Most people play casino table games and slot games for real money because they enjoy the excitement that real money gaming offers. Numerous studies have shown that the possibility of scoring real money wins isn’t as important to gamers as is the entertainment value of casino gaming. Yet there’s no denying that when you score a win at the casino, it makes the gambling event that much more exhilarating.
If you’re happy to simply try your luck and play for fun, there’s no need to push yourself to become a more proficient gamer. But, if you want to enjoy a more successful casino adventure, prepare to finesse your gaming event with the proper strategies and some savvy moves.
Some strategies that you don’t want to miss include:
Pick your Game
Start out by learning more about the games that you choose to play. Of course you want to play games that you enjoy but if you want to walk away with a bankroll that exceeds the one that you started with, you’ll have to learn which games give you the best odds to win.
In general, games like blackjack and poker, where the gameplay involves an element of skill along with the luck of the deal, give the player better odds than games like keno and slots where winning is mostly a matter of luck.
The easiest way to do this is to check the odds of a specific game before you start playing. Not only are there different odds from one game to the next, there are different odds from one variation of a game to the next. For instance, the game that gives the player the best odds is blackjack where the odds of a player win are 49% (house edge just 1 percent).
Roulette gives you 50% odds of winning but only if you choose European Roulette, where there’s one zero pocket which means that the house edge is 2.7% (whereas American roulette, with a second double zero pocket, makes the house edge 5.4% which reduces the player’s odds considerable.
If you’re playing a video machine, check the machine’s Return to Player percentage to find out which gives the best payouts. The top payout video poker machines are Deuces Wild and Jokers Wild which typically have Return to Player (RTP)s of close to 100%. Slot machines’ RTPs can range from 95% to 97.5% so obviously, you will want to choose the 97.5% machines if you want a better chance of achieving wins.
In general, it’s worth your time to do a bit of research before you select your game if you are focusing on creating as many wins as possible and at as high a level as possible.
Learn Basic Strategy
Games like blackjack and poker have basic strategies that guide you for when to hit, stand, fold, etc. If you follow these basic strategies, which are based on mathematical odds of success for each move in each set of circumstances, you’ll have a better chance of winning.
There are basic strategies for betting as well, not only for poker and blackjack but also for baccarat, roulette and craps. There betting strategies are designed to reduce the house edge over the long run.
For instance, poker strategy for in-person poker gives a lot of focus to how to bluff and read other players. But when you’re playing video poker, poker strategy is strictly focused on how to build a better hand than the dealer.
Some poker strategies for video poker include the advice to hold on to high cards like Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces, hold onto pairs (even low ones) and hold onto a hand where you’re one card away from completing that hand. If you’re playing blackjack, there’s no bluffing involved so you are simply trying to build a hand that comes as close to 21 as possible that is better than the dealer’s hand without exceeding 21.
Basic strategy for blackjack guides you about when to take a hit, when to stand and when to fold based on the cards in your hand and the dealer’s upcard.
With games like baccarat, roulette and craps, both in-person and online, basic strategy revolves around the wagering schedule. If you’re playing baccarat, baccarat basic strategy will tell you to simply avoid bets on the banker or tie bets, both of which offer significantly lower odds of winning than player bets.
Roulette players are advised to focus their wagers on “outside bet” – (bets on evens/odds/reds/blacks and highs/lows) and to play only the European version of roulette, not the American variation. European roulette has one zero pocket which means that there’s a 1 in 37 chance that the ball will land in your predicted pocket while American roulette has two zero pockets which means that there’s a 1 in 38 chance that the ball will land in your predicted pocket. European house edge is 2.70% while American house edge is 5.40%. You do the math!
In Craps, Pass Line bets are recommended because the house edge is low (1.41%) and a win delivers even money (1:1) so it’s the simplest and most rewarding bet option.
Casino Bonuses and Promotions
Don’t forget to check out the casino bonus give-aways. These gifts can significantly enhance your gaming experience with extra perks that allow you to expand your casino adventure. If you’re playing at a land-based casino you can join the casino’s loyalty program which gives you reductions on drinks, meals and hotel accommodations.
If you’re playing online, the casino awards you with bonuses like Welcome Bonuses for new gamers, comp points for games played, free raffles, special bonus match credits and free cash for specific games and much more. You don’t have to pay for these bonuses – they’re free!
When you play casino games, the fun is built into the casino experience but if you want to focus on achieving the highest amount of real money wins, with a little bit of research and effort, you can achieve your goal.
