Category Archives: Casino Games

Read any online casino strategy guide or review, and welcome bonuses get top billing. There’s a good reason for that: they’re the biggest single bonus you’ll get during your time online.

When you factor in the issue of variance pushing results in positive and negative directions, welcome bonuses are essential. As part of our commitment to giving you reliable information, top tips, and the best advice, here are the five things you need to look for when you’re sizing up welcome bonuses:

1. Deposit Terms

All deposit-based bonuses have minimum and maximum limits. The latter tells you the amount you can deposit to get the maximum bonus. You don’t get penalised for depositing more, but you won’t get more than the maximum bonus.

The minimum deposit limit is the most important because it’s the smallest amount required to trigger the bonus. If your first deposit is lower than the minimum deposit, you’ll miss out on a sizeable bonus.

As a general rule, the average minimum deposit for welcome bonuses is between £5 and £30. Any offer within that range can be classed as a generous welcome bonus. Our top tip is to use reputable payment methods such as Visa, MasterCard and PayPal.

2. Wagering Conditions

You will almost always need to wager a certain amount of money to convert bonus credits to withdrawable cash. The only time this isn’t the case is if you have a no-wagering bonus that rewards you with cash.

The amount you need to wager is known as a playthrough target, and it’s a multiple of your bonus. For example, 10x means you need to wager 10x the value of your bonus to convert it to cash.

People often assume that wagering conditions refer to a loss amount. That’s not the case. Wager is the sum of all your bets, irrespective of wins and losses. In fact, it’s entirely possible to hit a playthrough target during a winning session.

3. Contribution Weightings and Game Restrictions

Closely linked to wagering conditions are contribution weights and game restrictions. The former refers to how much of your bets contribute to your playthrough target. For example, a 100% weighting means every penny goes towards your target. Conversely, a 50% weighting means half of anything you bet on that game goes towards your target.

It’s also worth noting that bets on certain games won’t contribute to your playthrough target. For example, PlayStar has 800 games you can play via any device. You’re free to enjoy all of these games whenever you want. However, if you’re trying to clear the casino’s welcome bonus, only bets on slots, slingo, instant tap games and roulette count towards your playthrough target, whilst any bets you make on blackjack, video poker and baccarat won’t count. This bonus rule applies to desktop and mobile casino play, so don’t think you can avoid restrictions by switching devices.

4. Time Limits

The final hurdle to clear when it comes to welcome bonuses is time limits. Like life, nothing lasts forever in the casino world, so you’ll need to satisfy an offer’s terms and conditions before it expires.

Time limits apply before and after you’ve claimed an offer. If it’s a first deposit bonus, you’ll need to make a qualifying deposit within a certain amount of time after creating an account. After that, you’ll need to hit your playthrough target within a certain amount of time.

In general, the best bonus offers give you up to 30 days to hit your target. Whatever amount of time you’ve got, our tip is to play slots. These games have the best contribution weightings, so pick a bet amount you can afford, spin, and start claiming welcome bonuses.

Introduction

It has always been a pleasure to play slots from ELK Studios because they have never been dull and they have bright plots. Video slots such as Ice Wolf are prime examples. There are six reels on which prize combinations can be created. They consist of 36 images arranged in a 6×6 grid. The number of winning combinations is initially 729, but it can reach 74 088 if they are properly applied.

Bonuses & Features

The Re-spin mode is activated every time you win. As the ice is cleared, your paylines and rows will increase, and then the reels will spin again. The upper half of the reels will be cleared of ice if you win again. As long as the ice is not removed, the game continues until there is a losing spin or you run out of ice.

If you remove all the ice from the reels, up to 7 reels and 74,088 paylines can be revealed, and an Ice Wolf symbol will assist you in this endeavour. The wolves will clear all the ice if you land this symbol. Upon running upwards over the reels, the wolves leave a trail of wild symbols in their wake. This will be followed by a single re-spin, followed by the top reel.

Three reel modifiers are available on the top reel:

There are sticky wilds on the top reels, which stick to each other.

All wins are multiplied by sticky multiplier symbols, which range from 2x to 50x, depending on where these symbols appear on the reels.

An extra re-spin is obtained by using a sticky symbol.

Boost your Ice Wolf experience with free spins. ELK Studios integrated no dedicated free spins feature into Ice Wolf since it’s all about the re-spins.

Verdict

Animations, sounds, and graphics are all nice in this slot which has a high volatility.

In the glittering world of Las Vegas, we find ourselves in the company of two intriguing characters: John Romanelli and Tim Nordahl. The narrative unfolds in a whirlwind of emotions, laughter, and unexpected twists, providing a glimpse into the unpredictable journey of two friends on a three-day gambling blitz in Las Vegas.

As the camera captures the duo engaged in a lively conversation with Louis Theroux, we are immediately drawn into their contrasting personalities. The bearded man, John, wears a self-assured grin as he proudly announces being ‘up 10G.’ He playfully discloses that his companion, Tim, has experienced a substantial loss of $160,000 over the year, prompting an immediate rebuttal with a laugh: “It’s not true! He’s full of it! I’m not in the hole at all.” The banter between the two friends sets the stage for an enthralling story, leaving viewers eager to witness the unfolding drama.

Amidst the camaraderie, a foreshadowing sense of impending tragedy lingers, especially when the ’10G’ man confesses, “I try to play as consistently as possible.” A subtle smile plays on his lips, hinting at the volatility of their chosen path. The audience can’t help but be captivated by the chemistry between these two gamblers, their laughter echoing through the scene, with each almost insisting they are the bigger loser in this high-stakes game.

Louis probes further, asking if there will be more gambling that night. The smug bearded man, with an air of nonchalance, replies, “Absolutely. Isn’t that why people come to Vegas?” The stage is set, and the drama unfolds as Louis reconnects with the pair later that evening after 24-hours play.

Louis, with a mix of curiosity and sarcasm queries about the events that transpired. The bearded man, now appearing half-stressed if not nervous, reveals, “I’m down 14 or 15K, plus the ’10G’ I won!” The reality of the situation sinks in as Louis calculates, “So, you’re down $24k.” A wry smile accompanies the admission, “It sucks!” The scene is a roller-coaster of emotions, alternating between laughter and disappointment, creating a dynamic narrative that keeps the audience engaged.

Undeterred by setbacks, John continues his pursuit of fortune, insisting that he will teach Louis how to win. A sense of foreboding creeps in as John, an extroverted gambler chewing gum, asserts, “I’m not a quitter.” However, the tables turn, and John finds himself on a losing streak, expressing disbelief, “This is unbelievable. I haven’t won a hand in half an hour.” The atmosphere becomes charged with tension as John walks away from the table, a dejected figure clearly struggling with his loss.

In contrast, Tim, the quieter but seemingly luckier friend, places a $400 bet and triumphs, proudly proclaiming, “That’s how you do it, man.” The camera zooms in on John at another table, shaking his head in frustration after losing more cash. Despite the setbacks, the duo maintains a resilient spirit, with Tim advising, “Only bet what you can afford to lose,” as John continues to chase his losses.

As the night progresses, a sense of desperation permeates the scene. Elvis’s familiar tune, “It’s Now or Never,” plays in the background, creating a poignant backdrop to the unfolding drama. In a final act of defiance against the odds, Louis places one last big bet and emerges victorious, concluding the evening on a high note. However, the same cannot be said for John, whose losing streak persists.

In a moment of introspection, Tim utters Kenny Rogers, singing, “You gotta know when to hold’em, know when to fold’em, know when to walk away, know when to run.” The words resonate as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the gambling world. The scene unfolds as a captivating and poignant portrayal of the highs and lows of a three-day gambling expedition, leaving viewers reflecting on the elusive nature of luck and the fine line between triumph and despair. In the end, it’s a tale of resilience, camaraderie, and the ever-present uncertainty that defines the world of high-stakes gambling. Truly, excellent TV.

King of the Party is a 6-reel and 5-row video slot from Thunderkick, which features party-loving animals. It has an RTP of 94.32% and showcases frogs, pigs, and lions ready to hit the dance floor on a scatter pay grid. Wins occur when 8 or more identical symbols appear anywhere on the grid. The game also offers a win multiplier that increases with consecutive wins and Free Spins, where unused Wild Symbols explode to bring new symbols onto the reels.

Symbols

The game’s symbols include lower-paying card suits and higher-paying animal characters, each decked out in party gear. Wins with 12 or more symbols pay between 1X and 50X the bet.

King of the Party Game Features

Avalanche: Winning symbols disappear, and new ones fall down.

Wild Symbol: Substitutes for all other symbols except the Scatter.

Win Multiplier: Starts at 1X for each spin and increases by 1 with each avalanche.

Overlay Multiplier Symbol: Randomly placed on symbols, these multipliers stack up on winning symbols to boost payouts.

Feature Buy: Non-UK players can buy direct access to the Free Spins round for 100 times the bet.

King of the Party Free Spins

Free spins trigger by landing 3 or more Scatter Symbols. Additional Scatters during the Bonus Game award more Free Spins. Wild symbols that don’t form a winning combo explode, removing all symbols on their row and reel, and triggering a new avalanche. Overlay Multiplier symbols add their value to the win multiplier when blasted away.

Our Thoughts

King of the Party is an energetic and colourful slot game that brings the thrill of a wild party to your screen. With features like avalanches, win multipliers and explosive Wilds, it offers endless excitement. Whether playing on a mobile device or desktop, this slot promises lots of fun.

Introduction

With so many popular slots already out there, Paris as a slot theme isn’t unique, but the Champs Elysees, which is considered to be one of the world’s most romantic and famous avenues, might be that unique twist you are looking for. From the famous Parisian western theatre district in the west to the Grand and Petit Palais of the French Presidents in the east.

In addition to 50 adjustable paylines and a betting range of 0.05 coins to 0.25 coins per line, Champs Elysees is a 5-reel slot game that packs a bit of a punch. With an RTP of 96% and a jackpot of 15000 coins, this game is one to be reckoned with.

Bonus Features

A wild icon is present in the form of the Eiffel Tower postcard and it can transform any symbol next to it. However, it is not included in the game’s bonus round which is a bit disappointing.

You can earn free spins with this Parisian online slot game, but you will have to trigger them with the postcard symbol. This time, it is a historic image of the Arc de Triumph. Three postcard symbols will award 15 free spins, four symbols are 25 spins and five symbols are 50 free spins, which compensate for the fact that they can’t be retriggered.

Verdict

Across a variety of casinos worldwide, Champs Elysees is a popular slot offering. The gameplay is set by a solid theme with good artistic design, and decent audio and it’s an ideal slot for beginners as the bonus feature is extremely simple to understand. Although Champs Elysees slot seems to be a bit old-fashioned in the look and feel of it, it is optimized for mobile so can be played on desktop or mobile devices and the graphics are just as crisp and clear.