Playing casino games is ultimately a loss. This does not mean that you lose every time you play or that you are guaranteed to lose. It’s just that the most likely outcome is that casino gambling will cost you money in the long run.
This is solely due to the fact that all casino games have a so-called “house edge”: a mathematical advantage that brings the odds in their favor.
There have been people who have tried to overcome the house edge as long as casino games have existed, but in reality this is not possible.
Aside from cheating (which is illegal and will likely lead to your arrest) and card counting at blackjack (which is hard to do these days), you can only win at the casino if you are lucky and can stop before you win lose again.
However, your fate in the casino is not entirely out of your control. You’ll need some luck whatever you do, but you don’t have to rely entirely on luck because there are a few things you can do to minimize the house edge.
We have listed some of these below. None of this will help you to fully overcome the house edge, but they can improve your overall chances of winning .
Make sure you know the rules
This could be considered the golden rule for every casino game. Many games are really easy to learn, and you can play them easily if you only know a few basic rules.
However, it is an even better idea to make sure that you know all the rules before you start playing, as this will make you far less likely to make mistakes or miss opportunities that give you a good chance of winning.
Take blackjack, for example: a game in which the basic rules are very easy to understand.
Although you can only play blackjack with the basics, there are some additional rules that you should really know, such as the ability to double your initial bet at certain points during the game.
There are some circumstances where doubling your bet is very beneficial and if you don’t know that you have this option you may have missed good opportunities that could have increased your overall chances of winning.
This is just one example of how if you don’t know the rules it can cost you money and there is much more. They can all be avoided if you take the time to fully understand all the rules of a game before you decide to play it.
Play games with a low house edge
As already mentioned, all casino games have a built-in advantage that gives the casino the overall advantage. The house edge is not the same in all games. Some games have a very small house edge, while others have a much larger one.
Mathematically speaking, your long-term results will likely be better if you only play games where the house edge is small.
This advice focuses on reducing your expected losses rather than improving your chances of winning, but it’s actually the same thing.
The following games offer some of the lowest house edge benefits found in the casino. You should play this if you want the best chance of keeping your money as long as possible.
Try to win a jackpot
Perhaps the best way to be an overall winner in the casino is to land a big jackpot win. Your chances of winning a big jackpot aren’t particularly big, but you don’t stand a chance if you don’t even try.
We wouldn’t advise you to spend all your money chasing a dream win, of course, but there is nothing wrong with using part of your casino budget to play jackpot games.
If you are lucky enough to win a large sum of money, you should make sure that you do not return all of your winnings to the casino.
You don’t have to stop playing entirely in the casino, but please don’t be tempted to play for higher bets than you would normally do just because you have the money.
The following games are usually the best options to hit a jackpot. These are the games you should be playing when trying to land a big win.
Learn the right way to play
All casino games are mainly based on luck, and many of them entirely. However, there are a few games in which you can influence your overall chances of winning.
For example, in video poker, which cards you hold after the first deal will affect likely results. In blackjack, your overall results are affected by how you play your hands. In both cases, the decisions you make affect the outcome.
Playing the “right” way in such games requires learning a strategy. Casino game strategy usually involves learning a number of rules of what to do in a particular situation, and these rules are primarily based on the laws of probability.
By following them, you can give yourself the best math chance to win every time you play.
The following casino games involve some level of decision making that can directly affect your chances of winning. If you want to use strategy, these are the games you should be playing.
t is also worth noting that there are better forms of gambling if your goal is to make money by learning and using strategies. Poker and sports betting are two of the best examples.
Manage your money and stay disciplined
The house edge is not the only reason why people lose money in the casino. It always has a certain effect, but a player’s own actions are often a factor.
Many players are the architects of their doom just because they make bad decisions that significantly increase the house edge effect.
Two typical examples of the mistakes players make are
not managing their money properly and not having enough self-discipline.
Money management and self-discipline are very important if you want to give yourself the best possible chance of winning in a casino.
Good money management is primarily about setting limits on how much you are willing to spend overall, as it relates to how much you are willing to risk on every single bet you place. While this doesn’t directly affect your chances of winning a given bet, it will prevent you from losing your money too quickly.
The longer your money lasts, the more time you have to achieve a winning streak.
Good money management also helps you play responsibly and that you don’t lose money that you can’t do without.
Essentially, self-discipline is about staying within the limits you set for yourself. A lack of discipline can easily increase your bets to track your losses after a bad run or to return all your winnings after a good run.
Good discipline also helps avoid unnecessary risks that are useful when you follow a particular strategy.