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Gambling card game

A blackjack

Blackjack, formerly also Black Jack and Vingt-Un, is the American member of a global family of banking games known as Twenty-One, whose relatives include the British game of Pontoon and the European game, Vingt-et-Un.[1] It is a comparing card game between one or more players and a dealer, where each player in turn competes against the dealer. Players do not compete against each other. It is played with one or more decks of 52 cards, and is the most widely played casino banking game in the world.[2]:342

Blackjack's immediate precursor was the English version of twenty-one called Vingt-Un, a game of unknown provenance, but probably of Spanish origin. The first written reference is found in a book by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, most famous for writing Don Quixote. Cervantes was a gambler, and the main characters of his tale "Rinconete y Cortadillo", from Novelas Ejemplares, are a couple of cheats working in Seville. They are proficient at cheating at veintiuna (Spanish for twenty-one), and state that the object of the game is to reach 21 points without going over and that the ace values 1 or 11. The game is played with the Spanish baraja deck. This short story was written between 1601 and 1602, implying that ventiuna was played in Castile since the beginning of the 17th century or earlier. Later references to this game are found in France and Spain.[3]

The first record of the game in France occurs in 1768 and in Britain during the 1770s and 1780s, but the first rules anywhere appear in Britain in 1800 under the name of Vingt-Un.[6] Twenty-One appeared in the United States in the early 1800s, still known in those days as Vingt-Un. The first rules were an 1825 reprint of the 1800 English rules. English Vingt-Un later developed into an American variant in its own right which was renamed blackjack around 1899.

There is a popular myth that, when Vingt-Un ("Twenty-One") was introduced into the United States in the early 1800s - other sources say during the First World War and still others the 1930s - gambling houses offered bonus payouts to stimulate players' interest. One such bonus was a ten-to-one payout if the player's hand consisted of the ace of spades and a black jack (either the jack of clubs or the jack of spades). This hand was called a "blackjack", and it is claimed that the name stuck to the game even though the ten-to-one bonus was soon withdrawn. French card historian, Thierry Depaulis has recently debunked this story, showing that the name Blackjack was first given to the game of American Vingt-Un by prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush (189699), the bonus being the usual Ace and any 10-point card. Since the term 'blackjack' also refers to the mineral zincblende, which was often associated with gold or silver deposits, he suggests that the mineral name was transferred by prospectors to the top bonus in the game. He was unable to find any historical evidence for a special bonus for having the combination of an Ace with a black Jack.

The first scientific and mathematically sound attempt to devise an optimal blackjack playing strategy was revealed in September 1956. Roger Baldwin, Wilbert Cantey, Herbert Maisel and James McDermott published a paper titled The Optimum Strategy in Blackjack in the Journal of the American Statistical Association.[10] This paper would become the foundation of future sound efforts to beat the game of blackjack. Ed Thorp would use Baldwin's hand calculations to verify the basic strategy and later publish (in 1963) his famous book Beat the Dealer.[11]

Players are each dealt two cards, face up or down depending on the casino and the table. In the U.S., the dealer is also dealt two cards, normally one up (exposed) and one down (hidden). In most other countries, the dealer only receives one card face up. The value of cards two through ten is their pip value (2 through 10). Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) are all worth ten. Aces can be worth one or eleven. A hand's value is the sum of the card values. Players are allowed to draw additional cards to improve their hands. A hand with an ace valued as 11 is called "soft", meaning that the hand will not bust by taking an additional card. The value of the ace will become one to prevent the hand from exceeding 21. Otherwise, the hand is called "hard".

Once all the players have completed their hands, it is the dealer's turn. The dealer hand will not be completed if all players have either busted or received blackjacks. The dealer then reveals the hidden card and must hit until the cards total up to 17 points. At 17 points or higher the dealer must stay. (At most tables the dealer also hits on a "soft" 17, i.e. a hand containing an ace and one or more other cards totaling six.) You are betting that you have a better hand than the dealer. The better hand is the hand where the sum of the card values is closer to 21 without exceeding 21. The detailed outcome of the hand follows:

Blackjack has over 100 rule variations. Since the 1960s, blackjack has been a high-profile target of advantage players, particularly card counters, who track the profile of cards that have been dealt and adapt their wagers and playing strategies accordingly. In response, casinos have introduced counter-measures that can increase the difficulty of advantage play.

Blackjack has inspired other casino games, including Spanish 21 and pontoon.

At a casino blackjack table, the dealer faces five to seven playing positions from behind a semicircular table. Between one and eight standard 52-card decks are shuffled together. At the beginning of each round, up to three players can place their bets in the "betting box" at each position in play. That is, there could be up to three players at each position at a table in jurisdictions that allow back betting. The player whose bet is at the front of the betting box is deemed to have control over the position, and the dealer will consult the controlling player for playing decisions regarding the hand; the other players of that box are said to "play behind". Any player is usually allowed to control or bet in as many boxes as desired at a single table, but it is prohibited for an individual to play on more than one table at a time or to place multiple bets within a single box. In many U.S. casinos, however, players are limited to playing two or three positions at a table and often only one person is allowed to bet on each position.

The dealer deals cards from their left (the position on the dealer's far left is often referred to as "first base") to their far right ("third base"). Each box is dealt an initial hand of two cards visible to the people playing on it, and often to any other players. The dealer's hand receives its first card face up, and in "hole card" games immediately receives its second card face down (the hole card), which the dealer peeks at but does not reveal unless it makes the dealer's hand a blackjack. Hole card games are sometimes played on tables with a small mirror or electronic sensor that is used to peek securely at the hole card. In European casinos, "no hole card" games are prevalent; the dealer's second card is neither drawn nor consulted until the players have all played their hands.

Cards are dealt either from one or two handheld decks, from a dealer's shoe, or from a shuffling machine. Single cards are dealt to each wagered-on position clockwise from the dealer's left, followed by a single card to the dealer, followed by an additional card to each of the positions in play. The players' initial cards may be dealt face up or face down (more common in single-deck games).

The object of the game from the player's perspective is to win money by creating card totals that are higher than those of the dealer's hand, but do not exceed 21 ("busting"/"breaking"), or alternatively, by "standing" (not taking a card) at any total in the hope that dealer will bust. On their turn, players must choose whether to "hit" (take a card), "stand" (end their turn), "double" (double wager, take a single card and finish), "split" (if the two cards have the same value, separate them to make two hands) or "surrender" (give up a half-bet and retire from the game). Number cards count as their natural value; the jack, queen, and king (also known as "face cards" or "pictures") count as 10; aces are valued as either 1 or 11 according to the player's choice. If the hand value exceeds 21 points, it busts, and all bets on it are immediately forfeit. After all boxes have finished playing, the dealer's hand is resolved by drawing cards until the hand busts or achieves a value of 17 or higher (a dealer total of 17 including an ace valued as 11, also known as a "soft 17", must be drawn to in some games and must stand in others). The dealer never doubles, splits, or surrenders. If the dealer busts, all remaining player hands win. If the dealer does not bust, each remaining bet wins if its hand is higher than the dealer's, and loses if it is lower. If a player receives 21 on the 1st and 2nd card it is considered a "natural" or "blackjack" and the player is paid out immediately unless dealer also has a natural, in which case the hand ties. In the case of a tied score, known as "push" or "standoff", bets are normally returned without adjustment; however, a blackjack beats any hand that is not a blackjack, even one with a value of 21. Wins are paid out at 1:1, or equal to the wager, except for player blackjacks which are traditionally paid at 3:2 (meaning the player receives three dollars for every two bet) or one-and-a-half times the wager. Many casinos today pay blackjacks at less than 3:2 at some tables; for instance, single-deck blackjack tables often pay 6:5 for a blackjack instead of 3:2.[12]

Blackjack games almost always provide a side bet called insurance, which may be played when dealer's upcard is an ace. Additional side bets, such as "Dealer Match" which pays when the player's cards match the dealer's up card, are sometimes available.

After receiving an initial two cards, the player has up to four standard options: "hit", "stand", "double down", or "split". Each option has a corresponding hand signal. Some games give the player a fifth option, "surrender".

Hand signals are used to assist the "eye in the sky", a person or video camera located above the table and sometimes concealed behind one-way glass. The eye in the sky usually makes a video recording of the table, which helps in resolving disputes and identifying dealer mistakes, and is also used to protect the casino against dealers who steal chips or players who cheat. The recording can further be used to identify advantage players whose activities, while legal, make them undesirable customers. In the event of a disagreement between a player's hand signals and their words, the hand signal takes precedence.Each hand may normally "hit" as many times as desired so long as the total is not above hard 20. On reaching 21 (including soft 21), the hand is normally required to stand; busting is an irrevocable loss and the players' wagers are immediately forfeited to the house. After a bust or a stand, play proceeds to the next hand clockwise around the table. When the last hand has finished being played, the dealer reveals the hole card, and stands or draws further cards according to the rules of the game for dealer drawing. When the outcome of the dealer's hand is established, any hands with bets remaining on the table are resolved (usually in counterclockwise order): bets on losing hands are forfeited, the bet on a push is left on the table, and winners are paid out.

If the dealer's up card (the card that is showing) is an ace, you are allowed to make an insurance bet. This is a side bet that the dealer has a ten-value card as the down card, giving the dealer a Blackjack. The dealer will ask for insurance bets from all players before the first player plays. You make this bet by placing chips equal to a maximum of half of your current bet on the insurance bar just above your cards. If the dealer has a ten, the insurance bet pays 2:1. In most casinos, the dealer then peeks at the down card and pays or takes the insurance bet immediately. In other casinos, the payoff waits until the end of the play.

In face-down games, if you are playing more than one hand, you are allowed to look at all of your hands before deciding. This is the only time that you are allowed to look at the second hand before playing the first hand. Using one hand, look at your hands one at a time.

Players with a blackjack may also take insurance, and in taking maximum insurance they will win an amount equal to their main wager. Fully insuring a blackjack against blackjack is thus referred to as "taking even money". There is no difference in results between taking even money and insuring a blackjack.

Insurance bets are expected to lose money in the long run, because the dealer is likely to have a blackjack less than one-third of the time. However the insurance outcome is strongly anti-correlated with that of the main wager, and if the player's priority is to reduce variance, they might choose to make this bet.

The insurance bet is susceptible to advantage play. It is advantageous to make an insurance bet whenever the hole card has more than a one in three chance of being a ten. Card counting techniques can identify such situations.

Note: where changes in the house edge due to changes in the rules are stated in percentage terms, the difference is usually stated here in percentage points, not percentage. That is, if an edge of 10% is reduced to 9%: it is reduced by one percentage point, not reduced by ten percent.

The rules of casino blackjack are generally determined by law or regulation, which establishes certain rule variations allowed at the discretion of the casino. The rule variations of any particular game are generally posted on or near the table. You can ask the dealer if the variations are not clearly posted. Over 100 variations of blackjack have been documented.[13]

As with all casino games, blackjack incorporates a "house edge", a statistical advantage for the casino that is built into the game. This house edge is primarily due to the fact that the player will lose when both the player and dealer bust. However, blackjack players using basic strategy will lose less than 1% of their total wagered amount with average luck, which is a substantially lower house edge than most other casino games. This is not true in games where blackjack pays 6:5 as that rule increases the house edge by about 1.4%. The expected loss rate of players who deviate from basic strategy through poor play will be greater, often much greater.

Surrender, for those games that allow it, is usually not permitted against a dealer blackjack; if the dealer's first card is an ace or ten, the hole card is checked to make sure there is no blackjack before surrender is offered. This rule protocol is consequently known as "late" surrender. The alternative, "early" surrender, gives player the option to surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack, or in a no-hole-card game. Early surrender is much more favorable to the player than late surrender.

For late surrender, however, while it is tempting to opt for surrender on any hand which will probably lose, the correct strategy is to only surrender on the very worst hands, because having even a one in four chance of winning the full bet is better than losing half the bet and pushing the other half, as entailed by surrendering.

In most non-U.S. casinos, a 'no hole card' game is played, meaning that the dealer does not draw nor consult his or her second card until after all players have finished making decisions. With no hole card, it is almost never correct basic strategy to double or split against a dealer ten or ace, since a dealer blackjack will result in the loss of the split and double bets; the only exception is with a pair of aces against a dealer 10, where it is still correct to split. In all other cases, a stand, hit or surrender is called for. For instance, holding 11 against a dealer 10, the correct strategy is to double in a hole card game (where the player knows the dealer's second card is not an ace), but to hit in a no hole card game. The no hole card rule adds approximately 0.11% to the house edge.

The "original bets only" rule variation appearing in certain no hole card games states that if the player's hand loses to a dealer blackjack, only the mandatory initial bet ("original") is forfeited, and all optional bets, meaning doubles and splits, are pushed. "Original bets only" is also known by the acronym OBO; it has the same effect on basic strategy and house edge as reverting to a hole card game.[14]

Each blackjack game has a basic strategy, which prescribes the optimal method of playing any hand against any dealer up-card so that the long-term house advantage (the expected loss of the player) is minimized.

An example of a basic strategy is shown in the table below, which applies to a game with the following specifications:[15]

Key:

The bulk of basic strategy is common to all blackjack games, with most rule variations calling for changes in only a few situations. For example, to use the table above on a game with the stand on soft 17 rule (which favors the player, and is typically found only at higher-limit tables today) only 6 cells would need to be changed: hit on 11 vs. A, hit on 15 vs. A, stand on 17 vs. A, stand on A,7 vs. 2, stand on A,8 vs. 6, and split on 8,8 vs. A. Regardless of the specific rule variations, taking insurance or "even money" is never the correct play under basic strategy.[15]

Estimates of the house edge for blackjack games quoted by casinos and gaming regulators are generally based on the assumption that the players follow basic strategy and do not systematically change their bet size.

Most blackjack games have a house edge of between 0.5% and 1%, placing blackjack among the cheapest casino table games from the perspective of the player. Casino promotions such as complimentary match play vouchers or 2:1 blackjack payouts allow the player to acquire an advantage without deviating from basic strategy.

Basic strategy is based upon a player's point total and the dealer's visible card. Players may be able to improve on this decision by considering the precise composition of their hand, not just the point total. For example, players should ordinarily stand when holding 12 against a dealer 4. However, in a single deck game, players should hit if their 12 consists of a 10 and a 2. The presence of a 10 in the player's hand has two consequences:[16]

However, even when basic and composition-dependent strategies lead to different actions, the difference in expected reward is small, and it becomes even smaller with more decks. Using a composition-dependent strategy rather than basic strategy in a single deck game reduces the house edge by 4 in 10,000, which falls to 3 in 100,000 for a six-deck game.[17]

Blackjack has been a high-profile target for advantage players since the 1960s. Advantage play is the attempt to win more using skills such as memory, computation, and observation. These techniques, while generally legal, can be powerful enough to give the player a long-term edge in the game, making them an undesirable customer for the casino and potentially leading to ejection or blacklisting if they are detected. The main techniques of advantage play in blackjack are as follows:

During the course of a blackjack shoe, the dealer exposes the dealt cards. Careful accounting of the exposed cards allows a player to make inferences about the cards which remain to be dealt. These inferences can be used in the following ways:

A card counting system assigns a point score to each rank of card (e.g., 1 point for 26, 0 points for 79 and 1 point for 10A). When a card is exposed, a counter adds the score of that card to a running total, the 'count'. A card counter uses this count to make betting and playing decisions according to a table which they have learned. The count starts at 0 for a freshly shuffled deck for "balanced" counting systems. Unbalanced counts are often started at a value which depends on the number of decks used in the game.

Blackjack's house edge is usually between 0.5%1% when players use basic strategy.[18] Card counting can give the player an edge of up to 2% over the house.[19]:5

Card counting is most rewarding near the end of a complete shoe when as few as possible cards remain. Single-deck games are therefore particularly advantageous to the card counting player. As a result, casinos are more likely to insist that players do not reveal their cards to one another in single-deck games. In games with more decks of cards, casinos limit penetration by ending the shoe and reshuffling when one or more decks remain undealt. Casinos also sometimes use a shuffling machine to reintroduce the exhausted cards every time a deck has been played.

Card counting is legal and is not considered cheating as long as the counter is not using an external device,[19]:67 but if a casino realizes players are counting, the casino might inform them that they are no longer welcome to play blackjack. Sometimes a casino might ban a card counter from the property.[20]

The use of external devices to help counting cards is illegal in all US states that license blackjack card games.[21]

Techniques other than card counting can swing the advantage of casino blackjack toward the player. All such techniques are based on the value of the cards to the player and the casino as originally conceived by Edward O. Thorp.[22] One technique, mainly applicable in multi-deck games, involves tracking groups of cards (also known as slugs, clumps, or packs) during the play of the shoe, following them through the shuffle, and then playing and betting accordingly when those cards come into play from the new shoe. Shuffle tracking requires excellent eyesight and powers of visual estimation but is more difficult to detect since the player's actions are largely unrelated to the composition of the cards in the shoe.[23]

Arnold Snyder's articles in Blackjack Forum magazine brought shuffle tracking to the general public. His book, The Shuffle Tracker's Cookbook, mathematically analyzed the player edge available from shuffle tracking based on the actual size of the tracked slug. Jerry L. Patterson also developed and published a shuffle-tracking method for tracking favorable clumps of cards and cutting them into play and tracking unfavorable clumps of cards and cutting them out of play.[24][25][26]

The player can also gain an advantage by identifying cards from distinctive wear markings on their backs, or by hole carding (observing during the dealing process the front of a card dealt face down). These methods are generally legal although their status in particular jurisdictions may vary.

Many blackjack tables offer a side bet on various outcomes including:[27]

The side wager is typically placed in a designated area next to the box for the main wager. A player wishing to wager on a side bet is usually required to place a wager on blackjack. Some games require that the blackjack wager should equal or exceed any side bet wager. A non-controlling player of a blackjack hand is usually permitted to place a side bet regardless of whether the controlling player does so.

The house edge for side bets is generally far higher than for the blackjack game itself.[28] Nonetheless side bets can be susceptible to card counting. A side count, designed specifically for a particular side bet, can improve the player edge. Only a few side bets, like "Lucky Ladies", offer a sufficient win rate to justify the effort of advantage play.

In team play it is common for team members to be dedicated toward counting only a sidebet using a specialized count.

Blackjack can be played in tournament form. Players start with an equal numbers of chips; the goal is to finish among the top chip-holders. Depending on the number of competitors, tournaments may be held over several rounds, with one or two players qualifying from each table after a set number of deals to meet the qualifiers from the other tables in the next round. Another tournament format, Elimination Blackjack, drops the lowest-stacked player from the table at pre-determined points in the tournament. Good strategy for blackjack tournaments can differ from non-tournament strategy because of the added dimension of choosing the amount to be wagered. As in poker tournaments, players pay the casino an initial entry fee to participate in a tournament, and re-buys are sometimes permitted.

Some casinos, as well as general betting outlets, provide blackjack among a selection of casino-style games at electronic consoles. Video blackjack game rules are generally more favorable to the house; e.g., paying out only even money for winning blackjacks. Video and online blackjack games generally deal each round from a fresh shoe (i.e., use an RNG for each deal), rendering card counting ineffective in most situations.

Blackjack is a member of a large family of traditional card games played recreationally all around the world. Most of these games have not been adapted for casino play. Furthermore, the casino game development industry is very active in producing blackjack variants, most of which are ultimately not adopted for widespread use in casinos. The following are the prominent twenty-one themed comparing card games which have been adapted or invented for use in casinos and have become established in the gambling industry.

Blackjack is also featured in various television shows. Here are a few shows inspired by the game.

Examples of the many local traditional and recreational related, blackjack-like games include French Vingt-et-un ("Twenty-One") and German Siebzehn und Vier ("Seventeen and Four"). Neither game allows splitting. An ace can only count as eleven, but two aces count as a blackjack. It is mostly played in private circles and barracks. The popular British member of the Vingt-Un family is called Pontoon, the name being probably a corruption of "Vingt-et-un".

In 2002, professional gamblers around the world were invited to nominate great blackjack players for admission into the Blackjack Hall of Fame. Seven members were inducted in 2002, with new people inducted every year after. The Hall of Fame is at the Barona Casino in San Diego. Members include Edward O. Thorp, author of the 1960s book Beat the Dealer which proved that the game could be beaten with a combination of basic strategy and card counting; Ken Uston, who popularized the concept of team play; Arnold Snyder, author and editor of the Blackjack Forum trade journal; Stanford Wong, author and popularizer of the "Wonging" technique of only playing at a positive count, and several others.

Novels have been written around blackjack and the possibility of winning games via some kind of method. Among these were The Blackjack Hijack (Charles Einstein, 1976), later produced as the TV movie Nowhere to Run, and Bringing Down the House (Ben Mezrich), also filmed as 21. An almost identical theme was shown in the 2004 Canadian film The Last Casino.

In The Hangover, an American comedy, four friends try to count cards to win back enough money to secure the release of their friend from the clutches of a notorious criminal they stole from the previous night while blacked out. A central part of the plot of Rain Man is that Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), an autistic savant, is able to win at blackjack by counting cards. In the 2014 film The Gambler we see Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) playing high stakes Blackjack in order to win large sums of money. This movie displays different blackjack lingo and risky moves that have high rewards.

Original post:

Blackjack - Wikipedia

This is our first blackjack game and trainer and I'm proud to finally add our version 2 with enhanced graphics and the ability to learn how to count cards to my website. The game is mostly self-explanatory. If you make an inferior play, the game will warn you first. I recommend that before you play for real money both online in person that you practice on the game until you very rarely are warned you a making an inferior play. If doubling or splitting is mathematically the correct play, but you don't have enough chips, the game will give the best advice for what you can afford to do. Do not change rules mid-hand. If you do, the change will not take effect until the next hand. The advice is based on my own analysis and basic strategy tables for one, two, and four+ decks. The deck(s) is(are) shuffled after every hand.

If you find any bugs, please contact me. A screenshot would be appreciated if you claim the game is misplaying a hand. I get a lot of incorrect reports that the advice given is incorrect. This usually can be explained by the user not using the correct basic strategy for the rules selected. I have also had many comments about the advice on a player 16, composed of 3 or more cards, against a 10. As a rule of thumb, the player should stand in that situation. However, that is a basic strategy exception. The game only knows basic strategy. Also, please note that it is a standard blackjack rule that split aces get one card each. If one of them is a ten, it is not a blackjack, it is just 21 points. That is how blackjack is usually played.

I would like to thank JB for his outstanding work on this game, and Dingo Systems for the cards.

Q1: What are the rules in online blackjack games?

A: As in land casinos, they vary. Online help files are notoriously badly written and incomplete. The Wizard of Odds, we try hard to keep an accurate listing of rules for every brand of software and live dealers. You may find such rules, for every game, in our Software Review section.

Q2: Generally speaking, are the rules better in land or online casinos?

A: All things considered, I would say they are better online. For one thing, you almost never see a blackjack (ace and 10) pay 6 to 5 only online, while this is becoming the norm in land casinos in the United States.

Q3: What are the typical rules at live dealer casinos online?

A: Live dealer rules are very similar to what you would see in a land casino. The typical rules are:

Be careful double or splitting if the dealer has a ten or ace showing. At most live dealer brands, you will lose everything if the dealer gets a blackjack. Under this "no peek" rule, the only time you should put more money out on the table against a potential dealer blackjack is to split two aces against a dealer 10.

The house edge under the rules above is 0.61%.

Q4: When are the cards shuffled in online blackjack?

A: In a fully electronic game, they are probably shuffled after every hand. In a live dealer game, they are usually shuffled about half way through the shoe.

Q5: Oh really?! Even with only 50% penetration, what is to prevent me from counting cards against a live dealer?

A: I've asked this question of some people in the business. Nobody would tell me exactly how they protect their game against counters, but they assured me that they do. If I ran a live dealer casino, I would run a test of every player to see how their bet size is correlated to the true count. Then I would carefully examine the play of such players with a strong correlation.

Q6: How do "probably fair" casinos accomplish so-called in blackjack?

A: It is rather involved, but here is typically how it is done:

I go into this in greater depth for a particular brand in my page on Blackjack (Encrypted Version).

Q7: I don't want to bother jumping through all those hoops to verify fairness in an encrypted game. Do you think that just the ability to verify fairness is enough to keep the casinos honest?

A: No. Encrypted or not, a casino could cheat the player in any game, except sports betting, any time they wished. In the case of an encrypted casino, the operator could choose a Server Seed that causes the player to lose after the bet is made. If the player catches them in a hash mismatch, which I think very few players bother to check, the casino can simply ignore the accusation or deny it without comment. This is exactly what happened to me at Wixiplay.

Q8: Your story aside, how common is cheating at blackjack, or any game, online?

A: In my opinion, it is quite rare.

Q9: How can I improve my odds of not being cheated?

A: There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Internet casinos out there. In the absence of any serious government regulation, the industry has done a pretty good job of regulating itself. Between legitimate watchdog affiliate sites and some common sense, here are some ways to choose a reputable brand to trust with your hard-earned dollar:

Q10: Any other words of advice before playing blackjack online?

A: Whether playing online or in a land casino, use the appropriate basic strategy for the rules offered. The Wizard of Odds blackjack strategy calculatorwill give the correct basic strategy for almost any set of rules.

A much greater problem than outright cheating is online casinos faulting players on a technicality in the rules and seizing whatever funds they deem appropriate. This is a particularly a problem with bonuses. The terms and conditions for bonuses can be pages long and very restrictive in terms of allowed games, bet sizes, and types of bets. If the player loses, nobody ever checks, but after a win and withdrawal request, suddenly the play may be subject to careful review for compliance. Never assume that because you were invited to play a bonus via Email that you're eligible for it. Casinos typically blast everybody in their list. An easy rule to overlook is when a bonus is eligible for "new money" only. Don't expect the casino to enforce this rule when entering a couple code, but do expect it when you actually make a withdrawal and they look for any reason to deny it.

While bonuses can make your money last much longer and increase your chances of winning, they are a minefield in terms of compliance. Read the rules carefully. If in doubt the way you play is compliant, then don't ask for the bonus in the first place.

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Online Blackjack Now! For Real Money or Free - Wizard of Odds

Play free online blackjack - also called '21' - the classic casino card game of luck and skill!

Welcome to this online blackjack page where you can play the best free blackjack games. The benefits of playing online are that you can learn blackjack rules in no rush and there is no actual monetary loss if you lose! You can click the menu button on the top right corner to read the rules. What's best: We also automatically save your game so you can come back anytime to play blackjack online! Remember, you don't win because you are closer to the value of 21 -- you win because your combined value of the cards is greater than that of dealer.

1. When the value of dealer's revealed card is 4,5 or 6, it may be fruitful to double your bet with an Ace and 4 in hand.

2. You may want to surrender if you have 16 in your hand while the dealer has a 9,10 or A.

3. You should always split if you have a pair of Aces.

4. If you get a pair of 7s, only press hit if the dealer has 8,9,10 or Ace.

Play Blackjack for free now to test whether the strategy works!

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Free Online Blackjack | Instantly Play 21 Blackjack

PHOENIX For the past two seasons, Karl-Anthony Towns has been a 40% three-point shooter or better. Not only was Towns one of the best-shooting big men from deep in the NBA last season, he was one of the most efficient shooters regardless of position in shooting 41% on 7.9 attempts per game.

But Towns is trying to regain a touch that has eluded him of late.

He finished with 29 points Tuesday in a 137-121 Timberwolves loss at the Los Angeles Lakers, but he shot just 2-for-8 from three-point range. An off night, but more frustrating for Towns when you consider he is shooting 10-for-38, only 26%, over his past six games. For the season, Towns is 36%.

When asked if he had any explanation for it Towns said. "Actually, I don't."

"I'm going to have to go back. Last six, seven, I don't know, but it ain't been good," Towns said. "It's not like I haven't been shooting them. But shooters shoot. Got to keep shooting them and keep putting pressure on the defense even with me not making them. It just puts pressure on the defense and gives everyone else a chance to have open lanes."

Towns said he recalled a time two seasons ago when he was also in a slump and former coach Ryan Saunders passed along advice that Towns recited Tuesday.

"Ryan said, 'Don't worry, averages always find themselves and work themselves out. You'll be fine,' " Towns said.

Towns said he also sought advice from his friend, Phoenix guard Devin Booker. Perhaps Booker can lend him more advice, considering the Wolves play Phoenix on Thursday and Friday.

Towns is shooting 32% on catch-and-shoot threes. Compare that with last season, when he shot 43% on those type of shots. On pullup threes, Towns is 40% (38% last season).

Towns' current coach, Chris Finch, has said he has a hands-off approach when it comes to trying to guide shooters through slumps.

"We don't really say a whole lot unless it's a form issue or a rhythm issue and I've got to get the work in to fix it," Finch said. "But realistically, keep putting them up. Every miss is closer to your next run of makes. It's like playing blackjack cards will turn eventually."

When asked if he had experience with that at the blackjack table, Finch said with a smile: "I'm not a gambler, but I like to study the numbers. You just got to have the money to stay at the table long enough. That's the key."

If playing time equals the table in this analogy, Towns isn't about to go anywhere.

Finch said he did notice some hesitation on Towns' part of late.

"Only thing I'd like to see is he just needs to commit to it a little more," Finch said. "There's a lot of pump fake, hesitation on the shot. I just want to see him let it fly when he's going to take it."

Towns' hesitation isn't because of a lack of confidence in his shot, Finch said, but rather indecision on whether he wants to shoot or put the ball on the floor, and Towns has seen an uptick in free-throw attempts as a result of his driving, but Finch said he should be getting even more calls.

"He's getting hit a lot on his finishes around the rim, and he's not necessarily being rewarded for it," Finch said. "I love his aggressiveness. He's been elite in the post, both scoring and playmaking. Doing a lot of really good things, and it's tough to have everything going in your game at the right time. I'm sure his shot will come back around."

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Wolves' Karl-Anthony Towns trying to regain his three-point touch - Minneapolis Star Tribune

In December, the MQ-25 Stingray successfully made its first flight with an aerial refueling store, carrying a Cobham ARS under its left wing for about 2.5 hours.

The flight was intended to test the drone's aerodynamics with the same system used by the Navy's F/A-18s for aerial-refueling missions.

Capt. Chad Reed, the Navy's Unmanned Carrier Aviation program manager, said the test was "one big step closer in our evaluation of how the MQ-25 will fulfill its primary mission in the fleet aerial refueling."

The MQ-25 milestone was followed in February by a test in which an unmanned resupply drone delivered spare parts to the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.

The Navy has struggled with its unmanned platforms, but recent developments show it is getting serious about unmanned aerial systems and reflect the major role those system could have in the future fleet.

The Stingray is not the Navy's first drone. Smaller models like the ScanEagle, RQ-21 Blackjack, and MQ-8 Fire Scout have seen service on various Navy vessels, while versions of the MQ-4C Triton, which is similar to the Stingray in size, have been flown by the Navy from land for at least three years.

But none of those drones have operated on carriers. The Navy began searching for a carrier-based drone in 2006 with the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike program.

The program originally called for a drone with strike and reconnaissance capabilities, but the increased range of anti-ship defenses and an expected shortage of pilots in the future led the Navy to shift the program's focus to aerial refueling.

The idea was sound: An unmanned aerial-refueling system would free up pilots and other carrier aircraft for combat duties and extend the range of a carrier's air wing by almost 50%.

By 2013, Northrop Grumman's X-47B demonstrator had successfully taken off from and landed on USS George H.W. Bush. Despite being the frontrunner, Northrup Grumman withdrew the X-47B from consideration in 2017 due to concerns that it could not be repurposed in a cost-effective manner.

Of the three designs remaining, the Navy selected Boeing's on April 30, 2018. A year later, the Stingray made its first flight.

December's test was the first time the Stingray carried the aerial-refueling technology that is central to its mission. Future tests will involve extending and retracting the ARS hose, as well as flights with F/A-18s. Deck-handling tests aboard carriers are also being planned.

"What we're focusing on is launching, landings, moving it around on the deck, bringing it up, taking it down in the hangar bay how do we position those assets and how can we support the air wing?" Adm. James Kilby, deputy chief of naval operations for war-fighting requirements and capabilities, said of the MQ-25 at a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing on Thursday.

The Stingray will be able to carry 15,000 pounds of fuel about 500 nautical miles. It will operate alongside and refuel EA-18G Growler electronic-warfare aircraft as well as F/A-18 and F-35C fighters.

The MQ-25 is expected to reach initial operating capability by 2024. While the Navy has ordered seven for testing, it intends to have as many as 72 in service. The Navy also plans to recruit 450 new warrant officers over the next six to 10 years to operate MQ-25s.

With the December tests, the MQ-25 has logged more than 30 hours of training flights.

The Navy's plans for unmanned systems do not end at aerial refueling.

On February 21, a Blue Water Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) delivered "light-weight logistical equipment" to the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.

The drone, built by Texas-based aerospace company Skyways, is capable of traveling 500 miles and carrying 30-pound loads.

Despite the small cargo, Capt. John Bush, director of aircraft material and engineering for Naval Air Forces Atlantic, called the test "a first step in revolutionizing logistics support to maximize operational availability and lethality for these critical capital assets."

The Navy has said that up to 90% of the logistical issues that move ships into non-mission-capable or partially mission-capable status can be fixed with components weighing less than 50 pounds.

SH-60 Seahawk helicopters or V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft currently make such deliveries, but unmanned aircraft are seen as a cost-effective alternative.

Of course, the Navy's drones are not just for logistics. Most serve an important role by carrying out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, and some, like the MQ-8B, can actually be armed with missiles.

"There is some payload capacity in [the MQ-25] that we think has great promise for us, so I think initially we would transition to ISR" before moving to more complex electronic-attack or strike missions, Kilby said Thursday.

"We think we could get upward of 40% of the aircraft in an air wing that are unmanned and then transition beyond that," Kilby said.

Navy submarines are also working on using drones to aid targeting. Since subs avoid launching torpedoes at periscope depth to minimize the risk of being spotted, drones could ensure long-range torpedo attacks hit their mark.

The service reached initial operational capability with a sub-launched unmanned aerial system in September, Rear Adm. Dave Goggins, the Navy's program executive officer for submarines, said during a Naval Submarine League webinar in November, calling it "a pretty awesome capability to provide to the fleet."

Completely unmanned ships and underwater vehicles tasked with logistics, anti-submarine warfare, and mine-clearing missions are also in development. The Navy plans to have 143 unmanned vessels in service by 2045.

The Marine Corps' Force Design 2030 report also calls for a 50% increase in unmanned-aerial-vehicle squadrons. The Corps hopes to acquire "a family of systems" of different sizes and capabilities to meet its drone requirements.

With development underway on unmanned combat aircraft like the Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie and the Boeing Airpower Teaming System, some argue the Navy's next carrier-based fighter should be unmanned as well.

The idea may not be so far-fetched; last summer, an artificial-intelligence program developed by Heron Systems defeated a US Air Force F-16 pilot in five simulated dogfights. Heron Systems claimed the program went through 4 billion simulations before the event, though former fighter pilots told Insider the program still wasn't comparable to a human pilot.

"These sustained investments will yield new capabilities extending well beyond the effectiveness of standalone platforms or human-centered systems," Thomas Harker, acting Secretary of the Navy, said in the service's recently released Unmanned Campaign Framework. "They will transform naval warfare by providing asymmetric advantages to each and every sailor and Marine."

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The Navy is getting closer to relying on pilotless planes to keep its fighters flying - Business Insider

Cmdr. Daniel P. Martin, commanding officer of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (UX) 24, is proud to announce that Marine Corps Maj. Joseph Davin earned the Naval Test Wing Atlantic (NTWL) Test Naval Flight Officer (NFO) of the Year Award for 2020. Maj. Davin received his award during a virtual ceremony on March 5.

As UX-24s project officer for the RQ-21 Blackjack small tactical unmanned air system, Maj. Davin led his team to develop innovative improvements to the projects data reporting processes, installing new equipment and developing seamless integration strategies that significantly reduced the time required to analyze postflight data.

Col. Richard E. Marigliano, NTWL commander, presented Maj. Davin with the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, gold star in lieu of second award, and an engraved watch from the Navy League of the United States and the Patuxent River Council, which have supported the Test NFO of the Year Award since 1970. He also presented Maj. Davin with an NTWL challenge coin. Brian Markowich, NTWL executive director, presented Maj. Davin with the Test NFO of the Year plaque.

As you know, this year was a challenging environment thats been completely new to us, and it was difficult for us to keep our focus on our mission, Col. Marigliano said. The remarkable work that you did in focusing on innovative ways to resolve data issues and improve data quality really broke you out of the pack.

Thank you very much for all that youve done as RQ-21 Blackjack project officer, Mr. Markowich said. As the Director of Flight Test Engineering, I firmly believe the relationship between our project officers and our project engineering corps is what makes the entire test wing, the test squadrons, and the test teams successful.

Congratulations, JV, Cmdr. Martin said, referring to Maj. Davin by his call sign. Its always awesome when a Ghost Wolf gets recognized for their efforts and hard work.

Maj. Davin attended the virtual ceremony from Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, where he is currently on temporary additional duty. Because he could not receive his awards or his gift in person, his Marine Corps colleagues at Holloman ceremonially presented him with a childrens watch as a substitute, which the ceremonys participants greatly enjoyed.

Id like to thank the command for nominating me for this award. Im extremely humbled, Maj. Davin said. Ill take your words to heart and well continue to get the job done at UX-24. I look forward to it.

Nicknamed the Ghost Wolves, UX-24 is the Navys only dedicated UAS test unit. UX-24 currently provides research, development, test, and evaluation services for Groups 1-4 UAS, including fielded platforms such as RQ-20B Puma, RQ-21 Blackjack and MQ-8 Fire Scout. Located at Naval Air Station Patuxent Rivers Webster Outlying Field (WOLF) in St. Inigoes, Maryland, the squadron comprises experts in the unmanned aircraft test community from engineers and air vehicle operators to United States Naval Test Pilot School graduates. In addition to supporting programs of record, the team also supports urgent warfighter needs as well as test demands from sister services, other government agencies, and research institutions.

Naval Test Wing Atlantic, a component of Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), serves as the fleets advocate in support of testing and evaluation of the Navys principal aviation systems ranging from unmanned to rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.

NAWCAD advances capability and operational readiness for naval aviation and our warfighters. The warfare center is where naval aviation takes flight through research, development, test, evaluation, and sustainment of both fielded and not-yet fielded naval platforms and technologies that ensure Americas Sailors and Marines always go into conflict with significant advantage. With sites in Patuxent River, Maryland, Lakehurst, New Jersey, and Orlando, Florida, the command is the Navys largest warfare center with a diverse force of military, civilians, and contractors building the Navy of today, the Navy of tomorrow, and the Navy after next.

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Ghost Wolf named Test Wing's NFO of the Year - DC Military

The majority of players know that when you visit a casino, the house has an advantage over us. Whenever you play a game at an online or offline casino, you are more often than not adding wealth to the casinos coffers. However, you increase your chances of winning when you have a good casino strategy.

Guest author Fabio Duarte looks at the science of winning and how you can improve your chances of beating the house. To find out more about Fabio Duarte, click here.

If you do a simple Google search, you will come across tons of material on casino strategy. There is no dearth to the number of videos, articles, eBooks, and others that claim to show you the best way to win at the casino.

Is there really a casino strategy that leads to casino winning? Over the years, seasoned gamblers have discovered the subtle relationship between casino gaming and mathematics. They have devised several strategies that may improve your chances of winning. So before you decide to give up casino gaming, let us help you to create a casino strategy that may work.

Having been in and out of casinos, we know that this is easier said than done, but not impossible. If you seriously want to beat the house and go back with a profit, you must make it a point never to bet more than 2% of your bankroll. If you stick to this simple casino strategy, you wont find yourself taking frequent walks to the ATM to draw more cash.

However, this strategy makes sense only if you have a large bankroll. If you are a casual player who has walked in with a small amount of cash and doesnt intend to spend more than that, you should do fine. But seasoned players with large bankrolls will get the most of their gaming experience if they stick to this simple rule.

All UK licensed online casinos have a strong responsible gambling policy and allow you to set limits on your betting to spend and time at the casino. UK players should take advantage of these tools and use it to their advantage to help them win and keep their winnings. Many gamblers check casino reviews to find new offers and bonuses. For that, the British players use only trusted websites like https://slotsjudge.com/.

You need to be a really good poker or blackjack player to use value betting to your advantage. Value betting is done to get the maximum benefit out of a situation that may be advantageous to you.

For example, a value betting poker player may feel that he/she has a good hand and places a bet that gives him/her the maximum benefit. Here, the bet should be big enough to be of some value but not too small, else the opponent may fold.

In the case of blackjack, card counters watch the deck carefully till the gaming situation is in their favour. They then take advantage of the situation and place large bets.

Casinos use a variety of methods that play on your psychology and force you to spend more than you intended to. Dont fall for these casino tricks.

If you are visiting a land-based casino, carry cold hard cash and leave the credit card at home. If you are playing at an online casino, use prepaid cards, electronic wallets, or prepaid vouchers to fund your account.

Online casinos also give you the option of setting daily, monthly, or weekly depositing limits, gaming session limits, and win/loss limits to help you control your casino spending. Sign up at online casinos that provide periodic reality checks, letting you know now and then how long you have been playing and how much you have lost. Doing all these helps you to stick to your casino budget and gamble responsibly.

All casino games only favour the house, but the percentage varies. If you really want to make a profit, learn the casino strategy of picking the right games. Understand the math behind the games.

There are casino games that give you a better chance of winning. For example, blackjack games have a house advantage of only 1% but slots have a house advantage of 10%. So if you want to make serious money at a casino, hit the blackjack tables and avoid the one-armed bandits.

To conclude, the best way to win at the casino is to choose games that you are comfortable playing and know when to end your gambling session. When you have won a specific amount, collect your winnings and walk away.

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The Science of Winning: How to Find a Casino Strategy That Works - Wales247

The wet winter fed trees for a mean pollen count this spring, and it will appear as a yellow to green haze, jokingly called the pollenpocalypse, by early April. The pollenpocalypse is a release of pollen from pine trees, but its pollen is too large to trigger allergies.

Pollen, the kind the naked eye cannot see, is what triggers allergies, and the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (DAQ) reported a moderate 6.1 count of grass pollen, a low weed pollen count and a high tree pollen count at 96.5. The current shedding trees are cedars, alder, elm, poplar, pine, and willow.

In North Carolina, allergy season ranges from late February through mid-November, according to DAQ. Check the daily pollen count.

Is it allergies or the novel coronavirus? One way to know if symptoms are from allergies, according to allergists at Novant Health, is to check two things. If symptoms include itchy-watery eyes without fever, it is from allergies.

There are several types of flu, and the novel coronavirus is also blowing around. So, if allergic symptoms appear suddenly and hits hard with a fever, consult a health provider.

As soon as pollen comes out, I start sneezing and eyes water, and I have to tell people I have allergies because they think you have the corona, Lillian Jolly, at Crossroads Coffee Company in Vass, said.

Lillian Jolly talks about her allergies on March 5 at Crossroads Coffee in Vass.

The pollenpocalypse arrives with warmer weather when people want to raise their windows and enjoy their screened-in porches and patios. The yellow pollen sticks to everything and must be washed off.

I washed my truck Sunday, John Perhealth, owner of Edwards Hardware in Vass, said. Monday, I was going to wax it, but it already had pollen on it. Cant sleep with the windows open, and if it gets inside the truck, you never get it all out. Lots of Blackjack trees, they hold ticks and pollen.

Blackjack oaks are a variety of oak with contorted branches which locals call the scrub oak and like other hardwoods, it sheds from late March through mid-April.

March through April, oak, ash and birch trees shed pollen.

Maples shed through May, and sycamores shed through June.

Grasses shed March through November and peak in April and June, much like weeds.

A study by the National Institute of Health showed that filtration masks helped reduce allergy symptoms, except to the eyes because they are not protected.

Eye goggles are available online and in shops where swimwear is offered.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, there is a solution to avoiding pollen. Buy a plane ticket to Denver, Colorado, the top state for least pollen, or fill the pollen gear checklist water hose, mask, and eye goggles.

Feature photo: John Perhealth talks about pollen issues on March 5 at his store, Edwards Hardware, in Vass.

~Article, photos, and graphic by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Stephanie M. Sellers.

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Locals are ready as pollenpocalypse blows in - Sandhill Sentinel

Youll find Cedar Lakes Casino in Cass Lake, Minnesota. And like so many casinos in Minnesota, youll also find the town of Cass Lake to be among the smaller ones, with a population of roughly 750 residents.

That said, expect to see a few odds and ends attractions that only a small town like Cass Lake will bring to you. The first two are a couple of unexpected gems, however, being Northern Lights Casino and Cass Lake, itself.

But if youre in the mood for a different flair of hot attractions, you will make the winning bet that you will find them here in Cass Lake, Minnesota. And todays post lists a few places you will find appealing.

Are you ready to take a tour of one of the more obscure areas around this Minnesota gambling location?

Lets get started.

Is Lady Luck not on your side over at Cedar Lakes Casino?

Head over to nearby Walker, Minnesota on the other end of Cass County, and you may find that Lady Luck is indeed on your side. You may have just been in the wrong venue. So try your luck over at Northern Lights Casino.

Here, youll find even more ways to win among their slots, poker, and Blackjack tables. So if youre in the mood for a stellar selection of gaming that doesnt require too much travel from where you are over in Cass Lake, consider taking a trip to Northern Lights Casino.

But the gaming isnt the only reason to get excited at Northern Lights.

They also have a solid dining option at NorthStar Restaurant along with a solid handful of promotional, entertainment, and lodging options.

So if youve played a few rounds at Cedar Lakes Casino and you need a change of scenery, discover all of what Northern Lights Casino offers. Odds are, youll have a blast even if you dont hit it big at the slots and tables.

Of course, with Cedar Lakes Casino finding its home in Cass Lake, Minnesota, you know the lake serving as the towns namesake is nearby. Such is the case with Cass Lake. This lake covers a surface area of nearly 16,000 acres, and it boasts all sorts of fun recreational activities for you and the entire family.

Want to know about a few fun activities you can get involved in when youre not grinding it out at Cedar Lakes Casino?

Fishing, boating, and swimming are among the most popular things to do on Cass Lake. The shores also boast their fair share of resorts and campgrounds. Oh, and if you head over to the southeast portion of the lake, youll come across Norway Beach.

Norway Beach Lodge is a popular destination, given its cabins comprising Finnish-style log architecture. So if youre of Finnish descent, its a fantastic place to witness a bit of culture. And no, thats not a typo; youre getting Finnish-style cabins in a place called Norway Beach Lodge.

Since were close by on Cass Lake, why not venture into Chippewa National Forest once youre finished with all your swimming, boating, and fishing out on the lake?

Chippewa National Forest holds the distinction of being the first National Forest established east of the Mississippi River, and it covers an astounding 1.5 million acres of land.

Over at Chippewa National Forest, you can immerse yourself in a few more fun activities that include hiking, biking, and even things like cross-country skiing in the wintertime.

And if youre near the Norway Beach Campground over at Cass Lake, chances are youre near the hiking trails along with an awesome beach and even a sweet visitors center.

Reviewers on TripAdvisor also rave about the Lost 40 area. So be sure to venture out that way if youre cool with the distance it requires to travel. At least two reviewers have stated youll drive about an hour from Cass Lake. However, given the scenery, its more than worth the jaunt.

So while Chippewa National Forest is around Cedar Lakes Casino, one of the more popular areas in the forest is a hike. Literally. If you have time, be sure to head on over.

Youll find the Sanford Center in nearby Bemidji, Minnesota. Its a fantastic place if youre looking for entertainment for the evening that offers something other than the casino games you will find at Cedar Lakes Casino or Northern Lights Casino.

Plus, you can get in on some good old college hockey if youre here during the season. So catch the Bemidji State Beavers in action if theyre in the area for the evening.

The Beavers are one of the more distinguished hockey programs in America, so youre in for a real treat to see them in action. They have won six Division II and Division III National Championships. And their dominance has continued since they joined Division I, having earned four playoffs and one Frozen Four appearance.

The Sanford Center also hosts Bemidji States womens hockey program, too. Also a distinguished program, they have sent more than a few women to the professional ranks and even to the World Championships, along with the Olympics.

The womens program also competed against Wisconsin in the Championship Round during the 2014-15 season.

So if youre looking for some sporty entertainment, youll find it at Sanford Arena, which boasts two solid college hockey programs.

If youre having fun gambling but are looking for a few more thrills, head over to Minute 59 Mystery and Escape Rooms and you will find those thrills.

Youre getting a few solid options here, with each boasting their own goals and themes. If youve done an escape room before, you know what to do.

If you havent taken part in one before, its a simple concept: You will collect a few clues found within the room or rooms to solve the riddles and achieve our goal. Sounds like a good time, right?

So pick one of the three themes and kick off your date night or night with friends in an epic and thrilling fashion. Sure, the nonstop gaming at the casino is always a blast. But you havent seen a thrill ride quite like what you will experience at Minute 59 Mystery and Escape Rooms.

Youve heard of the tall tale of Paul Bunyan and his ox, right?

Fantastic. So head on over to what might just be Minnesotas most distinguished monument featuring the legendary lumberjack that recently earned a Travelers Choice 2020 Award on TripAdvisor.

Its a fantastic place to receive a cool photo op with the legend, himself. And best yet, along with a selfie with the gentle giant, youre also within striking distance of a couple more attractions in the attraction; Lake Bemidji and its ensuing park.

They also have a Tourist Information Center at the site, so you can even pick up a few flyers and see what all the Cass Lake and Bemidji areas offer. Plus, they have a stellar playground right at the site so your kids will have a blast with the plethora of equipment here.

Its also a cool site for nature watching, birdwatching, and picnicking. The park is also within walking distance from downtown. So you can park your car and take a stroll over, enjoying the peaceful town of Bemidji and immersing yourself fully in the areas majestic scenery.

If youre looking for a hot spot to commemorate your trip to the Cass Lake slash Bemidji region, look no further than McKenzie Place. Youre looking at what their overview on TripAdvisor claims is the most unusual, fun, and entertaining store in Minnesota.

A ringing endorsement, yeah?

The store comprises 11,000 square feet of hot items that are must-haves if youre looking for a unique way to commemorate your trip to the region. They have a plethora of different departments here in the store that will fit all ages and interest levels.

Just a few of their illustrious departments include food, home decor, candles, greeting cards, books, clothing, garden, kitchen, souvenirs, north woods, gifts, rugs, and even a toy room. Okay, so there may be more than a few things here that will pique your interest.

But hey, youre in for the ultimate shopping experience in a store where tourists across America cant wait to frequent. Chances are, you may spend a few more bucks on some nice stuff than what you may wager at Cedar Lakes Casino by the time its all said and done.

As you can see, Cedar Lakes Casino is more than just the star attraction in Cass County. For one, you have yet another solid casino option called Northern Lights Casino. And for another, the lake and ensuing national forest make for a solid, outdoor adventure.

If youre looking for more fun things to do, head over to nearby Bemidji and youll find even more entertainment and retail outlets, along with a few more fun recreational activities.

Have you been to Cedar Lakes Casino? If so, did you explore the area? Let us know where you went in the comments and tell us if you visited any of the attractions listed above. We cant wait to read your stories.

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Best Attractions and Things to Do Around Cass Lake, Minnesota - BestUSCasinos.org

The Ellmount Groups online gaming site CasinoRoom is offering the chance to win a place at this summers The Festival in Tallinn, after becoming the first online casino to partner with the event in Estonias capital city.

The Festival, which will run 24/7 at Olympic Park Casino from June 7-13, is to feature a series of roulette and blackjack tournaments, in which players must collect as many chips as they can each day and beat their rivals.

Poker is headlined by the 550 buy-in flagship event, as well as Sviten Special, Pot Limit Omaha, 8-Game, Progressive Knockout and Open Face Chinese events.

CasinoRoom is to host a series of qualifiers from April 23-30, where players will be able to win full packages comprising buy-ins to the blackjack, roulette and poker events, plus accommodation at the Hilton and a host of extras. Sister site HighRoller.com will also hold qualifiers, with more details from both operators to be issued in the coming weeks.

We are delighted to be associated with The Festival in Tallinn, said Mery Blomqvist, group CMO of CasinoRoom and Ellmount Group.

We cannot wait to begin the build-up to Tallinn with the qualifiers, and we know that our players will be eager to win one of the fantastic packages that will ensure their place.

Theres so much fun to be had in these competitions, and the programme at Olympic Park Casino Tallinn looks incredible.

Furthermore, CasinoRoom has teamed up with Twitch casino game streamers Teukka and Kung ahead of The Festival. They will offer prizes on their streams in the coming weeks, as well as being on site in Tallinn to meet players in June.

CasinoRoom is all about fun and light entertainment, and we look forward to welcoming as many players as possible who enjoy our games and competitions in a safe environment, Blomqvist added.

Those travelling to The Festival this summer can also enjoy a series of other activities such as parties, go karting, a walk on the edge of the Tallinn TV Tower and a beer tour through the citys Old Town.

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Ellmount Group's CasinoRoom inks partnership with Tallinn's The Festival - Casino Beats