There is something mysterious and unpredictable about online casinos, and the gambling industry as a whole, which attracts millions of people from all around the world. With such a detailed history, there are a lot of interesting facts and stories about the industry that you might not know.

For instance, did you know that the first online casino was created in 1996, or that the numbers on a roulette wheel add up to 666 (particularly interesting news if you’re superstitious)? Did you know that card counting doesn’t work for online blackjack because the deck is shuffled between every hand?

If not, that’s fine, because we are here to fill you in on some of the most interesting and fun facts that online casinos and the gambling industry have to offer.

1. Do you know what a fruit machine is?

If you’re new to the gambling industry, or you’ve only ever played casino games online, you might not be familiar with fruit machines. Back in the very early days of slots, these machines would reward players with fruity flavours of chewing gum instead of money. Symbols such as cherries, apples, oranges, and melons would all appear on the reels, which earned them the name “fruit machines”.

Some people still refer to classic slot machines as fruit machines, though they are still more commonly called one-armed bandits.

2. Mega Moolah and its ‘Million Maker’ reputation

Launched by Microgaming back in 2006, Mega Moolah is a progressive online slot that has gained cult status over the years. Now, there are a lot of online slot games out there that offer huge progressive jackpots, but none compare to Mega Moolah.

This machine actually paid out the highest-ever progressive jackpot back in 2018, when a single bet of 75 cents returned winnings of more than $21.7 million (that’s about £15.7 million). No wonder it earned its name!

Bonus fun fact: Did you know that your win isn’t always determined by your bet size? This not inconsiderable Mega Moolah payout is a perfect example of how you could turn tiny stakes into a rather large win! Don’t get your hopes up too much, though: remember that this sort of thing happens only very rarely.

3. The ‘dead man’s hand’ is not such a big deal

There is a famous hand in poker called the Dead Man’s Hand, which is considered by most poker players (and the particularly superstitious) to be incredibly bad luck. The two-pair hand is made up of a pair of aces and a pair of eights. It earned its name after poker legend “Wild Bill” Hickok was shot dead – in an American Wild West town appropriately called Deadwood – in 1876 while holding that exact hand… no wonder it made people jumpy! The truth is that the dead man’s hand is actually not a weak hand in poker at all, and it is very possible to win with it.

4. Small online casinos rely on slot games

Online slots are incredibly popular among players, because they’re fun, don’t take much time, and don’t require much learning or any strategy. They are, after all, based on chance. Slot games have very simple instructions and can be themed and styled to appeal to a wide variety of players, while maintaining the same simple mechanics used to play them.

Online casinos, particularly low-deposit casinos, often rely quite heavily on the income generated by their slot games, as players tend to spend more time and money playing them than online poker, blackjack or other types of casino games.

5. A lot of online gamblers have turned to crypto

Cryptocurrencies (virtual or digital currencies) such as Bitcoin or Ethereum are able to preserve anonymity when making any kind of transaction online. This is why online gamblers have turned to using these cryptocurrencies when funding their online casino accounts, as the payment method is incredibly secure and, of course, anonymous.

Many casino sites are now accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, to avoid any issues with payments being flagged as suspicious by banks. But be warned: it’s not a good idea to use cryptocurrencies to fund your online casino accounts if it goes against regulations in your country, so be sure to check before committing any funds!

Explore the fun you can have at Mecca Games

Now that you’re armed with a wealth of interesting facts about online casinos, why not continue your journey of discovery with Mecca Games? We offer an exciting choice of casino games, so whatever you’re in the mood for – whether you want to play slot games (including a whole host of Megaways titles), Slingo or table games – you’ll be able to have some fun.

Simply register with us and get access to all our amazing online casino games, and much more!