Online casinos can be great fun but they are even better when you come away a winner. There is no sure-fire way to guarantee a win but whether you are betting red or black on roulette, or joining a live poker game, there are a few things you can do to make sure you get the best out of your game.

Intro

When you think of casinos, you might think of grand buildings, expensive cars, clients in tuxedos and evening dresses, and iconic games such as roulette and baccarat. You might even be reminded of a scene from James Bond or your favourite Vegas heist movie.

But casinos are not just playgrounds for millionaires and secret agents. In fact, anyone with an internet connection and connected device can enjoy a casino experience from wherever they happen to be.

But while having easy access to a whole suite of casino games is great, there are a few rules you should follow before you put yourself in the hands of lady luck. Here are five rules you should follow when playing an online casino.

Make sure you understand the rules

This may sound obvious but you would be surprised how many players break this golden rule. Some players are so eager to try out a game, they think they can learn the rules as they go along. You might get lucky playing this way but your chances of winning will not be helped by playing blind.

For example, many players do not know the difference between European and American roulette. Do you?

The roulette wheel is one of the most iconic symbols of the casino but there are subtle differences between the wheels. On European and French wheels, there are 37 numbered pockets: 1 to 36 and zero, while on the American version there are 38 pockets: 1 to 36, zero and double zero.

Because it has fewer possible outcomes, the European and French roulette wheels have the lowest house edge and give you a slightly better chance of winning.

What’s more, in the French version of the game, the ‘En Prison’ rule gives the bettor the option of leaving their stake after an even money bet if the ball lands on zero. If they win their next bet, their stake is returned get their stake back. The ‘La Partage’ rules gives the punter half their stake back if the ball lands on zero after an even money bet.

Betting is all about maximising margins and knowing the rules and intricacies of each game can help you to gain a small edge.

Play for free

Learning the rules is one thing but it is hard to fully comprehend them without playing the game for real and that is where free games come in. Many casino sites will let you play for free so you can get to grips with the game. You should take advantage of this and play as many free games as possible before finding safe real money casinos and parting with your cash.

Understand the house edge

The odds of winning any casino game are always tilted in favour of the casino. This is how they make their money. The addition of a zero on a roulette wheel makes the chances of landing on and even money bet such as red or black slightly less than 50/50 at 48.6%, ensuring that the house has the advantage over the long term.

In Baccarat (as played by James Bond in the original Casino Royale), the house edge is lowest (1.06%) when a player backs the banker to win. The player win bet has a house edge of 1.24%, while the tie bet has a massive house edge of 14.4%. You might be tempted to back the tie at a typical price of 8/1 but this is the worst bet in baccarat over the long run.

“The temptation of the gambling game” (CC BY 2.0) by Phototravelography

Manage your bankroll

Speaking of real money, this is where it gets serious. Gambling is only fun if it is done responsibly. The ‘house’ or bookmaker always has a slight advantage so you are more likely to lose than win in the long term.

With this in mind, it is important to manage your bankroll. This means setting a total amount you are prepared to lose and sticking to it. This should be an amount that will not leave you short financially. This total can then be divided into individual bets. If you find yourself ahead at any point, you can choose to quit, or you can keep playing until your bankroll is gone. At this point, you should stop betting until the next time you have enough disposable cash to indulge in another session at the casino.

Avoid betting systems but apply good strategy

All betting systems such as the Martingale or Fibonacci sequences are flawed and should be avoided, but you can still apply an element of strategy. Strategy means playing in a way that helps you win more often and minimises your losses. A good example of a strategy is a blackjack chart that tells you the optimum decision to make based on the hand you have been dealt.

Feature image credit – “A blackjack hand at the casino” (CC BY 2.0) by Images_of_Money

Carl Williams

It is time gaming journalism takes its rightful place as proper sources and not fanboys giving free advertising. If you wish to support writers like Carl please use the links below. https://www.paypal.me/WCW https://www.patreon.com/CarlWilliams