Category Archives: Blackjack

Hitting soft 17 increases the house edge by about two-tenths of a percent.

**Player may double down on any first two cards vs. player may double down only on specific hands:

Its best for players to have more options as long as the players take their time to learn basic strategy and know how to use the options.

Restricting doubles to hard totals of 9, 10 or 11, increases the house edge by about a tenth of a percent, or about two-tenths if theyre restricted to hard 10 or 11.

**Double down after splitting pairs: If the casino doesnt allow you to double after splits, it increases the house edge by .14 percent..

**Players may split pairs, once, twice or three times: If youre allowed to split up to three times for a total of four hands, great. The house edge rises by .01 percent if you can split only twice or .1 percent if you can split only once.

How did Jim take it?

He was doubtful, Bob said. So I used one of your favorite, the house edge calculator at wizardofodds.com.

I defined one game as single deck, dealer hits soft 17, you can double down only on hard 10 or 11, no double after splits, and split pairs only once. I think most online games are continuous shuffle, right? So the house edge with basic strategy is .48 percent.

Then I plugged in six decks, stand on all 17s, double on any first two including after splits, split three times, and the edge came up as .41 percent.

Did the lower edge on the six-deck game convince Jim?

Maybe not, but it at least raised some doubts. And I did my duty.

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Blackjack Bob is ready for some 21 talk | Gaming Guru | atlanticcityweekly.com - Atlantic City Weekly

Without a doubt, blackjack is the most popular casino table game ever. Its ruleset is super simple to master, and it has the lowest house edge (0.5%) of all the casino classics if you know how to use proper strategy. Though the origins of this exciting gambling game are a bit muddy, card historians tell us that it likely made its way onto US soil in the early-1800s. Since 2008, you can also find it in Maryland casinos. Naturally, though, a more accessible option would be to enjoy live croupier blackjack online. However, if you are dead set on playing hands of twenty-one at a physical venue, taking in a real-world casino atmosphere with all its hustle and bustle, here are the best spots in Maryland to do so.

Located on 101 MGM National Avenue in Oxon Hill, the MGM National Harbor is a vast resort complex that spans five city blocks. It contains a 24-floor four-and-a-half-star hotel, a 27,000 square foot spa/fitness center, an 18,000 square foot shopping area, and a 3,000 seat theater. The casino is 125,000 square feet, and it is home to more than 140 gaming tables, dozens of which are blackjack ones. They all utilize electronic shuffling machines, and most of them feature above-average betting limits. MGM National Harbor has several dining options, including Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse, Shake Shack, Ginger, Fish by Jos Andrs, Maryland Fry Bar, and National Market. Visit-worthy sights near this establishment are Oxon Hill Manor, the Capital Wheel, the Old Town Waterfront, and Gadsbys Tavern Museum.

Gaming and Leisure Properties owns and operates Hollywood Casino, which you can find at 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Pkwy in Perryville, a short drive from the Baltimore metro area. It is a gambling establishment that opened its doors in 2010, boasting a 75,000 square feet casino floor. In it, you can find 13 gaming tables, including blackjack. Know that Hollywood Casino is open 24/7, 365 days out of the year. So, whenever you feel up to the challenge to test your luck against a dealer, it will greet you with arms wide open. Food options here are the Gree Turtle Express, Jumbo Jimmys Crab Shack, and Dennys American Diner.

Unfortunately, there are no unique sights within walking distance of this venue. Nevertheless, if you do not mind driving ten minutes, you can check out the Concord Point Lighthouse, Susquehanna State Park, Mount Felix Vineyard & Winery, the Bainbridge museum, and the Plumpton Park Zoo.

The Baltimore Horseshoe Casino is Marylands third-largest gambling spot, featuring a gaming floor that spans two stories and 122,000 square feet. Its location is on the south side of Baltimore, next to M&T Bank Stadium on Russel Street. The Horseshoe has 153 table games, and its blackjack ones feature insurance bets. Those who get hungry while playing here can hop on over to the F Noodle House, Gordon Ramsay Steak, Johnny Snchez, Pie-Zetta, or Lennys Deli for a meal. For drinks, there is the 14Forty, the BMore Beers, and the TAG bar. Top attractions in the area include the Fort McHenry National Monument, Fells Point, the National Aquarium, and the Walters Art Museum.

Opened in 2012 as the third full-scale casino in Maryland, Live! is an entertainment center located in the Arundel Mills district of Hanover. It has the largest gaming floor in the state, covering over 160,000 square feet, hosting more than 200 live tables. In addition to the casino, this resort also features a 350,000 square feet hotel and 1,500 seat concert venue. The resorts management chose to incorporate a Prime Rib restaurant near its casino to add some Vegas flavor. In addition, it has a patio set for a relaxed atmosphere and a lounge one, which provides a more sophisticated setting with live entertainment. Other restaurants on the premises are Luckies, Bobbys Burger Palace, Eight at Luk Fu, Mortys Delicatessen, and Phillips Seafood Express. Medieval Times Maryland Castle is within walking distance of Live! Casino, and so is the largest outlet mall in Maryland, Arundel Mills.

You can find the Rocky Gap Casino about 7 miles east of Cumberland, situated within the Rocky Gap State Park, which features an artificial lake. The Rocky Gap is a triple-A four-diamond resort with a 200-room hotel, a spa, and a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. The unique blackjack variants you can enjoy here are Lucky Ladies and Double Pitch. Food-wise, there is a Signatures Bar and Grill, a Little Munch Food & Drink restaurant, and LBs Place for healthy dining. Unfortunately, given that this resort is smack dab in a state park, you cannot walk to any unique attractions. However, 6 miles away, you can find the C&O Canal National Historical Park and Museum, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, and the Allegany Museum.

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Where to Play Blackjack in Maryland - MarylandReporter.com - MarylandReporter.com

With its Alan Jackson guitar twang and some dreamy pedal steel, Elijah Oceans new song Thirty-Five is straight out of a Nineties jukebox. The rambling singer-songwriter and Maine native, who landed in Nashville after detours in Brooklyn and L.A., released the song on Monday as the first taste of his upcoming album Born Blue.

Ocean taps into Rodney Crowell territory with the lyrics, evoking an I Aint Living Long Like This message with his own tale of regret and regression. Im thirty-five, acting twenty-two/I dont know how Im still alive living the way I do, he sings. Way past my prime and long overdue, Im thirty-five, acting twenty-two. Ocean wrote Thirty-Five, which features Brent Mason on guitar, in a Las Vegas hotel room while licking his wounds from a beating at the blackjack tables.

Born Blue is the follow-up to Oceans 2020 album Blue Jeans & Barstools, a record that included another song born of a gambling bust: Cleaned Up in Vegas detailed Oceans attempts to grow up and get straight after losing his wallet. Judging by Thirty-Five, however, those efforts failed.

Heres the track list for Oceans Born Blue:

Original post:

Elijah Ocean Previews New Album Born Blue With the Nineties Country Rave-Up Thirty-Five - Rolling Stone

Ken Ritter| Associated Press

Family vacation ideas this summer: Park City, Orlando, Las Vegas

With many COVID restrictions lifted, families are looking for places to travel this summer. Here are a few family-friendly vacation ideas.

Staff Video, USA TODAY

LAS VEGAS Even the chips have chips at the newest casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

Resorts World Las Vegas, a $4.3 billion resort that opened its doors to the public Thursday,lets card players bet with house chips implanted with sensors at tables that take cashless transactions and track every bet, split, double-down and side wager.

Its all RFID, casino operations chief Rick Hutchins said, referring to radio-frequency identification technology built into the first new Las Vegas resort to open since 2010. The table knows exactly what Im betting.

Cashless technology was retrofitted in recent years at existing properties. It was made part of Resorts World from the start, executives told reporters during a preview tour Tuesday.

We're really excited," property President Scott Sibella said. It's been a decade since a property like this has opened. We kind of broke the mold.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas debuted in 2010. Among other major Strip resorts, The Bellagio opened in 1998, Wynn Las Vegas in 2005 and Wynn's Encore tower in 2008. MGM Resorts multi-resort City Center complex opened in 2009 at an overall cost of $1.6 billion.

Resorts World is expected to boost a tourism-dependent local economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic but rebounding since closures imposed in March 2020 were lifted and travel restrictions eased.

Customers who are vaccinated against COVID-19 do not have to wear masks, according to local and state regulations. Employees at many businesses still do.

Resorts World is certainly a contributing factor to the expectation for improved economic conditions during the second half of 2021, said Jeremy Aguero, principal at Las Vegas-based Applied Analysis.

Historically, the opening of new, large-scale resorts has tended to grow the tourism sector and the Las Vegas economy, Aguero said. Visitors staying at Resorts World will benefit the entire market, and Resorts World will undoubtedly benefit from visitors staying in the regions 146,000 existing hotel rooms that will want to experience all the new property has to offer.

At a blackjack table, Hutchins said players still can use cash. But those with member rewards accounts and wireless wallets will be able to scan their phones with the dealer instead of visiting casino cages.

I have $25 on the spot, the RFID chip knows that, and the (table) antenna underneath it. And if I bet these side bets, it also knows that as well, Hutchins explained. I can cash out at the table, I can walk with my chips, I can get a (paper ticket-in ticket-out voucher) here, or I can put it back on my (cellphone) wallet.

Slot machine players who have the app also can scan cellphone QR codes to play.

A players stake will be spendable throughout the resort except sports wagering, which is handled under a different regulatory process by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The immense high-ceiling main gambling floor is longer than two football fields and honeycombed with slot machines. It's the gambling centerpiece.

Marbled halls lead to separate registration entries for three Hilton-branded hotels. They total 3,506 rooms in two curved red-colored towers.

A hall leading to self-parking displays some of collector Michael Fux's whimsically colored Rolls Royce sedans.

A Sky Casino salon is on the top 66th floor. A nearly ground-to-roof LED facade faces the Las Vegas Strip.

Resorts World: The Las Vegas Strip's first new hotel-casino in a decade, is now open. Look inside.

Las Vegas buffets: Self-serve is back, but the 'buffet capital' isn't back to normal

Parts of the complex are still under construction, including developer Elon Musks underground Tesla vehicle transit system that will connect with the nearby Las Vegas Convention Center.

For now, the daytime view beyond the resort's infinity pool is of tractors and trucks and landscape grading operations. At night, the view will be the lights of the Strip.

Malaysia-based Genting Group, an operator of resorts and casinos around the world, bought the big 88-acre (35.6-hectare) property in 2013 from Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming for $350 million. Construction began in May 2015.

The site used to be the Stardust, an iconic Las Vegas landmark that opened in 1958 as the largest hotel in the world, at 1,500 rooms. Its 32-story tower was imploded in 2007.

The Stardusts smoky mirror-walled casino was a playpen for Rat Pack members including Frank Sinatra. Its showroom hosted comedians Don Rickles, Tim Conway and Phyllis Diller; groups like The Temptations and Four Tops; and the duo Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. Wayne Newton was the resident headliner at the 920-seat Stardust Theater before the casino closed in 2006.

Celine Dion will open the new 4,700-seat Theatre at Resorts World, still under construction, on Nov. 5, said John Nelson, senior vice president of AEG Presents, the venue manager. Residencies by Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan will follow.

DJs including Zedd and Tisto will headline at the 2,000-capacity Zouk Nightclub and the outdoor AYU Dayclub.

At the hotels, amenities increase from the 1,774-room Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World to the 1,496-room Conrad Las Vegas and the exclusive 236-suite Crockfords, where general manager Whitney Mulaj noted its tie to the luxury LXR Hotels brand.

Each hotel has a separate lobby.

Were using completely ticketless technology, said Prescott Yee, front office director for Resorts World. When guests arrive at valet parking, they will receive a digital QR code letting them bypass registration and go straight to their room.

No more tickets. No more paper, Yee said. That is the essence throughout the entire guest experience.

The design shows the rising importance of room rentals, conference space, entertainment, dining and shopping to a tourism destination where Aguero said non-gambling revenues in fiscal 2019-2020 accounted for more than 70% of revenue. Twenty years ago, gambling accounted for 60% of revenues.

Hutchins, at the blackjack table, said everything a guest does will be bundled into the Resorts World mobile app. Wireless connectivity and a customers cellphone also eliminate the need for a physical member rewards card, he said.

The things that you do within the property, were going to be able to recognize you, reward you for that, or incentivize you, the casino operations chief said.

If you ate at the steakhouse, maybe you want a dessert at Wallys later, Hutchins said, referring to one of the resorts nearly 40 restaurants and eateries. Well be able to serve up a badge digitally that says. Hey, try a dessert on us.

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Resorts World Las Vegas: Even the chips have chips at the Strip's newest casino - USA TODAY

Last month, ESPN announced that it would be airing a multi-part documentary series telling the story of Derek Jeter. Coming on the heels of the acclaimed Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance, as well as the Tiger Woods doc Tiger on HBO, its bound to be a thoroughly hyped project. As of now though, all we really know about it is that it will be called The Captain and it will air in 2022.

Naturally, this series is primarily going to cover Jeters time as a player with the New York Yankees. At the same time though, Jeter is becoming something of a fixture for Marlins fans. From his day-to-day management of the front office, to side projects like helping the organization to set up roots in the Dominican Republic, Jeter has been an active part owner and team president. It looks as if hes going to be around for the long haul, and establish himself as a long-term member of the Marlins family.

That will make the doc worth watching, even for those of us who might have been nauseated by the Yankees glory days, when Jeter was darting around the Bronx like a pinstriped demon destined for Monument Park. And while we wont actually see the series for a while, it got me thinking about the obvious but seldom-asked question, who actually is Derek Jeter?

Hes always been a pretty indecipherable guy away from the field, but in my own anticipation of learning more about our enigmatic leader I did some research on some of his hobbies. I thought they might be of interest to Marlins fans who, like me, have come to view Jeter as one of our own.

Basketball

Its unclear whether or not Jeter still spends any time playing basketball. But we know hes bumped elbows with some really good players over the years, and not just through his friendship with Michael Jordan. Jeter was supposedly a very good basketball player in high school, even though he was already an off-the-charts baseball stud at the time (the guy supposedly struck out just one time in his final two high school seasons). He played against both Chris Webber and Jalen Roseboth of whom would star at the University of Michigan before going on to decorated pro careers.

Blackjack

When it comes to celebrities and casino card tables, we tend to hear about poker, poker, and more poker. But Jeter has instead been spotted at the blackjack tablesmost notably in the Bahamas alongside his pal MJ. This shouldnt be too much of a surprise. Lots of celebrity competitors like to play cards, and according to Gala Casino it is blackjacknot pokerthat is the most popular of casino games. Chances are tons of people in pro athlete circles are hitting the blackjack tables, and for whatever reason this just doesnt generate the headlines that poker tournaments do. Whatever the case, we know Jeter enjoys putting some of those limitless career earnings to the test on the blackjack felt.

Golf

In case you havent noticed, the common factor among many of Jeters hobbies is that theyre competitive outlets. Considering this its not at all surprising to learn that Jeter, like so many current and former athletes alike, likes to hit the links. This is an interesting one though, because Jeter supposedly spent little to no time golfing while he was a Yankee. Its purely a retirement hobby, though its one hes said to have taken to with a passionate competitive

Movies

Moving away from the competitive hobbies, Jeter has also described himself in the past as a major movie guy. He once claimed that during the offseason he might go to several movies in a single week if there were enough interesting releases out. This is definitely a hobby a lot of us can relate to, and its one of the few details that humanizes Jeter a bit. For those who might be curious, For The Win posted a list of The Captains favorite films several years ago. The former Yankee shortstop is fond of American History X, The Shawshank Redemption, Major League, The Five Heartbeats, and Scarface, to name a few. Honestly, not a bad list.

Publishing

Last but not least is publishing! This has basically been Jeters business in retirement, aside from helping to run the Marlins. He is well known for having established The Players Tribune as an online platform for athletes to speak in their own words. But hes also joined with Simon & Schuster to form Jeter Publishing (for adult non-fiction titles) and Jeter Childrens (for kids picture books). Its actually a pretty admirable hobby, particularly given what The Players Tribune has turned into.

Our Miami Marlins president is a guy no one really knows, because hes made sure of it. We know about the baseball; we know hes been friendly a whos-who of celebrity figures and even American presidents who passed through the Bronx while he reigned there; and of course, we know the list of women he dated before settling down is the stuff of legend. But the details of Jeters life beyond these public bits have always been pretty private. Im looking forward to learning more in next years doc, but in the meantime these hobbies at least tell us a bit more about who Jeter is.

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Were About to Get to Know The Captain BetterSo Here Are 5 Hobbies of His You May Not Know About - Fish Stripes

Over the course of the last year, online casinos have exploded in popularity. According to one recently published industry report, the global online gambling market reached a new all-time high of $57.11bn, and is expected to reach a staggering $97.69bn by 2025 which represents a compounding annual growth rate of 11.31%.

This level of growth certainly seems to be reflected in the South African gaming market, with online casinos based here having had a bumper year in terms of total revenue and new user sign-ups. Although South Africa was somewhat late to the game in terms of the availability and accessibility of online casinos, this is clearly no longer the case. With the South African market one of the most lively and dynamic in terms of overall growth, the total number of players, and the number of new players entering the market in recent years have been rapidly increasing. With the digital economy forming an increasingly important part of the economic health of South Africa, it looks like this sector will be important in securing South Africas future.

Beyond the general state of the market, however, what are the playing habits of South African casino fans these days? And with regard to the rise of online casinos, are the popular casino games available on mobile proving to be the same games that were popular in physical casinos?

Slots

For the more casual player in a physical casino setting, slot machines have historically been one of the most popular options. They are fun and incredibly easy to pick up and play, and for this reason, have been the go-to options for casino-goers over the years.

In the age of the digital casino, new generations of players are turning to slots for exactly the same reason! Although virtual slot machine games lack the same satisfying physicality as an old-school slot machine, digital versions sacrifice none of the fun.

In the digital environment, slot games have proven to be particularly popular for the sheer number of variations there are. No matter what your tastes or preferences are, there is a version out there perfectly suited for your own specific tastes!

If you are looking for a casino game that you can begin playing within seconds of launching your mobile casino app, virtual slots are just what you need!

Baccarat

Although it is often overlooked for the more well-known blackjack, baccarat is one of the easiest to play and most fun games offered in casinos.

While the rules might seem a little daunting at first, baccarat is actually incredibly simple to play.

In a game of baccarat, the dealer will deal four cards face up. Two of these are for the player, with the other two for the banker (or dealer). If neither hand equals an eight or a nine, a fifth card can be drawn. Whichever hand equals the closes to nine, wins. If you bet on the players hand and it totals the closest to nine, the winnings will be double whatever you have bet. If you bet on the bankers hand to win and its wins, you will get 95% of your wager. If the cards are greater than nine, you add the two cards together and drop the one or two to get the value.

As you can see, the ruleset is slightly more complex than blackjack. This does not mean it is any less fun to play, however. In fact, baccarat is often favoured by players over blackjack because it does have a little bit more substance to it, while also having an equally quick pace of play.

This format has proven to be perfectly suited to the online casino environment, with baccarat consistently being one of the most popular card games on offer.

Live casino games

Although not a specific game type itself instead of covering a variety of different game types live casino games have exploded in popularity over the last couple of years.

Providing players with a truly unique casino experience from the comfort of their own home, live casino games have become popular with players for the immersive gaming experience they provide.

Live casino games support a number of different casino game types, although roulette and card games, such as blackjack and baccarat, seem to be particularly popular.

These games are perfectly suited to the online casino environment as they have a high level of dealer involvement in the game, which gives you the opportunity to engage with them as you play. This adds a unique social aspect to the game, which is one of the main reasons that players keep coming back for more. If you are looking for a fun, immersive casino experience, live casino games are an exciting option!

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Going Mobile In South Africa: What Are The Best Mobile Casino Games To Play? - TechFinancials

Blackjack is one of the most famous games in the casino. Common in both online and land-based gambling venues, the popular Twenty-One is easily accessible.

The short answer to the question, Why is blackjack so popular is because its simple and fun. As for the longer answer, we will display it in the following article about the popular casino game.

Here are the five reasons why blackjack is so popular.

The first reason why blackjack is so fun is the low house advance often below 1%. In other words, you as the player have a phenomenal 99%+ return provided a good blackjack strategy. But overall, the average house edge is around 0.5%.

The perfect basic strategy is the best way to win at blackjack. In fact, there are charts available online for you to learn and use. As long s you stick to the basic strategy, you should be benefiting from the low house edge in blackjack. In short, the smartest way to play this French card game is to listen to the masters who came up with the best blackjack strategy.

The rules of blackjack are straightforward you get your cards and decide what happens next. You can either Hit or Stand, meaning ask for another card or keep your hand as it is. The universal rules also accept Split and even Double Down as options. Essentially, that is the point of blackjack. The ultimate goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without busting. To bust or go bust means to have a hand that exceeds 21.

While we maintain that blackjack is easy to learn, we must say that it can be hard to master. As an intrinsically game of skills, blackjack requires a bit of thinking to be really successful. Strategies such as advantage gambling and counting cards are popular terms in the industry. But if you are just getting started, we would recommend learning the basics first and nailing that perfect strategy.

Expert sites such as Blackjack Gala offer free blackjack tutorials and guides for beginners and experienced players alike. On this site specialising in the common casino game, punters can read game reviews and find the perfect variant. Also, casino reviews are also at your disposal if you dont know where to play blackjack yet.

Standard blackjack has a 3:2 payout, which is always displayed on the table. This is a great return on its own, but what makes it special is that the player wins regardless of what else is going on at the table. Let us explain.

In other card games, such as poker, each participants fate depends on the other players. In contrast, hitting a natural in blackjack (i.e. 21) results in an automatic win. In laymans terms, if the sum of the cards in your hand is 21, you win.

Additionally, blackjack is fairly affordable, especially in online casinos. The minimum bet in online blackjack goes as low as 1, even in live blackjack variations. So, not only does this card game provide massive wins, but it is also wallet-friendly. As long as you gamble responsibly, your bankroll will be intact.

Blackjack arguably originates from 17th-century France, where they called it Vingt-Un. It was originally invented as a form of socialisation that brought people together. Boasting the same simple rules that it has today, the game became an instant hit. Now, centuries later, blackjack is just as popular.

In modern online casinos, live dealer blackjack is available, allowing you the ultimate comfort of gambling from home. Through the live chat facility, players may talk to each other, and even address the dealer. The real croupier sees your message on the screen in front of them and replies instantly.

Where can you play live blackjack? Luckily, there are dozens of legit online casinos with live blackjack in the portfolio. We suggest checking out the Blackjack Gala website for reliable casino reviews.

Finally, even though it is possible to make blackjack social, the game is in its essence quite individualistic. If we ignore the Majority Rules variant for a second, the game can be seen as a one-man show.

Each player at the table receives his or her own cards, creating a unique hand. Therefore, each punter has to make their own decision. You have your destiny in your hands when playing blackjack, which is why the game is so popular.

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Why Is Blackjack So Popular? | The Rockland County Times - Rockland County Times

ST JOHNS, Antigua--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Its winner winner chicken dinner at Intertops Poker this week with players being given the chance to play for their share of a massive $2,000 jackpot when they hit certain win combinations when playing any blackjack game.

Taking part is simple; just head to the Intertops Poker Casino, open any Blackjack game including Blackjack 21, Double Draw and Perfect Pair and start playing. If players hit one of the specific win combinations, they are awarded a prize.

The win combinations and prizes are as follows:

Spades Blackjack - $5Hearts Blackjack - $5Diamonds Blackjack - $5Clubs Blackjack - $5Small Suite 21 - $10Big Suite 21 - $25Suited Big Suite 21 - $100

The Blackjack Jackpot runs from today until Sunday (13 May) and all prizes are subject to a x15 wagering requirement before they can be withdrawn as cash.

The big prize pots dont stop there; the Intertops June Slot Tournament is giving players the chance to compete for their share of another $2,000 prize pot. Again, the premise is simple play one of four featured slot games, earn points for every spin you make and climb the leaderboard.

Qualifying games include Gears of Time, Book of Darkness, Faerie Spells and Charms and Clovers. Come the end of the tournament on Monday (14 June) prizes will be paid out to the top 16 players with first place receiving $400, second place receiving $300 and third place receiving $230.

If this sounds like the sort of big win action you are looking for but you are not a member of Intertops Poker and Casino, we have just one question why not? We even welcome new players with an incredibly generous sign-up bonus.

The Intertops Poker and Casino Welcome Bonus offers a 200% deposit match up to $1,000 plus 25 Casino Spins which can be activated with the code 10000ITP. There is a $25 minimum deposit applied to the bonus and it is only available on your first deposit at the casino.

ENDS

Editors notes:

About Intertops Poker:

Intertops Poker is one of the most established online poker operators, and has been live for more than two decades. Its poker games and tables can be accessed via Instant Play, or by downloading its desktop client. The site has recently undergone a major redesign, and is fully optimised for mobile.

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Hit the Blackjack Jackpot at Intertops Poker This Week - Business Wire

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--If you love the excitement and thrill of racing to the top of the tournament leaderboard when playing your favourite online pokies then Juicy Stakes Casino & Poker is definitely the place to be.

The hugely popular online casino is running its June Slot Tournament where players earn points for every spin they play on qualifying Betsoft pokies including Gears of Time, Book of Darkness, Faerie Spells and Charms and Clovers.

The tournament runs from today until Monday (14 June) with the top 16 players come the end of the race sharing a $2,000 prize pot. First place takes home $400, second place $300 and third place $230 with the rest of the pot split down to 16th spot.

The monster prize pots dont stop there from today until Sunday (13 June) you can also take part in the Juicy Stakes Blackjack Jackpot promotion. All you need to do is hit certain win combinations when playing any blackjack game to be in with the chance of winning extra cash.

Here is a breakdown of the win combinations and the prizes awarded for each.

Spades Blackjack - $5

Hearts Blackjack - $5

Diamonds Blackjack - $5

Clubs Blackjack - $5

Small Suite 21 - $10

Big Suite 21 - $25

Suited Big Suite 21 - $100

The offers dont stop there from today until Sunday (13 June) we are also running a Casino Slot Spins Special where you can unlock up to 110 free spins on two of the hottest Nucleus Gaming slots, Dragon Watch and The Golden Inn.

This is how it works:

Deposit $25 and receive 40 free spins on Dragon Watch with the code DRAGON40

Deposit $50 and receive 70 free spins on The Golden Inn with the code BAR70

Free spins are added to your account 24-48 hours after making the deposit or you can contact customer support casinohost@juicytskaes.com and the team will add them to your account instantly. You can claim both codes but each code only once.

ENDS

Editors notes:

About Juicy Stakes Casino:

Juicy Stakes offers online poker and online casino games to players all over the world. Known for its generous player rewards program, the online poker room is one of the most popular sites on the Horizon Poker Network and the online casino features games from WorldMatch, Betsoft and Lucktap.

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Race to the top of the leaderboard at Juicy Stakes Casino - Business Wire

Jim Sturgess didnt like being famous. It was a whole new world to get my head around, the British star of Across the Universe, One Day and Cloud Atlas says. I didnt know how the industry worked. I didnt know how to play the game. It really freaked me out. I didnt enjoy seeing myself on posters on the sides of buses. He remembers attending the Las Vegas premiere in 2008 of 21, a blackjack drama that looked set to propel him onto the Hollywood A-list, and panicking. I was driving down the strip and seeing my face on all these giant billboards. I checked into a hotel and all the blackjack tables had my face on them, and the room key had my face on it it was a lot.

That Sturgess didnt end up becoming a giant celebrity always felt more deliberate than accidental. The 43-year-old has boundless rock-star charisma on screen hes louche, swaggering and handsome, with a beard that wouldnt look out of place in an NME photo spread. Hes great as heartbreakers (romancing Anne Hathaway through time in One Day), hedonists (Electric Slides hippie bank robber) and heretics (in the grisly horror Heartless). A star could have, and probably should have, been born. But while he is loose and funny in conversation over Zoom from his home in London, theres a bit of unspoken discomfort, too in the hovering publicists on the call, the recurring allusions to insecurity and anxiousness, and the black paper hes taped over his laptop camera. I just hate looking at myself while Im talking at the same time, he says. I hate looking at myself anyway.

It might also explain why he feels so at ease in his new TV series, in which a preternaturally gifted 10-year-old actor does most of the heavy lifting. Apple TV+s Home Before Dark is a very modern television hit: its on a relatively new streaming platform you may not realise you had on your computer; its already on its second season, even though youve probably not heard of it; and its low-key in its charm, which is also its subtle superpower.

The Florida Projects Brooklynn Prince stars as a precocious kid detective named Hilde, who moves to a small American town with her journalist dad (Sturgess). In the shows first season, Hilde used her investigative skills mostly inspired by All the Presidents Men, her favourite film to solve a local murder, unravelling a raft of conspiracies in the process. In the shows second season, which launches on 11 June, she tangles with corrupt politicians and those responsible for dumping toxic waste in the towns river. Think of the shows leading lady as Nancy Drew meets Greta Thunberg and youll grasp its unique wavelength.

You have this young girl seeing things so innocently, Sturgess says. Its something kids are able to do, this ability to take out all the noise and all the bulls***, and just go, Okay, what is the truth of this situation? Whats really happened?

Prince is astoundingly good in the show, bringing a level of grit and humanity to Hilde that would be impressive for an adult, let alone a 10-year-old. Her scenes with Sturgess, which are full of humour and tenderness, are among the shows best. He says he is constantly in awe of her ability, along with that of the other child actors who play Hildes friends.

I spend a lot of time with them in a way that I wouldnt normally with younger people, Sturgess says. And I see how brilliant they are, and how professional they are, and how passionate they are. When youre around those guys, you have to be on your A-game. Theyre fast and theyre sharp and I find I just have to keep up with them. And their conversations! They seem switched on in a way that I never was. Theyre young kids with old minds, you know? I feel like theyve been here before.

Amateur detectives: Sturgess and Brooklynn Prince in Home Before Dark'

(Apple TV+)

What was he doing when he was 10? I dont think I thought beyond what I was eating at dinner time, he jokes. I didnt have any concept of thinking about the future at all. Maybe at best I wanted to be a professional football player, you know? Or a fireman or something. He did do a bit of acting as a child, but only in local theatre and drama clubs. He says he struggled in school, finding classroom scenarios difficult to learn in. He liked drama class though, and got his first acting gig when a local theatre auditioned schoolkids for a play.

I got one of the parts and I remember teachers and my parents just being like, ooh, hes focused and connecting with something now, he remembers. He doesnt think hed have been able to hack anything bigger at the time, though. Theres no way you could have got me on camera and able to remember all those lines, and hit my mark and be on set all day. No way on Gods earth would I have been able to focus and concentrate. I still can barely do it now.

Sturgess broke through in acting relatively late. By the time he was cast in Across the Universe at the age of 26, hed graduated from the University of Salford, where hed studied media and performance, and had moved to London to try and make it as a musician. Across the Universe, a jukebox musical soundtracked by The Beatles, allowed all of his passions to coalesce alongside Evan Rachel Wood, he sang and danced and acted and swooned. The film made no money, but it got him noticed. Roles came pouring in.

I got another film very quickly afterwards, which was The Other Boleyn Girl, he remembers. Then almost back-to-back with that I was cast in the movie 21 with Kevin Spacey. It definitely felt like something had shifted. Speaking of Spacey, who since 21 has been accused by multiple men of sexual harassment allegations the actor has denied Sturgess has said before that they didnt get to know each other very well on set. But he also isnt sure that the public is ready for Spaceys forthcoming return to acting in a film in which he plays a sex crime investigator, no less.

Star vehicle: Sturgess and Kevin Spacey in 21'

(Moviestore/Shutterstock)

It does feel like people are not as accepting [now] and arent just gonna turn a blind eye, he says. I think the internet has played a very positive part in that, in encouraging people to speak out and connect with each other and support each other. Whether that really does close some doors [in the industry], Ill have to wait and see, like everybody else. But there are certain people that you just hope never get the opportunity to make a comeback.

21 remains the only time a major American studio movie has rested on Sturgesss shoulders, and it led to a degree of unease about his career afterwards. In the aftermath of its release, he decided to pull back from the kind of superstardom his agents initially had in mind for him. I wish I could do it all over again and enjoy it a little bit more, he admits, but says that, back then, he felt the need to retreat. I turned down some stuff that was a lot bigger and a lot brighter and bolder. Whether that was the right thing or the wrong thing it doesnt matter.

Mean jokes: Sturgess with Anne Hathaway and her Yorkshire accent in One Day'

(Moviestore/Shutterstock)

Hes also open about various films he was in that didnt work at all. Among better-received projects, like Stephen Poliakoffs Close to the Enemy and the Wachowski sisters Cloud Atlas, he was in Geostorm, in which Gerard Butler fought bad weather, and London Fields, the disastrous Martin Amis adaptation that starred Amber Heard and Johnny Depp before they were locked into court battles.

Ive definitely been on film projects where you feel like its going great and youre really excited about how its going to come out, and then you watch the finished product and its a horror show, he jokes. Decision-making on what I work on is something Ive never got good at, you know? Sometimes you make a good choice and sometimes you dont, but thats part of the fun of it. Its a bit like a Russian roulette wheel that you spin every time you engage with [a script].

I wonder if Sturgesss slight resistance to Hollywood might have been impacted by the noise or criticism thats surrounded some of his films. The release of One Day, for instance, was beset by mean jokes about Anne Hathaways truthfully quite reasonable attempt at a Yorkshire accent. It didnt sour mainstream cinema for him, he says, but he did think the criticism was over the top. Im a real stickler for accents, he says. If someone does a bad one, I cant watch the film. But I never felt anything like that while working with Anne at all. I think what happened was that she got a bad rep in America for her bad English accent, because people dont know about a Yorkshire accent in America. Ive had friends in America say its the worst English accent theyve ever heard, but I didnt think it was fair.

Thankfully, it didnt put him off Hollywood altogether. Hes still working there, too just a month ago he filmed a low-budget indie with Katie Holmes that she also wrote and directed. It might not be the career his agents imagined for him more than a decade ago, but hes content. As long as his face gets nowhere near the side of a bus, presumably.

Home Before Dark season two begins Friday 11 June on Apple TV+, with new episodes released weekly

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Jim Sturgess: There are people you hope never make a comeback - The Independent