Games of dice have been recorded as being played by the Ancient Egyptians as far back as 2600 B.C. However, it is generally believed that the ancestor to the modern game of Craps was a game called Hazard. This game originated around the time of the Crusades, believed to have been named after the Seige of Hazarth, as dice games were the favourite pastime of Sir William of Tyre and his knights.

Hazard made its way to Europe from the Holy Land via traveling soldiers and merchant lanes. In England the game became especially popular, and by the 17th century was played by commoners in local taverns, and by the nobility in luxurious casinos. This is why today we have ‘street craps’ and ‘casino craps’. In France, the game became known as crapaud, which literally translates as “toad”. This was a reference to the squatting position adopted by players when playing the game on a floor or pavement. Crappaud has naturally been proposed as one of the origins of the modern name Craps, although some say the origin of the name is a corruption of “crabs” – a name used to describe a losing situation in the game of Hazard, in which the player rolls a 2.

The game was brought to America by British and French settlers, and thrived in particular along the southern coastline. Like poker and blackjack, the game grew and developed further in around the gambling dens of New Orleans. The man credited with inventing modern craps is the 19th century gambler John H. Winn, who devised the modern layout (known initially as the “Philadelphia layout”) and simplified the game overall. His version is the one played and enjoyed around the world today. His introduction of a variety of bets helped put a stop to the use of crooked dice, as now players could bet against the shooter.

Craps received a resurgence in popularity during World War II, when it was played by soldiers on both sides in order to help pass the time between combat. Due to using very little equipment, craps has proved popular as a military pastime throughout the centuries. Although slots was the primary form of gambling entertainment throughout the 1990s, the rise of the internet casino has ensured that millions of players around the world now play and enjoy craps every day.

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Caribbean Stud Poker was originally created in order to try and encourage players of traditional poker to play more casino table games. Although it is a relatively new game, there are already differing opinions as to its true origin. Poker theorist and gambling expert David Sklansky has claimed to have created the game of Caribbean Stud, which, he states, he posted on a popular poker forum in 1982 under the name “Casino Poker”. In Sklansky’s version, the dealer had two hole cards revealed instead of just one, and the game had no progressive jackpot. Unfortunately, he was unable to patent “Casino Poker”, but was approached a few years later by another poker player who brought the game to Aruba. The rules were altered slightly to from the modern version of Caribbean Stud Poker.

An alternate history of the game states that a gambler named James Suttle learned the game from a poker player at Binion’s Horseshoe, on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. The poker player, who was suffering from a run of bad luck, offered to teach Suttle the game in return for $5000. Being a friend of casino owner and game developer Danny Jones, Suttle agreed – knowing he could quickly sell the game to Jones for a large profit.

Danny Jones owned the King International Casino (which would later become known as the Grand Holiday Casino) in Aruba. Located in the Holiday Inn on Palm Beach, it was a popular layover spot for many ships, and Jones began marketing the game immediately to other casinos and cruise liners. However, it did not prove as popular as he had hoped. Computer software engineer Michael Titus suggested adding a progressive jackpot, in a similar manner to a slots machine. With this addition, the game took off and achieved mainstream popularity. It was the first time the progressive jackpot feature had been introduced to a table game, and it proved a hit with casino and poker players alike. Caribbean Stud Poker is now a regular addition to land and online casinos the world over.

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You might not think playing on the slots would require much thought, but sticking to a few handy pointers can make a real difference to your time in the casino. Slots are more popular now than ever before, and Casino.com has a diverse collection to choose from. Follow these tips, and see if you can improve your game:

Check the Odds

Always check the odds of the slots game you are interested in playing. You really are spoiled for choice with Casino.com’s selection, so do some reading and see if your preferred slot machine has good odds. Checking details like this can often be the key to receiving a healthy payout.

Always Bet the Maximum

Play on a machine where you can afford to bet the maximum each time. By doing this, you are activating as many play lines and bonuses as possible. This leads to a better chance of a payout for you, as well as being a far more adrenaline-fuelled and fun to play. Many slots games also offer the jackpot prize only to players betting the maximum with each spin.

Know your limits

Set a limit before you start playing, and make sure that it is money you are able to lose. Some players find that using a separate bank account helps with this, as it prevents them going overboard with spending. You will have far more fun at Casino.com if you are careful with your cash, and know when to call it a day. Besides, your luck might change tomorrow, so make sure there’s cash in your pocket to find out.

Have Fun!

Slot machines use a random number generator, so there is no way for players to calculate odds or develop a consistently winning strategy. As such, choose a slot machine where you will enjoy yourself as much as possible, then sit back and see if the gambling gods are on your side!

Like many card games, the exact origins of blackjack remain shrouded in mystery. The first mention of the game in literature is by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, who describes two of his characters cheating at a game called ventiuna. The most common ancestor of blackjack is generally agreed to be the French card game of Vingt En Un. This was popular in French casinos in the 17th century and, like blackjack, the aim was to create a score as close to 21 as possible. However, the old versions of Vingt En Un differ from modern blackjack in several areas, such as only the dealer being allowed to double, and players being required to place a bet after each round. The ideal hand in Vingt En Un, which granted the holder a special bonus, was composed of a Jack and Ace of Spades. This birthed the modern name blackjack. The term “bust” was taken from the Italian points-based card game Seven and a Half.

Following the French Revolution the game was brought to North America, where it grew and flourished in the wake of the gold rush. Gambling in general became a popular pastime in the New World, as there were no laws to prohibit it. Alongside poker, blackjack became one of the primary card games of choice among American gamblers. Many players began to develop strategies, although in these times cheating was rampant, and professional gambling often went hand in hand with crime.

As such, and despite blackjack’s growing popularity, the US government banned all forms of gambling in the early 19th century. Blackjack went underground, gaining a dark glamour thanks to the restrictions placed around it. The game continued to enjoy widespread appeal throughout the 20’s, and eventually found a home in Nevada after gambling was legalised there in 1931. Then as now, blackjack remains one of Las Vegas’ most popular and iconic games.

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Take a step back into Ancient Egypt and uncover the secret treasure of the pyramids at Casino.com, when you play Pharaoh’s Secret slots game. Featuring 5 reels and 20 pay lines, Pharaoh’s Secret presents a visually stunning game packed with features and bonuses. All of the reels are lavishly decorated with coloured hieroglyphs, and feature 3-D animations.

During the free spins feature, the golden King Tut symbol doubles winnings, and can even expand for guaranteed wins. This symbol also acts as Wild during regular play. Players have the chance to delve into the Pharaoh’s tomb, and explore the chambers within to collect bonus payouts. Three pyramid symbols, which act as the Scatter, will trigger the Pharaoh’s Secret Bonus Round. This allows players to choose one of three symbols: the Eye of Horus, the winged goddess Isis, or the Scarab Beetle. A random number will then appear on a certain number of reels, and the more it appears, the more free spins you will receive! Players can also gamble on a high/low card game, doubling or doubling half of their winnings for amounts up to $5000. The total jackpot for Pharaoh’s Secret is 5000 coins, or $100,000.

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Step back into the days of yore with the Archer slots game at Casino.com. Working in the characters of the traditional Robin Hood legend with the rustic glamour of medieval England, players have over 240 ways to win on this 5 reel video slot game. Coins range from bets of 1c up to $5, and the jackpot gives a royal payout of 1500 coins.

The Gold Archer symbol acts as Wild, and can replace any other symbol on the reels barring the scatter in order to form those all-important winning combinations. The Scatter is represented by an arrow, and should you land three or more of these you will receive seven complimentary free spins. The gamble feature gives you the chance to double your winnings, by correctly choosing either red or black from the deck.

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The Fantastic 4 lend their Earth-saving superpowers to their very own slots game. The latest installment in a series of Marvel slots available at Casino.com, Fantastic 4 is sure to appeal to fans of the comic books, the films and video slots.

Fans will recognise many of their favourite characters, with Mr Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and The Thing all gracing the reels, alongside traditional poker rankings. The Fantastic 4 logo acts as Wild, and combines with the character portraits and other symbols (except the Scatter) to create winning payout combinations. There are also four amazing mini-games to unlock, alongside four different bonuses. Modeled around each of the four characters, each offers the player unique advantages and the chance to earn additional payouts. Players can unlock free spins when the Silver Surfer image appears three or more times. All the while enjoying stunning 3-D graphics and animations.

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One if cinema’s most expensive productions has crashed into Casino.com, and is set to give some seriously expensive payouts. Kong: The 8th Wonder of the World slots game incorporates 25 pay lines over 5 reels. Players can search for those winning combinations on the streets of New York and Kong’s Skull Island home. Both Big City Mode and Jungle Mode each carry their own unique combinations and bonus rounds.

Based on Peter Jackson’s 2005 blockbuster, players will encounter many of the characters they remember from the film. These include Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow, Jack Black as Carl Denham, Adrien Brody as Jack Driscoll and Thomas Kretschmann as Captain Englehorn, as well as King Kong himself, played by Andy Serkis in the film. In addition to images of their favourite characters, players can also enjoy clips of the movie when they unlock one of the various bonuses on offer – accessed via the Wild and Scatter symbols. The bonus rounds can offer players free spins, or some extra-large payouts.

Kong is an excellent machine for beginners and high rollers alike. Line bets range from 1c to $1, making it the perfect choice for any wallet size. With outstanding graphics, generous bonuses and engaging game play, Kong is sure to appeal to fans of films and slots alike.

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Pachinko originated in Japan, and is used as both an arcade game and a gambling device there – taking the place filled by slot machines in the western world. Resembling a pinball machine in appearance, pachinko machines do not use flippers, but include a large number of small balls. These are fired into the machine by the player, and fall through a large collection of pins. The aim is to collect as many of the balls as possible, which are then exchanged for prizes.

In Japan, pachinko is primarily played in designated pachinko parlours. These often include regular slot machines, and so have an atmosphere similar to western casinos. Like slots, pachinko machines vary greatly in design – with differing decoration, music, modes and gates. Settings may vary depending on the individual parlour, and on whether the machines are old or new.

Prizes in pachinko parlours can range from pens and lighters to bikes and electronic items. They can also be exchanged for tokens – usually slips of gold encased in plastic. Under Japanese law, tokens are not allowed to be exchanged for cash on-site. However, there are usually exchanges nearby where this is possible. These are tolerated by police as they function independently from the parlours. Prize exchanges used to be heavily wrapped up in organised crime groups, such as the Yakuza, but thanks to official intervention this has lessened greatly since the 1990s.

Pachinko parlours in Japan also have strict sets of unwritten rules. When players are ready to ‘cash-out’ they must call a member of staff using the call button at the top of their station. The staff member will confirm the number of balls won, and place this number on a voucher. Players are not supposed to ask staff where the nearest exchange centre is, due to their questionable legalities, but are expected to find out this information for themselves. To touch another player’s winnings is forbidden, as is taking over a pachinko machine which has the personal effects of another player in the tray, such as a mobile phone or cigarettes. Smoking is also permitted, in defiance with regular smoking bans. Removal of balls from individual parlours is not allowed, and many places now brand them with the individual stamp of the parlour. Players who do not conform to these codes of conduct may be asked to leave.

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