Category Archives: Gambling
Brief History of Roulette
Roulette is part of what we in the casino circles like to refer to as the holy trinity of casino games, alongside blackjack and slots! What? What do you mean I’m the only one who actually calls it that? I can’t be, there’s bound to be others! I mean, it’s just so perfect! When you think of casino, you basically think of either the spinning reels of the slots, the sliding cards on the blackjack table or the rolling roulette wheel. There’s just no other option! When they hear the word “casino”, no one goes “Oh, yeah, that’s where I go to play baccarat!” It’s always one of these three games. Honestly, it’s hard to tell which of the three is the most iconic, but to me, personally, that honor needs to go to the roulette. Why? Well, because slots are too new (they’re less than a hundred years old), and blackjack is too ordinary, with it only involving an ordinary deck of cards. Roulette, on the other hand, has the visual imagery AND the thorough history to truly be the symbol of casino!
And let me tell you, there’s quite a lot to talk about when it comes to the history and origin of roulette. While most people think that it first appeared during the French revolution, unrelated versions of it have been popping around since antiquity. China, Greece and Rome all had their own versions of the basic “objects are arranged in a circle and something spins to point at one of them” game, which does make sense because, well, it’s one of the simplest games you can possibly make. Hell, somewhere, right at this very moment, a group of teenagers are playing a similar game right now, except they’re calling it “Spin the Bottle”. Regardless, the first real revolution came from “Proletariat Unrest: The Time Period”, also known as the French Revolution – a time that also gave us such classics as modern democracy, the guillotine and the inspiration for a criminally underrated “Assassin’s Creed” game. Most likely, the first roulette wheel was first invented as an attempt at creating a perpetum mobile machine, but was promptly adapted into a casino game by what must have been the most business-savvy dealer of all time.
Interestingly, at the time casinos didn’t really operate the way they do today. Instead of the casino hiring people to act as dealers and keeping the majority of the money, dealers basically employed themselves and simply used casinos as gambling spaces, in exchange for a percentage of their winnings. Many gambling activities required bulky boards (like a casino wheel), which is why having a dedicated space where you could store your stuff AND attract gamblers was a huge plus. However, as time went on, casinos gradually began turning into their modern counterparts (hired dealers and all), with a permanent selection of the most popular games being made available to play. Roulette was one of them. But it wasn’t until roulette was featured in Monaco’s casinos (which would become the cultural center of the world when it came to gambling) that it REALLY took off. After that, there was no stopping it – roulette was going to be in every casino in the world from then on.
The history of roulette is extremely interesting, and I can’t possibly do it justice in a 500 word article. I’d highly suggest that you go out of your way and read up on it a little bit, because even if roulette isn’t your favorite game, just the way it rose into prominence in the public’s eye is, I’d say, pretty fascinating!
Top UK Online Casinos
The online casino industry in the UK has been developing rapidly over the past few years. More and more players discover the charms of playing casino games with real money online, while more and more operators emerge to match the overwhelming demand. There are currently hundreds of casino websites available. Some of them are definitely worth your time, while others – not so much.
In this article, I will present to you my top picks for best online casinos in the UK. Before we get started, I need to mention that all the casinos you will see here are legal, and are under regulation by the responsible authorities. Only casinos that hold a valid licence by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission are to be trusted.
BetVictor
This online casino definitely deserves a spot among the greatest operators around here. BetVictor is a seasoned veteran in the industry, and they offer a lot to both new and regular players. They have over 500 games available on their site, and the variety is great. This is due to the fact that the operator uses software by more than a dozen of the best developers in the business! BetVictor also manages to impress with its four different live dealer casino platforms.
This casino offers up to £200 as a welcome bonus for all newly registered players. There is also a neat cashback system in place, which allows you to recover some of the money you’ve lost to the casino. BetVictor has one of the best support platforms and customer service I’ve ever had the pleasure of dealing with, so if you experience any problems, they will provide you with a quick and effective solution.
Leo Vegas
For people who enjoy playing casino games on their mobile devices, Leo Vegas is definitely the best casino out there. Even their desktop version is nearly impeccable! They are a relative newcomer to the online casino scene, and they have quickly managed to cement their place as one of the preferred operators for UK players. There are more than 500 games available there as well, courtesy of many different developers. What makes Leo Vegas truly stand out from the others is their mobile app – it is by far the best one of them all. It has almost all games from the desktop version, as well as intuitive interface and added features.
Leo Vegas offers one of the juiciest welcome bonuses – up to £1500, and 200 free spins for your favourite slot machines. There is also a VIP system that you can use to gain more exclusive promotions, better special offers, and other goodies.
888 Casino
Finally, we have come to my personal favourite – 888 Casino. This operator needs no introduction, as it has been one of the major players on the scene for quite a while now. Nevertheless, they have never stopped improving, and today provide the perfect mix of awesome games, cool bonuses, and outstanding customer support. At 888, you will be able to enjoy exclusive titles by some of the best developers of casino games. Also, you will be able to play outstanding live dealer games, supplied by the industry giant Evolution Gaming.
When it comes to bonuses and promotions, 888 is second to none. In addition to the cool £100 welcome bonus and £88 Free Play, you get different promotions every day of the week! There are even bonuses for specific games and live dealer tables. If you have not played at 888 yet, give them a chance – you will not be disappointed.
There Are Plenty of Great Casinos to Play at
Those were my picks for the top online casinos for UK players. I plan on releasing more of those quick casino reviews in the future, so stay tuned. When it comes to choosing an operator, the most important thing you need to do is to make sure they are licensed, dependable, and reputable. Almost everything else is a matter of personal preference.