The world of gambling is a vast and diverse one with numerous games that are quite different from each other. While they all exist for the same purpose, that of winning money or prizes if you manage to win, the gameplay elements and the goals of each game are never the same. For example, card games are quite different from roulette and slots, while craps utilize dice and not much else. Every gambling game requires a certain amount of luck with some also asking for skill and experience if the players are to win.
The best games out there dance on the fine line between luck and skill and take both into account when awarding the player. One game where both of these can help you is the good old game of thimbles. It has been around for centuries and it can be played in a variety of different ways. The players can use different items as it does not always have to be a cup-shaped thing that hides the object. As was the case with all other luck-based games, thimbles also changed with the onset of the internet and online gambling. Today, you can play Thimbles on the internet in a fresh and exciting way.
What is a Thimble?
Initially, the term was not originally connected to any sort of game, let alone gambling. It is actually related to sewing. Do you know that small pitted cup that sewers wear on their fingers to protect them from pricks and pokes by needles? That is a thimble! It is used to prevent any sort of potential discomfort while operating needles and other instruments while knitting and sewing. So why exactly is the game called Thimbles then if this item has nothing to do with gambling?
It is simple really. The cups that are generally used in the game resemble the sewing thimble, hence the name. They are of course larger, but they do not have to be much larger. As long as you have three of the same cups to hide the object under, you are fine. Another old name for the game is “Thimblerig” which is again connected to the sewing thimbles. The game is also known as the shell game, three shells and a pea, the old army game, etc.
Modern Online Variety
In the contemporary gambling industry, it is all about doing it online which is why Thimbles is now a very popular internet-based game. Due to the nature of the old-fashioned street game which was highly unregulated and often illegal, the theme of the more popular online varieties usually deal with pirates and underworld groups. There are different characters you go up against, like Morgan, for example, a scary pirate captain. There is also Fuego, a Mexican bartender with a tattooed skull on his face, as well as Momoko, an innocent purple-haired girl who is a much tougher opponent than she looks.
The return to player (RTP) percentage of Thimbles sits at 98% making it a very user-friendly game. While it is considered highly volatile, it is still possible to win more often than in some other similar games like slot machines. The minimum bets are usually US $ 0.50 and the max bet per game is $50. Are you up for the challenge of beating these characters and taking their treasure? The interesting graphics combined with a modern user interface and fun audio make it an immersive experience and a true videogame session.
Easy to Play
The gameplay of Thimbles could not be simpler, hence the game’s popularity for hundreds of years. All you need to do is pick one of the three thimbles in front of you. Under one of them is some kind of an object, usually a ball, but in this game it is a shiny crystal cube. If you find it, you win. Still, there are some tactics and you need to be mindful enough to keep track of the changing position of the three cups (shells). The more you win, the higher the prize multiplier goes which in turn gives you the chance to walk out with higher payouts. However, if you miss, it restarts and the payout is the lowest once again.
Of course, to make things challenging and more interesting, there are different levels of complexity. They are presented with numbers, mainly 3, 4, and 5 golden thimbles. The 3 is the easiest level and it raises the payouts by 3x. So if you win once, you get 3x of your stake. Let us say it is $5. So you would first win $15. If you win again, it jumps to 9x, then 27x, 81x, and so on. It multiplies by 3 until you hit 9 in a row for a total payout of 20,000x of your stake!
With level 4, the multiplier adds 4x each time you win. So for a $5 bet, the first win gets you $20. The next win gives you 16x, and then 64x, 256x, and so on until the 8th consecutive win that awards 70,000x. With level 5, it is the multiples of 5 that are awarded (5x, 25x, 125x, 625x, etc. until the 7th and final 100,000x). It is basic math really and a basic form of multiplying the players’ stakes.
Bonuses
Lastly, you should know that Thimbles also awards bonuses, or rather, gives you a chance to earn more with a bonus game. By collecting keys along the way you open doors to larger wins. Behind the bar, there are keys to collect. The more you have, the higher the chance of a valuable treasure chest full of prizes. It is easy to play this bonus feature as there is a special button for it on the screen.