How casino games work
New casino sites to play real money
This is also known as a welcome bonus or welcome package. It is the dessert of online casino promos. Sign up bonuses are generous offers meant to entice new players into registering and making a deposit. They come in the form of match bonuses or percentage or a combination of both. Play the free games first before diving into the real money games. Practice beforehand to ace your skills and avoid a constant losing streak. All online casinos ought to have at least one license. There are three licensing regulations: curacao, malta, and UK legislation. Out of the three curacao is the least reputable since it is not efficiently regulated, malta is entirely trustworthy, and the UK is the best licensing body.
How casino games work
You walk down to the flashy, noisy casino you've been eyeing across town. You fill up on the buffet and are itching to bring your A-game to the table with hopes of hitting the jackpot and basking in your private island. Gambling is all nice and fun when the gods are in your favor. But that's only in the movies. Welcome to the real world.
If you are new to the casino gaming world, it can feel quite daunting having to navigate the ins and outs of how casino games work. Casino players need to know the essential facts about gambling before they start playing.
This knowledge will give you an accurate picture of how casino games work, help you make gaming smart choices, and stay ahead of the curve вђ” playing from the UK? No worries visit https://zamsino.Com/uk/free-spins-no-deposit/ and you will find all the free spins and free slots there. Oh, we forgot, if you live in the USA, you can use this no deposit guide from zamsino US.
1. Where to play:
There are thousands of casinos available both online and offline. With thousands of options in the market, it can be quite daunting to choose if you are an inexperienced player. Your choice of casino is crucial.
Consider the operator's reputation, casino's license, player reviews and complaints, and customer service. Check out the best-rated casinos online and their selection of games вђ” also, the payment methods, bonuses, loyalty programs, and acceptable currencies.
Play the free games first before diving into the real money games. Practice beforehand to ace your skills and avoid a constant losing streak. All online casinos ought to have at least one license. There are three licensing regulations: curacao, malta, and UK legislation. Out of the three curacao is the least reputable since it is not efficiently regulated, malta is entirely trustworthy, and the UK is the best licensing body.
2. Casino bonuses:
Casino bonuses are straightforward to get. All you need to do is register and in some cases, make one or more deposits. However, casino bonuses are often the cause of disputes. If you are a novice player, you ought to know that rewards must be wagered most times.
Each casino has different requirements before bonuses can be converted to withdrawable cash. It is essential you check and understand your casino's bonuses terms and conditions. Casino games offer a wide range of lucrative bonus promotions to attract new players and keep them gambling.
Here are some of the bonuses offered by casino games:
Sign up bonus:
This is also known as a welcome bonus or welcome package. It is the dessert of online casino promos. Sign up bonuses are generous offers meant to entice new players into registering and making a deposit. They come in the form of match bonuses or percentage or a combination of both.
No deposit:
If you get a no deposit bonus, don't think twice. You get a risk free way of playing casino games. And though you cannot cash out the bonus money, you can win real cash while playing.
Loyalty:
Loyalty bonus applies to players who have been with the casino for a prolonged period. They act as an incentive for players to continue gambling. They come in the form of loyalty reward clubs or VIP programs. Once you are enrolled in these programs, you earn points as you continue to make deposits and gamble. The more points you garner, the more lucrative rewards you pocket and the higher you climb the VIP status.
Cashback:
This bonus is unique. The cashback bonus aims to help players to recuperate their losses. This bonus lengthens your play while playing casino games. Keep in mind cash back bonus applies to account with losses and is not awarded if your account has a positive balance.
Keep in mind bonus offers are not free money. Gamers have to fulfill a series of wagering requirements to gain a bonus. Read the terms and conditions of your chosen casino game to learn the bonus requirements.
3. Know about random number generators:
It is crucial you know how random number generators (rngs) work, especially if you are playing slot machines. Rngs are devices that produce a steady chain of numbers at rates of hundreds or thousands per second.
They remain active and produce numbers even when the machine is not in play. This is to prevent any apparent patterns that gamblers might exploit and avoid foul play. The numbers generated by the RNG controls the machine's virtual reels. Each symbol on every reel is assigned to different stop numbers, which are divided by a set number.
Rngs work to help randomize the result a player would expect.
4. Pick the right games to play
Depending on your needs and the kind of experience you are seeking, some games are superior to others. Do you want to use skill and strategy to win or you want to relax in a smoky room with a cocktail as you play?
If you're looking to rake in an enormous fortune, go for games that require some degree of strategy and skill. The games with the best odds for players include;
- Blackjack (especially single deck)
- Baccarat
- Video poker (double bonus or double double bonus)
- Craps
If you're looking for an easy to play casino game to burn some tie on, you can try out the following:
- Keno
- Slots
- Roulette (european roulette)
5. The house always has an upper advantage:
No matter what game you're playing the house (the casino) still has an edge. Unlike you, the casino does not need luck or strategy to win. They only need players like you. The stats are always in their favor. You need to know this going in to avoid assuming you have the upper hand in any of these casino games. One mega win from a handful of players does not compare to the gains of the house.
6. Only bet what you're willing to lose:
Gambling is entertainment. It is not a reliable and lucrative way to make money. Before you bet on your favorite casino game, decide how much money you can comfortably splash and stick to it. If it helps go with ready cash and leave your ATM at home. Create boundaries for your ego and don't get greedy. If you can't walk away when you're on a losing streak, don't play.
Bottom line:
There are tons of casino games available. The allure and grandeur of gambling plus the evocative mega jackpots are attractive to most players. But if you are a beginner, you can save yourself a lot of heartache by getting your facts right about how casino games work.
Created and maintained by andrzej mazur from enclave games.
How casinos work
The modern casino is like an indoor amusement park for adults, with the vast majority of the entertainment (and profits for the owner) coming from gambling. While musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers, lavish hotels and elaborate themes help draw in the guests, casinos would not exist without games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno, baccarat and more provide the billions of dollars in profits raked in by U.S. Casinos every year.
In this article we'll look at how casinos make their money, the history behind them, what the popular games are and how they are played, what you could expect when you visit one, how casino's stay safe and the dark side of the business.
Casino business
A casino is simply a public place where a variety of games of chance can be played, and where gambling is the primary activity engaged in by patrons. The typical casino adds a host of luxuries to help attract players, including restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery, but there have certainly been less lavish places that house gambling activities. These would still technically be called casinos.
A truly enormous amount of money changes hands at casinos every year. While there are certainly big winners at the gaming tables every now and then, the only sure winner in a casino is the owner. In 2005, commercial casinos in the united states had gross revenues of $31.85 billion. Add to that the revenue of native american casinos, which brought in $22.62 billion in 2005, and it's safe to say that casino industry profits have been steadily increasing for more than a decade [source: american gaming].
Casinos make money because every game they offer has a built in statistical advantage for the casino. That edge can be very small (lower than two percent), but over time and the millions of bets placed by casino patrons, that edge earns the casino enough money to build elaborate hotels, fountains, giant pyramids, towers and replicas of famous landmarks. The casino advantage is known as the "vig" (short for vigorish) or the rake, depending on the game. The exact number can vary based on how the player plays the game and whether the casino has set different payouts for video poker or slot machines.
As of 2007, only two U.S. States do not have legal gambling: utah and hawaii [source: hawaii news]. Every other state either has state-sanctioned casinos or native american gaming.
A comp is a free good or service given by the casino to "good" players. Keep in mind that, from the casino's point of view, a good player is one who spends a lot of money. People who place large bets or spend hours at slot machines will often receive free hotel rooms, dinners, tickets to shows or even limo service and airline tickets if they are big enough spenders. Comps are based on the length of time the player spends at the casino and the stakes he or she is playing at. Ask a casino employee or someone at the information desk how to get your play rated. You may have to notify the dealer at the table you play at, or sign up for a "slot club" card that will automatically track your play at slot machines. That way, the casino will be aware of how much you're playing and betting. If you're rated high enough, you could get a comp. Casino experts point out that placing larger bets than you otherwise would, or staying in the casino longer in order to earn a comp is a sucker bet. The money you blow on the games is almost always far more than you would have spent simply buying whatever it is you want comped [source: renneisen].
How casinos work
Casino games
A wide variety of games can be found at casinos, and some casinos seem to specialize in inventing new games to draw more players. In some places, the games that are allowed are regulated by state laws. This section will cover the most common casino games.
Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the easiest table games. The object is to get a hand of cards whose values are as close to 21 as possible without going over (busting). Only the values of the cards are considered, not the suit -- picture cards are worth ten, and an ace can be worth 11 or one, whichever is more advantageous to the player. The house advantage can be minimized by using a strategy or even counting cards, but if a casino suspects card counting, they can throw you out. The house edge without counting is about two percent. For more details, see how blackjack works.
Slot machines
Slot machines are the most popular casino games, and casinos earn a larger proportion of their money from them than any other game [source: PBS]. Part of the slot machine's appeal is the simplicity -- the player puts in some money, pulls a handle or pushes a button and waits to see the outcome. No amount of player skill or strategy can affect the outcome in any way. Varying bands of colored shapes roll on reels (actual physical reels or a video representation of them). If the right pattern comes up, the player wins a predetermined amount of money. Slot machines used to be mechanical devices with reels of the shapes spinning past, but today all slot machines are controlled by on-board computer chips. There are still slots with actual reels, but they are computer-controlled as well. Modern slot machines come in a dizzying array of colors and themes.
Most states have laws regulating the minimum payout frequency of a slot machine, usually about 75 percent. In other words, the house edge is a whopping 25 percent. However, to entice players or compete with other casinos, most slot machines have payout rates in the '80s or '90s. State law governs whether the payout rates are published or posted near the machines themselves.
Roulette
Roulette is a classic casino game was invented by the french (the name means 'little wheel'). A spinning wheel is divided into 38 spaces, each space containing a number from one to 36. The other two spaces have the numbers 0 and 00. The spaces are also divided between the colors red and black (the 0 and 00 spaces are green). A metal ball is dropped onto the wheel as it spins, rolls and bounces around a bit, and eventually settles into one of the spaces. The players bet on which space the ball will end up in. Bets can be placed in single numbers, various combinations of two or more numbers, even or odd numbers, red or black spaces or sets of a dozen numbers at once. While the house edge varies (different bets have different payouts), it is roughly between five and seven percent.
Craps
Craps is a dice game, and is often considered the most complicated casino game. The players bet on the outcome of the roll of two six-sided dice, or on a series of consecutive rolls. The casino edge in craps is about 1.5 percent. Explaining all the details of betting on craps is beyond the scope of this article.
We'll look at more casino games in the next section.
How do online casino games work?
In this article we will attempt to provide an explanation of exactly how online casino games function. In each section the we will attempt to provide a short answer and an expanded explanation and these explanations will be added to and expanded as and when appropriate information comes to light.
Most of this article was authored by our resident casino software expert binary 128 (you can chat to him on the message boards). Binary 128 is one of the developers behind galewind software, the casino platform for pinnacle sportsbook.
What is a random number generator (RNG) and how does it work?
In an online casino a random number generator (RNG) is something that returns a number to whatever asks it for a number. It’s as simple as that.
Let’s use european roulette (single zero) as an example. The “wheel” spins, and needs to stop on a number between zero and 36. So, the “wheel” asks the RNG for a number between zero and 36. The RNG returns 17.
The RNG doesn’t know or care what is asking for that number. The ONLY thing that it does – when something asks it for a number within a range, then it makes sure that any number in that range has exactly the same chance of being returned as any other number.
- When a european roulette “wheel” asks it for a number between zero and 36, then zero has exactly the same chance of being returned as 1, or 17, or 36.
- When a video poker “dealer” asks it for a number between 1 and 52, then 1 has exactly the same chance of being returned as 2, or 23, or 52.
And that’s it. The RNG doesn’t know that in one case it is a roulette “wheel” that is asking, and in another case it is a video poker “dealer” that is asking. It doesn’t know what the number is for, or how it is going to be used.
In that way, the RNG is one of the stupidest parts of online casino software. Something asks it for a number, it returns a number, and its job is done (until something else asks it for another number).
Again, the ONLY thing that an RNG does – when something asks it for a number within a range, then it makes sure that any number in that range has exactly the same chance of being returned as any other number.
What does this mean?
The most important part of the quick answer was the statement – when something asks the RNG for a number within a range, then the RNG makes sure that any number in that range has exactly the same chance of being returned as any other number.
When the roulette “wheel” spins, and asks the RNG for a number between zero and 36, the RNG returns 17. When the “wheel” spins again and asks the RNG for another number, 17 has exactly the same chance of being returned as any other number. And when the “wheel” spins again, then again 17 has exactly the same chance of being returned as any other number.
When players see the number 17 returned three, or four, or five times in a row (or even more), then they start thinking “hey, this isn’t a random wheel! Is this game rigged!” that’s because people see things in “patterns”. People like to see “patterns” so much that they can see them in things even when there are no real “patterns” there at all. (let’s call it imagination.)
But, like I said earlier, rngs are just amazingly stupid. They have absolutely no imagination. AND, they have no memory. They don’t know what the last number they gave was, what the requested range was, who asked for it – nothing – no imagination, and no memory.
So, for an RNG, returning the number 17 to a roulette “wheel” three, or four, or five times in a row is … random. It doesn’t happen very often, and because it doesn’t happen very often the player notices it even more. If the roulette “wheel” stops on:
14, 12, 2, 3, 2, 34, 27, 21, 6, 15, 13, 22, 36, 9, 0, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17
Those five 17s in a row stick out like a sore thumb. “hey, this isn’t random. How can you have a pattern with five 17s in a row?”
There is no doubt – it can be a little confusing to think about it.
But if we look at that sequence of numbers above, then the first five numbers – 14, 12, 2, 3, 2 – have exactly the same chance of being returned as the last five numbers – 17, 17, 17, 17, 17. That is, the exact return order of 14, 12, 2, 3, 2 has the same chance of happening as the exact return order of 17, 17, 17, 17, 17.
This last part can be difficult to really understand, but … that is random.
How does a random number generator guarantee that any number in a requested range has exactly the same chance of being returned as any other number?
There are two methods to a random number generator (RNG). The first method is the one that generates a random number – I’ll call this method generate. The second method transforms that random number into something that can be used by whatever asked for it – I’ll call this method scale.
The generate method
There are 2 different types of things that can generate a random number – the first is a piece of hardware, and the second is a piece of software. A hardware example is the QUANTIS product from a company named ID quantique. A software example is named the mersenne twister algorithm.
The VAST majority of online casino programs use a piece of software to generate, and the mersenne twister is a very common software program. (galewind software uses it.) when I use examples in all of this documentation, I’ll tend to focus on the mersenne twister.
The generate method usually returns a number from one of two different generate ranges (depending on the software). Range #1 is [0 to 0.999999999999999]. Range #2 is [0 to 4,294,967,295]. (the mersenne twister uses range #2.)
The most important contribution of the generate method to the RNG’s performance – over the millions, or billions (or trillions) of numbers that it is asked to return:
- There is no observable pattern to those numbers (aka correlation).
- Those numbers are equally distributed across the generate range (aka bias).
In other words, the generate method returns a random number. No correlation is the “no one can guess the next number” guarantee. No bias is the “every number has an equal chance” guarantee.
There are all sorts of tests that can be run on the numbers that the generate method returns to determine their “quality” as “random numbers”. (link to test details 1. Link to test details 2.)
(the “quality” of the “random numbers” returned by the mersenne twister algorithm is considered excellent.)
The scale method
Since a large number of online casino software uses the mersenne twister to generate, let’s focus on the mersenne twister to talk about scale.
As we’ve seen, the mersenne twister’s generate method returns a random number in the generate range of 0 to 4,294,967,295. Obviously, these numbers are of no use to a roulette “wheel” that is asking for a value between 0 and 36. The generate method’s random number has to be transformed into a number that can be used by the “wheel”. Most importantly, it needs to be transformed without messing up the “quality” of the generate method’s “random number”.
Here is one way to make that happen.
The mersenne twister’s generate range (including 0) is 4,294,967,296 numbers. The roulette “wheel’s” requested range is 37 numbers. Divide 4,294,967,296 by 37, and we get 116,080,197.18919. Throw away the decimal and we get 116,080,197.
Now set up 37 “number bins”, one for each of the roulette “wheel’s” requested range. The first bin will return to the “wheel” the number 0, the second bin will return the number 1, and so forth. The last bin will return the number 36.
Into each of these “number bins” we put exactly 116,080,197 numbers. The first bin will contain the numbers 0 to 116,080,196. The second bin will contain the numbers 116,080,197 to 232,160,393. The last bin will contain the numbers 4,178,887,092 to 4,294,967,288.
Finally, we ask the mersenne twister to generate a random number – it returns 2,031,403,430. (bin 18, which returns the “wheel” number 17, contains the numbers 1,973,363,349 to 2,089,443,545). So, the generate number 2,031,403,430 returns the scale number 17 to the roulette “wheel”.
A final note
You can see that the highest number that the mersenne twister’s generate method can return is 4,294,967,295. But the highest number in the last roulette “wheel” bin is 4,294,967,288. This is a difference of seven numbers.
If the mersenne twister’s generate method sends into the scale method one of these seven numbers, then the scale
When casino games become work
Casino games are a source of enjoyment for people from all walks of life, and from all corners of the globe. This is a fact that is especially true today in the 21 st century, no doubt owing a lot to the unprecedented expansion of the casino online UK industry, something that has made it even easier to gamble on casino games wherever you may find yourself.
It is true that casino for the vast majority of the global population is completely a fun-filled endeavour done out of pure enjoyment and not much else (apart from the love of cash of course). For the rest of society, however, casino games actually become work in themselves – you may not believe it, but this is undeniably true. Read on for a few instances of where casino games become work.
Slot machine developers
One of the most obvious ways in which casino games can actually become a source of work is in the case of slot machine developers, people that can never stop designing and implementing new titles to keep their fans happy. These enterprises employ a wide variety of people, from mathematicians, to computer programmers and even online slot testers.
Do you really think that the games that come from such highly renowned developers as netent, yggdasil, big time gaming or barcrest don’t come out of work? They don’t just spontaneously appear do they, and it is testimony to developers’ hard-work that they have become so devilishly good.
Professional gamblers
Professional gamblers are another group of people that will look at casino games as work, not only enjoyable. Now, an immediate disclaimer here: you have to be VERY good at gambling to be able to live from it, but there are a few people that manage it, usually in the realm of poker.
If you have to play casino games in order to survive there isn’t really any way you can look at it as something other to work. It will still be enjoyable, of course, but work is work after all… there are people in the world that play games for a living, in facts some famous celebrities such as dan bilzerian built their wealth off of the activity. Real proof that playing casino games can be genuine work to some people.
Casino dealers
Ah yes, the humble casino dealer. Someone who is omnipresent in casinos all around the world, but rarely gets anywhere near the attention and thanks that they deserve. Casino dealers are the cogs in the casino machine, without them you would not be able to play roulette, blackjack, poker, or any other casino table game.
To them casino game’s are pure work, and there probably isn’t all that much enjoyment in the process either. Okay, that’s a bit of a lie, because most casino dealers will tell you that they genuinely love their job, especially when they happen to get tipped big sums.
Live casino dealers
More recently a new type of dealer has appeared on the casino stage – live casino dealers. These are very much like normal casino dealers, only they appear online over webcam video link.
How online casinos work
Unlike landbased gambling, online gambling allows for greater dynamics and a faster pace of play since there is no interaction between players to slow down the games. Enhanced convenience is also a factor that has lead to the proliferation of online casinos since players are granted access to their preferred games at all times.
Additionally, web-based casinos allow for a broader choice as they offer hundreds of different games from branded and progressive slots to dozens upon dozens variations of classics like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. The majority of these are embellished with fantastic graphics, life-like animations, and immersive sounds which greatly contribute to one’s authentic gaming experience. Furthermore, many of the most popular games have been adapted for mobile devices like ios, windows phone OS, and android, making it possible for players to bet and potentially win big as they go.
If you are preparing to delve into the world of interactive gambling, the following article may be of interest to you as we explain how online casinos work, how payments are processed and what types of games you can find there, along with various other aspects of the casinos’ operation, concerning fairness, security and privacy.
Legality, licensing and regulation
One of the burning questions on all online casino players’ minds concerns the legality and reliability of gambling operators. Not all online casinos are created equal and while there are plenty of dependable and well-regulated operators, there are also those which should be avoided at all costs.
The first steps towards a regulated and legitimate online gambling industry were made when special licensing and regulatory commissions were created to issue licenses, protect players, ensure fairness, and oversee the casinos’ operations. Some of the most respected regulatory authorities in the industry include the malta gaming authority, the gibraltar gambling commission, the alderney gambling control commission, the UK gambling commission, and the isle of man gambling supervision commission.
If a given casino provider is licensed by one of the above-mentioned commissions, this indicates it adheres to the local gambling laws and guidelines and operates legally. This results in a number of benefits for players themselves. To begin with, if players have complaints against a gambling operator, they can direct their concerns to the regulatory body and rely on the problem to be resolved in a fair and timely manner.
Additionally, regulated and legitimate online casinos need to meet specific criteria in regard to the theoretical return of their games – normally, there are minimum payout percentages that need to be met and these are determined by the regulatory authorities issuing the casino’s license. Players’ money is well protected against insolvency because there is usually a condition on behalf of regulators for the funds to be kept in a separate account from that the casino uses for its operations.
Licensing jurisdictions also benefit from the regulation of online casino operators as each licensee is expected to contribute with taxes. Depending on the jurisdiction, these taxes can be flat or can amount to a specific percentage of the casino’s annual turnover. In some cases, separate licenses need to be issued for the different types of games the casino offers. A percentage of these funds goes towards the prevention and treatment of compulsive gambling. Since the operators are sometimes expected to open offices in the jurisdiction issuing their license, this also helps create job positions for the locals.
Please keep in mind the legality of online gambling differs from one country to another. Because of this, players are advised to first check what the legislation in their jurisdiction is and then proceed to open their accounts at their preferred online casinos. Players from the UK, however, have nothing to worry about since online gambling is fully legal in their jurisdiction and is strictly regulated by the UK gambling commission.
Types of online casinos
Virtual casinos can generally be grouped into three categories and each one has its own merits. At the dawn of online gambling when the first interactive casinos were launched in the mid 1990s, players were required to download and install the casino’s software on their desktop computers. Many operators continue to offer downloadable clients to this day where players often benefit from higher quality graphics and faster, more reliable gameplay. On the downside, one can play the games only on the device they have installed the casino client on and will not be able to access the gaming portfolio from other desktop computers.
Because of this, many players prefer online casinos where the games are available for instant play, meaning that they can be loaded directly into the internet browser and the installation of additional software is not necessary. This increases flexibility because the player can access their casino account from any desktop device they like, using their existing log-in credentials. Additionally, there will be no need to waste storage space to install bulky casino clients. Many operators give their customers a choice between downloadable clients and instant play as both options are supported.
Portable devices have become an integral part of modern people’s lives so it makes sense the majority of online casinos support mobile play on commonly used smartphones and tablets like those running on android, ios and windows phone OS. The websites of all well-known operators are compatible with mobile devices and the games can be run in-browser. There is no need to sign up again if you already have an account at a given online casino – you can log in via your phone using your existing username and password. A number of reputable gambling operators provide their customers with the option to download a free ios or android application on their phones or tablets.
Prominent developers of online casino software
Today, when online gambling has already exploded all over the internet, there are plenty of companies, committed to developing bespoke games to offer and license to casino operators. However, some names are better known than others and have been leading the interactive gambling industry towards innovation for over two decades.
One such developer is microgaming, a company whose name is associated with the launch of the first online casino in history, the gaming club, back in 1994. The company then decided to veer off in a different direction and license its software for other online casino operators to use. This was a key decision for microgaming as it allowed them to devote themselves entirely to creating bespoke and innovative games, which are instantly recognisable by their superb visuals, realistic sound effects, and user-friendly interface. Today, the company boasts an impressive catalogue which spans over 850 state-of-the-art casino games and is one of the world’s leading suppliers of interactive gaming software.
Another notable brand name is that of software developer playtech. The latter was founded a few years after microgaming, in 1999, but quickly succeeded in cementing its rock-solid position in the industry. Playtech is associated with some of the most loved and widely played slots in the world, with many of the titles being based on well-known movies, comic books, and TV series. Playtech’s developers are also to be held responsible for some of the best mobile casino games in the world. But this is not all – in addition to its comprehensive portfolio of premium casino games, the company offers operators various other services including binary options, share trading, and customer support.
Established in 1996, netent is one of the biggest names around and is entirely committed to delivering the very best in online gambling. The software developer serves over 170 of the world’s most respected casino operators, offering them an extensive selection of more than 200 premium games. These range from various award-winning slots to authentic table games like baccarat, roulette, and blackjack. Netent’s live dealer offering is one of the best in the world and allows players to enjoy a life-like interaction with professional croupiers, thanks to the high quality of the stream.
Many renowned online casinos have teamed up with more than one developer in order to give their players a wider choice and diversity in terms of graphic design, themes, and betting limits. So, do not be surprised if you come across an online casino with games that are courtesy of all of the above-mentioned software providers.
Game variety
The success of online casinos is quite easy to understand since they place players’ favourite games in a single spot, making them easily accessible from all locations and on all devices, mobile or desktop. In most instances, it is possible to test the available titles free of charge prior to processing a payment and making real-money bets.
One of the main game categories consists of online slots – all top-rated gambling operators offer hundreds of titles one can choose from. There are classic, 3-reel titles which are more suitable for traditionalists but one can also bet on modern video slots with multiple paylines, advanced graphics, enticing animations, and plenty of extra features. What is more, some of the slots have colossal progressive prizes which can beat anything landbased casinos can offer as far as jackpots are concerned.
Fans of traditional table games no longer have to pay a visit to a landbased casino in order to place a few bets on craps or roulette. Online casinos are home to a nice range of mainstays which are available in all variations one can possibly think of. Some variants can be played exclusively online and are not offered in brick-and-mortar venues. There are plenty of roulette, baccarat, and poker variants to pick from and players usually have the option to engage in multi-hand games as well. The betting limits are rather flexible so they can suit every pocket.
Video poker fans will not be disappointed, either, with a plethora of variants at their fingertips. At many online casinos, one is usually provided with the choice to make real-money bets on jacks or better, deuces wild, tens or better, bonus poker, and aces and faces, to mention just a few of the most popular titles. There is usually the option to play multiple hands at the same time.
Players who lack previous experience with casino games are not left without options since many online casinos have a separate section, devoted to arcades, keno, bingo and scratch cards. Casino fans interested in more interactive games can add further excitement to their experience by visiting the live-dealer section where they can play against professionally trained dealers in real time.
Live dealer casinos and how they work
Live dealer casinos are growing in popularity these days since they offer a more authentic experience, one you can taste only at the floors of a prestigious gambling establishment. The only difference is, however, one does not have to leave the comfort of their home in order to play.
The authentic casino atmosphere is accurately recreated with a live, high-definition stream using high-end cameras to show professional and highly-skilled croupiers hosting the games in real time. Thus, players are given the chance to see and hear real cards being shuffled, cut and dealt, the rolling of real dice, and the tossing of real roulette balls instead of the usual computer-generated graphics and sounds. Normally, there is a zoom feature enabling players to take a closer look at the tables. These games also allow for a greater social interaction as players can converse with each other or the dealer via the live chat box.
You can use the interactive control panel to make bets, read instructions on how to play the games, look at previous rounds’ history, and keep track of your current account balance. Similarly to landbased casinos, players can also toke their dealers if they are happy with the service since there is a tip box in the control panel for this particular purpose. The games that are most commonly offered in live-dealer casinos include classics like craps, blackjack, roulette, sic bo, baccarat, and hold’em poker.
Online casino deposits and withdrawals
There is one main trait all respected online gambling operators share – players who register with them are enabled to process payments to and from their accounts safely, efficiently and quickly. Such online casinos offer their customers a multitude of deposit and withdrawal methods, so that everyone can find the payment solution they are most comfortable with. Little does it matter whether you prefer to use credit or debit cards, digital wallets, prepaid vouchers, online banking, echecks, or virtual cards – in all cases, you will find a payment solution that corresponds to your needs and preferences.
Deposits are normally processed immediately and no fees are involved on behalf of the casino operators. Sometimes, players are even rewarded with bonuses upon depositing via specific payment methods. Withdrawals, on the other hand, usually take some time (several business days at most) because of the verification procedures of the casinos, which aim at ensuring the money is sent safely and to the right person. Some of the payment methods are exclusive to specific regions and countries so that players from all jurisdiction can find a method that suits them. The winnings are normally paid back via the same payment solution the player had used when processing their deposit.
Players can completely immerse themselves in their casino experience without having to worry over the safety of their funds and personal information. All highly esteemed online casinos implement the latest SSL encryptions to hide their customers’ sensitive information from ill-intentioned fraudsters. Basically, processing a payment to your favourite virtual casino is just as secure as paying your utility bills online.
How return percentages are determined in online casinos
Those who are just making a transition from landbased to online gaming often doubt the fairness of the available games. The truth of the matter is many online casinos actually offer higher return percentages than their brick-and-mortar cousins. Furthermore, at landbased casinos, it is impossible for players to obtain information as to the payback percentage of a given blackjack or roulette variation, for example.
This is not so if you play online where the outcomes of all games are governed by programmes called random number generators, or shortly rngs. The only exception are the live dealer games which take place in real time. The RNG is an elaborate piece of software which produces long sequences of random numbers using complicated algorithms. These long sequences are then reduced to simplified numbers corresponding to a specific card, slot symbol or a given number on the roulette wheel.
The main idea behind this is to ensure the results of all virtual casino games are entirely random and therefore, fair, so that all players have equal chances of collecting a payout. All reputable online casinos publish the theoretical return to player percentages (RTP) of their games. An online casino rookie may ask themselves why are these return percentages so important. They are, in fact, beyond important as they serve as indicators as to the overall winnings amount, returned to players over the long run.
Independent testing agencies – the bastion of fair play
Sceptics continue to question the fairness of online casino games despite the use of the rngs. And indeed, they partially have a right to do so because like any other software that relies on algorithms and computations, the rngs can be meddled with. This is where independent testing agencies play a crucial role.
Regulatory and licensing authorities typically require their licensees to undergo regular tests of their gaming software. These audits are performed by third-party testing agencies to ensure impartiality and accuracy of the results. The job of the auditors is to make sure the rngs of the games are running correctly as well as to detect any bias towards specific results, i.E. Towards certain cards, reel symbols, roulette numbers, and dice combinations. Thus, the specialists at the testing agencies verify the theoretical return percentages and if everything is in correct working order, the online casino is given a certificate of approval to publish on its website.
These audits sometimes happen on a monthly basis and the majority of respected gambling operators publish the results for all players to see. There are several reputable non-profit organisations which deal with casino games testing, with the most notable names being itech labs, gaming associates, TST (technical systems testing), GLI (gaming laboratories international), and of course, ecogra – testing and player protection agency, co-founded by microgaming.
Bonuses offered by online casinos
Online casinos are preferred over their landbased counterparts by many players because of their unprecedented generosity. Players are given the chance to boost their balance, make risk-free bets, and extend the time they spend playing online from the very moment they sign up with real-money accounts. There is a widespread practice among online casinos to reward newcomers with welcome bonuses upon making their first deposits. Some operators even greet new customers with appealing offers where no deposit is necessary in order to receive the free casino credits.
The deposit method one uses can also earn them additional credits at some online casinos, where players receive reload bonuses each time they transfer a payment to their accounts. There are always ongoing promotions to participate in, from various free spins offers, to cash backs and different giveaways.
While landbased casinos treat their regular customers to junkets and comps, their online counterparts reward loyal players with points each time they bet real money on any of the available games. There are multi-tier loyalty schemes and players are able to benefit from greater rewards as they progress from one level to the next. The points can be converted into cash or free casino credits but there are online casinos which reward their most regular players with various non-monetary prizes as well, including vacations, tickets for exclusive events, and free tournament entries.
Customer support and how to reach it
Adequate customer care is a sure-proof sign a given online casino is reputable and respects its player community enough to respond quickly and clearly to individual enquiries. There are several channels of communication, with the live chat facility being the quickest and most convenient one.
The live chat agents of established online casinos normally undergo rigorous and detailed training so that they can answer all types of queries, not to mention the support representatives are on standby seven days a week, including on public holidays. Should any problem arise, it will be resolved as quickly and professionally as possible because good customer care ensures players will not only stick with a given casino, but will potentially attract new members by word of month.
Calling on the phone is also an option and the good news is that many gambling operators have toll-free support lines to spare their customers the additional expenses. Of course, communicating via email is also an alternative, albeit a slower one. Despite that, players usually receive a response within a couple of hours, which is still quite reasonable.
Security measures and privacy policies
A bit earlier, we broached the subject of security and online casinos. Now we would like to further elaborate on this topic and explain how gambling operators protect the information players share with them. If you load the website of a virtual casino, you may notice there is a small padlock in the address bar next to the address. This indicates a secure SSL connection has been established to encrypt all data that is transmitted to and from the casino’s website.
The SSL encryption consists of two “keys”. One key is public and establishes the encrypted connection between the casino’s website and the web browser of the player. The second key is private and serves the purpose of decrypting the information that was previously encoded.
Another way to protect the money of players is by placing them in a separate bank account than the one the casino uses for its own operations. This condition is actually listed among the guidelines of many regulatory bodies and aims at protecting the funds players have deposited should the casino declare insolvency.
Finally, renowned gambling operators are also committed to the protection of their customers’ privacy. The data customers disclose in the process of opening their accounts is not shared with third-parties, except for the instances when the information is requested by the above-mentioned testing agencies, by the casino’s contractors or the regulatory body, issuing its license. In such cases, the information is used predominantly for diagnostics and research.
Each gambling operator has its own privacy policy and players are strongly recommended to read it in advance before they register their real-money accounts. The same applies to the terms and conditions of online casinos – it is players’ responsibility to read those beforehand to avoid misunderstandings and unpleasant surprises later on.
How slot machines work
Originally, casinos installed slot machines as a diversion for casual gamers. Unlike traditional table games (such as blackjack or craps), slot machines don't require any gambling knowledge, and anyone can get in the game with a very small bet.
This idea proved to be a monstrous success -- slot machines eventually moved off the sidelines to become the most popular and the most profitable game in town, bringing in more than 60 percent of the annual gaming profits in the united states.
The technology of slot machines has also changed a lot over the years. The classic mechanical designs have been almost completely replaced by computer-controlled machines. But the game has remained the same. The player pulls a handle to rotate a series of reels (typically three) that have pictures printed on them. Winning or losing is determined by which pictures line up with the pay line, a line in the middle of a viewing window. If each reel shows the same winning picture along the pay line, you win (certain single images are sometimes winners as well). The amount you win -- the payout -- depends on which pictures land along the pay line.
In this article, we'll find out what sets the reels in motion in modern slot machines as well as in the old mechanical models. We'll also see what determines the odds of winning on a slot machine and look at some popular variations on the traditional game.
The classic slot machine design works on an elaborate configuration of gears and levers. The central element is a metal shaft, which supports the reels. This shaft is connected to a handle mechanism that gets things moving. A braking system brings the spinning reels to a stop, and sensors communicate the position of the reels to the payout system. A coin detector initially registers that a coin has been inserted and unlocks a brake so the handle can move.
There are any number of ways to arrange these elements, and manufacturers have tried dozens of approaches over the years, so we'll focus on one representative design. The basic design includes three reels mounted on a central shaft. The central shaft also supports three notched discs, which are connected to the three reels. A second shaft below the central shaft supports a kicker, a piece of metal comprising three paddles. The kicker paddles are lined up so they can push against the notches on the three discs. The second shaft also supports a series of connected stoppers, teeth that lock into the notches on the discs.
The kicker and the stoppers are both connected to springs, which hold them in a standby position. The kicker is held in place behind the discs, while the stoppers are held up against the discs, locking them into place.
When you pull the handle on a slot machine, these parts do a lot of work. We'll look at exactly what happens in the next section.
How casinos work
The modern casino is like an indoor amusement park for adults, with the vast majority of the entertainment (and profits for the owner) coming from gambling. While musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers, lavish hotels and elaborate themes help draw in the guests, casinos would not exist without games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno, baccarat and more provide the billions of dollars in profits raked in by U.S. Casinos every year.
In this article we'll look at how casinos make their money, the history behind them, what the popular games are and how they are played, what you could expect when you visit one, how casino's stay safe and the dark side of the business.
Casino business
A casino is simply a public place where a variety of games of chance can be played, and where gambling is the primary activity engaged in by patrons. The typical casino adds a host of luxuries to help attract players, including restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery, but there have certainly been less lavish places that house gambling activities. These would still technically be called casinos.
A truly enormous amount of money changes hands at casinos every year. While there are certainly big winners at the gaming tables every now and then, the only sure winner in a casino is the owner. In 2005, commercial casinos in the united states had gross revenues of $31.85 billion. Add to that the revenue of native american casinos, which brought in $22.62 billion in 2005, and it's safe to say that casino industry profits have been steadily increasing for more than a decade [source: american gaming].
Casinos make money because every game they offer has a built in statistical advantage for the casino. That edge can be very small (lower than two percent), but over time and the millions of bets placed by casino patrons, that edge earns the casino enough money to build elaborate hotels, fountains, giant pyramids, towers and replicas of famous landmarks. The casino advantage is known as the "vig" (short for vigorish) or the rake, depending on the game. The exact number can vary based on how the player plays the game and whether the casino has set different payouts for video poker or slot machines.
As of 2007, only two U.S. States do not have legal gambling: utah and hawaii [source: hawaii news]. Every other state either has state-sanctioned casinos or native american gaming.
A comp is a free good or service given by the casino to "good" players. Keep in mind that, from the casino's point of view, a good player is one who spends a lot of money. People who place large bets or spend hours at slot machines will often receive free hotel rooms, dinners, tickets to shows or even limo service and airline tickets if they are big enough spenders. Comps are based on the length of time the player spends at the casino and the stakes he or she is playing at. Ask a casino employee or someone at the information desk how to get your play rated. You may have to notify the dealer at the table you play at, or sign up for a "slot club" card that will automatically track your play at slot machines. That way, the casino will be aware of how much you're playing and betting. If you're rated high enough, you could get a comp. Casino experts point out that placing larger bets than you otherwise would, or staying in the casino longer in order to earn a comp is a sucker bet. The money you blow on the games is almost always far more than you would have spent simply buying whatever it is you want comped [source: renneisen].
Casino games
Online casinos can offer upwards of 1,250 games. While it’s great to have so much choice, navigating game portfolios can be overwhelming. But worry not, games can be broken down into four main categories – slots, casino, table and poker – with a few variations of each.
Baccarat
Baccarat is the card game of choice for the world’s most famous spy, james bond, and is one of the easiest to play. Go head to head with the dealer for a score of nine - the highest hand wins.
Blackjack
A casino classic, the aim of the game is to make a hand worth up to 21 without going bust. “hit” to take another card, “stand” to stick with what you have got and call “blackjack” when you hit 21.
Caribbean stud poker
Caribbean stud poker is unusual because it is played against the house and not other players. It is rarely seen in UK casinos, but is popular online partly because there is no bluffing involved.
Casino war
Player and dealer receive a single card at random. Whoever has the highest card wins – it’s that simple. It’s also one of the only card games where you can beat the dealer more than 50% of the time.
Craps
Popular with our american friends, craps is a dice game where you wager on the outcome of a roll, or series of rolls, of a pair of dice. What it lacks in skill it makes up for in ease of play.
Fruit machines
Fruit machines are like any other online slot game, the only real difference is the symbols that feature are mainly fruit. So, expect to see strawberries, pineapples and cherries spinning around the reels.
For those who like to play at the extreme end of risk/reward. Keno is a lottery-bingo hybrid where you choose several numbers in the hope they are drawn. The game has poor odds, but potentially huge wins.
Pai gow poker
A seven-card variation of the traditional five-card poker game. To play, you must make the best possible five-card and two-card hands from the seven cards dealt. The game was first played in 1985.
Punto banco
The only difference between punto banco and baccarat is the casino always deals the cards in the latter. When playing online this is always the case, so the two are really the same game with a different name.
Roulette
One of the most iconic casino games. Place your bets on the grid of numbers then sit back and watch as the ball rattles around the wheel. Where it lands determines the winning number and colour.
Sic bo
This is a chinese game that features three dice. It is hugely popular in the casinos of macau, and can also be played at most online casinos. Similar to craps, you bet on the outcome of the dice roll.
Slots
Slots make up the majority of an online casino game portfolio. They come in a range of themes and designs, and include lots of different features and rewards. To play, place your bet and hit “spin”.
Video poker
Video poker is a simple version of the traditional five-card game. It first appeared in casinos in the 1970s and is now popular online, too. Players like the low house edge and the chance to win big.
Recommending and reviewing online casinos since 2002.
That's a very long time.
Do casinos control who wins on slots?
The first time I saw people use member cards for slot games, I didn’t know what they were. I asked the man sitting next to me and he explained a few details about the rewards club. But he wasn’t using a card himself.
When I asked him why, he said he once had a card but stopped winning when he played with the card. He thought the casino was monitoring his playing and adjusting the slot game results.
This rumor has circulated both online and offline for many years. It’s normal for people to hear something repeatedly and wonder if there is truth to it. But I’ve never found any proof that casinos can change the way slot games play by flipping a switch.
What makes it difficult to combat this idea and other rumors about slot machines is the many different markets where you find them. Slot machine games are regulated by each country. Complying with different regulations may mean that a slot maker must change how its games work.
The clearest example I can give is how slot games are decided in the united states. Class II slot games decide the outcome on the basis of one random number then configure the display to match that result. Class III games use several random numbers to control the reels.
How modern slot machine games work
There aren’t many physical slot games left. They’re all electronic now, and the electronic machines use random number generator chips to decide results.
But there is more involved than just generating a random number. The “slots” in the slot games are spaces on reels. The computers now simulate these reels.
Former and current slot machine manufacturing employees answer questions about game design on several websites including quora. This answer was posted in september 2014, and it explains how the simulated reels are managed by software.
The programs to simulate the reels and assign the random numbers are etched into roms, read-only memory chips. These roms must be physically changed by a technician to change how the game payout percentages work.
Legitimate online casino operators lease games from service providers
There are over 2,000 online casinos. It’s impossible to be sure about how they all manage their slot games. But what is known about the most popular casinos is that they don’t run their slot games from their own servers.
Instead the online casinos lease game services from secure data centers. These gaming platforms are run by companies like blue ocean and everymatrix. Some of the game design companies also run their own servers, leasing resources to online casinos.
Although it would be simple for online gaming companies to switch things up, they would risk losing independent certifications if they allowed the games to be rigged.
There’s no need for casinos to adjust the percentages. They can order the percentage breakouts for house edge and return to player that they want to offer. This way, they maintain competitiveness and support long-term profitability.
Many games publish the theoretical return to player
Some slot games include the theoretical return to player in their help screens.
If the players see that RTP has been adjusted downward, they can play elsewhere. If players only suspect that the RTP has been adjusted without proper notification, they might still leave.
Casinos need players. The best strategy to grow their customer base is to keep game rewards high enough to make the risk worthwhile.
Some governments regulate return to player percentages
Licensed gaming casinos must comply with local laws governing their businesses. Some countries provide more regulation than others.
In the united states, commercial land-based casinos are regulated by their states. However, native american casinos are mostly regulated by the tribal governments that own them. Each jurisdiction has the authority to set minimal RTP percentages to ensure the casinos don’t make too much money.
The 1988 indian gaming regulatory act creates the legal framework used by tribes to protect their traditional gaming activities from state regulatory laws. The act also defines the three classes of gaming and how they are to be regulated.
Class II games are regulated by the tribes but only in states that allow any kind of gaming. Only class III games are subject solely to state regulation.
True slot machine games are class III games. Native american casinos offer class II bingo games that are made to look like slot games. The game cabinets must display the casino bingo games that are used to determine wins.
Class II slot machines may have reels and bonus games but they’re not really slot machine games as defined by federal law.
How do you determine the odds that a slot game pays?
Casinos may or may not be required to declare the return to player for their slot games. Some casinos place a plate or sticker on their slot games with a notice. Other casinos leave it to the game help screens (thus, the manufacturers) to inform players.
The games’ odds may be reported as a theoretical RTP percentage, but they could also be reported as a ratio, similar to the way lottery games declare chances of winning a prize. Either way, these games don’t have to tell you how often to expect to win a prize of any amount.
Some players merely judge the looseness of slot games by how much money they win or how often they win as they play the games.
Some players judge the looseness of slot games by how popular they appear to be. This observational strategy assumes that the crowd knows more than the individual.
One of my friends tells me he only plays slot games with low jackpots. His reasoning is that players need to lose less money for someone to win $10,000 than for someone to win $20,000.
Slot machines may have programmed payout limits
In another post on quora from 2016, someone claimed to have industry experience in the caribbean.
In his post, he said that a machine won’t pay more than it has accumulated after the first month of operation. That first month establishes the limit based on the profit the machine made.
The system is designed to be random within a range of percentages. The software decides when and how much to pay but won’t go over the monthly limit.
It should be obvious that this limit could be reset.
The games are designed to be as random as possible
People who design and repair slot machine games express much trust in the random number generator chips these games use. The rngs, as they are called, use the latest available algorithms at the time they are manufactured.
Math has not yet progressed to the point where truly random numbers can be generated. Mechanical devices require input from an outside source to be truly random.
The way slot game designers handle this limitation is they design the chips to generate thousands of random numbers every second. The random numbers each take a turn at being available for use by the game.
Because of the percentage payouts and internal limits they use, slot machine games don’t have to be reprogrammed to improve casino profits. Everything is designed to run with as little intervention as possible.
And that is better for the casino because the more they can intervene in a game’s function, the more likely they’ll face regulation over that intervention.
Casino game techs often say that replacing chips in slot machines must follow a special procedure (in the united states). They are closely monitored and every part must be accounted for. So, it’s less expensive for casinos if they don’t tweak the games.
Conclusion
An honest casino doesn’t need to control who wins at a slot game. They already control who can play a slot game. They can ask anyone to leave for any reason.
Naturally, casinos don’t do that. Instead. They purchase gaming systems that are designed to create an entertaining experience for patrons while legally retaining a profitable percentage of wagers.
No matter how much one’s frustration tempts a player into wondering about big brother casino tweaking the game, it’s more profitable for the casino to let nature take its course.
So, let's see, what we have: you walk down to the flashy, noisy casino you've been eyeing across town. You fill up on the buffet and are itching to bring your A-game to the table with hopes of hitting the jackpot and basking in your private island. Gambling is all nice and fun when the gods are in your favor. But that's only in the movies. Welcome to the real world. At how casino games work
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