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NHLer Zach Hyman Speaks Out Against Anti-Semitism
It’s been a breakout NHL season for both Zach Hyman and the Edmonton Oilers. For the first time since the 2005-06, the Oilers are playing in the Stanley Cup final.
At the outset of the season, if you were someone who bet on sports online, you probably wouldn’t have backed the Oilers to be in the Cup final series. Then again, if you were going to bet on an Edmonton player to enjoy a 50-goal season, Hyman wouldn’t have been your first choice, either.
That both outcomes would occur in the same campaign is truly remarkable.
Hyman, who netted a career-high 36 goals for Edmonton during the 2022-23 season, followed up with a 54-goal output this season, making NHL history in the process. He’s the first player of Jewish descent to record a 50-goal season ever in the NHL, a league that’s been playing games since 1917.
“I’m very proud of who I am,” Hyman told Sportsnet. “I’m proud of being Jewish. I’m proud of growing up in the Jewish community . . . and I’m proud of where we come from.”
Raised in the Jewish community of Toronto, Hyman is the grandson of Holocaust survivors. He was schooled in Judaism from kindergarten through Grade 12.
Hyman, though, is more than merely a spectacular hockey player. He’s someone who will always be willing to stand up for his people. When antisemitism reared its ugly head in Canada, Hyman didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the pulpit professional sports affords him to speak out against such intolerance.
Hyman: Antisemitism Must Be Eradicated
Hyman looks at what’s going on around the world and most significantly, in the areas where he and his family reside and is justifiably alarmed. There’s been a rapid escalation in antisemitic acts since the conflict between Israel and Palestine began in October of 2023.
In the USA, the Anti-Defamation League reported a 337% increase in hate crimes against Jews between October-December 2023 from the same time frame in 2022.
“Antisemitism has been rising for years, and it’s now reached the point where . . . it’s scary,” Hyman said. “It’s very clear that antisemitism as a result of what’s going on has been on the rise. Jewish people . . . don’t feel safe. There are attacks on synagogues. My high school [in Toronto] has had two bomb threats. This is just for being Jewish. It’s just because you’re Jewish. There’s no other reason.
“We live in Canada, in the US, where these things shouldn’t be happening. And we can’t turn a blind eye to it. Being a Jewish person doesn’t feel comfortable right now, and that’s a scary feeling.”
As much as he worries for his fellow Jews, Hyman believes that everyone of all faiths should be extremely alarmed at the hatred being directed toward his people.
“Even more so for people who are not Jewish, it’s important to recognize the rise in antisemitism, and to speak out and say, ‘Hey, no matter what’s going on in the world, there are Jews in North America who have nothing to do with what’s happening elsewhere, who do not feel safe.’ Hyman said.
“And that’s not OK. That should not should not be the case. And it’s on full display.
“Full display.”
College Protests Also Alarming
Hyman played US college hockey. He looks at what’s taking place on US college campuses, where some protesters are calling for Jewish genocide and he is utterly shocked that such talk is not being condemned by the university hierarchy.
“I went to the University of Michigan,” Hyman said. “I was a Jewish student athlete. If I was on campus and my president was not able to say that [a call for genocide] is not OK, I wouldn’t want to be at that school. It’s outright scary.”
Hyman worries about what the lack of de-escalation of such protests could lead to if they continue unchecked.
“This is a clear wakeup call,” he said. “The people who are going to those schools are the next generation of leaders in the United States. For representation to not be able to speak out against genocide, to say ‘This is not OK . . .’”
It’s not merely Jews that Hyman fears for if the slide down this slippery slope continues unabated.
“We need to protect not just our Jewish students, but all students against hate speech,” Hyman said.
Talking The Talk And Walking The Walk
Hyman’s pride in his Jewish faith assures that he’ll never shy away from the chance to speak out about issues that are impacting his fellow Jews.
He feels a responsibility to do so.
“As somebody that young Jewish kids look up to — not just an athlete, but as a proud Jewish person — I think it’s important that when things are really tough, a community binds together,” Hyman said. “It sticks together and fights antisemitism.”
He can draw upon evidence within his own family tree as to what horrors can result if such hate crimes and hate speech continue without resistance. As a youngster, Hyman knew that his grandfather walked with a limp, but didn’t know why.
As he grew older, the answer was explained to him. Hyman’s grandfather had been shot in the leg by German soldiers when en route to a concentration camp during World War II.
“A lot of my friends growing up have very similar stories,” Hyman explained to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector. “Grandparents who have gone through the same thing.”
Those events took place nearly a century ago. Society allegedly has evolved since that terrible time in the existence of humanity.
“We’re in the year 2023,” Hyman said. “It’s supposed to be getting better. We are supposed to be trying to eradicate hate, racism, antisemitism . . . any type of prejudice.”
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Volatility, Hit Frequency, and RTP: Why the Number Casinos Advertise Is the Least Useful One
The return to player percentage looks clean as a casino data point. It gives players a neat number, usually around 94% to 97% for many online slots, and that number feels easy to compare. A 96.5% game appears better than a 95.2% game. The problem starts when players treat RTP as a forecast for their next 50 spins or one evening.
You may find the RTP listed on slot pages on a leading online casino in Ontario, but the number only tells part of the story. Two games can share the same RTP and create different sessions: one may return small wins often, while the other may drain a balance before one bonus round changes everything.
The RTP Trap
Return to player (RTP) measures the theoretical share of total wagers a game returns across a very large number of rounds. In plain terms, a 96% RTP slot returns about $96 for every $100 wagered in the long run. That does not mean one player who deposits $100 should expect $96 back.
The trap sits in the word “theoretical.” RTP comes from the game’s math model. It works across huge samples, not personal sessions. A player can finish far above that percentage, far below it, or with nothing left after a short run of poor results.
Is it useless then? No, RTP can still help. It gives a baseline cost of play. Lower-RTP games cost more on average than higher-RTP games. Still, once a game passes a reasonable threshold, the next question matters more: how does it distribute that return?
Hit Frequency: The Number That Shapes Session Feel
Hit frequency tells you how often a game produces a winning outcome. This often misleads players because any win can count. A spin that returns $0.10 on a $1 bet may still count as a hit, even though the player lost $0.90 in real terms.
A game can feel active because symbols connect often, sounds play, and the screen keeps celebrating small returns. The balance may still fall. In many modern slots, “win” does not always mean profit on the spin.
Hit frequency answers one practical question: how much silence can you tolerate? Some players dislike long dry spells. Others accept quieter sessions because they chase bonus rounds or larger payouts.
The educational site Get Gambling Facts gives a useful distinction: RTP concerns the percentage of money returned over time, while hit frequency concerns how often a machine stops on a winning combination.
Volatility: The Risk Label Players Need More Often
Volatility, also called variance, describes how unevenly a game pays. Low-volatility games tend to return smaller amounts more often. High-volatility games hold more value in rare events: bonus rounds, premium symbols, multipliers, or jackpots.
Here is where RTP becomes less useful on its own:
- A 96% low-volatility slot may give modest returns and longer play from the same balance.
- A 96% high-volatility slot may burn through funds quickly unless the player hits a strong feature.
- A progressive jackpot game may look exciting, but it often places more value on rare top prizes.
The same RTP can hide very different risk profiles. Players who ignore volatility often blame the casino or the game when the session follows its math design.
Why the Same RTP Can Feel So Different
Picture two slots with 96% RTP. Slot A pays small wins on many spins, has a modest top prize, and rarely creates dramatic balance swings. Slot B pays less often but offers a large max win and volatile bonus rounds. The advertised return matches, but the experience does not.
Slot A may suit a player who wants a slower bankroll drop and more regular feedback. Slot B suits someone who accepts sharper losses in exchange for a shot at a heavier payout.
A Better Way to Read a Slot Page
Most slot pages give players more clues than they notice. The trick is to read the details together rather than chase the highest percentage.
Start with RTP. If two games look similar, the higher number has better long-term value. Then check volatility. If the game uses terms such as high, very high, or extreme variance, lower your bet size or expect shorter sessions. Next, look at the paytable. A huge max win usually means the game saves a lot of its value for rare outcomes.
A sensible pre-play check looks like this:
- RTP: What is the average long-term return?
- Volatility: How rough can the session become?
- Hit frequency: How often will the game show any wins?
- Paytable: Where does most value sit?
To Conclude
Casinos advertise RTP because it looks objective, tidy, and easy to rank. Players should read it, but they should not give it more authority than it deserves. For long sessions, volatility may matter more than a small RTP difference. For comfort, hit frequency may explain the feel better than the payback rate.
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Features
The Popularity of Simpler Slot Games in 2026: Review From Casino Online CrazyTower Experts
Online casinos now fill their libraries with numerous video slots that have dozens of functions, long bonus rounds, complex mechanics, and so on. Interestingly, despite this huge range of modern options, many Canadian visitors at sites like Casino Online CrazyTower here https://crazytower.com/ca/ no longer want complicated gameplay that requires constant attention and long explanations.
Simpler slots now attract a wider audience because they save time and create faster sessions. So, let’s figure out why this change happened and reasons for the popularity of simpler machines.
Why Many Players Are Returning to Basic Gameplay
Modern websites like Casino Online CrazyTower pushed complex video slots for years, but many people now prefer classic formats again. Simple gameplay has fewer interruptions and is simpler in terms of budgeting, which is important when you gamble for fun.
These are a few potential reasons explain why simpler slots became popular again in 2026:
- Faster rounds. Symbols appear quickly, and rounds continue without long animations or extended bonus sequences.
- Easier controls. Most classic slots have simple menus and familiar layouts that don’t confuse new visitors.
- Smaller feature lists. Simple slots usually have standard wilds, scatters, and multipliers instead of dozens of random mechanics.
- Better session flow. People spend more time on gameplay instead of reading explanations about symbols and special functions.
- Lower visual pressure. Simpler slots use calmer designs and shorter effects that don’t overload attention.
Classic gameplay also suits mobile devices better because shorter rounds work well on smaller screens. Plus, many visitors now prefer games that start instantly and explain their mechanics within seconds.
Features That Make Simpler Slots Appealing
Simple machines at Casino Online CrazyTower and similar websites continue to attract attention because they have a high gameplay speed. Many classic titles also replicate older casino machines that people already know from physical casinos.
However, these aren’t the only factors that attract gamblers. So, check out this list:
- Short bonus rounds. Free spins and multipliers finish quickly instead of interrupting gameplay for several minutes.
- Common and standard paylines. Traditional layouts help people understand payouts without long explanations.
- Faster loading times. Simpler graphics reduce waiting time on phones, tablets, and older computers.
- Stable gameplay pace. Long cutscenes and constant pop-up notifications don’t interrupt the session.
- Traditional themes. Fruit symbols, bars, sevens, and classic casino designs still attract large audiences.
- Smaller menus. Important information appears immediately without complicated tabs or hidden sections.
Modern video slots often contain too many mechanics in a single game. Developers now combine expanding reels, random modifiers, mission systems, tournaments, and multiple bonus levels in one title. Many visitors lose interest because gameplay turns repetitive and overloaded with constant interruptions.
Compare this to a session when you get results immediately and aren’t interrupted. These still have free spins and even mini risk games, but not as loaded as innovative titles.
Conclusion
Simple slots usually create better replay value because people understand the mechanics immediately. Common and standard gameplay doesn’t cause frustration and allows faster decisions during casino sessions.
Many classic slots also function better during short breaks because rounds finish quickly without long bonus interruptions. That’s why simpler slots became popular again at many casinos, including Casino Online CrazyTower and such.
