CasinoAnswers.co.uk

Not to be confused with the late Yugoslav statesman, TITO is an acronym for Ticket In, Ticket Out, which is the method by which modern slot and video poker machine players collected their winnings. TITO technology has been in existence since the early Nineties and, essentially, uses machine-dispensed, barcoded tickets as an alternative to coins. It of course applies to bricks and mortar casinos, rather than the likes of jokaroom casino online.

The transition to coinless slot machines has been rapid. TITO is popular with casinos because it avoids refilling slot machines, thereby reducing labour costs and downtime, and allows jackpot wins to be paid quickly and efficiently. Previously, nickel slot machines were notoriously labour-intensive, requiring any jackpot over $50 to be paid by hand. Likewise, slot players can insert a banknote into a machine and, at the end of a playing session, print out a ticket that can be redeemed at the casino cage or a redemption machine, or ‘kiosk’. Of course, coins do not drop into the coin tray, but some machines simulate the sound of falling coins.

Players no longer need to carry buckets of coins to and fro across the casino floor and can insert a ticket from one machine directly into another without cashing it first. Tickets do have an expiry date, up to a maximum of 180 days in Nevada casinos, but, in the meantime, can easily be tucked away in a wallet or purse for future use. Nevertheless, in Nevada, millions of dollars’ of slot machine tickets expire each year, with 75% of the revenue going to the state government and 25% being retained by the casino.

If you’re reading this, it’s because you’re either an online casino super fan, or you have a burning question that you need answering. Either way, the online casino has catapulted into a phenomenon, with millions of people playing games every day. With new players cropping up all over the place, there is a great sense of curiosity (and confusion!) around this exciting world of online gaming. From the types of games to the variety of payments, there are so many parts to this sector that you need to know – but luckily, we’ve done all the work for you.

Here at CasinoAnswers, we’ve dug around thousands of casinos and have created a one-stop guide for all things that beginners need to know. Keep scrolling if you’re bursting with questions because chances are, we’ve covered it below. Here are all the FAQs you’ll need.

1. How does the online casino work?

Technology is a wild and wonderful thing, and it’s the reason this industry has grown into such a mighty success. Online casinos work by using specific pieces of technology and software to simulate the real-world casino games such as slots, blackjack, roulette, and many more. Each game is programmed by software developers, who ensure every facet of it runs just as smoothly as the real-life versions, and often insert exciting new features along the way.

2. Can you trust the online casino?

Of course! However, we all know that the online world can be a dangerous place, so you do need to exercise a little caution before you plunge into casino games. Look for casinos that have good reviews, high-tech interfaces, and all the telltale signs of a large brand, such as Ignition Casino.

This makes sure that when you’re playing real money slots, you are playing a fair, secure game – that’s as reliable as heading out to the brick-and-mortar options. For example, when you play real money slots at your online casino of choice, there should be encryption in the backend to prevent any hacking and guarantee that your internet safety is taken into account. Look for SSL protection as a clear signifier of a reputable casino (more on that later).

3. Are online slot games rigged?

This is a myth that we see floating all over the net, and we can confidently say that they certainly are not rigged. Legitimate online slots have technology in the backend to guarantee fairness for the player. Random Number Generator (RNG) software ensures that results are random, and that means every spin of the slot machines is just as fair as a physical machine in a brick-and-mortar locale.

Mainstream brands also go through rigorous testing and frequent third-party audits, so you can play happily, knowing honesty and fairness are at the top of the business’s principles.

4. How do the online casino bonus schemes work?

In our opinion, the bonuses and cash rewards are the best part of the online casino. There are many types of bonuses and rewards available, but each one has its own process. Bonuses are typically denoted with the following wording: welcome bonuses, free spins, cashback, and loyalty programs – all of which reward you as the player for either being new or for coming back for more.

Each casino has different kinds of bonuses, so make sure you always read the bonus terms and conditions to understand wagering requirements (such as how much you must bet to withdraw winnings). Just make sure to note that bonuses are fun perks, but understanding their rules helps you make the most of them – do your research before you click to redeem one, and you’ll get far more use from it!

5. Is my money safe at the online casino?

As we said above about legitimate casinos, if you stick to reputable sites, your money is always safe. Trusted casinos use encryption technologies similar to those of banks and major financial institutions – so keep your eyes peeled for those handy SSL certificates on site, which often appear as a lock symbol on your search bar!

This, paired with the payment options, are the main points you should look at when assessing an online casino’s safety. Indeed, payment options are a significant area to consider, although most online casinos are so far advanced that they now offer the option to connect your digital wallet to your account, so you can make bets and withdraw money using cryptocurrency instead of fiat currency if you prefer. This is considered a significantly more secure payment option, thanks to the blockchain technology that supports it.

Final takeaway? Always find a reputable casino that’s known for being safe and secure. The most important part about playing online is making sure that your details are safe. You can then sit back, relax, and have a wonderful time on the multitude of games offered by today’s casinos. Here’s to safe, happy gambling for the foreseeable future!

In the gambling industry, extremely wealthy patrons, who consistently gamble far more than the average man in the street are known as ‘high rollers’ or ‘whales’, depending on the level of their bankroll. In Las Vegas, casino hosts offer generous complimentary services to these high-stakes gamblers, safe in the knowledge that they are not immune to the unswayable laws of mathematical probability and may, periodically, come a cropper and suffer eye-wateringly heavy losses.

The man who has the dubious distinction of achieving what is believed to be the biggest losing streak in the history of Las Vegas is Japanese-American Terrance Watanabe, former owner of the Oriental Trading Company, founded by his father, Harry Watanabe, in 1932. In 2000, Watanabe sold his stake in the family business, for an undisclosed fortune, and became a philanthropist and self-confessed gambling addict.

In 2007, while staying in what was later described as the ‘most elegant suite’ in Caesars Palace, Watanabe claims that he bet over $825 on a variety of casino games at Caesars Palace and The Rio, losing a total of $127 million. Unlike most high-stakes gamblers, his choices included games, such as keno, roulette and slots, which carry a large house edge. Even in games carrying a much smaller house edge, such as blackjack – which Watanabe would reputedly play, three $50,000 hands at a time, for hours on end – he repeatedly made awful decisions and could lose up to $5 million a day.

Most slot machines are games of pure chance, requiring no experience, skill or strategy. As such, they offer each player an equal, random chance of winning a jackpot but, at the same time, offer casinos a constant, stable source of profit. Indeed, with few exceptions, slot machines generate far and away the highest profit and highest percentage of annual revenue for casinos worldwide.

Modern slot machines can be configured for any Return to Player (RTP) percentage or, in other words, the ratio of total ‘coin in’ to total ‘coin out’ over time, according to one of a series of Pay Table and Reel Strip (PARS) sheets, supplied and licensed by machine manufacturer. Once installed, the PARS determines the house edge – also known, confusingly, as the ‘hold’, or ‘hold percentage’ – of the slot machine in question. Theoretically, the house edge of slot machines can vary between 1% and 50%, according to legal jurisdiction, competition and so on, but typically falls within a narrower range, between 5% and 10%.

In terms of total revenue, slot machines typically account for at least 30% of the gambling income of any casino, but can account for a much higher percentage. On the Las Vegas Strip, for example, where high-stakes table games are very much in evidence, 50% is typical, but elsewhere in Las Vegas, in so-called ‘locals’’ casinos, the figure is closer 88%. In fact, according to a report published by the Center of Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 2018, slot machines contributed $7.71 million, or 64.7%, of the total annual revenues for casinos across the whole of the State of Nevada.