And cheaters!

With such huge payouts available, it’s no wonder that slot machines have always been a game of cat and mouse between cheaters and the house.

Let’s check out some of the naughty tricks used by slots cheaters over the years. We don’t recommend ever trying them yourself, though!

1. Cheat Code

Gambling authorities are there to ensure that the gaming industry is operating correctly and fairly.

Engineers design the best casino games so that they can be monitored and audited while also delivering quality gameplay. But what happens when an engineer decides to rig the codes for their own advantage?

The infamous slots cheat Ronald Dale Harris – an engineer from The Nevada Gaming Commission – did exactly that. He sure knew how to manipulate a slot machine!

For years, he cheated machines by knowing the source codes. It wasn’t until his partner had a big win in the casino – $100,000 on a keno game in 1995 – that the scam was discovered.

2. Shaved Coins

This scam using shaved coins doesn’t really exist today, but it’s still interesting to know about.

As technology advanced, slot machines began to use a light sensor to register payment. In a large number of machines, the optic sensor worked separately from the physical comparator.

Basically, that meant that if a shaved coin was sent down at the same time as an object that matched the shape and size of the required stake coin, the shaved coin would be returned whilst the other object would land in the machine and start play.

3. Fake Coins

Another method of slots cheating present throughout history was the use of fake coins.

Fake coins were used by con artist Louis “The Coin” Colavecchio to scam casinos for years until his arrest in 1998.

He was released in 2006 and quickly re-started his cheating. It was a matter of months before he was unsurprisingly sussed again.

4. Magnet

We often get asked how to cheat a slot machine with a magnet.

Let’s get one thing clear: it’s not actually possible to cheat modern day slot machines with a magnet, since they’re all programmed by computer software and aren’t magnetic.

However, people used to be able to cheat with a magnet on the older machines, when they were made of metal.

To cheat at slots using a magnet, you could spin the reels and then use a strong magnet on the outside of the machine to stop them spinning when you saw your winning combination.

Cheaters would then remove the magnet and claim the payout.

This wasn’t the most subtle cheat but, if done well, people could easily win lots of cash!

5. Yo-Yo

This slots cheat was all about the technique.

A string is attached to the coin, the coin is sent into the machine until it triggers the start of the game, and then the player brings the coin back up using the string.

Nowadays, this technique is all but redundant thanks to the march of technology.

It’s a real classic though and, if it worked, you could have seen a big win for free.

6. Light Wand

Tommy Glenn Carmichael is one of the most notorious slot cheats in gambling history. He is responsible for the light wand.

Magicians such as David Copperfield, Dynamo and David Blaine might have the ability to create the illusion of something happening, but Carmichael would use his light wand to make jackpot wins magically appear out of thin air.

The light wand would effectively blind the optical sensor on slot machines so it couldn’t work out how many coins had been deposited into the machine, meaning it wouldn’t know when to pay out or how much.

This meant Carmichael could manipulate a slot machine to his advantage, by turning small wins into massive payouts.

7. Piano Wire

This is an oldie but a goody in the world of how to cheat at slots.

A group of men worked together at the Caesars Boardwalk Regency casino in Atlantic City back in 1982. One man opened the targeted slot machine and attached 20-inch long piano wires to the whirring guts of the game.

The wires could then be used to jam the clock that measured the wheel rotations, allowing the group to manipulate the spins.

They hit the $50,000 jackpot but, unfortunately, their whole scam had been filmed and the winning player was arrested before he left the premises.

8. Top-Bottom Joint

This is one of the most cunning methods of cheating at slots and was popular with scammers in the 1970s and 1980s.

They used a special tool that was split into two parts. A top (a metal rod with its end bent in the shape of a “q”) and a bottom (a long wire).

By putting the bottom in through the coin chute and the top through the coin slot, the cheats were able to jam the machine and force the game to release all the coins it had stored.

Big wins galore!

9. Monkey Paw

It’s that man Carmichael again. He was a total genius, in cheating terms.

He was the creator of the “monkey paw”. After testing out new methods on a video poker machine, he eventually built the correct contraption. It was amazingly simple.

He got a guitar string and attached it to a bent metal rod. He would thrust it into the machine’s air vent and wriggle it around until he clicked the trigger switch for the coin hopper.

Cue the avalanche of coins.

10. Bill Validator Device

A simple yet very effective slots cheat.

This is a little device that is wrapped around a bill to fool the slot machine into thinking it is accepting a $100 bill when in reality it is just accepting a humble $1 bill.

11. Computer Chip Replacement

Dennis Nikrasch changed the slots cheating game with this idea.

He bought a slot machine and messed about with it in his garage to figure out its flaws.

He worked out the computer chips inside the machines could be re-programmed to be manipulated to pay out jackpots on tap.

Nikrasch ordered a load of these chips, hired a team of scammers, got hold of a bunch of slot machine keys and started a reign of scamming that would bleed casinos dry for years.

And he did it all just by switching the independent chips for his manipulated chips.

12. Software Glitch

Software glitches have been manipulated by cheats for decades.

By playing a certain pattern of stakes and games, players could confuse the machine and trigger a glitch that pays out the jackpot.

Many slots cheats benefited from this over the years but now many jackpot winners are also being denied their winnings because of it.

The most famous incident happened in 2015 when 90-year-old grandmother Pauline McKee from Illinois won $41 million on a Miss Kitty slot machine at the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo.

She tried to sue the casino initially in 2012, but her final appeal was rejected three years later. Unfortunately, historical instances are the reason the casino won this case.

And it’s no wonder they’re so popular. It’s possible to win thousands from a small bet, with no skill required. But the question we all want to know is: how do you pick a winning slot machine and find the ones that pay out the most?

Unlike games of skill, like poker or blackjack, it’s important to remember that slots are totally random, however, some players believe there are a few things you can do to gain an edge over the casino, which we will share in this article today.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

1. Pick Slots With The Highest Return To Player (RTP) Percentage

If you’re looking for slot machines that are most likely to hit, a good starting point would be finding ones that have the highest percentage of RTP.

This is because the higher the RTP percentage, the more likely the slot machine is to pay out.

RTP, or payout percentage, is calculated by the amount an individual machine has paid out over its lifespan in relation to how much money has been paid in.

So, as an example, if a game has an RTP of 94% then the theory is that if you put $100 into the slot machine then you could expect an estimated return in winnings of $94 (over a long period of time).

The very best payout slots can have an RTP as high as 99%.

Obviously, that’s a rough guide and is not the case for every player.

2. Scan Message Boards And Threads Online

The likes of TripAdvisor forums and Reddit often have slots players sharing their experiences of trips to places such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Macau.

These players will then often highlight slots at casinos where they have enjoyed decent payouts.

You can also pick up handy tips and tricks from other players along the way.

3. Use Casino Comparison Sites

If you don’t want to spend time trawling threads looking for real money slots with the best payouts, a great place to look is on comparison sites like ours that offer independent?slots reviews.

You’ll be able to see all the info you need to help pick your next game, from the number of paylines and reels to the RTP percentage and date of last win.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

4. Research Game Developers To Find Out Which Ones Offer High RTP%

Another tip some players recommend is to research different game developers to find the ones that offer the best RTP percentage. It won’t take long before certain trends start to appear.

You’ll notice there are slots by the same developers constantly being mentioned, certain casinos being identified as possessing loose slots, and slot machines by name that have proven to be big earners for players.

Online software developers Playtech and NetEnt among others are renowned for releasing slots with high RTP percentages.

5. Avoid The Games That Hardly Ever Pay Out

On the flip side of tip #4, it will also be worth taking note of the slots that are notorious for not paying out.

The more slots you can add to a blacklist of bad earners helps to narrow down the slots that can be labelled for their higher payouts. A number of slots have been highlighted by players as games to avoid due to their low payout percentages.

The likes of ‘Wish Upon a Jackpot’ by Blueprint Gaming, ‘Adventures in Wonderland’ by Ash Gaming, and ‘King Kong’ by Cryptologic frequently appear on such lists.

Instead, you should look up the ones that do pay out most by reading up on the biggest slot machine wins to spot patterns.

Spoiler alert: 80% of the winners on the list were playing on the?Megabucks slot machine!

Image Credit: Shutterstock

How Do Slot Machines Work?

Slots are simple to play: You insert money, spin the reels, and wait to see if you won anything. But inside the machine it’s a bit more complicated than that.

Slot machines work by using a complex piece of software, known as a random number generator (RNG). This determines the result of every spin. When you spin the reels, the RNG ensures that whatever outcome it produces is totally random.

Some people might sit and play slots for hours on end, winning nothing, while someone else may come along and win on their first go.

You are more likely to win on a game with a smaller jackpot over these huge progressives, however, it’s still possible to get lucky and scoop a massive cash prize off of just one spin.

Sometimes the only way to find out what works and what doesn’t is to get out there and spin those reels yourself.

How Do You Play Keno?

Often compared to lottery games, it’s simple to learn how to play keno. Players must place bets by choosing numbers that are usually listed between 1 and 80. After all bets have been placed, 20 numbers are then drawn randomly using balls from a machine or a random number generator.

Players win if their numbers are drawn.

What Is The Most Interesting Part Of Keno History?

It is believed that keno has origins that can be traced back to the Han Dynasty in China over 3,000 years ago. The word keno comes from French and Latin, roughly translating as five winning numbers.

There is also n epic legend that surrounds the inception of keno. The story has it that the game was responsible for saving a city from falling during a war. It has also been credited with raising funds to build the Great Wall of China.

During the 19^th century, the Chinese derivative of the word keno was “white dove ticket”. This was due to results of the games hosted in the big cities were transferred to smaller villages far away by carrier pigeon.

The first evidence of lottery games being played in China were documented in 1847 when the Portuguese government in Macao made the decision to begin granting licences to lottery operators.

As the game became more popular in China, it was played using characters on sheets of paper as opposed to numbers. The game finally made the leap from China to the western world when Chinese immigrants travelled across the Pacific Ocean to the US to construct the First Transcontinental Railway.

Keno’s popularity increased rapidly and by 1866 the game was hugely popular across the US in its current form that we recognize today.

Where Can I Find Free Keno Games To Play?

A number of online casinos offer free play versions of keno. Examples of this include Balls, Hot Shots, Ultimate Keno, Keno Kick Off, Jackpot Keno, Klub Keno, Vegas Jackpot Keno, and Instant Keno 80 Balls. Many more versions of keno are available to play online.

Are There State-Backed Keno Games In The US & Canada?

State-backed keno games are available across the US and Canada. States in the US that offer keno lottery games are Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Washington.

In Canada, keno is one of the most frequently played lottery games in the country. It is available to play across all the regional lottery corporations.

Is Keno Really A Random Game?

Yes. There are two formats under which keno are played. The first is where a random selection of 20 numbered balls are released from a rotating barrel. The second is where a random number generator is used to randomly select the 20 numbers.

Independent audits are also carried out with regularity on the systems used by the operators to ensure fair practice is in place.

Who Are The Biggest Ever Keno Winners?

Keno wins can produce instant millionaires, so when somebody strikes it lucky on the game, it can make headlines across the globe. The largest known win on keno was paid out at the Sam’s Town Casino in Las Vegas when a nurse’s aid who went simply by the name of “Eddie” won a staggering $6.4 million.

Other big winners have included a 68 year old widower that sealed a $4.37 million win at the Black Butt Hotel in New Lambton, Australia and an anonymous retiree who bagged a $3.17 million payout at the Jimboomba Country Tavern in Logan City, Australia.

What’s The Difference Between Keno And Bingo?

To the untrained eye, keno and bingo can be easily confused. Essentially, in both games players must try and match their own numbers with a set of winning numbers. However, there are key differences.

In the vast majority of keno games, players are allowed to choose their own numbers. In bingo, players are given cards with pre-selected numbers. The bet value is also more flexible in keno. Bingo only allows you to purchase cards for a set price.

Can I Guarantee A Win With Keno Formulas On Excel?

The use of Microsoft Excel for attempting to devise a formula for keno has become widely used by gamblers online. The theory is that a formula can be created to work out which numbers are most likely to come out as winning numbers in certain games of keno. The practice has divided opinion.

Many believe that keno is simply a game of chance and that there is no way of working out which numbers are more likely to be chosen than others.

However, there is also the school of thought that if certain numbers are coming out more often then it would make sense to find out which ones they are and then bet on those numbers to increase the chances of matching the winning numbers.

For instance, games like slot machines, roulette, and lotteries depend almost entirely on luck. The outcomes are random and there is no strategy that can change what is essentially a random draw or spin.

On the other hand, certain games such as poker, blackjack, and sports betting do involve a significant element of skill. Knowledge, experience, and strategic decision-making can greatly affect the outcome of these games.

But remember, regardless of whether a game is primarily based on luck or skill, the house usually has an edge, and all forms of gambling have potential risks and should be approached responsibly.

Examples Of Luck vs Skill

Here are three different scenarios; see if you can spot the difference.

Scenario 1:

It’s the final of the World Series of Poker. Player A has bet all his chips with a made straight. He is all-in and is waiting for his opponent, Player B, to make a decision. Player B, meanwhile, is sitting with a nut flush draw with two cards to go.

Player B knows he has only a handful of potential cards in the deck that can improve his hand, and figures that his ‘hand odds’ are about 4/1. However, if he bets and wins the hand, his pot odds – ie. the amount of chips he stands to gain – is roughly 8/1. Statistically, then, does he gamble and play the favorable odds, or fold, wait for another good spot, and avoid the gamble altogether?

Scenario 2:

Here’s our next scenario: it’s a soccer qualifier for the World Cup. With a matter of seconds remaining, and the home team needing to score to win the match and qualify for the finals, needs to go all-out. With virtually the last kick of the match, the home team’s striker launches a speculative ball into the opposing team’s penalty area, it ricochets off the goalpost, back off a defender, and into the goal. The winning team celebrate their outrageous luck wildly.

Scenario 3:

Finally, a gambler in a Vegas casino walks up to a roulette table, closes his eyes and throws a large stack of $100 chips onto no. 36, then waits for the ball to come to a rest. The ball duly hits 36, he picks up his $3,500 winnings and walks off.

So, of those scenarios, which are games of skill and which luck?

If you listen to the lawmakers, depending where you are, soccer is the sport, poker the game of skill and chance, and roulette the game of complete chance.

But why? What part did luck play in those three games, and how much skill really features in classic games of chance?

Poker As A Game Of Skill

Let’s take a look at poker first, as more than any other games, poker is the one most fiercely debated as regards to its skill vs. gamble elements.

The adage goes that for recreational poker players, poker is 30 percent skill and 70 percent luck, while for pros those figures are reversed.

In an article called “The Role of Skill versus Luck in Poker: Evidence from the World Series of Poker” by Steven D. Levitt and Thomas J. Miles, a group of highly skilled poker players at the 2010 World Series of Poker were analyzed. That set of players achieved an average return on investment (ROI) of over 30 percent, compared to a -15 percent for all other players at the tournament.

If poker was a game of pure luck, as many jurisdictions around the world surmise, then why do the best players in the world constantly reach final tables at big tournaments?

While it’s true that calculating odds does play a part in poker as we saw in our first example – after all, a large part of poker is based on the turn of a card – there are so many other elements to the game that poker can never be treated truly as a game of chance.

And while for every winner in poker there has to be a loser – those buy-ins have to go somewhere – employing skill in poker allows the top players to override the luck factor.

Soccer – A Game Of Chance?

Let’s go back to our soccer analogy. Tom Tango, author of ‘The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball’, suggested that if you consider just games where a team wins or loses (draws in games make the calculations far too complicated) luck actually plays a bigger factor in sports results than you expect.

In fact, when applying Tango’s calculations to soccer over a typical 10-month season, variations in results due to luck accounts for around 35% of the total variance (luck) leaving around 65% attributed to talent. This is good news for the skillful footballers as talent has approximately double the effect on a team’s win percentage that luck has.

However, this still means that around one third of a team’s win percentage is purely down to random chance. If that’s true, why isn’t soccer considered a game of chance like poker?

The Casinos’ Favorite Games

At the end of the day, some games lend themselves to pure luck, and no system will ever work out in the long-term.

Take roulette or video slots. Played sensibly, with the most conservative odds selected, both games can win you a few nice wins in the short-term, but played out for long enough will most likely leave you in the red.

It’s no mystery that land-based casinos will cram their floor space with the most profitable games for them. Per square meter, roulette and slots ‘earn’ the casino much more than say, a poker table, ever would.

And there’s a good reason – the chances of winning at those games are so much lower than a skill-based game like poker where you have to bring at least some knowledge to the table – or even blackjack, which offers players a more favorable house edge than its table game rivals. And that’s not even taking into account the house edges that roulette or blackjack that are skewed in favor of the casinos. Not only do gamblers have to win over chance, they have to win over the casino’s own odds too.

The Gambler’s Fallacy

The gambler’s fallacy, also known as the Monte Carlo fallacy, is the mistaken belief that if something happens more frequently than normal during some period, then it will happen less frequently in the future, presumably as a means of balancing nature.

This fallacy can arise in many practical situations although it is most strongly associated with gambling where such mistakes are common among players. However, the problem is it’s utterly wrong.

The most famous example came in a game of roulette in a Monte Carlo casino in 1913 (hence the name) when the ball fell in black 26 times in a row. Gamblers lost millions betting against black, incorrectly assuming that a long streak of red was overdue.

Las Vegas: Built on Luck

The fallacy remains to this day. Visit any casino and you’ll see gamblers furiously scribbling down the previous numbers on a strip of card, or frantically scouring the casino’s digital board displaying the last dozen numbers, as if ‘chance’ knows what’s come up before and will somehow redress the balance at some point.

If that was the case, Vegas wouldn’t have multi-billion dollar casinos, 20-storey hotels, and penthouse suites on tap. It’s all the gamblers who’ve bought into the fallacy who have helped pay for those suites.

Everyone Needs a System

Other than ‘don’t play’, every gambler needs a system to over-ride any variance, or luck, that sitting down at a table will inevitably bring.

The infamous Martingale system will have been toyed with by every gambler at some point (before, hopefully, being thrown in the general direction of the garbage bin) and it works something like this:

Let’s say you bet $5 on Red at a roulette table, and you lose. The next spin you double your bet, to $10, and keep going until you win. Therefore, your first win would help recoup all of your previous losses, as well as give you a profit equal to the initial stake.

That system sounds fine, except for one small problem: most gamblers, unless you’re a Russian oil tycoon, have a finite bankroll, and will inevitably go bust before the system can bear fruit. Any in any case, casinos generally have a stop button applied to losing gamblers: they will simply pull the plug if you lose too much.

Where Casino Systems Fall Down

On most, if not all, roulette tables around the world there will be a table limit – a maximum bet that once reached you cannot increase your bets any further. The maximum bet varies, but it is generally in the region of 500 – 5,000 times the minimum bet. This means that, even at the upper end of the table limit scale, you cannot exceed 13 losing spins.

Just look at that 20-storey Vegas hotel – it’s living, breathing proof that systems on roulette don’t work.

How Can you Override the Luck Factor?

So, can systems ever work in gambling games?

Even with a game that features a healthy skill element like poker, ALL players will experience a spell of bad variance and go bust – the luck may just not be with the players, even if they’re making sound betting decisions.

So, how can gamblers override the chance factor? With casino games that rely on luck so much, the easy answer is not to play at all. OK, so that’s a little simplistic, but simple bankroll management is the way for long-term success in ANY game involving odds. Play a strict percentage of your bankroll, bank winnings when you’re ahead, and take only ABC decisions that make good sense.

Taking on the Bookies’ Edge

Even good sports betting pros will gamble on Even money (1/1) or odds-on results, and avoid accumulators and wild bets like scorecasts that attract casual gamblers. There’s a reason bookies will advertise odds on a striker to score a hat-trick in a soccer match – because the chances of them doing that, especially if they’re going through a bad spell of form, are much lower than the odds the bookie are quoting.

Sports betting sites and bookies will skew the ‘true’ odds of anything happening (ie the true odds of someone scoring the first goal in a soccer match is generally much higher than the usual 6/1 or 7/1) but when gambling you’re not just taking on luck in itself, you’re taking on the house too.

But hit big, hit that ‘long shot’ and beat the house, and you’ll be quids in. Hit six numbers on the Lotto or that slots progressive jackpot for mere dollars and those astronomical odds will have been hit. It’s the ultimate temptation – bet small, win big, and spend the rest of your life on a luxury yacht sipping champagne having ‘cheated’ luck – and the house too.

Can We Avoid Luck

Luck, or chance, is inherent in everything we do. Get knocked over by a car, win a raffle prize or get struck by lightning – all involve chance, and just as in gambling, it’s how you play your luck that’s the key thing.

So, stick to games with favorable house edges or skill/gambling games like poker, and study, practice systems, do your legwork and make the odds work in your favor. It’s either that of give up gambling altogether.

And that doesn’t really appeal, does it?

Instead, experts say that you should stick with pick-3 or pick-4 games that are only offered to in-state residents. The payouts may be smaller, but your odds of winning are higher.

Another popular option are scratch cards. There are ways you can improve your chances of winning scratch cards, too.

Understanding The Odds

According to USC mathematics professor Kenneth Alexander, due to the odds of winning the lottery, it does not make financial sense to play.

He explains that people who play should use it as entertainment only, spending the $2 to get that feeling that you could hypothetically win. The odds are against you that you’ll actually win, but plenty of lottery fans are willing to spend $2 on the fantasy.

But if you are going to play, what are the odds?

If you play the Powerball lottery, you’ll need to match five numbers plus the Powerball to win the jackpot. The odds of scooping the grand prize are 1 in 292,201,338. The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 292,201,338, so for smaller cash prizes the odds are a lot better.

Mega Millions odds are even tougher to beat, at 1 in 302,575,350. By comparison, the New York Take 5 odds are 1 in 575,757. Just to put that in perspective: the odds of getting hit by lightning are 1 in 700,000 while the odds of getting dealt a Royal Flush are 1 in 649,740.

The odds are so tough to beat that buying more tickets really doesn’t help. This quote from Professor Alexander puts it into an excellent perspective: “My favorite description of Powerball odds is that if you’d been buying 1,800 tickets per week since the time of Jesus, there’s a better-than-even chance you wouldn’t have won the jackpot yet.” Uhh.

Lotteries That Offer Better Odds Of Winning

So, if the odds of winning Powerball is that tricky, which lotteries should you play if you actually want to win?

The experts say that you players looking to win should stick with pick-3 or pick-4 games that are only offered to in-state residents. The payouts may be much smaller, but your odds of winning are significantly higher. You might only win a few hundred dollars, but at least you stand a chance to win back more than you’re spending on tickets.

Some states are more generous than others. Looking at average payout per dollar, Massachusetts state lotteries are the most generous, getting close to 80 cents. Most states range between 60-70 cents per dollar, with some falling well below that.

In fact, if you’re playing state lotteries in West Virginia, you’re looking at just 16 cents of every dollar! That said, you still have a better chance of winning a state lottery in West Virginia than a national lottery.

Another popular option are scratch cards. Because of the range of prizes awarded in scratch cards, you’ll have a 60% or higher chance to make back what you spent on the ticket. Winning a substantial prize can quickly change to 1% or less, but they still tend to payout more often.

This means that you’ll be able to play more scratch cards while staying afloat, compared to other lotteries where the odds are you’ll never recoup your ticket prices. There are a number of ways you can improve your chances of winning scratch cards too.

The Biggest Lottery Wins In History

Even though the odds are astronomical, the biggest lottery wins in history come from games like Powerball and Mega Millions. In May 2013, a Florida woman won a jackpot worth about $590 million, which at the time was the biggest jackpot won by a single person.

It’s important to note the number of winners for these prizes. For example, in December 2013, there was a winner in Georgia and California for the $648 million Mega Millions. Both opted for the lump sum payout, getting $173 million each.

After winning the $758.7 million Powerball jackpot in August 2017, the single winner quit her job and took the lump sum payout of $480.5 million before taxes. When the Powerball hit $1.586 billion in January 2016, three winning tickets were sold, which meant they each got about $327.8 million as the pre-tax lump sum.

But the research shows that the fantasy of winning is often way better than the reality. For many, the lottery makes lives worse instead of better. About 70% of people who receive a cash windfall lose it within a few years. Beyond blowing it on frivolous things, many winners end up getting cheated out of cash or losing loved ones.

The best advice if you win?

Hire a financial planner and accountant to help you manage your money for the future. Also, if you live somewhere that allows you to stay anonymous, that’s probably best, unless you want to spend the rest of your life fighting off friends and acquaintances asking you for cash.

Below you’ll find out everything you need to know about the sprawling casino-hotel-entertainment complex, which put a small town in Oklahoma on the map over 20 years ago.

Want to know how many table games you can play? Whether you can bring the kids? Which mega band are performing next? Or where you’ll be able to grab a bite to eat? We’ve got you covered…

WinStar World Casino & Resort Quick Facts

Owners: The Chickasaw Nation

Open since: 2003

Size: Roughly 600,000 sq. ft. of dedicated gambling space, including eight different plazas offering table games, slot machines, a poker room, bingo hall and betting parlor.

Where: 777 Casino Avenue, Thackerville, Oklahoma. Around an hour’s drive from both Oklahoma City and Dallas.

Fun fact: Located in Love County, only five miles away from the Texas border, Thackerville was last estimated to have a population of just over 400 people. So, the largest casino in the US is situated in one of the country’s very small towns…

Rooms: 1,495 with roughly 1,395 of those rooms at the main complex, and the remainder off-site.

WinStar World Bars and Restaurants

At last review, pre or post-casino snacks included staples such as pizza, fries, pies and burgers, with guests able to tuck into everything from fancy steak, through to Mongolian dishes and buffets.

WinStar has plenty of options to help you keep your hunger at bay. From fine dining to casual eats, restaurants and bars include:

• Vino’s Italian Kitchen
• Chips N’ Ales
• NYC Burgers & Dogs
• Matadors Pizzeria
• El Fenix
• Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill
• Capisce Ristorante Italiano
• Le Paris Bakery & Cafe
• Legends Bar & Grill
• IHOP Express
• Panda Express
• Gran Via Buffet
• The Rotunda Bar
• Dairy Queen
• Kirby’s Steakhouse
• Khan’s Fire Mongolian Grill
• Palladium Sports Lounge
• Terrace Cafe
• Red River Grill
• Cafes & Quick Bites
• Mist Nightclub
• Skyline Lounge

Winstar Age Limit: Is WinStar Family-Friendly?

To visit the gaming area or play any of the casino games, guests must be at least 18 years old. However, kids can still eat at the resort’s restaurants and attend shows in the events center if accompanied by an adult — but they must not be left alone.

What Can You Do At WinStar World Casino & Resort?

Get a glimpse backstage at the Global Event Center:

• The casino area offers more than 10,000 electronic games, 100 table games including crowd-pleasers and traditional favorites like blackjack and roulette, and a 55-table poker room. The bingo hall seats around 360 people.
• Away from the casino, WinStar boasts a 6,500-seat event venue, making it a big draw for live music. WinStar World Casino & Resort has previously hosted Pitbull, KISS, Bob Dylan, and many other huge names.
• For those that like to pair the fun of the gaming floor with pampering and wellness, there’s a championship golf course and academy, a spa, gym, hot tubs, and a swimming pool with cabanas, bungalows and day beds.
• There are plenty of places where visitors can carry on the party into the early hours, including Mickey Mantle’s and Palladium Sports Lounge.

The Good:

• Since its grand unveiling, the resort has hosted performances from famous faces such as Kelly Clarkson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, James Taylor and Maroon 5.
• The hotel offers a real holiday resort experience across its four different accommodation areas and showcases 24-hour room service, fitness facilities and a luxury pool.
• The casino’s nine gaming areas are named after world-famous cities such as Cairo, Paris, Rio and London, with a theme to match.
• The poker room and Rio gaming plaza are both non-smoking, so everyone can enjoy their time on the floor.

Wonder what the gaming plazas look like? Take a tour through WinStar’s Rio section:

The Bad:

• No dogs allowed. If you’re staying at the casino’s hotel you’ll have to leave your furry friend elsewhere. Only service animals are allowed on the casino’s premises. It might be the biggest casino in the US, but there’s no room for your pooch.

What People Are saying:

• One TripAdvisor reviewer said, “I come at least once a month for a two day sabbatical of fun, relaxation and gambling”.
• “Awesome slot machines, many of which are interactive,” said one recent visitor, “We like how the casino is divided into different regions of the world and the shuttle service that will take you from one end to the other. Food choices are great and tasty”.
• One guest, writing on TripAdvisor described it as a “Fun place to visit and play” and the food as “excellent”.
• Another TripAdvisor review said that the “hotel accommodations were superior”, “gaming was enjoyable” and the “overall stay was a pleasure”.
• “Huge casino with all the sensory experience you could ever want. It was fun,” stated a customer on the casino’s Facebook page.

Upcoming Events

You can find a list of regularly updated events on their site, but notable entertainment in 2024 includes:

• Stevie Nicks: May 10th 2024
• Duran Duran: May 19th 2024
• Kevin Hart: June 22nd 2024

Whether you’re a high-roller who wants to splurge their winnings on a wellness experience, need to cure your hangover and rejuvenate after a night (or two) of too much fun, or simply want to pair your casino-hopping with some hard-earned rest and relaxation, there’s a spa for you in Sin City.

We’ve narrowed down the very best spas in Las Vegas, so let’s get into it…

1. The Spa & Salon at Aria

For a five-star spa experience, head to The Spa & Salon at Aria.

What makes this chic facility standout is its private suites. For the full VIP effect, or just a little extra privacy between treatments, reserve an exclusive room for up to four people, where you’ll indulge with a lounge area and hot tub.

The spa also features beautiful wet areas, a Shio Salt Room, and Ganbanyoku beds (Japanese heated stone beds for the uninitiated). You can also unwind in the therapy pool — an infinity pool with a co-ed balcony and chaise lounges.

Treatments include a changing ‘specials’ menu that features massages, scrubs, facials, and hair masks, as well as manicures in the salon. The classic package usually includes three hours of treatments, access to a hydrotherapy tub, food and drinks, and a spa host.

Just be aware that there’s a 20 percent service charge on treatments.

2. The Spa at Encore

The Spa at Encore delivers style in spades with its grand decor and 61,000 sq ft of pure relaxation space — where you’ll find a sauna, steam room, whirlpool, plunge pools and a couples suite.

Awarded five stars by the Forbes Travel Guide, it boasts a truly extensive menu featuring tempting options such as a Moroccan Mud Wrap, Citrus Soufflé Body and Facial Treatment and a Chinese-inspired ‘Good Luck Ritual’.

In terms of price, classic message therapies start at $120, while specialty massages start at $200. All treatments are cheaper Monday-Thursday than at weekends or on holidays. You’ll find this at most spas in Las Vegas.

3. Waldorf Astoria Spa Las Vegas

Was a spa at the Waldorf ever going to be anything but decadent?

Named ‘Nevada’s Best Hotel Spa’ by the World Spa Awards in 2019, it has everything you’ll need to rest mind, body and soul.

Stretching across 27,000 sq ft, it provides 16 treatment rooms, a beauty salon and an idyllic eighth-floor pool deck.

Hit that hangover hard with everything from tailored multi-hour treatment packages, through to couples’ massages and individual body scrubs, wraps and facials. You can even get your hair cut.

Prices for massages start at $200, body treatments start at $150, and facials start at $205. You can enjoy the couples experience from $200.

4. Saffron Day Spa

For those that aren’t celebrating a big win and want to be a little more wallet-friendly, there are plenty of more affordable spas in Las Vegas to choose from.

Perfect for massage purists and no-frills seekers, the highly-rated Saffron Day Spa has an array of packages up for grabs — including a ‘Spa Sampler’ which allows you to select four treatments from an extensive list, all for $125.

For even greater value, time your trip to coincide with Happy Hour Spa Days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when you can choose any three treatments from a menu of eight options, for just $60.

A combination of massages, foot treatments, hand rescue, facials and waxing could be just the ticket if you enjoyed yourself a little too much at a real happy hour the day before. One of the best day spas in Las Vegas for sure!

5. The Spa at Wynn

Another luxe, five-star option, The Spa at Wynn has had a makeover and is now a feast for the eyes as well as a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle.

Handily located within Wynn Las Vegas, you can head straight there following a day or night at the roulette wheel.

Designed to evoke the ‘serenity of nightfall’, the gorgeous decor features dark purples, blues, candles, cozy fires, koi carp and Japanese cherry blossom.

You’ll enjoy use of a sauna, plunge pools and a sunlit atrium — but it’s the treatments that truly catch the eye, including a ‘Four Hands Massage’ that utilizes two synchronized therapists, as well as a ‘Forest of Dreams Foot Ritual’ and ‘Fire and Ice Stone Massage’.

6. Spa at Flamingo Las Vegas

If you need to rest your weary feet after an all-nighter, the Spa at Flamingo may be just the tonic.

You can also take your pick of spa packages, signature services and a host of special treatments, such as reiki.

You’ll pay $129 for a 50-minute Swedish massage, while massage enhancements, including aromatherapy and scalp treatments, are $15-$80 a pop. There’s plenty more to choose from, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for seasonal deals specials, too.

But a day pass to simply use the spa facilities, encompassing three pools, sauna, steam room, and relaxation lounge with heathy snacks, costs $45.

And yes, you may come across flamingo-themed decor.

7. Sahra Spa, Salon & Hammam

Billing itself as an ‘oasis’ that’s inspired by the desert, Sahra is a Las Vegas wellness retreat that focuses on the peaceful and natural side of Nevada. It’s what makes it one of the best spas in Las Vegas Nevada.

Walls represent canyons, silver ceilings recall moonlit nights, and long hallways lead guests to dramatic features including a monsoon cave, serenity lounge, steam room and a Hammam room with a heated slab.

Massages start at $180 and can be enhanced with adds-ons from $20. For instance, you may choose to elevate your massage with a CBD-infused oil and targeted pain cream application for $30.

If that’s not for you, you can wash away the excesses of your vacation with a cleansing soak, bathing ritual or Hammam experience, instead.

For a day pass alone, hotel guests can expect to pay $75 during the week and $100 at the weekend, while non-guests must reserve a treatment for facility access.

8. Bellagio Spa & Salon

If you’re staying at the Bellagio, you’ll already know all about the world-class on-site spa: Bellagio Spa & Salon. It has remained one of the top spas in Las Vegas for some time now.

Inspired by the seasons and offering a specialist barber and makeup artist, it has something for everyone.

Indeed, the spa has a truly international feel thanks to wellness treatments that will whisk you around the world — with rituals from India, Japan, China and more.

Hotel guests pay $100 for access to the facility’s steam room, sauna, plunge pool and whirlpool. Massages, body treatments and facials all start at $180, increasing to $195 on the weekend.

9. Boracay Massage

The place to go if you’ve tied yourself up in knots with all-day and all-night parties, and been sat at one-too-many slot machines.

Services at the well-reviewed Boracay Massage spa include deep tissue, Swedish, sports, couples, and hot lava stone massages.

Located just 10 minutes away from the Strip, Boracay is well situated for when you need to find a sanctuary.

Pampering packages feature various combinations of a Swedish massage, a scrub and either Shiatsu, aromatherapy or hot stone therapy.

Starting at $179 for 90 minutes, they provide value in Vegas and, if you happen to be travelling as a twosome, you can capitalize on a wide selection of special couples’ deals, too, making it one of the more affordable spas in Las Vegas.

We’ve put together this step-by-step guide to help any lucky lottery winners, which is broken into three parts: when you’ve just won, when you first get the money, and building a future. And remember, what not to do when you win the lottery is equally as important as what you should do.

PART ONE – Before You Claim Your Winnings

Firstly, we’ll look at what to do – and not do – when you’ve just found out that you’ve won the lottery.

1. Try To Resist Telling Everyone

It might be really tempting to jump on social media and start telling the world about your lottery win, but you need to stay focused and consider your options. Your life is about to change dramatically.

• Keep the win to yourself for a couple of days, just to allow the enormity of the situation to sink in.
• After a couple of days, tell your closest family and friends – the people who you trust with such a large secret.
• Don’t tell other people until after the money has been claimed and you’re ready to deal with the change. You want to keep your privacy for as long as possible.

2. Sign Your Ticket And Read All The Instructions

• Most importantly, sign your ticket and make a photocopy to avoid losing it. Whoever signs the ticket is legally allowed to claim the prize, so make sure you do this.
• Carefully read all the information on your ticket and the lottery website incase there’s any small print. There may be a specific time or date you need to collect the winnings by.
• If the instructions say you need to phone the company, call them. If it says to contact them online, do that. Take care to follow the correct steps so you don’t make any errors with the claiming process that could prevent you from claiming your winnings.
• The lottery representative you speak with will be able to advise you about the whole process, from claiming the money, through to any expectations they might have of you, including publicity. You should feel much less anxious once you’ve spoken to someone and understand the process.

3. Hire Professional Help: Financial, Legal and Tax Advisors

It is absolutely vital that you hire professional help as soon as possible, before you even start the process of claiming your prize.

• Hire a financial and tax advisor. They will help you decide whether to take a lump-sum payment or annuity payments over a period of time.
• Hire an attorney. They will help you deal with the legal aspects of winning the lottery.
• Hiring help isn’t usually cheap, however, most companies will be happy to wait until you’ve received your winnings before requesting payment. You don’t have to take their advice, but most winners decide that it’s the least stressful option.

PART TWO – When You First Receive the Money

What should you do in the days after the money lands in your bank account?

1. Stay Anonymous

If you are allowed to remain anonymous, we recommend doing so.

• Speak with your attorney to see if you are obliged to do any mandatory publicity jobs for the company running the lottery.
• Ensure that all requests for publicity go through your attorney.
• If you aren’t obliged to disclose your identity, think about whether you want to go public and the implications that could have. Standing with a giant check shows the world you have just come into a whole lot of money; you don’t want any unwanted attention from criminals.

2. Speak To Your Professional Advisors

There’s a big decision to make about your lottery prize: how you will receive your winnings?

• As mentioned earlier, you will have to choose between getting the money in a number of instalments over the coming years, or in one lump sum.
• Discuss this decision with both your financial, legal and tax advisors to help you manage your new-found wealth.
• A lump sum of cash could encourage reckless spending. The value of money diminishes over time. There are pros and cons for both options, which your team will help you with.

3. Keep Your Job

For many, the first thing they plan on doing after getting their lottery money is stepping down from their job. But you should avoid making rash lifestyle changes overnight.

• Resist the temptation to hand in your notice. A job provides structure to your day, and this structure will be important when it comes to coping with your wealth and fame.
• Only once you have planned everything with your professional team, including financially, should you consider doing this.
• You might even decide to keep working indefinitely and never tell anyone about how rich you are.

PART THREE – Making The Most Of Your Money For A Happy Future

After a while, the attention on you will die down, however, there will still be a few things you absolutely must do.

1. Pay Off Your Debts

• Pay off your mortgage, car payments, credit cards, student loan, medical bills – whatever.
• Once this is done, you know that they money you have left is yours to spend how you like.
• Don’t forget that you also still need to pay your taxes. Your professional financial advisors can help with this.

2. Set Rules – And Stick to Them

One of the most stressful parts of winning the lottery is coping with the many requests you’ll get for money.

• To avoid any issues surrounding friends and family, set rules. Tell yourself that you’ll only give to specific people, and that you’ll turn down anyone asking you for money. Be strong when dealing with people just coming out of the woodwork.
• Avoid handing out loans. If you’re going to spend money, give gifts instead. This avoids the hassle and bad feeling that can sometimes go with chasing people for loan repayments.
• Keep a budget of how you want to live. Your money won’t last forever. Think about how much you can spend annually to give you an idea of how you can make this money last a lifetime.

3. Invest And Protect Your Money

• Consult your financial planners and get their advice on investments. They will guide you on how to spend your money to get the highest returns.
• Don’t fall for investments that sound too good to be true. You will most likely lose out.
• If you’re rich, you need to protect your assets. The last thing you need is someone suing you (people will try!). Ask your team to organize asset protection strategies that will create barriers from people who want to take you down.

But the most important thing is to enjoy yourself. Although your life has now changed, and that can seem daunting, it’s changed for the better! If you follow this guide, you should avoid any nasty traps and enjoy the easy life – that’s what winning the lottery is all about, after all!

If you read this but haven’t?actually won any money yet, check out this post on the lotteries with the best odds. Who knows, you may need to come back to remind yourself what to do when you win the lottery…

This age-old practice involves keeping a mental tally of the cards dealt, so you know information about the cards that haven’t been dealt.

Many people believe that card counting is illegal, but that’s not actually the case.

It’s certainly frowned upon by casinos, however, who will quickly remove any player they think is dabbling in this practice.

Card counting is seen by many players as a great way to get one over on the house, but we’ve decided to present a different viewpoint here.

Instead of talking about why card counting is great, we’re going to be looking at the reasons why you shouldn’t bother counting cards when you’re next at the blackjack table.

1. Profit Margins Are Actually Pretty Thin

If you’ve been inspired by the MIT blackjack card counting team, who managed to scoop millions at the tables, then prepare to be disappointed.

While it’s true that they managed to win a huge amount of cash, this isn’t the case for most players.

Card counting only gives you a small advantage over the casino, so you’ll find that most players win money very slowly.

You might get lucky and win a couple of thousand one night, but there’s every chance you’ll hit the tables the next evening and walk away with a loss.

That’s the nature of advantage gambling.

2. It’s Not Much Fun

For most people, the main reason to visit a casino is to have some fun.

When it comes to card counting, you’ll find that it’s not particularly exciting.

It requires you to spend hours at a time sitting at the table, trying to subtly work out how advantageous the deck is to you.

You’ll be thinking so much about counting cards that you won’t be able to chat to others or enjoy the cold beer sitting next to you.

3. It’s Hard To Master

You can’t just jump in and start card counting as there is quite a bit you need to learn first.

You’ll need to know basic blackjack strategy, which isn’t actually very basic, and then you’ll need to perfect one of the many different card counting systems.

Once you’ve learned how to count cards, the work isn’t over.

You then need to work hard on your demeanor at the table, as you mustn’t give even the slightest hint that you’re counting cards.

Casinos have multiple ways to catch card counters, so if you start playing for real money without preparing yourself properly, you’ll probably find yourself rumbled in the first few minutes, leading to you being unceremoniously bounced from the venue.

4. You Need A Lot Of Cash To Start With

Many people think that counting cards will guarantee profits, however this is only partly true.

You’ll only be tilting the house edge in your favor by a couple of percent when counting cards, so there’s no guarantee you’ll start winning straightaway.

Instead, you might have to wait weeks, months or even years to turn a profit.

It’s vital to know that counting cards is a long-term game and if you don’t plan for this, you could find yourself running out of money before the goal is achieved.

This means you need to start with a hefty bankroll – the MIT team started with $89,000.

The chances are your modest $200 bankroll really won’t be enough to beat the system, even at the lowest stakes tables.

5. You Will Get Caught

Card counting is not illegal. This means that many nonchalantly try it, thinking the worst that will happen is a telling off. This is not the case.

If you’re caught card counting at a casino, you’ll be ejected from the premises immediately.

You also won’t be able to redeem your chips with a cashier, meaning that you’ll be embarrassed and broke.

What’s more, you might really like the casino you’re ejected from. The security staff won’t care though, as you’ll be banned, never able to return.

You’ll then need to find another place to play, which could be tough, as you’ll see next…

6. Then You’ll Get Banned All Over Town

When you get caught card counting – which you will almost certainly be at some point – you won’t just be banned from one casino.

Instead, you’ll find your picture circulated throughout the local area, meaning that you won’t be able to get into any other casinos either.

When this happens, you’ll not be allowed to enter a casino for any reason.

Invited for a work party? You’ll be parting outside, solo. Want to play slot slots? You still won’t be allowed in.

Quite simply, you’ll have to accept that it will probably be many years before you step into a local casino again.

Hopefully you enjoy playing at online casinos, as they’ll be the only option open to you.

The Lesson? Leave Card Counting To The Movie Industry

Card counting is a hard skill to master so you’ll need to put in a lot of work before you’re ready to head to a casino.

And when you do, even if you can count cards better than the MIT team, you’re going to get caught out eventually.

It’s unlikely you’ll ever make loads of money through card counting, so is it really worth the risk of getting kicked out and banned from casinos?

It’s up to you to weigh up the pros and cons…

Whether you’re looking for glamorous gifts worthy of a whale or just some small stocking-fillers, you’re sure to find something to suit your budget.

1. For Gamblers Who Enjoy A Drink

For a whiskey glass Al Capone would have been proud to be seen with, why not get this tumbler that has space for a cigar?

If you’re not buying for a smoker, a hip flask will always be well received.

And this patterned one comes with an affordable price tag.

Failing that, a game of shot glass roulette is sure to be a hit and get everyone in the party mood.

2. For Gamblers Who Love Slot Machines

For those who love slots, this novelty toilet paper is sure to put a smile on someone’s face when they “squeeze out a win every time” (yes, that’s in the actual product description).

Or, if you don’t want a mental image of them sitting on the throne, why not get them an old school-looking belt buckle instead?

The description states that it does not spin, so you have been warned!

If all else fails, there’s always the option to bring a bit of Vegas home to your friends or family instead by buying the real deal.

Take a look at our guide that covers how to buy a slot machine for home use, in varying shapes and sizes.

3. For Gamblers Who Like Reading

For sports bettors who want to gain an edge or for those who just find stories fascinating, why not get them a book this Christmas?

‘Trading Bases: How a Wall Street Trader Made a Fortune Betting on Baseball’ by Joe Peta

‘Mathletics: How Gamblers, Managers, and Fans Use Mathematics in Sports‘ by Wayne L. Winston

If they’ve taken vacation, they’ll have plenty of time to read one.

Or, for poker fans, why not pick up one of our must-read top 20 poker books of all time? From beginners to experts, we’ve listed something for everyone.

4. For The High Rollers

If you’ve got the means to do so, why not splash out on this fabulous poker set from Gucci – all with animal-free, eco materials.

With three variations to choose from, there’s sure to be one the for the high roller in your life!

And if you’re searching for a real Christmas showstopper to put in Santa’s sack this year, this casino watch from Jacob & Co would make for a classy addition to any wrist.

Worn by the likes of Drake and Conor McGregor, it isn’t your average time piece.

If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one, be prepared to cough up the $620K price tag!

5. For Gamblers Who Like Art

Help your buddies scale up their interiors by adorning their walls with some artwork.

? The Story Behind The Iconic “Dogs Playing Poker” Painting

6. For Gamblers Who Dress Smart

Does your loved one imagine themselves as a little bit James Bond in Casino Royale?

These cufflinks would go great with a tux while you’re sipping a martini at a games table…

7.  For Gamblers Who Like A Personal Touch

Make your gifts extra special by adding your recipient’s name.

As a suggestion, we’ve picked out custom poker chip sets and a personalized mug, but there are tons of options out there.

8. For Budding Poker Players

Do you know a poker player who just can’t make up their mind during games?

Present them with this to help reduce decision making time.

They’ll never get called a “donkey” again!

9. For Gamblers Who Like To Host Games Nights

Everyone can get involved in a DIY casino party, without leaving the comfort of home.

Host it yourself, or simply hand over a kit for the recipient to create their own evening.

Most packages come with almost everything you need for fun and games, such as a roulette wheel and balls, mats, dice, dealer and poker chips, fake cash, rules, cards and croupier sticks.

And if you want to treat them to a couple of extras, why not throw in some straws and a cups holder to take the party experience up a notch?

10. For Gamblers Who Love Horse Racing

Let them show the world how much they love the sport by wearing a pair of jockey-printed socks.

Or, if you’re looking to splurge, treat them to this push pin map so they can document all the races they’ve been to.

We hope you’ve found something on this list that’ll suit the casino lover in your life!

But you might have noticed that navigating the dos, don’ts and legal statuses of charity gambling events can be pretty challenging.

Whether you’re planning an event that’s big or small, in aid of a local group that’s close to your heart or a national or international non-profit organization, use our guide to help you host a gambling fundraiser, legally.

Step 1: Choose A Charity

If you haven’t already, it’s better to begin planning with a clear picture of what and who you want to raise funds for, rather than a vague idea.

If you can visualize your end goal it’ll motivate you when you hit the hard work and headaches.

Consider where focusing your efforts will reap the most rewards and how your time will be most effective.

It’s also worth thinking about your target audience and what is most likely to encourage people to attend and donate — a local, national, international, or global issue?

Step 2: Make Sure It’s Legal

You’ll need to make sure your event is water-tight when it comes to legal issues. Don’t skip over this step.

You need to make sure you research the appropriate state or local charitable gambling laws and apply them throughout the planning stages, as well as when actioning any requirements before or on the day.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to gambling-related fundraising, as there are different laws applied to everything from games and raffles, through to bingo and auctions.

And every state has its own rules and laws.

When you’re trying to raise money for a cause or organization, the last thing you want to do is land yourself, the charity or non-profit, donors and attendees in hot water.

Failing to follow the rules can lead to criminal penalties.

There are many things to consider, such as:

• Whether you will need gambling and alcohol licenses.
• If different types of gambling and games are legal in your state or require multiple/different licenses.
• Age restrictions of attendees and participants. Check out our guide on legal US gambling ages by state.
• Procedures around handling money and the value of prizes.
• Whether proceeds must be kept in any special bank accounts.
• The timeframe between fundraising and transferring funds to the charity or non-profit.
• Who you can hire to work at the event.
• Whether winners or non-profits will be required to pay taxes on any income.
• If any records need to be kept.
• If staff and organizers require background checks.
• How proceeds can be used (or not).
• Whether there are copyrights on any music you want to play.

Ask The Right People

The first thing to do is to make sure that you contact the correct people.

An online search for your state’s laws will get the ball rolling, but you’ll also need to contact the local government branch that deals with gaming issues and enquiries.

This could involve contacting more than one person or office, so make sure to cover all bases and cut no corners.

Useful online resources to get you started include:

• The National Council of Nonprofits’s website has a helpful page on ‘games of chance’ including whether they’re legal in your state.
• They’ve also made a handy map with links to local state associations of non-profits.
• An article by NOLO regarding the IRS’s position on taxes.
• For UK events, we suggest reading Gov.uk’s guide on legal fundraising.

Step 3: Check That Your Cause Qualifies As A Charity

Refer back to points one and two here.

Once you’ve chosen your charity and started researching state laws, don’t forget to make sure that your chosen cause qualifies as a charitable organization, in relation to gambling events and fundraising.

This research will also help you to clarify the aforementioned IRS tax rules and whether the proceeds will be tax-exempt, or not.

As mentioned earlier, it can be helpful to bring in outside advice from a qualified lawyer or expert if you are unsure.

Step 4: Know The Rules About Serving Alcohol

An alcohol license may be one of the last things you end up thinking about before the event — but this would be an error.

You may have to apply for a license to serve alcohol, and restrictions could be based around numerous factors, such as:

• The legality in your state regarding providing alcoholic beverages at charity events.
• Individual state regulations on serving and selling alcohol.
• Whether your venue has an alcohol permit and, if so, whether the event still requires one separately.
• Whether bartenders need a permit.
• Whether there will be a free bar, if money will be exchanged for alcohol, if chips will be exchanged for alcohol, or if alcohol will be included in event ticket prices.
• Whether you can use alcohol as a prize.
• Other local laws such as notifying a liquor control board about using alcohol as a prize.

Licenses can take time and you may be asked to provide a lot of detail, so factor this into your thinking.

Also, keep in mind whether drinking is appropriate at your event e.g. if your charity or cause involves addiction.

Step 5: Find Out The Laws About Prizes

If non-cash prizes are likely to be featured at the event, via raffles, auctions, poker tournaments etc., make sure you know the different legal requirements surrounding each.

Remember that this differs from state to state.

Things to check include:

• Is there a price-cap on prizes?
• Are there things that cannot be included as prizes?

Step 6: Set A Fundraising Target

Once you’ve decided on your charity, checked the legality of the event, and made sure it qualifies, you need to set a fundraising target.

Most events set themselves a goal, and you can choose to make that public or not.

Find out what your chosen organization or cause needs most and work with them to estimate cost that would cover or help to cover it.

Make it something achievable.

What is the purpose of your event?

Making this clearer will then help you decide on ticket prices and how many you’ll need to sell.

If your attendees can see your fundraising target too, and how close (or far) you are from it, it may encourage more don-ations.

Step 7: Consider How Your Event Will Make Money

It’s all very well putting on a great fundraiser event, but if you can’t raise any funds from it then there’s no point in doing one.

Here are some ideas that could help you make money for your charity or cause:

• A ticketed event.
• Donations at the event.
• Donations in exchange for extra chips to use at games tables.
• Food and drink for sale, or extra options such as a bar or street food trucks if dinner is included in your original ticket price/package.
• Extra events within the overall event, such as auctions, special games, bingo, raffles and more.
• Reserved tables for companies who may want to buy a table and sit together, or want a specific table with a good view or position close to the bar.
• Sponsorship.

Step 8: Plan The Party And How Your Fundraiser Will Look

Now it’s time for the fun part.

Some things to consider in this step:

• What will the event look like overall?
• How long will it run for?
• Will you opt for a casino-style evening with lots of table games?
• Will your gambling fundraiser take the form of a poker competition?
• Or could you mix both types of entertainment to attract more attendees?

You may also want to consider giving your fundraiser a theme, which can encompass everything from food, drinks and decor to outfits, invitations and entertainment, such as:

• Black tie.
• 1950s, 1960s, 1970s or 1980s.
• Old Hollywood fancy dress.
• 1920s speakeasy/Roaring 20s/The Great Gatsby.
• Seasonal (Christmas, Halloween).
• Mob.
• Western.
• Sports.

These themes may affect the gambling and the ‘games’ of chance that you select.

As an example, a 1920s theme may feature rented vintage slot machines, while a 1980s theme may include video gaming machines.

Popular card and table games to include are craps, blackjack, roulette, poker and baccarat.

If you are including any of the above, it’s worth knowing the rules inside out so you feel like an expert on the day.

Our experts can help! Check out our guides on how to play blackjack as well as how to play roulette and how to play poker.

Finally, another things to consider: Will there be competitions, guessing games, or a bingo area?

And will you announce raffle and auction winners live (and allow people to bid in real-time) or after the event?

Will your auction be live, silent or blind/sealed-bid?

There’s plenty to consider, but use your allotted time wisely and ensure a balance between auction time, games and gambling time, entertainment, dinner (if you’re hosting a sit-down meal), time for extra eating and drinking, and networking/mixing time.

And the most important part of planning?

Give yourself plenty of time — and then some more, depending how big your event is.

Leaving it until the last minute won’t be fun.

Step 9: Ask For Volunteers

As mentioned earlier, there may be rules about who you can hire to work at a charitable gambling event, based on local laws regarding age and experience with professional gambling etc.

But, regardless of whether you will be hiring paid-staff to act as servers, catering, bartenders, valets or card dealers, you’ll need like-minded people to volunteer too and help your event become a success.

Don’t be afraid to put a call out to people you know, as this may help you save on expenses too.

Planning a gambling fundraiser requires a lot of effort, so consider if you know anyone with special and relevant skills (admin, event organization, graphic designers for websites, logos, tickets, invitations and marketing materials) who can help you.

If it’s a local event you’re working on e.g. fundraiser for school or church, you may find many willing takers.

Voluntary help could also include venues — are there any local venues that will host you for free and provide staff?

If it’s a local venue that you’re raising funds for, can you host it there?

Your venue will, of course, be part of checks to ensure everything is legal, safe, licensed and above board.

Step 10: Consider Any Expenses And Outgoings

Make sure to think potential expenses through thoroughly, as extra and hidden costs can crop up.

Decide whether you’ll need to:

• Hire professionals — card dealers, hosts, servers, insured and licensed bartenders, catering staff, cleaners, musicians, entertainers, lawyers to help with legalities, or fundraising professionals.
• Book and insure a venue — will you need to hire somewhere? And are there clean-up costs?
• Buy promotional materials.
• Use paid-for social media adverts.
• Use ticket and invitation printing (including delivery and postage — consider collection at the venue, or virtual invitations).
• Include the cost of free food and drink, or a free bar, in your budget and ticket prices, including for staff, volunteers and entertainment as wells guests.
• Purchase permits, licenses, testing, insurance and certification from gambling and alcohol to the venue, electrical equipment if you’re using special lights, PA systems, microphones, and electric instruments.
• Rent or buy decor, tables and chairs, stages, cutlery, glassware and/or props.
• Rent gambling equipment such as games and gaming tables, chips, slot machines, bingo equipment, and raffle tickets.
• Rent staff uniforms and safe storage for extra donations.

Make sure you have enough for everyone, plus a little surplus, to avoid disappointment.

You don’t want attendees to go hungry, get thirsty or bored if they have to wait on a limited number of games.

Step 11: Seek Sponsorship And Prize Donations

Are there any local or even national companies that would want to sponsor your event?

Ask around — free promotion in exchange for a donation is usually popular and can be a great boost to funds.

You can offer everything from logos, names or contact information on gaming or dining tables, staff clothes, venue decor, glassware and loads more.

If you’re including an auction, you’ll want to approach companies and individuals for donated prizes to use.

Ideas could include:

• Vacations.
• Overnight stays at hotels.
• Spa treatments.
• Concert or theatre tickets.
• Sports memorabilia.
• Sporting event tickets.
• Restaurant dinners.
• Experience days.
• Artwork.
• Homeware.
• Designer items.

And remember: If you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Step 12: Decide How To Promote The Event

You’ll need a marketing strategy that covers all areas:

• Word of mouth.
• Social media.
• Press releases.
• Newsletters.
• Local newspaper, magazine and radio adverts.
• Flyers and posters.
• Website banners.
• Advertising boards and more!

A mix of old school physical marketing and digital marketing may ensure you reach a range of people of all ages.

Do you know any famous faces, local figures or patrons of your chosen charity that may share the event details? Or can you invite them to the event?

Will you ask the charity or organization to help promote the event and do they have any promotions or marketing experts that can help?

Again, you will need to do your research and check individual state laws on gambling and gaming promotion for a charity event.

Step 13: Come Up With A Selling Strategy

How will you sell your tickets once you have begun marketing?

You will need to sell as many in advance as possible — but consider the following:

• Will you demand full price up front, or allow a deposit?
• Will you sell any remaining tickets on the door on the day?
• Physical sales as well as online sales — can you get volunteers or members of the organization to sell tickets personally?

Step 14: Enjoy The Event

And breathe.

Don’t forget to enjoy the event and make it fun!

Not only was this the song that made the band, it’s also the highest and most-valued card in the deck.

Perhaps, like me, the title’s the only part of the song to which you can comfortably sing along, or ever really paid much attention to (sorry to all you diehard Mot?rhead fans!).

Take another listen though and the fast-living rhetoric of the gambling thrill is all over the song, with special mention to this “dead man’s hand again”.

So Where Did This All Begin?

There are many thoughts and theories on how the highest-valued card became synonymous with death, but regardless of its origins, it seems to be well and truly established in the superstitious hearts and minds the world over.

But let’s go further back and explore some of the history that gives this fated card its doom status.

Way back in medieval times, when blacksmiths made armor and weaponry, to provide some mark of quality they often stamped their work with the Ace of Spades.

Given the usage of their ware, this ominous link with the symbol led to its association with death.

In the 1700s, stamp duty was extended by Queen Anne, in England, to include playing cards.

To indicate that this tax had been paid the Ace of Spades, with its ornate insignia, was to be signed by the manufacturer.

The signing process was time-consuming and costly – hiking up the price of the deck by up to 12 times as much! – so people began faking their own.

This, of course, carried a big risk. Producing counterfeit cards was a capital offence resulting in death by hanging.

You fake an Ace of Spades stamp, you get caught, you die.

As such, the Ace of Spades spelled out death to many people and this connotation was hard to shake off.

In the 18th Century it was a favorite amongst pirates to let a traitor or informer know he was nearing his end; that he was ‘on the spot’.

It came a close second after the skull and cross bones as a symbol of intimidation.

Then there’s the design of the card itself – for some people the spade represents the tool used to dig your grave.

And since the Ace card carries the highest value, it will get your coffin dug deepest in the ground.

With the deck comprising of 52 cards, it’s believed that each card represents a week in the year, and each suit a season. The spades represent winter and the Ace heralds the Week of Yule, the death of the year.

As mere pawns in the game of nature, try as we might, we cannot escape the death cycle and the card’s place in the calendar is a reminder of that.

The beginning of winter was a time feared and dreaded by members of poorer classes as it meant the start of the struggle through to spring.

Will there be enough food? Will we stay warm enough? Many families suffered death through famine and freezing.

In the lawless days of the Wild West, Wild Bill Hickock immortalized the ‘dead man’s hand’ when he was shot through the head at point blank range by Jack McCall seeking vengeance for a loss at cards a few days earlier.

He died instantly, slumping over the table where he was playing poker, with his cards still in his hand, now spattered with blood.

And what was he holding? A mixture of black aces and eights.

Yet again the Ace of Spades strikes, with death following its presence.

The Vietnamese War

There are a couple of theories surrounding the use of the Ace of Spades during combat in the Vietnamese War.

The first theory is that the Americans believed the Vietnamese to be highly superstitious, and that the Ace of Spades struck the fear of death in their hearts.

It was rumored that the European associations with the card hit the Vietnamese even harder due to struggles faced during the colonial time under French rule across six decades.

So for the Vietnamese people, this symbol allegedly spelled cruelty under foreign control and influence.

This rumor apparently spread fast and armed with this knowledge, American soldiers wanted to use the symbol as a form of intimidation.

In 1966, following a request from the 25th Infantry Division, the Cincinnati-based US Playing Card Co. donated and posted 1,000 decks of cards, comprized solely of Aces of Spades, to troops stationed in Vietnam.

The media back in the States got hold of the story and amped up the rumor, saying the Viet Cong feared the card more than the bombers.

It turns out, in fact, that the cards acted more as a morale boost to the Americans.

Stuck onto helmets, carried around in pockets, and left in situ after battle. Almost like a lucky charm, the cards made some of the soldiers feel stronger and like a warrior.

It was a tremendously difficult time for all involved and this offered some American soldiers a bit of encouragement out in the field.

It became a practice amongst some American soldiers to leave the card on the eyes of a dead Vietnamese soldier so that it would be the last thing they saw, or in their mouths as a warning to other enemy soldiers.

In other accounts it’s thought that to the Vietnamese it wasn’t so much a symbol of death but a phallic symbol, and that this in turn could’ve led them to believe the Americans to be necrophiliacs.

It certainly had the effect of clearing space for you in a bar, or scaring off any potential romantic partners, according to Captain Edward N. Voke of the 6th PSYOP Battalion in 1966.

He was curious about the reaction amongst locals so asked his platoon to casually pull them out in social settings. It did, indeed, appear to spook people.

But then again, if a foreign soldier brought out a well-known symbol associated only with negative connotations wouldn’t you stay away?

And on the flip side, other theories claim to have never even heard of or seen the Ace of Spades being used in any way.

It’s thought that any ideas behind the card being effective against the ‘superstitious’ Viet Cong stems from ignorance and racism on the American side.

Thanks to Francis Ford Coppola film, Apocalypse Now, the card became a symbol of the war itself.

And What About Today?

In a more modern context, the Ace of Spades and pop culture have a long and exciting relationship.

It’s very often used in association with rock music and motorcycle culture – there’s nothing cooler than danger, and there’s nothing more dangerous than death – two big facets of these cultures.

It’s the most popular tattoo and many a rocker, biker or gang member will proudly adorn themselves with the symbol. To up its deathly connotations it’s often accompanied with fire, flames, and skulls.

A quick scan of Ebay will confirm its unending popularity. Is it that death is still such a taboo in the West that we have such an obsession with it?

Patches worn by American soldiers are available to buy, including one that puts the Ace of Spades side by side with the Grim Reaper.

Or if you don’t fancy a patch, you can get a t-shirt of a giant Ace of Spades card with a skull planted in the centre of the spade.

Not only does it feature in pop culture references, it’s known that when Cliff Burton, the bass guitarist for Metallica tragically died, aged 24, in Sweden, 1986, he’d pulled the Ace of Spades earlier that night.

This card gave him the ‘winning hand’ that gave him first choice of the beds on their tour bus, and when it crashed in the middle of the night, without a safety belt, he flew straight through one of the bus windows and was then crushed by the vehicle.

And whilst all of this talk of death might seem a bit depressing, it’s good to remember that with death, the end of a cycle, comes a fresh start – the beginning of something new.

In tarot, the Ace in each suit is a good omen as it offers the seeker hope for a new cycle. After the chaos of destruction has settled, out of the ashes a brighter future can be birthed.

For something similar, check out:
10 Most Amazing Facts About Playing Cards

But how often do you think about the cards themselves rather than the game?

We take a closer look at what they are, where they originated from, and why they are the way they are.

Keep reading to find out some of the most surprising facts about playing cards.

1. There’s Actually A Reason Why There Are 52 Cards In A Deck

Ever wondered why there are 52 cards in a deck? Well, it hasn’t always been that way.

Over the centuries, decks have comprised of different card variations of 24, 36, 40, 48 and almost any number in between.

But 52 stole a march on the rest of the, er, pack to become the most popular and common deck size across large portions of the globe.

Nobody can say for sure what the reason for this is.

There are many competing theories, but it’s most likely that British and French colonialism played a huge part, as it potentially allowed the standard French deck size of 52 cards to spread across the world.

2. Cards Symbolize The Calendar

An interesting theory on why there are 52 cards in a deck is that the number of cards corresponds to the number of weeks within a year.

Some say that the two colors — red and black — reflect day and night, and that the four suits represent the four seasons.

It gets even freakier when you notice that there are 13 cards in a suit to match the number of lunar cycles, and 12 court cards that represent the 12 months of the year.

And, if you add up all the symbols in a deck of cards, there are 365…

Fascinating.

3. The First Card Decks Were Invented In A Surprising Location

Think you know where packs of cards first came from? Maybe think again.

We’ll admit our first guesses were wrong.

Decks of cards actually originated in China in the 9th century. Or at least that’s what most scholars agree on.

The common belief is that the first printed playing cards originated in China too, in the form of a 32-card domino deck printed on paper, bone and wood.

It’s believed cards then slowly spread across India, Persia and Egypt before arriving in Europe, allowing for all kinds of variations.

4. Vegas Casinos Change Decks More Than You Change Your Pants

Ever wondered how long decks of cards are used in casinos before they’re thrown away?

In Las Vegas, decks can last for up to 12 hours before being discarded or sold.

How long a deck is in play depends on factors such as how busy the specific table is and whether shuffling is done by hand or machine.

For example, if you visit during a busy time, a deck can last as little as one hour before being switched for a fresh pack.

But why are cards retired in the first place?

That’s to stop any distinguishing marks, such as bends and scuffs, giving the game away to players looking to gain an advantage.

5. The World’s Oldest Deck Of Cards Is In NYC

The world’s rarest and supposedly oldest full deck of cards is on show at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The hand-painted tarot deck hails from mid-15th century Netherlands and is in amazing condition, suggesting the cards were hardly played.

The deck was sold to a collector in the 1970s for $2,800, who spent about five years researching its history before selling them to the Met for $143,000.

You’ll find other centuries-old decks of cards being held at institutions like Yale University, who even have their own card database.

Competing cards for the title of oldest and rarest include the Mamluk pack of cards at Topkapu Museum in Istanbul.

6. Casino Cards Require A Lot Of Security

As we mentioned earlier, any imperfections in a pack of cards can give away plenty to eagle-eyed players. This means casino cards have a lot of security measures in place.

This includes larger symbols and characters so that any suspicious occurrences can be caught by security cameras.

You may also notice that cards in a casino feel a little different. That’s because they are 100% plastic.

Plastic allows more card-handling for games like poker, before they get tired, dirty and dog-eared.

And, since we spoke of security before, it also makes it harder for players to cheat and?mark cards?than paper.

New decks also have to be signed-off by pit bosses and?dealers, before being reshuffled.

And when a pack of cards is finally retired, every card must be accounted for before being either shredded or sold with intentional imperfections so that they can’t find their way back to the casino.

7. You Might Recognize Some Card Characters

If you play with a ‘traditional’ deck of 52 ‘French’ cards, created from the 16th century onwards, some faces may look familiar.

That’s because some are based on or inspired by famous figures from history.

Peek a little closer and you might just see Julius Caesar as the King of Diamonds, Alexander the Great as the King of Clubs, Greek goddess Pallas Athena as the Queen of Spades, or Lancelot du Lac as the Jack of Clubs.

8. Cards Aren’t Always What They Seem

During war time, governments can get pretty creative with playing cards.

Our best example of this is the US government, who worked with a famous card company during World War II to make special secret decks for American prisoners of war (POWs).

The cards would apparently peel apart when wet to reveal snippets of maps to assist with escapes.

Very James Bond-esque.

9. The Most Famous Cards Are From The US

Again, it’s all a matter of opinion, but it’s widely regarded that the most iconic card decks are the US brand Bicycle.

These are tipped to be the most famous pack of cards ever due to their history of being used to help American prisoners escape during World War II, as we mentioned above.

The cards also feature in popular culture when it comes to the Vietnam War too, as a myth did the rounds that American soldiers used the Ace of Spades cards to scare away superstitious Viet Cong members.

Nowadays you’re more likely to find them at casinos and magic shows.

10. One Card Manufacturer Dominates The Market

The United States Playing Card Company (USPCC) are said to be the biggest manufacturer of playing cards in the world, and a top choice for many casinos.

Recognize any of these brands: Aviator, Bee, Tally-Ho?

They’re all made by the USPCC, as well as those famous (or infamous) Bicycle cards we mentioned earlier.

The Belgian company Cartamundi also posts a rival claim to be the largest card manufacturer in the world. But they make many varieties of card games in different markets than the USPCC.

For more similar content, find out how one woman is leading the way with the first ever gender-neutral playing cards.

Of course, no matter how you pick your lottery numbers, the draw is always totally random. While there is no method to guarantee a win (otherwise we’d all be millionaires!) there’s no harm in having one, either.

So, if you’re wanting to have a go at scooping the massive $810 million Mega Millions jackpot we’re all going crazy about, try one of these eight different ways to make your pick.

1. Study The Statistics

This method involves looking up previous draws and noting down the balls that get drawn most frequently. And thanks to a global obsession with lotteries, there is tons of information out there for you to study.

Although there’s no mathematical reason why some numbers get drawn more than others, there are a few that appear to be hotter.

Just remember that every number has the same chance of being drawn, regardless of whether it has appeared 10 or zero times over the past few draws.

Overall, this method is pretty time consuming, but many lottery players feel it gives them an edge.

You won’t be the only one using this method, though, so be prepared to split the prize if your numbers win.

2. Use Numerology

Next up, we come onto numerology. Whether you choose to use this method really depends on whether you’re a believer in the power of the universe.

Anyone can calculate their own “numbers” which hold a significance that’s personal to them.

We’re not going to go into how to find them, as it’s a really long process, but there are plenty of websites that explain how it all works if you want to try this method.

Once you’ve come up with six numbers, use them for the next lottery draw.

You never know: Some cosmic force could lead to you finally winning the jackpot you’ve been chasing for years.

3. Use Lucky Numbers

Nearly everyone has some lucky numbers.

You might like 10, for example, as it’s your birthday. Or you could have an attachment to number 28 for no reason whatsoever.

Lucky numbers come in all forms, from anniversaries to player jerseys. All you need to do is pick the ones you like or hold a sentimental value for, and that’s pretty much it.

It’s certainly not a scientific way of doing things but it’s always been a very popular way to pick lottery numbers.

4. Go Random

Every lottery is completely random, so why shouldn’t the way you pick numbers embrace this?

What’s the first number you think of? Write it down, and you’ve got your first pick!

There are various other ways to randomly pick numbers as well – the only limit to the ways is your own imagination. You could even just drop a pen on some numbers and use the one it hits.

We could go on about random number picking methods for hours, but we’ll let you get creative instead. As long as you end up with the correct number of picks, you’re doing it right.

This is actually one of our top ways to pick numbers, as it doesn’t have to take too long and it takes the pressure off having to think of lottery numbers for yourself.

5. Pick Numbers Over 31

Although this method won’t increase your chances of winning, it could increase the amount you win if you’re lucky enough to scoop the jackpot.

Why?

Well, most people have some low numbers in their selection, as they often use birthdays. Therefore, the numbers over 31 are used less frequently.

This then means that there’s less chance of someone else also hitting the jackpot with your numbers.

Think of it like this: You pick your numbers for a $10m jackpot, and 10 people win. Everyone would get $1 million each.

If only 2 people win though, you’d instead find yourself raking in $5 million.

We’d recommend this method to everyone, as it at least does have some mathematical reasoning behind it.

6. Make A Pattern

When you’re looking down at your lottery slip, you’ll notice that every selection contributes towards a pattern. This method involves picking numbers by drawing on the slip.

You could go in a circle, for example, or you could try to draw out a letter of the alphabet. Use your artistic flair and ability to make something that really does look great when you hand it over to the cashier.

Don’t just go in a straight line though as loads of people do this, so if you win, you’ll be sharing your prize with quite a few other winners.

7. Use A System

Another way some people choose their lottery numbers is by using a system.

There are plenty of these online, all of which are supposed to improve your odds of winning the jackpot.

In reality, they don’t, but many people have found it works for them.

There are tons out there, but we will only explain the Delta System today.

It works like this:

• Choose a number from 1 to 3.
• Pick two other numbers from 1 to 8.
• Now pick something close to 8.
• Now pick two numbers between 8 and 15.
• Mix the numbers up, so they’re not in numerical order.
• Your first lottery number is the first Delta number in the sequence.
• The second number is the first two Delta numbers added together.
• The third is your second lottery number + the third Delta number.
• The fourth number is the third lottery number + the fourth Delta number.
• The fifth is the fourth lottery number + the fifth Delta number.
• The sixth is the fifth lottery number + the sixth Delta number.

We know this sounds confusing, but it’s actually easy if you follow the instructions.

If any number is higher than the highest lottery number, just mix the numbers around until the system works for you.

8. Leave It To The Machine

Feeling lazy? This is the perfect method for you if you can’t be bothered to think about your lottery numbers.

Most lotteries allow players to simply receive random numbers, picked for them by a machine.

Just select the option, and you’ll receive your ticket, complete with the correct number of selections.

You’ll hear some people saying that letting the machine pick your numbers ruins your chances of winning.

The truth, however, is that whether you spend a year choosing your numbers or whether you let the machine do it, you’ll still have exactly the same chances of winning.

Picking numbers randomly is a hugely popular way to choose numbers in some countries, such as the UK.

Why not see if the lottery machine can help you win the jackpot?

It’s All About Lady Luck

We hope there’s at least one method here you like the sound of for the next time you try to hit the jackpot.

If you’re lucky enough to win, be sure to check out our handy guide on how to cope with winning the lottery.

It would be life changing, after all!

Tipping etiquette can confuse the best of us. There’s a lot to consider: who should I tip? How much is enough? What if the service was bad?

Sometimes it seems as though every city, or even every venue, has its own rules — and every tip-ster has their own opinion on how much to pay.

But nobody wants to be known as a bad tipper or, worse, a tightwad.

And a positive customer-server experience can be the making of a great trip, especially if you’ll be frequenting the same casinos, bars or restaurants during your stay.

So, if you’re a novice, a newbie or just unsure how they do things in Sin City, read our guide to why, when, and how much to tip in Las Vegas.

Why You Should Tip

When you travel around the world, particularly in Europe, you’ll know that tipping is usually left to patrons’ own personal discretion.

However, it’s a different ballgame in the US. While it may not be a legal requirement to tip, it is expected.

More than simply a token of appreciation or recognition, it’s a cultural norm and one that’s taken seriously.

And the main reason for this? Minimum wage.

In the US, those in the service industry can reportedly expect around $7.25 per hour without tips, or $2.13 for employees who earn a minimum of $30 in tips per month.

So can you see how if you’re earning as little as $2 per hour, you will rely heavily on gratuities to make up the rest of your income.

Working tables is hard, from greeting potentially hundreds of customers a day, through to ordering, serving, remembering usuals and specials, and handling questions and complaints. So please remember to tip.

Thinking about it may dampen your vacation mood, but tipping is a necessity – especially since it’s on the decline in Vegas.

How Much Should You Tip In Vegas?

Leaving between 15-20 percent is the standard gratuity practice across Las Vegas, and the US as a whole.

So you’ll be safe as long as you stick to those figures when you pay the bill in the casino restaurant or bar.

But, of course, if you received outstanding service there’s nothing stopping you from leaving more.

You may even come to be known as a “George” — that’s code for big tipper. It’s much better than being called the opposite — a “stiff”.

Should You Tip Different Amounts For Different Services?

As mentioned, a trip to a casino will bring you into contact with many kinds of staff who rely on gratuities to bolster their wage.

So, while the 15-20 percent rule will serve you well for the waiters, bartenders and hosts in casino restaurants and bars, what about the rest?

The general rule of thumb is:

1. Casino Hosts

Check the casino rules and policies before tipping your host.

Some venues are strict about cash gifts, so your goodwill could land someone in trouble if it looks like a bribe.

However, if you have the green light, it’s often best to do this at the end of your stay, with gift certificates, bets and comps popular too.

2. Dealers

Tip your dealer as you play or when you leave.

Between two to five percent of your overall winnings is the standard, but you’re free to base it on how well you are doing and how much fun you’re having.

For poker dealers, a minimum of a $1 chip is expected but you can judge it on the size of the pot.

3. Room Service

Tip 10-20 percent. There’s arguably a little more flexibility here due to typically pricier bills, less ‘service’ and charges often being added by the hotels themselves.

4. Buffet Service

Use the cost of the buffet, and the level of attention you’ve received, to guide you.

Usually a little less than a restaurant, the average is 10 percent of the meal, or around $2-5 per person.

5. Spa Staff

Some casino and hotel spas will automatically add a 20 percent charge for each spa service you receive.

If not, opt for your trusty 15-20 percent rule, depending on how good your treatment was.

6. Drinks Runner/Drinks Service

It’s typically $1 every time somebody brings you a beverage on the casino floor or at the slots.

You might want to fork out a few more bucks, or stick by the 15 to 20 percent rule, if you’re feeling flush or banking on regular and attentive service.

7. Housekeepers

$1 to $3 per night is the norm.

But again, use your discretion and consider factors like the size of the room or suite, the number of guests, any special requests made and how messy you are.

Just remember to leave a note with the cash so it isn’t overlooked.

8. Bellhops

Go with $2 to $3 per bag and bump it up for quick service or if there’s a lot of heavy duty lifting.

9. Limo Drivers

If you’re traveling in style, a $20 tip is recommended.

If your driver is full of handy local knowledge and goes the extra mile, you may want to shell out a little more.

10. Other Drivers and Valets

As a rough guide: 20 percent of the fare for taxis and Uber drivers.

$5 for a hotel shuttle driver who handles your luggage or $2 to the airport.

$2 to $5 is the usual range for a valet, too.

Just make sure you don’t tip someone who has taken you the long way around!

What If A Service Charge Has Already Been Included On The Bill?

With mandatory service charges on drinks bills, rising prices and extra fees, it can be confusing whether you should also tip on top of the charges.

It’s common in restaurants to add a service charge to the check, particularly if it’s a busy time of the year or you’re part of a large party of diners.

But don’t fear, if the bill says a gratuity has been included you don’t have to add anything extra on top — unless you wish to.

And the same logic applies if you feel the rate is too high and wish to pay less.

Should You Tip For Bad Service?

If service has been unacceptably slow, rude, or just downright terrible, what should you do?

The simple answer: Speak to the restaurant or bar manager.

If you feel the service was too bad for a tip, it’s too bad not to speak up about.

Trying to leave without explaining the lack of gratuity will lead to some awkward questions.

If in doubt, a reduced tip of 10 percent for restaurants and bars will get the message across, too.

Can You Tip With Chips?

It does happen but technically, no.

Chips are casino property, even when in your possession. Essentially, they were never yours to give away.

So always make sure you have some cash on you and avoid any nasty fees by reading our guide to ATMs in Vegas first.

Check out our other article for even more information about tipping in casinos.

There’s a lot to consider when buying one for your home, though.

From whether you’re legally allowed to own a gaming device in your state to finding a reputable seller, it’s not as simple as you might think.

Here’s everything you need to know before going all in.

Where You’re Legally Allowed To Own A Slot Machine

If you’re looking to buy a slot machine for your home, it’s essential that you do your research first.

It’s your responsibility as the buyer to check your state’s laws regarding gaming machine ownership – including any restrictions.

Most laws state that machines must be 25 years or older to use in your own home and are restricted to entertainment use only.

So if you were thinking of buying the latest slot release to set up a profitable casino from your own home, think again!

Here’s a list of all US states and their restrictions on owning a slot machine, however, it’s always best to double check as laws are fluid. 

Where You Can Buy A Real Slot Machine

If you want to find slot machines for sale, the internet is your oyster.

The best places to look are the dedicated and reputable retailers, distributors and manufacturers — people that know their stuff — either online, in a shop, or both!

Spend a bit of time looking for somewhere trustworthy that has good reviews, like Slot Machines Unlimited or Gambler’s Oasis.

You can find big names here like Bally and Konami, but they don’t come cheap — you can expect to fork out between $1,000-5,000 on average per machine.

We’d suggest visiting a trusted slot machine retailer but if you don’t want to spend that much on your personal slot machine, there are other avenues too.

A quick search will reveal slot machines for sale on eBay, as well as on consumer-to-consumer sites like Craigslist, for varying but sometimes discounted prices.

Buying through an auction website or an individual runs the risk of not living up to expectations or price tag, so make sure you know the condition of the machine and trust the seller before committing to anything.

You can also find an array of instant-buy options on Amazon, or even Etsy — but beware that these are usually likely to be smaller replica or toy slots, rather than the real deal!

If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Similarly, if it’s definitely not a toy machine and the price is still too good to be true, it’s likely a scam – so watch out.

That’s why it’s worth going for a reputable retailer or distributor. With a company you’ll pay a premium, but you’re also more likely to benefit from a fixed price, a guarantee, repair servicing, and a receipt.

Things To Consider

We know it’s more appealing to focus on the fun parts of buying your own slot machine, but consider these points before opening your walllet:

1. Cost

Think about your budget — what’s the maximum you’re willing to spend?

Don’t forget to factor in those delivery costs, too, and any extra refurbishments you may need.

2. Repairs and services

Are you ready to make repairs if you need to? As your slots will likely be second-hand, you’ll have to be prepared for a machine that’s not in mint condition.

If refurbishment isn’t part of the deal, can you or someone you know install and repair it?

3. Size                                   

Slot machines are much larger (and louder!) than you realize.

Make sure you have enough space to house one and consider whether you’ll be able to receive delivery easily through your doors, corridors, stairs or elevator.

Equally you’re going to need strong flooring – they’re very heavy!

4. Dedicated space

Consider whether you’ll keep it in the garage or the house, or in a communal space or a dedicated gaming room.

Decide where it will live before purchasing and make sure you’ve got a space that will work before spending thousands on one.

If you don’t have the space or money for your own machine, why not play some of the best online slots instead? 

With our handy guide you’ll be sure to stay on the right side of the law and blend in with the locals. Read on to discover the best of the bizarre things that might land you some jail time – you can thank us when you make it safely home!

1. It’s Illegal To Feed Any Wild Animals

Since November 2017 it’s been illegal to feed the pigeons (all you Mary Poppins fans will have to re-enact that song scene elsewhere) with the threat of a $1,000 fine or six months in jail.

I mean, I don’t know about you, but I don’t mind pigeons (neither do these guys who worked to lift the unfriendly ban) but I’m not willing to risk imprisonment for seeing to some of their fuss-free food needs.

Three years later, the ban was extended to include all wild animals including rabbits and community cats, with a more digestible $10 fine.

Thoughts behind this law stem from a concern for public health although the links between wildlife and human illness are limited.

Still, there were concerns over the crowding of pigeons in one particular parking lot that made it look like a casting call for a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.

Bottom line, save your inner Dr Jane Goodall for another town!

2. It’s Legal To Keep Exotic Animals As Pets

Continuing the theme of animal cruelty, the next bizarre, and frankly heinous, law that makes our list is that there are a number of exotic animals you can keep as pets.

It’s not just on The Hangover that you could be sharing a Las Vegas suite with a tiger. If you fall in with the wrong crowd, it could be a legal reality.

Lions, elephants, camels and zebra to name a few are on the list of the animals you actually are allowed.

If it’s giant toads, skunks, or foxes you’re looking to domesticate, you’ll need to head on to the next town.

3. It’s Illegal To Ride A Camel On The Highway

So whilst you can have a pet camel in Las Vegas, don’t go and get you and your steed into trouble by riding on the highway.

This law dates back to the 1800s when camels transported loads across the Nevadan deserts.

The result? Too many camels, and the lawmakers saw to it that there was a reduction.

4. It’s Illegal To Hail A Taxi On The Strip

Las Vegas taxi drivers are not allowed to drop off or pick up anyone along the Strip.

But fear not, you can still travel around pretty easily as outside most casinos and hotels there are designated spots where you’ll get your automobile service.

The same rules apply for taxi ride apps too.

5. It’s Illegal To Use Bath Salts

If you’re not in Las Vegas and up partying all night then you’re probably going there for some luxurious relaxation.

For many that might include a bubbly bath with some aromatic bath salts. But hold up, you mean we can’t do that?!

Don’t panic, these are a different sort. Phew.

We’re talking about the bath salts that are synthetic cathinones, formerly a ‘legal high’ and a cheaper and stronger alternative to cocaine.

With adverse long-term effects from usage, these were made illegal to possess, ingest, and sell in 2012.

6. It’s Illegal To Hula Hoop On Fremont Street

If you’ve been to Las Vegas you’ll know how vibrant and buzzing Fremont Street is, where street performers are aplenty.

You’ll also know how busy it can get and if there’s one thing that needs lots of space, it’s hula-hooping. It needs the kind of space that just doesn’t come easily on a busy street.

It’s for that reason that it was made illegal to do so by the local council, owing to the hazard it presents to anyone walking nearby.

This same law prohibits unicycling, skating and skateboarding down Fremont Street, so go let off your steam somewhere else.

7. It’s Illegal To Pawn Your Dentures

For all you folks looking to make a quick dime, pawning your grandma’s (or even your own!) dentures is a criminal offence in Las Vegas.

The weirdest part about this law is that it had to be written in law.

How many toothless grins did it take for them to decide things were getting out of control? And who was buying them?

Also, don’t try and pawn anything whilst drunk. Yup, you guessed it – also illegal.

You’ll be turned away and maybe when you sober up, you’ll realize that actually, you quite like your dentures…, or your wedding ring…, or any other of your precious belongings.

8. It’s Illegal To Be Homeless

One of the most controversial amongst the weird world of the laws in Las Vegas is the criminalization of being without a home, which came into effect in November 2019.

According to the law, voted in by the city council, if you’re found to be ‘lodging’ on sidewalks (or even just sitting or resting!) you risk facing six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.

Whilst many local residents and business owners support the ideas behind the law – human feces featuring too often outside people’s doors – they’re unnerved by the lack of support provided.

It’s one thing to criminalize something where it’s an avoidable offence, but many people find themselves living on the streets as a result of dire circumstances, very often related to mental health issues and addiction.

The local shelters are not large or equipped enough to deal with the overwhelming numbers of people that find themselves without a roof over their heads in Sin City.

Many police officers feel the same, refusing to ‘arrest a community issue’, wanting instead to focus on tackling violent crime.

9. It’s Illegal To Rent Out Your Place For A Weekend In Residential Areas

If you’re planning to rent out your home to some rowdy tourists on a mad weekend, think again. You might end up forking out $1,000 a day in fines.

One homeowner became the first to incur such a fine two years after the law came into effect in 2012 – setting them back a whopping $29,000!

It’s still possible for rolling contracts to operate on a month-by-month basis, but anything less than that isn’t allowed.

10. It’s Illegal To Consume Alcohol In Public Spaces

This might not seem such a strange law to some people, but given the naughtiness that goes down in Las Vegas, it shocks us that you cannot legally drink in public spaces.

Of course that doesn’t mean bars, clubs, restaurants etc., it refers to areas outside of that, like walking down the street or chilling in the park.

So for all you booze-lovers hoping for a raucous stroll down the Strip, think again. Keep it contained to the alcohol establishments.

It’s even illegal to have an open bottle of alcohol on you, and to drink from it, in a moving car regardless of whether or not you’re the driver.

I’m sure there are plenty of Uber drivers grateful for that law!

11. It’s Illegal To Pay For Sex

Whilst some counties in Nevada do allow for the legal acquisition, and offering, of sexual services, Las Vegas doesn’t fall into that category.

It’s legal in counties where the population is less than 700,000 and within that rule, it’s only legal in state-licensed brothels.

If you’re caught doing the dirty in Las Vegas – trying to pay for or offer sex – you’ll face some jail time, plus up to $1,400 in fines if it’s your first time.

The time spent in jail and the fines go up the more often you’re caught, so maybe skip on that one!

12. It’s Illegal For “Cat Fanciers” To Keep And Exhibit More Than Six Adult Cats

“Cat fanciers”?

Yeah, we worried for a second too.

But fear not, this is just the official term given to people who take their kitties to at least one cat show per year.

So there are limits on the number of cats they can have in their home (it seems limitless kittens, but they grow up so fast!) if they’re planning to get them involved in some cat-walk (*wink wink*) shows.

13. It’s Illegal To Curse On The Las Vegas Strip

We all know we can get a bit more lairy after a few drinks, running the highs and lows of the gambling games, but watch your language on the Strip.

It might help to ask yourself: Would I say this in front of my mother-in-law?

14. It’s Illegal To Go Hunting Recreationally

Whilst most of the vast state of Nevada is open for hunting, approximately 48 million hectares, the Las Vegas Valley is off limits.

Clark County closed off any areas within 500 ft of a private road, or half a mile from a highway.

Good to know there won’t be any rogue bullets skimming your head as you stroll to the next casino.

15. It’s Illegal To Hire A Communist

Perhaps the most antiquated law on this list, dating back to the Cold War and feeling less and less relevant or constitutional.

When it was brought in there was much fear around Communism, and whilst it’s given rise to some terrible regimes around the world, political sympathies shouldn’t be a barrier to employment in the free world, surely?

Discussions around its violation of the 1st Amendment and Americans’ right to free speech have so far not seen it lifted…perhaps it will get more air time over the coming years.

Or perhaps America will always vehemently hate Communism.

So there you have it, the weird world of Las Vegas laws. Hopefully with this handy guide you’ll stay on the right side of the law and have an awesome stay.

Lead image: Wikimedia Commons

Withdrawing cash can be especially pricey if you withdraw while at a casino, particularly on the Strip, where you can expect to pay up to $10 in fees.

Even if you bring a big pile of cash with you (more on that later), chances are you will need to withdraw a little extra at some point because Vegas is going to drain your wallet.

So, if you’re heading to Vegas for your next trip, here are some tips to help you avoid any nasty extra costs.

How To Get Cash Out For Free In Vegas

Free ATMs in Vegas are a rarity.

Unless you’re a US bank account holder e.g. Bank of America, and can visit a branch as a customer while in Vegas, finding a free ATM is going to be very difficult.

But here are some handy hints.

1. Free ATM Withdrawals Through Your Bank

Wells Fargo account holders – get cash out for free from ATMs at airports and car rental centers. It can depend on the location, but the bank has a number of outlets across the city.

Canadians using Interac and Plus should look out for the no-fee Allpoint green logo at locations such as CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, and the Monorail Station Harrah’s & the LINQ on the Strip.

Or head slightly further afield to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Another alternative is to open an account with a bank that offers ATM fee reimbursements. However, there are often caps with these.

2. Bank Alliance Schemes

Some banks are also part of ‘alliance’ schemes or cooperatives with other banks and retailers.

These can give you access to a large network of ATMs, not just your own banks’.

If you travel regularly within the US, it’s worth doing your research to see if your account qualifies, as the more withdrawal points you can use, the better your chances of finding a surcharge-free one.

3. Cash Back In Stores

Finally, if you expect to do some shopping while you’re in town, you can always try avoiding ATMs completely.

Many retailers offer a free, or very cheap, ‘cash back’ service when you make a purchase on their premises.

This could be convenient, but the costs can still clock-up and, as the limit will likely be lower than an ATM, you may have to make more trips.

Tip: Locate the machines before you travel and pin them on your maps app.

ATMs With The Lowest Fees

As mentioned, it’s really hard to find an ATM with zero fees in Vegas – but there are some places you can get lower fees (around $3).

The bank ATMs on the Strip won’t be free if you’re not a customer. But they’ll usually end up saving you a couple more dollars than the in-casino options.

On the Strip itself you should find a few Bank of America outlets, with Wells Fargo locations sandwiched in between the Strip and Downtown Vegas.

However bear in mind that if you’re travelling from outside the US you may get stung with extra bank charges.

Other options for lower fees are ATMs at convenience or drug stores.

ATM Fees Are Highest In The Casinos

When you’re having fun, it will be tempting to stick with the closest ATM in your casino or hotel. And that’s exactly what the establishments bank on!

The issue with the ATMs in casinos is they come with hefty charges.

The introduction of ‘table-top ATMs’ a couple of years ago hasn’t helped matters either.

While handy, as the machines pay out currency in the form of casino chips — meaning players don’t need to leave the gaming tables — they’re a very easy way to lose money.

The fees for these ‘point-of-sale’ transactions can be a few dollars lower than an ATM, at roughly $4 plus around 2.5 percent of whatever you withdraw.

So it’s a stretch to call them cheaper. And for many, they can prove too good to be true.

Our verdict? Use one of the alternative suggestions above and save your hard-earned cents for the fun stuff instead.

And if you’re wanting to spend your moolah on services other than gambling, you can always turn to your digital wallet and use cryptocurrency.

As a city that always has one foot firmly in the future, Vegas has had bitcoin ATMs in casinos for a while now.

As for alternate ideas, wire transfers direct to the casino cages, and setting up lines of credit with the casino, are both also options.

However, these come with their own pros and cons.

Wire transfers can have large minimum limits, meaning they’re only usually viable for fairly big spenders and high-rollers, and they’re quite restrictive.

While, lines of credit can be ‘dangerous’ if you’re worried about suppressing your budget.

ATM Fees At The Most Popular Casinos In Las Vegas

Ever wondered how much you’ll have to pay to get cash out at your favorite Vegas casinos?

Reported ATM fees at the following casinos:

• Bally’s – $9.99
• Paris – $9.99
• Planet Hollywood – $9.99
• Caesars Palace $9.99
• Flamingo – $9.99
• Aria – $8.99
• MGM Grand – $8.99
• The Venetian – $7.99
• Luxor – $7.99

Being Vigilant With ATMs

Despite our recommendations for seeking out the cheapest ATM you can find, be careful. Cheaper doesn’t always mean more secure.

Use your gut and don’t withdraw money if anything about the machine looks unusual, or if you don’t feel comfortable in the area.

Just like anywhere else in the world, card-skimming scams can occur in Sin City.

There’s no need to be overly worried, but it pays to be vigilant in Vegas, where crooks know there are plenty of travelers distracted by the sights and sounds — and wanting to withdraw money.

It can be tough to spot skimming technology with the naked eye.

Just a few examples include magnetic strips that read a credit or debit card’s data, to fake PIN devices, hidden cameras, and so-called ‘Lebanese Loops’ that act as shell on top of ATMs to trap customers’ cards inside.

Your safest options are usually ATMs in banks and airports. As for those who like to use contactless ‘swipe’ payments for smaller bills, keep your eyes peeled for anyone getting too close at the bar, or on public transport.

While you’re out and about, one potential scam is opportunistic theft via a portable card reader.

Travelers often try to get around this by using Radio-frequency identification (RFID) blocking card inserts or wallets, but it is unknown how effective these are.

Carrying Cash vs Withdrawing – Which Is Your Best Option?

Bringing cash with you to Vegas gives you greater flexibility.

It means you won’t be faced with the dilemma of leaving to withdraw more money, or risk being charged eye-watering fees on the casino floor. And you’ll have the means to pay, wherever you are.

However, using money to pay in public can make you a target for pickpockets. Don’t walk around with too much loose cash, and make use of internal zippers, well-concealed money belts etc.

Of course, walking around with a full wallet is far from ideal. So take the usual precautions and avoid poorly-lit places and going off the beaten track, especially if you’re alone.

Using your card to withdraw money, as and when you need, can have more ‘cons’ than just ATM fees. Card scams can still occur, and the more often you withdraw, the more likely you are to attract attention.

Avoid taking out large amounts or asking for a lot of cash-back in public spaces.

Don’t forget about tipping in Vegas. It’s expected that you’ll tip a wide range of hotel and casino staff, usually a few dollars a time, making easy-access cash and small bills essential.

So, with benefits and drawbacks for both approaches, what’s best? If you want to save money and stay safe, think ahead. You don’t have to limit yourself to one idea.

If you’ll be travelling with cash, divide it up into smaller amounts in multiple secure locations.

And, of course, once you arrive at your hotel or Airbnb, there should be an in-room safes available, allowing you to take a little out at a time.

But, even if you plan how much you’ll need beforehand, expenses can quickly escalate as Vegas is expensive.

So, give yourself the flexibility to withdraw when needed, and keep a little budget back on your plastic in case anything does go wrong. As well as logging the better value and cheaper ATM locations on your phone’s maps.

By mixing and matching approaches, you’ll have all bases covered and most of the funds you need on hand or within easy reach.

Now you’re armed with the best tips and tricks when it comes to ATMs in Vegas. Enjoy your trip!

So, just for fun, we’ve compiled our very own list of the five hardest games in the world.

1. Go

Dating back to the Zhou dynasty, Go is an ancient two-player abstract strategy board game from China.

When a game surpasses its 2,500th birthday – and was once considered an essential skill by Chinese scholars – you expect it to be challenging.

The aim seems simple enough: occupy the most territory on the board to win the most points and, eventually, the game.

Let us explain how to play Go: Each player uses either black or white pieces, known as ‘stones’, to form territories by surrounding vacant intersections on the board.

The stones cannot be moved once placed, but you can use them to surround your opponent’s stones and take them out of play.

When there are no more possible moves available, and no more ‘land’ left to be seized, players earn a point per empty ‘space’ within their territory, and a point for each stone or ‘prisoner’ they have captured from an opponent.

It’s extra difficult because the contest usually plays out on a grid that’s 19×19. This means there are almost endless formations and moves that you can make (or agonize over).

In fact, some commentators estimate that the number of legal board positions in Go even surpasses the number of atoms in the universe.

No wonder professional games can take two days!

2. Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering is a popular collectible card game that replicates a battle between wizards and requires two or more players.

Steeped in fantasy, it’s estimated that the game has cast a spell over tens of millions of fans so far.

So how do you win?

Budding wizards claim victory by reducing their opponent’s life total from 20 to zero. So far, so simple, right?

This is usually achieved by using a combination of lands, creatures and spells from a card deck to attack your opposite number.

Players start with a hand of seven cards, drawing another each round and can engage in combat and spell casting on each turn.

There’s a lot of impressive world-building within this. Every card affects the game in a different way and there are approximately 2,000 rules and 19,000 cards, resulting in untold possibilities.

In fact, as reported by MIT Technology review, it has been scientifically proven that the game is so complex that not even a computer algorithm can predict a winner or determine an optimal winning strategy.

“This construction establishes that Magic: The Gathering is the most computationally complex real-world game known in the literature.”

Study by Cornell University

Eek.

3. Chess

One of the most famously difficult games in the world to master is chess.

There’s much debate about how old chess is and where it came from, but one thing’s for sure: The objective is to checkmate the opposition king, while keeping your own monarch safe.

If you’ve never sat down to a game of chess before, in this two-player game you’ll start with 16 pieces — black or white — of differing ‘royal’ status e.g. the king, queen, rooks, bishops, knights and pawns.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to force your opponent into a ‘checkmate’ where their king can no longer avoid capture.

To achieve that you’ll use strategy and tactics to move your pieces around the board’s 64 squares, following strict rules of movement for each piece.

Although, games can end in a ‘stalemate’ if no kings are in check and no more moves can be made.

What makes it so difficult?

You’ll constantly have to be thinking two, three, or more steps ahead, as there are many moves with differing outcomes available to you on most turns.

4. The Campaign for North Africa

Going by the title alone, this game was never going to be a lighthearted barrel of laughs or a quick fix of fun on a short journey.

The Campaign for North Africa is widely regarded as one of, if not the, longest games in the world.

One for those that love detail, this ‘stuff-of-legend’ board game acts as a military simulation of the North African Campaign, which took place during World War II in Libya and Egypt.

The internet is full of tales of how long it takes to complete, with rough estimations at a whopping 1,500 hours – or 62 days!

The chief culprit for time consumption is the rather thick black and white rulebook — which contains a famously picky rule requiring Italian troops to be provided with extra water rations for boiling pasta — that partners charts and a 10ft map of the Sahara.

You’ll need 10 players in total to act as commanders for Allied and Axis forces.

“I don’t know how you could get a large enough group together. It would be nearly impossible, unless somebody hit the lottery and flew everybody to a remote island for a year.”

BoardGameGeek reviewer

5. Bridge

Widely considered to be one of the hardest card games to play. Ever.

Bridge is a four-player, trick-taking game, where you’ll be divided into two partnerships and work with a 52-card deck.

The goal? To win the most points after taking the most tricks and rounds. Every hand of bridge is comprised of four phases: dealing, bidding for tricks, playing the hand, scoring.

In the auction stage, players bid in a clockwise rotation describing their hands.

This is followed by the play, in which the winning bidders from the previous stage attempt to claim the tricks needed to fill their contract, as obligated at the auction, before players reach the scoring stage.

Still with us?

In order to win the game, a pair must win tricks which consist of four cards, one from each player’s hand, played in clockwise order.

Bridge deserves its billing alongside chess as a real cerebral challenge, and it may take a while for you to grasp the basics if you’re not already knowledgeable about trick-taking games.

For something similar, check out our guide on how to play mahjong.

There are ways to minimize your losses against the house though, so read on to discover just how you can do that.

Here are some of the top 10 things they’d hate for you to know!

1. Not All Games Are Made Equal

You’ve probably heard of a thing called the house edge. The house edge is super important in working out how likely you are to win.

And whilst we know that the house always wins, it’s good to know that you’ve got a better shot playing certain games.

Slots might seem like a fun, cheap way to get your gambling fix but the house edge on these can be as high as 10 percent.

Games like blackjack, poker and bingo are a much better option with a house edge of around 3 percent.  And to go one step further, check out video poker where it’s as low as 0.46 percent.

2. Dealers Make Mistakes

Just as games aren’t all the same, neither are the dealers.

A lot can be said for human error, and after all, the dealers are just human. Just like you and me, they make mistakes.

Bill Zender used to work as a casino floor manager and picked up plenty of pearls of wisdom for winning. He noted down his observations across 16 casinos and found 35 sloppy dealers.

Simply watch how the dealers dish out the cards. Sometimes they can be pretty complacent, flashing the face-down card by mistake.

If you try this method known as ‘card-holing’ you give yourself a 6-9 percent edge over the house! Zender made his living doing this for a while.

3. Card Counting Isn’t Illegal

You’ve probably heard of the MIT blackjack card counting team that made millions of dollars in the 80s and 90s counting cards. They eventually got busted because the casino cottoned on and put a stop to it.

Whilst card counting won’t make you any friends in the casino, it isn’t actually illegal (so long as you’re doing it in your head). As soon as you start involving external devices and machines it’s a different story.

The casinos will come down pretty hard on anyone they suspect is card counting, which again, they keep on the DL because they don’t want to seem like party poopers.

We don’t suggest trying it but if you do give it a shot you’ll need to understand how to count cards, tons of concentration and brainpower – not to mention nerves of steel.

Oh, and you’ll be in with a better shot if you’ve got a team.

4. The Eye In The Sky Is ALWAYS Watching You

Casinos take their security very seriously, so you better be prepared to be watched. There are cameras everywhere.

The security team watches live footage constantly, so every inch of the building is constantly under surveillance. In the bigger casinos that be as many as 20,000 cameras!

On the plus side consider yourself safe from theft and threats. On the flip side, you won’t find a safe corner to scratch your bum.

5. Private Poker Rooms Usually Don’t Have Cameras

So whilst I just warned you about smiling for the cameras, there is one place you can relax a bit. The poker rooms.

If you’re a high roller and looking for a good night of poker then rest assured your private room, with champagne, will be free from security’s scrutiny.

6. You Can Take Advantage Of The Newbies

To level the playing field a bit, make sure you sit yourself down as an equal. If you sit down at a table full of locals and regulars you’re putting yourself at a major disadvantage.

Why? Because they’re comfortable, they know the ropes, they probably know the dealer. All of this knowledge gives them an edge.

So you want to find a table where the rest of the players don’t look so sure of themselves; give yourself a chance and play against people in the same position as you.

7. You Won’t Make Money Playing Keno

Don’t bother with Keno.

Like, ever.

Seriously this game is not worth your time or dime, even if it is super fun.

Similar to the lottery, you choose numbers on a card from 1-80 and the casino draws out 20. If you match their numbers, you win.

But get this…it gives the house an edge of 35-50 percent. Eye watering, right?

If you’re looking to make some money, you’re best off sticking to those other games we mentioned above!

8. Vegas Has One Of The Highest Suicide Rates

Las Vegas, one of the famous places any casino lover wants to visit, is a mecca of flashing lights and fun times. Every year billions of tourists flock there for a party they’ll never forget.

But one thing you won’t read much about is how many people go there to die.

Wait, what?

Why’s nobody talking about it?

Because if this kind of news gets out, the industry worries that people will be less inclined to go there. That’s not good for business so it gets hushed up.

It’s not clear why people choose to kill themselves in Las Vegas. It might be after a big loss, or the search for anonymity that such a place affords.

Either way, if you’re struggling with a gambling addiction there is help out there and it helps to talk to someone.

9. You’re Constantly Being Manipulated

In a casino it’s easy to feel like royalty with a giant playground at your feet and people pampering to your every whim and need. But what if I told you that’s all there to trick you?

You might feel like you’re calling the shots but in reality, the casino’s got you wrapped around their roulette wheel.

From every color to every sound, to the layout of the gaming rooms and casino’s design, it’s all done with you in mind and how to best take advantage of your psychology.

The reason you spend more time and money there than you planned is because the casinos know how to get you to do that.

With great comps, attractive and attentive servers, and exciting deals all over the place it’s hard to say no.

10. Newbies: Look For Busy Tables

If you’re still getting a hold of the gist of a game it’s tempting to seek out quieter tables. After all, it’s way less pressure and the stakes feel lower somehow.

But, if you want to perfect your game craft then the best thing you can do is seat yourself down at a busy table.

Not only will you have more time to think between plays, you’ll also see more players in action and learn from what they do.

To keep it safe though, start with low bets. No point raising the stakes until you’re confident in what you’re doing.

So there you have it.

Now you’ve got all this info you can go into the casino with confidence and knowledge. Knowledge is power and now you’ll have the power to walk away when the time’s right.

Whilst much of what we know about him is arguably fictional, it doesn’t take away from how inspirational his approach to life was and how he’s been a much-loved figure, to this day.

Renowned for his top skills in tense gunfights and switching up between his roles as buffalo hunter, Deputy Marshall, miner, gambler, and top card dealer to name just a few, it’s no wonder the silver screen has played out his life many a time.

The list of leading actors who’ve stepped up to fill his boots is long and includes the impressive Henry Fonda, Burt Lancaster, James Garner, Kurt Russell, and Kevin Costner.

It seems the world simply can’t get enough of this fascinating man. So, what’s so great about him?

Who Was Wyatt Earp?

Born in March 1848, Wyatt Berry Stap Earp grew up with his brothers and sisters on a farm in Iowa before they moved to California in 1864.

It was during this move that he got acquainted with his first gun and with daily practice, became the ace marksman for which he’s now remembered.

Once in California he tried his hand at buffalo hunting and stagecoach driving and this took him all over the place. In 1870 he married Urilla Sutherland, who very tragically died of typhoid less than a year later.

After her death he moved to Oklahoma where he eventually became the deputy town Marshall of Dodge City.

Despite a rocky start, clashing with the law, he established himself as a solid man, helping out the police on a thieving case, and worked as a card dealer at the Long Branch Saloon.

It was during this time that he met lifelong pals Doc Halliday and Bat Masterson.

By the time 1879 rolled around he and his lover, Mattie Blaylock, had headed to Tombstone, Arizona for the boom in silver, along with his brothers and their wives.

Earp took up a gambling job at the Oriental Saloon.

He and his brothers all worked in the police force and struck up an agreement with local farmer and gang member, Ike Clanton in March 1881.

But things turned sour between them when Clanton did the dirty.

Before all this all broke down into the infamous O.K. Corral fight, Wyatt had started to fall for travelling actress, Josie Sarah Marcus, and he ended up spending the rest of his life with her.

In the wake of the Wild West’s biggest gunfight, the couple fled out West where they lived out their days chasing the gold rushes, earning money through gambling, horse breeding and keeping saloons.

The Infamous O.K. Corral Gunfight

Ever since the arrival of the Wyatts in Tombstone, tensions had begun to mount between them and the Clanton-McLaury ranching families.

The agreement they’d reached came about in March 1881 when Wyatt was helping his brother Virgil, the town marshal, pursue some cowboys.

Ike Clanton had ties with the cowboys and Wyatt struck a deal with him.

By October of that year, however, tensions were simmering up again as Clanton began making threats. It all erupted on 26 October, 1881, at the O.K. Corral.

It was a massive shootout between the two groups.

On Wyatt’s side were his two brothers, Virgil and Morgan, and best friend, Doc Holliday. On Ike’s side he had his brother, Billy, along with the McLaury brothers, Tom and Frank.

Ike Clanton had been getting drunk all day the day before, spouting off to anyone who’d lend him an ear that he was going to kill Holliday and the Earps. When Holliday heard this, he confronted him.

The Earps threatened Clanton with arrest and they parted ways on bad terms, preparing for the worst the next morning.

In the fight the following day, Clanton’s side suffered most with Ike being the only one walking away with his life and hungry for vengeance.

On the Earp side, Wyatt escaped completely unscathed where his brothers and Holliday suffered some injuries.

Ike Clanton filed murder against them, but a judge cleared their names in late November.

It didn’t end there, though.

Blood had been shed and payback was on the cards.

In December, Virgil was ambushed and killed by a group of mystery men and in March of the following year, Wyatt and Morgan were attacked.

Morgan died on the spot in a saloon and Wyatt took it upon himself to avenge his brothers’ premature deaths, killing several people before fleeing town with Josie.

How Wyatt Earp Died 

Earp lived for another 40 years, traveling across the west, and tried to write a memoir of his life but it wasn’t well received at the time.

With his extensive experience of Wild West adventures he became a source of knowledge for Hollywood Westerns, sharing his stories with much verve and gusto.

He contracted cancer of the prostate and died 13 January, 1929, aged 80 years old.

Earp was cremated and had his ashes buried in Josie’s family’s plot, south of San Francisco. When she died in 1944, she was buried in the same place. They didn’t have any children.

An American Legend

After such a colorful and dramatic life, it’s no wonder Wyatt Earp still lives on in the hearts of so many Americans today.

Whilst his attempt at writing a memoir wasn’t a hit, Stuart N Lake’s biography, Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal, published in 1931, became a bestseller.

Although a lot of the biography is actually fictional, the character of Wyatt Earp provided so much hope and inspiration to Americans through the Great Depression, and his legend lives on.

A hero, fiercely loyal and tenacious in all that he did, it’s no wonder he will always have a special place in our hearts.

Lead image: YouTube

However, with the majority of items being issued via random drops that cost real money to activate, we need to ask whether the Gacha game mechanic is potentially a gateway to more serious gambling.

What Are Gacha Games?

For those unfamiliar with the term, Gacha games are a form of video game that encourage players to redeem in-game currency in exchange for random virtual items.

Taking their name from Gachapon – the toy capsule vending machines popularized in Japan – a key characteristic of Gacha games is that players never really know what they’ll receive for their purchase.

Just as a Gachapon capsule will contain a random figure from any number of sets, when paying for a roll in a Gacha game, the results can virtually never be guaranteed.

Sure, players might hit the jackpot and land a premium playable character, but they’re just as likely to reveal an unwanted item or one they already own – and both outcomes cost them exactly the same.

With the majority of Gacha games being free-to-play (F2P) mobile games, the Gacha mechanic serves as an incentive for players to continually spend real-world money.

Takings in this respect can go on indefinitely and have the potential to easily eclipse the profits developers would make by charging a one-time fee to purchase the game.

How Did The Gacha Phenomenon Get Started?

The first Gacha mechanic was debuted in 2004 MMORPG, MapleStory, which enabled players to purchase Gachapon tickets for 100 yen apiece.

These tickets granted entry into a lottery where players had a chance to win trinkets of varying rarities, with these then being used to customize their character so they could flaunt their fancy prizes online.

Three years later, Chinese MMO Zhengtu took the concept even further by offering an FTP game that sought to recoup its costs entirely through Gacha rolls that granted players extra perks and privileges.

Despite being widely criticized for its predatory practices, Zhengtu proved to be a rip-roaring success, with the F2P title generating an unprecedented $15 million USD per month within a year of its release.

The commercial triumph of Zhengtu paved the way for the Gacha model to rise to prominence in the early 2010s, especially in Japan, where it became an integral part of the country’s mobile game culture.

How Gacha Games Have Taken Over The Western World

Okay, we get it. Gachapon toy capsules. MMORPGs. Zhengtu. It all sounds more than a little alien to a western audience.

However, the reality is the Gacha game model is now a worldwide phenomenon.

Far from being a proclivity of players solely from the land of the rising sun, Gacha mechanics have found their way almost unnoticed into virtually every culture and gaming medium across the globe.

From Facebook to FIFA, players in the western world will find examples of Gacha games everywhere, with big-name developers such as EA, Ubisoft and Activision all employing the model to great effect.

FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT), for example, is an incredibly popular game mode that allows players to purchase packs that include a random selection of players, collectibles and stat-boosting power-ups.

In FIFA digital sales – including Ultimate Team pack purchases – alone, EA rakes in profits of over $1 billion USD a year, with these microtransactions now forming the core business of the entire game.

Similarly, Gwent – CD Projekt Red’s F2P app based on the popular Witcher series – is just one of the many digital collectible card games that utilizes a Gacha mechanic to help players build their decks.

In Gwent, microtransactions enable players to use real-world money to purchase kegs that contain a random assortment of common, rare, epic and legendary cards.

To further complicate matters, they can also exchange their cash for “meteorite powder”, which can be used to upgrade existing cards or buy exclusive items in-store.

Should Gacha Games Be Classified As Gambling?

Naturally, using microtransactions made in real-world currency to purchase randomly-generated rewards raises some serious ethical questions.

After all, if you’re spending real money to win something from a process where the outcome is always unknown, aren’t you essentially playing roulette?

As is often the case, there are two main schools of thought.

The Case For Gacha Games As Gambling

The gambling aspect of Gacha games is one that has dogged developers in recent the years, with critics arguing the mechanic is predatory and designed to trap users into paying to enhance their experience.

Perhaps one of the more insidious aspects of Gacha games is the presence of social currency, with a survey from Statista revealing that of the top 20 percent of RPG apps in Q1 2021, 88 percent were using this feature.

The purpose of these social currencies is likely to be two-fold.

One the one hand, using an artificial currency makes transactions feel less real and often encourages players to spend more than they would using real money.

This tactic is, of course, akin to the use of betting chips in a casino.

Secondly, offering social currencies enables developers to place an extra step between the purchase and the part of the process that could be considered gambling.

After all, players aren’t spending real-world money on a random prize – they’re buying $40 worth of tokens which can then be used on Gacha rolls. Initially, they’re getting exactly what they’ve paid for.

Another consideration is the way these Gancha rolls or drops are presented.

Card kegs crackle and explode, while the lids of loot boxes shoot off as dazzling rays of light radiate from the rewards inside.

All these visual and audio distractions help players psychologically distance themselves from the money they’re spending – money which, once converted into social currency, cannot be traded back.

The Case Against Gacha Games As Gambling

On the flip side of the argument, there are many cases that both game developers and the authorities who regulate them could put forward for Gacha games not being gambling.

Chief among them would be the fact that there is no chance of losing a Gacha roll.

Players will always get something for their money, with even duplicate rewards being exchangeable for other resources.

Secondly, the aforementioned purchase of social currency cannot really be considered a random outcome.

If players are exchanging $40 of cash for $40 of social currency, they’re obtaining a known quantity – and this currency can often be used for other in-game purchases that aren’t randomly-generated.

From a purely legal perspective, many international statutes also require the prize to be a “thing of value” before playing for it to be considered gambling.

As in-game rewards cannot be redeemed for real money, developers are able to skirt around these regulations by preventing players from trading them.

Another important point is that developers – and some players too – would contend they’re not paying for the Gacha roll itself, but merely the service provided by a game that is usually free to download.

With this in mind, many players are inclined to support the developers they like by spending money on microtransactions, with this in turn helping them to get more enjoyment from the product itself.

Weighing Up The Gacha Game Debate

Weighing up both sides of the argument, it’s pretty hard to come to the conclusion that Gacha games should not be considered at least a form of gambling.

With companies such as EA and Blizzard known to use neuroscientists and psychologists during game development, there can be little doubt that players are being subtly influenced to spend more.

Social currencies help them disassociate this spending from real money, while the euphoric lights and sounds that accompany the opening of a loot box are there to make them feel adequately rewarded.

The defense, meanwhile, comes for the most part from the game developers themselves and largely hinges on legal technicalities and questions of semantics, neither of which address the issue at hand.

How Much Revenue Are Gacha Games Pulling In?

Needless to say, Gacha games are big business.

Back in 2012, the Japanese mobile game Puzzles & Dragons became the first Gacha title to eclipse $1 billion USD in profits and current trends suggest that it won’t be long before other games follow suit.

Take, for example, Chinese game studio, miHoYo – developers behind the hit game, Genshin Impact.

As you can from the table above, the company’s annual mobile revenue – though strong – was pretty flat year-on-year until Genshin Impact arrived in 2020.

An F2P open world RPG that requires players to unlock characters by opening “wishes” which can only be purchased using in-game currency, Genshin Impact swiftly became miHoYo’s highest-grossing title.

In the year following its release, miHoYo’s profits soared by around $500 million USD, with similar growth being recorded in 2021.

This was aided in no small part by the release of Genshin Impact 2.1.

Released in September, Genshin Impact 2.1 offered players a host of new characters, weapons and explorable regions, many of which were issued as time-limited rewards.

The presence of these new features was designed to test players’ appetite for making more in-game purchases – and boy, were they hungry for them.

In the week Genshin Impact 2.1 went live, in-app purchases rose by an incredible 387 percent on the previous week to a total of $151 million USD.

Since then, multiple updates have continued this trend, with Genshin Impact going on to become one of the top-grossing mobile gaming titles worldwide.

Are Gacha Games A Danger To Younger Players?

Considering all this, it might come as some surprise to readers that Genshin Impact is rated “T” for teens – meaning its recommended for players 13 years and up.

Given the game’s Gacha mechanic and the undoubted parallels between this and online gambling, it’s undeniably a bit concerning that players under 18 are free to spend their money on rolls of chance.

According to a study published by the UK Royal Society for Public Health, 1 in 10 minors go into debt over loot boxes, with 11 percent using their parents’ credit card and 9 percent borrowing cash they couldn’t repay.

Furthermore, research conducted by CQUniversity Australia on 2,000 gamers between 12 and 24 indicated that 93 percent had played a game containing loot boxes in the past year.

Within that sample, players between 12 and 17 also spent a median of $50 a year on in-app purchases.

Based on studies like this, it’s not hard to see how early involvement in Gacha games could potentially provide a gateway to other forms of gambling and the problems that are often associated with them.

Worryingly, a 2020 study of teenagers in Japan indicated that almost 18 percent of males aged between 15 and 19 were currently making in-app purchases, while a further 20 percent would be interested in doing so.

While these figures were slightly lower for females at 7.6 percent and 15.2 percent respectively, the conclusion remains the same – the popularity of Gacha games is on the rise and better protections are needed.

What Does The Future Hold For Gacha Games?

Given their incredible popularity with players and the vast sums of revenue that they draw in for developers, it’s clear that Gacha games aren’t going anywhere.

However, given their addictive qualities and the undeniable similarities they have to online gambling, it seems likely the regulations surrounding them will have to be reviewed.

With new measures needed both to ensure players under the age of 18 don’t spend money they can’t afford and to limit the access problem gamblers have to Gacha games, there’s a lot to be done.

Video game rating system PEGI has recently added a warning icon for titles that include in-app purchases, but greater scrutiny of the practices used by companies offering them is also long overdue.

But recently, the high roller has been posting so many casino wins on his Instagram stories that it’s starting to look like he’s a professional gambler.

That, or a gambling influencer.

Drake has reportedly bet over $1 billion at Canadian crypto-betting site Stake since joining the platform in December 2021, which has left many people speculating whether there’s a partnership in place.

Let’s take a look at Drake’s love of gambling and his recent foray into crypto betting.

That Time Drake Lost $200K In Atlantic City

You might remember how a few years ago, Drake made the headlines when he lost nearly $200,000 at the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City when he was on tour.

This would financially ruin most people, but for someone whose net worth is estimated to be around $180 million, a $200K loss would barely be a drop in the ocean, as pointed out by this Redditor:

Drake’s New Roulette-Inspired Watch

Drake loves all things casino so it’s no surprise that the latest addition to his watch collection is a $620,000 roulette-inspired timepiece from Jacob & Co.

It features a fully-functioning roulette wheel and is truly a work of art to be enjoyed by those who can afford its hefty price tag.

Now He’s Betting Big In Crypto

Drake joined Canadian crypto-betting site Stake in December and has been placing some seriously crazy bets over the past few months.

Earlier this year, a video was doing the rounds on social media of Drake dropping a single $200K bet on roulette and winning over $7 million.

Then he placed a $1.3 million worth of Bitcoin bet on the Super Bowl, which he won.

Partnership With Stake?

It’s currently unclear whether Drake has been betting from his own wallet or whether it’s all part of a partnership with the Canadian crypto-betting site.

Neither has publicly acknowledged any relationship, however, the Stake logo has featured prominently on the rapper’s Instagram stories – leading many to believe Drake is being paid to promote them.

Whether it’s just for PR or Drake really does love betting with cryptocurrency, it’s certainly gaining a lot of media attention and is proving entertaining for the rapper’s follower base.

Lead image: Instagram/champagnepapi

As you might expect, the majority of these big winners have hit the jackpot in Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world, but online slots have provided some mammoth prizes too.

Keep reading to find some of the biggest slot machine wins ever and who the lucky winners were…

10. $14.3 Million – Rampart Casino, Las Vegas

First up, we come to the 10^th largest slot machine win of all time, won by a player at the Rampart Casino in Las Vegas in December 2013.

They spent just $20 on the Megabucks slot machine (featured on 80% of this list!) before winning a jackpot of $14.3 million.

The winner decided to remain anonymous and donated much of their prize to charity.

9. $17.3 Million – M Resort, Henderson

The next entry on our list of the biggest slot machine wins ever is the $17.3 million won by a woman from Las Vegas.

She visited the M Resort in Henderson, where she used some free credits to play the Megabucks machine and won the huge prize.

It just goes to show that you shouldn’t forget about spending any free credits you might have!

8. ￡13.2 Million – Online

This online jackpot hit in 2013 and was won by a very lucky British soldier. He won a jackpot worth ￡13.2 million, which was worth approximately $20.8 million at the time.

The prize was won while playing the Mega Moolah slot at Betway. The player from Crewe, Jon Hayward, spent just 25p before winning the giant sum. Wow!

7. $21.1 Million – Cannery Casino & Hotel, Las Vegas

This is perhaps the most unbelievable entry on the list.

In 2005, Elmer Sherwin won $21.1 million while playing the Megabucks slot in the Cannery Casino & Hotel.

The amazing thing? He had already won the jackpot on the machine previously, scooping $4.6 million while playing the game in 1989 at the Mirage Hotel & Casino.

6. $21.3 Million – Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

We now head to perhaps the most famous casino in the world: Caesars Palace.

This was the location of a ginormous jackpot in 1999 won by a business consultant who wagered just $10 on – you’ve guessed it – the Megabucks slot machine.

The 49-year-old from Illinois, who remained anonymous, won a massive prize of $21.3 million.

5. $22.6 Million – Bally’s, Las Vegas

The next huge jackpot on our list was won by a player called Johanna Heundl, who played the Megabucks machine at the famous Bally’s in May 2002.

Heundl was 74 years old at the time of the win, which she managed to scoop before breakfast. She only spent $170 before winning the jackpot.

4. €17.8 Million – PAF.com, Online

Another online slots win, this time in 2013 by a Finnish player spinning the reels of Mega Fortune, the famous progressive slot from NetEnt.

Amazingly, the lucky Finn only spent 25￠ before they won their colossal prize. The jackpot of €17.8 million, which was worth approximately $23.6 million in 2013, was won at PAF.com.

3. $27.6 Million – Palace Station Casino, Las Vegas

In third place is a lucky retiree, who went to the Palace Station Casino in 1998. Intending to spend $100, she ended up spending triple that, but it was a fantastic investment.

As with the many others this list of the biggest slot machine jackpot wins, she too played the Megabucks machine, and was fortunate enough to win a massive prize of $27.6 million!

2. $35 Million – Desert Inn, Las Vegas

In second place is Cynthia Jay Brennan, who was 37 when she managed to scoop a jackpot worth just under $35 million in 2000. Once again, this prize was won when playing on the famous Megabucks slot.

However, this time it came while Brennan was in the Desert Inn, which used to be in Wynn Las Vegas.

Tragically, she was seriously injured in a crash which left her paralyzed just months later.

1. $39.7 Million – Excalibur Casino, Las Vegas

The largest slot jackpot of all time was won by a lucky player from LA at the Excalibur Casino in Las Vegas. In 2003, they decided to play the famous Megabucks slot machine, spending just $100 in their search for a big win.

The win came in the form of a jackpot worth a staggering $39.7 million, which remains the largest jackpot ever in history.

BONUS: $42.9 Million – Resort World Casino, New York

You might have heard that there was a giant $42.9 million win for a woman in New York back in 2016. She was told she’d won the prize while playing the Sphinx slot, even though the game stated its top award was $6,500.

After much legal wrangling, the case disappeared. However, previous rulings show that this claim was almost certainly rejected, and the woman didn’t receive the prize.

Serious Bucks

As you can see, it is possible to make big money while playing slot machines.

Some players believe they can get an edge by searching for the loosest slot machines or reading up on how to win at slots, but it’s important to know that slot machines are totally random and it just depends if Lady Luck is on your side when you play!

For more slots content, check out:
What’s The Deal With Slot Machines And Gas Stations?
12 Sneaky Ways To Cheat At Slots

But there’s something to be said for a hotel experience.

From room service and housekeeping to pools and casinos, hotels in Las Vegas can be special, even if you don’t stay at the most expensive spot.

These hotels offer the best value for money in Las Vegas.

Just keep in mind that prices may be higher during peak seasons or when major conventions are in town.

1. Fremont Hotel & Casino

Average cost of stay: $65 per night including resort fees

Where: Fremont Street

The Good: Right in the heart of the up-and-coming Fremont Street experience, the Fremont Hotel & Casino is ideal for people looking for the modern Las Vegas. Within walking distance to great restaurants and shopping, with a fun and funky atmosphere.

The Bad: The rooms are a little bit smaller than some visitors expected. If you’re planning to do things outside of the downtown area, you’ll need to get a ride to the Strip or convention center.

2. Fiesta Henderson

Average cost of stay: $70 per night including resort fees

Where: Henderson

The Good: All the rooms were renovated in 2016, so you can expect an updated and fresh hotel. Nestled in Henderson, the hotel is quieter than those on the strip, but still boasts the full casino experience you’d expect when visiting Sin City.

The Bad: Some visitors were disappointed by how far the hotel was from other activities in Las Vegas, as you’ll need to drive for about 30 minutes to get to the strip or other attractions.

Please note that the casino is temporarily closed and currently not taking reservations.

3. Luxor Hotel and Casino

Average cost of stay: $70 per night including resort fees

Where: Bottom of the Strip

The Good: The Luxor is often touted for its cheap room rates with excellent service and accommodation. The hotel has a good range of pools and amenities, although you’ll pay for them with resort fees and other extras.

In fact, the rooms themselves are advertised for an average of $30 per night, but are really more than double thanks to the extra fees.

The Bad: Despite being on the Las Vegas Strip, the Luxor is quite far from the action. Prepare to take a shuttle or other form of transportation to get where you actually want to be in Las Vegas.

Oh, and there are rumors of paranormal activity.

4. Excalibur Hotel and Casino

Average cost of stay: $70 per night including fees

Where: Bottom of the Strip

The Good: One of the cheaper hotels on the Strip, the Excalibur is known for being ideal for families and other visiting groups. Previous guests enjoyed the medieval castle theme and familiar food court.

The Bad: A rather dated hotel by Vegas standards, some rooms might not have enough outlets or USB ports, and some visitors were not impressed by the cleanliness or amenities here.

5. OYO Hotel & Casino

Average cost of stay: $75 per night including resort fees

Where: Just off the Strip

The Good: Formerly Hooters Casino Hotel, it was bought and rebranded in 2019. Recent reviewers rave about OYO’s excellent customer service and cleanliness. The suites are very affordable too.

The Bad: Just off the strip, this casino can feel a bit out of the way. 

6. Artisan Hotel Boutique

Average cost of stay: $75 per night

Where: Just off the Strip

The Good: Offers a break from all the casino fun in a quirky, unusual setting. Dogs are also welcome.

The Bad: The adults-only vibe won’t appeal to all visitors.

7. Circus Circus

Average cost of stay: $80 per night including fees

Where: On the Strip

The Good: There’s a reason Circus Circus is popular with families, with a wide range of kid-friendly activities and amenities.

The rooms are cheap, with additional resort fees bumping things up from the advertised rates – but still viable at under $100 per night.

The Bad: As one of the older hotels, many of the rooms need an update. It’s also rather crowded and can be too busy for some visitors.

8. The Strat

Average cost of stay: $85 per night including fees

Where: End of the Strip

The Good: Formerly The Stratosphere and rebranded as The Strat in 2020, this spot has the best views in the whole city. There are also fun rides on the roof and you can watch people bungee jump.

The Bad: At the end of the strip, you’ll have a bit of a trek if you plan to do activities elsewhere. 

9. Harrah’s Las Vegas

Average cost of stay: $85 per night including fees

Where: On the Strip

The Good: This hotel and casino is typical Las Vegas, filled with excellent customer service, clean rooms and a fun casino. Great location no matter where you want to be in Las Vegas.

The Bad: Another standard, classic hotel in Las Vegas. In no way bad, but probably not astoundingly great, either.

10. Bally’s Las Vegas

Average cost of stay: $110 per night including resort fees

Where: On the Strip

The Good: A Las Vegas classic, Bally’s has everything you’re looking for, from a lively casino to stellar service and clean hotel rooms. Plenty of dining options.

The Bad: Fairly average by Las Vegas standards. Clean and comfortable, but you probably won’t be sharing your swanky room on social media.

What Is Money Laundering?

Simply put: Money laundering is the act of taking illegally-obtained money and making it look like it was earned legally instead.

Criminals ‘clean’ their money through certain kinds of transactions, investments in assets, and other moves that hide the original source of the funds.

The end result is money that ‘looks’ legal and is able to be used without raising any suspicion.

The term allegedly came from notorious mobster Al Capone, who liked to hide his illegal profits as legitimate income in the many laundromats he owned.

Today it’s something of an umbrella term to describe many different methods of deceiving the law about where money came from.

According to the United Nations, it’s estimated that the amount of money laundered globally in one year is between 2-5 percent of the world’s GDP, which could be as much as $2 trillion.

It’s worth noting that estimates should be treated with caution, however, as due to its clandestine nature, it’s impossible to collect accurate data on the amount of money that is globally laundered every year.

Such figures are only intended to give an estimate on the magnitude of the problem.

The 3 Steps of Money Laundering

Even though the practice has been around for centuries and has gotten increasingly complex, there are still just three basic steps to money laundering: placement, layering and integration.

1. Placement

Once dirty money is obtained by criminals, placement into the financial systemis the first step.

It could involve depositing the funds into a bank account registered to a business (real or otherwise) or to a middleman.

This step is where most would-be launderers get caught, as putting large amounts of money into these accounts out of nowhere generally looks suspicious if not done carefully.

2. Layering

Next, the money needs to be disguised by creating complex layers of financial transactions so that its original source can’t be traced.

This is the stage where criminals disguise the trail and make tracing the dirty money as difficult as possible.

There are many ways to do this, including dispersing the funds to multiple bank accounts in different names and countries, changing its currency, or buying expensive assets like houses or cars.

3. Integration

Finally, the launderer seeks to get their now-clean money back through integration into the legitimate financial system.

Everything appears to be legal and could be integrated through a bank transfer to a newly created business or may take the form of a salary.

Once money has been laundered, it is hard for law enforcement bodies to trace it as having been obtained through criminal activity.

Money Laundering Through Casinos And Online Gambling Sites

Gambling has always been a magnet for people intent on processing the proceeds of crime – in short, money laundering.

That’s why the potential for it to be used as a vehicle for transforming filthy lucre into untraceable, clean cash will always be there.

In live casinos, dirty money is converted into chips, played with for a short while, then cashed out in the form of a check.

Sometimes this is also done through fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) as players play and lose a little bit, then cash out so they have a receipt to show as proof of their ‘winnings’.

There has also been a huge increase in criminals laundering through online casinos, which has been made easier thanks to the astronomical amounts of cash flowing through digital sportsbooks and online casinos every day.

One strategy favored by money launderers is to deposit a large amount of money in a betting account.

They then place a few small dummy bets for appearances’ sake, before emptying the whole account.

This process is even harder to detect if the criminals are patient enough to break their loot down into small amounts.

They can then set up dozens of betting accounts, with deposits well below a benchmark likely to attract attention. After a short while, they cashout all their money.

In these instances, any paper trail will look innocent and legitimate.

The FBI has admitted that even licensed sites offer an opportunity to transfer high volumes of money in and out of different accounts.

And this is an industry in which dozens of unlicensed sites are launched every day – some of them in jurisdictions with weak or non-existent supervisory regimes.

However, law enforcement agencies are more determined than ever to tackle crime by cracking down on money laundering.

And many have their sights firmly trained on betting operators.

But whatever measures the authorities and betting operators impose, the global online gambling market is expected to be worth more than $92.9 billion in 2023.

That makes the challenge to eradicate money laundering a huge one – and means the temptation for criminals to use it for that purpose remains equally large.

Challenging it may be, but casino operators have a moral duty to protect customers and keep crime out of the gambling industry.

They have to be committed to them, assess them regularly and train employees to check customers and know what constitutes suspicious activity.

The Rise Of Crypto Laundering

The advent of digital banking and cryptocurrencies has made moving money quickly and covertly easier than ever by criminals, making laundering one of the biggest crimes of our time.

According to a recent report by Crypto.com, the number of global crypto users reached 221 million in June 2021.

Due to anonymity, it’s even easier for criminals to launder money through cryptocurrencies, which makes it even harder to track and therefore source data on the levels of crime.

In a report by the Basel Institute on Governance, of the estimated $21.4 billion in crytpo transactions in 2019, criminal activity represented around $450 million.

The actual figure could be much higher but it is very hard to trace.

As cryptocurrencies continue to grow in popularity and usage, it will be interesting to see how governments attempt to stop criminals from using them to launder money.

The contents of this blog are provided as an information guide only and do not amount to legal advice. The blog seeks to raise awareness of, and educate the public on, money laundering issues in order to shine the spotlight on and prevent this criminal activity.

1. It’s Associated With The Devil

The roulette wheel (both 0 and 00 versions) is sometimes referred to as the “Devil’s Wheel”.

This is because its numbers add up to 666, aka the “number of the beast” – according to the Bible.

It could also have something to do with the game’s tendency to send players to hell (or at least, their credit ratings).

2. No One Really Knows Where It Came From

There are a number of theories floating around as to where roulette originated.

Most people believe the theory that the game was invented by French physicist Blaise Pascal after his attempts to create a wheel that could demonstrate perpetual motion.

And as the name “roulette” comes from the French term for “little wheel”, this theory does seem to make most sense.

Others believe it was made up by a French monk who was bored, or by a group of French Dominican monks.

More recently, roulette is thought to have been derived from an English game called Roly-Poly or “E.O” (Even/Odd).

3. It Used To Be Easy To Cheat

Back in the day, before CCTV and high-level casino security, it was a lot easier to cheat in roulette. Today it’s virtually impossible unless you’re colluding with someone on the inside (a terrible idea).

Cheaters have always found a way to beat the house, whether that was using a magnetic ball, rigged wheel, or something else.

A great example would be cheaters like Joseph Jagger and Dr Richard Jarecki who used to spot defective roulette wheels and take advantage of them.

They’d take note of the wheels with chips, dents or defects and track the patterns of which numbers landed, before cleaning the casinos out of their millions.

Nowadays, casinos replace equipment regularly so don’t even think about trying this one yourself.

4. 17 Is One Of The Most Popular Bets

James Bond, 007, was a big roulette player in Ian Fleming’s original books and his favorite number was 17.

Coincidence?

Well, it could be one of the most popular bets because of Bond… or it could just be because of its central position on the table making it a number people are most drawn to.

5. In California, Roulette Is Played With Cards

To get around strict gambling laws in California, some clever casinos offer a different variation of roulette that uses cards instead of a spinning wheel and ball.

Although California roulette is played differently (check out this detailed explanation), the odds, payouts and rules all remain the same.

For those brave enough, Casino.org has delved into the Paranormal Database to uncover the places you’re most likely to encounter the supernatural. 

The South West of England tops?the list with the highest odds of paranormal activity with a?one in?2,648 chance of a mystical occurrence – that’s more than?50?times higher than getting five numbers – a payout of ￡1,750?– in the?UK Lotto!?

For the best odds of unearthly activity in the South West, thrill-seekers should head to Avebury, a small village in Wiltshire and home to a Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles.

Here the likelihood increases to 43/1. Staying in the South West, Dartmoor is must-see, here morbid adventurers have a one in 60 chance of an encounter.  

Next on the list is the East of England with odds of 3549/1, where you’re than 800 times likely to experience a ghostly meeting than win a five-figure pay out on Euromillions.  

Other notable areas include Pluckley, considered “the most haunted village in England” (70/1), Rye (752/1) and Devizes (836/1).  

Top 10 Places To Experience Paranormal Activity In The UK

While Scotland only places fifth in the regions, the top 10 places in the UK are dominated by areas in Scotland with Orkney claiming the top spot at 532/1.  

Located off the northern tip of Scotland, where the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet, the Orkney Islands are home to houses and tombs dating back 5,000 years, Bronze Age cemeteries, standing stones, Viking ruins, medieval churches and Renaissance palaces. 

Third on the list is Dorset, where 433 spooky occurrences have been recorded. Market town Blandford offers the best odds with a one in 687 chance for macabre tourists.   

Top 5 Places To Experience Paranormal Activity By UK Country 

Taking the top spot for Northern Ireland is County Fermanagh, where the chance of a paranormal experience is more than 1,000 times likely than winning the jackpot on the Irish Lotto, perhaps understandable as it’s home to Cooneen Ghost House where a notorious poltergeist is said to reside.  

Elsewhere in Wales, you’re 90 times more likely to experience mystical goings-on in Gwynedd than winning ￡1,750 in the UK Lotto.   

Most Common Paranormal Activities?And?Where They Take Place?

The most common type of paranormal activity involved figures of some kind, horses and riders top the list with 526 reports.

Next comes cryptozoology or mythical creatures (443) such as Big Foot or the Loch Ness Monster, followed by headless ghosts (366). 

Perhaps unsurprisingly given the most common type of paranormal activity, roads and motorways top the list for the most sighted locations with more than 1,000 records – let’s hope they’ve read the latest edition of the Highway Code! Pubs take second place (785) and churches third (749).   

If you enjoyed this, check out UFO Odds: Where Are You Most Likely To See A UFO In The U.S.? 

Data correct as of Sep 23, 2021.

In this article, we’ll explain how to play Yahtzee, both offline and online, as well as share a few tips and tricks you can use when you’re next battling friends and family in a game of this timeless classic.

Yahtzee: What It Is And Where It Came From

Yahtzee is one of the world’s best-loved games, played by millions of families over the past 80 years.

The goal of the game is simple: you just need to roll specific combinations of dice, which are outlined on a Yahtzee scorecard. The more difficult the combo, the higher the score.

At the end, the player with the highest total score is declared the winner!

Yahtzee has been around since the early 1940s, when it was marketed under the name of “Yatzie”.

However, in 1956, Edwin S. Lowe – the man also credited with inventing bingo – began to sell it as “Yahtzee”.

It was purchased from Lowe in 1973 by the Milton Bradley Company. It is now owned by gaming giant Hasbro, who state that 50 million games are sold around the world every year.

How To Play Yahtzee

The rules of Yahtzee are exceptionally easy to understand. It’s suitable for two or more players, although any more than four can make for a long game!

To play, you’ll need five dice, a pencil and Yahtzee scorecards.

On each scorecard, you’ll find a list of combinations to roll. There are 13 combinations in total, all of which are explained on the scorecards.

You’ll also see that there’s a 35-point bonus for getting over 63 points in the upper section, plus you can add extra Yahtzees to the lower section, getting 100 points for each one.

To play, you roll the five dice. You’re then allowed to re-roll any of the dice you choose.

After the second roll, you’ll have your final combination and will fill in one of the sections on the scorecard – if you managed to get a viable combo!

You’ll get 13 turns in total, so will need to use a combination of skill and luck to fill in as many combos as possible.

At the end of the game, add the scores together and see which player wins!

Online vs Real Life

Yahtzee is best known as a game played face-to-face by families, however, it’s also possible to play Yahtzee online.

So, now it doesn’t matter if your friends are thousands of miles away, as you can easily play by hopping online and starting a game.

Got nobody to play against? That’s not a problem, as it’s also easy to find other Yahtzee fans to play online.

The ability to play Yahtzee from behind a desktop or mobile screen has pros and cons, with the biggest pro being you can play whenever you like, wherever you like.

What’s more, you won’t have to pay anything to play, as there are many websites where you can play Yahtzee online for free.

However, playing online certainly doesn’t offer the same experience as playing face-to-face, as it’s not as sociable.

You can’t make quick quips to other players about their rolls, and you won’t be able to see the smile on another player’s face when they roll Yahtzee.

For that personal experience, the game is best played offline.

While convenience is the number one advantage to playing online, there is also another big pro: you won’t ever run out of scorecards! I

f you do run into this problem while playing offline, you can find out where to get additional scorecards in the next section.

Where To Get A Yahtzee Scorecard

Every avid Yahtzee player has run into this problem: you sit down ready to play, only to realize you’ve run out of scorecards.

You’re then forced to either create your own homemade scorecards, which can be a long and boring process, or postpone the game until another day.

However, getting extra Yahtzee scorecards is now incredibly simple. Just download a Yahtzee score card and then print it off as many times as you want.

Yahtzee Tips And Tricks

Yahtzee is a game that relies a lot on luck, but there is also an element of skill to the gameplay too. Here are five tips to improve your Yahtzee strategy:

• Always try to get the bonus of 35 points by scoring 63 points or more in the upper section. This is best achieved by maximizing on the number of fives and sixes you can roll.
• If you get four-of-a-kind with any number, use the score in the upper section and not in the four-of-a-kind box. This will help you get the 35-point bonus.
• Rolled a bad combination and don’t want to or can’t use your chance? If so, sacrifice the aces box in the upper section, as it only offers a maximum of six points.
• Don’t use your chance box too early, as you’ll need it later in the game, when getting combinations will be tougher. Aim for a score of 25+ in the chance box.
• If you’ve already got Yahtzee, don’t turn down the chance to roll it again, as additional Yahtzees count as 100 points each.

Of course, the number one tip when playing Yahtzee? It’s to have fun, just like people have been doing for 80 years.

Yahtzee: Fun Times Guaranteed

It’s no surprise that Yahtzee is one of the world’s most popular games. Not only does it offer excitement with every roll, but it’s suitable for players of all ages, from five-year-olds to their grandparents.

It’s also exceptionally easy to play, so even complete newbies will be rolling with confidence after a few minutes.

If you want to try a more challenging game instead, check out our post on the hardest games to master!

Now that land-based casinos have thrown open their doors once again, the fight between online and brick-and-mortar casinos has begun.

Can the land-based casinos wrestle back their share of the market? Or will online casinos continue to dominate the landscape?

In this post we’ll be looking at both types of casinos and the pros and cons of each, to help you decide which is the best option for you.

Online Casinos

Online casinos have been around since the 1990s and now dominate the industry, attracting many more players than their land-based counterparts.

Pros:

  Huge bonuses regularly handed out to players
  Unbelievable selection of games
  You can play anywhere using a mobile device

Cons:

  Often a solitary experience
  Lacks the excitement of a real-life casino setting

There can be no argument about the type of casino offering the larger variety of games.

Online you’ll find thousands of slots and hundreds of table games, as well as tons of game variations, allowing casino fans to play any game they can think of.

Many players also love the option that you can play for free, so you can experience the buzz, without risking any cash.

You don’t even need to move from your seat to find them – all can be accessed with a couple of clicks of the mouse or tap of a finger.

Another huge advantage to online casinos is the bonuses. These can be giant, often doubling, or even tripling, deposits.

You won’t find anything touching them at a land-based venue. Expect complimentary drinks, and that’s about it, at most offline casinos.

Add the convenience, high security, and multiple payment options into the mix, and it’s clear to see why online casinos are preferred by most keen gamblers.

Land-Based Casinos

Land-based casinos are found all over the world, from the glitzy lights of Las Vegas to the small backstreets of cities throughout the globe.

Most casinos don’t just offer gambling, as they also provide various facilities, including restaurants and bars.

Pros:

  Highly social, all-round entertaining experience
  Bars and restaurants often offered
  Many casinos also have hotels
  Lots on offer for non-gamblers too

Cons:

  Not as many games as online casinos
  Can be an expensive night out as you will need to tip staff

When you think of casinos, the glamorous venues in Vegas usually spring to mind. However, you probably won’t need to head there to get the casino experience, as there are venues dotted throughout the world.

These range from small casinos with only slots to huge complexes with loads of games, hotels, incredible restaurants and more.

It’s possible to have a fantastic time at a land-based casino without gambling at all, which is why they’re a popular attraction for many people looking to visit with friends or family.

Land-based casinos offer a fun, social experience. Unlike at online casinos, you’ll get to meet other players and dealers face-to-face, as well as chat to your bartender or waiter.

Another reason live casinos are popular is it gives you a reason to dress up and make and event of it. Lots of places have a strict casino dress code, so you should always check any requirements before you go.

While you won’t receive many bonuses at casinos, you will often get comps – rewards for playing – such as free drinks.

Spend enough and you could get some huge rewards, such as free hotel rooms or the services of a casino host.

So, Which is Best?

It might sound like we’re sitting on the fence, but the honest answer to which is best is… it depends.

Some players prefer the huge selection of games and the privacy of online casinos, while others want to combine gambling with a social experience at land-based casinos.

The best way to see which is best for you? Try them both!

When you’re looking to sign-up with an online casino, make sure you check out our reviews first. All the casinos we recommend are properly licensed and therefore completely safe to use.

Any casinos we don’t find to meet our strict security requirements will be placed on our notorious blacklist of casinos to definitely avoid.

So, go and visit both an online and land-based venue to find out which is best for you!

The plot was inspired by the life of Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal who managed the Fremont, Hacienda, and Stardust casinos in Las Vegas for the Chicago mob back in the 1970s and 1980s.

But just how much of the movie Casino was based on real life events? As with most movies that are based on a true story, there are always some extra bits added in for dramatic effect, or some parts that get changed – and Casino is no exception.

However, there are a number of scenes that remain true to reality. Let’s take a look at the real-life moments that were too good for the script writers to ignore.

1. The Main Characters Were Based on Real-Life People

Every main character in Casino is based on a real-life individual.

Sam “Ace” Rothstein is based on famous mobster Frank Rosenthal and Ginger McKenna’s character is based on former Las Vegas show girl Geri McGee (Rosenthal’s wife).

Nicky Santoro is based on mobster Anthony Spilotro and even Phillip Green is based on casino tycoon and mobster Allen Glick, who recently passed away.

The similarities are everywhere, and they don’t just end with the character traits.

2. Rosenthal Genuinely Did Not Possess a Gaming License

Yes, true story. The real-life Rosenthal did not possess a gaming license.

Due to his links to organized crime, the mob knew that it would be too risky to try and get a license for Rosenthal. To get around the issue, the mob gave Rosenthal less high-profile titles at the casinos he worked at, including entertainment director and food and beverage manager.

This deception comes to a head in a heated courtroom scene where Rothstein gives us a very public glimpse into how corrupt the legal process was at the time.

Incredibly, Rosenthal was involved in a very similar court case and outburst as you can see in the video below!

3. Rosenthal Did Actually Survive a Car Bombing

The moment when Rothstein survives a car bombing is based on real-life events that occurred in the life of Rosenthal.

How did Rosenthal come out of such an ordeal alive?

Well, a metal stabilization plate located underneath the driver’s seat saved his ass… literally.

4. A Former Casino Executive Was Hunted Down And Killed in His Home in Costa Rica

There are a number of murders shown in Casino and a few of these did happen in real life.

One of the most infamous murders was when a former casino executive met his grisly end after being hunted down and murdered at his home in Costa Rica.

5. Geri And Spilotro Did Have an Affair

The love triangle between Rothstein, McKenna, and Santoro in the movie plays a pivotal role in the demise of a couple of those characters.

In real life, it is alleged that Rosenthal’s ex-wife McGee and Spilotro did actually engage in an affair.

Did it have the same repercussions as in the movie? Unlikely.

But it was still severely frowned upon by the mob.

6. Geri’s Death Was Caused by a Drug Overdose

One of the most tragic moments in Rosenthal’s life was the death of his ex-wife Geri from a drug overdose.

This is portrayed accurately in Casino with Stone’s McKenna also succumbing to a similar fate in a motel at the end of the movie.

7. Anthony Spilotro Was Killed Alongside His Brother And The Pair Were Buried in a Cornfield In Indiana

In arguably the most iconic death of gangster movie history, Pesci’s Santoro and his brother, Dominick, are ambushed by Frank “Frankie” Marino after the car bombing of Rothstein.

In an act of retaliation by the mob, suspecting that Santoro was behind the bombing and was beginning to get out of control, Santoro and his brother are buried alive in a cornfield.

This did in fact happen to Santoro’s real-life counterpart Anthony Spilotro. He and his brother were allegedly buried in a cornfield in Indiana by mobsters.

Where You Can Watch The Movie Casino

Casino (annoyingly) isn’t available on Netflix, however, it is currently available to stream on: Amazon Prime Video, AMC+, Apple TV, Google Play and Microsoft.

Lead image: Hollywood North Magazine via Casino.org News

Today we’ll be looking at the differences between these casino types, why both are popular, and how to choose which is best for you.

Social Casinos

Social casinos allow you to play free online slots, table games and other games, with a strong emphasis on simply having fun.

Pros:

  No risk of losing any money
  Great way to enjoy yourself with friends
  Perfect for practicing before playing for real money

Cons:

You’ll never win any money

There are plenty of social casinos out there. Zinga is perhaps the largest of them all, thanks to its heavy presence on social media, but you’ll also find names like Slotomania and Big Fish Casino too, which also have impressive numbers of players on their platforms.

All free casinos are completely legal and don’t require any type of regulation, simply because it’s not possible to lose any money playing at them.

However, whether playing free games can fuel addiction is a debatable topic.

You’ll find numerous games to play at social casinos, although the most popular are free slots. It’s also possible to play table games, including blackjack and roulette, plus there are also many social poker sites.

While there’s no money to be won and lost, you’ll still be playing for something. This is because social casinos have their own free currency.

Many social casinos make money from this, allowing players to purchase more currency.

Online Casinos

Online casinos allow you to play a variety of games for real money, meaning that you could win or lose cash in a playing session.

Pros:

  Potential to win money
  Exhilarating
  Huge variety of online casinos to choose from

Cons:

Risk of losing money

There are far more online casinos than social casinos which, while great news for gamblers, also means there are more bogus casinos that could scam you out of your money.

Be sure to only play at a trusted online casino, like the ones recommended in our casino reviews.

Online casinos have one main difference from social casinos: it’s possible to win – and lose – money when playing at them. This boosts excitement by a huge amount, as you’re constantly on edge over whether you’ll walk away a winner.

You’ll also be able to play games for free at most online casinos, allowing you to practise without risking any money in the process.

As with social casinos, the main draw is the slots section, which can be populated with hundreds – or even thousands – of different titles.

Table games, video poker and scratchcards can also be offered, plus most online casinos now also offer live dealer games, which are played with a real dealer via a webcam.

Unlike social casinos, playing at an online casino is a solitary experience. If you’re looking for real money games that are a little more sociable, we’d recommend heading to an online poker or bingo site instead, both of which offer chat features.

So, Which Is Better?

The answer to this question is: It depends.

If you’re the kind of person looking for a good time, but who doesn’t want to spend any money in the process, social casinos are for you.

They’re also great if you’re an avid social media user and want to play games that connect you with others on the platform – the games are single player, but there’s nothing stopping you from posting your wins and commenting on posts or tweets from others.

On the other hand, if you’re eager to try winning some money, and don’t mind the fact that you could instead lose, online casinos with their real money games should be your number one choice.

You’ll also find that online casinos have a far greater variety of games to enjoy, which is perfect for those who like to flit from game to game quickly.

It all comes down to a matter of personal preference and what you want to get out of your gaming experience.

Where To Play

You’ll find plenty of social casinos out there. A quick search of Facebook will bring up loads, all of which can be played for free, or you can find some of favorites in our guide.

The choice is even larger for those looking to play real money games. As previously mentioned, you’ll need to first find somewhere safe and secure, which is regulated properly and offers the safety features you should expect, such as SSL encryption.

You’ll then need to compare the games offered by each casino, as well as the various bonuses on offer. Also, be sure to check your favored payment method is available, and that the customer support is strong.

Take a read through our independent reviews and you’ll easily be able to find a site that’s just right for you.

But if all you could find were some empty boxes or instruction manuals, then you might still be in luck.

That’s because there’s actually a huge market for empty boxes and loose manuals amongst collectors, with some paying hundreds of dollars for some of the rarer examples.

We’ve analyzed thousands of eBay listings to see which games and consoles are commanding the biggest price tags, when the game itself isn’t even part of the sale!

The Empty Video Game Boxes With The Biggest Price Tags

1. Clay Fighter: Sculptor’s Cut (N64)

Average “box only” price: $1,713

Taking the top spot is a lesser-known Nintendo 64 game, ClayFighter: Sculptor’s Cut, with empty boxing selling for an incredible $1,713 on average.

The fighting game received largely negative reviews when it was released in 1997, so why are boxes selling for such huge prices?

It’s because this version of the game was only sold as a rental exclusive from Blockbuster Video stores, making it one of the rarest N64 games in existence.

2. Bomberman 64: The Second Attack (N64)

Average “box only” price: $428

Another Nintendo 64 game comes in second, with “box only” sales of Bomberman 64: The Second Attack averaging at $428.

As with Clay Fighter, this is considered one of the rarest N64 games of all time, for a couple of reasons.

Firstly the game wasn’t released in Europe at all, and in the rest of the world, it was released right at the end of the console’s life cycle, and released to fairly average reviews and minimal advertising, which is why these boxes and the game itself are in such high demand!

3. EarthBound (SNES)

Average “box only” price: $346

In third place is 1994 RPG EarthBound, which sees empty game boxes sell for an average of $346.

When it launched in 1994 the game was a relative commercial failure, but in the years since has developed a huge fan community and is today considered one of the best games of all time amongst those in the know.

Another reason for its rarity is that the game wasn’t available in many markets such as Europe and Australia until 19 years after its initial release.

The Video Game Manuals With The Biggest Price Tags

1. Clay Fighter: Sculptor’s Cut (N64)

Average “manual only” price: $614

As was the case with empty boxes, the rare “Sculptor’s Cut” of Clay Fighter was the most valuable game when it came to sales of just the instruction manual, with sold prices averaging at $614.

Despite its negative reviews, the fact that this game could only be acquired by renting (or won through an online contest), means that only 20,000 copies were ever produced.

2. Stunt Racer 64 (N64)

Average “manual only” price: $236

Another super rare game comes in second for the cost of a manual on its own, with loose Stunt Racer 64 manuals selling for in excess of $200.

As was the case with Clay Fighter: Sculptor’s Cut, this racing game was only released through Blockbuster Video stores, meaning that the manuals were often not returned to the store, or were returned damaged and thus thrown out by the store employees, which is why they’re so rare (and expensive)!

3. Rule of Rose (PS2)

Average “manual only” price: $178

Rule of Rose was a controversial survival horror game that generated a lot of media criticism due to its “obscene cruelty and brutality” and led to it being banned in a number of countries (despite some of the allegations about the game proving to be untrue).

The scarcity of copies of this game has led to the manuals alone becoming collector’s items, with an average price of $178.

The Empty Console Boxes With The Biggest Price Tags

1.  PlayStation 5 (disc version)

Average “box only” price: $392

The empty consoles that people are seeking out online are usually older, rarer models, where the original packaging is much harder to come by, so it’s quite surprising to see that empty PS5 boxes are selling for an average of $392.

Unfortunately, there’s likely a much darker reason for this. With the new consoles being so hard for gamers to get their hands on, scammers have been known to list empty boxes at high prices, in the hope that buyers won’t notice.

2.  Xbox Series X

Average “box only” price: $287

The Xbox Series X was released around the same time as the PlayStation 5 and like its rival, has seen boxes selling for big money online, with an average sale price of $287.

Again, it’s a huge amount of money to pay for an empty box and there’s a good chance that many are being listed by scammers, although demand for the latest Xbox seemingly isn’t as high as for the PS5.

3. Atari Jaguar

Average “box only” price: $175

The most expensive retro console when it comes to empty packaging is the Atari Jaguar, which was released in 1993 but was a commercial failure and ultimately led to Atari deciding to stop producing consoles.

Despite being such a flop when it was released, the Jaguar maintained a strong following, and after its patents were released into the public domain, hobbyists started to create their own games for the system, with empty boxes today selling for $175 on average.

The Games Console Manuals With The Biggest Price Tags

1.  PlayStation 5 (disc version)

Average “manual only” price: $245

As was the case when it came to empty console boxes, the PlayStation 5 had the highest average price tag, with manuals for the console selling for an average of $245. Again, there’s a good chance that these listings are trying to catch people out.

2.  Xbox Series X

Average “manual only” price: $180

In second place behind the PS5 once again was the Xbox Series X, with the average manual selling for $180.

3. PlayStation 3

Average “manual only” price: $110

In third place is the PlayStation 3, with manuals for the third generation of PlayStation selling for an average of $110.

While it may still seem like a relatively recent console, the PS3 was released 15 years ago now, so it is already something of a collector’s item!

Methodology

All prices sourced from Price Charting, which provides average prices from sold listings both on eBay and their own platform.

When showing the most valuable games for empty boxes and manuals, we only included games for which 100 or more sales were made, to avoid any anomalies.

When comparing consoles, we looked at the North American versions of the launch model of each console.

“Pokies” is just another name for slot machines, which is used in Australia and New Zealand. There is no difference between pokies and slots except the name.

Where The Name “Pokie” Came From

The term “pokie” comes from the ‘pok’ in ‘poker machine’.

Since you might know that Australians love to abbreviate everything already – relative into “rellie”, surfer into “surfie”, mosquito into “mozzie”, etc. – it probably makes sense for the long-to-say ‘poker machine’ to be shortened into “pokie”.

But why were these machines ever referred to as ‘poker machines’ despite being more similar to slot machines than video poker games?

It can’t be known for sure – it’s one of those things that seemingly has just ‘always been’.

Advertising as far back as you want to look even refers to them as pokies.

One theory is that in the early days of Australian casinos (around the 1900s), one of the first games was in fact a poker ‘machine’, or what they might call video poker elsewhere in the world.

But as soon as slot machines started to gain popularity and be situated next to these machines, it just became easier to refer to all the gaming machines in the room as “pokies”.

The term has obviously stuck and even has carried over to online gambling, where all online slots and video poker games are also called pokies.

Free online pokies tend to be the most popular with players in Australia, as well as casual pokies that are found in Aussie pubs and clubs.

Other Slot Slang From Around The World

While a deck of cards is the same no matter where you go in the world, the much-loved electronic gambling machines have been given other names around the world.

In England slots are sometimes referred to as “fruit machines” or “fruities”, and a “puggy” in Scotland.

Around the rest of the globe, there are people that love good old-fashioned colloquial slang and call them by the classic name of “one-armed bandits”.

One place you’ll often find them sharing their tips is on Reddit. To save you the time of trawling through the various AMA threads and other subreddits, we’ve collected all the most common bits of advice and compiled them into one handy article.

These tips offer excellent insights into what to expect at a casino, and how to come out ahead. Or at least have the best time.

1. Don’t Play The Slots Next To The Bathroom

The legal payout percentage is based on the house, not individual machines. So some machines, even with the same games you’ll find elsewhere in the casino, will pay out less than others.

For example, slots near toilets often have the lowest payout because the casino knows you’ll take a seat while waiting for someone.

2. Only Use Your Player’s Card For Extended Sessions

Casinos calculate an Average Day Trip (ADT) to determine how much you’re worth as a patron.

The more you spend in general, the better the comps and promotions a casino will offer you.

Using the card on a quick session where you only spend $20 could drive your ADT down and reduce your promos.

3. Don’t Hate On The Dealers

Too often players assume that the dealer, as the face of the house at the casino, wants them to lose.

But most dealers know that players who win are likely to give them a nice tip.

So, whether you’re winning or losing, respect the dealer and enjoy the fun they add to the experience.

Remember to tip them. And don’t treat them like the enemy!

4. Never Take Any Side Bets

According to one casino employee of Reddit: “All sidebets are horrible odds. Don’t do them unless you plan on losing your money anyways.”

This was always apparent for insurance bets in blackjack, but across the board the dealers say not to take those extra side wagers, even if the payouts sound worthwhile, such as with the 21+3 or rummy side bet.

5. Play Video Casino Games To Get Free Drinks Faster

Bartenders can see how much money you put into the video games.

So, if you’re playing at a casino that doesn’t just automatically comp drinks to all players, put in $100 when you sit down at the machine and don’t try to flag down the bartender.

Make small bets and appear to settle in. Soon the bartender will come around and ask for your order.

Keep making small bets until they return with your drink, then tip them and cash out. Repeat at different bars.

6. Get A Player’s Card To Get An Instant Room Discount

Planning a trip to Las Vegas? Sign up for a player’s card!

The rates for rooms are usually 10-20 percent cheaper depending on availability, and all you need to get a casino room rate is to have the club card.

Of course, if you stay and play, you might end up getting the room comped, too.

7. Spend More Money And You Might Get A Grill Or Panini Maker

Across Reddit there are stories of people using player’s cards to get rewards.

Beyond comps for rooms and meals, many loyalty members get gifts including George Foreman grills, panini makers, pasta cookers and other kitchen equipment.

And as one Redditor has pointed out: “Bitches love paninis.”

8. It’s Okay To Ask The Dealer For Advice

Part of dealer training is to not only know all the rules, but to also be friendly and helpful to newcomers.

Always wanted to learn craps? Wondering whether to split or not in blackjack? Just ask your dealer.

They get paid whether the house wins or loses, so they will give you honest advice based on much more experience than the random player sitting next to you.

Just make sure to tip them.

9. Bring Your Printed Strategy Card

Worried about learning whether to stand, hit, split, or double in blackjack? Just find a winning strategy guide and print it out.

You may need to check with the dealer, but most casinos allow them or even encourage them as they want you to have fun and stay for as long as possible.

Just make sure it’s actually printed on paper, and not on your smart device, as that’s not allowed.

10. Play Craps For The Best Odds

Read through enough AMA threads on Reddit from casino dealers and you’ll note a trend, they all start by dealing blackjack but recommend that gamblers play craps.

While ideal play in blackjack can have some of the best odds in the casino, they are convinced that craps is actually the best.

Maybe it’s finally time to figure out that game, or ask the dealer!

If you enjoyed reading this, you’ll love our similar piece on the craziest things we learned about casinos on Reddit:

That got us thinking about the oldest casinos in the world and what they’re offering today. Pull up a stool and take a tour through these grand old buildings that were gaming hubs long ago…

Casino di Venezia (1638)

Of course, the casino with the claim to being one of the oldest in the world had to come from Italy.

Believed to have been trading as far back as 1638, the Casino di Venezia in Venice is unsurprisingly situated along the historic and stylish Italian city’s world-famous canals.

With its entrance on the Grand Canal and adorned with classical Venetian architecture, it is possible to picture the Venetian elite sailing up and enjoying aperitifs here as they mingled and gamed, as much of the extravagant decor still echoes older times.

Today, Casino di Venezia is offering players the chance to live the high-life for an evening or two by dressing up in their best and trying their hand at classic games like blackjack, roulette and poker, as well as fine dining.

But it is also home to around 600 slot machines – not something those old Italian idols will have encountered.

Casino de Monte Carlo (1863)

Known under a different name when it was established back in 1863, the Casino de Monte-Carlo is one of the oldest and biggest casinos in Europe.

Its new name came in 1866 in honor of Prince Charles III, who led the casino’s development – ‘Monte Carlo’ meaning ‘Mount Charles’ in Ligurian. 

The casino famously featured in the James Bond movies Casino Royale and Goldeneye. Perhaps unsurprising given its location, history and pedigree, the casino still welcomes the rich and famous today to its grand rooms and grounds.

Alongside the luxury cars, you’ll find exclusive bars, lavish concert halls, a theatre and expensive restaurants – making it a dining and cultural attraction too, where you can enjoy both opera and ballet.

And the view from the front with the water feature? Nothing short of lavish.

Casino Baden-Baden (1820s)

You’ll find Germany’s oldest casino in the popular and historic spa town of Baden-Baden.

This allows you to imagine the type of clientele the casino may have hosted back in 1820s or 30s, when it was originally constructed.

Still boasting neoclassical architecture and grand, opulent interiors, the casino is open to guests today and is set in the stunning Kurhaus – the area’s spectacular social hub that holds events and conferences, and houses a spa.

The origins may date as far back as the Roman Empire, which gives it some serious historic clout.

Channeling this energy, it currently combines lavish decor and chandeliers with more modern additions like slot machines.

Crockford’s Club (1823)

The UK, or London, could never be far behind when it comes to historic casinos.

Crockford’s Club lays claim to being one of the oldest after opening in 1823 as a gentleman’s club, of course.

A members’ club for a long time, Crockford’s is believed to have attracted heavy-weight politicians and decision makers rather than the glitterati.

A turbulent history meant it closed and was refounded a few times between 1823, 1845 and 1970, when it finally shut its doors for good.

The name, however, still lives on as a highly luxurious casino nearby – yet it has no real connection to the original.

Lead image: Pedro Szekely/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0

And we’ve scoured the threads from over the years to bring you the top 10 craziest secrets, straight from the mouths of people working in the industry.

1. All Slots Are Written In The Same Musical Key To Make You Play For Longer

Ever wonder why with all the noise of a casino, the jingles, bells, and soundtracks don’t sound awful together? That’s because they’re all written in C Major.

The notes don’t clash, and it keeps players in a good mood and therefore playing for longer. Just another sneaky casino design trick…

2. Some People Don’t Stop For Bathroom Breaks

All across Reddit there are stories about this.

Apparently, patrons will be so engrossed in a game, or so committed to finally hitting that lucky win, that they will wear adult diapers to keep gambling without bathroom breaks.

Some don’t even wear the diapers.

Many leave puddles or piles in the seats when they leave, and casinos don’t always do as much clean up as you’d imagine. Nice.

3. Yes, They Do Use Faster Dealers At Night To Close Out Tables

Ever feel like your bankroll lasts longer when you play in the afternoon than at night? That’s because it probably does.

The casino will swap in faster dealers at night to push more bets per hour, closing out tables.

Some blackjack dealers will deal up to 50 hands per hour, not only pushing you to make more bets in that time period, but also pressuring you to make decisions faster – and not always with your best judgment.

4. The Casino Is Probably Haunted

Numerous Redditors reported patrons tragically dying at the casino. Some died at the slots, other at the table games. Most were old, but not all.

We also read reports of other casino-goers trying to steal their chips before the paramedics arrived.

Either way, chances are that someone died in that same place where you’re doing all the superstitious things to try to win big, so you might need to appease their spirit when the jackpot hits.

5. The House Wins Way More Than You Might Imagine

It’s not just the glitzy casinos on the Las Vegas strip that are raking in the cash.

A riverboat casino in northern Illinois could easily be profiting $1 million per week. That’s after operating expenses, in a small suburban casino.

Never underestimate just how much the house always wins:

6. Casinos Get Boxes Of Pre-Shuffled Cards

Don’t get too attached to your lucky decks of cards at the casino. New decks are cycled into machines a couple times a shift.

In fact, you won’t see dealers opening up packs of new playing cards, as the casinos get special boxes that have six decks of pre-shuffled cards in them to speed up play.

Now this is starting to sound like the beginning of an Oceans 11 scam…

7. The Smoking Ban Cost Casinos Millions

Smoking and gambling often go hand-in-hand, so when smoking was banned in most casinos, many took financial hits in the millions per quarter.

One Redditor claims the casino lost $20 million in a single quarter. Thanks to tribal law, the casino was able to lift the ban in the casino, but others surely lost out on significant cash.

8. Win More Than $15,000 And The Casino Watches You

Yes, casinos are always watching you.

But once you hit a certain level, they really start paying attention.

What’s the level? One surveillance tech claimed it was once someone won $15K per sit-down in blackjack.

9. Real Chips Can Be Used Like Crayons

Counterfeiting a chip is even harder than you might imagine.

Apparently, cashiers can use real chips like crayons and draw pictures when they’re bored.

No wonder it’s so quick and easy for them to spot fakes!

10. The Blackjack Dealer Doesn’t Know Their Hand

When the dealer checks for blackjack, they don’t actually check the card.

Instead, they put the card into a peeker, with a different rotation depending on if they’re checking for an Ace or 10-value card.

If it’s not blackjack, all they see is white, so there’s no tell or sense of the hand’s value.

It could be 20 or 14, your guess is as good as the dealer’s.

With the new sports making the cut, it got us thinking about the other ones that got the boot.

How many weird Olympic sports throughout the years didn’t make it to today’s line-up?

Below are some of the most amusing, ridiculous or bizarre activities people have won medals for…

1. Rope Climbing

Rope climbing was actually part of the gymnastics programming at the Olympics in 1896, 1906, 1924 and 1932.

Originally competitors were judged on speed and style but by the later years medals were awarded for those who made it to the top first – the only rule being no legs allowed.

2. Live Pigeon Shooting

The first of two trigger-happy events on this list and one of many that only stuck around for one year at the 1900 Paris Games.

Instead of clay pigeon shooting, that year the organizers opted for real pigeons to “compete” with.

Live birds were held and released into the air for competitors to shoot, with over 300 birds reportedly killed during the event.

3. Race Walking

This isn’t a casual stroll, with race walking having all the rules and less of the fun of walking.

Competitors must keep contact with the ground at all times, keeping the leading leg straight when the foot makes contact with the ground until the leg passes under the body.

Here’s a video explaining how it works:

A precision sport that pushes bodies to the extreme.

4. Tug-of-War

Traditional Olympics sometimes sound like giant international picnic, especially when you consider that Tug-of-War used to be a popular event.

It appeared for the first time at the Paris Olympic Games in 1900 and was featured on the events list until 1920.

Eight-man teams – often made up with competitors from different countries – had to pull their opponents six feet to win, or make the most progress within five minutes.

The British team was made up of mostly police officers and was actually one of the strongest, winning two gold medals and one silver while the event was around.

5. Swimming Obstacle Course

In 1900, the Paris Olympics also included a swimming obstacle race.

Just like a normal swimming race, except this one had three obstacles including pole climbing and boats to climb onto and swim under.

The event was held in a river, so in modern times competitors would probably be using trash and sewage as their obstacles.

6. Dueling Pistols

No, this wasn’t a duel you’re familiar with from the movies.

During the unofficial 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens, competitors actually shot at plaster dummies from about 20 or 30 meters away.

This was probably for the best, after hearing what happened to the poor pigeons.

7. Hot Air Ballooning

Technically a demonstration event and not an official sport, hot air ballooning was part of the 1900 Olympic Games.

Competitors were judged and earned points on elements like distance, duration and elevation.

The Olympics may need to click their heels three times or hope for a return to Oz if this sport ever makes a comeback.

8. Horse Long Jump

In – you guessed it – the 1900 Paris Games, the horse long jump featured as an event.

Even though the winning leap from Belgium’s Constant van Langendonck who was riding the Extra Dry was an impressive 6.10 meters, it didn’t have a patch on the humans taking the same leap of faith.

It failed to impress and was axed from the events list afterwards, as was the horse high jump too…

The horses have some serious competition if this event is to make a comeback:

9. Solo Synchronized Swimming

The name itself is contradictory. Who are you synchronizing with if you’re swimming alone?

Well, event supporters claim the synchronization is with the music.

It was an official event in 1984, 1988 and 1992, until the organizers folded it into a team event and never looked back.

10. Town Planning

At the four Olympic games between 1928 and 1948, medals were given out for, erm, town planning.

It fell under the architectural design category of the arts portion of the Olympics.

The even stranger part is that a silver medal winning plan for the Marine Park in Brooklyn wasn’t even used, as the city’s parks department used a different plan instead.

Considering the urbanization of modern times, this event could definitely use a comeback!

You can still pay penny slots today both online and at the casino, for free or real money – but the name doesn’t truly reflect the reality.

We’ll explore how these so-called “penny” slots really work, and what you need to know before you play.

Casino.org’s Top Free Penny Slots Right Now:

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How Much Do You Have To Wager On Penny Slots?

You might think that penny slots just cost one cent to play. However, this often isn’t the case. There’s a reason why penny slots account for 50 percent of casinos’ income!

Particularly at brick-and-mortar casinos, you’ll find that minimum spin values can be 50 or 100 credits on the penny slots.

This means that you’re still wagering $1 per spin.

This is because while the unit of credits is worth a penny – so they are technically “penny slots” as you know them – you’ll be prompted to wager on all available paylines, often with multiple credits per line.

Betting 5 credits a line on a 20-line, 5-reel slot machine means you’ll be wagering 100 credits on each spin of the reels. 

Even if you take things slow and spin the reels every 10 seconds (the average players spins every 6 seconds) you’ll still be looking at 6 spins per minute – or $360 worth of spins in an hour of play.

That’s not quite what penny slot fans were planning on.

But not all slots require you to bet the maximum.

If you play the best penny slots online, you’ll often find that they have minimum spins of 25 or even just 5 cents.

This means that you can put a penny on all available paylines without breaking the bank.

Can You Win Big With Penny Slots?

Many people have stories about winning big with penny slots. But how much is a big win when you’re betting pennies?

$500 and up certainly sounds worthwhile when you’re spinning the reels, but don’t get too excited until you’ve read the small print.

One gambler thought she’d hit the jackpot and won $43 million, but the machine she was playing on had a maximum payout of $6,500. She was offered a steak dinner to make up for it.

All the games list their maximum payouts, so make sure you check this out before you play.

Some penny slot games are linked to massive progressive jackpots. These can be truly lucrative, in the tens or even hundreds of thousands.

But again, before you get excited, make sure that you read the terms and conditions to activate the jackpot.

Usually, you will need to wager the maximum amount on each spin, or at least have wagers on every available payline.

Check the rules before you spin because there’s nothing more disappointing than thinking you’ve just won a life-changing prize, only for it to turn out to be pennies on the dollar.

What Are The Best Penny Slot Machines?

When you play at physical casinos, you’ll often find that the best penny slot machines have different odds from the same games offered at higher stakes.

In fact, you might come out ahead on your bankroll by playing higher stakes slots at casinos.

That’s why it’s often best to play at online casinos, where the odds for a game are stable no matter your wagering level.

Whether you wager a penny, a nickel, a quarter or a dollar, you’ll face the same house edge when you play online. Plus, you’ll get access to a much broader range of games.

So, what are the best penny slot machines? Well, that will depend on your play style and personal preferences.

Are you all about the bonus rounds, or are you just interested in the core slot action? Are you planning to play from the US or another country?

You can choose from a variety of the most popular slots online. From Wheel of Fortune to The Wizard of Oz, The Dark Knight to Wonder Woman, Monopoly to Guns N Roses, you can play tons of top-rated online slot games for penny credits.

Just remember that playing for pennies doesn’t mean that your spins are cheap, but nor are your winnings.

Designed to shock and amuse viewers, profane language now has pride of place in many of our beloved programmes. It’s become such common place that British broadcasting standards regulator Ofcom even has its own ranking of offensive swearwords, from the mildly offensive, to the absolute strongest expletives.

Using that scale, we decided to investigate the rudest TV shows on our screens by scraping over 2,600 scripts from 26 different programmes which are infamous for their profanity.

These are our findings, starting with the most profanity filled shows overall, and the average swears per episode for each.

Three of the top ten shows for total number of profanities are cartoons. The list headed by South Park and its regular refrain of “Oh my God! They killed Kenny!” with well over 9,000 swearwords across its many seasons.

The other two animated shows within the top ten of total profanities is Seth MacFarlane’s Family Guy and American Dad.

On average, the most profanities per episode can be found in US crime drama series, The Wire, with an average of 102 swears per episode.

The Sopranos, following the exploits of warring mafia families, is high on both lists alongside slum comedy Shameless and Orange is the new Black.

Mild Profanities

According to Ofcom, Mild profanities include arse, crap, damn and blasphemies like God and Jesus Christ. Here, the most mild swears was a close-run thing between South Park and Family Guy.

Peter Griffin and his dysfunctional family just edged top spot with both animated series each having over 5,000 mild profanities in total.

Meanwhile, the worst offender on an episode basis is US black comedy sitcom, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, with an average of 20 swears per episode, ahead of animated series’ Archer and Bob’s Burgers.

Medium Profanity

Words and phrases classed as medium profanity include bitch, bollocks, bullshit and pissed off.

At this level, Orange Is The New Black and Shameless have the most in total. Both shows feature close to 3,000 such sayings and are also in the top three for average per episode.

Top of that chart is The Wire, with an average of 38 medium swears per episode.

Strong Swearwords

Strong profane language includes bastard, bell-end, cock, dick, gash, knob, minge, prick, pussy, snatch and twat. Most references to genitalia really.

The Wire, Shameless and Orange Is The New Black are the main offenders once again, nearing 3,000 such swearwords throughout each series.

Per episode, The Wire is firmly in the lead, with almost 50 strong profanities per episode.

The Worst Language on TV

The strongest swearwords – c**t, f**k and mother**ker – are most prevalent in The Sopranos.

This series contains over 3,800 instances of the most offensive language, with 44 on average per episode. Fitting in a way, for a show that highlights Italian American mob violence in the New Jersey underworld.

The Sopranos is way out on its own for filthy language, with HBO’s comedy-drama Entourage a distant second. British drama Peaky Blinders is the next most profane on average, ahead of Silicon Valley.

Whether we like to admit it or not, we love a good swearword on TV. Many of our favourite shows are riddled with profanity. Even programmes that earned critical acclaim and awards have found a place for bad language.

Among the rudest TV shows ever are The Wire and The Sopranos, but it’s also animated series that seem to have started the increasing trend of foulmouthed tirades on our screens.

We live vicariously through iconic characters like Tony Soprano, who aren’t afraid to say what they really think.