For those averse to taking risk, ‘living dangerously’ may come in the form of a wild night out or playing online slots, but for those who are still willing to take big risks, the potential for big rewards still exist. In this article we’ll delve into the lives of 5 entrepreneurs who risked it all and became massively rich because of it.

Do entrepreneurship and risk go hand in hand?

Not knowing what might lurk around the next corner can be terrifying, especially when there are millions or even billions at stake. The very nature of starting a new business venture requires a certain level of risk. It doesn’t matter how meticulous a business plan is, there is always the potential for catastrophic failure. But with great risk, comes great potential. These five wealthy risk-takers prove that to be true.

5 Millionaires Who Risked It All

Sylvester Stallone

When you think of famous risk-takers, Sly Stallone probably isn’t the first name that comes to mind, but that’s only because many people don’t know the story of his early career. In the mid-70s, Stallone was a struggling actor who had no choice but to accept any role he could get. In 1975, he walked into the offices of United Artists and pitched them the idea for a little film about a down-and-out boxer named “Rocky.”

United Artists offered Stallone $4 million for the script, but with one stipulation – Stallone would not be able to star in the film. Instead of accepting the easy cash, Stallone forego the upfront money all together, instead opting to star in the lead role. The following year, Rocky won the Academy Award for Best Picture, forever cementing Stallone as one of the most successful risk-takers in Hollywood history.

J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling is the richest author in the world. Her Harry Potter series has evolved into a media empire, spawning movies, a play, tons of merchandise and even a theme park, but she wasn’t born a success story. Rowling comes from a very modest background. Neither of her parents received a college education.

From a very young age, Rowling knew she wanted to be a novelist, but she was always told that writing would never pay the bills. Shortly after becoming a single parent at the age of 22, the author found herself out of work and relying on government assistance to support her daughter. While receiving benefits, Rowling hunkered down in coffee shops, typing away at her first Harry Potter novel. After receiving a dozen rejection letters, a small publisher offered her a contract. The rest is history.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates is the most successful college dropout in history. In 1975, Gates enrolled in the prestigious Harvard University. While attending the Ivy League school, the future richest man in the world spent most of his time tinkering around with the school’s computers. Two years into his schooling, Bill Gates decided to take a huge risk; a risk which would become one of the most consequential decisions of the 20^th century.

In 1977, Gates decided to drop out of Harvard to start a small software company with his childhood friend, Paul Allen. In 1981, Microsoft went public, leaving the 26-year-old Gates an instant millionaire. At the age of 31, Bill’s shares in the company surpassed $1 billion. In 1995, less than two decades after dropping out of Harvard, Gates was crowned the richest man in the world.

Elon Musk

As a co-founder of PayPal, Elon Musk was already a multi-millionaire when he decided in 2002 that he wanted to start a company that would make space travel more affordable and would enable people to eventually colonize Mars.

Before launching SpaceX, Musk had no previous experience with design or aerospace, but he was focused on making his vision become a reality. In 2006, he invested over $100 million in SpaceX, a huge risk for a man who had never ventured beyond his entrepreneurial comfort zone. The risk turned out to be a massive success. In 2008, SpaceX secured a $1.8 billion contract with NASA to resupply the International Space Station.

Mark Pincus

In the early-2010s, Zynga was the hottest name in gaming. As creators of massively successful social games, such as Farmville and Mafia Wars, Zynga ruled the casual gaming roost. Though massive success did not come without great risk.

In 1996, Zynga Founder and CEO Mark Pincus’s first company, Freeloader, was on the brink of bankruptcy. With only a month of cash left, an investor offered funding, under the condition that Pincus would hire the CEO of his choice. Mark declined the offer, instead opting to remain independent. A few months later, Pincus obtained funding on his terms, and later sold the company for a hefty return.

To Sum Up

What do all five of these wealthy people have in common? They all made high risk decisions that resulted in massive rewards. Whether it was walking away from millions of dollars, or deciding that the easy path wasn’t the path for them, each and every one of these millionaires and billionaires understood that making a gamble would be the key to their success.

As real estate developer Trammell Crow once said: “Everything in life is a risk. If it’s without risk, it’s probably without profit.” These entrepreneurs prove that to win big, you’ve got to play big. Are you ready to take the risk?

In this article, we’ll discuss why playing UK casino games online is the most immersive way to enjoy the casino experience. Once you’ve read this post, you’ll understand why UK online casinos are so special. You’ll also see why anyone who has tried one for themselves has fallen in love with the UK online casino experience. Here are a few reasons why UK based online casinos are the best gambling sites in the world.

Because It’s an English Tradition

Many people don’t realize how influential casinos have been on the UK’s culture. Gambling has been common in the United Kingdom for centuries. Casinos first appeared in England in the early-1800s and haven’t left since. At the time, UK casinos were often limited to members only, which often consisted of the wealthiest citizens. Now, visiting casinos is amongst the UK people’s most treasured pastimes.

Casinos have come a long way since there debut, yet they continue to be a popular form of leisure in the Queen’s realm. These days, more people are playing UK based online casino games than ever before. Advancements in technology have made gambling websites UK the most convenient, best designed and most entertaining form of casino gaming.

Because When You Play UK Casino Games Online You Get the Royal Treatment

Everybody knows that the English are obsessed with and fascinated by the royal family, but most people don’t know that when you play the best online casino games UK, you too can be treated like the Queen. Independent casinos UK offer many perks and bonuses that make players feel like they are getting the royal treatment. There are many kinds of casino offers UK.

Many online casinos feature special welcome bonuses. These bonuses provide new users with a range of perks, including free spins, no deposit bonuses (free cash added to your balance with no deposit required), or offers to match player deposits up to a certain amount. In addition to welcome bonuses, there are all kinds of promotions, bonuses and daily picks for players of all kinds. Some casino offers UK provide free spins for certain games, and special rewards for performing well in daily tournaments. Everyone is treated like a member of the royal family when they are playing UK casino games online.

Because Casino Offers in the UK are Surprisingly Generous

Online casino players are often amazed by the surprisingly generous offers provided by UK based online casino platforms. The bonuses and promotions awarded by UK online casinos can be sometimes be shocking, in a good way! For example, one bonus might offer to match up to £50 of a player’s deposit. Another great example of a UK casino offer is a free spin bonus for the most popular and entertaining games on the site. When it comes to bonuses, promotions and offers, UK casinos are known for their generosity.

Because the Best Casino Websites in the UK are World Renowned

According to a study, online gambling accounts for 33% of all gambling in the United Kingdom. That is a huge chunk considering that online gambling has only been around for just over 20 years old. The English people love their online gambling because they have many of the best casino websites UK right at their fingertips.

What makes UK online casinos so special? UK based online casino sites feature the most beautiful designs, the most original themes and the most entertaining games in the entire world. Trying one of the UK online casino games for yourself is all the proof you’ll need to understand why the United Kingdom is so well-known for their world-renowned casino games.

Now that you know why UK online casinos are so special, it’s time for you to try one out for yourself. Once you’ve played the best UK online casino games, we know that you’ll agree that online UK casinos are truly the best in the world. Have fun and good luck!

The popularity of slot machines isn’t merely an American phenomenon. The excitement and suspense created online by the different types of slot games is contagious. Because of the innate addictiveness of playing the slots, other countries have been giving slots their own unique spin. The Japanese creation, Pachislo, is one of the most popular, unique and underrated slot machine games on the face of the Earth.

If you’re playing online casino games and never heard of Pachislo, you’ve been missing out on one of the most entertaining slot machine options available today. Pachislo takes the traditional slot machine design and adds several interesting twists, making the game distinct from any other slot option.

Japanese Slot Machine Background

The word Pachislo (pronounced: PATCH-ee-slow) is a portmanteau of the words “slots” and “Pachinko.” While Pachinko is one of the most popular games in Japan, the gameplay of Pachislo shares nothing with the game which influenced its name. The unique name is likely the result of the inventors attempting to capitalize on the popularity of Pachinko in order to attract new players.

Even though gambling is illegal in Japan, the Japanese people still have an insatiable desire to play the different types of slot games. As a result, Japanese businesses were forced to adapt their slot products to fill the desires of the Japanese people.

To circumvent strict gambling laws, the Japanese slot machine accepts tokens instead of coins. Instead of cash payouts, Pachislo awards winners with tokens, which can be exchanged for prizes. The concept is very similar to that of a Chuck E. Cheese or an arcade. Prizes can range from appliances, to electronics, video games, jewelry, clothes, food and even cigarettes.

In some cases, tokens can even indirectly be exchanged for cash. Japanese casinos use a loophole in gambling laws to offer “prizes” which are items that can be redeemed for cash at an exchange center located in close proximity to the casino.

What Makes the Pachislo Slot Machine Unique?

In addition to the game’s reward system, Pachislo offers a slew of unique gameplay features. Perhaps the biggest distinction between traditional slot machines and a Pachislo machine are the stop buttons.

Each reel has its own designated stop button, which allows you to control when each reel stops spinning. Since the machine operator has so much more control over the game than traditional slot machines, Pachislo players can develop a certain level of skill, instead of relying solely on the pure luck. Even though Pachislo offers the player much more control, each machine has its own quirks, which makes developing the skill much harder.

Some Pachislo machines have what appears to be a mind of their own. Since the reels spin so fast, accurately controlling the game is made even harder. While the stop buttons might create the illusion of a simpler game, underestimating the game’s difficulty would be a mistake.

Controlling an online Pachislo game is made more difficult since it does not contain actual reels. The stop results are generated using a random number generator, instead of any physical control. The result is that online Pachislo is more reliant on luck then skill.

Pachislo machines are typically more interactive than traditional slot machines. Many of them contain flashy anime-style graphics, extremely loud sound effects and some even include a gaming narrative of some sort. Machines with LED screens sometimes display a gaming storyline, which is a drastic departure from their counterparts.

Why are Pachislo Slot Machines So Collectible?

By law, Japanese casinos can only use each machine for two years. Once the two years have elapsed, the Pachislo machine is either sold off to a collector or transferred to another casino. Pachislo slot machines are much cheaper than other decommissioned slot machines because of their mass availability.

 To Sum Up

Pachislo is a unique take on the traditional slot machine system, relying on tokens rather than coins. Because of Pachislo’s tendency to include pop culture graphics and video game storylines, the game has become one of the most popular slot machine games. If you don’t like to leave your odds up to pure luck, the Pachislo’s stop buttons provide more control, which can become a learned skill with enough practice. If you’ve never taken a Pachislo machine for a spin, give it a try. If you like slots, you’ll like Pachislo.

We have decided to put together a list of important things to know about these activities. These fact will help you pick a game that most suits you and decide where your chances of winning are better. Let’s jump right into it.

Casino Games

Casino gambling doesn’t require from a player to have any previous experience or background knowledge. Everyone can place bets in a casino and win astonishing rewards. There is a chance that a completely new player gets the jackpot. There is no “I’ve figured the scheme or pattern to win me some money” mindset in this gambling area. The waiting game is kept to a minimum and everyone knows the results of the bet they’ve placed in the matter of seconds.

With online casinos. everything is even made easy so that anyone can participate. The easiest casino games found online that don’t require any previously acquired skills whatsoever are bingo, video slots, keno and scratch cards. End even these offer people to win big money.

If you feel that you need to participate in more challenging games that involve skill, knowledge and good will to test your luck, you shouldn’t worry. Online casinos also offer live video games such as blackjack, poker, and other table oriented games. These games attract many people because they are a perfect mix of chance, or luck if you prefer, and skills or knowledge.

There is also one more important distinction between casino gambling and sports betting – the learning curve in sports betting is much more steep than the one in casino betting. Additionally, sports betting offers just one game in a limited number of variations (the goals can be points in the game, who would score first, and so on), while online casinos offer a plethora of games, each one offering a unique vibe and experience.

Sports Betting

Sports betting is as old as sport. It started to reach popularity with the first public horse racing tracks. Despite who you were and what social-economic class you came from, you could place bets on your favorite horse. With the invention of television and then Teletext and the Internet, sports betting went viral.

Today, sports betting become so serious that some people call it a hobby while others pursue it as a career. These people believe that it takes serious research in order to learn how to smartly invest money and put significant wagers while being absolutely sure that your will win the bet. Some of the factors include: team morale, impact of new players, occurring injuries, achieved results from the previous seasons as well as the current one, home field advantage, and so on.

Sports betting is not a straightforward activity. “All in on black”, or “I’ll draw another one”, is replaced with proposition bets, future bets, in-play bets and parlays in sports betting.

People who are serious about sports betting have taken the fun out of it and decided that it takes real effort and true dedication if you want to increase your chances of winning.

In any case, if you are completely new to sports betting, you should know that there are numerous systems for betting. You will definitely have to devote some time to learn this stuff in order to get a hold of it. Overall, the system is designed to make gamblers feel more responsible for their decisions and have a false sense of control.

While the payouts in sports betting are as large as they are in casino games, there are no facts that dictate that your chances of winning money are better with one or the other.

The Verdict

Poeple who are hard core about sports betting claim that their bats are based on knowledge. Knowledge on teams, players (including what they are going through in their personal lives), how each team plays at home or when visiting, and other “scientific” correlative factors. They claim that they are placing the best bet because they are certain who will win and what the score will be.

If that were true, don’t you think that everyone would be winning in sports betting all the time? Since most people don’t, this whole rationalization and assumption is wrong. So, maybe it is wise to reconsider this and place your trust in the hands of “lady luck” instead of your presumed knowledge.

That’s why when you travel, you can pull a few tricks to elevate the experience, without necessarily spending a great deal of money, tricks that will make you feel like a winner and make others treat you like one.

Traveling triggers a certain type of response in the brain. Humans are a naturally nomadic species, and throughout history whenever there was an option for travel and exploration, we have taken it. It is a way to escape the mundaneness of the everyday life, to open up your senses and to get out of your comfort zone. It opens the eyes and excites the senses in ways that many people haven’t felt since they were kids. A trip, properly prepared for, is one of the best experiences many of us will have.

You can’t plan for every possible contingency when traveling though, and that is part of the adventure. At the end of the day you will have to let go of trying to control every aspect of the trip. Let the journey carry you to unexpected places and you will truly have something to write home about.

With that said, there are five specific principles I try and live by when I take a trip, and they have made my experiences immensely more fulfilling and fun.

Do Your Research and Go to All the Right Places

Explore and do what YOU want. If you only have a limited time in a country, hitting the tourist traps may very well be one of the worst ways to spend your time. Being herded in with a mob of other foreigners is just not the exotic adventure most seek out when they visit another country.

Put some time aside to see something if it is a must on your list, but give yourself free time to just explore and meet people. Being in another country isn’t just about seeing different architecture or seeing a new painting, it’s about the culture and experiencing how other humans live. The more on the tourist trail you stay, the less of that country you will actually experience.

Try checking out travel blogs or sites like coolcousin.com to see what the locals recommend. The best sites are very often just off the beaten path.

Bring a Hot Companion (or Arrange to Meet)

Doing something amazing is always better with someone to share it with. There is a big difference in traveling with someone, and traveling and eventually meeting someone. Most of my excursions have been done alone, but this has allowed me to meet some of the most interesting people from some of the most interesting places.

When you arrive with somebody, your social interactions become much more insular. It often becomes an island of you and your companion from home in a sea others. Without someone else initially there, it forces you to open up and meet locals and other travelers – and doing that opens you up to a whole new world of possibilities that lie outside of the trodden path.

Making friends is all well and good, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Romantic flings of every kind are a bit of a travel cliché for a reason. People in a new place, on an adventure, want to live it to the max. This brings out the romantic in many, and I have witnessed both serious and not-so-serious relationships come from something as simple as a shared tuk-tuk ride. Plus, it’s human nature that everything is a bit better with somebody new and attractive by your side. Plus, if you do decide to go to a casino – now you have someone to blow on your dice for you!

With technology, finding new friends and romantic interests is easier than ever. There are entire apps dedicated to meeting other travelers, or for travelers to meet locals. Check out apps and sites like Backpackr, Triplisher, and Tripr. Really there are too many of these services to list them all, plus there are usually destination country specific versions as well. Popular social media apps like Instagram and Tinder are also still extremely effective for finding local people you may share interests with.

Visit a Casino

Not everything you do has to be “enriching”; this is another trap that prevents many from really enjoying their trip. A vacation is a vacation and you should do what you want to do. Hit the casino, go to a bar and just have fun.

In fact, going to a casino dressed for success is still one of the most fun and ego-boosting activities you can do in my opinion, regardless of where in the world you are; if you are in Europe, you should know that UK casino games are all the rage, and then some. Even if you don’t have a lot to spend, put on the airs of a high roller and soak up that ego boost.

(Over-) Dress for the Occasion

Until you make it a point to purposely test this theory, you won’t believe how much of a difference what you wear affects how others look at and treat you. We are all fairly conscious about the way we dress back home and how that is portrayed to the world – yet when people travel it seems they have a hard time gauging how what they are wearing still affects perception.

It is easy in a hot climate like Thailand, for example, to just eschew nicer clothes and wear shorts and tank tops all the time – it really is much more comfortable that way – but the people will simply treat you as a somewhat slob-ish tourist. They will sell you things but that is about it. Overdress a bit and look good and the entire experience will shift.

Wear Sunglasses Indoors

Looking like a high-roller and acting the part will open amazing doors for you in some of the most unlikely places. Even something as simple as “tactical accessories,” rocking sunglasses indoors for example, will bring you an inordinate amount of attention – and if you look good – that attention will almost undoubtedly be positive.

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So stop thinking about it and just do it. Grab your best clothes, throw on some shades and make waves in a faraway land. If your life was a movie, would you want to watch it?

The one thing you might not be all that clear about, is drinking in Sin City. The man-made oasis in the middle of the desert has its own rules when it comes to booze. So here is what you need to know about drinking in Vegas.

Open Container Law

If you’re not familiar with the term “open container” when it comes to alcohol, this is how it goes: in the U.S. you aren’t allowed to consume alcohol on the streets, in parks, on the beach – basically, out in the open. That’s what the Open Container law stipulates – it’s against the law to walk, or drive around with an open bottle, can, jar or glass of alcohol.

Las Vegas though, as a mega-tourist attraction, is one of the only places in America where the open container law doesn’t apply; New Orleans is another, which is what makes Bourbon Street such a true delight.

So it’s OK to walk around with a beer, a glass of wine or any cocktail you desire. But one thing you should be aware of – no glass containers. If you bought a bottle of beer, pour it to a plastic cup before you start walking up and down the Strip. By the way, you’re also can’t carry a glass with coke in it, or orange juice. Just plastic cups people.

Another thing you should be aware of regarding the open container law – although it’s pretty obvious – you must be 21 years old in order to carry an open container with booze in it, whether you’re the one drinking it or not. So don’t give your kids to carry your beer, you might get them in trouble.

Two more things real quick: when you’re drinking, you must be 1000 feet (300 meters) from places of worship, schools, hospitals and homeless shelters. And, that’s the best one, if you buy a sealed container of alcohol, you must get 1000 feet away from where you purchased it before you can open it. This last one makes tons of sense, doesn’t it?

24/7 Casinos

And now for the good news – alcohol can be purchased in Vegas 24 hours a day, seven days a week, same hours and days that the casinos are open (both in the city of Vegas and online casino in UK.) For all you Europeans raising an eyebrow, this is vastly different from the rest of the U.S. where selling of alcohol is forbidden between 4am to 10am, and of course, on Sundays.

That’s all the good news we had. Back to reality.

Drinks Are Getting Smaller

Believe it or not, but drinks are getting smaller in Vegas. Normally, traditionally, the standard portion of liquor is 1.5 ounces. That’s what you get in a shot glass, that’s the amount of gin you get when you order a gin & tonic.

Now, with MGM Resort leading the way, the New Vegas Liquor Portion is 1.25 ounces. It seems minor, but it is from it.

First of all, consumer wise, you are getting 5/6 of the alcohol. Your cocktail will have less of a kick, since the glasses stay the same size. And the knowing that the casino operator is skimping on your drink when you are spending money there, stings a bit. If in any other bar in the U.S., and the rest of the world for that matter, you are getting a certain amount of liquor in your drink, why would it be any different in the MGM Resort bar in Vegas? It’s not like that the MGM is a struggling business trying to cut costs in any way they can in order to stay open.

Casino operator wise, they are posed to save a lot of money. On every alcoholic drink served they are cutting 5/6 of the cost; this adds up.

Comped Drinks Policy is Getting Harsher

Like milk and honey, thunder and lightning, Fred Ester and Ginger Rogers – another splendid duo is gambling and alcohol. Being in a casino with a drink in your hand is set in stone, for most gamblers. And for that, one of the pillars of the casino experience is the free drinks – you call a waitress, she comes over, you order a drink and get it, just like that. Well, this ancient Vegas tradition is now being challenged!

Some of the mega casinos are creating a new drink-reality: you get what you spend. Meaning, the casinos keep an eye on how much you spend and according to that will decide whether to offer you a free drink.

This is now being tested on the machines – slot machines and video poker machines, since they are the easiest to track the amount of money a player spends. A green bulb will light up at the back of the machine you’re playing once you’ve spent enough to get a free drink. You playing the nickel machines and taking your time? The waitress won’t come your way.

A new dilemma has been created for the video poker players and those who wish to win online slots (even though they are on the casino floor – do I spend more on the machine in order to get a free drink, or play as I wish and just buy a drink? Stay tuned for scholarly articles coming out of the match departments of leading universities in coming years trying to answer this question.