Vegas Players Clubs

From Online Los Angeles Times Travel Section

As you walk through the labyrinthine twists and turns of a casino floor, your attention will likely be dragged to the various games and, your interest piqued, your fingers may begin to twitch in anticipation of hitting it big. Before you put your money on the line, it's imperative to know the rules of the game you want to play. Most casinos offer free gambling lessons at scheduled times on weekdays. This provides a risk-free environment for you to learn the games that tickle your fancy. Some casinos follow their lessons with low-stakes game play, enabling you to put your newfound knowledge to the test at small risk. During those instructional sessions, and even when playing on your own, dealers in most casinos will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Remember, the casino doesn't need to trick you into losing your money . . . the odds are already in their favor across the board; that's why it's called gambling. Another rule of thumb: Take a few minutes to watch a game being played in order to familiarize yourself with the motions and lingo. Then go back and reread this section -- things will make a lot more sense at that point. Good luck!

Players' Clubs

If you play slots or video poker, or, indeed, just gamble quite a bit, or even just gamble, it definitely pays to join a players' club. These so-called clubs are designed to attract and keep customers in a given casino by providing incentives: meals, shows, discounts on rooms, gifts, tournament invitations, discounts at hotel shops, VIP treatment, and (more and more) cash rebates. Join a players' club (it doesn't cost a cent to sign up), and soon you, too, will be getting those great hotel-rate offers -- $20-a-night rooms, affordable rooms at the luxury resorts, even free rooms. (This is one way to beat the high hotel rates.) Of course, your rewards are often greater if you play just in one casino, but your mobility is limited.

When you join a players' club (inquire at the casino desk), you're given something that looks like a credit card, which you must insert into an ATM-like device whenever you play. Yes, many casinos even have them for the tables as well as the machines. (Don't forget to retrieve your card when you leave the machine, as we sometimes do -- though that may work in your favor if someone comes along and plays the machine without removing it.) The device tracks your play and computes bonus points.

Which players' club should you join? Actually, you should join one at any casino where you play because even the act of joining usually entitles you to some benefits. It's convenient to concentrate play where you're staying; if you play a great deal, a casino-hotel's players' club benefits may be a factor in your accommodations choice. Consider, though, particularly if you aren't a high roller, the players' clubs Downtown. You get more bang for your buck because you don't have to spend as much to start raking in the goodies.

London, Oct 31 (IANS) MaharajahClub.com, the first online poker gaming site specifically targeting the Asian market in Europe and Southeast Asia, is launching a play-for-fun only gaming site in India Wednesday.

With the launch of MaharajahClub.net, the Asian-owned Maharajah Gaming is set to further widen its reach in Asia, a company press release stated.

With a new US law making online gambling illegal coming into effect, the industry worldwide is expected to be affected and, as such, the focus is on switching to new markets.

Through the new site, Maharajah Club will use its strong cultural relevancy and team of experts to make its mark in Asia, according to the release.

"This is the first time an online gaming company has targeted an audience based on ethnicity," Sachin Pawa, CEO of Maharajah Gaming stated.

"It happens in land-based casino around the world. By targeting ethnically, we can cater to the culturally specific needs of our clients in a way that no other casino on the net can."

The idea behind MaharajahClub.net is to bring the fun side of poker gaming to India. The site is expected to help grow the game on the continent by teaching first-timers how to play and increase poker's widespread appeal among beginners and seasoned players alike.

Maharajah Club is licensed by the Gaming Commission of Curacao