Useful tips

The Complete Guide To Win At Online Casinos

We’re all chasing that winning high that you get when you hit a big win. Everybody likes to win, and no one likes to see their money wasted on a game that they don’t fully understand. There are tens, if not hundreds of online guides available to you on the internet. So why am I also writing one, when we already have so many advice available online? Why have I decided to put this large and comprehensive 8000-word guide together? To put it simply, I’ve read a lot of online guides and I feel that they miss out on a lot of things that are vital for gambling success.

Before I go further with this online casino guide, I would like to introduce you to a simple way to earn extra profits, and this is by taking advantage of the numerous bonuses like Free Spins, and NO Deposit Bonuses. Many reputable online casinos offer a great welcome package, and if you are a beginner on low budget, you can use the freebies offered to boost your bankroll.

If you would like to savors some of the latest live dealer games, you can do so easily using your smartphone on reputable casinos like FastPay Casino. If you are a new player, this casino will welcome you with a Bonus offer of 100% up to 100 EUR + a total of 100 Free Spins.

casino bonus, casino rtp

For additional No deposit bonus offers, you will benefit from HotSlots bonus offer of 50 NO Deposit Free Spins & 150% + 200%. However, always check for reviews from fellow players before accepting a casino bonus.

Now back to our topic, I wanted to share my gambling experience and knowledge with you and help you have the best chances when playing online. This guide is created with not only beginners in mind, but can also prove to be very useful for seasoned players as well. I will go into the most important aspects of online gambling and pay particular attention to the most popular online gambling genre, video slots. This guide will not only help you understand the games you play but teach you how to master them and make your playing time more lucrative.

Maximize Casino Bonuses

Bonuses are one of the best ways to get free playing time and increase your chances of winning big at an online casino. And we as online gamblers have the benefit of taking advantage of a plethora of different bonuses and rewards that regular casino players just don’t have the opportunity to enjoy. The ill list just a few out of many possibilities you can explore as an online gambler.

Welcome Deposit Bonuses

The online market is so saturated at this moment, that there are thousands of best gambling sites competing for their place under the sun. They are constantly trying to one-up each other and attract as many customers as they can. This, of course, benefits us as players, as we have a wide range of options we can explore before committing to one casino. Out of all of the benefits we as online gamblers can enjoy, welcome deposit bonuses are one of the most lucrative ones. They can go up to 500% or more for your initial deposits and are a fantastic way of building up your starting bankroll. 

casino bonus, welcome bonus

Some experience gamblers actually base their whole living on this. They go from casino to casino, claiming bonuses, clearing them and cashing out as soon as they can. This can be a great way to increase your money significantly. This is definitely one thing that brick and mortar casinos can stand to learn from online ones. Welcome Deposit Bonuses are where online casinos really tend to shine and stand unique. They package their offers with percentage bonuses, rewards and even VIP promotions for those who want to start their experience with a bang. The most important I would advise you to note when choosing a casino welcome bonus is to watch out and read all of the terms and conditions.

Free Betting Money

If you want to start playing in an online gambling house, but don’t want to put in your own money into the fray, don’t worry, because there’s a great option you can take advantage of. Online casinos often give a chance to try out their platform completely for free. This is mostly in the form of a small no deposit bonus you can start playing with without depositing a cent. When I was starting out, I remember using a $15 no deposit bonus and building it up to a four-figure bankroll playing slots. Of course, as a beginner gambler, I didn’t know my limits, so I blew through all of it, but thanks to this overall painful first experience, I learned a lot. Free betting money can be used to build up to a nice payout if you play it smart. Of course, when you decide to cash out, you will be required to put some money into the casino and wager it, but that’s just a matter of formality.

Free Spins

Slot games are the most popular casino games in both land-based and online casinos. Since I'll be focusing mostly on slots tips and tricks and cant go amiss and not mention free spins casino bonuses. You can find them in almost any online casino and I would definitely recommend you take advantage of them, as they are a great, and more important, free way to increase your chances of lining up a winning combination on your slot reels. They are usually closely associated exclusively with one game which the casino is trying to promote. They are a good risk-free option you can take advantage of, just be careful, as almost all slot games have certain wagering requirements you need to clear before you can claim your winnings and cash our your profit. 

free spins, free spin, casino freespin

These requirements force you to bet your bonus (in this case the free spins one) a certain number of times before you can cash out. They vary from casino to casino and most often range between 30x and 40x. There various kinds of free spins which you need to be aware of, but the most popular ones are the Deposit Free Spins and No Deposit Free Spins. Both are equally common but of different value. The Deposit Free Spins are usually higher valued and more lucrative bonuses that can reach up to 200 free spins, 500 free spins, or even up to a 1000 free spins. The No Deposit Free Spins is a small incentive, usually in the form of 10 or 15 free spins. You can unlock No Deposit Free Spins just by signing up with the casino and creating an account.

Choose the Right Casino and Game

Choosing the most suitable Online Casino is one of the most important decisions you will make when starting your gambling adventure. If you’re looking for a long-term option, my honest advice is to primarily pick a casino in which you’re most comfortable playing in for longer periods of time. I often say this and will keep doing so, because it is a vital aspect of online gambling. You should always read through the whole casino privacy policy because there may be caveats that you don’t agree with and would want to know on time. Check out the financial side of the casino and lookup aspects of transaction methods and withdrawal times. Actually, there are a lot of things you need to consider before committing to a casino, and my advice is to be very thorough in this stage, as changing casinos often and setting up new accounts can be a frustrating thing to do. 

A great way to judge a casino’s reputation is to check out the online reviews and customer feedback. It can give you a good inside look without having to spend any of your own time testing it out. Don’t be afraid to check out the competition. Also, I would specifically recommend you to stick with online casinos that offer the lowest wagering requirements, because nothing is worse than depositing and unlocking an amazing bonus that you cant cash out because you have to meet impossible wagering requirements first. Besides the wagering requirements, if you really plan on to stick with a single casino for longer periods of time, make sure that the cash out limits are favourable and preferable that there aren't any. Some online casinos tend to present you with fantastic and high bonuses and rewards, only for you to find out later that you won't be getting them as promised.

casino games, casino slots

Since I’ll focus most of my efforts on the slot game genre, I’ll use them in this part of the guide as well. Games themselves can be really good at telling if the casino itself is worth your attention or not. Believe it or not, the best way to check the credibility of an online casino is to check how good their free games are. Free games are basically tasted samples of the full experience you will get if you decide to play with a certain casino. They are a good no-strings-attached way to test the level of quality of an online casino. You don’t need to deposit, register or login in order to play a free casino game. Once you’ve tried out a few free samples you will have a much easier time making your next move. Of course, it all comes down to your individual choice, not every casino suits each player.

How and What Slots to Play

Slots are by far the most popular online casino game in every online gambling house. The reason for this is simple, they are very easy to play, and you can master them quickly. But, with this being the case, many players decide to jump in without any prior knowledge, which can really hurt their pockets. Of course, I will talk about other games and strategies as well, but in this part will share with you some of the most valuable advice I have for you if you want to start playing online slots. The first part would understand how to play the game itself. Like I've said, slots can look deceptively simple in appearance, and it's important to know how they work and how many slot variations are there. There are three main types of slot variations you will come across and ill list all of them below.

Multiplier Slots

Many modern online slots have mini bonus games included in them in the form of multiplier games. In them, lining up certain specific symbols will unlock a bonus multiplier that will multiply your wins by a certain number of times. These multipliers can apply to only one line or the entire layout and can be a beneficial boost to your playing budget. These multiplier slots are great if you want to play big, as the more money you win, the bigger the multiplier will be. Let me give you an example on a five payline slot if you stake three coins you might multiply them up to 10, but I you go all in and stake five coins, you will get 50 coins back. This was just an example, as every game has different rules and symbols, so I advise you to read up on them before you start playing your game.

Multi-Line Slots

The original slots only had three paylines, and the objective of the game was to land three matching symbols on a simple and streamlined screen. Today's games have evolved far past that. Multi-Line Slots are now a standard feature in every online casino. I’d say that its harder to find an old-school game that it is to find a modern one. The benefit of multi-line slots is that you can set the machine to pay out in horizontal, vertical or diagonal paylines and pretty much custom tailor the game as it suits you the best.

Progressive Slots

These types of slots fall into a specific and unique category on their own. Progressive slots have progressive jackpots (which I'm going to talk about in a bit) and are connected to a gaming machine which collects a portion of each players wager and puts it into a progressive jackpot pool. These types of slots are usually the most lucrative ones, with jackpots going up to a million dollars, but are also the hardest ones to obtain. Unlike the two previously listed slot types, if you want to play and win and progressive slots, you will be required to stake a maximum wager each spin you play. These types of slots have become so popular, that even land-based casinos are starting to offer a great progressive jackpot, which is excellent news for those who like this form of gambling.

How to Pick a Winning Slot Machine and Beat it

Picking the winning slot machine isn't easy, and is the most important thing to get right if you want to win big in an online casino. If you want to learn how to pick a winning slot machine and beat the odds, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll share with you some of the tricks I've learned over the years, that has proved to be the most effective when picking a winning slot machine.                

I’ll start with the most obvious tip and that is, don’t go for the blockbuster games. Those are the bread and butter of the casino and you’ll never end up on top playing a top-tier blockbuster game. Don’t sit on games themed after famous Hollywood shows or movies. The best way to pick a winning slot is to go for the hidden gems. Go for the lesser-known, middle of the road slot games. Most players fall for the flashy graphics and big reward promises, but that’s not the right way to go. The less shiny, more vanilla games are the ones that will get you those big wins and leave the casino in red. Casinos willingly use these type of strategies, as they know that online gamblers will naturally be drawn to flashier and more attention-grabbing games. If you want to stand out from this crowd, my advice would be to look after the type of games I’ve mentioned, as they are not only fun but will give you better chances of winning.

The next advice I would give you is to break your playing pattern. Its closely tied to the first piece of information I gave,  meaning that you don’t have to go for the best sellers, games like Starburst or Mega Moolah, that promise you huge payouts and jackpots. Try out different games and don’t be afraid to launch some less popular video slots, you can find some great odds in them if you give them a try. In the next section, I'm going to talk about how to use your bonuses on a slot machine to get the most out of your playing time.

Choose The Slot With the Right Number of Paylines

Different slot games feature different payline reels and layouts. In today's day and age, there are slot games that feature anywhere from 1 to 100 active paylines. When you line up a combination of your paylines, you get a certain coin reward. So, logically, if you pick a game with more paylines, your chances of winning will increase, right? Well, no. Even though there is the truth that more paylines can increase your chances of winnings, the more paylines you spread your bet across, the smaller your return will be. So slot games with a large number of paylines are actually not so good of a choice when going for those big wins. When it comes to slot games that feature a single payline, it's more important to worry about multiplier bonuses than the value of the winnings you line up on the reels. 

Depending on the type of player you consider yourself to be, you should opt-out for a game with more or fewer paylines. If you like the simpler, streamlined gambling experience that focuses only on the money aspect, without any other flashy features, you should stick to 1 payline slot games and find your success there. If you’re a player who thrives playing complicated graphically enhanced slot games and loves all of the mini-games and bonus features they include, then multi payline slots are the ones for you. No matter what type of slot you choose, always view the paytable and study the odds and combos a little bit, because understanding them can give you a big advantage while playing online.

slots, online slots

Of course, the mechanical and gameplay side of a slot machine is a very important aspect you should take note of, we should also take a moment and appreciate the importance of visual and audio design. Since we are playing for fun, after all, its good to pick a game with pleasing graphics and music scores. Fortunately for us gamblers, the current gambling market has more than enough content to please all of our diverse tastes. There are hundreds, if not thousands of different options you can choose from, from classic fruit-themed slots to an animal, mythology, war, cartoon, movie, summer, winter themes and more. You name it, there’s probably a slot game made out of it out there. Besides this, there are visually advanced slot games coming out every day, with 3D and VR slots already on the market. In short, pay attention to all of the aspects of a slot game. 

Its really a great time to be an online gambler and you should take advantage of it. If you have a favourite movie or game genre, find it, try it out and stick to it. Simple things like this can really be game-changers when it comes to gambling success. Take everything into consideration, from reels and paylines to themes and graphical design and you will have no problem finding the perfect game that suits your style the most. When you find the one, stick to it, try and learn the mechanics as best as you can. Many players jump around games without understanding how they work, which can be fun but can rarely be productive.

Find Loose Slot Machines

If you’ve been around on the gambling scene for some time, you might have heard about a popular myth that revolves around loose slot machines. And although no one has ever proven 100% that loose slots are a thing, it’s a well-known fact that some slots payout better and more often than others. Slots that have a reputation for being loose with money are usually the most popular ones in both land-based and online casinos.

It's understandable that there are loose slots in land-based casinos because they want to draw in more players by showing them they can win big by playing in the house. The exposure and hype the casino receive from a loose slot machine payout much more in return. But why do online casinos have this myth around them? When you play, there's no one to see you win, so why would the casino offer you loose slots? What gamblers and gambling analysts use as the common benchmark for measuring how loose the slot is are the RTP’s. If an online slot has an RTP of at least 97%, then it is considered to be loose. But what is RTP and how does it affect how often does the slot payout? RTP is essentially a number that defines how much money the player will get in return in the long run. So if a slot has an RTP of 97%, he will get a return of $97 for every $100. This is a very simple, but also very important indicator of your success at an online casino.

slot rtp, rtp percent

Since there are thousands of slot machines available on the internet today, there are many diverse options and possibilities. As I've mentioned above, a slot with an RTP of 97% or better is considered loose. Slots with an RTP of 96% and 95% are considered to be average and are still an excellent option to play, while slots that have an RTP of 94% or lower are considered tight and should be avoided at all costs. No matter which slot you pick, understand that despite the RTP, you should also pay attention to the variance. This means that slots that payout bigger do so less often, while slots that offer smaller prizes payout on a more regular basis. Depending on your style of play and preferences, you should choose the slot that suits you the most.

Now when you know what makes a slot machine lose, all that is left is to find one. This can be easier said than done, but I have a few more tips that will ease this process a bit. The first and most important one is to always play at reputable casinos that publicly disclose and audit the RTP of their slot games. When you find such a casino, look for slots that are made by popular game providers, like Microgaming, NetEnt or Betsoft. They have a reliable reputation for being trustworthy and player-friendly. One additional tip. I’ve found that the best way to exploit loose slots is to pick the loose slots that have lower variance and additional bonus features. This can help to increase your odds a bit more.

Know When a Slot Machine Will Hit

I’ve talked about slot jackpots, paylines and mechanics, and touched on the subject on how to exploit loose slots. There is another myth that’s been thrown around the gambling community and it goes that there are certain tactics you could use, which will help you understand how the slots pay cycle works. Again, I have to be brutally honest and debunk this myth as its completely not true. As many of you know, slot games work on an RNG (Random Number Generator), which is a computer-generated random mechanic that cant be controlled neither by the player or the slot itself. To put this in other words: if you’re playing an online slot, lose a lot of money in-play and quit the game, afterwards which another player launches it up and hits a huge prize, you didn’t miss out on anything, neither did he win because of you. 

The game wasn’t ‘due’ a big hit, it was just a coincidence that the rapid RNG mechanic triggered the prize right after you quit. This can be a little disheartening to the players, hearing that they cant affect the outcome by managing and deciding how fast or slow to spin. On the other hand, as much as you have the chance of getting on a losing streak, you have the same chances of hitting multiple big wins in a row. That’s why its best to jump from game to game until one hits, and when it does, you just stick with it as much as you can. Based on my experience, the only thing that can affect how often the machine will hit is the time of week and day you decide to play it. I’ve written about it before and it’s a well-known fact that online slots tend to tighten around the weekend and are losest on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you want to increase your chances of getting a big hit, best play during those days.

How to Win Online Casino Jackpots?

I’ll be honest with you, playing in an online casino for the sole purpose of hitting the jackpot is simply just bad business. Casino jackpots are paid very rarely and you need stupid amounts of luck in order to win one. You certainly don’t want to spend all of your time (and money) chasing jackpots. But, here comes the second part. Since all of us like to gamble and test our luck from time to time, I'm positive each and every player (including me), has done exactly what I called bad business just a few sentences ago. For everyone who wants to try their luck on jackpot slots, there are few tips and tricks I would advise you to keep in mind. Rule number one is, don’t stick exclusively to one game. Go from slot to slot, until you find one that will pay out multiple times in a row, especially if you even didn’t bet the max amount. When you get the vibe that the game is hot, then you should move in with the big bucks. 

slot jackpot, casino jackpot

Start betting big and don’t give up even if it seems that you’re losing. When you play for the jackpot, you have to go all-in, because otherwise you just might play the regular way and forget about the main prize. This especially applies if you’re playing a progressive jackpot slot. In order to win a progressive jackpot, you have to bet the maximum amount each and every time just to have a chance of triggering it. Of course, I don’t recommend playing for the jackpot often, as you can quickly lose all of your playing money.

Staying on the subject of jackpots, I want to remind you that you’re not limited only to slot machines if you want to win a jackpot prize. You can find progressive jackpots on video poker games and other table games. With table games it's even easier to play for the jackpot, as you can more easily follow and count the number of combination and hands that you have to wager before the jackpot come around. If you have a big enough playing budget and a good tactic in place, you can actually sit through and wait for the jackpot to hit eventually.

Avoid Cheap Slot Strategies

I’ve talked about how you can track and find out loose slots and how to win progressive jackpots, now its time to talk about the other side of the medal. A lot of people try different strategies in order to get an edge over the casino when gambling online. There are dozens of strategies and guides out there, and honestly, not a lot of them will bring you any benefit and can only hurt you in the long run. So, save your time reading gambling books where other gamblers try to sell you their strategies and tactics. I’ll talk about some of the most popular slot playing strategies that have proven to be ineffective.

Bet Sizing 

As I’ve mentioned many times before, and a couple of times in this piece as well, slot function on a random number generator. This means that the computer automatically generates many combinations every second. This means that you always have the same chance of winning and losing at all times. There’s a myth that sizing your bets between spins will help significantly improve your chances of winning. Its become popular in land-based casinos and has carried onto the online gambling scene as well. I'm going to be straightforward with you. This is completely useless and time-consuming. The slot machine can never know what bet you’ve wagered and doesn’t work on that mechanic. The computer also doesn’t register and note any of the results of the previous spins, so there’s no way you can influence it. This strategy can only be an effective way to save money if your losses start piling up, but it won't give you better odds at casinos.

Play Charting 

This is a similar strategy to the above listed and is very popular in the online gambling scene. Since online casinos cant monitor if you are using notes and charts to monitor your plays, you could easily get away with this strategy. The only problem is that it won't bring you any better results than usual. Like the previous strategy, it is a good way if you want to ease a little with gambling and save some money, but it won't help you win. As I've mentioned before, slots work on an RNG mechanic, which can be really tough to beat. There’s almost nothing you can do, even cheat and play chart.

There are hundreds of stories and myths about slot strategies, and most of them are usually useless and contra-productive. You will only waste your time and money trying them and end up hating the game. Most slot strategies don’t work on slots. There just exist to give players hope. So, remember the strategies I’ve shared above, and know-how to differentiate good from bad tactics. These two were the most popular ineffective strategies, but there are many more out there. Use the plans I’ve talked about that are useful and productive, and you will have success while minimizing your losses.

If you’re a player who doesn’t like to stick to slot games exclusively and loves to broaden his horizons and always try out new things, then you might want to try to online table games at a casino of your choice. Table games have been around for a while now, with some games going back for more than a thousand years. As an experienced online gambler, I've tried almost all casino table games and have picked up a thing or two while doing so. If you’re looking for an alternative to online slots, then I've got a few suggestions for you, complete with a few strategies to go hand-in-hand.

Blackjack

Blackjack is probably the most game that is most frequently displayed in movies and tv-shows. I won't comment on why that is the case, but one thing is sure. It’s a pretty cool game. Blackjack is one of the few online casino games that give you the chance to outsmart the casino by using tactics and strategies. It is a simple game, but one that does require some learning and skill. The game goes up to 21, with each card having a certain The aim of the game is to try to match 21 or go as close as you can, without going over. If you have a better hand than the dealer, you win. Very straightforward. 

blackjack, blackjack cards

One thing to watch when playing online blackjack is the RTP (Return To Player) since blackjack is one of those games in which the RTP tends to differ from casino to casino dramatically. There are many strategies on how to win at blackjack, but I will pick one as the most efficient but also hard to master strategy. Its called the Basic Strategy and it relies on the player memorizing the chart. In casino slang, this is often called ‘Counting cards’, which is illegal in land-based casinos, but can't be controlled if you’re playing online. If you manage to master the Basic Strategy, you will enjoy playing at a house edge of around 0.5%, which will give you a significant advantage over the casino.

Roulette

Roulette is popular for a reason. It has a good house edge, is simple to master and really exciting to play. There are three popular types of roulette, European, French and America. The first two are more popular than the third one, as the offer slightly better RTP. Like slots, roulette is a completely luck based game. No skill is required to play it. You just spin and which the ball lends on preferably, a spot of your choosing. Despite it being such a simple and easy to play the game, there are many, and I mean a lot of strategies on how to win at roulette. I’m going to be straightforward with you and say that most of those, if not all of them won't work in practice, so you can just forget about them. There are though, certain strategies you can use in order to have better chances of The most successful to date has proven to be the Cross-reference system. 

roulette table, online roulette

What this system basically is, is a type of analysis that is used to track certain patterns a roulette might have. And although roulettes randomly create results, this analysis helps find hidden patterns in spins and the time between them. This method, in return, gives the player the opportunity to quickly adjust his tactics and wagers in between two spins. This method can be used on other games, especially slots, but its most known to be used in roulette.

Baccarat

I’m guessing most of you who are reading are guys (apologies to the two ladies reading this). With that being the case, let me bring you into the world of one of the coolest online casino games available – Baccarat. This popular gambling game draws its roots centuries back and has been represented in numerous popular movies, most notably in the James Bond franchise. This is a heart-racing and fast-paced game that never stops being exuberating, even overwhelming at times. Baccarat is very simple to play. You have three options. You can bet on yourself winning, bet on the dealer winning and bet on a draw. It's one of the few casino games which you can win at by betting against yourself. With your chances being 1/3, the opportunities to win big a certainly plentiful in Baccarat. 

With that being said, there are a few things to keep in mind when playing baccarat. My first and most important tip would be to never bet on a tie. Though it may look that you have a 1/3 chance to hit the tie, this outcome comes around in only 14% of the cases. The second thing to keep in mind is that you should choose one of the two remaining betting options and ride them through until you lose. Then switch over and repeat. Essentially, most of it is up to luck, but you can do as much as you can to increase your chances. Last but not least, money management in baccarat is one of the most demanding things to do, out of all online casino games. Divide your playing time into sessions and take smaller breaks in between. The short breaks will not only extend your playing experience but will help you regain focus and increase concentration.

Keno

Keno is one of the most popular lottery-based games all over the world. In the past few years, its found its way into online casinos as well. In fact, I ’d say the best way to play Keno is in online casinos. There aren't any crowds, big rooms, crowded tables, while the fun, entertainment and huge jackpots are still here. As an experienced Keno player, I'll give you a few tips to keep in mind when playing the game at an online casino o your choice. When I started playing Keno online, one thing immediately caught my attention, and how could it not. Online Keno games are much faster in pace than regular land-based Keno games. Although I consider this as a pro, the thing you need to watch out for is, with fast-paced online Keno you can easily get carried away, bet big and lose all of your money in a few rounds. 

Trust me, it happened to.. Uhm, my friend. The most important tip would be to slow down, factor all of the odds while you’re placing the bets. Choose the numbers you’re betting on accordingly and tactically, don’t waste your money on choosing colossal odds and big numbers. Additionally, you should know that Keno has one of the biggest house edges out of all online casino games, as house edge goes anywhere from 25% to 40%. With numbers like this, you’re set to lose more often than you’re going o win. So my last advice to Keno would be to always bet small and ride it through.

Join Tournaments to get Experience

As much information as I share with you here, you still won't get far if you don’t get hands-on, practical experience. Casino tournaments are a fantastic way of learning the game through a risk-and-reward scheme and maybe even pick up a few strategies from more experienced online gamblers. You can play games like slots, video slots, progressive slots, blackjack, poker and many more. There are multiple kinds of online casino tournaments, and they all have different benefits.

Regular Casino Tournaments:

One of the best ways to gain quick experience is regular casino tournaments. You can participate in multiple events at the same time and play against other online gamblers for real money. You don’t need any entry tickets or extra passes to get in. Just sign up, deposit your money and join a regular tournament. There are short-term and long-term tournaments, which all carry different main prizes and awards. Of course, if you’re starting and aren't comfortable depositing your own money yet, I've got good news for you. You can participate in free tournaments and play against other players who are in it for the same learning experience. However, when you play for free, naturally there won't be any prizes or jackpots, as well as any leaderboards.

High Roller Tournaments:

For players who gamble on a more active basis, these types of tournaments are a great way to strike big wins. High Roller Tournaments often feature astronomical wins and huge prizes for players who are willing to risk more money in order to win big. High rollers are considered to be the biggest spenders in the gambling industry and are players who either play with huge amounts or deposit big amounts of money into the casino each month. If you’re a high roller as well, I’d say its definitely worth jumping into one of these tournaments and testing out your chances. High Roller Tournaments have reward pots that can go up to a few hundred thousand dollars.

VIP and Entry Ticket Tournaments:

The ticket and invitation-based tournaments are the rarest of the three, but can also be the most lucrative ones. While regular ad high roller tournaments are naturally available for everyone with a suitable budget, in these types of tournaments you can only participate if you buy a ticket or get invited by the casino itself. The rules differ with these tournaments from casino to casino, but I would say that the most significant criteria are how much money you have deposited into the casino during your sessions.

These have been the three most popular types of casino tournaments. Now, the question is, how do you win at them and what can you do to improve your odds of coming out on top? There are several ways casinos calculate and measure the tournaments, and I'll share all of them with you to help you understand what aspect you should focus on. There are two common and two uncommon metrics online casinos track. The first two are which player gets the most win in the tournament and wins the most money, while the second two are which player has the most winnings throughout 20 consecutive rounds and which player has the best payout percentage in that same span. Competing in a tournament doesn’t cost you anything, but can win you a nice side reward, so I’d say, why not try it?

Don’t chase profits

I’ve talked in great detail about all of the important tactics, tips and tricks that can help you increase your chances when playing online. Now its time to talk about the mental side of the game, and one that I consider being the most important when trying to win at a casino. Staying on the topic of winning, my first advice would be exactly that. Don’t focus all of your efforts on the prospects of winning. Think instead about the moves and strategies you need to make in order to win. Also, if you go on a losing streak, don’t go desperately chasing your loses, as that will only lead to more loses and you can end up with nothing. Also, if you’re in it for the long run, like most of us, understand that the positive results of your play won't come immediately and you will start winning huge sums right of the bet just by playing right. 

Remember, you’re playing it for the fun of the game, so don’t get carried away either when you’re winning or losing. Chasing profits can only lead you to problems such as pathological gambling and chronological stress. No matter how much experience you have, gambling is always a rollercoaster experience of your mind, so you should sit back and enjoy, instead of trying to focus on how much you can win for the session. If you lose a bit of money, focus on that loss and let it be a lesson for future games, but don’t try and make it right immediately in the heat of the game, as you will wind up losing a lot more money. Trust me, the habits and attitude you gain while gambling can change you as a person. Compulsive gambling can be a real issue and can strike you when you’re most vulnerable. Realize that you don’t have control over the outcomes no matter what you do, and enjoy the game for what it is, a good pastime that provides with a break from everyday life. Don’t go chasing for-profits, because gambling is much more than that. It is a memorable and fun adventure, and you should enjoy every step of it.

Additional Tips to Keep in Mind

Online casinos have become the most popular gambling platform, without any doubt. The comfort we can enjoy while playing them is what made them the leading option for many gamblers. I've shared with you the most comprehensive do’s and don’t’s of online gambling, and before I sum up this guide, I want to share a few more small tips I’ve learned over the years.

  • A game with a Clear Head – Gambling while under the influence has to lead many gamblers to lose money. While it might look fun (it is, trust me) to gamble while intoxicated, it might not be the smartest thing to do. If you plan on doing so, make sure you set a strict budget for gambling, so when you wake up the next morning, you only have a hangover and not an empty account.
  • Take Breaks – While online casinos are convenient are very relaxing to play, remember to keep everything in moderation. It's easy to get carried away when you’re in complete control. That’s why I always take breaks when I feel that I'm starting to lose my concentration. The casino will still be waiting for you when you decide to go back in.
  • Keep it Fun – Online casinos can be much more addictive than regular ones. The solitary aspect, plus the fact that you don’t even have to get up of your chair in order to play make it an easy addiction to catch. Its proven that it can also put you in a trance-like state. So remember, keep it all about the game, and again, in moderation.
  • Slow and Steady Wins the Race – While we all like to feel cool and play big, remember to stay within your limits. Don’t stake half of your bankroll on the first slot spin or blackjack hand. Treat your casino bankroll with respect, and you will find that it will treat you back nicely as well.

Know When to Stop

There are many benefits of knowing when to stop. You won't lose more than you can afford to and you will enjoy your time spent gambling even more if you have success at playing. With that said, there are a few strategies that gamblers use. Myself included when they try to stop gambling and cut their losses on bad nights.

The first an most popular method many gamblers use is the so-called ‘Three Strike Method’. I often reference this strategy (though I never call it by this name) as it can be a beneficial tactic of keeping your money and making sure you don’t lose all of your playing budgets. Though its called the Three Strike Method, you can apply any number you wish, just stick with it when playing. The essence of this strategy is that you play for a certain set number of rounds, regardless if you win or lose. After you play as many rounds as you’ve set yourself up to, you move on to the next game. I know its especially hard to stick to rules such as these when winning, but remember that things can turn around pretty quickly and your luck can change at any moment. This method can be applied to any online casino game, but I’d say that it's most effective on online poker and table games. These are the types of games where you do have the power of making consequential decisions, and therefore should always stay focused and be confident in your choices. If you’re playing poker, there's nothing from cashing out from the table once in a while and going back in with a different or smaller pot.

Another great way to control your gambling urges is to divide your playing budget into separate stakes even before going into a game. For example, if you’re playing a slot game and have a gambling budget of $200, what you would want to do is to divide it into two separate budgets from which you will place differently valued stakes. You would use $100 to place 20 $5 bets, and the other $100 to place 5 $20 bets. This is a slightly advanced method of tracking your playing budget and requires a bit of finesse and calculation, but if you master it, it can be beneficial in the long run. A simpler alternative to this wagering method is to play with your entire budget the whole time to step down your bets with each passing wager, no matter if you’re winning or losing. So for example, you started the game with a $30 bet, for your next spin you’ll stake $25, then $20 and so on. This is more of a short-term strategy but doesn’t really work if you’re in it long-term.

play responsible, responsible gambling

The third and last strategy I would recommend is also the oldest of the three. Its called the Martingale Betting System and has been around for almost as long as gambling itself. It’s a short-term strategy that will get you through short gameplays, but cant is applied if you’re playing really long sessions. So, how does this strategy even work? Well, behind the fancy name lies a simple strategy. It is designed to bring you a lot of small wins, with some larger but rarer loses. It’s a popular tactic that’s best applied to even-money games, especially casino games like roulette, but can be applied to almost any game of your choice. So, let's say you make the initial bet of $10. If you win, you bet the same amount in the next round. If you lose, you double the wager to $20. 

If you lose again, you double it again, to $40. Then you go up to $80. You win. Now you’re in the green and have $10 more in your budget. For short gaming adventures, this tactic has proven to increase your chances of walking out on top up to 82%. Of course, there are downsides to it as well. You have to have a playing budget big enough to cover you until you hit the win, and you have to watch out for the game limit and make sure that you can double up enough to ensure you will win at some point. How short-term is this strategy? My answer would be – the shorter, the better, but definitely not over one hour. If you’re planning on playing for longer periods of times or don’t have that big of a playing budget, the first two strategies are more suitable for you.

There are many benefits of using each of these methods, the most important being that you never blow through your entire gambling budget. You go one game at a time, and even on a bad night, you should walk away with some money left in your pocket. On a good night, you should be looking at substantial wins and significantly more money than you began with. Knowing when to walk away is as important as knowing how to play casino games. I’ve created this guide to share with you the best tips on how to increase your chances of winning and help you be more successful while playing online. I hope you’ve found this piece very helpful and informative and I wish you success in your online gambling. Just remember, explore all of the options, play wisely and keep in mind that you’re always gambling for fun and enjoyment

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Shawna Dudley

Shawna is an ambitious and free-spirited digital nomad with expertise in creating high-quality and SEO-friendly guides and reviews in the iGaming and travel industry. Follow her on Twitter or Linkedin or send her an email.