Over the last 20 years, online casinos have become incredibly popular, and it is now one of the most profitable industries in the world.
Casinos are portrayed as glamorous, and some of the most famous films in the world are set in Las Vegas. From the Ocean’s 11 series to James Bond there is a distinct mystery attached to this setting, but how does that translate when it comes to online casinos? Well, in reality, there is no such thing as a dress code in an online casino, and you are more likely to find players in their pyjamas code up on the sofa merrily clicking away on slot machines. However, there are some fascinating facts about online casinos and here are ten of those that we think are the best.
1.Here Come the Boys
Online casino gamblers are predominantly male. It is considered that about 11% of those people who access the Internet actively use gambling websites. Annual statistics say that over 80% of the people in the online casinos are going to be male. Of course, this does incorporate all forms of Internet gambling, so betting is also included. Another interesting fact is that gamblers tend to be over the age of 30 years, and this serves them well because gambling problems are predominantly in the younger male gambler who is 7.5 times more likely to become addicted and have a financial crisis than their female counterparts.
2. The Devil’s Game?
You may not know this, but roulette is nicknamed the Devils game, and the reason behind it is quite intriguing. If you add up all the numbers shown on the wheel, the total is 666 which is also thought to be the number of the beast. Now that’s a bit scary! But, don’t let that put you off because as it goes roulette is statistically one of the best games for actually standing a chance of winning. If you bet on black, for example, you have a 50/50 chance of winning – almost – although the odds are relatively low, so you don’t win much money. We say it’s nearly 50/50 because the English roulette wheel has a 0, and the American roulette wheel has a 0 and a 00 which slightly skewed the odds away from being 50/50.
3. How Old?
Although it took several years before it became viral, and in the last five years, popularity has rocketed online casinos are almost as old as the Internet. The Internet was first created as we used it in 1991, and micro gaming, one of the biggest online gaming providers launched a site called the gaming club in 1994. Of course, since then graphics have moved on massively, and the games are slick, professional and nothing like these original clunky versions. With the advent of virtual reality and augmented reality, we can expect to see even more developments and this, in turn, could see online casinos becoming even more popular.
4. Lots of Slots
Thought machines or the one-armed bandit as they were nicknamed way back in the era when you pulled a single lever are now almost exclusively played online. Over 90% of slot game gambling takes place on the Internet. You will, of course, find machines dotted around here and there but online is where it’s happening.
5. Casinos Never Sleep
The thing about online casinos is they don’t require actual staff. Most of the games are automated and do not require a croupier. So, at any one time, it is estimated that for every ten users accessing the Internet one of them is gambling.
6. Slots – Again!
Not only are slots almost exclusively played online these days, but they are also the most popular game. Perhaps the rules of table games such as roulette and craps are too hard to get the hang of or maybe people just like the mindless fun after a long day in the office. But whatever the reason slots are by far and away the most popular games to play.
7. Only Online
In some countries, you can only gamble when you use the Internet. There are no casinos, and you must not be caught gambling in person, or you can be arrested, and fined. Monaco is this place. Ironically Monaco figures larger than life in casino history, but they have changed their mind, and nowadays you can only do it online.
8. Heavily Restricted
New Jersey is an interesting place when it comes to gambling; it was banned there until quite recently. Now although it is legal, there are massive restrictions on which games can and cannot be played both in bricks and mortar and online casinos.
9. Crazy Money
Big money is possible, in 2015 a player who was sat at home in his living room in Cardiff bet 25p on the slot machines and went on to win £13.2 million which is the current world record for slot machine wins. The biggest casino win was for a player who had joined the casino for the first time and spent just 30 minutes playing games before he scooped a whopping 17.8 million euros.
10. But Wait
Okay before you all rush to your computer to try and scoop some massive prizes one last fact, and a word of warning. In Italy, a customer bet £18 and his winning was £650,000, but the owners of the casino refused to pay up as they said it was a technical glitch. He did take them to court, but the small print stated computer error would equal no winnings, and he lost.
