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Casino games over the years have built up a cult-like following, and some folk will only stick to the game they know best. The likes of poker, blackjack, and roulette are synonymous with the opulent pastime and are at the epicentre of any casino. However, over the years, different titles have cropped up, and variants have developed, some to the point of taking elements of established games to make entirely new ones. These game fusions or crossovers have thrown up some casino classics with a compelling twist, many of which have become sought-after.

Slingo

Slingo was created way back in 1994 by Sal Falciglia. The effervescent online game combines the two legendary vintage casino classics of bingo and slots. The game’s basics are that a player has 20 spins, each spin produces five numbers; if a number on their card appears, they can knock it off. As with many online classics, there are special features, and, since its creation and subsequent take-over, there have been many iterations and spin-offs (pardon the pun).

It began on its own website, but it started to skyrocket in popularity in the U.K. As such, in July 2013, RealNetworks bought Slingo for $15.6 million, and, later in July 2015, it sold to London-based Gaming Realms. Its popularity didn’t stop, and it made its way to a myriad of the top gaming sites, so you can now find slingo bingo on Paddy Power, for example, alongside its classic slot and bingo brothers.

21 Duel Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most intense but gratifying games you can lend your hand to in the casino. Its simplistic nature allows anyone to understand it, but it takes real skill to play it well. One variant of the game that has assumed a creditable mass of favourability is 21 Duel Blackjack. It’s similar to the original, but all of the features make it seem like a new game. It’s played with six decks; players can place bets on three separate hands; after placing the bets, two cards get dealt. Like blackjack, one is face-up, and the other down; however, two more cards get placed in the middle of the table, and they’re communal.

With only one card visible, you choose one communal card to add to your hand. You can hit or stick from there. Trying a demo before playing for real is recommended. Sometimes it’s a good idea to test a game before you play for real; it’s worth trying out in order to get to grips with it.

“Poker!” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by Viri G

H.O.R.S.E. Poker

Probably one of the more confusing games when it comes to picking it up, HORSE poker is a multi-game format. It combines some of the best know variants of poker and amalgamates them into one game. The game comprises Texas Hold ’em, Omaha hi-low, Razz, Seven-card stud, and Seven-card stud Eight or better. Of course, those who know how to play poker and these games might find it easy, but many take time to adjust.

The casino world has always been inventive when it comes to making up new games for its players, and there is a multitude out there. Sometimes though, it seems the best games can come out of crossing over some classics.

Of course approaches differ by country but I’m sure at some point over the past 12 months we’ve all been in a situation where the world is on pause. It’s a strange new reality where ideas of having a drink or bite to eat with friends simply aren’t possible and past occasions when they were now almost feel like a dream!  Life can become a bit monotonous in such circumstances and I’m sure we’re all crossing our fingers that in a few months time (or 2022 at the latest!) normality starts to return to our day to day lives.

One plus side, (if we want to call it that) of life in the slow late is that we can all pick up hobbies and interests that we simply didn’t have as much free time for previously. Learning a language, a musical instrument, reading that book they’ve been putting off. There are a number of work arounds too. I love nothing more than heading to the casino, but right now that isn’t possible in many countries. Online options aplenty are still available though, and many faithfully replicate their bricks and mortar equivalent. And as the internet is of course worldwide, there are online casinos and offers for Finnish players and others too all around the world.

By mention of offers and incentives I mean to say that, if anything, online casinos are more generous than offline. This is because it’s such a competitive environment and so impressive sign up bonuses, free spins and the like are often on offer. By making the right choices you can ensure that you get the most ‘bang for your buck’. Some sites even have ongoing incentives for players such as cash back, or free poker tournaments and the like to join.

And what of the games themselves? Well in a real world casino granted there is the atmosphere to enjoy, but at the same time, you’ll struggle to find such as impressive range of new and exciting slots options, whereas online new games frequently appear overnight. In fact, if you can think of a slots game theme it likely exists online and so the world is your oyster. There is the convenience factor too. Sometimes I just want to few quick spins of the roulette wheel for instance. Online I can do that immediately and in the convenience of my own home. Offline, it’s not quite so simple (especially now)!

And so despite the troubling times we’re living in, maybe having a little more time on our hands combined with the convenience of online life (and those conversations with loved ones over Zoom!) does have something going for it. Until life returns to normal, it at least provides us with options at our fingertips and adds a bit of excitement to our days!

Whatever your gambling preferences may be, it makes sense to choose an online casino that caters to them accordingly. For high rollers with abundant bankrolls to burn through, high roller casinos are the way to go. For more casual gamers more interested in sticking to a budget, casinos packed with penny slots and freeroll tournaments are more suitable.

But what remains constant in all instances is the importance of ensuring you get maximum bang for your buck. Irrespective of how much you spend, you deserve at least something in return from the casino.

This is where VIP casino programs come into the mix, which the vast majority of top-rated brands are now running. Making the most of VIP schemes where available comes highly recommended, but it is important to ensure it is the right VIP scheme for you.

How do VIP Programs Work?

“To be frank, most online casino VIP schemes aren’t worth a great deal to the average player. High rollers get all kinds of stuff thrown at them to keep them sweet, but more casual players really need to shop around – which is where our independent listings can help.” – TopDogCasinos.com

Make no mistake about it – all VIP schemes are not the same. Not only do different schemes work in completely different ways, but the amount of money you have to spend to get anything in return varies wildly from one program to the next.

As for the mechanics of VIP schemes, there are several common approaches to rewards and incentives used by most online casinos. Detailed below are some of the things you can expect to be offered – particularly if you are a regular player or a high roller at a certain casino:

1. Cashback incentives are widely available these days, offered in the form of anything from 1% to 5% of the total amount you spend each month. Cashback is also sometimes calculated exclusively on the basis of losses.

2. Bonus funds are also offered by the vast majority of casinos, wherein a percentage of the amount of money you credit into your account is added as a bonus – anything from a 50% to 500%. Though these funds are almost always accompanied by a relatively steep wagering requirement.

3. VIP points may be handed out by an online casino – typically 1 point for every $10 wagered. As these points accumulate, they can be exchanged for perks and privileges in some kind of VIP ‘store’, or for cash to withdraw at a rate of say $10 for every 100 points.

4. Expedited withdrawals are a common incentive available for high rollers, which may be processed within the same day or even within the hour. There may also be much higher limitations how much can be withdrawn each week or month, for those who spend the most.

5. Personal account management is a popular perk among big spenders in particular, who may be assigned a dedicated VIP assistant of some kind to oversee their gambling activities.

6. Free spins work in a similar way to bonus credit, in that they are routinely handed out but in most instances are governed by terms, conditions and wagering requirements. Though some free spins are wager-free, meaning you get to keep anything you with.

7. Birthday gifts and random gifts at equally random times throughout the year they also be handed out, but these are the types of perks usually reserved for high rollers only.

8. Invitations to tournaments and other exclusive events or competitions are another popular type of VIP incentive. As with all of the rewards outlined above, the more you spend at any given online casino, the more likely you are to be invited to take part.

9. Dedicated customer support may also be offered, which basically means a different telephone number, e-mail address and live chat service for instant 24/7 support, when and where required. Where this is available, it could be particularly useful in time-critical situations.

10. Access to exclusive games may also be granted – particularly in the live-dealer section of a casino, where there are often live action variants of roulette, blackjack and baccarat available exclusively for high rollers.

In all of the above cases, the only VIP casino programs worth getting into are those you can expect to get something back from in return. Using customer reviews and independent recommendations sites like Top Dog Casino can help, but it is always important to check the terms and conditions in full, before getting started.

Earlier this week $1 Casino Chip World Record Holder Gregg Fisher reached out to us, in order to update an old post. Since then he has even been kind enough to make HotChip part of his collection display! Always looking to extent his Guinness world record, Gregg has sent us an update regarding his love of collecting and casinos, and why others might want to join him in this worthwhile pursuit.

“I’ve always been drawn to casinos, from when I was a boy watching westerns on tv. They were always playing poker, roulette, drinking and fighting.

I lived in Las Vegas in the 70’s, again in the 80’s and now again from 2012. I have over 5,200 chips and tokens in my collection.
The Guinness world records is for unique chips/tokens from different casinos. I like many collectors have multiple versions of chips and tokens from the same casino.

To be clear, the Guinness world records for largest collection of $1 casino and tokens , requires only one chip or token from each casino. Guinness world records requires photos, videos, spreadsheets, experts, public viewing, witness statements and cover letter. I would like to encourage others to start their collection or continue collecting. It’s a fascinating way to learn about the gaming industry around the world.

My Guinness world records is for $1 chips/ tokens in the United States only. On my next attempt I will use $1 chips/tokens form around the world. I have chips/tokens from over 20 countries and cruise ships.”