In the past it was only City whizz kids with instant access to real time market information that indulged in spread betting on companies and markets. But like contracts for differences (CFDs), the popularity of spread betting has exploded, particularly with the advent of the internet.

That said, spread betting is a high-risk means of punting on the stock market.

And be warned: the losses are horrendous if you get it badly wrong. With traditional fixed odds betting you might wander into a bookmakers and place a wager and – if your luck is anything like mine – you will lose your stake money.

Spread betting is completely different animal. Win and the upside is potentially unlimited. Get it wrong and you’re not so much left chasing your losses, rather they end up chasing you.

But there is also much to commend it. Buying shares by traditional means is a one-way bet. You are wagering on a share price rise. Spread betting allows you bet against an individual share, or indeed the entire market – as well as buy into its upside.

And it allows you to wager on all manner of markets and events – from the gyrations of the FTSE 100 right through to the outcome of a cricket match.

Enough of the theory, here’s how it works

A spread better such as IG Index will quote you two prices in much the same way as an equity market maker would – giving you a bid and offer price.

One of the favourite bets is a punt on the movement of the Footsie (FTSE 100 Index).

We are offered a spread of 5,700-5,705. So what exactly does that mean? Well, simple really.

If you think the Footsie is likely go above 5,705 then you would instruct the broker you wanted to buy. And if you expected it to dip below 5,700 then you would instruct the broker to sell.

Clear?

Well, let’s say for the sake of argument, we believe the market will end the day below 5,700 – perhaps we think after the recent good run there will be a bout of profit taking. So we tell our bookmaker to sell. In fact we are ultra confident and stake £50 for every point the the Footsie falls below 5,700.

The spread betting firm will fix a price that mirrors the market movement. So at midday the spread has moved to 5,675-5,680, which means the Footsie has fallen.

Fearing a revival we want to take our profits on the bet. So exactly do we do that? Well, we would then ask the broker to buy.

The new buy price as we can see is 5,680. We know we have won the wager with the spread betting company. But just how much have we made? All we need to know is the points difference between price at which we sold the Footsie and point at which we bought to close off our position.

The maths is reasonably simple. 6,700 minus 6,680, which gives us a 20 point difference. And remember, we were very confident in our ability to predict the movement of the Footsie so we staked £50 a point.

That gives us tidy £1,000 profit. Not bad for a morning’s work. And remember, this is a bet with a bookmaker so there is no capital gains tax, or stamp duty. Isn’t that just dandy?

Well let’s see what happens when it all goes horrendously wrong. Let’s take our bet on the Footsie.

We won’t change much, save that we woke up and thought, well, the Footsie is on a roll and instead of selling, we bought.

Remember the spread we were quoted was 5,700-5,705. We bought at 5,705. So anything above that level is clear profit. And we were, in this alternate existence, if anything even more bullish, so we staked £100 a point.

Rash, I would say as this is the first time we have ever made a spread bet. But instead of roaring ahead, the Footsie starts dropping and at midday, chastened by our stupidity we decide to cut our loses and close the position.

Remember the midday spread was 5,675-5,680. To close off we need to sell and have to do so at 5,675. To calculate the losses we take the difference between price at which we bought and the price at which we sold.

So that gives is 6,705 minus 5,675 a difference of 30 points. Now remember how rash we were? We staked £100 a point, giving us losses of £3,000. For the mega-rich footballers of the Premiership that is probably less than a day’s wages.

But for most it equates to probably close to two-months’ net salary. The moral of this story? Well, obviously, don’t bet what you can’t afford.

But, I would say if you are going to indulge in something as risky and complicated as spread betting ensure that you know the risks involved. Study as much as you can around the system. Accept a stop-loss (which limits the downside) if it is offered.

The spread betting companies are not evil, they take every opportunity to educate and spell out the potential pitfalls. If they offer you coaching, accept it. Above all don’t bet until you understand all the risks involved.

About The Author

Ian Lyall is a co-founder of the First Time Investor, help and advice for people new to buying stocks and shares http://www.thefti.com.

Las Vegas draws a large crowd because of its entertainment culture, luxury resorts and popular casinos. When people come to Vegas, they often stay at the MGM, Mirage, and Circus Circus because they all offer cheap Vegas rooms.

MGM is a popular Vegas hotel casino. In addition to being a world-class casino, the MGM offers live shows and comprehensive spa services. The facilities offer five outdoor pools and three whirlpools. The MGM is more than just a classic casino; it is an upscale resort-style hotel.

The Mirage is a popular hotel casino and it’s unlike any other hotel you have ever seen. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate its tropical design. Upon entering the Mirage, the visitor is welcomed by a 54-foot high volcano and an indoor rainforest. It also offers live shows by the famed Cirque du Soleil. With live shows and its tropical-style theme, it’s no wonder why this is one of the more popular Vegas hotel casinos.

Circus Circus is a great hotel and many families choose it because one of the cheap Vegas rooms. This hotel features live circus acts, an arcade, and clowns that make for a wonderful family vacation experience. The newly remodeled rooms at the facility are an added bonus for many.

A Vegas hotel deal can be easily found and booked online with certain travel sites. Las Vegas has its share of hotel casinos and offers a wide variety of options, including cheap Vegas rooms, to visitors looking for the perfect balance of luxury accommodations and entertainment. For more information visit to our site at http://www.troplv.com

About The Author

Betting is a gambling game. This is a game where you are not aware of the tips to use to win or lose. Many people who have taken part in this game have ended up losing their money. Betting is a game where the chances of winning are equal to the chances of losing. The designers of the gambling made it in such a way that the amount of money people win is less than the amount they make. Knowing how to win at sports betting will be the crucial step of making good earnings out of your bet.

A good bettor should learn on how to win at sports betting by getting a good system that

will guide them on the ways they can bet and win. Having your skills improve each time you bet is a good gear towards achieving massive money out of any betting sport. You can only improve these skills if you are keen. It is good to keep in mind that having good betting skills will be the best winning strategy that will see you earn good cash.

A good bettor should always learn how to play sports betting. This will be a good way of

sharpening the betting skills. However, as a bettor you should know that you should not win on every game you bet. You should accept defeat because there is always a winner and a loser in any game. Use the losing chance as a springboard of harnessing new betting skills. Try and work on your betting skills once you lose. It is good to learn on how to beat sports betting so that you earn more.

When you are learning on how to win at sports betting it is good to know that the amount

of money you earn depends on the decision you make before you bet. This means that you should be able to make good decision that will see you win at the end of the game. Picking on the team you think has all it takes to be winner will be the crucial decision that will add value to your bet.

A good bettor should learn on how to win at sports betting by making use of the internet.

Here, you will find some of the major tips you can apply when betting which will enable you bet on a winning team. You should have good knowledge on the game you are betting on. If for example you are betting on football, you should have crucial information about football. This will give you the crucial skills and experience needed to win the bets. Do not bet based on yourself drive but based on the knowledge you have on the game.

When you are learning on how to win at sports betting, it is good to have knowledge of

the participating odds on the game you want to bet. You should also know the bets and the payments to be given. Without the knowledge of the odds you cannot be able to pick on a winning odd. Having the knowledge of the bets will enable you to be ready for the results. You will have to know that each wager has risks.

About The Author

How to Develop Your Poker Tournament Strategies

The only way to acquire a winning poker tournament strategy is to create a plan, stick to it, and practice it in places that don’t cost you much money. To become an excellent player, and maybe make the final table (live or online), you must have a solid game and play within your capabilities. A tournament is no different from any other poker environment, but like any competition your ability to concentrate and willingness to remain on plan will be tested.

If you want to develop these playing skills and strategies then playing online, in small money tournaments that still allow you to make something while you invest in honing your skills and play, is a good way to go.

Online Multi-Table Tournaments:

If you want to get a lot of action and therefore more opportunities to practice your game, then Multi-Table play is a good option.

Multi-Table tournaments can be very useful in building your skills and grasp of the game. Most online sites have a low entry fee, some

for about $1.25 with the winning prize around $17. This is a great environment for practicing your poker tournament strategy without a

huge bankroll.

Sit and Go Tournaments:

What is the major divergence in this type of game and the multi-table game? This style of tournament is more like a Final Table,

whereas in a Multi-Table environment if a player goes ‘bust’ their position can be replaced by another player. So just like a final table someone from another table, with a much larger stack, will not be moving to your table. In every other way your moves should be the same as your poker strategy dictates, which should take into account your stack, your position, and players, and of course your cards. Tight play in early position and loose later is the best play, so avoid what many do, which is to play very loose early when little is on the line, and then play tighter when you could be in the money.

If you are the Short-Stack:

Play a tight game and look for an opportunity to come. When you get a good quality hand then get behind it completely. If you have a

middle stack you should also play a conservative game, but when you get the premium cards play you have been waiting for then don’t

be timid.

If you have the large stack:

In this case you should be aggressive in your betting against short or medium stacks. Neither wants to take you on, and this is a good

time to steal blinds and antes.

Some thoughts on making it to the Final Table:

If you are only a few players away from the final table play tighter since the payouts are much bigger if you make it to the Final Table.

Knowing this, of course will have the big stacks trying to shove you around. You can use this to your benefit when up against other

short or medium stacks, who fear getting eliminated. If you end up ‘heads up’ for the tournament then don’t forget that pot odds favor good starter cards, and the chance of drawing a hand rare.

Are Limit Tournaments different from No-Limit?

If a player usually plays in no-limit games they are used to the aggressive play, but have to modify their tactics some. With a limit it is harder to bluff and steal pots, since their entire stack is not at risk. If you have a good hand then be aggressive and play it with conviction.

General Thoughts:

Stay with your strategy and build your bankroll by playing quality cards. Be patient and don’t try to force play. When you get a high

quality hand you should push it. When you have a really good hand and the pot odds are in your favor don’t overplay it and eliminate

everyone too early. Many amateur players’ poker tournament strategies include playing very loose early in a tournament, so instead of following them, use it to against them. Instead of trying to steal the pots, call raises, and re-raise more often. Hopefully they will exit early and allow you to build your stack quietly. Later your opponents will tighten up their play and then you should adjust again and do the opposite.

Remember, the more you practice your strategy, the ‘luckier’ you will become!

About The Author

Want to learn more about Poker tournament strategies? go here:

http://learnwinningpokerstrategies.com/poker-tournament-strategies or visit my site and get the FREE tips, tricks, and secrets you

need for a winning poker strategy here: http://learnwinningpokerstrategies.com