For better or for worse, it is undeniable that we live in an age of mobile computers. Most of us carry at least one smart device with them at all times, and those who don’t and prefer to stick with an old-school mobile phone that’s not a smartphone are being looked at as if they’re the outcasts of society, the equivalent of the lonely, bearded hermits living in huts in the forest. In the digital age, it’s all connected – I can use my phone to buy a game and set it to download on my PS4 for when I come home from work, I can watch TV or Netflix wherever I am, and with certain setups I can even do stuff like control the temperature of my house. It seems like there’s nothing those tiny devices aren’t capable of, and considering the fact that the overwhelming majority of us carry one literally everywhere, it didn’t take long for developers to start pushing their software in new and exciting directions.

Two of these directions are mobile gaming and mobile gambling – two words that sound very similar, but are, in fact, completely different. Mobile gaming refers to any interactive videogame that you can play on your phone. Sometimes you pay for the game outright and then play it in its entirety like any other, but this business model is much rarer compared to the so-called “free to play” one, where you get the game for free and then pay for additional features, such as characters, lives or faster progression. Free to play has been an immensely popular business model, to the point where even some non-mobile games, such as “Dota 2” on PC, “Let it Die” on PS4 and “Killer Instinct” on Xbox One have adopted it. The concept of trying the game out for free before paying for in-game stuff has been so utterly successful that it has actually elevated mobile gaming to one of the most successful industries in the world, with it grossing more than $40 billion last year alone.

Mobile gambling, on the other hand, refers to a model that is very similar to “free to play” – you get the game for free, and you can play it for free as much as you want. However, if you choose to bet some real money on it, you have the chance to win real money back! That’s amazing, isn’t it? I mean, that’s much better than just playing an endless moneysink, which is what many mobile games are – here when you pay you can actually win real money! This concept should be primed for success… Except it’s not. Back in 2015, every single online casino was launching a mobile counterpart and heavily pushing it with promotions, bonuses and exclusive games, while today you’ll barely even get a mention on most sites that such a thing exists. Mobile gambling, despite its potential, ultimately didn’t amount to much and was but a footnote in casino history rather than the gamechanger it was supposed to be. But why?

Well, a big problem with it was marketing. The thing is, almost no businesses or new ventures are financially successful when they first launch no matter how much potential they have to turn in profit down the line. Quick, what’s the most successful music streaming app you can think of? Most people would immediately answer with “Spotify”, and they wouldn’t be wrong at all, but the truth is that Spotify has still not turned in a profit after years of being a market leader. Mobile casino, similarly, didn’t turn in a profit immediately, which is completely understandable. It was a new concept which required some warming up to, especially since its primary demographic were not mobile gamers but rather casino players who wanted to take their games on the go (which, again, may have been a mistake). When faced with loss and difficulty, online casinos should have taken a lesson from their players and went all in, heavily advertising their mobile gambling services and taking the loss on them for a while until they became profitable. Because there’s potential in the idea, as well as the market to cash in on that potential. All that’s needed is a CEO willing to go for it.

There’s absolutely nothing that distinguishes 27-year old Rawiri Pou from the rest of us. The young man from New Zealand, currently working at a KFC fast food restaurant, lived a humble life and, much like many of us, he loved to play online slots from time to time. His slot of choice was “Mega Moolah”, which is famous for having one of the biggest jackpots in the world and having already made several people into millionaires. Little did Rawiri know that very soon he would be joining their exclusive club! That success didn’t come immediately, of course (it rarely does) – at first, the young gambler only won $1500, which, while not a bad sum, isn’t even close to the multimillion jackpot that “Mega Moolah” offers. Making a risky decision, he decided to roll over the money instead of withdrawing them and continue playing, risking it all for a chance at the big break! If you’re reading this, then you already know how this turned out!

Indeed, Rawiri managed to win over $10 million (or £5,7 million), which were given to him in the form of a giant novelty check on June 21st during a press conference at an Auckland hotel. The young man claims that, despite the gigantic win, he has no plans to quit his job at KFC, mostly because he doesn’t “know what to feel” about hitting the jackpot. He did admit, however, that one of the best parts about the experience was being able to finally show his parents, who had berated him for a long time, that online gambling wasn’t just a waste of money after all. Honestly, I’m quite inclined to agree – shutting up annoying parents is almost as good of an experience as winning £6 million. Almost.

Regardless, not all the news coming from this event is good. While Rawiri will probably enjoy the money without problem, future gamblers from New Zealand might have a bit of trouble. After all, online gambling is unregulated in the country, and while local casinos are not allowed to operate, there’s nothing stopping gamblers from signing up to international casinos, which is what Rawiri did. As a result, all of those casino wins and transactions are completely untaxed by the government, which is potentially costing them a lot of money. This high-profile win will undoubtedly open the government’s eyes to the prospect of taxing online gambling, and in the worst case scenario, local gamblers may be forbidden from signing up on foreign casinos until the proper laws are in place, which could take years. Best case scenario, any future big win of this sort will be taxed by the New Zealand government by as much as 15%. Thankfully, at least one lucky KFC worker won’t have to worry about any of this.

Software providers have recently taken slots to a whole new level and it looks as though the old one-armed bandit is but a forgotten figure from the past. Betsoft Gaming is one of the top casino software developers that deliver what they promise and what slot users truly crave – an immersive gaming experience, with mesmerizing 3D effects and amazing sounds. Without further ado, here are the top three 3D slot games by Betsoft:

4 Seasons – Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall – who ever said you can’t have it all? Leaving my rhyming talent aside, I have to say that this slot is truly entertaining and the 3D effects will make you want to reach out and pet the pretty little creatures spinning on the reels. Speaking of which, the symbols represent the Chinese zodiac, so you can imagine what type of animals they include: snake, pig, cow, mouse, chicken and so on. A 5-reel, 30-payline homage to the Chinese New Year, the 4 Season slot is packed with exciting features and bonus elements; among these features, the Seasonal Wheel will change your background every 30 spins, to give you a feel for all four seasons.

A Christmas Carol – If you want to relive Dickens’ tale in amazing 3D, high definition cinematic graphics, then look no further than A Christmas Tale. A slot to bring out the child in you and make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, this Betsoft creation will bring the best of Christmas cheer into your home. No need to fear Uncle Scrooge or any of the three ghost in the bonus features – Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future, as they are only here to serve and give your bankroll a serious boost. With 3 reels and 20 paylines, this video slot will sprinkle the magic of Christmas all year long.

The Tipsy Tourist – Relive the summer over and over again with the perfect example of Betsoft’s industry-leading Slots3™ style, The Tipsy Tourist. Spin the 5 reels of this 20-payline slot and enjoy the numerous free spins, wilds and scatter symbols or simply make the best of the bonus round where you need to challenge Gary to a drinking contest.

“THE TIPSY TOURIST coalesced into a bright, fun filled video slot that will make for great late summer entertainment,” said Betsoft’s VP of Sales and Marketing, Mark McKeown. “It has all the classic elements of a compelling game, presented in Betsoft’s inimitable true 3D cinematics and vivacious gameplay. We feel that the rich theme will bring a little bit of the quintessential Miami holiday to players, invoked by the graceful palm trees and cool ocean tones.”

One of the oldest and largest bookmakers in Sweden – Betsson, has announced a joint venture with the renowned leader in slots from the same country – Quickspins.

Betsson is part of the BML Group – a Swedish gambling group with over 50 years in the business, now specialising in Internet gambling. The company has nearly a 1000 employees across the globe and is listed on Stockholm Nasdaq Large Cap List, BETS. The current products they offer are Sportsbook, Casino, Betsson Poker, Scratch and Games. The platform is home to over 18 million poker players online. Betsson consistently commit to developing and evolving to satisfy their clients and be in keeping with the latest innovations in the industry.

The other side of the deal – Quickspin – has been around from early 2011 – quite a short history but very impressive. For their short life they have managed to create themselves a good reputation in the world of casino gaming. They are quickly gaining momentum and obtaining licenses across countries, which opens new doors for them in terms of partnerships with established gambling platforms online. Over the past 2015 Quickspin have signed 25 contracts with gaming platforms across the board. The company is very open to innovations, they have recently updated their site featuring an extensive client area and offer various perks to their games – free spins, bonus rounds and features targeting personal preferences of the players. The 40 members team is dedicated to “quality and innovation”.

The partnership of the two was announced just before the opening of the ICE gaming exhibition in London. All sister brands of the Betsson Group will now offer the most up-to-date, cross browser and mobile compatible games from Quickspins. This will cover sports, casino and live casino games, poker and bingo.

Some of the new names igamers are now looking forward to include Razortooth, Second Strike, and the forthcoming Genie’s Touch. Daniel Lindberg, CEO of Quickspin comments “Betsson are not only one of the biggest online casino operators they are also one of the most progressive, and to have our games feature on their sites is a real badge of honour. We can’t wait to integrate our existing games and some of the great new ones we have in the pipeline. I’m very confident they will quickly become some of the best-performers.”

So that’s what’s happening in the gaming world online, hope it’s been of interest and will be happy to see you soon for more!

Online bingo has been on the raise ever since it’s launch back in 1996, and it has become very popular around the world. Why you wonder? It is quite simple – it’s handy – you can play it at home or pretty much anywhere on any device; the rules are simple and it’s much faster and therefore exciting than the traditional game. And, let’s face it – it is one of the most socially acceptable forms of gambling.

Before heading to the next online bingo room though, hang on a minute – I have collected some handy advice that will save you a lot of time and disappointment. There it goes:

1. Safety

If you love bingo as much as I do you are surely spending quire some time online. Some sites require you to download some software, pretty much all – some personal details, so in any case security – of the device you are using and the information you submit – should always be your first concern. Make sure you get your hands on as many as possible user reviews, check the site’s reputation online – nothing you can do will be too much.

2. Games selection

Now you are covered in terms of safety, let’s look at the games available. Sure you feel like playing something now but don’t rush it – if you were to commit to a site, you want to have some variety. You never know. So take your time and look around carefully. There are sites that can cover that for you, giving you detailed comparisons of the game ranges of different credible sites, but more on that in a minute.

3. Payment options

Safety is important here as well, but let’s say you have that sorted. Next thing to explore are the options for payment – most popular are card payments, PayPal or e-wallet – you are best of picking a site that offers you more than one choice.

4. Practice, practice, practice..for free

Gaming portals often offer room to practice for free – for newbies or players who just want to test the site before committing to it. This is very useful because they allow you to get familiar with the system. When choosing your new game provider do note what you can get for free – remember, the customer is king.

5. Bonuses

Bonuses are the main selling point of many gaming site. Whilst you shouldn’t let yourself be fooled by them blindly, you should research and compare what is out there and which options best suit your way of playing – are you a spontaneous player or you play regularly? How much do you spend on average? What games do you play exactly? All those questions answered will help you making a better choice.
Loyalty bonuses are another story, they can vary from little perks, present bonuses and cashbacks to VIP schemes for more dedicated and serious players. For example, you can get more cash rewards, dinner and holidays to fancy places, freebies and last, but not least – that feeling of being just that little bit extra special. You can read more information about what sort of extras can a VIP status get you if it tickles your fancy.

In conclusion

The thing is, even as a regular player, I myself wasn’t aware of how to decently determine if a site is legitimate or not – nowadays everything is nice and shiny, everyone is saying the right things but is it true? And on top of that – to tick all the boxes I mentioned above for even one site is quite a laborious task, let alone get that information for 5, 10, 15 and so on of them. So your choices end up being to spend ages online in research or go for the good old try-error method (that can cost you an arm and a leg in this industry).

Luckily I discovered that there are nice people who have learnt their lessons the hard way and are willing to share their experience for free. There are a number of websites I have been using over time, who gather information and professionals from all over the place and present it in a nice and organised way so that you and I don’t have to become professors in legitimate gaming. I found bingoreviews.net hands down the best bingo site. Very light and clean theme, personal but still professional advice and tons of information. You will certainly win from stopping there to make an informed decision about the bingo site that best fits your needs.

Now that I have given you all the basic things to look out for before signing up to a Bingo site there is only one way to increase your chances to win – go play. You can thank me later.

We have always thought of a trip to our local casino as an all fun and games experience, with your usual soar loser acting up every now and then, right? Right, but not quite! When a person almost loses an eye, things tend to take a turn for the worse.

Leander Stocks, a D.C. man is suing the Maryland Live! Casino for $300,000 following an incident which occurred at the end of 2013. Mr. Stocks was hit by a runaway roulette wheel ball during his visit at the casino in Anne Arundel County. The incident could have rendered the plaintiff blind, but instead, it rendered him unconscious. How, you ask? Well, here comes the strange part. The ball hit the man inches above his left eye and the casino security escorted him to a private room to lie down, as the high-velocity strike had caused him severe disorientation and dizziness. What happens next really puzzles me, as the suit claims that the security guard proceeded to ‘administer unidentified liquid drops directly into Plaintiff’s left eye’, despite his refusal. Stocks went on to say that he tried to get up and at that point, he fell forward and violently hit his head on the hardwood door to the room, which caused him to lose consciousness. We are just as interested are you are in the case and will follow-up on the outcome of the suit and hope Mr. Stocks gets well soon.

Well, friends, that’s why I always prefer to play it safe and simply visit some online casino in my jammies. No way for the ball to come out of the screen and hit me senseless, right?

It is one thing to decide you want to play, and quite another to choose where. My experience online has taught me to pick my websites very carefully and below is my knowledge summed up especially for you. You are free to use it and take advantage of my advice to your own benefit.

What will show you for sure that a website is good? Here is my personal Top 3 short list.

1. The Undoubted Number One: Games Variety

When you want to join a casino, you do that for the games it offers. You can check that very easily, even before you register. Operators know that players are curious about their portfolio of games, so they are proud to showcase it. A good casino will feature many blackjack variants, such as Multi-Hand BJ, BJ Switch, Surrender, Spanish 21, Pontoon, Crazy BJ, 21 Duel and so on. There are over 20 variations of the game and they offer a nice twist to the classic type. The other traditional casino game which good operators offer in many variants is roulette. On selected sites you can play 3D, Premium and Pro versions that will enhance your player experience. But there are also the American and French variants which have different house edge, and therefore: different winning probabilities.

2. Bonuses for Your Favourite Games

One of the biggest opportunities for player disappointment lies in this simple factor. The good casino sites offer not just large bonus amounts, but they offer bonuses that can be actually used on the games you like. That means that playing on roulette and blackjack, for example, should count towards meeting the wagering requirements. At the Top 3 online casinos in the UK you can find quite favourable contribution rates of 20-25%. Needless to say, there are plenty of sites where stakes on these games count for as low as 5%. That the bonus has easy wagering terms is also important and quite telling of the operator. The good ones require around 20 to 30 times playthrough of the free funds. For comparison’s sake, let me add that there are online casinos where you’ll need to turn over your bonus amount up to 100 times!

3. Last, but not Least: Payment Options

This factor concerns the deposit methods accepted by the operator. The good UK casinos take payments through web-wallets, such as Paypal. They also offer many easy ways for customers to put down cash in their player accounts. These include the prepaid vouchers and cards offered by services like Paysafecard, for instance. You will know a casino website is good when you see your chosen banking methods clearly displayed on their page.

Of course, there are plenty of other factors by which you can evaluate an online casino. You can estimate them all during your stay on a website. This brief list given above contains the essential features. It will help you make a fast and successful choice. The rest is up to you.