Is there a trick to playing online slots? What you need to know.
Online casinos aren’t the shady, unreliable, slow-loading operations of decades past. At the turn of the century, internet gamblers didn’t really know what they were getting into. Now days, iGaming is a global industry, embraced by the tech-savvy, secured by government regulation. The games that were once questionably partisan are now certified fair by respected watch-dog services. Slot machine jackpots aren’t just for show. Multi-million dollar payouts really do happen. With the clandestine smoke of yesteryear cleared, and player apprehensions faded, there’s really only one question left. Are there any real tricks to beating online slot machines?
Is There a Trick to Playing Online Slots?
I’ve been asked this more times than I can count. The answer is, “Yes and no”. It really depends on what you mean by “trick”. If you’re asking if there’s a way to swindle, deceive, or conspire against the online casinos to win money – to somehow cheat the system or trick a digital machine into paying more prizes – then the answer is a steadfast, “No”.
Not only would that be fraud, which is rightly illegal (and the very thing people were so upset with rogue online casinos for doing in the late 1990s), it would be impossible to succeed without getting caught. Technology is far more advanced these days. There are security systems monitoring everything that goes on at online casinos. If a game’s software malfunctions, by chance or by tampering, the payout is void. Leave any trace of evidence, and you’ll be in deep trouble before you know it.
Then there’s the noble variety of winning slot tricks…
Honorable Tricks to Beating Online Slot Machines
These aren’t deceptive tricks at all. They are the kind that come with great knowledge of the way iGaming software works. These tricks will increase your chances of winning, but will not break any laws or breach any moral codes in the process.
With that in mind, it’s important to understand that you cannot increase a slot machine’s payout percentage above 100%. The payout percentage is the theoretical return to player (RTP), a figure that represents how much a machine will return in winnings, compared to how much players bet on that machine. For example, a 97% RTP slot would pay back 97% of it’s intake (i.e. $97 for every $100 wagered).
That’s a theoretical figure, of course, and only holds true in the long-term, over the course of millions of spins. In the short term, a machine could pay more or less than its intended RTP – in some cases, a lot more or less. This is how players are able to beat casinos.
The other thing you need to understand is what “fair” means in the casino industry. Players like to think that “fair” means they have a 50/50 chance of winning or losing. That’s not the case. Fair simply means the casino isn’t cheating. Remember, casinos are businesses, and businesses have to make money. Thus, a 97% RTP slot machine guarantees, over time, that the casino will earn a 3% profit on all bets made on that game. And if the casino wins, then the players must collectively lose. Some will win, sure, but more will lose than win. And that is what is considered “fair”.
With this knowledge in tow, let’s take a look at 3 valid tricks for playing online slot machines.
#1 Know the RTP Before Playing Online Slots
This is one of the greatest advantages of playing slot machines online. Land-based casinos rarely reveal the RTP of their slot machines. They might say they have 98% RTP slots, but they won’t say which slots pay that high. It could just be a single slot, mixed in a sea of low-paying games. Online casinos, on the other hand, will almost always reveal the RTP of each game. If you find one that doesn’t, don’t play there. You can always find a better casino that does.
It should be your right as the customer to examine a game’s payout percentage, so that you can make an informed decision as to whether you should play or not. The best slot machines are always going to be the ones with the highest RTP. A game that pays out at 97.2% is more likely to be profitable than a game with a 94.3% RTP. Knowing what we know about the “fairness” of casino games, at the very least, you should be able to play a higher RTP slot machine longer than a low RTP slot, before your bankroll runs low.
Average Slot RTP and Where to Find It
The industry’s more reputable iGaming software labs will list each game’s RTP within its pay table info. If you don’t see it there, try going to the manufacturer’s website (Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, etc.) and look up the game title. Again, if it’s not easy enough to find, don’t play. It’s their loss, not yours.
The average RTP for online slots these days is about 96.15%. Anything above that is good – the higher the better. The only exception is progressive slots. Microgaming’s Mega Moolah, for example, is networked across a wide selection of games with RTPs ranging from 88.12% to 93.45%. Having a million dollar jackpot seed and an average hit rate of $6m every 8 weeks, it’s understandable that the RTP would be lower.
#2 Play High Volatility Slots, Carefully
Today’s slot machines have what we call “volatility”, or “variance”. A high-volatility slot machine does not hit winning combinations very often. However, when it does, the payout for those wins tends to be a lot better. A low-volatility game, on the other hand, will pay out very frequently, but in very small amounts – most often smaller than the amount you’re betting per spin.
The reason you should stick to slot machines with a high variance (or at least a medium variance) is because low-volatility slots are more likely to drain your bankroll dry. The wins you do hit won’t be very significant, which (purposely) convinces most players that they should just keep going. As they do, their bankroll slowly bleeds out. They get a good deal of entertainment for their wagering dollars, as the game tends to last longer, but the chance of profitability is slim to none.
If entertainment value is your goal, by all means play the low-volatility slots. But if you really are hoping to strike a big win, it’s the high-volatility slots you should be playing.
Remember, I said to play these games “carefully”. That’s because your bankroll is going to drop faster between winning spins. Make sure you have enough money to play with that you can spin the reels at least 100 times (i.e. minimum $100 bankroll at $1 per spin). Anything less, and the probabilities are stacked against you.
#3 Don’t Get Greedy, a Small Profit is Better than None
You have to go into your online casino experience with realistic expectations. Set a reasonable profit goal, maybe 15-20%. That might sound low, but when you consider the casino is happy to earn just 1-3%, not only is 15-20% more than reasonable, it’s actually rather high. Even blackjack players, who play games with average 0.5% RTP or better, rarely expect to make more than 10% in a session. Fortunately, slot variance makes it more reasonable to shoot for up to 20% profit.
If you hit your win margin, cash out and walk away. This is the most neglected trick to playing online slots. Most people get caught up in the excitement of the win, and lose sight of the real goal – to actually win something. If you keep going, you’re only helping the casino to reach its inevitable long-term goal of beating you.
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 best casino game for beginners (Hint: It’s not slot machines!)
Preparing for your very first foray into a casino can be very
intimidating. Casinos are often massive properties, lined with
opulent décor, glimmering chandeliers, fancy carpets and elaborately
dressed employees. For so many of today’s first-timers, walking
into a resort-style casino can feel like entering a fine dining
establishment in a Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops.
Of course, the casinos don’t really care what you’re wearing, so
long as you’ve got cash in your pocket, and a willingness to spend
it. But the anxiety for a newcomer is real. Even playing your first
casino game at an online gambling destination can set your hairs on
end. If you aren’t familiar with the rules of any games, all of
these fears become magnified tenfold.
The logical answer might be not to go to the casino. Common sense
might tell you to hold off, learn some games first, better prepare
yourself for the experience. But what if that’s not an option? I
remember my first visit to a casino all too well. It was an impromptu
choice, spurred by a group of friends who all decided we should go.
Two of them had been before. Three of us had not. As a newbie myself,
it was overwhelming, to say the least!
I did what so many first-time casino goers do. I stared in horror at
the massive gaming floor, then went straight to the slot machines,
where I stayed until almost all my money was gone. It was fun, yes,
but I had no idea what I was doing. Within 20 minutes, I’d blown
through $80. I spent the next half hour walking around, pinching my
last $20 as I watched other people play games I had no clue about.
So, if you want to avoid mimicking this tale of majority boredom,
might I recommend…
The Best Casino Game for Beginners
If you ask most people the easiest game to play in the casino, they
will say it’s a slot machine. Yes, push a button and cross your
fingers does seem easy, but there’s so much more to those games.
Did you ever try reading a video slot’s pay table? Page after page
of symbols, line info, features, payouts, etc. They really aren’t
so simple. The easiest game of all – one that features a far better
return to player (RTP) than slots – is baccarat.
Baccarat is a card game that you don’t really have to play. All you
have to do is choose where to place your bet – kind of like
roulette, but again, with a higher RTP. The dealer will take care of
everything else. Let’s take a quick look at how the dealer plays
out hands.
The Rules of Baccarat
The object of baccarat is for one hand – the Player hand or Banker
hand – to be closer to a total of 9. The closest to 9 wins. Each
hand starts with two cars. If the total value of those two cards
exceeds 9, 10 is subtracted.
For example, a hand of 3+8=11. You can’t exceed 9, so you subtract;
11-10=1. The new hand total is 1. If the cards are 4+5, the total is
a perfect 9. Or, if the cards are 10+8, we subtract 10 for a total of
8.
There are certain situations where the dealer is required to give the
Player and/or Banker hand a third card, depending on the totals of
the first two cards. These are known as “house rules”, and give
the Banker hand a slight advantage (51%) over the Player hand. But
don’t worry, you can bet on the Banker Hand, too. Or, you can bet
on the two hands resulting in a Tie.
Baccarat Odds, Payout and House Edge
Knowing the odds of winning each bet, the payout for winning it, and
the house edge involved, will help you choose where to place your
bets. The “odds” are the probability of winning each bet. The
payout is the amount you’ll get back for winning, compared to what
you’ve wagered on it. The house edge is a combination of odds and
payouts that determines how likely the casino is to beat you on that
bet. Hence, the lower the edge, the better the bet.
Note: You’ll notice that a winning Banker bet pays
1:1, -5%. The casino collects a 5% commission on all winning banker
bets to offset the fact that the Banker hand will win more often. If
it weren’t for the 5% commission, the casino would lose money on
these bets in the long term.
Baccarat Bet
Odds
Pays
Edge
Banker Hand
45.85%
1:1, -5%
1.06%
Player Hand
44.62%
1:1
1.24%
Tie
9.53%
8:1
14.36%
The low edge of 1.06% on Banker and 1.24% on Player bets makes this
not just the easiest casino game, but the best casino game for
beginners. It offers a communal table game experience, is easy to
understand, and can sustain a modest bankroll far longer than slot
machines.
Three easy ways to watch live blackjack online (and two good
reasons why you might want to).
There is a very famous saying that goes, “Those who can, do;
those who cannot, teach.” I don’t know if there’s any truth
to that statement, but I do know that, since the dawn of Youtube,
there’s a new phrase worth coining. “Those who can, stream;
those who can’t, watch and learn.”
If you’ve ever watched the live broadcast of a Twitch
streamer playing a game – any game, whether it be casinos games
like slot machines or blackjack, or PC and console video games like
League of Legends, or Call of Duty – you know exactly
what that phrase means. It is the new wave of modern gaming, wherein
the best and bravest gamers exhibit their skills in live stream for
all the web-world to see.
If blackjack happens to be your game of choice, sit back and take a
moment to absorb the following information, as I’ll be tutoring a
brief lesson in…
3 Ways to Watch Live Blackjack Online
There are exactly three ways to accomplish this. If you’re
wondering why you would even want to, hold your horses. We’ll cover
that in the next section.
#1 Youtube / Twitch Casino Channels
Twitch casino channels are extremely popular right now. They are
hosted by regular online casino gamers who have large bankrolls and
nothing better to do with their time or money than place big bets and
stream the action live. Most people who like to watch blackjack do so
on Twitch or Youtube, so this is where I’d suggest starting, unless
you want to get in on that action yourself.
#2 Live Dealer Casinos
Live dealer casinos present a unique opportunity. They are
essentially the online version of land-based casino games. They take
place in a live studio, with professional dealers chucking physical
cards. Players are able to watch it all happen and take part in the
games, via any modestly equipped desktop computer, smartphone or
tablet. Thus, live dealer casinos allow the viewer to watch and play
the games at the same time.
#3 Live Tournament Feed
There isn’t a very substantial market for this anymore, but they do
still exist. When a major blackjack tournament is taking place, you
can usually find a live feed of it available – again, either on
Youtube, Twitch, or some other live streaming website. If it is being
hosted by a major live/online casino operator, you may be able to
access the feed directly from the gambling site.
What’s So Great About Watching Blackjack
Online?
I can think of two very distinct reasons why you might want to watch
live blackjack online. The first and most obvious reason is for
entertainment purposes. Think about it. If you love the game, but
have a modest bankroll, wouldn’t it be fun to watch a high roller
with thousands in their pocket place massive bets on a single hand?
Sure, it’s not as exciting as if you were the one in the hot seat,
but who doesn’t enjoy living vicariously through others now and
again?
The second reason is to learn. Blackjack is the most strategically
challenging game in the casino. Basic strategy decides how to handle
each decision-making situation, but the best players have skills that
go far beyond this. They are able to keep counts of all the cards;
not just high and low counts, but deck sequencing, ace tracking, and
other special techniques that – when the stars align – can give
them a genuine advantage over the house.
There are plenty of books to read on the subject of blackjack
strategy, but if you’ve ever used a video to help you do a task
that was previously out of your scope of knowledge – something like
fixing an electronic device or changing your own car parts – you
know that video tutorials have changed the way we look at life. The
impossible becomes possible, if only we can understand it, both
verbally and visually.
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.
If you’re planning your first trip to Vegas, don’t bother reading
this. You’ll want to spend your time on taking in the glorious
sites along The Strip and Downtown’s Freemont
Street. On your first visit, it’s not about the games, but the
experience. If you’ve already had that experience, and are looking
for something a bit more, then by all means, continue reading.
I’m going to tell you about the best blackjack games in the city. You won’t find them on The Strip or in Downtown, despite the rampant finger-pointing towards El Cortez. That casino does have some nice games, clocking a 99.82% RTP with the cheapest table limits of $5 and up. If you’re willing to spend $25 per hand, you can do better.
Best Blackjack Odds in Vegas
Head south along Las Vegas Boulevard approximately 10 miles
from the central Strip area (Bellagio /
Caesars Palace); past McCarran International Airport;
beyond South Point and The Grandview. Just as you cross
the St Rose Parkway, you’ll come to the luxurious M
Resort Spa & Casino, sticking up from the vast stretch of
desert floor like a hitchhiker’s thumb.
Its opulence may seem a bit out of place this far south of The Strip.
Technically, you’re not even in Las Vegas anymore. You’re in the
city of Henderson, but once you enter the property, you’ll
never know the difference.
I suggest taking advantage of valet parking, unless you don’t mind
long walks. Once you get to the doors, head inside and take the
nearest elevator to the upper level. Follow the signs to the casino,
and once you’re there, stop the first employee you see and ask them
to point you to the blackjack tables. The pit boss should be easy to
find, standing at his/her central kiosk with a birds-eye view of the
dealers.
Tell this person that you heard the M Resort blackjack odds are the
best in the city, and ask for directions to one of those tables.
There should be three of them It wouldn’t hurt to do this with a
tip sticking up between your fingers, ensuring you get preferential
seating if there’s a line. Once you’re seated…
M Resort Blackjack Odds and Rules
At the right tables, you’ll find rules that dish up a delicious 99.86% RTP. That’s a mere 0.14% house edge. It isn’t some odd-ball game with wacky rules and side bets. It’s a standard game of classic blackjack, with just enough player-friendly rules to deliver the best blackjack game in Vegas.
These games are played with a double-deck shoe, requiring the dealer
to stand on all 17s. Players can double after a split and are allowed
to re-split Aces. By these rules, a basic strategy will deliver that
beautiful 99.86% return. Making these tables even more appealing, the
games have a 0.8 cut card with 60% deck penetration. Deeper would be
great, but in a 2-deck shoe, that’s a nice mark for precision card
counters.
To recap…
Shoe: Double-Deck
Soft 17: Stand
Double: Any 2
Double After Split: Yes
Re-Split Aces: Yes
Blackjack Pays: 3 to 2
Cut Card: 0.8
Deck Penetration: 60%
Min / Max: $25 / $5,000
House Edge: 0.14%
RTP: 99.86%
If you’re interested in testing your skills against the best
blackjack odds in Vegas, set your destination for the M Resort Spa
Casino, located at 12300 S Las Vegas Blvd South, Henderson, NV 89044.
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.
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
Dealing with obnoxious blackjack players and dealers.
Blackjack
is widely regarded as the most entertaining game in a land-based
casino. Socialites who enjoy the communal atmosphere of a
multi-player game gather at the tables, alongside those who prefer
blackjack for its supremely high, strategy-driven RTP. It’s a win-win
for all but the most casual, solitary-minded casino goers.
But
sometimes, the experience at a blackjack table isn’t quite up to par.
Every once in a while, you may run across an obnoxious player who
doesn’t know how to keep his opinion to himself. Sometimes, the
dealer may forget his place, treating customers like second-class
citizens instead of the bread and butter they are for their
employers, the casino.
What
do you do when this happens without losing your cool? Here’s some pro
tips to help you out…
Dealing
with Obnoxious Blackjack Players
The
last thing we want to put up with at the blackjack table is another
player who thinks he’s smarter than we are. If you’ve ever had your
game play criticized by another, you know what I’m talking about.
Some
do it because they’ve had a few too many drinks. Others do it because
they’re under the impression that your decisions are effecting their
game, and they’ve decided to take out their bad luck on you. Either
way, it’s not appropriate.
You
could just get up and leave, but you shouldn’t have to feel bullied
in such a way. You could explain to him why you made the move you
did, and that mathematical probabilities do not change based on the
decisions of others. But I promise you that won’t go over well. And
there’s always the chance that his argument is correct – not yours
– and you come off looking like a total idiot.
The
best thing you can do here is completely ignore him. Don’t leave.
Don’t argue. Just remain calm, play your game to the best of your
ability, and don’t show any emotion whatsoever towards this player.
So long as you don’t appear perturbed by him, odds are he’ll become
so frustrated he gets up and leaves first.
How
to Handle a Rude Blackjack Dealer
The
job description for any professional blackjack dealer will include
supporting the players in their endeavor to beat the house. No dealer
is ever told to root for his employer. They are trained to be polite,
helpful, and give the best advice whenever a player asks for it. His
boss doesn’t care, because he already knows the rules of the game
give the house an edge.
If
you happen across a dealer who’s blatantly hoping you lose, something
is terribly wrong. This dealer is obviously in a very bad mood. Maybe
he’s running a double shift and/or has had too many run-ins with
obnoxious players of his own. Maybe he’s a disgruntled employee
hoping to get himself canned so he can collect unemployment. Whatever
the case, he’s out of line, and you’re left to deal with it.
There
are three ways you can deal with this blackjack dealer, depending on
the severity of their attitude. If they’re just being annoying, don’t
tip them. If they’re beyond annoying, you may want to get up switch
to another table. As an absolute last resort, you can report them to
the floor manager, but only in extreme situations. Again, it could
just be they’re having a really bad day, and we’ve all had those
before.
The
best advice I can give you is to think before you act. Consider all
angles – all reasons why a fellow blackjack player or dealer might
be acting the way they are. Then approach the situation with a cool,
calm and collected demeanor. The high road is always the best road!
Caribbean Stud Poker tips & logical lines of defense.
The fundamentals of gambling teach us that the rules of a game are
imperative knowledge. Not knowing how to play will require far more
luck than skill to win. Thus, the rules are the first thing any smart
gambler will learn before attempting to place a wager on any new
game. But those who are familiar with the stochastic nature of casino
games will strive to attain a greater understanding of the logistics
behind them.
If you count yourself among that group, you’ll enjoy today’s lesson
in Caribbean Stud Poker statistics and probabilities.
We’ll delve much deeper than the ordinary theoretical RTP to see just
how likely you are to hit specific payouts when implementing a
perfect strategy.
Caribbean Stud Poker Tips & Logistics
I’m going to assume that you already know the basics of how to play
Caribbean Stud Poker. It’s a standard Ante/Play betting game with
streets (revealing of cards) rather than a draw phase (no in-depth
decision making). The only decisions to be made are how much to Ante,
and whether to Play the hand with a continuation bet (Raise).
As for strategy, these five rules are all you really need to know.
Easy Perfect Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy
When you have any pair or better, Raise.
When your hand ranks below dealer’s qualifying hand (Ace+King high), Fold.
If you have exactly Ace+King High…
Raise if the dealer’s upcard is 2-Queen, and matches one of your cards.
Raise if the dealer’s upcard is King or Ace, and you have a Queen or Jack.
Raise if the dealer’s upcard is lower than your four highest cards, and you have a Queen.
Caribbean Stud Poker Probabilities
Why do the above tactics work so well? Because the mathematical
probabilities of the game state that following these rules will, in
theory, diminish the casino’s house edge to the lowest possible risk
factor.
By hypothetical standards, Caribbean Stud Poker has a 5.224% house
edge (or 94.776% RTP). However, the edge is traditionally
calculated as the expected loss on the original wager.
When following the above strategy, player’s will raise 52.23% of all
hands, which comes to an average wager of 2.045 bet units per hand.
And when raising, the player has a slightly higher probability of
winning, or achieving a hand worth a high enough payout to be worth
the calculated risk (hence the recommendation to raise in the first
place). Therefore the element of risk falls to 2.555%.
