Online Casinos Dir
Home Online Casino Reviews Casino Bonus US Casinos UK Casinos Gaming Blog Contact

Posts Tagged ‘history’

Where Did Baccarat Come From?

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

If you play gambling games no doubt at some point you have come in contact with baccarat. This is a game that has gained a lot of popularity in the market over the years. But how did it come to the market? The game allegedly began by an Italian named Felix way back in the 18th century. He built the game based on the Etruscan Virgin who according to folklore had to roll a nine-sided die to decide her own fate. If she got a five or lower, she would die at sea. If she got a six or seven, she would be allowed to live her life as she knew it. If she got an eight or nine, she would from then on be a high priestess among the village and enjoy all the comforts of luxury. Felix took this idea and formed the first generation of Tarot cards, which was considered to be the initial state of baccarat when it first began. Over the years the game has gained popularity, mostly because of its ease of gaming and logic. The game moved to France and took off there. Then in the twentieth century the game took off in other countries. Now you can go to any online casino and most likely find more than a few games of baccarat to enjoy. It is a fun game that doesn’t come encumbered iwth a lot of rules and regulations. This most likely is why it is so popular in the market. If you are looking for a new game, then consider trying baccarat. There are plenty of places online where you can play for free before you get some experience before you start putting your money down. Or you could take advantage of a casino that gives you a match bonus. That way you could start playing games with your “free money” and not risk your own cash as you learn. It is a great way to take advantage of the extra money that casinos offer to loyal gamers or new gamers. It is like they are supporting your wagers as you try to learn the games.

Short History of Slots Games

Friday, September 24th, 2010

If you have ever wondered when the first slot machine was introduced to the market, it was back in 1895. This is a testament to how popular the games are. Charles Fey was the one who originally came up with the game. Of course at the time it was mechanical, but it was a great start that took over in popularity almost immediately. Though Fey was in California, pubs and bars as far away as New York were clamoring for their own versions of the games once they heard it was on the market. Fey continued to develop the machines until 1907 when he sold the first one via the Mill Novelty Company. The game was called “Miss Liberty Bell” and it would define the entire market for years to come. The reels in the old-time games had actual cards, rather than bars to read. A loud bell rang every time a player got a win and welcomed screams of delight from patrons within a tavern. Though games have come far in the past century, slots games still run with the same basic premise as the Liberty Bell.

Most older machines still offer just twenty different symbols on the reels but a lot of growing. Machines in today’s market have a computerized memory system too so you aren’t going to have a physical and mechanical reel actually spinning. The random number generator within the machine dictates what you get on the reels and what you win. They are great games and have a lot to offer. You can find games these days of almost every theme and payout. Just do a quick scan of a casino or an online search and you will find the huge number of selections out there. You won’t easily get bored with these games or have problems with finding great ones. They come with bonus games these days too. Whether or not you are a new player or a long-time slots lover you are going to have lots of fun in the market. Games are being pushed to the boundaries of technology and beyond so take advantage of the strides. You are going to have a great time doing it!

The History of Bingo

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

If you have ever wondered about bingo then consider how long it has been around. Though in today’s market it is a popular gambling game it has been around for decades. You may go to casinos or church basements to play, but did you know that in Italy they played back in the 1500s? The game supposedly started back in 1530 with the “Lo Giuoco Del Lotto D’Italia” being held for Italian citizens. It was successful but maintained a low profile for years. It slowly moved to France, and other European countries throughout history. In France it was referred to as “Le Lotto.” When the game first moved to the US it was referred to as “beano” but then a New York salesman recoined it as “bingo.” That is where the name began and when the game truly took off as a leader in the world of gambling games.

Soon after its introduction to the market, bingo continued to take off in the market. Partially it was because of the Catholic Church. Churches used bingo as a means of fun raising time and again throughout history. Even now the games are used by nonprofit organizations, churches and schools to balance budgets. It is a great way to bring in added funds and a lot of organizations count on their yearly bingo games to make their expenses. The best thing about the games is that they are so much fun and they are easy to learn. You can go to a bingo hall and be up and playing within a few minutes. All you have to do is buy your cards and then listen to the bingo caller. If you cover your numbers right, then you won’t have any problems with keeping up. It is a fast-paced game but because there isn’t a whole lot of thinking involved, that shouldn’t be a problem for any gamer. The next time you want to past some time and do some good for a charitable organization give bingo a try. You should have no problems finding a bingo hall where games are held because of the popularity of the games overall.

Gambling Has Been Around for Ages

Friday, August 13th, 2010

So just how long has gambling been along? If you look at the world today you are going to be struck at how pervasive it is in the world. A few short decades ago it was unheard of to have a place online where you could gamble. Of course, back then having a website where you could do a lot of things was impossible. The rise of technology and the internet have opened the door to a vast array of options in terms of online activities. You now can do anything online from paying bills to ordering movies and shopping for groceries to playing poker. The internet as a whole has come far and people are benefitting from it all over the world. It is estimated that throughout the world 1.9 billion people have internet access and a huge selection of those people are gambling online.

Gambling started off in various places throughout history. It is rumored that the Great Wall of China was partially funded by a lottery. The money was directly channeled into the endeavor. Various other plans around the world have been funded by some type of lottery or another. The bible even talks about “drawing lots”, a form of gambling that gave users directions on what decisions to be made. Supposedly the casting of lots was a man’s way of reading what God wanted him or her to do in certain situations. There is no real date when gambling began, but all signs show that it has been around for centuries. History is riddled with people who used various forms of gambling to make decisions and make deals. If you are wondering whether you should get into the games, consider this. There are thousands of games available today and many come with enough options to customize them to your specific gambling style. You also can find games that fit into your budget and bankroll. And, you can even find free-play games today in the market. There are some that won’t cost you anything, but still pay out if you get lucky. Test out some games at land-based or online casinos and you will see how much fun the games can be.

The History of PlayTech

Friday, August 6th, 2010

If you are a fan of online gambling then no doubt you have played Playtech games or used the company’s software. These games are some of the most dynamic on the market and you won’t be disappointed at their gaming return. The company is a provider of software for online casinos, poker rooms, bingo websites, sports betting online companies, mobile gaming and arcade games. It is a leader in the market. The company began back in 1999 by Teddy Sagi and based it originally in the United Kingdom. Though the gaming company took hold of its own strong market share from the beginning, it was a bumpy road at the beginning. The company’s growth was affected largely by the 2006 UIGEA, or SAFE Port Act. In this act, online gambling in the US was deemed illegal and banned. Banking institutions were instructed to flag and deny any activities that were focused on gambling activities and for fear of incurring huge finds, banks denied activities that should have been considered legal. Lotteries fell under the definition of “banned activities” to banks, although legally they were not included in the UIGEA ruling. One of the main problems with the UIGEA ruling was that it never strictly defined what “gambling” was. It left the door open for interpretation and that caused a lot of problems in the market. With Playtech, they felt the repercussion due to a 40% loss in stock prices over the course of a just one day.
Despite the rocky beginning and the change in stock pricing, Playtech still recovered. The company now employs about 800 people in various countries all around the world and is known as an industry leader. If you want great gaming, find a few games that the company developed and features. There are a wide range of them—Playtech is not only a leader in one aspect of gambling but a wide range of games. You can find great bingo games created by the company along with great arcade games. Keep an eye out for the gaming company and what they are bringing to the market in the future. No doubt they will continue to bring in games that are premiere and offer a lot of overall gambling fun.

Test Out These Games for Extreme Fun

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

Want some extremely fun games? Test out the slots. They are the unassuming little games that have taken over the world of gambling. They used to be pastimes for wives waiting for their rich husbands to finish up at the high-roller tables. The great thing about them is that they don’t require any special skills or strategies. That means that anyone can just jump on the machines and test them out. Plus the wager requirements on these games vary widely. That’s why slot machines have the greatest long-standing success. Today this kind of gambling is one of the most popular and profitable at the same time. In USA slots bring more than 60% of gaming profits every year.

The original design of slot mechanisms have been replaced by the computers, but the gist of the game is the same. The player presses the button or a special handle and the reels start spinning, then they stop and show the symbols. The result of the game depends on the symbols displayed on the payline, which is situated in the middle of the screen. In a case you see the same symbols on each of the reels you win, but sometimes even single symbols bring to you a prize. The size of the payout varies in different cases and depends on the symbols you hit. Traditional machines can have complicated construction consisting of gears and levers. The metal shaft supporting the reels is connected with the handle. The reels are stopped by the breaking system and the combination on the reels is communicated to the payout system. The coin detector is used for the registration of the payment and unlocking the brake, in order you can move the handle and start the game.

Producers can arrange traditional machines in hundreds of different ways. The traditional slot machine has three reels fixed on the central shaft, which supports 3 notched discs. These discs are also connected with the reels, there is one more shaft, below the central one, it supports the kicker, which is the special metal piece composing 3 paddles. The kicker paddles are located in a raw, that’s why they push against the notches. The other task of the second shaft is to support the connected stoppers, which lock the notches on the discs. The kicker and stoppers connect with springs; they hold them in a proper position. The kicker is situated behind the disks, while the stoppers are in front of the disks and lock them into place. It may seem complex from the inside, but as a user it is one of the simplest gambling games you are going to try. Give it a spin and see how lucky you can be.

Join in on Craps Fun

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

Craps is one a fast-moving casino table game. You and a bunch of other people toss a pair of dice and bet on the results. Players Basil Nestor is the author of the new Playboy Complete Guide to Casino Gambling. This wonderful book teaches players how to avoid sucker bets and win more when playing gambling games.  He is also the author of The Smarter Bet Guide series for video poker, slots, craps, and many other books about gambling.   win and lose en masse. If the dice are hot, everyone is shouting. Craps is the sort of contest that appeals to gregarious gamblers and those who love fast action and mercurial ups and downs. Indeed, it’s a contest that has bewitched players for centuries.The game of hazard is the father of craps was developed in Palestine way back in the time of the Crusades, around 1100. In fact, the English word “hazard” comes from the Arabic phrase for dice, “al-zahr.” Clearly, medieval players thought the contest was dangerous, even though they loved playing it.

Crusaders brought the game back to Europe, and it flourished as the centuries passed, all the while maintaining its volatile reputation. Europeans were quickly hooked on this contest. Charles Cotton, an English author, wrote in 1674, “Certainly Hazzard is the most bewitching game that is played on the Dice; for when a man begins to play he knows not when to leave off; and having once accustomed himself to play at Hazzard he hardly ever after minds anything else.” French sailors brought hazard to the New World via New Orleans some time after 1718. By that point, the contest had morphed into a variation called crabs (which was the nickname for a roll of two). When the French said “crabs” it sounded like “craps” to the Americans, and the name stuck. Hazard is still around (mostly played in Europe), but these days craps is the definitive dice game. In the last two centuries it has contributed many ubiquitous phrases to the English language. Examples include “no dice,” “on a roll,” “crapshoot,” and “crap out” to name just a few.After 1,000 years the craps contests has retained its mercurial nature. That’s good news for you because the contest wasn’t invented for casinos. The house edge is built into the game. If you love gambling and want to test out a new game, give this one a shot.

Books Can Be Helpful in Understanding Gambling

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

There are a wide range of books available today that will help you with your wagering. Two books that are truly helpful are “The Age of Chance” by Gerda Reith and “You Bet Your Life” by Neil Isaacs. Each ones goes after the inner-working of a gambler. They look at things like psychological, cosial and historical perspectives of gambling. Both authors take a different look at why gambling has always been around in human cultures. It may have been very crude way back, but it still was alive and well. It developed quickly over the yearst has evolved over the centuries in different cultures, the dangers in losing control and how the games have been modified for different generations.

 Reith looks at the origins of chance and fate; examines the theory that there is no such thing as chance; discusses risk then isolates the various games and why people are attracted to certain forms of play. Going back several hundred years, the author looks at people’s fascination with numbers and how casinos nurtured the games which attracted players. Perhaps the most interesting sections discuss “the experience of play” including factors like excitement, the impact of boredom and our need to escape from it.
Subjects of lucky-people, things, places, times and numbers get appropriate attention from Reith, who is also a sociology professor. With a dozen pages of references and resources and a name and subject index, this is a marvelous resource for anyone planning to study the phenomenon of gambling and why people continue to risk their money and time on the games. Neil Isaacs is an experienced lifelong gambler himself and as well a licensed specialist specializing in the treatment of problem gamblers. The book is written with the skill of a novelist, humanizing the subject of compulsive gambling and may help anyone better understand the gambling culture along with the history, psychology and literature of play. In a dozen chapters Isaacs discusses the compulsion to lose, and factors like anxiety, depression and psychosis, addiction, diagnosis and treatment. These are two very interesting resources on the art of gambling and its origin. The interesting thing is that it will give you some real insight into what goes on and how the market was built.

 

 

So How Did Dice Come About?

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

Dice are used in a wide number of gambling games and have been around for years. Originally, dice were part of the collection of divination tools used by fortune tellers, healers, witch doctors and soothsayers in ancient tribes all over the world. The job of the dice was to determine if the person, village or tribe would have good or bad luck in the future. Dice were thought of as magic– and depending on the roll, it was thought that they would accurately predict the future outcome. The six sided version of dice that we play with today came from the ankle bones, often called knucklebones, of hoofed animals. Greeks were some of the first dice-users. They wanted to find out of their fortunes were on the way and sometimes to just play a fun game. Then Romans joined in. They used bones for dice, but dice were also created and had cubical forms that featured dotted faces.  Etruscan dice found near Rome, and made about 900 B.C., are similar to the dice of today, with the opposite faces adding up to seven: 1:6, 2:5, 3:4.  Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie found a very modern six-sided die in the Greek colony of Naucratis, Egypt dated to about 600 BC. Dice from this period have also been found in Britain in the prehistoric earthworks of Maiden Castle. 

Dice have been made out of ivory and bone and various other materials over the years. Some have been found as formed from animal horns, clay, animal teeth, seeds, and nut shells. Others were made of bronze, agate, onyx, jet, alabaster, marble, rock crystal, and amber. More expensive dice were made of precious stones, gold, silver, ivory, and even porcelain. In today’s age, dice are made of cellulose acetate. The plastic is the same density throughout and the user can quickly test that their shape is a true platonic solid. This assures both the player and casino that there is no cheating going on. When money is on the line everything has to be as close to random as allowable by Newton. Modern casino dice have been precision cut to 0.0001 inches for absolute accuracy. It’s interesting to see how far these small items have come and how much a part of luck, gaming and gambling they have created over the decades.

The Development of Blackjack- Part 1

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Blackjack is one of the biggest hits on the Vegas Strip—and any other casino for that matter. People love to play the game and it offers an exciting and fun gambling experience every time. Casinos earn a lot of money from their blackjack tables and for that reason, you can find more than a few at any casino you venture to. When it comes to the house edge, it is another reason why casinos love the game. With the exception of free odds playing craps, every bet made on a casino table game has a built in cost. Roulette layouts have one or two zeros giving the house an edge. Crap tables bar-two sixes, Baccarat takes a 5% commission on winning bank bets. On the other hand, the “edge” for blackjack was considered to be over 5% for many years. Many experts agree that blackjack is a great game for the house to win a lot of money.

When looking at the history of blackjack, it’s easy to see how much the game has brought in throughout the years. Up to the 1960s there was little reason to dispute these “21″ figures. The casino hold was commonly 25% of the casino drop. Players would play to hunches when they had a decision to make, but the game’s popularity was only moderate. A few players seemed to “know something” though. They somehow managed to win time and again at the game and consistently walked away with payouts. Then a mathematics professor from New Mexico developed a system he claimed could beat the tables in Las Vegas. In 1964 Life Magazine ran a nine page story about Edward O. Thorpe and his “unbeatable blackjack system”. From that point on, the game changed. Now players realized that they could have a hand in how well they did with the game. There is a strategy to the game that everyone can learn and use.

Still, even with the newfound information, the House still has a 17% edge. Considering the huge rise in the game, the house is doing just fine when it comes to profits. The good news is that the general gaming public has a way to win at blackjack. They realize there is a strategy and use it. In fact, most casinos know this and now have safeguards built into the system to allow them to protect their profits from people who are particularly good at counting.

Part two coming next.