<p>
  <b><i>The captivating world of casinos has had its fair share of unbelievable
      happenings and colossal comebacks. Famous films and books with gambling as
      their main theme are, in most cases, based on true stories. From fabulous
      fortunes made at the poker table to famous gamblers, this article will try
      to cover it all and present to you a tale of destiny and luck and how they
      became entangled at the exact right moment for many.
    </i></b>
</p>
<div>
  <img src="https://api.westcasino.com/media/article/6307d55b-d610-482e-917b-522c031f9762.jpg">
</div>
<h2>Players who risked it all</h2>
<p>
  It’s a well-known fact that casino games are strongly associated with
  adrenaline. Ashley R.’s story has become a source of inspiration for quite a
  few adrenaline junkies. The Englishman sold his house, his car, and all of his
  other belongings and high-tailed it to Vegas with only one thing in mind – all
  or nothing, or double or nothing, I should say. Nobody knows for sure what
  pushed Ashley to bet everything at the roulette table, but we do know that he
  chose the wrong roulette. Why play American Roulette which grants the house a
  huge advantage, instead of French Roulette? Doesn’t matter, because Ashley won
  and became the host of famous TV show Double or Nothing.
</p>
[getstarted][welcomepack]
<h2>Casino-defying Daredevils</h2>
<p>
  Creative gamblers have always tried to get an upper-hand over casinos. Ranging
  from goofy attempts to win at slots to precise and accurate mathematical
  systems, their stories have been heard all over the world. They were cheats
  and they were rejects, but they made a fortune. The film 21 starring Kevin
  Spacey is based on a true story and it revolves around a group of MIT students
  who’ve mastered Blackjack. These youngsters all had something in common: above
  average intelligence and a thirst for cash. Thusly, under the careful
  surveillance and guidance of their master – played by Kevin Spacey – they
  learned to count cards. With this technique, they managed to make unbelievable
  amounts of money by predicting what cards were to be dealt next. When the time
  was right, they placed big bets. When it wasn’t, they played small. They were
  always careful to remain anonymous. Today, of course, counting cards is
  illegal, but, man, what a ride it was!
</p>
<p>
  Another tale of tempting fate would be that of a Spanish gambler who managed
  in 1990 to completely destroy the house advantage. He noticed that some
  roulette wheels had small imperfections and by carefully observing over a
  thousand spins, he realized that the ball landed on some numbers a lot more
  frequently than on others. He took his family and friends to the casino and
  had them place bets on those “lucky” numbers towards massive wins. His story
  was told in 2010 through the movie Winning Streak.
</p>
<h2>Lords of Luck</h2>
<p>
  Defying all odds, a grandmother succeeded in setting an unbelievable record.
  Jersey native Patricia Demauro started playing slots in Hotel Borgata’s
  casino. She was accompanied by a friend who’d just lost a lot at poker. On a
  whim, Patricia decided to play craps. She got 154 consecutive winning rolls!
  The odds? A few trillions to one. The amount of her winnings was not revealed,
  but it must have been millions considering she won 154 times in four hours and
  twenty minutes. What’s funny is that Patricia was no great craps player, but
  that night Lady Luck decided to pay her a long and profitable visit.
</p>
<p>
  How about Fred Smith, the owner of a failing company who decided to grab all
  his remaining cash and go to Vegas? Luck was definitely on his side because he
  made $30.000 from a measly $4000. His winnings helped him save his company and
  even make it profitable. Today, Fred Smith is a billionaire and his company is
  worth $4.4 billion. It’s amazing to think that he owes it all to a last resort
  game of Blackjack!
</p>
<h2>Unbelievable tales of the gambling world</h2>
<p>
  The gambling world knows no limits. Betting parlors take almost any type of
  bet on the strangest and most unconventional things. In 1990, a betting parlor
  had to pay almost 200.000 pounds to a player who placed the following bet:
  that in the year 2000, a music group would still exist, two celebrities would
  still be part of a TV show, and that a celebrity will become a knight of the
  royal house. He won.
</p>
<p>
  We all know about Uruguayan football player Suarez’s tendency to bite his
  opponents. Apparently, a betting parlor in Norway was oblivious to this fact
  and offered 175:1 odds on the following bet: Will Suarez bite in the 2014
  World Cup? Well, he did, and 170 players each got ahold of a tidy sum.
</p>
<p>
  Brian “Wis” Zembic is a Canadian magician and blackjack amateur. He’s gained
  quite a reputation for never refusing a bet. He’s famous for agreeing to get
  breast implants for $100.000. The surgery was a success, and as his fame grew,
  Zembic decided to keep the implants!
</p>
<p>
  In 1980, in Las Vegas, a player placed the unreal bet of $800.000 on a single
  dice roll. The man was apparently suicidal because he had borrowed the entire
  sum and losing it would’ve probably made a lot of people unhappy. Luck was
  thoroughly on his side, though, because he won.
</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>
  Even though these amazing stories are the bases for many famous books and
  movies, they inspired amateur gamblers to do uninspired things. Always
  remember to play responsibly and carefully plan out your gaming budget. The
  goal is to have fun and win big at the same time. The best way to do that is
  to choose a trusted online casino like WestCasino, where fairness is the name
  of the game.
</p>

<p>Read about the most famous gamblers that defied the odds and destroyed the house advantage! They got insanely rich through a combination of luck and skill! Check this out and more at WestCasino Blog!</p>

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<p>
  <b><i>Known as the “Gambling capital of the world” or “The Monte Carlo of the
      East”, the former Portuguese colony of Macau is China’s only location
      where gambling is legal. Gambling tourism is Macau’s biggest source of
      revenue, making about 50% of its economy. On February 5th, however,
      following the recent coronavirus outbreak, the majestic city has become a
      near-ghost town during what is typically its busiest time of the year.
      Because the local government has drastically limited visits from mainland
      China, arrivals have suffered a significant 69% drop. Coupled with the
      impact of a slowing Chinese economy and anti-government protests in
      neighboring Hong Kong, the virus is worrying Macau officials deeply.
    </i></b>
</p>
<div>
  <img src="https://api.westcasino.com/media/article/9d9acbd3-23ee-4050-b5be-6c6fdf80d4c1.jpg">
</div>
<p>
  The outbreak also coincides with the Lunar New Year holiday during which Macau
  enjoys record visitation. Analysts forecast a decline in gaming revenue of at
  least 30% for as long as health restrictions and strict entry regulations on
  tourists are in place. Casinos say they are losing between US$1.5 million –
  US$2.6 million daily to keep their staff on payroll and maintain contractual
  obligations. Their operators’ share prices have also plunged by as much as 6%
  for MGM China Holdings Ltd., 5.7% for Sands China Ltd, 4.8% for Wynn Macau Ltd
  and 4.7% for Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.
</p>
[getstarted][welcomepack]
<p>
  Starting with February 20th, the government allowed casinos to reopen after a
  two-week suspension aimed at controlling the virus outbreak. Nonetheless, the
  gaming regulator has imposed strict rules: temperature checks, mask protection
  and health declarations for staff and guests. To ensure adequate distance
  between people, only half the tables on a casino floor are permitted to
  operate. Clients are not permitted to congregate, according to a government
  notice. Baccarat tables, which normally seat seven people and dozens of
  observers, will only allow four players.
</p>
<p>
  All operators have 30 days to start functioning normally as mandated by the
  government. Analysts and executives predict that despite casinos reopening,
  gaming revenue will drop at least 80% in February and 50% in March. It will
  take weeks to get back to normal even though Macau has only reported 10 cases
  of coronavirus infection and no new cases since February 4th.
</p>
<p>
  Besides casinos, nearly 30 hotels have been shut down. That includes shows,
  non-gaming attractions, and most restaurants. Authorities have stated that
  until further notice entertainment venues including bars will remain closed.
  According to official figures, hotel occupancy has dropped from 90% last year
  ago to 12%.
</p>
<p>
  Even though Macau’s government has pledged US$3.4 billion to support domestic
  consumption, many businesses dependent on tourists and casinos have been
  seriously affected.
</p>
<p>
  The coronavirus has infected more than 70.000 people across China, with close
  to 1.700 deaths reported in the Hubei province alone.
</p>

Macau Casinos closed on account of coronavirus outbreak | WestCasino

Macau casinos hit hard by China’s coronavirus outbreak

<p>
  <b><i>
      Bright lights, loud noises, fluttering images, and a self-made promise
      that the next spin is going to be a big win. This is the appeal of slot
      machines, a global phenomenon that’s taken the world by storm ever since
      its creation back in the late 19th century.
    </i></b>
</p>
<div>
  <img src="https://api.westcasino.com/media/article/f48eee72-c641-464c-857f-e8d3cbdd2c9e.jpg">
</div>
<h2>The Birth of the Slot Machine</h2>
<p>
  San Francisco, California, 1895. A young Bavarian mechanic by the name of
  Charles August Fey finally settled after emigrating from Europe and traveling
  across the United States for the better part of 10 years. Although slot
  machines had been invented beforehand, Fey designed the first three-reel unit
  with a revolutionary feature – the automatic payout. It had 5 symbols –
  hearts, diamonds, spades, horseshoes, and a liberty bell. It cost a nickel to
  play and the highest payout was awarded for 3 bell symbols, hence the name
  Liberty Bell. It paid 50 cents which was quite the big win for the time. The
  machine became wildly popular and Fey installed and managed his machines in
  saloons throughout San Francisco.
</p>
[getstarted][welcomepack]
<p>
  Even though California officially banned slot machines in 1902, the
  manufacturing of the Liberty Bell continued. Since awarding cash prizes had
  become illegal, the initial symbols were replaced with fruit symbols and the
  payout would consist of chewing gum and sweets of the corresponding flavor.
  Five years later in Chicago, Herbert Mills produced a slot machine called the
  Operator Bell. This is the time when the BAR symbol was introduced. It was
  based on the logo of the Bell-Fruit company and replaced the chewing gum
  symbol that had been used up to that point.
</p>
<h2>Mid Century Advancements</h2>
<p>
  For half a century slot machines had remained mechanical. By pulling down a
  lever, you’d set the reels in motion. This gave players the feeling that they
  could somehow control the outcome. It’s the reason why the machines were so
  popular and it’s how the term “one-armed bandit” came into existence.
</p>
<p>
  In the ‘60s, Money Honey was invented. It was the first fully
  electromechanical slot machine. Even though the lever was no longer necessary,
  its absence would’ve been entirely too unfamiliar for players at the time. So,
  the lever remained. Money Honey was an instant hit and because of it,
  electromechanical slots came to dominate the market.
</p>
<p>
  The first-ever video slot was developed in 1976 by a Vegas-based company
  called Fortune Coin. Initially, it was only made available in the Las Vegas
  Hilton Hotel. It soon got approval from the Nevada State Gaming Commission and
  it became wildly popular in the Las Vegas Strip.
</p>
<h2>The Online Revolution</h2>
<p>
  Following the invention of the World Wide Web in the ‘90s, slot machines made
  the ultimate transition and became available online. It allowed players to get
  their luck tested in the comfort of their own homes. Often, slot games
  couldn’t be fully enjoyed because of all the commotion of the everyday casino.
  However, online gaming changed that. Now, players can become fully immersed in
  their game without the hustle and bustle of a crowded land-based
  establishment. Furthermore, slot games have become more complex and,
  subsequently, more appealing. The Bonus Rounds that most successful games
  feature are the main contributors to the rise in popularity of online video
  slots. Not to mention the diversity of the games’ themes. Think of any topic
  and there’s a slot game about it. As opposed to common table games such as
  craps, roulette, or blackjack, slots can get creative. Some even follow
  compelling narratives that motivate the player to keep spinning the reels.
</p>
<p>
  Nowadays hundreds of online casinos offer a large variety of video slots.
  Check out www.westcasino.com, for example. Besides having all the table games
  you could want, we’ve also got over 600 highly creative, insanely entertaining
  slot games, and our Welcome Bonus is absolutely amazing:
</p>
<p>
  - 100% bonus up to €250 plus 100 free spins on Book of Dead on your first
  deposit
</p>
<p>- 50% bonus up to €200 on your second deposit</p>
<p>- 200 free spins on Sahara Nights on your third deposit</p>
<p>
  - 70% bonus up to €200 plus 70 free spins on Reactoonz on your fourth deposit
</p>
<p>
  - Access to WestCasino’s Funtastic Calendar starting with your fifth deposit
</p>
<p>
  Not only that, but we’ve got a special promotion every month in which we give
  out a ton of bonuses and free spins. Plus, we treat our loyal players like
  royalty, offering them special VIP treatment.
</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>
  Slots have really come a long way and their popularity never seems to dwindle.
  Whether they give out chewing gum or money, they push a special button in
  players’ brains that fill them up with pleasure, excitement, and hope. Keep
  playing, keep going for that big win, and remember – fortune always favors the
  bold!
</p>

Slots and How They Were Invented – A Brief History of Slots

A Brief History of Slots

<p>
  <b><i>Here at WestCasino, we’ve recently concluded our two weeks long
      Valentine’s Day promotion ingeniously dubbed Wheel of Hearts. Besides
      giving an extremely endearing shout out to romantic love, the spectacular
      event whole-heartedly offered WestCasino players a magnificent myriad of
      amazing bonuses EVERY DAY plus a chance to win the massive Cupid’s Fortune
      prize pool. Continue reading to find out how the heart-warming promotion
      worked, what fabulous prizes we’ve given out, and how many lucky players
      won big at WestCasino!</i></b>
</p>
<div>
  <img src="https://api.westcasino.com/media/article/812b1120-c434-480a-8074-3a34e4b00436.jpg">
</div>
<h2>Giving the Wheel of Hearts a Spin to Win</h2>
<p>
  The main feature of the Wheel of Hearts promotion was the wheel itself. Every
  day, players could spin the wheel and receive a guaranteed prize such as Free
  Spins, generous deposit bonuses on a great selection of games, and the highly
  coveted Free Cash. Each prize came with its own topical Valentine’s Day
  symbol.
</p>
<p>
  After the electrifying click of a button, the Wheel began to spin. What an
  adrenaline rush! You never knew what you were going to get – it was entirely
  up to chance – but players knew that there were treasures to be found wherever
  the Wheel stopped. After the edge-of-your-seat spin, players collected their
  prizes and used whatever sensational bonuses they got towards a much more
  beneficial playtime. The first time I spun the Wheel, I got 25 Free Spins on
  NetEnt’s ghastly Ghost Pirates with NO DEPOSIT required. I had a good run that
  even ended with some winnings.
</p>
<p>
  Prizes aside, the promotion’s page was truly something to behold. Every aspect
  of its design, from Wheel to background, screamed Valentine’s Day but with a
  subtle, almost elegant touch. The combination of pink and purple was easy on
  the eyes and it engulfed the player in a romantic, yet profitable atmosphere.
</p>
[getstarted][welcomepack]
<h2>The Fruitful Path to Cupid’s Fortune</h2>
<p>
  All players who spun the Wheel of Hearts and deposited 50 were automatically
  eligible to win Cupid’s mind-blowing Fortune. Here’s how it worked – a small
  percentage of each deposit was added to the bewildering prize pool. The
  campaign started on January 29th and as it progressed, the prize pool only got
  bigger and bigger, up to a whopping €140.000! If that’s not a great incentive
  for players, I don’t know what is. Needless to say, all WestCasino players
  dreamt of celebrating 2020’s Valentine’s Day deeply in love and buried in
  cash. However, there would only be ten lucky winners who would share the
  staggering amount between themselves.
</p>
<p>The winner of 1st place received 40% of Cupid’s Fortune - €56,000.</p>
<p>The winner of 2nd place received 30% of Cupid’s Fortune - €42,000.</p>
<p>The winner of 3rd place received 20% of Cupid’s Fortune - €28,000.</p>
<p>
  The winners of 4th to 10th place received an equal share out of the remaining
  10% of Cupid’s Fortune - €14,000, €2,000 each.
</p>
<p>
  The competition was extremely tight since over 11.500 players participated in
  the contest. The lucky winners were selected on February 14th, on Valentine’s
  Day, which is, sadly, also the day that our mega-promotion ended.
</p>
<p>
  Congratulations to all winners! I’d sure like to be in their shoes right now!
</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>
  Wheel of Hearts was an extremely exciting contest that celebrated love as well
  as big winnings. Even though Valentine’s Day is a special enough day already,
  WestCasino sweetened the deal with our massive €140.000 prize pool and our
  delightful daily prizes.
</p>
<p>
  It was an absolute blast to give players the opportunity to spin the Wheel
  every day and to get something out of it as well! I’m sure that every one of
  WestCasino’s players enjoyed it as much as we did and that they will keep
  their eyes peeled for the next profit-packed promotion!
</p>

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Macau casinos hit hard by China’s coronavirus outbreak

A Brief History of Slots

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