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Gaming

Queen Baton Rouge Elevated Casino Overlooks Mississippi River

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The Queen Baton Rouge offers an all-new, elevated casino, dining and entertainment experience spanning 100,000 square feet overlooking the Mississippi River. The city’s first land-based casino, The Queen is just north of downtown and within walking distance to Capitol Lake. Thrilling casino games include more than 30,000 square feet of electronic and table games; plus the DraftKings Sportsbook offers a state-of-the-art sports wagering experience curated by the global gaming leader.

A look at the Casino floor. photo: Collin Richie.

Restaurants include signature dining at 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails and casual dining at Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken, 3 Woks Noodle Bar, and Capitol Coffee. Launching Thursday, June 13, the reimagined Loft at 1717 will offer an upscale cocktail and board-focused bar menu, as well as live entertainment on Saturdays. The property boasts flexible catering and event spaces that can accommodate more than 500 guests.

GAMING 

The Queen Baton Rouge spans more than 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor gaming space with more than 700 gaming machines and 18 table games, including blackjack, craps and roulette; numerous electronic table options; a state-of-the-art DraftKings Sportsbook with the latest sports wagering technology via 20 kiosks and four betting windows; and a dedicated smoking patio, LIT Casino & Bar with more than 100 slot machines and six table games.

Gaming Promotions: 

  • Dad’s Summer Essentials Gift Giveaway
    • Sundays: Qualifying Queen Rewards members will receive a select gift from a curated collection of summer essentials, including a portable cornhole set, a 23-piece BBQ set, a floating cooler and more.
    • Diamond and Crown members may claim their gift starting at noon; all other tier levels may claim beginning at 1 p.m. Guests must pick up their gift before 7:59 p.m. by presenting a valid photo ID at Queen Rewards Players Club. Gifts will be available while supplies last and selection may vary.
    • Patrons who do not receive the free gift offer may earn 500 points to receive a gift before 7:59 p.m.
  • Baskets for Bucks Drawing Bonus Entries
    • Mondays, June 3, 10, 17 and 24 and Saturdays, June 8, 15 and 22: From 8 a.m. to midnight, all Queen Rewards members may swipe their Queen Rewards cards to receive bonus entries for the Baskets for Bucks Drawing, with 500 additional entries awarded to Ruby members, 1,000 to Emerald members, 2,500 to Diamond members and 5,000 to Crown members.
  • 10X Point Multiplier
    • Tuesdays: From 6 a.m. to midnight, all Queen Rewards members may swipe their Queen Rewards card to receive a 10X point multiplier. A maximum of 100,000 points may be earned, and points will be added to accounts the following day. 
  • Fab Fifty Drawings
    • Tuesdays, June 4, 11, 18 and 25: Queen Rewards members 50 years and older may participate in a drawing to win Royal Free Play. From noon to 6 p.m., five winners will be drawn every two hours for the chance to win up to $250 in Royal Free Play.
    • Queen Rewards members may swipe their Queen Rewards card at any kiosk to print their free entry ticket. Guests may earn up to five additional entries, with every 50 points earned equaling one additional entry.  
  • Baskets for Bucks Drawing
    • Fridays, June 7, 14, 21 and 28: From 6 to 9 p.m., Queen Rewards members may participate in a drawing for the chance to win up to $3,000usd / $4,100 cad in Royal Free Play. Five winners will be selected every half hour and given three chances to shoot basketballs into baskets to win Royal Free Play. For each missed shot, participants will earn $50 in Royal Free Play. 
    • Queen Rewards members will receive 10 free entries for the month and can earn one additional entry for each point earned.
    • Guests may activate their entries beginning one hour before drawing times and prizes must be redeemed within five minutes with a valid picture ID and Queen Rewards player card.
  • Reign in the Riches Table Games Drawing
    • Saturdays, June 8, 15, 22 and 29: Queen Rewards members may earn entries into the 9 p.m. weekly Reign in the Riches Table Games Drawing for the chance to win up to $11,000usd in promo chips, by achieving predetermined hands of play as outlined below.
  • One entry awarded for all blackjack game hands as follows:
    • Any suited blackjack with a table minimum or greater wager.
    • Any top-three winner at a $10usd or greater wager.
    • 21+3, $5usd or greater wager with a straight flush or three of a kind.
  • One entry awarded for roulette with any $10usd or greater straight-up winner.
  • One entry awarded for craps hands winning a $5usdor greater wager on “all tall,” “all small,” “make ‘em all” or a combination thereof, as well as any $5usd hard way winner.
  • One entry awarded to any Cajun Stud pocket bonus winner with the table minimum or a greater wager.
  • One entry awarded for any winning Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em bonus hand of a flush or better on the “trips” wager, with the table minimum or a greater wager.
  • One entry awarded for Three Card Poker hands with any pair plus the wager of the winning hand of a straight, with the table minimum or a greater wager.
  • Two entries awarded for Three Card Poker hands with any pair plus the wager of the winning hand of a straight flush, with the table minimum or a greater wager.
  • Birthday Kiosk Game
    • Queen Rewards members may enjoy a free game the month of their birthday to win up to $1,000usd in Royal Free Play. Every game is guaranteed a prize. 
  • New Member Golden Wheel Kiosk Game
    • New members who join Queen Rewards will get a free kiosk game. Every game is guaranteed to win a prize of up to $2,500usd in Royal Free Play. 

1717 Kitchen and Cocktails. photo: Collin Richie.

DraftKings Sportsbook 

Sportsbook open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Bar open 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday; 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday  

Developed in collaboration with leading digital sports entertainment and gaming company, DraftKings Inc., the sportsbook offers a state-of-the-art gaming destination with contemporary design, a full bar with 10 beers on draft, 20 betting kiosks and four over the counter betting windows. Lounge-style seating, a 28-foot video wall and oversized high-definition TVs will provide optimal viewing for sports fans. 

FOOD & BEVERAGE 

1717 Kitchen + Cocktails

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday; and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday

The Queen Baton Rouge’s signature dining, drinking and entertainment destination, 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails, serves rustic American cuisine with a twist. Spanning 5,200 square feet, the outlet offers a spacious dining room and bar with a stage for live music and other entertainment. An expansive menu features classic American favorites including sandwiches, flatbreads, salads, entrees, desserts and more. 1717’s bar offers craft cocktails, beer and wine in a social atmosphere. 

  • Father’s Day
    • Sunday, June 16: 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails will celebrate dads with a featured entrée of a 12-ounce Creekstone Farms ribeye accompanied by balsamic-roasted Brussels sprouts and loaded mashed potatoes and paired with a 16-ounce draft beer of choice. The featured offering will be priced at $20usd.
    • Dine-in only.  Limited to one order per person.  
  • Blue Plate Specials
    • Tuesdays: Queen Rewards members may swipe their rewards card at any promotional kiosk to receive a discounted Chef’s special of the week at 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails. Dishes will be priced at $17.99usd, with special pricing of $12.99usd available for Queens Rewards members 50 years and older. June specials will include:
      • Tuesday, June 4: Chicken and dumplings  
      • Tuesday, June 11: Salisbury steak and gravy
      • Tuesday, June 18: Shrimp creole
      • Tuesday, June 25: Spaghetti and meatballs
  • Crab Legs
    • Thursdays: 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails will feature two pounds of snow crab clusters priced at $24.99usd and priced at $19.99usd for Queen Rewards members. Available on dine-in orders only.
  • Entertainment
    • 1717 will host a variety of entertainment acts from 9 p.m. to midnight. Admission is free, unless otherwise noted. The full lineup includes:
      • Friday, June 14: Press 1 For English – Wide variety of covers
      • Friday, June 21: Beaucoup Boogie – Timeless classics to contemporary covers
      • Friday, June 28: Run for Cover – 90’s and 00’s covers

The Loft at 1717 

The loft at 1717. photo: Collin Richie.

Will open to the public on Thursday, June 13

Will be open 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday; 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday after Thursday, June 13

Overlooking 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails, The Loft at 1717 spans 1,600 square feet offering a full bar between an indoor space and an outdoor patio with views of the Mississippi River. A dedicated bar serves a variety of beer, wine and handcrafted cocktails. The space will be available to reserve for private events.  

  • Entertainment
    • The Loft at 1717 will host a variety of entertainment acts from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is free, unless otherwise noted. The full lineup includes:
      • Thursday, June 13: Matt Tortorich
      • Saturday, June 15: Joey Holaway
      • Saturday, June 22: Charlston Bourgeois
      • Saturday, June 29: Joey Holaway

Big Chicken 

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday.; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday 

Big Chicken, the star-powered fast casual chicken concept founded by legendary basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, serves signature chicken sandwiches and tenders packed with BIG flavor, including The Original Big Chicken topped with Shaq sauce and pickles; Uncle Jerome’s Nashville Hot, featuring lettuce, mayonnaise and pickles; Shaq Attack, topped with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño slaw and spicy chipotle BBQ sauce. Popcorn Chicken served with Shaq sauce; a selection of savory sides, including Lucille’s Mac N’ Cheese topped with Cheez-It crust; and boozy milkshakes hand-crafted with all-natural southern vanilla ice cream produced using hormone-free milk from California can be enjoyed while overlooking the Mississippi River.

3 Woks Noodle Bar 

Open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday 

An exciting quick-service restaurant, 3 Woks Noodle Bar features an open kitchen to watch chefs freshly prepare a variety of authentic pan-Asian dishes or seating for up to 15 at the bar. The menu spans small plates to noodles and rice, along with shareable appetizers and soups, among others.  

Capitol Coffee Baton Rouge 

Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily  

Located just steps from the casino floor, Capitol Coffee offers a selection of hot and cold coffee, modern teas, smoothies, pastries, items for breakfast, lunch and more. Paninis and sandwiches are available from early morning until late night, while Blue Bell Ice Cream is exclusively scooped by the single and double.  

LIT Casino & Bar 

Open 24 hours daily  

Craft cocktails, beer and wine complement the lively atmosphere within Lit, the casino’s 1,600-square-foot dedicated smoking patio with more than 100 slots and six table games.  

MEETINGS & EVENTS

The Queen Baton Rouge offers a flexible event space to accommodate more than 500 guests for corporate gatherings, weddings, private parties and more.  For the Silo, Bridget Calcagno.

Culture

Fun Late Night Activities To Do after the Bars Close

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Drinking with friends until late at night is fun, which is why lots of people do it especially on weekends. You get to talk with friends about your romantic problems and work issues, or you may enjoy watching live games in sports bar with other fervent fans. But what can you do after the bars close? Many take things easy and wind down with one of the excellent erotic massages in Montreal. That seems like the perfect way to end a fun night.

Erotic Massage Parlors Montreal Toronto

However, there are other ways to continue having fun even when the bars all seem closed late at night. Discuss matters with your friends, and see if any of these suggestions suit their fancy:

Drink Coffee

Haven’t you noticed how many of these specialty coffee shops are open 24 hours? That’s because they know that when people are done drinking but they don’t want to go home yet, they get coffee to continue their story-swapping activities.

Bill Murray drinking from coffee carafe

Coffee is perfect for those who have been drinking, since it can keep people from just sleeping. Your friends will hate you if they have to drag your sleeping body home. So drink some coffee, and afterwards hire a cab back to your place. Just don’t drive! You may be awake, but you’re still drunk!

Eat Something

Lots of people experience the “munchies” when they’ve been drinking. So once the drinking is done, it may be time to continue the night with some fast food treat like a nice juicy burger or some hot pizza. You may also want to try shawarma.

Dark Knight slices Shwarma with laser sword

Scientific studies have confirmed that alcohol can really make you feel hungry. It’s been found that alcohol fires up a type of brain cell that’s also active when you’re starving. So when you drink, your brain thinks you haven’t eaten for a long while.

Play Video Games

In some cities like Montreal, you may find arcade places where you can play various video games even at 3:00 AM. You can play Tekken and other fighting games if you’re one of those inclined to violence after a bit of drinking—at least this time, no one gets really hurt!

TEKKEN arcade game action

You can also try any of the racing games, and you may find out why it’s a bad idea to drink and drive. Of course, even if you do well in these games it doesn’t mean you’re ready to drive home for real.

Sing Some Karaoke

You may be a shy wallflower type when you’re sober, but you may be a performer yearning to break free once you’ve imbibed enough alcohol. You’re not alone, so why not join other would-be singers and have some fun belting out your favorite tunes?

Karaoke singing showoff

The nice thing about being drunk is that it makes you brave enough to try this, and you’re also drunk enough to think you’ve done justice to that Bon Jovi song you’ve always liked. Most people in these places are non-judgmental, so even if you’re off-key they won’t mind. Not that you’d know you were off-key…

Go Bowling

Bowling is another activity that somehow seems a lot more fun when you’ve been drinking. It also shows you exactly how drunk you are—if your bowling ball can’t hit any of the pins every time, then it may be time to call it a night. Bowling is something you can do if the bar you went to closed early at 1AM or so, as some bowling places may close at 3AM.

Try Your Luck at a Casino

Roulette wheel

You better believe that if you’re a well-behaved drunk, the casino will love you. You get to enjoy yourself playing blackjack, while the casino plies you with drinks as they happily take your money! For the Silo, Dimitry Karloff. 

Gaming

Online Casino Games Explained

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There are now a seriously wide variety of online casino games available for players to participate in, and it can be somewhat daunting for those of us with little or no experience of the exciting pastime. Online casinos have been around for quite some time now, but over the years the offerings from operators have improved significantly. The days of huge downloads are gone, and now instant access while on the move is all the rage. Sites like novibet.co.uk are able to provide a real casino experience in the palm of your hand, or the comfort of your own home. Let’s take a look at some of the games on offer.

Blackjack

An American card game which is seriously popular around the world, Blackjack is often the purists’ game of choice. In simplistic terms, Blackjack is a head to head battle against the dealer, where the best possible score available is 21. Each player is dealt two cards, with the dealer usually receiving one card face up. Players must then take the decision to ‘Hit’ (take another card from the dealer) or ‘Stand’ (stick with what they currently have). The dealer’s second card will then be revealed, with the winning hand then taking the spoils. There are some slight rule variations depending on where you are playing, but that’s the basics of the game of Blackjack covered.

Roulette

Roulette takes its name from the French word meaning little wheel, and is very much a game of chance. Players are able to mitigate or spread the risk as much as they like, either selecting one of 36 numbers, or splitting chips over a variety of different selections. The winning number is selected when the croupier releases the ball onto the roulette wheel in one direction, and spins the wheel itself in the other. The ball will eventually come to rest in a specific slot, and players are paid out accordingly. Various other bets can be placed on the roulette table, including red or black and 1st, 2nd or 3rd twelve. Some players will also choose to cover the green zero, as this is a loser on any red, black, or block of 12 combination.

Craps

A particularly versatile dice game, craps lends itself well to the online casino setting. Players make wagers against the house or bank as to the outcome of the roll or rolls of two dice. Although this may sound like a very simplistic game, it has the potential for great excitement with players looking to roll ‘the natural’ 7 or 11, while avoiding crapping out! Competitors take turns of rolling the two dice, with wagers placed on the pass line, or the don’t pass line. A roll of 2, 3 or 12 is referred to as craps, which results in anyone wagering on the pass line losing. Those having had a bet on the don’t pass line win on a 2 or 3 and tie on the 12. The shooter can continue to roll until a seven is hit, at which stage the shooting responsibility moves to the next player.

Gaming

Your 4-Minute Guide to Live Casinos in Canada

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Canada’s online gaming sector is snowballing, boasting sales up to $31 billion per year, thanks primarily to players staking through their mobile devices. Yes, you can now enjoy your favorite casino games from your home desktop or laptop; and when on the move, on your smartphone or tablet.

But as with physical live Casino Canada, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with existing platforms, accepted payment methods, your game options, and whatnot before signing up. 

Here’s your 4-minute guide to online gaming in Canada.

In this article;

Popular Games in Online Casino Canada

7 Things to look for in an online casino

Your deposit & withdrawal options 

10 Best Online Casinos in Canada

Popular Games in Online Casino Canada

Maybe you love table games and worry that your favorite game isn’t available online. But this shouldn’t be a problem, most service providers offer myriad games to improve the online casino experience for avid gamblers.

Online Poker. This is arguably Canada’s most cherished online game. Under Poker, Players can toggle between options like Triple Play, Deuces Wild, and so on.

Growing Jackpots. In these games, the jackpot lump sum increases in value each second and may shoot to millions of dollars. 

Slots. Slots come with impressive rewards like bonus rounds, free spins, etc which you can enjoy for free or deposit funds and earn.

Blackjack. Online gaming spots also feature the old-school Blackjack for free or for gamble.

Roulette. Canadians can switch between different Roulette versions. Learn what your website offers and master your moves before depositing.

Live dealer. This is the game for those who prefer the classic casino atmosphere even when paying from home. 

Sports betting. Bet on a variety of sports.

These are some of the most popular gambling options in Canada, but there’s more to explore if you prefer something else.

7 Things to look for in an online casino

So you’d love to sign up with a website and begin enjoying your bonuses? That’s fine, but first, spend quality time comparing your options before diving in.

Below are the seven crucial factors to consider;

Signup Bonuses. With most websites promising a bonus, you will want to register with a casino that offers the best welcome rewards. 

Deposit & Withdrawal. The listed deposit and withdrawals method(s) should match your preferences. Also, check how long it takes to withdraw your earnings.

Game Options. If you value variety, be sure to go through a list of games on offer before registration. 

Unswerving Support. Because your playing remotely, it’s crucial to partner with a service that offers unswerving support through digital avenues like live chat, calls, or social media support.

Quick Upgrades or Promotions. You also want a platform that will promote you to better levels that include massive bonuses, and competitions. 

 Huge Jackpots. Most gamers prioritize jackpots and growing jackpots. If you’re eyeing the big price, be sure to compare these up-fronts. 

Transaction & Payment Data Security. Before putting your money where your mouth is, be sure to double-check the website’s security protocol.

Online Casinos in Canada: Your Deposit & Withdrawal Options 

Casinos in Canada allow players to deposit through various payment methods–the same applies for payouts (or withdrawals). The most transaction is instant or happens in a matter of minutes via secure platforms to protect your confidential payment data.

Still, you must consider the money-in and money-out options for your specific platform to ensure that the arrangement favors your money reservoirs.

Below are some of the safest common pay-in and payout options in Canadian online casinos.

Credit & debit cards

Neteller

PayPal

Visa

Mastercard

InstaDebit

paysafecard

American Express

Interac Online

Bank transfer

 ecoCard and ecoPayz

10 Best Online Casinos in Canada

We sampled some of the best platforms to get started with online betting and gaming. Here are the 10 best gaming sites for Canadians.

Spin Casino

JackpotCity

Betway Casino

Ruby fortune 

Casinocom

Europa Casino

CasiGO

Magic Red

National Casino

Bob Casino

Lastly, remember to compare the features that matter to you before signing up.

A Call to Action

Online betting and gaming are more fun than you imagine. But choosing the right platform is essential in enjoying a smooth experience. Compare these websites thoroughly and register with a preferred dealer to get started.

Gaming

Factors To Consider When Choosing An Online Casino

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Online casinos are a lot of fun. There are thousands of websites and mobile apps dedicated to online gambling and casino games. Unfortunately, some of these casinos do not offer a safe place to play online roulette and other casino games.

Before creating an account and depositing money in an online casino, you should take a closer look at its features.

The following four factors should help you find a credible online casino. If you are developing your own casino, you can also benefit from ensuring that your platform offers these features.

Security

Security is the most important factor when choosing an online casino. You should first ensure that the online casino complies with their local regulations. For example, online casinos in the UK should be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.

When you open an account with an online casino, you may need to provide sensitive information. Besides your name and email address, you may include bank details or provide access to your PayPal account.

Reliable online casinos use the latest SSL encryption to ensure that your personal and financial information remains secure.

Variety

You may get tired of playing the same game for hours at a time. The best online casinos provide users with a variety of games.

For example, casino.netbet.co.uk offers over a dozen different online roulette games. They also have slots, blackjack, and other online casino games. With over 1,500 total games and new games added weekly, there is no shortage of games to keep you entertained.

Rewards

The casino that you choose should offer rewards, bonuses, and promotions. Many of these websites offer free funds to match your initial deposit. Depending on the site that you choose, you may start with a hundred dollars in your account after depositing fifty dollars.

Besides sign-up bonuses, many sites feature weekly promotions or special giveaways. Sometimes, they may increase the potential payouts for popular games.

Mobility

The top online casinos allow players to play from any device. Instead of just accessing the online casino from a website, you should have mobile options for playing on your smartphone or tablet.

Online casinos that allow you to play across all devices provide a convenient way to enjoy your favorite games. You can play while commuting to work or during a break.

These are the main factors that you should consider when choosing an online casino. These same details may also benefit those that are planning to develop their own online casinos.

As technology makes it easier to reach customers across the globe, you should ensure that your platform appeals to a wider audience. Remember to focus on security, variety, rewards, and mobility.

Gaming

Should Fantasy Sports Be Classed As Gambling?

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What Fantasy Sports Are PlayedOnline fantasy sport games are becoming increasingly popular in the modern era, with more and more variations on traditional fantasy games. There are now fantasy games for most sports, including but not limited to American football, soccer and rugby union. In particular, companies have latched onto major sporting competitions and offer fantasy games for those events. Most recently, there have been plenty of fantasy games created for the Rugby World Cup, which took place in England and Wales throughout September and October a few years ago.

Traditionally, fantasy sport games have been created purely for entertainment reasons. However, in recent years, a number of fantasy games have been created that require people to pay in order to enter the leagues. DraftKings is perhaps the most famous and widely advertised, and they offer DAILY fantasy leagues on a number of sports, mainly baseball, American football and ice hockey. To enter these fantasy leagues, you need an account and can stake money in order to win funds, which you can in turn choose to withdraw or restake.

It’s a little confusing for the fantasy novice and even more so for those who have been playing old-school free fantasy games for decades. But this new system appears to work, although the amount of skill and ability needed certainly makes it close to gambling. For example, you need skill to play online casino games like Blackjack by 32Red. This is widely recognized as gambling, so why should it be any different simply because it’s linked to an online fantasy game? Many people believe it shouldn’t. Both take up a reasonable level of talent to play, and require funds – in a way, they are incredibly similar.

Furthermore, quite a few people have compared staking money on fantasy football to placing a bet on players to score in real-life sporting events. For example, you can place wagers on Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on DraftKings but you can also stake money on Hopkins to score a touchdown, rack up ‘x’ amount of receiving yards and other markets at a range of both online and offline bookmakers.

However, many fantasy games are free to enter and don’t require additional funds. The NFL fantasy football game allows players to play free of charge, and users are able to compete in either NFL-managed leagues or custom-made leagues with friends and family members. For American football fans, this is the perfect fantasy game for those players who are more concerned about the enjoyment and having fun rather than winning money – even the NFL teams understand the need for the public to play. It’s a relatively simple website and they also have a downloadable app that can send reminders for changing and setting your line-up.

Most importantly, you don’t have to pay anything. You say have because there is the option to open a league with a prize fund. However, that is a season-long thing and certainly shouldn’t be considered as gambling. There aren’t any fantasy options at websites like 32Red, blackjackballroom, or caesarscasino but you can stake money on real-life American football matches and build accumulators. Fantasy football is an incredibly popular game across the world and free versions will always be welcomed by those who aren’t too concerned about winning money and those who play purely for the enjoyment and excitement of competing against others.

Moreover, soccer fans can access the Premier League’s official fantasy game free of charge, too. Football is one of the greatest sports on the planet and millions of people keep up to date with all of the latest injury news and transfers in the sporting world. The Premier League version could branch out to allow those wanting to stake funds the opportunity to do so, but for now it remains a free game for the masses. As soccer is so universally followed, many have called for the Premier League’s fantasy football game to offer a paid version and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see this in the future.

Are paid fantasy games gambling? Well, it depends on a number of key variables and external factors. If you’re staking on a daily basis, playing more because you’re addicted and focused on winning money than for the sheer enjoyment of fantasy sports, then that’s a worry. However, the majority of fantasy users aren’t like that and enjoy placing simple stakes, quite like many of the same people who enjoy playing online casino games such as Blackjack and Roulette. For the time being, there isn’t a huge need to classify fantasy sports as gambling but that could change if fantasy games adopt a similar stance as DraftKings and they all become ‘pay-to-play’ games in the future.


Gaming

Can Anyone Make Sports Betting Pay?

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 If ever you read about any kind of “system” someone is trying to sell you or any kind of sports betting tipping service etc., you’d be well-advised to completely ignore it. If anyone “knew” anything in advance, they wouldn’t be busy trying to sell it to you – they’d be busy making a killing themselves. So please ignore all this stuff.

At the same time there are an increasing number of people around the world making a living from gambling online on various sports – so how do they do it and is it possible for any of us to emulate what they do?

Well first things first – it is possible to make a steady profit at sports gambling if you’re balanced and determined enough and, crucially, you understand value as a concept and have a niche knowledge in some way.

So what do we mean by value as a concept?

Well simply put, you need to have a feel for the study of mathematical probabilities and the way that even small margins can result in one side of a wager winning very large amounts over time. After all, it’s this simple principle on which the whole of the worldwide casino industry (whether online or real) is built. They call it the house edge.

So let’s consider roulette as a simple option. Roulette comes pretty close to giving gamblers an even chance in European versions of the game anyway when there is just the one “zero” slot. This means that you have a 48.6% chance of doubling your money if you select red or black, or odd or even numbers etc. 

36 Years ago, almost to the day.....Kenny Rogers released The Gambler- click on the image above to learn more.
At the time of this article being published it was 36 Years ago, almost to the day….. that Kenny Rogers released The Gambler- click on the image above to learn more.

Conversely, it means the house (i.e. the casino) has a 51.4% chance of winning. And just that small percentage – the house edge – is sufficient when enough gamblers gamble long enough. It’s inevitable that the house will steadily profit – so the more players it gets, the bigger those profits are. There have been some big individual winners in casinos over time – but the really big winners are the casinos themselves, courtesy of that small percentage difference. That’s all it takes to make millions upon millions if you can get enough people to play with enough money. The laws of probability do the rest.

This is what we mean by value as a concept. So to overcome the edge, you have to have your own edge. And this usually means either an in-depth knowledge of a sport or some kind of information that the rest of the market hasn’t woken up to yet.

So look for opportunities in one-to-one situations mainly – where you think the wider market’s odds don’t reflect the actual chances of real-life events. You’re more likely to be able to spot these if you know a minority sport inside out. This will give you the kind of edge we’re talking about here –though you also need to understand value.

Let’s look at one specific example, then, of a sport that is big in some other countries but not here in Canada. In some niche areas like gambling on rugby league with exchanges like Betfair – a detailed knowledge and the ability to analyze a game can really help. In Canada, of course, rugby league is a relatively tiny minority sport, but in both the UK and Australia that is not the case at all. In these countries, gambling on the sport is huge business – often via handicap betting where the odds are slightly less than even money, but one of the teams is given ‘X’ points start to even things up in the eyes of the market anyway.

The fact that rugby league is such a minority sport in Canada though, gives expert punters here a real edge – on games in the country. And that’s all any of us can hope to do – get a small edge on the market. That’s because making a steady profit at any form of gambling is a very tough thing to achieve – so even with the exchanges markets where the odds are slightly better than with the bookies, you still need to overcome the five per cent commission charged by the exchange betting website on each and every winning bet.

It’s rather like one of those old fashioned “penny falls” machines you see in amusement arcades where some of sliding off the side each time 

the cash (in this case around five per cent) is into the proprietor’s coffers. In other words, if you keep gambling away and the market has the odds perfectly right all the time, then you are sure to lose gradually over time. In fact, to be specific, you’ll lose five per cent steadily – obviously.

So not only do you need to understand your niche sport inside out – but you also need to be shrewd and understand the whole concept of a true ‘value’ bet. This may sound obvious but it isn’t in practice as people are swayed by the market. But there’s one neat trick which is a really easy way around this “sway” problem and it’s this; always try to come up with your best educated guess of the likely odds of any market you feel you know pretty well before looking at the actual odds. Then – and only then – take the odds when you see that they’re markedly bigger than you think they “should” be.

Sports Gambling and Betting

This neatly gets around any extraneous external factors – and helps clear your mind of any market-driven bias in ignorance of what the market has actually made of it. Remember that you will have to be contrarian to make money over a long enough period of time at this game. Otherwise – if the market always called the odds on everything just right, there would be theoretically no room for the professional gamblers to make money – yet there are plenty people doing just that. And they all either have a system, or an in-depth knowledge of their chosen markets that has been tried and tested and is proven to beat the rest of the market over time – or they have a little of both of these things. You cannot win by being the same as everyone else – that’s a given.

Just remember that if you think you have what it takes – to trial and trial again your ideas with tiny amounts of cash only at first – whilst treating that amount like its 100 or 1,000 times as much. For the Silo, Claire Siblot. Online Media Relations Specialist. Leeds, UK

Sci-Tech

Canadian Technology Turning Wrists Into Playgrounds With Smartwatch

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Canada are at the forefront of the technology scene – investing in areas such as quantum computing, space travel, environmental issues, medicine and natural sciences – and they are certainly not letting themselves get left behind when it comes to everyday applications either.

One of the biggest changes to technology over the past half decade has been the emergence of technology on smaller and smaller hardware items – from PCs to laptops, onto tablets and then onto our smartphones and it appears that the latest step has finally arrived. Watch-based technology is now readily-available, with so-called ‘smart-watches’ the most recent must-have items.

Montreal-based company, Neptune, have brought out the successor to their 2013 creation, ‘The Pine’ – a smart-watch called ‘The Hub’ – and is designed to replace, rather than work in conjunction with your smartphone. This means that it is the first truly mobile wrist-based device, and with increased battery life and functionality, it lends itself to a wide range of applications.

Online gaming is another field that has experienced enormous recent growth, and Royal Vegas Casino has managed to combine these two areas by offering a wide range of casino games and online slot machines direct to your wrist – meaning that you can get away with subtly playing roulette at the dinner table, or making real money on their recently-returned Wheel of Fortune slot-game when you should be paying attention to what your boss is saying at your next briefing.

iPhone6 paired with iWatch- online gaming for your wrist!
iPhone6 paired with iWatch- online gaming for your wrist!

As well as a wide range of games (complete with huge welcome bonuses, free spins and access to members-only tournaments and prize draws) Royal Vegas Casino also offer their users access to their regularly updated blog, which keeps players up-to-speed with the latest goings-on from the world of online gaming. This means that you need never miss a release date or a chance to take advantage of limited time offers – and all from your watch!

NYMI wrist-tech from Toronto
NYMI wrist-tech from Toronto

But it seems that Canada is leading the way in more than one wrist-based technology and Toronto tech company ‘NYMI’ have created a wristband that reads heartbeats and has the ability to use them as a form of personal identification, allowing you access to bank accounts or internet services without the risk of them being stolen in the same way that fingerprints can be.

Whichever way you look at it, Canada is at the forefront of cutting edge and user-friendly technology – and if it beeps, chirps or flashes on your wrist, the odds are that it was conceived in The Great White North – and so long as they keep making our lives more interesting, safer or convenient, long may it continue. For the Silo, Jarrod Barker