Vancouver Chef Wins half a million dollars playing online slots 

Online Casino Luck Concept

A Vacouver chef recently took down over half a million dollars playing online slots. However, he was so unconvinced that he completely ignored and headed to bed – after all, he had camping the next day!

Heat Laliberte threw the idea that he won $584,201.49 on the Cleopatra MegaJackpot on PlayNow.com completely out the window. It was only after he came back from his trip and checked his email that he realised he had actually won.

Laliberte, who runs an artisan bacon business, said:

“I was playing for fun and saw that the MegaJackpots symbols lined up in one line. I didn’t think that much of it at the time, but it said on the game page that someone just won the MegaJackpot. I got a notification email, checked my account, and didn’t believe it. I went on the Live Chat on PlayNow.com just to make sure it was real. I didn’t say anything to my wife for two whole days.”

Laliberte’s life has been dedicated to creating artisanal bacon foods and said that this massive win will allow him to continue investing in his passion.

“I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and this means I can buy the required equipment I need to grow my business without giving up equity or finding investors,” said Laliberte. He plans on using the remainder of the prize to make a downpayment on a new house and to take his wife on a dream honeymoon.

Huge Surge In Online Gaming

Laliberte is just one of many people that go online to play their favorite casino games. With lockdown shutting down casinos across the country, online gaming has boomed, not only in terms of popularity, but also in terms of stock value.

The increased attention in the media, alongside player interest, has seen market prices soar in a time where most others have been in decline. 

According to a study conducted by Grand View Research, the online gambling industry will potentially grow by 11.5% from 2019 to 2025. This goes beyond the lockdown’s impact, with contributing factors including faster internet and the readily-available nature of mobile casino applications.

Not only is there greater interest in online casinos, but players are spending more of their time and earnings at online tables. It’s reported that up to 64% of regulars are increasing how long they are playing for.

They aren’t putting the hours into one long session either. Instead, they are heading to their favorite online casino more often throughout the week, naturally leading to a greater spend on their preferred games.

The authorities are paying just as much attention to the growth as the casinos themselves. For example, the UKGC has already issued new guidelines in line with the increase in online gambling. Online casinos are now required to use players’ data to prevent the potential for problem gambling, as well as preventing them from sending players showing such signs any special offers and promotions.

The Most Popular Games

Of all the games played online, slots are the most popular – and by some margin. The table games blackjack and roulette come in second place, with video poker, poker and baccarat making up most of the remaining playerpool. 

Slots have been around since the late 1800s. The technology may have advanced tremendously from the initial game, but the principles remain largely the same. And it’s this simplicity that keeps players coming back again and again.

Plus, there are so many games to choose from. No matter if you’re looking for a classic or you want to play for the biggest prizes in the world, there is something for everyone. And thanks to sites like SlotsJudge, there are platforms out there that let you track the performance of the best online slots before deciding where to play online.

Increase In Bonus Searches

Among the increase of people searching for online casinos, the number of people searching for casino bonuses is also increasing. It seems that players want to make the most of their money by taking advantage of deposit and match bonuses.

The good news for them is that casinos are more than willing to fulfil this demand. With a quick search, you can easily find online casinos offering large bonuses for just signing up. Some don’t even require players to deposit any of their own money to play.

Players are also interested in what their loyalty means to online casinos. They want to know what they can get in terms of cashback, exclusive perks and promotions in return for repeated play. Not all online casinos have such programs but the majority of them do, mainly due to pressure from player expectations.

A Look To The Future

From penny slots and jackpots to scratchcards and bingo, the online gambling industry is showing no signs of slowing down. It’s easily accessible, driving competition and innovation within the operators and developers – all of which benefits the players.

Of course, it’s also important to consider how the current situation will impact the future. Will things remain largely the same, will restrictions ease or will things get even tougher? It remains to be seen. 

Players like Laliberte have benefitted from the growth of the online casino industry. Who knows if he would have been able to invest in his business without landing that win, however unlikely it may seem at first glance.

There’s always the possibility that players may not want to return to a land-based casino. After all, why would they want to go through all the likely health checks and safety measures when they can just open their laptop or smartphone and play from anywhere? 

Sure, they may not be able to get the “real experience”, but with VR technology evolving, stepping into a casino may become a thing of the past sooner rather than later.

As mentioned, everything is up in the air at the moment. A lot will depend on how leaders and lawmakers navigate through this unique period of history. 

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