion, something on that lovely green, black and red layout would have to offer a 50/50 betting proposition and nothing does. Now that that's out of the way, let's move right along to the third most popular roulette betting scheme: The Labouchere, aka Cancellation, System.
Like the d'Alembert system, this one is based on the laws of probability, but it also takes into consideration the fact that the odds favor the house and that the chances of the same things happening an equal amount of times in a fixed and limited time period are unlikely. Here goes. Visualize, type, or write a sequence of consecutive numbers … let's use 5,6,7,8,9,10. Add the first and last number together and bet the total -- $15 - as your first wager on one of the 2/1 propositions on the layout, let's use "red" for this example. If red wins, discard the 5 and 10, and bet another $15 (6+9) on red. If that wins, bet another $15 (7+8) on red. If that wins, you've run out of numbers, you've won $45 and it's time to quit. It gets a bit more complicated when you lose. In this scenario, if your first bet is $15 (5+10) and black comes up, you delete the 5 and add the $15 you lost to the end of the list, making your next bet $21 (6+15). If you lose that one, you drop the six and add the $21 making bet number three $28 (7+21). If you win that one, drop the 7 and the 21 and bet $23 (8+15). As you can see, the idea is that eventually the laws of probability will catch up to you and you'll be left with no numbers and a profit equal to the total of your bets - if you don't run out of money first.
The Labouchere system is better than the Martindale in the sense that increasing the bets incrementally rather than doubling them up burns through a gambler's stake more slowly and makes it less likely that the whole scheme will be undone by a player running up against the table limit (unless, of course, his or her initial bet is overly large.) Labouchere also has an advantage over the d'Alembert in that it is possible to leave the table a winner even when your proposition (in our example "red") comes up less than 50 percent of the time. All that said, over 250 years worth of experience seems to indicate that system players at the roulette table have no better odds of winning (or losing) than someone who just walks up and bets their heart. However you wager, you've got roughly the same chance to "break the bank," get "broken on the wheel" or, if you're like the vast majority of us, have a lot of fun while either winning or losing a few bucks.
roulette table: State's odd slots moves play into tribes' pockets
Published May 25, 2006
The Seminoles have been so successful with their Hard Rock Casinos in Hollywood and Tampa, they want to void their profit-sharing contract with the developer. Who knew they'd make so much they'd have to pay $310 million the first two years, let alone a potential $2 billion over the life of the contract?
Meanwhile, Dan Adkins says he hears the same question every day from callers and customers at the dog track he runs in Hallandale Beach: "When are the slots coming?"
With so many people gambling and itching to gamble, you'd think the state would move a little quicker. Especially since the machines at four Broward pari-mutuels, unlike the ones at the tribal casinos, would be producing tax revenue for Florida.
No such luck.
Consider this: It took the state 14 months to get the lottery running after Florida voters approved it in November 1986. The first ticket was sold in January 1988.
It's been almost 19 months since Florida voters paved the way for slot machines in November 2004, almost 15 months since Broward voters gave final approval last March.
The latest ETA is Labor Day. If all goes well, if no more roadblocks or devious plans appear, the first taxed slot machines should be spinning in South Florida by late summer.
How is it that slot machines at Mardi Gras Racetrack and Gaming Center, Gulfstream Park, Dania Jai-Alai and Pompano Park could take longer to set up than a statewide lottery?
Under the illogical leadership of Gov. Jeb "I hate gambling except for the lottery I keep growing" Bush, the state has been happy to drag its heels.
First the Legislature blew off a July 2005 deadline and didn't write laws until last December. Then Bush gave state regulators six months to formulate rules. Soon, they'll get another three months to issue licenses.
The state's deliberate pace would be understandable in a gambling vacuum. But with crowds jamming the Indian casinos every day, Adkins called the delays "absurd."
"The most frustrating thing to me is to sit here and still not have what people voted for, still not be producing revenue for education," said Adkins, vice president of Mardi Gras, formerly known as Hollywood Greyhound track.
It's not all about altruism, because he's also frustrated that his company hasn't been raking in the dough. But at least his company's profits would be taxed 50 percent.
Bottom line: If the Legislature did its job on time and regulators worked with any urgency, Adkins said, there'd already be a couple of hundred million in the state's till.
No rush, fellas. The Seminoles and Miccosukees surely thank you.
Just as the Indian tribes must be thankful that Bush has broken off talks over the future of gambling at their sites. The tribes want to upgrade from the current Class 2 bingo-style slots to the Class 3 slots coming to the pari-mutuels. The tribes also want table games such as blackjack, roulette and craps.
Bush could negotiate a deal allowing these games on tribal land in return for a piece of the action and state oversight.
By breaking off talks, Bush is taking a huge gamble. If federal authorities rule the state negotiated in bad faith, the tribes could win the right to offer true slots or table games without giving the state anything.
Even if they're stuck with Class 2 slots, in which gamblers play each other and not against the house, the tribes will have advantages over the pari-mutuels.
Tribal casinos are open 24/7. The slots at pari-mutuels can run only 16 hours a day, and track poker rooms are open only 12 hours on days with live races or jai-alai matches.
Tribal poker rooms offer jackpots and high-stakes tournaments with entry fees up to $1,100. The entry fees for pari-mutuel poker tournaments are capped at $45, and the state is fighting to get rid of them.
The gambling age at Indian casinos is 18. The state has set a minimum age of 21 for slots at tracks, which is curious when you consider the legal age for racetrack betting, poker and the lottery is 18. (Imagine if the state had a drinking age of 18 for beer, 21 for liquor.)
Adkins knows the tribes have plenty of competitive edges. After all this time, he simply wants to join the fight.
Michael Mayo can be reached at mmayo@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4508.
The Seminoles have been so successful with their Hard Rock Casinos in Hollywood and Tampa, they want to void their profit-sharing contract with the developer. Who knew they'd make so much they'd have to pay $310 million the first two years, let alone a potential $2 billion over the life of the contract?
Meanwhile, Dan Adkins says he hears the same question every day from callers and customers at the dog track he runs in Hallandale Beach: "When are the slots coming?"
With so many people gambling and itching to gamble, you'd think the state would move a little quicker. Especially since the machines at four Broward pari-mutuels, unlike the ones at the tribal casinos, would be producing tax revenue for Florida.
No such luck.
Consider this: It took the state 14 months to get the lottery running after Florida voters approved it in November 1986. The first ticket was sold in January 1988.
It's been almost 19 months since Florida voters paved the way for slot machines in November 2004, almost 15 months since Broward voters gave final approval last March.
The latest ETA is Labor Day. If all goes well, if no more roadblocks or devious plans appear, the first taxed slot machines should be spinning in South Florida by late summer.
How is it that slot machines at Mardi Gras Racetrack and Gaming Center, Gulfstream Park, Dania Jai-Alai and Pompano Park could take longer to set up than a statewide lottery?
Under the illogical leadership of Gov. Jeb "I hate gambling except for the lottery I keep growing" Bush, the state has been happy to drag its heels.
First the Legislature blew off a July 2005 deadline and didn't write laws until last December. Then Bush gave state regulators six months to formulate rules. Soon, they'll get another three months to issue licenses.
The state's deliberate pace would be understandable in a gambling vacuum. But with crowds jamming the Indian casinos every day, Adkins called the delays "absurd."
"The most frustrating thing to me is to sit here and still not have what people voted for, still not be producing revenue for education," said Adkins, vice president of Mardi Gras, formerly known as Hollywood Greyhound track.
It's not all about altruism, because he's also frustrated that his company hasn't been raking in the dough. But at least his company's profits would be taxed 50 percent.
Bottom line: If the Legislature did its job on time and regulators worked with any urgency, Adkins said, there'd already be a couple of hundred million in the state's till.
No rush, fellas. The Seminoles and Miccosukees surely thank you.
Just as the Indian tribes must be thankful that Bush has broken off talks over the future of gambling at their sites. The tribes want to upgrade from the current Class 2 bingo-style slots to the Class 3 slots coming to the pari-mutuels. The tribes also want table games such as blackjack, roulette and craps.
Bush could negotiate a deal allowing these games on tribal land in return for a piece of the action and state oversight.
By breaking off talks, Bush is taking a huge gamble. If federal authorities rule the state negotiated in bad faith, the tribes could win the right to offer true slots or table games without giving the state anything.
Even if they're stuck with Class 2 slots, in which gamblers play each other and not against the house, the tribes will have advantages over the pari-mutuels.
Tribal casinos are open 24/7. The slots at pari-mutuels can run only 16 hours a day, and track poker rooms are open only 12 hours on days with live races or jai-alai matches.
Tribal poker rooms offer jackpots and high-stakes tournaments with entry fees up to $1,100. The entry fees for pari-mutuel poker tournaments are capped at $45, and the state is fighting to get rid of them.
The gambling age at Indian casinos is 18. The state has set a minimum age of 21 for slots at tracks, which is curious when you consider the legal age for racetrack betting, poker and the lottery is 18. (Imagine if the state had a drinking age of 18 for beer, 21 for liquor.)
Adkins knows the tribes have plenty of competitive edges. After all this time, he simply wants to join the fight.
Michael Mayo can be reached at mmayo@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4508.
roulette table: Gaming Partners International to Supply RFID Plaques to Galaxy Starworld Casino in Macau
Gaming Partners International Corporation, a leading manufacturer and supplier of casino table game equipment under the Paulson, Bud Jones and B&G brands, announced that Macau Galaxy Group renewed its confidence in GPI with the confirmation of an order for over 285,000 RFID plaques to be supplied to the flagship casino of the group, Starworld Casino.
This is another major deal for GPI's international group that supplied all the chips and plaques to Galaxy's other operations including: Waldo, Rio, President and Grand Waldo. The plaques are to be embedded with 13.56 MHz RFID microchips supplied by Magellan in Australia and securely embedded inside the plaques by GPI.
Galaxy Starworld Vice President of Casino Operations Mick Caban said, "I have been using the B&G plaques for many years and this is a unique product perfectly suited for the Macau market. The addition of the RFID technology to this high quality and high security product represents a major advantage for Starworld. We are pleased to pursue our collaboration with GPI, whose service has been outstanding with great flexibility and reliability."
The B&G plaques have been extremely popular with Macau casino players over decades with their unparalleled aesthetics, styles and finishes. They remain a favorite choice for leading casino operators, particularly for "high-roller" operations, the company disclosed.
"This order confirms GPI as the undisputable world leader in RFID technology provider to the table gaming industry," declared Christophe Leparoux, manager international sales and marketing for GPI. "All of our products (value chips, jetons and plaques) are now available with both 125 KHz and 13.56 MHz RFID technologies. The choice is up to the customers, depending if their focus is on security or operational applications. The very demanding Macau market requires high tech innovative products that offer great protection against counterfeiting while maintaining the intrinsic specifications of the products both the players and the dealers have been used to. This quality is just what we will deliver to Starworld and we are very proud to be associated yet again with Galaxy on this project."
About the Company
GPIC manufactures and supplies gaming chips, table layouts, playing cards, dice, gaming furniture, table accessories and other products that are used with casino table games such as blackjack, poker, baccarat, craps and roulette. GPIC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, with offices in Beaune, France; San Luis, Mexico; and Atlantic City, New Jersey. GPIC sells its casino products directly to licensed casinos throughout the world. For additional information about GPIC, visit our web site at www.gpigaming.com.
This is another major deal for GPI's international group that supplied all the chips and plaques to Galaxy's other operations including: Waldo, Rio, President and Grand Waldo. The plaques are to be embedded with 13.56 MHz RFID microchips supplied by Magellan in Australia and securely embedded inside the plaques by GPI.
Galaxy Starworld Vice President of Casino Operations Mick Caban said, "I have been using the B&G plaques for many years and this is a unique product perfectly suited for the Macau market. The addition of the RFID technology to this high quality and high security product represents a major advantage for Starworld. We are pleased to pursue our collaboration with GPI, whose service has been outstanding with great flexibility and reliability."
The B&G plaques have been extremely popular with Macau casino players over decades with their unparalleled aesthetics, styles and finishes. They remain a favorite choice for leading casino operators, particularly for "high-roller" operations, the company disclosed.
"This order confirms GPI as the undisputable world leader in RFID technology provider to the table gaming industry," declared Christophe Leparoux, manager international sales and marketing for GPI. "All of our products (value chips, jetons and plaques) are now available with both 125 KHz and 13.56 MHz RFID technologies. The choice is up to the customers, depending if their focus is on security or operational applications. The very demanding Macau market requires high tech innovative products that offer great protection against counterfeiting while maintaining the intrinsic specifications of the products both the players and the dealers have been used to. This quality is just what we will deliver to Starworld and we are very proud to be associated yet again with Galaxy on this project."
About the Company
GPIC manufactures and supplies gaming chips, table layouts, playing cards, dice, gaming furniture, table accessories and other products that are used with casino table games such as blackjack, poker, baccarat, craps and roulette. GPIC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, with offices in Beaune, France; San Luis, Mexico; and Atlantic City, New Jersey. GPIC sells its casino products directly to licensed casinos throughout the world. For additional information about GPIC, visit our web site at www.gpigaming.com.
roulette table: Are They All Bad?
By Frank Scoblete
18 May 2006
The greatest single question I receive when I do a talk is, "Frank, are most casino bets as bad as you say they are?"
My answer is an emphatic, "Yes, they are; in fact, most casino bets are awful. Make them and you will lose money and find it very hard to even have winning nights - unless the gods of luck are really with you, which they rarely are, since the gods of luck are really fickle."
I then go on to explain how the casinos take the money from the players - either by beating them on more decisions or by taxing their winnings. When you play roulette, for example, you know that true odds payoff of a direct hit on a number should be 37 to 1. However, the casino can't make money on a true-odds payoff, it's a break-even situation. Casinos have to make money to stay in business, so they pay you 35 to 1 on a winning bet in roulette. That translates into a 5.26 percent house edge.
Understanding the house edge is not something that takes advanced degrees. At craps, the Pass Line has a 1.41 percent house edge because the casino wins 251 decisions to the player's wining 244 decisions. That means quite simply that for every $100 you bet on the Pass Line, you can expect to lose $1.41. Since that percent is rather low in the casino scheme of things, you'll find that as a Pass Line bettor, you will have many winning sessions.
Luck is more a product of knowledge than it is of chance - especially in the long run of casino play.
Now, compare the excellent Pass Line with some other bets in craps and you can get an idea of how the casino can really sock it to the player who makes foolish bets.
The single worst bet at the craps table is the Any Seven or Big Red wager. Here we are wagering that on the very next roll the number will be a 7. Yes, the 7 does come up more than any single number in the game of craps, six times for every 36 rolls in fact. The true odds of hitting the seven on the very next roll are therefore 5 to 1. So what does the house pay you if your psychic abilities are working and that 7 pops? Why they pay you 4 to 1 - which means the casino has a 16.67 percent edge on the Any Seven or, more appropriately, the Big Red, which will be the color of your bankroll if you keep making that bet.
I have seen players not only make the Big Red a favorite bet, but also include other horrendous bets in their repertoire. At craps, bets with great-sounding names will often have awful edges. Yes, the better the name, the worse the bet!
One roll bets (that is, bets that must be decided on the very next roll) such as boxcars (the 12) and snake eyes (the 2) come in with 13.89 percent edges; while the 3 and the yo-11 both come in with 11.11 percent edges.
Yes, there are some bets that come in with lower edges but these are also a waste of your hard-earned money. The hardways bets, the 4, 6, 8, 10, made in doubles (i.e., 2:2, 3:3; 4:4; 5:5) have house edges scratching the 10 percent range.
Some players love to put their money on the Field, figuring that they have all those numbers working for them. Unfortunately, all those numbers still come in with a bad house edge at 5.26 percent! Yuck! Do you really want to lose $5.26 cents per $100 on these bets? Answer yes only if you are looking to lose pretty fast!
The Place bet scenario is also pretty dreary. Place the 4 or 10 and the house takes a 6.67 percent rake on you. Place the 5 or 9 and the house has a 4 percent edge on you. The only good place bets are the 6 or 8, which come in at 1.5 percent house edge. The "don't" Place bets, while somewhat better than the "do" Place bets, are still not worth making.
Now, if you are lucky enough to play in venues that allow you to "buy" the 4 or 10, 5 or 9, and only pay the 5 percent commission on wins, these "buy" bets are actually good ones, bringing the house edge down to around 1 to 1.3 percent.
The other fancy-sounding bets (the whirl or world, the horn, the hop bets, etc.) are all awful as well.
So, at craps, what are we left with? Just the very best bets: the Pass Line, the Don't Pass line, the Come, the Don't Come. Once up on the numbers, it's smart to put up odds on these bets. The odds bet, which has no house edge, is a great way to reduce the overall house edge to around a half percent or less! Here's the rule to remember: bet the minimum on the Pass Line, Come, Don't Pass, and Don't Come, and place as much as you can afford in odds.
If you want to bet $15, make a $5 Pass Line bet, and back it with the $10. That house edge of 1.41 percent is only working on the Pass Line bet; it is not working on the odds.
If you play this way at craps, you will have a very good chance of having many winning sessions in your craps play and you will be a very tough opponent for the casinos. However, if you get caught up in the wild whirl of the craps table and begin to make those high house-edge bets, you'll find your money being depleted at a rapid rate.
Smart play in the casinos is always cautious play - that's a rule that should always be obeyed. That might sound boring but in this case, boring is good!
18 May 2006
The greatest single question I receive when I do a talk is, "Frank, are most casino bets as bad as you say they are?"
My answer is an emphatic, "Yes, they are; in fact, most casino bets are awful. Make them and you will lose money and find it very hard to even have winning nights - unless the gods of luck are really with you, which they rarely are, since the gods of luck are really fickle."
I then go on to explain how the casinos take the money from the players - either by beating them on more decisions or by taxing their winnings. When you play roulette, for example, you know that true odds payoff of a direct hit on a number should be 37 to 1. However, the casino can't make money on a true-odds payoff, it's a break-even situation. Casinos have to make money to stay in business, so they pay you 35 to 1 on a winning bet in roulette. That translates into a 5.26 percent house edge.
Understanding the house edge is not something that takes advanced degrees. At craps, the Pass Line has a 1.41 percent house edge because the casino wins 251 decisions to the player's wining 244 decisions. That means quite simply that for every $100 you bet on the Pass Line, you can expect to lose $1.41. Since that percent is rather low in the casino scheme of things, you'll find that as a Pass Line bettor, you will have many winning sessions.
Luck is more a product of knowledge than it is of chance - especially in the long run of casino play.
Now, compare the excellent Pass Line with some other bets in craps and you can get an idea of how the casino can really sock it to the player who makes foolish bets.
The single worst bet at the craps table is the Any Seven or Big Red wager. Here we are wagering that on the very next roll the number will be a 7. Yes, the 7 does come up more than any single number in the game of craps, six times for every 36 rolls in fact. The true odds of hitting the seven on the very next roll are therefore 5 to 1. So what does the house pay you if your psychic abilities are working and that 7 pops? Why they pay you 4 to 1 - which means the casino has a 16.67 percent edge on the Any Seven or, more appropriately, the Big Red, which will be the color of your bankroll if you keep making that bet.
I have seen players not only make the Big Red a favorite bet, but also include other horrendous bets in their repertoire. At craps, bets with great-sounding names will often have awful edges. Yes, the better the name, the worse the bet!
One roll bets (that is, bets that must be decided on the very next roll) such as boxcars (the 12) and snake eyes (the 2) come in with 13.89 percent edges; while the 3 and the yo-11 both come in with 11.11 percent edges.
Yes, there are some bets that come in with lower edges but these are also a waste of your hard-earned money. The hardways bets, the 4, 6, 8, 10, made in doubles (i.e., 2:2, 3:3; 4:4; 5:5) have house edges scratching the 10 percent range.
Some players love to put their money on the Field, figuring that they have all those numbers working for them. Unfortunately, all those numbers still come in with a bad house edge at 5.26 percent! Yuck! Do you really want to lose $5.26 cents per $100 on these bets? Answer yes only if you are looking to lose pretty fast!
The Place bet scenario is also pretty dreary. Place the 4 or 10 and the house takes a 6.67 percent rake on you. Place the 5 or 9 and the house has a 4 percent edge on you. The only good place bets are the 6 or 8, which come in at 1.5 percent house edge. The "don't" Place bets, while somewhat better than the "do" Place bets, are still not worth making.
Now, if you are lucky enough to play in venues that allow you to "buy" the 4 or 10, 5 or 9, and only pay the 5 percent commission on wins, these "buy" bets are actually good ones, bringing the house edge down to around 1 to 1.3 percent.
The other fancy-sounding bets (the whirl or world, the horn, the hop bets, etc.) are all awful as well.
So, at craps, what are we left with? Just the very best bets: the Pass Line, the Don't Pass line, the Come, the Don't Come. Once up on the numbers, it's smart to put up odds on these bets. The odds bet, which has no house edge, is a great way to reduce the overall house edge to around a half percent or less! Here's the rule to remember: bet the minimum on the Pass Line, Come, Don't Pass, and Don't Come, and place as much as you can afford in odds.
If you want to bet $15, make a $5 Pass Line bet, and back it with the $10. That house edge of 1.41 percent is only working on the Pass Line bet; it is not working on the odds.
If you play this way at craps, you will have a very good chance of having many winning sessions in your craps play and you will be a very tough opponent for the casinos. However, if you get caught up in the wild whirl of the craps table and begin to make those high house-edge bets, you'll find your money being depleted at a rapid rate.
Smart play in the casinos is always cautious play - that's a rule that should always be obeyed. That might sound boring but in this case, boring is good!
Roulette table: The Real Iraq
Spending time in the United States after a tour of Iraq can be a disorienting experience these days. Within hours of arriving here, as I can attest from a recent visit, one is confronted with an image of Iraq that is unrecognizable. It is created in several overlapping ways: through television footage showing the charred remains of vehicles used in suicide attacks, surrounded by wailing women in black and grim-looking men carrying coffins; by armchair strategists and political gurus predicting further doom or pontificating about how the war should have been fought in the first place; by authors of instant-history books making their rounds to dissect the various fundamental mistakes committed by the Bush administration; and by reporters, cocooned in hotels in Baghdad, explaining the carnage and chaos in the streets as signs of the countrys impending or undeclared civil war. Add to all this the days alleged scandal or revelationan outed CIA operative, a reportedly doctored intelligence report, a leaked pessimistic assessmentand it is no wonder the American public registers disillusion with Iraq and everyone who embroiled the U.S. in its troubles.
It would be hard indeed for the average interested citizen to find out on his own just how grossly this image distorts the realities of present-day Iraq. Part of the problem, faced by even the most well-meaning news organizations, is the difficulty of covering so large and complex a subject; naturally, in such circumstances, sensational items rise to the top. But even ostensibly more objective efforts, like the Brookings Institutions much-cited Iraq Index with its constantly updated array of security, economic, and public-opinion indicators, tell us little about the actual feel of the country on the ground.
To make matters worse, many of the newsmen, pundits, and commentators on whom American viewers and readers rely to describe the situation have been contaminated by the increasing bitterness of American politics. Clearly there are those in the media and the think tanks who wish the Iraq enterprise to end in tragedy, as a just comeuppance for George W. Bush. Others, prompted by noble sentiment, so abhor the idea of war that they would banish it from human discourse before admitting that, in some circumstances, military power can be used in support of a good cause. But whatever the reason, the half-truths and outright misinformation that now function as conventional wisdom have gravely disserved the American people.
For someone like myself who has spent considerable time in Iraqa country I first visited in 1968current reality there is, nevertheless, very different from this conventional wisdom, and so are the prospects for Iraqs future. It helps to know where to look, what sources to trust, and how to evaluate the present moment against the background of Iraqi and Middle Eastern history.
Since my first encounter with Iraq almost 40 years ago, I have relied on several broad measures of social and economic health to assess the countrys condition. Through good times and bad, these signs have proved remarkably accurateas accurate, that is, as is possible in human affairs. For some time now, all have been pointing in an unequivocally positive direction.
The first sign is refugees. When things have been truly desperate in Iraqin 1959, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1980, 1988, and 1990long queues of Iraqis have formed at the Turkish and Iranian frontiers, hoping to escape. In 1973, for example, when Saddam Hussein decided to expel all those whose ancestors had not been Ottoman citizens before Iraqs creation as a state, some 1.2 million Iraqis left their homes in the space of just six weeks. This was not the temporary exile of a small group of middle-class professionals and intellectuals, which is a common enough phenomenon in most Arab countries. Rather, it was a departure en masse, affecting people both in small villages and in big cities, and it was a scene regularly repeated under Saddam Hussein.
Since the toppling of Saddam in 2003, this is one highly damaging image we have not seen on our television setsand we can be sure that we would be seeing it if it were there to be shown. To the contrary, Iraqis, far from fleeing, have been returning home. By the end of 2005, in the most conservative estimate, the number of returnees topped the 1.2-million mark. Many of the camps set up for fleeing Iraqis in Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia since 1959 have now closed down. The oldest such center, at Ashrafiayh in southwest Iran, was formally shut when its last Iraqi guests returned home in 2004.
A second dependable sign likewise concerns human movement, but of a different kind. This is the flow of religious pilgrims to the Shiite shrines in Karbala and Najaf. Whenever things start to go badly in Iraq, this stream is reduced to a trickle and then it dries up completely. From 1991 (when Saddam Hussein massacred Shiites involved in a revolt against him) to 2003, there were scarcely any pilgrims to these cities. Since Saddams fall, they have been flooded with visitors. In 2005, the holy sites received an estimated 12 million pilgrims, making them the most visited spots in the entire Muslim world, ahead of both Mecca and Medina.
Over 3,000 Iraqi clerics have also returned from exile, and Shiite seminaries, which just a few years ago held no more than a few dozen pupils, now boast over 15,000 from 40 different countries. This is because Najaf, the oldest center of Shiite scholarship, is once again able to offer an alternative to Qom, the Iranian holy city where a radical and highly politicized version of Shiism is taught. Those wishing to pursue the study of more traditional and quietist forms of Shiism now go to Iraq where, unlike in Iran, the seminaries are not controlled by the government and its secret police.
A third sign, this one of the hard economic variety, is the value of the Iraqi dinar, especially as compared with the regions other major currencies. In the final years of Saddam Husseins rule, the Iraqi dinar was in free fall; after 1995, it was no longer even traded in Iran and Kuwait. By contrast, the new dinar, introduced early in 2004, is doing well against both the Kuwaiti dinar and the Iranian rial, having risen by 17 percent against the former and by 23 percent against the latter. Although it is still impossible to fix its value against a basket of international currencies, the new Iraqi dinar has done well against the U.S. dollar, increasing in value by almost 18 percent between August 2004 and August 2005. The overwhelming majority of Iraqis, and millions of Iranians and Kuwaitis, now treat it as a safe and solid medium of exchange
My fourth time-tested sign is the level of activity by small and medium-sized businesses. In the past, whenever things have gone downhill in Iraq, large numbers of such enterprises have simply closed down, with the countrys most capable entrepreneurs decamping to Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf states, Turkey, Iran, and even Europe and North America. Since liberation, however, Iraq has witnessed a private-sector boom, especially among small and medium-sized businesses.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, as well as numerous private studies, the Iraqi economy has been doing better than any other in the region. The countrys gross domestic product rose to almost $90 billion in 2004 (the latest year for which figures are available), more than double the output for 2003, and its real growth rate, as estimated by the IMF, was 52.3 per cent. In that same period, exports increased by more than $3 billion, while the inflation rate fell to 25.4 percent, down from 70 percent in 2002. The unemployment rate was halved, from 60 percent to 30 percent.
Related to this is the level of agricultural activity. Between 1991 and 2003, the countrys farm sector experienced unprecedented decline, in the end leaving almost the entire nation dependent on rations distributed by the United Nations under Oil-for-Food. In the past two years, by contrast, Iraqi agriculture has undergone an equally unprecedented revival. Iraq now exports foodstuffs to neighboring countries, something that has not happened since the 1950s. Much of the upturn is due to smallholders who, shaking off the collectivist system imposed by the Baathists, have retaken control of land that was confiscated decades ago by the state.
Finally, one of the surest indices of the health of Iraqi society has always been its readiness to talk to the outside world. Iraqis are a verbalizing people; when they fall silent, life is incontrovertibly becoming hard for them. There have been times, indeed, when one could find scarcely a single Iraqi, whether in Iraq or abroad, prepared to express an opinion on anything remotely political. This is what Kanan Makiya meant when he described Saddam Husseins regime as a republic of fear.
Today, again by way of dramatic contrast, Iraqis are voluble to a fault. Talk radio, television talk-shows, and Internet blogs are all the rage, while heated debate is the order of the day in shops, tea-houses, bazaars, mosques, offices, and private homes. A catharsis is how Luay Abdulilah, the Iraqi short-story writer and diarist, describes it. This is one way of taking revenge against decades of deadly silence. Moreover, a vast network of independent media has emerged in Iraq, including over 100 privately-owned newspapers and magazines and more than two dozen radio and television stations. To anyone familiar with the state of the media in the Arab world, it is a truism that Iraq today is the place where freedom of expression is most effectively exercised.
That an experienced observer of Iraq with a sense of history can point to so many positive factors in the countrys present condition will not do much, of course, to sway the more determined critics of the U.S. intervention there. They might even agree that the images fed to the American public show only part of the picture, and that the news from Iraq is not uniformly bad. But the root of their opposition runs deeper, to political fundamentals.
Their critique can be summarized in the aphorism that democracy cannot be imposed by force. It is a view that can be found among the more sophisticated elements on the Left and, increasingly, among dissenters on the Right, from Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska to the ex-neoconservative Francis Fukuyama. As Senator Hagel puts it, You cannot in my opinion just impose a democratic form of government on a country with no history and no culture and no tradition of democracy.
I would tend to agree. But is Iraq such a place? In point of fact, before the 1958 pro-Soviet military coup detat that established a leftist dictatorship, Iraq did have its modest but nevertheless significant share of democratic history, culture, and tradition. The country came into being through a popular referendum held in 1921. A constitutional monarchy modeled on the United Kingdom, it had a bicameral parliament, several political parties (including the Baath and the Communists), and periodic elections that led to changes of policy and government. At the time, Iraq also enjoyed the freest press in the Arab world, plus the widest space for debate and dissent in the Muslim Middle East.
To be sure, Baghdad in those days was no Westminster, and, as the 1958 coup proved, Iraqi democracy was fragile. But every serious student of contemporary Iraq knows that substantial segments of the population, from all ethnic and religious communities, had more than a taste of the modern worlds democratic aspirations. As evidence, one need only consult the immense literary and artistic production of Iraqis both before and after the 1958 coup. Under successor dictatorial regimes, it is true, the conviction took hold that democratic principles had no future in Iraqa conviction that was responsible in large part for driving almost five million Iraqis, a quarter of the population, into exile between 1958 and 2003, just as the opposite conviction is attracting so many of them and their children back to Iraq today.
A related argument used to condemn Iraqs democratic prospects is that it is an artificial country, one that can be held together only by a dictator. But did any nation-state fall from the heavens wholly made? All are to some extent artificial creations, and the U.S. is preeminently so. The truth is that Iraqone of the 53 founding countries of the United Nationsis older than a majority of that organizations current 198 member states. Within the Arab League, and setting aside Oman and Yemen, none of the 22 members is older. Two-thirds of the 122 countries regarded as democracies by Freedom House came into being after Iraqs appearance on the map.
Critics of the democratic project in Iraq also claim that, because it is a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state, the country is doomed to despotism, civil war, or disintegration. But the same could be said of virtually all Middle Eastern states, most of which are neither multi-ethnic nor multi-confessional. More important, all Iraqis, regardless of their ethnic, linguistic, and sectarian differences, share a sense of national identityuruqa (Iraqi-ness)that has developed over the past eight decades. A unified, federal state may still come to grief in Iraqhistory is not written in advancebut even should a divorce become inevitable at some point, a democratic Iraq would be in a better position to manage it.
What all of this demonstrates is that, contrary to received opinion, Operation Iraqi Freedom was not an attempt to impose democracy by force. Rather, it was an effort to use force to remove impediments to democratization, primarily by deposing a tyrant who had utterly suppressed a well-established aspect of the countrys identity. It may take years before we know for certain whether or not post-liberation Iraq has definitely chosen democracy. But one thing is certain: without the use of force to remove the Baathist regime, the people of Iraq would not have had the opportunity even to contemplate a democratic future.
Assessing the progress of that democratic project is no simple matter. But, by any reasonable standard, Iraqis have made extraordinary strides. In a series of municipal polls and two general elections in the past three years, up to 70 percent of eligible Iraqis have voted. This new orientation is supported by more than 60 political parties and organizations, the first genuinely free-trade unions in the Arab world, a growing number of professional associations acting independently of the state, and more than 400 nongovernmental organizations representing diverse segments of civil society. A new constitution, written by Iraqis representing the full spectrum of political, ethnic, and religious sensibilities was overwhelmingly approved by the electorate in a referendum last October.
Iraqs new democratic reality is also reflected in the vocabulary of politics used at every level of society. Many new wordsaccountability, transparency, pluralism, dissenthave entered political discourse in Iraq for the first time. More remarkably, perhaps, all parties and personalities currently engaged in the democratic process have committed themselves to the principle that power should be sought, won, and lost only through free and fair elections.
These democratic achievements are especially impressive when set side by side with the declared aims of the enemies of the new Iraq, who have put up a determined fight against it. Since the countrys liberation, the jihadists and residual Baathists have killed an estimated 23,000 Iraqis, mostly civilians, in scores of random attacks and suicide operations. Indirectly, they have caused the death of thousands more, by sabotaging water and electricity services and by provoking sectarian revenge attacks.
But they have failed to translate their talent for mayhem and murder into political success. Their campaign has not succeeded in appreciably slowing down, let alone stopping, the countrys democratization. Indeed, at each step along the way, the jihadists and Baathists have seen their self-declared objectives thwarted.
After the invasion, they tried at first to prevent the formation of a Governing Council, the expression of Iraqs continued existence as a sovereign nation-state. They managed to murder several members of the council, including its president in 2003, but failed to prevent its formation or to keep it from performing its task in the interim period. The next aim of the insurgents was to stop municipal elections. Their message was simple: candidates and voters would be killed. But, once again, they failed: thousands of men and women came forward as candidates and more than 1.5 million Iraqis voted in the localities where elections were held.
The insurgency made similar threats in the lead-up to the first general election, and the result was the same. Despite killing 36 candidates and 148 voters, they failed to derail the balloting, in which the number of voters rose to more than 8 million. Nor could the insurgency prevent the writing of the new democratic constitution, despite a campaign of assassination against its drafters. The text was ready in time and was submitted to and approved by a referendum, exactly as planned. The number of voters rose yet again, to more than 9 million.
What of relations among the Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurdsthe focus of so much attention of late? For almost three years, the insurgency worked hard to keep the Arab Sunni community, which accounts for some 15 percent of the population, out of the political process. But that campaign collapsed when millions of Sunnis turned out to vote in the constitutional referendum and in the second general election, which saw almost 11 million Iraqis go to the polls. As I write, all political parties representing the Arab Sunni minority have joined the political process and have strong representation in the new parliament. With the convening of that parliament, and the nomination in April of a new prime minister and a three-man presidential council, the way is open for the formation of a broad-based government of national unity to lead Iraq over the next four years.
As for the insurgencys effort to foment sectarian violencea strategy first launched in earnest toward the end of 2005this too has run aground. The hope here was to provoke a full-scale war between the Arab Sunni minority and the Arab Shiites who account for some 60 percent of the population. The new strategy, like the ones previously tried, has certainly produced many deaths. But despite countless cases of sectarian killings by so-called militias, there is still no sign that the Shiites as a whole will acquiesce in the role assigned them by the insurgency and organize a concerted campaign of nationwide retaliation.
Finally, despite the impression created by relentlessly dire reporting in the West, the insurgency has proved unable to shut down essential government services. Hundreds of teachers and schoolchildren have been killed in incidents including the beheading of two teachers in their classrooms this April and horrific suicide attacks against school buses. But by September 2004, most schools across Iraq and virtually all universities were open and functioning. By September 2005, more than 8.5 million Iraqi children and young people were attending school or universityan all-time record in the nations history.
A similar story applies to Iraqs clinics and hospitals. Between October 2003 and January 2006, more than 80 medical doctors and over 400 nurses and medical auxiliaries were murdered by the insurgents. The jihadists also raided several hospitals, killing ordinary patients in their beds. But, once again, they failed in their objectives. By January 2006, all of Iraqs 600 state-owned hospitals and clinics were in full operation, along with dozens of new ones set up by the private sector since liberation.
Another of the insurgencys strategic goals was to bring the Iraqi oil industry to a halt and to disrupt the export of crude. Since July 2003, Iraqs oil infrastructure has been the target of more than 3,000 attacks and attempts at sabotage. But once more the insurgency has failed to achieve its goals. Iraq has resumed its membership in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and has returned to world markets as a major oil exporter. According to projections, by the end of 2006 it will be producing its full OPEC quota of 2.8 million barrels a day.
The Baathist remnant and its jihadist allies resemble a gambler who wins a heap of chips at a roulette table only to discover that he cannot exchange them for real money at the front desk. The enemies of the new Iraq have succeeded in ruining the lives of tens of thousands of Iraqis, but over the past three years they have advanced their overarching goals, such as they are, very little. Instead, they have been militarily contained and politically defeated again and again, and the beneficiary has been Iraqi democracy.
None of this means that the new Iraq is out of the woods. Far from it. Democratic success still requires a great deal of patience, determination, and luck. The U.S.-led coalition, its allies, and partners have achieved most of their major political objectives, but that achievement remains under threat and could be endangered if the U.S., for whatever reason, should decide to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory.
The current mandate of the U.S.-led coalition runs out at the end of this year, and it is unlikely that Washington and its allies will want to maintain their military presence at current levels. In the past few months, more than half of the 103 bases used by the coalition have been transferred to the new Iraqi army. The best guess is that the number of U.S. and coalition troops could be cut from 140,000 to 25,000 or 30,000 by the end of 2007.
One might wonder why, if the military mission has been so successful, the U.S. still needs to maintain a military presence in Iraq for at least another two years. There are three reasons for this.
The first is to discourage Iraqs predatory neighbors, notably Iran and Syria, which might wish to pursue their own agendas against the new government in Baghdad. Iran has already revived some claims under the Treaties of Erzerum (1846), according to which Tehran would enjoy a droit de regard over Shiite shrines in Iraq. In Syria, some in that countrys ruling circles have invoked the possibility of annexing the area known as Jazirah, the so-called Sunni triangle, in the name of Arab unity. For its part, Turkey is making noises about the Treaty of Lausanne (1923), which gave it a claim to the oilfields of northern Iraq. All of these pretensions need to be rebuffed.
The second reason for extending Americas military presence is political. The U.S. is acting as an arbiter among Iraqs various ethnic and religious communities and political factions. It is, in a sense, a traffic cop, giving Iraqis a green or red light when and if needed. It is important that the U.S. continue performing this role for the first year or two of the newly elected parliament and government.
Finally, the U.S. and its allies have a key role to play in training and testing Iraqs new army and police. Impressive success has already been achieved in that field. Nevertheless, the new Iraqi army needs at least another year or two before it will have developed adequate logistical capacities and learned to organize and conduct operations involving its various branches.
But will the U.S. stay the course? Many are betting against it. The Baathists and jihadists, their prior efforts to derail Iraqi democracy having come to naught, have now pinned their hopes on creating enough chaos and death to persuade Washington of the futility of its endeavors. In this, they have the tacit support not only of local Arab and Muslim despots rightly fearful of the democratic genie but of all those in the West whose own incessant theme has been the certainty of American failure. Among Bush-haters in the U.S., just as among anti-Americans around the world, predictions of civil war in Iraq, of spreading regional hostilities, and of a revived global terrorism are not about to cease any time soon.
But more sober observers should understand the real balance sheet in Iraq. Democracy is succeeding. Moreover, thanks to its success in Iraq, there are stirrings elsewhere in the region. Beyond the much-publicized electoral concessions wrung from authoritarian rulers in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, there is a new democratic discourse to be heard. Nationalism and pan-Arabism, yesterdays hollow rallying cries, have given way to a big idea of a very different kind. Debate and dissent are in the air where there was none beforea development owing, in significant measure, to the U.S. campaign in Iraq and the brilliant if still checkered Iraqi response.
The stakes, in short, could not be higher. This is all the more reason to celebrate, to build on, and to consolidate what has already been accomplished. Instead of railing against the Bush administration, Americas elites would do better, and incidentally display greater self-respect, to direct their wrath where it properly belongs: at those violent and unrestrained enemies of democracy in Iraq who are, in truth, the enemies of democracy in America as well, and of everything America has ever stood for.
Is Iraq a quagmire, a disaster, a failure? Certainly not; none of the above. Of all the adjectives used by skeptics and critics to describe todays Iraq, the only one that has a ring of truth is messy. Yes, the situation in Iraq today is messy. Births always are. Since when is that a reason to declare a baby unworthy of life?
Amir Taheri, formerly the executive editor of Kayhan, Irans largest daily newspaper, is the author of ten books and a frequent contributor to numerous publications in the Middle East and Europe. His work appears regularly in the New York Post.
It would be hard indeed for the average interested citizen to find out on his own just how grossly this image distorts the realities of present-day Iraq. Part of the problem, faced by even the most well-meaning news organizations, is the difficulty of covering so large and complex a subject; naturally, in such circumstances, sensational items rise to the top. But even ostensibly more objective efforts, like the Brookings Institutions much-cited Iraq Index with its constantly updated array of security, economic, and public-opinion indicators, tell us little about the actual feel of the country on the ground.
To make matters worse, many of the newsmen, pundits, and commentators on whom American viewers and readers rely to describe the situation have been contaminated by the increasing bitterness of American politics. Clearly there are those in the media and the think tanks who wish the Iraq enterprise to end in tragedy, as a just comeuppance for George W. Bush. Others, prompted by noble sentiment, so abhor the idea of war that they would banish it from human discourse before admitting that, in some circumstances, military power can be used in support of a good cause. But whatever the reason, the half-truths and outright misinformation that now function as conventional wisdom have gravely disserved the American people.
For someone like myself who has spent considerable time in Iraqa country I first visited in 1968current reality there is, nevertheless, very different from this conventional wisdom, and so are the prospects for Iraqs future. It helps to know where to look, what sources to trust, and how to evaluate the present moment against the background of Iraqi and Middle Eastern history.
Since my first encounter with Iraq almost 40 years ago, I have relied on several broad measures of social and economic health to assess the countrys condition. Through good times and bad, these signs have proved remarkably accurateas accurate, that is, as is possible in human affairs. For some time now, all have been pointing in an unequivocally positive direction.
The first sign is refugees. When things have been truly desperate in Iraqin 1959, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1980, 1988, and 1990long queues of Iraqis have formed at the Turkish and Iranian frontiers, hoping to escape. In 1973, for example, when Saddam Hussein decided to expel all those whose ancestors had not been Ottoman citizens before Iraqs creation as a state, some 1.2 million Iraqis left their homes in the space of just six weeks. This was not the temporary exile of a small group of middle-class professionals and intellectuals, which is a common enough phenomenon in most Arab countries. Rather, it was a departure en masse, affecting people both in small villages and in big cities, and it was a scene regularly repeated under Saddam Hussein.
Since the toppling of Saddam in 2003, this is one highly damaging image we have not seen on our television setsand we can be sure that we would be seeing it if it were there to be shown. To the contrary, Iraqis, far from fleeing, have been returning home. By the end of 2005, in the most conservative estimate, the number of returnees topped the 1.2-million mark. Many of the camps set up for fleeing Iraqis in Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia since 1959 have now closed down. The oldest such center, at Ashrafiayh in southwest Iran, was formally shut when its last Iraqi guests returned home in 2004.
A second dependable sign likewise concerns human movement, but of a different kind. This is the flow of religious pilgrims to the Shiite shrines in Karbala and Najaf. Whenever things start to go badly in Iraq, this stream is reduced to a trickle and then it dries up completely. From 1991 (when Saddam Hussein massacred Shiites involved in a revolt against him) to 2003, there were scarcely any pilgrims to these cities. Since Saddams fall, they have been flooded with visitors. In 2005, the holy sites received an estimated 12 million pilgrims, making them the most visited spots in the entire Muslim world, ahead of both Mecca and Medina.
Over 3,000 Iraqi clerics have also returned from exile, and Shiite seminaries, which just a few years ago held no more than a few dozen pupils, now boast over 15,000 from 40 different countries. This is because Najaf, the oldest center of Shiite scholarship, is once again able to offer an alternative to Qom, the Iranian holy city where a radical and highly politicized version of Shiism is taught. Those wishing to pursue the study of more traditional and quietist forms of Shiism now go to Iraq where, unlike in Iran, the seminaries are not controlled by the government and its secret police.
A third sign, this one of the hard economic variety, is the value of the Iraqi dinar, especially as compared with the regions other major currencies. In the final years of Saddam Husseins rule, the Iraqi dinar was in free fall; after 1995, it was no longer even traded in Iran and Kuwait. By contrast, the new dinar, introduced early in 2004, is doing well against both the Kuwaiti dinar and the Iranian rial, having risen by 17 percent against the former and by 23 percent against the latter. Although it is still impossible to fix its value against a basket of international currencies, the new Iraqi dinar has done well against the U.S. dollar, increasing in value by almost 18 percent between August 2004 and August 2005. The overwhelming majority of Iraqis, and millions of Iranians and Kuwaitis, now treat it as a safe and solid medium of exchange
My fourth time-tested sign is the level of activity by small and medium-sized businesses. In the past, whenever things have gone downhill in Iraq, large numbers of such enterprises have simply closed down, with the countrys most capable entrepreneurs decamping to Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf states, Turkey, Iran, and even Europe and North America. Since liberation, however, Iraq has witnessed a private-sector boom, especially among small and medium-sized businesses.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, as well as numerous private studies, the Iraqi economy has been doing better than any other in the region. The countrys gross domestic product rose to almost $90 billion in 2004 (the latest year for which figures are available), more than double the output for 2003, and its real growth rate, as estimated by the IMF, was 52.3 per cent. In that same period, exports increased by more than $3 billion, while the inflation rate fell to 25.4 percent, down from 70 percent in 2002. The unemployment rate was halved, from 60 percent to 30 percent.
Related to this is the level of agricultural activity. Between 1991 and 2003, the countrys farm sector experienced unprecedented decline, in the end leaving almost the entire nation dependent on rations distributed by the United Nations under Oil-for-Food. In the past two years, by contrast, Iraqi agriculture has undergone an equally unprecedented revival. Iraq now exports foodstuffs to neighboring countries, something that has not happened since the 1950s. Much of the upturn is due to smallholders who, shaking off the collectivist system imposed by the Baathists, have retaken control of land that was confiscated decades ago by the state.
Finally, one of the surest indices of the health of Iraqi society has always been its readiness to talk to the outside world. Iraqis are a verbalizing people; when they fall silent, life is incontrovertibly becoming hard for them. There have been times, indeed, when one could find scarcely a single Iraqi, whether in Iraq or abroad, prepared to express an opinion on anything remotely political. This is what Kanan Makiya meant when he described Saddam Husseins regime as a republic of fear.
Today, again by way of dramatic contrast, Iraqis are voluble to a fault. Talk radio, television talk-shows, and Internet blogs are all the rage, while heated debate is the order of the day in shops, tea-houses, bazaars, mosques, offices, and private homes. A catharsis is how Luay Abdulilah, the Iraqi short-story writer and diarist, describes it. This is one way of taking revenge against decades of deadly silence. Moreover, a vast network of independent media has emerged in Iraq, including over 100 privately-owned newspapers and magazines and more than two dozen radio and television stations. To anyone familiar with the state of the media in the Arab world, it is a truism that Iraq today is the place where freedom of expression is most effectively exercised.
That an experienced observer of Iraq with a sense of history can point to so many positive factors in the countrys present condition will not do much, of course, to sway the more determined critics of the U.S. intervention there. They might even agree that the images fed to the American public show only part of the picture, and that the news from Iraq is not uniformly bad. But the root of their opposition runs deeper, to political fundamentals.
Their critique can be summarized in the aphorism that democracy cannot be imposed by force. It is a view that can be found among the more sophisticated elements on the Left and, increasingly, among dissenters on the Right, from Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska to the ex-neoconservative Francis Fukuyama. As Senator Hagel puts it, You cannot in my opinion just impose a democratic form of government on a country with no history and no culture and no tradition of democracy.
I would tend to agree. But is Iraq such a place? In point of fact, before the 1958 pro-Soviet military coup detat that established a leftist dictatorship, Iraq did have its modest but nevertheless significant share of democratic history, culture, and tradition. The country came into being through a popular referendum held in 1921. A constitutional monarchy modeled on the United Kingdom, it had a bicameral parliament, several political parties (including the Baath and the Communists), and periodic elections that led to changes of policy and government. At the time, Iraq also enjoyed the freest press in the Arab world, plus the widest space for debate and dissent in the Muslim Middle East.
To be sure, Baghdad in those days was no Westminster, and, as the 1958 coup proved, Iraqi democracy was fragile. But every serious student of contemporary Iraq knows that substantial segments of the population, from all ethnic and religious communities, had more than a taste of the modern worlds democratic aspirations. As evidence, one need only consult the immense literary and artistic production of Iraqis both before and after the 1958 coup. Under successor dictatorial regimes, it is true, the conviction took hold that democratic principles had no future in Iraqa conviction that was responsible in large part for driving almost five million Iraqis, a quarter of the population, into exile between 1958 and 2003, just as the opposite conviction is attracting so many of them and their children back to Iraq today.
A related argument used to condemn Iraqs democratic prospects is that it is an artificial country, one that can be held together only by a dictator. But did any nation-state fall from the heavens wholly made? All are to some extent artificial creations, and the U.S. is preeminently so. The truth is that Iraqone of the 53 founding countries of the United Nationsis older than a majority of that organizations current 198 member states. Within the Arab League, and setting aside Oman and Yemen, none of the 22 members is older. Two-thirds of the 122 countries regarded as democracies by Freedom House came into being after Iraqs appearance on the map.
Critics of the democratic project in Iraq also claim that, because it is a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state, the country is doomed to despotism, civil war, or disintegration. But the same could be said of virtually all Middle Eastern states, most of which are neither multi-ethnic nor multi-confessional. More important, all Iraqis, regardless of their ethnic, linguistic, and sectarian differences, share a sense of national identityuruqa (Iraqi-ness)that has developed over the past eight decades. A unified, federal state may still come to grief in Iraqhistory is not written in advancebut even should a divorce become inevitable at some point, a democratic Iraq would be in a better position to manage it.
What all of this demonstrates is that, contrary to received opinion, Operation Iraqi Freedom was not an attempt to impose democracy by force. Rather, it was an effort to use force to remove impediments to democratization, primarily by deposing a tyrant who had utterly suppressed a well-established aspect of the countrys identity. It may take years before we know for certain whether or not post-liberation Iraq has definitely chosen democracy. But one thing is certain: without the use of force to remove the Baathist regime, the people of Iraq would not have had the opportunity even to contemplate a democratic future.
Assessing the progress of that democratic project is no simple matter. But, by any reasonable standard, Iraqis have made extraordinary strides. In a series of municipal polls and two general elections in the past three years, up to 70 percent of eligible Iraqis have voted. This new orientation is supported by more than 60 political parties and organizations, the first genuinely free-trade unions in the Arab world, a growing number of professional associations acting independently of the state, and more than 400 nongovernmental organizations representing diverse segments of civil society. A new constitution, written by Iraqis representing the full spectrum of political, ethnic, and religious sensibilities was overwhelmingly approved by the electorate in a referendum last October.
Iraqs new democratic reality is also reflected in the vocabulary of politics used at every level of society. Many new wordsaccountability, transparency, pluralism, dissenthave entered political discourse in Iraq for the first time. More remarkably, perhaps, all parties and personalities currently engaged in the democratic process have committed themselves to the principle that power should be sought, won, and lost only through free and fair elections.
These democratic achievements are especially impressive when set side by side with the declared aims of the enemies of the new Iraq, who have put up a determined fight against it. Since the countrys liberation, the jihadists and residual Baathists have killed an estimated 23,000 Iraqis, mostly civilians, in scores of random attacks and suicide operations. Indirectly, they have caused the death of thousands more, by sabotaging water and electricity services and by provoking sectarian revenge attacks.
But they have failed to translate their talent for mayhem and murder into political success. Their campaign has not succeeded in appreciably slowing down, let alone stopping, the countrys democratization. Indeed, at each step along the way, the jihadists and Baathists have seen their self-declared objectives thwarted.
After the invasion, they tried at first to prevent the formation of a Governing Council, the expression of Iraqs continued existence as a sovereign nation-state. They managed to murder several members of the council, including its president in 2003, but failed to prevent its formation or to keep it from performing its task in the interim period. The next aim of the insurgents was to stop municipal elections. Their message was simple: candidates and voters would be killed. But, once again, they failed: thousands of men and women came forward as candidates and more than 1.5 million Iraqis voted in the localities where elections were held.
The insurgency made similar threats in the lead-up to the first general election, and the result was the same. Despite killing 36 candidates and 148 voters, they failed to derail the balloting, in which the number of voters rose to more than 8 million. Nor could the insurgency prevent the writing of the new democratic constitution, despite a campaign of assassination against its drafters. The text was ready in time and was submitted to and approved by a referendum, exactly as planned. The number of voters rose yet again, to more than 9 million.
What of relations among the Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurdsthe focus of so much attention of late? For almost three years, the insurgency worked hard to keep the Arab Sunni community, which accounts for some 15 percent of the population, out of the political process. But that campaign collapsed when millions of Sunnis turned out to vote in the constitutional referendum and in the second general election, which saw almost 11 million Iraqis go to the polls. As I write, all political parties representing the Arab Sunni minority have joined the political process and have strong representation in the new parliament. With the convening of that parliament, and the nomination in April of a new prime minister and a three-man presidential council, the way is open for the formation of a broad-based government of national unity to lead Iraq over the next four years.
As for the insurgencys effort to foment sectarian violencea strategy first launched in earnest toward the end of 2005this too has run aground. The hope here was to provoke a full-scale war between the Arab Sunni minority and the Arab Shiites who account for some 60 percent of the population. The new strategy, like the ones previously tried, has certainly produced many deaths. But despite countless cases of sectarian killings by so-called militias, there is still no sign that the Shiites as a whole will acquiesce in the role assigned them by the insurgency and organize a concerted campaign of nationwide retaliation.
Finally, despite the impression created by relentlessly dire reporting in the West, the insurgency has proved unable to shut down essential government services. Hundreds of teachers and schoolchildren have been killed in incidents including the beheading of two teachers in their classrooms this April and horrific suicide attacks against school buses. But by September 2004, most schools across Iraq and virtually all universities were open and functioning. By September 2005, more than 8.5 million Iraqi children and young people were attending school or universityan all-time record in the nations history.
A similar story applies to Iraqs clinics and hospitals. Between October 2003 and January 2006, more than 80 medical doctors and over 400 nurses and medical auxiliaries were murdered by the insurgents. The jihadists also raided several hospitals, killing ordinary patients in their beds. But, once again, they failed in their objectives. By January 2006, all of Iraqs 600 state-owned hospitals and clinics were in full operation, along with dozens of new ones set up by the private sector since liberation.
Another of the insurgencys strategic goals was to bring the Iraqi oil industry to a halt and to disrupt the export of crude. Since July 2003, Iraqs oil infrastructure has been the target of more than 3,000 attacks and attempts at sabotage. But once more the insurgency has failed to achieve its goals. Iraq has resumed its membership in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and has returned to world markets as a major oil exporter. According to projections, by the end of 2006 it will be producing its full OPEC quota of 2.8 million barrels a day.
The Baathist remnant and its jihadist allies resemble a gambler who wins a heap of chips at a roulette table only to discover that he cannot exchange them for real money at the front desk. The enemies of the new Iraq have succeeded in ruining the lives of tens of thousands of Iraqis, but over the past three years they have advanced their overarching goals, such as they are, very little. Instead, they have been militarily contained and politically defeated again and again, and the beneficiary has been Iraqi democracy.
None of this means that the new Iraq is out of the woods. Far from it. Democratic success still requires a great deal of patience, determination, and luck. The U.S.-led coalition, its allies, and partners have achieved most of their major political objectives, but that achievement remains under threat and could be endangered if the U.S., for whatever reason, should decide to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory.
The current mandate of the U.S.-led coalition runs out at the end of this year, and it is unlikely that Washington and its allies will want to maintain their military presence at current levels. In the past few months, more than half of the 103 bases used by the coalition have been transferred to the new Iraqi army. The best guess is that the number of U.S. and coalition troops could be cut from 140,000 to 25,000 or 30,000 by the end of 2007.
One might wonder why, if the military mission has been so successful, the U.S. still needs to maintain a military presence in Iraq for at least another two years. There are three reasons for this.
The first is to discourage Iraqs predatory neighbors, notably Iran and Syria, which might wish to pursue their own agendas against the new government in Baghdad. Iran has already revived some claims under the Treaties of Erzerum (1846), according to which Tehran would enjoy a droit de regard over Shiite shrines in Iraq. In Syria, some in that countrys ruling circles have invoked the possibility of annexing the area known as Jazirah, the so-called Sunni triangle, in the name of Arab unity. For its part, Turkey is making noises about the Treaty of Lausanne (1923), which gave it a claim to the oilfields of northern Iraq. All of these pretensions need to be rebuffed.
The second reason for extending Americas military presence is political. The U.S. is acting as an arbiter among Iraqs various ethnic and religious communities and political factions. It is, in a sense, a traffic cop, giving Iraqis a green or red light when and if needed. It is important that the U.S. continue performing this role for the first year or two of the newly elected parliament and government.
Finally, the U.S. and its allies have a key role to play in training and testing Iraqs new army and police. Impressive success has already been achieved in that field. Nevertheless, the new Iraqi army needs at least another year or two before it will have developed adequate logistical capacities and learned to organize and conduct operations involving its various branches.
But will the U.S. stay the course? Many are betting against it. The Baathists and jihadists, their prior efforts to derail Iraqi democracy having come to naught, have now pinned their hopes on creating enough chaos and death to persuade Washington of the futility of its endeavors. In this, they have the tacit support not only of local Arab and Muslim despots rightly fearful of the democratic genie but of all those in the West whose own incessant theme has been the certainty of American failure. Among Bush-haters in the U.S., just as among anti-Americans around the world, predictions of civil war in Iraq, of spreading regional hostilities, and of a revived global terrorism are not about to cease any time soon.
But more sober observers should understand the real balance sheet in Iraq. Democracy is succeeding. Moreover, thanks to its success in Iraq, there are stirrings elsewhere in the region. Beyond the much-publicized electoral concessions wrung from authoritarian rulers in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, there is a new democratic discourse to be heard. Nationalism and pan-Arabism, yesterdays hollow rallying cries, have given way to a big idea of a very different kind. Debate and dissent are in the air where there was none beforea development owing, in significant measure, to the U.S. campaign in Iraq and the brilliant if still checkered Iraqi response.
The stakes, in short, could not be higher. This is all the more reason to celebrate, to build on, and to consolidate what has already been accomplished. Instead of railing against the Bush administration, Americas elites would do better, and incidentally display greater self-respect, to direct their wrath where it properly belongs: at those violent and unrestrained enemies of democracy in Iraq who are, in truth, the enemies of democracy in America as well, and of everything America has ever stood for.
Is Iraq a quagmire, a disaster, a failure? Certainly not; none of the above. Of all the adjectives used by skeptics and critics to describe todays Iraq, the only one that has a ring of truth is messy. Yes, the situation in Iraq today is messy. Births always are. Since when is that a reason to declare a baby unworthy of life?
Amir Taheri, formerly the executive editor of Kayhan, Irans largest daily newspaper, is the author of ten books and a frequent contributor to numerous publications in the Middle East and Europe. His work appears regularly in the New York Post.
roulette table: Chase the ace
By Joel Porter
Opinion Editor
It is the most widely played gambling card game, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.
So simple.
So potentially profitable.
At times, so heartbreaking.
All you have to do is get a 21 (or close enough to it without busting).
Blackjack is arguably the most popular game at any bar, lounge or casino.
Card players and frequent gamblers enjoy the game for its options. They always have choices.
Whether they’re hitting on 15, staying on 18, doubling-down on 11 or splitting a pair of aces, players can choose their fate.
There is more confidence when you have a choice. It’s different than leaving your money to chance with the pull of a clumsy slot machine handle or a random number on a roulette table.
Blackjack is popular because it’s easy to play. There’s not a lot of critical thinking involved because the game moves so quickly, you don’t have time to think about it. Poker is a more difficult process, since players are playing each other. In Blackjack, they’re trying to play the dealer.
Also, poker players are always trying to hide their emotions, not show their tells, and contemplating endlessly if their hand is good enough to win the pot.
Blackjack cards are all face up. This can be both good and bad. There are no secrets, since everybody knows what each other has, except for the dealer’s hand.
With the quick pace of blackjack, players can make a lot of money in a short time. They can also lose even more in less time.
There are some parts of the game that aren’t learned until you’ve played for a while.
You can’t lose what you don’t put in. But you can’t win very much, either.
It seems every time you double your bets, the cards turn cold and the dealer cleans up.
For those trying to count cards, it’s difficult but not impossible. Most tables deal in four-deck shoes, so it’s harder. Even so, I wouldn’t advise trying it. If dealers or security guards catch you, you’ll be thrown out of the game.
More players should know when to quit. If they’re willing to stick it out at the table for a few hours, they’ll see plenty of hands.
It’s normal to go on a run and double your money or to hit a dry spell.
Both can happen very quickly.
If you get to the point when you’re $50 up, call it a night. You’ll probably wonder how long you could’ve gone or how much you could’ve doubled it, but walking out $50 richer is better than going to the ATM to withdraw another $200.
Blackjack isn’t as televised or talked about as much as poker, but when it comes to a fun gambling time, you won’t find a better game.
Columnists' opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of The Spectrum
Opinion Editor
It is the most widely played gambling card game, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.
So simple.
So potentially profitable.
At times, so heartbreaking.
All you have to do is get a 21 (or close enough to it without busting).
Blackjack is arguably the most popular game at any bar, lounge or casino.
Card players and frequent gamblers enjoy the game for its options. They always have choices.
Whether they’re hitting on 15, staying on 18, doubling-down on 11 or splitting a pair of aces, players can choose their fate.
There is more confidence when you have a choice. It’s different than leaving your money to chance with the pull of a clumsy slot machine handle or a random number on a roulette table.
Blackjack is popular because it’s easy to play. There’s not a lot of critical thinking involved because the game moves so quickly, you don’t have time to think about it. Poker is a more difficult process, since players are playing each other. In Blackjack, they’re trying to play the dealer.
Also, poker players are always trying to hide their emotions, not show their tells, and contemplating endlessly if their hand is good enough to win the pot.
Blackjack cards are all face up. This can be both good and bad. There are no secrets, since everybody knows what each other has, except for the dealer’s hand.
With the quick pace of blackjack, players can make a lot of money in a short time. They can also lose even more in less time.
There are some parts of the game that aren’t learned until you’ve played for a while.
You can’t lose what you don’t put in. But you can’t win very much, either.
It seems every time you double your bets, the cards turn cold and the dealer cleans up.
For those trying to count cards, it’s difficult but not impossible. Most tables deal in four-deck shoes, so it’s harder. Even so, I wouldn’t advise trying it. If dealers or security guards catch you, you’ll be thrown out of the game.
More players should know when to quit. If they’re willing to stick it out at the table for a few hours, they’ll see plenty of hands.
It’s normal to go on a run and double your money or to hit a dry spell.
Both can happen very quickly.
If you get to the point when you’re $50 up, call it a night. You’ll probably wonder how long you could’ve gone or how much you could’ve doubled it, but walking out $50 richer is better than going to the ATM to withdraw another $200.
Blackjack isn’t as televised or talked about as much as poker, but when it comes to a fun gambling time, you won’t find a better game.
Columnists' opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of The Spectrum
roulette table: On the Road: You've got to know when to fold 'em
Roulette's all right in Vegas; but on a bicycle, it's a flat-out bad bet.
In the winter, I usually forget something on the way to the slopes - usually mittens, sometimes poles or goggles. Come spring, I've usually got it together when I head out on the bike.
But Thursday I rode from Aspen to Woody Creek before I realized I'd forgotten my pump.
I should've turned around right there. But it was so nice out, and I hadn't gotten a flat in about a year.
And in the warm sun the plan for a 40-miler from Aspen to Old Snowmass, up Snowmass Creek Road and back proved irresistible.
So I rolled the dice.
In a beeping and buzzing Mandalay Bay in Vegas a couple of weeks ago I won a few rounds betting red at the roulette table. But eventually the table won - it always does - and all the winnings vanished (OK, it was only 30 bucks).
With the birds chirping and bees buzzing around my bike Thursday, I got to Old Snowmass and nearly back to the Woody Creek Tavern without incident.
Then the front tire began hissing at me, and soon after I was on foot at the side of the road, walking to the tavern, where hopefully I'd call someone for a ride.
Now, the opinion page of The Aspen Times carried a column Saturday about how rude, nasty and mean road cyclists are. It was just a rude, nasty and mean generalization.
The first biker who passed me and my lame bike insisted I take his only CO2 cartridge, then basically changed my tire for me!
Hey, Vegas would be a lot more fun if there were people who just walk around the casinos and hand you back the money you lose.
Without another cartridge, my new friend then rode off to play his own game of flat-tire roulette. I hope he had better luck, and I hope I get a chance to return the favor. Thanks again.
Shortly after, while I was screaming down the hill to Slaughterhouse Bridge, two deer pranced into the road just in front of me, and I had to brake hard to avoid them.
What are the odds of that, I thought, getting a flat on the one day I forget a pump and then almost hitting a pair of deer.
I'd lost the gamble, sure, but I'd almost hit the big bucks.
In the winter, I usually forget something on the way to the slopes - usually mittens, sometimes poles or goggles. Come spring, I've usually got it together when I head out on the bike.
But Thursday I rode from Aspen to Woody Creek before I realized I'd forgotten my pump.
I should've turned around right there. But it was so nice out, and I hadn't gotten a flat in about a year.
And in the warm sun the plan for a 40-miler from Aspen to Old Snowmass, up Snowmass Creek Road and back proved irresistible.
So I rolled the dice.
In a beeping and buzzing Mandalay Bay in Vegas a couple of weeks ago I won a few rounds betting red at the roulette table. But eventually the table won - it always does - and all the winnings vanished (OK, it was only 30 bucks).
With the birds chirping and bees buzzing around my bike Thursday, I got to Old Snowmass and nearly back to the Woody Creek Tavern without incident.
Then the front tire began hissing at me, and soon after I was on foot at the side of the road, walking to the tavern, where hopefully I'd call someone for a ride.
Now, the opinion page of The Aspen Times carried a column Saturday about how rude, nasty and mean road cyclists are. It was just a rude, nasty and mean generalization.
The first biker who passed me and my lame bike insisted I take his only CO2 cartridge, then basically changed my tire for me!
Hey, Vegas would be a lot more fun if there were people who just walk around the casinos and hand you back the money you lose.
Without another cartridge, my new friend then rode off to play his own game of flat-tire roulette. I hope he had better luck, and I hope I get a chance to return the favor. Thanks again.
Shortly after, while I was screaming down the hill to Slaughterhouse Bridge, two deer pranced into the road just in front of me, and I had to brake hard to avoid them.
What are the odds of that, I thought, getting a flat on the one day I forget a pump and then almost hitting a pair of deer.
I'd lost the gamble, sure, but I'd almost hit the big bucks.
roulette table: Casino Royale
English company to supply casino props for new Bond film
A Potteries roulette wheel and casino table manufacturer has landed a blockbuster role to supply props for the latest James Bond film, Casino Royale. Workers at TCS John Huxley, which employs around 40 people at Festival Park, say the firm has been contracted to produce goods for the film starring blond Bond Daniel Craig.
Details of the contract have remained under wraps, although the company is responsible for making equipment for casinos including Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and the Belaggio - where heist film Ocean's Eleven was set - reports The Sentinel
A worker, who did not wish to be identified, said: "We are the world leader in the manufacture and supply of casino equipment. We have been commissioned to manufacture the equipment for the new James Bond film, Casino Royale."
The worker said the staff at Festival Park were responsible for making equipment used in casinos worldwide.
Last May the company provided equipment for the Wynn gaming resort in Las Vegas.
It also supplied all gaming tables, including poker, craps, baccarat and illuminated roulette tables for the IP Hotel and Casino, the first casino to reopen in New Orleans after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina last year.
Reports have said the Bond film will also feature the new Aston Martin DBS, bulldozers made by New Holland, and Bond will be filmed playing poker using cards made by Belgian-based Carte Mundi.
However, spokesman for TCS John Huxley declined to comment on either any contract or about the latest film.
In December 2003, The Sentinel reported how the company relocated its distribution and manufacturing operations to Festival Trade Park and planned to take on an extra 40 people.
At the time, the company said the Festival Park operations were geared up to produce about 600 roulette wheels a year as well as a portfolio of other gaming-related products.
Anne Bennett, marketing director of London-based Eon Production, which has overseen the production of every James Bond film, also remained tight-lipped.
Speaking from Prague where production is taking place, she said: "We will not comment until after the launch of the film."
Casino Royale is due for release in November.
Graham Bowen, co-founder of Shelton-based film-production company Bomark Films, said the James Bond franchise was one of the most powerful platforms on which to promote products.
Mr Bowen said: "Not as many people had really heard about Aston Martin cars until James Bond drove one; the same happened with the Lotus.
"If you can get a film association with Bond then it can be massively beneficial. It's one of those deals where companies are willing to pay to get their products on board."
Richard Grisdale, creative director of Stoke advertising agency Grisdale Lesniak Swann, said: "There's a lot of cynicism about product placement, but it is great news if the company has been approached to supply products to the film. The only difficulty is that a roulette table is not as immediately recognisable as an Aston Martin. They would need some expert advice to capitalise on the profile."
Thanks to `David` for the alert.
A Potteries roulette wheel and casino table manufacturer has landed a blockbuster role to supply props for the latest James Bond film, Casino Royale. Workers at TCS John Huxley, which employs around 40 people at Festival Park, say the firm has been contracted to produce goods for the film starring blond Bond Daniel Craig.
Details of the contract have remained under wraps, although the company is responsible for making equipment for casinos including Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and the Belaggio - where heist film Ocean's Eleven was set - reports The Sentinel
A worker, who did not wish to be identified, said: "We are the world leader in the manufacture and supply of casino equipment. We have been commissioned to manufacture the equipment for the new James Bond film, Casino Royale."
The worker said the staff at Festival Park were responsible for making equipment used in casinos worldwide.
Last May the company provided equipment for the Wynn gaming resort in Las Vegas.
It also supplied all gaming tables, including poker, craps, baccarat and illuminated roulette tables for the IP Hotel and Casino, the first casino to reopen in New Orleans after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina last year.
Reports have said the Bond film will also feature the new Aston Martin DBS, bulldozers made by New Holland, and Bond will be filmed playing poker using cards made by Belgian-based Carte Mundi.
However, spokesman for TCS John Huxley declined to comment on either any contract or about the latest film.
In December 2003, The Sentinel reported how the company relocated its distribution and manufacturing operations to Festival Trade Park and planned to take on an extra 40 people.
At the time, the company said the Festival Park operations were geared up to produce about 600 roulette wheels a year as well as a portfolio of other gaming-related products.
Anne Bennett, marketing director of London-based Eon Production, which has overseen the production of every James Bond film, also remained tight-lipped.
Speaking from Prague where production is taking place, she said: "We will not comment until after the launch of the film."
Casino Royale is due for release in November.
Graham Bowen, co-founder of Shelton-based film-production company Bomark Films, said the James Bond franchise was one of the most powerful platforms on which to promote products.
Mr Bowen said: "Not as many people had really heard about Aston Martin cars until James Bond drove one; the same happened with the Lotus.
"If you can get a film association with Bond then it can be massively beneficial. It's one of those deals where companies are willing to pay to get their products on board."
Richard Grisdale, creative director of Stoke advertising agency Grisdale Lesniak Swann, said: "There's a lot of cynicism about product placement, but it is great news if the company has been approached to supply products to the film. The only difficulty is that a roulette table is not as immediately recognisable as an Aston Martin. They would need some expert advice to capitalise on the profile."
Thanks to `David` for the alert.
Northwoods Mushroom-Wild Rice Soup
A rich and deeply flavored soup--straight out of the North American forests and with a distinctly French hand. The more wild mushrooms, the better--but it's wonderful with cultivated ones too. Serve hot as a robust first course or as lunch with a sandwich to 4-6 people.
½ cup uncooked wild rice
1½ cups water
2 Tablespoons butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 pound mushrooms, preferably wild ones or a mixture of wild and cultivated, wiped and thickly sliced
3 Tablespoons flour
4 cups beef or vegetable stock
1 teaspoon paprika
salt and black pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons Armagnac or cognac
1 Tablespoon heavy cream
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
Garnish: Finely minced green onions or parsley
Partially cook the wild rice in the water, bringing to a boil then reducing heat and simmering, covered, for 20 minutes.
Meantime, melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium high heat, add the onion, and sauté until transparent. Add the mushrooms, with a bit more butter if needed, and cook over high heat until the mushroom juices have begun to evaporate. Turn down the heat and sprinkle in the flour, stirring, while there's still some liquid. Let cook until bubbly--to cook away the pasty taste. Then, gradually stir in the stock, then the paprika. Bring to a boil, stirring, and continue to stir at a full boil for one minute. Reduce the heat to low.
When the wild rice has partially cooked, stir it into the soup with its cooking liquid; cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.
When ready to serve, whisk the mustard, Armagnac, and cream together...and then into the soup. Ladle into bowls and top each with minced green onions or parsley.
from North American forests
½ cup uncooked wild rice
1½ cups water
2 Tablespoons butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 pound mushrooms, preferably wild ones or a mixture of wild and cultivated, wiped and thickly sliced
3 Tablespoons flour
4 cups beef or vegetable stock
1 teaspoon paprika
salt and black pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons Armagnac or cognac
1 Tablespoon heavy cream
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
Garnish: Finely minced green onions or parsley
Partially cook the wild rice in the water, bringing to a boil then reducing heat and simmering, covered, for 20 minutes.
Meantime, melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium high heat, add the onion, and sauté until transparent. Add the mushrooms, with a bit more butter if needed, and cook over high heat until the mushroom juices have begun to evaporate. Turn down the heat and sprinkle in the flour, stirring, while there's still some liquid. Let cook until bubbly--to cook away the pasty taste. Then, gradually stir in the stock, then the paprika. Bring to a boil, stirring, and continue to stir at a full boil for one minute. Reduce the heat to low.
When the wild rice has partially cooked, stir it into the soup with its cooking liquid; cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.
When ready to serve, whisk the mustard, Armagnac, and cream together...and then into the soup. Ladle into bowls and top each with minced green onions or parsley.
from North American forests
OMNIFI WIRELESS HOME STEREO
Rockford Corporation (Nasdaq: ROFO) and RealNetworks (Nasdaq: RNWK) today announced that the Omnifi home stereo/theater wireless digital media streamer is now interoperable with the award-winning Rhapsody Internet jukebox service, making Rhapsody the first digital music service to enable consumers to control and listen to the service in their living room. The Omnifi digital media streamer enables broadband-connected consumers to link their PC and high-fidelity home stereo and theater systems to enjoy Rhapsody's library of more than 30,000 CDs throughout their homes.
The Omnifi home audio/home theater product is a stand-alone receiver capable of streaming media from consumers' personal computers to their home stereo and home theater systems utilizing their existing wired and/or wireless 802.11B home networks. Omnifi gives consumers the ability to easily transmit entertainment content from the PC hard drive to consumers' home stereo/theater systems. In the past year, the Omnifi has won a number of prestigious awards, including the CEA "2003 Best of Innovations" award at CES 2003 and TechTV's "Best of CES" award. Priced at $299, the device began shipping in August and now supports Rhapsody.
"Pairing Rhapsody and Omnifi products changes the way consumers interact with and consume digital music," said Tim Bratton, general manager of wireless music delivery, RealNetworks. "Real and Omnifi are finally giving consumers the ability to select and listen to online music from anywhere in their home."
New Omnifi products will ship with updated firmware that enables consumers to access the playlists, albums, artists and radio stations in their Rhapsody library. Existing Omnifi customers must upgrade the firmware on their Omnifi device, which can be easily accomplished using the device's SimpleCenter software. Rockford provides easy-to-understand instructions on upgrading the Omnifi firmware via the Omnifi Web site at http://www.omnifimedia.com.
"Omnifi allows a user to easily stream the audio content held on their computer or straight from the Internet to a dedicated home theater system without the burden of rewiring the house," explains Tom O'Mara, Omnifi managing director. "Combining Omnifi products with Real's Rhapsody service gives music fans an instant collection of more than 30,000 high fidelity CDs they can enjoy in the same room or on the other side of the house with no degradation of sound quality."
RealNetworks, RealOne, and Rhapsody are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
The Omnifi home audio/home theater product is a stand-alone receiver capable of streaming media from consumers' personal computers to their home stereo and home theater systems utilizing their existing wired and/or wireless 802.11B home networks. Omnifi gives consumers the ability to easily transmit entertainment content from the PC hard drive to consumers' home stereo/theater systems. In the past year, the Omnifi has won a number of prestigious awards, including the CEA "2003 Best of Innovations" award at CES 2003 and TechTV's "Best of CES" award. Priced at $299, the device began shipping in August and now supports Rhapsody.
"Pairing Rhapsody and Omnifi products changes the way consumers interact with and consume digital music," said Tim Bratton, general manager of wireless music delivery, RealNetworks. "Real and Omnifi are finally giving consumers the ability to select and listen to online music from anywhere in their home."
New Omnifi products will ship with updated firmware that enables consumers to access the playlists, albums, artists and radio stations in their Rhapsody library. Existing Omnifi customers must upgrade the firmware on their Omnifi device, which can be easily accomplished using the device's SimpleCenter software. Rockford provides easy-to-understand instructions on upgrading the Omnifi firmware via the Omnifi Web site at http://www.omnifimedia.com.
"Omnifi allows a user to easily stream the audio content held on their computer or straight from the Internet to a dedicated home theater system without the burden of rewiring the house," explains Tom O'Mara, Omnifi managing director. "Combining Omnifi products with Real's Rhapsody service gives music fans an instant collection of more than 30,000 high fidelity CDs they can enjoy in the same room or on the other side of the house with no degradation of sound quality."
RealNetworks, RealOne, and Rhapsody are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Calling all arm-chair movie reviewers
Being a Home Theater nut I see a lot of movies, when I say a lot I’m talking enough movies to make Roger Ebert’s head swim. I’ve always wanted to comment on movies here but I felt it would drag the main site off-topic.
I’ve decided to add a new section to Home Theater Blog that covers Movie & DVD reviews and any other movie related news that tickles my fancy. Even with this decision I felt like I was missing something, that something is you.
I want this new endeavor to be a community project rather than just my lone voice. So consider this my call-to-arms for anyone who’s ever wanted to voice their opinion about a movie or DVD, in front of a large audience. One area in particular I want to explore is the image & sound quality of recent DVD releases.
Posted by B.Greenway
I’ve decided to add a new section to Home Theater Blog that covers Movie & DVD reviews and any other movie related news that tickles my fancy. Even with this decision I felt like I was missing something, that something is you.
I want this new endeavor to be a community project rather than just my lone voice. So consider this my call-to-arms for anyone who’s ever wanted to voice their opinion about a movie or DVD, in front of a large audience. One area in particular I want to explore is the image & sound quality of recent DVD releases.
Posted by B.Greenway
Play online roulette
Casino Tropez is the best place for roulette players to go online and win big. Play today and get up to £300 bonus.
There are many different ways to place roulette bets in European Roulette. Each bet covers a different set of numbers and has a different distribution. The payouts for all bets are listed in the "Winnings Table" below.
Straight Up
You can bet on any number, including 0, by placing the chip on the center of a number. The maximum bet for this wager is indicated on the Roulette table (see the Max sign).
Split Bet
You can bet on two numbers by placing a chip on the line that divides the two numbers. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by two.
Street Bet
To bet on a row of three numbers (a street), place a chip on the boundary line of the roulette table, at the end of the corresponding row. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by three.
Corner Bet
You can bet on four numbers by placing chips at the corner where the four numbers meet. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by four.
Four Bet
You can bet on the numbers 0, 1, 2, and 3 by placing your chip on the boundary line, where the line between 0 and the first row intersects it. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by four.
Line Bet
You can bet on two street bets (i.e., the six different numbers in two rows of three numbers), by placing your chip on the boundary line of the roulette table where the line dividing the two rows intersects it. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by six.
Column Bet
There are three boxes labelled "2 to 1" at the bottom of each column of numbers. You can place bets for all numbers in a column by placing chip(s) in one of these boxes. If any of the numbers in the selected column is hit you get paid 2:1; 0 is a losing number. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by ten.
Dozen Bet
You can bet on a group of twelve numbers by placing your chip in one of the three boxes marked "1st 12," "2nd 12," or "3rd 12." If one of your 12 numbers is hit, you are paid 2:1; 0 is a losing number. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by ten.
Red/Black, Even/Odd, Low/High Bets
You can place a bet in one of the boxes along the long side of the table that covers half of the numbers on the roulette table (excluding 0). Each box covers 18 numbers. You win even money (1 to 1) on all of these bets; 0 is a losing number. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by 20.
Minimum table bet
There is a minimum table bet, meaning that all your bets added together (your total bet), must equal at least the minimum value indicated on the table (see the Min sign).
Winning Number Display
The winning number display shows the results of the previous 13 spins.
Winnings Table
Chip Covers
Term
Pays
1 number
Straight Up
35 to 1
2 numbers
Split Bet
17 to 1
3 numbers
Street Bet
11 to 1
4 numbers
Corner Bet
8 to 1
4 numbers
Four Bet
8 to 1
6 numbers
Line Bet
5 to 1
12 numbers
Dozen Bet or Column Bet
2 to 1
18 numbers
Red/Black, Even/Odd or Low/High Bets
1 to 1
Note: You can place bets that involve two, three, or even four numbers. For example, using the zero, you can place bets on: 1+0, 1+2+0, 2+0, 3+0, or 1+2+3+0.
Copyright 1996-2006 JMT Ventures
There are many different ways to place roulette bets in European Roulette. Each bet covers a different set of numbers and has a different distribution. The payouts for all bets are listed in the "Winnings Table" below.
Straight Up
You can bet on any number, including 0, by placing the chip on the center of a number. The maximum bet for this wager is indicated on the Roulette table (see the Max sign).
Split Bet
You can bet on two numbers by placing a chip on the line that divides the two numbers. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by two.
Street Bet
To bet on a row of three numbers (a street), place a chip on the boundary line of the roulette table, at the end of the corresponding row. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by three.
Corner Bet
You can bet on four numbers by placing chips at the corner where the four numbers meet. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by four.
Four Bet
You can bet on the numbers 0, 1, 2, and 3 by placing your chip on the boundary line, where the line between 0 and the first row intersects it. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by four.
Line Bet
You can bet on two street bets (i.e., the six different numbers in two rows of three numbers), by placing your chip on the boundary line of the roulette table where the line dividing the two rows intersects it. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by six.
Column Bet
There are three boxes labelled "2 to 1" at the bottom of each column of numbers. You can place bets for all numbers in a column by placing chip(s) in one of these boxes. If any of the numbers in the selected column is hit you get paid 2:1; 0 is a losing number. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by ten.
Dozen Bet
You can bet on a group of twelve numbers by placing your chip in one of the three boxes marked "1st 12," "2nd 12," or "3rd 12." If one of your 12 numbers is hit, you are paid 2:1; 0 is a losing number. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by ten.
Red/Black, Even/Odd, Low/High Bets
You can place a bet in one of the boxes along the long side of the table that covers half of the numbers on the roulette table (excluding 0). Each box covers 18 numbers. You win even money (1 to 1) on all of these bets; 0 is a losing number. The maximum bet for this wager is the Straight Up bet maximum, multiplied by 20.
Minimum table bet
There is a minimum table bet, meaning that all your bets added together (your total bet), must equal at least the minimum value indicated on the table (see the Min sign).
Winning Number Display
The winning number display shows the results of the previous 13 spins.
Winnings Table
Chip Covers
Term
Pays
1 number
Straight Up
35 to 1
2 numbers
Split Bet
17 to 1
3 numbers
Street Bet
11 to 1
4 numbers
Corner Bet
8 to 1
4 numbers
Four Bet
8 to 1
6 numbers
Line Bet
5 to 1
12 numbers
Dozen Bet or Column Bet
2 to 1
18 numbers
Red/Black, Even/Odd or Low/High Bets
1 to 1
Note: You can place bets that involve two, three, or even four numbers. For example, using the zero, you can place bets on: 1+0, 1+2+0, 2+0, 3+0, or 1+2+3+0.
Copyright 1996-2006 JMT Ventures
Tulalip Casino gets bigger, better
Things are getting even bigger and better at the Tulalip Casino near Marysville. The casino is now at the center of a regional entertainment destination.
Surrounded by more than 125 shops and outlet stores, and right next door to the area’s hottest new outdoor concert venue, it’s easy to spend an entire day there and never be without something fun to do.
The most exciting news on the horizon is the plan for a new hotel and casino expansion. They are tentatively scheduling a summer ’07 groundbreaking for the project.
Right now, the Tulalip Casino is a dazzling 227,000 square feet of Las Vegas-style gaming. Players can enjoy slots, table games, poker, keno and more. It’s said to have the largest variety of games in the Northwest. All of the most popular machines are featured. Machines range from one, two and three cents, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollars. There are also special high limit machines.
Table game players can enjoy baccarat, black jack, craps, Pai Gow and roulette. Poker, of course, is always popular. The Tulalip Casino offers daily poker tournaments. Visit the Poker Room to get more details about special upcoming promotions.
While you’re at the Casino, don’t forget to join the Tulalip Rewards Club. Membership is free. You can earn points for cash back and be eligible for many special promotions. Your Rewards Club card also can be used for discounts and special offers at many businesses and events outside the casino. Brochures are available at the Club desk.
There are several excellent casino promotions coming up in May. Enter to win an Alaskan Cruise for two. The drawing is on May 31. Every Wednesday in May, five winners will be taking home $500 each. You can also enter to win a Marriott Newport Coast Villa timeshare. Winners can vacation there or at any other Marriott Club Resort or one of thousands of Interval Resorts worldwide.
While you’re at the casino, take the opportunity to enjoy one of its great dining opportunities.
For a special evening of first-class gourmet fare, Tulalip Bay is the best choice. Chef Dean Shinagawa’s open view kitchen allows diners to watch their meals being classically prepared. The menu features only the best steaks, seafood and other entrees. Tulalip Bay’s atmosphere is perfect for an intimate meal.
Guests can reserve the Wine Room, featuring a Dale Chihuly blown glass chandelier, for their private parties. For more casual but still fine dining, the Cedars Café is an excellent choice. It offers a selection of steakhouse style entrees, salads and breakfasts.
Perhaps the most popular restaurant at the casino is the Eagles Buffet, which offers international dishes, fresh seafood, traditional American favorites and more. The dessert buffet is reputed to be the best in the region. An onsite bakery ensures that the bread in the Tulalip Casino is always fresh.
After enjoying a great meal, it’s nice to enjoy some good entertainment. The Canoes Cabaret offers comedy and Rockstar Live on Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. Thursdays are Ladies Nights featuring music by The Afrodisiacs starting at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays have live dance music starting at 9:30 p.m. And don’t forget Asian Night on specified Sundays. For more nearby entertainment fun you can walk to the Tulalip Amphitheatre and make the Tulalip Casino your base before and after the show.
Copyright © 2006 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, Wash.
Surrounded by more than 125 shops and outlet stores, and right next door to the area’s hottest new outdoor concert venue, it’s easy to spend an entire day there and never be without something fun to do.
The most exciting news on the horizon is the plan for a new hotel and casino expansion. They are tentatively scheduling a summer ’07 groundbreaking for the project.
Right now, the Tulalip Casino is a dazzling 227,000 square feet of Las Vegas-style gaming. Players can enjoy slots, table games, poker, keno and more. It’s said to have the largest variety of games in the Northwest. All of the most popular machines are featured. Machines range from one, two and three cents, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollars. There are also special high limit machines.
Table game players can enjoy baccarat, black jack, craps, Pai Gow and roulette. Poker, of course, is always popular. The Tulalip Casino offers daily poker tournaments. Visit the Poker Room to get more details about special upcoming promotions.
While you’re at the Casino, don’t forget to join the Tulalip Rewards Club. Membership is free. You can earn points for cash back and be eligible for many special promotions. Your Rewards Club card also can be used for discounts and special offers at many businesses and events outside the casino. Brochures are available at the Club desk.
There are several excellent casino promotions coming up in May. Enter to win an Alaskan Cruise for two. The drawing is on May 31. Every Wednesday in May, five winners will be taking home $500 each. You can also enter to win a Marriott Newport Coast Villa timeshare. Winners can vacation there or at any other Marriott Club Resort or one of thousands of Interval Resorts worldwide.
While you’re at the casino, take the opportunity to enjoy one of its great dining opportunities.
For a special evening of first-class gourmet fare, Tulalip Bay is the best choice. Chef Dean Shinagawa’s open view kitchen allows diners to watch their meals being classically prepared. The menu features only the best steaks, seafood and other entrees. Tulalip Bay’s atmosphere is perfect for an intimate meal.
Guests can reserve the Wine Room, featuring a Dale Chihuly blown glass chandelier, for their private parties. For more casual but still fine dining, the Cedars Café is an excellent choice. It offers a selection of steakhouse style entrees, salads and breakfasts.
Perhaps the most popular restaurant at the casino is the Eagles Buffet, which offers international dishes, fresh seafood, traditional American favorites and more. The dessert buffet is reputed to be the best in the region. An onsite bakery ensures that the bread in the Tulalip Casino is always fresh.
After enjoying a great meal, it’s nice to enjoy some good entertainment. The Canoes Cabaret offers comedy and Rockstar Live on Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. Thursdays are Ladies Nights featuring music by The Afrodisiacs starting at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays have live dance music starting at 9:30 p.m. And don’t forget Asian Night on specified Sundays. For more nearby entertainment fun you can walk to the Tulalip Amphitheatre and make the Tulalip Casino your base before and after the show.
Copyright © 2006 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, Wash.
roulette table: Cash Quest Roulette
Your fortune decided on the spin of a wheel in this detailed simulation of the glamorous casino game
Features
Millions flock to Vegas to try their luck at winning a fortune in one of its many casinos. It's a cool place, probably one of the most bizarre and fascinating on earth BUT you don't have to fly there to gamble! Just play Mforma roulette, place a bet on a number, colour, odds or a group of numbers and watch the ball spin. Go on, put a little excitement back into your life and pass yourself off as a high roller. Delve into the dramatic and murky underworld of the casino and play roulette - a highly seductive game for the most discerning palate. Gentlemen, when you are ready, place your bets! The roulette table is marked with the numbers 1 to 36, plus 0. The numbers are alternately coloured red and black, with 0 coloured green. You begin by clicking and dragging chips to the desired areas on the table. Once the "no more bets" announcement has been made, the wheel is spun and when the ball falls on a number, winnings are automatically added to your bankroll. The amount of the payoff depends on how the bet was placed. Come and and watch the money-go-round. As you enjoy extra special treatment at the front of the house. All you ever risk is your time!
Tips
Bet which number the ball will land on when the croupier spins the roulette wheel. Make your bets by placing chips directly onto the game table. Remember that you can only put one chip on each location - but you can choose denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100. You can place as many different bets as you like per spin of the wheel. As well as betting on individual numbers, red/black, or odd/even, you can bet on some more unusual combinations of numbers: Even-Money: the groups of numbers 1-18 or 19-36 Split: two numbers adjacent to each other on the table Corner: four numbers forming a square on the table Column: one of the 12-number vertical columns of the table Trio: one of the 3-number rows of the table Six: two adjacent 3-number rows of the table Dozen: one of the three 3 x 4 divisions of the table. Spin the wheel and find out what your winnings are! The payout for each type of bet is listed in the help text.
TOP
How to Play
Instructions
The Basics: A roulette game begins when the croupier spins the wheel in one direction, and then rolls a small ball along the inner edge of the wheel in the opposite direction. The ball eventually falls into one of the numbered slots. That number is the declared winner for that game. The roulette wheel is divided into 37 slots for the ball to land, and is numbered 1 through 36 and 0. You can bet on any single number (straight up), a combination of numbers, or red or black, odd or even. You can place a bet of 5, 10,20, 50, or 100. You begin the game with 5000. If you lose all your money, the casino will loan you more.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved
Features
Millions flock to Vegas to try their luck at winning a fortune in one of its many casinos. It's a cool place, probably one of the most bizarre and fascinating on earth BUT you don't have to fly there to gamble! Just play Mforma roulette, place a bet on a number, colour, odds or a group of numbers and watch the ball spin. Go on, put a little excitement back into your life and pass yourself off as a high roller. Delve into the dramatic and murky underworld of the casino and play roulette - a highly seductive game for the most discerning palate. Gentlemen, when you are ready, place your bets! The roulette table is marked with the numbers 1 to 36, plus 0. The numbers are alternately coloured red and black, with 0 coloured green. You begin by clicking and dragging chips to the desired areas on the table. Once the "no more bets" announcement has been made, the wheel is spun and when the ball falls on a number, winnings are automatically added to your bankroll. The amount of the payoff depends on how the bet was placed. Come and and watch the money-go-round. As you enjoy extra special treatment at the front of the house. All you ever risk is your time!
Tips
Bet which number the ball will land on when the croupier spins the roulette wheel. Make your bets by placing chips directly onto the game table. Remember that you can only put one chip on each location - but you can choose denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100. You can place as many different bets as you like per spin of the wheel. As well as betting on individual numbers, red/black, or odd/even, you can bet on some more unusual combinations of numbers: Even-Money: the groups of numbers 1-18 or 19-36 Split: two numbers adjacent to each other on the table Corner: four numbers forming a square on the table Column: one of the 12-number vertical columns of the table Trio: one of the 3-number rows of the table Six: two adjacent 3-number rows of the table Dozen: one of the three 3 x 4 divisions of the table. Spin the wheel and find out what your winnings are! The payout for each type of bet is listed in the help text.
TOP
How to Play
Instructions
The Basics: A roulette game begins when the croupier spins the wheel in one direction, and then rolls a small ball along the inner edge of the wheel in the opposite direction. The ball eventually falls into one of the numbered slots. That number is the declared winner for that game. The roulette wheel is divided into 37 slots for the ball to land, and is numbered 1 through 36 and 0. You can bet on any single number (straight up), a combination of numbers, or red or black, odd or even. You can place a bet of 5, 10,20, 50, or 100. You begin the game with 5000. If you lose all your money, the casino will loan you more.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved
Roulette
Introduction
Roulette is one of the easiest games to play and understand in the casino. As usual the easier a game is to understand the greater the house edge, and roulette is no exception. If you are looking for a easy to understand and slow paced table game, and are willing to sacrifice on the house edge, then you may like roulette. If you want something more stimulating or with a decent return I would suggest looking at other games.
One difference between roulette and all other table games is that roulette chips have no value denomination printed on them. This actually is the true definition of a chip, one which indicates its value is technically called a check. The roulette table comes with six to eight sets of different colored chips, each set consisting of 300 chips. When a player buys-in they get their own color and the value would be the buy-in divided by the number of chips received. The dealer will place a token on top of the dealer's stack of that color of chips to indicate the value.
United States Rules
A U.S. roulette wheel consists of 38 numbered slots: numbers 1 to 36, a zero, and a double zero. The betting layout consists of every individual number as well as a host of "outside" or combinations of numbers. After the players make their bets the dealer spins the wheel and a ball and after several seconds the ball will land in one of the numbered slots.
The following table displays the available bets, the payoff, and the probability of winning under U.S. rules. All casinos in the U.S. follow these rules except for in Atlantic City. The house edge on all bets is 1/19, or 5.26%, except for one bet. The exception is the 0-00-1-2-3 combination, which carries a house edge of 7.89%.
Single Zero Rules
A few places in the U.S. offer single zero roulette. This lowers the edge on every bet is 1/37, or 2.70%. The lists below shows some places that I have seen or heard have single zero roulette. The minimums at the single zero wheels are usually higher than the double zero wheels and are open fewer hours. Often the single zero wheels are found in the high roller rooms.
©1998-2006 Wizard Of Odds Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved.
Roulette is one of the easiest games to play and understand in the casino. As usual the easier a game is to understand the greater the house edge, and roulette is no exception. If you are looking for a easy to understand and slow paced table game, and are willing to sacrifice on the house edge, then you may like roulette. If you want something more stimulating or with a decent return I would suggest looking at other games.
One difference between roulette and all other table games is that roulette chips have no value denomination printed on them. This actually is the true definition of a chip, one which indicates its value is technically called a check. The roulette table comes with six to eight sets of different colored chips, each set consisting of 300 chips. When a player buys-in they get their own color and the value would be the buy-in divided by the number of chips received. The dealer will place a token on top of the dealer's stack of that color of chips to indicate the value.
United States Rules
A U.S. roulette wheel consists of 38 numbered slots: numbers 1 to 36, a zero, and a double zero. The betting layout consists of every individual number as well as a host of "outside" or combinations of numbers. After the players make their bets the dealer spins the wheel and a ball and after several seconds the ball will land in one of the numbered slots.
The following table displays the available bets, the payoff, and the probability of winning under U.S. rules. All casinos in the U.S. follow these rules except for in Atlantic City. The house edge on all bets is 1/19, or 5.26%, except for one bet. The exception is the 0-00-1-2-3 combination, which carries a house edge of 7.89%.
Single Zero Rules
A few places in the U.S. offer single zero roulette. This lowers the edge on every bet is 1/37, or 2.70%. The lists below shows some places that I have seen or heard have single zero roulette. The minimums at the single zero wheels are usually higher than the double zero wheels and are open fewer hours. Often the single zero wheels are found in the high roller rooms.
©1998-2006 Wizard Of Odds Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved.
Matching the Hot-Sour-Salty-Sweet Foods of Asia
It always amazes me when people compare matching wine with Asian cuisines to matching wine with European cuisines. The obvious difference is that traditional wine styles evolved alongside European cuisines in indigenous settings, and so the match is considerably easier.
In Asian food settings, wine is not a natural or traditional match; nor is it an impossible one. What it takes is a little more imagination.
Asian style cooking, after all, is classic and traditional in its right, and in a different way from European cuisines. There are differences in ingredients, of course, and also differences in the sense of balance and harmony in the cooking style. Whereas, say, classic Italian cooking relies on a certain purity and freshness of ingredients, and French cooking on depth of flavor in sauces and natural stocks, in Asia the emphasis is on the constant balancing and contrasting of tastes and textures. A perfect introduction to this way of thinking can be found in Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid's excellent (and gorgeously photographed) new book called Hot Sour Salty Sweet, a "Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asia."
According to Alford and Duguid, "The basic (Southeast Asian) palate is hot, sour, salty, sweet, and sometimes bitter. If you order a green papaya salad from a street vendor in Thailand, the last thing the vendor will do before serving the salad is to give you a small spoonful of the salad, asking for your opinion. If you'd like it hotter, more chiles will be added; if you want it saltier, more fish sauce; more sour, lime juice will be added; sweeter, more palm sugar... And while this balancing act takes place in an individual dish like a green papaya salad, it also shapes a meal, determining what dishes should be served alongside others..."
Not that this emphasis on contrast, balance, and varying textures is exclusive to Southeast Asian and Chinese cooking. In Germany, for instance, there is a lot of balancing of sweet, sour, salty, and fatty/meaty textures (sauerkraut, wurst, sauerbrauten, etc.); which is why the Germans are more apt to drink off-dry to medium sweet Rieslings, or else beer, with their foods, as opposed to the bone dry styles of wines predominant in France, Italy and Spain. Not surprisingly, many of today's food and wine consultants strongly recommend German Rieslings or beer with Southeast Asian and Chinese foods as well. The natural sugar/acid balance of Rieslings is quite compatible with the hot, sour, salty, sweet elements of Asian foods; and beer provides a slightly bitter undertone that adds further to the equation. It's a question of harmony and balance. If it works for German foods, it certainly works in Asian food settings.
The trick to matching wine with Asian style cooking is to start with the premise that we need wines that emphasize a balance, as opposed to sheer power, of taste sensations. This is why the classic "power" wines of the world - made from grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay - are not an easy match for Asian foods. Although there is nothing wrong with intensity, the difficulty with these types of wines is that they tend to be high in alcohol, low in acid, and (in the case of Cabernet) excessively hard in tannin. The best wines for Asian foods are those with moderate levels of alcohol, softer tannin, crisper acidity, and sometimes (not always) a judicious amount of residual sugar. A question of harmony and balance with hot, sour, salty and sweet food sensations.
And these wines certainly exist in abundance. Here are a few good ones that I have recently enjoyed:
1999 Robert Weil, Riesling Kabinett ($14-$18) - German Rieslings are usually the first wines cited for Asian foods, and this bottling from the Rhine River is a quintessential German style wine - penetratingly scented, juicy rich, light as a feather, fine as silk, and with a light sweetness balanced perfectly by zesty acidity. Think of how you would make a healthy stir fry - balancing thin strips of meat with at least equal amounts of crisp vegetables, a trace of an oil balanced with soy, lemon or rice vinegar, salt and cracked pepper, a touch of a chili sauce or multi-spice seasonings, and served with fragrant jasmine rice. You can't go wrong when you figure in a fragrant, deftly balanced German Riesling. It's understandable why someone would say Asian cooking is not good for wine - it's only because that person does not apply principles of harmony and balance to both cooking and wine selection.
1999 Freemark Abbey, "Carpy Ranch" Napa Valley Viognier ($18-$24) - White wines made from the Viognier are an unorthodox choice for Asian style foods for two reasons - they tend to be low in acid and full in alcohol, somewhat like Chardonnay. But unlike Chardonnay, Viogniers tend to be extremely fragrant - billowing with honeysuckle-ish perfumes, with suggestions of violet and white peppery aromas - and this version by Freemark Abbey is amplified by plush, mouthwatering, silken textured flavors. Chinese cooking in particular - such as duck in hoisin plum sauces, and chicken in gingery or citrusy syrups, often served with napa cabbage, choi sum, mustard greens, and other toothsome vegetables - can be tilted towards sweetness balanced by a mild bitterness. In Southeast Asia, fish is often coated with curries with coconut milk, strong pastes made from coriander root and peppercorns, or stuffed with things like scallions, fatty pork, garlic cloves and even mildly hot Serrano chilies. In such contexts, the aggressively full, hefty, peppery qualities of a Viognier are often preferable to the lighter, more acidic qualities of a Riesling. Viognier doesn't work, however, in cases where dishes are overly sweet, or numbingly hot (in other words, bad Asian cooking). But when full flavored Asian dishes are balanced, a good, balanced Viognier can contribute an exotic note of its own to the overall experience.
1999 Blockheadia Ringnosi, Napa Valley Zinfandel ($28-$24) - The jammy, lusciously raspberryish, black peppery spiced aromas and flavors of first rate California Zinfandel - such as this Blockheadia - are a sensible pick with barbecued pork or beef ribs coated in sweet/spicy marinades (especially when Szechuan chili spices are used). A proper Zinfandel has the red wine tannin to handle the fat and char, yet the roundness and fruitiness to enhance, rather than fight, the hot spices. But wines like the Blockheadia are also surprising with pure forms of Southeast Asian cooking, such as grilled coriander chicken served with sweet/salty/spicy dipping sauces (nam jeem), raw beef with pepper salt, beef stir fried with spicy ginger, and hot pot dishes such as eggplant (cooked with ground pork, coriander, dried shrimp, garlic, and shallots) served with fried beef jerky. Whenever there's a presence of peppercorns, some vinegary zest, or slightly hot garlic, chile and gingery sensations, a zesty, peppery, fruity Zinfandel finds another food element.
1997 Erich Russell, California "Piemontese" ($22-$28) - There are a number of unique and imaginative red wines produced in California today; this one by winemaker Erich Russell fashioned from the mildly acidic Barbera grape, the densely textured Nebbiolo grape, and the rich, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is a thick, yet not heavy, smoky edged red wine with a markedly zesty edge, and long, almost sticky rich, licorice and black fruit flavors. I can't think of a better wine with Chinese or Southeast Asian style hot pots of beef or pork; especially when punctuated by peppercorns, garlic, scallions, and especially the licoricey tastes of star anise, cilantro or coriander. The thinking is like this: if Asian cooking is untraditional with wine, the best wines for Asian foods may very well be the most untraditional. When you find such a wine, like this "Piemontese," don't be afraid to let your food and wine matching imagination go!
by Randal Caparoso
In Asian food settings, wine is not a natural or traditional match; nor is it an impossible one. What it takes is a little more imagination.
Asian style cooking, after all, is classic and traditional in its right, and in a different way from European cuisines. There are differences in ingredients, of course, and also differences in the sense of balance and harmony in the cooking style. Whereas, say, classic Italian cooking relies on a certain purity and freshness of ingredients, and French cooking on depth of flavor in sauces and natural stocks, in Asia the emphasis is on the constant balancing and contrasting of tastes and textures. A perfect introduction to this way of thinking can be found in Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid's excellent (and gorgeously photographed) new book called Hot Sour Salty Sweet, a "Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asia."
According to Alford and Duguid, "The basic (Southeast Asian) palate is hot, sour, salty, sweet, and sometimes bitter. If you order a green papaya salad from a street vendor in Thailand, the last thing the vendor will do before serving the salad is to give you a small spoonful of the salad, asking for your opinion. If you'd like it hotter, more chiles will be added; if you want it saltier, more fish sauce; more sour, lime juice will be added; sweeter, more palm sugar... And while this balancing act takes place in an individual dish like a green papaya salad, it also shapes a meal, determining what dishes should be served alongside others..."
Not that this emphasis on contrast, balance, and varying textures is exclusive to Southeast Asian and Chinese cooking. In Germany, for instance, there is a lot of balancing of sweet, sour, salty, and fatty/meaty textures (sauerkraut, wurst, sauerbrauten, etc.); which is why the Germans are more apt to drink off-dry to medium sweet Rieslings, or else beer, with their foods, as opposed to the bone dry styles of wines predominant in France, Italy and Spain. Not surprisingly, many of today's food and wine consultants strongly recommend German Rieslings or beer with Southeast Asian and Chinese foods as well. The natural sugar/acid balance of Rieslings is quite compatible with the hot, sour, salty, sweet elements of Asian foods; and beer provides a slightly bitter undertone that adds further to the equation. It's a question of harmony and balance. If it works for German foods, it certainly works in Asian food settings.
The trick to matching wine with Asian style cooking is to start with the premise that we need wines that emphasize a balance, as opposed to sheer power, of taste sensations. This is why the classic "power" wines of the world - made from grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay - are not an easy match for Asian foods. Although there is nothing wrong with intensity, the difficulty with these types of wines is that they tend to be high in alcohol, low in acid, and (in the case of Cabernet) excessively hard in tannin. The best wines for Asian foods are those with moderate levels of alcohol, softer tannin, crisper acidity, and sometimes (not always) a judicious amount of residual sugar. A question of harmony and balance with hot, sour, salty and sweet food sensations.
And these wines certainly exist in abundance. Here are a few good ones that I have recently enjoyed:
1999 Robert Weil, Riesling Kabinett ($14-$18) - German Rieslings are usually the first wines cited for Asian foods, and this bottling from the Rhine River is a quintessential German style wine - penetratingly scented, juicy rich, light as a feather, fine as silk, and with a light sweetness balanced perfectly by zesty acidity. Think of how you would make a healthy stir fry - balancing thin strips of meat with at least equal amounts of crisp vegetables, a trace of an oil balanced with soy, lemon or rice vinegar, salt and cracked pepper, a touch of a chili sauce or multi-spice seasonings, and served with fragrant jasmine rice. You can't go wrong when you figure in a fragrant, deftly balanced German Riesling. It's understandable why someone would say Asian cooking is not good for wine - it's only because that person does not apply principles of harmony and balance to both cooking and wine selection.
1999 Freemark Abbey, "Carpy Ranch" Napa Valley Viognier ($18-$24) - White wines made from the Viognier are an unorthodox choice for Asian style foods for two reasons - they tend to be low in acid and full in alcohol, somewhat like Chardonnay. But unlike Chardonnay, Viogniers tend to be extremely fragrant - billowing with honeysuckle-ish perfumes, with suggestions of violet and white peppery aromas - and this version by Freemark Abbey is amplified by plush, mouthwatering, silken textured flavors. Chinese cooking in particular - such as duck in hoisin plum sauces, and chicken in gingery or citrusy syrups, often served with napa cabbage, choi sum, mustard greens, and other toothsome vegetables - can be tilted towards sweetness balanced by a mild bitterness. In Southeast Asia, fish is often coated with curries with coconut milk, strong pastes made from coriander root and peppercorns, or stuffed with things like scallions, fatty pork, garlic cloves and even mildly hot Serrano chilies. In such contexts, the aggressively full, hefty, peppery qualities of a Viognier are often preferable to the lighter, more acidic qualities of a Riesling. Viognier doesn't work, however, in cases where dishes are overly sweet, or numbingly hot (in other words, bad Asian cooking). But when full flavored Asian dishes are balanced, a good, balanced Viognier can contribute an exotic note of its own to the overall experience.
1999 Blockheadia Ringnosi, Napa Valley Zinfandel ($28-$24) - The jammy, lusciously raspberryish, black peppery spiced aromas and flavors of first rate California Zinfandel - such as this Blockheadia - are a sensible pick with barbecued pork or beef ribs coated in sweet/spicy marinades (especially when Szechuan chili spices are used). A proper Zinfandel has the red wine tannin to handle the fat and char, yet the roundness and fruitiness to enhance, rather than fight, the hot spices. But wines like the Blockheadia are also surprising with pure forms of Southeast Asian cooking, such as grilled coriander chicken served with sweet/salty/spicy dipping sauces (nam jeem), raw beef with pepper salt, beef stir fried with spicy ginger, and hot pot dishes such as eggplant (cooked with ground pork, coriander, dried shrimp, garlic, and shallots) served with fried beef jerky. Whenever there's a presence of peppercorns, some vinegary zest, or slightly hot garlic, chile and gingery sensations, a zesty, peppery, fruity Zinfandel finds another food element.
1997 Erich Russell, California "Piemontese" ($22-$28) - There are a number of unique and imaginative red wines produced in California today; this one by winemaker Erich Russell fashioned from the mildly acidic Barbera grape, the densely textured Nebbiolo grape, and the rich, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is a thick, yet not heavy, smoky edged red wine with a markedly zesty edge, and long, almost sticky rich, licorice and black fruit flavors. I can't think of a better wine with Chinese or Southeast Asian style hot pots of beef or pork; especially when punctuated by peppercorns, garlic, scallions, and especially the licoricey tastes of star anise, cilantro or coriander. The thinking is like this: if Asian cooking is untraditional with wine, the best wines for Asian foods may very well be the most untraditional. When you find such a wine, like this "Piemontese," don't be afraid to let your food and wine matching imagination go!
by Randal Caparoso
Roulette Table: Chase the ace
By Joel Porter
Opinion Editor
It is the most widely played gambling card game, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.
So simple.
So potentially profitable.
At times, so heartbreaking.
All you have to do is get a 21 (or close enough to it without busting).
Blackjack is arguably the most popular game at any bar, lounge or casino.
Card players and frequent gamblers enjoy the game for its options. They always have choices.
Whether they’re hitting on 15, staying on 18, doubling-down on 11 or splitting a pair of aces, players can choose their fate.
There is more confidence when you have a choice. It’s different than leaving your money to chance with the pull of a clumsy slot machine handle or a random number on a roulette table.
Blackjack is popular because it’s easy to play. There’s not a lot of critical thinking involved because the game moves so quickly, you don’t have time to think about it. Poker is a more difficult process, since players are playing each other. In Blackjack, they’re trying to play the dealer.
Also, poker players are always trying to hide their emotions, not show their tells, and contemplating endlessly if their hand is good enough to win the pot.
Blackjack cards are all face up. This can be both good and bad. There are no secrets, since everybody knows what each other has, except for the dealer’s hand.
With the quick pace of blackjack, players can make a lot of money in a short time. They can also lose even more in less time.
There are some parts of the game that aren’t learned until you’ve played for a while.
You can’t lose what you don’t put in. But you can’t win very much, either.
It seems every time you double your bets, the cards turn cold and the dealer cleans up.
For those trying to count cards, it’s difficult but not impossible. Most tables deal in four-deck shoes, so it’s harder. Even so, I wouldn’t advise trying it. If dealers or security guards catch you, you’ll be thrown out of the game.
More players should know when to quit. If they’re willing to stick it out at the table for a few hours, they’ll see plenty of hands.
It’s normal to go on a run and double your money or to hit a dry spell.
Both can happen very quickly.
If you get to the point when you’re $50 up, call it a night. You’ll probably wonder how long you could’ve gone or how much you could’ve doubled it, but walking out $50 richer is better than going to the ATM to withdraw another $200.
Blackjack isn’t as televised or talked about as much as poker, but when it comes to a fun gambling time, you won’t find a better game.
Columnists' opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of The Spectrum
Opinion Editor
It is the most widely played gambling card game, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.
So simple.
So potentially profitable.
At times, so heartbreaking.
All you have to do is get a 21 (or close enough to it without busting).
Blackjack is arguably the most popular game at any bar, lounge or casino.
Card players and frequent gamblers enjoy the game for its options. They always have choices.
Whether they’re hitting on 15, staying on 18, doubling-down on 11 or splitting a pair of aces, players can choose their fate.
There is more confidence when you have a choice. It’s different than leaving your money to chance with the pull of a clumsy slot machine handle or a random number on a roulette table.
Blackjack is popular because it’s easy to play. There’s not a lot of critical thinking involved because the game moves so quickly, you don’t have time to think about it. Poker is a more difficult process, since players are playing each other. In Blackjack, they’re trying to play the dealer.
Also, poker players are always trying to hide their emotions, not show their tells, and contemplating endlessly if their hand is good enough to win the pot.
Blackjack cards are all face up. This can be both good and bad. There are no secrets, since everybody knows what each other has, except for the dealer’s hand.
With the quick pace of blackjack, players can make a lot of money in a short time. They can also lose even more in less time.
There are some parts of the game that aren’t learned until you’ve played for a while.
You can’t lose what you don’t put in. But you can’t win very much, either.
It seems every time you double your bets, the cards turn cold and the dealer cleans up.
For those trying to count cards, it’s difficult but not impossible. Most tables deal in four-deck shoes, so it’s harder. Even so, I wouldn’t advise trying it. If dealers or security guards catch you, you’ll be thrown out of the game.
More players should know when to quit. If they’re willing to stick it out at the table for a few hours, they’ll see plenty of hands.
It’s normal to go on a run and double your money or to hit a dry spell.
Both can happen very quickly.
If you get to the point when you’re $50 up, call it a night. You’ll probably wonder how long you could’ve gone or how much you could’ve doubled it, but walking out $50 richer is better than going to the ATM to withdraw another $200.
Blackjack isn’t as televised or talked about as much as poker, but when it comes to a fun gambling time, you won’t find a better game.
Columnists' opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of The Spectrum
Roulette Table: Three New Casino Games Raise the Stakes at Belle Rock Entertainment
Games will include Advanced Roulette and 100 Play Power Poker
GIBRALTAR, May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Belle Rock Entertainment has consistently stayed ahead of the curve when it comes to offering players the most entertaining and lucrative games in the industry. With three new additions to their already expansive gaming roster, Belle Rock Entertainment offers players on River Belle Online Casino, Lucky Nugget Online Casino, The Gaming Club Online Casino, and Jackpot City Online Casino, the chance to play the most dynamic and engaging games on the web. An all-star lineup of European Roulette Gold Series, Double Joker 100 Play Power Poker and Avalon Video Slot have just become available to players, so if you're looking to try something new, Belle Rock Entertainment's online casinos are the place to start.
* European Roulette Gold Series
This roulette game is far and away the best of its type on the Internet.
Player screens that offer razor sharp visual quality, crystal clear
ambient sounds that set the mood, and little details like Bet Timers and
easy to use control buttons, come together to give players the authentic
roulette table experience. European Roulette Gold Series is the
difference between trying to recreate the excitement of the casino, and
wondering why you ever bothered going to the casino in the first place.
* Double Joker 100 Play Power Poker
You could argue that multi-play Power Poker is the bread and butter of
online casinos in that everybody has to have it. Of course, if that's
the case, then Double Joker 100 Play Power Poker is the strawberry jam,
giving players the ability to play up to 100 hands of video poker at a
time. Sitting down to play Double Joker 100 is a test of your wits,
concentration, and endurance. For the person with the right mix of all
three, it could also be one of the most lucrative seats around.
* Avalon Video Slot
Avalon is a 5 reel, 20 Payline video slot that holds many secrets and
treasures for those bold enough to find them. With free spins, mystery
multipliers, Scatter and two Wild opportunities as well as a Gamble
feature where the intrepid can double of quadruple their wins, the
possible payout is $105,000. That's enough to make Avalon Video Slot an
epic in its own right.
"As established industry leaders we're in a position to push the envelope with our games, expanding and refining our core offerings so that our customers can experience the best possible gambling experience," said Tim Johnson, Chairman of Carmen Media Group, owner of Belle Rock Entertainment.
About Belle Rock Entertainment
Belle Rock Entertainment (http://www.bellerockentertainment.com) is a group of online casinos and poker rooms. It is owned by Carmen Media Group Limited, based in Gibraltar and is one of the most experienced and trusted online gaming operators in the world. Over the past 10 years, the various brands within Belle Rock Entertainment have become synonymous with exciting entertainment, the most advanced games and the biggest promotions. All of the Belle Rock Entertainment's online casinos carry the eCogra Players' Seal of Approval which testifies to fair play and responsible gaming, as well as secure and timely payouts. The group's major brands include River Belle (http://www.riverbelle.com), The Gaming Club (http://www.gamingclub.com), Jackpot City (http://www.jackpotcity.com) and Lucky Nugget (http://www.luckynugget.com).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Belle Rock Entertainment
GIBRALTAR, May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Belle Rock Entertainment has consistently stayed ahead of the curve when it comes to offering players the most entertaining and lucrative games in the industry. With three new additions to their already expansive gaming roster, Belle Rock Entertainment offers players on River Belle Online Casino, Lucky Nugget Online Casino, The Gaming Club Online Casino, and Jackpot City Online Casino, the chance to play the most dynamic and engaging games on the web. An all-star lineup of European Roulette Gold Series, Double Joker 100 Play Power Poker and Avalon Video Slot have just become available to players, so if you're looking to try something new, Belle Rock Entertainment's online casinos are the place to start.
* European Roulette Gold Series
This roulette game is far and away the best of its type on the Internet.
Player screens that offer razor sharp visual quality, crystal clear
ambient sounds that set the mood, and little details like Bet Timers and
easy to use control buttons, come together to give players the authentic
roulette table experience. European Roulette Gold Series is the
difference between trying to recreate the excitement of the casino, and
wondering why you ever bothered going to the casino in the first place.
* Double Joker 100 Play Power Poker
You could argue that multi-play Power Poker is the bread and butter of
online casinos in that everybody has to have it. Of course, if that's
the case, then Double Joker 100 Play Power Poker is the strawberry jam,
giving players the ability to play up to 100 hands of video poker at a
time. Sitting down to play Double Joker 100 is a test of your wits,
concentration, and endurance. For the person with the right mix of all
three, it could also be one of the most lucrative seats around.
* Avalon Video Slot
Avalon is a 5 reel, 20 Payline video slot that holds many secrets and
treasures for those bold enough to find them. With free spins, mystery
multipliers, Scatter and two Wild opportunities as well as a Gamble
feature where the intrepid can double of quadruple their wins, the
possible payout is $105,000. That's enough to make Avalon Video Slot an
epic in its own right.
"As established industry leaders we're in a position to push the envelope with our games, expanding and refining our core offerings so that our customers can experience the best possible gambling experience," said Tim Johnson, Chairman of Carmen Media Group, owner of Belle Rock Entertainment.
About Belle Rock Entertainment
Belle Rock Entertainment (http://www.bellerockentertainment.com) is a group of online casinos and poker rooms. It is owned by Carmen Media Group Limited, based in Gibraltar and is one of the most experienced and trusted online gaming operators in the world. Over the past 10 years, the various brands within Belle Rock Entertainment have become synonymous with exciting entertainment, the most advanced games and the biggest promotions. All of the Belle Rock Entertainment's online casinos carry the eCogra Players' Seal of Approval which testifies to fair play and responsible gaming, as well as secure and timely payouts. The group's major brands include River Belle (http://www.riverbelle.com), The Gaming Club (http://www.gamingclub.com), Jackpot City (http://www.jackpotcity.com) and Lucky Nugget (http://www.luckynugget.com).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Belle Rock Entertainment
