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It is, or at least was, possible to predict when a slot machine will pay out. In a well-chronicled case, a criminal gang based in St. Petersburg, Russia successfully reverse-engineered the pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) employed by certain, older model slot machines, so that they could predict, with split-second accuracy, when a payout was due. The gang employed dozens of operatives, each of whom could reportedly profit by $250,000 a week, to exploit this vulnerability in slot machines in casinos in eastern and central Europe and in the United States.

The problem with a PRNG, as casinos discovered to their cost, is that results appear random, but are not, in fact, truly random. The algorithm, or set of rules, that generates pseudo-random numbers is initialised by a 32-bit integer value, known as a ‘seed value’; if the starting point in the sequence is known, the sequence can be reproduced at a later date.

The answer, as far as modern slot machines are concerned, was replacing the PRNG with a true random number generator (TRNG), which relies on atmospheric noise, rather than an algorithm, to generate random numbers. Consequently, it is impossible to predict when any modern slot machine, in a bricks-and-mortar casino or online, will pay out. The return to player (RTP) percentage, which describes what proportion of money wagered on a slot machine is returned to players over time, indicates what you can expect in the long-term, but not what to expect from one spin to the next.

Card counting is a technique employed by so-called ‘advantage’ Blackjack players to reverse the house edge – which is less than 1% in any case – and give themselves a small mathematical edge, typically between 0.5% and 1.5%, over the game.

One of the most popular card counting techniques, known as the ‘high-low count’, assigns a value of -1 to aces, court cards and tens, which are considered favourable to the player, +1 to twos, threes, fours, fives and sixes, which are considered favourable to the dealer, and 0 to sevens, eights and nines, which are considered neutral. Fairly obviously, at the start of a shoe the so-called ‘running count’ is 0, so the card counter simply adds or subtracts the appropriate value as each cards is revealed. The final step is to divide the running count by the number of decks left in the shoe, or a rough approximation thereof, to provide the so-called ‘true count’. As the true count rises and falls, the card counter can raise and lower his bets, and adjust his playing strategy, accordingly.

As far as legality is concerned, card counting essentially involves just basic arithmetic and requires nothing more sophisticated than the human brain, so is perfectly legal. Of course, card counters cannot win every hand they play; it is only over the course of hundreds of hours playing and tens of thousands of hands that they can expect to make a profit. Even so, casinos take a dim view of card counting and, if they suspect that a player has an advantage over the game, even in the long-term, take steps to remove the advantage. This could simply involve shuffling the cards when a card counter raises his bet or, in certain jurisdictions, to stop playing Blackjack and/or leave the premises.

This is a very common question asked these days, as we continue to see major growth for the online casino market, whereas the land-based casinos are seeing reduced numbers, and many are even closing in areas around the world. There is no doubting that COVID-19 has played a major role, with these land-based casinos having their doors kept shut, which is leading to major financial complications, whereas people are being told to stay indoors and turning to online entertainment. That is why the online casino market has seen a surge in the number of players across the last 12 months or so and there is no doubting it is expected to continue moving forward. Many different platforms have been seeing this success with thebestcasinos.co.uk being one example of this, with proving a list of the leading online casinos to choose from, it is little surprise.

The online casino market is on a very steep upward curve and this was already taking place, prior to the current pandemic. This alongside the overall gaming market, it is now one of the fastest growing industries in the world, with online entertainment now more important than ever. The global online gambling market size is now expected to grow greatly and is anticipated to reach 127.3 billion USD by 2027, whilst also registering a CAGR of around 11% from 2020 onto 2027. This is following some extensive research on the industry but further shows the success of the online gaming sector.

This growth is amazing but alongside this, many land-based establishments have been closing. There are many different factors behind this, with the ease of accessibility to online platforms certainly being one of the key factors. Another is through the game’s offerings, with online options now far surpassing what you can play within a land-based casino and this is only increasing. Next, we are also set to see the release of virtual reality casinos, which are also predicted to take the industry to new heights, offering an enhanced gaming experience. This could also yet play a major role on the increase in popularity around online options further, if they prove to be successful. Finally, another factor is through promotions and bonuses. Again, these have continued to increase over time and are now very lucrative for online players but you do not have these available in land based casinos unless you are a VIP player, which is why many continue to choose the online option.

The world moved on at such as pace, and in these tough times you’re more likely to find me at jokaroom casino then a bricks and mortar equivilant. Still, I’m sure you agree that there is something about casino venues that draws us in all. The oldest casino in the world is Casinò di Venezia or, in English, Venice Casino, which is housed in a Renaissance-style palace, known as Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, on the Grand Canal in the Cannaregio district of northern Venice. Ca’ Vendramin Calergi was constructed over a twenty-eight-year period during the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries, but did not become the home of Casinò di Venezia until 1959, after it was bought and renovated by the City of Venice.

Casinò di Venezia first opened its doors in 1638, in a wing of Palazzo Dandolo – a Venetian Gothic palace near Piazza San Marco, or ‘St. Mark’s Square’ – formerly known as Il Ridotto, or ‘The Private Room’. Under the auspices of the City of Venice, the space was converted into the first legal, commercial casino to be open to the public in Western Europe. Casinò di Venezia soon became famous, or infamous, as a centre for entertainment and, although it was closed in its original location in 1774 at the behest of the Venetian authorities, has existed, in one form or another, ever since.

The modern Casinò di Venezia is an eclectic mix of the old and the new, offering olde worlde style and sophistication, without a hint of stuffiness. Tuxedo-clad dealers operate against a background of modern décor, illuminated by cool, atmospheric lighting and the range of table games, which includes blackjack, poker and roulette, and slots should be sufficient to satisfy even the most ardent gambler. Whether you’re looking for the modernity and convenience of jeux de casino of a walk through casino history at Casinò di Venezia there is something for everyone and a line joining the past to the casino present.