History of the Slot Machine in the US

History of the Slot Machine in the US
Slot machines or fruit machines, as they are known in England, have been around for over one hundred years. This is because of the excitement that they bring to the player. With each individual pull or game, there is a chance of hitting the life changing jackpot. The first slot machine was the liberty bell which was invented by Charles fey a German immigrant who worked as a mechanic in San Francisco in 1899. All slot machines both at online and land based casinos have descended in some way from the original liberty bell machine.
The Liberty Bell slot machine had three spinning reels. Diamond, spade, and heart symbols were painted around each reel, plus the image of a cracked Liberty Bell. A spin resulting in three Liberty Bells in a row gave the biggest payoff, a grand total of fifty cents or ten nickels. Calculating odds in those days was easy. 3 reels with 10 potential stops give the following odds: 10 X 10 X 10 = 1000 combinations. Only 1 of those combinations yielded the big jackpot.
In 1902, Slot machines were banned in many states. Charles Fey then had to get creative. He changed the symbols on his machines and started offering candy, drinks, and gum as prizes. The owners of the machines that were already out redecorated the wheels with pictures of the gum and fruit instead of the card suits. Cherries have remained a constant on slot machines even today, and the sticks of gum eventually changed into the bars that you still see on a lot of common slot machines.
Slot machines were not really popular until the 1970's in casinos. The older machines were limiting, because the biggest reels had only 25 different stops, which gave 15,624 to 1 chance of hitting a jackpot. The jackpot had to pay out less than that in order for the casinos to make enough profit for the machines to warrant that kind of floor space.
Then the pinball machine company Bally, invented a new slot machine that had both electronic AND mechanical parts. The newer machines also allowed for bigger bets and larger hoppers which could hold larger payouts. This made machines even more profitable.
The random number generator became popular in the 1980's and everything changed. The random number generator is basically a mini computer that simulates the sinning reels from a computer program. This changed the entire face of casinos. The reels could be much larger than the actual reels, since they were powered by a computer program instead of a mechanism. The spin arms became unnecessary, because the spin button activated the random number generator program and the machines paid out a preset percentage.
The new technology has made it possible for the machine manufactures to produce virtually a unlimited number of attractive and entertaining slot games. Slots now take up over 80% of many casinos' floor space. It's eye candy of the highest order, and gamblers gobble it up as if it were popcorn.

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Free Blackjack Practice Before Playing At Online Casinos

Free Blackjack Practice Before Playing At Online Casinos
If your skills are not good enough for playing real online black jack for real money in real online casino, you better first play free black jack to practice your skills. Just play free blackjack - this is an excellent practice for you. Free blackjack may be found at , where you can practice. They provide an instant flash free blackjack software. Just register your private online blackjack account and you practice playing free blackjack. by the way, there is a chance to win real cash prizes if your blackjack skills get better.
You need to learn how to play online blackjack, blackjack strategy and the rules of various online blackjack games before you start. You may concentrate on the basic rules of classic online blackjack, that played in Las Vegas and in most of online blackjack casinos, and ignore for meanwhile many different kinds of online blackjack games available online.
To increase your winning chances we recommend you follow these simple rules:
To get cards that add up to a points total that is as close to 21 without exceeding that total is the aim of the online blackjack game. It is a push (draw) if you tie with the House, then no one wins and you receive your bet money back. If you want to be a winner you need to beat the dealer and don't bust. Bust is when your cards total over 21.
Before you receive cards you must place your bet. You are given two cards - both are face up. The dealer receives one face up card and one face down card. You then decide whether to stick with the cards or to ask for more cards. Once decision is taken and if you haven't gone bust, then the dealer will turn up the his down card and calculate who has won.
Now for some details. You likely know what the cards are in a deck. Suits don't matter in blackjack, only value. 2-9 count for their face value. 10s, Jacks (J), Queens (Q) and Kings (K) all count as 10 (collectively called "face cards" since most have faces on them). What the individual card is doesn't matter. Aces (A) can count as either 1 or 11. The goal is to get as close to 21 as possible, without going over. The ideal hand is an A and a face card. This is called "Blackjack."
Now, if the dealer has an Ace showing, they will offer you "insurance." Insurance is a chance for you to place a side bet, up to half the amount of your original bet. Your side bet pays even money (if you bet $5, you get that back, plus another $5) if the dealer has blackjack. You lose if the dealer has anything else. Since less than one-third of the cards are face cards (the only way the dealer will have blackjack), this is not a wise bet. The dealer will then check (electronically), if they have blackjack. If they have it, they will pay the insurance bets, and collect all the other money, since the players lost. If the dealer does not have blackjack, he will collect the insurance bets, and the hand will proceed. Should the dealer have a face card showing, the dealer will check if they have an ace in the hole, giving him blackjack, but will not offer insurance.

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Online Blackjack Tournaments - Full of Fun and Excitement

Online Blackjack Tournaments - Full of Fun and Excitement
Online Blackjack tournaments are gaining popularity, thanks to the endless reasons associated with the game. The reasons for its widespread acceptance are its simplicity, ease, improvement in the game, handsome payouts and of course increase in social circle.
You could browse the net and educate yourself on the intricacies of the game. The convenience associated with the game enables the player to download the software from the web and also own the software. The only requisite is internet connectivity and there you are - playing at your own convenience. Depending on your mood and flexibility, you could play online Blackjack tournaments.
The flexibility associated with the game also enables the players to know more about the game and become an expert and also understand the intricacies and techniques associated with the game. The saying practice makes perfect is so true. You have all the time to practice the game and attain expertise. Gambling online gives you the flexibility of playing without depositing any real money. Novice players can play free online games and achieve mastery. Once you are thorough and know the rules of the game, you could try out new games at the casino and win real big money. The rules of the Blackjack game, be it online or offline are very similar and thus you would slowly gain proficiency when you play at the casino.
You could improvise your skills by playing free games offered at these sites. The greatest attraction in playing online games is the handsome payouts offered by these sites. The online websites and casinos suitably aware the winners of black jack tournaments with generous payouts. A one time fee needs to be deposited by the player for playing these tournaments. Equal distribution of chips is ensured to players and in the end, the player with the maximum chips is the winner and gets the prize money. The entry fees is pooled together and kept as the prize money and thus more the number of players, the greater is the prize money. Tough competition gives the necessary thrill to the players and hence there are many online players who participate in these tournaments. Further, the thrill, enthusiasm and fun associated with the game makes it more attractive and accepted.
The other positive thing about Blackjack is the superb communal experience. There are two teams, the dealer and the players. There is great friendship and amity amongst players since everyone is focused on beating the dealer. Hence, there is lot of cheering up amongst players. Players end up making many friends and thus social networking is  to summarize, playing online Blackjack can be a superb experience since it helps in improving your efficiency at the game, increasing your social network and also making money in the bargain.

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TOP Signs of Gambling Problem

TOP Signs of Gambling Problem
For problem gamblers it's usually easier to hide their addictions than for alcoholics or drug abusers. Still in order to be able to spot the danger signals of problem gambling you should know what to watch for.
The easiest for being noticed signs are financial ones. They often are the most obvious for friends and families notice. They can notice that potential addicted gamblers:
A� Gamble until the last dollar in your pockets.
A� Try to win back money you have lost.
A� Consider gambling as a real way to make money.
A� Raising debts and uncovered bills.
A� Look for financial help from others due to gambling.
A� Sell personal or family things to finance gambling and its debts.
A� Engage in illegal actions to finance gambling.
Less noticeable and easier to hide from others are behavioral changes. The person can suffer from gambling addiction when he or she:
A� Gambles longer than as usual.
A� Frequently gambles alone.
A� Spends a lot of time on gambling.
A� Brags about big winnings and hides losses.
A� Lies in order to cover up the size of your gambling.
A� Failed in numerous attempts to reduce or stop gambling.
A� Risks with work or school relationships because of gambling.
A� Loses his or her reputation because of gambling.
A� Is less efficient at work.
A� Often faces with marital problems.
A� Neglects personal and family needs for benefit of gambling.
A� Abuses alcohol or drugs.
A� Has been experienced in suicide attempts.
Gamblers who are addicted to gambling sometimes can't admit it and refuse all problems they have because of it. But if they make a big effort they can find out next signs of gambling addiction in their daily lives and actions. They can notice that they
A� Spend great part of their time thinking about gambling.
A� Need to spend more money to feel the same "rush" from gambling.
A� Are less active and ambitious at work or at school.
A� Have trouble sleeping because of gambling problems.
A� Use gambling to relax after arguments or frustrations and to escape stress, guilt, or depression.
A� Gamble after good news and events.
A� Have despair, dread, or worthlessness feelings.
A� Have increasing stress, anxiety, or depression.
A� Are visited by thoughts of suicide.
Unlike people who suffer from alcohol or other drug abuse, problem gamblers usually do not exhibit signs which can be easily recognized. These signs may be noticed only by professionals and people who work with this problem every day.

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