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Transaction Fees are Lower
Could Kirk Cousins ACTUALLY Take a Team to the Super Bowl Next Year?
GamblingSites.com
Could Kirk Cousins ACTUALLY Take a Team to the Super Bowl Next Year?
The Washington Redskins pulled off a rare NFL blockbuster deal on Tuesday night, as they swung a trade for veteran quarterback, Alex Smith.
Washington promptly followed that move up by handing the 33-year old Smith a massive four-year, $94 million contract. The deal gives Smith the type of job security he seemingly never had in previous stops in San Francisco and Kansas City and almost certainly ousts long-time starter, Kirk Cousins.
The team had been in a back-and-forth negotiations battle with Cousins for the past few years but had publicly stated that the franchise hoped to make a definitive statement on the quarterback’s future with the organization this offseason.
Consider the message received.
All odds that are referenced in this article were taken from BetOnline at 11:14 am CT on 1/31/2018. These odds may have changed since the time of this writing.
Good Move?
Cousins will hit free agency with zero intent to try to remain in Washington, as the Redskins have clearly moved on with Smith as their starter for 2018 and beyond.
As much of a slap in the face as this trade probably is to Cousins, this is actually a potentially brilliant move by the Redskins. The organization clearly never fully supported Cousins, likely because they didn’t completely believe he could get the team to where they want to go.
That or the Redskins saw a similarly talented quarterback that they could secure for less cash.
Smith isn’t an elite NFL quarterback, but he’s an above average option that compares favorably when put up against Cousins. In fact, Smith saved his best ball for 2017, when he was arguably truly unleashed for the first time in his career.
Taking more shots down the field and being more aggressive turned Smith into a real problem for defenses, as he notched career highs across the board in pass completions (341), passing yardage (4,042) and passing touchdowns (26).
It’s fair to suggest Smith’s most recent season will end up going down as his best as a pro, but the Redskins still got an arguable upgrade. With the contract extension on top of the trade, the Redskins land a reliable passer for the next several seasons.
In turn, Washington could again make a playoff push in 2018 and perhaps make a deep playoff run.
Next Stop?
While this is a big move by the Redskins, there is still a lot to be settled, specifically in the Kirk Cousins camp. Cousins probably would have preferred this to go down a year ago, when a reunion with former Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was a realistic option in San Francisco.
Now that the 49ers are locked in on making Jimmy Garoppolo their new franchise passer, however, it appears that ship has sailed.
Things haven’t gone down precisely how Cousins probably would have hoped, but he actually still holds all of the power here. Not only are there a number of quarterback-needy teams that would love to call him their starting quarterback, but this guy is about to get paid.
In addition, Cousins will finally know the comfort of contract security, as well as a franchise that actually wants him and fully backs him. The question, of course, is what team will end up landing him?
The list of Kirk Cousins landing spots is understandably long and it’s even something sports bettors can wager on. BetOnline currently provides you with nine interesting options, along with some odds:
Denver Broncos (+180)
New York Jets (+225)
Jacksonville Jaguars (+600)
Cleveland Browns (+650)
Arizona Cardinals (+700)
Buffalo Bills (+1200)
Minnesota Vikings (+1500)
Miami Dolphins (+2000)
New York Giants (+2000)
I would have liked to see alternative options here, as “other” or “none of these teams” would have been worth a look.
Two other options that could have been appealing with steep odds are the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. I’m sure the Niners will hand Jimmy G a huge deal and Drew Brees stays home, but what if things don’t work out quite as planned?
An “other” option or these two specific teams would have been fun to consider. If you can find those alternative options on other NFL betting sites, they’re worth a look.
That being said, BetOnline does a great job covering most of the more realistic bases here. Denver, New York, Cleveland, Arizona, Buffalo and Minnesota – at least for the moment – absolutely need to locate a firm answer under center.
Without a doubt, these are the top favorites to land Cousins when the 2018 NFL free agency period officially starts on March 12th.
The teams here I’d rule out are the Dolphins, Jaguars and Giants. New York has stuck behind veteran gunslinger Eli Manning, while the Jaguars recently made it known that they’d be holding onto Blake Bortles.
Miami seems content with Ryan Tannehill as their franchise passer, as well, so moves for Cousins by any of these teams seems unlikely.
Of the group of favorites, the teams that stand out the most are Denver, Minnesota and Arizona. If Cousins wants to win, these are the teams he’s probably giving serious consideration.
The Broncos have a draft pick inside the top-five in the 2018 NFL Draft this year, however, so it stands to reason they’ll bypass shelling out a ton of cash and instead just select a top passing prospect.
Minnesota is an odd one, as they got solid play out of Case Keenum and Sam Bradford last year. They’re both scheduled to hit free agency along with former Vikings franchise passer Teddy Bridgewater. Cousins could easily leapfrog this trio, but Minnesota might feel obliged to keep things in-house.
Arizona is another realistic option, as the Cards aren’t that far from a playoff return. They did lose Carson Palmer and Bruce Arians to retirement, too, so if they want a quick rebuild, starting over under center with a reliable passer like Cousins could make some sense.
If Cousins just wants some fat stacks and a team is looking for a quick answer to their quarterback problems, he could also go play for a loser.
Should that be the case, the two teams everyone needs to track are the Jets and Browns. Both teams desperately need an answer under center and probably wouldn’t mind a faster rebuilding process. They also rank inside the top-four in the NFL in terms of salary cap space, per Overthecap.com.
Not so shockingly, reports have already emerged that the Jets will go after Cousins “hard”. It certainly doesn’t hurt that they have a need at the position, have loads of cash and even have a tie to Cousins:
Kirk Cousins really likes one thing about the Jets https://t.co/3oMvwtESkd via @nypostsports
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) January 31, 2018
New York leads the way for me in what will be a very interesting race. Considering how the Jets were actually competitive last year and aren’t as far away from contending as some may think, they make sense as the pick at the moment.
New York even trumps the Broncos in terms of betting value, so at the moment I see them as the best option for bettors.
Pick: New York Jets (+225)
Title Boost?
Beyond the monetary gain for Cousins, the team that lands him is obviously hoping he provides many returns for them, as well. The biggest return should be wins and hopefully a run to the playoffs.
That brings in the question of the title of this post – can Cousins actually get his new team to the Super Bowl in 2018?
If you’re asking this on a broad scale that doesn’t just pertain to 2018, I’d say sure and maybe even a definite yes.
That doesn’t mean Cousins will ever win a title, but he’s good enough to get his team to the playoffs and if guys like Nick Foles, Blake Bortles and Case Keenum can get wins in some of the biggest games of their lives, a superior talent like Cousins absolutely can, as well.
This question is for 2018, though, and it’s another thing bettors will ponder and ultimately place money down on. Of course, it truly depends on where Cousins goes.
If Cousins is simply following the money trail, then no, he’s not going to the Super Bowl in 2018. That would almost surely mean he latches on with rebuilding franchises like the Browns or Jets.
Cousins makes them better and maybe helps them sniff the playoffs, but those teams are more than a passing upgrade away from reaching the Super Bowl.
If Denver, Minnesota, Jacksonville, New York, Miami, Arizona or even Buffalo landed Cousins, then yes, I can see him leading his new team to the Super Bowl – possibly immediately.
Again, for me, the Giants, Dolphins and Jags aren’t in the mix, barring something random. Minnesota is probably staying in-house, too, while Arizona doesn’t seem overly worried about the quarterback position for some reason.
Of this entire crop, the only teams I can really see making the jump are the Broncos, Jets or Browns. Denver is probably content with rolling with a new young arm like Baker Mayfield, though, so Cousins is likely looking at starting over with a rebuilding franchise.
My money would be on New York and if he goes to the Jets, I could see them getting back to the playoffs in 2018. Unfortunately, even a quick turn around like that wouldn’t make the Jets likely title threats.
Overall, Cousins is going to get money and security in 2018. Regardless of where he winds up this coming NFL season, though, I don’t see him getting to the Super Bowl just yet.
The post Could Kirk Cousins ACTUALLY Take a Team to the Super Bowl Next Year? appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Super Bowl betting report: 10 observations from the sports books
Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
Super Bowl betting report: 10 observations from the sports books
South Point hasn’t finished populating its Super Bowl 52 prop board yet and has enforced a strict $1,000 limit so far. The property is still approaching a half-million dollars in handle on the props alone, and that’s with five days that traditionally account for ...
5 Ways Bitcoin is Disrupting the Gambling Industry
GamblingSites.com
5 Ways Bitcoin is Disrupting the Gambling Industry
Several years ago, Bitcoin was a novelty that was rarely used by the average person. Outside of being used at a few pizza joints and for black market activities, this cryptocurrency didn’t have much popularity.
But times have changed greatly since Bitcoin’s launch in 2009. It’s now used in a wider variety of industries, especially the online gambling sector.
The use of Bitcoin (BTC) has only further increased when considering the recent cryptocurrency boom. Now, more online gamers know of bitcoins than at any other point.
This is good for the online casinos that rely on Bitcoin. But it’s also disrupting internet gaming in different ways.
I’m going to cover 5 ways that Bitcoin is shaking up the gambling industry from both a good and bad perspective.
1. Players’ Bankrolls are Fluctuating Wildly
One of the hardest things about being a Bitcoin gambler is that you never know what your bankroll is going to be worth tomorrow.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies fluctuate wildly on the marketplace. Your bankroll could be worth 0.1 BTC one day, then drop down to 0.08 BTC the next.
Bitcoin is considered the gold standard among cryptocurrencies, because it was the first crypto coin and is easily the most famous.
When BTC drops in value, you can almost guarantee that the “altcoins” will follow. Likewise, the altcoins commonly rise along with Bitcoin.
This means that even those who are gambling with other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Litecoin will see their bankrolls fluctuate too.
Nothing illustrates the volatility of Bitcoin gambling better than the month of December 2017.
This coin entered the month valued at less than $11,000. But it quickly climbed to an all time high of nearly $20,000.
Obviously this was great for Bitcoin gamblers, given that their bankrolls nearly doubled. But the ride wasn’t finished yet.
Later in the month, BTC dipped under $13,000. This meant that players saw their funds decrease by 35%.
Anybody who gambles online is somewhat risk adverse. But even the most ardent gamblers stressed out about this roller coaster ride.
Some players would rather stick to gambling on the cyber tables and slot machines, rather than having a side gamble on how much Bitcoin will be worth the following day. Others appreciate this volatility in hopes that their funds will increase in value.
2. Bitcoin Has Forced Online Gaming to Recognize It
Interestingly enough, online gaming was one of the first industries to dive into the Bitcoin world. This began when Satoshi Dice opened its cyber dollars in 2012 and accepted Bitcoin deposits.
Another big milestone occurred in 2013, when gaming developer SoftSwiss created its own advanced payment processing system for Bitcoin. SoftSwiss, which sells entire casino packages to companies, has since worked with a number of gaming operations to get their Bitcoin sites up and running.
SoftSwiss deals with a lot of offshore gaming sites that operate in unregulated markets. And the same companies are able to accept Bitcoin payments and get around certain countries’banking laws.
A perfect example is the United States, which approved the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006. This law essentially prevents American banks from handling unregulated online gambling transactions.
But the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) brought Bitcoin into the regulated gaming industry in 2016. They approved BTC as an acceptable payment solution under the updated License Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP).
The LCCP is designed to prevent money laundering or any other shady dealings by an online gaming company. This means that the UKGC decided Bitcoin is reputable enough to be used in one of the world’s most prestigious gaming markets.
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) –another respected licensing jurisdiction – has been discussing the Bitcoin matter ever since the UKGC’s approval.
Given its acceptance in the UK and the promise of more gaming jurisdictions approving it, Bitcoin has burst into the mainstream internet gambling world.
It’s possible that BTC will become as common as Visa, MasterCard, and Neteller at online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks.
3. Bitcoin Offers Advantages Over Traditional Payment Solutions
Internet gambling sites wouldn’t be so quick to embrace Bitcoin if customers weren’t interested. The reality is that more and more gamblers are using BTC every day.
Here are the main advantages that Bitcoin offers both players and operators when compared to fiat currencies (e.g. USD, GBP, EUR).
Transaction Fees are Lower
One of the biggest reasons why gamblers like Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is because the transaction fees are lower.
You’ll pay a small fee in order to accommodate the Bitcoin miners. But these charges are normally much cheaper than those seen with credit cards, eWallets, prepaid cards, and other traditional payment methods.
The reason why Bitcoin charges lower fees is because it’s not run by a central company. Instead, BTC operates on the blockchain, which is a public ledger that records all Bitcoin transactions.
Cashouts are Processed Faster
Another selling point on bitcoins is that withdrawals are processed quicker. If you withdraw your money from a Bitcoin casino, you can normally expect the money to hit your wallet in 1 3 hours.
Contrast this to another popular cashout method in eWallets. When you withdraw funds using Neteller, Skrill, or PayPal, it requires third party verification from the company itself.
The end result is that you can end up waiting two or more days for money. Bitcoin, on the other hand, doesn’t require third party verification or ask questions about the nature of your transactions.
Bitcoin is Cheaper for Operators
Online gaming sites also enjoy Bitcoin for a couple of main reasons.
First off, offshore sites don’t have to obtain licensing to operate a Bitcoin gambling site. The reason why is because and central governments and banks don’t control this cryptocurrency.
Companies still need to be licensed in regulated markets like the UK, France, Italy, Spain and so forth. But operators can operate in unregulated markets by accepting Bitcoin.
Another benefit for gambling operators is that all Bitcoin transactions are final. This means there are no chargebacks to deal with for internet gaming companies.
Players in Offshore Markets can Use Bitcoin
Given that Bitcoin isn’t controlled by a government or central bank, it’s very popular in offshore markets. Some online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks even base their entire operation around BTC.
This is good for players who live in unregulated markets like Canada and the US, where they don’t have as many options as other countries.
4. Governments are Acting Against Bitcoin Casinos
Bitcoin gambling sites allow both operators and players to act with more anonymity.
This isn’t to say that BTC transactions are completely anonymous, as is commonly believed. But the transactions are harder to track when compared to credit cards and eWallets.
In order to crack down on this, certain governments have altered their internet gambling regulations to take aim at Bitcoin. This includes the Czech Republic, Poland, and the Netherlands.
Here’s a look at how each of these countries have recently changed their online gambling laws:
Czech Republic – This country now has the highest taxes on unregulated gambling operators in all of Europe. First off, they level in a 35% tax on gross revenue. The Czech Republic also requires another 19% tax on corporate billing. The Netherlands – Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) regulators are currently searching for Bitcoin gaming sites and other unlicensed operators to push them out of the market. Poland – Gaming regulators have forced a 12% tax on total revenue. Poland also has a rule where they can help choose a gaming site’s staff members.Considering the UK’s forward way of approving Bitcoin, it’s insane to see other countries are railing against it. But hopefully these attitudes change in the near future, because this cryptocurrency isn’t going anywhere.
5. Online Gamblers are Using Their Bankrolls on Cryptocurrency Trading
Cryptocurrency trading is often called a gamble by those who trade in traditional stock markets. The reason why is because of the volatility associated with Bitcoin and other crypto coins.
Investing and cryptocurrency is isn’t a complete gamble, such as playing slot machines or roulette. Instead, it’s more like poker, sports betting, or video poker, where you can use strategy to improve your success rate.
Nevertheless, you do take a fair amount of risk with both short term and long term cryptocurrency investments.
In the first point, I covered how volatile Bitcoin was in December 2017. But what’s amazing is that there are other altcoins that are far more risky than BTC.
In fact, there are currently over 1,000 cryptocurrencies and blockchain companies on the market.
Some investors like to buy a number of risky altcoins based on minimal research. Here are a few points that these types of investors might look at:
Altcoins that have experienced a drop in price, but could be poised to rebound. Coins that have really cheap prices ($0.10 or less) that allow investors to gain a lot of shares. New altcoins that investors hope could become the next Bitcoin one day.The best way to invest in a cryptocurrency is by learning about the team behind it, reading their whitepaper, and understanding the coin’s utility. The fewer of these things that you do, the more you’re gambling.
Back to the original point, some gamblers spend money investing in cryptocurrencies that they would normally pump into online gaming sites.
This is yet another disruptive factor in the industry, because casinos that don’t deal in Bitcoin may see lower volume during the recent cryptocurrency craze.
Conclusion
Bitcoin doesn’t look like it’s ready to completely take over payment solutions for online gaming just yet. But this coin is definitely making a big impact on the industry.
Overall, I see the changes as positive for players.
Bitcoin has increased the number of available online gambling sites, lowers transaction fees, and speeds up cashouts.
What’s interesting is that Bitcoin might not even be the end game in cryptocurrency solutions.
Ethereum has now entered the internet gambling space and is used at a small number of casinos. But I expect this to increase greatly in the near future, because Ethereum transactions are even faster and the transaction fees are lower.
Considering how early we are in the cryptocurrency game, it’s entirely possible that one of the newer altcoins could rise to the level of Bitcoin and Ethereum.
I’ve even seen where online gambling sites are working on developing their own blockchain. This means that they could issue their own form of currency, which can be traded on the crypto market.
Long story short, the disruptions that Bitcoin is causing are only the beginning. Expect to see many more changes in the future thanks to blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
The post 5 Ways Bitcoin is Disrupting the Gambling Industry appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Videoslots wins third consecutive Best Casino award
Casino City Times
Videoslots wins third consecutive Best Casino award
The online casino was recognized in multiple categories after pushing its games portfolio to more than 2,100 during the last 12 months.
Thousands of lost Atlantic City casino jobs are coming back
Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
Thousands of lost Atlantic City casino jobs are coming back
Atlantic City, New Jersey, is trying to put years of casino closings and job losses behind it. Since 2014, five of its 12 casinos have closed, putting 11,000 people out of work. For many laid-off workers, the first step on the road to recovery started Tuesday, when the shuttered former Trump Taj Mahal casino began ...
Top 10 Super Bowl LII proposition bets
Casino City Times
Top 10 Super Bowl LII proposition bets
With Super Bowl LII just days away, Casino City's Gary Trask crunches the numbers and pores over the hundreds of prop bets available to come up with 10 wagers worth making this Sunday.
Top Online Progressive Jackpots
GamblingSites.com
Top Online Progressive Jackpots
Can you really win anything online?
Do casino websites compare to land-based gambling?
Are there opportunities for life-changing prizes through internet-based slots?
Of course, millionaires aren’t being made every day through online gambling, but some fortunate players can say that their lives have been changed all because of a lucky combination on the slot reels.
Top software providers like Microgaming, Playtech, and NetEnt provide progressive jackpot games offered on casinos worldwide. These are games that may start with a six-figure prize and gradually climb the longer it goes unclaimed. Or, they can even be million-minimum payouts that begin at seven figures and only get better from there.
Experienced slot players know the names and where to find them. And, even though there are several, some, like Mega Fortune, Mega Moolah, and Age of the Gods are the cream of the crop and are highly sought out by those players in the know.
I’m going to fill you in on some of the best “bets” for slot players online. While these games may not have the best RTP (return to player percentage), they have the highest payout potential you can find in the virtual world of casino gaming.
Mega Fortune
Instead of starting out with the all-time top millionaire-maker, I’m going to begin with the game in the number two spot.
Mega Fortune has been chasing after Mega Moolah for years trying to claim the top place, and it’s come very close to doing just that several times. In fact, NetEnt’s Mega Fortune made history in 2013 when it paid out a Mega prize of €17,861,813, breaking the Guinness Book Record for the highest online slot payout.
However, Mega Moolah edged it out in 2015 with its €17,879,645 payout, and the record still stands. At least, at the time of this writing anyway.
Mega Fortune is a luxury-themed slot game with three levels of progressive jackpot prizes: the Rapid, the Major, and the Mega. These top awards are only issued to players that make it into the bonus round. Meaning, the players who see at least three of the bonus symbols on a single payline starting left to right.
The bonus round features a Wheel of (Mega) Fortune. The player stops the spinning wheel to determine his or her fate. The highest non-progressive jackpot amount is 7,500 credits.
Since 2010, Mega Fortune has created twenty-eight millionaires.
It’s not just the prize amount that makes this game so appealing, though. It’s the set up that doesn’t require players to have to bet a considerable amount. There’s a maximum bet requirement of 100 per spin, but that can be made with the lowest .01 designated denomination or the highest .50. So, for 1.00 per game, the bonus round possibility is in play.
Mega Moolah
Ah, the number one money maker, Mega Moolah. It’s a game provided by Microgaming and, just like Mega Fortune, it pays big and doesn’t mandate big bets. Players aren’t required to select one particular credit value.
The maximum stake is 125 credits, but they can come in at the 1p level for a total of £1.25 per game. That £1.25 isn’t even required for a chance at the bonus round as players can opt to bet below the maximum level.
Mega Moolah is a twenty-five-payline setup with five credits allowed per line. The most prominent prize winner to date was only betting .25 per spin!
Microgaming does state that the higher you bet, the greater your odds of entering the bonus round, but it’s safe to say that it’s not mandatory.
Mega Moolah’s bonus round appears randomly. At any time during gameplay, the Mega Moolah prize wheel can pop up and the player will walk away with one of the four prizes. Each has a seed amount that’s the starting point whenever the prize resets. The mega jackpot always starts at one million and the others are £10, £100, and £1,000.
The prizes during regular gameplay aren’t too shabby either. The top regular game prize is 15,000 per credit or 75,000 with maximum credits bet. There’s also a three-times multiplier during free spin rounds.
Standard Mega Moolah is African-themed, but there are some spin-offs as well. There’s the Egyptian-themed Mega Moolah Isis as well as Summertime and the American-themed Five Reel Drive.
Mobile players also gravitate to this slot game as it’s been proven to pay players on the go with “mega” jackpots of £7 and £8 million. Not a bad way to kill some time, huh?
Age of the Gods
Playtech’s Age of the Gods series may not be known as millionaire-making slots, but they come incredibly close. Age of the Gods is a linked progressive jackpot that encompasses all of the games in the series. There’s the original Age of the Gods as well as King of Olympus, Prince of Olympus, Furious Four, God of Storms, and Goddess of Wisdom.
Just like Mega Moolah, Age of the Gods has a randomly issued progressive jackpot bonus round. There’s nothing to strive for on the reels. You just have to hope that the “Gods” favor you and reward you with a shot at big money.
If you do get into the bonus action, you’ll walk away with one of the four prizes and a minimum of €50 which is the lowest “Power” level. Extra Power starts at €500, and Super Power begins with €5,000. The top prize is called Ultimate Power and rewards a winner with a minimum of €100,000, but has been known for approaching the million Euro mark from time to time.
Each of the Age of the Gods version has different regular game bonus rounds as well as various feature enhancements like multipliers, sticky wilds, and free spins.
In addition to the progressive jackpot bonus, each slot in the series also offers game-specific bonus rounds and top regular game payouts. The original Age of the Gods provides a top prize of 10,000 without factoring in any multipliers or other value-added opportunities.
Whether you’re a fan of Greek Mythology or just enjoy a game with a lot of fun features, Age of the Gods provides both, plus ever-changing jackpot prize amounts.
DC Superhero Series
The Age of the Gods series features multiple games that all share in one large progressive jackpot prize amount, and the DC Superhero series, also produced by Playtech, offers the same premise.
This time, however, Greek Mythology becomes superhero fun with Batman, Green Lantern, and Superman. Players can select their favorite DC comic book character and spin the reels hoping that they get the invite for the bonus round. Yes, once again, this is a randomly triggered jackpot game, and anyone that’s lucky enough to get to play does walk away with one of the four prizes.
While the premise is similar to Age of the Gods, the prize pool is slightly higher. The Mini prize starts at €100. The Minor offers a minimum of €1,000, the Major is €10,000, and the Grand kicks off with €200,000. It increases steadily from there until it’s eventually claimed, and then it re-seeds again at €200,000.
Each of the games is entirely different. The Batman games are from the original 1960s TV series starring Adam West. Superman honors Christopher Reeve’s character, but there’s also the newer Man of Steel, as well as Green Lantern.
You’ll find per game bonus play as well as the DC Superhero round possibility, and when I last checked in on the Grand prize, it was well over €900,000. So, a superhero-loving slot player should have the opportunity of becoming an instant millionaire if they can beat the odds.
Hall of Gods
From the Greek Mythology in Age of the Gods to Norse Mythology in Hall of Gods, Odin, Loki, Thor, Freya, and Idun are the stars of the slot reels. This particular game is built on the premise of Thor chasing the Midgard serpent.
Millionaire potential is a probability for the lucky jackpot winners, as this slot has provided an average of €5 million grand prizes. But, a few things need to line up correctly to get there.
First off, you need three bonus symbols on a payline starting from left to right to enter the jackpot round. Then, you need to select the three “Mega Jackpot” symbols that may be hidden behind fifteen shields. If you unveil three other matching prizes first, though, that’s what you get to keep.
Not only is Hall of Gods action packed with some scatter bonuses that can pay out up to 60,000 credits and wild serpents that expand to cover entire reels, but it’s known to pay out twice a year. To date, €57 million has been awarded, but a third of it is attributed to 2017 gaming action. Just recently a €7.5 million payout was made to a Norwegian player.
Aztec’s Millions
RealTime Gaming is the software provider behind Aztec’s Millions, and it does have more stringent requirements behind its progressive jackpot structure.
Most of the games I’ve mentioned have flexibility in the minimum wager that needs to be staked, but this particular slot requires a .20 bet on each of the twenty-five fixed paylines. That equals $5 per game to be in contention for the million-plus prize.
Every time a jackpot is claimed, the prize gets reset at one million, and it continues to grow from there.
The top prize is awarded based on regular gameplay and not through a particular bonus round. You’ll go from wannabe to actual millionaire if you can line up five Aztec’s Millions symbols on a payline. If you come up one short, you still receive 2,500 credits, but you’ll probably want to keep your day job.
Oh, and did I mention that this game hasn’t paid out the top jackpot since 2009?
Yes, it’s been more than eight years since a $1.2 million prize was awarded. The game is currently sitting at the $2.4 million mark. Some people are excited to play it because they feel that it “should” pay out at any time now. But, again, they’ve been in that mindset for years now, and it just hasn’t happened.
Arabian Nights
NetEnt’s Arabian-themed slot has been around now for twelve years, paying out six and seven figure jackpots on average of every two and a half months.
The big prize starts out at €125,000, but prize awards are typically in the 1.5 million range, with a top recorded payout of 4.8 million euros that was awarded all at once.
It’s a five-reel game with only ten paylines and a maximum bet of one per line. While this may sound like an affordable proposition, there’s a catch. While you can select a denomination of .05 to .50 making your per-spin stake .50 up to 5.00, the 5.00 bet is required to be in contention for the progressive jackpot. Anything less and you end up with a 10,000-credit prize, and that would be quite disappointing.
There’s one more twist to keep in mind. There are a few versions of Arabian Nights so that some casinos may have a local jackpot instead of the networked pool with the seven-figure potential. So, if you decide you want to give it a whirl, be sure to find a casino that’s linked in for big money.
Major Millions
There are three different versions of Major Millions, all tied into a networked progressive that starts out at a quarter-million. But, for traditional slot players who enjoy a more streamlined game, the original offers a three-reel, three-payline setup.
It’s a military-themed game, but features more of the ordinary slot symbols that most people are familiar with including bars, cherries, and sevens. The Major Millions symbol doubles the prize when one shows up on a line and quadruples it when two appear.
The Major Millions logo is the key to unlocking the jackpot as well. But, unlike most games where you need the designated symbol to fill a payline, this game requires a full reel.
Three Major Millions logos on reel one provides 25,000 credits, and on reel two it’s 50,000. Reel three is the coveted one, though. Fill reel three, and you’re claiming the top prize amount that’s currently displayed on the screen.
In 2016, a player on her mobile device was down to her last £3 when those logos filled the right side reel on her game screen. She was paid in one lump sum and received a nice check amounting to £1.2 million!
Major Millions is a slot that requires the maximum bet of £3 for every spin. If not, you probably don’t want to see the jackpot spin as you’ll only take away 8,000 credits.
If you enjoy a bit more regular game action, you can also play Major Millions in its five-reel video slot form or the Mega Spin version. All provide the same ever-increasing jackpot that can, obviously, reach millionaire-making status.
Gladiator
2.3 million euros! That’s the size of the 2013 record-setting payout on Playtech’s Gladiator slot game that’s an homage to the 2000 Academy Award-winning film, although Russell Crowe is notably absent.
If you’re up for some fun in the Colosseum, you bet anywhere from €.25 to €1,250 per spin. You’ll play for scatter symbols, multipliers, and two different bonus rounds that can increase your credit balance substantially.
Gladiator hit the virtual casino floors in 2008, but was reinvented as a progressive jackpot version in 2012. It has changed lives of the lucky players who were able to collect the nine golden helmets in the Gladiator Jackpot Round to claim the top prize.
While some of these slots offer random bonus rounds, this one is tied to the payline symbols and requires you to get three helmets on reels 2, 3, and 4 simultaneously. If you accomplish that, then the gates will open wide for you. You’ll select symbols hoping to reveal a golden helmet behind each one. If you get to nine, you emerge victoriously.
If you’re a mobile player or more conservatively betting, you should feel encouraged about this game. In June of 2017, a mobile player betting just £.25 took home £1.3 million by unveiling those coveted golden helmets.
For those who aren’t shy about betting, regular gameplay can add up to something pretty significant as well. A payline of five “Commodus” symbols equates to 5,000 credits per credit bet. With a ten-line maximum allowed, that can add up to a hefty 50,000-credit payout.
Shopping Spree
RealTime Gaming offers a slot variation that has just edged over the million mark and is available to players from the United States.
Like many casino gaming opportunities open to Americans, though, it tends to be pricier to get in the game. Shopping Spree requires a maximum bet to be in jackpot contention. With a $.25 lower end denomination and forty-five credits, that’s $11.25 every time you press spin. Not intimidated? You can go up to a $100 per credit stake.
The only way to claim to the top prize is to fill a payline with five diamond rings. At that point, though, you have a decision to make. Do you want to go on a shopping spree with a $100,000 value or take the progressive jackpot? There’s not a lot of thought involved here. If the jackpot is under $100,000, go on the shopping spree!
Other possibilities for racking up the credit balance lies within five pearl necklaces or high heeled shoes. The mini bonus rounds can also add up through mystery grab bag picks.
Shopping Spree doesn’t pay out often, but when it does, the amounts have been significant. For a game with a $100,000 minimum guaranteed top jackpot, it has paid out over a million dollars twice. The downside to Shopping Spree is that it’s similar to Aztec’s Millions in its lag time between prize awards. The last millionaire-making payout was in December of 2011.
Jackpot Giant
Some games, like Arabian Nights or Hall of Gods, pay out frequently. Then, there are those like Shopping Spree and Aztec’s Millions that are incredibly stingy with their rewards. Jackpot Giant falls into the latter category.
In the past two years, only one prize has been awarded. The good news is that it was over six million dollars. And, without another payout since then, the current jackpot has grown to surpass the ten million dollar mark. That prize amount designates it as one of THE highest jackpots up for grabs to online slot players.
Jackpot Giant falls into the more expensive category as a £4 stake is required to claim the top payout, should you be lucky enough to get five wilds on the first payline. If £4 is too intimidating, you’ll still claim a 50,000-credit payday for the same result with a smaller bet in place.
This particular slot game is also by Playtech and features a fun introduction, and a “pick and win” volcano bonus as well as stacked and scatter symbols.
Beach Life
Playtech offers yet another progressive jackpot game, and this one will take you down to the sunny seashore for your prize expedition.
Beach Life is a twenty-line, forty-credit game that requires a €5 or a €10 stake. Either one will put you in the running for the ever-increasing top payout amount. If you’re someone who is more comfortable with a .25 bet, this is probably not the game for you.
On the bright side, jackpot issuance averages just over four months so, unlike Shopping Spree and Aztec’s Millions, you won’t grow old waiting for it to be claimed and reset.
This game does have a slightly different jackpot trigger. It’s only activated by five Sunshine symbols on the twentieth line. If five appear on any other payline (one through nineteen), it’s a 10,000credit win instead. So, you can see why all paylines need to be active, as there’s a vast difference between a million dollars and 10,000 credits.
On average, the top prize winners have taken home a 3.25 million-euro payoff, but in 2012, the jackpot reached 8.2 million. So, Beach Life is another one of the top paying progressive jackpot slots you can find online today.
Beyond The Dozen
I’ve provided you with just a quick look at twelve different progressive jackpot slot games, but there are several others out there. Their availability depends on where you live and which casino(s) you prefer. But, there should be at least something that you find appealing that could change your life. That is if you join the lucky group of jackpot winners that were able to hit the right combination.
The post Top Online Progressive Jackpots appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
William Hill reports $1 million Super Bowl bet on Eagles
Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
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On Monday afternoon a bettor placed $1 million on the Eagles to win Super Bowl 52 on the William Hill mobile betting app ...
Wynn Resorts shares fall as board investigates allegations
Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
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ORYX offers Realistic Games content
Casino City Times
ORYX offers Realistic Games content
The company has signed an agreement that sees a selection of Realistic's slot games library become available via ORYX's platform.
How Likely Is It That Casino Gamblers Will Love Virtual Casino Tech?
GamblingSites.com
How Likely Is It That Casino Gamblers Will Love Virtual Casino Tech?
The concept of virtual reality originated in the 1980s, and online casinos emerged in 1994, but it took until 2015 for an intrepid entrepreneur to blend them both.
When the SlotsMillion virtual reality (VR) online casino launched just over two years ago, the site represented the next step in online gambling’s evolution.
Utilizing the highly advanced Oculus Rift VR headset and high-powered gaming PCs, SlotsMillion was the first fully immersive online casino to transport players directly into cyberspace.
At the time, gamblers and industry insiders alike celebrated SlotsMillion as a trailblazer, paving the way for eventual widespread adoption of VR casinos.
After all, why would anybody stick with pointing and clicking pixels, when they could walk through a glitzy VR casino and spin the wheel for themselves?
As it turns out, players spanning the spectrum from teenagers to senior citizens are interested in VR casinos.
According to a survey conducted by the research firm Opinium, 66% of respondents reported themselves as “interested” in VR gambling. In fact, 40% of people aged eighteen to thirty-four have already given the technology a go, along with 24% of thirty-five to fifty-four year olds, and 10% of the fifty-five and older crowd.
But even as people express interest in VR casinos, platforms like SlotsMillion and its newly launched competitors aren’t exactly gobbling up market share.
The rate of adaptation continues, but only at a crawl, prompting many within the iGaming industry to wonder whether players will every truly embrace VR casinos.
I’ll try to answer that question on this page, first by examining the primary barrier to entry that has worked against VR casinos. From there, I’ll discuss the many benefits of VR gambling, before offering my own opinion on the technology’s viability down the road.
Buying in Requires a Hefty Bankroll
While the SlotsMillion platform is available in a 3-D rendered browser based version, the site’s true VR experience can only be accessed through the Oculus Rift headset.
The going rate for an Oculus Rift is $350 or so, which is rather reasonable, given the product’s innovative nature. For that flat fee, users can enjoy boundless VR immersion, from the casino at SlotsMillion to any adventure you can imagination.
When the latest iPhone will set you back $800, paying $350 for your own VR machine is nothing short of a steal.
Unfortunately, owning an Oculus Rift headset is only the start for SlotsMillion players. From there, you’ll also need a modern gaming PC outfitted with enough processing power to render VR in real time. I’m not talking about your Toshiba laptop and the like, as you’ll need a dedicated gaming PC setup to really enjoy SlotsMillion as its designers intended.
Depending on the make and model, you can expect to drop another $1,500 or so on a new gaming rig – putting the price of entry to SlotsMillion’s VR casino at just under $2,000.
For that price, you can forego virtual reality altogether and simply book a suite on the Las Vegas Strip.
At this point, cost appears to be the primary hurdle preventing widespread adoption of VR casinos like SlotsMillion.
Indeed, that Opinium survey found that the crucial eighteen to thirty-four demographic, while highly interested in VR experiences, is willing to spend an average of just $134 on the technology.
And for folks in the fifty-five and over age bracket, $74 is the average limit to their prospective VR investment.
That’s a far cry from the $2,000 baseline cost, which helps explain the gulf between interest and actual play.
Alexandre Tomic, the co-founder and chief executive officer of SlotsMillion, recognizes that fact. In an interview with VegasMaster, Tomic explained that the price of VR technology will gradually come down, allowing more players to experiment with experiences like SlotsMillion:
“Virtual reality is the next logical step, but it won’t happen quickly; it may take five or ten years to enter widespread use, especially as the costs are still quite high as a high spec gaming PC is necessary for the goggles to work properly.
Once headsets and the related technology becomes more affordable, I fully expect the interest and experience levels to continue to rise sharply.”
Thankfully, as recent tech innovations like the smart phone and home assistance computers have shown, prices tend to drop dramatically after the first year or two of use.
A voice activated artificial intelligence machine used to run $1,000 or more, but I just bought my mother in law an Alexa for $29.99.
If VR technology follows the same trendline, it should only be a few years before Best Buy and the rest have Oculus Rift on sale.
The $520 Million Question
Once the costs come down for users, operators of VR casinos are expected to make a killing.
Per a recent report by Juniper Research, entitled “Mobile & Online Gambling: Casinos, Lotteries, Betting & VR 2016 2021,” the VR gambling industry is expected to grow to $520 million by 2021. That’s good enough for an astounding 500 percent rate of growth.
In fact, Juniper Research estimates that a full 40% of the worldwide gambling industry will be composed of VR products by 2021.
Those products aren’t limited to online VR casinos either.
In late 2016, the Gamblit Gaming company rolled out a new skill based Virtual Reality Cube concept. Placed in brick-and-mortar casinos and designed to resemble video game arcades, the Virtual Reality Cube is a kiosk that offers real-money wagering on VR games.
The first game packaged within the Virtual Reality Cube was “The Brookhaven Experiment,” a horror themed zombie shoot ‘em up that plays more like a video game.
Darion Lowenstein, chief marketing officer for Gamblit Gaming, described “The Brookhaven Experiment” as a fusion of arcades, casinos, and VR:
“Imagine if we had this on the casino floor.
Imagine if not only you were able to bet money on how good you are killing monsters and then able to have your friends, instead of just sitting around watching you in goggles, have them not only see your viewpoint but also be able to bet on your experience.
The way the game works is you start up the experience, and you can bet out $15, $25, or $50, which basically affects your payout return. And as soon as you select [your wager], you’re given three different challenges that change each time you play the game.”
Along with online VR casinos and skill-based kiosks like the Virtual Reality Cube, the gambling industry is exploring several other ways to monetize the emerging technology.
The MGM Grand in Las Vegas opened its Zero Latency Virtual Reality experience this year, inviting guests to take a break from gambling to explore a VR zombie wasteland.
As part of the casino’s LEVEL UP Lounge area, the Zero Latency Virtual Reality attraction doesn’t provide gambling per say, but it has provided thousands of gamblers with their first exposure to VR.
And if they like what they see while zombie hunting, they’ll be more inclined to load up a site like SlotsMillion to see what all the hubbub is about.
Camaraderie at the VR Casino
One of the most common complaints lodged by online casino enthusiasts is the solitary nature of the experience.
Sure, you have access to hundreds of slot machines, video poker variants, and table games just one click away, but there’s just something missing. Without fellow players at the table to sweat, or a dealer making small talk to pass the time, gambling online often feels sterilized and impersonal.
Indeed, sitting silently for hours staring at a screen, not saying a word, is the default setting for most online gamblers. That’s no fun at all, which is why the live dealer sector of the industry has taken off in recent years.
But even with live dealer games — which connect players to human dealers and genuine equipment via live streamed footage — players are stuck staring at the screen.
You can watch the dealer distribute actual playing cards, which is definitely an improvement over a pixelated animation, but you can’t squeeze and sweat the cards as you would at a real table.
With a VR casino, however, players can walk around, sidle up to a table, and perform any action as they normally would.
Handling chips, checking cards, and even ordering a cocktail – anything you can do in real life is possible on the VR casino floor.
That includes making friends, as a VR casino like SlotsMillion is a fully immersive world. While you’re exploring the venue and searching for your favorite games, fellow players are doing the same in real time.
Take a seat and buy into a baccarat game, and you’ll find your virtual avatar alongside peers who are doing the very same thing.
With chat boxes and microphones in play, it only takes an icebreaker to get the conversation going, and from there you’ll feel like you would gambling it up in Las Vegas.
The excitement of watching your new pal win, their own celebration when you drag a pile of chips, and the mutual commiseration when the dealer makes their hand all add to the immersive nature of VR casinos.
Tomic knows this better than most, as he helped to design SlotsMillion as an outlet for social engagement on par with the best brick-and-mortar casinos:
“VR seemed to solve something problematic that we’ve seen in real money gaming since the beginning of online casinos — you could play while sitting on the sofa, from the comfort of your own home, but alone.
Without the thrills of playing with other people and seeing them winning, the sensation of being in a casino is not the same — you don’t get that buzz that you feel when you’re there in real life.
Now, with VR, you’ve got that. It’s what we have all been waiting for. Experiments have been done with 3D casinos but they didn’t work — the two most important aspects, immersivity and social, were missing. But with VR, you’ve got both.”
This phenomenon is already on display within the world of competitive video games, as players in their teens encounter strangers on the other side of the world through Halo, Counter Strike, and League of Legends.
Communicating through headsets, and engaging with one another in real time, people who will never meet in the physical world can develop meaningful relationships by playing together online.
That trend should only accelerate as VR casinos become the rule, rather than the exception.
Millennial Adoption
One reason for the delay in widespread VR gambling adoption might just be that the target audience isn’t yet old enough to gamble.
Players like myself who cut their teeth in the brick-and-mortar setting were already reluctant to bring their bankrolls online. Personally, I’ve come around on the idea of online casinos, and nowadays I spend just as much time grinding blackjack on Bovada as I do at the Bellagio.
But it took time for me to embrace online gambling, and I suspect many of my old school peers rejected the technology out of hand. Random number generators that nobody can see, the occasional cheating scandal, and unscrupulous operators were enough to push many avid — but older — gamblers right out of the iGaming industry.
Fast forward to today, and the same phenomenon is occurring with VR casinos. As the Opinium study cited above makes clear, interest in VR gambling is directly correlated to age, with younger players far more likely to take the plunge than their predecessors.
Sarah Blackburn of VentureBeat explained that divide perfectly in a 2015 profile on the VR casino industry:
“The casino giants of Nevada have long lamented the millennials’ reluctance to embrace traditional casino games. Reared on console gaming, they naturally get their buzz from Halo 5 rather than staring hypnotically at spinning reels.
Thus, the first users of virtual reality casinos will likely be gamers of the millennial generation, and not the casual or traditional gambler.
The virtual online casinos of the future are likely to be hybrid hodge podge of skill games, video games, social games, and traditional casino games — geared towards the millennial generation.”
As Blackburn astutely points out, the millennial generation is already biased against the traditional casino industry. With full access to information on odds against and house edge, younger players rightfully consider games of chance like the slots, craps, and roulette to be “sucker” games.
If younger players are increasingly wary of gambling in live casinos, VR alternatives must take a different track to bring them onboard.
For this reason, most VR gambling products fall into the skill based category, as you’ve already seen with the Virtual Reality Cube’s zombie hunting game. Over at SlotsMillion, one of the site’s most popular virtual slot titles is Beehive Bedlam Reactors, which includes a skill based side game.
Millennial gamers are all about control, and they don’t enjoy leaving their fate up to the fickle whims of fate. They’ve spent their developmental years target shooting alien invaders, putting together massive architectural puzzles, and teaming up to conquer epic fantasy worlds.
VR casinos, perhaps more than any other online gambling option, have the power to put players back in control.
Through a combination of skill based games, and the social engagement added to traditional games of chance, VR casinos create a sense of camaraderie that — until today — could only be found at the nearest brick-and-mortar casino.
Addiction Therapy
On a final note, with the advent of online gambling creating a new wave of problem gambling concerns, VR casinos have tremendous potential to assist in addiction therapy.
For a player who finds themselves hooked on gambling, what was once an enjoyable hobby can transform into a hopeless addiction.
Compulsive play is a reality, and it’s none too pretty.
I’ve watched good friends succumb to gambling addiction over the years, and I only wish we had VR casino technology back then.
As part of a groundbreaking study virtual reality as addiction therapy, Stéphane Bouchard of the Université du Québec’s Cyberpsychology Laboratory has created his own VR casino.
When patients suffering from problem gambling feel that all too familiar urge to hit the casino, Bouchard invites them to don a pair of VR goggles instead. By exploring the VR world, and even enjoying the games, these players are able to scratch that itch without ever setting foot on the casino floor.
Bouchard explains his approach to the age-old conundrum of compulsive gambling thusly:
“It’s easy to control relapse in my office but it’s more challenging when they’re in front of a real slot machine. We can then challenge them ‘if you feel a strong urge now in this virtual reality, imagine what would happen if you go to a real casino?’
If they say, ‘I think I can control myself,’ that’s good, and we can play the VR simulation with the goal of control.
We want to get to a point where my patient could actually learn to control what’s happening, control themselves, get out of the situation if they have to. All of this has to be practiced.”
As Bouchard makes clear, the role of a VR casino in gambling addiction therapy is to retrain a player’s ingrained behaviors.
For folks who have trouble walking away from a losing session, a few trips to the VR blackjack tables can help them work on accepting a downswing and walking away.
Those who lose track of time and waste entire days spinning the slots can establish limits on their play, before using in-game clocks to monitor their progress.
The possibilities for problem gambling therapy truly are limitless, offering yet another reason for VR casinos to gain widespread acceptance in the coming years.
Conclusion
Virtual reality has been promised to be the wave of the future for three decades and counting, so doubts about VR casinos are completely understandable.
But I believe we’ve reached a technological tipping point, wherein reduced prices and increased utility will combine to bring VR gambling mainstream.
Remember, it wasn’t so long ago that veteran gamblers — myself included — scoffed at the idea of betting real money on computerized blackjack or poker.
Today, the online gambling industry has exploded into a multibillion dollar global enterprise, with millions of players worldwide viewing internet wagers as the de facto way to get in on the action.
Ten years from now, I expect the same conversion to occur with VR casinos, because VR gambling is simply an extension of online play. Eventually, the idea of clicking at pixels and watching animated graphics while gambling will be quaint and outdated.
And when that time comes, you’ll be more than happy to ditch your browser based games for a fully immersive experience.
The post How Likely Is It That Casino Gamblers Will Love Virtual Casino Tech? appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
7 Dead Gamblers Who Can Still Teach You Several Lessons
GamblingSites.com
7 Dead Gamblers Who Can Still Teach You Several Lessons
One of the best ways to become a successful gambler is to study those who are currently on top. People like Fedor Holz (poker), Teddy Covers (sports betting), and James Grosjean (blackjack) are living legends whom you can study to become a stronger bettor.
But you don’t have to stop at the living legends. In fact, you can learn a lot of lessons and strategy by looking at dead gamblers who thrived.
Who are some of the best late gamblers to learn from?
I’m going to discuss 7 dead gamblers who dominated and left behind lasting legacies.
1 – Nick “The Greek” Dandolos (1883 – 1966)
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Nick Dandolos, best known as “Nick the Greek,” was born in Rethymnon, Crete.
Nick’s grandfather sent him to the United States when he was eighteen years old. Dandolos quickly moved to Montreal, Canada, where he discovered his love of betting on horse races.
He quickly proved successful, winning $500,000 in profits. Dandolos would move to Chicago, where he lost all this money on dice and card games.
While Nick the Greek lost a fortune gambling in Chicago, he also learned some important lessons about how to beat poker. It wouldn’t be long before Dandolos was dominating poker players on a consistent basis.
He played nine-time WSOP champion Johnny Moss in a famous heads-up match. But this was more than a simple match, given that the showdown raged on for five months.
After beating Moss out of between $2 and $4 million, Dandolos famously uttered,
“Mr. Moss, I have to let you go.”
Another legendary poker match saw Nick the Greek face a wealthy Texan. Dandolos beat this mogul to the tune of $1 million.
The Texan later accused Nick the Greek of being afraid when he quit the game in the early morning hours. A weary Dandolos called for a new deck and demanded that the Texan keep playing him.
The mogul backed down from his challenge and quit, rather than risk losing any more money.
Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, once discussed Nick the Greek’s gambling strategy in the autobiography Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! Feynman explained how Nick won through a combination of knowing the odds, carefully selecting his opponents, and taking advantage of his reputation.
As outstanding as he was at gambling, Nick the Greek had a problem with bankroll management and constantly looking for action.
This is why he claimed to have gone from rags to riches over seventy-three times in his lifetime. He also estimated to have won and lost more than $500 million in his life.
What Can What Can We Learn from Nick the Greek?Here are the big two takeaways from Nick the Greek:
Exercise bankroll management Know when to walk awayWhile Dandolos was a very successful gambler, he also had a compulsive streak. The story about him wanting to continue playing the Texas poker player when he was already tired illustrates this.
Nick the Greek spent his twilight years playing $5 draw poker and other casino games. When asked about how he could play such low limits compared to his heyday, Nick said,
“Hey, it’s action, isn’t it?”
2 – Joseph Jagger (1830 – 1892)
Joseph Jagger was an engineer from Yorkshire, England. Jagger used his engineering background to correctly hypothesize that some roulette wheels break down over time and favor certain numbers (a.k.a. wheel bias).
Armed with this knowledge, he hired six clerks to visit the Beaux Arts Casino in Monte Carlo. Jagger instructed the clerks to watch the roulette wheels there and record results.
The clerks returned with the data, which Jagger used to figure out that one of the wheels was biased towards certain numbers. He then traveled to the Monte Carlo casino himself to play roulette.
Over one week, Jagger won the equivalent of US $325,000, which is $12 million when adjusted for modern inflation.
His winnings didn’t come easily, though, because the casino staff switched the biased wheel with another. This caused Jagger to lose part of his fortune before he quickly adjusted and found the biased wheel again.
What Can What Can We Learn from Jagger?Unfortunately, roulette wheel bias isn’t a viable advantage-play technique these days. The reason is because casinos now use Starburst wheels, which have metal frets and are sturdier.
But the general lesson here is to look for
an advantage in the casino and put the work in to exploit it.
an advantage in the casino and put the work in to exploit it.
Jagger didn’t just stroll into the Beaux Arts Casino and start dominating roulette. Instead, he invested into the matter by hiring clerks and then pouring over their data for days.
This same type of work ethic can be applied to modern advantage-play techniques, including card counting, daily fantasy sports (DFS), poker, and sports betting.
3 – Alvin “Titanic Thompson” Thomas (1893 – 1974)
Alvin Thomas was born in southwestern Missouri and spent most of his early life living near the Ozark Mountains.
He was best known by his nickname, “Titanic Thompson.” This came from a combination of a newspaper misprint and him sinking other gamblers “like the Titanic.”
Thompson left home at age sixteen with less than one dollar in his pocket. He had an early penchant for gambling, learning how to play card games as a youth.
Titanic was drafted into military service during World War 1. Here, Thompson won over $50,000 by gambling with fellow soldiers.
He had a checkered past that involved killing five different men – all of whom had tried to rob and/or harm him.
Despite all of his different run-ins with dangerous thieves, Thompson continued to gamble frequently. He was especially adept at prop betting, where he sometimes even cheated to win.
Thompson once bet someone that he could throw a walnut over a big building. The opposing bettor had no idea that Thompson had hollowed out the walnut and put a weight inside it to make it go further.
While Thompson was adept at several forms of gambling, he especially won a lot of money through golf. He quickly became a pro-level golfer, despite not being introduced to the game until his early thirties.
Titanic sometimes made as much as $30,000 a week by hustling country club players. This is especially significant when considering that the average pro only made this much in a year.
The Achilles’ heel in Thompson’s gambling career was horse racing. He admitted to losing millions of dollars by betting on horse races.
What Can What Can We Learn from Titanic Thompson?The best thing to learn from Titanic Thompson is to stick with your best game(s).
Thompson was excellent at everything from poker to golf betting. He was also very successful at prop bets, regardless of whether he was cheating or playing fair.
But he couldn’t stay away from betting on horses and lost a fortune in this sport. If you ever become highly skilled at one or more forms of gambling, don’t blow your winnings on other things that you’re not successful with.
4 – David “Chip” Reese (1951 – 2007)
David “Chip” Reese learned to play poker as an elementary school student. His mother taught him poker when he stayed home from school for a year due to rheumatic fever.
This helped Chip become a poker prodigy, and he was able to beat fifth graders when he was just six years old.
Reese attended Dartmouth College, where he briefly played football, was on the debate team, and studied economics. Chip also continued playing poker in college and won a great deal of money from both fellow students and professors.
He was accepted into Stanford Law School. But Reese turned this offer down and instead pursued a professional poker career.
He was fueled by the fact that he made $100,000 in profits before law school.
This turned out to be a wise decision because Chip became one of the most successful poker players of all time. He earned $3.96 million in live tournaments and won three WSOP gold bracelets.
Of course, this doesn’t tell the whole story, because Reese won an untold fortune in cash games.
Reese died of pneumonia in 2007. Afterward, poker icon Doyle Brunson said that Chip was the “best poker player that ever lived.”
What Can What Can We Learn from Chip Reese?Reese was like most poker players in that he was a gambler at heart. But unlike Titanic Thompson, Chip didn’t deviate much from the game that brought him so many riches.
This makes Reese one of the more disciplined legendary gamblers in history.
Another takeaway from Chip is how learning skill-based gambling games at an early age gives you a head start on others. Reese learned poker when he was just six years old and used this skill to make large profits throughout his life.
5 – Charles Wells (1841 – 1922)
Charles Wells began his early adult life as a successful inventor. He created and sold a device that regulated the speed of ships’ propellers in 1868.
But the Englishman would later move to France and defraud people out of a fortune. In one scheme, he got people to invest £19,000 in a railroad that he had no intention of building.
Wells later used £4,000 of these funds for a gambling trip to Monte Carlo. Here, he won £60,000 (£6m today) by going on an incredible roulette streak.
Wells continued to break the bank, where one wins all of the money at a particular casino table. It’s widely speculated that he’s the inspiration for the 1892 British music hall song “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo.”
British newspapers caught this story and wanted to know how Wells won so much money in roulette. He claimed to have an “infallible system,” although he was really just using the Martingale.
Wells made three total trips to Monte Carlo. On the third trip, he lost his entire fortune and was later extradited to Britain to face patent fraud charges.
Wells would spend the rest of his life penniless and in and out of prisons.
What Can What Can We Learn from Charles Wells?Wells is the only gambler on this list to earn his fortune through sheer luck.
While the Martingale System works in theory, it will inevitably fail because nobody has infinite money. Wells didn’t know when to quit, and he lost a massive fortune in the process.
If you ever get huge stroke of luck like he did, you should walk away at some point, rather than continuing to risk everything.
6 – Stu Ungar (1953 – 1998)
Raised in Manhattan, Stu Ungar got an early dose of gambling from hanging around his dad’s social club. He began seriously gambling around the age of eighteen and learned how to play cards from a local organized crime figure.
Ungar parlayed the skills into a highly successful poker career. He regularly won money in both poker and gin rummy.
Unfortunately, he also racked up a huge debt at local racetracks. This led him to embark on a gambling journey, where he lived in Miami and later in Las Vegas.
Ungar was such a great gin player that he eventually couldn’t find action anymore. This led him to play poker full time.
He became the youngest WSOP Main Event champion in history when he won in 1980. Ungar would repeat as the champ in 1981.
Poker wasn’t the only game that Ungar made a lot of money with.
He was considered to be a card-counting prodigy as well, and won so much that many casinos banned him from playing blackjack.
Unfortunately, Ungar had a serious drug problem. He frequently used cocaine to get through marathon poker sessions that lasted into the early morning.
His drug addiction got so bad that he was found unconscious while playing in the 1990 WSOP Main Event. Despite leaving the tournament, he built such a big chip stack that he still finished in ninth place and won $20,500.
Another problem that Ungar had included losing his poker and blackjack winnings on sports betting. These losses were only further fueled when he was high on cocaine.
Ungar would experience redemption at the 1997 WSOP Main Event. He won the tournament, becoming the only person to win the Main Event three times.
This earned Ungar the title of “The Comeback Kid” along with a $500,000 prize.
Despite the success story, Ungar blew almost all of his money on drugs and sports betting. He spent so much that he couldn’t even afford to play in the WSOP Main Event the following year.
Ungar died in 1998 at a cheap Vegas motel called the Oasis. He suffered heart failure as a result of all the years of cocaine abuse.
What Can What Can We Learn from Stu Ungar?The tale of Stu Ungar offers a number of lessons about the pitfalls of success.
Some believe that Ungar was the best card player who ever lived when considering his blackjack, gin rummy, and poker acumen. But he also had self-destructive tendencies that ultimately resulted in his death.
The moral of the story is to avoid this pattern of self-destruction when you’re successful. Who knows how many more poker titles Ungar would’ve won if he didn’t suffer from drug addiction?
7 – Rudolf “Minnesota Fats” Wanderone (1913 – 1996)
Rudolf Wanderone was a professional pool player best known by his adopted nickname “Minnesota Fats.”
Wanderone began playing pool in 1923, when his father took him to train with German billiards champ Erich Hagenlocher. He later faced former nine-ball champ “Cowboy” Weston in 1926 and easily won the match.
A prodigy, Wanderone quit school in eighth grade and spent most of the 1920s playing in New York City pool halls. Here, he befriended Titanic Thompson and went by the nicknames “Smart Henry” and “New York Fats.”
Wanderone travelled wherever the action was, moving to Chicago, southern Illinois, and Norfolk (VA).
He got his nickname Minnesota Fats from the 1961 movie The Hustler, which is based on a Walter Tevis novel. The fictional story covers “Fast Eddie” Felson’s quest to play and beat America’s greatest pool player, Minnesota Fats.
Wanderone swore that the character was based on him. But Tevis denied this and said that the character was completely fictional.
Regardless, Wanderone continued using the nickname and went on to mainstream fame. This included the 1967 TV game show Minnesota Fats Hustles the Pros, where he faced off against pro pool players.
Minnesota Fats never won an official pool tournament. But he was still widely regarded as one of the best, thanks to his hustling career and numerous TV appearances.
What Can What Can We Learn from Minnesota Fats?Wanderone wasn’t afraid to move around when he found a can’t-miss gambling opportunity.
He moved to Norfolk because it became a shipbuilding center and gathering place for soldiers. These factors combined to create a growing population who were interested in pool gambling.
Minnesota Fats and another hustler, Lassiter, moved there and took advantage of the Norfolk conditions.
If you know of a new poker room with soft players or a casino that isn’t strict about card counting, don’t be afraid to take advantage.
Conclusion
All of the gamblers I’ve covered here had incredible runs during their lifetime. And each of these bettors offers a lesson for how you can improve at both gambling and life in general.
Nick the Greek was great at winning money from his opponents. But he also did a poor job of managing his bankroll and was reduced to playing $5 poker games later in life.
Chip Reese, on the other hand, was good at staying with the game he excelled at and booking profits. This is why Chip continued to be a successful player until the time of his death.
Joseph Jagger is another model of success who carved out an advantage-play technique that didn’t exist at the time.
You can learn a lesson by reading about each of the gamblers above.
I encourage you to emulate the best aspects of each gambler, while avoiding the worst.
The post 7 Dead Gamblers Who Can Still Teach You Several Lessons appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Standout World Series gambler now looking to cash in on Super Bowl
Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
Standout World Series gambler now looking to cash in on Super Bowl
The same bettor who took this city's sports books for millions of dollars on the World Series is setting his sights on the Super Bowl. The bettor placed a $500,000 wager ...
The Well-Dressed Gambler – A Guide to Style
GamblingSites.com
The Well-Dressed Gambler – A Guide to Style
During the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, the world was introduced to a mild-mannered accountant by the name of Chris Moneymaker.
Dressed in the usual attire of a middle-aged man visiting Las Vegas — a polo shirt and ballcap, in mismatched colors — Moneymaker managed to pull off a miracle. Having qualified for the $10,000 buy in World Championship of poker through a $39 online satellite, Moneymaker outlasted the world class field to win it all — $2.5 million, a shiny gold bracelet, and poker immortality.
And while everyone else was watching Moneymaker work his magic, I found myself drawn to the dapper dude he defeated in heads up play: Sammy Farha.
Back in 2003, before the famous boom that Moneymaker’s win inspired, Texas hold’em tournaments were still considered a small niche within the gambling world. But within that niche, Farha stood out as a consummate professional, with his aggressive style on the felt complemented perfectly by his personal style.
As you can see in the image of Farha below which was taken from that fabled 2003 Main Event final table, he cuts quite the image.
No polo shirts for this guy, only tailored suits and flared collars, complete with a shiny gold chain dangling from his neck, a designer watch, and a ring fit for kissing. Top it all off with an unlit cigarette pursed between his lips, and Farha would feel right at home playing baccarat with James Bond at the Monte Carlo.
Here’s how Farha describes his signature style, as told to Bluff magazine back in 2008:
“I buy my suits from all over the world – all my life I appreciated quality. My favorite tailor is Kiton.
You can get them in America, but it’s different – the difference between American and Italian fitted – I buy unique stuff; unique designers – it’s about the quality and the uniqueness.”
Style isn’t essential to success as a gambler, but if you’re going to spend an evening on the casino floor, why not dress your best?
I’m no candidate for the cover of GQ magazine, don’t get me wrong there, but when I make my way to the casino I take pride in dressing to the nines. For me, that means leather loafers, a nice pair of dress slacks, and a button-down shirt. For you, the preferred gambling garb may be cowboy boots and a western shirt, or maybe a V neck and some skinny jeans.
Style is one of the most subjective concepts out there, after all, but no matter how you like to look, dressing the part can be a big part of the gambler’s lifestyle. And that’s not just my opinion, it’s a proven fact.
The Science of Style
Over the last few years, an emerging scientific field has developed to study the link between clothing and confidence.
People have always said “the clothes make the man,” and while that credo is a bit of embellishment, recent findings indicate it may not be that far from the truth.
In 2015, psychologist Michael Slepian of Columbia University led a research study into the matter, ultimately producing a paper entitled “The Cognitive Consequences of Formal Clothing.” Slepian’s research was published in the Social Psychological and Personality Science, and according to him, dressing well provides tangible benefits in terms of both confidence and cognitive ability.
This is how Slepian described the phenomenon in scientific terms:
“Wearing more formal clothing was associated with higher action identification level and greater category inclusiveness. Putting on formal clothing induced greater category inclusiveness and enhanced a global processing advantage. The association between clothing formality and abstract processing was mediated by felt power.
The findings demonstrate that the nature of an everyday and ecologically valid experience, the clothing worn, influences cognition broadly, impacting the processing style that changes how objects, people, and events are construed.”
In other words, dressing nicely sparks a subconscious wave of brain activity that we recognize as confidence. You feel powerful, competent, and in command of the situation.
But those feelings aren’t the only benefit of a formal look on the casino floor. As Slepian notes, formal clothing tends to accentuate a person’s processing ability. Strategic thinking and mental calculation seems to come more naturally as a result of the increase in confidence one feels while wearing fancy duds.
This sentiment was echoed in a previous study by researchers Adam Galinsky and Hajo Adam, who published their paper “Enclothed Cognition” to the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology in 2012.
According to Galinsky and his team, the way clothing affects your mind is all about the symbolic power you attribute to a particular outfit.
Galinsky’s study focused on two groups of people, the first donning a doctor’s professional gown, and the other a painter’s pair of white jeans and a coat. With one group dressed formally in the uniform of a well-respected professional, and the other outfitted in workmen’s gear, Galinsky ran his subjects through a series of cognitive tests.
In the end, he found that the people dressed as doctors managed to hold their focus for longer periods of time, while recalling information much more easily.
As he described the situation, it’s not the clothing itself that really matters, but how the individual views that clothing within the wider context of their worldview:
“It’s the simultaneous combination of the posture or the clothes and the symbolic meaning of them that matters.
If you associate those clothes with power and confidence, it’s going to have a huge impact. It’s really about what the symbolic meaning of the clothes is to the person.”
Ask any gambler worth their salt what confidence means to their overall game, and you’ll learn firsthand that “mind over matter” is more than just a maxim. For skill game grinders who specialize in live poker, blackjack, or video poker, knowing basic strategy like the back of your hand only goes so far. You’ll still suffer through drastic swings and the whims of variance, which is where a confident mindset comes in handy.
When you’re well-dressed and feeling yourself, as the kids like to say, those downswings are eminently easier to manage. Sure, you’re losing your pants at the moment, but if they’re a tailored pair of chinos, you’ll feel good anyway. Feeling good keeps you in the right mindset, which helps you to focus on playing your best, and playing well is the most effective way of ending a rough run.
The Dress Code
Like Farha, I’m a sucker for a nice Italian suit, but your personal haute couture can come from any segment of the fashion world.
Another successful poker pro who made a splash at the WSOP is Matt Affleck, and he’s known for donning jerseys representing his hometown Seattle sports teams. Phil Hellmuth is usually clad in an all-black tracksuit and tinted sunglasses, all the better to complement his “Bad Boy of Poker” persona. And for high stakes pro Max Steinberg, every final table appearance is an opportunity to try on a full suit and tie ensemble.
Style is a matter of personal preference above all else, so you should feel comfortable in whatever clothing you choose to wear while gambling.
Lady Luck
As you may have noticed by now, I’ve approached this conversation on gambling and style from a man’s perspective, talking about suits and trousers for the most part.
That’s because I’m a guy, and aside from dressing my daughters in their pajamas way back when, I don’t have much insight into the world of women’s fashion.
Even so, plenty of ladies out there love to hit the casino and let loose, so I’d like to point readers representing the fairer sex to a few fashionistas of the gambling industry.
Maria Ho, Liv Boeree, and Vanessa Rousso are all successful professional poker players who stack opponents in style. In a crowded tournament room where most players are haphazardly dressed men, this trio always manages to stand out.
Whether they’re wearing dresses or skirts, leggings or jeans, a blouse or a denim jacket, Ho, Boeree, and Rousso come to the table dressed to impress.
Conclusion
For players who already have a firm grasp of the fundamentals, the impact that personal style can exert on gambling results is an interesting idea to consider. When all else is equal, two gamblers of equal skill level who happen to be dressed on different ends of the fashion spectrum will tend to play differently.
The regular who seems to be wearing the same musty sweatpants for every session might slouch in their seat, or respond poorly to bad beats, because they lack the kind of confidence that nice clothing can inspire. Meanwhile, the stranger in a tailored suit sits straight up and smiles while taking wins and losses in stride.
These are generalizations of course, but as the scientific studies cited earlier confirm, a sense of style can go a long way toward improving your mental outlook. And a positive mindset is one of the most powerful assets you can add to your gambling arsenal.
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