Developer/Publisher: AbZorba Games || Overall: 8.0/10
Part of the AbZorba suite of casino games, Roulette Live Casino is available for the iOS. A simple, easy to play Roulette game using the AbZorba Avatar system, Roulette Live Casino is a perfect way for a beginner to understand the basics of the table game.
Once you sit at a table, it is easy to bet on the spots you for the next spin. While Inside Betting on numbers directly will pay out the most, they are the least likely to hit. Most of your bets should be spread out, and on the category-type Outside Bets, such as Black, Red, 1st 12, 2nd 12, etc. There is a Help option that teaches these terms and how they are related to their payouts, so you’ll be able to know what you’re betting on.
The game will allow you to play with other people and you can see what bets other people do. No one competes with each other, but you may be motivated to try and get a better total win than others on the table, or engage with them socially. The options to place bets are simple taps with your finger, and you can also easily wipe your bets or place the same bets again with the on-screen commands. There is a timer in the bottom corner that will inform you how much time you have for the current bet.
Roulette Live Casino also utilizes the same Avatar system as their other games, and you can make some fun custom combinations as well as opt to buying a “Hero” with Diamonds. Chips are earned through regular play. In-app Purchases are available for both currencies.
Roulette Live Casino is a nice roulette game for your iOS devices and if you are interested in learning the ropes of roulette.
Developer/Publisher: AbZorba Games || Overall: 8.0/10
A part of the AbZorba Games’ casino line-up, Poker Live Omaha & Texas for the iOS is essentially the same user interface as the previously reviewed BlackJack Live Casino. Many familiar aspects are present, and it won’t take you long to get used to the differences if you have experience with any of their other apps, like I did before playing it. Poker Live Omaha & Texas shares the amusing avatar system, and has the same social-network-of-sorts functionality that is included in the previous title I reviewed.
Uniformity across titles is the basis, and many of the same comments I made about the game’s functionality and social network would just be reiterated for this title, so the best thing to do is to focus on the game of Poker itself as it is presented in Poker Live Omaha & Texas. As an aside, I did include the avatar pictures in the screenshot gallery from the previous game, as they are identical.
The benefit to having two or more of the titles from AbZorba installed on your phone grants greater daily bonuses to earn. You gain a bonus for each title, which understandably entices you to have all of AbZorba’s games installed on your phone at the same time. If you enjoy their games, it’s not a bad bonus to have, as it’s not really difficult to obtain.
Unlike Black Jack where you play against the dealer primarily, you are playing against other players. Calling bets and raising each other to the point they either fold or lose all of their money. The competitive aspect can be a big draw for some who like that, and not to mention it is Poker, after all.
Texas Hold’em and Omaha are represented in the game. Unlike in Black Jack, you’ll kind of need to hit the ground running to make sure you don’t play awfully, since you are competing against other players out for your sweet chips. You’ll also have to take risks to get ahead, and that doesn’t always pay off. It is smarter to play the lower limit tables initially since you only start with about 30K chips. Sitting at a table that meets your betting position is important to the longevity of your play. You may also benefit more from going head-to-head rather than being at a full table. It all depends on the amount of chips you have, the limits of the table, and the balances of everyone else at the table. You can, of course, buy more chips to limit the guesswork here or to replenish your credits if you are run ragged, otherwise you’ll have to wait for the bonuses to add up before playing again.
The game-specific user interface allows you to pre-play your hand in a certain number of ways to get the game moving faster. If you know you are most likely going to win a hand because you have a 4-of-a-kind, you can click the “call any” bet. You may also just want to wait until it is your turn to do a proper raise, though. You can also tell the game to check/fold so when it hits your turn you automatically check or fold depending on if someone bet in that round. I always like to maintain full control over my hands, so I seldom used those functions. It might be more useful on tables that have people taking a long time to play, however.
There’s not much point to explaining the rules of Texas Hold’em and Omaha, as these are popular games you can look up on any number of sites. The Poker Live Omaha & Texas app on the iOS store can be a fine choice if you are looking for one of these apps, and along with the other apps in their offering, the bonuses end up being worthwhile.
Developer/Publisher: AbZorba Games || Overall: 8.0/10
Black Jack is your classic old-time casino game. Counting cards, hitting at the right time, and making sure your six-shooter is at the ready just in case someone thinks you’re cheating. Nowadays, it’s not so dangerous as Black Jack is now available on smart phones. You can play it on the go, in your home, or on the can. It would be hard playing in all three of those situations at the same time, but at least you have your gun in case anything unexpected happens…. like… umm… a jet fighter dog-fighting with your flying house that is powered only by the propulsion of toilet water?
Anywho, that’s enough of that.
BlackJack Live Casino for the iOS is one such Black Jack gaming app available. While it’s a pretty normal casino app, it offers a few standard features to extend your play time such as buying more Credits (to play the actual Black Jack game) and a higher-tier currency known as Diamonds (for bonus games and customizing your avatar), and the usual time-based free bonuses for returning. There is also a leveling system that automatically awards you Credits at each level up through play.
When using Credits to play Black Jack (which is arguably the whole point of BlackJack Live Casino), you can join a table and start playing against a dealer. You can have up to four players (including yourself) at a table, going through the regular flow of Black Jack. The game can be a bit social as you can chat with other players while playing, and you’ll watch each player take their turn against the dealer. Unfortunately, you have to wait one by one, instead of everyone taking their turn at the same time. This can make you feel impatient and not exactly make you want to join a table that is full as a result, since the games will take a little longer. If people are talking, it can help with socialization as people have some extra time to type.
The game can be welcoming to players of all skill levels, but I think that the game would be useful to learn the ins-and-outs if you are just starting to learn Black Jack in general. The user interface is pretty friendly and helps you out by automatically awarding you when you attain a Black Jack and automatically standing when you hit 21. Lesser games would allow you to “mess up” and hit again to bust, so it is a nice feature to have included in the game. There is a help menu that will explain Black Jack’s rules and as you play you’ll basically learn the flow of repeated plays. The text can be a bit small at times, as well.
A funny aspect of the game, though I’m not sure how much it actually affects the gameplay, is that you or the other people at the table (including the dealer) can draw identical cards. One game I drew two Five of Diamonds in the same play and although the game “shuffles” the cards after a certain amount of time, I’m unsure if this means they combined multiple decks or what. This basically makes any inclination to “card count” pointless, if you were able to. There are a couple of bonus games outside of the Black Jack game that requires Diamonds. Diamonds are attained by purchase primarily, and you earn a lot more Credits with these bonus games.
What is possibly the most “interesting” feature is the Avatar system. I was thoroughly amused by the amount of random items and costumes your avatars are able to wear, including sexy Santa, a mummy, a spy, a matador, a Texan waitress, etc. Imagining all of these random people sitting around a table playing Black Jack is a bit fun to think about. The avatar gallery provides an alternate use for your Diamonds and if you don’t want to use a preset avatar (known as a “Hero”) you can customize your avatar to your liking using a smattering of all of the pieces available. When other players click to view your profile, they will be able to see your avatar as well as your other stats related to your career in the game.
Another funny aspect of the game is the “Cocktail” feature. You are able to buy gifts/items/drinks for other people you are sitting at a table with, presumably for the times you want to impress people or something. There are a few funny items in there, such as developer-branded French Fries, sunglasses, a hamburger, and other random things. There appears to be a seasonal store that changes up depending on the time of year, as it currently has summery items available.
As far as free casino games go, BlackJack Live Casino is about all you can ask for in a Black Jack game. A few tweaks here and there and I wouldn’t have anything to point out to complain about. Black Jack can be fun for a round of hands every now and then and BlackJack Live Casino is a worthwhile option.
