Strategies in Online Casinos – Useful or Just Luck Anyway?
4 minutes
Last Updated: February 24, 2023
Gamblers have debated the merits of strategy in casinos for as long as casinos have existed. Is roulette luck-based? Can you outwit the slot machine? Is counting cards in blackjack worthwhile?
All these questions and more have plagued casino-goers, new and old, for a century and more. Today, as the online casino industry grows in popularity, more people are asking the same questions. So, in this article, we will go over the merit of strategy when it comes to online gambling.
The Merit of Strategies at Online Casinos
When discussing strategies at online casinos, we first must go over the vast library of games that online casinos house. When gambling online, you will find a wide diversity of games.
Slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, and more are all available depending on where you look. Naturally, different strategies match the playstyle of other games.
In this article, we would like to go over a few strategies regarding online casinos that are actually useful. But first, we would like to list the games that require strategy and the ones that are purely luck based.
- Online slots – purely luck-based. Betting strategies could come in handy.
- Roulette – debated for years. However, most agree it is purely luck-based. Betting strategies could come in handy.
- Baccarat – debatable, though more luck-based than strategy-based. Still, some strategies could come in handy.
- Blackjack – mix of luck and strategy.
- Poker – luck is always a plus. However, the game is mostly skill and strategy-based.
Betting Strategies
Regarding online slots, roulette, baccarat, and other purely luck-based games, you will want to focus on betting strategies and hope for good luck.
Over the years, experienced gamblers have devised many different methods to maximize their victories. One of the most popular ones is the Martingale strategy.
According to proponents of the Martingale strategy, roulette players should double their bet after every loss. If they eventually win, they get extra cash and earn back what they’ve lost.
The strategy is prevalent in roulette, though some have applied it to slots, baccarat, and even blackjack.
To give a practical example of the Martingale strategy, let us say you are playing at a casino where the minimum wager limit is $5, and the maximum is $1000. Your bet sequence would look like this:
- 5 – 10 – 20 – 40 – 80 – 160 – 320 – 640
If you eventually do win a spin, then you start betting again from the minimum and keep doubling your bets. Or, you simply walk away once you’ve made a profit.
Other popular betting strategies include the Fibonacci (based on the Fibonacci sequence), the James Bond (named and based around the playstyle of the famous literary/film character, James Bond), and the Inverse Martingale.
Blackjack Strategies
Many argue that blackjack is also a game based purely on luck. However, this is only partially true. When discussing blackjack winning strategies, card-counting is the first one that will pop into anyone’s mind.
Naturally, card counting is out of the question if you are playing blackjack at an online casino against an AI dealer, as the machine randomly generates cards.
The inability to count cards is just one of the pros (or cons, depending on how you look at it) of playing blackjack online. Some have argued that card counting is still possible when playing at live casinos. However, this segment of the article will focus on blackjack strategies that do not involve card counting.
So, as we mentioned earlier, it is possible to implement betting strategies in blackjack. For example, you can give the Fibonacci method a go.
Like the Martingale system, the Fibonacci sequence also involves raising your bet every time you lose. However, rather than doubling your bet, you would follow the Fibonacci line.
For those unfamiliar with the Fibonacci sequence, it is a stream of numbers in which every number that follows is the sum of the preceding two.
- 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89…
So, the Fibonacci system for betting dictates that you start with a $1 wager (or whatever the minimum deposit is) and then follow the concept of the Fibonacci sequence. So, let’s take the example where the minimum bet is $5 again. Your betting would look something like this:
- 5, 5, 10, 15, 25, 40, 65, 105…
But betting strategies are not the only way to get ahead in blackjack. Gamblers have noticed patterns when playing the game. Namely, certain “pearls of wisdom” exist for when you should hit or pass.
The goal of a blackjack player is to hit a 21 or as close to it as possible. So, by analyzing your cards and comparing them to the dealer’s, you can develop a certain winning formula. In doing so, you vastly improve the chances of beating the dealer.
Poker Strategies
Lastly, we come to the big one. Though often associated with casino-based card games like blackjack or baccarat, poker resembles chess more than anything.
Players must analyze their opponent, think ahead, and make intelligent moves. It is precisely because the game is so complex that we can’t give you one “sure-fire” strategy.
Instead, the best advice for poker players, new and seasoned, is to be patient. Carefully determine the level of skill that your opponent/s has/have, recognize if they have any “tells”, and then make your move.
You might have to get a little aggressive at different times during the game. Sometimes, you will have to retreat. And sometimes, you will need to balance the two.
What is essential is to learn when you should do what. To quote an old classic: “You have to know when to hold ‘em/ know when to fold ‘em/ Know when to walk away/ and know when to run.”
Conclusion
As you can see, there are definitely certain things you can do to improve your chances of winning at the casino. However, there is no “sure thing” in gambling.
These strategies may help your chances of success but do not guarantee victory. So, always remember to be careful when placing the next bet.
