The UK Betting and Gaming Council (BGC)
In late February, the BGC called for reopening betting shops and Casino’s once the UK began to exit the current nationwide lockdown.
More than 44,000 UK residents are employed through Casino’s and betting shops, giving the council a favourable argument to reopen with other businesses. The BGC can only assist the post-lockdown economic recovery if they can reopen as the other sectors will.
The body states that betting retailers should reopen in unison with non-essential retailers, whilst casinos should start-up alongside restaurants, pubs, and clubs within the hospitality sector.
“As the vaccine rollout continues and the country begins to emerge from lockdown, it is important that businesses can plan effectively for reopening,” said Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council.
“Betting shops must be allowed to reopen alongside other non-essential retail. Last summer, when most betting shops were able to open, they showed that they have the best0in-class anti-COVID measures compared to any other part of the high street to protect customers and staff. Ministers must allow them to play their role in stimulating the high street and other non-essential retailers.
“Likewise, casinos are eager to help Britain get back on their feet. The night-time economy has taken a hammering during the pandemic, and draconian restrictions, including the 1-pm curfew, have made a difficult situation more desperate for many businesses.”, Dugher added.
The Big Announcement
A week following the BGC’s public statement, betting shops in England are now set to reopen on April 12th, with adult gaming centres, bingo halls and casinos scheduled to follow on May 17th. The UK government’s plan to reopen the economy.
Aintree’s former managing director believes moving the Randox Grand National until after the proposed opening of betting shops in England on April 12 is something he would be considering if still in charge at the racecourse.
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) February 23, 2021
The UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his plans for the country last week, including an announcement for the economy restart starting March 8th. The speech itself did not mention casinos, betting shops, bingo halls or gaming centres.
With that said, a Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that betting shops would open in the second stage – starting on April 12th. Simultaneously, the remaining sectors of gaming/entertainment will all open in stage three – expected to begin on May 17th.
Betting/Gambling legislation is problematic for casinos without a worldwide pandemic, so the mood of gambling commissions this week has been festive.
The Good News, Or Is It?
Whilst the betting and gaming industry prepares for its return, Simon Thomas, CEO of Hippodrome Casino, does not sound utterly confident in the government: “The government has spoken! So, it’s with cautious optimism that I can announce that we will reopen on Monday, May 17th.
“You can imagine how delighter we all are, and in the next few weeks, we’ll be finishing off the work we’ve undertaken while we’ve been closed. There’s a brand-new casino floor in the gods high up on the fifth floor, a new poker deck with many more tables, and other improvements to make us bigger, better and busier.”
“Keep an eye on our social media in the days to come for news of a raft of special entertainment outdoors on the new terrace, the return of Magic Mike London, menu updates in Heliot Steak House and much more. Till we meet again…stay safe, happy and well. We’ll see you in a few weeks.”
Johnson insisted that reopening must be a one-way road, with the aim of no reintroduction of restrictions once they are lifted.
While the rules apply for England only, the Prime Minister has vowed his local governs are working with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the lifting of restrictions.
The coronavirus has taken its toll on the gaming industry public sector whilst booming in its online services; the national lockdown has impacted gambling at home. Commissions involved with online services won’t have many complaints, whereas casino owners and betting services that work with the public have been financially affected for close to a year.
I’m not the most demanding of people to be perfectly honest with you. Outside of working hours, give me a cup of coffee and a TV remote and I can happily ‘while away the time’ for a few hours without too much fuss. However, of course we all like to get out and about occasionally, either for a typical night out consisting of a couple of pints, or something more of an ‘occasion’ like going to a fancy(ish!) restaurant, a concert or a casino. We live in strange times though, and a global pandemic now stands in the way of such carefree nights on the town. I have considered many a time trying to gain permission and access to my local casino via smoke signals, or by whispering secret entry codes and passwords outside of the door, but to no avail. During this lockdown I don’t have a cat in hell’s chance of getting in!
In decades of old, that would’ve been a complete disaster, but thankfully in the modern era, there are viable alternatives that offer just the same if not an even better and more varied casino experience than exists ‘offline’. So often, the problem with a local casino is that it’s something of a captive market; the only show in town, and they just know it. The online world is a completely different environment though. There are a considerable number of online casinos all vying for your custom and so they up the ante in terms of what they offer casino goers. They do so by offering incentives that make them stand out from the crowd. It becomes necessary to read trusted assessments of the top 10 online casinos and the like to really separate the best from the rest. This really is the only way to ensure that you get the most bang for your buck as well as an authentic online casino experience.
One important factor when assessing online casino sites is reputation. If comparison sites consistently declare a website to be trustworthy and standing out from the crowd, they likely do so for good reason. In this highly competitive environment, it’s also important to make sure that you have your eye on the best welcome bonuses for new customers, as this will ensure that you have more money to play with when you first join. Along the same line some casino sites offer free slots spins to their members and so there are numerous opportunities to gain ‘money for nothing’ (though there are sometimes wagering requirements and the like). Bet boosts and ongoing offers for existing members are also sometimes made available.
Casino review sites often also highlight the types of payment methods available with a particular online casino. This can really be a time saver. Other factors that differentiate casino sites can be the variety of games on offer. When you attend your average bricks and mortar casino, sure you’re going to find a few different slot machine options from time to time, but the change of pace may well be pretty glacial. In comparison it’s a different world online, there are hundreds of existing slots options, with new ones becoming available all of the time. If you have a favourite movie, or celebrity or slot theme you can bet there’s a slots game out there that ticks the box. So all in all, lockdown or not, if you love to play slots, roulette, poker or any of the other top casino games, a convenient and authentic casino experience is still available for you right now, and it’s only a click away.
Traditionally, the term ‘slot machine’ was used to describe a gambling machine that was operated by inserting coins, or tokens, into a slot and pulling a handle, or pressing a button, to set in motion three or more, originally mechanical, reels. The final position of the reels or, in other words, how many winning symbols lined up on the payline, or paylines, determined the payout, which was released, again in coins, or tokens, into a receptacle at the bottom of the machine.
The principle of the modern slot machine remains the same but, in casinos in the United States and elsewhere, coins and tokens have been almost universally replaced by a system known as ‘Ticket-In/Ticket Out’, or TITO for short. TITO slot machines neither accept nor pay out in coins or tokens, but instead print barcoded tickets that can be transferred from one machine to another, or redeemed for cash at a cashier station or automated kiosk.
Similarly, in the modern incarnation of the slot machine, physical, mechanical reels have been with a graphical simulation on a video screen, which simply display the outcome of each spin, as determined by a microprocessor, known as a random number generator. In addition, while traditional slot machines had just a single payline, modern slot machines with two, three, five or more paylines have become commonplace. Nevertheless, for all their ‘bells and whistles’, in terms of complexity and features, modern slot machines typically offer a house edge between 5% and 10%.
Great hand for baccarat.
Among the various casino games available online and offline, baccarat is one of the most popular with a great history. This card is loved by the players at land-based casinos for many years and now its online providers are witnessing this game’s fame. Despite being so popular worldwide, there is always someone new to this game, who wants to learn some significant things about baccarat. Here, we are going to tell you vital things about baccarat.
Origin of the Game
The roots or the game are attributed to Europe, in which country it originated is still not known. Many believe that France or Italy is the home country of baccarat. Before being named baccarat, this game had several other names such as Banque, punto banco, Chemin De Fer, and punto banco. Apparently, each country had different names and a little different gameplay. The changes were made throughout the years and we got the popular version of the game that we enjoy today.
How to Play Baccarat
At first glance, this game may seem a little confusing to some users, but it is indeed easy to learn. The objective of the game is to determine if the player or the dealer would have a winner’s hand or the result would be a tie. So, here, players can make bets on the banker’s hand, the hand of the player, or on the tie. However, you need to keep in mind that betting on the hand of the player doesn’t mean you bet on yourself. Bets must be placed prior to the dealer deals the cards.
The aim is to have a card as close to 9 as possible. Here, cards are calculated according to the – 10 value. For instance, 14 is considered 4. If the total of hand you placed bet is close to 9 then you collect the profit. The game is very simple and easy. You can play online bingo as it is fast and instant access to the game. Several online casinos offer free demo games of baccarat, where you can practice and improve your skills.
Where to Play Baccarat?
Playing live Baccarat.
Once you have learned the basic rules of the game and how it works, you would want to try a few hands, right? As we mentioned in the introduction that most land-based casinos offer baccarat tables. Players just need to pay the baccarat table fee, buy some tokens, and they are good to go.
However, we think that online gambling can be a feasible option to play this card game. These days, where digitalization has facilitated the users experience, playing baccarat online is way more convenient. They can come in two forms, digitally with the machine and live with real dealers. Both ways of playing are extremely popular and exciting for the players. We have found one well established online casino that recently added to their portfolio the popular Playtech games in addition to their Evolution gaming live offers, therefore we strongly recommend that you’ll try out their much fun eight Decks online baccarat card games.
Baccarat Strategies and Tips
Novice and old players always look for the top strategies for baccarat to guarantee a profit. However, first, we want to make a thing clear that there no certain strategies and tips in baccarat that ensure winning. Unlike blackjack, this casino game is purely a game of luck. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t use some tactics. Here are some tips and tricks that can be used to increase your chances of winning.
Don’t Bet on A Tie or Draw
Betting correctly.
Although there is no foolproof baccarat strategy, there is a small detail that you have to know. As we said there are three kinds of bets here: on the player’s hand, on the banker’s hand, and on the tie. Here, the third type of bet seems very attractive at first glance, since it is associated with a payout that makes you dream.
However, in baccarat, your best weapon is rationality. Betting on a tie has only one chance in thirty of making us win. It also offers the casino an advantage of 14.3%. So, opt for this bet as little as possible.
Betting on Banker’s Hand
Many novice players think that betting on the banker’s hand or betting on a player’s hand have similar chances of winning. But betting in a banker’s hand is a good strategy. Although this bet will get you 5% of the profits in the casino, the chances of winning with this bet are more. The bet on the hand of the bank offers us an opportunity to win up to 44.64%.
Be Responsible
Every person who plays in a casino needs to know that some you win and sometimes you lose. Although it can be a bit difficult to digest, you must accept this reality before even thinking about a strategy for baccarat. We should set a financial goal and set a limit on ourselves. Defining an objective will allow us to be satisfied with certain gains and not fall into excess. In terms of investment, sticking to a limited budget will prevent us from wasting our financial resources and falling into irrationality. Always play responsible to enjoy gambling.
Important Tips
- Bet in favor of the best score from the dealer.
- Don’t try to bet on a tie
- Learn the basic rules of the game and know how it works
- Use bonuses and other perks offered by the casino provider
- Do not insist on a losing streak and play responsibly
- Don’t trust any guaranteed strategy. It is pure luck but uses your instinct as well.