This is for all you craps players out there: Don't be like Kevin Federline. Britney Spears' ex-hubby apparently blew all his money, err, Spears money playing craps at a casino in Las Vegas. According to the latest celeb gossip news, Federline was out partying at the prestigious, nightclub "Pure" (where the drinks are more expensive than a dinner at Olive Garden) and proclaimed in a drunken stupor that he lost his voice and all his money at the craps table.

Apparently Federline wasn't backing the odds to get the Casinos Edge down to .8%. Maybe he was too distracted putting on a show and hollering at the dice. Or maybe he has using the Martingale on Proposition bets. Ouch! Okay, so you get the point there are a myriad of ways to lose all your money at the craps table, or any other casino game for that matter.

It goes without saying that no casino game is going to guarantee winnings. On the other hand, there's no guarantee you'll lose all your money either. Especially at Craps, which can offer one of the lowest House Edges in the casino, there's a good chance you'll walk away with more money in your pocket if you play perfect strategy, bet the right increments and know when to walk away.

For anybody unfamiliar with the game of craps, it's news headlines like this that give it a bad name. It's almost as bad as the guys who say they hold a "secret" for winning thousands at the craps table every time. The game of craps is already intimidating enough to steer most people away from throwing the dice. But when you see someone lose all their money at the craps table who acts like they know what they're doing, it certainly doesn't inspire a craps revolution.

So, if we really want to learn from Kevin Federline's recent debacle at the craps table, it's this: Craps, when played with proper strategy, is anything but a money bit. Ironic, I know. But so is Kevin Federline. Don't be afraid of craps, folks. Learn the handful of bets you should make, remember to back the odds when warranted, and practice, practice, practice.

There has been talk for some time about legalizing and regulating online gambling in South Africa. It now appears all this talk is gearing to come fruition with South African media sources reporting that legislation is currently making the rounds in Parliament. Although no laws have been passed as of yet, the general sentiment regarding the research that has hitherto been done on the subject of online gambling, does indeed warrant the need for regulation.

The Business Times reported while online gambling is currently deemed illegal in South Africa, a bill is certainly in the works, and will be introduced to the National Assembly for approval shortly. Currently, the bill is under review with the Select Committee of National Provinces, who will then pass it on the National Assembly.

Chief Operations Officer of the National Gambling Board, Themba Marasha, has been actively promoting the need for regulation, and has been in the thick of devising the bill's provisions, which from the look of things, imposes a strict set of requirements for online casino operators to obtain a valid license. While the Gambling Act of 2004 already lays out punishments of up to R10 million in fines and 10 years imprisonment for online gambling crimes, the current bill will serve more to protect South African citizens who choose to gamble at online casinos.

Without a fair and protect gambling environment, citizens are currently putting themselves at great risk. With proper legislation in place, like that in the UK online casinos scene, gamblers will have confidence knowing they are getting the fairest odds and will indeed get paid out their winnings. These days, it certainly isn't uncommon for players to have their accounts frozen and winnings withheld for bogus reasons.

Some online casinos, however, have been doing fair business in the South African online gambling scene for some time, despite the current state of affairs and lack of regulation. Casino Enterprises, who operates the well known and respected Piggs Peak Online Casino (based in Swaziland), has been up and running since 1997.

However, the Gambling Board is currently in court with Casino Enterprises over where online gambling activities originate and take place at Piggs Peak Casino, who heavily advertises in South Africa. Hopefully for Casino Enterprises, legislation will soon be passed and all they would need to do at that time is apply for a license and pay the necessary fees, considering all requirements have been met.

Chock another one up in support for Congressman Barney Frank's Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. Now with 47 co-sponsors, the IGREA has it's third co-sponsor this year and continues to gain momentum for a chance at overturning the inadequate provisions of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

Democrat Tim Bishop from the 1st District of New York is the latest politician to trump support for the IGREA (House Resolution 2046), as the failings and misdirection of the UIGEA become increasingly evident. As various U.S. agencies attempt to mandate enforcement protocols of the UIGEA, U.S. citizens continue to gamble at online casinos and poker rooms as if nothing had ever changed. Considering the staggering lack of direction and roadblocks the UIGEA is now facing, things are not expected to change.

Just recently, the American Banking Association, which represents the vast majority of all U.S. financial banking institutions, gave a report to the U.S. Department of Treasury citing numerous impracticalities of the UIGEA, essentially stating it will be impossible to effectively enforce the law. Furthermore, ABA criticized the bill for its vagueness and lack of direction. Apparently expecting U.S. financial institutions to deputize an enforcement body, there is no governmental department charged with overseeing enforcement.

With these flaws coming to light and regulation successfully underway in other areas like the UK and South Africa, more members of Congress are stepping forward to support online gambling regulation. As for Congressman Bishop, who is serving his third consecutive term, he also acts as a member of the House Committee on Budget, Education and Labor, Transportation and Infrastructure. A champion of rights for middle-class families, seniors and the public education system, Bishop adds tremendous credence to the IGREA with his co-sponsorship.

Not that it's a big surprise or anything, but the UK facing online gambling market in 2010 is expected to grow in revenue by more than twice as much than what is currently coming through the virtual doors of online casinos, poker rooms, skill gaming, snooker, racebooks, sportsbooks - in other words, the totality of all online betting activities. Recently published by OSK Research, these statistics were originally gathered and reported earlier this year by Screen Digest, whose analysis currently values the UK facing online gambling industry at GBP 600 million.

For anybody who thinks that this is indicative of a gambling problem caused by the online sector, hold on just a second. With a market size of over GBP 700 million and less than 2% penetration into the UK adult population, online gambling revenues only account for less than 7% of the total UK gross gambling yield primarily contributed to by land-based casinos and betting parlors.

Considering the revenue statistics in prior years over the last decade, online gambling is nonetheless growing at a fast rate. Just a few years ago in 2005, there were 32 different industry consolidations worth GBP 3 billion, which was up from only 9 consolidations worth GBP 200 million in 2004. Consolidations are always a good indicator of any industry as a whole, especially when business is on a global scale.

Another factor that certainly will help the UK online gambling industry continue to grow is the most obvious of all. Englanders love to gamble. And so long as the online sector continues to make itself more widely available, you can bet your own bankroll more UK players will venture onto the internet to get their fair share. If you happen to reside in the UK and have not yet gambled online, consider doing so at the top-rated UK online casinos, which we have extensively reviewed here at Online Casino Suite.

One of Microgaming's most anticipated online casino game releases in several years is now complete. A sequel to the enormously successful Tomb Raider progressive slot, "Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword" is now available for real money play at several Microgaming online casinos. The five-reel, thirty payline video slot is a welcome addition to Microgaming' s impressive lineup of video slot machines and exclusively licensed games. Based on the highly successful video game and popular movie starring Angelina Jolie, Microgaming says the latest Tomb Raider slot offers even more entertainment and ways to win.

Microgaming's CEO, Roger Raatgever, referred to the enormous success that the Tomb Raider brand and athletically shaped Lara Croft have achieved. First, it was the video game, which gave way to the hugely popular feature film. And now - just like the Wheel of Fortune - Tomb Raider has become a recognizable game in casinos. Microgaming software developers have aimed to make Lara Croft one of the most recognizable game characters in the world - and have done just that.

Raatgever also promised "Secret of the Sword" to be even better than the original Tomb Raider online slot. Whether in terms of graphics, features or gameplay, Raatgever says this slot sets a new standard in gaming development. Apparently, the new Tomb Raider also brings Lara Croft herself to life in a way the online gambling industry has never seen. This alone will probably get every twenty-something guy to give the reels a spin, if you know what I mean. Maybe the next game in the series should be "Tomb Raider: The Naked Adventure".

Once you're done admiring the photo-realistic graphics and 3D action, get ready to take a trip around the world, for as Microgaming say's in their press release, "...you will encounter both riches and dangerous traps in truly dynamic Tomb Raider style". Apparently, you will also encounter lots of features and winnings. The randomly triggered Super Mode awards five free spins, while finding 3, 4 or 5 scattered keys will award 10 free spins and engage a unique feature called Rolling Reels, in which consecutive wins can award up to 5x winnings. Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword also offers a Global Adventure Bonus and a Shootout Bonus with further multipliers.