What Are The Most Popular Online Casino Games?

online casino

There’s no denying the fact that online casinos are on the rise and they are destined to be the future of the gambling industry. Millions of players from every corner of the planet have registered at these sites in the quest for the most entertaining and most secure gaming experience.

The beauty in licensed online casinos is that you will gain access to thousands of quality games once you register an account and since a vast majority of them utilize the latest HTML5 technology, you will be able to enjoy them on any mobile or desktop device without experiencing any changes to the gaming experience.

Speaking of the games, we wanted to shed a bit of light on them by listing the most popular categories at online casinos. Not only that, but we’ll explain what makes them so popular and why you should give them a try. Who knows, maybe you will be open to giving them a try as you drink a glass of good red or white wine once you’ve read this article.

Online Slots

Slots are by far the most popular games at every online casino. Why? Because they are simple to play and have decent rewards. The simple gameplay is what makes them attractive to newbies, while the rewards are why experienced players always go back to them.

Not only that, but they are the most diverse category at every online casino. There are countless slot variants. They can be differentiated by their theme, payline system, type of jackpot, number of reels, bonus features, etc.

When it comes to differentiating slots by their theme, you can come across Egyptian-themed slots, classic slots, space-themed, adventurous, Wild West, Asian-themed slots, and so on. As for the type of jackpot, there are two – standard and progressive.

Standard slots at the right online casino have a jackpot whose maximum reward is fixed and has a cap, while progressive slots have a jackpot whose maximum exposure increases over time.
Differentiating slots by their payline system is the most interesting categorization. Apart from the standard payline systems, which are left-to-right, right-to-left and both ways, there are a few new concepts that players have grown fond of and they are Megaways, Megaquads, Cluster Pays and Infinity Reels.

Once you’ve gotten familiar with the general rules of the slot, all you need to do is set your preferred bet. The higher the volatility rate of the slot is, the better the jackpot exposure will be, but it will drop less often.

Live Dealer Games

Live dealer games have made a massive boom in the recent period. Their gameplay is as unique as it gets. This category features various table games such as Poker, Baccarat, Roulette and Blackjack, but it also features game shows like Mega Wheel, Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt, Monopoly Live, etc.

As the name of this category suggests, they are being hosted in real-time. Here’s how they work. The casino has a studio in a certain location and players join the game via a stream. The number of players that are allowed to join depends on the actual game. Some titles have a limited number, while some don’t.

The best part about these games is that they feature a chat that allows you to interact with the dealer and ask questions concerning the gameplay and rules.

Texas Hold’em Poker

Finally, we have one of the most iconic casino games ever made – Texas Hold’em. While most games at online casinos rely on luck, this is a game that requires you to possess certain skills. That includes learning how to bluff, reading opponents, knowing when to fold and when to continue playing and making the best use of your cards.

The complexity of the game is what makes it so popular, but of course, it is not a good suit for all players. Texas Hold’em poker is mainly played by experienced wagerers and since this game can feature up to 10 players, you can rest assured knowing that decent rewards are in store.

Are Online Casino Games Fair?

One of the most common questions about online casino games is whether they are fair or rigged. The casino industry has been dealing with this issue since its inception and now, it is safe to say that online casinos have found the perfect solution.

Standard casino sites utilize an AI software called RNG – Random Number Generator. This tool creates random outcomes of each game and in doing so, it gives players equal chances of winning. Crypto casinos, which are becoming more and more popular, went a step further and introduced a concept called provably fair gaming.

This concept is also in charge of creating random outcomes of each game, but the main difference between it and RNGs is the fact that in provably fair gaming, players can actually check and verify the randomness of a certain outcome and thus, determine whether it is truly fair.

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Why Wine is The Best Possible Drink

glass of wine

There’s no denying the fact that wine is by far the most chivalrous and most elegant alcoholic drink out there. Of course, just like with any other drink, you have to make sure that you don’t overexaggerate with it, otherwise, it will turn out to be a bad night for you.

While each drink has its own benefits and is the best option in certain scenarios, when you look at the overall picture, there are tons of reasons why you should always opt-in for a glass of red or white wine and that is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article.

We’ll be naming the top reasons why wine is the best possible drink and what are some of its benefits. So, without any further ado, let’s start breaking down the details.

It Is Recommended To Consume With Food

Ever saw a culinary delight on TV? Have you ever been at a restaurant and asked what is the best drink that you can have while eating? If you have, then you will see that wine is always served with food. Not only that, but there are tons of recipes where wine is actually used to flavour food and give it a better taste.

Wine Reduces Stress and Prevents Memory Loss

A study by the Journal of Neuroscience actually found out that wine can prevent memory loss. Here’s how. Red wine, which is made from crushed dark grapes is a rich source of resveratrol. Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant.

In the study, the results of overweight adults who were given resveratrol supplements for six months were compared to the results of the same group of people who were given a placebo. The comparison showed that those who used resveratrol supplements actually had better memory. Since red wine is rich with resveratrol, you can count on it to enhance your memory.

Not only that, but the drink affects your nervous system and it reduces brain activity. In doing so, it triggers a sleepy mood which is perfect if you are trying to get a good night’s sleep. So, one glass a wine before you go to bed from time to time is a great idea.

It Doesn’t Make You Feel Bloated

Some alcoholic beverages such as beer, are known to bloat your stomach as you consume them. That will make you feel uncomfortable and thus, unable to enjoy them. That is not the case with wine. Not only is it delicious and suitable for any type of occasion, but it won’t make you feel bloated.

Now, that doesn’t mean that you should drink at an uncontrollable rate. On the contrary, limit your glasses and enjoy every sip.

It Is Good for Your Heart

There are tons of studies that show that moderate wine drinking is actually connected to better cardiovascular health. A 2019 review showed that a glass or two per day is linked to lower risk of coronary heart disease.

Not only that, but a Nutrition and Aging study also confirmed that wine reduces the risk of a heart disease. This study involved 3,000 women from different backgrounds.

However, it is worth mentioning here that there are other factors that may play a role here, one of which is your diet. A glass of wine per day won’t do much if you’re having an unhealthy lifestyle. So, make sure that you avoid unhealthy food and spice up your favourite chicken dish with a glass of good, quality wine.

Wine Can Affect Your Digestive System Positively

Red wine has an anti-bacterial nature and that is why it is able to treat stomach irritation as well as other digestive disorders. A study in 2018 showed that polyphenols, which is included in red wine, can improve gut microbiota and hence, contribute to a healthier digestive system.

Again, that doesn’t mean that you should drink excessively. Excessive drinking can lead to many problems, which is why you should only consume a glass per day.

The Difference Between Sweet, Semi-Dry and Dry Wine

As a way to close things off, we are going to share a few details on a topic that casual drinkers are not too informed. When you go shopping for wine, you often see how the wine is labelled as dry, semi-dry, or sweet. But the question here is, what is the difference between these three?

Well, it is all connected to the sugar levels in the wine itself. Dry wine means that the grape sugar has been converted to alcohol during fermentation, while sweet means that the bottle includes residual sugar. Semi-dry wines have mild sweetness.

So, the drier the wine is, the more bitter the taste will be. Naturally, casual drinkers are fonder of sweeter wine, but fanatics of this alcoholic beverage are known to like a sip or two from dry wine. In the end, it all comes down to taste and personal preferences.

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The 3 Best Wine Movies

If there’s one thing that we can all agree is much better than tasting wine, it’s sitting down watching other people taste fake wine, am I right? No? Just me? Yeah, in fairness, when most people hear about “wine movies”, the first thoughts that come in their mind aren’t exactly the most entertaining ones, but I promise you that while there’s a lot of movies about wine that suck, there’s also quite a few which are pretty great! So why don’t we take a brief look at a few of my favorites? I’ll keep the descriptions brief because I don’t want to give away too much, but if any of them catch your eye, be sure to give them a watch! With that said, in no particular order, here are my three most beloved movies about wine!

1. Sideways

Wine MoviesOh, what an underrated classic this one is! “Sideways” tells the story of two middle-aged men, Miles (played by the always wonderful Paul Giamatti) and Jack (played by the equally wonderful Thomas Haden Church, who you may remember as the only good part of “Spider-Man 3”), who aren’t exactly happy with how their lives have turned out. Miles is divorced, unable to find joy in life and just basically existing without real purpose, and Jack, despite the fact that he’s about to get married, hides a whole lot of insecurities and issues behind his façade. As a form of bachelor’s party, the two of them go on a trip through California’s wine county, tasting various wines, getting into arguments about merlot, all the good stuff that any wine lover would enjoy. But the best part about “Sideways” is in the relationship between the characters. Jack and Miles complement each other perfectly, able to bring out the best, but also the worst, sides of each other. This isn’t just a great wine movie – it’s a great movie, period.

2. A Good Year

Unlike “Sideways”, which is a deep analysis of mid-life crisis and the human condition in general disguised as a buddy road trip comedy, “A Good Year” isn’t nearly that smart, but I’ll be damned if it’s not one of the best “feel-good” movies I’ve ever seen. It’s the type of film you’d put on after an exhausting day at work, to relax with a glass of wine without worrying too much about missing something, and knowing in your heart of hearts that despite what happens everything’s going to be okay in the end. The movie stars Superman’s dad himself, Russell Crowe, as a big-name bond trader with murky ethics who suddenly learns that the uncle who raised him passed away, leaving him as the sole beneficiary of his estate… Which includes a vineyard. Intending to whip the property into shape for a few days before reselling it and making a quick buck, this suit-and-tie businessman grows to learn that making wine isn’t actually as bad as he thought it was. If by the end of this movie you don’t feel like moving to the countryside, you don’t have a heart!

3. You Will Be My Son

This movie has my official honor and distinction of being the film with the most hilariously rude title ever, once put in its proper context – it’s not funny at all, but I still can’t help but chuckle a little when I think about it. “You Will Be My Son” is a French drama about a wine maker who’s trying to leave his business, his estate and his livelihood to his only son. The only problem is that said son is a disappointment, at least in his eyes, and the winemaker doesn’t consider him to be a worthy successor. The solution? Point to a random boy in the house (the steward’s child) and yell, you guessed it, “You will be my son!” Okay, I may have given you the wrong impression here, since this is anything but a comedic film – its core and heart revolves around the two boys (the real son and the chosen one), and how each copes with the situation that has been thrust upon them as tensions in the vineyard continue to rise. If you’re looking for something to tug on your heartstrings, this isn’t something you’d go wrong with.

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Pure or Blended?

Red Wine at a Grape Harvest PartyIt’s only been a couple of days since my last post, my dear oenophiles, but I’m too excited to just sit around doing nothing. It’s summer and the most wonderful time of the year is almost here. I don’t mean Christmas – tsk-tsk, Christmas is for kids and shopaholics! I mean grape harvest season and the parties that go with it. To me, nothing says oenophile like drinking wine at the very vineyard its grapes have been picked from.

But before you book your tickets to a vineyard harvest party, let me share with you an eye-opener. Remember the James Bond reference I made in my last post? To some, the question whether they like their wine pure or blended might sound just as alien. Well, not to dis the popular Ian Fleming character or Martini but the question about wine is truly significant.

Pure, also called varietal, wines are made primarily from one sort of grapes. Honestly, I thought they were 100% of the same grape sort but it turns out different countries have different regulations. For example, in the US, the varietal wine must be 75% of the same grape sort. In Europe, that percentage should be at least 80% and in Argentina – 85%.

Blended wines are a mix of two or more sorts of grapes. But don’t imagine winemakers dumping whatever wine leftovers they have into a single barrel and selling it as a blend. Blended wine is the result of a complicated process of mixing and testing. It’s some kind of synergy. For example, I like the freshness of Merlot, the tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon, and the fruitiness of Cabernet Franc. How could I settle for a pure wine when I can have all three in a blended wine?

There’s something else I like to add to the wine mix to make it even better. Blackjack! I have my own private parties with a bottle of blended wine and a game of blackjack with side bets. As long as I play at the best blackjack sites, as recommended by the experts at blackjacksites.info, I can’t go wrong. After all, what harm could do combining my two greatest passions?

So, how do you like your wine – pure or blended? Me, I’ll never forget my first tasting of a blended wine. It was at a grape harvest party at a small, local vineyard. The ticket for the event bought me a tour of the vineyard, a beautiful glass and, most importantly, the chance to try all the wines as much and as often as I liked. There was an impressive buffet with cheeses of the world but these had merely a supporting role that night. I tried all the wines but one of them just stood out. It was love at first sip… oh, who am I kidding! It was love at first gulp! I’ll never forget how the crimson liquid awakened my senses. It was an enchanting blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.

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Should You Be Ashamed Of Your Tastes?

WineIn the world of alcohol, there are more types of spirits than I can possibly count, and each one has, like, a billion ways that it can be prepared, mixed and matched with others. The sheer fact that there’s a noticeable difference in taste between a shaken and stirred martini should be enough to blow the mind of anyone who’s even remotely familiar with alcohol! Well, either that, or James Bond is just full of crap. I don’t actually know, I was always more of a wine sort of person than a martini one, but I’m getting off-point! Speaking of wine, just that has literally millions of possible variations! I mean, sure, you can group them into several dozen categories based on the sort of grape used in preparation, but really, when you take into account factors such as the soil of the region, the weather conditions at the time and the time of bottling. Based on these variables, two bottles of the same type of wine (say, pinot noir… no not that Pinot Noir!) bottled in different locations 20 years apart may taste entirely different, or the difference might be negligible. It’s up in the air.

The point I’m trying to make is that there’s actually a very good reason why there’s just so many different types of wine, and alcohol in general. And no, it’s not just because everyone wants to do their own thing… I mean, yes, that’s part of the reason, but if no one was interested in their thing, then nobody would buy it and the winery (or the manufacturer in general) would go out of business, because that’s the way capitalism works. And that’s precisely it – there’s a market for it no matter what it is. Even if it’s the cheapest boxed merlot that you find in your local supermarket or a $13,000 bottle of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru, there will be someone who’s going to buy it, drink it, and hopefully, enjoy it.

And guess what! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!

At the end of the day, not everybody is able to afford extremely expensive wines – at the end of the day, remember that for everyone buy a select few, alcohol is a hobby and not a lifestyle, and as such we should buy what we can afford in accordance with our disposable income. Sometimes that means more expensive stuff, other times it means boxed supermarket wine – but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that as long as you enjoy the taste! And what’s more, some people actually prefer the taste of cheap wine, while others, even critics who get paid to do this, can’t tell the difference! Remember the experiment we told you about earlier where wine tasters were asked to distinguish between a cheap and expensive wine, and then between a white and a red wine, and none of them figured out that they were given the exact same drink every time? Yeah, that actually happened! If people who get paid to do this for a living can’t tell the difference, then maybe the whole social stigma around certain types of wine is kind of bullshit.

So, my bottom line is, don’t ever let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t enjoy something just because they don’t enjoy it. Like what you like! If it’s cheap, boxed wine, go for it! If it’s merlot, or another type of wine that’s considered unpopular, drink as much as you like, within reason! Hell, go drink friggin’ ethanol if that’s how you roll, I don’t care! Okay, my editor insists that I tell you NOT to drink ethanol, but my point still stands! Like what you like! Drink what you drink! You go be you, man/woman!

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How to Pick the Right Online Casino?

kingNothing goes better like wine and online casino, let me tell you that! Well, okay, sure, maybe wine and physical casino is a better combination, but not everyone can afford regular visits to a real location, and frankly, nobody would have to! It’s the 21st century, and our technology allows us to accommodate for pretty much everything! Who says that you need to dress up, go to a real casino, buy an expensive bottle of wine and then spend hundreds of dollars on roulette? You can just as easily put on your PJs, grab a box of store-bought wine and spend a couple of bucks on slots, and you know what? As long as you do both the drinking and the gambling moderately, there’s nothing wrong with that! And I’m here to teach you how to get started! With the online casino part, at least – I have a feeling you’ve already started with the drinking!

Now, the first thing you need to do is compile a list of online casinos for your country (hey, just because you’re here, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re from Quebec – according to the site’s metrics I have plenty of visitors from the UK and other countries as well). It doesn’t have to be a comprehensive list, just use Google to find a pre-made list you can use. Our UK friends can use sites such as highstakecasinos.co.uk to get a good idea, while the rest of us just need to be patient and do a bit of work in order to compile our own lists. Once you’ve got yours, though, it’s time to start eliminating!

The first step absolutely has to be checking each and every single one of your sites to make sure they’re legit! The last thing you want to do is play in an illegal casino – best case scenario, you’ll lose all your money, worst case, you’ll get arrested. If you’re Canadian, you can use this handy-dandy site to view the legislating bodies for your region and then use those to verify that all casinos on your list are legitimate. Chances are they are – illegal casinos rarely make it to the front page of Google, but you never know. After all, they say better safe than sorry, right?

Finally, your last step should be reducing your list to just one casino. First and foremost, try to eliminate all casinos that you dislike aesthetically. Some people may call this judging the book by its cover, but honestly, if a site looks bad, chances are it’s not going to offer too much to you. Next, try to ask yourself what you want to play. If you want to just play a specific game (say, the “Game of Thrones” slot), try to limit your list to just casinos who have it. If it’s live roulette you want to play, eliminate any casinos that don’t support it. Read the terms and conditions, see if there’s anything there that you don’t like, and if there is, eliminate that casino. Sooner or later you’re going to be left with only one choice, and that’ll be that! Congratulations – you’ve discovered your first online casino! Have fun!

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My 3 Favourite Liqueurs and Spirits

Pastis Aperitif Spirit from FrancePastis is an amazing anise-flavoured spirit which has originated and enjoys great popularity in France. First commercialized by Paul Ricard back in 1932, Pastis is extremely loved in southern France, especially around Marseille. This liqueur usually contains around 100 g/l sugar and somewhere between 40% and 45% alcohol, although there are some non-alcoholic varieties also. Pastis emerged 17 years after the ban of absinth, in a time when France would feel the need for an anise-flavoured drink to substitute absinth. The drink is nowadays flavoured with liquorice root and while it has always been associated with absinth, the two are in fact very different. Pastis does not contain any grand wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), from which the name of absinth came to be. Another difference is that absinth is made of the classic green anise while pastis is made from herbs of Asian origins – star anise.

 

Shotka – A Lithuanian Cannabis Flavoured VodkaIf I would have to name one drink that I don’t usually like, that would be vodka. But truth be told, there are few variations out there that will simply make you go bonkers over it. Such a drink is Shotka, a Lithuanian-made vodka, which is – get this! cannabis-flavoured. Not to worry, there is no THC inside it, only a high percentage of alcohol – 50% and the whole ‘taste the wild’ think they have going for them is something you won’t want to miss out on. The first time I tried this drink I had three shots one after the other and it felt like I drank the juice of life – I had so much energy, I could have moved mountains. Seriously, you have to try it.

 

Jaegermeister – A German Digestive Drink Jägermeister is a German digestif, made from no less than 59 herbs and spices, with 35% alcohol. A flagship of Mast-Jägermeister SE, Jägermeister is a highly flavoured drink, many times drank with Red Bull, especially in Italy. The label contains a verse from the poem Weidmannsheil, by forester and hunter Oskar von Riesenthal. The translation of the poem is:

 

It is the hunter’s honour that he
Protects and preserves his game,
Hunts sportsmanlike, honours the
Creator in His creatures.

 

Jägermeister is used in many cocktails and shots. For example, a shot of Jägermeister dropped into a glass of Red Bull is called a Jägerbomb; Jägermeister with Rumple Minze and Baccardi form Liquid Heroin, while a cocktail with Jägermeister with Malibu Rum and pineapple juice is called a Surfer on Acid. Nice names, right?

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What’s The Deal With Wine Tasting?

WoneHave you ever been to a wine tasting before? Like, an actual event where you can taste a whole bunch of wines and then spit them out (because nothing says first world consumerism like drinking a $500 liquid only to spit it out) in order to determine their taste? I’ve been to a few of these events. I mean, of course I have, I love wine! I’d drink wine whenever there’s a glass in front of me (geez, I sound like an alcoholic), but honestly? I have NO idea what’s the difference between a red wine from Spain bottled in 1995 and a red wine from Italy bottled in 1996. I don’t! They taste the same to me! I also can’t really tell the difference between a cheap, store-bought wine and an expensive one that I paid hundreds of in some fancy restaurant. Sure, whenever I get together with my friends and order something nice and expensive we all go “Hmm, oh, yes, indeed, it’s quite dry with just a hint of aroma” or whatever random words we can think of throwing in there, but honestly, I’m rather certain that store-bought wine and expensive wine taste exactly the same, and the “sophisticated” taste that we feel in the restaurant is merely due to the atmosphere, a sort of placebo effect – we expect it to be good, so our taste buds tell our brain that it is.

Sure, you can say “Well, you know, dude, that’s, like, your opinion, man” (that’s how you normally speak, right?), but what if I told you that science has my back on this? Enter Mr. Frederic Brochet, who conducted a study that famously humiliated wine experts everywhere. He got a bunch of renowned wine experts together for what they thought was a study on wines. For the first test, the participants were given a bottle of red wine and a bottle of white wine, asked to taste both and then tell the difference between them. Sounds simple and straightforward enough, right? Except for the fact that they were both the exact same white wine, except in one bottle it was dyed red, and absolutely none of the so-called experts even noticed. Whoops. For the next test, Brochet asked them to taste a store-bought wine and an incredibly expensive bottle and describe the differences. You know where this is going – they were both the exact same wine. Wow.

So, what does that tell us? Well, two things, mostly – first of all, experts have NO idea what wine actually tastes like and mostly judge it based on labels and preconceived notions rather than on, you know, their taste. Second of all, it tells us that there’s no “right” and “wrong” wine. Just like everything else in life, it’s all up to your personal preference. Sure, there are subtle differences in the taste (even if a lot of people can’t really detect them) but overall there’s nothing that makes the expensive wine objectively taste better than the cheap one. So drink what you like and don’t be ashamed of it!

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Quebec Forms Action Plan To Help Children With Autism

AutismIt’s important to remember that while this blog’s primary topic of discussion is and always will be wine, from time to time there are other important matters happening in Quebec which are most definitely worth looking into, writing about and thinking about. One of these subjects that is very near and dear to my heart is autism, as my best friend (whom I’ve known since we were six) has Asperger’s Syndrome (a form of autism), and as a result I’ve been placed in a position where I was allowed to learn a lot about this condition both from first-hand experience and by speaking to people within the autism community, which is rather prominent in Quebec. How prominent, you ask? Well, over 11,000 children have been diagnosed with autism, and at this rate within five years that number is going to double. Sadly, autism is a condition that can not be cured (and even if it could, many autistic people, my friend included, would reject the cure), so it has to be accommodated. And Quebec is finally willing to step up its game.

As the Montreal Gazette reports, over 68% of families with autistic children experience financial problems due to the numerous therapies and trainings that the children require in order to be able to look after themselves. Many (though not most) autistic children have difficulty with basic skills such as feeding and getting dressed. They require very specific training by professionals, and that training is very expensive, often leading to a financially unstable home, which in turn leads to a high divorce percentage among parents of autistic children. There are numerous ways in which such families can be aided, which is why on Friday a forum of over 100 participants took place where it could be decided precisely what could be done to aid families of autistic children.

Sadly, the results of that forum were not precisely the ones that they were expecting – while the families were hoping for confirmation that more money was on the way, the only information they got was that the government was working on an action plan to determine what could realistically be done. While that’s better than nothing, parents were disappointed, explaining that a plan which may take months to form and go way into 2017 or 2018 to implement is just not cutting it. They need the money as soon as possible, because until the government increases the funding families have to rely on their own limited income (many parents are unable to work in order to care for their children) and on various charities. The government can truly make a change here. Let’s hoping that this change will happen sooner rather than later.

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The Wine & Gourmet Casino

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