Online casinos are more popular than ever these days. We expect this demand to continue to grow. The various games you can play provide a lot of fun and adventure. But many of us don’t just play to relax. Although in many of these games luck is a big factor, you also play to win.
Online casinos have a house edge. After all, it must be financially attractive for them to offer games. But you can significantly reduce this house edge if you play the games with smart strategies, of course. If you’ve read one of our game guides (e.g. Blackjack), you’ll know that you can use certain strategies to increase your chances of winning. But there are also more general tips you can apply to increase your odds. Want to know which ones? Then keep on reading!
Number 10 – Use reliable casinos
Online casinos have been around since the 1990s, but unfortunately, scammers have been around since well before that time. In certain casino games, for example, slot machines, you should have a certain chance of winning. Of course, it still comes down to luck, but it is possible to win. However, there were operators of online casinos that set the odds of winning to 0. As a result, you were actually throwing money away by participating in these games.
Fortunately, you can easily recognize when an online casino is reliable or not. First of all, these online casinos should have obtained a license by the Malta Gaming Authority. You don’t just receive a license from this authority. The conditions are strict:
- Games have to be fair. The odds of winning should not be manipulated in a way that they are too low. Participants may not receive preferential treatment.
- In addition to this, security must be in order. Online casinos without HTTPS should not be used.
- Withdrawing and depositing is completely safe.
If a casino does not play according to the rules, the chances of winning could go all the way down to 0. That’s why our first recommendation is to always use safe online casinos. Also, always read the terms and conditions of an online casino carefully.
Number 9 – Work on money management
Profit is not only about increasing your chances of winning, but also about minimizing your losses. One night it’s just a little bit more difficult to win than the other. Know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em: that’s the motto. But you can also minimize your losses by managing your money. Especially on bad days, this is highly recommended. It’s quite simple: set a limit on how much you allow yourself to lose. By doing so, you avoid losing too much money.
A good example: you have decided for yourself that your maximum loss could go up to 150 euros in one evening. This does not mean that you will continue to play until you lose 150 euros. For example, if you first win 200 euros and then lose 150 euros, now is the time to stop. This way, you still make a profit of 50 euros and lose nothing more.
Number 8 – Play casino games with a low house edge
The “house edge” means that with every casino game ‘the house’ (i.e. the casino) has a greater chance of winning than you as a player. Online casinos are companies that want to make a profit. If the odds of you winning are too high, it wouldn’t be very attractive to start a casino.
For some players, this house edge is not one of their concerns. They play what they like and if they make a profit then that is a nice little extra. But if you want to increase your odds of winning, it is advisable to always find out what the house edge is of the casino where you want to play. Online casinos should indicate this somewhere on their website. Sometimes this is clearly stated, other times you should look for it a little bit further. If you see the term “RTP” (Return to Player), this indicates the payout percentage. If you take 100% minus the payout percentage, you end up with the house edge.
A few more tips regarding the house edge:
- Blackjack is the best paying game with the lowest house edge.
- Poker and Punto Banco are also doing well. However, always check the payout percentage in advance.
- Roulette also has an interesting house edge. However, the specific variant does affect the house edge. In the European variant, the house edge is around 2.7%, in the American variant around 5.3%. This is because the American variant has an extra 00 square.
- Progressive Jackpot slots are, in terms of the house edge, a bad choice if you’re looking for a profit.
Number 7 – Know the games
Ask any person what Blackjack’s goal is, and chances are they’ll tell you to score 21. As we explained in our Online Blackjack play guide, a score of 21 is only a guarantee that you won’t lose. The dealer can also achieve a score of 21, which creates a tie. Even with a low score of 17, you can win if the dealer busts. The goal is to finish as close to 21 as possible. But by playing purely focussed on a score of 21, you can make tactically wrong choices because you misunderstood the goal of the game. And that’s also reflected in other casino games. Therefore, carefully read all the information about the games, know the rules from the inside out and understand the purpose of the game.
Number 6 – Bonus terms and conditions
Online casinos try to attract customers in multiple ways. They do this by offering you a pleasant bonus. One bonus is more attractive than the other, but it’s also true that one bonus is more profitable than the other. Usually, the bonuses only apply to newly registered players, but at some online casinos, it is also possible that you will receive a bonus if you have been a member for a long time. Want to know which online casinos have the best bonuses? Discover them in our Best Online Casino Bonus 2020 list. This list has been compiled by experienced players, so you can be sure you are on the right track.
Number 5 – Note the payouts
In order to place bets in an online casino, you will need to deposit money. You can then use this money to play. The winnings you make at a casino game are also included in this. It is tempting to use this money in other online casino games. Online casinos know this, which is why some platforms may take a while to cash out your winnings.
By the time it’s possible, some players already started placing new bets in various games, which might result in a loss. If you actually want to make a profit and don’t want to lose your money again at the next game, it’s advisable to keep an eye on this. Keep track of your winnings per day. Another recommendation is to look for an online casino that pays out quickly.
Number 4 – No-deposit bonus
You have already read that at many online casinos there is a welcome bonus that you can receive. Usually, this manifests itself as an x number of spins that you get for free, or a bonus that you can play for free in a certain way. However, there are also online casinos where you can take advantage of no-deposit bonuses. This is free credit. However, there are also conditions attached to this, which are more advantageous at one online casino than another. Always read the conditions carefully. This way you can avoid nasty surprises.
Number 3 – Never make use of insurance
Some casino games allow you to take insurance during a certain point in the game. Especially with Blackjack, this is a familiar concept. If you’ve read our Online Blackjack play guide, you’ll know that at Blackjack, the dealer lays a card face up and a card face down. If the open card is an Ace, the dealer offers you the option of taking insurance. This can earn you money if the second card has a value of 10 (i.e. a card with a picture or a 10). However, the chance that this will occur is very small, so you actually lose money in an unnecessary way. That’s why you should never use it.
Number 2 – Do not bet compulsively
Gambling is fun, but it’s also addictive. Sometimes you get very involved in the game. For example, you’re working on a winning streak, but you lose once. But because you were so busy, you still want to continue. However, the streak is over and you keep losing more and more. And so, you still want to win again, and so you continue until your losses are growing big. That’s why you should always try to stay cool, no matter what casino game you’re playing. Keep an open mind, think carefully, and distance yourself when the going gets tough.
Number 1 – Make use of our game guides
There are a lot of general tips you can use to increase your chances of winning at online casinos. But you can also increase your odds within the games themselves. Of course, some games make you more dependent on luck compared to others. But even with online bingo, you can increase your odds using our handy strategies. Our game guides of the various online casino games are designed to give you a helping hand. Not only do you understand the setup and purpose of the game, but also what strategies you can use to increase your winnings. For example, we have game guides for online casino games such as:
