Differences Between Roulette Versions

  Luke        July 13, 2016

Ever since its humble beginnings as an 18th century casino game played in France, roulette has since taken the entire Western world by storm! Whether you’ve decided to visit a casino in Sin City, Nevada, or in Macau, or in Monte Carlo, or Paris, or Kampala, there’s absolutely no way that you won’t find at least a couple of roulette tables staffed by charming croupiers who always spin that wheel with a big, friendly smile on their face… Or, if you’re in a Clive Owen movie, by a nihilistic sadist who takes pleasure in seeing people lose their hopes and dreams at the roulette table, but that doesn’t matter right now! My point is that roulette is an international game that has spread around the world… But just like many things in life that spread across various countries (cheese, movies, diseases), roulette is slightly different everywhere! So, the next time you’re considering visiting roulettesites.org and playing some online roulette, keep in mind the differences I’ve outlined below!

European Roulette

The most standard form of roulette there is! If you’ve ever played roulette in a physical location before, chances are that (unless you’re American) it was precisely this version, so if you’re looking for that authentic roulette experience, look no further! One green square, thirty-six black and red, you know the drill! There’s really little point in delving upon this one any further – it’s roulette!

Low-Stakes Roulette

Very similar to European roulette, except with the obvious difference that your stakes can be extremely low (generally as low as 50p, but it really depends on the online casino you’re playing). If you want to experience roulette on a budget, then this is definitely going to be your best bet (no pun intended).

3D Roulette

Yet another variation of European roulette, except the wheel is fully three-dimensional for extra immersion (see the screenshot attached to this article for context). Yep, that’s all there is to it. Moving on.

Deal or No Deal Roulette

Ah, finally, things are finally getting interesting! You know how many slots have bonus rounds that you can activate if you fulfill certain conditions? Bonus rounds keep slots fresh and make the game all the more fun… Which only explains why they’d eventually leak into other forms of casino games, such as roulette! As the name would suggest, in “Deal or No Deal Roulette”, occasionally you’ll be able to play a round of Deal or No Deal for extra prizes and winnings. While this game is pretty different from traditional roulette in that regard, it’s just right for you if you’re looking for something fun and refreshing!

American Roulette

While Roulette is freely available in the US, it’s not nearly as popular as it is in Europe and other regions. Why? Well, because American roulette has the worst odds of them all! The green 0 typically serves as the house edge – in reality, most people bet on black or red, or even or odd, and since the number 0 doesn’t fall in any of those categories, whenever the ball falls on 0 it allows the casino to gain some free money, basically. The Americans, the cheeky bastards that they are (no offence, Yankees, we still love you), decided to double their house edge by adding a double 0 in there, thus decreasing the odds off the player winning. If you want the best odds possible for roulette, you should head over to…

French Roulette

French roulette is identical to European roulette (well, duh – France is in Europe, after all), except with one minor difference which ends up mattering a whole lot across dozens of spins – if the ball lands on zero and you lose, you end up getting half of your bet back. This pretty much decreases the house edge in half when compared to European roulette, giving you the best possible odds!

Which VR Headset is Right for Gambling?

  Luke        July 6, 2016

If you’ve read my previous article then you’d know that the age of mainstream virtual reality is finally upon us. Everybody and their mother is releasing their own VR headset this year, from giants like Sony and Samsung to relative unknowns like HTC. With practically dozens of headsets, AR goggles, holographic displays and God knows what else, it’s perfectly understandable if the average consumer is a bit confused about what to buy. The situation is only made even more complicated by the fact that each headset costs hundreds of dollars, so there’s really no room for error here – you need to get it right on the first try! And if you’re thinking that you’re not going to be needing VR for anything in your life, then think again – Microgaming’s VR roulette prototype is proof enough that the big gambling developers are perfectly willing and able to experiment in that area. While we’re probably not going to be seeing any VR gambling games available this year, I’m fairly certain that sometime next year I’ll be reporting on one right here.

So, which VR headset would be right for online gambling? Honestly, there’s really only two choices here – the HTC Vive or the Oculus Rift. Why? Well, because all other VR headsets are either of lower quality or will be incompatible with gambling games. You can absolutely forget about any headsets that require you to plug your phone in, such as the Google Cardboard and the Gear VR. The thing is, contrary to popular belief, not all screens are created equal – the screens that comprise the “lens” of most high-end VR headsets have been specifically designed to be located very close to the user’s eyes. Phone displays, on the other hand, have not, and that can result in subpar visuals and even health side effects, such as headaches, eye strain and vertigo. While they may seem like a fun, cheap way to try out VR, you’re much better off just skipping them altogether.

The same goes for Sony’s PSVR. I’m not going to lie – Sony has probably the best headset on the market in terms of accessibility and price range per quality. They’ve somehow managed to create a headset that rivals the Vive and the Rift (even if it never quite measures up to them, parameters-wise) while also being extremely affordable. In any other situation I’d say go with that one, but when it comes to gambling, the PSVR will be useless. As the name suggests, that headset will only work with a PlayStation 4, and since gambling is illegal in Japan, it makes very little sense for any real gambling game to ever grace the PlayStation console – it never has in the past. Sure, we’ve gotten a couple of gambling simulations over the years, but that’s about it. No, for real online gambling you’ll need to stick to PC.

And that leaves us with the Rift and Vive, and honestly, that’s a bit of a tough question. My personal recommendation would be to go with the Rift. While the two headsets have similar stats, the Rift was designed to be worn while seated, while the Vive’s primary function is to create a three-dimensional field for you to walk around in. You obviously won’t be doing much walking while playing VR roulette, so the much more expensive Vive simply isn’t worth the investment. If VR gambling is all you’re buying your headset for, then the Rift will work out just fine!

Virtual Reality’s Impact on Gambling

  Luke        March 2, 2016

Before we start talking about how virtual reality could impact and change gambling forever, let’s see what this technology is all about and what you can expect from such games and applications. First of all, you should know that virtual reality is the use of special technology that gives users the feeling of actually being part of an inexistent environment. This year – 2016 is expected to be the year when virtual reality goes mainstream, as developers have finally managed to come up with the perfect formula. I mean just take PlayStation VR for a spin and see how you like it.

Gambling has taken many forms over the years and the ongoing changes that it’s going through are soon to take it to a whole new level. If you take a look at the role-playing games powered by virtual reality, you can get a pretty clear idea as to how much impact it can have on gambling. I mean just imagine being able to play online, but have the feeling that you are in a real land-based casino. I would love to have a character of myself that walks around the casino floor, so to speak, and play at one table, even pick up the cards and place the chips on the table. That would definitely close the mouths of many online casino critiques, that say it’s basically impossible to recreate the buzzing atmosphere of land-based locations. Well, it is basically impossible, but virtually possible.

The early beginnings of gambling cannot come even close to what we have access to right now, so doesn’t that just make you all tingly inside at the thought of future developments? To be honest, the promise of future enhancements under the form of virtual reality kind of scares me a little. I find myself playing for hours on end as it is, especially when luck is on my side and when I play some new games, so can you imagine what this kind of technology can turn me into? But truth be told I am looking forward to it anyway because I have always been kind of a tech freak, so I would love to roll up my sleeves and go in neck deep.

Virtual reality is also implemented in other important areas such as healthcare and education and studies have shown that it does wonders on tech-savvy students and children. The purpose of this method is to help larger groups of children to interact with each other, in a 3D environment. But healthcare is where this technology has proven to be most useful, being used to simulate surgery, treat really heavy phobias and even for training med students. So, since virtual reality has made such progress in these fields, we are definitely looking forward to seeing what it will do to online gambling.

Problems Plague PaddyPower

  Luke        March 2, 2016

British bookmaker PaddyPower has gotten into some hot water recently when very unpleasant accusations were sent their way from numerous sources. According to a recent investigation by the UK Gambling Commission – the foremost authority that monitors casinos and betting booths both online and offline – PaddyPower has neglected to properly report the activities of three different gamblers suspected of participating in money laundering schemes. The investigators state that a grand total of £280,000 were laundered right under the noses of PaddyPower officials, who either never learned a thing or deliberately chose not to act upon the information they received. The bookmaker’s management refused to argue the allegations and made a deal with the UKGC in order to avoid being fined. As a result, PaddyPower agreed to donate the aforementioned £280,000 to a “socially responsible cause”, as well as cover the expenses of the investigation, which amount to roughly £30,000. Several sources claim, however, that this isn’t the management team’s first transgression.

According to The Guardian, a gambler we’re going to be referring to as Customer A, who apparently became addicted to a Fixed Odds Betting Terminal machine. Several employees working at the betting shop noticed Customer A’s frequent visits and large spending sprees and approached him, but were assured by him that he owned five restaurants and as such had plenty of disposable income. Upon some investigation, though, it was revealed that Customer A not only didn’t own a single restaurant, but actually worked several jobs and spent most of earnings on the betting terminals. When the manager of the betting shops contacted his superiors, explaining Customer A’s problem and suggesting that perhaps his time with the machine be forcibly limited by the staff, the superiors suggested the opposite – that the staff encourage the man’s addiction and stimulate his frequent visits. Eventually, an employee of the betting shop followed the man home and learned that he was homeless and had lost all his jobs, as well as the right to see his children.

This, alongside numerous other transgressions (such as PaddyPower turning a blind eye to a banker using ill-gotten money to place bets), was uncovered in a detailed and very public report by the UK Gambling Commission. I don’t need to tell you why those things are pretty terrible, but there’s also another aspect to it – objectively speaking, PaddyPower is not a bad bookmaker at all. We asked the people behind ukcasino.org.uk and according to them PaddyPower has one of the best online casinos on the market, which leads to the thought that just because there are a few rotten apples doesn’t mean the whole tree is rotten. We can do little more but hope that the bookmaker will put their act together and the next news we report about them will be a positive one.

Two Children Found In Casino Parking Lot

  Luke        October 13, 2015

Tell me if this has ever happened to you – it’s Saturday night and your wife has dropped off the kids in order to hang out with her lover or whatever the hell she does. You want to be left alone, cuz tonight is casino night and you’re damn sure to spend the money you were going to use to pay child support with on the casino table, but those pesky kids are just getting in your way and being the attention-grubbing sprogs that they are. If only there was a way to get them out of the way in order to focus on your casino experience… Why, there might be! Just leave them alone in your car and go have some fun at the slots! What’s the worst that could happen?

Well, if you’ve ever thought that, then you’re a complete psychopath, and also you’re not alone – a man named David Andersen, 44, was a little too desperate to get inside the Horseshoe Casino in south Baltimore despite being in charge of two children – presumably adorable, puppy-eyed boys aged 9 and 10. His solution was to drive the car into the casino’s inside parking lot and then lock the children in while he goes to try his luck at the roulette table or something. Luckily for the boys, they were found quickly enough (within an hour of their abandonment) thanks to an anonymous caller who informed the police at 6:45 PM. The children were rescued, and Mr. Andersen has been charged with child endangerment and being a selfish prick.

How to Recognize the Top Casino Operators for Brits

  Luke        September 11, 2015

This is a question that many players have asked themselves at some point, including yours truly. When looking for a site to play at, there are things that you should never compromise on like safety and fairness, but other characteristics are somewhat individual and what makes a casino perfect for me, might be not so important for you. But let’s start with the must-have traits. Safety is the most important thing when playing casino games, no doubt about it. But for me a simple licence from the Gambling Commission is actually not enough, as it is something without which no gambling site can operate in the UK. What you do want to see on such sites are safety seals from independent or local regulatory bodies, like eCogra, GamCare or even the independent national charity – the Responsible Gambling Trust. Also, the RNG (random number generator) that determines the outcome of the games must be regularly tested, to ensure that it cannot be tampered with. I found some really useful material on the subject on bestonlinecasino.info, so consider giving it a read.

Now that we’ve covered some of the security aspects, let’s get to the fun stuff and see what else we need from a casino site to rank it as one of the best out there. I would definitely start with the game selection, since I play all types of slots, roulette and blackjack variations and I like to be able to play with the limits a little bit, as well. But that’s just me. If you are more of a slots-only player, maybe you should consider finding a place with over 200 creations of the top software providers, like NetEnt or Playtech. On the other hand, if you like your casino experience to be as real as it gets, then the live-dealer games of Evolution Gaming will do wonders for you. You can see the pretty dealers’ smile and chat with them and the other players, all while taking part in some real-time action similar to land-based locations. Without the hassle of going out of the house, that is.

Something else to consider is the welcome bonus that the casino offers, as sometimes it may be too small or too big, with unreasonable wagering requirements to be met within a short validity period. Also, don’t forget to check the contribution of your favourite game type, as most of the times only slots count 100% towards the wagering conditions. And since the welcome bonus is never enough for me, I always try to find a site that has year-long promotions to keep me company.

So, if you ask me, the perfect casino operators for UK players should be safe and fair, tested regularly by independent agencies, with tons of games for all types of users and great bonuses and promotions. And if you thing that this is an unrealistic description, trust me, it’s not! Many operators have what it takes to give you the perfect gambling experience and if you don’t agree, then you are probably playing in the wrong places.

The 3 Most Popular Mobile Casino Apps

  Luke        September 7, 2015

Hello again! Mobile casino has become a gigantic part of the online gambling experience, to the point where as much as 15-20% of all casino profits (we’re talking about just the profits here, not all bets made) come from mobile apps, according to a 2014 study. Of course, it’s not hard to guess why that is – it’s just more convenient to play slots and roulette from your phone or tablet than it is from your computer or laptop. After all, with a good 3G or even 4G network you can easily play casino games while riding the bus, or when you’re stuck waiting for something at the doctor or post office, or, hell, even when you’re at home and are too lazy to get to the computer. Hey, it’s excusable – your phone is literally right there, it gets unlocked with the push of a button and with the push of another button you’re already in your favourite casino app, ready to play. However, not all apps are equal – some are great, but others are incredibly slow and counter-intuitive and can ruin your portable casino experience. So, how do you tell which is which? Well, there are a few sites that can tell you which are the best mobile casino apps for your smartphone, but I’ve also got a few favourites.

888 Casino

First of all, let’s address the elephant in the room – yes, it’s true, 888 Casino doesn’t have that many games. Its mobile version has about 70 in total, most of which are slots. As far as table games are concerned, you’ve got blackjack and several versions of roulette, as well as access to all live games that the casino offers (roulette, blackjack, casino holdem and baccarat), but really, the vast majority of the games that you can play on your phone or tablet are slots (a good number of which are licensed). Still, that doesn’t really make up for the lack of games. You know what does make up for it, though? Reliability. App-wise, 888 has the best one I’ve ever used. It starts up quickly, navigates smoothly and rarely, if ever, pesters you with promotions and that kind of thing that nobody really wants to see. The icons are big enough to be perfectly viewable and clickable on even a smaller phone, and the app has never, ever crashed or frozen on me (which isn’t something I can say for other apps). If you’re looking for quality over quantity, this is the place for you. It’s also important to note that 888 is one of the very few casinos that supports Windows Phone natively, so if you’re one of the five people who bought that, then cheers!

32Red

32Red(or is it 32 Red? I’m not quite sure, but I’ll just go with 32Red because it looks cooler) is another really stable and interesting online app. It’s got about 80 games in total, which, again, isn’t really that much, but the games (most of which are developed by Microgaming) are quite varied, colorful and pretty, and while most of them aren’t licensed, I’m sure that with a bit of trial and error you’ll be able to find something that you like pretty quickly. It also really helps that you can try out all of the games for absolutely free without even registering (you just access 32Red on your phone and then click Enter Lobby, and voilà), which is a bonus that not a lot of mobile casinos offer. I’m sure that while most of you are interested in playing casino games with real money, you can still appreciate being able to try out the slots and see if there’s anything interesting there without really making a commitment. One of the biggest reasons to join 32Red is precisely monetary, with some of their jackpots being the highest I’ve ever seen in my life (at one point “Mega Moolah” had over £8 million jackpot). Definitely a casino that’s worth a shot!

LeoVegas

Boy, oh boy! I’m going to take a wild guess and say that the people in charge of LeoVegas saw the mobile revolution coming from a mile away, and then prepared accordingly for it! This is, by far, the best mobile app I have ever used in my entire life. It’s absolutely brilliant, you guys. Stable, intuitive, looks and feels great, runs smoothly, and it’s even got a handful of games here and there. How many? Well, how about almost 300! Yes, you heard that right – almost 300 games playable on both Android and iOS, right now! That’s twice as many as 32Red and 888 have combined! Hell, it’s even more than some desktop casinos have! The amount of effort that the people behind LeoVegas have put into making sure that their mobile version can meet and surpass its users’ expectations is absolutely astonishing, and I love it! Every single one of the games that I tested (I obviously couldn’t try out all 300, but I did my best) worked flawlessly, and the app itself loaded quite quickly and effortlessly. Technical issues were brought to an absolute minimum as well – I experienced a single freeze, while testing on Samsung Galaxy Grand 2, but testing on iPhone 6, iPad Air 2, Samsung Galaxy S4 and an Asus tablet went very smoothly, so I can only assume that the issue was with the phone and not the site. If you want the best possible mobile casino experience, then look no further!