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Gamers Head Back to Reality and Embrace the Classics

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Cribbage game
“Cribbage” (CC BY 2.0) by Betsssssy

As you may have noticed, we know a thing or two about the attraction of playing a traditional game on this website. There is nothing like sitting down and relaxing with friends or family with cards, dice or dominoes, taking your mind off your troubles and having a bit of fun in the process.

Indeed, while playing games online or on consoles of course remains hugely popular, there does seem to be a rising number of people spending at least a few hours away from the online world in order to relax.

According to a study conducted by The Associated Press and researchers at the University of Chicago, 58 percent of young people aged between 13 and 17 have taken a break from social media with many feeling positive about having time off. Considering this age group is perhaps most commonly associated with using devices like smartphones, it is a finding which shows that the online world maybe does not have as strong a grip on people as many might think.

A human touch

Such trends should not be too surprising, as in many forms of gaming there have been signs for some time now of people wanting a more human touch in terms of how they play. Take online casino websites for example, where games which once used random number generator algorithms have been replaced by “live casino” options in which real-life dealers host games on a video feed. It is not just a niche offering either, with live casinos online like Mr Smith offering a range of games in the format including variations such as Caribbean Stud Poker, French Roulette and Three Card Poker.

Such a shift towards human interaction has also been seen in video gaming, where top franchises like Call of Duty and FIFA are now generally more popular for multiplayer options which connect gamers from around the world rather than their standard single-player modes.

Going offline

flipping playing cards
“Playing Cards” (CC BY 2.0) by ccarlstead

With a growing number of people seemingly wanting a “real” experience from their gaming, it should not perhaps be a major surprise that interest in offline “hobby games” – a catch-all term that covers everything from board, dice and card games – has gone through the roof in recent years.

According to a study compiled by ICv2 last year, sales of such games in the US and Canada reached a stunning $1.4 billion in 2016 with that figure marking a 21 percent rise from the previous year. The trend also appears to be in rude health too, with a range of classics being brought to market either in a traditional or revamped form. For example, an ancient Japanese card game called Panda, which was apparently played in the country up until an invasion by the Chinese, has just been rebooted by entrepreneurs in Dubai.

All in all, it is safe to say that while video and online gaming remain as popular as ever, all of the signs suggest that heading offline to enjoy more traditional games is on the rise too – and we are delighted to hear it.

How to Find the Best Games Online

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How To Find The Best Games Online

Finding the best games online doesn’t have to be a long and tedious process, and there are so many different ways in which you can approach this. Finding the best games can often provide you with the best playing experience, ensuring that you are enjoying every second of your gameplay without the stress of the games freezing or crashing when you’re about to make a big win. Whether you enjoy playing traditional games such as backgammon and dice games, or your preferences lie in the exciting world of online casino UK games, there’s plenty to enjoy across the internet. Here, we’re taking a look at how to find the best games online.

Compare A Number Of Online Sites

The easiest way to find the best games online is to compare a vast number of online gaming sites. There are a number of comparison services online which can do this for you, or you can manually visit each site and play the game variant which you enjoy the most, in order to determine which site offers the best playing experience. Whether you’re looking for bonuses and rewards, a simple interface to play with, or an enticing storyline in your game of choice, the best way to determine which is the best game to play is simply to try them all!

Personal Preference

A key to finding the best games online is actually personal preference. Each individual player will be looking for something in particular when it comes to the games that they enjoy. Whether that’s a streamlined experience, an easy deposit system if they’re looking to gamble, or simply an engaging atmosphere for them to enjoy, there’s so many different personal interests and preferences which can impact whether or not the game is the ‘best’. However, with technology becoming increasingly prominent online, helping to further streamline the experience, more players are opting for online games as opposed to traditional board games in order to get a fast and fun playing experience at all times.

Bonuses & Rewards

Some of the very best games on the internet will feature numerous bonuses and rewards, not only to entice players to play the game, but to simply reward them for their choice. For example, some slot machine games may feature specific bonus features which can guarantee the player with a small (or even an exceptionally large) win, simply for playing! Luck is often the key to these games, however many gaming providers do enjoy providing their loyal players with something extra, to keep them coming back. If you like to have a little extra something when you’re playing online games, then make sure you review all of the different bonuses and rewards that you can obtain when choosing your game.

No matter what your gaming preferences are, you can be certain to find the best games online with a little research. Through this, you will also be able to find the most enticing promotions and sign up offers, in order to ensure you’re getting the most from your gaming experience.

Delving In To The History of Slots Games

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vegas sign

A Short History of Slots Games

The history of slots is not as long as that of other types of gambling games like roulette, blackjack, and such. In fact, poker machines got invented less than 120 years ago, and some might be surprised to learn that they have only been around since the later parts of the 19th century.

Charles Fey, Inventor Extraordinaire

Charles Fey immigrated to the United States of America from Germany, and eventually settled down in San Francisco. He was the owner of a machine shop, but enjoyed inventing things on the side.

In the late 1880s and through to the early 1890s, Fey started designing gambling machines. In 1895 he managed to finish the Liberty Bell machine, the prototype of the pokies online we enjoy today. It made use of three mechanical reels in order to randomise icons.

The Slot Machine is Born

Within a few short years, Fey had marketed the machines to saloons and bars across the San Francisco area, and the locals popularised what they named slot machines, what would eventually be known as pokies in Australia and New Zealand. The games initially paid out small sums of money, but then local and state laws prohibited betting for cash and the machines paid out gums, fruits, and other small items instead.

Slot Machines Head to Las Vegas

Eventually these slots games were banned in California and the rest of the USA, and it wasn’t until 1931 that Nevada legalised casino gambling. The vast desert state had a very sparse population, and leaders were facing a severe revenue shortage. The decision to allow gambling in the hopes of collecting taxes from this activity was intended to help the state remain solvent. The eventual construction of the Hoover Dam saw the area finally beginning to draw the rich and powerful elements from nearby Los Angeles, and the gambling Mecca we know so well today started taking root.

The Post World War II Boom

When the Second World War ended, the USA dove into a time of unparalleled prosperity. The soldiers returning from the front were intent on building families and making fortunes, but they were also interested in finding new, more glamorous ways of relaxing. Thanks to the creation of the interstate highway systems, and jet engines becoming used for aviation purposes, Americans were able to travel in ways they had never managed to before. By the time the 1950s rolled around, Las Vegas had become a gambling destination for not only the wealthiest Americans, but for middle-class vacationers as well.

The Appeal of the Slot Machine

The slot machine in particular appealed to these visitors because the game required no particular level of skill or mastery to play, and win. The 50s and 60s were also a period of history in which mechanical marvels seized the imagination of the common Joe, and so this mechanised entertainment proved a very popular draw card for the Las Vegas casinos.

The Electronic Gaming Machine is Born

In the 1960s the electronic gaming machine’s invention brought along with a veritable wave of innovations that went far beyond the accumulated jackpot. Developers for these games started introducing multiple paylines, bonus games, free spin features and the gamble feature, and the obsession with slots games as we know it today was born. Nowadays you can play slots online and at land based casinos, and even on a smartwatch. The games have changed in so many ways, but in many others they remain just the same.

Why some players swear by progressive betting systems

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Progressive Blackjack Betting Systems

A progressive betting system is a kind of strategy that people employ when they play casino gambling games, one of which is blackjack, whereby the amount bet is lowered or raised depending on whether the previous hand was won or lost. There are a number of these types of systems, but they all fall into two general categories:

  1. Positive systems, which have you increasing your bet after you win
  2. Negative systems, whereby you decrease your bet after a loss

Progressive Betting for Blackjack Strategy

Progressive betting is popular with blackjack, but it must be undertaken with care and you need to budget accordingly. Theoretically, the best way to gamble when playing blackjack is to wager more when you win, and less when you lose. In other words, when you are enjoying a winning streak, you slowly keep increasing your wager, as long as your streak continues, and, when you lose, you wager gets decreased back to the minimum. This is the basic rule of a positive progressive blackjack betting system.

How the Positive Progressive Betting System Works

Positive progressive betting systems can be used as casinos and at Australian betting sites, as it is not exactly a strategy for playing. You will make a $10 bet, the minimum, for example, and win back your money. This would make you even, however, not ahead, so your bet would remain at $10. Should you win again, you would increase your bet, to $15, say, and continue in this manner until you lose. When this occurs, you decrease, and go back down to the $10 bet.

Some positive progressive betting systems have you doubling your wager every time you win, as opposed to just increasing it by certain amounts. There are a number of systems around, each with its own stance on what is best, and you should simply find one that works for you.

A Rational System of Money Management

This type of progressive betting system is positive because you increase your wagers when you win. It is a logical method to manage your money, and many online players swear by it.

Negative Progressive Betting Systems

One example of a negative progression betting system is the Martingale, which recommends that you increase your wager when you lose, in order to see your money returned to you when you next win.

The Pros and Cons of Progressive Blackjack Betting Systems

No betting strategy will work consistently, because it both relies on and takes advantage of short-term changes in probability and streaks. They do, however, work well to a degree, as long as the player quits while they’re ahead.

Progressive blackjack betting systems will offer a good player the chance to win more, even if the betting is being done in a flat, or even way. Progressive players increase winnings when they’re ahead, and this usually offsets the consequences of losses being incurred.

Progressive betting systems have been used for hundreds of years, and are most likely to have begun when gambling did. Exploring the rules of these, and experimenting with the different types available, can see players putting away more money when they are used responsibly.

Enjoy the various types of online slots games today!

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slot machine

Different Types of Online Slots Games

Slots machine games are the most popular forms of entertainment not just for online players, but those who spend time at land-based casinos as well. They provide an interactive experience for players to enjoy, and the fast pace of these is exciting. This article outlines the different types of slots games on offer for players around the world to enjoy these days.

Thrilling 3 Reel Slots

On a 3 Reel Slot machine there can be anything from 1 to 5 paylines for players to enjoy. This means that there are as many as 5 different ways in which the symbols on the reels can line up in order to form a winning combination for you. These games are very similar to the first versions ever made, but have been given a modern make over.

When the 3 reels are not spinning, you will be able to view a total of 9 symbols. The ways in which paylines are formed are generally across the middle 3 for the first, then across the top, the bottom, and across the 2 diagonals. The winning combos on a 3 Reel Slot game will usually have to have 3 symbols matching up.

Fabulous 5 Reel Slots

5 Reel Slots can have an enormous amount of paylines available, and for this reason stand out as a top choice as far as real money slots online go. Similarly, to 3 Reel slots, the paylines can be formed either horizontally or diagonally, but they can also make different shapes around the screen, which allows you many different ways to make the winning combination you need to.

Fantastic Feature Slots Games

There are certain online, mobile and even smartwatch based slots games that also provide you with the chance to enjoy a range of special features, including special symbols referred to as Scatter symbols. When these appear in certain combinations, specific to each game, bonus features can then be triggered that are able to award you with special prizes, like Free Spins.

Profitable Progressive Slots Games

Progressives are a special jackpot that can be included on 3 Reel, 5 Reel, or Feature Slots games. These jackpots are linked between a number of machines in just one casino or across a number of casinos, and there is a portion of each of the wagers placed on the game, which gets contributed to the jackpot, which sees the prize growing exponentially as the games are enjoyed. In some cases there are secondary and even tertiary jackpots provided for as well, but the main prize for the game in question is always very prominently displayed.

Typical in online casinos is a progressive jackpot slots game that is awarded at random, and can be given to any player, so keep your wits about you and your eyes peeled -you could well be next!

Enjoying Free Play at Online Casinos

If you are new to the world of online slots play, then be sure and make use of the free play that the majority of online casinos allow for when it comes to most of their games. This will allow you to try out each of the different types until you find the one you enjoy, at which point switching over to real money play is very easy to do.