Online gambling is a form of entertainment and one which should stay as such. It should never be used as a way to escape everyday life or a means to make money. Whatever it is that casino gambling is for you, the main aim for most people is to try and win some money along the way.
While many players will say luck plays a pivotal part in reeling in the wins, the truth of the matter is that all casino games come with a built-in mechanism called the house edge. The house edge is something that can’t be avoided and is essentially a mechanism to ensure that the casino makes money.
That does not mean there are no strategies which players could opt for to boost their odds and give them better chances of achieving wins. It is important that before you dive into the world of online gambling and its casino games, you know all the basics of how casino games work.
The following tips and tricks should give you plenty of food for thought to ensure that you are realistic about your winning chances regardless of whether you are playing at a brick-and-mortar casino or at home.
The Casino Games and the Rules
One of the most prominent mistakes players make is to fail to either look at the info sheet of a game or fail to learn the game's rules. Even if you are playing online slot games, it is important that you know all the basics of the game, including its volatility levels, the payout percentage and any in-game features that could boost your chances.
Sometimes low-rollers with a small bankroll tend to try any fancy slot game that piques their interest, without knowing about variance. If their chosen slot game has high variance, they end up blowing their bankroll on a single game, citing bad luck.
The same applies to table games, such as Blackjack and Baccarat. An element of maths plays a part in this game, but if you fail to take into consideration the odds for various games as well as the rules, you’re destined for failure. For example, side bets are always bad news since the odds work in the casino’s favour.
The house edge and the odds also vary from one game variant to another. While knowing the rules of the game is important, it should not feel like a choice. You just need a general understanding of how some games work, the bets as well as any in-game features that may increase the house edge.
Online casinos get the most of their revenue from side bets, which players don’t have a good grasp of. While these bets are not necessarily bet, they have the highest house edge.
Have a look at our guide to casino games.
Improve your Playing Strategy
It is important that when you pick your bet size, it is in proportion with your bankroll. There are many bankroll management systems available and using them can help extend your gameplay and gaming time.
Furthermore, many players swear by card-counting in the game of Blackjack. While this will get you in trouble at land-based casinos, it cannot be used either to play RNG games or live casino games. You need to find better ways to increase your odds of winning.
If you play games such as Blackjack without any strategy, the house edge will eventually get you in the end. If you opt for a basic strategy, you can succeed in lowering the house edge to well beneath 1%. The house edge can never be brought down to 0. Taking time to optimise your gaming strategy, will increase your gaming time. It does not mean that you will always come out on top, as there are many factors that come into play when you are playing at an online casino.
The game of Blackjack is one of the best examples where a good strategy can help you go a long way. It will not take too much of your time to learn and there are cheat sheets available, which you can use to help you learn the games fast.
That said, Blackjack is only one of very few games where the house edge can be manipulated to some extent. Any game where the player has a certain degree of influence on the outcome can alter the house edge. The same cannot be said for games such as online slot games.
Identity Sucker Bets
If there is one piece of advice that you need to take on board is the fact that everything in the online gambling world has been designed to ensure that the house comes out on top. Sucker bets can be found in most games, including online slot games. Think of the Bonus Buy feature or paying a little extra to boost your chances of landing the free spins bonus round. All of these features have been created to ensure that the house generates as much income as possible.
Sucker bets such as Insurance bets in Blackjack come with a massive house advantage, which also means that the chances of hitting a win are much lower when opting for them. Many players swear by these side bets, including bonus buy bets, thinking that they can skip the base game to generate wins in the free spins bonus round. What these players fail to take into account is that there is no guarantee that what you spend on a Bonus Buy is going to be recouped in the free spins bonus round. It could end up costing these players more money.
As a newbie, you need to identify these bets from the start and ensure you don’t get sucked into using them. You need to think of Sucker Bets as annoying salesmen who just won’t leave you alone, regardless of how well they are selling their products.
If you are okay with trying Sucker bets, just be aware the house edge is massive.
Think of Gambling as entertainment
Online gambling should never be about finding the means to pay your bills or earn income. Any money you put into gambling should be thought of as money lost, rather than thinking about converting.
Casino games are meant to be fun and to keep you entertained. There are many professional gamblers out there who try to make a career out of it. However, even if you are playing a game of poker, you are still ultimately competing against the casino.
Even if you think of professional players, they only pick games where they are playing against other players and not the casino. There are several reasons why you should never think of gambling as any other way than a leisure activity.
Gambling can lead you to financial trouble. It is also very easy to get addicted to, which opens up a plethora of problems on a personal level. You may win a few times, but you are much more likely to lose many more. If you are unable to call it quits, you can risk blowing any potential winnings in one go.
Betting Systems should be taken with a pinch of sort
Similar to not drinking and playing when you are emotional, you should also take betting strategies with a pinch of salt.
There are many betting systems out there, including the Martingale systems, which are okay for some, but you are still likely to lose. It would be mathematically impossible for you to adopt any foolproof betting system. If there was one, online casinos simply would not exist.
Play within your Limits
Don’t play more than you can afford to. As mentioned, any money you put aside for gambling should be considered as money lost. You should never gamble with any money you cannot afford to lose, such as money set aside for utility bills.
Decide in advance how much you are willing to play with and to lose. Set limits beforehand, such as win and loss limits. If you strike it lucky, pull the plug and walk away with your winnings.
If you lose, don’t go chasing after your losses. Get off your computer and laptop and walk away. You will need to clear your head after a session.
Once you are aware of the risks of online gambling and see it as purely entertainment, then you will be able to stay in control.