There's nothing like being on a hot streak at the casino. That winning feeling is fantastic. And it's so much fun.
Everybody likes to go home a winner, but that's not always the case. Some folks who lose revert to the age-old adage – the house always wins, but intelligent casino players understand that that isn't necessarily always true.
There are plenty of ways to get maximum leverage from your gambling dollars. Plus, you can implement playing tactics and strategies to enhance your chances of winning.
Today, we'll look at Four Winning Tips to help you accomplish your objectives at the casino.
Tip #1 – Pick the Best Casino Games
The majority of casino games are based on luck. That means you have little to no influence on game outcomes. Examples of such games include novelty table games like Casino War, Baccarat, Let It Ride, Craps, Roulette, Keno, and of course, everyone's favourite – Slots.
But did you know that there are casino games with an element of skill involved? These include video poker games such as Jacks or Better, Aces & Faces, Joker Poker, and Blackjack.
You can enjoy a much better return on these casino games when you implement effective bankroll management and use of the right tactics and strategies. It's all about playing your hands properly.
Over the long-term, strategy-based casino players always perform better than players who simply guess how to manage their hands.
Tip #2 – Implement Effective Playing Strategy
We have already established that blackjack and video poker games offer the best potential return to players. But that's only true if you are using the correct strategies. All casino games have a theoretical RTP (return to player), with higher RTPs preferable. Your payback percentage is directly related to your playing strategies.
If you play blackjack, you must use basic strategy. However, thanks to algorithms, we have carefully calculated the optimal blackjack strategy for every single hand you play. These have been mathematically computed over millions of hands, and the results hold over the long term.
All potential scenarios have been accounted for in a basic strategy chart. Memorize these charts so that you understand precisely how to play your blackjack hands. For example, blackjack strategy charts indicate how hands should be played when you are dealt two hole cards, with one of the dealer's cards visible (the other is dealt face down).
Good news! Basic strategy charts are readily available on the Internet for free. Simply run a quick Google search for Blackjack Strategy Chart, and you'll find plenty of useful sites where you can download these charts.
Be advised that blackjack strategy charts change based on the number of decks in play. They can also change due to different rules such as splitting & re-splitting pairs, when the dealer stands (hard 17 or soft 17), et cetera. Therefore, always use the correct strategy chart for your blackjack game.
You can reduce the house edge by following the rules of play in the blackjack strategy chart. For example, you can cut the house edge from 2% down to 0.5% or less by implementing a basic blackjack strategy. Of course, this is true of land-based and online blackjack games too.
Video poker fans are in the same boat as blackjack players. Poker is a game of skill, strategy, and good fortune. There are mathematically correct ways to play your video poker hands in any given situation. Guess what? There are strategy charts expressly designed for video poker.
Let's assume that you are dealt the following five-card hand: 2-3-4-5-5. What should you do? Should you hold the four-card open-ended straight (2-3-4-5)? On the other hand, perhaps you should keep the pair of fives (5-5) and discard the 2-3-4?
Fortunately, you don't have to guess what to do. The video poker strategy chart indicates which option gives you the greatest expected return. That's how you should play your video poker hand. It's not guesswork – it's simply following the rules of play.
The correct video poker strategy depends entirely on the game you are playing. We've already mentioned a few video poker games, such as Jacks or Better and Aces & Faces, but dozens of others, such as Double Double Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild, and Joker Poker, exist.
Remember, video poker strategy charts are freely available on the Internet. Run a quick Google search for a 'video poker strategy chart,' and you will come across many sites for these resources.
Once again, using the appropriate strategy chart for the specific video poker game you're playing is essential. Good news! You can also use video poker strategy charts at online casinos.
Tip #3 – Maximise Advantage with Casino Comps
A comp is a complimentary benefit available to players. It encompasses almost anything a casino gives you for free while playing casino games. You've undoubtedly heard about high rollers and all their comps, such as luxury rooms, show tickets, dinner vouchers, complimentary parking, cashback, and other benefits. High rollers throw down thousands of dollars per hand in blackjack or poker and get loads of extravagant freebies. You name it; it's available. We are talking bottles of Don Perignon champagne, caviar, limousine rides, box seats at concerts, helicopter rides, private jets, and so much more.
Granted, the majority of casino players are casual players. We don't roll like those guys and gals, but you can still enjoy plenty of casino comps. You can cash in with comps as a casual or low-limit player. First things first – register for a player's club card upon arrival. This is a great way to start earning casino comps. Players club cards are used to track all of your real-money gambling activity at the casino, including games like slots, blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette, instant win games, et cetera.
The casino tracks your gaming activity and rewards you accordingly. For example, the more frequently you play, the bigger your bets, and the better your comps. This is a terrific way to reduce the house's advantage over you. That's why you should always use a players club card at a land-based casino. Online casinos offer plenty of benefits in the form of no-deposit bonuses, redeposit bonuses, cashback offers, tournaments, loyalty promos, etc.
Here's the thing about comps, though – don't over-commit yourself to gambling to get comps. Play as you usually would and enjoy the benefits that accrue. You don't want to start playing at C$5.00 slot machine games with a player club card when you typically play C$0.25 slot games. Don't change your gambling budget or playing habits to get comps.
Tip #4 – Optimize Casino Promotional Offers
Plenty of casinos run unique promotions where they award bonus points for player club points. You could receive 2X or 3X point bonuses as a casino promotion, but some casinos go as high as 10X points on specific days. That's why it's advisable to channel playing activity towards these promo periods for maximum traction. This is a great way to collect points quickly.
Be on the lookout for casinos offering gift days – these offers are great if you can accumulate a set number of points on your card. When you qualify, you get a gift. But, again, don't chase useless gifts that have no value or meaning to you. Always conduct a risk/benefit analysis whenever you drop money at the casino.
The best gifts available through casinos are gift cards for gas stations, drugstores, or supermarkets. They are practical gifts that will save you money.
If nothing else, remember these four essential casino tips when planning your next visit to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or a brick-and-mortar casino in Canada. Remember, many of these casino tips are available for online casino players. So, enjoy higher RTPs and stretch your bankroll further with these gambling tips.
