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Video Poker: How Did it all Start?

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Author: Jonathan Turner

Video Poker is one of the most popular games in both brick and mortar casinos and online casinos, and the game has a fascinating history – from its earliest iterations to the versions now played today.

While video poker machines are typically traced back to 1970, the origins of the game go back much further – all the way back to 1891. That was when the New York-based Sittman and Pitt Company created the first video poker game that would forge the foundations of the machine game that would eventually be rolled out at casinos in Las Vegas, and ultimately around the world.

The original game had five drums – now known as reels – and each drum had images of 10 playing cards. A player would insert a coin into the machine, pull the lever, and wait for the machine to provide a combination of the 10 cards across the five drums to make a poker hand.

Charles Fey – credited as the man who invented the very first slot machine – then refined this video poker machine in 1898 by inventing the Card Bell, which paid out up to 20 coins for a royal flush. Fey wasn’t done there, however, and in 1901 added a hold feature that allowed players to hold one or more of the cards and re-spin the rest. This machine was called the Skill Draw poker machine.

It was the Skill Draw poker machine that made these games stand out when compared to regular slot games, as it gave the players a measure of control over the cards, rather than the blind luck players rely on when playing regular slots.

Fascinatingly, these machines only had 50 cards instead of 52 – which makes sense considering they were designed with 10 cards per five reels. Typically, it was the 10 of Spades and Jack of Hearts that were excluded, which therefore reduced the odds of a royal flush by 50 percent.

Following these early versions, it wasn’t until 1970 that video poker machines started to appear more commonly. A machine created by Dale Electronics called Poker-Matic was introduced to casinos throughout Las Vegas, but interestingly the game was not all that popular. Given the boom of casino poker at the time, this video version failed to capture casino-goers’ interests.

That all changed, albeit gradually, when a man named William ‘Si’ Redd came on to the scene. Redd pitched his version of a machine he called Video Poker to the bosses of his company in Chicago, which they outright rejected.

After taking over the patent, Redd formed Si Redd’s Coin Machines (SIRCOMA) after striking a deal with Fortune Coin Company. After releasing his version of the video poker machine, interest started to increase and by 1981 it was one of the most popular games in casinos across Las Vegas.

Video poker still needed a lot of refining, most importantly determining the house edge that would make it worth casinos’ time to house the machines on their floors. This process involved dozens of people playing video poker for weeks and recording their results, which were then used to determine the house edge. And if you think, everything nowadays is done just by creating algorithms!

From there, video poker has evolved and is no longer limited to casino floors but is one of the most popular games in online casinos.

Sports betting – like betting on NFL Super Bowl favorites, winners of the English Premier League, and horse racing – makes up the majority of online gambling, but there is still a massive industry for online casinos, and video poker makes up a crucial section of that industry.

And to think it all began nearly 130 years ago with a humble five-drum slot machine in Brooklyn…

Unusual Games Available At Online Casinos

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Sometimes the daily grind of playing another game of roulette, blackjack or poker can be a bit tedious with the same cards and rules going around in your head time and time again. However, the rise in the popularity of online casinos has put an end to that, and now there are many variations of games and new types of games that can be explored online.

This brings an end to punters getting bored, and should you find the perfect online casino with Americancasinos.com, you will be kept busy for hours on a host of entertaining and fresh games. Some are complex, but some are much more straightforward, let’s go through some of the best ones that you can expect to find.

Red Dog Poker

The game is a variation of the classic casino game Acey-Ducey but is probably even more straightforward than the previous edition. There are no complicated rules to remember and follow; which would mean that you would easily get entertained by playing the game for hours. You simply place a bet and then are handed two cards. The initial bet is just an acknowledgement that you’re taking part in the game. Then you can place a second bet before being given a third card.

The main aim of the game is to match all three cards; then you could win money at the odds of 11/1. If you have two of the same cards from the initial dealing but then the third card is different, then you will get a push. Should you be dealt with a non-consecutive card which is also non-identical and not the same, then the game will be decided on whether the third card is between the values. Should this be the case, then the player can win at odds of between 1/1 or 4/1 depending on the value. However, should the third card be higher or lower, then the player loses.

War

One of the most popular games that everybody plays when they are younger is War, and now there is a variation of that game available online. The simplicity of it, combined with the low house advantage makes it a solid choice for punters. The player places their bet and is then given a card. If your card is higher than the dealers then you win; however, the fun truly begins if it is a tie.

From here you can either surrender and lost your stake, or choose to ‘go to war’ and double your stake, hoping for the best.

Spin a Win

Using familiar themes and adding them to solid games is a virtually sure-fire way to create a successful variation, but undoubtedly, this is the best. This type of game can be found in every casino around the world, but the ‘Spin a Win’ variation of it online is the best.

The most significant advantage that the game has is that it doesn’t require a significant stake to be put down; players could play with $2 spins. You can spend hours on this game, and be entertained in every second of it; without spending a fortune.

Common Blackjack Terms

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If you are new to the game of blackjack, you might hear terms mentioned and wonder what on earth people are talking about. There is always an assumption that everyone knows so you are unlikely to find people explaining themselves, so whichcasino.com has put together a quick glossary of some of the more common blackjack terms.

Ace: The ace card in blackjack can be counted as both high or low, which is a value of 11 or 1.

Bust: The aim of the game is to get to 21 or as close as possible. Going above the value of 21 is classed as bust, and you are then out.

Bust Card: The offending card that causes the hand to go over 21 and therefore bust.

Card Counting: This is a strategy used in blackjack that players use to try and get an edge. It is a method of tracking the cards to see which high and low cards have already been played. Once they see cards that change the favourable odds, they then increase their bets. There is some school of thought that suggests it is ineffective whereas others swear by it.

First Base: The player sat on the far left of the dealer; this is the first person to be dealt their card every time.

Hard Hand: This refers to a hand without an Ace, or if the ace is being used as the value of one.

Hard Hand: This refers to the actual total of cards in a hand where the aces are counted as a value of one.

Hit: Once the cards have been dealt each player can decide whether to ask for another card or stand where they are. When they ask for another card, this is classed as a hit.

Preferential Shuffle: This is where the casino allows a shuffle whenever they decide which destroys any edge the player might have. It is usually done when bets are placed.

Round: Each round starts with an empty table of no cards. The player must place their bets, and then the dealer will deal a hand of cards to every player. The round will then be classed as finished when the hand has been played, and all the bets are paid out.

Soft Hand: When there is an ace in the hand which can double as 11 or 1, therefore if you hit you cannot bust.

Stand: Once the hand has been dealt the player can add the value of their cards and decide whether to hit or stand, which means that they keep the cards they have. If you have 21 or close to 21, it would be sensible to stand as the chances of going bust with another card are quite high. You can also win if you are the closest to 21 anyway.

Two-Round: A directive from the casino to the dealer. They are told to deal just two rounds and then shuffle the cards. This destroys any player edge.

Why Live Dealer Roulette is So Popular

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So, what do you do if you really want to go to a casino but can’t? Until fairly recently the alternative would have been to play a computer-generated version of many popular games at an online casino. That is until live dealer games were invented and the game changed forever. Live dealer roulette is one of the most popular games at online casinos all over the internet and roulettepro.com looks at the reasons why.

Firstly you need to understand what live dealer roulette is. A live stream links you to your own personal croupier who leads you and your fellow players through the game using the magic of live video. While you might be in different rooms, and likely different counties, it is almost as good as being in a casino in Vegas. Your live dealer is there to create the same atmosphere and magic as you get at the best tables in the world and the whole experience has been called immersive as you can really believe you are no longer sat in your lounge but are instead at some other glamorous location playing with others.

Until they actually try the game, many people are suspicious and do not believe the dealers are appearing live, but the fact is the popularity of the game means there is a real demand for croupiers to fulfil this role, right around the clock. Working from dedicated studios the croupiers have the same training as those who work in casinos and understand their game. They are there to help you, and you can talk to them via the chat function if you need assistance with the way the game works.

Croupiers are employed by the big software houses who want their players to have the best experience and take the provision of live dealer games very seriously. The studios will be set up to mirror a casino, and they will have professional wheels. You can expect your live dealer to be dressed for the tables of Vegas as they understand that this is what people expect to see when they are presented with a fellow human in the croupier role.

The game, therefore, works in exactly the same way as you will already be familiar with and the bets are placed before the wheel is spun. Once the wheel is in motion, no bets can be accepted or changed, and when the ball comes to rest, the dealer will announce the winning number. The computer-generated part of a live dealer game is the placing of chips on the betting mat, as this cannot be done any other way. So you click your chips and drag them to the bet that you wish to make. Once the live dealer announces the winning number, the chips will be automatically sorted and allocated to the winner or moved to the bank ready for the next round. If you have never tried live dealer roulette but enjoy the casino experience, then this could be the game for you. If you’re interested, be sure to read more about the strategy of the game here.

Learning About Online Sports Betting and Beating the Odds

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numbers 3 and 4 on a track

Online sports betting has recently found its way into every online punters browser. It is the online craze at the moment and if you know what to look for you shouldn’t go wrong. You can bet on the underdog or you can bet on the money line, either way, your best bet is one that will hopefully reel the cash prize in, if not, take a spin here and try your luck. Alternatively you could learn about online sports betting and chose a game to bet on for yourself. Learn how to place bets on real games to win real cash.

What is Sports Betting?

Sports betting is the art of taking your favourite sport, sportsman, team or moves to the digital bank and saying that you are indeed placing a bet on what you believe to be the betting outcome win. Of course, there are many prettier words or terminologies for this way of betting but what it boils down to is sports betting is taking a chance on what you think will happen when the teams take your bet to test and complete their homerun.

Sports betting is betting on what you believe, how much you believe it and the facts you have based it on. It is betting on the sports you understand the most and the sports you believe will give you a winning chance of taking the prize home.

How to Beat the Odds

If you are entertaining online sports betting you need to consider the fact that you have powerful tools at your disposal. The internet is a learning curve that allows you an unlikely opportunity to discover and bet on elite players according to their strengths and weaknesses. What you need to decide is what those strengths and weaknesses are, and how to use them to your advantage.

Betting on odds means that you can either allow an automated system to give you the odds through modern tech, something that is highly praised as online users, or you can try to figure out the outcome by yourself. Either you need to beat the odds by staying one step ahead and betting on the facts.  Watch footage, be assertive in your cash bets and know your limits.

Choose a Sport to Beat the Odds

If you plan to wager on a sport, choose one that you know about. The players, the rules and all of the gaming features make an impact on the outcome you have chosen. Chances are the bet you made isn’t as strong as the super fan made.      

Fan Base

If you didn’t know there are fan bases or otherwise known as fan forums. Here is where you will learn about hot bets. Fan bases give you unexplored information which is usually on par. Make sure you have a general understanding of the pro player’s opinions and the amateur opinions. Use these to make your final punting choices and play like a pro!