The origin of gambling is a fascinating tale that started in ancient China. However, as it is known today, gambling isn’t restricted to one country or continent. Instead, it is enjoyed by people in almost every country around the globe. 

As a result, each country has a unique story of how gambling reached its people and how the industry has either been stifled or allowed to grow. Canada is no exception and has a rich gambling history that started almost before history itself began being officially recorded.  

First Instances of Gambling in Canada

There is very little information regarding the exact form gambling took early on in Canada’s history. What is known is that in the 1380s, gambling in all forms was banned by the monarch at the time, Richard III. 

The king put this prohibition in place because he was worried that his soldiers, mainly his archers, were spending more time gambling with dice than protecting his kingdom. However, the rule was overturned at some point during the 1400s, as there are signs that gambling was enjoyed in the territory. 

This lasted until 1497, when the region was visited by John Cabot and was claimed by the English nation. With British rule in effect, all gambling was again banned in the country. Thankfully, while the UK technically claimed the land, this wasn’t enforced, and the French took control in 1534 while claiming the name Canada. 

Little is known about gambling in the country during this period except that it moved underground and generated an extensive black market—that is, until around 1767. 

The Start of Official Gambling

The year 1767 was revolutionary for gambling in the country because that is when the first-ever legal event took place. A horse race on July 1 brought many people to Quebec City to watch and wager on the outcome. 

There is no record of whether other gambling activities were also legalized after this race or even if more racing events were held that allowed legal gambling. However, it is thought that the underground gambling market continued to thrive after this until a new law was introduced. 

Canada Criminal Act

In 1892, lawmakers passed the Canadian Criminal Code. Covering a variety of different topics relating to crime in the country, the law also made provisions for the complete prohibition of all forms of gambling. 

Justification for the code included citing religious and moral reasons. However, while the government was adamant that it was what people wanted and expected from a moral standpoint, the continued ban spurred even more illicit gambling. 

Because of the growing number of illegal gambling dens and back-alley wagers, things quickly began to change, and slowly but surely, more and more forms of gambling began to be legalized, starting just eight years after the law was passed. 

Increase of Gambling During the 1900s

In 1900, the government discovered the massive economic difference that legalizing gambling could make. Therefore, it decided to permit gambling in the form of bingo and organized raffles. However, to stick to their moral reasoning, these acts were only allowed if they were offered on behalf of a charity. 

The massive popularity of gambling quickly spread, and by 1925, new laws were again passed. This time, it was to allow exhibitions and local fairs to allow gambling events. These needed to be hosted by the event organizers and were classified as entertainment.

Not much changed until 1969, when the state realized the worth of lotteries and decided to allow legal lottery games. Shortly after, provinces in the country soon started organizing lotteries to help fund projects for the betterment of their regions. 

The Legalisation of Gambling

A milestone in Canada’s gambling history was reached just one year after lotteries were made legal. In 1970, the government decided to allow individual provinces to allow or disallow all forms of gambling in their regions. 

While this didn’t negate the law prohibiting gambling throughout the country, it allowed different regions to make it legal within their jurisdiction. The condition attached to this was that each province had to regulate all gambling activities that fell inside its borders. 

The landmark change this brought about launched the gambling industry in the country. However, things didn’t change until 15 years later, in 1985. After multiple revisions and consultations, the government lifted all gambling and sports betting prohibitions. The only exception to this was single-game betting. 

Legalization throughout the country meant that casinos could now legally operate without any barriers. A few years later, in 1989, the first-ever brick-and-mortar casino was opened. 

Owned and operated by the government, Crystal Casino, located in Winnipeg, became the place to gamble. Sadly, it was short-lived and, by 1997, had closed down. Thankfully, multiple other casinos continued to supply gambling opportunities to players. 

Online Casinos in Canada

By 1994, although there were many new Canadian casinos for players to enjoy, the market underwent yet another massive overhaul. The change was, this time, thanks to the gradual launch and availability of online casinos—a relatively new but increasingly popular way to gamble. 

Amazingly, however, while online casinos grew steadily, they fell outside of the law that provided for gambling in the territory. As such, online casinos hosted and operated in Canada were still illegal. Therefore, players could only use casinos that operated outside the country’s borders. 

For several years, no changes were made to the laws, so Canadian players took advantage of the loophole that allowed play on internationally hosted online casinos. However, in 2021, things began changing when new regulations allowed for single-game sports betting. This action, which wasn’t allowed under the 1985 changes, focused attention on all the other laws as well.

The same year saw another landmark change when Ontario officials decided to allow gambling and sports betting advertising across all platforms. From radio to billboards, casinos are now—for the first time ever—legally allowed to advertise their services. Despite being banned in other provinces, many sites use a grey area in the law for advertising services. 

They achieve this by using .net TLDs (top-level domains), which are not covered by any law in Canada. However, once visiting this website, it redirects to the main casino, often found using a .com TLD.

One year later, in 2022, more changes came about. Ontario launched an online gambling licensing authority. The Ontario iGaming division regulates and allows online casinos to operate in the region. The basis for doing this is the 1970s law allowing provinces to determine their own regulations. 

In 2023, many people anticipate that other provinces will be looking to follow the example of Ontario and launch their own iGaming platforms. If this eventually occurs across the country, it will again mean that many provinces will have to amend laws and write new practices into place. However, it would also mean that gambling online would become even more accessible to players.

The Benefits of Playing at a Mobile Sportsbook

Sports are bigger than they have ever been before. As a result, sports betting has grown to become one of the biggest industries on the internet. Sportsbooks are now making it safe for bettors to place wagers from the comfort of their own homes.

Even better, most of the major sportsbooks offer mobile-optimized sites or standalone apps. Mobile is the way to get online these days, which means that there are a number of benefits to doing your sports betting from your smart device.

Ease

Let’s face facts: the single biggest benefit ofmobile sports betting in Arizona is that you don’t have to be tied to a casino. Sure, most of the large sports betting brands out there have established websites and can be accessed from a desktop. But people are starting to convert to mobile browsing in nearly every way.

Being able to access a sports betting site through a mobile-optimized browser is a must. Many of the top brands also have a dedicated app for their sportsbooks, creating a seamless transition from the desktop site to the mobile version. Being able to simply tap a couple of times on a smartphone is a lot more convenient than having to fire up a computer at home.

Safety

One of the most important things about betting on sports is being safe while you do so. There are plenty of sites out there to choose from but the best of the best put a premium on a safe betting experience. Part of that also means being able to get in touch with reliable customer support when the time arises.

The best feature of most online sportsbooks is the 24/7 chat. This isn’t some AI chatbot that attempts to answer questions through a series of prompts. Within minutes, it is possible to connect to a live customer service rep in an attempt to get the issue resolved. It is a must for online sportsbooks to make those potential hiccups go a lot smoother.

Stay on Top of the Action

An important development in the world of sports betting is the ability to bet on games that have already begun. It used to be pretty simple: get your bets in before the game starts or miss out entirely. For bettors, there was nothing worse than forgetting to place a bet and missing out after the game had already begun.

Thankfully, mobile sports betting and live in-game betting have made that a thing of the past. Instead of having to worry about getting home to place your bets, you can do it on the go. Forgot about the big football game? You can still get bets in at just about any point during the action. It has been a game-changer for bettors.

Bonuses

Bonuses are one of the most important aspects of playing at an online sportsbook. Each one has its own bonus, a way to entice players to choose that sportsbook. Whether it be free bets, a risk-free first bet, or something else entirely, choosing one is a critical part of getting started.

Some sportsbooks even have mobile-specific bonuses. Whether that be playing at a mobile-optimized site or downloading the app, there could be potential bonuses to take advantage of. It’s quick, easy, and doesn’t really require much else from the user.

There are even more reasons why mobile sports betting has taken over. As we continue to see mobile-facing platforms, the importance of mobile sports betting will only increase. There was once a time when mobile was considered to be the future. Well, the future has arrived.

What Do You Mean By Two Pair In Poker?

Poker is a popular card game that uses a standard 52-card deck. Poker hands are ranked based on certain combinations of cards. ‘Two pair’ is one such poker hand comprising two sets of pairs and a 5th odd card. Let’s understand this common poker sequence in more detail.

Two-pair is a frequently occurring hand in poker games. It is stronger than one pair but weaker than three-of-a-kind and straight. As the name suggests, two pairs means having two different pairs of cards in a 5-card poker hand.

Mastering the poker sequence not only helps players rank their own hands properly in comparison to others, but also gives them a better understanding of the odds and probabilities involved in the game.

Probability and strategic play

As only 12 cards out of 52 can possibly build two-pair hands, the odds of being dealt two-pair pre-flop are around 4.75%. This makes it less common than one pair but significantly higher than three-of-a-kind or better.

When dealt medium-high two pairs, going aggressively for a raise to win the pot is a good opportunistic strategy. But surrender a decent two pairs to excessive action since opponents likely have stronger triplets or full houses. Mastering this balance between value betting and disciplined folds is key.

Playing two pairs by position

Your position at the poker table also affects the two-pair strategy. For instance, in Texas Hold’em, being in an early position like UTG (under the gun) over the flop, check-calling is often safer than betting out. This allows you to keep the pot small and not face exploratory raises without clarity on board strength. Conversely, betting two pairs in late position, like on the button, exploits fold equity by pressuring opponents yet to act after you. Understanding positional leverage is vital while playing two-pair poker hands.

Relative Value of Two Pairs

It is also important to assess two-pair strength relative to the community cards and number of players in hand. Having the top two pairs on a low board is strong, as opponents cannot have straights or flushes. But middle/bottom two pairs on rainbow boards 3-bet pre-flop indicate danger. Similarly, multi-way action in a pot often demands stronger hands, so decisions should adapt contextually. Mastering these dynamics improves two-pair profitability significantly.

Extracting Max Value

To maximize value from two pairs, allowing opponents to catch the second pair hands on the turn or river and then targeting them for bets is highly rewarding. Slow-playing monsters like nut flushes and full houses also pay off well against two pairs by sucking out at showdown. Hence, besides playing two pairs fast earlier, different speeds on later streets based on scenarios optimize profits despite the volatility.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a beginner just learning the ropes or a seasoned pro, there’s a poker game download suited to your needs. Knowing its ranking versus other hands guides expectation-setting. Adapting betting, check-calling, and fold frequencies by position and situation while leveraging their disguise potential allows for optimizing profits.

Two-pair bluffs also make profitable semi-bluffs when additional outs remain. So do leverage its dynamics, but guard against getting outdrawn given its limitations too. Mastering these intricacies will make two pairs a consistent winner for your poker bottom line.

Zak Bagans Isn’t Married but Has a Girlfriend Holly Madison — They Rekindled Their Romance

Zak Bagans is not married but is currently in a relationship. The notable paranormal investigator and television personality has been romantically involved with Holly Madison. 

Despite a brief separation in 2021, the couple has officially rekindled their romance, as reported by TMZ. The sources close to them revealed that the split was amicable, and Bagans and Madison have remained in contact since then.

Their connection, which began after Madison visited Bagans’ Haunted Museum in Las Vegas in May 2019, seems to have endured the test of time and distance. 

Zak Bagans and his girlfriend Holly Madison. (Source: TMZ)

Madison, who travels between Los Angeles and Vegas due to her kids, and Bagans, who travels extensively for the filming of his show, manage to spend time together almost every week. 

Despite being public figures, the couple has chosen to keep their relationship relatively private, rarely being photographed together. I

That being said, Madison’s Instagram post, where she wished Bagans a happy birthday with a photo of a clown birthday cake, provided a glimpse into their intimate relationship.

Before dating Bagans, Madison was previously married to Pasquale Rotella until February 2019. They have two children together.

Zak Bagans’ ghost adventures

Bagans collaborated with Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin in 2004 to create a documentary-style film of Ghost Adventures, which ultimately aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2007. 

The success of the film paved the way for a full-fledged series that premiered in 2008 on the Travel Channel, marking the beginning of a captivating journey through haunted locations. 

Despite its popularity, Ghost Adventures and other ghost hunting shows have faced criticism and accusations of fakery. Bagans, however, has continued to lead investigations and explore the unexplained.

In addition to Ghost Adventures, Bagans ventured into a spin-off series titled Ghost Adventures: Aftershocks from 2014 to 2016. The show delved into the aftermath of prior Ghost Adventures investigations, focusing on the impact and changes experienced by individuals involved in the paranormal encounters. 

One of the most intriguing aspects of Bagans’ paranormal journey is his alleged communication with the late actor David Strickland, known for his role in NBC’s Suddenly Susan. 

Strickland’s tragic suicide in 1999 at the Oasis Motel in Las Vegas became a focal point for Bagans, who claims to have recorded Strickland’s voice almost a decade after his death. This recording found its way into a track on Bagans’ album NecroFusion. 

Interestingly, no known scientific analysis has been conducted on the raw recording, leaving questions about the veracity of Electronic Voice Phenomena and its connection to the famous actor unanswered.

Zak Bagans’ other projects

Bagans, known for his paranormal investigations on the hit show Ghost Adventures, has extended his passion for the supernatural into various other projects. 

One notable venture is the creation of a “haunted museum” in Las Vegas, Nevada, as depicted in the Travel Channel series Deadly Possessions, which premiered on April 2, 2016. 

The show captured Bagans’ quest to procure items with haunted histories, eventually culminating in the opening of the museum to the public in October 2017. 

The museum boasts 33 rooms, each showcasing an array of intriguing and eerie artifacts. Among the notable items on display are Bela Lugosi’s mirror, the infamous Dybbuk box, Peggy the Doll, and even Jack Kevorkian’s chilling “Death Van.” 

However, some controversy surrounds certain claims attached to these artifacts, with skepticism raised about the provenance of items like the Lugosi mirror and Captain Smith mirror housed in the museum.

Despite the controversies, the museum earned recognition in 2018 when it received the Las Vegas Mayor’s award for historic preservation and adaptive reuse. 

In a fascinating addition to the museum’s collection in 2021, the transaxle salvaged from the Porsche 550 Spyder of American actor James Dean found its place among the eerie artifacts. 

Furthermore, Bagans announced in May 2021 that he would be hosting and executive producing The Haunted Museum, a horror anthology show set to be broadcast on the Discovery+ Channel. 

The series, filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Toronto, Canada by Cream Productions, features Eli Roth as a filmmaker and Matt Booi, Kate Harrison Karman, and David Brady as executive producers. 

Notably, the museum also houses a large painting of P.T. Barnum, a figure whom Bagans is said to idolize. This addition further reflects Bagans’ eclectic taste in curating a collection that spans not only the supernatural but also historical and cultural dimensions. 

Zak Bagans also has written books

Bagans has also made significant contributions to the literary world. Collaborating with author Kelly Crigger, Bagans co-wrote the book Dark World: Into the Shadows with the Lead Investigator of the Ghost Adventures Crew. 

This collaboration proved to be a literary success, as the book made its debut on The New York Times Best Seller list at No. 18 on September 23, 2011.

In December 2019, Bagans expanded his literary repertoire with the publication of Ghost-Hunting For Dummies, a book that delves into the history of ghost-hunting. 

Beyond a mere historical account, the book draws on Bagans’ own experiences, featuring true accounts and stories from his famous cases and investigations. It aims to guide readers on how to embark on their supernatural investigations, inviting them to explore the unexplained.

However, the reception of Ghost-Hunting For Dummies was not without its critiques. Paranormal investigator Kenneth Biddle, writing for Skeptical Inquirer magazine, noted Bagans’ apparent bias against skeptics and scientists throughout much of the book. 

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