Nintendo, Sega, Atari, Sony. These are the former giants of the gaming industry. Within the last 30 years each of these gaming gods has had their time in the sun. Each peaked in performance, quality and sales, and each has subsequently plummeted to the bottom of the barrel. Quite a few of the titles that made it on to these consoles eventually also found their way into the online casino arena. Come along with us now as we explore the interesting recent history of the gaming industry.

Nintendo started off as a card playing company. Still one of the biggest players in the gaming industry, it wasn’t until the late 70s when they created the first hand held gaming consoles and introduced the character of Mario who would go on to the become the company’s mascot and flagship character. Surprisingly enough, Mario’s first outing wasn’t in any of the Mario Bros games, but was instead against a huge gorilla in the Donkey Kong series. Nintendo went from strength during the 80s and 90s with their biggest consoles being the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), the Game Boy and SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). These were the glory years for Nintendo, which struggled after the release of the Ultra 64 and Game Cube in the early 2000s, but managed to claw its way up again after the release of the Wii.

The 1990s provided one of the most ferocious battles ever to  take place in the gaming world and the two companies who duked it out up until the mid 90s was Sega and Nintendo. The battle culminated when Sega released, what is to this day, still a much admired machine, the Genesis 16 bit- also known as the Mega Drive. Nintendo had the SNES and the battle lines were drawn. Fan loyalty rested either with Sonic the Hedgehog or Mario. Arcade titles were made for both consoles and it was always a very close fight. Supporters of Nintendo would often claim the sound quality of the game rendition on the SNES was of a higher quality while those in Sega’s camp would counter with superior graphics. What both Sega and Nintendo did not foresee was that a new contender was about to enter the arena…

For the longest time Sony had watched the battle between Sega and Nintendo wage and not content to derive prophets from televisions, video machines and audio equipment, made their dramatic entrance into the gaming world with the Sony Playstation in 1995. The hit was felt almost immediately with awesome ad campaigns and great gaming titles. Sega countered with the Sega Saturn, a machine which had similar capabilities and for a while it seemed like a worthy fight. But it was a facade. It took Playstation just over a year to knock Saturn sales. Nintendo knew it was in deep trouble – Sony had just laid waste to their biggest competitor. They countered with the Ultra 64 – a more powerful machine than the Playstation. What Ninentedo believed at the time to give them the edge was the fact their new machine, which was a formidable piece of hardware, operated with cartridges. Cartridges, although fast becoming outdated hardware, had one big advantage over the compact disc – loading speed. It was one the biggest hopes Nintendo had against Playstation. They knew that cartridges, which had direct input into the console meant a faster game, something which CD’s didn’t possess yet and something which players constantly complained about. In the end the cartridge concept failed due to its storage capacity and its inability to hold more ram for depth of colour and pixilation and finally – production costs. It failed and Sony trampled the competition.

Atari, the father of video games, amidst all the action, always hovered in the background and had essentially provided the springboard that its competitors needed. But its foray into the games, although influential, was never as significant as its competitors. The original Video Computer System sold well in the early 80s and Atari went on to invest in the home computer market with the ST, which was supposed to challenge the authority of Apple and the Commodore. It did marginally well in places like Germany and Canada. Alas, in the 90s Atari did attempt to challenge its gaming rivals when it released the incredibly formidable Jaguar 64, the very first 64 bit gaming console. Atari figured this machine was going to challenge the Sega Genesis and the Nintendo SNES. The timing was poor, within 2 years of its release, CD games came on to the market and Sony’s Playstation and Sega’s Saturn destroyed what dwindling sales Atari was doing.

In today’s world, the biggest threat facing the current leading gaming consoles – namely Sony and Nintendo, are cell phone or smart phone mobile games. These games have forced the former game gods to re-think and re-look their entire strategies. Phones on the whole are cheaper and much more of a necessity than gaming consoles. Smart phones have forced Sony and Nintendo to lose billions of dollars in profits mainly due to production costs on all fronts. As phones are more common, more people have them while gaming consoles are a niche market. The games themselves are relatively cheap, usually not exceeding one or two dollars and often free. Sony and Nintendo charge up to $40 a game. If the former gaming gods are ever going to recapture their market and former glory, they might have to have to move their games to the mobile smart phone platform, before it’s too late.

The future of gaming is mobile. There is no doubt about it! For those who thought that mobile gaming was a fad or saturated, think again. All fingers and facts point to nothing but the proliferation of mobile gaming. Smartphone’s outsold personal computers, along with laptops and tablets, by a staggering 38 million units.  If that isn’t convincing enough, games, including casino games, accounted for between 70 and 80 percent of downloadable applications, and collectively are predicted to amass profits equalling $54 billion by the year 2015.

All stats point to a dramatic increase in the numbers. Last year, smart phones made worldwide sales of 472 million units, with that number expected to climb, in 2012, up to 650 million.

Advertising has certainly played its parts, accounting for of $87 million dollars in profits.  Those adverts are also what the gaming companies have used to fund their free games, which accounts for millions of those downloads. The game, Angry Birds, has been downloaded 140 million times to date.

One of the biggest pulling factors has to do with the massive retro appeal inherent in many smart phone games. For instance, classics like Pac man and Galaxian have been updated and placed on the smart phone platform. So, as an adult, if you grew up in the 70s and early 80s, you’d be happy to download the current version. Novel games like Angry Birds has taken the public by storm and seems to have a wide audience appeal too, mainly due to the easy to learn mechanics. Younger phone users can take their pick of hundreds, if not thousands, of games covering everything from sports to space and martial arts.

As a result, Sony and Nintendo, the former leaders in portable and mobile gaming consoles have witnessed losses amounting to billions. The reasons are quite simple, mobile phones and in essence, smart phones are more of a necessity than portable gaming consoles. Add to this the fact that the smart phone games are often free or not much more than a dollar ( Sony PSP and Nintendo DS games can cost up to $40), makes it a much more financially viable and fun option.

Android is the most popular operating system of all smart phones with Apple’s IOS coming in second, although the hype around Apple would leave one expecting it to be the other way around. Android largely has the edge because it has more free applications and is used on more makes and models of smart phones.

Studies have indicated that there are more women mobile gamers  than men, in contrast to expectations. Around 47% of mobile gamers are men and 53% are women according to studies.  This makes it seem that women prefer the optimised, refined and sleek platforms presented by mobile games.

It has often been said that two heads are better than one. No two entities of entertainment know this better than Vegas and Hollywood. The mutual symbiosis that these two landmarks of fun and escapism share is not only limited to producing great films. It is however through the medium of film that they have continued to rake in the moolah and further still provided amazing entertainment coupled with winning opportunities. In case you’re still in the dark, we’re talking about Hollywood slots! That’s right – movies that were so good, they had to become immortalised not only in our minds, but also as casino slots games. So come along with us now as we take a peek at some of the great pieces of cinema that raked in the dough at the box office and are now continuing to do it online and offline.

1. Rocky Slots: We don’t think Sly Stallone could have foreseen the immense popularity that lay ahead of him when he wrote Rocky back in 1976 and in part managed to get it made for a measly 1.1 million dollars. It grossed two hundred and twenty five million dollars and the entire franchise raked in over a billion. So why stop there right? Rocky slots is a fun and nostalgic casino game that combines all the key elements from the entire franchise into one game. This 5 reel 25 payline slots game will have you bobbing and weaving your way to victory as you challenge the likes of Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang and of course Ivan Drago. All Rocky’s opponents can be tussled with in bonus rounds. Added to the mix are his close friends in the form of his dead-weight brother in law, Paulie and his plain-jane wife, Adrian. The game has great video sequences from the series and will entertain fans and slots players alike.

2. Rambo Slots: We’re not trying to make this all about Stallone, and this article is not meant to be an ode to the guy, but we cannot help it if two franchises that he starred in have managed to make the transition into the word on online slots! Also leveraging heavily on the nostalgia factor, this 5 reel 20 payline military themed slots game will have you ducking and diving all forms of artillery from helicopter gun fire to grenades while you make your way through enemy lines to glorious winning opportunities. The graphics are 3D rendered but have a close likeness in look to the original films which grossed almost eight hundred million dollars. Once again, this slot game will entertain slot lovers along with movie goers.

3. Gone With The Wind Slots: The first film ever shot in colour and still the highest grossing movie of all time after adjusted inflation, it was only a matter of time before ‘Gone With The Wind’ made its way into the online slots arena. Set during the tumultuous US civil war and bringing into the game all its sweeping, epic romantic notions; this 5 reel 20 payline slots game will have you yearning and playing for great winning opportunities which can amount to a ten thousand coin jackpot. Although those who starred in the film are long gone, they are immortalised in this great slots game entailing various symbols in the forms of Rhett Butler, Scarlet O’Hara and other symbolic logos like the horse drawn carriage and the steamboat.

4. Star Wars Slots: George Lucas knows how to keep making money from the same concept and this is quite apparent in the Star Wars slots games. What sets the range of Star Wars slots games aside from their competitors is the genuine fun factor inherent in these games. People actually prefer playing them so that they can play the additional side games and bonus rounds. Winning is truly an afterthought with these slots games, and that is essentially what a slot machine is supposed to do. All we can say about these slots games are: May the wealth be with you!

5. Indiana Jones Slots: Lucas once again features and this time with his second most popular franchise – Indiana Jones. Dr Jones has been brought into the world of slots through all three (we will discard the 4th instalment for personal reasons) films of the original trilogy. The most popular slots game of the lot happens to be based on the Last Crusade which will have you whipping and shooting snakes, planes and nazi’s as you play your way to the Holy Grail of jackpots. For lovers of adventure, slots and movies!

These are but five of the numerous movies that have made the transition from film to slots. Have you played any of these games, and if so which one? Better yet, why not tell us of more that we can include next time here at My Casino!

Celebrities-we love them, we hate them and we want to be them.  What’s really pleasing about them–celebrities-is the fact that many are known gamblers.  The idea of people we love, adore and admire having a vice, brings them closer to our hearts and quadruples their overall appeal.  Indulge us now if you will, as we take a look at some of your favourite celebs who risk their lives onscreen and their pockets off screen!

Batman and Roulette: He may have helped bring the Batman franchise to a screeching halt back in 1997, but George Clooney has only gone from strength to strength since – career wise. Apparently, while filming the first Ocean’s Eleven, George lost so miserably at a game of blackjack that he borrowed money from friend and co-star Matt Damon to continue losing. The following morning Damon had a check delivered to his hotel room with a thank you note for a lap dance! These two are clearly close.  Clooney also invested a large sum of money into the failed Las Ramablas casino project. It was initially conceptualised to be a throwback to the Vegas heydays of the rat pack etc, but regrettably the project never took off. Stick to films George, it’s clearly where your winning hand lies.

The Barred Identity: That’s right, it’s Matt Damon and on the contrary, Matt doesn’t need to bar himself from any casino for two reasons: Firstly, he can afford to gamble and secondly, he’s good at it.  The Bourne Identity star is known to be a very good poker player, to the point that he was offered one million dollars to endorse a popular online casino. Sources claim that this was however a rumour, but if so, then a very believable one. The proliferation of online casinos has seen major financial success and many would kill for the chance to have a well known celebrity backing their product.

Good Will Bumping: And raise he did – Ben Affleck, like his friend Matt Damon, is also quite the poker player, to the point that back in 2004 Affleck won $365 000.00 at the California State Poker Championship. His Hollywood career has at times been littered with box office floaters but somehow Affleck has managed to stay in the game – the movie game and the poker game.

The Cider Full-house Rules: If a survey was ever conducted as to which casino game was the most often played by celebs it would have to be poker. Tobey Maguire, Spiderman himself, is another avid poker player. Back in 2004 although being beaten by Ben Affleck, he still managed to web himself a cool $186 000.00. Maguire is also known to hold poker nights at his joint in the Hollywood Hills. Regular attendees include Iron Man – Robert Downy Jr,  former mega hottie-Sharon Stone and no longer with us Hollywood legend, Dennis Hopper.

Fools Flush In: Finally we have Matthew Perry. Most renowned for playing Chandler Bing in Friends, the at times drug scandal riddled actor is apparently quite the poker fan to the extent that he plays in land based tournaments and online too. Nothing wrong with that Matt – the more poker the better. Apparently Perry’s Achilles heel is his humming -the actor hums every time he has a good hand!

These are just some celebs that have made public their liking for gambling.  Odds are that there are a lot more who partake. Do you know of any other celebs that enjoy the occasional game of blackjack, roulette, poker or slots? If so, why not make mention of them over here!

Imagine hitting the big one? It’s something almost everyone fantasizes about. Winning the lottery or winning a jackpot on a progressive slots machine would certainly make anyone’s dreams come true. They say that money cannot buy you happiness but it certainly can and will make your life a lot more comfortable. The only problem is that often, coming into lots of money comes with a heavy price and not everyone knows how to deal with the sudden shock of it all. So knowing that one of your biggest aspirations is to hit that jackpot, be it at a casino or be it through your local lottery, here are some tips to help you avoid the pitfalls of sudden wealth.

5. Don’t tell a soul: That’s right. Refrain and contain that which you so very badly want to shout out to the world. Try and visualise that moment in front of the TV for the lotto or behind the progressive slots machine and picture your facial movements not flinching in the slightest. This is some of the best advice you can be offered, and the reasons are simple and valid. Casinos and lotteries love good publicity – it shows that people are indeed winning and encourages even more people to play and take part. Once your face gets splashed across various media channels, everyone will know about your incredibly good fortune and that’s when they’ll come a running. And everyone will, from long lost cousins to uncles twice removed and high school acquaintances suddenly claiming that you were indeed friends – all seeking a piece of your pie.

4. Don’t quit your job: The inclination is strong, but this too needs to be resisted. The reason you might ask? It is short sightedness. Also, you need to assess your current status in life and your responsibilities. Have you got kids or a mortgage? Any pending or outstanding financial payments should be the first things on your mind. Sort these matters out first, then reassess your finances and take things from there. Also, and this ties into point number one, consider but don’t necessarily tell your employer about your incredibly good will. The reason for this one is as follows: If those that employ you know that you’ve become a millionaire overnight, you could be passed up for various promotions and you could incur the wrath of jealous colleagues. The last thing you want is office politics!

3. Find a trustworthy financial advisor: Do some research and find either a good investment banker or a lawyer or both. Good advice does not entail chatting to the corner cafe owner with whom you have a rapport and who you believe will offer sound financial advice because he’s spend the last 30 years selling milk and bread. The rich manage to stay that way because they make good investments and they speak to the right people. Try and do the same.

2. Reassure those close to you: Take a look at your life and consider the inevitable changes. To avoid becoming everyone’s moneybag, inform family and friends that hopefully you will remain close to your core values and beliefs. In other words tell them that you’re still you and that having mounds of cash at your disposal in no way means that suddenly you’re going to foot the bill all the time and come Christmas, shower everyone in expensive gifts. Dispel the myth of expectation!

1. Keep yourself in check: This one is applicable to those who harbour issues of substance abuse. No matter how much money you have, if you have a crazy drug habit, those hundreds of thousands or millions could be gone sooner than you think. If you’ve just come into some serious money the best thing you can do is check yourself in a reputable rehabilitation clinic and stay on the clean and narrow. Do all you can to resist the old ways and think long-term. It’s all fine and dandy to have one crazy summer, but then what?

We hope that these tips are helpful. Keep them in mind should luck shine its friendly face on you. If you have been lucky enough to come into a great winning opportunity, why not share with us how you went about handling and holding on to your winnings?

Hollywood has always made a huge effort to glorify Vegas. This is probably because not only are mob stories interesting, but chances are that a part of Hollywood is owned by the mob too! Let’s be frank, some of the best films of all time have taken place in Sin City. So, in the spirit of good cinema, casino games, crime and all those juicy elements that equate a good Vegas movie, we give you the top 5 Vegas movies of all time.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998): This one is for those who are a little off centre and possess the stamina for a film that is about nothing but complete and total debauchery. Based on the book by renowned journalist, Hunter S. Thompson and Starring Johnny Depp and Benico Del Toro (both actors are practically unrecognisable), the film focuses on Depp’s crazy drug fuelled adventures with his friend/attorney. These two go to Vegas and take so many different drugs that you end up feeling drunk watching it!

Casino (1995): The ultimate Las Vegas Mob movie. This one sees Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci doing what they do best – playing members of the mob. De Niro just wants to run a clean casino operation while Pesci wants nothing more than to shoot, mame, kill and destroy. It’s a hell of a crime drama that gets straight to the dirty underbelly of casinos in Vegas. Casino, despite all its blood and guts is at times a brutally honest account of the mob and Vegas in the early 80s.

Leaving Las Vegas (1995): Hookers and booze are the main themes of this film and it has made the list because let’s face it; aside from gambling this is Vegas’ bread and butter. Nic Cage is a burnt out Hollywood screen writer who decides out of the blue that it’s time to cash in his chips. What better way to do it than by boozing himself to death. In true Hollywood style Cage prepared for this role by binge drinking and having a buddy videotape his actions. . Elizabeth Shue is a woman looking for love in all the wrong places – making a living as a prostitute. When these two meet it’s a match made in hell as they realise that neither will change despite falling love. The film landed Nic an Oscar.

Bugsy (1991): Warren Beatty has long been Hollywood’s smooth operator and so it was only a matter of time before he found himself a role in which he could be both smooth and dangerous. As Bugsy, the unofficial father of Las Vegas, Beatty shows both sides of the man – killer and family man. Interestingly, the film chooses to focus more on the passionate and visionary side of a guy who is clearly a couple of cards short of a deck. This is clearly shown through Beatty’s portrayal of Bugsy as someone who is so engulfed in his passion to build his casino that he does not even see the real danger of overspending the mobs money.

Rain Man (1988): Vegas truly is for everyone and this is effectively shown when Cruise, an arrogant car salesman and Hoffman, his cookie off beat autistic brother rock up. Cruise discovers that Hoffman, despite being a little strange, has a talent for card counting in blackjack. Armed with his brother’s talent, Cruise takes the casino for thousands. The film is also a story about change, as Cruise who is at first hateful towards his brother, soon comes to love him.

And there you have it – Las Vegas movies that have stood the test of time. Sure, they dealt with crime, prostitution drugs and card counting, but they also had intrigue, entertainment and heart – just like Vegas.

Once again Vegas and marriage are on the cards. Statistically speaking, the State of Nevada accounts for five percent of US marriages. That means that roughly 150,000 marriages are coming out purely from Vegas. But with so many options including themes and chapels to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you. This decision can be tough especially when you consider that quite a few celebs and the general public have often drank themselves into stupors and found themselves at the nearest chapel of love. As we don’t want you making any uninformed decisions about that special day, we’ll be telling you about some of the best Vegas chapels in which to say your ‘I do’s’ and pray that it lasts.

The Bellagio Chapel: Less about being sporadic and more about giving it some thought, this swanky wedding chapel is decked out in a dark cream motif and offers a variety of wedding packages. Depending on your pocket, or your blackjack winnings, you can get chapel time varying between one hour up to 2 hours which will include a DVD copy of that special time, a bottle of champagne, chocolates, petals on the floor and a limousine service. These are but some of the great additions that this chapel will provide.

The Little Church of the West: Renowned for marrying more celebs couples than any other, including the likes of Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford, this chapel has been around since 1942 and has seen the many changes that Vegas has undergone. The chapel’s grounds provide a cottage like feel and many who have tied the knot here have proclaimed that you’re in Vegas but not. The exterior and interior are wood finished and thus the chapel emits a very traditional feel which is quite devoid of the glitz and glamour of its surroundings.

Canterbury at the Excalibur: Literally ideal for a fairytale wedding in which your prince charming can whisk you off for elopement, this chapel allows its couples to be outfitted in medieval costumes and raise their goblets while toasting their happily ever after’s.

The Shalimar Chapel: This conservatory of love offers the usual trimmings like flowers, limousine services, photography and video footage but the chapel’s key selling point would have to be the addition of the king of rock ‘n roll presiding over your wedding. Elvis is impersonated by Eddie Powers, an internationally renowned Elvis imitator with some Hollywood credentials behind his name as he has featured in television and film. What are the odds of crispy fried catfish with a side of peanut butter being served at the reception?

The White Wedding Chapel: Most likely the most notorious of wedding chapels in Vegas, this one is known for a couple of things. For one, there’s the conveyor belt feel that the place emits because of its rotating door policy. In other words the business is coming and going all the time. It’s gained notoriety for the celebs that have made their love official, including former Hollywood power couple – Bruce Willis and Demi Moore and of course, Britney Spears’ 50+ hour marriage done on a whim to a good friend.

And there you have it, five Las Vegas Chapels of love, tradition, chivalry and naturally, Elvis. Just because its known as the city of sin, does not mean that love cannot flourish in its underbelly.

What gambler has never considered the idea of making off with millions of dollars from their favourite casino, possibly even an online casino? But let’s be realistic, few things in this world are free and despite what Hollywood might have you believe, there is nothing glamorous about theft or any crime for that matter. The perpetrators for one do not sport expensive suits or salon hairstyles and they certainly don’t have elaborate plans that involve a series of explosions and state of the art equipment that would make James Bond seem second rate. Let us now take you through some of the top casino heists and scams of all time.

The Insider: In 1999 a bunch of hustlers befriended a blackjack dealer who agreed to mark certain cards and thus ensure the wins and his cut of the profits. Alas, the ring was busted when one of the bystanders noted more than one marked card and alerted the authorities.

The cup runneth over: One of the most simple, yet highly effective casino schemes popular in the 1970s involved what is known as a ‘Las Vegas chip cup’. The cup is essentially a replica of a series of chips stacked on top of one another. It is painted and shaped accordingly to accurately look like real chips and hollowed out on the inside. The cup’s diameter is made just a millimetre or two wider than the standard 39 millimetre chip. The cup is ideal for games like Baccarat or Punto Banco where the dealers stack the chips vertically in front of them. The scam requires the help of quite a few, from dealers, to pit bosses and of course the betters themselves. Ideally, those involved want losses to occur, as this is when the dealer can take the chips owed to the house, stack them and places the cup over them. A gentle squeeze tightens the pressure and chips stay within the cup. When the ring was eventually busted, it was estimated that those involved had already milked the casino for $3 million dollars.

A couple’s retreat: Back in 1993 Heather Tallchief, who was a cash-in-transit truck driver at the time and her lover, Roberto Solis, poet and convicted murderer, managed to make off with just over $3 million dollars from Las Vegas’s Circus Circus Casino. Apparently, Solis abandoned her with just $1000 to her name and she mothered their son in the Netherlands until 2005 when she decided that she had eluded the law for long enough. Tallchief claimed that she was placed under a ritualistic spell by Solis. She got five years in the big house but Solis to this day remains at large.

Mega sophisticated roulette: In 2004 a pair of casino players used a novel and advanced tactic to beat the Ritz Casino’s roulette wheel in London. By combining laser technology with that of a cell phone, they were able to monitor the speed and volition of the roulette ball, feed the information into a computer and make confident judgement calls on the outcome. It’s estimated that the pair made off with at least $3 million dollars. Upon being caught, the judge actually ruled in their favour, citing that nothing had been done to hamper the outcome of the ball. They were however still charged and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Winning shoes: in 1970 two Californian physics students managed to create a computerised mechanism that could be placed in their shoes that would disrupt the spinning of the roulette wheel. The one shoe would relay the information to the other shoe, worn by the other individual, who would then place the bet. The biggest problem these two students faced, aside from eventually being caught and charged, was that the devices would shock their feet and singe their socks.

Although these scams bore fruit, all involved were eventually caught and prosecuted. Crime might not pay, but every now and then casinos do.

Thus far we have entertained and informed you about some of the lesser known facts and stories about Las Vegas, but we also stated from the start that we would also delve into general casino happenings and so in today’s piece we will be discussing some pretty interesting industry news taking place in the world of online casino games.

Who would have thought the day would arrive when David Hasselhoff would enter the realm of online casinos? But wait, he’s not the only one. Hulk Hogan, although looking more a like real piece of work these days is also on the cards to get his own online casino game. Finally Batman too will make his way into this arena with two slots games based on the Chris Nolan directed movies – the third and final instalment of the franchise gets released later this year and it looks like not only will Warner Bros be cashing in but so will epic world leader in casino gaming software – Microgaming.

What can be said about the “Hoff” that hasn’t been said about his 1980s show, Knight Rider – old and depleted? Over the years David has displayed an incredible resilience to keep bouncing back despite the odds. Hollywood is a tough place and often you’re only as good as your last movie or outing. The “Hoff” has managed to stay within the limelight for a couple of reasons. During the dry seasons he made a successful music career for himself in Germany, even performing at the collapse of the Berlin wall. In the 1990s he hit serious pay dirt with Baywatch which in its prime garnered 1 billion viewers a week – a record that still stands today. In recent times he has become a staple in pop culture with the title “The Hoff” bestowed upon him. The online slots game in the pipeline for Hasselhoff will apparently span his career highlights in the form of ‘Knight Rider’, ‘Baywatch’ and ‘America’s got talent’. In the slots game, you will have to assist the character of Hasselhoff in his crusade to acquire millions – sounds fun!

Hulk Hogan, Mr Atomic Drop, legendary wrestler and partially faded Hollywood personality is the next celeb in line to join the online slots franchise bandwagon. Although nowhere near the popularity he enjoyed throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, this icon of wrestling has managed to experience, if short lived, lucrative commercial ventures in his reality shows and the endorsement of food products. Apparently the theme of the Hogan slots game will take a “How the mighty hath fallen” approach and cover some of his more recent and personal trials and tribulations like his pricey divorce and less than successful TV shows. Although the game itself will be pretty standard insofar as slots games are concerned, what will set it apart will be the Mortal Kombat inspired bonus rounds which will see Hogan kick some serious butt while he makes his way back to the big time.

Finally, Microgaming, never to be outdone and not investing its money into the B-grade market, has gone straight for the jugular by acquiring the rights to create two games that will definitely breathe further life into the online slots industry. Just as they smashed the benchmark with the ‘Lord of the Rings’ online slots game, so will they be doing with the Batman franchise. The first slots game will be modelled on the world grossing billion dollar movie, the ‘Dark Knight’ to be released later this year and the second will be based on the much awaited 3rd movie in the trilogy called the ‘Dark Knight Rises’, which will see online casinos in 2013. Apparently Microgaming will, as per norm, pull out all the stops with these two graphic loaded games which will no doubt feature sequences from the films. Fans and casino lovers alike can wait with baited breath for these awesome slots games to hit the market.

So all in all, you can look forward to the Bat, the Hoff and the Hulk, all coming to the online casino world in the very near future.

Thus far we have focused on the odd, the strange and the dos and don’ts of Las Vegas, but we’ve neglected to highlight some of the more conventional yet exciting aspects such as the vibrant club culture. Partying up a storm and having a good time is after all what Vegas is largely about and so this time round we’re going to give you the lowdown on some of the hotspots you might feel inclined to investigate should blackjack or roulette not be your thing. Come with us now as we look at five of the hottest clubs on the strip.

1. The Bank : This one’s name might be tied in with the drink prices but the place exhumes opulence even though the actual location is not too big, thus if a more personal clubbing environment is what you seek, you’ve come to the right place. Located in the trendy Bellagio, The Bank has 2 floors with bars on either side and a separate VIP section on the bottom floor. The dress is smart and everyone there is well aware of this fact as its clientele is kitted out in nothing but designer wear clothing.

2. Ghostbar: Offering something that few other clubs in Vegas do, Ghostbars’ claim to fame would have to be the view afforded to patrons from atop the Palms 55th floor. Bestowed with a thick durable glass panel floor, you can literally cast your eyes straight down and take in the breath taking view from that height that overlooks the pool area and a large faction of the Vegas city centre. The interior neon colours are sharp on the eye and on the ceiling is the silhouette of a ghost like entity that alternates in colour according to the music.

3. JET: Located at the Mirage, this club which caters to a wide variety of tastes was constructed to aid the Mirage in its time of need. JET sports 3 floors playing house, rock and hip hop and if you’re keen to rub shoulders with celebs that have included Justine Timberlake and A-list Hollywood actor, Mark Wahlberg, then look no further. The sound quality is unchallenged as JET apparently spent just over a million dollars to ensure pristine clarity.

4. Drai’s: By day an upmarket restaurant and by night a club that apparently keeps the party going until 9 in the morning. This basement club has everyone doing their very best to get inside and thus the doormen are known to accept the highest bidders. In other words be prepared to grease a few palms, but it’s all worth it if you’re looking to do some serious partying to some of the best and most eclectic hip hop music there is. Plus, if you’re lucky you may bump shoulders with a celeb or two.

5. Coyote Ugly: Modelled on the popular movie, this Southern themed wood finished club will provide entertainment and interaction in the form of visually stunning bar ladies mounting the bar top to perform all kinds of physical tricks including synchronised dance numbers and fire-blowing, all while encouraging audience interaction. If you’re seeking a degree of college nostalgia and the company of some luscious ladies, you’ve come to the right place.

So if you’re looking for new sights or thrills, music variety, the company of A-list celebs or a good old down to earth fun time, Las Vegas once again has something that will satisfy your needs and see you through the night. If you’ve had the pleasure of perusing any of these night spots, why not let us know?