Gambling, whether online or in physical establishments, is ultimately a losing game. Even when you play in expert-reviewed Gamble Online casinos, there is a high probability that you will lose more hands than you win.
In addition to the inherent risks of gambling, all casino games have a house edge. This is a mathematical advantage that puts the odds of winning in the casino’s favor. It is a universally accepted fact because it is how casinos stay in business. That said, this does not mean that you do not have any say over the outcome of your efforts in a casino. There are some strategies you can employ to improve your mathematical odds significantly.
Learn ALL the Rules
Just like you are not supposed to use unfamiliar equipment without reading the manual, you should never play a casino game before learning the rules. And not just the basics – try to familiarize yourself with all the ins and outs of the game. For example, if you want to play blackjack, the most basic rules are that you play against the dealer, and you need your hand to be the closest in value to 21 without exceeding it.
Before you hit the tables, you should also know the value of the face cards, when you can split your aces, what cards you can double down on, and more. Arming yourself with this information will give you all the possible avenues to exploit to improve your chances of winning.
Learn How to Play
Many casino games are based purely on luck – think slots and bingo. But there are games where having a strategy can increase your odds of winning. In poker, for example, how you read the other players on the table and your bluffing skills can impact the results of a round. Thus, learning how to play a casino game the “right” way is a great way to give yourself a mathematical edge.
Go for Low-House-Edge Games
One of the irrefutable rules of gambling is that the house always wins. This is thanks to an in-built mathematical edge that casinos have over their players, designed to keep the casino in business. After all, where would players get their games if all of them cleaned out their favorite casinos, all the time?
That said, the house edge differs for every game. This means that you have a higher chance of winning in the long run if you stick to games with a lower or more even house edge. The goal is to reduce your expected losses, in turn, raising your expected wins. Games to consider include:
- Roulette (simple bets)
- Blackjack
- Baccarat
- Pai Gow Poker
- Some variants of video poker
- Red Dog Poker
- Craps (some bets)
Stick to Your Budget
Making poor decisions in the casino is a good way to lose your money. Pro gamblers often go into casinos with a budget and set limits for how much they are willing to spend at the table. While doing this will not affect your odds of winning, it will keep you from losing your entire bankroll too fast. It will keep you in the game longer, giving you more time to put your strategy in play. Additionally, it will keep you from chasing losses and losing more in the end.
Learn to Walk Away
Chasing losses is when you keep playing – even past your budget – in an attempt to win back money that you lost. It is similar to staying at the table longer than you intended because you believe you are on a winning streak. While both might seem like a good idea, they are easy ways to lose your money.
Chasing losses involves a lot of emotion and you can end up making bad decisions and losing even more money. Similarly, staying at the table can make you overconfident and all it takes is one wrong move or stroke of bad luck to lose all your hard-gained wins. This is why the best gamblers know when to walk away and so should you.
Conclusion
Because gambling is a game of chance, you can never predict how a game will end. This does not mean that cheating, which is illegal, is the only way to improve your chances of winning. These strategies can give you a better edge and allow you to make more than you lose.