Players are attracted to online casinos thanks to their promise of wealth and the sheer thrill of the experience. However, while wins can be big, there is much more that goes into profiting from casino games over the long term.
We no doubt all know someone who has struck lucky, but the truth is that the house always holds a built-in advantage: the house edge. As you read on, we’re going to explore how you can get the upper hand, or at least try and level the playing field, so that you’re consistently making money from your favorite casino games.
Understanding the Casino Environment
Whether it’s online blackjack, slots, or roulette, that’s your game of choice. Before you start to try to make money, you need to understand just how online casinos are set up. The thing is, you need to understand the house edge and the inherent advantage that this means the casinos have.
So, just what is the house edge? Well, it relates to a mathematical percentage that is embedded in every single game. It’s there to ensure that, over the long term, the casino remains profitable.
The house edge is generally quite small, but the way that it continually builds means that casinos can afford to pay out wins while also making a profit. When looking at House Edge, it’s a must that you consider the return to player (RTP) of your chosen casino games.
The Impact of RTP
If you’re looking to earn more through gambling, understanding RTP is a must. Put simply, this is a metric that indicates the theoretical payback of a casino game over an extended period of time. It represents the average amount wagered that leads to a payout.
Let’s take a game that has an RTP of 97%. Theoretically, this will pay out $97 for every $100 that is wagered. While RTP is checked, it must be remembered that it by no means guarantees a win. It is purely an average.
If you’re playing blackjack online, you’re likely to come across an RTP that’s different from that in slots. Likewise, games such as roulette and baccarat will also vary. Let’s take a look at this in more detail:
Slots
With online slots, you’ll come across a wide range of RTPS. You’ll tend to find that classic slots come with lower ones when compared to those for video slots. However, when you look at progressives, the overall RTP tends to be lower.
That doesn’t mean that these shouldn’t be played. After all, the wins on these can be life-changing. It just means that you should go into playing with your eyes wide open.
Table Games
If you’re looking to earn money from casino games, then tabletop games are certainly worthy of your attention. That’s because they tend to come with higher RTPs than slots.
When you consider just blackjack as an example, when played with perfect basic strategy, which we’ll come on to later, the RTP can be as high as 99%. Both baccarat and roulette also come with appealing RTPs, but these can alter depending on the variants being played and any betting strategies being used.
Video Poker
This casino game is also known for high RTPs. When you explore variants such as Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild, you’ll often find that the RTP is at 99% or more. To achieve this, though, you need to play with perfect strategy.
Other Casino Games
The likes of keno and craps will usually have lower RTPs than the table games that we’ve looked at. However, to stress it again, just remember that RTP is not guaranteed. The random nature of casino games means that wins will happen when they happen (with perhaps the exceptions of blackjack and poker).
A Closer Look at Casino Games
So, which casino games are the best to play when you’re looking to earn money? Well, we’re going to take a closer look at the most popular games, consider the win potential, and if there are any steps you can take to boost your chances of winning big:
The Most Popular Casino Games in the World
Slots are the game that practically everyone wants to play. With flashing lights and life-changing jackpots, it’s little wonder that players are drawn to these for entertainment and fun. So, what about those looking to earn while playing? Well, the reality is that there’s nothing you can do to influence the outcome each time that you spin.
The way that slots work is based on a random number generator (RNG). These have complex algorithms that determine what will happen on every spin, completely independent of what happened on the previous one.
This randomness means that there’s no strategy that players can use to boost their chances of a win. Also, with the house edge being higher on slots, it becomes difficult to be profitable in the long term.
Of course, it only takes one lucky spin on a progressive jackpot slot, and you can potentially win millions. While the odds of it happening may not be great, there is certainly no reason why you shouldn’t try. After all, someone has to win!
While there’s no strategy to help you profit from slots, there are still plenty of reasons to play. These games are some of the most entertaining around, and winning is just an added bonus when it happens.
Blackjack: The Perfect Blend of Luck and Skill
Blackjack is only second to slots when it comes to popularity at online casinos. Whether you’re playing against a machine or enjoying the thrill of live blackjack, this is a game where you can have an impact on the outcome.
This is a casino game where you can take a degree of control and push the house edge right down. How? By using a basic strategy. So, what is a basic strategy? Well, it’s a set of guidelines for blackjack players to follow when they play.
When followed correctly, the house edge is less than 1%. It’s based on experience but also on in-depth mathematical calculations. While the mention of maths may sound a little boring, it’s maths and probability that make this strategy so effective.
It tells you the best course of action for any hand that you could possibly be holding, and that means that you’re more likely to win. When using basic strategy, you always know exactly what you need to do based on the cards that you’re holding and the dealer’s up card. Some examples include:
- You should stand when you have a hand that totals 17 or more
- Hit when you’re hand totals 16 or less
- Double down on 11
- Split certain pairs such as Aces and 8s and under (this depends on the circumstances)
The thought of memorizing a strategy may seem a little daunting, but taking the time to do this is certainly worthwhile. If you really struggle to commit it all to memory, you may want to print off a basic strategy chart. You can use these when playing online and even in land-based casinos.
Beyond basic strategy, those who have earned the most from blackjack have mastered card counting. This is all about tracking the cards that have been dealt so that you have an informed idea about what’s left in the pack.
Gamblers who have mastered this skill have pocketed millions of dollars, so it can certainly help to boost your profits. However, it’s worth noting that casinos have taken steps to make card counting that much harder. One way that they’ve done this is by using more decks during the game.
Ultimately, blackjack is a blend of skill and luck. By mastering basic strategy, you can’t guarantee a win, but you can significantly boost your chances. The key is to not become emotionally involved. Trust in the strategy and follow it to the letter.
Spinning the Roulette Wheel
Roulette is a thrilling game that has been glamorized by the likes of James Bond. However, it may not be the best choice if earning money is your aim. That’s because roulette is 100% about luck. You bet on various outcomes, but as soon as the wheel spins, no one has any control over where it’s going to stop.
The house edge in roulette is high when compared to blackjack. However, while this may be a downside when looking to earn money, nothing can detract from the sheer amount of fun that this casino classic offers.
The Simplicity of Baccarat
This casino game is hugely popular, mainly because it is fun and incredibly simple to play. The game comes with a relatively low house edge, and players wager on whether a player’s hand or the banker’s will have a higher value.
While baccarat is pretty much all about luck, you can make things a little better by taking the time to learn the basic rules and betting options. You’ll usually find that the banker bet comes with a lower house edge, for instance, but despite this, the game is still one that you can’t really influence.
The Ultimate Game of Skill
Poker is the only casino game where skill is a must, and players compete against each other. Yes, luck will play a part in terms of the cards that are first dealt, but long-term profitability is about strategy, the ability to evaluate your hand, and the skill to read your opponents.
There are numerous variants of poker, and they all come with their own quirks and complexities. The most popular is probably Texas Hold’em, but the likes of Omaha and Seven-Card Stud also have huge followings.
The good thing about poker, when looking at earning money, is the degree of control that you have. However, you really do need to dedicate the time to master the complexities of the game before you can rely on it as a source of income.
The Importance of Bankroll Management
Before you can earn money from casino games, you need to understand how to manage your bankroll. Effective bankroll management is a must if you’re looking at sustainable playing. It begins by allocating funds to your gambling budget and knowing that you can’t exceed this. This is vital for responsible gambling.
However, there’s so much more to managing your bankroll than setting your initial budget. It’s about understanding how to get the best out of the funds that you have. You need to be able to choose games that have the right stakes and risk/reward ratio.
If your budget is limited, you’ll soon exhaust it by playing at high-stakes tables. You have more opportunities to earn money by playing games that allow you to play for as long as possible.
Perhaps one of the best pieces of advice here is not to chase losses. If you’re having an off day, know when to walk away rather than blowing through your budget. Knowing limits is key to your levels of profitability.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to earn money from gambling, your choice of game will have a significant impact. You need to be looking for games, such as blackjack, that come with a low house edge and also require a degree of skill. Relying on luck alone is unlikely to lead to an income that’s sustainable.
The best advice here is to take your time to learn your chosen game in full. Perhaps head online and try out the numerous free versions of poker and blackjack. As you get to grips with how the games work, perhaps try out low-stakes versions while you start to master your strategy.
Only then can you take the next step where big wins are possible and when winning becomes more regular. Remember, there will always be an element of luck involved that you can’t influence, so be sure to take control of the elements that you can.
There is a chance to win and a chance to lose money in casino games, so please do not use this form of entertainment as a way of making a living. Additionally, complying with local regulations cannot be neglected!
