History of gambling in Britain: 1100 to 1700 – a pastime for the rich
In his book, The History of Gambling, John Aston states that in 1190 an edict was issued banning members of the army who were ranked below knights from playing games that required any form of betting. Clergymen and knights could play as long as they didn’t lost more than 20 shillings per day.
Bull baiting, the cruel blood sport in which bulls were ‘immobilised’ by dogs in a confined space, was a very popular choice to bet on. There was also racing and cockfighting to get the blood racing and the betting figures up. On the tamer side there were games of checkers that could be bet on, unsurprisingly these weren’t as popular.
Cards rapidly surpassed dice as the preferred gambling tool in the 14th century when they made their way from Asia to Europe. The deck of cards was adored by royalty – James IV of Scotland wooed his future bride, Princess Margaret, with a deck when he visited her for the first time.
Princess Margaret’s brother, Henry VIII, banned cards and dice from being played by working class people. His reason: it made men turn to drink and crime.
During the Elizabethan era a card game called Primero was developed. This is the game that is believed to be the precursor to poker. The first version of the British Lottery was also introduced during this era. Queen Elizabeth had the idea of offering 400,000 tickets to the public with prizes that included china and cash. The first London-based lottery event was organised by King James in 1612.
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Online blackjack over online poker
One of the best things about playing at Platinum Play is the number of games that are available, and the only real dilemma you might ever face is trying to decide which one you should play over another. When it comes to table games, blackjack and poker have always somewhat dominated the casino scene, thanks to their immense popularity.
They both have a huge following for completely different reasons, with blackjack players favouring the fast-paced play and relative simplicity of the game, over the strategic mind game tactics that tend to be a major part of poker.
That’s not to say that one game is better than another, or that poker players are inherently smarter than their blackjack counterparts; instead it all just boils down to taste and the type of game that you prefer.
Personally I prefer to play blackjack over poker, especially when it comes to the online versions of both games. I really like the high-speed aspect of blackjack, and now that Platinum Play has a multi-hand version of the game, I can play multiple hands each and every round.
I also find that I don’t have very much luck when I play online poker, as I tend to sort of zone out when waiting for other players to take their turn. Good poker players don’t have that problem, and fully understand that they have to pay attention to every move and bet that is placed at the table, even when they have folded out of a hand. The key to being a great poker player is watching how other players bet in different situation, which can help tell when they have a genuinely good hand, or are bluffing. My short attention span does not allow me to be a good poker player, but it does make me a decent blackjack player, so I think I’ll just stick to what it is I do best, as that affords me the best chance to win regularly.
Secret Admirer slot game
Valentine’s Day may still be a couple of months away, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get a little TLC before the big day arrives. All you have to do to get your heart racing, and get your swoon on, is to check out the super sexy 5-reel, 9-payline slot called Secret Admirer.
The reels are covered with all the gifts that every girl dreams; diamonds, chocolate and perfume are just a few, and if you play your cards right, you might just score a massive 5,000 coin jackpot win.
There are tons of other ways that Secret Admirer shows you the love, including a super hold feature that allows you to hold onto the reels you love, whilst spinning the others to try and get a winning combination. It’s nice to see a feature that usually only shows up in pub slots make an appearance here.
Secret Admirer also comes with a scatter and Wild symbol to help get your winnings up, and it’s those diamond ring scatters that can really make your heart soar. Two or more rings activate the Free Spin feature where the winning can go over 25,000 coins if playing the max bet.
There are tons of playing options, and the multiple denomination levels make this game perfect for people with hearts of all sizes. There really is no better combination than Platinum Play and Microgaming when it comes to themed slots selections, and this is another one that fits perfectly into their already impressive stable of games.
We already know that you love Platinum Play, but why not come on in and see a little action with your Secret Admirer.
Keno tips
Keno is seriously a game based on luck, very much like the lotto. You select your numbers and hope those are the winning numbers. But is there a way to be stronger at the game? Well actually there is, you need to learn more about the machine and how it really works.
The machine works with algorithms to randomly select different numbers. A good point to know is to play your numbers in patterns instead of spreading them all over and it is also good to keep the same set of numbers for every game. The good part is when you hit big on the numbers you have picked; the winnings can be very lucrative. Generally when you don’t pick your usual numbers that is the time the numbers do actually turn out to be the winning set and then you feel like slapping yourself for changing your numbers. So commit to your set of numbers.
You also have to manage your money during this game, so you need to obtain a bankroll. This will be a total sum of money that you are willing to lose. Selecting a good casino to play at is also vital and with Platinum Play I have found my gem amongst the casinos. Learning to actually play the game or giving it a test round is also worthwhile before you begin to play for serious money.
Take it easy when you play, bet little amounts at a time rather than a huge amount. You don’t want to end up the big loser just when you begin to play. This prolongs the game for you and you get to enjoy it more. Even though the house has a higher edge in this game, the payouts are usually massive so it makes up for that.
So the game won’t work with magic or some crazy method, but like mentioned before, understanding the game and playing on a constant level will definitely increase your chances of winning.
Casino withdrawal options
Much is made about the number of options available ay Platinum Play when it comes to depositing money, but there isn’t a lot of chatter about withdrawals. That may very well be because most players always like to have money in their account so that they can play whenever they feel like it. It’s not like at a land based casino where you have to take your chips to the cashier window when you are done for the night; when you are done playing for the evening at Platinum Play, all you have to do is log out, secure in the knowledge that your finishing balance will be exactly as you left it after your last visit.
It save a lot of depositing and withdrawing time, but what if you hit a really nice jackpot and all you want to do is get your hands on all that lovely moolah. Well, that’s easy too, and there are tons of ways in which you can get your funds delivered to you.
Probably the most common way to withdraw money is to simply use the same method that you do to deposit. For me that means having the money transferred to my web wallet account, as it’s fast, secure and easy. I do a lot of shopping online, so having money in both my Platinum Play and web wallet account is the best way for me to do what I need to do with a minimum of fuss.
You could also choose to have the money wired to your bank, or request a check, and that process usually takes a couple of days, but with the Christmas holidays just around the corner, there is one other really cool option that you could look at.
You could request that your withdrawal amount be put on a debit or credit card, but be sure to check first as this option is not available in every country.
I play at the casino on a regular basis, so that means that my withdrawals are kept to a minimum, just so that I always have money in my account, but if you do need to withdraw, you can be sure that the folks here at PP will get your money to you as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Las Vegas dumbest city in US
A study conducted by Thedailybeast.com ranked Las Vegas as the dumbest city in America. This might highlight a direct link between reckless gambling, alcohol and stupidity.
The study was not the most scientific but it did make some interesting findings. The study combined a whole lot of variables that included how many of the city’s residents have university degrees, how many accredited post-secondary institutions there are in the city and the number of non-fiction books sold in the city.
Boston was ranked as the most intelligent city in the US. To compare, Boston got 176.68 and Vegas got 3.33. Then again, degrees and reading probably aren’t part of the Vegas party culture and which one of the above-mentioned cities do you think have more fun?
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Celebs who play casino games
Hollywood loves to use casinos and gambling as a backdrop for countless movies, and it would appear that what shows up on the screen has actually spun off into real life, as more and more celebrities are starting to show an interest in gambling, with some even cashing out big in the real world. Take actress Jennifer Tilly who walked away with $158,625 and a World Series of Poker bracelet after beating out a field of over 600 other ladies in a Texas Hold ‘Em event.
Perhaps it’s being in a gambling based movie that creates the interest for some, and a good example of that are Matt Damon and Edward Norton who are now considered regular poker players after they starred in the poker movie “Rounders”. Damon and his buddy Ben Affleck have actually spent a fair amount of time learning the ins and outs of the game with poker stars Phil Helmuth and Annie Duke, with Ben actually becoming good enough to win a couple of live tournaments.
It seems to be young Hollywood that is most in love with gambling as Leo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire are also regular players. Having said that, there are a couple of older TV stars who regularly hit the tables, with Jason Alexander and Gabe Kaplan, of “Welcome Back Kotter “, fame heavily involved in the poker world.
Big name sports stars have also been spotted at the casino, with former NBA stars Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley regulars on the Vegas scene. While most seem to prefer the table games, golfer John Daly has a real love for the slots and has reportedly bet up to $5,000 per spin at his favourite machines. Sports stars thrive on the thrill of the game and I’m sure that’s why they love the excitement of gambling, and even outside the Vegas lights there are stars who love the casinos of Europe, such as English footballer Wayne Rooney.
While we regular folks may not be able to afford the high stakes played by these celebs, we can still feel like we are special by becoming part of the Platinum Play Rewards programme.
Winning craps tips
Craps is one fo the oldest gambling games out there and apparently dates back to as early as the 11th century. Craps was known as Hazard in Europe until 1800.
Here are some basic craps tips:
- Make basic bets. Craps is a basic game and the ebst way to learn how to play this game is to play the game. Practice makes perfect.
- Craps is worth playing, with or without the practice – it has one of the higest casino game payouts out there.
- There is no betting system that will give you an advantage in craps. What will give you an advantage is placing bets that you are happy with.
- Get your hands on a solid craps guide that you can study so that you can get better and better.
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British competitiveness revealed
A study on the habits of British casino players online has divulged that the British may once have had a reputation for being masters in the fine art of chivalry but aren’t anymore.
When questioned on their competitive spirit British subjects divulged a little more than expected.
Here’s what they revealed:
• Over 940,000 of them faked injuries to get further in sports contests.
• 232,000 British men have faked a disability so that they could beat the opposition.
• Over 240,000 British women have faked pregnancy to get a seat on a bus or a train.
• Over 450,000 British men and three quarters of a million women admitted to fake crying as a way to distract their opponents.
• 2.8 million men and women use emotional blackmail to get their own way.
• 39% of them race to be first on buses or trains or to get the last available seat
• The surveyed Britons are more likely to engage in friendly competition with strangers (27%) first, then friends (20%) and least likely to engage in competition with partners. Very wise
• 16%, 1 in 6, of those surveyed compete with colleagues and only 8% of competition is sibling rivalry. Really?
Karen J Pine, a professor of psychology at the University of Hertfordshire and author of Sheconomics, stated:
“Competition unlocks our primal instinct for survival. In contemporary society we no longer need to fight for food or fire, but the impulse remains so we find ourselves racing for seats on the tube or control of the television remote. Friendly competition allows us to assert ourselves and rank ourselves against others, this urge to establish a pack hierarchy taps into a primitive human emotion. Healthy competition can be an important release and has always been a critical survival mechanism for humans.”
Here’s more:
• Rushing has caused over 19 million people to race against other drivers.
• A third of people will compete for a parking space.
• 27% will fight for control of the TV remote and 12% will rush to be the first to get to the bathroom in the morning.
Express your competiveness at Platinum Play online casino where there are hundreds of competitive games and tournaments to take part in.
