The Rise and Fall of FOBTs in the UK

Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) have been operating in UK gambling for the past two decades. Considering a variety of games they offer punters, FOBT machines have been performing immensely on bingo, horse racing (virtual), roulette, and slots. 

On a sad note, FOBT machines have faced massive uproar and backlash from lawmakers and gaming regulators within recent years.  

But what can be the reasons behind the rise and fall of FOBTs in the UK? Well, we have answered this question in the discussion below. 

Emergence of FOBTs  

FOBTs started entering the UK market in the year 2000. The fruit machines were dominant in pubs, clubs, casinos, service stations, and any legal joint you could find them. 

By the year 2004, the Brits had witnessed over 20,000 FOBTs spreading across most towns and villages. Betting shops were becoming like casinos at this point.  

Gambling Restrictions Imposed 

In 2005, a Gambling Act was enacted limiting FOBTs in betting shops. At this point, each betting shop was allowed to operate four fixed odds terminals only. 

This law hit hard bookmakers as this saw them reducing the number of machines they offered in each location. Interestingly, some clever bookers started opening more locations so that they could offer additional fixed-odds terminals. 

Pressure from Government and Media 

Due to the controversy associated with FOBTs addiction, strict gambling laws were enforced by the government. There was also more pressure from conservative MPs and anti-gambling groups. At this time, the media was every week publishing a new article highlighting the story of someone whose life has been ruined by gambling. 

Maximum Stakes Reduced From £100 per Round to £2 

In early 2017, FOBTs drew the attention of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport. This is the time when FOBTs were branded as the “crack cocaine of gambling.” 

In May 2018, the bookmarkers suffered another big blow when the maximum stake for FOBTs was slashed from £100 per Round to £2. They tried to argue that that the reduced stakes would force them to close shops and cut jobs, but this only landed on deaf ears as the government was too firm on their decision.

FOBTs Today

Despite facing all these obstacles, FOBTs are still widespread in the UK. You won’t fail to find one of the FOBT outlets if you’re in a decent-sized town. 

Though in smaller quantities, there are high chances of FOBTs returning to the UK market in near future.

The Best Casinos You Must Visit While Gambling in the US

Businesses in the US are slowly reopening after the pandemic period. Casinos and gambling avenues have not been left behind too. 

With a country of over 450 casinos, it is possibly difficult to choose the best gambling destination for your trip.  Many places have casinos, but some are better than others in terms of what they offer and how many gambling houses they have. 

To help you decide on your trip, we have come up with a list of the Best 5 Casinos You Must Visit While Gambling in the US. You should note that the order of the entries on our list is independent of their ranking. 

Las Vegas, Nevada 

A list of gambling destinations is not complete without mentioning Las Vegas. Call it by different names such as Sin City, City of Lost Wages, Gambling Capital of the World, Las Vegas is truly the biggest gambling city in the country. 

What You Will Get: 

• There are over 104 casinos in the city 
• Endless entertainment joints for people of all ages 
• 2 significant hubs in the Strip and Downtown Las Vegas

If we're ranking the gambling destinations, there is no doubt that Vegas would have been number one on the list. 

Reno, Nevada 

Reno, the Biggest Little City in the World has everything it has to offer to any gambler. Reno was one time declared as the best gambling city in the United States.

What You Will Get: 

• Reno has over 20 casinos 
• A wide variety of games including slot machines, poker machines, and table games
• Many gamblers: Due to being close to the border, Reno attracts a huge number of participants from California  
• Plenty of comedy shows and nightclubs 

If you’re planning a vacation trip and you’ve never been to Reno, then prepare yourself for extreme fun and entertainment with some prize and winning amount to excite yourself to the fullest. 

Atlantic City, New Jersey 

If you are trying to find the best place to gamble on the East Coast, then Atlantic City is the right option for northeasterners who don’t want to travel too far. 

What You Will Get: 

• Has a variety of casinos, each with its unique attractions 
• The Hard Rock Casino is perfect for a young crowd or inexperienced clientele who like gambling to the sounds of live music 
• For real money gambling, Tropicana, Borgata, and Caesars beckon are the best place if you become the next millionaire 

Biloxi, Mississippi 

Biloxi is one of the best gambling destinations in the United States. 

What You Will Get: 

• Biloxi features 10 casinos and a variety of entertainment joints 
• Offer spas, hotels, fitness centers, and several food amenities 
• The Hard Rock for inexperienced gamblers 

Regardless of your gambling experience, try to plan a trip to Mississippi soon.  

New Orleans, Louisiana 

Although the number of casinos in Louisiana doesn’t compare to other cities, New Orleans has many gambling options that have their own merits. 

What You Will Get: 

• Offers a variety of table games, sports gambling option, and slots 
• The Big Easy, which is the third oldest race track in the States 

Final Verdict 

Even though Covid -19 has negatively affected us both financially and physiologically, there no good reason as to why you shouldn’t book a trip to do some gambling at each of the locations listed above.

The Best Way to Win at Online Casinos Every Time

Need to know a better way out to Win at Online Casinos Every Time? Then, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I will show you the best 5 tricks and strategies you can use to win online casinos and have something to take home every day. 

Select the Best Online Casinos 

Before you even start thinking about playing online casinos, you must do your research online about the best and reputable place to win at online casinos. Your research should cover topics such as: 

• The percentage payout and speed of the casino 
• The best online sites 
• Whether the games you picked are compatible with your devices  
• Internet connection speed 
• Casino's financial policy 
• Welcome bonuses and promotions.  

Recommended: 

Conducting quick background research can help pick the best and legitimate casino for your online gambling adventure. 

Play Games with a Low House Edge In gambling, house edge refers to the measure of how much the casino pays relative to what true odds would pay. Therefore, if you are a bit inexperienced in certain games, the best strategy is to lower the house edge and increase the RTP. 

Don’t Chase Losses 

Since the casino is a game of probability, it is naturally normal to find yourself losing every time you place your bet. If this happens, do not run your bank account dry trying to chase the losses. 

Recommended: 

It is advisable to play online casino games within your limits. Always Set winning and losing limits per session and adhere to them. 

Take Advantage of the Best Bonuses 

Sometimes, online casinos offer different types of bonuses on various occasions. These includes: 

• Sign-up bonus: Pays free credit when you sign up to a casino. 
• Welcome bonus: Pays free credit when new gamblers first play. 
• Loyalty bonuses: Rewards casino gamblers who have been playing for a while. 
• Deposit bonus
• Refer-a-friend bonuses 

Recommended: 

You should take advantage of these bonuses, as they can provide you with an extra bankroll to keep playing longer. 

Let Alcohol Be Your Enemy 

As drinking and gambling are immiscible, it is therefore not a good idea to drink while gambling. 

• Alcohol lowers your inhibitions  
• Provokes you to take poor decisions 
• Alcohol can influence you to take bigger risks you wouldn’t when sober. 

Recommended: Betting during the day is the best strategy to avoid drinking while playing. Most casinos discourage drinking during the day.

The 6 Biggest Casino Games of All Times

People play casino games for entertainment and to win money. However, not all games offer the same winning percentage. So, gamblers love playing games with a low “house edge”.

Don’t know what the house edge is? 

Simply put, it is the statistical advantage a casino holds in any game. To maximize your chance of winning, we have put together a list of the six biggest crowd-pleasers as stated by the gambling community! 

Blackjack (Single Deck) 

When playing blackjack, the number of cards makes a big difference. The fewer the cards, the more is the probability of you winning. 

Find a single deck game to get the odds in your favor. This is because a single deck blackjack game lowers the house advantage to 1.5% only! 

This the lowest house edge we’ve come across for casino games. 

Craps 

With a house edge between 1.4% to 5%, Craps offers the second-best win percent. And let’s be honest, it is among the most exciting games casinos can offer. There are many guidelines and rules that players must abide by, which often discourages beginners from trying their luck at a Craps table. 

But we say if you see a Craps table with an empty seat, give it a shot. You'll learn as you go and win more often than you'd imagined. 

Baccarat 

This basic strategy game is easy to play and understand. Players can bet only on three things when playing baccarat–Player, Banker, or a Tie. It’s as simple as that. 

The house edge too is as low as 1.5% per game! 

Start looking for a baccarat table nearby to get in on the action right now. 

Three-Card Poker 

This poker variant has become widely popular among bettors due to its easy to learn format. And of course, the low house edge. If you're looking for a quick game of poker, we recommend playing three-card poker. 

Basic poker rules apply to this type of poker but the only difference is you'll need to make the best poker hand with three cards only. 

Video Poker 

If you read that video poker is a 0% house edge game, it's a lie. Casinos are in the business to make money. Naturally, every game has a house edge, so does video poker. The house edge varies from 0.5% to 5%. 

No matter what most people say, video poker requires strategizing too. Play a game or two to know what we mean. 

Slots 

The biggest attraction in most casinos–the slot machines! 

To minimize the house advantage our only advice to you is to avoid the branded slot machines (online or offline). These machines are specially designed and more often than not they have a higher house edge than the rest.

Most Played Casino Games Online

Online gaming is captivating. You get amazing graphics, exciting offers, and an opportunity to win big. Want to try your luck at online casinos? 

There are some games the punters favor more than others. Want to know what they are? 

Keep reading to find out! 

Online casinos offer a wide variety of games for you to choose from. You can try as many games as possible when there’s no money involved. However, it is natural to get confused when you are betting using real money. To solve this dilemma, here’s a list of the most popular online casino games in 2020. 

Slots 

Slot machines are a hit in land-based casinos as well as online casinos. Their unique themes and record-breaking jackpots are what attract most players towards them. There’s not much to consider when you’re playing slots, it’s sheer luck. So, if you think the odds are in your favor, try your luck at the slot machines. You can play free slots or real money slots on any online gambling website. 

Blackjack 

Blackjack is an entertaining game with a quick learning curve. Spend a few minutes reading the rules, play a round or two and you’ll find yourself making calculated bets in no time. Also, the odds of you winning are good in a game of blackjack. Because of its low house edge, blackjack keeps driving players to place their bets. 

The game has static rules across countries, which is another reason contributing to its popularity. 

Roulette 

If there’s one word that defines roulette it is drama! The spinning wheel and the ball hopping and skipping around until finally landing in one of the spots. Every second of the roulette is exhilarating. Given its quality to keep players engrossed, roulette must be one of the most popular casino games out there. So, if you’re looking for a fun game with simple rules, roulette should be high up on your list. 

Poker 

Ace, two, three, nine–are the cards on the board. You’re holding a five in your hand. If the next (and the last) card dealt is a four, you’ll have a straight. The possibility of anyone beating that is exceptionally low. 

The final card turns over and it is–a four! 

You’ve won! Nothing beats a good game of poker. Online casinos offer a premium gaming experience for table games like poker. Which is why it is the final contender on our list. 

What are you waiting for? 

Get started and make a fortune playing these easy yet rewarding games!

9 Tips to Hit the Jackpot in Casinos

Casino owners adopt cunning strategies to prevent players from winning too much. That much is known to all gamblers. If you look at the odds, they’re always favoring the casino. What can you do to win big even when the odds are against you? 

We’ll give you not one but nine simple, yet effective tips to hit the jackpot. 

1. Practice and Observe 

What’s the game you’re interested in? Is it poker, slots, roulette, or blackjack? The key to winning big in any game is to keep practicing. Look at other players and what they're doing wrong or observe the big sharks get a read on their working. 

2. Know When to Fold 

The worst mistake a player can make is going all-in when it is obvious that they are losing. For example, a person playing poker has two of hearts and the king of spades. The dealer has thus far dealt four cards, the sequence is such- 5 of spades, 7 of diamonds, 8 of diamonds, 9 of diamonds. Poker players know the odds are drastically against this person. Now, if another player goes all in, it is best to fold. Don’t go bankrupt trying to call their bluff. 

3. Bonuses Come with Limits 

Many online casinos come with exciting bonuses. But players often ignore reading the terms and conditions. Most casinos have a limit on how much you can win from bonus funds. If you win $700 and the limit is $500, you can only withdraw $500. 

4. Don’t Fall for Branded Games 

Slots associated with Hollywood movies, pop bands, and celebrities are a combination of low RTP and high volatility. Steer clear of these machines and games. 

5. Progressive Jackpot Slots are a Gold Mine 

Progressive jackpot slots send a portion of your stake towards the jackpot. However, if you win the jackpot with a stake that is not at the maximum bet level, the winnings won’t be as advertised. You may win a small part of the jackpot but that’s it. 

6. Select the Right Volatility 

High volatility is directly proportional to fewer but bigger wins. So, if you like winning frequently, go for low volatility games that offer more frequent ins but on a small scale. 

7. Scout First, Play Next 

This tip is mainly for slots. Look at the slot machines when others are playing. If the jackpot symbol comes up on the screen but the combination is just short of being the winning combination, that’s the machine you should play on. 

8. Play on Slot Machines at the Ends of the Rows 

Brick-and-mortar casinos often place machines with the best odds where maximum people can see them. These machines grab the attention of passersby and get more people to play the slots. 

9. Be AWARE of your surroundings 

Don't lose track of time or give in to the relishes offered by the casinos. Gambling for some time can be fun but if you keep betting you will spend more money than you intended to. Keep looking at the time you’ve spent at the casino on your watch or your phone. Why not look at the clocks in the casino directly? 

Because there aren’t any! 

With all these tips in mind, go ahead and get started on winning big.

The Quickest Strategies for Winning Casino Play

While there are millions of gamblers who play games and take chances at casinos every year, most casino players lose more money than they win. Below is a list of top 10 casino tips and tricks to make you smile on seeing your bank statement. 

1) Avoid alcoholic drinks and drugs when you’re gambling. 

Before you can engage in any casino play, make sure you have a sober mind. As the saying goes, “alcohol and gambling do not mix well”. This is true because having a drink before or during play at any casino will impair your judgment and you could end up losing so much that you put yourself in a financial crisis. 

Recommended: If you must drink, then take one bottle or two after you have won as a way of celebrating. 

2) Play the right casino games 

There are several gambling options in Casinos. Most of these options make the casino a great deal of money. Recommended: If you want to have the best chance of winning when gambling, play: 

• blackjack 
• poker, or 
• video poker. 

3) Bet small, win big 

The best way to increase your chances of winning in online casinos is to play smart. 

Recommended: Always distribute your state into smaller quantities to avoid running out of money fast. 

4) Twist the odds in your favor 

Having extra knowledge about the odds of the game will guarantee you to be a daily winner.  Recommended: Take some time to study the strategies of your preferred game. 

5) Earn VIP and high roller rewards 

Apart from winning big cash on casino games, you can also reap big from bonuses and loyalties such as electronics and paid vacations. 

Recommended: Enroll in VIP programs if you are a regular gambler playing with big sums. 

6) Avoid Superstitions 

Online casino is a game of chance and probability and therefore, there are no external forces that can control the outcome of the game. 

Recommended: Don’t buy into superstitions. 

7) Avoid shady and blacklisted sites 

Some online casinos are there just to swindle you and then disappear into thin air. Therefore, if you want to have a great experience while playing, you must choose reputable and certified casino sites. 

Recommended: To increase your chances of winning, make sure you are always playing at legitimate and trusted casino sites. 

8) Set yourself a time limit for gambling online 

It’s dangerous to gamble without a time limit, especially when you aren’t playing a profitable poker game. 

9) Pick the games you love 

When playing in online casinos, you should choose games that are compatible with your devices and Internet connection speed. 

Recommended: Conduct quick background research to establish the best online casino games. 

10) Know your bonus requirements

It is essential to understand your bonus requirements because it will help know exactly how much you'll need to wager before you can cash out.  

Recommended: Internet gambling is your right option because online casinos provide free cash out.

Top 7 Online Casinos in 2020

As you probably know, gambling in the US is considered illegal. While in most states, that’s true yet there are some exceptions where you can place bets without running in trouble with the law. If you're in one of these areas, we’ve compiled a list of the seven best casinos to gamble online. 

Remember, it is a risk to place your trust in unrated and skeptical online casinos. Our list is carefully curated to ensure that all the casinos mentioned are authentic and you get a payout for your winnings. 

1. Hard Rock Casino 

The Hard Rock casino launched back in 2018. With two years in operation, this is one of the most loved online casinos in New Jersey. The main reason behind its popularity is the Hard Rock brand name backing it up. It's trustworthy, licensed, and offers many interesting features. Some of them are, 

• Welcome bonus plus 50 bonus spins 
• Easy-to-use interface 
• Quick withdrawals 

2. Bet365 Casino 

This UK-born casino has just launched a new sportsbook but let’s not forget where it gained popularity from. The bookmaker also lets users play a variety of casino games. What's more, is Bet365 supports multiple payment methods including their own branded MasterCard. Which, we can tell you, is the fastest way to deposit cash or make withdrawals. 

3. Intertops Casino 

If you're looking for a reputed online casino with a wide variety of game styles, Intertops should be your go-to casino. Originally founded as a brick-and-mortar casino in 1983, the Intertops website came into existence in 1998. With only a handful of exceptions, Intertops accepts players from most American states. You can wager on sporting events, casino games, and slot machines. But their most prized game is perhaps poker. It features different betting levels from 2-cent blinds up to no-limit games! 

4. BetOnline Poker Casino 

Fast payouts, major poker tournaments, unrestricted access to US players, and bitcoin support–you name it and BetOnline Poker delivers just that. But contrary to its name, poker isn't the only casino game the website has to offer. You can try your hand at any traditional casino game at BetOnline. 

5. Unibet US Casino 

Unibet recently launched their online casino but have been around since the early 1900s. One of Unibet's strong suits is their banking options. Unlike most online casinos, they have realized the importance of PayPal. For a welcome bonus, you get $10 to wager once you sign up for a Unibet account. To avail of it, use the code UBCASINO10. Additionally, you also get a 100% match up to $500 if you choose to deposit. 

6. BetMGM Casino 

The phenomenal BetMGM casino is operated from within the US. Their wide selection of video slots, table games, and sports events to bet on is simply amazing. The design and assortment of betting options make it one of the best online casinos in the US. 

7. DraftKings Casino 

Lastly, DraftKings–the sportsbook giant has now joined the elites in the online casino business. Any punter knows that anything with a DraftKings tag will surely garner attention. You can expect an impressive games library and play some exciting live dealer games. With fast payments through their website, you also get the option to download their mobile application. Both options are easy to navigate through and run smoothly.