The Rise of the Slot Machines

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Gambling through slot machines has become lucrative and entertaining, with thousands of sites offering online slot games where you can try your luck. But can you turn the tides in your favour in this game of chance? To tame this type of gambling, here are some salient tips and ideas that will help you handle slot machines successfully.

online casino slots Before registering with any online casino site, read the rules specified on their page, and also the FAQ. Get information from forums, friends that are either playing or have played there and combine it all to make a perspective image of the site. Another thing to look for is the ‘play for free’ option, where you can try out a couple of games without paying the entry fee. If that’s not happening on the site you’ve just entered, then find another – there are plenty of fish in the sea!

Since online casinos don’t have cashier’s cages, you need to make sure that you understand how to make withdrawals and deposits. This will make your win more enjoyable when you know and understand how to get it. If you have a problem, do not wait around to contact your online casino; this is the very first thing you should do! No matter how you make a deposit or withdrawal, the casino should always guarantee that your transactions are handled securely.

online casino slotsLearn the rules! It cannot be stressed enough the importance of this advice, as each and every game has its own rules on how to play and how to win. Some require you to bet a certain number of coins in order to be eligible for the big jackpot, and others may need some other game adjustments. Pay close attention to the payout scale, ways to win, and every other detail before you play.

Maybe one of the most important assets of a winner at slot machines is patience. You need to be patient, take your time, and know you’re not going to win every time you play. This is going to save you a lot of frustration and disappointment.

That being said, it’s important for you to set yourself a time limit and a bankroll budget. Before playing, set yourself a bankroll amount that you are willing to lose, and keep it. You do not have any chance to win and still be successful if you don’t know how to manage your winnings. Learn when to say ‘enough’. Many online slot games winners lose in the long run because they don’t know when to stop.

Most of all, remember that you’re there to enjoy yourself and don’t take the game too seriously!

Bingo all the way

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Playtech - online bingo

A recent announcement by online gaming provider Playtech not only revealed a substantial 16% climb in profits for the company to €87.5m, but divulged that for the first time ever, their online bingo revenues exceeded their poker takings. Although both were rather small in comparison to the total amount (Bingo weighing in at €4.8m while Poker stopped to €4.4m) which is also made up of casino and services revenue, it was an interesting development considering Bingo has long been seen as the ‘smallest’ arm of the business.

The profits were heralded as a phenomenal achievement and were credited greatly in part to a recent deal with online operator Ladbrokes, who have just agreed to partner with Playtech’s software and advisory services for their entire portfolio. Although Ladbrokes will still take the iPoker suite, something that may see Poker overtake the online bingo revenues by the end of the year), the knowledge that Bingo has become such a profitable venture to the company may see a renewed interest in developing their product range and/or partnerships with other Hollywood brands and celebrity endorsements for a new range of slot games.

Online bingo product after iPoker?So is the surpassing of the iPoker suite down to the quality of the product, or more to the underperformance of an arguably weak poker suite? Well with the Bingo revenues seeming to rise by 9% and Poker falling by nearly a fifth (an 18% drop), it seems that arguments can be made for both cases.

In terms of their Bingo product, this has been overhauled in the past few years to try and catch up to the industry’s ever-increasing standards. No longer do players choose rooms purely based on the quality of the bingo games themselves – there are a number of factors that come into play.

·        A variety of Bingo games: rather than the same old 75 and 90 ball Bingo, many European players prefer 80 ball whilst ‘patterned’ games have been highly sought after too.

·        Huge sign-up bonuses: These can attract players en masse but quality players will want high value bonuses and VIP management to keep them feeling cared for … something Bingo brands are having to fast establish

·        Jackpots: Prize funds of £8 and £20 are no longer lucrative and Playtech seed many of their games to ensure that the prizes are alluring to newcomers

·        Games suite: Over 80% of Bingo players will find themselves drawn to the Slots and games to pass their time – Playtech’s inclusion of many of their major slots into their bingo suite has helped them grow both player numbers and revenue.

With the US market soon to open up for Poker, we do expect to see the iPoker suite charge back in front by the end of the year, but for the meantime, it is nice to see online bingo making its’ presence known.

 

UK’s soon to have ‘The Gambling Bill’

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For years the UK has turned a blind-eye to the practices of remote gambling operators, but it seems that this may no longer be the case. A legislation is expected to be passed in the Queen’s Speech detailing the need for all gambling companies to hold a UK licence should they wish to continue marketing to British customers.

Gambling Commission, Will it affect online bingo?The Gambling (Licencing and Advertising) Bill is being drafted to give UK customers more protection and is likely to diminish illegal gambling and corruption in sport. However, many operators are unlikely to take kindly to this as it may lead to extra expenditure, heavier workloads and a level of transparency that few are used to offering. So just who will feel the brunt of this?

Existing gambling companies based in the UK will already hold the correct licence and can turn a blind-eye to this, however operators based overseas will now be forced to purchase a licence and submit to rigorous testing all the while promising to invest further into research and education to support problem gamblers and suspected illegal trade.

The UK's Gambling Bill - will it affect online bingo?Fans of online bingo and other online gambling sites are unlikely to detect any changes in terms of the larger operators, as they are undoubtedly used to working with these types of changes having had to lobby over the last few years for licences in several major European countries, however many smaller operators whose businesses rely on UK players to bring in the revenues, may find themselves encumbered by costs too great to bear, or be swallowed up by some of the bigger ‘whales’ in the marketplace.

Of course this is relatively miniscule when put into context with the work going on in the US to legalise gambling for US citizens, and the costs that many gaming outfits have had to shell out for legal representation and partnerships with various offline casinos, but the UK have always been lax on allowing foreign operators to market to the British people and some have seen this move as a way to simply generate more revenue for the governments rapidly depleting coffers.

Maria Miiller - UK Gambling Bill affecting online bingo?The UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport has responded rapidly to this and other concerns with the following statement: “We note the concerns raised about taxation of the online industry. The Government stated that the ability to bring all operators serving UK consumers within the tax net is a consequence, but not the prime motivation, of the draft legislation.” They then continued to say “We note in this regard that, in setting a tax rate for remote gambling, the Treasury should bear in mind that too high a rate would be liable to drive customers and companies into the unregulated, black market.”

The aforementioned black market which has blighted the US, South Africa and several other non-gambling permissive countries may soon cast its shadow on the UK. When operators are asked to turn over their books, pay large fees upfront and then a percentage of all profit that passes through their accounts, it is not hard to imagine just why several smaller outfits may choose to pursue this option. I guess it’s just a case of … ‘only time will tell’.

Keep it Simple

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Bingo games or blackjack - Keeping it Simple...

Here is the story of a man who should’ve stuck to some of the simpler games in life. Perhaps bingo games or blackjack would have suited a man of Quinton Carter’s gambling experience. Instead, whilst visiting Las Vegas’ Texas Station Gambling Hall in March, Quinton tried his hand at the craps table and got badly burnt.

Craps, also known as shooting dice or rolling dice, is a game in which players make wagers on the outcome of the roll of a pair of dice. All you need for craps is the aforementioned pair of dice, so it is popular around the world and can be played in the most informal of settings – even an alleyway!

Carter, the 24 year old Denver Broncos Free Safety and Las Vegas native, must never have ‘rolled bones’ in his youth however, as he claimed his inexperience at the game was behind him falling foul of the rules. Carter was caught adding money to his wagers after the dice had been rolled; a cardinal sin in the game of craps.

After starring at Cheyenne High School in Las Vegas, Carter was recruited to the University of Oklahoma, playing for four years and becoming a consensus All-American in 2010. The following year, the 6ft 1in 208lbs defensive back was drafted to the Denver Broncos in the 4th round of the NFL Draft.

After becoming the starting safety for the playoff-bound Broncos in 2011, the 2012 season saw Carter end up on the injured reserve, requiring surgery on an injured knee. In his down-time it seems Carter had returned to his hometown and indulged in some gambling to stay entertained.Keep it simple with bingo games or blackjack

According to his arrest report, a surveillance camera captured Carter adding $5 to his wager after the outcome of the roll had been established on three occasions on that fateful Saturday night. Casino security then detained Carter before he was questioned by Las Vegas Metro Police. He admitted to playing craps but denied illegally adding to his wager after the roll.

Fortunately for Carter, the case was dismissed pre-trial – despite him hoping to beat the case in court – allowing him to continue with his injury rehabilitation. Andrew Leavitt, Carter’s attorney, said “Anyone who has ever played craps would understand that he made a mistake,” adding “He had never ever played craps before and I don’t think we need to worry about him ever playing again.”

Maybe next time Carter fancies a flutter when he is back in his hometown, he should head to a bingo hall and play a game with a little less chance of confusion and subsequent arrest. Just a thought.

The Rise of Online Bingo

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The Rise of Online BingoThere’s a new addiction sweeping the nation, according to a recent government report. It’s something that has been growing since 2005, and those who have been affected most are middle aged women. Millions of pounds are spent on it every year. So what is this strange addiction? A dangerous designer drug targeted squarely at bored housewives? Fortunately not, instead it’s an altogether more sedate addiction to the purse-emptying pleasures of online bingo.

Businesses specialising in online bingo have boomed over the course of the last decade, ever since the government removed restrictions on the advertising and promotion of gambling with the Gambling Act 2005. There are now well over 350 different online bingo sites in the UK alone, many of them with major advertising presences on TV and in print, something that would have been unthinkable 15 years ago.

Online bingo has become popular as a way to wind down after a hard day, and it’s easy to see why. The stakes are low and users are encouraged to join sites by being offered lucrative bonus deals. The prizes on offer, however, are potentially life-changing. It gives the impression of a game that’s impossible to lose. Knowing the prizes on offer makes watching your numbers disappear under the mark of a virtual dauber pen completely intoxicating, especially as your card fills up towards the end of the game. It’s incredibly easy to play again and pay again knowing you were only one number away from a full house on the last attempt. The websites have racked up profits as a result.

It’s also become popular as a way for busy people to socialise. Traditional bingo has always been known as a social game and online bingo has the equivalent in the form of live chat rooms. This may explain the success of online bingo amongst younger people, who are much more used to communicating online and would not usually go to ordinary bingo halls.

The success of online bingo has come at the expense of traditional bingo halls. The number of bingo halls has slowly fallen, as has the industry’s total turnover. Many attribute this decline to the 2007 smoking ban – which has pushed away older customers – and the rise of online bingo, which has sucked in newer players.

With new sites springing up all the time and the pay-outs becoming increasingly tantalising to cash-strapped gamblers, it seems inevitable that online bingo will continue to boom for a long time yet.

Bingo Addict

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online bingo addiction

We all may have ‘borrowed’ the occasional bit of loose change, carelessly left on the side at home when we were younger, but Karen Moore just takes the biscuit. To fund her online bingo addiction she stole £119,678.44 from her great uncles savings account, stating “I became addicted and couldn’t stop”.

Great Uncle Unknowingly Feeds Addiction

The situation became so bad, Miss Moore’s gambling habit spiralled out of control. One night she managed to spend £10,400 pounds of free money, straight from her great uncle’s bank.  Whilst many of us can only imagine what we would spend over £10,000 on, I’m not sure bingo is first on the agenda. The gambling situation got well out of hand, Karen was gambling that much money away , she soon had no idea how much she was actually spending.  “I didn’t realise how much money I had spent until it got out of control”, Miss Moore said as her addiction spiralled out of control.

The scandal came to light when Moore’s great uncle living at a care home at the time, was unable to make payments after being told his bank account was £10,000 in arrears. Sadly Mr Barrera passed away 3 months before the case went to court which hurt the family in many ways. Moore was advised not to contact her uncle whilst the investigation was under progress, meaning she missed out on seeing him before he unfortunately passed away. However Mr Barrera stated that he did not want any charges put against his niece, he said “Karen is like a daughter to me. I’m very shocked to find out about this.”

With internet gambling sites on the rise it is now becoming the norm to visit them more often than you would be likely to visit a bingo hall or casino. Easy access means people don’t always think about the amount of money they spend. This however is an extreme case which shows how badly gambling can affect people’s lives, Miss Moore was said to have been distraught that she was not able to be there for her uncle when he passed.

What can be done to improve sanctions on gambling websites? It is hard enough to police streets let alone the many hundreds of thousands of internet sites out there. Is this an isolated case or will we begin to see more tragic cases as time marches on? Let’s hope not!

Play safe, play fair.

Dabbers Delight: The Lingo of Bingo

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Man alive, number 5 - Bingo - Down at the bingo the other night, I sat dabber in hand listening intently to the caller and his rhymes. As the calls washed over me, the dulcet tones of the announcer soothing my ears like the finest honeys and oils, I realised that I had missed three numbers on my card and was in a trance like state. Man alive, number 5. I took a sip from my beverage and finished my game, but on the way home and for the next few days I couldn’t shake off the rhymes of the announcer. Putting my wordsmith hat on; I set out to dig into the phrases that accompany those 90 bingo balls.

It’s always good to start At the beginning, number 1, this can be done with a Knock at the door, number 4 but let’s not get ahead of ourselves now – otherwise we’d leave Me and You, number 2 and You and Me, number 3 out of the equation.

For the keen eyed and eared among you, you’ll notice I’ve just introduced some ofTwo fat ladies , 88 - bingo - our early runners in the bingo ball race. Hmm, running – something suited to Legs eleven but maybe not to One fat lady, number 8 or even Two fat ladies, 88 for that matter. They are Overweight, 28 and likely to stay that way unless they stop eating the 61, Baker’s Buns, stay out of 74, Candy store and start walking 39, Those famous steps.

So, are you still with me? 29, You’re doing fine. You and bingo are a match Made in heaven, 67.

Bingo calls can relate to any aspect of life, take love for example: You can Strive and strive, 75 to win the heart of the Queen Bee, 73 who’s Never been kissed, 16 on 14, Valentine’s Day. You finally ask “69, Your place or mine?” and before you know it are Getting plenty, number 20 and she is Asking for more, 34. But when Tony's Den, Number 10things cool off and she gets Up to tricks, 46 in Tony’s Den, number 10 , she’ll break your heart, leaving you 43, Down on your knees, eyes Red raw, 64 from crying. Alone, you ask yourself “56, Was she worth it?”

Wait, what just happened? The bingo love story has left me a little worn out, so let’s take a look at some of the remaining numbers: 54 Clean the floor. No I won’t. I don’t want to Mister Bingo Man. I’m gonna Get up and run, 31 because it’s Time for fun, 41 at my football match. For those wondering, I play Between the sticks, 86, getting Dirty knees, 33. Ok, I promise I’ve got to stop now for the good of my health on Doctor’s orders, number 9. Hang on, that one doesn’t even rhyme? Hang on again, do any of them?

Give Your Computer A Rest!

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It’s been two days now and the curtains have remained closed throughout my new found form.  The fear of what the daylight will do to my darkened eyes is almost as daunting as the thought of giving up.  Online bingo has being paying out like an ATM. What if that luck could leave the house?

But there is a world outside this house, and there is plenty of opportunity to be had.

The Vegas Thing

It goes without saying, if you want the ultimate gambling experience, Vegas is your place.  From an early age, people begin to recognise Vegas for its famous ‘strip’.  Those with a lower budget still manage to find smaller, yet just as amazing casinos to cater to their holiday needs, but the high rollers, celebs and generally anyone with more money than you can shake a stick at choose the classier option.

‘Caesars Palace’ is a name gamblers soon come to recognise before setting off down the path to victory (and an awful lot of money)!  Its reputation has grown and grown since its opening, and is now known as one of the best casinos in the world. It has even managed to work its way into video games, not to mention multiple films.  129,000 ft² of slots, roulette and card games, as well as anything else you could possibly expect in a casino wait all year round, for anyone with an ounce of courage.

For some, a quick visit to a casino is a waste of time.  For such people, there lies another option, only a 5 minute stroll from Caesars Palace.

Online Bingo

The Bellagio is considered the ‘Pièce de résistance’ when Las Vegas is concerned.  It includes a hotel that would be suitable for the pickiest of celebrities, as well as all the luxuries you would expect in a high end hotel. Bars and spas have been greatly needed at times when I have come to a gut wrenching loss, so the Bellagio truly is an oasis within the Nevada desert!

A Touch of Class

Just like in some sort of Bond movie, in the heart of London, awaits a quaint little casino with a character bolder than brass.

The Clermont Club is a small casino in Mayfair, easily one of the classiest areas of the capital.  It is said to be one of the best roulette clubs in the country, but it’s fair to say, most people will never get past the front door.  The exquisite décor remains protected within the 18th century building to anyone who isn’t already a private member.  Unlike some casino’s, becoming a member isn’t as easy as putting your name on a sheet of paper, but includes a lengthy and thorough vetting check which many applicants fail.

A Good Old Gamble

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As the missus heads out with the girls for hopefully yet another successful night at the bingo, the jealousy starts to kick in.  The thought of her returning with another $400, or possibly more is haunting.  Tonight is my week and the lads are free tonight.  A few phone calls later and four of the finest poker players you know are on their way.  The kitchen table gets a quick wipe, the chips re-emerge from the cupboard and the cards await shuffling.

It seems as the years go on, poker nights are getting harder and harder to come by.  Not enough of the younger generations have a clue how to play good poker and don’t seem to want to learn.  If only they knew what they were missing; boisterous banter, a good few alcoholic beverages and with any luck, anything of value your friends brought with them.

Should We Teach Them Young?

Is it morally right to teach a kid to play poker?  Many would say that introducing children to such games could lead to gambling from an early age, but who’s to say it needs to involve gambling? At least not until they’re old enough…

These days, children grow up with so many gadgets and toys, that by the time they reach their teens they have no idea how to play card games.  And when the opportunity does arise, they shy away feeling incompetent and useless.  For that reason I feel it’s right to teach them young, as some would see it as a brilliant tool for the rest of their social life!

So Why Is It So Great?

What’s so special about playing poker with your mates you might ask?  Where should I begin? The atmosphere can be amazing with just the right people.  If you choose who you play with carefully, poker can easily become your new favourite pass time! When there’s no one at home to nag, it’s a great excuse to crack open that old bottle of scotch and enjoy a drink or five.  Between games, a pizza delivery is my personal necessity, but any old snacks will do.  Dumping the bill on who ever seems to be winning is always a good trick too.

A Smug Confession

As the other half returns from the bingo late at night, the boys have cleared off and the cards have been put away.  She boasts another win, one slightly smaller than the last, but a win none the less.  She’s oblivious to the great night we had, until the dim light dashes across what was once Geoff’s Rolex on my wrist.  Result.

It Could Have Been Me

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Like any good weekend, mine was spent in Vegas. One thing you have to remember as a professional gambler is that there’s more to life than the online casino. Apart from the need to escape the house, stories of a $1.4million jackpot being won at the Flamingo a few weeks ago were taunting me.

The sun had barely risen on Friday morning and I was headed to O’Hare to jump on a flight.  Without checking the news or my phone, I boarded the plane, my mind set on coming home a millionaire.  I took advantage of the flight’s Wi-Fi and had a quick check of my emails.  If only I’d checked sooner.  Hours before I’d even left my home, a lady named Rosemary Bulzone had hit the jackpot on the slots. It could have been me.

http://www.fotopedia.com/items/2v22pfbsj3dk6-p5A6sjYisiU

Apparently Rosemary had been pursuing that once in a lifetime win for the last twenty years, making a visit to the Flamingo twice a year.  Now I’m no expert mathematician, but for the last 10 years, I have quite possibly visited Vegas a minimum of 5 times annually.  My $1,140,129 has got to be just around the corner right? When asked what she was going to buy, she claimed she was considering a Jaguar.  Hopefully she means a car, because her neighbours should probably start building bigger fences if she has a thing for exotic pets.

Demotivated, I exited the plane into the Nevada sunshine.  The chances of two life changing wins occurring on the same day are slim, so the slots lost their appeal.  I pondered what to do as I hopped in my rental Chevy and headed into town.  Driving through the strip is something everyone should aim to do at least once in their lifetime.  Grand buildings and luxury cars pave the way to your hotel, and the joys of valet parking bring back memories of past Vegas breaks.

Belongings strewn across the hotel room floor seems a Vegas tradition, as I excitedly booted up the laptop for a final check of funds.  It’s been a good month and there’s money to play with.  One last warm up before hitting the poker tables and my favourite online poker site pulls through yet again.  It was only a $150 win, but that was $150 I was soon going to appreciate.

Downhill

Once a necessity to calm the pre casino nerves, I met up with a Vegas buddy of mine and knocked a double scotch back. Another Vegas tradition of mine.  As the tables came into sight, so did another familiar face.  A man I have only ever known as ‘Jameson’ sat there with a smug grin on his face.  A grin that said “I beat you last time, I’ll do it again”.  Cutting a long story short, the $150 from earlier was all I won on Friday night. And please tell Jameson he can forget it if he thinks I’m playing with him ever again.