Online Casino Spotlight

The popular casino dice game craps has a long and varied history. Modern craps has evolved from a game that was played many centuries before.

Craps derived from English game

In the 12th century, Sir William of Tyre led a group of crusaders on a castle by the name of Hazarth. Tyre’s group seized Hazarth and named their favorite pastime game after the castle. The Hazard game apparently was derived from Arabic dice games that were eventually brought to Europe.

By the 17th century, Hazard was a vastly popular game in England. The game was a staple in taverns throughout the country. Hazard was also a popular casino game among noblemen.

In the game, the player with the dice is known as the caster. In each round of the game, the player will specify a number between five and nine. The specific number between five and nine is known as the main. A roll of the main number results in a win. If the player rolls a two or three, he loses. A roll of 11 or 12 will result in a variety of outcomes depending on the main number that was designated. A main of 5 or 9 will lose on a roll of 11 or 12. On a main of 6 or 8, the player will lose on a roll of 11 but win on 12. With a main number of 7, the player wins on 11 but loses on 12.

It didn’t take long for neighboring countries to take notice of the game. The game became popular in France. The French called their version of the dice game “Craps.”

Game evolves in the 19th century

In the early 19th century, Bernard de Mandeville made an important adjustment to the game. The New Orleans resident simplified craps. His version of the game was soon being played on steamboats traveling the Mississippi River. Mandeville’s game had a flaw due to the ability to use crooked dice tied to the betting rules of the game. John H. Winn was able to build on Mandeville’s initial adjustment to the game. Winn brought the modern layout to the game of craps. His adjustments allowed players to bet on the shooter or against him. This greatly eliminated any impact that could result from any fixed dice being used in craps games. Winn’s adjustments to the game enabled craps to become widely popular.

Highest wagered on game

Over the last century, the game has continued to grow in society and culture. Craps was a popular game among soldiers in World War II to break the monotony of war. The game was occasionally featured in some popular movies over the years to elevate the status of craps in popular culture. In the 1990’s, the game suffered a downturn due to the surge of slots and other casino games. However, craps has rebounded, due in part to the growth of online casinos. Today, the game is the biggest in the history of the world in terms of money wagered.

Roulette is one of the simplest casino games to understand but not necessarily one of the best for players to turn a profit in. The casino game Roulette was first played in the late 18th century in France. The name of the game was formed from a French diminutive for “little wheel”.

The basics of the game

In roulette, a player wagers on the outcome of a how a ball will fall on a spinning wheel. In the game, wagers are placed on a table layout. In American roulette, the table layout contains 38 numbers (zero, double-zero and 1-36). The 1-36 numbers are evenly designated in colors of either red or black. The red numbers are 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34 and 36. The black numbers are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33 and 35.

The player can place a betting chip on any of the 38 individual numbers. The table also gives the player a wider range of betting options. The player can wager on whether or not the number will be an odd or even figure. Bets can be placed on which color will turn up on the wheel. The player can also wager on a range of numbers (1-18, 19-36, 1st dozen, 2nd dozen and 3rd dozen). There are further bets available on specific columns and lines.

Split bets are wagers placed on two adjoining numbers. There is also a type of bet in roulette that is called a street wager. In this bet, the player will wager that the ball will fall on one of the three numbers on a single horizontal line.

Once the wagers are placed, the attention turns to the roulette wheel. The 38 wheel numbers in American roulette are arranged in the following manner: 0-28-9-26-30-11-7-20-32-17-5-22-34-15-3-24-36-13-1-00-27-10-25-29-12-8-19-31-18-6-21-33-16-4-23-35-14-2. The layout alternates between the black and red numbers. The distribution of numbers have been organized, ensuring that the sum of the numbers in any section of the wheel is approximately equivalent to other sections of the same size. Most numbers are part of a duo, with a single number between them. The pairs will sum up to either 37 or 39.

The croupier (dealer) will spin the wheel in one direction before spinning the ball in the opposite direction around the circular track of the wheel. The ball will eventually lose momentum and fall into one of the 38 pockets.

An edge for the house

Roulette isn’t quite as popular as some of the other casino games, like blackjack or poker. While those popular card games have elements of skill and luck, roulette is basically a game of chance with a sizable house edge. Most wagers in roulette yield a house edge of over five percent. In monthly win/hold reports released by the Casino Control Commission in Atlantic City, the house usually averages a hold of about 25% for double-zero roulette wheel games.

When it comes to online casino gambling, there appears to be no end to the types of slots available to the player.    Most casinos offer classic slots featuring three reels or video slots with five reels.   The original land-based slot machine came with three reels, catering to the generation that played in casinos, pubs and shopping malls.  Five reel slots resulted from modern computer technology and the virtual casinos hosted on the internet.   Players from the old days tend to favor three reel slots as it reminds them of their youth while new players who got their start online usually prefer the more advanced five reel versions.   There is far more that set these classifications apart other than the number of reels, as you will learn from this article.

More Features, Greater Opportunity

In regard to five reel slots, the addition of two reels make for a rather large number of possible combinations, which equates to more paylines, winning combinations and bigger payouts.  Three reel slots were more of a one-size-fits all solution and very simplistic.  Due to all the advancements and  opportunities, the five reel variations are able to suit a wider range of playing temperaments.  For instance, you have your slots that have been designed to give rare payouts of a million dollars, as well as others designed to give players substantially smaller but more frequent payouts.    Another unique quality of five reel slots is the interactive bonus round that gives the player even more opportunities to win.    With five reel slots becoming increasingly popular, their three reel counterparts are slowly being phased out.

Whether it is three reel or five reel variations on or offline, slots have evolved perhaps more than any other type of casino game.  And while they have advanced tremendously throughout the years, one could say that this evolution is still on the rise.  Today, slots are being changed on two fronts.  The first is one is the overall gaming experience that has seen enhancements through enriched graphics, animation, music and other elements.  The reels themselves have also been improved with lively symbols featuring wilds and varying themes.  Wilds have become essential elements of slots and are evolving with variations such as stacked wild symbols and others that enhance the overall experience.    The second front is taking place through a wide range of features that are being incorporated into slots at a rapid rate.  Bonus games are now packed with more features and opportunities for the player to win.  Rather than the simple and traditional pick and object type of  games, more bonus games are offering challenges that have multi-level features and actually require skill.

Summary

Three reel and five reel slots have both come a long way since the inception of the first slot machine more than one hundred years ago.    While this is also the case in land-based facilities, online casinos have benefited the most from these enhancements by far.    Whether you decide to play the old fashion version or the modern variation, you are sure to have an exciting time with slots game that offer an experience outside of the usual.

These days, you don’t even have to step one foot out of your home to play casino games.  In fact, all you need is a personal computer and internet connection.  With these essentials intact, you can play your favorite casino games and get a shot at real money with a few easy clicks.  Online gambling software applications first went into development nearly 15 years ago and the technology used to create them has improved dramatically since that time.  The online gambling industry is currently seeing its most prosperous times and projected to grow even more over the next few years.  Driven by emerging technological advancements, observers are predicting that by the year 2015, the industry will generate a staggering $512 billion annually on a global scale.  There is no denying that online gaming software developers will play a major role in helping the market pull in these astronomical revenues.

With all that said, you can certainly understand why there is such a large number of software developers scattered throughout the world.  While almost anyone can own and operate an online casino, it is all about choosing a qualified developer to build the platform the gamblers will play on.  If you are looking to start your own casino site, the vendor you choose will ultimately determine your level of success and help set yourself apart from all the rest of the competition.

Knowing Where and What to Look for

An aspiring online casino operator has plenty of gaming development companies to select from.  However, this large selection of providers claiming to offer the same thing makes it difficult to choose the right one.  Choose too fast and you could end up losing out on money before you even get your site up and running.  To help you find the best online gaming software, we have provided a few tips on what you need to look for in a developer and where to look.

Stability and Scalability

Stability is one of the most important aspects of any gaming software.  With the immense popularity of online gambling, you can’t afford to have your customers playing on a platform that is slow and always experiencing performance issues.  Scalability is also important as you want something that can support your gaming endeavors now, and into the future as well.  This essentially means that you need a gaming platform with the ability to accommodate the growth of your casino and players without going down because of technical problems.

Do Your Research

Before deciding on an online gaming developer, we recommend that you conduct some extensive research so you know what you’re getting into.  You can check out a few industry reviews as well customer testimonials to see what others have to say about the company.  Most importantly, you want to converse with the developer and ask as many questions as possible about their services.  When doing this, make sure to consider their experience, level of support and responsiveness.

The continuous growth of the online gambling industry presents many new opportunities for those who want to try their hand at this highly profitable market.  However, some will succeed while others are sure to fail.  Because of this, it is vital that you choose wisely when deciding on your software developer.

While many casino games are identical, there is no hiding the fact that online casinos are far different from their real-world counterparts.  Depending on how you look at it, these differences could be for the better or worse.  Having an understanding of these differences is very important for someone preparing to make their first wager online.  This article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of online gambling as they relate to the experience in a land casino.

The Good Side

For some, the beauty of online casinos is the mere thrill that comes along with playing.  However, several more are attracted to all the incentives and promotional offers.  Because the competition has become so heavy over the last few years, casinos are doing whatever they can to attract new business.  This is made evident by the wealth of bonuses that are offered to new customers.

Some casinos will give up to 100% of your initial deposit as a bonus, free money that provides you with added depth to your bank role.  The other advantages of online casino play are in the convenience.    You don’t have to worry about traveling out of your way or dealing with noise, smoking and all the other irritations associated with real life casinos.  You can play right from your computer, at your own pace, and even save a little money because there is no waitress to tip nor gas charges.

The Bad Side

Even when dealing with a reliable casino, there are many drawbacks that can take away from the experience.  For example, cashing out your winnings can be a slow and difficult process.  Aside from the waiting periods on the casino’s end, there may also be delays with your credit card company.

You can expect to wait anywhere from two to four weeks in between cashing out your account and waiting for it to be applied to your credit card.  Wire transfer and debit cards usually go much faster at around 3 to 5 business days.  Another disadvantage with online casinos is often the lack of customer support.  There are some companies that provide excellent service with a toll-free phone number or email but others aren’t so responsible.  You will have a rough time with a company that takes days to answer emails and has no phone number to call.  When deciding to play online, you are also binding yourself to the rules of the casino.  This means that fighting disputes is usually a loss cause, especially once you sign your name on the dotted line.

Stay on Top of the Rules

While you certainly need to be cautious of the casino, it is the players who pose one of the biggest threats to the online gambling industry.  This issue has boiled over so much that a few casinos have started to blacklist players looking to defraud the business.  Players are getting themselves blacklisted for seemingly trivial matters like disputing or threatening to dispute charges, as well as more serious offenses such as using stolen credit cards and manipulating the gaming software. Unfortunately, a couple of bad apples are making it a bit harder for everyone.

While there are pros and cons, it is a must that you know the rules to ensure a smooth gaming experience. In taking time to work with a reputable casino, you are sure to enjoy the many benefits and profits that are available at online casinos.