It’s all in the game

It's all in the game

Ok so let’s be honest, a newbie to the world of casino games could feel a little intimidated with the amount of choice on offer.

With online casinos such like here at Llanbikefest UK, there are over 500 games to choose from.

Wow!

Where do you start, how do you play some of the games, which ones are the best to win some serious cash on?

It really can be a daunting thing to try choose between all the games.

So now, take a deep breath, grab a pint, sit back and let me explain some of the games to you. And hopefully this will shed some light on which games you thing will suit you best.

Arguably the most popular of the casino games is slots. No matter if you are a seasoned gamer or complete novice, slots really are the dimpliest of the casino games to play. There isn’t much to them in terms of skills needed, and a lot of where the reels fall lies with how Lady Luck is feeling on the day you play. Fans of slot games will tell you that the graphics and the realism of the characters are by far better than in any other game.

And maybe this is one of the main reasons players keep coming back to play on slots; they absorb you into a world of make believe and exploration, and hey, you can act like a big kid again and no one can say anything about it! {insert chuckle here}.

Often, I really don’t want to have to think about my next hand, my next role of the dice or if I should stay or hit, it really is just about pushing the button to make the reels spin on by and let the casino do the work for me. And when you do win a jackpot like in Mega Moolah, which has hit above £1 million before, it really is well worth a trip to let the reels reward you.

If you are one of those players looking to beat the odds, test your skill and all that fun stuff, then games like blackjack and video poker are the games for you.

Yes they do require a little more thinking but the challenge it presents some players is what keeps them coming back for more and more.

Whichever way the wind blows, whatever mood you are in on the day you want to play, take a shot at our free games. Give them a go without spending a cent and really get a good dose of gaming at its best. Then when you are ready to put some pounds on the table or slot machine, give it a go. There could be a winner’s check with your name on it waiting for you in the end.

Beauty of online slots

There are lots of things to love about online casinos, and to be able to list all the reasons why I play here at Llanbikefest would take up far more space than I am allowed. Like most people who love to play at the casino, my main reason for selecting PP in the first place was because of the sheer number of games that they had available.

I finally got to play table games, like baccarat and roulette, which I was too self-conscious to try when I spent time at land-based casinos. I also love the numerous deposit options and rewards that are available to all of us who make our online casino home here, but I think more than anything it’s the huge number of slots games that keep me coming back for more.

I grew up around pub slots, and those remain my favourite types of slots games to this day, but the beauty of online slots is that there is a type to suit everyone.

There are countless different themed games, many of which draw upon graphics and characters from some great video games and movies, as well as offering the chance to escape from the norm of our everyday lives and enter into a world of spinning reels and brilliant sounds and colours.

Then of course there are the progressive slots that are available here too, all of which have jackpots that can change your life with a single spin. There are slots that suit players of all bankrolls too, and it’s just as easy for the player with a small bankroll to find a game, as it is for the high roller that wants to spend big with every spin.

Microgaming and Llanbikefest are constantly adding new slots games, so if there is a style or theme that you haven’t been able to find yet, then just wait, because chances are it will get here sooner or later.

Baccarat rules

Baccarat has always been one of those games that is considered to be somewhat exclusive, given that it is usually played in private rooms, all of which are guarded by burly looking men in tuxedos with ear pieces clearly visible. It has always had the appearance of being a game for the rich and privileged, where the average player wasn’t really welcome, and as such was somewhat ignored by most casino players.

That changed with the arrival of online casinos such as our own Llanbikefest, and now players from all over the world can finally get to see what all the fuss is about without the bodyguards. What came as a surprise to most was that the game was relatively easy to play and learn, and in fact only has 3 possible bets (banker, player, and tie). It is actually a little similar to blackjack, which gave it an instant spike in popularity once it hit the online casino scene.

The rules are pretty straightforward, with the object of the game to get as close to 9 as possible with the cards you are dealt. The bet is placed, opting for one of the three choices, and then the player and banker are dealt 2 cards each. Face cards and 10’s have no value, cards less than 10 are counted at face value and Aces are worth 1.

A combination that results in a double digit total sees the left number dropped (e.g. 17 is actually counted as 7), and if the total is 8 or 9 then the hand is over as that is considered a “natural”.

If the player draws a 5 or less then they get a 3rd card, and if more than 5 the banker stands on 6 or higher, and draws on 5 or less based on these possible scenarios:

  • If the bank’s total is 2 or less then bank draws a card, regardless of what the player’s third card is.
  • If the banks total is 3 then the bank draws a third card unless the players third card was an 8.
  • If the banks total is 4 then the bank draws a third card unless the players third card was a 0, 1, 8, or 9.
  • If the banks total is 5 then the bank draws a third card if the players third card was 4, 5, 6, or 7.
  • If the banks total is 6 then the bank draws a third card if the players third card was a 6 or 7.
  • If the banks total is 7 then the bank stands.

And that is the basic rules of baccarat which, as you can see, does not hold a very steep learning curve, so be sure to give it a try the next time you visit Llanbikefest.

 

 

Baccarat techniques

While baccarat has always been one of the less accessible of the games in the casino, it has actually gained a fair bit of popularity, in large part due to the major success of online casinos like Llanbikefest. The game has moved away from private rooms behind velvet ropes, and into the living rooms of regular casino players, which has gone a long way to removing much of the mystique that has always surrounded it.

What may be the most surprising to those that have never been previously exposed to baccarat is that it is a fairly uncomplicated game to play, with actually only 3 bets available on any given hand; player, banker and tie.

The one thing that baccarat has in common with just about every other game is that players constantly try to find angles or strategies that will improve their odds of winning. Card counting is one technique that has always had a place at the tables, although it’s a method that is not necessarily embraced by the gambling industry. The feeling is that baccarat is a game that does not really benefit from card counting, and the proof of that may be in the fact that casinos will oftentimes provide players with scorecards to keep track of every bet, a method that is known as chasing.

If the casino really believed that counting would give the player an advantage over the house, you can bet that those scorecards would be gone in a minute.

Anyone who has had experience playing the game will tell you that the best way to play the odds in baccarat is to simply bet the banker each and every hand. It may seem like you are betting against yourself, but the fact is that you are simply making the smartest of the 3 bets available every time. Like any game that is unfamiliar to you, it’s smart to learn the bets, odds and terminology before jumping in.

Video poker tips

Back in the seventies something exciting hit the casino floor and that was video poker.  Everyone flocked to the casino scene and was indulging in this game. Video poker has only become more popular over the years and is now a casino favourite. It is also one of my favourites and my Friday nights are usually spent on the couch logging onto Llanbikefest casino and enjoying this game for hours on end.

If you are a gambler who wants a game to enjoy by yourself, one with high winnings and a low house edge, then you have hit the jackpot when it comes to video poker.  Firstly forget all the myths and old wives tales you may have heard about this game because that is just what they are! You have to use some strategy when you play and unless you are willing to learn it, this game won’t work for you.

A player should never draw five cards if they get a jack or better and one should never hold a kicker when they are holding a pair. Players should also wager slowly during this game to build up their credit balance instead of losing it. There is no need to rush when you play; taking your time always gives better results. Don’t ever draw four cards if you are able to draw three to a flush. When you are playing on a progressive machine you should always bet a maximum amount of money to win the royal flush, this payout will be very high.

You should learn to read the pay table and understand it before you play. The window explains this well and with online casinos the rules are always there for you to read. So learn your strategy and stick to it as this is the way to bring in the money. By following a strategy you can drastically lower the house edge.

Online slot tournaments

Casino tournaments are fun and extremely exciting to play, you compete against other players and get to show off your skills and could walk away the big winner. Online slot tournaments are the most favourable casino tournaments that casino players participate in. So how does it all work?

Well firstly you just need to register with your favourite casino (mine would definitely be Llanbikefest) and then select the tournament you wish to take part in. After you sign up you pay the fee and you will be given a slot machine number and a specific time session to play.

Once it is time for you to play you simply look for your machine number and the game begins! Usually each player is given a $1,000 credit to start playing and has 20 minutes to use it. Any winnings are credited to a metre. Once your time is up the game automatically locks itself. The final score will be compared to the other players to determine the final winner. All results are accurate so there is no way of cheating the system and everyone gets a fair play.

Sometimes there are a limited amount of machines so several tournaments will be set up to take place. The overall gaming experience is exactly the same as playing on your own, except that the winnings can be very lucrative with such tournaments. There are even free tournaments to join and one can even get superb bonuses and comps. The scheduled tournaments are booked in advance while the sit-and-go tournaments take place once there is enough players.  Spontaneous players prefer the sit-and-go tournaments and are in it for the fun.

Slot tournament can be quite entertaining and are a good way to take home the prize, so log on to Llanbikefest and get gaming.

Hellboy – slot game

Comic book characters have always been colourful individuals that spark our imaginations, and it’s no real surprise that they have been brought to life in so many themed slots games. The exciting storylines are perfect for the fast-paced casino world, and one of the latest comic book characters to get the slots treatment is Hellboy. For those who don’t know him from the comics, or from the 2 movies that he has appeared in, Hellboy is a cigar chomping, gun toting good guy straight from the bowels of hell. He fights all kinds of strange creatures that make it into our world, basically saving us from mayhem on a daily basis.

Here at Llanbikefest, Hellboy is a 5-reel, 20 payline slot with a rather devilish 10,000 coin jackpot. All of the other major characters, such as Prof. Trevor Bruttenholm, Johann Krause, Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman also appear, and there are some really cool little animations that really bring the game to life when you hit a winning combination.

There are some very cool additional features in the Hellboy game, and those start with the Wild symbol which triggers a 2x multiplier on a winning combo. Three or more scatter symbols unlock the Underworld Bonus round where you try to locate valuable relics before your surroundings collapse in on you.

There is also the super mode bonus round, which is randomly triggered and presents you with 10 free spins, with the highlight being that three Wild symbols are randomly placed and held during the spins. That little extra alone can really add up to some tremendous bonus payouts that Hellboy will walk away with in his giant fist. You don’t have to be a fan of the comics or movies to get a kick out of the Hellboy game, so be sure to give it a spin the next time you log in to Llanbikefest online casino.

Reasons to play

With so many online casinos now operating on the internet, it’s tough for the average player to decide where they should deposit their gambling dollars, and when I look at what’s available here at Llanbikefest, I have to wonder why anyone would ever consider playing anywhere else.

  • It all begins with the bonus offered by the casino, and it has to be said that PP’s 1500 free spins for new players is tough to match.
  • Llanbikefest is where you will find the best casino software, powered by Microgaming, the elite when it comes to games.
  • The number of banking options at PP is second to none, and the ability to play in multiple currencies makes it a true global casino.
  • There are multiple ways to play, including a full download casino, an instant play version that allows you to log in from any computer, and now mobile versions for players on the go.
  • New promotions are always popping up at PP, and players should check to see what valuable promos are available every time they log in.
  • You can now play, head to head, against players from all over the world in the exciting International Slots League.
  • PP offers a stunning rewards programme that rewards players for the loyalty, and can mean free casino credits, win or lose.
  • Llanbikefest also has poker and bingo games available for their players, both of which have very cool new player bonuses.
  • There are an incredible number of games available at PP, and just playing all the different slot machine options could take you weeks.
  • Last, but by no means least, Llanbikefest operate under the eCogra seal of approval, which means that players can be sure that their time in the casino will be safe and secure, as well as fair.

I can’t think of any other casino that can match that list of positives, and that’s why I’ll continue to get my casino kicks at Llanbikefest.

Origins of roulette

One of my favourite things about playing at Llanbikefest is being able to try games that I would be intimidated by in the land based casinos. Roulette was always one of those games that I really wanted to play, but my lack of knowledge about how the game worked, and the seemingly vast number of bets, made it one that I always skipped.

Thanks to Llanbikefest, I was able to learn the ins and outs of the game by using the free play feature, which gave me the confidence to try it for real. I love roulette now, but have always wondered where the game originated, so decided to do a little research.

I assumed the game, given its name, meaning “little wheel” in French, originated in France, but the true origins are up for argument. Some say that it was invented in 17th century France by a mathematician named Blaise Pascal, while others claim that it was brought back to Europe by Dominican monks who discovered the game being played in China.

Whatever the case, by the late 18th century the game had become very popular, with Prince Charles of Monaco using it as a way to try and alleviate the financial problems of his region. The game as we know it today didn’t appear until 1842, with Francois and Louis Blanc devising the single “0” game. When roulette crossed the waters to the US, a “00” was added, and the two versions of the game still exist to this day.

Thankfully, you don’t have to cross the pond to play both versions as they can both be found here at Llanbikefest, so come give the wheel a spin.

Keno – guidelines and tips

There are hundreds of great games to choose from here at Llanbikefest, and while everyone is familiar with the traditional slots and table games, there are a few more available that may not be so well known to everyone. Keno is one of those, and if you haven’t played before, you really don’t know what you are missing. The games come quickly, meaning that if you miss the start of a round, you won’t have to wait long for a new one to begin.

The rules are extremely straightforward, and it’s almost like a combination between bingo and the lottery. Players get to choose between 1 and 20 numbers from a card that has 80 numbers in rows of 10. 20 numbers are then drawn, one at a time, at random, with the goal being to cover as many of your chosen numbers as possible. You are then paid out based on how many of your numbers were landed on, and in some cases if none were chosen, but that only usually occurs if you have selected a lot of numbers.

The game is completely random, so adopting a strategy becomes virtually impossible, but if you decide that Keno is a game that you would like to play regularly, then there are a couple of things that you can do to make it a little more fun. The first thing to do is check and see what the odds are for all winning combinations, and pick the play that gives you the best chance of winning, combined with good odds. I’ve found that playing a 4-spot (you select 4 numbers) provides the best shot at a decent return.

You will win make your money back if 2, 3 or all of your numbers are hit, and can usually hit often enough so that you don’t ever get completely wiped out. I’d also suggest sticking to the same numbers every time, as that seems to have worked best for me, rather than trying to figure out which are hot and cold. Keno is a great way to pass some time when you are between games, so check it out next time you are logged in to Llanbikefest.