AppCraver » Casino

Red Hot Slots: Video Slots are a Reel Good Time

Barbara Holbrook — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:07:45 +0000

Cha-ching! I’m not much of a gambler, but I must confess a strange love for the blinking lights and distinctive music of the Vegas casinos. I live near L.A. where Vegas is just a short flight away, but why waste plane-fare when Hoyle Red Hot Slots is a spot-on substitute for the real thing?

Hoyle Red Hot Slots by Encore is a video slot machine just like those found in casinos everywhere from the desert to the high seas. Tap the “max bet” button and watch the reels spin. Come on big money! Unlike in real life players start off with a $5000 bankroll to bet as outrageously or conservatively as you want. (Imagine the casinos doing that! Welcome, here’s five grand to get you started!)

The colors and reels in Red Hot Slots are just as mesmerizing as their casino counterparts. There are 10 different themes such as tiki, fruit, wild west, cats and dogs, or pirates. The slots play by the same rules, too. Each game has 5 reels with 15 Paylines. I can’t keep them all straight but I like it. With 15 ways to win in video slots, I’m a lot “luckier” than on the old school three-in-a-row slots.

Hoyle’s slots keep things interesting with a variety of bonus games, too. Free Spins, Money Minute and Pick a Box are all extra ways to win and increase your pot. It’s a nice diversion from the repetitive tap and hope strategy I usually employ with video slot machines.

In “review speak” Red Hot Slots is a polished, fully-functional, video slot simulator for iPhone and iPod touch. In plain english, Red Hot Slots is a rock-and-roll good time for anyone that enjoys games of chance. Hoyle also offers a free, lite version that comes with just one game (instead of 10). But, really the lite version is for spineless first-timers, too afraid to gamble $1.99 on a iPhone app they haven’t tried yet.

The best part about playing video slots on the iPhone, aside from the fact that you don’t have to spend Saturday night with a gambling grandma on a bus trip from Temecula, is that even if you decide to bet big the stakes are still low. Sure, you might lose your $5,000 bankroll. But then, just a tap of a button and you can start fresh with a whole new wad of cash. Take that, Vegas! I’m going with Red Hot Slots.

app_name: Hoyle Red Hot Slots
rating: 9/10

Viva Vegas Slots! Fast-Paced, Picture Perfect, Gambling

Casandra Armour — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:30:51 +0000

With unsurpassed precision, Electron Hut’s vice city inspired Vegas Slots puts five 3-reel slot machines on the table for those who are tickled by taking a chance.

Bell Fruit, Double Jackpot, Double Jackpot 3-Line, Triple Sevens and Triple Sevens 5-Line offer an exciting selections of odds and options. The realistic casino controls are fun and quite easy to manage. The user simply shakes the iPod to bet the maximum allowance, scrolls to view the pay table.

A touch stops the reel, tap to skip payout and a drag or flick of the finger spins the individual reels (though the developer of Vegas Slots warns that’s only for fun and cheating isn’t encouraged.)

The audio and visual effects in Vegas Slots are both stunningly detail-oriented, almost intimidatingly so. One gets the feeling that if caution isn’t executed, the deed to the house and the title to the car could easily be lost once as the addiction increases. It’s good thing you’re holding your breath in anticipation when the reels start spinning, otherwise it just may be be taken away.

The developer of Vegas Slots boasts realistic motion but the impressive speed and blur, though anticipated, were unexpected. The reels spin at warp speed but stay smooth, fluid. The cash aspect in Vegas Slots offers, again, crisply rendered greenbacks in every denomination from ones to one hundred dollar bills, which slide with ease into the bill slot.

To concede to a cold machine and move on to hotter prospects, simply clicking the menu in the upper left hand corner of Vegas Slots allows the user to jump to another set of slots. Personal cash, credit and game settings are saved at the end of each play, a nice on-the-go feature to indulge in a few quick pulls to pass the time on the bus, between meetings, etc.

A steal at $3.99, all fans of the one-armed bandits should take a gamble on Vegas Slots.

app_name: Vegas Slots
rating: 8/10

iKeno: Classic Numbers Game is all About Chance

Issen Alibris — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:00:16 +0000

With more than 20,000 applications in the App Store, it’s never long before a classic game we haven’t seen in ages pops up. iKeno is a mobile version of the popular Keno game found in sports bars, bowling alleys, pubs and bingo halls and even some state lotteries around the world.

Like many versions of the game, in iKeno you choose 10 numbers on the board from 1 to 80. If you’re unsure of the numbers you’d like to choose there is a Quick Pick option. iKeno then randomly chooses ten numbers. The fun part is you can bet. You can wager from 1 to 5 tokens per game. You’ll win based on how many correct numbers you match. With a little bit or a whole lot of luck you’ll begin to see your winnings increase as you play more often and other numbers appear on the screen.

iKeno is a fun app because its easy to play and you decide what you’d like to bet and how many numbers you’d like to play. With iKeno You don’t have to get all ten numbers to win points but the more accurate you are the higher your score. There are over 50 levels to test your skills.

iKeno has an easy to read interface with great moving graphics. The sound effects are good but if you decide you want to turn them off there is a quick button to toggle the sound. Although, it did freeze once or twice while the computer was randomly choosing numbers, iKeno seems pretty stable for the most part.

IKeno is great but it would be nicer to see a few more user options. Anyone that gambles usually wants the ability to up their wager. An increase in the amount available to bet would be a welcome option. It would also be nice to have the option to speed up those balls and to change the background.

iKeno is perfect for trips where there is plenty of waiting — or maybe for warming up on the long drive to Vegas.

app_name: Ikeno
rating: 7/10

3 Card Pro Poker Hits The Jackpot

Keith Lewis — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:00:30 +0000

The 3 Card Pro Poker iPhone app is based on the Three Card Poker games played in many casinos. Find me a poker game and I’m all in. I’m partial to Texas Hold ‘Em but I have played Three Card Poker at a couple of casinos in Las Vegas. I found the fast paced game to be exciting and just flat out fun.

Just as they did with their iPhone card games Baccarat Pro and 21 Pro: Blackjack, Avalinx LLC definitely upped the ante on this one. They truly captured the feel of the casino and the pace of the game.

Once you begin playing 3 Card Pro Poker you’ll find yourself seated at a table with a dealer seated across from you. The game is played against the dealer’s hand. Looking at the table you’ll observe three betting locations in front of you. The upper left location is labeled Pair Plus. At the upper right location is the Ante. And beneath those, directly in front of you is the Play.

The fun starts with you placing your bet on the Pair Plus and/or the Ante positions. Once you’ve placed your wager the dealer will deal six cards face down three to you and three to the dealer. Your three cards will then be revealed and you have the choice of folding or raising your bet. The object is to have the best hand. Although the payouts are different than traditional poker, using your three cards the goal remains the same.

Straight Flush. Three cards of the same suit in order.
Three of a Kind. Three cards of the same value.
Straight. Three cards in order of different suits.
Flush. Three cards of the same suit.
Pair. Two cards of the same value.
High Card. The highest card in your hand.

3 Card Pro Poker provides you with a couple of options that you can use during play. The Ask the Dealer option allows you to get betting advice from the dealer. The other is the Payout, which reveals a chart showing you the payouts for each of the winning hands.

Everything about the 3 Card Pro Poker is top rate. The picture clarity, crisp sharp colors of the table, chips and cards. Also the variety of selections you’ll have allowing you to personalize the game. Even more impressive is the thoroughness of each of the menu sections especially the Mastering the Game category. This is the parent category to History, Rules and Terminology, Strategy, Payouts and Help. Each of these sections is loaded with an abundance of information that will only enhance your experience with this game.

3 Card Pro Poker is a first rate app. If you like poker you’ll this love game, if you love poker you may never put it down.

app_name: 3 Card Pro Poker
rating: 9/10

Chili Pepper Blackjack Brings Spicy Casino Action

Derek Walter — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:00:43 +0000

Chili Pepper Blackjack – Maybe you just saw the movie 21 and think you’re ready to break Vegas. Or, you are looking for another game to get addicted to on your iPhone and burn through some battery life. Either way, you will have a great time with Chili Pepper Blackjack. It is a solid offering from Fat Free Games. There is a mix of excellent graphics and interactive gameplay to get you hooked. And at least addiction to this game means you will only be out the $2.99 it costs at the App Store.

There are two modes — online and offline. Playing online means starting a free account with Fat Free Games so you can compete with other players over the network. A link to sign up for an account is embedded in the app. Blackjack does not lend itself to the same interactive fun as Texas Hold ‘em because you’re always playing against the house. But since there is no money on the line, maybe the thrill of competition and showing up your fellow opponents will give you sufficient cause to feel competitive.

Chili Pepper Blackjack‘s offline mode is just as much fun. You can pick up the game fairly quickly, especially if you do not live in a cavern and have played blackjack before. Chili Pepper Blackjack is laid out in landscape mode, with a series of buttons on the right side of the screen where you can tap if you want to hit, stay, double down, etc. When you bet it is as simple as a matter of tapping and holding the chips so you can slide them over to the right spot on the table. Playing solo was not as fun as playing against others; as the extra players mixed up the gameplay and required additional strategy to watch how the others fared with their cards.

The only drawback with Chili Pepper Blackjack is that unless you are a huge blackjack aficionado this app will not have the same holding power as some of the other casino apps. Even the odd Burning Monkey Casino offers a larger variety of games to mix up the environment. But if blackjack is your thing, Chili Pepper Blakjack is a worthy app to have.

app_name: Chili Pepper Blackjack
rating: 8/10

Get Your Gambling Fix With Burning Monkey Casino

Derek Walter — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:00:31 +0000

Burning Monkey Casino is a great way to get in some Vegas-style action on your iPhone. Video Poker, Blackjack, slot machines and more await you. As long as you don’t mind some strange-looking monkeys joining you for a few rounds.

Burning Monkey Casino’s strength lies in its variety of chance-based games and its integration with the iPhone’s touch screen. In the lottery ticket game, you “scratch” your ticket by rubbing the screen with your finger. Tap your bets during blackjack. Touch the cards you want to hold onto during video poker. And swipe your way in the main screen through games that include a money wheel, slots, a three-card money game. For a timeout from the gambling, tap on the “lounge act” for a quick shot of a various group of performers who briefly appear under the spotlight. It is a random component Burning Monkey Casino could do without.

Much like a Vegas showgirl, the casino seems to be all sparkle with not a whole lot going on underneath the shine. The video poker and lottery ticket scratcher is little more than a cyclical experience of loss and victory. Burning Monkey Casino seems built to provide a variety of games as opposed to encouraging players to go in-depth with one particular game.

If you are the competitive type you will have fun trying to increase your cash flow through the various games offered in Burning Monkey Casino. And, if you believe that variety is the spice of life, then this selection of casino games could be just what your iPhone or iPod touch is missing!

Burning Monkey Casino is an excellent time-killer for those looking for some mindless fun. The app has a solid identity from the wacky characters and cartoon-like graphics that keep it from being just another casino video game. Because of some of the game’s quirkiness, true casino aficionados will probably be disappointed. But there are a lot worse ways you could spend $0.99.

app_name: Burning Monkey Casino
rating: 8/10

Live Poker offers the Holy Trinity of time-wasting

Georges Papas — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:03:36 +0000

Live Poker - While Apple’s iPhone is great for productivity with its push email and mobile document editing, it’s also perfect for killing time. When you combine that with the latest worldwide online addiction, Facebook, then you’ve really got something going on. Of course, that’s already been done with the amazingly designed Facebook app. But Zynga, the world’s foremost social network game developer, added a third clinically addicting element to the mix, gambling.

The result is Live Poker. It offers gamblers a chance to work on their social skills and vice-versa. You can choose to play with a random set of people or connect with your Facebook friends to win large amounts of make-believe money to compensate for your real-world shortcomings. Speaking of the social networking giant, Live Poker is the first iPhone app to incorporate Facebook’s Connect technology, allowing users to find friends to play with, without having to go through the site.

Great gameplay coupled with fun, realistic features like the drink bar, make for a poker playing experience nothing short of the best tables in Vegas. The developers over at Zynga have definitely used their previous experience in online game development to their advantage, bringing the best parts of their online games to the iPhone. Slick graphics, the ability to choose an avatar and the many game customization options make for a game which showcases great depth and personality.

On top of the free version, Zynga also offers a $9.99 version of Live Poker, which increases your chip count and allows you to enter tournaments. It seems a bit steep for so little features, but the added cost might be worth it for people who feel the need to win even more make-believe money. Grab Live Poker from the App Store today for free.

app_name: Live Poker
rating: 10/10

iSlots is Just Like a Vegas-style Video Slot Machine

Barbara Holbrook — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:59:49 +0000

If you like the digital cha-ching that comes along with video slots then you’re likely to get a kick out of iSlots. The realistic-looking app features the same whirling music and falling-change sounds as an actual Vegas-style slot machine.

Getting started is a breeze, place your bet just like you would in the casino by tapping the “Bet One” button then “Spin Reels” to play. Or go for broke by tapping “Play Max” to automatically place the maximum bet of 3 coins and spin the reels all with one step.

The graphics look great with just the perfect touch of authenticity, right down to the scrolling advertisement at the top of the machine. (Chris Miller, the game’s developer, obviously understands the power of self-promotion.)

One thing I noticed while playing is that when you run out of credits — unlike it real life — there is no penalty. The game seamlessly restores 100 credits and so you can keep playing without even a momentary thought of “Uh oh! There goes the rent!”

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when playing: iSlots only functions in landscape mode; access the options page to change the music or reset credits by tapping the “cash out” button; to see the legend and learn “what wins what” scroll up to see the top of the slot machine.

There’s one thing I don’t like about iSlots — losing. It’s the same thing I don’t like about real slot machines. The ratio of win to lose definitely leans more towards the former. But, I guess that’s a big compliment to game. iSlots is just like the real thing. And that means the advantage will always be to the house.

app_name: iSlots
rating: 8/10

Pro 21 Blackjack is Awesome for Both Beginners and Card Sharks

Barbara Holbrook — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:25:38 +0000

When getting ready to purchase a blackjack app, I seriously debated about whether to download the ad-supported 21 Pro Blackjack Sponsored or to splurge and pay $4.99 for 21 Pro Blackjack. I decided to start small with the free version, but I had my doubts about how advertising on the iPhone would disturb my playing pleasure. Turns out, the ads aren’t all that bad.

21 Pro bills itself as “the perfect game to learn how to play.” It’s true. The app comes packed with information including a history of the game, a terminology breakdown and an in-depth section of game play variations on the classic card game. One of the most helpful features for newbies is the “Ask Dealer” button which provides in-game assistance on when to hit, stand, double-down, etc.

Blackjack connoisseurs won’t be disappointed as the app includes a host of extras designed to take your game to the next level. Card Counting Expert provides training assistance in Hi/Lo counting and KO counting and offers a display to help you test your count as you go. You can also configure the app to get a taste of the house rules from casinos all over the world.

The graphics in the game are amazing. The colors are rich with a classic casino feel. Also, I was please with how quick and responsive the controls are. Tap to bet, tap to deal — tap, tap, tap oops! all tapped out. Every games starts with $1000 in chips, when it’s gone the game is over. Hit restart to refill.

Now, about those ads. The developers did a great job of integrating ads in a way that doesn’t take away from the game. Users will see an ad at the beginning of the game and each time a new deck of cards is brought out. Click the screen to bring up a menu box where you can choose to skip over the ad or go online for more information. I really applaud the team at Avalinx for finding a way to offer such a great game for free.

However, as great as the ad-supported version is I think I’m going to go back and upgrade to the paid version. Not because I’m annoyed by advertising on my phone, but because this app is just plain fun and 21 Pro Blackjack deserves my five bucks.

app_name: 21 Pro Blackjack
rating: 9/10

Jacks or Better Could Be a Lot Better

Fred Krueger — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:48:06 +0000

The app known as “Free Video Poker” or “Jacks or Better” is a very rough, 1990s DOS type video poker program from large, Irvine CA based MobilityWare.

As the screenshot shows, the interface is a far cry from a Las Vegas style video poker machine. Also note a rather unique ad format, a mini-banner that clicks through to a selection of random iTunes songs. Its not clear if mobilityware earns an affiliate fee if someone actually buys a tune that they feature, or if they even have any transactions, period; but the phenomena is interesting as we enter the new realm of advertising on the iPhone.

Overall, the app fails on almost every level, which is too bad, because Video Poker done right could be almost interesting.

app_name: Free Video Poker
rating: 4/10