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The Modern Evolution of Online Slots

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slot machine coins
“Slot Machine” (CC BY 2.0) by jayneandd

Few casino games boast such global appeal as the slot machine. When combined with dazzling lights and the chance of a jackpot win, the ease of gameplay involved makes slots an enticing prospect for players of all ages. But where did our fascination with the simple slot machine all start?

You have to go all the way back to San Francisco in the year 1895 to find the answer. Back then, a car mechanic named Charles Fey invented a machine named the Liberty Bell, a basic three-reel set up with diamond, spade and heart symbols painted on each reel, along with a jackpot Liberty Bell. While this is considered to be the first true incarnation of the modern slots format, it’s likely that Fey adapted his idea from other similar prototype bar games prevalent at the time. Prior to 1895, spin-reel poker machines were growing in popularity, allowing patrons to trade a ‘good hand’ for a drink, or a cigar at the bar. Still, compared to the Liberty Bell these machines were very primitive, insecure and could easily be rigged.

From there on, it’s quite amazing to consider that, in terms of gameplay, the basics of any slots game have remained largely unaltered over more than a century. Fey’s blueprint remains at the core of slots entertainment, but the landscape has evolved to an extent that Fey – or anyone else living at that time – could never have dreamed of. Since the early 2000s, technological advances have spurred on the rise of iGaming: the industry of online casinos, poker rooms and slots that is set to reach a market value of £46 billion by the year 2020.

This growth has proven to be lucrative for investment, and new and established operators alike are continuing to diversify their service offering in an attempt to stay ahead of the ever-growing competition. Let’s take a closer look at the key factors behind this growth.

Mobile access and Internet speed

woman on smartphone
“smartphone” (CC BY 2.0) by Sole Treadmill

We can’t deny that mobile technology has become far less of a luxury in modern times, and far more of a necessity. According to a 2016 report from Deloitte, over half of UK adults now regularly use a smartphone, tablet or other android device.

For keen gamers in particular, mobile technology allows them to play their preferred choice of game online anywhere at any given time – as long their data hasn’t ran out or they can connect to a hotspot. The sheer speed of the Internet now is almost instantaneous, which removes yet another barrier to gameplay on the move.

Payment options and security

bitcoin wallpaper
“Bitcoin Wallpaper (2560×1600)” (Public Domain) by PerfectHue

The days of uploading all your credit card details to the web are getting further and further behind us. Online casinos now offer a range of increasingly secure payment options, all of which are geared to offer peace of mind to players, so that they know every transaction they make is protected and optimised.

Bitcoin is a prime example, with many online casinos such as Bitcasino now encourage users to deposit and withdraw funds using this new form of digital currency. These payments are often processed far more quickly than normal bank transfers, so players looking to cash in on a big jackpot can spin it, win it and withdraw their funds faster than ever before.

What will the future hold?

The sheer range of online slots options out there seems to be growing exponentially each year. Due to the massive amount of time and money that online operators are invested in developing their services, it’s safe to say that the evolution of online slots is set to continue for many years to come.

The Impact of Virtual Reality on Users’ Gaming Experiences

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vr headset

One of the most awesome things to happen is when technology that only used to be the stuff of dreams or found in science fiction, becomes a real product we can use. From Marty Mcfly’s self-tying laces in Back to the Future to the holographic communications of Star Trek, inventors will continue to do what they do best. One element of technology that has recently moved from the realms of writers’ and film-makers imaginations into the real world is Virtual Reality, and currently there is no bigger arena it is influencing than gaming.

In the most recent past, Sony has released its PlayStation VR headset, while social media behemoth FaceBook purchased the company behind the Oculus Rift VR headset. As the costs of technology have gone down, many others have also released their own versions, including Google’s cardboard-based smartphone VR accessory, among many others. Now the focus has turned to the content that is to be consumed through the medium and although the technology has many implications for a range of applications and uses, at the moment gaming is leading the way.

The impact of VR on gaming

Ever since the invention of gaming consoles and the arrival of the pastime as part of pop culture, the goal has always been to create experiences that are as close to real-life as possible. Now with the arrival of consumer products, VR headsets are helping gamers to experience their favourite gaming content in ever more immersive and realistic ways.

A good example is the aforementioned PS VR headset which now has a slew of titles in which gamers can play as Batman, swim with sharks, or experience the reality of a horror movie. In the same way, gambling platforms such as www.bingosites.uk will eventually be able to offer realistic casino experiences for gamers to enjoy in the comfort of their own homes. In a way, this is one of the biggest impacts that VR will have on gaming, by providing experiences that are as close to real life as possible.

There are still issues affecting the technology such as motion sickness, but the excitement around the technology means that gaming’s profile has risen even further in the mainstream consciousness.

The future of VR in gaming

In terms of VR’s future in gaming, it seems that things will only get better.  More and more content is being created for the format and any issues with regards to user health will surely be ironed out as hardware companies learn more about player’s habits and responses to their tech. It is still early for many games developers to get involved. But with headsets such as Oculus and PS VR backed by multi-billion dollar companies, there is sure to be lots of investment into the research and development of more perfect virtual reality platforms.

In conclusion, just as other aspects of gaming such as competitive e-sports and cheaper, more powerful games consoles have helped to raise the profile of the industry, the massive potential and exciting prospects of Virtual Reality mean it is set to do the same, if not on a bigger scale.

Is There a Logical Lottery Strategy?

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Losing lottery ticket
Day 237 – Losing Ticket” (CC BY 2.0) by DaGoaty

It’s an age-old question – is there a system for playing the lottery? Everybody wants to win the massive jackpots on offer from various lotteries across the world, but the chances of it happening remain extremely slim. If there was a perfect formula, then everyone would be using it and thus there would be no enormous prize for the lucky winner because everyone would be sharing the jackpot.

But there just may be ways to improve your chances by using a particular strategy. Here we take a look at some of the options.

According to Lottoland, there are a number of strategies for winning the lottery, some of which are pretty weird. The strange options that the online lottery betting website mentioned include the suggestion that hopeful lottery winners should move to Carlow, or even get their cat to choose the numbers. The reason for this is that County Carlow is considered to be the luckiest place in Ireland, and is also responsible for the largest ever Irish Lotto jackpot of 115.4 million Euros in 2005. And with regards to the cat thing, one lottery winner from Cheshire in England had his chicken select his numbers by pecking his calculator, and another couple’s winning ticket was found by their dog.

There are some more logical ways to improve your chances, though, without having to turn to animals or move to a different county (or country!). One way is to not play multiple lotteries, but buy a greater number of tickets for a particular draw. To stop this strategy from milking your funds each week, you could get into a syndicate with people from work or friends. Syndicates have won the big money before, with “The Three Amigos” winning the largest amount of any group when they claimed the Mega Millions jackpot of $656 million in 2012.

Another option is to select lotteries that offer the best odds. Thanks to the internet and lottery betting sites, players aren’t restricted to sticking to their own country’s lottery anymore. Going for a lottery with a smaller jackpot usually gives the best odds, and for that reason a lot of people play the Irish Lotto. Other good options are the Saturday Lotto in Australia, the 6 aus 45 in Austria, the Polish Mini Lotto, and the Swedish Lotto.

If you want to minimise your chances of having to split a jackpot, it’s best to pick your own numbers rather than go for a lucky dip. It’s estimated that around 10,000 people in the UK choose the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 every week, so if those numbers came in then the jackpot would have to be split by that many winners. This would drastically reduce the prize that each player receives. Therefore, picking higher numbers is generally considered to be a much better option. For those that want to claim even higher jackpots, instead of buying a physical ticket, it is worthwhile using a lottery betting site where you can choose to go for double jackpots by paying more for the ticket.

At the end of the day, the lottery is a game of luck. But if you incorporate some of these tips you may be able to give yourself a slightly better chance. If all else fails, move to Ireland.

Online Slots – A Game of Luck or Strategy?

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casino in macau

While many people may scoff at the idea of online slots being anything more than luck-based games, experts firmly believe that there are certain tricks or strategies you can utilise to improve your odds of winning. Slot games, whether land-based or online, are the most popular casino game in the world. Visit almost any online casino and the slots variety will likely be more extensive than any other gaming category. This is because slots are not only easy; they are fun and require minimal work on your part. Simply make your bet, press Spin and see what happens on your screen. But is there really such a thing as an online slots strategy? While the following tips are not necessary a definitive strategy, they can definitely help you improve your odds, increase your luck or simply minimise your risk of losing.

Build your bankroll

When playing online slot games, it is important to focus on building your bankroll. In this way, you can continually strive to make bigger bets, thus improving your chances of winning big. Building your bankroll may seem like an arduous task, and certainly not an interesting one, but once you realise how it can improve your winning opportunities, you will realise its value. To increase your bankroll, aim to bet on the minimum and continue this strategy until you are sitting with a comfortable sum. You can then look at steadily increasing your bet while still keeping your bankroll at a reasonable levels. After time, your bankroll will be overflowing from the accumulation of smaller bets won, and you will be able to make riskier bets that could result in big payouts.

Start with the basics

It is easy to jump into the deep and by making the biggest bet on the most advanced game, but not all slot games are made alike. If you are new to the game, it is important to start small with a minimum bet at a basic game. Try out the classic three reel slots before giving the five reel games a try and familiarise yourself with the game mechanics. Once you are confident, you can move on to 3D slots, progressive slots and more, all of which offer bigger and better winning opportunities.

slot machines

Play games with bonus features

As mentioned above, not all slots games are made alike. Some are as basic as they come, while others are quite intricate and complex. A good idea would be to choose a game with a bonus round as these offer greater opportunities to win major payouts. Once you have chosen a game, play for free and get a feel for it, test your skills online or research how to trigger the bonus feature before betting any real money.

Bet max

This is only once you have the confidence and the bankroll to justify betting max. Many online slots will feature a Bet Max option that allows you to automatically make the highest bet on all paylines, which will improve your chances of a big win.

Know when to stop

This is probably one of the most important tips when it comes to gambling. Knowing when to stop and cash out is key to not overspending. It is easy to get drawn into the excitement of online slots and the possibility of winning, but once you have reached your limit or are simply on a losing streak, it is best to end your playing session and come back another day.

Playing online slots is a fun and rewarding experience at the best of times and downright depressing at the worst, but with a little help, keeping a cool head and playing responsibly, your slot bets may prove to be worthwhile.

Bitcoin: The Next Step for Online Gamers?

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You’ve probably heard all the talk about Bitcoin replacing cash due to the minimal transaction fees, security advantages, ease of accessibility and so on, but you haven’t yet actually made the switch to owning a Bitcoin wallet. Although Bitcoin hasn’t been the revolution many foretold, it has quietly been going about its business of replacing cash. Therefore, for those of you looking for something a little different and looking to make some money while gaming, we’ve taken a look at what’s out there for Bitcoin gamers and presenting it all in this piece.

bitcoin stack
Source: Bitcoin P2P Cryptocurrency Via: Facebook

 

No Stake Bitcoin Games

Bitcoin gaming generally comes in two categories: stake and no stake. For those of you that are unwilling to put your money on the line, you’ll be wanting the no stake option and that can require high levels endurance and perseverance. There are a couple of options that are entertaining and can earn, such as CoinBrawl and the Satoshi Quiz. CoinBrawl is an RPG Bitcoin faucet that allows you to create a character and engage in combat with other players to level up and acquire Bitcoins. With 174,791 members currently battling away, it’s a good community to get started with and the more you play the more you’ll earn.

Satoshi Quiz is a little different, in that speed and knowledge are required to eke any earnings out of the game, as you answer trivia questions on a variety of different categories and hope that your correct answer is first to the post in order to claim a share of the Bitcoin prize money. There’s an app available for your smartphone or tablet and with a couple of different game modes to play it’s a fun test of knowledge that could turn profitable.

bitcoin across the world
Source: Bitcoin Via: Facebook

 

Stake Bitcoin Games

The online casino industry seems to have fallen in love with Bitcoin and there are loads of options out there for playing casino games with the virtual currency. In most cases, the games remain the same once you’ve switched to Bitcoins, but you need to be aware that your deposits, bets and withdrawals are now all in Bitcoins. Just as people can often struggle with exchange rates when using a different currency on holiday, it’s important you know exactly how much you’re playing with and that you don’t make any costly rookie mistakes.

Once you get used to things, there are advantages though, which includes the fact that, because they are verified by blockchain technology, Bitcoin withdrawals and deposits are much faster than those done in traditional currencies, as there are no banks to serve as intermediaries, as we read on this Bitcoin blog, which also offers gameplay tips and Bitcoin basics. Once you’re informed and up to speed with the process of using Bitcoins it’s just a matter of selecting the game that suits your style of play and trying to stay in the black. Of course, you can also avoid staking your own cash if you take advantage of one of the many no-deposit promotions that Bitcoin casinos often make available to new customers. This is a risk-free option for those that would like to dip a toe in the virtual currency waters before fully submerging themselves.    

Cash hasn’t disappeared yet, but Bitcoins and Bitcoin gaming are steadily becoming mainstream and well-liked. You don’t need to throw your wallet or purse away right now, but it might be worth gradually becoming involved in what increasingly seems to be taking over as the preferred scheme for online transactions.