There are several reasons for the rising popularity of virtual casinos and their assortment of entertainment; first and foremost, they can be accessed at any time, anywhere. They also provide an enjoyable way to potentially earn a little extra pocket money, and interact with other people from all walks of life who share the same enthusiasms.
However, there is more to online pokies than some casual entertainment and some juicy jackpots. Read on for 5 fascinating facts about online pokies that will give you a fresh perspective on this popular form of virtual gambling.
Online slots have a surprisingly long history
Did you know that online pokies have been around for almost three decades? The very first online casino was created by Microgaming, one of the most iconic developers in the industry, in 1996. They were also responsible for the world’s first online jackpot slot, Cash Splash, which is still giving eager players the chance to win a truly massive payout today.
You can win a record-breaking jackpot online
Speaking of jackpots, Microgaming didn’t just create the first virtual jackpot slot, it also created the first record-breaking jackpot pokie – Mega Moolah. This progressive jackpot slot led 26-year-old Afghan veteran, Jon Heywood, to score the biggest payout in online history in 2015, when he placed a bet of just 25p and won over £13,200,000. Touchingly, Heywood declared that the first thing he would spend his new fortune on was the best available medical treatment for his father, who, at the time, was waiting to undergo a heart and lung transplant.
In Monaco locals aren’t allowed to gamble
Growing numbers of people are turning to casinos to try their luck, or to the Internet to play pokies online for real money in Australia. In Monaco, however, things are surprisingly different.
With such a glittering gambling reputation to its name, you may expect Monaco to be a hotbed of online slots and glitzy, glamorous, gambling fun in world-class casinos – and it can be… but not for its residents.
Visitors to Monaco can access all kinds of physical and virtual gambling platforms, but residents are only allowed to play online, and will be turned away from any brick-and-mortar casinos they may try to enter, once their identity is checked. This means they are restricted to online casinos – although, if France expands its jurisdiction, this could become even more restricted.
Roulette has a devilish reputation
If you are keen to play a game with a devilish twist – you probably already have, without knowing it.
For many years, roulette has been known as ‘the devil’s game’, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the game was said to be so addictive that the Devil must surely possess players to get them so hooked. Secondly, there is a dark legend floating around that roulette’s inventor, Francois Blanc, made a deal with the Devil to gain the secret knowledge of roulette. It is thought that this satanic story springs from the fact that the numbers on the roulette wheel add up to 666.
You don’t need to pay to play
Last but certainly not least, perhaps the most fascinating – and enjoyable – fact about online pokies is that you don’t even have to pay to play. Many online slots have demo version which allow you to sample them for free. This means you can savour some online gambling fun without having to spend a single cent. What’s not to like?