The explosive growth and acceptance of online gambling in the U.S. introduced countless new customers to casino games and sports betting.

1 day ago  A recent survey by Conscious Gaming polled more than 500 adults in New Jersey and Pennsylvania on their habits and attitudes toward online betting. It found more than 25% of respondents in New Jersey and more than 30% of respondents in Pennsylvania were unaware if online betting is legal in their state, or responded that it was not legal. Many of PA’s major casinos have rolled out online casino sites. Online sports betting is live and active with DraftKings, FanDuel and Unibet to name a few. Players have the option of placing bets in person. To operate legally, PA online casinos need to be licensed. The first bunch of licenses was offered to the 12 existing land-based and racetrack casinos. Just like in New Jersey online gambling, companies.

But as these (largely) inexperienced iGaming players begin to explore options, the line between regulated and illegal sites can be a bit blurry.

As such, Conscious Gaming, the non-profit arm of GeoComply, has launched Bettor Safe. The national campaign aims to promote responsible gambling and educate players about the risks of betting with unregulated operators.

Today, @ConsciousGam is thrilled to announce the launch of Bettor Safe, a campaign to help educate consumers about safe, legal and regulated online betting. Visit https://t.co/PasST6TnYB to learn more. pic.twitter.com/mKETRPX7DW

— Conscious Gaming (@ConsciousGam) March 3, 2021

Bettor Safe focused on NJ and PA

Wednesday’s roll-out of Bettor Safe includes two state-specific sites for New Jersey and Pennsylvania players.

Seth Palansky, VP of corporate social responsibility & communications for Conscious Gaming, said Bettor Safe underscores a “commitment to consumer protection and safety by directly educating individuals about the risks of unregulated online betting.”

“This campaign comes at a pivotal moment when American sports fans are gearing up for the NCAA basketball tournament amid a pandemic that continues to push individuals online,” said Palansky. “Now more than ever we must educate consumers and equip them with the tools to make more informed decisions about online betting.”

Bettor Safe provides players information about where online gambling is legal and which sites are regulated. The campaign also provides local and national resources for responsible gambling.

The campaign includes a short informational video specific to the Garden State market.

Online gambling confusion

Currently, 15 states and Washington D.C. permit some form of legal online gambling.

While sports betting will be in the spotlight this month thanks to March Madness, several jurisdictions also offer online casinos and poker.

A recent survey published by the American Gaming Association found a bit of confusion about online betting. According to the AGA, 35% of individuals are unaware if online betting is legal in their states.

And many more are wagering on unregulated sites.

“The regulator community sees, firsthand, the risks that illegal gambling presents to consumers and state governments. We cannot cede the established rules and safeguards of regulated internet gaming to offshore websites that have zero accountability,” said the North American Gaming Regulators Association in a statement in support of Bettor Safe.

More online gambling education needed in NJ and PA

A recent survey of NJ and PA adults on their habits and attitudes towards online betting. And it revealed some gaps in public awareness:

• More than 25% of those polled in NJ and more than 30% in PA are unaware if online betting is legal in their state or responded that it was not legal.
• About 75% of New Jersey and Pennsylvania residents could not or are not sure if they could differentiate a legal betting site from an illegal website.
• Among those surveyed who currently bet online, respondents (42% in both states) overwhelmingly cite “safety and security” as most important to them.

Conscious Gaming conducted the survey on behalf of the Bettor Safe campaign.

Problem Gambling Awareness in the U.S.

March also happens to be nationally recognized as Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

In New Jersey, the governor, state gaming regulators, and the Council on Compulsive Gambling of NJ formally acknowledge March as PGA Month annually.

“Problem Gambling: Have the Conversation” is the theme of this year’s campaign.

Gambling disorder has been classified by the American Psychiatric Association since 2013 as an addiction.

A little more on GeoComply, Conscious Gaming

GeoComply is a geolocation compliance company used by several online operators and gaming jurisdictions (including NJ). It ensures players are within legal boundaries to place a wager.

Conscious Gaming is the independent non-profit entity created by GeoComply to use technology to “propel social responsibility initiatives,” according to a company news release.

Bettor Safe is the latest effort from Conscious Gaming to aid consumers and promote responsible gaming. In September 2020, Conscious Gaming rolled out PlayPause. It is a fairly new responsible gaming and sports integrity tool to help the gaming industry manage self-exclusion and impermissible bettor programs.

As sports betting continues to expand it’s footprint across the United States with legal, online sports betting opportunities, as does the world of legal, online casino and iGaming. Here, we’ll look at a rather rudimentary guide on how to play online poker and win.

How to play iGaming online poker: Starting out

If you’re just getting your feet wet playing poker online, you’re not alone. Many are dabbling in electronic casino games for the first time.

Texas holdem is widely available online, as well as games like Omaha. The latter doesn’t have nearly the mass appeal or availability, however, so we’ll focus mostly on online Texas holdem.

How to play online poker: Winning

Before we proceed, let’s just clear up a few basics. There are four suits and two colors in a standard 52-card deck. We have two red suits – diamonds and hearts – and two black suits – clubs and spades. Face cards are jacks (J), queens (Q) and kings (K). Aces (A) can be used either as a high or low card, similarly to blackjack.

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Unlike blackjack, you’re not only playing against the dealer, but also the others at the table. In Texas holdem, you will get five ‘community’ cards dealt, and two ‘hole’ cards. Your two hole cards are not shown to anyone else. You must use at least one of your hole cards to make the best possible hand against everyone else at the table.

There will be a round of betting based upon everyone’s hole cards. The order is determined by the ‘button’, which is a round marker rotating around the table each hand. This signifies who is the ‘dealer’. The next two positions are the ‘small blind’ and ‘big blind’ spots. There is a pre-determined amount required to play the hand.

The big blind pays the entire amount, the small blind plays half, and has the option of matching the big blind to remain in the hand. After the big blind, each player around the table has the option of either ‘calling’, or betting the amount of the big blind, raising or folding. The betting goes all around the table until every player matches the highest bet made in a particular round.

After the hole cards are bet upon, the ‘flop’ is dealt. These are the first three community cards. Another round of betting ensues. Then, a fourth card, or ‘Fourth Street’ or ‘The Turn’, is dealt, and another round of betting, etc. Lastly, a fifth card, or ‘Fifth Street’ or ‘The River’, is dealt, and the final bets are made before a winning hand is determined.

How to play online blackjack: Strategies

There are plenty of different strategies for winning at online poker, but the best advice is to be patient. It might seem rather boring to continually fold hands, and Texas holdem can be a grind at times, but impatience is rarely rewarded, and it’s a good idea to wait for ‘Top 10’ hands. Eventually, you’ll learn about suited connectors (cards of the same suit in numerical succession), or just suited cards in general, which can be good starting hole cards.

In addition, sometimes you will hit a set – or three of a kind – on the flop with cards which aren’t necessarily great hole cards initially. You’ll learn the nuances of the game as you gain more experience. For intermediate or advanced players, this is all common knowledge, but for beginners just learning the game, patience is a virtue.

While various tables can have players of very different skill levels, and you do not want to play ‘tight’, or too close to the vest, using less risky play initially will mitigate big losses early on and keep your interest as you continue to learn. Eventually, you’ll also learn how to bluff, which by a series of strong wagers, can trick other players into believing your hand is stronger than it might really be.

This is certainly for more advanced players, but down the road you’ll learn you can win a hand even if you have lesser hole cards than your opponent simply by wagering strategy.

As you start out, you’ll need to know the order of winning hands, and memorize this list:

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Royal flush (AKQJ10 of the same suit)Straight flush (Five cards in sequence, same suit)Four of a kind (Same card in all four suits)Full house (Three of a kind and a pair)Flush (Five cards of the same suit, sequence not required)Straight (Five cards in sequence, suit doesn’t matter)Three of a kind (Same card in three different suits)Two pairs (two different matching numbers or face cards)One pair (two matching numbers or face cards)High card (If you do not have any matching cards, it’s simply your highest card)

How to play online poker: Play responsibly

Again, please be careful initially when setting out. Do not play for more than you can afford to lose, try and limit your alcohol intake and other outside distractions, and simply focus on the game.

In fact, some players like to engage in chatter at the table in person, or via ‘chat’ in a room. Block all of that out and just focus on the cards, especially early on. Remember your basic rules and don’t try and get too cute. If so, you’re going to really enjoy playing poker in the comfort of your own home.

Ready to give online poker a try? Head over to BetMGM to sign up and play.

For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com and follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

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