Halloween may be over for another year but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still plenty of spooky tales about unexplained phenomena and things that go “bump” in the night. But one of the places that isn’t often associated with these strange apparitions is the casino. After all, these are usually full of life and excitement right through until dawn, so what self-respecting ghost is going to show their face in them?
Well, there are several as it turns out, so settle back and enjoy some spine-tingling tales of sightings amongst the tables.
The spirit of Bugsy Siegel
The history of Las Vegas is a long one. Before the 1930s, it was just a quiet town in the Nevada Desert. But the arrival of thousands of workers brought to the area to build the Hoover Dam meant that it quickly grew. One of the men who profited from this was the notorious figure Bugsy Siegel whose Flamingo Hotel and Casino became one of the most famous in town.
Although he eventually died in Beverly Hills in 1947, many people have reported seeing his ghostly figure in the hotel and casino over the years. Favourite spots for sightings include the Presidential Suite as well as by the memorial in his honour which stands within the hotel’s grounds.
Apparitions in Atlantic City
Long before Atlantic City was converted into the Eastern Seaboard’s version of Vegas, it was home to many grand hotels that were demolished to make way for the casino resorts. One of these was the Chalfonte Hotel, constructed in 1868, and whose site was later occupied by Resorts International Atlantic City. Many guests have reported feeling an icy chill pass through the building during their stay and, during the Second World War, it was also used as a hospital for injured servicemen. As such, there have been many sightings of ghostly men in uniform roaming its corridors.
Of course, the online equivalents of land casinos aren’t without their spooky elements, either. Take the examples of the slots Spooky Spells and Halloween Jack from Space Casino where players are subjected to the chills and thrills as the reels spin. This just shows that the real-life stories of apparent hauntings have been used as inspiration to take casino gaming to a different place.
Ancient Magic at the Tropicana
“Mask” (CC BY 2.0) by Sam Howzit
Our final example features the ancient spirits that are said to have possessed a tiki mask that was a famous fixture in the equally famous Tropicana Las Vegas. There are many accounts of people touching the mask and then coming out in an unexplained purple rash. Other strange phenomena included a purple haze or gas hanging in the air around the mask and photographs of people standing next to it being blurred and out of focus. So it’s hardly a surprise that the mask is no longer part of the casino’s décor – but it may well still be weaving its evil spell elsewhere right now.
So try not to let these creepy tales spoil your sleep tonight – or your next visit to the casino!
Almost 2,000 years ago, the might of Mount Vesuvius unleashed itself on the Ancient Roman world. In a dazzling and devastating display of nature’s power, it erupted, destroying the city of Pompeii forever.
Burying it beneath a layer of ash and rubble, the volcano created a mausoleum for the people who had once lived and worked within its walls. There they lay for over a thousand years, that terrible day in August preserved forever.
In 1784, however, an unsuspecting engineer stumbled across the forgotten city. There, archaeologists found some fascinating insights into the lives lived inside it, from what Ancient Romans ate, to how they enjoyed themselves.
Among the discoveries were a few artefacts that proved particularly interesting for those with an interest in gaming.
Gaming in Ancient Rome
Today, erstwhile gamblers have the freedom to entertain themselves in any way they choose. Whether they want to visit their local casino, or enjoy blackjack online from home, the availability of both land-based and internet providers makes this possible.
Moreover, consumers can game as and when they choose thanks to these sites, and there’s no issue if they would like to gamble publicly. In fact, their rights are even protected by licensing bodies and the strict regulations these impose.
In Pompeii, however, the same freedoms didn’t exist. That’s because gambling was outlawed. Illegal except during the Saturnalia festival, it was associated with immorality, drinking, and violence; in much the same way as alcohol during the Prohibition era.
Much like alcohol 1,800 years later, though, gambling proved impossible to eradicate, with the prohibition on it being widely disregarded by the public, who were immensely fond of gaming. A prime example of this is Pompeii, where numerous gambling artefacts, such as dice, were discovered beneath the rubble.
The treasures of Pompeii
One way we know that gambling was popular in Pompeii is because of a series of frescoes found in several cauponae (the Roman equivalent of modern-day pubs or bars). These show ancient Pompeiians seated around special gambling tables known as tabula lusaria. Made of marble or stone, these were engraved with 36 symbols, and players had to roll three different dice in order to move their pieces.
As well as paintings showing gaming in action, large numbers of dice were recovered, indicating that the activity wasn’t only depicted on walls, but actively enjoyed by the city’s populace. Similar findings have been made at other archaeological sites throughout the Roman world, suggesting these games were widely played and enjoyed.
However, their outcomes weren’t always fair. Unlike modern-day gambling, which is heavily regulated, ancient Pompeiians may have had a penchant for cheating. We know this as some of the dice discovered at the site were weighted in order to give their owner an edge over their rivals.
Indeed, there’s even graffiti alluding to the practice on Pompeii’s walls, with one particular inscription boasting of an especially spectacular win. According to the writer, he won a sum equalling almost four times the annual pay of a legionary soldier, which must have seemed like a vast fortune to this lucky individual.
When it comes to gaming, 21st-century players are not the first to have enjoyed themselves at the tables, nor will they be the last. Rather, gambling is a common theme that runs throughout the history of mankind, and long may it – and the pleasure it brings – continue.
Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1965, at a time when stud poker was still the most popular form of poker in the United States and elsewhere, ‘The Cincinatti Kid’ is a drama fim aimed at poker ‘purists’. The screenplay, written by Ring Lardner Jr. And Terry Southern, was adapted from the novel of the same name, written by Richard Jessup, but the film was set in Depression-era New Orleans, rather than St. Louis. Original director Sam Peckinpah was replaced by Norman Jewison shortly after filming began.
Featuring the tag line ‘He’d take on anyone, at anything, anytime…’, ‘The Cincinatti Kid’ stars Steve McQueen in the title role, as Eric ‘The Kid’ Stoner, an up-and-coming young stud poker player, who seeks to succeed the aging, but ruthless, Lancey ‘The Man’ Howard (Edward G. Robinson) as the undisputed poker kingpin.Throwing caution to the wind, Stoner has his friend and fellow gambler Shooter (Karl Malden) arrange a private game with Howard. In the final hand, Stoner raises Howard $3,500, who re-raises $5,000 and, in a dramatic finale, turns over the jack of diamonds to complete a queen-high straight flush, whcih wins the pot. To add insult to injury, Howard tells Stoner, ‘You’re good, kid, but while I’m around you’ll always be second best.’
Early in the film, Stoner plays penny-pitching, or pitch-and-toss, with an African-American shoeshine boy (Ken Grant) and wins, reminding the boy, ‘You’re just not ready for me, yet!’ In the final scene, as Stoner sinks, shell-shocked, to his knees in the alley outside, the same boy taunts him to play again. He does, but loses, causing the boy to exclaim, ‘You tried too hard, man! You just ain’t ready for me, yet!’
2021 will bring an influx of new and exciting casino operators to the market and with it, we can enjoy more in the way of games, bonuses and features. Players have come to expect a high level of games and bonuses to satisfy the hunger for online gaming entertainment. New online casinos are launching with fully-fledged sites back with gaming options from big prize giveaways, fun slot tournaments, huge jackpots, live tournament with Texas holdem and plenty more. It can be hard to keep up with the new additions to the online casino markets but we’re here to help bring you some clarity into this.
Why play a new online casino in 2021?
The online casino market is certainly a crowded one so you’re not short of choice when it comes to picking a new casino site. Because of this, online casinos have to work hard to convince you to sign up. They do this in a variety of forms, including offering generous welcome bonuses and other rewarding incentives. Finding a good welcome offer is a good reason to sign up and take advantage of the bonus play. It gives you a chance to get a feel for the online casino without using all your own money. These first-time offers can take many forms, including free spins, match bonuses and cashback offers.
What to look at in an online casino in 2021
When you sign up to a new casino in 2021 you should take a look at the licensing and regulation. The casino should be regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and they may also hold licensing from other jurisdictions such as the Isle of Mann, Jersey, Malta and more. You can check the site’s accreditation by heading to the casino’s footer on the homepage. Also, look out for the privacy policy and responsible gaming, this all suggests the online casino is safe and take measures to abide by the enforced regulation.
New improvements in online casinos in 2021
New sites mean new features and new games. The demand for online casino entertainment has only increased and as a result, new casinos are improving their product offering to satisfy the demanding casino enthusiast. This means gamification improvements; this means more engagement across the site. What’s more, new payment methods, the latest games with innovative features, interesting site themes and mascots, better mobile play and plenty more. It’s an exciting time for online gaming, the industry is growing and as a result, game developers are producing more casino content to satisfy the demand. We can expect more jackpots, prizes and winning opportunities across the best new casinos in 2021.
We would also like to encourage our readers to play responsibly.