GamblingResults wishes a big “congratulations” to two recent winners on Microgaming-powered progressive jackpot slots online. First up was Golden Riviera Casino player MC, who hit the jackpot on the Treasure Nile 5 Reel progressive slot game at the casino last Tuesday. Playing all nine paylines on the Egyptian-themed progressive jackpot machine – combined with that necessary little bit of luck – won MC a big AU$40,858.75 ($36,913).

This win followed the win of exactly one week earlier at the Fortune Lounge Group’s Royal Vegas online casino, when player Joelle C. played the Cash Splash 5-Reel Slot Game to take a big €30,801 (just under $40,000). Royal Vegas seems to be quite generous this month, as they also saw player Jean-Pierre M. take the Arctic Fortune slot – a standard game with no progressive jackpot, mind you – for over $40,000 within a single 48-hour span.

Microgaming casinos are of course no stranger to big wins, as the company recently announced that it had passed the $280 million mark in progressive jackpot payouts since introducing its very first online jackpot slot, namely Treasure Nile. The company’s Mega Moolah last year broke its own all-time record single largest online progressive jackpot payout when a player cashed in for €6.3 million thanks to the game. The Mega Moolah jackpot currently stands at €3.7 million.

Among other well-known Microgaming progressive jackpot games are King Cashalot, Fruit Fiesta, Major Millions and Wowpot.

GamblingResults wishes a big “congratulations” to two recent winners on Microgaming-powered progressive jackpot slots online. First up was Golden Riviera Casino player MC, who hit the jackpot on the Treasure Nile 5 Reel progressive slot game at the casino last Tuesday. Playing all nine paylines on the Egyptian-themed progressive jackpot machine – combined with that necessary little bit of luck – won MC a big AU$40,858.75 ($36,913).

This win followed the win of exactly one week earlier at the Fortune Lounge Group’s Royal Vegas online casino, when player Joelle C. played the Cash Splash 5-Reel Slot Game to take a big €30,801 (just under $40,000). Royal Vegas seems to be quite generous this month, as they also saw player Jean-Pierre M. take the Arctic Fortune slot – a standard game with no progressive jackpot, mind you – for over $40,000 within a single 48-hour span.

Microgaming casinos are of course no stranger to big wins, as the company recently announced that it had passed the $280 million mark in progressive jackpot payouts since introducing its very first online jackpot slot, namely Treasure Nile. The company’s Mega Moolah last year broke its own all-time record single largest online progressive jackpot payout when a player cashed in for €6.3 million thanks to the game. The Mega Moolah jackpot currently stands at €3.7 million.

Among other well-known Microgaming progressive jackpot games are King Cashalot, Fruit Fiesta, Major Millions and Wowpot.

It is fashionable to speak of “dynasties,” i.e. multiple repeat title-winners, in many sports these days, but perhaps no championship is so susceptible to dominance by a single force as the Tour de France. The latest mighty ruler over the sport is this year’s winner Alberto Contador of Spain, who overcame Andy Schleck to take his third Tour in four years – and his third in three tries.

Though Contador managed to sport the yellow jersey from Stage 15, it was hardly easy going for the back-to-back champion. In Stage 3, Contador went down among the peloton in crash that would remove Frank Schleck from the competition altogether and set back the Spanaird’s chances for some time.

But Contador had been there before and he slowly chipped away at Andy Schleck’s lead, which the youth rider had regained in Stage 9. Stage 15 was key in the 2010 Tour de France and in fact Contador invited controversy when he forewent certain unwritten rules of sportsmanship to blow past Schleck as the chain on Schleck’s bike fell out. Though Contador apologized after the race, some former cyclists including Miguel Indurain came to his defense.

Schleck would fight back and take Stage 17, but since Contador finished mere seconds behind in the stage, it made little difference. At the end of Stage 19, Contador had built up a lead of 39 seconds and held that difference through Stage 20 for his second consecutive Tour de France win.

Contador now joins recent superstars such as Greg LeMond (Tour de France winner in 1986, ’89 and ’90), Indurain (’91 through ’95) and Lance Armstrong (’99 through 2005). The next dynasty may be Schleck’s, as the 25-year-old Luxembourger has now won three straight youth rider titles on the Tour de France.

In terms of odds, the bookmakers were again prescient, as the 4/7 odds on Contador held against Paddy Power’s proposition bet offering a 5/4 line on “the field.” In 19th place, John Gadret ended up the top Frenchman, a surprise to bookmakers who had him at 15/2 odds to be the tops from France in the race.

It is fashionable to speak of “dynasties,” i.e. multiple repeat title-winners, in many sports these days, but perhaps no championship is so susceptible to dominance by a single force as the Tour de France. The latest mighty ruler over the sport is this year’s winner Alberto Contador of Spain, who overcame Andy Schleck to take his third Tour in four years – and his third in three tries.

Though Contador managed to sport the yellow jersey from Stage 15, it was hardly easy going for the back-to-back champion. In Stage 3, Contador went down among the peloton in crash that would remove Frank Schleck from the competition altogether and set back the Spanaird’s chances for some time.

But Contador had been there before and he slowly chipped away at Andy Schleck’s lead, which the youth rider had regained in Stage 9. Stage 15 was key in the 2010 Tour de France and in fact Contador invited controversy when he forewent certain unwritten rules of sportsmanship to blow past Schleck as the chain on Schleck’s bike fell out. Though Contador apologized after the race, some former cyclists including Miguel Indurain came to his defense.

Schleck would fight back and take Stage 17, but since Contador finished mere seconds behind in the stage, it made little difference. At the end of Stage 19, Contador had built up a lead of 39 seconds and held that difference through Stage 20 for his second consecutive Tour de France win.

Contador now joins recent superstars such as Greg LeMond (Tour de France winner in 1986, ’89 and ’90), Indurain (’91 through ’95) and Lance Armstrong (’99 through 2005). The next dynasty may be Schleck’s, as the 25-year-old Luxembourger has now won three straight youth rider titles on the Tour de France.

In terms of odds, the bookmakers were again prescient, as the 4/7 odds on Contador held against Paddy Power’s proposition bet offering a 5/4 line on “the field.” In 19th place, John Gadret ended up the top Frenchman, a surprise to bookmakers who had him at 15/2 odds to be the tops from France in the race.

Microgaming is a software company that produces online casino games and gaming platforms that are used by gambling sites all around the world. They are one of the top dogs in the business, and their game library now has more than 450 individual titles, more than any of its competitors. A recent press release has revealed that Microgaming casinos have paid out more than $280 million in progressive jackpot prizes since the company first started offering online casino games more than a decade ago.

A large percentage of this incredible pile of money was paid out through special Microgaming casino games that offer progressive jackpot prizes. These progressive games are networked across all Microgaming casinos, and a small portion of every wager made on the game is added to its progressive jackpot prize. The jackpots continue to grow until one lucky player hits the winning combo, then the jackpot is reset. There are currently 36 Microgaming progressive jackpot games available, making it one of the largest progressive networks on the internet.

The software company made online gambling history in 2009 when one of their progressive jackpot games, Mega Moolah, paid out a record-breaking €6.3 million prize. The same jackpot now stands at €3.7 million, and can be won by anyone at any time.

Microgaming was founded back in 1994, in the early years of the internet. The company opened up the first true internet casino that same year. They have grown exponentially over the years, and Microgaming’s software now powers 120 casinos and 40 poker rooms serving tens of thousands of players all around the world.

Microgaming is a software company that produces online casino games and gaming platforms that are used by gambling sites all around the world. They are one of the top dogs in the business, and their game library now has more than 450 individual titles, more than any of its competitors. A recent press release has revealed that Microgaming casinos have paid out more than $280 million in progressive jackpot prizes since the company first started offering online casino games more than a decade ago.

A large percentage of this incredible pile of money was paid out through special Microgaming casino games that offer progressive jackpot prizes. These progressive games are networked across all Microgaming casinos, and a small portion of every wager made on the game is added to its progressive jackpot prize. The jackpots continue to grow until one lucky player hits the winning combo, then the jackpot is reset. There are currently 36 Microgaming progressive jackpot games available, making it one of the largest progressive networks on the internet.

The software company made online gambling history in 2009 when one of their progressive jackpot games, Mega Moolah, paid out a record-breaking €6.3 million prize. The same jackpot now stands at €3.7 million, and can be won by anyone at any time.

Microgaming was founded back in 1994, in the early years of the internet. The company opened up the first true internet casino that same year. They have grown exponentially over the years, and Microgaming’s software now powers 120 casinos and 40 poker rooms serving tens of thousands of players all around the world.

Mike McNally, a 29-year-old business graduate and football fan from Bradford, England, turned a £10 bet into £650,000 ($1 million) betting on World Cup at a popular online sportsbook in the UK. McNally correctly predicted the results of an incredible 36 out of the 64 matches of the 2010 World Cup, beating hundreds of other football fans from around the world who also entered the contest.

The win wasn’t secured until the final match. McNally and another participant were tied 35-35 until the Holland and Spain match. McNally picked Spain to win, while his rival had put his money on Holland. McNally must have been on the edge of his seat during the entire match, only relaxing after Andres Iniesta’s extra time goal for Spain put him in the lead.

“I was speechless when I learned I’d won,” McNally revealed. “I just wish England could have performed as well as I did.”

Punters who missed wagering on this year’s World Cup may feel left out after learning about McNally’s success, thinking about all the 2010 World Cup bets they could have made. This big football tournament series won’t be back until 2014, but in the meantime, there are thousands of bets offered every day at sportsbooks across the internet. Just check out the latest online sports betting odds, then put your money down to win.

Mike McNally, a 29-year-old business graduate and football fan from Bradford, England, turned a £10 bet into £650,000 ($1 million) betting on World Cup at a popular online sportsbook in the UK. McNally correctly predicted the results of an incredible 36 out of the 64 matches of the 2010 World Cup, beating hundreds of other football fans from around the world who also entered the contest.

The win wasn’t secured until the final match. McNally and another participant were tied 35-35 until the Holland and Spain match. McNally picked Spain to win, while his rival had put his money on Holland. McNally must have been on the edge of his seat during the entire match, only relaxing after Andres Iniesta’s extra time goal for Spain put him in the lead.

“I was speechless when I learned I’d won,” McNally revealed. “I just wish England could have performed as well as I did.”

Punters who missed wagering on this year’s World Cup may feel left out after learning about McNally’s success, thinking about all the 2010 World Cup bets they could have made. This big football tournament series won’t be back until 2014, but in the meantime, there are thousands of bets offered every day at sportsbooks across the internet. Just check out the latest online sports betting odds, then put your money down to win.

Last Sunday, a woman from Wolverhampton (who wishes to remain anonymous) went to the Gala Bingo club at Ashmore Park with some friends to enjoy an evening of fun and games. The night started off with a bang when some of her friends won the house prize of £3,000. Things soon got even more exciting when the lucky lady hit the club’s High 5 jackpot, which paid out an amazing £250,000.

Because the High 5 jackpot is designed to benefit more than just one player, the winner only took home half the prize money. The rest got distributed between all the other players in the bingo club. There were 61 at the time, so each one went home with £2,049.18.

“I am absolutely ecstatic with the win,” said the 76 year old grandmother. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet – when I got home from bingo I just sat staring into space while it hit me! I’m going to spend the money on my kids, my grandchildren and some home improvements.”

Gala Bingo runs 145 clubs across the UK. Since the High 5 jackpot was launched in 2007, it has paid out a total £17,096,890.09.

Gala is also one of the many groups that offer online bingo games in the UK. Dozens of other top online gambling groups provide internet bingo services for UK players. All accept deposits in British Pounds. While jackpots as big as the one won at Gala Bingo over the weekend are not so common online, some of the internet’s top online bingo rooms offer progressive jackpot bingo games and progressive side games that can pay out enormous prizes.

Last Sunday, a woman from Wolverhampton (who wishes to remain anonymous) went to the Gala Bingo club at Ashmore Park with some friends to enjoy an evening of fun and games. The night started off with a bang when some of her friends won the house prize of £3,000. Things soon got even more exciting when the lucky lady hit the club’s High 5 jackpot, which paid out an amazing £250,000.

Because the High 5 jackpot is designed to benefit more than just one player, the winner only took home half the prize money. The rest got distributed between all the other players in the bingo club. There were 61 at the time, so each one went home with £2,049.18.

“I am absolutely ecstatic with the win,” said the 76 year old grandmother. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet – when I got home from bingo I just sat staring into space while it hit me! I’m going to spend the money on my kids, my grandchildren and some home improvements.”

Gala Bingo runs 145 clubs across the UK. Since the High 5 jackpot was launched in 2007, it has paid out a total £17,096,890.09.

Gala is also one of the many groups that offer online bingo games in the UK. Dozens of other top online gambling groups provide internet bingo services for UK players. All accept deposits in British Pounds. While jackpots as big as the one won at Gala Bingo over the weekend are not so common online, some of the internet’s top online bingo rooms offer progressive jackpot bingo games and progressive side games that can pay out enormous prizes.

Ann Marie Stubbs got the bingo bonus of a lifetime last week. This Scarborough resident was at home playing online games at Virgin Bingo when she won a big jackpot. Stubbs was so surprised and excited when she realized she had won, that she suddenly found herself ready to give birth!

Stubbs was pregnant while enjoying a game in the . When she went into labour, she announced though the game’s live chat feature, telling the other players that she had to abandon her game and rush off to the hospital.

“Everyone has been fantastic in the Marrakesh room,” she said. “I could not believe my waters broke while I was playing bingo, to say I was shocked was an understatement!”

Within hours, Stubbs had delivered a healthy baby boy: Harley Jay Stubbs, weighing in at 7lbs 1oz. Virgin Bingo was so excited to her about her “double win” that they caught up with her to offer their congratulations by presenting the woman and her new child with a bouquet of flowers.

Internet bingo in the UK is becoming more and more popular, not only with mums-to-be but also with a younger crowd as well. Sites like Virgin Bingo offer non-stop games in a variety of styles, and they use live chat technology to maintain the social aspect of traditional bingo halls. The site offers free bingo games several times a day in their Marrakesh room so new players can try things on for size.

Ann Marie Stubbs got the bingo bonus of a lifetime last week. This Scarborough resident was at home playing online games at Virgin Bingo when she won a big jackpot. Stubbs was so surprised and excited when she realized she had won, that she suddenly found herself ready to give birth!

Stubbs was pregnant while enjoying a game in the . When she went into labour, she announced though the game’s live chat feature, telling the other players that she had to abandon her game and rush off to the hospital.

“Everyone has been fantastic in the Marrakesh room,” she said. “I could not believe my waters broke while I was playing bingo, to say I was shocked was an understatement!”

Within hours, Stubbs had delivered a healthy baby boy: Harley Jay Stubbs, weighing in at 7lbs 1oz. Virgin Bingo was so excited to her about her “double win” that they caught up with her to offer their congratulations by presenting the woman and her new child with a bouquet of flowers.

Internet bingo in the UK is becoming more and more popular, not only with mums-to-be but also with a younger crowd as well. Sites like Virgin Bingo offer non-stop games in a variety of styles, and they use live chat technology to maintain the social aspect of traditional bingo halls. The site offers free bingo games several times a day in their Marrakesh room so new players can try things on for size.

While the final result and the final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup wasn’t highly unexpected, the relative lack of clear-cut favorite throughout the tournament made for some big payouts for punters who bet correctly.

To start the tournament, Spain was a favorite at every sportsbook: The only variable were the odds, which ran at 4/1, 9/2 or 5/1. That’s at least $500 on a $100 bet just for picking the no.1 ranked team in the world going into the tournament. Even with eight teams remaining, Spain was still getting 11/4 odds at PaddyPower – a potential $375 more on a $100 wager.

Ladbrokes Sportsbook had finalists Spain and Holland at 2/1 and 13/2 to make the final match when the World Cup began. A $50 bet on each there earned clever bettors a total of $525.

As for individual matches, the biggest money was predictably made betting against the powerhouses. Those foolhardy enough to have wagered on Switzerland to beat Spain in their first game got odds of 11/1 at Brobury Sports for a huge $1,200 on $100 invested. And despite the terrible morale on Team France going into their third game, a South Africa win was still getting 11/5 odds at PaddyPower, for another $320 on $100 when the host nation defeated the champions of 1998.

Probably the biggest loss in the tournament was suffered by a bookmaker. Paddy Power had installed a money-back special for the World Cup, in which certain wagers would be returned on a 0-0 draw. England-Algeria in group play ended at 0-0 with millions bet by British punters and a sizable fraction returned on what normally would have been profit for the bookmaker.

But on our wagers, we just turned $500 into $2,920. See? Betting on the World Cup is easy. Good luck in 2014!

While the final result and the final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup wasn’t highly unexpected, the relative lack of clear-cut favorite throughout the tournament made for some big payouts for punters who bet correctly.

To start the tournament, Spain was a favorite at every sportsbook: The only variable were the odds, which ran at 4/1, 9/2 or 5/1. That’s at least $500 on a $100 bet just for picking the no.1 ranked team in the world going into the tournament. Even with eight teams remaining, Spain was still getting 11/4 odds at PaddyPower – a potential $375 more on a $100 wager.

Ladbrokes Sportsbook had finalists Spain and Holland at 2/1 and 13/2 to make the final match when the World Cup began. A $50 bet on each there earned clever bettors a total of $525.

As for individual matches, the biggest money was predictably made betting against the powerhouses. Those foolhardy enough to have wagered on Switzerland to beat Spain in their first game got odds of 11/1 at Brobury Sports for a huge $1,200 on $100 invested. And despite the terrible morale on Team France going into their third game, a South Africa win was still getting 11/5 odds at PaddyPower, for another $320 on $100 when the host nation defeated the champions of 1998.

Probably the biggest loss in the tournament was suffered by a bookmaker. Paddy Power had installed a money-back special for the World Cup, in which certain wagers would be returned on a 0-0 draw. England-Algeria in group play ended at 0-0 with millions bet by British punters and a sizable fraction returned on what normally would have been profit for the bookmaker.

But on our wagers, we just turned $500 into $2,920. See? Betting on the World Cup is easy. Good luck in 2014!

Dave from Lancashire has always been fond of online gambling sites in the UK, but this week his love grew even stronger. Dave just won a £121,691 progressive jackpot prize, and he couldn’t be happier. He was playing on a slot called Pharaoh’s Treasure, an ancient Egyptian themed game that is proving very popular among players.

Pharaoh’s Treasure is anything but cursed. In fact, this progressive jackpot slot has already been won twice this year, each time dishing out more than £100,000 to the lucky winner.

“I was in shock when I won,” said Dave, “it didn’t really sink in for a while. It was an absolutely great feeling.”

“I feel great about the win, you read about big wins but never believe it will happen to you!”

Dave plans to use a big chunk of the jackpot money to pay off his mortgage and clear a few other debts he has, and then wants to go on a nice holiday. With the summer weather heating up, Dave won at just the right time of the year.

Pharaoh’s Treasure is just one of dozens of progressive jackpot slots available online. While these £100,000+ payouts are impressive, they pale in comparison to some of the larger progressive jackpots. For example, a Microgaming jackpot game called Mega Moolah is now sitting at £3.5 million, and could be won by anyone at any time! These games tend to cost more to play than regular internet slots, but the payoff potential is so huge that it’s usually worth it.

Dave from Lancashire has always been fond of online gambling sites in the UK, but this week his love grew even stronger. Dave just won a £121,691 progressive jackpot prize, and he couldn’t be happier. He was playing on a slot called Pharaoh’s Treasure, an ancient Egyptian themed game that is proving very popular among players.

Pharaoh’s Treasure is anything but cursed. In fact, this progressive jackpot slot has already been won twice this year, each time dishing out more than £100,000 to the lucky winner.

“I was in shock when I won,” said Dave, “it didn’t really sink in for a while. It was an absolutely great feeling.”

“I feel great about the win, you read about big wins but never believe it will happen to you!”

Dave plans to use a big chunk of the jackpot money to pay off his mortgage and clear a few other debts he has, and then wants to go on a nice holiday. With the summer weather heating up, Dave won at just the right time of the year.

Pharaoh’s Treasure is just one of dozens of progressive jackpot slots available online. While these £100,000+ payouts are impressive, they pale in comparison to some of the larger progressive jackpots. For example, a Microgaming jackpot game called Mega Moolah is now sitting at £3.5 million, and could be won by anyone at any time! These games tend to cost more to play than regular internet slots, but the payoff potential is so huge that it’s usually worth it.

Would you believe that, with the 2010 World Cup, Wimbledon and Major League Baseball all in full swing, one of the most popular wagers on the Internet was on a grass-court tennis tournament in Rhode Island?

Neither does the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), an independent investigative body, which has ordered an investigation into a match between Richard Bloomfield of Britain and Belgium’s Chistophe Rochus in which $1.5 million was wagered on Bloomfield at Betfair online sportsbook. Betfair reported the irregular activity to the TIU and is expected to hand over information on the specific bets made on Bloomfield.

Bloomfield began the Newport Hall of Fame grass-court tournament ranked no. 552 in the world, while Rochus was at no. 160. Bloomfield was getting odds of 1:1 to win the best-of-three set match the day before, but just hours before first serve, those odds had shrunk to 1:4. After taking the first set and live odds betting continuing to roll in, Bloomfield had odds of 1:8 on him.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin later explained to Associated Press reporters that “If people are willing to risk £4 pounds to win £1, that is indicative of a substantial gamble.”

No official word has been released on how much the “lucky” punters who backed Bloomfield won from Betfair, but estimates say it’s $600,000 minimum.

Bloomfield won the contest in two sets and is not suspected of any wrongdoing, despite a 2006 investigation in a similar situation – he won that match, too. “I don’t know what to say,” said Bloomfield. “I know England’s a big betting nation. It seems like every time I win a decent match, [controversy] comes up.”

Would you believe that, with the 2010 World Cup, Wimbledon and Major League Baseball all in full swing, one of the most popular wagers on the Internet was on a grass-court tennis tournament in Rhode Island?

Neither does the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), an independent investigative body, which has ordered an investigation into a match between Richard Bloomfield of Britain and Belgium’s Chistophe Rochus in which $1.5 million was wagered on Bloomfield at Betfair online sportsbook. Betfair reported the irregular activity to the TIU and is expected to hand over information on the specific bets made on Bloomfield.

Bloomfield began the Newport Hall of Fame grass-court tournament ranked no. 552 in the world, while Rochus was at no. 160. Bloomfield was getting odds of 1:1 to win the best-of-three set match the day before, but just hours before first serve, those odds had shrunk to 1:4. After taking the first set and live odds betting continuing to roll in, Bloomfield had odds of 1:8 on him.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin later explained to Associated Press reporters that “If people are willing to risk £4 pounds to win £1, that is indicative of a substantial gamble.”

No official word has been released on how much the “lucky” punters who backed Bloomfield won from Betfair, but estimates say it’s $600,000 minimum.

Bloomfield won the contest in two sets and is not suspected of any wrongdoing, despite a 2006 investigation in a similar situation – he won that match, too. “I don’t know what to say,” said Bloomfield. “I know England’s a big betting nation. It seems like every time I win a decent match, [controversy] comes up.”

It’s shuffle up and deal time: The World Series of Poker has begun in Las Vegas with 7,319 entrants, the second-largest pool ever assembled for the world’s biggest poker event. Yesterday alone, 2,391 players entered, as Thursday marked the last day to buy in for $10,000.

Based on entrants, the total prize pool will be $68.8 million and the top prize is a huge $8.94 million; the top 747 finishers will win prizes. Last year, there were 6,494 total entrants for a prize pool of $61 million and a $8.55 prize for the winner Joe Cada, youngest ever to take this tournament.

As always, some celebrities were on hand to try their hand at a few poker hands, including Jason Alexander, Emmitt Smith, and Shannon Elizabeth, just to name a very few.

Though the peak number of participants set in 2006 was not reached, the numbers are up 12% on last year. Alexander was enthusiastic to an Associated Press reporter, to whom he said “I’m glad people are feeling like the economy’s back enough that they can do [play in the World Series of Poker]. It wasn’t because the interest in poker went away, so I have to assume people weren’t willing to speculate.”

Most observers also factor in an overall drop in attendance since 2006, as after the tournament the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed, thereby discouraging many online poker rooms from accepted U.S. players – and getting them into the World Series of Poker.

It’s shuffle up and deal time: The World Series of Poker has begun in Las Vegas with 7,319 entrants, the second-largest pool ever assembled for the world’s biggest poker event. Yesterday alone, 2,391 players entered, as Thursday marked the last day to buy in for $10,000.

Based on entrants, the total prize pool will be $68.8 million and the top prize is a huge $8.94 million; the top 747 finishers will win prizes. Last year, there were 6,494 total entrants for a prize pool of $61 million and a $8.55 prize for the winner Joe Cada, youngest ever to take this tournament.

As always, some celebrities were on hand to try their hand at a few poker hands, including Jason Alexander, Emmitt Smith, and Shannon Elizabeth, just to name a very few.

Though the peak number of participants set in 2006 was not reached, the numbers are up 12% on last year. Alexander was enthusiastic to an Associated Press reporter, to whom he said “I’m glad people are feeling like the economy’s back enough that they can do [play in the World Series of Poker]. It wasn’t because the interest in poker went away, so I have to assume people weren’t willing to speculate.”

Most observers also factor in an overall drop in attendance since 2006, as after the tournament the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed, thereby discouraging many online poker rooms from accepted U.S. players – and getting them into the World Series of Poker.

Imagine hitting the progressive jackpot on a slot machine – a jackpot huge enough to change your life for the better forever – only to be later informed that the winning sum of millions you visualized in your bank account is far, far less. This is precisely what has recently happened in Colorado-based casinos. And not just once, but twice in just over three months.

On June 1, Mary McMahon of Colorado Springs was playing a progressive jackpot slot machine when it seemed to play off big and the display flashing “Jackpot.” Also flashing on the display was the figure “$11,000,600” which McMahon (and casino officials) at first believed was her winning total.

Instead, as it turns out, the progressive jackpot at the time of the winning spin was in actuality $1,672.82 and that the $11 million figure referred to the current cumulative jackpot – this should have read “$600.” Colorado Division of Gaming attributed the incorrect “11” in the slot machine’s display to human error in the game’s original programming.

Even worse is the story of Louise Chavez, who in late March was playing a penny slot machine that indicated she’d hit a $42.9 million progressive jackpot – even though the highest possible progressive payout on the machine was $251,000. The matter was immediately referred to state officials who were able to determine that the payout should have been $20.

For her troubles, Chavez was offered a night’s stay and breakfast at the casino hotel plus $23, the amount she’d played on the machine before the incorrect jackpot. Chavez later appeared on Colorado news stations with her story, claiming fraud.

“Whatever that machine said, I should get it,” she said. McMahon later similarly stated that “I think they should fix the machines, because if you win a big jackpot, you’ve won it.”

Imagine hitting the progressive jackpot on a slot machine – a jackpot huge enough to change your life for the better forever – only to be later informed that the winning sum of millions you visualized in your bank account is far, far less. This is precisely what has recently happened in Colorado-based casinos. And not just once, but twice in just over three months.

On June 1, Mary McMahon of Colorado Springs was playing a progressive jackpot slot machine when it seemed to play off big and the display flashing “Jackpot.” Also flashing on the display was the figure “$11,000,600” which McMahon (and casino officials) at first believed was her winning total.

Instead, as it turns out, the progressive jackpot at the time of the winning spin was in actuality $1,672.82 and that the $11 million figure referred to the current cumulative jackpot – this should have read “$600.” Colorado Division of Gaming attributed the incorrect “11” in the slot machine’s display to human error in the game’s original programming.

Even worse is the story of Louise Chavez, who in late March was playing a penny slot machine that indicated she’d hit a $42.9 million progressive jackpot – even though the highest possible progressive payout on the machine was $251,000. The matter was immediately referred to state officials who were able to determine that the payout should have been $20.

For her troubles, Chavez was offered a night’s stay and breakfast at the casino hotel plus $23, the amount she’d played on the machine before the incorrect jackpot. Chavez later appeared on Colorado news stations with her story, claiming fraud.

“Whatever that machine said, I should get it,” she said. McMahon later similarly stated that “I think they should fix the machines, because if you win a big jackpot, you’ve won it.”

One of this week’s top gambling news stories is about a Joan Ginther, a 63 year old Texan who is a very, very lucky woman. Just a few days ago, she spent $50 on a scratch card lottery ticket, and ended up winning a very impressive $10 million jackpot. She was happy, but she might not have been very surprised.

While most lottery players would be grateful to win such a large jackpot, for Ms Ginther, it is becoming a regular occurrence. This recent win is in fact the fourth seven-figure lottery jackpot she has won in the last 20 years.

Her first big win came back in 1993 when she won $5.4 million. After a long break, she won again in 2006, turning a $30 scratchie ticket into $3 million. Two year later, in 2008, Ms Ginther won for the third time, taking another $3 million from a lottery scratch ticket. Her latest win pushes her total lottery jackpot winnings to a massive $20.4 million.

Ms Ginther has not given any interviews, and is shunning the worldwide publicity that her luck has brought her. It is not known how she intends to spend the largest lottery jackpot she has won so far.

Lotteries are popular all around the world, but their prizes are usually limited to a particular state or a particular country. An alternative global jackpot system can be found online. They are called progressive jackpot games, and they can be played at most online casinos.

Progressive jackpots games, like major lotteries, are capable of paying out in the millions. These jackpots grow bigger as more players enjoy the games, since a small portion of each player’s wager is added to the prize. These progressive jackpots are tough to win, but the payouts can be life-changing.

One of this week’s top gambling news stories is about a Joan Ginther, a 63 year old Texan who is a very, very lucky woman. Just a few days ago, she spent $50 on a scratch card lottery ticket, and ended up winning a very impressive $10 million jackpot. She was happy, but she might not have been very surprised.

While most lottery players would be grateful to win such a large jackpot, for Ms Ginther, it is becoming a regular occurrence. This recent win is in fact the fourth seven-figure lottery jackpot she has won in the last 20 years.

Her first big win came back in 1993 when she won $5.4 million. After a long break, she won again in 2006, turning a $30 scratchie ticket into $3 million. Two year later, in 2008, Ms Ginther won for the third time, taking another $3 million from a lottery scratch ticket. Her latest win pushes her total lottery jackpot winnings to a massive $20.4 million.

Ms Ginther has not given any interviews, and is shunning the worldwide publicity that her luck has brought her. It is not known how she intends to spend the largest lottery jackpot she has won so far.

Lotteries are popular all around the world, but their prizes are usually limited to a particular state or a particular country. An alternative global jackpot system can be found online. They are called progressive jackpot games, and they can be played at most online casinos.

Progressive jackpots games, like major lotteries, are capable of paying out in the millions. These jackpots grow bigger as more players enjoy the games, since a small portion of each player’s wager is added to the prize. These progressive jackpots are tough to win, but the payouts can be life-changing.

One serious longshot and one dark horse remain among the 2010 World Cup final four, and if one of these two wins a few lucky punters will get some nice returns indeed. Even if the more highly regarded Holland or Spain hoists the Cup for the first time, though, the results will still be nice indeed for some.

Anyone with foresight enough to have bet on Germany at the start of the tournament is feeling pretty good right now. Now the hottest team left, BetUS was typical and offered a line of 14/1 on the Germans to win this thing – and eight goals in the past two games say they’ve got a shot. A $20 bet at BetUS Sportsbook in June could be worth a cool $280 on Monday.

Uruguay is the other surprise remaining in World Cup betting. Not only would a Uruguay victory in the championship represent the biggest upset ever, a mere $20 bet placed at Ladbrokes in early June will be worth a crazy $2,500.

As said before, either Holland or Spain will pay well in what was a fairly open tournament from the go with no true consensus favorite: Just last week, Netherlands was still getting 15/2 odds at BroburySports. Those doing their World Cup football betting at Bodog would have gotten 5/1 on Spain through most of the tournament.

Whoever wins the 2010 World Cup, two things are certain: This has been a great one, and some clever punters are going to be very happy with their sports betting expertise.

One serious longshot and one dark horse remain among the 2010 World Cup final four, and if one of these two wins a few lucky punters will get some nice returns indeed. Even if the more highly regarded Holland or Spain hoists the Cup for the first time, though, the results will still be nice indeed for some.

Anyone with foresight enough to have bet on Germany at the start of the tournament is feeling pretty good right now. Now the hottest team left, BetUS was typical and offered a line of 14/1 on the Germans to win this thing – and eight goals in the past two games say they’ve got a shot. A $20 bet at BetUS Sportsbook in June could be worth a cool $280 on Monday.

Uruguay is the other surprise remaining in World Cup betting. Not only would a Uruguay victory in the championship represent the biggest upset ever, a mere $20 bet placed at Ladbrokes in early June will be worth a crazy $2,500.

As said before, either Holland or Spain will pay well in what was a fairly open tournament from the go with no true consensus favorite: Just last week, Netherlands was still getting 15/2 odds at BroburySports. Those doing their World Cup football betting at Bodog would have gotten 5/1 on Spain through most of the tournament.

Whoever wins the 2010 World Cup, two things are certain: This has been a great one, and some clever punters are going to be very happy with their sports betting expertise.

Linda W., a Bodog Casino player from the US state of Indiana, won a massive progressive jackpot prize this week while enjoying her favorite online slot game. Linda, 61, runs a landscaping business with her husband; the two often turn to Bodog Casino to wind down and relax after a long day’s work.

The huge prize was on a progressive slot called Jackpot Piñatas. After playing for a while and not doing so well, the couple’s account was down to just $39. Suddenly, Jackpot Piñatas’ bonus round launched, immediately triggering ten free spins. On the second free spin, the reels hit first one, then two, then a full row of Bull symbols, signaling that the pair had just won the game’s progressive jackpot prize.

The payout? An impressive $470,850! The couple has decided to use the money to help balance their books, and will then pour whatever remains into their landscaping business. Linda also hopes to use some of the winnings to help out some of her friends, including a grandchild who she says could use some help covering the costs of college.

Jackpot Piñatas is a Mexican fiesta is a 20-line RealTime Gaming software progressive jackpot slot with a spicy Mexican fiesta theme. Linda prefers this slot over the many other progressive jackpot games at Bodog Casino. “It’s my favorite game due to its brightness and amusement,” she says. It has also brought her the most luck – she has won smaller prizes of a couple of thousand dollars in the past.

Linda’s other favorite games at Bodog Casino include Triple 7 Inferno, Bank On It!, Paradise Dreams, Rain Dance, Fruit Frenzy and Honey to the Bee. Bodog is one of the most popular online casinos accepting US players. It offers more than 100 games for members to explore, including more than a dozen progressive jackpot slots that can pay out just as much as Jackpot Piñatas did! Join Bodog Casino now and claim a 10% welcome bonus up to $100 – maybe you will become the next big Bodog winner.

Linda W., a Bodog Casino player from the US state of Indiana, won a massive progressive jackpot prize this week while enjoying her favorite online slot game. Linda, 61, runs a landscaping business with her husband; the two often turn to Bodog Casino to wind down and relax after a long day’s work.

The huge prize was on a progressive slot called Jackpot Piñatas. After playing for a while and not doing so well, the couple’s account was down to just $39. Suddenly, Jackpot Piñatas’ bonus round launched, immediately triggering ten free spins. On the second free spin, the reels hit first one, then two, then a full row of Bull symbols, signaling that the pair had just won the game’s progressive jackpot prize.

The payout? An impressive $470,850! The couple has decided to use the money to help balance their books, and will then pour whatever remains into their landscaping business. Linda also hopes to use some of the winnings to help out some of her friends, including a grandchild who she says could use some help covering the costs of college.

Jackpot Piñatas is a Mexican fiesta is a 20-line RealTime Gaming software progressive jackpot slot with a spicy Mexican fiesta theme. Linda prefers this slot over the many other progressive jackpot games at Bodog Casino. “It’s my favorite game due to its brightness and amusement,” she says. It has also brought her the most luck – she has won smaller prizes of a couple of thousand dollars in the past.

Linda’s other favorite games at Bodog Casino include Triple 7 Inferno, Bank On It!, Paradise Dreams, Rain Dance, Fruit Frenzy and Honey to the Bee. Bodog is one of the most popular online casinos accepting US players. It offers more than 100 games for members to explore, including more than a dozen progressive jackpot slots that can pay out just as much as Jackpot Piñatas did! Join Bodog Casino now and claim a 10% welcome bonus up to $100 – maybe you will become the next big Bodog winner.

An interesting study printed in 2009 and recently put online at the Journal of Consumer Research website is a report entitled “Blackjack in the Kitchen: Understanding Online versus Casino Gambling.” Written by June Cotte and Kathryn A. Latour of the University of Western Ontario, the findings are the results of a psychological study of 30 gamblers.

Two major points are made in the study: Firstly, like most academics studying the subject ultimately conclude, Internet gambling should be regulated, but the second point was far more interesting and unexpected. Cotte and Latour immediately noted the dramatic diametrical opposition of standard casino and online casino players: Rarely did one type or the other cross over into the other gaming experience.

Both land-based and online casino visitors noted the social element of their preference, namely that visiting a real-life casino is a highly social experience and that Internet gambling is a solitary activity – and both groups cited this difference as the no. 1 reason for their choice.

“Casino gamblers perceive online gambling as bereft of social connections, which was pivotal to the enjoyment of gambling for them,” reads the study in part. “The online gamblers also perceive this lack of social connectedness in virtual gambling. But for them, this aspect is positive; it is one crucial reason the online gamblers gave for their choice to stay home and gamble. Many online gamblers chose the online environment because of the perception of the lack of social connections.”

The study also notes an interesting justification for those of modest budgets to enjoy playing in online gambling sites: “The perceived anonymity of the online environment equalizes gamblers, so that low rollers and high rollers are treated equally. In contrast, in a casino more experienced gamblers who bet larger amounts are treated specially, and some gamblers go to the casino seeking such ego gratification.”

“Blackjack in the Kitchen” is available by subscription only from Chicago Journals.

An interesting study printed in 2009 and recently put online at the Journal of Consumer Research website is a report entitled “Blackjack in the Kitchen: Understanding Online versus Casino Gambling.” Written by June Cotte and Kathryn A. Latour of the University of Western Ontario, the findings are the results of a psychological study of 30 gamblers.

Two major points are made in the study: Firstly, like most academics studying the subject ultimately conclude, Internet gambling should be regulated, but the second point was far more interesting and unexpected. Cotte and Latour immediately noted the dramatic diametrical opposition of standard casino and online casino players: Rarely did one type or the other cross over into the other gaming experience.

Both land-based and online casino visitors noted the social element of their preference, namely that visiting a real-life casino is a highly social experience and that Internet gambling is a solitary activity – and both groups cited this difference as the no. 1 reason for their choice.

“Casino gamblers perceive online gambling as bereft of social connections, which was pivotal to the enjoyment of gambling for them,” reads the study in part. “The online gamblers also perceive this lack of social connectedness in virtual gambling. But for them, this aspect is positive; it is one crucial reason the online gamblers gave for their choice to stay home and gamble. Many online gamblers chose the online environment because of the perception of the lack of social connections.”

The study also notes an interesting justification for those of modest budgets to enjoy playing in online gambling sites: “The perceived anonymity of the online environment equalizes gamblers, so that low rollers and high rollers are treated equally. In contrast, in a casino more experienced gamblers who bet larger amounts are treated specially, and some gamblers go to the casino seeking such ego gratification.”

“Blackjack in the Kitchen” is available by subscription only from Chicago Journals.

JackpotJoy is an online bingo site, and like most internet bingo sites, they offer a range of side games and mini games for players to enjoy. These side games let players to win some extra money on the side, and can be enjoyed while bingo games are taking place. Since most modern bingo sites automatically fill out player’s cards as numbers are called, side games are a great way to pass the time.

At JackpotJoy, dozens of side games are available. They include slots, casino games like poker and blackjack, video poker machines, and instant games like scratchcards and keno. The most exciting category of bingo side games at JackpotJoy are their Jackpots games.

These side games offer enormous prizes through their progressive jackpot payouts. Progressive jackpot games feature special jackpots that grow and grow as members play them, because a little piece of every bet gets added to the prize. These jackpots don’t pay out very often, but when they do, the payouts are enormous.

Progressive side games at JackpotJoy Bingo include:
• Diamond Bonanza
• Bullion Bonanza
• Deal or No Deal Slot
• Tycoon’s Progressive
• Jacks or Better Progressive
• Caribbean Stud Poker

At the time of writing this, the Deal or No Dealer Slot jackpot is sitting pretty at £1.4 million, and it is growing bigger every second. The game costs as little as 20p to play, which is a very small price to pay for a chance at such a huge jackpot prize.

To get a chance to earn one of these progressive prizes, sign up with JackpotJoy Bingo today. New members get their first deposit doubled up to £100, and existing members get access to dozens of exciting promotions running every month, all year long.

JackpotJoy is an online bingo site, and like most internet bingo sites, they offer a range of side games and mini games for players to enjoy. These side games let players to win some extra money on the side, and can be enjoyed while bingo games are taking place. Since most modern bingo sites automatically fill out player’s cards as numbers are called, side games are a great way to pass the time.

At JackpotJoy, dozens of side games are available. They include slots, casino games like poker and blackjack, video poker machines, and instant games like scratchcards and keno. The most exciting category of bingo side games at JackpotJoy are their Jackpots games.

These side games offer enormous prizes through their progressive jackpot payouts. Progressive jackpot games feature special jackpots that grow and grow as members play them, because a little piece of every bet gets added to the prize. These jackpots don’t pay out very often, but when they do, the payouts are enormous.

Progressive side games at JackpotJoy Bingo include:
• Diamond Bonanza
• Bullion Bonanza
• Deal or No Deal Slot
• Tycoon’s Progressive
• Jacks or Better Progressive
• Caribbean Stud Poker

At the time of writing this, the Deal or No Dealer Slot jackpot is sitting pretty at £1.4 million, and it is growing bigger every second. The game costs as little as 20p to play, which is a very small price to pay for a chance at such a huge jackpot prize.

To get a chance to earn one of these progressive prizes, sign up with JackpotJoy Bingo today. New members get their first deposit doubled up to £100, and existing members get access to dozens of exciting promotions running every month, all year long.

Mecca Bingo, already a name-brand leader in the U.K. and beyond, is sure to become much more popular beginning in July. Mecca Bingo representatives have just announced the imminent launch of a brand new Club Bingo room at Mecca, to be opened on July 1.

The new Club Bingo room will include brand new games like Penny Bingo and Superbooks alongside more traditional games offered by Mecca Casino. “Penny Bingo” lives up to the name, with live games everyday for 1¢ per ticket from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Ticket prices go up by 1¢ hourly until 5 p.m. closing time, so hurry in before 4 p.m. and you won’t have to pay a huge 4¢!

The Superbooks game will be open daily from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Players can either play for free or can win 5x to 10x the prizes by paying cash entry.

Present promotions going on at Mecca Bingo include the daily 75-ball game for £1,000 plus their linx Bingo games and the World Cup Chat Challenge: a trivia contest with £550 to be won when CMs periodically ask questions during bingo games – and Mecca promises that absolutely no questions about the World Cup or football will be asked!

Both new and existing players can take advantage of Mecca Bingo’s £5 no deposit offer to play bingo in their extremely popular Britain’s Got Talent-themed game. And new players *must* check out the 100% initial deposit match bonus for up to £50 – one of the bigger UK Bingo bonuses out there!

Mecca Bingo, already a name-brand leader in the U.K. and beyond, is sure to become much more popular beginning in July. Mecca Bingo representatives have just announced the imminent launch of a brand new Club Bingo room at Mecca, to be opened on July 1.

The new Club Bingo room will include brand new games like Penny Bingo and Superbooks alongside more traditional games offered by Mecca Casino. “Penny Bingo” lives up to the name, with live games everyday for 1¢ per ticket from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Ticket prices go up by 1¢ hourly until 5 p.m. closing time, so hurry in before 4 p.m. and you won’t have to pay a huge 4¢!

The Superbooks game will be open daily from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Players can either play for free or can win 5x to 10x the prizes by paying cash entry.

Present promotions going on at Mecca Bingo include the daily 75-ball game for £1,000 plus their linx Bingo games and the World Cup Chat Challenge: a trivia contest with £550 to be won when CMs periodically ask questions during bingo games – and Mecca promises that absolutely no questions about the World Cup or football will be asked!

Both new and existing players can take advantage of Mecca Bingo’s £5 no deposit offer to play bingo in their extremely popular Britain’s Got Talent-themed game. And new players *must* check out the 100% initial deposit match bonus for up to £50 – one of the bigger UK Bingo bonuses out there!

Gamblers are risk takers. Investors try to avoid risk. This simple fact alone might make it appear that the worlds of gambling and investing are miles apart. A closer look at the two, however, reveals more connections that one might think.

Outcome unknown

Gambling is, by definition, a wager on an unknown outcome. If it takes place in land based casinos or in online gambling sites, whether the game is poker, blackjack, slots, or any other casino classic, gamblers never know how the game will end. Sometimes it is possible to make an “educated guess” about the outcome of, for example, a poker standoff; but other times, like in the case of online slots, everything comes down to pure luck.

In the financial realm, things are really not so different. Most investors don’t throw caution to the wind and put their money just anyplace. Instead, they research and project, trying to guess the future. There is the key word – guess. In the world of investing, like the world of gambling, money is being put towards an unknown outcome. The return might be great, or the move might bankrupt you – it is the goal of both the gambler and the investor to choose the right path.

Fun or profit?

One perceived difference between gambling and investing is that gambling is done for fun, while investing is a legitimate business. One look at the world of professional poker, however, is enough to crush this myth. There are people all around the world who make a living playing in online poker sites, or by putting money down on blackjack and building up wealth over time. Even slots players can hit big wins, like the record-breaking €6.3 million jackpot that was won in May of 2009 on the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot slot.

Investors might want to turn their nose up at “professional gamblers”, but in truth, both gamblers and investors work just as hard for their returns. From the point of view of the gamblers, their trade combines fun and profit, and poker pros might often wonder – “is investing this much fun?”

All about speed

Investing is a slow and laborious process. It can take years for a big investment to start paying off. Being a successful investor requires a great deal of knowledge, plenty of time, and most of all, quite a lot of patience.

A common stereotype of gambling, on the other hand, is that it is a quick and dirty way to get rich. This is both true and false. In the case of big jackpot wins like the €6.3 million Mega Moolah jackpot, lucky gamblers win a lot of money in a very short amount of time. After all, it just took one click of a mouse that player to go from zero to millionaire. But how many times did the player click before the big win happened?

Other games like blackjack or poker require just as much time as a long-term financial investment. Individual games might last just a few minutes or hours, but wealth is built up over long stretches of time. Just as investors must scrutinize each transaction from all possible angles before putting their hand in their pocket, poker pros must spend long hours playing, practicing, and perfecting their game before they can expect to win the big prizes.

Good versus Evil

One last alleged difference between gambling and investing that is worth mentioning is this: while investors are seen as hard-working and respectable businessmen, pro gamblers are often looked down upon as reckless thrill seekers. This social stigma against gamblers and gambling is completely unfounded. A poorly-planned, rushed investment has just as much potential to drive a person into severe debt as a misplaced bet, and investing can be just as addictive as gambling.

Moreover, while profits from the winning end of bad investments often end up in the pockets of individuals, gambling revenue is often filtered back into society. Governments around the world use gambling tax revenues to fund social campaigns and to create services for the good of everyone.

Conclusion

In the end, it is clear that the differences between investing and gambling are not so great. Investors gamble on their choices, and gamblers invest in their skills. Neither activity should be taken lightly – both require practice, knowledge, and patience if a person wants to excel and come out ahead.

Perhaps the real difference between gambling and investing is the people. Just as investing is not to everyone’s taste, gambling doesn’t give everyone the same thrills. Both are risky endeavors, and both can lead to either extreme wealth or severe debt. Whether you choose gambling or investing, let us leave you with one piece of advice: research, practice and play the odds, don’t trust your gut instincts!

Gamblers are risk takers. Investors try to avoid risk. This simple fact alone might make it appear that the worlds of gambling and investing are miles apart. A closer look at the two, however, reveals more connections that one might think.

Outcome unknown

Gambling is, by definition, a wager on an unknown outcome. If it takes place in land based casinos or in online gambling sites, whether the game is poker, blackjack, slots, or any other casino classic, gamblers never know how the game will end. Sometimes it is possible to make an “educated guess” about the outcome of, for example, a poker standoff; but other times, like in the case of online slots, everything comes down to pure luck.

In the financial realm, things are really not so different. Most investors don’t throw caution to the wind and put their money just anyplace. Instead, they research and project, trying to guess the future. There is the key word – guess. In the world of investing, like the world of gambling, money is being put towards an unknown outcome. The return might be great, or the move might bankrupt you – it is the goal of both the gambler and the investor to choose the right path.

Fun or profit?

One perceived difference between gambling and investing is that gambling is done for fun, while investing is a legitimate business. One look at the world of professional poker, however, is enough to crush this myth. There are people all around the world who make a living playing in online poker sites, or by putting money down on blackjack and building up wealth over time. Even slots players can hit big wins, like the record-breaking €6.3 million jackpot that was won in May of 2009 on the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot slot.

Investors might want to turn their nose up at “professional gamblers”, but in truth, both gamblers and investors work just as hard for their returns. From the point of view of the gamblers, their trade combines fun and profit, and poker pros might often wonder – “is investing this much fun?”

All about speed

Investing is a slow and laborious process. It can take years for a big investment to start paying off. Being a successful investor requires a great deal of knowledge, plenty of time, and most of all, quite a lot of patience.

A common stereotype of gambling, on the other hand, is that it is a quick and dirty way to get rich. This is both true and false. In the case of big jackpot wins like the €6.3 million Mega Moolah jackpot, lucky gamblers win a lot of money in a very short amount of time. After all, it just took one click of a mouse that player to go from zero to millionaire. But how many times did the player click before the big win happened?

Other games like blackjack or poker require just as much time as a long-term financial investment. Individual games might last just a few minutes or hours, but wealth is built up over long stretches of time. Just as investors must scrutinize each transaction from all possible angles before putting their hand in their pocket, poker pros must spend long hours playing, practicing, and perfecting their game before they can expect to win the big prizes.

Good versus Evil

One last alleged difference between gambling and investing that is worth mentioning is this: while investors are seen as hard-working and respectable businessmen, pro gamblers are often looked down upon as reckless thrill seekers. This social stigma against gamblers and gambling is completely unfounded. A poorly-planned, rushed investment has just as much potential to drive a person into severe debt as a misplaced bet, and investing can be just as addictive as gambling.

Moreover, while profits from the winning end of bad investments often end up in the pockets of individuals, gambling revenue is often filtered back into society. Governments around the world use gambling tax revenues to fund social campaigns and to create services for the good of everyone.

Conclusion

In the end, it is clear that the differences between investing and gambling are not so great. Investors gamble on their choices, and gamblers invest in their skills. Neither activity should be taken lightly – both require practice, knowledge, and patience if a person wants to excel and come out ahead.

Perhaps the real difference between gambling and investing is the people. Just as investing is not to everyone’s taste, gambling doesn’t give everyone the same thrills. Both are risky endeavors, and both can lead to either extreme wealth or severe debt. Whether you choose gambling or investing, let us leave you with one piece of advice: research, practice and play the odds, don’t trust your gut instincts!

There are hundreds of casinos scattered all across the internet, and it would take even the most dedicated player months to try them all out in a quest to find the top online blackjack games. Fortunately, this is not necessary, because there is an easier way to find out which casinos offer the best games – the key is to look at the software.

Each online casino runs on specific gaming software, and since there are just a handful of different casino software providers out there, looking at the software a site operates on can give players a good idea about what games that casino will offer. Of course, there is still the problem of deciding what games are the best, because every player will have a different opinion! To solve this, here are a few different ways of looking at things.

Biggest variety
Players who live for variety should look at Microgaming casino games to satisfy their online blackjack cravings. Microgaming offers more games than any other casino software (over 450 at the last count), and included in this massive game selection is a tremendous selection of more than 40 different styles of blackjack! Microgaming casinos are sure to keep blackjack fans busy for a long, long time.

Most realistic games
This is a tie between two different casino softwares: Cryptologic and and WagerWorks. Both of these software producers focus on realism, with lifelike tables, natural looking cards and chips, and visual embellishments like brass card shoes and polished wood table rims. These games also incorporate animations and sound effects to add to the realism.

Most unique games
The blackjack titles offered by RealTime Gaming casinos are very special. They don’t aim for realism, but instead they try to look smooth and classy. A cool blue and black color scheme sets the stage, while bold cards and chips make the games easy to follow. The games are fast-paced and intense, making for exciting online gameplay.

Biggest jackpots
Most casino software companies offer at a progressive blackjack game. These games usually require a special side bet to enable the progressive payout, so they’re more expensive to play, but the jackpots can grow to enormous sizes, making them worth going for. The biggest progressive blackjack jackpots tend to come from the games offered by Playtech and Vegas Technology.

By now, it should be clear that choosing the best online blackjack games is not an easy task. It really depends on what features a player values in a game, whether it’s variety, realism, novelty, or big payouts. The best way to make a final decision is to just try one or two casinos from each software provider – only then can a player truly know which internet blackjack games they like best.

There are hundreds of casinos scattered all across the internet, and it would take even the most dedicated player months to try them all out in a quest to find the top online blackjack games. Fortunately, this is not necessary, because there is an easier way to find out which casinos offer the best games – the key is to look at the software.

Each online casino runs on specific gaming software, and since there are just a handful of different casino software providers out there, looking at the software a site operates on can give players a good idea about what games that casino will offer. Of course, there is still the problem of deciding what games are the best, because every player will have a different opinion! To solve this, here are a few different ways of looking at things.

Biggest variety
Players who live for variety should look at Microgaming casino games to satisfy their online blackjack cravings. Microgaming offers more games than any other casino software (over 450 at the last count), and included in this massive game selection is a tremendous selection of more than 40 different styles of blackjack! Microgaming casinos are sure to keep blackjack fans busy for a long, long time.

Most realistic games
This is a tie between two different casino softwares: Cryptologic and and WagerWorks. Both of these software producers focus on realism, with lifelike tables, natural looking cards and chips, and visual embellishments like brass card shoes and polished wood table rims. These games also incorporate animations and sound effects to add to the realism.

Most unique games
The blackjack titles offered by RealTime Gaming casinos are very special. They don’t aim for realism, but instead they try to look smooth and classy. A cool blue and black color scheme sets the stage, while bold cards and chips make the games easy to follow. The games are fast-paced and intense, making for exciting online gameplay.

Biggest jackpots
Most casino software companies offer at a progressive blackjack game. These games usually require a special side bet to enable the progressive payout, so they’re more expensive to play, but the jackpots can grow to enormous sizes, making them worth going for. The biggest progressive blackjack jackpots tend to come from the games offered by Playtech and Vegas Technology.

By now, it should be clear that choosing the best online blackjack games is not an easy task. It really depends on what features a player values in a game, whether it’s variety, realism, novelty, or big payouts. The best way to make a final decision is to just try one or two casinos from each software provider – only then can a player truly know which internet blackjack games they like best.

Recently named one of the top ten online casino and bingo brands in the U.K., Foxy Bingo shows no signs of letting up in terms of either success or popularity. In June, the five-year-old website was able to add to its accolades at the industry’s recent Online Bingo Summit: Foxy Bingo was nominated in the category of “Best Online Bingo Operator for 2010” and won in the “Best Marketing Campaign” award.

Some of Foxy Bingo’s best marketing comes from its promotions of course and this month Foxy seems to be just cranking out the big winners. Last week saw user Itsbetty take £2,500 in the “Tombola Draw” held every Tuesday and Thursday; starting at £500, this payout was the highest yet recorded in the promotion at Foxy Bingo.

And in just one week of the “Pre-Purchase Game,” Foxy Bingo doled out £17,000 in cash prizes plus DVD players and TVs to 31 players, including wins of £30,00 recorded by players Fleapot and Jambojebus92. One other player took home a nice £2,000 prize in the competition and three others won £1,500.

While Foxy Bingo is just five years old, this online bingo site UK has rapidly become known as one of the biggest and best around. Foxy boasts 40 rooms offering nearly every available form of bingo, from 75 ball pattern games to 90 ball coverall tournaments.

Some promotions currently available at Foxy Bingo include the free £20 welcome bonus, a contest for a free wedding cake and £1,000 in cash for the big day, and Monday Super Prize nights with games for as little as 1¢. For an all-around outstanding bingo experience, experts and players appear to agree: Foxy Bingo is your place for fun and winnings!

Recently named one of the top ten online casino and bingo brands in the U.K., Foxy Bingo shows no signs of letting up in terms of either success or popularity. In June, the five-year-old website was able to add to its accolades at the industry’s recent Online Bingo Summit: Foxy Bingo was nominated in the category of “Best Online Bingo Operator for 2010” and won in the “Best Marketing Campaign” award.

Some of Foxy Bingo’s best marketing comes from its promotions of course and this month Foxy seems to be just cranking out the big winners. Last week saw user Itsbetty take £2,500 in the “Tombola Draw” held every Tuesday and Thursday; starting at £500, this payout was the highest yet recorded in the promotion at Foxy Bingo.

And in just one week of the “Pre-Purchase Game,” Foxy Bingo doled out £17,000 in cash prizes plus DVD players and TVs to 31 players, including wins of £30,00 recorded by players Fleapot and Jambojebus92. One other player took home a nice £2,000 prize in the competition and three others won £1,500.

While Foxy Bingo is just five years old, this online bingo site UK has rapidly become known as one of the biggest and best around. Foxy boasts 40 rooms offering nearly every available form of bingo, from 75 ball pattern games to 90 ball coverall tournaments.

Some promotions currently available at Foxy Bingo include the free £20 welcome bonus, a contest for a free wedding cake and £1,000 in cash for the big day, and Monday Super Prize nights with games for as little as 1¢. For an all-around outstanding bingo experience, experts and players appear to agree: Foxy Bingo is your place for fun and winnings!