How to pick the best casino games to play for your personality.
Well over 100 million people visit casinos every year in North America (with the exception of 2020, of course). It’s an extremely popular past time for adult vacationers; especially those who don’t have young children in tow. From the Hard Rock Vancouver, to MGM Las Vegas, Borgata Atlantic City to Casino de Montreal – billions of dollars are spent gambling in the US and Canada every year. And that’s just at land-based casinos.
For every casino goer, there’s always a ‘first time’. When planning that very first trip, some players want to dive right in, playing a little bit of everything. Others might be a little more cautious, picking and choosing the games they feel would best suit their personality. If you’re one of those – if you’re wondering, “Which casino games are right for me?” – please continue reading.
How to Pick the Best Casino Games For You
As you probably know, there are many different types of games in the casino. Slot machines dominate the gaming floor, and with good reason. They are by far the most popular games of all. But they might not be your cup of tea. Then there’s blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, video poker, and a slew of other games to consider.
In the following text, we’ll describe these games very briefly; just enough that you can get an idea of whether each one suits your style. Based on this information, you should be able to decide which games are worth trying, and which ones are not.
Slot Machines – They’re a “No-Brainer”
Anywhere from 70-90% of the casino floor will be made up of slot machines. Players just seem to love them! The reason is simple. They require absolutely no knowledge or forethought to play. Insert money. Push button. Cross fingers. It really is that simple. Win or lose, it’s all up to luck.
If you’re looking for a ‘no-brainer’ game that you can enjoy playing, without having to think about what you’re doing, slots are for you. Don’t feel bad though – that’s not an insult in anyway. Remember, the vast majority of casino goers prefer slot machines. They are designed for sheer entertainment, and in that regard, they do deliver.
Baccarat – Win, Lose or Draw
Pronounced “bah-kuh-rah”, this is the easiest table game you’ll ever play. As easy as a slot machine, except that you do have to make one decision – which hand to bet on. You won’t play the game. You don’t receive any cards. The dealer does all the work, based on a set of house rules. You only have to pick which hand you think will win.
That being said…
The game involves the dealing of two hands – the Player hand (but it’s not really yours), and the Banker hand. You choose to bet on the Player, the Banker, or a Tie between the two. The Tie is a sucker bet, so just don’t. The Banker has a higher chance of winning than the Player, so you should always bet on it.
So, strategically speaking, if you play baccarat, you should always bet on the banker, making this game just as simple as any slot machine. Drop your banker bet, cross your fingers. If you want to appear more sophisticated, without actually putting any thought into your game, choose baccarat.
Roulette – Easy as 1, 2, 3…34, 35, 36
Roulette is another game that takes virtually no skill to win (or lose). The only thing that makes this game more complex than slot machines or baccarat is that there are so many different ways to bet. You can drop your chips on a single number, two numbers, three, four, or six numbers, or you can make bigger group bets involving one-third or one-half of the numbers; except for that pesky 0 (and 00 in American Roulette), which is where the house gains its edge.
If you are looking for a more exciting game, with a communal (multi-player) atmosphere, but again, no mental strain, roulette is a good option. Please don’t play American roulette though. That double-zero also nearly doubles the house edge from 2.7% to 5.26%.
Keno – If You Like Playing the Lottery…
If you’re going to the casino for the first time, keno games are an absolute waste of time and money. You might as well stay home and buy a few scratch off lottery tickets. Your odds of winning will be about as good, and you’ll save a lot of cash in travel expenses.
The game consists of 80 numbers on a 10×8 grid, labeled 1 thru 80. Your job is to pick 1 or more numbers that you believe will be randomly chosen by the game. The house edge can vary from one game to the next, depending on the pay table. However, a survey of keno games in Vegas once returned a variable house edge of anywhere from 20% to 35%, depending on the amount of numbers selected.
Those are horrible odds – the worst of all casino games. However, if you really enjoy scratching lottery tickets, or watching lotto numbers get drawn on live TV, maybe you’ll have enough fun playing to get your entertainment’s worth. Just because I don’t recommend it doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it.
Craps – Not as Hard as it Looks
The most intimidating of all land-based casino games is craps. It’s actually not a hard game to play. There’s just a whole lot of bets, with a whole lot of rules as to how and when they win or lose. Add in a crowd of very excitable people, and it can dissuade any newcomer from getting in on the action.
The truth is, it’s a very easy and fun game to play, once you figure out what’s going on. My advice would be to learn more about craps. Play online first, or download a craps trainer app. By the time you learn the betting system, you’ll either love it or hate it.
Blackjack – Play it Right, or Don’t Play It
This game requires more mental capacity than any other. Not only should you know how to play with proper, basic strategy, you need to be able to do it in a timely manner. If you’re not playing with basic strategy, you’re only lowering your chances of wining the game. Basic strategy isn’t difficult, but it is situational. Every variation in the rules, the pay table, even the number of decks in use, can impact the correct decision for every opportunity to either stand, hit, split, or double down.
If you aren’t willing to learn blackjack strategy, don’t bother playing blackjack – at least, not in a live, multi-player setting. You’re just going to piss a bunch of other people off. Again, it’s not that hard to learn, but it does take constant mental fortitude on your part. We’ll talk more about card game strategy in a moment. First, there’s one more game you need to consider.
Video Poker – Take Your Time, but Play it Right
To me, video poker blends the best qualities of blackjack and slot machines. You get the low-edge benefits of playing with perfect strategy, combined with the solitude and relaxation of the slots. By making the correct decisions on every hand, you’re maximizing your chance to win. Yet, there’s no rush to make any decision.
You can look down at a strategy card between every play. Or, you can use a video poker strategy app, inputting your hand with each new deal and following its advice, play by play. No one cares. You’re not wasting anyone’s time. And some of these games carry a super low house edge – as low as, if not lower than blackjack.
Important Note about Casino Card Game Strategies
This last bit of advice applies to any and all card-based casino games that allow you to make a decision after seeing the initial hand. Whether it’s blackjack, video poker, pai gow poker, Caribbean stud poker, 3-card or 4-card poker, casino hold’em – whatever the game, if you can make any decision after placing your initial bet, listen up.
For each and every hand dealt, there is only one strategically correct decision to be made. That decision is the one that proffers the maximum probability of a positive outcome. It doesn’t mean you’re going to win, or that your odds of winning will be better than 50/50. Actual odds are circumstantial, determined on a case by case basis. But regardless of true odds, using basic strategy to achieve maximum probability is strongly recommended. Otherwise, you’re leaving your chances to fate, and fate is known to be less than kind, especially when it comes to casinos.
If you’re not physically or mentally prepared to put forth that kind of effort, these are not the best casino games to play. For someone else, maybe, but not for you.
Lastly, if you’ve read over each of these game descriptions and are still on the fence about what to play, there’s a simple way to find out for sure, without risking any money in the process. Simply visit an online casino, sign up a free-play account, and practice any game you wish. They are the same games, with the same odds (except slots – online slots pay out better; even the real money ones).
Inside Look: ALC online casino comes to New Brunswick.
Take a step back in time to nearly a decade ago – February 2011. That was when the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corp (NBLGC) first showed documented interest in launching an online casino for its adult population. They had already begun talking with the Atlantic Lottery Corp, which was in the process of filing draft regulations to expand further into online gambling.
The ALC, which supplies regulated gaming services for all four Atlantic provinces – New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island – was unable to get those regulations passed. Despite consistent lobbying within the provinces, no progress was made over the next nine years. And then, with no prior notice, residents woke up one morning in August with access to a New Brunswick online casino, courtesy of ALC.
A Look Inside ALC Online Casino New Brunswick
The quiet, overnight launch of internet casino gaming on ALC.ca was a surprise to just about everyone. The start-up came with a small variety of games from digital gambling powerhouse, International Game Technology (IGT); 34 online slot machines, 7 table games, plus IGT’s famous Game King, a dynamic virtual machine that features 9 of the most popular video poker games. ALC promises many more games to come, but for now, you can see the complete list of what’s available below.
Full List of Games (current Jan 13, 2021)
ALC Slot Machines
Anchorman
Cats
Cleopatra
DaVinci Diamonds
Double Diamonds
Doubleplay Super Bet
Elephant King
Foxin’ Wins
Ghostbusters Level Up Plus
Golden Goddess
Endless Treasure
King Kong Fury
Little Green Men Nova Wilds
Lucky Tree
Mad Mad Monkey
Medusa II
Medusa Megaways
Merlin’s Millions
Pixies of the Forest
Raging Rhino
She’s a Rich Girl
Siberian Storm
Spartacus Gladiator of Rome
Sphinx Wild
Starmania
The Big Easy
The Demon Code
The Mask
Wheel of Fortune On Tour
White Orchid
Wild Play Super Bet
Zeus
Zeus III
ALC Table Games
Baccarat
Blackjack
Blackjack Multihand
Let it Ride
Fortune Pai Gow
Roulette
Three Card Poker
ALC Video Poker (Game King 9-in-1)
Bonus Poker
Bonus Poker Deluxe
Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild Bonus
Double Bonus Poker
Double Double Bonus Poker
Jacks or Better
Joker Poker
Triple Double Bonus Poker
Who Can Play at ALC Casino Online?
Anyone physically located within any of the Atlantic provinces of Canada is welcome to sign up an account and play the full variety of games in “demo” mode. However, only players in New Brunswick, age 19 and above, are able to deposit and bet real money.
Ways to Move Money In and Out
The ALC website accepts the follow methods of payment.
Deposits: Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Interac and Web Cash.
Withdrawals: Interac, Cheque
Note that ALC offers an optional weekly deposit limit as part of its Responsible Gaming protocol. Players can set, increase, or decrease their weekly deposit limit by logging into the website, then choosing My Account > Play Responsibly, and entering a new limit. It takes 24 hours for a limit increase to be approved, whereas decreases take effect immediately.
What About the Other AC Provinces?
Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are not currently able to gambling at the ALC online casinos. It is open only to eligible players located in New Brunswick. The ALC recently announced its intent to expand into Nova Scotia and PEI, likely to occur sometime in 2021. There are no known intentions of launching the ALC casino website in Newfoundland and Labrador at this time.
Curious Comparison: Online Slots vs. Virtual Video Poker Games
Online Slots vs. Video Poker Machines
Slot machines are beloved for their speed, unparalleled ease of play, and, despite a relatively low cost of play, the ability to win a life-altering sum of money in a matter of seconds. Video poker is also capable of paying massive multipliers, but you’ll need a little more knowledge than ‘how to press a button’ to do it. Let’s take a closer look…
Slot Machine Savvy
Slots are by far the easiest game to play in a casino. Online or on land, the requirements are the same. Choose an amount to wager, spin the reels, cross your fingers. A few seconds later, the results are in. You win some, and you lose some. That’s all there is to it.
Slot machines can also be confusing, though. The truth is, at least one-third of all slots players don’t really know what they’re doing; or rather, why they’re winning or losing. They just know that, if they keep pressing the spin button, they might win. Few players actually bother to read the pay tables, which detail all the winning combinations, their respective value, and in many cases, the average return to player (RTP) the game will pay back.
Why don’t so many players know about this? Because they don’t need to (refer back to the previous paragraph). Anyone interested in learning more can check out this UNLV paper on How Slot Machines Work.
Virtual Video Poker Games
Video poker takes a bit more knowledge and understanding of the game to play. Most of these machines revolve around on five card draw poker. After placing a bet and pressing the Draw button, you are dealt 5 cards. You can tap on any card you want to Hold (keep), then press Draw again to discard the others and replace them with new ones. If you finish with a worthy hand – usually a Pair of Jacks or better – you win. If not, you lose.
The winning conditions are laid out before you in the pay table, detailed right on the main screen. You’ll see what hands are worthy of a payout, and how much that payout is for each. So, while you are required to make decisions in these games, it’s not exactly a brain strain. Any player with a basic knowledge of poker can do it.
Slot machines are the most common of all casino games. Most players love them. Some are so draw to these virtual reel spinners, they’ve never even tried anything else. If there’s any other gambling machine worthy of your attention, it would have to be video poker. These two games a have a lot in common, yet they are very different in nature and appeal. We’ll take a look at what draws players to slots and video poker games, and what features should be considered when choosing between them.
What’s Better – Slots or Video Poker?
This is a decision every player must make for themselves. If you prefer the mind-numbing blur of ‘spin to win’, slot machines are your best bet. If you’d rather have some strategic control over the outcome of your game, you’ll want to choose virtual video poker games. If you’re serious about winning, we suggest giving this next article a read:
The
online gambling industry is unique in many ways, one being that each
internet casino presents limitless borders. An operator can pack in
as many games as it wants and never run out of space. As such,
virtual gaming floors are the
perfect forum for testing out new game ideas.
In
the last two decades, we’ve seen a lot of new games rise to
ultimate glory. Microgaming’s 243 ways to win slots were a smashing
success! Lottery-style
sit-n-goes,
first
introduced by French operator Winamax in 2013,
revolutionized internet poker. Live
dealer casinos, debuted in 2003 by Playtech and perfected by
Evolution Gaming in 2006, solved the lack of realism in RNG-based
gambling.
Worst Online Casino Game Ideas that Bombed
Not
every game created is an instant success. In fact, just like
land-based table game inventions, the majority of them die on the
virtual gaming floor – some faster than others.
7-Card
Stud video poker was a perfect example. It
made the games
more complicated than they needed to be.
Similarly, 7-reel slot machines failed to attract players, who
found them to confusing to keep up with.
Duplicate
Poker turned players off by elimination the luck factor entirely.
Yes, poker players love the skill element, but without the marginal
influence of the luck of the draw, no one wanted to play anymore.
Those
games were historically bad ideas, but none more so than the three
games I’m about to tell you about. These titles died so quickly,
today’s players may have completely missed their short-lived
appearance.
#1 Showtime Hold’em Poker
Showtime
Poker was an online poker variant introduced by PokerStars in May
2018. It was conceived under the premise that players believed it was
“about time poker players show their folded cards”. At the end of
a hand, all mucked cards would be revealed.
PokerStars
wanted this game to take off like a rocket! They were so enthused
about it that they contracted some of their most
famous pros
to build hype by streaming Showtime Poker tables on their live Twitch
feeds.
There
were two major problems with this format. Pro players hated it,
because it forced them to give away their game play secrets. Amateurs
hated it because they don’t give a crap about seeing mucked cards.
End result – everyone hated it!
#2 Live Casino Slot Machines
In
2011,
the creative minds at Evolution Gaming believed they’d had an
epiphany. Live casinos are a perfect playground for table games, but
they
were
unable to accommodate players of the most popular casino games on the
planet – slot machines. Enter stage right, live dealer slots.
This
bold introduction was
meant to revolutionize
the live casino industry. Evolution
put a lot of thought and detail into its debut, going so far as to
replace virtual reels with actual spinning wheels. A dealer would
host the game, offering commentary and providing live chat
interaction with players.
What
went wrong? Well, slots players enjoy traditional
slot games
for a reason. They like the singularity. They like controlling the
pace of the games. Turning slot machines into a social affair was
unnecessary, uninvited, and unwelcome.
Of
worthy mention, live
dealer slot machines
are attempting a comeback this year, although I don’t expect the
results to be any different.
#3 Virtual Reality (VR) Gambling
This
is one concept most of you will remember. It wasn’t
long ago,
around 2015-16, that the virtual reality movement made
its push.
The
concept was spot on. Throw on a headset and enter a virtual casino
world, where your real-life actions transfer into the virtual realm
in the most realistic digital casino games ever imagined exist!
Yes,
it was quite a concept, but it did not catch on, and for one very
simple reason. The technology necessary, and availability of that
technology, has not yet reached mainstream households. That’s not
to say that VR gambling doesn’t still have a chance in years to
come.
Microgaming
was making mobile games back in 2003, but it wasn’t until 2007 that
the first smartphones appeared. Who wanted to play slots on a flip
phone? No one. Another five years would pass before the mobile
gambling revolution actually gained a foothold, and now, it’s the
number one way to play over the internet, and enjoy all the new
online casino game ideas that developers are constantly spitting out
– the good and the bad.
Play Games Online: It’s good for your mental and physical health!
I don’t think
I have to explain the “physical” side of that statement right
now. The world is currently in the grips of a global pandemic as the
novel coronavirus – COVID-19 – bears down upon us. Everything
from public schools to non-essential life-sustaining businesses are
closed. Millions of people are going online to file for unemployment,
and at the same time, looking for ways to entertain and amuse
themselves and their families without leaving their home.
There’s not a
parent today that hasn’t heard it’s vital we “limit screen
time” for our children. Some advise no more than 30 minutes a day
looking at a screen. I think we can all agree that everyone, no
matter the age, is using screens far more than 30 minutes a day, and
we have been since long before the term “social distancing”
became a household phrase. Now, screen time may be the best thing
for us – not all of the time, but a generous portion of it.
Play Games Online – It’s Good For Your
Health!
As it turns out,
online gaming can be extremely good for your physical and
psychological well being. Yes, the physical aspect is that you can
play games on a computer, smartphone or tablet while practicing
social distancing. You don’t have to interact physically with
anyone, or even leave your home, to do it. But what are the
psychological benefits?
Let’s take a
look…
Entertainment: The most obvious benefit to your psyche is the entertainment value. No one likes to be bored – especially children! Online games give us something fun and interesting to do while we wait for answers to the coronavirus crisis.
Interaction: Being locked up inside all day – and all night – has left billions of people all over the world craving for human interaction. We can call our friends and loved ones, and video chat with them on Facetime or some other video-conferencing app, but there’s only so much to be said in a basic conversation. Playing online games with each other enhances the interactive experience ten-fold.
Stimulating Brain Function: There are many games out there that are specifically designed to enhance brain function and motor skills. Other games do this naturally. A match-3 jewel game trains our brains to recognize patterns. Crossword puzzles keep our eyes, and our vocabulary, sharp. Online casino games like blackjack, video poker and Texas Hold’em, give us the opportunity to invoke mathematically and probability driven strategies. Even something as seemingly ineffectual as Angry Birds puts our cognitive mentality to work, considering the best trajectory for one-shot success. Many of these games can be played socially against other players, providing the same interactive entertainment mentioned above.
Stress Reduction: These are strange times we live in. There’s no denying an elevated rate of stress and anxiety among the global population. Games have forever been a go-to for stress relief. Recent studies have shown that those who play games online – particularly video games – are able to combat stress. If it can work for a 15 minute break during the work day, it can work at home during these unprecedented times.
Quality Family Time: I think we can all agree that quality time with the family doesn’t happen nearly as often as it should. COVID-19 has certainly changed that. Families are digging out dusty board games, shuffling up decks of cards, and downloading digital PC and console video games more than ever. Fortnite’s 4-man squads aren’t just made up of school mates these days, but families. I can personally attest to that!
Lowest house edge casino games and where to play them.
Different types
of casino goers are attracted to different types of games. Some like
fast paced games, while others like to take their time. Some enjoy
single-player amusements, while others enjoy the communal atmosphere
of multi-player games. Sometimes it’s not about the game play or
atmosphere, but the odds of winning that draws a player to the
action.
I don’t
necessarily recommend choosing your games based solely on the house
edge you face. Doing so implies disregard for the entertainment
factor. If you’re not enjoying the games, you’re violating the
most important rule of responsible gambling – to have fun, since
the odds are never really in your favor. Then again, finding a game
you enjoy that’s among the lowest edge games – that could be
something worth looking into.
Lowest House Edge Casino Games
The following is
a top-10 list of the casino games with the lowest edge. Having a low
house edge means, in contrast, that the game has a high return to
player (RTP). Please understand that the RTP is theoretical. It is
based on mathematical probabilities, and as such, only applies in the
long term.
Note:
The RTP is, quite literally, the opposite of the house edge. If the
house edge is 5%, the RTP is 95%. Together they make 100%.
All Aces
Video Poker – 0.08% All Aces is a video poker variant
found at online casinos powered by Microgaming software. It’s
house edge of 0.08% is so low that, over the years, many Microgaming
casinos have decided to remove it from their menus. In order to
achieve that fantastic 99.92% RTP, you’ll need to make every
decision strategically. Learn more…
Blackjack
– 0.18% to 0.35% Blackjack is known for its low house
edge, but there are dozens of rule sets offered at land-based and
online casinos. The trick is to find the best games, where the edge
does not exceed 0.35%. 1x2Gaming’s Bonus Blackjack and Red Queen
Blackjack offer a super low edge of 0.18%, but isn’t the easiest
to find. Microgaming’s Vegas Single Deck Blackjack comes in at
0.31%, and is available at hundreds of online casinos. Note:
I’m not listing any other blackjack games here, although there are
plenty with ~99% RTPs that could have occupied the list. Those above
are the best – I’ll leave it at that.
Spanish
21 / Pontoon – 0.40% Spanish 21 (a.k.a. Pontoon) is a
game characterized by the removal of all 10s from each deck. In
exchange, a host of player-friendly rules are applied. So long as
the dealer is required to Stand on Soft 17, you’ll play against an
edge of just 0.40%. (Note that Dealer Hitting Soft 17 increase edge
to 0.76%).
Jacks or
Better with 9/6 Full Pay – 0.46% Another good video poker
variant that’s widely available is Jacks or Better. Check the pay
table. If it features a 9/6 Full Pay, you can achieve the optimal
99.54% RTP.
Baccarat,
Banker Bet – 1.06% Betting on the Banker hand in baccarat
is as easy as dropping a chip on the table. It begets a decently low
house edge of 1.06%.
Baccarat,
Player Bet – 1.24% Don’t want to bet on the Banker
hand? Place your chip on the Player hand instead for a 1.24% house
edge.
Craps,
Don’t Pass/Come – 1.36% They said it’s wrong to bet
against the shooter, but who are “They” anyway? A bet on Don’t
Pass or Don’t Come offers with a higher RTP of 98.76%.
Craps,
Pass Line/Come – 1.41% If you prefer to bet with the
crowd, for an added 0.5% to the edge you bet the Pass Line or Come
wager in craps.
Pai Gow
Poker – 1.46% This is one of those games you’ll either
love or hate. If you find the 1.46% edge appealing, give it a try.
Pai Gow
Tiles – 1.50% Please know that this is not the same as
Pai Gow Poker. Played with 32 dominoes, it is one of the world’s
oldest casino games, reserved for casinos in the Eastern hemisphere
prior to the online gambling revolution. It’s 1.50% house edge
makes it a unique choice among the industry’s lowest house edge
casino games.
Uncommon Sense: An illogical guide to beat online casinos.
Common sense
would tell you that, to beat an online casino, you have to win more
money than you lose. But as we all know, there is no such thing as a
game with an RTP of 100% or greater. At 100%, theoretical results
would dictate a break-even gambling experience. Every dollar you
wager would be won back. No win – no loss – just breaking even.
You can play any blackjack game on the internet – the one with the
absolute best, most player-friendly rules – and you’re still not
going to achieve an RTP of 100% or more. So there’s no way to beat
them… right?
Uncommon sense
would tell us otherwise. But most of us don’t have uncommon sense.
We’re raised to be logical. We’re taught to use common sense to
make smart decisions. Thus, an educated player who uses common sense
must come to the undeniable conclusion that online casinos cannot be
beat. But the player who thinks outside the box – with uncommon
sense – knows there are ways around every barrier.
How to Beat Online Casinos
It’s not just
about how much you win, but your overall return on investment, or
ROI. What are you getting out of the experience, compared to what
you’re putting into it? So long as the output exceeds the input,
you win.
Let’s explore
this theory for a moment, because there is more than one way to go
about it. You could beast-mode the promotions of an online casino to
turn low-edge losses into advantage-player profits. Or, you could
ensure the entertainment value is greater than the cost of play.
Be a Promotional Beast
Online casinos
present their players with all sorts of promotions. One of the most
overlooked rewards is the loyalty program. Securing VIP status can
get you a lot of perks. To become a VIP, you can either wager a whole
lot of money at the online casino, or you can make substantial
deposits.
The fastest way
to become a high-level VIP is to register an account, then – before
depositing – open a support chat. Tell them you just signed up and
that you want to make a deposit, but that you aren’t satisfied with
the usual welcome bonus. Maybe it’s only 100% up to $200. Tell them
you plan to deposit much more than this, and think you deserve to
receive an analogous bonus for it. Tell them you are a regular player
and high roller, and that you want to start with a high level VIP
status and dedicated VIP account manager.
If this doesn’t
get their attention, nothing will. Of course, you’ll also need to
be ready to back up your high deposit promises. If it works, and
you’re granted the VIP level and better bonus, take full advantage.
That higher level VIP status will generate faster comp points (up to
25% higher) with every wager. Plus, the 100% match bonus on your
deposit will get you 2x the comps, for having 2x the wagering power.
Find the right
casinos, engage the best promotions, and all those extra VIP bonuses
and comps could turn the ROI tides to your favor.
Get Your Money’s Worth in Entertainment
Value doesn’t
have to be a monetary thing. If you spend $25 to go see a movie –
tickets, popcorn, drink, candy, the works – and that movie bombs,
you’ll feel like you wasted $25. If, however, that movie blows you
away, you will leave the theater feeling like it was worth every
dollar, and then some.
Can we not look
at the entertainment value of gambling in the same way? Considering
the high RTPs of most online slots and table games, it wouldn’t
take much to turn a losing experience into positive entertainment
value.
Unlike
land-based casinos, internet slot machine pay out an average of
96-97%. European roulette comes in at 97.3%. Baccarat banker and
player bets pay 98.76% and 98.94% respectively. Blackjack and video
poker can pay 99.35% to 99.92% when you pick your rules and your work
strategies wisely. Manage your bankroll well, take your time,
thoroughly enjoying the experience, and that minimal house edge,
combined with the amount of fun you have playing the games, can be
your key golden to beating online casinos.
Top 10 best gambling tips for recreational bettors in 2020.
Not every gambler is looking to strategize every game, spending big
bucks to turn a major profit. Sure, we’ve all heard about big pro
gambling gurus that took Vegas for hundreds of thousands of dollars,
but to think we could ever become the next hot topic is laughable, at
best. You’re more likely to win a multi-million dollar progressive.
The majority of today’s gamblers aren’t high rollers. They are
casual gamblers with a modest bankroll and a desire to win some cash,
or at least have a good time trying. If you fit into that category,
today’s write up is for you.
10 Best Gambling tips for Recreational Bettors
A recreational gambler is one who plays casino games for fun. They
don’t consider themselves strategists. As such, the following tips
can help them make the most of their experience without going broke.
I’ve put them in order of what I consider to be a need-to-know
basis, based on experience levels of beginner and up.
#1 Take Your Time
If Aesop’s Fables have taught us anything, it’s that slow and
steady wins the race. There’s no rush. The casino is not going to
close up. Most of them never close at all! And as we all know, the
casino always has the advantage. The faster you play, the faster you
lose.
#2 Lower Your Expectations
Let’s face facts. You’re probably going to lose. The sooner you
accept that fact, the easier it will be to relax and have a good
time. It’s not impossible to win. People do get lucky. But casinos
aren’t in the business of making winners.
#3 Enjoy the Experience
I’m going to elaborate once more on that previous notion, because
it really is super important. Casinos are entertainment venues, just
like psychic hotlines. Their terms of service both state “for
entertainment purposes only”. The odds of getting a real psychic on
the phone are about as good as your odds of turning the casino’s
house edge to your favor. In the long run, the casinos always win
more than the players. If you don’t enjoy the experience, it will
only feel like a rip-off.
#4 Don’t Go Back for Seconds
Never hit the ATM for more money. Know what you are willing to spend,
bring that with you in cash, and if you run out, be done. Besides,
casino ATMs charge insane fees to withdrawal!
#5 Practice Before You Play
If you’re new to casino gaming, get some practice in first. Online
casinos are a perfect medium for this. You can play for free as long
as you want, trying out new games and learning the rules.
#6 Don’t Play Keno
Keno is by far the worst game in the casino. It’s like playing the
lottery. Your odds of winning anything decent can be astronomical.
You’re better off playing progressive slot machines. Which reminds
me…
#7 Slots Aren’t as Cheap as You Think
Slot machines aren’t the cheap games they used to be. When you see
penny slots or nickel slots, they are often loaded up with paylines.
You have to pay at least the base price per payline to activate them.
A nickel slot with 20 paylines doesn’t cost $0.05. With all lines
active, it will cost you $1.00 per spin. A casual gamblers $25
bankroll can run dry real fast at that rate!
Not only that, sometimes what looks like a win is really a loss. If
you’re betting $1.00, but only win $0.20 on a spin, the bells and
whistles go off like you’ve won. In reality, you’ve lost $0.80.
Pay attention to what each spin is costing you, and watch your
bankroll close.
#8 Online Slots Pay Better
Having read #7, the next thing you need to know is that online slots
have way better payouts than land-based casinos slots. Las Vegas slot
machines are only required to pay back 75% of what they take in.
Canadian laws require slots to keep a minimum of 85% to 88%,
depending on the province. Online casinos aren’t under such
regulatory restrictions, nor do they pay outrageous utilities and
payrolls. Online, the average payout on a slot is between 96% and
97%. So if you really enjoy those lsots, like so many people do,
online casinos are the best place to play them.
#9 Don’t Pretend to Be a Pro
If you’re not a blackjack pro, don’t fool yourself into thinking
you can play like one. You’re welcome to practice strategies and
card counting, but if you sit down at a Vegas blackjack table and try
to count cards without the mental proficiency and training required
to do it right, you’ll be laughed out of the casino like our
foolish friend Ben Affleck.
#10 Video Poker is the Best Strategy Game in the
Casino
Of all the best gambling tips on this page, this is the most
important for anyone looking to improve their status in the casino.
Forget the all-too-common assumption that blackjack is the best
casino game for strategizing. It’s not. That title belongs to video
poker, especially if you’re a nascent, casual gambler looking to up
your game. With the right rules and pay table, you can achieve a
return of 99.92% or better. No blackjack game can offer a
recreational gambler those kind of odds. To top it off, with video
poker, there’s no pressure from other players to hurry up your
choices. You can take your time, and even look up the perfect
strategy, hand by hand, as you play.
Ontario is raising the stakes w/ a PlayOLG welcome bonus package
worth up to $300 in free casino credits.
I remember it
wasn’t all that long ago that I was reporting on the lack of
promotional offerings at any of Canada’s provincially regulated
online casinos. The laws were defined in such a way that incentives
were unlawful, making it impossible for these operator’s to compete
with their internationally-regulated rivals overseas. That is clearly
no longer the case.
Provincial
governments soon discovered that, without a promotional package,
their own citizens had no interest in partaking in the meager
offerings of home-grown iGaming sites like Ontario’s PlayOLG.
It wasn’t until amendments to the law gave these online casinos the
option to promote welcome bonuses and other incentives that players
began taking notice. Now, the promotions are so attractive, they
easily rival those of offshore operations.
PlayOLG Welcome Bonus Package Worth $300
PlayOLG, the
iGaming platform of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp (OLG),
has a lofty newcomer bonus on its menu. First-time depositors are
invited to take advantage of three consecutive deposit bonuses, each
delivering a 100% match of up to $100.
Each offer may be
redeemed by entering the corresponding bonus code:
First
Deposit earns 100% up to $100 bonus match with promo code: first
Second
Deposit earns 100% up to $100 bonus match with promo code:
second
Third Deposit earns 100% up to $100 bonus match with promo
code: third
Promotional Terms To Be Considered
As always there are certain conditions attached to the redemption of
a bonus, and the fulfillment of wagering requirements before any
winnings can be cashed out. In this case, PlayOLG has attached the
following terms:
Minimum qualifying deposit to receive a bonus is $15.
Minimum deposit to receive the full $100 bonus is $100.
Only residents of Ontario who are 19 or older are eligible to redeem
a welcome bonus at PlayOLG.
The player’s cash deposit will be credited to their “cash
balance” account.
The player’s bonus will be credited to their “bonus balance”
account.
The combined total of the “cash” and “bonus” balances shall
be displayed as the “total balance” while playing eligible games
(see Eligible Games and Wagering Requirements below).
The welcome package promotion detailed above expires on January 31,
2020.
Eligible Games and Wagering Requirements
PlayOLG’s new player bonuses come with some of the most generous
wagering requirements (WR) the industry has ever seen. Players are
only required to complete WR of 10x the bonus amount. If the full
$100 bonus is claimed, 10x WR would require play through of $1,000 in
bets.
That’s far more attractive than the average 40x play through of a
deposit and bonus combined. However, there is a 30 day
expiration period. WR must be completed within the 30 days or the
entire bonus will be forfeit. The same forfeiture applies if the
player attempts to request a cashout before completing WR.
Long story short, these are the easiest wagering requirements you’ll
come across – don’t mess it up!
Eligible games, and their percentage-based contribution towards WR,
are as follows:
PlayOLG Games
WR %
Slot Machines
100%
Instant Win Games (Casino)
100%
Fast Poker
50%
Blackjack Games
10%
Texas Hold’em Games
10%
Let It Ride
10%
Sic Bo
10%
Three Card Poker
10%
War
10%
Baccarat Games*
0%
Roulette Games*
0%
Video Poker Games*
0%
Lottery Games*
0%
*Only funds available in the player’s “cash balance” will
appear as their “total balance” when playing any game that counts
0% towards WR contribution.
For the complete PlayOLG welcome bonus rules, please visit the
website directly.
Evaluating the best video poker strategy books of the millennium.
Gambling strategy books used to be all the rage. Anyone hopping on
a flight to Vegas would pick up the latest edition of a pro-authored
tutorial to read along the way. In those days, the world’s most
renowned gamblers – people like Edward Thorpe, Stanford Wong, and
Doyle Brunson – were the best selling authors in the business.
Times have changed so much since then, as have the games they
wrote about. Thorpe’s blackjack theories have been expounded upon.
Stanford’s card counting seems almost primitive today. Brunson’s
poker strategy could be picked apart by a college student going on
three days of Monster energy drinks in place of sleep.
But there’s one game that hasn’t changed; one game that’s been
strategically documented throughout the decades. And it just so
happens to be the highest paying game on the casino floor – if you
visit the right casino, that it. I’m talking about video poker
machines. And while it’s true that the strategies in the older video
poker books remain valid today, the way the machines are built has
changed. And for that reason, today’s evaluation will only include
guides written in the current millennium.
Best Video Poker Strategy Books of 2000+
In order to remain entirely fair and unbiased, I’m basing the
following evaluations on the opinions of actual readers of these
books – readers who bought them with the sole intent of improving
their skills at the casinos.
Please note that, while I have provided links where you can
purchase each book, I am not receiving any kickbacks for doing so,
and cannot guarantee the price or availability of the books via those
links past the publication date of this article.
The Video Poker Edge, Linda Boyd (2005)
Linda Boyd published her second edition of The Video Poker Edge: How to Play Smart and Bet Right, in 2005. I’ve picked this book for two very important reasons. First of all, it’s written specifically for beginners. It starts by teaching you everything about the game, its history, proper etiquette, etc., then moves into the strategy department, detailing how to identify the highest paying games and how to play the most commonly profitable hands. Secondly, she is 100% honest about the nature of the games. She does not pretend that you can beat them – not without finding that one-in-a-million machine with an above 100% RTP. (Yes, they do exist). Ms. Boyd teaches players to be realistic, conveying that probabilities dictate you will lose in the long term, but that you can make your bankroll last a lot longer playing the “right” way.
Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner, Bob Dancer (2009)
Bob Dancer is the world’s leading authority on winning video poker strategies. His success stories are known far and wide. His authoring of Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner is aimed at players who want to learn the ABCs of the game, as well as the XYZs of becoming a video poker master. What impresses readers most is how easy Dancer makes it to identify games with a positive expectation. Most casinos don’t have them, of course, but when you find one, following his advice can net consistent profits. Strategy charts are provided for all the most common games and pay tables.
As for becoming a video poker master, this book comes highly
recommended. If you want to learn more about Bob Dancer himself,
check out his previous best-seller, Million Dollar Video Poker
(2003). Any true enthusiast will enjoy the read.
“A Winner’s Guide to…” Series, Bob Dancer (Varies)
Starting in the early 2000’s, Bob Dancer wrote and published a 6-volume series on video poker games that’s since become known as his “Winner’s Guide Series”. Each book covers the precise game play strategy and charts for a single game, covering all known pay tables for each.
If you’ve already read a beginner’s guide and are looking to expand your knowledge about a particular game – maybe one that’s specifically available at your local casino – these volumes are lauded as the best video poker strategy books in the literary realm.
The complete series includes:
Vol. 1 – A Winner’s Guide to Jacks or Better
Vol. 2 – A Winner’s Guide to Double Bonus Poker
Vol. 3 – A Winner’s Guide to Full Pay Deuces Wild
Vol. 4 – A Winner’s Guide to NSU Deuces Wild
Vol. 5 – A Winner’s Guide to Pick’em Poker
Vol. 6 – A Winner’s Guide to Double Double Bonus
Poker
