Golden Needles | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

Golden Needles | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

Golden Needles | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

RELEASE DATE: September 21, 2021

On September 21, 2021, Kino Lorber will be releasing a Blu-ray for 1974’s Golden Needles, an actioner directed by Robert Clouse (Enter the Dragon, Game of Death, The Big Brawl). The film will be presented with a New 2K master.

A priceless ancient Chinese statue is pursued halfway across the world. The legend of the golden statue (which contains seven youth-restoring acupuncture needles) promises the owner health and incredible vigour, but can also deliver a painful death.

The film stars Joe Don Baker (Cape Fear, Goldeneye, Walking Tall), Burgess Continue reading

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles, News |

Baccarat – game explanation, strategy, and tips

Anyone who is a fan of the earlier James Bond movies will know that the British spy has a fondness for the casino, and specifically for the game Baccarat. In Macau they also love Baccarat, that’s where most of the revenue comes from the game.

The popularity of the game is easily explained: its simplicity. You can’t do anything wrong in baccarat and the action is fast-paced. This makes it the ideal game for novice casino goers, but even players who visit more often will get plenty of adrenaline from dealing the cards.

We first explain the rules of the baccarat game, including Punto Banco which is the dutch version of baccarat, then briefly discuss optimal strategy to ensure you play it right at your favorite online casino. Finally, cover the history of the game and answer several frequently asked questions.

Baccarat Game Rules

Baccarat exists in several variants. The one played in the Netherlands is called Punto Banco but is sometimes also called simply Baccarat. Also in casinos in Las Vegas, the United Kingdom, Macau, and Australia you will encounter this version of the game. Other variants of the game, we’ll cover later.

In Punto Banco, all you have to do as a player is bet. The dealing of the cards, making all further decisions, and paying out are all done by the dealer. A decision to take another card or not, as in Blackjack, for example, is not an issue but is done automatically where necessary.

In baccarat, the one who gets closest to 9 wins. The value of the cards you add up but the cards have slightly different values than you are used to from many other games. The ace counts as one and the Jacks and Tens are worth 0 points. The cards with a value of 2 through 9 are worth their own value.

Value of cards in baccarat

The player and the banker are dealt two and sometimes three cards in baccarat. With that, you can easily go over 9 of course, but tens don’t count in baccarat. So if you have 10 or more after adding up your cards, another ten goes off. 

Punto, Banco, or Equality

The first and only decision you have to make as a player is to bet on “punto,” “banco,” or “egalité. Since no information is known yet, this is a pure guess.

Although “punto” stands for player and is also called “player” in English casinos, and “banco” stands for banker, there is no further meaning in this. The dealer performs all the operations, and as a player you can also choose “banco” without any problem. You only gamble on who gets closer to 9.

If you bet on ‘egalité‘, you are betting that ‘punto’ and ‘banco’ will score exactly the same amount of points.

Two for Punto and two for Banco

Once the bets are made, the dealer will deal the first four cards. From a slipper (a large closed box usually containing six or eight decks of cards, called a “shoe” in English), the dealer first draws a card and places it in the “punto” (or player, or player) box and then one in the “banco” (or bank, or banker) box.

Then both squares on the table receive another card so that both ‘punto’ and ‘banco’ both have two open cards.

Right away eight or nine?

Usually, the dealer will immediately pronounce how many points ‘punto’ and ‘banco’ have. If you play Punto Banco at an online casino, the software will indicate how many points each person has.

If either the ‘punto’ or the ‘banco’ has eight or nine, then the game is over immediately. The one with the highest score (eight or nine) then wins immediately and the dealer will make the payout.

For example, if the player has eight and the bank has nine, the bank wins. If the player would have eight and the bank six, the player wins.

If the player and the bank both do not have eight or nine, the game continues. The player’s turn comes first. If he has 6 or 7, he does not get another card and the action goes to the bank. If the player has a total score of 0 to 5, he gets one more card.

Although the action is now with the bank, the first thing to look at is what the player has done. If the player has a 6 or a 7 (and therefore did not get a card) then the same rules apply to the bank. If the banker has a 6 or a 7 then he takes no card and if he has a score of 0 to 5 then he gets one more card.

Baccarat rules – act of the bank

If the player has received a third card, then special rules apply for the bank. The bank then first looks at its own score, and acts on it according to the following rules:

Bank score  Act of the bank  Only if 
0, 1, 2  Another card 
Another card  The player’s third card was not an 8 
Another card  The player’s third card was a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 
Another card  The player’s third card was a 4, 5, 6, or 7 
Another card  The player’s third card was a 6 or 7 
No third card 

 

With all the action now behind us, it’s simple to see who wins. Whichever of the two – punto or banco – is closest to 9 wins. If all two have the same point total (no matter which cards or how many cards) then it is egalitarian; a tie.

The payout varies by the casino and can always be found on the provider’s website, or you can ask the dealer about it.

Baccarat house edge

Because you have no influence on the course of the game, you cannot increase or decrease the house edge. After all, you can do nothing wrong with the game.

The house edge in Punto Banco depends on the different rules that the casino applies. In the variant where you pay five percent commission on successful bets on banco, then the following house advantages apply:

  • If you bet on Banco, the house edge is 1.06%.
  • If you bet on Punto, the house edge is 1.24%.
  • If you bet on Egalité, then the house edge is 14.36% (if you get 8 times your bet)

If a casino applies different rules then the house advantage will be different. For example, if you receive 9 times your winnings when successfully betting on Equality, the house edge falls from 14.36% to 4.85%. And for Straight Punto Banco (also called No Commission Baccarat) the house edge depends very much on the point total on which you get paid only half.

The house edge on the egalitarian bet is often very high.

Baccarat Strategy

About a strategy for Baccarat we can be clear: always bet on Banco/Bank/Banker. Punto Banco is a pure gambling game, there is no dexterity factor in it. But if you bet on Banco you are the least far behind, even if they still take 5% of the winning bets. The rules of the game are such that Banco wins most often.

A bet on Egalité is the least strategic thing you can do. With this betting option, you are furthest behind.

The correct strategy in Punto Banco is therefore always to bet on Banco. The rest comes down to luck!

Many casinos offer various side-bets with sometimes high payout options. For example, you can bet on the number of points won, or the exact combination used to win. Especially pairs (for example, two fours for a score of 8) are popular side-bets. Whatever these side-bets are, the house edge is always significant and is therefore not recommended. This applies not only to Punto Banco/Baccarat but to virtually all side bets in traditional casino games.

The correct strategy in Punto Banco is therefore always to bet on Banco. The rest comes down to luck!

Baccarat and superstition

Anyone who has ever been to Macau knows that the gamblers there are superstitious. Baccarat players are allowed to turn up their cards and almost squeeze the cards to increase the tension. They also blow at the cards, sometimes before flipping them open but also afterward if they didn’t get what they wanted.

If the cards are really bad, some players crumple up the cards making them useless. Because the game is so popular and casinos like to see baccarat players, this is allowed in many casinos. However, the casinos then use special cardboard cards whose decks are only used once.

In some cases, wads of cards are thrown at the dealer by players expressing their displeasure. Although this is against the rules of all casinos, it is often turned a blind eye in the case of high rollers.

In casinos in Macau, it is common for players to walk from one Baccarat table to another looking for trends. Special displays next to the table showing who (punto or banco) won in each round. If players see the same player win several times in a row, they play along with that player on that table.

The phenomenon of superstition in Baccarat can also be seen in some Las Vegas casinos, and the crumpling and tearing of cards have also made its appearance in the gambling capital of the world.

Baccarat history

Baccarat has been played for centuries, although the game has gone through some transformations. Because games and gambling were not considered high arts, historiography is often limited. This is also true of baccarat, for which no written sources exist from before the 19th century.

The exact history of the game remains a mystery, although some historians have ventured into the subject. Some of them draw a parallel to Pai Gow, the Asian game originally played with special stones. The similarities between the two games are very limited, but the similarity is in the name. Pai Gow means “to make nine,” which is also the ultimate goal in baccarat.

Other historians see similarities with the nine-sided die that was said to have been used in ritual in ancient Rome. Roman priestesses, the so-called Vestal Virgins, depended on their fate on the nine-sided die. If they rolled an 8 or a 9 then they would become a high priestess. A 6 or a 7 meant they would be allowed to live but would lose their priesthood. Lower than a 6 meant they would be forced to walk into the sea to commit suicide, so the story goes.

Although there are similarities between Baccarat and the legend of the 9-sided die, the evidence that the two are related is paper-thin.

Using Tarot Cards, the Italian Felix Falguiere introduced a game similar to today’s Baccarat. Under the name Baccara the game was described where players aimed for a score of 9. Also, games like Macao and Le Her had a similar setup but it is unknown which game was introduced in which year.

Baccarat is known today primarily as a French game, although it is played all over the world and is especially popular in Asia. According to historiography, Baccarat (the French wording for the game then known as Baccara) was brought home by French soldiers when they returned from a conflict with Italy in the 1490s.

After the game was introduced to France, it quickly became popular at the French court. Even when gambling was banned in France, the popularity of Baccarat remained unprecedented. Since the game “Chemin de fer” is French for railroad (literally iron road), it can be assumed that this variant emerged after the introduction of the first French railroad in 1827. However, it is also possible that “Chemin de fer” is a name that the game received later after being known by another name before that.

In 1847, M. van-Tenac publishes the book “Album des Jeux” with an explanation and mathematical approach to various games. To Baccarat, 13 pages (pages 84 to 97) are devoted in the book and the calculation of probability is discussed in detail.

The crossing to America was soon made. The first time the game of Baccarat is mentioned in a source still available today is in 1871 in the New York Times. In the gossip article dated August 14 of that year, it is mentioned that visitors to the Club-House in Long Branch, New Jersey could play the games Faro, roulette, and Baccarat. If you search for the term Baccarat on nytimes.com and sort by oldest first, you will see that Baccarat is frequently written about in the years after 1871, although many articles are also about what is happening in Europe (especially France).

A handhold for historians is the book ‘The Official Rules of Card Games Up to Date’ by Edmond Hoyle, published in 1911. This reference work describes the variants ‘Baccarat en Banque’ and ‘Chemin de Fer’.

So although Baccarat had been played in America since at least 1871 and the rules were widely known since 1911, the game was not mentioned in the law that legalized gambling in the state of Nevada in 1931. In that law, nicknamed the “Wide Open Gambling Bill” roulette, keno, twenty-one, blackjack, and several other games are mentioned, but Baccarat remains unmentioned.

In 1958, the Sands (the hotel in Las Vegas where The Venetian stands today) introduced Baccarat to Las Vegas according to various sources. It was the ‘Chemin de for a variant that made its appearance. The popularity of the game did not really increase until Punto Banco was introduced a year later. Tommy Renzoni, who wrote a book about the game, claimed to have introduced the game in Las Vegas after he found it had been played in Argentina for some time.

Baccarat is hugely popular in Asia today. Most of the revenue in casinos in Macau is garnered from the game. Although card games have always been popular in Asia and there is evidence that a similar game was played in the East even before its popularity in Europe, it is likely that the game as played today has blown over from America and Europe. Casinos in Macau are full of Baccarat tables.

Baccarat Knew-Knows

  • Baccarat is an umbrella term for several games, including Punto Banco, Chemin de fer, and Baccarat Banque. Because the Punto Banco variant is so immensely popular, this game is also often called Baccarat for short.
  • Straight Punto Banco is the most popular form of Punto Banco and therefore Baccarat. In Straight Punto Banco (also known as No Commission Punto Banco) you don’t have to pay commission on your winnings whereas with traditional Punto Banco you have to. But this does not mean that you are better off in this variant, the rules have been changed slightly so that the house still has an advantage.
  • Punto Banco is one of the simplest games in the casino because you have no influence on the final outcome. You just have to bet on who you think will win punto or banco (or choose a tie). You can’t do anything wrong.
  • Punto Banco is one of the games in the casino with the lowest house edge. Therefore, if you want to spend a long time with your money, this is a great game to play. If you choose Banco, the casino has an advantage of just over 1%.
  • At Punto Banco choosing Banco is the best option? With a house edge of 1.06%, you’re the least far behind here. If you go for Tie or bet on one of the many side-bets, the house edge is many times greater.
  • James Bond played Baccarat as early as the first movie? In the 1962 film Dr. No, Bond took on Sylvia Trench at the Chemin de fer table, a variant of Baccarat.
  • Baccarat is known as a French game but probably originated in Italy? Historians don’t quite agree but as early as the 1,400s a game was played in Rome that bears similarities to the game we know today as Baccarat.
  • Baccarat is the most popular game in casinos in Macau. More than XX% of the revenue of casinos in Macau comes from Baccarat tables.
  • Players in Macau often crumple up the cards at Baccarat and that is allowed. The casinos use cardboard cards on purpose and throw away each deck after it has been used once.
Posted in News |

Seaman No. 7 (1973) Review

"Seaman. No 7" Theatrical Poster

“Seaman. No 7” Theatrical Poster

Director: Lo Wei
Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Maria Yi, James Tien Chun, Tien Feng, Han Ying Chieh, Kelly Lee Hoi Lee, Gam Saan, Chin Yuet Sang, Lo Wei, Lam Ching Ying, Ma Man-Chun
Running Time: 100 min. 

By Ian Whittle

I think we’ve found a winner for the Most Underwhelming Kung Fu Movie Title…no wonder the UK VHS was re-named Wang Yu’s Magnificent Fights.

For some reason, after a winning streak of top-notch wu xia films at Shaw Brothers, and his blockbuster hits with Bruce Lee at rival studio Golden Harvest, director Lo Wei seemed to lose all momentum in 1973 and despite working with top talent Cheng Pei-pei and Jimmy Wang Yu (not to mention Chuck Norris!), his films became increasingly stodgy and over-reliant on dull dialogue passages. This would continue onto his independent productions, where he would try and fail (and then try again) to launch Jackie Chan as a star. Ironically, once Jackie became a star when loaned out to Seasonal Films, Lo would find his groove again in time for the above-average Dragon Fist.

Produced on location in Japan alongside A Man Called Tiger, Seaman No.7 involves a hot-headed sailor played by Jimmy Wang Yu, whose constant wolf-whistling here is presumably meant to stress he is a sailor (as if the gaudy t-shirts and cap weren’t a giveaway) but equally could be a case of “Well, Bruce Lee wolf-whistled in his last picture, and that grossed millions…” Wang Yu, being Wang Yu, hates the Japanese and leaps into a brawl with some Japanese sailors at a bar. During the frey, he accidentally kills a bystander, and escapes by stowing away on a ship bound for Kobe Dock in Japan. He is discovered by the crew and suddenly finds himself in demand Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, Golden Harvest, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , |

Throw Down | Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion)

Throw Down | Blu-ray (Criterion)

Throw Down | Blu-ray (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: September 21, 2021

On September 21, 2021, Criterion Collection is releasing the Blu-ray & DVD for Johnnie To’s Milkway Image 2004 classic thriller Throw Down.

Check out the official details below:

One of the most personal films by the prolific Hong Kong auteur Johnnie To is a thrilling love letter to both the cinema of Akira Kurosawa and the art and philosophy of judo. Amid the neon-drenched nightclubs and gambling dens of Hong Kong’s nocturnal underworld, the fates of three wandering souls—a former judo champion now barely scraping by as an alcoholic bar owner (Louis Koo), a young fighter (Aaron Kwok) intent on challenging him, and a singer (Cherrie Ying) chasing dreams of stardom—collide in an operatic explosion of human Continue reading

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, News |

Rizk Casino Review – The Best Online Casino of 2021

Rizk casino entered the market with the rather cheeky slogan “Real rewards – no bullshit”, which means that Rizk casino is honest, genuine, and transparent without any rules hidden in small print. The line has held to this day. Not only is Rizk worth joining for the excellent perks in particular, but the casino also delights players with its original superhero theme. The games are played under the leadership of Captain Rizk!

The Wheel of Rizk, however, is probably Rizk’s biggest specialty. You can spin the wheel as soon as you register and later as you progress to the next level. The wheel’s payouts also get better as the player’s level increases. New players often get free spins on the wheel with no wagering requirement. All other prizes won on the wheel are always non-revolving.

Rizk is an online casino owned by Zecure Gaming, a subsidiary of the Gaming Innovation Group, and is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). It offers an all-around great environment to enjoy the games. Although the casino, which opened in 2016, may not be a new casino anymore, the interface is very modern and works well. 

In this article, we will walk through the review of Rizk casino including its bonuses and game selection. However, if you’re still not convinced after reading this, we suggest you read a deeper review on this page.

Rizk casino bonuses

Rizk Casino offers new players a very attractive welcome bonus. We recommend you give this casino a try. Previously, Rizk’s bonus on the first deposit was a 200% bonus up to $50, but it was updated at the turn of May-June 2021. With the new bonus, the multiplier is lower, but by claiming the max, you can play with a bankroll of as much as $1000!

No deposit bonus

  • 1x spin on Wheel of Rizk

As soon as you open an account, you can spin the Wheel of Rizk Wheel of Fortune with no deposit required. The wheel will give you a minimum of 10 free spins and you get to choose between a few slots to take your spins on. At best, you can win $25 in play money from the Wheel of Rizk.

First deposit bonus

  • 100% bonus up to $500 + 1x Wheel of Rizk spin

On the first deposit, players will receive a hefty 200% deposit bonus up to $100 + 50 free spins. Deposit $100, get an additional $100 in bonus money.

The previous bonus came with an additional 50 free spins, which have been replaced by a single spin on Rizk’s own “Wheel of Fortune” in the new offer. So depending on your luck, this current one could be either a slightly worse deal or a much better deal!

Bonus terms and conditions and other rules

The terms and conditions have not changed in the revised bonus. The following rules apply to bonuses:

  • Nonsticky bonus 
  • Recycling requirement 45x
  • 30-day time limit
  • Free Spins ALWAYS free spins
  • 5$ maximum bet
  • Minimum deposit of 10$ (Skrill or Neteller cannot be used to claim the bonus)
  • There is no cap on the winnings earned with the bonus
  • Wagering: all slots 100%, table games, and live casino 10%, video poker 0%
  • Cold Games and Deal or No Deal Live games may not be used in recycling.

Be sure to check the up-to-date bonus terms and conditions yourself before making a deposit!

Bonus code

You don’t need a bonus code at Rizk.

Rizk free spins

Wheel of Rizk usually results in 10 free spins. Of course, players have the chance to win more, up to $25 in free play money. The player can choose between a few slots to take the free spins won from the wheel.

The free spins don’t end after Wheel of Rizk, as 50 free spins are awarded on your first deposit. Unlike the free spins won on the Wheel of Rizk, the free spins awarded with the first deposit cannot be terminated. The free spins are also not awarded to the player immediately but in batches of 10 spins over the next five days.

Wheel of Rizk and Rizk Race

Rizk casino is particularly appealing for its simplicity and the casino’s equivalent of various VIP programs is no exception. When you play at Rizk Casino, you accumulate the “Power Bar” meter featured on the site. Once the bar is ticked, the player is able to spin the Wheel of Rizk again. Similarly, the player will be promoted to a new level (Level Up). The higher the level of the Wheel of Rizk, the better the rewards on the wheel. With a free spin on registration, the Wheel of Fortune offers the following prizes (pictured above):

  • Free money
  • Free spins
  • Super Spins
  • Mega Spins
  • Double speed
  • Cashback

Similarly, the free spins won on this first spin could be spent on any of the following games: Starburst, Book of Dead, Vikings Go Berzerk, Valley of the Gods, Ancient Egypt, Mystery Reels Megaways, The Shadow Order, Rise of Merlin.

Every tenth level unlocks a SuperWheel, while an ExtraWheel is obtained on the first level up of the day – with the chance to win better prizes.

In addition to the Wheel of Rizk, players can also take part in the regular Rizk Race. The casino also runs other promotions, such as gift vouchers.

While such perks are always nice to have, Wheel of Rizk could do with a little fresh air. After a certain point, free spins no longer offer any shocking experiences for experienced players. The risk-free bets are a nice spice, of course.

Offers – Rizk insider

If you get bored of gambling, the Rizk Insider section offers fresh experiences in the form of various offers and promotions. Let’s take a closer look at two of them to get a feel for what the benefits are all about!

Double speed in Wins of Fortune for a week allows you to accumulate the Power Bar required to spin the Wheel of Rizk at a very fast pace. In Multiplier Mania, the top prize of $7,500 is up for grabs for those with a 1500x multiplier on the scoreboard, plus a nice 50 random prizes. The $2,500 random prize is up for grabs with a 500x random multiplier. The games available in this promotion are Pirate Gold, Joker’s Jewels, Great Rhino, John Hunter, and the Secrets of Da Vinci’s Treasure and The Dog House.

Game selection and interface

Rizk’s game selection includes a number of games that are popular with players and other Nordic players. Well-known game providers such as NetEnt, Play’n Go, Quickspin, and Microgaming can be found in Rizk’s game selection. As a result, the variety of games at this casino is excellent, with no less than 3000 titles to choose from. Of course, the best-represented games in the gaming lobby are the slots.

Games are browsed Netflix-style in the casino, making it quick and easy to switch from one game to another. It is also possible to watch a short introductory text before moving on to the actual game. There are five ‘main categories’ under the search bar: favorites, all, suppliers, jackpot games, and race games. For the jackpot hunters, there are 24 jackpot games, including of course the legendary Hall of Gods, Mega Moolah, and Mega Fortune.

In addition to this, scrolling down the game selection reveals slightly more specific categories such as wilds, daily prizes, high volatility, jackpots with a known jackpot, megaways, re-spins, and multipliers. Such groupings based on game type take browsing the game selection to a whole new level, so you have to give Rizk Casino a big plus for this. However, the browsing could have been organized a little better, as there is plenty of room for more in the main categories bar!

It’s hard not to like the site’s dark, clean visuals. Especially for anyone who switches from one service to another at night, this look and feel are like velvet to the eyes. Add to this the stunning graphics and the great effect colors and the look is a real knockout.

Live casino

In addition to slots, Rizk Casino has a live casino, where games are mainly provided by Evolution Gaming. Some Rizk-themed tables are also available, supplied by NetEnt Live. All traditional table games are available in the Evolution Gaming lobby, but personalized Rizk tables are not specifically ordered by the casino from the gaming supplier. Live games can of course be played on mobile devices.

Mobile casino

A dedicated casino app is available for both Apple and Android smartphone owners, but the games are also great on the browser. The team at Rizk has clearly worked hard to ensure that the site runs smoothly on mobile devices and very quickly. The same functions work on the phone as on the computer, so you can get your money in and out on the go.

The games available on mobile are quite nice, with almost half of the games available. Older-generation slots fall by the wayside simply because they are implemented using outdated technologies that are no longer supported by mobile devices. It’s a phenomenon familiar to all other online casinos. Therefore, it can be said that Rizk casino has paid due attention to mobile gaming, which has been on the rise recently.

Rizk Betting

Rizk casino is not just an online casino specializing in slots but also offers to bet. There are also various promotions such as “Rizk free” bets available there all the time. On the betting side, as you would expect, you can bet on all the major sports and plenty of smaller ones, and you can bet both traditionally and live.

The betting, like the rest of the site, is very well done, and browsing through the sites and odds is a breeze. Opening a single item is like being in The Wolf of Wall Street, as the screen is hit with nicely visualized real-time data on the match.

Money transfers

  • Casino minimum deposit 5$ (Chip Mobile, other 10$)

Rizk offers a very comprehensive range of different money transfer methods. Deposit methods include card deposits (Visa & Mastercard casinos), online bank deposits via Trustly or Euteller, Skrill and Neteller net wallets, Zimpler and Siru mobile payments, and Paysafecard (Paysafecard casinos).

Other recent additions include ApplePay (mobile), MuchBetter, Revolut, and the domestic Transfer Payment service, launched in 2017. Although players still prefer traditional payment methods, Revolut, for example, is growing in popularity too.

Transfer casinos like Rizk allow OP, Nordea, and Danske Bank customers to make instant deposits. All deposits are free of charge on behalf of the casino and are processed immediately, but some payment methods may incur a deposit fee from the payment providers. SMS deposits are often an example of this. The minimum deposit for Rizki is $5 on Siru Mobile (Siru casinos) and $10 on all other payment methods, except for Zimpler (Zimpler casinos) where a $20 deposit is required.

Rizk cashout

Withdrawals can be made via Neteller, Skrill, Trustly (Trustly Casinos), and Visa. As with deposits, withdrawals are free at Rizk. Rizk withdrawal times are top-notch, as they are processed instantly, except for Visa. With Visa, the processing time is between one and three business days. The rest, as you know, depends on the payment method you choose, but Trustly, for example, offers very fast withdrawals. The minimum withdrawal is $20.

Lifting lock

Rizk casino keeps its straightforward “no bullshit” policy on withdrawals by offering a rather unique feature: lockable withdrawals. This feature is great for anyone who, shortly after requesting a withdrawal, starts itching their fingers for the cancel button – after unlocking, you can itch your fingers all you want, but the withdrawal will arrive.

Customer service – Rizk Suomi

Rizk Casino’s customer service is open every day from 09.00 – 01.00, so you can get service from morning till night. If you are fluent in English, you can get service 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The quickest way to get help is via the live chat on the sidebar, but you can also contact us by email (support@rizk.com) or by submitting a call request. Average response times are 30 seconds for live chat, half an hour to an hour for email, and 15-60 minutes for a call.

Sustainability

Rizk has a good basic package on responsible gambling. These include a quick self-assessment questionnaire and information on the various organizations that help problem gamblers. There are also a number of tools, such as a pause and suspend function, a ban function, and the possibility to set your own gaming limits.

As an added bonus, as soon as you start playing, a Reality Check window pops up, allowing you to set a time limit for yourself so you don’t get too immersed in the world of gambling for too long. Thumbs up for that – play responsibly!

Rizk experiences – summary

Playing at Rizk is a very pleasant experience and the casino’s bonus for new players is one of the best available. The visual appearance of the site is very successful, customer service is available in English of course, and problems can be solved quickly. The game selection is very comprehensive both on desktop and mobile, and the ability to browse games based on different game features makes finding new favorites very effortless.

Players will also be delighted with Rizk’s very comprehensive money transfer options, and of course, their speed and free of charge. The tax exemption on winnings granted by the Maltese gaming license is also a good thing. The first deposit bonus is generous and the bonuses (and their terms) are clear. Wheel of Rizk and Rizk Race tournaments add a nice extra spice to the game, especially as the prizes are always non-revolving. To top it all off, there are always plenty of new promotions on the Rizk Insider page, which means that the bonuses at this casino don’t end in a flash.

The Gaming Innovation Group’s casinos are a sure bet for quality, and Rizk is no exception. It’s easy to give this online casino a big thumbs up and a strong recommendation.

 

Posted in News |

Bitstarz: The Japanese’s favorite online casino – exclusive bonuses and review

Bitstarz: The Japanese’s favorite online casino – exclusive bonuses and review

Welcome to Bitstarz, a multi-currency, hybrid currency casino! 

Bitstarz is an online casino that is very famous in Japan with the Japanese name called ビットスターズ. It offers not only a wide variety of popular games which are popular among Japanese players, but also customer support on a daily basis in multiple languages to ensure that players can enjoy their time at the casino.

Moreover, only Bitstarz allows you to manage 10 different currencies and 5 virtual currencies in one account. In addition to casino games, you get to enjoy elements of forex and virtual currency investing!

In this article, we will walk you through a review of Bitstarz (ビットスターズ) to show you why it’s one of the top online casinos, especially for Japanese players. Besides, if you want to know more about Bitstarz, we recommend you to click here for a deeper review from an expert including exclusive casino bonuses.

Three main reasons why Bitstarz (ビットスターズ) is popular in Japan

Friendly and courteous Japanese chat support is available, mainly on weekday evenings

Bitstarz has a friendly and courteous chat support team. It’s easy to use the chat support on the smartphone version as well, so it’s a breeze.

  • {Winter} Live chat is available 7 days a week from 4pm to 4am on weekdays and 4pm to midnight on weekends and holidays.
  • {Summer} Live chat is available 7 days a week from 3 pm to 3 am on weekdays and from 3 pm to 11 pm on weekends and holidays.

An award-winning casino with an average withdrawal processing time of 10 minutes!

Aside from the speed of withdrawals, this reliable casino has been nominated for two copies of the EGR Awards 2018, the Oscars of online casinos, and has won AskGamblers’ Best Casino and Player’s Choice for Best Casino two years in a row.

After all, it’s a multi-currency, new way to enjoy the casino!

At Bitstarz, customers can enjoy casino games in a variety of currencies.

Deposits and withdrawals can be made in virtual currencies such as Bitcoin (Litecoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Tether), as well as regular currencies (US Dollar, Euro, Japanese Yen, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, New Zealand Dollar, Russian Ruble, Borland Zloty, Norwegian Krone, Chinese Yuan).

You can deposit and withdraw funds in all of these currencies, and you can have one “wallet” for each of these currencies in your account.

Bitstarz Special Bonuses

100% cashback

BitStarz (ビットスターズ) is offering a “First Deposit You Can’t Lose! Up to $100 100% cashback” for those who register.

If your balance 24 hours after your deposit is lower than your deposit amount, Bitstarz gives you 100% cash back on the difference, up to $100!

The first thing you need to do is register at Bitstarz. After that, all you have to do is make your first deposit. This way, even if your balance is low after 24 hours, you can still get up to $100 cashback if you apply for it.

To get your cashback, simply contact support 24 hours later and tell them you want your cashback!

For example

  • An initial deposit of $100 → If the balance is zero after 24 hours … $100 cashback!
  • First deposit of $100 → If your balance is $20 after 24 hours… $80 cashback!
  • An initial deposit of $20 → If your balance is $19 after 24 hours … $1 cashback!

Deposit bonus of up to $500!

Moreover, another special offer on your second to fifth deposit, a deposit bonus!

BitStarz is currently offering the following deposit bonus for those who register, which can be given on 2 to 5 deposits. Don’t miss out on this big bonus!

All you have to do is register and make a deposit. No application or code required.

The second deposit

100% bonus of up to $100 (100€, 10,000 yen, 3.5m BTC) + 180 lease spins

Example: $100 deposit + $100 (max) bonus = $200 to play! +180 free spins

3rd deposit

50% bonus of up to $100 (100€, 10,000 yen, 3.5m BTC)

Example: $200 deposit + $100 (max) bonus = $300 to play!

4th deposit

50% bonus of up to $200 (200€, 20,000 yen, 7m BTC)

Example: $400 deposit + $200 (maximum) bonus = $600 to play!

5th deposit

100% bonus of up to $100 (100€, 10,000 yen, 3.5m BTC)

Example: $100 deposit + $100 (maximum) bonus = $200 to play!

Please refer to the casino’s bonus terms and conditions for the minimum deposit, bonus betting, and withdrawal limits to receive the welcome offer.

BitStarz Game Introduction

BitStarz offers a wide range of popular game providers such as Yggdrasil, Netent, PlayNGo, and Pragmatic. There are also many unusual slots that can only be played at BitStarz. Live games are Evolution and VIVgaming, which can be played crisply on a smartphone, giving you a wide range of choices. There are more than 1,800 games available, and more new games are being added all the time. However, game providers vary depending on the currency.

List of providers who provide games to BitStarz

Yggdrasil, Netent, PlayNGo, Pragmatic, BET SOFT, Evolution gaming, VIV gaming, etc…

Bitstarz Support Contact Information

Chat Support  Japanese language support

Summer: Weekdays: 3:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. / Weekends and holidays: 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Weekdays: 4:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. / Weekends and holidays: 4:00 p.m. to midnight 

mail (usu. in phrases and compound words)

(Japanese) 

24 hours a day, 7 days a week (average reply time is within 3 hours) 

Frequently Asked Questions about Bitstarz

Tell me about Bitstarz’ great bonuses

BitStarz (ビットスターズ) offers a “100% cashback up to $100” that you can get on your first deposit, plus a “deposit bonus of up to $500” that you can get on your second to fifth deposit.

What are the deposit and withdrawal methods for Bitstarz?

Bitstarz deposit methods include MuchBetter, ecVoucher, ecoPayz, VenusPoint, Sticpay, and virtual currencies (bitcoin, BitcoinCash, litecoin, ethereum, dogecoin, CoinsPaid). Bitcoin, BitcoinCash, litecoin, ethereum, dogecoin, CoinsPaid).

For withdrawals, MuchBetter, ecoPayz, VenusPoint, Sticpay, and virtual currencies (bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, litecoin, ethereum, dogecoin, CoinsPaid) are available 

Isn’t Bitstarz cheating?

Bitstarz has obtained an international license issued by the government of Curaçao. Licenses issued by foreign governments are granted after passing strict conditions. Therefore, the possibility of cheating at Bitstarz is close to zero.

Does BitStarz support Japanese?

BitStarz has chat support available in Japanese. Chat support hours are as follows: 

[Summer] Weekdays: 3:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. / Weekends and holidays: 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

[Winter] Weekdays: 4:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. / Weekends and holidays: 4:00 p.m. to midnight. Japanese language support is available via email 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

Posted in News |

Xtreme | aka Xtremo (2021) Review

"Xtremo" Netflix Poster

“Xtremo” Netflix Poster

Director: Daniel Benmayor
Cast: Teo García, Óscar Jaenada, Óscar Casas, Andrea Duro, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Alberto Jo Lee, Luis Zahera, Juan Diego, Andrés Herrera, Nao Albet, Cesar Bandera, Isa Montalbán, Joel Bramona
Running Time: 111 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

For the past 20 years fans of the Hong Kong action genre have been asking which country is going to take on the mantle of creating martial arts infused slices of cinematic goodness. So far the answer has tended to come from close to home – Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia have all attempted to stake a claim with varying results, however in 2021 an answer has come from further afield. It’s unlikely anyone was expecting Spain to throw its hat in the ring, but 37 years after Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Biao descended on Barcelona for Wheels on Meals, the city is once again the setting for a tale involving plenty of fists, kicks, and monkey wrenches to the face.

Xtreme is the passion project of martial artist and sometime filmmaker Teo García. A re-imagining of his 2006 short film of the same name, which saw him star, co-direct, and choreograph based on an idea he came up with involving mafia in-fighting. 15 years later, and García is still very much front and centre – he stars and choreographs the action (with assistance from Genaro Rodriguez, Eric Nieto, and Jose Álvarez-Boze), as well as bringing back Óscar Jaenada (Rambo: Last Blood) as the villain of the piece. For the feature length outing though directorial reigns have been handed over to Daniel Benmayor, a director best known for the 2015 parkour actioner Tracers which starred Continue reading

Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews |

Don’t miss the New Trailer for ‘Gunpowder Milkshake’ from ‘Big Bad Wolves’ director featuring Michelle Yeoh

"Gunpowder Milkshake" Theatrical Poster

“Gunpowder Milkshake” Theatrical Poster

Navot Papushado, who co-directed 2013’s Big Bad Wolves with Aharon Keshales, is back with a female-centric actioner titled Gunpowder Milkshake.

Written by Ehud Lavski (writer of the upcoming Once Upon a Time in Palestine, which reunites Papushado and Keshales as a directing team), Gunpowder Milkshake stars Karen Gillan (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), Lena Headey (Dredd), Angela Bassett (Black Panther), Paul Giamatti (Sideways), Michelle Yeoh (Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy) and Carla Gugino (Spy Kids).

Sam (Gillan) was only 12 years old when her mother Scarlet (Headey), an elite assassin, was forced to abandon her. Sam was raised by The Firm, the ruthless crime syndicate her mother worked for. Now, 15 years later, Sam has followed in her mother’s footsteps and grown into Continue reading

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Trailer: Wu-Tang Clan’s The RZA and Dan Halsted to screen ‘The Five Deadly Venoms’ today at 12 pm PT / 3 pm ET

"The Five Deadly Venoms" by artist Robert "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien

“The Five Deadly Venoms” by artist Robert “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien

Wu-Tang Clan member and music giant, the RZA, has created 36 Cinema, a site that streams special screenings of kung fu (and sometimes samurai) classics with special guests doing live audio commentaries.

This coming Saturday, June 12th, at 12 pm PT / 3 pm ET, 36 Cinema will be screening the Shaw Brothers classic The Five Deadly Venoms (1978, aka Five Venoms) with a live audio commentary from the RZA and Dan Halsted (HK Cinema expert, renowned 35mm film collector, programmer for Portland’s Hollywood Theater).

The Five Deadly Venoms was so popular that its stars became known variously as “The Venoms, “The Venoms Clan” and “The Venoms Mob” and many of them went on to co-star together in other highly Continue reading

Posted in News |

Take Back (2021) Review

Take Back | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Take Back | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Director: Christian Sesma
Cast: Gillian White, Michael Jai White, Mickey Rourke, Paul Sloan, Jessica Uberuaga, James Russo, Nick Vallelonga, Jay Montalvo, Chris Browning
Running Time: 89 min.

By Paul Bramhall

I’m sure every fan of the American DTV action genre has at some point asked themselves “what could be better than watching Michael Jai White kicking people in the face?” The star of such DTV action classics as Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing and Blood and Bone attempted to answer the question in 2020, by facing off against his ass-kicking wife, Gillian White, in Welcome to Sudden Death. If anything, the strangely titled reboot of a Jean Claude Van Damme flick proved that some questions are best left unanswered, as Welcome to Sudden Death was unwatchable trash. In fairness though, it wasn’t the first time for the White’s to feature together in the same movie, as Mrs. White also had a supporting role in 2016’s Never Back Down: No Surrender. It’s 2021’s Take Back though which propels Gillian White to starring status, with her hubby in a supporting role.

The pair play a married couple living in small town California, which I’m sure must have been a stretch for their acting muscles. White’s character is a local lawyer (and stepmom to Jai White’s daughter), with Jai White himself playing a schoolteacher. One day she walks into her local coffee shop to find the barista being threatened by an ex-boyfriend, who ends up on the receiving end of one of her kicks. Captured on CCTV, soon the footage goes viral and White becomes Continue reading

Posted in All, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , |

The Korean filmmaker behind ‘The Chaser’ and ‘The Yellow Sea’ is back (kind of) with a Thai thriller called ‘The Medium’

"The Medium" Theatrical Poster

“The Medium” Theatrical Poster

They call him Na Hong-Jin. If you’re not familiar with his name, maybe you’re familiar with his work. In 2008, he shook the world with his debut feature film, The Chaser. In 2010, he showed us that he wasn’t a one-hit wonder with The Yellow Sea. Then in 2016 came The Wailing, where Na proved his cinematic prowess while tackling the occult subgenre.

So what’s next for the Na? You’re looking at it. A Thai-made horror film titled The Medium (read our review), which he’s not directing, but producing and co-writing. However, from what we we’ve seen, it aligns closely with the look and feel of Na’s The Wailing.

Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun, the film’s official plot reads: “A horrifying story of a shaman’s inheritance in the Isan region of Thailand. What could be Continue reading

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COF Presents: An interview with Philip Ng of ‘Birth of the Dragon’ and ‘Undercover Punch and Gun’

Philip Ng Wan-lung Interview Undercover Punch and Gun Birth of the Dragon Bruce Lee Well Go USA
Born in Hong Kong, with a good portion of his youth spent in America, Philip Ng Wan-lung is an avid practitioner/teacher of various forms of martial arts. As both an actor and fight choreographer, he’s had a solid film career in his homeland since the early 2000s. He’s already worked with some of the best in the industry, such as Ringo Lam, Donnie Yen, Corey Yuen, Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan.

But it wasn’t until 2016 where Ng hit a huge turning point in his career with the controversial Birth of the Dragon, which not only was first Hollywood gig he appeared/starred in, but it was the film where he played the iconic Bruce Lee.

While promoting the debut U.S. release of Well Go USA’s Undercover Punch and Gun, we had the opportunity to do a short, but sweet, interview Continue reading

Posted in Interviews, News |

Voice of Silence (2020) Review

"Voice of Silence" Theatrical Poster

“Voice of Silence” Theatrical Poster

Director: Hong Eui-jung
Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Yoo Jae-myung, Moon Seung-A, Yu Seong-Ju, Shin Tae-Yang, Hanna Kim
Running Time: 99 min. 

By Paul Bramhall 

Back in the early to mid-noughties, a period popularly known as the Korean Wave, the countries film industry had a knack for cranking out productions that seamlessly blended genres to create a number of unique cinematic experiences. From the sci-fi zaniness of Save the Green Planet, to the left of field horror antics in To Catch a Virgin Ghost, when it came to Korean cinema you could never be sure exactly what you were in for. In more recent times the country’s output has leaned increasingly towards sticking to one genre, which they often do exceptionally well, but long-time fans can be forgiven for missing an era of filmmaking when it felt like creativity reigned supreme. I mention this period, because 2020’s Voice of Silence very much feels like a hark back to those earlier days when movies frequently defied being pigeonholed.

Focusing on a pair of rural egg sellers played by Yoo Ah-in (#Alive, Burning) and Yoo Jae-myung (Bring Me Home, The Drug King), when not supplying the local community they have a side hustle (an arguably better paying one at that) of assisting gangsters to prepare for any gruesome beatdowns or murders they plan to partake in. While the pair never get involved in the nasty business themselves, decked out in plastic Macs and shower caps they carefully cover the floor Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Wong Kar-Wai’s upcoming follow up to ‘In the Mood for Love’ and ‘2046’ gets a Trailer

"Blossoms" Teaser Poster

“Blossoms” Teaser Poster

Renowned filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai (The Grandmaster) is currently putting finishing touches on Blossoms with Kris Wu (Europe Raiders), a project that’s connected to his previous films, In the Mood for Love and 2046

Based on Jin Yucheng’s 2013 novel, Blossoms follows three Shanghai residents from the early ’60s, at the end of China’s Cultural Revolution and through the ’90s, with a selection of scenes being shot in San Francisco. “Blossoms would be the third part of In The Mood for Love and 2046,” said Wong at the Hong Kong Film Writers Association (via TFS).

Blossoms will be released as a 30-episode series (co-directed with Shen Yan, The First Half of My Life) followed by the feature film (via AFS).

We’ll keep up updated on Blossoms as we learn more. Until then, click here for Continue reading

Posted in News |

Fast Vengeance | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Fast Vengeance | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Fast Vengeance | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: August 17, 2021

On August 17, 2021, Shout! Factory is releasing the Blu-ray for Fast Vengeance, the latest thriller from writer/director Pearry Reginald Teo (The Gene Generation).

This upcoming film stars D.Y. Sao (Champion Road: Arena), Natalie Burn (Hollow Point), Bai Ling (Maximum Impact, The Crow), Lyndon Hoffman-Lew (Recipe for Abduction), Randall J. Bacon (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Jeff Fahey (Only the Brave) and the late DMX (Exit Wounds).

Upon hearing of his brother’s death, a man named Shen returns to his old stomping grounds to find the men responsible and take justice into his own hands. He learns that a biker named Cobra and his ferocious gang, The Midnight Squad, were Continue reading

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles, News, Other Notable Titles |