Michael Graham

Land based casinos can be scary, right? Especially if you’re more of a novice. I’m so comfortable in mega-casinos now that I might as well be wearing my slippers and pajamas when I am there, but what about when I was starting? Forget it. I looked out over the Aria casino floor from reception, nothing but slot machines and gambling tables for as far as the eye could see, and I felt genuinely intimidated. Fascinated but intimidated. 

At Casinos.com, my job is to try to make visiting land based casinos a lot less scary for beginners and a lot more fun for veterans. In short, I am here, along with a very carefully assembled team of expert writers, to make sure you know how to make the most of your visit to the casino. It’s not just a professional purpose, though. It’s a veritable passion. 

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from the New College Durham. Back in my teens, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but computers sounded very useful. No good asking me about it now, though. It was literally another century.

Bachelor's Degree in History from the Open University. Once I got a bit older and realized more where my real interests lay, I decided to return to education but more recreationally. The result of that was a History Degree, and it was there that I learned how to write properly. 

Some people, like my mum, might say I spend far too much time in casinos, but I prefer to think of it as dedicating my resources to honing my expertise. My knowledge spans several areas, including a deep understanding of slot games, covering everything from volatility and RTP to RNG, bonus types, and features, and a solid grasp of casino table games, where, if I’m not at a slot machine, you’ll likely find me at a blackjack or roulette table, applying various strategies. 

I’m also a self-proclaimed Las Vegas turbo-nerd, having visited Sin City a dozen times in recent years, experiencing every casino and hotel, and even witnessing a scam or two, most of which you can find on YouTube. Beyond Las Vegas, my gambling adventures have taken me to casinos across the UK, Europe, Canada, and throughout the US, giving me a broad view of casino culture worldwide.

I’m no Trekkie, and you won’t ever find me dressed as a Klingon in a convention hall, but I do love a bit of Star Trek. I’m a science fiction fan in general, and I’ve watched it since I was a kid. Similarly, I enjoy the Marvel movies and TV shows. I have always loved the old Greek mythology and think that comics and superheroes are just the modern-day equivalent of those stories. 

I wouldn’t say I watch a huge amount of TV nowadays due to the availability of sports, but two recent shows I loved were The Boys and Succession. In terms of comedy, I think the US Office is incredibly tough to beat. 

I remember my dad telling me this when I was at school, and it has always stuck with me. I think that one major flaw in the human condition is that we often hold ourselves to impossible standards and allow our past mistakes to rob us of too much of the present. We can lose ourselves in regret, often when putting our mistakes under the unfair spotlight of hindsight. All we can ever do is make the best decision we can with the information we have at the time. Sometimes, it works out; sometimes, it won’t. That’s not weakness or failure. It’s just life. 

I have also found that it applies equally to gambling. The theory of the Gambler’s Fallacy teaches us that every push of a button on a slot machine, every spin of a wheel, and every roll of dice… are all done in complete isolation from each other. Nothing that has happened before can affect the outcome, and the same applies to mistakes in life. Just learn what you can and move on. 

In Las Vegas

I never thought I’d be one of those people who just went to the same place on holiday every time, but here we are. I make at least two trips to Vegas every year from the UK, but more commonly, three or four. It’s not just to gamble, either. 

Something about Las Vegas just settles me. It’s hard to explain to those who have never been, but fellow Vegas lovers will understand when I say that Las Vegas is a state of mind perhaps more than it is anything. From the moment you get out of the airport, you feel it. Time doesn’t really matter, and restrictions seem to just vanish from your mindset. It just feels like anything is possible.

At the Stadium of Light

As I mentioned, before I did this, I was a full-time sports journalist, and that all started with a love of football and, in particular, Sunderland AFC. You might have seen our misery in the acclaimed Netflix Documentary. It’s a club I have followed almost religiously for nearly 40 years now. 

Sports lover

It’s not just Sunderland and football that I love. It’s a sport in general. I’m a keen Ice Hockey fan and love the Edmonton Oilers. I have been to Wimbledon to watch tennis, and I adore cricket as well.

Generally speaking, there isn’t really a major sporting event in the world I’d not want to do, with perhaps the exception of Formula One and other motorsports. Oh, and Baseball. What’s that all about?