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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment magazine in the UK“, JJ Barnes checks out the games that give you the thrill of playing online gambling games, but without needing to spend any money!
Written by JJ Barnes
With a unique blend of excitement, strategy, and risk, the allure of gambling has captivated people for centuries. I’m naturally drawn to this experience, and get a real buzz when I put money down, a thrill like no other when I win, but a chronic feeling of despair when I lose. And considering I’m not actually a talented gambler, the lose despair is a far more frequent feeling than any other. Luckily I’ve never gambled more than a few pounds in total, and tend to stick to buying a lottery ticket, but the appeal is still there, and I don’t want to go down a road that I’d regret.
To scratch that itch, I decided to check out the world of free online gambling games, where enthusiasts can experience the thrill of casino classics like blackjack without the need to spend real money!
A Safe and Entertaining Alternative
The risk-free environment for players to hone their skills and enjoy the excitement of casino games presents an attractive alternative to traditional gambling. These games take away the threat of losing your hard earned money by using virtual currency, so you still have the threat of going broke in the game, but when you stop playing, you’re not broke for real. You’ll get the the same level of engagement and entertainment as in real-money traditional gambling, because the games are just the same, but you’re safe.
Experiencing the Thrill
Free online gambling games give you the same thrill of gambling, with the uncertainty and anticipation that each card draw or dice roll brings. You feel the rush of making strategic decisions and taking calculated risks without worrying about financial loss.
For instance, blackjack is a very popular game in casinos all over the world. A traditional card game, you need to do fast maths, calculate odds, and take risks if you’re going to win. It’s simple but it’s a lot of fun.
Once you have placed your bet, the dealer will deal two cards to you and two cards to themselves. The dealer’s cards will be dealt face down, except for the top card.
The goal is to get a hand of cards that is as close to 21, if not 21 itself, without going over 21, while hoping the dealer gets a lower amount or goes bust by going over 21. You can hit (take another card) or stand (keep your current hand), double down (double your bet and take one more card), or split (split your hand into two hands and play each hand separately).
If you get a blackjack (a hand that totals 21), you will win the amount of your bet plus an additional amount equal to your bet. If you go over 21, you will lose your bet. If you get a hand that is closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand without going over 21, you will win the amount of your bet. If the dealer gets a hand that is closer to 21 than your hand, you will lose your bet.
My ma taught me to play blackjack by betting with matchsticks when I was a child, and this gives me the same feeling. It’s a lot of fun to try and get the best results, but I’m not stressed by it.
Skill Development and Strategy
In Crazy Eights, the goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of your cards.
The cards are shuffled and dealt face down to each player, one at a time, until each player has five cards, and the remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table to form the draw pile. The top card of the draw pile is turned face up to start the discard pile.
On your turn, you must play a card from your hand that matches the rank or suit of the top card in the discard pile. If you cannot play a card, you must draw a card from the draw pile. If you draw a card that you can play, you must play it, and if you draw a card that you cannot play, you must pass your turn.
The first player to get rid of all of their cards wins the round. The player with the fewest cards at the end of the game wins the game.
You can use a lot of strategy when playing Crazy Eights. The discard pile is a valuable resource, as it tells you what cards have already been played and what cards your opponents may have in their hands. If you see a card that you can play, make sure to play it as soon as possible.
8s are wild cards, which means that they can be played on top of any card in the discard pile. Wild cards are powerful cards, but they should be used strategically. If your opponent has an 8, they can change the suit of the discard pile to any suit that they want, which can make it difficult for you to play cards. . If you play a wild card early in the game, you may give your opponents a chance to get rid of their bad cards. If you wait until later in the game to play a wild card, you can force your opponents to draw cards or pick up the discard pile.
Learning new games
If you went into a casino, or onto a traditional gambling website, you’ll be presented with loads of games you don’t know the rules for. With the risk of spending money hanging over you, you might, like me, be too scared to try them out. It’s not worth the risk. But that means you’re losing out on a world of fun and challenging games that you could really enjoy!
By playing money free games online, these games are accessible and free, so you can learn the rules and discover new entertainment. By removing the need to pay, you get to just enjoy yourself and learn a new skill, not worry about the negative consequences.
Conclusion
Free online gambling games provide a safe and controlled environment where you can enjoy the thrill of gambling without the financial stakes. You can develop and learn strategic thinking, learn the rules of the games, and enjoy entertainment but not have any danger. Games should be accessible for all, and we shouldn’t have to pay for the honour of playing, so these websites give you the chance to play these traditional casino games in an enjoyable and responsible manner.
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