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Exploring Different Variations of Poker Card Games: Which One to Play?

Exploring Different Variations of Poker Card Games: Which One to Play?

Generally speaking, casino players can broadly be classified into two groups. On one hand, some players favour chance (luck) based games. When playing such games, players do not need any specific skill set to win. Rather, all they need is for lady luck to visit during the gaming session and shower some fortune blessings. On the other hand, some players favour skill-based games. To excel when playing such games, it’s a prerequisite for players to possess a specific skill set. One such skill-based game which is highly popular is poker. This guide is going to explain what poker is while at the same time exposing and exploring the different variations (types) of poker card games.

An Explanation of Poker Card Games

In explaining what poker card games are, we are going to borrow Wikipedia’s apt explanation which reads, “Poker is a family of comparing card games in which players wager over which hand is best according to that specific game’s rules”. This explanation aptly describes what poker card games are. However, to get a better understanding, let’s just break down the explanation.

  • Comparing card games: This is one of the key aspects of any poker card game. essentially, the objective is to compare the cards which are dealt (distributed) by the dealer as well as the cards which players draw themselves (pick up from the remaining deck cards on the table – often referred to as community cards)
  • Hand: In comparing their cards, poker players are guided by the hand they are holding in comparison to the hand held by other competing players. When talking about a hand, we are simply referring to the nature of the cards one is holding (card suit and ranking – 0 to 10, A, j, Q, K)
  • Specific Game’s Rules: The mentioning of ‘specific game’s rules’ simply illustrate the fact that poker has many variations and each variation does have distinct game rules.

The Top Poker Card Games Variations

Poker has many variations – over a dozen. Poker players, therefore, are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing the poker game to play. This guide will help in making the task of picking the poker variation to play easier as it illustrates the basic details about each variation. Players can therefore pick the one that they find desirable.

Texas Hold ’em

Arguably the most popular poker card game is Texas Hold ‘em. Inside the poker lobbies of most online casinos, Texas Hold ‘em is a common feature. Such is the popularity of this variation that it’s used at most poker tournaments including the World Series of Poker (WSOP), World Poker Tour and the World Championship of Online Poker.

The popularity of Texas Hold ‘em is largely necessitated by its relatively straightforward rules and gameplay. The game starts with two players to the left of the dealer (button when playing online) place forced bets known as blinds. Hole cards are then dealt to all players and the player to the left of the big blind (bigger first bet placed) takes an action and the gameplay continues clockwise. The action that players may take during the gaming round include the call, raise or fold. Several rounds then ensue until the River (last betting round) where the remaining players compare cards to determine the winner.

Omaha Hi

Also dominating the lobbies of most poker rooms is Omaha Hi. Though it’s a variation, Omaha Hi does have its own game types the most popular being Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO). The gameplay of Omaha Hi is similar to that of Texas Hold ‘em in most respects but differs in that 4-hole cards are dealt during the initial stages of the game instead of two. In making the best hand, players should use only two of the hole cards and three community cards. Owing to the fact that players have to pick only two from four-hole cards in making a hand, Omaha Hi is slightly easier as compared to Texas Hold ‘em which simply restricts players to using just the two-hole cards as is.

7-Card Stud

Before Texas Hold ‘em started dominating poker rooms, it was 7-card Stud which reigned supreme at casinos. The game is simple to learn but difficult to master. Once players place their bets, two face-down cards are dealt followed by one face-up card. The player who receives the lowest face-up card will need to act first by either completing a bet of the smaller increment of the entire game or making a small bring-in bet. Afterwards, the gaming session continues in a clockwise direction. After the round, one other face-up card is dealt but this time it’s the player who receives the highest card value who acts first. Successive rounds follow this pattern until the Seventh Street (7th round) when one card is dealt face down. It’s at this point that players compare their cards to come up with the best possible 5-card hand using both face-down and face-up cards.

2-7 Triple Draw

2-7 Triple Draw is one of the simplest poker variations to learn hence it’s a great proposition for poker beginners. This game is a bit unique in that the objective is not to make the best high-value 5-card hand but rather, to make the best ‘low’ hand. In doing so, note that flushes and straights count against making a low hand while Aces always rank high. Once players place their bets, each of them is awarded a 5-card hand. The hand is dealt face down and cannot be exposed to any other player. Afterwards, the gaming round ensues with the player to the left of the dealer (button when playing online) taking action. The action entails drawing new cards from the community pool. Players have three chances to draw cards. Players can also choose to ‘stand pat’ (keep the first 5 dealt cards as is and not draw any new card if they feel the initial hand is strong enough to win).

5-Card Draw

5-Card Draw in most aspects is similar to 2-7 Triple Draw. This is largely necessitated by the fact that players are dealt 5 cards face down to start the gaming session. There is just one round of drawing which players should make use of to better their hand. 5-Card Draw majorly differs from 2-7 Triple Draw poker in that the objective is to come up with the highest ranked 5-card poker hand instead of the best ‘low’ hand.

Round Up

The above illustrates the fact that poker does come with many variations and each of these variations has its distinct game rules and playing guidelines. By going through the above, players do learn the basics of each poker card game’s variations and hence, get a better understanding of the variation that they find desirable to play once they register an account at top casinos.

A Beginner's Guide to Using a Casino Wallet in Malaysia

A Beginner's Guide to Using a Casino Wallet in Malaysia

If we are to ask the question why do you gamble to a dozen, hundred or even a thousand casino players, odds are, there is one common answer we will receive. What’s this answer? Well, it has to do with winning money. Most players are attracted to gambling by the sheer prospect of winning some life-changing wins. Fortunately or unfortunately, to gamble for real and stand a chance of winning real money payouts, players have to deposit funds first. It’s on this front that casino wallets come into the equation as they are one of the most trusted banking methods amongst Malaysian casino players.

So, why are casino wallets popular amongst Malaysian casino players? Well, several reasons explain this. However, before we get into this and before we share with you how you can use a casino wallet at an online casino, the first thing we need is to get on the same page as to the meaning of what a casino wallet is. Perhaps, some of us don’t know what a casino wallet is.

What is a Casino Wallet

To help players understand clearly what a casino wallet is, we are going to give a practical example. Suppose you go to work and at the end of the month you receive your salary in cash, you will need something where you can keep your cash safely. Most commonly, the thing you will look for is a physical wallet you can put in your trousers or a purse to hold on your hands when you move around. The physical wallet or purse can only hold hard cash. If you are one of those that receive their salary in electronic form, then you need a different wallet. You need a wallet that can hold electronic money. Such wallets exist (in abundance if we can add) and they are broadly named electronic wallets.

An electronic wallet is a virtual wallet to which you can transfer funds for safekeeping. You can further use it to make payments utilising pre-loaded funds that are held in safekeeping. Electronic wallets can further be classified as per their intended use. In the gambling context, an electronic wallet which is loaded with funds exclusively meant for gambling purposes is dubbed a casino wallet.

Some common examples of electronic (casino) wallets that Malaysian players can use include:

  • PayPal
  • Touch n’ GO
  • GrabPay
  • Boost
  • BigPay
  • DuitNow

How to Use a Casino Wallet at Online Casinos

Now that we all know what a casino wallet is, let’s get to see how you can start using it at Malaysia online casino. Note that this section comes in two parts. First, we outline how you can get a casino wallet and afterwards, we outline steps on how you link it to your casino account so that you start using your casino wallet funds for wagering purposes.

How to Get a Casino Wallet

  • Step number one is to choose the casino wallet that works best for you or simply the one that you prefer. You may do your research or make use of online articles that explain and explore the pros and cons of each casino wallet
  • Once you find the casino wallet you desire, proceed to set up your account. Often, this takes just a few minutes of your time
  • When your account is all setup, the next step is to load some funds. Note that on this front, there are two options available and the one you go for depends on the casino wallet you opened. The first option is to transfer your funds from one source presumably a bank to your casino wallet. Alternatively, some casino wallets simply require you to link your funding source (e.g. bank account or credit/debit card) with your casino wallet. In this instance, you don’t transfer funds. Rather, the funds in the funding source are used as is albeit under the cover of the casino wallet
  • After you transfer funds/link the funding source with your casino wallet, all that’s left is to head over to your favourite online casino.

How to Use a Casino Wallet to Fund Your Casino Account

  • Step number one is to access your casino account portal. You do this by undertaking the login process or if you haven’t set up an account yet, undertake the account registration process
  • From your account portal, head over to the banking section. On most online gambling platforms, you reach the banking page by accessing the menu bar and proceed to scroll and click the ‘Banking’ or ‘Cashier’ section. If you can’t locate it, then you need to use the search filter or check the FAQ section on how to make a deposit
  • Once on the banking page, opt to use electronic wallets/e-walle/casino wallet depending on the name used
  • Afterwards, follow the prompts provided by your online casino to complete linking your casino wallet with your casino account
  • Once you have successfully linked the casino account with the casino wallet, you can now seamlessly transfer funds from the casino wallet to your casino account and hence get funds to start wagering with.

Why It’s Recommended to Use Casino Wallets at Malaysia Online Casinos

The thing is, there are a variety of banking methods that you can use in loading funds to your casino account. In such a sea of options, you may probably wonder then you should go for casino wallets. Below we give you the reasons why.

Extremely Secure

Arguably the most important reason why you should go for casino wallets is that they are extremely secure. When using a bank account or credit/debit cards for making deposits at online casinos, you are bound to share some of your financial details that is your bank/card account number. Providing such sensitive data may prove costly if the casino you are using doesn’t have up-to-date and secure security protocols and servers. Casino wallets are different on this front. When using them, you just disclose your name/username something you would have provided before to the casino hence your financial security is guaranteed. Even if there are security breaches, you need not worry as the only thing snoopers will access is your name.

Use Multiple Funding Sources

If you have multiple sources of income and each has its own receiving banking method, it becomes a daunting task to link all your banking methods to just one casino account. However, if you have a casino wallet, you can link multiple funding sources. This, therefore, means when you want to deposit funds at the casino, you just use the casino wallet regardless of the funding source which loaded funds into the casino wallet.

Fast Deposits & Withdrawals

When you check out the deposit and withdrawal info at most casinos, you will realise that bank transfers and debit/credit card payments take the longest time to process. Nothing stresses you more than having your money stuck somewhere in the virtual world when you desperately need to use it. To circumvent this, you can simply link your bank account/debit/credit card to your casino wallet and benefit from ultra-fast deposits and withdrawals.

Round Up

To conclude, we can say that casino wallets rank among the most popular banking methods used by Malaysian players in depositing funds. Their popularity largely stems from their flexibility and ease of use. Moreover, they guarantee player anonymity online as they don’t divulge sensitive financial details.

Why Online Slot Malaysia is Booming in 2023

Why Online Slot Malaysia is Booming in 2023

Without going deep into analysing figures but by just doing a quick snap survey in Malaysia’s online gambling community, we found that the most popular and most played casino games are slots. Odds are, if we are to do a deep analysis into the most played games, then we will get a pointer which is way higher than what we assume at this moment. This, therefore, begs the question, why are online slots so much popular in Malaysia?

In our search for the above-stated question, we found that there is no one universal answer that explains the popularity of online slots in Malaysia. Rather, there are various factors which all add up to make online slot machines the go-to games. In this article, we are going to highlight all these factors.

Slots Are a Good Introductory Game for Casino Beginners

Among all casino games, slots rank highly when it comes to the simplicity index. Most slot machines come with straightforward game rules something which makes grasping the gameplay skills super easy. This in turn makes slots very accommodating even to new players who are just starting their gambling adventures. In the Malaysian context, this is one of the major reasons behind the popularity of online slots. As more and more beginner players join the online gambling frenzy, the popularity of slots inadvertently increases as they are the first games beginner players try out.

The emergence of Social, Interactive and Live Online Slots

The advancement in gaming technology has led to the emergence of social, interactive and live online slots. What this therefore means is that slots are no longer just associated with monotony as they offer just the thrill of spinning the reels. Rather, players can now spin the reels while also chatting with friends. As such, what they stand to gain from the gaming session is not just the monetary payouts but also bragging rights. Significant advancements have also necessitated the emergence of live online slots. Live online slots thus provide players with the added excitement and convenience of facing off against a live dealer.

Availability of Impressive and Lucrative Slots Bonuses and Promotions

While there are some slots tools and features which help popularise online slots as is the case of the factors stated above, it’s also important to note that the popularity of slots is also driven by online gambling platforms. This often is done by way of bonuses and promotions. Most if not all of the online casinos that operate in Malaysia do offer some bonuses and promotions. These are awarded to both newly registered players as well as the already existing account holders. Some of these bonuses and promotions are geared towards slots enthusiasts. In a bid to claim these slots bonuses and promotions, players flock to play online slot Malaysia games.

Huge Variety of Game Options

Slots especially those designed in recent times come with a variety of features and themes. This, therefore, makes one slots very different from the next. In the same vein, this makes one slot appealing to one player while the next appeals to the next player. When it comes to slots, those who favour going out into the wild are afforded the chance to do so albeit virtually when they spin the reels of nature/wild-themed slots. Likewise, those who are interested in stuff that has to do with ancient mythology can time travel back in time to relieve the glorious old days. It’s not just the theme however that differentiates slots. There are also other features such as the presence of free spins round, turbo mode, jackpots and the like which make slots different. It is this difference which hooks players as they know that they are guaranteed to find something which suits their preferences.

Possibility of Life-Changing Wins

When it comes to some players, all that draws them to any game is its potential to award big-money wins. Any game with a high payout tends to be very appealing to these players. Well, the great thing when it comes to slots is that they rank highly when it comes to high-paying games. It’s against this background that a huge population of Malaysian players are flocking to slots and also the reason why more will continue to do so. Just as a word of recommendation, slots that possess the ability to pay big and hence award life-changing wins are those that have high RTP (return to player percentages) and those that feature jackpots, especially progressive jackpots.

High Accessibility

When designing slots machines, software developers now use Flash and HTML5 technology. The use of such technology ensures that slots are optimised for mobile play. As such, they are accessible across several platforms something which makes it easy for players to access and play them at any time and wherever they are. Unfortunately, as is the case with some games, they are only available on desktop platforms. With some games, they may be available on mobile but playing them on mobile platforms will not offer a worthwhile gaming session. This isn’t the case however with slots which are as convenient, fun and exciting to play on mobile as they are on the desktop.

Wide Availability

Online casinos know that among all casino games, online slots are beginner friendly and hugely simple hence they always make sure that such games are available on their platforms. This, therefore, means at any gambling platform players settle at, they are guaranteed to find some online slots. Owing to this, there is a high chance of players familiarising themselves and opting to play slots over other games.  

Prospects for the Future

Looking ahead to the future, it’s safe to say that the trend of Malaysian players flocking to online slots will continue. This is not just referencing the year 2023 but also beyond. The chief reason behind this is the advancement of gaming technology which makes online slots highly accessible, more convenient, fun, exciting, interactive and above all immersive. Not to be outdone is also the profitability aspect which gives slots the power to churn out some life-changing wins.

How to Win Big at Online Gambling in Malaysia

How to Win Big at Online Gambling in Malaysia

If we are to ask any Malaysian players why they gamble, odds are, two reasons will come up the most. These two pertain to the thrill and fun that comes with placing bets and secondly, the monetary benefits that are awarded when bets are successful. As these two are the driving forces behind gambling, it means players should do all they can to maximise the benefits of gambling. How can you do this? Well, that’s what you are going to learn in this detailed online gambling Malaysia guide.

Insights to Better Your Chances of Winning Big at Online Casinos

Take Advantage of Bonuses

The beauty of playing at online casinos is that you can claim as many bonuses and promotions as possible. Once a new bonus is flighted, be sure to check it out. If you are eligible, then we recommend you claim it right away. This is necessitated by the fact that bonuses allow you to enjoy real money games while wagering free cash. This in essence means every cent you win is 100% profit (if we can say).

Set a Budget and Stick to It

If you want to win big at online gambling Malaysia casinos, then you need to be witty, tactful and calculative. Remember you are playing at a place that’s theoretically designed to win more than you over a long period, you need not just go all in without planning. To beat the house at its own game, be sure to set your budget before placing bets. The budget will ensure that you play for an elongated time and even if you go on a dry spell, you can still recover and grab the much-needed wins. Don’t let the temptations of chasing wins or losses get the better of you. Once you set your budget, stick to it.

Play Demo Games

The adage ‘practice makes perfect’ applies perfectly to online gambling. No matter how much you may read articles, guides and reviews on all games you want to play online, you will never truly master the art of playing and winning big if you don’t have the experience. Luckily with casino games, you don’t get experience playing real money games hence risking your hard-earned cash. Rather, you can start playing the game in the demo mode. As you do, you learn important playing tips and winning strategies. Once you grasp these, you can then proceed to play for real and stand a chance of winning big as you will have acclimatised to all the ins and outs of the game.

Get a Spot in the VIP Club

Most online gambling Malaysia casinos do offer VIP Clubs (programs). The programs may either be free to enter for all players once they join the casino while others have specific entry requirements that you need to satisfy first before you can enter. In some cases, some VIP clubs are by invitation only. Regardless of what the entry requirements may be, always make sure that you enter the VIP Club. This is necessitated by the fact that the clubs offer some lucrative and impressive perks. These may include exclusive bonuses guaranteeing incredible freebies. This, therefore, means more chances to win big using free wagering cash. Some VIP Clubs also offer high withdrawal limits meaning you can cash out your big win in just one transaction.

Always Check the House Edge/RTP (Return to Player Percentage)

All casino games do come with a house edge or RTP. This is a percentage which theoretically gives players an idea of how much they stand to win/lose when they play the game for a relatively long time. Owing to this, we recommend playing games that come with a high RTP. When you do, it means (theoretically), your chances of winning are quite high.

Don’t Bank on Superstitions

Those who have played at land-based gambling establishments know that there are some players who are guided by certain superstitions when playing their favourite games. This may include reliance on birthday dates, lucky colours, lucky numbers and the like. While we can’t say with authority whether this works or not, what we recommend to all players is to shun using superstitions in making gambling decisions. This is largely necessitated by the fact that reliance on superstition clouds one’s judgement. This in the end led to the placing of horrendous bets.

Watch Videos and Read Gambling Tips

Online gambling is a huge business. There is just so much to know when it comes to online gambling. The truth is, you may never know everything when it comes to online gambling. However, you can still learn much and the best way to do this is to get expert insights from other pro gamblers and gambling experts. You can get all the insights freely as there are loads upon loads of gambling guides, articles and even videos and podcasts online.

Start Playing Penny Games/Low Roller Games

This tip particularly is geared towards beginner players. While the lure of playing high roller games hence competing with the big guys is appealing, caution is needed when starting out. The recommended thing is to start small. The advantage of doing this is that you get to learn playing tips and winning strategies without using a huge amount of cash. If you win, you walk away with fat pockets while at the same time having grasped key playing and winning tips and strategies. Only when you have truly mastered the game can you proceed to play with the big guys wagering the big bucks at the high roller tables?

Avoid Distracting Things

Even though you are playing online, you should just assume that you are playing at a brick-and-mortar establishment. As such, always try to avoid distractions to the best of your ability. Some common distractions include drinking beer, watching TV or playing with the kids while placing bets. Distractions cloud your judgement and lowers your concentration and attention levels. This in turn means you are more likely going to make bad bets.

Round Up

To conclude, we just want to say there is no sure way that guarantees you wins each time you gamble online. However, there are several factors that you can employ which enhances your chances of winning whenever you visit your favourite online casino. All these factors are highlighted in this article. Just follow them religiously and you are almost certain to win big at online gambling.