Players of all ages can benefit from Backgammon's positive effects on cognitive capabilities. The prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus are both exercised during play, which are parts of the brain responsible for memory formation and complex thought processes. The game's strategic and tactical elements are ideal for stimulating these areas. Moreover, playing this board game reduces your risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer's due to the mental stimulation it provides. So, if you want to learn how to play Backgammon, you have come to the right place. But before I answer the main question of this article, I’ll provide information about the game's origin, rules, and strategies. Origin of Backgammon Backgammon is among the most popular Western table games, and its roots can be traced back about 5,000 years to Persia and Mesopotamia, i.e., today's Iran and Iraq regions. Backgammon is a derivative of the Irish game that was first played around the 16th century. The first written record of Backgammon was found in 17th-century England. Essential Information About Backgammon Wondering how do you play Backgammon? It's played between two people using a board with 24 triangles. Those narrow triangles are called points and are divided into four groups of six triangles that alternate in color. Groups or quadrants are referred to as the home board and outer board. A ridge along the length of the board, known as the bar, separates the boards. Every point is numbered: for you, the outermost point is 24th, but at the same time, it’s 1st for your opponent. Everyone starts with 15 checkers, stones, tablemen, or just men. All 15 are of the same color. The following list is the Backgammon board layout, i.e., players begin with: five checkers on each player's 6th point three men on each 8th point five on each player's 13th point two checkers on each player's 24th point There are two dice per player. The current bet is displayed on a doubling cube with the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 printed on its faces. The goal of Backgammon is to move all of your pieces into your home board and then bear them off. The first person to do it is the winner. Players roll a single die to establish who goes first, and the one with the greater number plays first. How to Set Up Backgammon? To understand what is Backgammon and how it’s played, I’ll dive more into the rules for setting up the board and the movement of pieces. Board The board represents the single largest expense, as the price of tournament-sized models typically ranges from $250 to $1,300. The dice can turn many times on these boards because they don't roll on top of the checkers or fall off the board. The boards can often be folded into little briefcases, making transporting them much simpler. The board is divided into four equal sections and in two by a ridge that runs down the middle. This ridge is called the bar or middle bar. Another imaginary line divides the board into four quadrants: two home boards and two outer boards. We’ve already gone through how to set up the Backgammon process, but I want to focus on a couple more details regarding the initial layout. Pieces The movement of the pieces, referred to as stones, men, or checkers, along the points is determined by the player's roll of the two dice. Each player begins the game with 15, which can be any one of several different colors. Dice The players each have two ordinary dice with six faces and numbers ranging from one to six. Most Backgammon players who take the game seriously opt to use precision dice. These dice have round corners, allowing them to roll more frequently and unpredictably. The dice will typically correspond in color to the pieces, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Some players prefer clear dice because they feature an internal marking that makes it simple to determine whether or not an opponent is attempting to cheat by exchanging good dice for crooked dice that have been weighted to generate more favorable results. Note that cheating can be avoided by using dice shakers or mugs. Last but not least, each Backgammon set comes with a doubling cube, a die with six sides, and the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 on them. This die is used to increase the amount at stake in a game. How to Play Backgammon: Step-by-Step Instructions Tablemen are moved by the person who rolled the higher number, using the numbers on both dice. Once the initial roll has been made, each player will throw two dice and take turns. A player's next move is determined by the number of points, or ‘pips,’ shown on the dice. When moving the pieces, you must follow these rules: The pieces are always moved forward to a lower-numbered point. A checker can only be moved to an unoccupied point, not taken by two or more opposing pieces. Two numbers on the dice give you different options. If you roll a four and a two, you can move one piece four spaces to an open point and another two spaces, or you can combine and move the same checker a total of six spaces, provided that one of the intermediate points, which would be the fourth and second place from the starting point, is open as well. If you roll a double, the number on the dice is played twice. If it happens that you roll a pair of sixes, you'll have four sixes at your disposal and can use them to advance the pieces as he sees fit. If allowed by the rules, you must use both numbers of a roll or all four in case of a double. If only one number can be played, you're obliged to do so. If both numbers are playable, but there's only one place available, you're obliged to play a bigger number. When you can't use either number, your turn ends. In the case of doubles, if all four numbers can't be played, you're obliged to play as many as possible. Entering, Moving & Hitting When you understand these basic Backgammon rules, you can move on to the next area: moving, hitting, and entering. There is only a couple of essential regulations, but the similarity of moves with those from other games compels me to go through all: A blot is a position on the board where just one checker of both colors is stationed. A blot is hit and moved to the bar if the opponent's checker lands on it. The first duty of any player with pieces on the bar is to move them onto the opponent's home board. To enter the game, a piece must be moved to an empty square whose value matches that of the dice. If you roll a three and a five, you can move a checker onto the opponent's third or 6th point, provided that the prospective point isn't already home to two or more of the opponent's pieces. In case you try to move while neither of the points is available, you lose your turn. But, if you can only enter a portion of your checkers, you must enter what you can and forego the rest of your turn. Any remaining numbers on the dice must be played after all your checkers have been entered, either by moving the entered checker or a different checker. Next on the list of instructions for Backgammon are doubling and a more comprehensive outlook on bearing off. Doubling When playing Backgammon, the stake is determined per point. Every game begins at one point. If you have a significant edge at any moment in the game, consider raising the stakes or doubling. This can only happen at the beginning of your turn before the dice roll. If you've been offered a double and declined, you'll lose the game and must pay one point as a penalty. On the other hand, you can take the double and continue playing for the bigger stakes. After accepting a double, you can request the next one. Redoubles are repeat doubles within the same game. If you decline a redouble, you're responsible for covering the original number of points at stale before the redouble. If not, you get possession of the cube, and the stakes are doubled from there on. Every player can redouble at any time during the game. Bearing Off You can begin bearing off once all 15 checkers have been placed on your home board. To bear off a checker, you must first roll a number that corresponds with the point where the piece is located. For example, you must roll a six to remove a checker from the sixth point. To bear off, you must make a move by placing a checker on a higher-numbered point if there's no piece on the point that you rolled. If there are no other checkers on a higher numbered point, you can and should remove your piece from the highest point. Any time a player has the option to make a valid play, he doesn't have to bear off. In order to bear off, all of your live pieces must be within your home board. If you hit the piece while bearing off, you need to return that piece to the home board before you can resume to bear off. You win the game if you're the first to bear off all the pieces. Gammon and Backgammon Knowing how to play Backgammon helps you minimize your losses. For example, if you remove at least one checker from the board before the end of the game, you’ll only be penalized the value that's displayed on the doubling cube. However, you’re Gammoned and lose twice the value of the doubling cube if you haven’t borne off any of your checkers before the game ends. Alternatively, if you don’t bear off any pieces and still have a checker on the bar or in the winner's home board, you’re Backgammoned and lose three times the value of the doubling cube. This is the worst possible outcome for the loser. Additional Rules in Backgammon The following guidelines are frequently applied in practice: Automatic doubles Beavers The Jacoby rule Automatic doubling is an optional rule. The stakes are immediately increased if both players turn the same number on the first roll. The doubling cube now reads two and is kept in the middle. Usually, players agree that there will only be one automatic double throughout each game. After a player has doubled, that player can redouble or beaver instantly while maintaining ownership of the cube. As with a standard double, the original Doubler can accept or decline the double. With the Jacoby Rule in play, it’s only possible to count Gammons and Backgammons as a single game in the event that neither player has offered a double for the game's duration. This rule helps speed up the game by removing circumstances in which a player would want to avoid doubling to continue playing for a gammon. Irregular Moves in a Game of Backgammon Any comprehensive ‘How to play Backgammon’ guide also needs to emphasize illegal moves. Both dice must land flat on the surface of the right-hand portion of the game board after being rolled together. If either die lands outside the right-hand board, on a checker or if it doesn’t land flat, you must re-roll both dice. The turn is considered complete when you pick up dice at the end of the round. If the play is invalid or unfinished, you can either accept it as it is or ask the player to make a valid move. The result of a roll is nullified if you roll before the opponent has finished his turn and picked up the dice to end the game. However, this rule is often disregarded. In Backgammon, the concept of a stalemate is practically impossible. It can only occur when both players actively prevent the other from moving forward. Both of them may have prime in front of the other player's checkers. Both players can only maintain their prime positions once they are pinned to the bar. Therefore, if both players are currently on the bar, one of them will ultimately re-enter the game unless both players are eliminated at the same time. The only way to reach a deadlock is for both players to be on the bar simultaneously and for both players to be closed out. However, this scenario isn't going to play out. If you are on the bar and your opponent closes the gap, you can't hit your opponent. So, stalemate is possible only if one of the players performs a move outside the rules. Strategies for Backgammon You Can Employ The dice rolls determine the outcome of a game of Backgammon; therefore, if your opponent rolls 6s while you roll 1s, you'll likely lose regardless of what you do. Considering there are so many throws of the dice in a game of Backgammon, the luck tends to equal out, and the player who employs the superior strategy is most likely to emerge victorious. Therefore, learning the ins and outs of these methods is essential if you want to become proficient in Backgammon. So, in addition to the rules for Backgammon, you’d want to check out a rundown of the five fundamental Backgammon strategies: the blitz, the running game, priming, the holding game, and the back game. The Blitz The Blitz is an all-out assault against your opponent's weak checkers in one or more areas. Instead of just running for home or attempting to create points along the board, this approach emphasizes landing on your opponent's checkers whenever possible to send them to the bar. The advantage is that you’re setting your opponent back a certain number of pips, and it also allows you to trap certain checkers on the bar if your opponent doesn’t roll the appropriate numbers to come back onto the board. Remember that attacking close to your home row doesn’t cause your opponent to lose a significant number of pips and that if your attacking checker remains susceptible, you run the chance of losing a significant number of pips yourself. The Running Game The Running Game is the most basic Backgammon board game strategy. It entails moving your checkers toward your home board in the quickest possible manner. If you and other players want to engage in a running game, the match's victor will be determined by who rolls higher than the other. Having this in mind, you should only commit to a running game if you start with powerful rolls at the beginning of the game. Priming A connected series of made points along the board is an important part of the Backgammon strategy known as priming. Many experts consider this the most crucial technique when learning to be successful at Backgammon. You have formed a wall that your opponent cannot get around until they roll a five or a six. This wall slows down your opponents and makes it simple for your other moving pieces to find safe locations by providing an easy target. Priming is the most efficient when used in conjunction with the blitz, referred to as the two-way forward offensive. Your opponent's checkers will be placed on the bar due to the blitz, and getting off the bar can be challenging. This will cause your opponent to waste a lot of dice rolls. Holding Game As you move away from your home board, the Holding Game depends on maintaining an anchor point in your opponent's home board. Leaving an anchor point on the opponent's home board provides you with two advantages, although it’s frequently prudent to advance your furthest checkers early in the game to prevent getting trapped. For defensive purposes, it provides you with a secure position to fall back on in the event that one of your checkers is sent to the bar. This stops an opponent from entirely baiting you into an automatic defeat. When playing offensively, the Holding Game allows your anchor to provide a reasonable threat to the pieces that your opponent is advancing. Even if your opponent responds by capturing one of your checkers from your home board, you'll still come out on top in terms of pips if you capture a checker from your opponent's home board. Back Game The Back Game is an extension of the Holding Game that focuses on keeping numerous points on your opponent's home board. Considering that you begin the game with only two checkers on your opponent's home board, it's obvious that the only time you'll play this strategy is if your checkers are repeatedly knocked onto the bar. The Back Game is a backup strategy. Some call it a last-ditch effort to save face when losing badly. This tactic not only makes your opponent's life more difficult by increasing the offensive threat of the Holding Game, but it also makes your life more difficult by taking up a valuable part of the home board. Conclusion To wrap up, I all reiterate a couple of the most important rules and guidelines you must know to learn how to play Backgammon. It’s a board game between two people with 15 checkers. The winner is the first player to put all his pieces into a quadrant of the board, i.e., the home board. To do that, players use dice or doubling dice if doubling has already occurred. In this Backgammon guide, I’ve explained all the rules, complimented with the list of irregular moves and the standard tactics that will help you win when you start playing it. FAQ How do you start a Backgammon game? To decide the Backgammon starting position, you and the other player roll a single die to determine who goes first, with the higher of the two getting the first turn. If you roll the same number, you need to repeat the action. After that, you alternate turns and roll two dice at the beginning of every turn. What is an object of Backgammon? The object of Backgammon is to be the first player to remove all pieces from your inner table, which is called bearing off. If the opponent removed at least one piece, you win a single game and receive the current stake. If he doesn’t remove a single piece, this is a 'gammon,' and it's worth double the current stake. Is it hard to learn to play Backgammon? The rules are easy to understand, and a new player can pick them up in a matter of minutes. Furthermore, these rules are easy to grasp once you've played a couple of games. It's easy to see why so many people keep coming back to play it and why it remained popular after thousands of years. Why is the 5-point important in Backgammon? The 5-point is deep in your home board, along with the 6-point, which is effective protection when your opponent is trying to re-enter from the bar. When your opponents roll a five or a six, they'll fail to re-enter and, as a result, waste a lot of their pips.

March Madness is an annual college basketball tournament in the United States that takes place every March. It's one of the country's most popular and highly anticipated sporting events, with millions of people tuning in to watch the games on television or attending them in person. The tournament's history dates back to 1939 when the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) organized a postseason invitational tournament to crown a national champion. The tournament was initially limited to eight teams, but it gradually expanded over the years, with the current format including 68 teams. In this article, we'll highlight everything you need to know about this year's tournament and tell you all about March Madness betting promos. What Is the 2023 March Madness? The tournament is divided into four regions (East, West, South, and Midwest), each containing 16 teams. The March Madness tournament features 68 teams, and there are two ways for a team to qualify. The first way is for a team to win its respective conference tournament. All 32 Division I conferences have an automatic bid to the tournament, with the winner of each conference tournament being granted a spot. It doesn't matter if a team has a poor regular season record; it's in if it wins its conference tournament. These 32 teams are known as "automatic qualifiers." The second way for a team to qualify is through an at-large bid, which the selection committee awards. The committee is responsible for selecting the remaining 36 teams in the tournament, considering factors such as a team's overall record, the strength of schedule, and quality wins. Teams that receive an at-large bid typically have strong regular season records but could not secure an automatic bid by winning their conference tournament. The teams are selected through a "Selection Sunday" process, during which a committee of experts announces the participating teams and their seedings (rankings). The tournament is then played in a single-elimination format, with teams being eliminated after a loss until one team is crowned the national champion. Because there are 68 total teams, four teams play in a qualifying tournament known as the "First Four" for the final sport in the 64-team tournament. The tournament's popularity can be attributed to several factors, including the high level of competition, the excitement of a single-elimination format, and the widespread interest in college basketball among American sports fans. There are a lot of March Madness betting sites that offer different markets surrounding the competition. You can do your March Madness betting online from the comfort of your home, even during the games. The tournament is also known for its "Cinderella stories," where lower-ranked teams upset higher-ranked teams, making it a thrilling experience for viewers. The unpredictability also enhances the experience of users that are doing March Madness betting on games. [sigma-mt-blog-post-play recordids="643778,641365"] 2023 Madness: Odds, Lines, and Spreads March Madness is one of the biggest events in college sports and one of the most popular times of year for sports betting. Here's a breakdown of the different types of odds, lines, and spreads that you might see in March Madness betting trends: Odds: The March Madness betting odds for a particular game will tell you how much you can win if you place a bet on the winning team. For example, if a team is listed at +150 odds, that means you would win $150 for every $100 you bet on that team. On the other hand, if a team is listed at -150 odds, you would need to bet $150 to win $100. Spreads: The spread is similar to the March Madness lines, but it is the difference in points between the two teams. For example, if 7 points favor one team, the spread would be -7 for that team and +7 for the underdog. The March Madness spreads balance the betting action and make the game more interesting to bet on. When it comes to NCAA March Madness, many different betting options are available, including individual game bets, futures bets on the overall tournament winner, and prop bets on things like the total number of points scored in a game or the number of three-pointers made by a particular team. The most important March Madness futures bet is who is going to win the National Championship. These March Madness odds are usually evened up because it's so hard to predict who will be crowned the National champion, and this year is no exception. Here are the odds to win March Madness 2023: Houston (+650) Kansas (+800) Alabama (+900) Purdue (+1000) UCLA (+1000) Baylor (+1500) Arizona (+1700) UCONN (+2000) Texas Tech (+2500) Tennessee (+2500) Gonzaga (+2600) Marquette (+2600) Indiana (+3000) TCU (+3000) Saint Marys CA (+3500) Creighton (+4200) Virginia (+4500) Kentucky (+4500) March Madness Betting Promos March Madness is one of the biggest events for sports betting sites, and many sportsbooks offer March Madness promotions and March Madness bonuses to attract new customers and reward loyal ones. Some common March Madness betting promos include free bets, matched deposits, and enhanced odds on certain games or outcomes. Some sportsbooks also offer cashback bonuses or parlay insurance, which can help mitigate losses for bettors who place multiple bets. You can also participate in the bracket challenge and compete with other users by trying to achieve the perfect bracket. As always, it's important to read the terms and conditions carefully before taking advantage of any betting promo to ensure that you understand the requirements and restrictions. For example, Bet365 offers a March Madness sign-up promotion that allows you to claim up to a $200 bonus for a $1 bet. However, the minimum deposit you need to make is $10. The qualifying wager must be placed within 30 days of the registration and contain a selection of -500 or higher. Finding promotions like these is crucial for improving your public betting on March Madness and will definitely enhance your betting experience. Bracket Challenge Another aspect of March Madness's popularity is the pursuit of a perfect bracket, which is when someone correctly predicts the winner of every game in the tournament. While it's theoretically possible to achieve a perfect bracket, the odds of doing so are astronomically high, with some estimates putting the odds at 1 in 9.2 quintillion if you are looking at each matchup as a 50/50 chance. For those who follow college basketball, the odds are lower at 1 in 120.2 billion. As a result, March Madness bracket pools have become a popular social activity, with around 70 million brackets competing against each other to see who can come closer to a perfect bracket. It's not uncommon that there are March Madness bracket betting picks at various sportsbooks, rewarding the user that comes closest to a perfect one. For those who follow college basketball, the odds are lower at 1 in 120.2 billion. As a result, March Madness bracket pools have become a popular social activity, with around 70 million brackets competing against each other to see who can come closer to a perfect bracket. It's not uncommon that there are March Madness bracket betting picks at various sportsbooks, rewarding the user that comes closest to a perfect one. No one has ever managed to have a completely perfect bracket, which is understandable, considering the odds of that happening. The closest anybody has come to achieving the perfect bracket is Gregg Nigl from Ohio. In 2019, he correctly predicted the outcome of the first 49 tournament games and was the first person to have a live bracket during the Sweet 16 part of the tournament. Quite impressive, considering the odds and the number of people participating in this challenge. March Madness Betting Strategies Regarding the March Madness betting strategy, there are several factors to consider. There are a couple of March Madness betting tips. One of the most important is momentum. With the tournament being a knockout format, a team's recent form can be critical to its chances of advancing. Teams that have performed well in their conference tournaments should be considered in the early rounds of the tournament. However, it's important not to rely on the conference tournament winner as the best bet. Sometimes, a team that has consistently performed well but flown under the radar might be a better choice. This is where the eye test comes in handy, as it can help you evaluate a team's overall talent level and potential to perform well in the tournament, especially when doing March Madness live betting. Another key factor to consider when betting on March Madness is the powerhouses of college basketball. Even if a team hasn't been in great form during the regular season, it might save itself for the tournament. Teams like Gonzaga, North Carolina, and Kentucky are perennial basketball powerhouses, and they should always be on your radar when evaluating potential bets. Finally, it's important to note that #1 seeds are historically the best bets in March Madness. They have a long history of making it to the Elite 8 and beyond, so they should be March Madness best bets considering they have the best odds to win March Madness. However, it's important to remember that upsets are always possible in the tournament, and you should never rely solely on past performance when evaluating potential bets. Overall, you can increase your chances of making successful bets during March Madness by considering momentum, paying attention to basketball powerhouses, and keeping an eye on #1 seeds. March Madness and NBA Draft March Madness can significantly influence the NBA draft, as the tournament provides a platform for college basketball players to showcase their skills on a national stage. Many NBA scouts and executives closely follow the tournament, looking for potential draft picks and evaluating players' performances in high-pressure situations. In previous years, several NBA players have used March Madness as an opportunity to boost their draft stock. For example, in 2019, Ja Morant of Murray State made a name for himself with his standout performances in the tournament, which helped him become a top-three pick in the NBA draft that year. Similarly, in 2018, Villanova's Donte DiVincenzo performed remarkably in the national championship game, which helped him become a first-round draft pick in the NBA. March Madness can also provide a platform for lesser-known players to gain attention from NBA scouts and executives. For example, in 2016, a player named Damian Jones from Vanderbilt had a strong showing in the tournament, which helped him become a first-round draft pick in the NBA. Usually, some of the biggest prospects coming into the NBA are featured in the "Big Dance," as NBA teams look closely at how the top picks lead their teams. However, in 2023 the situation might be a little different as there is a possibility that the top four picks won't be coming from the NCAA at all. Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-3 wunderkind from France, is projected to be the first overall pick in the upcoming draft and is currently playing for Metropolitans in the French league. Scoot Henderson is a close second and plays for the G-League Ignite, an NBA project that allows players to play professionally straight out of high school. Finally, twins Amen and Ausar Thompson will probably be in the top five picks in the upcoming draft. They play for the City Reapers in the Overtime Elite League, another project allowing high schoolers to go straight to pros. There are still major prospects to look out for in this year's NCAA tournament. Alabama's Brandon Miller is leading his team to the top of the Southeastern conference, one of the toughest in the NCAA. Other important prospects include Jarace Walker from Houston, Keyonte George from Baylor, Cam Whitmore from Vilanova, and G.G. Jackson from South Carolina. If you are considering placing March Madness prop bets, one of these guys could be a good pick. March Madness Fun Facts With its long tradition in the history of college basketball, March Madness has had many unforgettable moments. We all hope this season's edition will again be full of great games, moments, and upsets. Let's take a look at some of the interesting things that have happened in the tournament since its creation. Best March Madness Player Ever? Two players stand out when we talk about the two best college players of all time—Christian Laettner and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Christian Laettner, the all-time leading scorer in March Madness history, played for Duke University from 1988 to 1992. Laettner scored a total of 407 points in 23 NCAA tournament games, averaging 17.7 points per game. He also holds the record for most free throws made in the tournament—142. Laettner was a key player on two Duke championship teams in 1991 and 1992 and is widely considered one of the greatest college basketball players ever. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, formerly known as Lew Alcindor, won three NCAA men's basketball championships during his college career at UCLA. He played for the Bruins from 1966 to 1969, leading them to titles in those years. Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant force in college basketball, winning three consecutive National Player of the Year awards and setting numerous records, many of which still stand today. He is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time at college and professional levels. The Biggest March Madness Bets It's difficult to say what the biggest bet ever won on March Madness is, as sportsbooks typically don't disclose individual bettor information. However, some notable March Madness bets have resulted in large payouts over the years. One of the biggest was a bet placed on the Villanova Wildcats to win the 2016 NCAA tournament. The bettor, who was identified only as "D.J." by the sportsbook, placed a $1,500 futures bet on Villanova to win the tournament at 50-1 odds before the start of the tournament. Villanova went on to win the championship, and "D.J." collected a payout of $75,000. Billionaire Warren Buffett placed another famous March Madness bet. In 2018, Buffett offered $1 million per year for life to any Berkshire Hathaway employee who correctly predicted the Sweet 16 teams in the NCAA tournament. The bet was free to enter and open to all employees, and the odds of winning were estimated to be around 1 in 2.4 trillion. No one won the prize, but Buffett still gave $100,000 to the employee who made it the farthest in the competition. Biggest Upsets in March Madness History March Madness is known for its unpredictability and exciting upsets that have shocked the basketball world over the years. Some of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history include the 1985 championship game, where Villanova defeated heavily-favored Georgetown; the 1991 Duke victory over UNLV, who were the defending national champions and had won 45 consecutive games; 1998 Valparaiso win over Ole Miss on a last-second 3-pointer, the 2012 Lehigh upset over Duke, and the historic 2018 UMBC upset over Virginia, the first time a 16-seed had ever defeated a 1-seed in the tournament. These upsets have produced some of the most memorable moments in March Madness history, and fans worldwide look forward to seeing what surprises and Cinderella stories will unfold in future tournaments. FAQ Who has the best chance of winning March Madness 2023? The lowest odds to win the March Madness in 2023 are for the University of Houston at +600. What are the chances of winning the March Madness bracket challenge? The odds of having a perfect bracket are around 1 in 120.2 billion if you follow college basketball. Who is the most accurate March Madness picker? The closest anybody has come to achieving the perfect bracket is Gregg Nigl from Ohio. In 2019, he predicted the outcome of the first 49 games and was the first person to have a live bracket during the Sweet 16. Try to beat him by participating in March Madness betting promos.

Politics and betting might seem worlds apart, but they're more entangled than you'd think. In this article, we'll get into how political events shape the odds, trends, and opportunities in sports and political betting markets. From historical context to modern intricacies, we uncover a relationship worth betting on. Brief Overview of the First Betting Markets  Before we can dissect how politics influence betting markets, we’ll walk you through some of the very first bets ever placed, and how betting grew throughout the ages. From laying bets on papal elections in the cobblestone streets of 16th-century Rome to 19th-century Wall Street traders wagering on presidential contests, betting markets have a rich and varied history. These early incarnations were not just whims of the crowd; they were, in many cases, the precursors to the sophisticated markets we see today. By the 20th century, the theoretical framework provided by economists like Friedrich Hayek and Ludwig von Mises added intellectual heft to prediction markets. This paved the way for the Iowa Electronic Markets in 1988, transforming these markets from clandestine activities to subjects of academic study.  Decentralized platforms like Augur have ushered in the latest chapter, expanding access through blockchain technology. Intriguingly, betting on papal elections was already described as "an old custom" as far back as 1503, underscoring the deep historical roots of prediction markets. Now that we have a better understanding of how and where it all started, let’s take a closer look at the relationship between politics and betting markets, after which we’ll discuss the main factors that influence betting markets.How Politics Shape the Betting World In a world where political climates can change as rapidly as the weather, betting markets are uniquely influenced. From sports arenas to campaign trails, the impact of political events is far-reaching, altering odds and outcomes on betting platforms across the spectrum. Here's how political events cast their long shadows on both sports and political betting: The Intersection of Politics and Sports Betting Political events often have unexpected ripple effects in the world of sports betting. Be it new regulations or international politics, these events can dramatically alter the landscape. Regulatory shifts: Government decisions to regulate or deregulate sports betting can open or close entire markets, affecting the kind of bets you can place and who can place them. International politics: Let's say the diplomatic relations between two countries sour just before a major international sports event like the Olympics or the FIFA World Cup. This political shift could impact team morale, public perception, and ultimately, the odds themselves. Platforms for Political Betting When it comes to casting your predictive net over the sea of political outcomes, certain platforms have become household names. For instance, PredictIt and the now-defunct Intrade offer(ed) robust markets for political wagering. PredictIt: A hub for policy wonks and political enthusiasts, PredictIt allows you to buy and sell shares based on the likelihood of political events, from election outcomes to legislative actions. Intrade: While it shut down in 2013, Intrade was a trailblazer in this space, particularly famous for its engagement during the 2008 and 2012 US Presidential Elections. Political Events and Their Impact on Political Betting Odds In the realm of political betting, stakes are high and odds are ever-changing, often swayed by the latest headlines and happenings. Election announcements: The moment a high-profile candidate announces their run, odds for that election can swing dramatically. Political scandals: Scandals or unexpected news can plummet a frontrunner’s odds in a heartbeat, while boosting the underdogs. By understanding how political events mold the betting landscape, you not only become a more informed citizen but also a potentially more successful bettor.  Betting Markets and the Factors That Shape Them In the ecosystem of betting markets, several elements come into play that can make or break the odds. No, we're not talking about just intuition or gut feeling here. Market dynamics are influenced by a blend of sentiment, regulations, economic principles, information imbalances, tech advancements, and even cultural beliefs. Here's how: Sentiment: The collective mood can shift rapidly, influenced by anything from breaking news to social media buzz. Regulatory changes: Laws can be game-changers. Legalizing sports betting in a state, for instance, will likely cause a ripple effect across the market. Supply and demand: Basic economic principles apply here too. A flood of bets on one outcome can skew the odds, luring latecomers to the opposite bet. Information asymmetry: Those in the know can shift the odds, especially in sectors like horse racing where insider info is invaluable. Technology: Big data and machine learning are refining predictions, offering insights that can tip the scales in favor of certain outcomes. Social and cultural influences: Never underestimate the power of collective psychology or cultural superstitions—like betting on "lucky" numbers or favored horse names. The Bottom Line on How Politics Alter the Betting Field From legislation changes that make or break markets to international politics that can rattle the odds on the sports field, the political arena is a powerhouse of influence. Platforms like PredictIt have even turned political outcomes into a market of their own, embodying the very essence of how deeply interlinked politics and betting can be. So, when someone says politics and betting are worlds apart, you can confidently argue otherwise. In a sense, they're more like distant cousins, influencing each other in ways both overt and subtle. Intrigued to see where they go next? Well, that might just be a good subject for a future bet.

Sic bo is a fast-paced dice game that originated in ancient China. The literal translation of the name is "precious dice." The game is also known as tai sai, dai siu, big and small, or hi-lo, and it's played with three dice. It's a popular casino game in Asia, particularly in Macau and Hong Kong. Chinese immigrants brought sic bo to the United States in the early 20th century, and it quickly became a staple in American casinos. Sic Bo Rules Before you start playing sic bo, set a budget for yourself. Place your chips on the squares on the table according to the combinations you think will appear on the dice. Each variety has a chance of being rolled, and participants should use this knowledge to make informed bets. A dealer will pay your winnings if the dice comes up according to one or more of your bets. If the dice don't land in your favor, the dealer will collect the losses, and the whole process starts over again. This is a straightforward game where players bet on the outcome of three dice rolled by the dealer. When playing sic bo online, players can access a range of bet types, including betting on the total of the three dice, specific numbers or combinations of numbers, and even the sum of the dice being odd or even. You can play free online versions to gain a better understanding of the following payout associated with different bet types. Bet Types in Sic Bo The first group of bets entails those with a 48.61% probability and a 1:1 payout. These four bets exclude all types of triples: Big - The dice sum falls between 11 and 17 Small - The sum falls between 4 and 10 Odd - The sum is an odd number Even - The dice sum is an even number Specific 'Triples' or 'Alls' refer to a particular bet where a player wagers that all three dice will land on a specific number. The odds and payouts for specific triples vary on the location of sic box casinos and go from 150:1 to 215:1, but a 0.46% chance of winning stays the same. Similarly, to win specific doubles bets, you need a number to appear on at least two of the three dice, but a 7.41% probability incurs payouts ranging from 8:1 to 25:2. You need the three dice to land on the same number to win Any Triple or All' Alls'. This bet type, three single-number combinations, and three-dice total bets come with a 2.8% chance of winning and a payout of 30:1. Lastly, you can engage in betting with these types: Two dice combinations show a specific combination of two numbers, with a 13.9% probability of winning and a payout of 6:1. A single dice bet is placed on a specific number from 1–6 to appear on one, two, or all three dice, with varying probabilities and payouts. Four number combinations, where three of the four numbers must appear on the three dice, with an 11.1% probability of winning and a 7:1 payout. Specific double and single number combinations entail two of a kind and a different third number, with a 1.4% probability of winning and a payout of 50:1 or 60:1, depending on the casino. Beat the Odds with Proper Sic Bo Strategy  Players can always make informed decisions based on the probability of each available bet. If you're new to the game and want to know how to play sic bo and win, here are some strategies to keep in mind: Stick to safe bets: The small, big, even, or odd bets have the highest probability of winning money, making them the safest ones in sic bo. While the payouts for such bets may be lower, they offer a higher chance of winning. Consider the odds and the house edge: The odds and payout for each bet can vary from casino to casino. Find the casino with the best odds and lowest house edge. Avoid high-risk bets: Avoid placing bets with low odds of winning, as this will quickly deplete your bankroll. Use a betting strategy: Some participants prefer a betting strategy, such as the Martingale system. While systems can work, it can also be risky and lead to significant losses at first implementation. Sic Bo’s Unique Variations Sic bo has a few variations to play in casinos online, including Grand Hazard, a game of English origin played with three dice. It involves rolling the dice down a chute with inclined planes to tumble the dice unpredictably. The objective is to get three-of-a-kind, also known as "raffles," which pay out 18:1. Another variant is Chuck-a-luck, known as sweat cloth, churckerluck, or birdcage, originating in Grand Hazard. In this version, the three dice are kept in a wire cage that pivots at its center and is rotated by the dealer, with single-number wagers and occasional triple wagers with odds of 30:1. Roll to Victory with These Sic Bo Tips Even though we are talking mostly about a game of chance, you need to understand how to adjust your approach to sic bo online versions. Adapting will help you make informed betting choices and increase your likelihood of success. Embrace the safe bets for consistent, albeit smaller, wins, and always be mindful of the odds and house edge. High-risk bets might seem tempting with their large payouts, but they come with low odds of winning. If you decide to use a betting strategy, proceed with caution and understand the risks involved.