Casino games didn’t just come out of nowhere. Every game has a history. Some go back to ancient times, and some are more recent inventions, but every game originated somewhere, developed over time, and culminated in the Internet casino games that we play today.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary definition of the word “casino” provides one with the following description: “public room or building for amusements, esp. gambling”. The word “casino”, which arose from the Italian word meaning “little house”, originally referred to as a villa or small summerhouse, was created purely for pleasure and entertainment purposes.
During the nineteenth century, the “casino” began to include larger public facilities, where other activities including gambling and sports would take place. Casino games have provided hours of entertainment to many people over the years. Perhaps you have wondered about the special fascination linked to casino games and where it all started.
The act of gambling itself has existed for many centuries. Items connected with gambling, believed to be from about 2300 BC, have been located in ancient China. Writings showing signs of gambling have also been found inside one of the pyramids in Egypt. Gambling itself is clearly not something new.
On occasion, gambling has even been known to play its own part in history. An example of the use of gambling may be found in 1020 AD when King Olaf of Norway and King Olaf of Sweden reportedly met in order to decide upon the ownership of the isolated area of Housing.
Unable to resolve the disagreement by discussion, they decided to make use of a pair of dice. Both kings threw a double six on their first attempt. At the second try, King Olaf of Sweden threw an additional double six, while the King of Norway threw one six and his second die is said to have cracked and shown a seven. Possession of Housing was determined in this way and, after this rather unusual game of dice, the area belonged to Norway.
Over the years, casino gambling has evolved and developed, producing a wide range of varied games. Games that are available in casinos are generally known as casino games. A casino game may be defined as a pursuit or activity in which one may gamble cash money or property on possible choices and probable outcomes.
Today there is a vast choice of different casino games available. The thrill of games of chance, and the allure of huge jackpots, draws millions every month to gambling meccas like Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Monte Carlo.
Casino games may be divided into three main categories:
Table games offer entertainment which includes the use of cards or dice, such as Blackjack or Craps.
Gaming machines often featured in the form of slot machines or video poker machines, can be played by one player at a time, without the presence of a third party such as a dealer.
Random number games feature the choice of different numbers, such as in the games of Roulette or Keno.
Such casino games may also be played at online casinos on the Internet.
Baccarat is a comparing card game played between two hands, the “player” and the “banker.” Each baccarat coup has three possible outcomes: “player” (player has the higher score), “banker,” and “tie.”
In Baccarat, cards 2–9 are worth face value, 10s, and J, Q K are worth zero, and Aces are worth 1 point. Hands are valued according to the rightmost digit of the sum of their constituent cards: for example, a hand consisting of 2 and 3 is worth 5, but a hand consisting of 6 and 7 is worth 3 (the rightmost digit of the total, 13).
The highest possible hand value is 9. In the game, a “Baccarat” refers to anything with a value of zero; in a hand of K, 4, and 6, the King is a “baccarat,” and the hand value is also “baccarat.”
Baccarat is considered to be one of the oldest casino games still played today. Although like many other games, its exact history is clouded in some mystery, Baccarat remains a popular form of amusement and is now a popular computer game in the form of online baccarat.
The Baccarat game spread to France in the late 15th century, changing its name to “Baccarat en Banque” and later on to “Chemin de Fer” (French for ‘railway’). In the latter game, the casino does not act as The Banker. The players take turns in acting as the banker and place bets among themselves.
The game “Chemin de Fer” was played by the aristocracy in France and became very fashionable. Once it reached England, the game also became very popular, and the updated English version became known as “European Baccarat”.
Baccarat has also been known to be a game for which high stakes are played. In 1990, Akio Kashiwagi, known as the “Warrior”, played Baccarat at the Trump Plaza casino in Atlantic City.
The Warrior made his place in Baccarat history by winning over $6 million while betting $200,000 a hand at Baccarat. He made the mistake of returning a few months later to try his hand once again at Baccarat. The second time, after a week of playing, he left after losing almost 10 million dollars.
Following Baccarat’s popularity at casinos around the globe, it appears only natural that the next big step in Baccarat history would be for this game to become a success online as well.
Today, the game of Baccarat is featured at many of the best online casino sites. You can play Baccarat online with wagers as low as one credit (i.e., one dollar, one Euro, or one pound) or as high as 500 credits, so online Baccarat is definitely a game that appeals to people of all budgets and all lifestyles.
Also known as twenty-one, is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. Blackjack is a comparing card game between a player and dealer and played with one or more decks of 52 cards.
The player or players are dealt an initial two-card hand and add the total of their cards. Face cards (Kings, Queens, and Jacks) are counted as ten points. The player and dealer can count their own Ace as 1-point or 11 points.
All other cards are counted as the numeric value shown on the card. After receiving their initial two cards, players have the option of getting a “hit” (taking additional cards) to bring their total value of cards to 21 points, or as close as possible without exceeding 21 (called “busting”).
If a player holds an ace valued as 11, the hand is called “soft”, meaning that the player cannot go bust by taking an additional card; otherwise, the hand is “hard”.
The dealer has to take hits until his cards total 17 or more points. (In some casinos, the dealer also hits on a “soft” 17, e.g. initial ace and six.) Players who do not bust and have a total higher than the dealer, win.
The dealer will lose if he or she busts, or has a lesser hand than the player who has not busted. If the player and dealer have the same point total, this is called a “push” and the player typically doesn’t win or lose money on that hand.
The popular and classic game of blackjack has been a source of exciting entertainment for many people for hundreds of years. And yet, when one glances at all that is known of blackjack history, the game’s precise date and place of birth remain rather a mystery.
It is believed that casino games similar to the game of blackjack were played in France in the eighteenth century. The game of blackjack appears to have evolved from one original game in particular. This French game was called Vingt et Un, which means “twenty-one” in English.
The whole aim of the game of Vingt et Un — and Blackjack — is to obtain a hand of cards which reaches a total of twenty-one — or to come as close as possible to the number twenty-one, without going over the top. Anyone who exceeds the total of twenty-one goes “bust”.
Over the decades, blackjack has proven to be an extremely popular and exciting game. Today, blackjack appears in many different forms in casinos all over the world. At the best online casinos, blackjack is considered to be the most popular game out of all the exhilarating attractions available.
Who would have believed that this apparently simple game would evolve in such a way, to become such a great attraction? All those players of the early Vingt et Un game could not possibly have imagined the limelight which would shine on blackjack in later years.
The seeds of the blackjack game were planted long before the creation of the computer and the Internet and those first players all those years ago would probably have been totally dumbstruck by the notion of playing blackjack at an online casino. This is a game with a long history and, nowadays, one can download blackjack games from an online casino or enjoy playing flash blackjack online.
A visitor to one of today’s best online casino sites may be totally unaware of the origins and history of blackjack and yet may indulge in the delights of this thrilling game. These days, online blackjack appears in several different and attractive forms. One may almost lose oneself in an array of single-hand, multi-hand, and progressive blackjack games.
As a visitor, you may look around the best online casino sites, check out the details, use the handy blackjack tips, then take your pick and try your hand at the choice of blackjack amusement available.
Although there are various exciting types of blackjack entertainment that are featured online — like Vegas Strip Blackjack or Multi-Hand Blackjack — these versions are all based on the original game of Blackjack.
Poker is a family of card games involving betting and individualistic play whereby the winner is determined by the ranks and combinations of their cards, some of which remain hidden until the end of the game.
Poker games vary in the number of cards dealt, the number of shared or “community” cards, and the number of cards that remain hidden. The betting procedures vary among different poker games in such ways as betting limits and splitting the pot between a high hand and a low hand.
In most modern poker games, the first round of betting begins with one of the players making some form of a forced bet (the ante). In standard poker, each player is betting that the hand he has will be the highest-ranked.
The action then proceeds clockwise around the table and each player, in turn, must either match the maximum previous bet or fold, losing the amount bet so far and all further interest in the hand. A player who matches a bet may also “raise,” or increase the bet.
The betting round ends when all players have either matched the last bet or folded. If all but one player fold on any round, then the remaining player collects the pot and may choose to show or conceal their hand. If more than one player remains in contention after the final betting round, the hands are revealed and the player with the winning hand takes the pot.
With the exception of initial forced bets, money is only placed into the pot voluntarily by a player who, at least in theory, rationally believes the bet has a positive expected value.
Thus, while the outcome of any particular hand significantly involves chance, the long-run expectations of the players are determined by their actions chosen on the basis of probability, psychology, and game theory.
The history of Poker is thought to have evolved over more than ten centuries from various games, all involving the basic principles of ranked card or domino combinations and the use of ‘bluffing’ to deceive opponents.
One popular belief is that a game similar to poker was first invented by the Chinese sometime before 969 A.D when Emperor Mu-Tsung is reported to have played “domino cards” with his wife on new years eve.
Egyptians in the 12th & 13th centuries are known to have used a form of playing cards, and in the 16th century, Persia “Ganjifa” or “Treasure Cards” were used for a variety of betting games.
A Ganjifa deck consisted of 96 elaborate cards, often made of paper-thin slices of ivory or precious wood. The Persians played “As Nas” which utilized 25 cards, rounds of betting, and hierarchical hand rankings.
A French game named “Poque” and a German game named “Pochen” became very popular in the 17 & 18th centuries, both developed from the 16th-century Spanish game called “Primero” which involved three cards being dealt with each player.
Bluffing, or betting high stakes whilst holding poor cards to deceive opponents, was an integral part of the game. Primero dates back to 1526 and is often referred to as “poker’s mother” as it is the first confirmed version of a game directly related to modern-day poker.
French colonials imported the game to the new world when they arrived in Canada. Their beloved Poque was the national card game of France and from the beginning of the 18th century, when a hardy group of French-Canadian settlers founded New Orleans, it spread from the state of Louisiana up the Mississippi River and then throughout the whole country.
In 1834, Jonathan H. Green made one of the earliest written references to poker when in his writing he mentions rules to the “cheating game,” being played on Mississippi riverboats.
The Cheating Game” quickly began to supplant the popular cardsharp game of 3-card monte on the gambling circuit. Gamers embraced the new game as it was perceived as a more challenging and ‘honest’ gamble than the notoriously rigged 3-card game.
Green took more than a passing interest in the new game and took it upon himself to formally name and document the ‘Cheating Game’ in his book ‘An Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling’: Poker was born.
During the Wild West period of United States history, a saloon with a Poker table could be found in just about every town from coast to coast. It was extremely popular during the Civil War when the soldiers of both armies played. European influence of poker ended when the joker was introduced as a wild card in 1875.
In just over two centuries, poker has never looked back. Since its humble beginning on the banks of the Mississippi, the popularity of this widely played game has grown in leaps and bounds to evolve numerous variations and sub-variations.
There have been three games that have, in turn, dominated the modern poker scene:
5 Card Draw rose from relative obscurity during the American Civil War to the most popular game for almost a century.
Nevada made it a felony to run a betting game. However, the Attorney General of California declared that draw poker was based upon skill and therefore the anti-gambling laws could not stop it.
But stud poker was still deemed illegal as it was based solely on chance. With this decision, draw poker games developed and grew. This caused Nevada to reverse itself in 1931 and legalize casino gambling.
7 Card Stud then took over the throne shortly before WWII and maintained its position for about 40 years with the help of the new and thriving Las Vegas casino industry.
Texas Hold’em christened the ‘Cadillac of poker’ rose to prominence in the 1970s when it was featured as the title game in the World Series of Poker. Today, Texas Hold’em is indisputably the most frequently played and most popular poker game in the world, played in casinos and on home game tables the world over.
Other variations such as Omaha, Stud Poker, Manila, Draw Poker and Razz are also popular, but nothing can compete with the thrill of No-Limit Texas Hold’em.
No-Limit Texas Hold’em played at The World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour have been captivating American television audiences to the point that there are now made for TV events such as the National Heads Up Poker Championship and the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions being filmed especially for TV and shown in prime time.
Poker looks like it is here to stay and its popularity has never been as widespread nor as quickly growing as it is right now.
With the wealth of poker information available online, and the relative ease of logging on and playing with other poker players from around the world, including the ever-growing online poker community in the United Kingdom, there is no time like the present to join the poker craze. Play online poker now by clicking through to our list of the best poker rooms.
Is a dice game in which the players make wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Players may wager money against each other (street craps, also known as shooting dice or rolling dice) or a bank (casino craps, also known as table craps). Because it requires little equipment, street craps can be played in informal settings.
As is the case with many of the traditional casino games, the precise origins of the game of Craps may be disputed. However, one thing which remains, without doubt, is that dice have been around since ancient times.
Dice have been the basis for a myriad of games since at least 600 B.C; dice dating back to this period have been found in Egypt. The casino dice game, Craps, is one of many games played with marked cubes. Thus, the Ancient Egyptian era could be considered the very beginning of the history of Craps.
There are those who believe that the game Craps was invented at the time of the Roman Empire. It is said that soldiers in the Roman army made cubes out of pig knucklebones and entertained themselves by rolling the bones, rather like dice, into their shields.
Many scholars of Craps history believe that the game of Craps has evolved from the game Hazard, an ancient game, named after the Arabic “az-zahr”, which means dice. The reason that the game gained the name Craps remains rather a mystery. Others maintain that Craps evolved from the English game Hazard.
This was a dice game played in England during the 12th century. If one follows this historical line, it is suggested that the name of the game was changed to Crabs by the French. At a later stage, Crabs seemingly developed into Craps upon its arrival in the United States.
It is believed that it was in the United States that the Craps rules were standardized and the game was shaped into the modern game of Craps that people know and love today.
Many consider Craps to be the most exciting of all the casino games. Some believe that Craps is a difficult game to comprehend; however once one understands how to bet and play, it is quite simple to follow, especially in the online casino, where one can play practice Craps games for free until he gets the hang of it.
Many people believe that those who play Craps are the most superstitious out of all the casino gamblers. Particular superstitions should perhaps be kept in mind when approaching the Craps table. Female first-time Craps players are considered to be lucky, while male first-timers are believed to be unlucky.
If the dice happen to roll off the Craps table, many believe that the next turn will be unlucky. The number seven should never be mentioned, as it is considered to be unlucky. It is not recommended to be the sole player or the first player at a Craps table.
It is considered to be bad luck if the dice should come into contact with anyone’s hand as it is thrown onto the table. These and other superstitions are not rules for playing the game and are not part of any scientifically based Craps strategy, but many players consider it wise, nonetheless, to take them into consideration.
Over the years, particularly during the 1990s, the popularity of the Craps game appeared to suffer a decline, as many preferred to play easier casino favorites such as the slot machines. However, advances in technology such as the Internet and the introduction of online casinos, have brought about the resurging popularity of the game of Craps and changed the course of Craps history.
Playing online Craps is rather different than playing Craps at a land-based casino. Even though the general rules are the same, the main difference is that when you play craps online, you are not situated at a rowdy and noisy Craps table. For many, this could be considered an advantage, as there are no distractions during play.
On the other hand, there are those who enjoy the loud atmosphere present at the Craps table and consider it to be an important part of the game. Whichever way a player prefers to play, the options are available. It is always fun and exciting to play and win at Craps, whether online or on land.
And it’s always fun to know something of the history of Craps to increase your appreciation of this great and ancient game.
Bank craps is a game played by multiple players betting against a casino. Each casino might set slightly different payouts for the various bets. Players take turns rolling two dice and whoever is throwing the dice is called the “shooter”. Players can bet on the various options by placing chips in the appropriate sections of the board. It may be required to ask the dealer to place certain bets.
While acting as the shooter, a player must have a bet on the “Pass” line or the “Don’t Pass” line. Pass and don’t pass are sometimes called “Win” and “Don’t Win” or “Right” and “Wrong” bets. The game is played in rounds and these “Pass” and “Don’t Pass” bets are betting on the outcome of a round.
The shooter is often replaced at the end of the round or when they lose a round with a seven. The dice are moved clockwise around the table for the next player to become the shooter. The shooter is presented with multiple dice (typically five) by the “stickman” and must choose two for the round. The remaining dice are returned to the stickman’s bowl and are not used.
Each round has two phases: “come-out” and “point”. To start a round, the shooter makes one or more “come-out” rolls. A come-out roll of 2, 3, or 12 is called “craps” or “crapping out”, and anyone betting the Pass line loses. A come-out roll of 7 or 11 is a “natural”, and the Pass line wins.
The other possible numbers are the point numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. If the shooter rolls one of these numbers on the come-out roll, this establishes the “point” – to “pass” or “win”, the point number must be rolled again before a seven. The dealer flips a button to the “On” side and moves it to the point number signifying the second phase of the round.
If the shooter “hits” the point value again (any value of the dice that sum to the point will do; the shooter doesn’t have to exactly repeat the value combination of the come-out roll) before rolling a seven, the Pass line wins and a new round starts, usually with the dice staying with the current shooter.
If the shooter rolls any seven before repeating the point number (a “seven-out”), the Pass line loses, and the dice pass to a new shooter for the next round. In all the above scenarios, whenever the Pass line wins, the Don’t Pass line loses, and vice versa.
A scratch card (called a scratch-off, scratch ticket, scratcher, scratchie, scratch-it, scratch game, scratch-and-win, instant game, or instant lottery in different places) is a small card, often made of a thin paper-based card for competitions and plastic to conceal PINs, where one or more areas contain concealed information which can be revealed by scratching off an opaque covering.
A game of chance – a game of luck – these small scratch cards provide an entertaining and attractive form of amusement. And they have an interesting history.
It is certain that you have all seen these little scratch cards – perhaps you have wondered where this enjoyable pursuit began. It is believed that the first instant lottery game created by the computer was made for the Massachusetts Lottery in 1974.
This instant innovation was invented by the American Company ‘Scientific Games’. In 1987 a U.S. patent was created for the instant scratch card and the fun started. In the U.K. in March 1987, the first scratch cards went on sale. These instant games are usually located at lottery kiosks or stands and are not generally available at land-based casinos.
The Attraction of Scratch Cards
A major attraction of the scratch card game for many people is the game’s relatively low cost. For a comparatively small amount, one may participate in one of these instant games. These small card games are available in various forms, for example with a football-style subject matter for soccer enthusiasts.
The scratch cards have been designed according to a range of themes in order to attract different players. According to many people, the main appeal of a scratch card is that it provides fun amusement at which a player may receive results immediately. This is especially beneficial for those who prefer to know the outcome instantaneously – rather than wait for the results of the national lottery.
Thanks to modern technology and the widespread progress of the Internet, today scratch cards are available also as an online form of entertainment at the best online casinos. The greatest advantage in playing an online scratch card game is the convenience factor.
There is no need to run out to the kiosk to buy a ticket, as you can choose to play as it suits you online. Obviously, the element of “scratching” the surface of the card had to undergo a change online, but the notion of the game is the same.
When one plays a scratch card game online, the mouse is used to select the desired area for scratching. These popular games can be played online without any downloading necessary.
These scratch card games online, with their vivid graphics, are available in a variety of different themes, according to many aspects such as season or hobby. Such games are also offered online in free versions. A player may enjoy this pursuit for no charge – just for fun.
Do not forget that if you choose to play for free for pure entertainment, that the winnings are not ‘real’. Scratch cards online are attainable at online casino sites in bright colorful versions that remain consistent with the original form of scratch card games, due to their instant play and instant results.
Sic – bo (骰寶), also known as tai sai (大細), dai siu (大小), big and small or hi-lo, is an unequal game of chance played with three dice, and of ancient Chinese origin. Grand hazard and chuck-a-luck are variants and of English origin. The literal meaning of sic bo is “precious dice”, while dai siu and dai sai mean “big [or] small”.
Sic bo is a casino game, popular in Asia and widely played (as dai siu) in casinos in Macau. It is played in the Philippines as hi-lo. It was introduced into the USA by Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century, and can now be found in most American casinos.
Since 13 May 2002, it can be played legally in licensed casinos in the United Kingdom, under The Gaming Clubs (Bankers’ Games) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (Statutory Instrument 2002/1130).
Gameplay involves betting that a certain condition (e.g. that all three dice will roll the same) will be satisfied by a roll of the dice.
Sic-Bo is an ancient Chinese gambling game played with three dice and a table marked with a variety of betting options similar to a roulette table. The name Sic-Bo originally meant “two bricks” which then became “dice pair”. However, today it is played with three dice which makes the game more interesting.
Sic-Bo is also known throughout Asia as Tai sai, Dai siu, big and small, and hi-lo. It is widely played in the Philippines as “hi-lo” and in other Asian countries as “Dai siu”. Although it is an extremely popular game in Asia, it was only introduced in the U.S. in the beginning of the 20th century with the influx of Chinese immigrants into the country.
The game can now be found in most U.S. casinos although it is one of the lesser-known casino games and is often played in rooms designated by the casino for Asian games.
Sic-Bo is played with three standard dice that are shaken in a basket or cup. In Asia, the tradition was to shake the dice on a small porcelain plate covered with a bowl which was then removed to show the result of the “roll”.
In casinos, the dice are shaken mechanically in the basket or cup and the result is fed into a computer which then lights up the winning areas on the table. For many players, the biggest attraction of the game is the fact that the table lights up.
The Sic-Bo table is very colorful with all the various betting combinations shown on the layout. Players bet on the combinations which show up on the three dice and multiple bets are allowed. The basis of Sic-Bo is simple, and although the payouts are not traditionally as high as some casino games, it is an entertaining and relaxing game.
Players can bet on single numbers, meaning that a specific number will show up on one or more of the dice. The player can also bet on specific two number combinations which means that two particular numbers will appear. Then there are also bets on the totals of all three dice. It is also possible to place “small” or “big” bets.
The “small” bet is a wager that the total of the three dice will fall between 4 and 10. The “big” bet is a total that falls between 11 and 17. It is also possible to bet on a “triple” or “triplet”, meaning that all three dice will show the same number. The house advantage is very large on a “triple” and this is considered the worst bet on the Sic-Bo table.
Since Sic-Bo is completely and utterly a game of chance, Sic-Bo strategists generally recommend the Small and the Big bets as the safest – the online casino house advantage is the lowest, and the chances of winning are the greatest. The game is the most fun when there are many players around the table and the excitement rises when the winning zones are displayed by the colored lights.
A slot machine (American English), informally fruit machine (British English), the slots (Canadian English), poker machine or “pokies” (slang) (Australian English and New Zealand English) or simply slot (American English) is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed.
Slot machines are also known as one-armed bandits because they were originally operated by a lever on the side of the machine (the arm) instead of a button on the front panel, and because of their ability to leave the gamer penniless (bandit). Many modern machines still have a legacy lever in addition to the button.
Slot machines include a currency detector that validates the coin or money inserted to play. The machine pays off based on patterns of symbols visible on the front of the machine when it stops. Modern computer technology has resulted in many variations on the slot machine concept. Slot machines are the most popular gambling method in casinos and constitute about 70 percent of the average US casino’s income.
Slot machines provide simplicity and excitement rolled into one mechanism. Based on a straightforward notion, slot machines and fruit machines offer the player an exhilarating game, packed with anticipation.
Traditional slot machines consisted of a machine with three spinning reels, a slot to insert coins into, and a lever at the side to pull down to operate the mechanism. Due to its appearance, the slot machine also gained the informal name “one-armed bandit”.
The first ‘slot machine’ was invented by Charles Fey in California in 1895. Fey linked up with the Mills Novelty Company in 1905, and then the Mills “Liberty Bell” was created – a machine with three spinning reels. The machine was very heavy, as it was made from cast iron.
Such slot machines became increasingly popular, and the creation and manufacture of varied machines also grew accordingly. At that time, symbols featured on the slot machines were horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts, and bells. The early first mechanical slot machines hosted sweets or cigarettes as prizes for winning slots combinations.
They were located primarily in bars and cigar shops. Simple and successful, the slot machine offered the player excitement and a chance to win the jackpot, with nothing more than the pull of a handle. Playing slots quickly became a popular pastime throughout the United States.
Although laws against gambling in the United States date back to the 1600s, in the early 1900s another anti-gambling movement arose. This was a difficult period in slot machine history, and the manufacturers of the machines suffered hard times.
The use of the machines was banned in San Francisco, then in the State of Nevada, and then throughout the rest of California. In the 1930s the anti-gambling theme became a popular political message in New York, as many slot machines were thrown to perish at sea.
In the 1960s advanced electronics transformed slot machines. Up until that time, slot machines had been completely mechanical, and it was quite simple for players to cheat. The electronic revolution of slot machines changed two major aspects of slots games. It was easier for the owners to control, and it became more difficult for the players to cheat. The proprietors were also able to offer large prizes via the electronic slot machines.
Electronic video slot machines were launched at casinos in the 1970s. In the beginning, these machines were not very popular, seemingly due to the lack of spinning reels on the video slot machine screen. However, with the introduction of video poker in the 1980s, video slot machines became increasingly well-liked and prevalent.
Slot machines constitute a vital part of the casino. It is perhaps hard to comprehend that these simple games — sometimes referred to as “penny machines” — often comprise the largest part of the casino’s gaming floor and revenue. A large number of people travel to the casinos strictly to play the slot machines and for no other reason.
Many believe that a casino would not be complete without the presence of a slot machine, and online versions of the traditional slot machines (commonly called fruit machines) have been developed accordingly.
Keno is a lottery or bingo gambling game often played at modern casinos and is also offered as a game in some state lotteries. A traditional live casino keno game uses a circular glass enclosure called a “bubble” containing 80 balls which determine the ball draw result. Each ball is imprinted with a number 1 through 80. During the ball draw, a blower pushes air into the bubble and mixes the balls.
A “caller” presses a lever opening a tube, where the balls lift one at a time into a “V” shaped tube called the “rabbit ears”. The caller and a “verifier” record each of 20 balls drawn, and the computerized keno system calculate all wagers based on the numbers drawn.
The history of Keno begins in China over two thousand years ago and continues into the 21st-century online casino. It is a long and fascinating story that combines elements of ancient Chinese culture with modern Internet technology, and the story still continues to develop.
Keno is a lottery-type game, which began over two thousand years ago in China. This game of chance was created by a man named Cheung Leung, in order to raise money for a weak army. Villagers were tired and disillusioned and Leung had no desire to raise taxes in order to attain the funds necessary to save his city.
Leung developed a game in which players had to buy tickets to play, and choose their “lot” from 120 Chinese characters. This innovation was introduced in the hope that the locals would try their luck, place their bets, and pay money to have a chance to win.
Leung’s game proved to be very successful, and he managed to save his city by strengthening his army with money raised from the game. In those days, carrier pigeons were used to advise villagers of the results. For this reason, the ancient game was sometimes known as the “White Pigeon Game”.
It is believed that the Great Wall of China was built with money made from the Keno game. Keno is a game of luck that is quite straightforward to play. Leung would have probably been very surprised to learn that his simple game would last for so many years and would become popular in many places around the globe.
The game of Keno was brought to the United States by Chinese immigrants who arrived to work on the railways in the 1800s. For many years, the game was known as the “Chinese Lottery”. In the original game, players had to choose Chinese characters rather than numbers…
These characters were part of an ancient Chinese rhyming poem. People who understood the poem and characters would often make their choice according to its meaning or artistic association. Once Keno reached America, the characters were changed to numbers so that it became a more attractive game for those who did not understand the Chinese characters.
In the 1930s, Keno was introduced into the casino arena. However, although gambling had been made legal in parts of the United States, lotteries were not permitted in the casino, so the game was then renamed “Horse Race Keno”, as a ploy to ensure its entrance to the casinos.
Players were to make their choice out of eighty numbers in this lottery-type game, which officially was not a lottery. Once a tax was imposed by the U.S. Government on off-track horse racing, the “horse race” part of Keno’s name was dropped and the game became “Keno”.
One of the most significant events in Keno history was the creation of the online casino in the 1990s. Online Keno is essentially the same game as casino Keno, but it is much easier without messy papers and pencils, much less stressful without the fear of losing your winnings if you don’t pay attention, and of course more convenient.
The ease of playing Keno online has attracted many new players and has brought the game of Keno to levels of popularity that would have been unimaginable just a few decades ago.
The success of this ancient game and its lasting durability over the years do suggest that the appealing game of Keno will be around for many more years to come. There are undoubtedly chapters in the history of Keno yet to be written.
Roulette is a casino game named after a French diminutive for little wheel. In the game, players may choose to place bets on either a single number or a range of numbers, the colors red or black, or whether the number is odd or even.
The roulette wheel suggests glamour and excitement. A movie scene set inside a casino always includes the allure and charm of a roulette game. But many people remain curious about the history of roulette: Where did it all start and how did it become the casino game so beloved by millions around the world?
The word roulette means “little wheel” in French and it is therefore fitting that the roots for this game should lie in France. And, in fact, roulette history did begin in France, in the seventeenth century, when an early version of the roulette wheel was invented by the French mathematician Blaise Pascal.
Another major advance in roulette history took place in France in 1842, when a roulette game with a single zero was created by the brothers Francois and Louis Blanc.
It was Francois Blanc who brought the roulette to Monte Carlo and established the first of the Monte Carlo casinos. There is a legend that maintains that Francois Blanc negotiated with the devil in order to acquire the secrets of the roulette wheel.
The tale reveals that when one adds together all the numbers on the wheel, from zero to thirty-six, it results in the number “666”, which is considered to be the “number of the beast”.
Later in the nineteenth century, the roulette game was introduced to the United States. A second zero was added to the wheel in order to increase the casino house odds, and American Roulette was born. During the 1800s, the roulette attraction reached many parts of Europe and the United States and became one of the most popular casino games available.
Any strategy of roulette takes place in the betting. There can be no strategy involved in the spin of the roulette wheel itself, as the resting place for the little ball is based purely on chance — or luck. A roulette wheel in the United States features thirty-eight compartments with different numbers: this consists of the numbers one to thirty-six, zero, and a double zero.
American roulette has a double zero and a single zero, while European roulette hosts a single zero only and therefore offers the player slightly better odds of winning. The European roulette wheel hosts thirty-seven slots accordingly. Once bets are placed, the dealer sets the roulette wheel and a small ball into motion. Once the wheel comes to a standstill, the ball falls into one of the compartments and players can check out their winnings or losses.
It is reported that Albert Einstein once stated “You cannot beat a roulette table unless you steal money from it”. However many find the thrill and exhilaration of the roulette wheel hard to resist. Some try different strategies to try to win at roulette, like betting solely on the red or trying a “Martingale” betting strategy.
In this system, the player doubles his bet each time he loses. Although the notion of this type of play is to win back earlier losses in the event of a win, the possibility or probability of large losses should be taken into consideration.
Today’s online roulette hit the Internet in the mid-1990s. Scholars consider this development to be the biggest thing in the history of roulette, as it brought the roulette game to millions of players who would not otherwise have traveled to the casinos of Monte Carlo to play roulette.
The popularity of the Internet seems to have taken much of the world by storm and has changed the lives of many people forever. While offering a seemingly endless store of information, knowledge, services, and entertainment, the Internet has become home to thousands of online casino sites.
Due to the sheer fascination and charm of the roulette wheel, online roulette games have become very attractive and it is certain that people will continue to play roulette online for many years to come.
Due to technological progress over the years, and the more recent introduction and popularity of the Internet, the online casino was launched in the 1990s. Online gambling, with new attractions and the special appeal of convenience, has become widespread and very popular.
Obviously, certain modifications were necessary to the migration from casino slots to online slots, but slot machines have retained their basic format during the transition to the internet, and many variations exist which are suitable for online slot machine play.
Microgaming’s “Cash Splash” became the first online progressive slot machine game. Nowadays, at the best online casinos, one may find 3-reel slots, 5-reel slots, bonus slots, feature slots, progressive slots, and even Megaspin slots.
These are certainly different than Charles Fey’s original slot creation, but they do manage to retain the magic of the slot machine in their own unique manner – and probably will do so long into the future.
As technology has developed over the years, so has our desire to achieve advanced forms of entertainment. While one examines the success and popularity of the Internet, one may also note the appearance of the online casino. The online casino is an Internet version of the traditional land-based (or “brick”) casino. This offers the player the opportunity to play top casino games on their computer.
Although gambling games have existed on computers since before the World Wide Web, the ability to play virtual casino games for real money from anywhere is fairly recent. This possibility began to become a reality in 1994 when the Caribbean islands of Antigua & Barbuda passed the Free Trade and Processing Zone Act.
This law made it possible for them to act as a jurisdiction with regards to the issuing of gambling licenses. Related matters began to roll very quickly, and the first online casino opened its virtual doors in 1996.
Online casino gambling has become part of an industry involving large sums of money and millions of players worldwide. Apart from the actual games themselves, there have also been developments in accompanying fields — such as Internet banking systems — as a need arose for advanced and secure electronic payment services.
Since the implementation of the original online casino in 1996, the notion of playing online casino games has become increasingly popular in many places around the globe.
In this same year Microgaming, which supplies all of the download and flash games for All Jackpots Online Casino, was founded. Since then, online casinos have become one of the fastest-growing concerns worldwide, with new games and casinos coming out every month. Whatever restrictions and taxes are imposed, gambling has always been — and will always be — one of our favorite ways of having fun.
The roots of the Video Poker game obviously lie in the popular game of poker. Some believe that Video Poker machines have descended from coin-operated machines used in the late nineteenth century. These machines featured poker cards on five reels and were operated by the insertion of a coin and by pulling a lever on the side.
The early poker machines were considered a form of slot machines and were located in bars and cigarette stores around the United States. These machines became a very attractive form of entertainment, and winnings were offered in the form of cigarettes or drinks, or other prizes. Today’s game of video poker is a combination of a slot machine and five-card draw poker.
The first poker machines were based on pure luck. They used a total of 50 cards and, unknown to the players at the time, were usually lacking the Jack of Hearts and Ten of Spades. In the early twentieth century, Charles Fey made welcome amendments to these machines, adding hold and draw features, allowing players to apply their poker card game skills.
Following a rather quiet period for poker machines, with occasional flares of interest, this early poker machine underwent a serious facelift in the late 1970s. Thanks to modern technology and the development of the computer chip, the Video Poker machine was born at the same time as the personal computer. In the beginning, Video Poker was played on a machine that appeared rather like a television set.
In 1979, a successful Video Poker game in the form of Draw Poker was introduced by SIRCOMA. This is an acronym for Si Redd’s Coin Machines, and later became known as International Game Technology (IGT).
In the years that followed, these machines became increasingly popular, as many players began to prefer dealing with the machine, rather than sitting at a casino table with others. The popularity of the game increased at such a rate that Video Poker soon became a serious rival to slot machines on the casino floor.
Basic Video Poker is a five-card poker game, from which the player may choose to hold or discard cards. Credits are inserted and then cards are drawn upon pressing the “deal” button.
Regulations require video poker machines to deal a random hand of cards and software has been created that provides the player with a fair chance of winning. The player’s aim is to finish the game with the best possible hand. The opportunity to win progressive payouts may also be found on today’s video poker machines.
Today, video poker may be played at many land-based casinos and also online. Due to the widespread success of the Internet and online casinos, video poker games are easily accessible online. There are several different types and variations of video poker games available. “
Jacks or Better” is the most frequently found video poker game. In this game, a player whose hand consists of a pair of jacks or better may benefit from payoffs. “Deuces Wild” is a video poker game in which all twos act as wild cards. “Double Bonus” video poker offers a bonus for a hand containing four aces.
Each particular type of video poker game has its own rules and payout conditions, but they are all based on the original game of poker. From what has been happened up until now, it appears that a rosy future lies in store for the video poker game.