Two Online Sports Betting Initiatives Filed In California

Two proposed ballot initiatives filed with the attorney general Friday give California Indian tribes exclusivity for in-person and online California sports betting.

Although no tribe is listed in the filing, individuals involved in the filing had prior business dealings with the Pala Band of Mission Indians. And as previously reported by PlayUSA, Pala Chairman Robert Smith had been in contact with some tribal leaders this month about filing a sports betting initiative.

It is not a widespread tribal effort, and multiple representatives of key California gaming tribes tell PlayUSA that they were not consulted prior to the filing.

Jacob Mejia, VP of Public and External Affairs for the Pechanga Development Corporation and spokesperson for the Coalition for Safe and Responsible Sports Wagering that opposed online sports betting initiative Prop 27 last election cycle, dismissed the filing:

“As far as we are concerned, this is a tribal measure in name only. We are not aware of any tribes having drafted this initiative. It sounds an awful lot like the ballot measure that was crushed by 82% of voters less than a year ago.”

Reeve Collins, co-founder and CEO of Pala Interactive, an online gaming platform created by the tribe and sold to Boyd Gaming in 2022, is listed as the contact for the initiative filings. The filings were signed by Ryan Tyler Walz, whose relationship to Collins is unclear.

One filing provides a full framework for California sports betting under Indian tribes. The other merely amends the state constitution to ensure that the state legislature may not authorize in-person or online sports betting for any person or entity other than an Indian tribe.

The state legislature could then set up the framework for sports betting with Indian tribes, who would enter compacts with the state, at a later date.

Pala Interactive founder sends letter to tribes after filing

Kasey Thompson, another Pala Interactive co-founder, sent tribal leaders a letter following the initiative filing. Thompson lists himself as president and CEO of Eagle 1 Acquisition Company, for which Collins also is involved.

“Our proposal permits only California tribes to control in-person and on-line sports betting in California,” Thompson wrote in the letter, acquired by PlayUSA. “Our proposal enables all California tribes to control their own destiny, and participate in sports betting however and whenever they see fit. Most importantly, our proposal prohibits all offshore and out-of-State operators from controlling sports betting in California.”

Thompson described Eagle One as founded to bring sports betting to California tribes. He pledged that Eagle One would entirely fund the initiative at no cost to tribes. He asked to meet with tribal leaders to discuss the proposal:

“We have met with a number of California tribes, and we would like to meet with you and all other tribes over the next 30 days so that we can ensure that our initiative represents your interests and reflects your input. We do not plan to proceed unless we have the full support of the California tribes.”

At a time when it appeared no California tribes or commercial operators were interested in filing a sports betting initiative for 2024 following the 2022 election failures, Thompson explained why he believes now is the time for a filing:

“We do not believe that waiting another two years is in the best interests of the California tribes or the people of California. The California tribes and the State itself are leaving significant revenue on the table, and we want to help reverse that situation now. The impact of the recent rulings in the Florida Seminole case have yet to be felt in California but could be significant. The time to submit a sports wagering proposal in California is now.”

Lack of tribal involvement in filing curious

When tribes filed what became Prop 26 in 2019, tribal leaders put their signatures on the proposed initiative.

Although he previously discussed the initiative with tribal leaders, it is noteworthy that Smith did not file the initiative. And tribal sources tell PlayUSA that Smith was invited to Thursday’s California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) meeting to discuss the proposal and did not show.

CNIGA Chairman James Siva released a statement:

“The California Nations Indian Gaming Association is deeply disappointed that the sponsors of the two recently filed initiatives did not first reach out to the State’s largest tribal gaming association for consultation and input. Instead, CNIGA and our member tribes were alerted to their existence when they were filed with the Attorney General today.

“Decisions driving the future of tribal governments should be made by tribal governments. While the sponsors of these initiatives may believe they know what is best for tribes, we encourage them to engage with Indian Country and ask, rather than dictate.”

Other tribal representatives reached by PlayUSA described the filers as commercial interests that lack established relationships with California Indian tribes, outside of Pala. And they didn’t take kindly to Thompson’s letter, calling it “patronizing.”

Details of California sports betting initiative

Titled the Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act, the fully formed initiative seems similar to the framework introduced last election cycle by tribes led by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

Details include:

  • Tribes enter compacts with the state and contract with sportsbook operators as vendors.
  • Requires all California sports betting sites and mobile apps to be branded exclusively under the tribe’s federally recognized name.
  • Requires in-person registration for online sports betting accounts.
  • Only permits sports wagering by people 21 and older. This is relevant because some California Indian tribes allow gambling at 18 and older in their casinos.
  • Permits sports wagering only on professional, college, or amateur sports or athletic events. Excludes high school and lower-level school sports or athletic events.
  • Provides new sources of revenue to tribes and California communities to help address
    homelessness and mental health throughout California by the establishment of the California Homelessness and Mental Health Fund.
  • Suggests a model form sports wagering compact in which sport wagering tribes contribute 10% of adjusted sports wagering gross revenue into the California Homelessness and Mental Health Fund and 15% to revenue sharing with limited and non-gaming tribes.
  • Caps management service providers partnering with tribes to operate online sports betting to 40% of net revenues. It also limits such partnership agreements to seven years.

Petitioners won’t have much time to qualify for ballot

This is late for a California initiative filing, making qualifying difficult for the November 2024 election.

To have the full 180 days to collect signatures for a random count, the secretary of state recommends submitting an initiative by Aug. 22. After filing the initiative with the attorney general, the petitioner must wait 65 days to circulate the petition for signatures.

So the petitioners wouldn’t be able to begin collecting signatures until January, giving them about four months to collect the 874,641 valid signatures required to make the ballot.

The secretary of state recommends petitioners submit signatures to counties for verification by April 23. But there can be a one-to-two-week leeway.

Initiatives must be qualified by the secretary of state by June 27, 2024, at least 131 days prior to the Nov. 5 election.

The post Two Online Sports Betting Initiatives Filed In California appeared first on Play USA.

Rugby Betting Guide

Love rugby? Want to learn more about how to bet on rugby? We’ve got all you need to know in our comprehensive guide to rugby betting. We’ll explain how rugby betting works, the bets you can place and throw in a few rugby betting tips too.

Rugby Union vs. Rugby League

First, let’s start with the difference between rugby union and rugby league.

Rugby Union Explained

  • Rugby union is played with 15 players on each team, with a maximum of seven substitutions able to be made.
  • A try in rugby union is worth five points with an extra two for a conversion.
  • Drop goals and penalties are each worth three points.
  • When a player is tackled, they must release the ball and it’s legal for any player to pick it up.
  • When the ball goes out of play, it is restarted with a line out.
  • Scrums are awarded for minor infringements like knock-ons.

Rugby League Explained

  • Rugby league is played with 13 players, with a total of 10 subs able to be made.
  • A try in rugby league is worth four points with an extra two for a conversion.
  • Drop goals are worth one point and penalties two points.
  • When a player is tackled, they must roll it back with their foot to a teammate.
  • In rugby league, each team has six chances to score – if they get tackled six times without scoring, they must kick the ball away towards the opposition.
  • If the ball goes out of play, it is restarted with a scrum. A scrum is also used for minor rule infringements.

Rugby Betting Odds Explained

When you bet on rugby with us at Grosvenor Sport, you’ll see the odds displayed as fractional odds. Each outcome within a betting market will have odds next to it. Take the example of Australia winning the Rugby World Cup with odds of 4/1.

If you place a £10 bet on Australia winning and the Wallabies triumph, you will win 4x your bet and get your stake back. In this example, your total winnings would be £40 plus your £10 bet, so you’ll have £50 in your betting account.

This is a super simple example. In reality things get a little more complicated with varying odds and multiple bets. Our bet calculator is the best way to calculate your winnings.

Main Rugby Betting Types

When it comes to betting on rugby, you have plenty of options to choose from. Popular rugby bets include:

Outright Results Betting

An outright bet is a bet on the result of a competition. With an outright bet in rugby, you’ll wager on a particular team to win a competition. It could be England in the Six Nations or Leicester in Premiership Rugby.

Each team in the competition or tournament has outright odds on their chance of winning, which change in line with their results and form in the competition. You can make an outright bet at the start of a tournament or at any time throughout.

Accumulators

With an accumulator, or Acca, you bet on four or more different outcomes. For example, you can bet on the result of four separate matches in Premiership rugby. Your odds are calculated by multiplying the prices from each selection – and the more bets you add the higher the potential payout. You can work out your odds on any potential accumulator bets with our bet calculator.

With accumulators, you only win on your bet if all of your bets come in. Even if only one fails to win, you lose everything.

Half-time/Full-time

For a Half-time/Full-time bet, you’re betting on both the match result at half-time and the result at the final whistle. For your bet to come in, you need both results to be as you predicted. It’s not enough to get just one right.

Try Scorer

You have three main options for betting on try scorers in rugby:

  • First try scorer – the player to score the first try in the match
  • Last try scorer – the player to score the last try in the match
  • Anytime try scorer – a player to score a try at any time in the match

You can also bet on “no try scorer” where you think no tries will be scored in the match at all.

Handicap Betting

Where one team is the favourite and another is the underdog, handicap betting gives you a chance to even things out with your wager.

Say New Zealand is playing a lower ranked team like Portugal in the Rugby World Cup. The All Blacks might be expected to steamroll the opposition. Handicap betting makes the outcome a little harder for them. For example, the All Blacks could be given a handicap of -13.5 points. If you bet on them to win, they would need to do so by 14 points or more. Similarly, Portugal could be given an advantage of +13.5. If you backed Portugal and they lost by less than 13 points, you would still win your bet.

Finding the Best Odds for Rugby Bets

When you want to bet on rugby, you’ll find different bookmakers online with varying odds. At Grosvenor Sport, we believe we have some of the most comprehensive rugby betting markets anywhere online. Plus, we work hard to bring you competitive odds across all the top competitions in the rugby calendar – both rugby union and rugby league.

Our team of experts continually analyses the form of teams and individual players, and watches encounters from across the world to bring you some of the best rugby odds you’ll find online. Simply sign up to an account to bet on rugby with Grosvenor Sport today.

Major Rugby Events to Bet On

So, now you have an idea of the difference between rugby union and rugby league, and the types of rugby bets you can make, let’s look at some of the top rugby events to bet on.

Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup features 20 teams and 48 matches to crown the champions of the world in rugby union. It takes place every four years with the most recent event in France in 2023. The teams are split into four pools of five teams, before the top two from each pool head to the quarter finals. It’s pure knockout rugby from here on in.

At Grosvenor Sport, you’ll find the full range of rugby union betting markets for the Rugby World Cup. You can bet outright on the winner of the tournament, bet on individual matches, place Accas across multiple outcomes at the same time, and more.

Six Nations

Held every February and March, the Six Nations sees England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy battle it out to finish top of the table and take the title. Each team plays each other once in a league format. The team with the most points takes the title (and the Grand Slam if they win all their matches) and the team at the bottom takes the wooden spoon.

We have the full range of rugby betting markets for the Six Nations whenever it rolls around each year.

Champions Cup

The European Rugby Champions Cup is an annual tournament for the top teams in Europe. It features sides from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales – as well as now South Africa – with qualification based on league positions from the season before.

The 24 teams initially face off in the group stage, before we go into the knockout stages. With Grosvenor Sport, you can bet on the outright winner and you’ll find the full range of match betting markets for every encounter across the competition.

Challenge Cup

The EPCR Challenge Cup is the second-tier European competition in rugby union. It features 18 teams battling it out across a group stage and knockout stages. You’ll find the full range of rugby union betting markets for the Challenge Cup with us at Grosvenor Sport.

Betting Strategies for Rugby Bets

Keen to place some wagers on rugby? Here are a few rugby betting tips to help you out.

Study the current form of teams:

Fancy a bet on the winner of the Six Nations? It’s important to look at how the teams are shaping up ahead of the tournament. Are Wales missing some key players? Have England put a recent run of wins together? It will all factor into the potential outcome.

Study the historical form:

Current form isn’t everything. Past performances for teams on certain grounds may have an impact on how they get on this time around.

Consider the style of play:

How certain teams play can affect the potential result and the bets to make. For example, if both teams tend to adopt a defensive kicking game, tries may be in short supply. Betting markets to focus on could be first penalty scorer and total number of points scored by a kicker.

Look to the experts:

There are plenty of experts online giving you their rugby betting tips ahead of the top encounters. You’ll find some at Grosvenor Sport on our blog too. The experts tend to know their stuff, so it’s a good idea to bring this into your rugby betting strategy.

Look at the data:

Can you analyse the data to understand how certain players play at specific grounds and against specific opposition? There is plenty of data out there, try and use it to your advantage.

Know when to stop:

It’s important to set a limit on your rugby betting and know when it’s time to stop.

Now you know the nuts and bolts of betting on rugby, check out our rugby betting markets and odds at Grosvenor Sport. Create an account with us or sign in to your existing account and you can bet on rugby with us. We’ll even throw in a welcome bonus for new customers when you make your first deposit.

 

 

6 Personal Loans With No Income Verification In November 2023

Provide your most recent bank statement and pay stubs if you’re self-employed. If you work for cash and don’t have a checkbook, ask a friend or family member who has access to your accounts to write them out on their account for you.

Get an employment verification letter from your current place of employment. Customers can get an employment verification letter if they’ve worked at the same place for at least three months and have been paid on time.

Get proof of other assets such as own property or additional assets that can be used as collateral. 

You can provide proof of ownership, such as titles or deeds, with a notarized signature across all pages (or copies) by a notary public in your state or jurisdiction where the property is located.

Otherwise, attach a copy of the deed and proof of payment, such as canceled checks or wire transfers showing the cost was made directly to you—a letter from CPA.

If you cannot show any tax return, get a letter from a Certified Public Accountant stating how much money they made during the last two years by providing copies of their tax returns and bank statements. 

A friend or family member can become your co-signer with decent credit and vouch for your character. Consider using a credit union or community bank, which often have less stringent requirements than national banks and nonbank lenders.

Live Roulette Glossary | LiveRoulette Blog

Contents

1. A Complete Roulette Glossary
2. Live Roulette FAQ

A Complete Roulette Glossary

American Roulette: A variant of roulette that features a double zero (00). The double zero sits next to the single zero on the betting board. This means there are 38 numbers in play and puts the house edge to 5.26%.

Backtrack: The outer section of the roulette wheel where the ball spins.

Biased Numbers: A section of numbers that is said to hit more frequently than is statistically likely. Biased numbers can be caused by an uneven or otherwise faulty wheel. Unless there is a software glitch, you’re unlikely to see biased numbers at an online roulette table.

Biased Wheel: An unevenly worn or faulty roulette wheel. In live roulette games, a biased wheel could cause certain numbers to hit more often than they otherwise would as it’s not spinning in an even, random manner.

Black Bet: An outside bet in live and online roulette. When you bet on black, you’ll win a 1:1 (even money) return on your money if any black number hits.

Bottom Track: The slanted inner rim of the roulette wheel that remains static during a spin. When the ball slows down, it slides from the backtrack and onto the bottom track before falling into a numbered pocket.

Carre: The French term for a corner bet.

Cheval: The French term for a split bet in land-based, online and live roulette.

Colonne: The French term for a column bet in roulette.

Column Bet: Like dozen bets, column bets allow you to cover 12 numbers with a single chip. There are three columns to choose from, and the payout on winning bets is 2:1.

Combination Bet: In general, a combination bet can be made with one or more chips and will cover two or more numbers. An example of a combination bet is a dozen, which covers 12 numbers in one section of the table.

Corner Bet: A single bet that covers four connected numbers. To make a corner bet, you must place a chip in the middle of a square of four numbers. This means you’re selecting all four numbers in the square. The payout for a corner bet in live or online roulette is 8:1.

Dealer: The person in control of a game, also called a croupier. When you play roulette, the dealer will be present and actively control the game. When you play roulette online, the game will be controlled by a random number generator (RNG).

Dozen Bet: A single bet that covers 12 numbers in one section of the table. Dozen bets are split into three sections: 1st (numbers 1-12), 2nd (numbers 13-24) and 3rd (numbers 25-36). Zero isn’t included in a dozen bet. If any number in your dozen hits, the payout is 2:1.

Double Zero: In American Roulette, double zero (00) is the additional number on the wheel.

En Plein: The French term for a straight-up bet in online and live roulette.

En Prison: A rule common in French Roulette, en prison literally means “in prison”. This rule applies to even money bets and allows you to either take back half your stake when zero hits or leave it “imprisoned” for the next spin. You’re choosing to either get a 50% rebate on a losing bet or keep your stake for the next bet.

European Roulette: The most common form of online and live roulette in the majority of casinos. This game is the older cousin of American Roulette. The main difference between the two variants is that European Roulette doesn’t feature the double zero. Because of this, it has one less number in play than its American counterpart. In total, there are 37 numbers in European Roulette, with a maximum payout of 35:1. The house edge is 2.70%.

Even Money: This term refers to a 1:1 payout. In other words, you win the same amount that you staked. For example, if you stake €1 and win, your total return will be your €1 stake back + €1 profit.

Five-Number Bet: This is a single bet that allows you to cover five specific numbers: 00, 0, 1, 2 and 3. If you win with this bet, your return will be 6:1.

High Bet: This is an outside bet in live and online roulette. When you bet on “high”, you’ll cover all numbers between 19-36. If you win, the return is 1:1 (even money).

House Edge: This term refers to the advantage the house (casino) has in any given situation. The house edge in roulette is created by a difference in the odds of any bet winning and the payout you receive. For example, the payout for a straight-up bet is 35:1. However, in European Roulette, there are 37 numbers on the table. This discrepancy (37:1 vs. 35:1) is where the casino gets its advantage. 

Inside Bet: Any bet made within the inner section of the table is known as an inside bet. Inside bets can be straight up or a combination of splits.

La Partage: When you play French roulette online or live, La Partage is a special rule that allows you to receive 50% of your stake back on even money bets. When it applies, if you make an even-money bet and the ball lands on zero, you’ll get half of your money back. This is similar to the En Prison. However, you don’t have the option to let your bet ride on the next spin with La Partage.

Line Bet: Also known as a six-line bet, this option allows you to cover six numbers (two rows of three) with a single wager. To make this bet, you split both rows with a single chip. The chip must be placed at the nearside end of the rows. The payout on this bet is 5:1. 

Marker: In live roulette, a marker, also called a ‘dolly’, is a small implement used to mark the winning number. When the round is over, the dealer will place a marker on the winning number and clear away all losing bets from the roulette table before paying out the winners.

Neighbours: In roulette, neighbours are numbers found next to/near each other on the wheel. These have relevance to certain types of bets, such as Orphelins.

Orphans: A type of bet that allows you to cover the numbers 6, 34 and 17 with a single wager.

Orphelins: A French term that refers to the process of betting on neighbours (numbers that sit near each other on the wheel). By betting on “neighbour” numbers (i.e. orphelins), it allows you to cover groups of numbers with fewer bets.

Outside Bets: Any bet outside of the inner table. Outside bets offer lower returns than inside bets. In roulette, the inner board is any betting option contained without the main, rectangular betting area. The inner board is where the individual numbers sit. 

Pockets: These are the slots where the ball lands on a roulette wheel.

Random Number Generator (RNG): When you play roulette online, the outcome is determined by a computer program known as an RNG. An RNG uses mathematics to generate random results. This allows online casinos to offer games that are as fair as their live counterparts.

Red Bet: An outside bet in live and online roulette. When you bet on red, you’ll win a 1:1 (even money) return on your money if any red number hits.

Sixainne: The French term for a line bet.

Split: A bet that covers two adjacent numbers. The bet is known as a split because you’re literally splitting the chip by placing it on the line between the two numbers. The payout for a winning split bet in roulette is 17:1.

Straight Up: A bet on a single number is known as straight up. The payout on winning straight up bets in roulette is 35:1.

Street: Similar to a line bet, a street bet allows you to cover three numbers in a row with a single bet. To make a street bet, you need to place a chip on the nearside end of a row. The payout for a winning street bet in roulette is 11:1.

Tiers Du Cylindre: Another neighbours bet in French Roulette, tiers du cylindre covers a third of the wheel. This bet requires you to cover 12 numbers with split bets. To make it, you split the following pairs: 5-8, 10-11, 13-16, 23-24, 27-30, and 33-36. The payout on this bet is 17:1, as any win will be a split bet.

Transversale: The French term for a street bet.

Trio Bet: Another term for a street bet in live and online roulette.

Voisins du Zero: A neighbours bet that’s popular in French Roulette. Voisins du zero translates as “neighbours of zero” and sees you cover the 17 numbers that flank zero on the wheel. You have to cover all 17 numbers with nine bets. You do that in the following way:

  • Two chips on the 0-2-3 trio
  • One chip on the 4-7 split
  • One chip on the 12-15 split
  • One chip on the 18-2 split
  • One chip on the 19-22 split
  • Two chips on the 25-26-28-29 corner
  • One chip on the 32-35 split

Zero: A number in the game of roulette. Zero is slightly different to other roulette numbers because it’s green. This means that it’s excluded from any outside bets. 

Roulette FAQ

How do live casino games work?

When you play live roulette or any other live casino game, you’re connected to a live game via a webcam. This allows you to see what’s going on at the table in real-time. In tandem with the live stream, RFID sensors on the table link to a computer program that allows you to place bets on the action via your desktop or mobile device.

What Are RFID Sensors?

These are small devices that record data in real-time. Each sensor records actions that take place on the table. These actions are then sent to a computer program so our system knows the result of each spin. This information is compared with the bets you made to determine whether you won the round or not.

Are Live Casino Games And Live Roulette Safe?

Yes. Live roulette and all live casino games are tightly controlled and regulated. In fact, every live roulette game you play online will be as fair as one in a brick-and-mortar casino. To ensure fairness and safety at all times, live roulette games have to be tested and monitored. These conditions form part of a company’s licensing duties. In other words, without proving a game is safe and fair, the company wouldn’t receive a gaming licence and, therefore, wouldn’t be able to offer products online.

Is There An RNG In Live Roulette Games?

No – with the only exception being Lightning Roulette. In this game, the location of the five numbers that are struck by lightning are controlled by a computer program called an RNG. This is very much similar to the process behind digital casino games such as online slots, blackjack and roulette, in the action is controlled by the game’s Random Number Generator. In this instance, the program does the job of a dealer and produces random results. In live roulette, however – bar Lightning Roulette, the dealer is solely responsible for controlling the wheel and, therefore, generating random results. 

How Can I See The Action?

All live roulette games online are broadcast to your screens via HD webcams. To ensure everyone has the best experience, you can adjust the quality of the stream to suit your connection. Additionally, many of the best live roulette games now feature multiple cameras so you can get different perspectives on the board and wheel.

What Types Of Live Roulette Are There?

As well as European, American and French roulette, live casino developers have created new variants in recent years. Games such as Lightning Roulette feature bonus options that allow you to potentially pick up enhanced payouts. As the popularity of live casino games grows, you’ll find more innovative offerings at LiveRoulette our Canadian online casino in the coming years.

To play live roulette and enjoy the action of a truly immersive online game experience, click the link below and join LiveRoulette today.

18+ | begambleaware.org | Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Terms & Conditions apply.

Elle King to Ignite the Island Casino Stage in February

Mark your calendars! Grammy-nominee and CMA award winner Elle King is set to perform at the Island Casino in Harris, Michigan, on February 23 & 24, 2024, promising two nights of high-energy music combined with a crowd-pleasing, electrifying performance. Tickets are $50 and go on sale Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. ET

King is an internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter who has received four Grammy nominations and has won various awards from the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. Her 2015 hit “Ex’s & Oh’s,” from the album Love Stuff, propelled her career and launched her into stardom.

Hear King’s Multi-Platinum Hits

The platinum-selling artist known for her chart-topping hits like “Ex’s & Oh’s” and “America’s Sweetheart” brings a fusion of rock, blues and country intertwined with soul. The raspy undertones of her voice, combined with her raw lyrical narratives, make her live performances a hypnotic experience, leaving audiences captivated and constantly yearning for more.

Elle King and Miranda Lambert’s “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” reached the top of the pop and country charts back in April 2023, making it the first solo female duet to reach No. 1 on country radio since Reba McEntire and Linda Davis’ “Does He Love You” in 1993. 

King’s string of Country-Rock hits over the last half-decade include

Southern Roots with a Global Impact

Elle King is the daughter of actor and comedian Rob Schneider of Saturday Night Live fame and former model London King. She was raised in a southern Ohio town. Her latest album, “Come Get Your Wife“, reflects her upbringing and a yearning to return to her home. King’s roots run deep and honest in the realm of country music.

Visit elleking.com to hear more, learn about Elle King and find other events. Get your tickets to one of the hottest upcoming shows of 2024!

Show Details

Date: February 23 & 24, 2024

Location: Island Showroom

Ticket Price: $50

Purchase tickets by phone at 1-877-ISL-SHOW or buy them online.

Betsafe Expands to Kenya

With an established presence in more than 20 countries, Betsafe has finally made their sports betting experience available in Africa. The step was made through their Kenyan subsidiary; bet High Kenya LTD.

Betsafe has proven its dedication to football through its three-year-long sponsorship agreement with Kenya’s top-tier football clubs, Gor Mahia FC and AFC Leopards. This deal enabled them to touch base with Kenya’s most passionate football fans, to whom they will be able to provide their well-known range of betting experience. 

Alex Kobia, Acting Managing Director of BetHigh Ltd. puts emphasis on the fact that this launch is not only to provide the best possible sports betting experience, but to also serve as the industry standard for safe and responsible gaming.

Given that they are entering the market at such a crucial time for the Keynan Government and its new regulations for the industry, Betsafe is aware of the importance of safe betting. In light of the fresh efforts made with the help of the Betting Control and Licensing Board, Betsafe noted that they “will strictly adhere and fully support the Regulator in its objective of ensuring responsible gaming.”

A Unique Product Launch backed up by the two top-tier football clubs

Having that end goal in mind of providing the best service in the country, they have worked hard to tailor their product to the Kenyan market and their future users. Considering relatively low smartphone penetration in Kenya, most bettors still use basic phones, where SMS betting remains a popular and convenient way for placing bets. This is why Betsafe Kenya enables customers to place bets via SMS without the need for a gameID. The wager and stake can be set by simply texting #23333, and can be cancelled within a certain timeframe should the bettor change their mind. 

Fast payouts are a critical feature for both Betsafe and their customers, which is why they will do everything they can to ensure this is something that their customers can always count on.

Looking forward, in the span of a few months, they also aim to introduce and release several other new features, such as jackpots.  

In addition to providing Kenyans with the unique experience of online betting, the operator of Bet High Kenya Ltd. stated for CH that they plan to hire 150 employees during the upcoming 24-month period.

Alex Kobia’s final say on the launch was, “In essence, our ambition is to deliver a trustworthy product with safe and quick pay-outs, innovative betting services, passion, and commitment to Kenyan football, responsible gaming, and outstanding customer support.”

Euro 2024 Odds: Betting Predictions and Picks

Euro 2024 will be held in Germany from June 14 to July 14, 2024. We’re in the early stages of qualifications with no more than two games being played per side.

In total 24 will participate in the tournament, and 23 of those sides will come through the qualification process. As hosts, Germany automatically qualifies. 

We’re a year out from one of soccer’s most important tournaments – and with lots of qualifying matches left to play – but let’s take an early look at the odds board and who’s favored to win.

Odds to Win 2024 Euro

Odds to win Euro 2024
Team Odds
France +500
Germany +550
England +600
Spain +750
Portugal +1000
Belgium +1200
Italy +1200
Netherlands +1400
Denmark +2000
Croatia +3500

Odds as of June 13

Why Is France Favored to Win Euro 2024?

On an international level, the French are the second-best side. Les Bleus were runners-up at the 2022 World Cup. On that World Cup journey in Qatar, France took out some strong European opponents.

They bested Denmark 2-1 in the group stage (the Danish hold the ninth-best Euro odds), Poland in the Round of 16 by a score of 3-1 (Poland is at +5000 for Euro 2024) and then France dispatched the English 2-1 in the Quarter-Finals (England is third on Euro odds board).

Through the short qualification period, France is 2-0-0 with a +5 goal differential while keeping two clean sheets with wins over Ireland and the Netherlands. 

Star power is another big factor to consider, and the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge have the biggest star of them all in Kylian Mbappe. The PSG forward has no flaws in his game and dominates at every level. 

In Qatar, Mbappe scored the most goals (8), lead the tournament in goal-creating actions with 11 (five more than the next best-player) and was third for goal-creating actions per 90 (1.74). When it comes to unlocking a game there’s no better player in Europe or even the world than Mbappe.

Euro 2024 Value 

France enters the tournament as slight favorites, what sides have greater value and have a chance to win instead of the favorites?

Germany

The hosts are just behind France on the oddsboard at +550. Because of their host status, we don’t have any sense of the form their in. They haven’t played any games because they don’t need to qualify.

If not for a shock 2-1 loss to Japan in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, Germany would have likely gone much further. They bounced back from that defeat to the Blue Samurai with a 1-1 draw with a strong Spanish side before dismantling Costa Rica 4-2 to close out their tournament. 

The Germans will hope that youngster Jamal Musiala builds off a strong World Cup where he was credited with 7.67 shot-creating actions per 90 and an even better 22-23 Bundesliga campaign where he scored 12 goals and had ten assists for Bayern in his 19-year-old season. The kid is only going to get much better.

England

The English are the top-ranked side in Group C of Euro qualifiers with wins over Ukraine (2-0) and Italy (2-1).

Gareth Southgate’s side is winning games they should (against Ukraine) and those where they’re second best (vs Italy). Against the Azzurri, England only had 42% of the possession and 42% of the shots, they even went down a man in the 80th minute thanks to a Luke Shaw red card and still won 2-1. 

With Southgate’s contract over in December of 2024, this will likely be his final major tournament. His sides have come close to glory a few times but never won a title. Sadly for the three lions, their returns have been diminishing for the last few years.

England Under Southgate
Tournament Finish
2018 World Cup 4th
2022 Wold Cup 6th
2020 Euro Runner-Up
2019 UEFA Nations League 3rd
2021 UEFA Nations League 9th
2023 UEFA Nations League 15th

2024 Euro Dark horse

Every Euro tournament has its dark horse. A team comes out of nowhere and makes a deep run and upsets the landscape. 

In 2020, that was the Swiss who finished third in Group A and made it to the Quarter-Finals after beating France in the Round of 16.

Who should you have your eyes on in 2024?

Netherlands

The Dutch are no strangers to this competition. They won it once in 1988 and placed third four times. That last third-place finish came in 2004. 

At the 2022 World Cup, the Flying Dutchmen finished fourth with the third youngest squad in the competition. They had an average age of 26. Forward Cody Gakpo was a revelation with three goals in five matches for the Oranje in Qatar. 

There’s a lot to like about Holland. At +1400, keep an eye on their qualifying. 

Croatia

The Croatians are at the top of Group D with four points in two qualifiers. Remember, they finished as runners-up at the 2018 World Cup and then third in Qatar. Never discount Croatia at a major international tournament. With +3500 odds you could make $350 on a $10 bet backing them this early. That’s very tempting. 

Last Five Euro Winners

Last 5 Euro Winners
Year Team Opening Odds
2004 Greece +15000
2008 Spain +450
2012 Spain +250
2016 Portugal +1800
2020 Italy +700

 

Favorites typically win this tournament. They have deep squads overflowing with some of the most talented players in all of Europe. But every few years a dark horse goes all the way and is crowned Kings of Europe.

At +15000 Greece, and those who bet on them, haven’t yet forgotten about that tournament in 2004.

Last Five Euro Runners-Up 

Last 5 Euro Runners-Up
Year Team Score
2004 Portugal Lost 1-0 to Greece
2008 Germany Lost 1-0 to Spain
2012 Italy Lost 4-0 to Spain
2016 France Lost 1-0 to Portugal*
2020 England Lost 3-2 to Italy**

*After extra time
**Game tied 1-1 after extra time, ended 3-2 in penalties

The Euro finals are a low-scoring affair. Over the last five tournaments, three or more goals have been scored only once. It’s worth exploring the UNDER when the Final comes up in July of 2024.

How to Read Euro 2024 Odds

At any soccer betting site, you’ll see futures odds laid out like so:

  • England +500
  • Belgium +550
  • France +550
  • Spain +700

If you were to make a traditional straight-up bet, the favorite would be shown with the minus sign (-). In cases like these where there is no clear front-runner, the country with the lowest odds is the fave even if they’re all represented with the plus sign (+) which is generally used to demonstrate underdogs.

Let’s say you’ve looked at the group schedule and think Belgium is going to dominate and make it all the way to the top. A $100 bet would give you a payout of $650 – your original money is returned coupled with your winnings of $550.

Our Odds Calculator is a tool that will tell you how much you’d win based on the offered odds and amount bet.

What is a Futures Bet on the Euro Championship?

A futures bet is a wager made far in advance of a big event. Here, the bet is on the quadrennial Euro contest. It can be said that most bets are made prior to a sporting matchup, but futures can be placed weeks, months or even years in advance. In fact, as soon as the last championship is won, new odds will be released.

The odds will shift as the group stage gets closer and continue to move until right before the final is played on July 14, 2024, at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. If you see odds you like, take them to get the most value on your bets (should you win).

How to play Faro & Game Rules with Video – PlayingCardDecks.com

(This is the typical set up for the game Faro)

(This is the typical set up for the game Faro)

Card Game Rules

Faro is a historical casino game for two or more players. It requires a standard 52 card deck, an extra set of 13 cards for each rank, a set of betting chips for each player, and a penny for each player. In Faro, Aces are low and Kings are high. The objective is to win the most bets. 

If you are looking for cards to play Faro with, check out a standard deck here or check out one of our recent arrivals here.

For more casino games, check out our guides for In-Between and Baccarat.

You can also find an 1882 rule book to Faro here.

Set-Up

To set-up a game a Faro, place the extra 13 cards in two rows face up in the middle of the playing table. These cards make up the tableau. From the top left going right, the card order should be King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, and 8. The 7 should be placed to the right of and halfway down from the 8. The 6 should then be placed to the left of the 7 and directly below the 8. From the 6 going left, the card order should be 5, 4, 3, 2, and Ace.

The dealer sits opposite of the players with a faced down deck of shuffled cards in-front of them. Players bring their own chips to bet with. Every player receives a penny to bet against cards with.

 

How to Play

The dealer begins the game by showing everyone the top card of the deck. The card is then placed face up to the side of the gameplay area. Players then place bets on one of the cards in the tableau. Next the dealer draws two card from the deck and places them face up for all the players to see. The first card is the loser. The second card is the winner. Bets on the first card are lost. Bets on the second card receive 1:1 payout from the dealer.

The flipped over cards are placed to the side and another round begins. Players can move their bets around, keep them where they were or begin placing bets on multiple cards. Multiple players can bet on the same card. Gameplay continues until the deck runs out.

 

Misc. Rules

A player can bet that the winning card is higher than the losing card by placing chips next to the deck. Payout is 1:1.

A player can bet on the losing card by placing a penny on top of their chip. 

When the deck has three cards left, players can bet on the order of the final draw.

If the losing and winning cards are of the same rank, then the dealer receives half of the bet made.

If a player places a bet on a card that has already been drawn four times from the deck, the first person (player or dealer) who notices can say “dead bet” and receive the chips.

History

(A game of Faro in 1895)

(A game of Faro in 1895)

Faro was first played in 18th century France. It was named after the picture of an Egyptian pharaoh that appeared on many French playing cards. The game spread eastward towards Russia and eventually reached the American West in the 1800’s. By 1925, the game became virtually extinct as Baccarat and Blackjack took over as the more popular games at casinos.

For more information about Faro, check out David Parlett’s article here or Pagat.com’s article here.

 

Looking for more card games to play?  Check out this article:

40+ Great Card Games For All Occasions

About the author: John Taylor is a content writer and freelancer through the company Upwork.com. You may view his freelancing profile here. He has a B. A. in English, with a specialty in technical writing, from Texas A&M University and a M. A. in English from the University of Glasgow. You may view his previous articles about card games here and his LinkedIn profile here.

John Taylor Head shot

Last update date: 0/25/21

Mengungkap Rahasia Tersembunyi: Cara Bermain di Situs Slot Bet 100 dengan Lancar

Mengungkap Rahasia Tersembunyi: Cara Bermain di Situs Slot Bet 100 dengan Lancar

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The Biggest Name in Betting

There’s no bigger name in North American sports betting right now than James “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, a 72-year-old furniture magnate based in Houston, TX.

Mack famously won a jaw-dropping payout of US $76 million on a 2022 World Series bet in which he picked his hometown Astros to beat the Philadelphia Phillies. It set a record for the biggest payout in US sports betting history.

And that was just one wager in a series of attention-grabbing multimillion-dollar bets he’s placed in recent years. He wins big, but he also loses big – and in the process, he’s shown a keen understanding of his own risk-taking nature. That’s why this famous bettor has gone on record saying he’s happy that local gambling restrictions help to keep his impulsiveness in check.

Mattress Mack’s Millions

Born into a sports-loving family, Mattress Mack played college football himself before graduating and being bitten by the entrepreneurial bug.

In 1981, he opened the first of what would become a chain of successful furniture stores under the name Gallery Furniture. In fact, decades of appearances in TV commercials promoting these stores – specifically, the mattresses they sell – is what eventually led locals to give him his alliterative nickname, which then naturally became his handle in the sports betting world.

With his stores eventually bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue – his salary as of 2023 is a reported $30 million – Mack became rich by any common understanding of the word.

He’s cleverly leveraged much of the money he’s won betting on sports to promote his business. When he won his record-breaking bet, a good chunk of that huge payout ended up going to his customers to honour a promotion to refund mattress purchases if he won the bet. It’s safe to assume many Houston mattress buyers likely had the best sleep of their lives the night he won.

Know Thyself, and Play Safe

Of course, like all gamblers, Mack doesn’t always win. He’s had not just cold streaks but collapses that would bankrupt most people, including a lengthy stretch during the 2021-22 football season that cost him millions.

But he understands his impulsive personality. He has even gone on record stating that he’s happy he needs to travel out of state in order to legally place most wagers. Texas doesn’t allow sports betting, so he drives to Louisiana, and Mack claims the time and distance involved both serve to help “limit those impulses” to wager on whatever strikes his fancy.

If, like Mack, you sometimes act impulsively when betting on sports, you might want to consider popping over to your neighbourhood convenience store to place your bet. Betting with PROLINE in-store is an easy way to play, but it does require you to travel to place a wager. It’s not quite the same sort of obstacle as needing to drive to another province to play, but it does mean you’ll need to invest some physical effort in acting on those impulses and will provide a little more time to mull over whether you want to place your bet.

If you prefer playing online, no worries; PlaySmart has resources to help you manage spur-of-the-moment decision making.

The sports spend limit tool allows you to control how much money you plan to spend on sports betting on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. The first step before risking any money gambling is to establish your budget. That way you’ll always be on top of your game.

PlaySmart educational tools, meanwhile, provide guides and tips that can help you better understand how to bet, how different games work, how odds are set, and your chances of winning. This will help you figure out, for example, what it means to bet on single games or groups of games (parlay bets), and whether you want to wager on the outcomes of games or specific facets within those games, such as an individual player’s performance.

Play Smart, Have Fun

Mattress Mack made a name for himself by winning big, but he’s not really playing for the money. His wagers are placed for the thrill of it, not with an expectation to pad his bank account.

Casual players can learn a lesson from Houston’s famous bed seller. Gamble what you can afford, never chase losses or try to win back what you’ve lost by going deeper into your pocket, and don’t expect to win. If you need help getting into that headspace, PlaySmart has you covered.

Facts, Odds & Responsible Gambling Tips

Facts, Odds & Responsible Gambling Tips
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    Understanding Responsible Gambling

    Facts, Odds & Responsible Gambling Tips

Permainan Judi Slot Terbaik di Slot777: Daftar dan Raih Kemenangan Anda Sekarang!

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Top 10 Online Casino Games to Try at Big Dollar Casino

Online casinos have gained immense popularity in recent years, offering a thrilling and convenient way to enjoy the excitement of gambling from the comfort of your own home. Big Dollar Casino is one of the leading online casinos, known for its extensive game selection and fantastic promotions. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 online casino games to try at Big Dollar Casino, each offering a unique gaming experience that could lead to some big wins. So, let’s dive in and discover the best games this casino has to offer.

1. Slot Games

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Biggest Snooker Tournaments ✔️ Snooker Championships Worldwide

There are many events and championships worldwide, but to keep this blog post short, we will introduce only the best snooker tournaments. First, we will briefly present the snooker game and then introduce the major championships.

Below you can see the main sections of the article, and we added answers to interesting questions at the end. We listed major events like the Snooker World Championship, amateur, women, and more championships in various countries.

Why Is Snooker Popular?

The sports news report about the biggest snooker tournaments, their champions, and fascinating details about the players’ skills. People unfamiliar with this game frequently mistake it for pool and wonder how a pub game has international ranking championships. Read on to learn what makes snooker special:

🎱 Game Snooker
💠 Origin 1875 in India
🗺️ Popularity Worldwide
👀 Government Bodies World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA)
International Billiards and Snooker Federation
Snooker Associations in Various Countries
🔘 Equipment Billiard Table with Green Baize and 6 Pockets
White Cue Ball
Cue Stick (per Player)
22 Coloured Balls
🔴 Coloured Ball Points Red = 1 point
Yellow = 2 points
Green = 3 points
Brown = 4 points
Blue = 5 points
Pink = 6 points
Black = 7 points
White = 4 points for the opponent
📝 Counting Points Every time a player pots a coloured ball without committing a foul, the points are added to their score.
Potting the white cue ball brings 4 points for the opponent.
⏳ Game Duration A ‘frame’ is one snooker game.
A ‘match’ consists of 7, 9 or 11 frames (17 or 19 frames for finals).
Some championships decide how many frames will be in a match.
💰 Prizes Money Prize Pool, Material Rewards
🏆 Highest Achievement Career Triple Crown Series

The history of this billiard variation began over 150 years ago in India. A British officer invented snooker in 1875 by combining the rules of black pool and pyramids. The new game was easy to remember and, therefore, well received by his fellow officers.

By the 1990s, snooker was played all around the UK. The Professional Championship of Snooker was the first major event we know as the World Snooker Championship held in 1927. Joe Davis became the first winner whose name entered the hall of top and memorable snooker players.

Today the main event organiser of the best snooker tournaments is the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), but there are also Matchroom Sport, World Snooker Tour, and more.

The International Olympic Committee considers is considering snooker for entry into the 2024 Olympic Games. If this happens, gamblers may have more snooker events to wager on at the UK’s best snooker betting sites for 2023.

Most Popular Snooker Events & Tournaments

Room with Snooker Tables

The most popular and biggest snooker championships draw spectators and players worldwide . Fans of the different national snooker tournaments and international competitions can view them on TV or sports channels.

Snooker’s popularity allows people to wager on their favourite players at the best sports betting apps in the UK. If you are still finding your way around the pool table, we will share the snooker tournaments you can watch or participate in.

Biggest Snooker Championships in the World

The 17 ranking snooker competitions are deserving of players’ and spectators’ attention. Besides recognition, the winners receive trophies and money rewards like the Snooker World Championship prize money of almost £500,000 (first place).

Depending on the organiser, slight differences in the rules, number of frames, and match duration might exist. Without further delay, here are the details of the most popular snooker championships worldwide:

  • 🎱 China Championship: was first held in 2016 in China and now is one of the most popular ranking snooker championships globally with a prize pool of £751,000.
  • 🎱 International Championship (Snooker): has been held in China since 2012 and currently has the second highest prize pool outside of the UK, up to £802,000.
  • 🎱 Players Championship or the Players Tour Championship Finals is a ranking event with a prize fund of £385,000. WPBSA first held it in 2011 in England, featuring the top 16 players of the year’s rank listing.
  • 🎱 Shanghai Masters (Snooker): is a non-ranking invitation-only event established in 2007. This tournament is held in Shanghai, China, and offers a £751,000 prize pool.
  • 🎱 Snooker Champion of Champions: is a UK-based event established in 1978 and organised by the WPBSA and Matchroom Sport. It is a non-ranking event with prizes of up to £440,000.
  • 🎱 Snooker Championship League: has been held in England since 2008 and has both ranking and non-ranking formats. The prize fund of this Matchroom Sport-organised tournament can go up to £328,000 for ranking players and up to £205,000 for non-ranking players.
  • 🎱 Snooker China Open: is one of the ranking professional snooker tournaments held by the WPBSA. Established in 1997, this international championship offers one of the highest prize funds, reaching up to £1,000,000.
  • 🎱 Snooker Tour Championship: is a UK-based and WPBSA-organised ranking snooker tournament. First held in 2019 and is the final championship after World Grand Prix and Players Championship, with a prize pool of up to £380,000.
  • 🎱 Snooker World Cup: is Mike Watterson’s non-ranking invitational team snooker tournament held in China since 1979. WPBSA organises this international event and grants prize pools of up to £660,000.
  • 🎱 The Masters’ Snooker: is a non-ranking professional invitational snooker tournament organised by the World Snooker Tour. It was first held in 1975 and is one of the Triple Crown events. The current total prize fund is £725,000.
  • 🎱 UK Championship (Snooker): is a professional ranking snooker event first held in 1977 in England. The World Snooker Tour organises it, and it is part of the Triple Crown event with a total prize pool of £1,009,000.
  • 🎱 World Open Snooker: is organised by the WPBSA and held in China since 1982 (founded as Professional Players Tournament). Today, it has a prize pool of up to £772,000.
  • 🎱 World Snooker Championship: was established in 1927 by the World Snooker Association and is currently the longest-running ranking snooker event globally. It is held in England and has a prize pool of £2,395,000, of which £500,000 go to the winner.

All those events draw crowds to the arenas and in front of the TVs. One of the most exciting events is the World Snooker Championship 2023 and the events from the Triple Crown.

Even if you are not a devoted fan, you might find the biggest competitions entertaining. There are interesting twists and turns in the frames, and the commentators always share curious information, like who the richest snooker player is.

Women’s Snooker Tournaments & Events

Snooker Balls Circle on a Table

Women are always welcome at professional snooker competitions and often win titles. There are also women-only snooker championships organised by the World Women’s Snooker like those:

  • 💃🏻 Eden Women’s Masters
  • 💃🏻 UK Women’s Championship
  • 💃🏻 US Women’s Open
  • 💃🏻 World Women’s 10-Red Championship
  • 💃🏻 World Women’s Snooker Championship (formal Women’s Professional Snooker Championship) created in 1934

The ladies’ professionalism and skills are why many tournaments listed above have become some of the most-viewed snooker events. The most popular female snooker winners are Reanne Evans, Allison Fisher, Kelly Fisher, Karen Corr, Ng On Yee, and more.

The ladies also break records like Reanne Evans’ 12 wins of the WWSC (World Women’s Snooker Championship) and the highest number of consecutive title wins (2005 until 2014). Allison Fisher has won 68 main titles, which is still a record.

Snooker Triple Crown Series

Three Trophies and Podium

Many players attend and win the biggest snooker tournaments, but one competition stands above all else – the Triple Crown Series snooker championship. This achievement is hard to get even by the best World Snooker Championship winners because they must win all three:

  • 🏆 World Snooker Championship
  • 🏆 The Masters
  • 🏆 UK Championship

The Triple Crown Series is the most-viewed snooker event, and many players wager on their favourite players at the top British betting sites for pool. You may even find wagers on who will win a ‘career Triple Crown’ (win Triple Crown more than once).

So far, Stephen Hendry has won the Triple Crown series in a single season twice, while Steve Davis and Mark Williams had done it once. As of 2023, only eleven snooker players have won a career Triple Crown.

Types of the Best Snooker Tournaments

Black and White Ball on a Pool Table

The biggest snooker championships are not only for professional players. For example, the World Seniors Snooker Championship is an invitation-based event, organised by the International Billiards & Snooker Federation. Players compete outside of the professional rank list and for different rewards.

The championships are open for people of all ages willing to show their skills and compete for a prize. Here are the main types of the most-viewed snooker events you can watch and sign up for:

  • 🏆 Ranking
  • 🎊 Non-ranking
  • 🎫 Invitational
  • 🏅 Pro-Am (professional & amateur)

The most popular snooker championships are hard to get in, especially for beginner players. Don’t give up because one day you may become the greatest snooker player of all time and outrank Ronnie O’Sullivan, Roanne Evans, and the rest.

Interesting Questions

Many questions arise when we discuss the biggest snooker tournaments, so we selected and answered the most interesting inquiries. The answers below are brief and on the point, but we added links to more details in the relevant sections of this blog post.

*️⃣ Why is snooker popular?

Anyone who has seen or played billiards is familiar with the competitive and fun character of the game. In the 1870s, billiards’ sports version was born and called the Snooker. Ever since, devoted players and fans of the game spread it worldwide and created the biggest snooker tournaments to rank the players.

*️⃣ Why are the best snooker tournaments popular?

The list is long and includes national and international snooker events. The fans like the twists in the games, players’ trophies, and prizes, and the silent tension while waiting for the shot. Some of the most popular snooker events are the World Snooker Championship (since 1927) and the Triple Crown Series – the highest mark of the snooker player’s skills.

*️⃣ Who is the greatest snooker player of all time?

Each of the biggest snooker championships has a list of their top players, winners, and spectacular achievements, and the best contestants win multiple championships. Becoming a Triple Crown winner is the highest achievement reached only by 11 snooker players. There are only three career Tipple Crown winners – Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, and Mark Williams.

*️⃣ What types of snooker tournaments are there?

The most popular snooker championships can be divided into four snooker tournament types: ranking, non-ranking, invitation-only, and pro-am. The ranking events are valuable to professional players because they allow them to find their place in the competition. The other tournament types allow amateurs and retired players alongside professionals.

*️⃣ Which are the biggest snooker championships in the world?

Some of the best snooker tournaments players dream of winning are the World Championship, China Open, the Masters, and more. At the biggest snooker championships, the winning snooker players receive trophies, money prizes, and recognition. Winning a ranking championship is also a ticket to many invitation-only snooker events.

*️⃣ Are there women snooker championships?

The biggest snooker tournaments allow in players of all genders and ages. There, ladies fair surprisingly well. There are also women-only snooker events where the contestants are divided by experience, age, professional or amateur skills, and more. All-female competitions include US Women’s Open, World Women’s Snooker Championship, Eden Women’s Masters, and more.

*️⃣ How do I count points in snooker?

If you can watch one of the best snooker tournaments, you will notice that each coloured ball has an assigned value. The snooker rules state that each colour awards different points to the player. Don’t pot the white because points are awarded to your opponent.

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Online Slots Glossary For Beginners

If you’re new to online slots and you don’t know your wilds from your win multipliers and your scatters from your stacked symbols, take some to browse our A-Z slots glossary. This article lists all the common terms you’ll encounter the next time you play slots online.

Hopefully, you should have a better handle on how online slots work after reading this glossary. Our goal is to help you become the next slots slayer right here at LiveRoulette!

A

All Ways: Otherwise known as ‘win both ways’ these slots can have hundreds of available paylines  which can pay from left-to-right or right-to-left, maximising your winning potential.

Autoplay: If you want to play a multiple number of spins without having to press ‘Spin’ each time, set your gameplay to autoplay a pre-selected number of spins.

B

Bonus Games: Most online slots have at least one bonus game, which is often triggered by scatters or wild symbols. These bonus games can range from free spins rounds to bonus wheels and “pick-me” features.

Branded Slot: A branded slot is one that’s themed around a specific franchise, such as a Hollywood movie or hit television series, featuring exclusive visual and audio content.

C

Cascading Reels: Symbols involved in winning combinations are removed from the reels, leaving gaps to be replaced by new slot symbols that drop in from the top. This gives you a chance to win multiple combinations on a single spin.

Classic Slot: A ‘classic’ slot is one which nods to old-school fruit machines, featuring the classic fruity symbols, bells, lucky sevens and BARS, amongst others.

Cold Game: More common on casino floors than online slots, when a slot game is said to be ‘cold’ it means it does not pay out as frequently.

Coins: The funds you add to your chosen slot are displayed in a coin value, based on the minimum bet size per spin.

E

Expanding Wilds: An expanding wild is a special type of wild symbol (see ‘Wild’ for full description). Whenever the expanding wild feature is active, a wild symbol will expand to fill an entire reel to bring greater winning potential.

F

Fixed Jackpot: Online slots with a fixed jackpot have a fixed maximum prize, usually triggered by landing five of a specific symbol on a payline, or sometimes triggered at random.

Free Spins: It’s possible to unlock extra free spins by landing certain win combinations, such as three scatter symbols on a payline. A free spin is quite literally a free spin of the reels.

Fruit Machine: The British name for a classic slot machine. Fruit machines are the classic three-reel, three-payline slots featuring fruit symbols, lucky sevens, bells and BARs.

G

Gamble Feature: Within some slot games it is possible to gamble the winnings from your spin. You may be asked to pick a card suit or colour, or to guess high or low on the outcome of a card displayed on screen. You could double, triple or even quadruple your money depending on the game, but it’s also possible to lose all your winnings.

H

High Volatility: A slot deemed to have high volatility means that it is programmed to give out less frequent prizes and jackpots. However, most high volatility slots tend to offer bigger prizes when they do pay out.

Hit-And-Run: This term is used to describe slot players that play on single payline slots using maximum coins for a few spins and move on to the next slot if they don’t win.

Hit Frequency: How often a slot pays out on average. For example, a game with a hit frequency of five is expected to yield a winning payline approximately every five spins.

Hot Game: The opposite of a ‘Cold game’, hot slots are those that are said to be paying out regularly and in large sums.

J

Jackpot: The jackpot of an online slot is the coveted top prize, and can be fixed, progressive or linked across a network of slots.

L

Linked Progressive Jackpots: On occasion, there are multiple slot games whose progressive jackpots are linked together, often branded slots based on the same franchise. It doesn’t matter which one you play, you will be playing for the same progressive jackpot.

Loose Slot: A ‘loose’ slot is one that is considered to have low volatility, paying out more regularly than a ‘tight’ or high volatility slot.

Low Volatility: Low volatility slots tend to have higher hit frequencies and are often great slots for beginners. The trade-off is that low volatility slots may have smaller prizes on offer.

M

Maximum Bet: The maximum bet is the largest stake you can place per spin on your chosen slot game, based on the number of active paylines and the maximum coin denomination available.

MegawaysTM: This is a popular slot game engine is designed to expand the number of rows played per reel, giving you up hundreds of thousands of potential ways to win.

Mobile Slot: Mobile slots are those optimised for responsive gameplay across desktop, smartphone and tablet devices, utilising the latest HTML5 technology.

Multi-Line: This term is used to describe online slots with more than a single payline.

Multiplier: A multiplier could be a specific symbol which can multiply your winnings by a predetermined figure. Multipliers can also be found in free spins rounds, when the more consecutive wins you land, the bigger the multiplier grows.

N

Near miss: Players that narrowly miss out on a winning combination on a payline describe this as a near miss.

Nudge: Inspired by classic fruit machine gameplay, some slots have a ‘nudge’ functionality included, allowing players to hit the nudge button to move a reel up or down one space to form a winning payline.

O

One-Armed Bandit: The first slot machines produced in land-based casinos, which required players to pull a lever to spin the reels.

P

Payline: A payline is the line that symbols need to align with to trigger a payout.

Pay Table: The pay table for any slots online is designed to fully explain the rules and payout sizes of each game. It outlines the low and high-value symbols to look out for on the reels.

Penny Slot: A penny slot game is one which requires players to pay as little as €0.01 per spin.

Pick-Me Bonus: A type of slot bonus screen whereby players must select on-screen options to reveal instant prizes.

Progressive Jackpot: A progressive jackpot is a rolling jackpot that continues to increase in value until it is won. A percentage of each player’s stake per spin is contributed to the progressive jackpot, so the more players play, the higher the pot.

R

Random Number Generator: All state-of-the-art online slots are powered by a random number generator (RNG), which is a tamper-proof algorithm designed to randomise the outcome of every spin.

Reels: These are the columns within which the symbols spin to create potential winning combinations.

Return To player (RTP): The RTP percentage gives slot players an indicator of how much they can expect to return from their spins. If a slot has an RTP of 97%, for every €100 you stake, you can expect to receive €97 back on average.

S

Scatter Symbol: The scatter symbol is often used to trigger bonus rounds, and is usually the only symbol on the reels that the wild does not substitute for.

Stacked Symbols: Whenever the same symbols appear on top of one another on the reels, they are considered stacked.

Stacked Wilds: Whenever the wild symbol appears on top of one another on the reels, they are considered stacked.

T

Total Bet: The size of the total bet in an online slot is the total number of coins staked across all paylines.

V

Variance: The variance of a slot is the payout rate of a specific game. Slots with high variance are programmed to pay out less frequently than low variance slots. Variance can be used interchangeably with volatility.

Video Slot: A video slot game is designed to be displayed on desktop, smartphone or tablet screens using virtual reels instead of mechanical reels.

Volatility: Highly volatile slots are those that pay out less frequently, but with typically larger payouts when they do. Low volatility slots are those that pay out smaller prizes over a greater hit frequency.

W

Wild: A wild symbol is one of the most lucrative symbols in a slot game. Wilds can usually substitute any other base game symbol to improve winning combinations, except scatters. The same way that a joker works in a game of cards.

Win Both Ways: Slots with win both ways functionality can pay out on paylines running right-to-left as well as left-to-right.

Z

Zig-zag: Some slot paylines are designed to go up and down the reels or diagonally. These are known as zig-zag paylines.

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Now that our slots glossary has equipped with all the slot lingo you need, log in or create a new account to play online slots at our Canadian online casino today!

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12 BEST SOLO BOARD GAMES

Solo board games are a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. And luckily, there is now an endless supply of awesome single-player board games! Whether you’re a seasoned solo gamer or just dipping your toe into this exciting realm, we’ve curated a list of the 12 best solo board games that promise hours of enthralling gameplay and boundless fun. There is no need to have less fun just because you are playing alone!

1. TERRAFORMING MARS

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $80
  • Objective: Terraform Mars by collecting innovation cards and resources
  • Age: 12+

Calling all sci-fi and space nerds! Terraforming Mars is an incredible solo board game that is set in the 2400s. The goal of this game is to build infrastructure and turn Mars into a liveable paradise for mankind to set up life on. The game is similar to Settlers of Catan, but it can be played either single-player or multiplayer. In Terraforming Mars, players are the heads of corporations that compete to terraform Mars as fast as possible. This game will take a bit of time to learn to play as there are quite a few moving parts, and each game will take 1.5 to 3 hours to play. If you are looking for a fun and strategic space exploration game, Terraforming Mars is a perfect choice.

HOW TO PLAY

Each game of Terraforming Mars is played in rounds called “generations.” In the first generation, you draw 10 cards and receive 42 “mega credits” (the game’s currency). You can then convert the currency into other resources that will allow you to play cards and terraform the planet.

At the start of each subsequent generation, draw four cards and pay 3 credits for the cards you want to keep. After drawing cards, you will do an action, which includes:

  • Play a card
  • Use a standard project
  • Use an action of a blue card
  • Convert 8 plants into greenery tile and raise oxygen
  • Convert 8 heat into a rise in temperature
  • Claim a milestone
  • Fund an award

Continue to draw cards, perform actions, build infrastructure, and raise the oxygen and temperature until Mars is ready for human colonization!

2. PANDEMIC

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $35
  • Objective: Find the cure for all diseases before they destroy the world
  • Age: 8+

Pandemic is an award-winning board game that has gotten far too relatable in recent years… While commonly played with 2 to 5 players, you can actually play Pandemic alone, making it one of the best solo board games out there. This game is strategic, as players work towards fighting the outbreak and finding a cure for the pandemic. If you are unable to fight the disease in time, the pandemic will spread out of control, and you will lose the game!

HOW TO PLAY

Pandemic is not the most complex game out there, making it easy for beginners to grasp, but a lot of strategy goes into winning this game. Playing this game solo is very similar to the multiplayer version of the game, with just a few changes. Check out our complete rules for Pandemic if it is your first time playing! Here are the main changes you’ll need to make to the game:

  • Remove the “Researcher” role.
  • Deal out the game as if you were playing with 3 or 4 roles (depending on how many roles you want to play), but then all roles will share your hand of cards.
  • Instead of alternating between players as you would in the standard game, you alternate controlling different roles. 
  • All other rules, archiving, and gameplay are the same as the standard game.

3. NEMESIS LOCKDOWN

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $153
  • Objective: Survive in a Martian space facility that is overrun with aliens, complete objectives, and make it back to Earth in one piece.
  • Age: 15+

Nemesis Lockdown is the ultimate cooperative board game for groups or solo players. This sci-fi-themed board game is complex and challenging and is designed for dedicated table-top gamers. In the single-player version of this game, you are stuck inside a space station that is infested with an extraterrestrial species called night stalkers. You’ll need to make it through the facility without being attacked (and killed) by the monsters. 

HOW TO PLAY

Nemesis is a very involved solo board game with a lot of pieces. So, if you don’t have a lot of experience with complicated board games, there may be a bit of a learning curve. At the beginning of each game, you start with a player board, an item card holder, help cards, a deck of action cards, a quest, and a weapon. 

Throughout the game, you will fight aliens, making split-second decisions and performing actions. You will attempt to escape or make it to the bunker or isolation room to protect yourself from the intruders. Each round, you will draw cards and carry out actions displayed in rooms, on action cards, on items, and on your player card. 

For an in-depth overview of playing Nemesis, check out the below video guide to the game.

4. MAGE KNIGHT

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $132
  • Objective: Explore and conquer the Mage Knight universe
  • Age: 14+

Mage Knight is a combination of deck-building, role-playing, and a standard board game all in one super entertaining board game. In this game, you will explore cities, fight monsters, and conquer realms. The overall goal of the game is to claim the Mage Knight world as your own. This game is extremely complex and involved, with games taking hours to complete. That said, if you are ready for a top-notch single-player board game, Mage Knight is one of our personal favorites!

HOW TO PLAY

Mage Knight is a hefty game with hundreds of cards, tiles, tokens, mats, and other components. Setting up the game alone can take over an hour, and learning the rules is a process. Make sure to check out our guide to Mage Knight, and use the official WizKids walkthrough of the game as you learn to play.

5. FINAL GIRL

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $21 for the core game, $93 for all four expansions
  • Objective: Explore the game board, find items, save victims, and eventually slay the killer!
  • Age: 14+

Final Girl is a horror movie lover’s dream! This solo board game takes place in a classic 80s horror movie. You play as a female character who is trying to survive a killer on the loose. Something unique about this board game is that you must purchase an expansion pack as well as the core game in order to play. This is because the game is set up to play through different expansions, or “Feature Films,” each time you play. Final Girl is fun, strategic, and horrifying! Additionally, your gameplay will vary based on the expansion you use, as each killer and location is completely different.

HOW TO PLAY

Final Girl can only be played single-player, so you won’t have to adjust the rules to play it alone. To start off, you should choose a Final Girl (your player) and a Feature Film with a killer and a location. Each game also contains the following:

  • Action Cards
  • A Player Board
  • Dice
  • Victim Boards
  • Health Tokens
  • Horror Markers
  • Final Girl Marker
  • Health Markers
  • Tracking Markers
  • And Victim Markers

In every Feature Film box will also contain more specialized boards and game pieces depending on the box.

Each turn, you will go through five phases: the action phase, the planning phase, the killer phase, the panic phase, and the upkeep phase. You will save victims, look for items to help you, defend yourself against the killer, attack the killer, and plan out future moves. During the killer phase, you will draw killer cards that indicate the killer’s actions.

The game ends when either the Final Girl or the Killer dies.

6. LEGENDARY MARVEL

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $55
  • Objective: Defeat the supervillains with your team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and Marvel superheroes
  • Age: 12+

If you are a Marvel fan, you’ll love this coop or single-player board game. In Legendary, you will play as S.H.I.E.L.D., attempting to recruit Marvel superheroes to fight off villains. The evil mastermind will enact their evil scheme, and you must stop them by using your team of elite heroes. This deck-building game is relatively easy to play and is a super fun way to spend an afternoon alone. This board game can also be played as a cooperative effort with up to 4 other friends! 

HOW TO PLAY

To start off, deal eight S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and four S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers. Your agents are used to recruit superheroes, and your soldiers are used to attack villains and masterminds. Each round, you will recruit new heroes, add new villains to the board, and fight these villains with your attack cards. At the end of each round, discard your current hand of cards and draw six new cards. Villains may escape, which effectively “KOs” a hero. 

Eventually, as you fight heroes and gain strength, you’ll become strong enough to fight the mastermind. To win the game, you will need to defeat the mastermind four times before the villains complete their “Evil Scheme”. If the mastermind completes their “Evil Scheme”, you lose.

If you ever get bored of the base game, you can also purchase some exciting expansions, including the following:

7. PATHFINDER

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $45 for the Core Rulebook, $99 for the Beginner Box, $10 for a polyhedral dice set.
  • Objective: Embark on epic adventures, overcome challenges, and tell captivating stories within a rich and immersive tabletop roleplaying game world.
  • Age: 15+

Are you ready to embark on a thrilling journey through the realms of imagination and adventure? Look no further than Pathfinder, the premier tabletop roleplaying game that will ignite your creativity and transport you to fantastical worlds filled with endless possibilities. Pathfinder is an immersive roleplaying board game that can be played solo or with more than 5 people. This dungeon-crawling RPG is similar to Dungeons and Dragons, with a few twists and differences.

HOW TO PLAY

Ready to play Pathfinder by yourself? First, you’ll need to get the Pathfinder rulebook and a set of polyhedral dice. Then, it is on to our favorite stage of the game: designing a character. Like D&D, you will choose the race, class, abilities, and backstory for your character. This means that you can have a completely unique character in each game with a new set of abilities. When playing Pathfinder solo, you’ll need to create a few different characters because you will play 3 or more characters simultaneously when playing the board game solo. Check out our article on the Pathfinder character sheet for more on this.

There is a steep learning curve to Pathfinder, especially if you have never played a role-playing game before, so we highly recommend reading through the rules of combat, leveling up, adventuring, and more! The Pathfinder Beginners Box is a great place to start if you’ve never played the game before and want a dumbed-down version of the game to get you started.

8.  ARKHAM HORROR

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $25
  • Objective: Close all cosmic portals before the Ancient One awakens.
  • Age: 14+

Arkham Horror is a horror-themed tabletop game based on the Lovecraft novel “Call of Cthulhu”.  This game revolves around investigating and preventing otherworldly horrors from entering our world. You will assume the role of an investigator with unique abilities, working to uncover mysteries, close portals to other dimensions, and thwart the awakening of cosmic beings.

This game is challenging, terrifying, and entertaining, even for a single player! Play through the game, attempting to close all of the portals to other dimensions before Cthulhu awakens and destroys the world!

HOW TO PLAY

Playing Arkham Horror can be a thrilling and immersive experience, but it is pretty complex and difficult to play. 

Each turn, you’ll start out with the upkeep phase. Here, you will perform “housekeeping tasks”, resolve ongoing effects, and adjust skills.

Next is the action phase. In this phase, you will move around the board, gathering clues, engaging in combat, or closing gates to other dimensions.

Next, move to the encounter phase, where you will draw cards and complete the appropriate challenges.

The final phase is the mythos phase. Here, you will open gates and spawn monsters, place clue tokens, move monsters, or activate mythos abilities.

To win Arkham Horror, you must close a certain number of gates and solve mysteries. You lose if too many gates open or the Ancient One awakens.

Still lost on how to play? Check out our article with a full breakdown of the rules for Arkham Horror.

9. SCYTHE

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $67
  • Objective: Earn achievements and money by improving your factions and gaining resources
  • Age: 14+

Scythe is a strategy-packed board game set in an alternate 1920s Europe. Up to 5 players can play this thrilling game, but it is just as fun as a solo game. In Scythe, you’ll command unique factions attempting to gain control of Eastern Europa. It’s all about expanding territories, building your economy, and amassing military strength. This game is relatively easy to grasp, though it takes a lot of brainpower and strategy to win. This is an excellent choice for both newbie and experienced tabletop gamers.

HOW TO PLAY

Something unique about playing Scythe alone is that you will be playing against an AI called the “Automa”. The gameplay for single-player Scythe is quite a bit different than the multiplayer version, as there are a few more parts to pay attention to in the game. Luckily, the game comes with a detailed walkthrough on how to play Scythe as a solo player, so you won’t have to do any guessing. 

This video explains in detail how to play Scythe as a solo board game.

10. CARTOGRAPHERS

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $25
  • Objective: Draw up an accurate map of the queen’s expanding territory
  • Age: 12+

Cartographers is a super fun map-drawing/tile-laying game that combines strategy, creativity, and exploration. As a royal cartographer, your task is to map the Queen’s ever-expanding realm by drawing landscapes, scoring points, and even defending against monstrous threats. During each round, you’ll face a new set of challenges. This game is pretty easy to grasp, and the single-player version is accessible. This game makes cartography (the study of map making) fun! Every map tells a story, and every decision shapes your destiny.

HOW TO PLAY

The game of Cartographers is played in four different phases called “Seasons”. In each season, you will draw a specific shape on your map sheet using your land tiles. The shape corresponds to the season card. For example, if the season card shows a 3×3 square, players draw a 3×3 square on their map.

After creating your map, add any terrain icons (forests, farms, villages, or mines) found within the shape to their map, following the terrain rules specified on the season card. But be careful! There are also monsters and ambush cards that can negatively affect your map!

For more info on how to play, check out the official rules of the Cartographers.

11. DUNE: IMPERIUM

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $60
  • Objective: Make alliances and gain control of the spice fields on Arrakis
  • Age: 13+

Dune is one of the most iconic sci-fi books of all time, influencing many of the movies, books, and TV shows of the genre. Dune: Imperium is a strategic, deck-building tabletop game based on the Dune universe. In this board game, you will fight for control of the desert planet Arrakis, navigating the treacherous political landscape while managing resources, building alliances, and engaging in epic conflicts. You will choose to play as one of the noble houses, deploying agents, amassing influence, and adapting your strategy to secure dominance in the unforgiving sands. 

Dune: Imperium is primarily designed as a multiplayer board game, but it also offers a solo variant for those who prefer to play alone or want to practice their strategies before facing off against other players

This game has a bit of a learning curve, but it is the ultimate strategy game for Dune and sci-fi nerds.

HOW TO PLAY

Similar to Scythe, in Dune: Imperium, you will play against an automated opponent. The solo variation of the game introduces specific rules to simulate the actions and decision-making of the automated solo opponent. At the beginning of the game, you choose a house to play as (Atreides, Harkonnen, or Fremen).

Before each of your turns, you will resolve actions for the solo opponent, which include recruiting agents, acquiring allies, harvesting spice, moving agents, initiating conflicts, and advancing the conflict track. 

After resolving the solo opponent’s actions, you take your turn as in a multiplayer game, choosing two main actions from the available options. You will resolve conflicts, draw cards, and make moves to take control of Arrakis. The solo game continues for a set number of rounds, and the goal is to achieve the highest score possible based on your accumulated victory points.

12. SHERLOCK HOLMES CONSULTING DETECTIVE

QUICK FACTS

  • Cost: $46
  • Objective: Gather clues and solve the mystery
  • Age: 14+

If you are a fan of mystery, Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective is the tabletop game for you! 

In this cooperative or solo board game, you play as an amateur detective, working with the legendary Sherlock Holmes to solve intricate mysteries. The goal is to solve the case with as few leads as possible and in the shortest amount of time. This is not too complex of a board game, so if you want something simple to play on a quiet night alone, this is a great option.

HOW TO PLAY

In a standard game of Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective, you play as a team, deciding which locations and contacts to question about the mystery. But, in the solo game, you will make all the decisions yourself. Begin by reading the first question from the casebook. Then, use the directory to look up locations and contacts. You’ll travel to different locations and learn information that may or may not help solve the question in the casebook. Take notes, gather clues, and travel around the board until you have enough information to solve the first mystery. After you have completed all the mysteries in the casebook, compare your notes to Sherlock’s answers in the casebook.

Looking for some more fun solo games? Check out our guide with 15 of the best games to play alone.v

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The Best Online Poker Loyalty Programs to Maximize Rewards

Many poker players consider loyalty programs to be the most important factor when choosing an online poker room, as they can have a significant impact on their bottom line. In this blog post, we will explore:

  • The Advantages of Online Poker Loyalty Programs
  • Why They Matter
  • The Top Poker Sites Offering Loyalty Programs
  • Factors to Consider
  • How to Maximize Benefits
  • Future Trends

Why Online Poker Loyalty Programs Are Important

The most common form of loyalty program is rakeback, which gives back a percentage of the rake that the player pays during their time at a poker site. Given how substantial the rake can be at lower stakes, finding a good rakeback program could be the difference between being a winning or losing player.

However, some sites have recognized that this system tends to favor high-volume players, leading to tight, break-even players dominating tables and creating a less enjoyable gaming environment.

To address this issue, they have introduced a new rewards system that encourages players to complete specific challenges for rewards. This approach incentivizes players to accomplish tasks rather than solely focus on generating rake, resulting in a more welcoming environment for recreational players.

Benefits of Online Poker Loyalty Programs

Online poker loyalty programs provide a number of obvious benefits to the player and are a great incentive to log on and play each day. By playing your favorite games and accumulating loyalty points, you can receive a significant boost to your bankroll every week/month. For high-volume players, getting even 20% rakeback offers a significant boost to a player’s weekly win rate; if you rake $1000 a week, you’re getting $200 just from the loyalty program. Depending on the stakes you play, this can represent a significant number of buy-ins that you would otherwise be missing out on.

As well as the significant boost to your bankroll, being part of a loyalty program allows you to take advantage of cool perks such as MTT tickets, access to freerolls, and much more.

Many loyalty programs use a tiered system, increasing the rewards the higher the player climbs. This incentivizes players to log in and play daily, knowing that the more they play, the better their rewards become. This enhances the overall online poker experience, turning grinding into a journey toward achieving higher goals.

Top Online Poker Loyalty Programs

If you want to take advantage of the best online poker loyalty programs on the market, you’re in the right place. We’ve done the hard work for you and researched each poker site to find out who’s offering the best loyalty programs. So, to start getting rewarded for your dedication to the game, check out our list below.

Site 1: Ignition Poker

Ignition Casino Logo

When playing at Ignition Poker, you can earn Ignition Miles, which can be redeemed for bonuses. These bonuses include free spins, poker tournament tickets, and reload bonuses. Players earn 15 Ignition Miles per $1 of rake in cash games, 15 Ignition Miles per $1 of tournament fees, and 1.5 Ignition Miles per $1 of buy-in at Jackpot Sit & Gos.

At the lowest status level, this equates to a 0.6% rakeback per dollar raked, which is relatively low compared to other loyalty programs. The more Ignition Miles you accumulate, the higher your status, and the more valuable your Ignition Miles become.

For instance, at the lowest status level, 2,500 Ignition Miles are worth $1 in bonuses, but at the highest status level, it only takes 1,000 Ignition Miles to receive $1 in bonuses.

As an added bonus, Ignition Poker offers all Chrome-level players access to $2,500 poker freeroll tournaments each week, and all Platinum-level players are eligible to receive exclusive birthday bonuses!

What We Think

During my time on the site, I found that while the loyalty program was a nice gesture, it didn’t significantly enhance my overall experience. Due to the notably low rakeback, I never felt compelled to grind more to reach targets or earn rewards. If I received rewards while playing, that was great, but it felt more like an incidental bonus than something worth actively pursuing.

I appreciate the access to freeroll tournaments upon reaching a certain level, as they provide an extra income source through the rakeback program, even if luck is a factor. The birthday exclusive is a nice touch, but only the most dedicated grinders are likely to log in on their birthday to claim their reward.

Site 2: 888poker

888 Poker Logo

888poker offers three different ways to earn rewards in their loyalty program: players can earn points by playing poker, betting on sports, or playing in their online casino. Once you’ve earned enough points to reach the next level, you’ll be rewarded with Gold Coins, which can then be redeemed for exciting prizes such as tournament tickets, casino free play, or cash deposits.

When playing poker, players receive 100 points for every $1 in tournament fees paid and 50 points for every $1 paid in cash game rake. While this may seem unfair to cash game players, it’s important to note that accumulating rake is typically easier in cash games, especially when multitabling.

As you progress through the ranks, you’ll encounter challenges that provide bonus points upon completion, facilitating your ascent through the levels and unlocking more Gold Coins. With 2,000 levels to climb and thousands of gold coins up for grabs, even dedicated grinders will have plenty to strive for.

Players above Level 20, 40, 60, and 80 gain access to exclusive freerolls with substantial cash prizes every week.

What We Think

The system of earning gold coins through points and redeeming them for prizes may seem somewhat complex, but during my time on the site, I found the 888poker Club to be a motivating factor. The numerous levels made it easy for me to consistently advance, and I was eager to keep playing to unlock the next reward.

Having challenges that award points for completion is an excellent feature. I appreciated the variety of challenges, which encouraged me to explore different poker formats. The offered prizes are genuinely worthwhile and make you feel like you’re working toward something meaningful.

The four different freerolls at levels 20, 40, 60, and 80 are a valuable addition and shouldn’t be underestimated. While the Level 20 freeroll has a $640 prize pool, the Level 80 offers $10,000, making it important not to miss out if you play on 888poker.

Site 3: GG Poker

GG Poker Logo

Online poker giant GG Poker offers two versions of its loyalty program, providing flexibility to choose the one that suits your preferences. The default program is the Fish Buffet, where players earn Fish Points by playing their favorite games at a rate of 100 FP for every $1 in rake. When a player accumulates enough Fish Points to reach a new rank, they receive a prize wheel spin, with cash bonuses ranging from 10% to 50% rakeback based on their level.

Upon reaching a new level, players have a specific time limit to climb higher ranks, with the time allocated increasing as they advance. Failing to reach the next level in time results in receiving 10% rakeback based on accumulated Fish Points and moving back down to the previous rank.

Alternatively, players can opt for the Platinum Fish program, offering a consistent 20% rakeback each week based on Fish Points earned. Over a year, accumulating enough Fish Points can lead to unlocking 60% rakeback per week.

What We Think

In my opinion, this loyalty program is an excellent example of how it should work. You grind all week and receive a cash reward at the end—no convoluted point systems or prize redemption. While such programs are rare today, GGPoker stands out with its Fish Buffet/Platinum Fish program.

The option to choose between a guaranteed weekly payout and the possibility of higher rakeback through a prize wheel is a clever way to cater to both serious grinders and recreational players. It allows serious grinders to calculate their weekly rakeback while letting recreational players enjoy some gambling excitement.

Having tried both programs, I found myself favoring the Platinum Fish program because I prefer knowing precisely how much rakeback I’m earning each week. The transparency provided by GGPoker regarding a player’s potential earnings from the loyalty program is commendable and sets a great example for other poker rooms.

While offering additional rewards such as tournament tickets or Spin & Gold tickets would be a nice touch, it’s challenging to find faults with this loyalty program.

Site 4: LoyaltyStars

Loyalty Stars Logo

All the previously mentioned sites reward you solely for playing on their platforms, but the LoyaltyStars program recognizes that the online poker experience extends beyond the virtual felt. Dedicated players spend hours off the tables analyzing hands, discussing strategy, and studying the game. Shouldn’t they be rewarded for their dedication outside of gameplay? LoyaltyStars provides a space for like-minded poker players and online gamblers to come together, share ideas, and earn rewards.

Users accumulate Stars for engaging with the community and participating on the platform in various ways. Whether you’re a forum poster who enjoys in-depth discussions, an online poker enthusiast sharing your insights on poker rooms, or simply a player depositing and playing, there are avenues for earning Stars. The more Stars you collect, the higher you ascend through the tiers, unlocking a new world of perks and rewards, including enhanced bonus offers at your favorite online poker rooms.

Exciting developments are on the horizon for LoyaltyStars, including the debut of a live-streaming service and innovative features to enhance your online casino experience. Be sure to sign up for the early access program to receive a 500-star welcome bonus!

What We Think

Having grown accustomed to viewing study time as an unprofitable yet essential aspect of the game, it’s refreshing to encounter a company that actively rewards players for improving their skills and engaging with the community. During my time on the site, I was captivated by the LoyaltyStars community. It consisted of knowledgeable users with expertise in various areas of iGaming and online poker, creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere even for newcomers.

The diversity of ways to earn Stars was another major advantage. This inclusivity means that everyone can contribute in their unique way. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the rewards received, which exceeded expectations for a program primarily focused on posting content.

If you seek a place to enhance your poker skills alongside like-minded individuals while reaping rewards for your contributions, LoyaltyStars is the ideal destination.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Online Poker Site for Loyalty

As demonstrated, there are several excellent choices for online poker loyalty programs. However, choosing the right one for you can be challenging due to the abundance of options. To assist you in making an informed decision, we’ve compiled a list of factors to consider when selecting an online poker loyalty program.

  • Transparency and Fairness – Ensure that the site is fair and transparent regarding the rewards you can expect. Read the terms and conditions of the loyalty program to check for clauses that could allow the site to renege on its promises.
  • Value of Rewards – Assess the overall value of the rewards offered. Understand the types of rewards available—cashback bonuses, tournament tickets, or other perks. Consider the real-world value of each program.
  • Compatibility with Playing Volume – Determine how the program aligns with your playing schedule. Calculate the rewards you are likely to receive based on your game preferences, average playing time, and estimated rake contributions.
  • Other Bonuses and Promotions – Take into account additional bonuses and promotions offered by the site. A loyalty program is not the only factor to consider; exceptional bonuses can significantly impact your overall value.

How to Maximize Benefits

After selecting a loyalty program and creating your casino account, it’s crucial to maximize the benefits offered. A great loyalty program is only as valuable as the effort you put into it. Here’s how to make the most of your chosen program:

  • Understand the Program – Familiarize yourself with the program’s mechanics. Determine if it’s based on a straightforward rakeback system, if you need to hit specific rake targets, or if challenges are involved. Knowing this information helps you tailor your gameplay for maximum rewards.
  • Tiered Systems – Many programs have tiered structures that increase the value of rewards as you climb. Pay attention to tier requirements and consider pushing for higher tiers to unlock extra rewards. Be aware of tier reset conditions, whether weekly or on a different schedule.
  • Adjust Your Gameplay – If your loyalty program is straightforward, increase your playing volume by adding more tables, extending your sessions, or participating in more hands. If rewards are game-type specific, focus on games that yield more reward points.
  • Don’t Neglect Your Poker Game – While it’s essential to maximize your loyalty program benefits, remember not to compromise your poker game quality. Maintaining a strong win rate should be your priority.

Future Trends in Online Poker Loyalty Programs

The online poker landscape is continually evolving, and poker rooms will continue to innovate to attract new players. What can we expect from future online poker loyalty programs?

  • Personalization – With advancements in AI and data analytics, poker sites are likely to create customized loyalty programs tailored to each player’s profile. Rewards will align with a player’s preferred game types, ensuring a more satisfying experience.
  • Gamification – More gamification elements are expected, as they effectively encourage repeat visits to poker sites. While poker should naturally attract players, incorporating engaging loyalty programs can further enhance player retention.
  • Collaborations – Collaboration between online poker rooms and established online gaming platforms may become more common. This could lead to poker being recognized as a legitimate eSport, potentially attracting a new generation of players.

My Conclusion

Online poker loyalty programs offer a valuable way to reward consistent players. They provide substantial benefits to players and can determine whether you’re a winning or losing player. Several high-quality loyalty programs are available, but it’s essential to choose one that aligns with your preferences and playing style. Armed with this information, you should feel confident in your quest to find the perfect online poker loyalty program!