13 Simple Strategies for Winning at Casino Gambling

There are exponentially more ways to lose at casino gambling than there are to win. I believe that when a player takes a less serious approach to gambling or is simply in it for the fun of it, they will incur significantly more losses than those who are better prepared.

There are a lot of games where the player can come up with and use a strategy that works to their advantage. When exploring different games at a casino, we are all looking for an advantage.

I've played a variety of casino games over the years, both table games and non-table games. There is a casino game for everyone and anyone, and almost every one of them has a strategy to deploy, even if you are the only one who believes in it. We all have our favorite games, and I encourage you to find games that you enjoy as well as games for which you want to develop a winning strategy.

Table Sports

If you search the table games in a casino, your chances of finding me increase dramatically. If you troll the blackjack tables, your chances increase even more. Blackjack is my personal favorite casino table game. One of the reasons I prefer table games to other types of games is the interaction with other players and the strategy involved. I've tried almost every game the casino has to offer, but I always come back to the blackjack tables.

Before you play any game, especially table games, I think you should come up with and practice a strategy. All casino games are considered to be games of chance, but it can help to have a plan when you play. Over time, players, including myself, have developed strategies that combine with the percentage chance of winning and have done quite well.

Baccarat. This is a card game in which the following cards are valued:

• Ace = 1, 2-9 are their numerical value

• 10 and face cards = 0

The dealer will turn over one card at the start of the game to determine how many cards the dealer will burn before dealing (a 10 or a face card will result in 10 cards being burned). The game will begin when one of the players places a bet on the "player," "bank," or a tie. After all bets have been placed, the dealer distributes two cards to each player, including the banker/dealer. The goal is to have the hand that is closest to 9. The card score is always the right-most digit of the total number of cards. So, if you get a 5 and a 7, your total is 12, and your game hand is the right digit, a 2. The players have the option of drawing a third card. If either the player or the dealer has an 8 or 9, the game is over, and no third card is dealt. If the player has 5 or less, he or she may draw another card; otherwise, the player must stand. If the player does not hit, the dealer will hit on a 5 or less. The card scores are compared, and the player with the closest total to 9 wins. If there is a tie, both the dealer and the player push. The chances of winning at baccarat vary, but the calculations show that players win 44% of the time.

Blackjack. This is a two-card game, similar to baccarat. However, the card values in blackjack are not the same. An ace is worth 1 or 11, face cards are worth 10, and numbers 2-9 are worth their numerical value. Following the placement of bets, the dealer deals two cards to each player (usually face up) and two cards to the dealer (one face up and one face down). The player is then presented with several options. If the dealer has blackjack, the game is over and the players' bets are forfeited. Aside from blackjack, players can finish their hands by taking more cards, splitting, or doubling down. If a player busts, their bet is forfeited, and the game continues for the remaining players at the table. The goal of blackjack is not to get 21 or even come the closest. Blackjack's goal is simple: beat the dealer. A player has a good chance of winning at blackjack when using a basic strategy. A player can expect to win 42% of the time, according to calculations.

Blackjack Switch. Here's a game that takes everything we know and love about blackjack and gives it a new spin. You will place two bets and be dealt two hands in this game. You will be able to switch cards from one hand to the other while playing. For example, if you have an ace and a 9 in one hand and a 10 and 2 in the other, you can play blackjack with one hand and a 9-2 hand in the other. In the 9-2 situation, the player can then double down. The dealer will bust after a blackjack switch of 22. If the dealer has 22, a player with 21 will push. Otherwise, the rules of blackjack switch are the same as those of blackjack. The blackjack switch has enabled players to win more than 44% of the time because there are more chances to win.

Craps. When this table is active, it is usually the loudest in the casino. Craps is played on a partially enclosed table with the same series of numbers on either end so that players can play their preferred numbers on the end closest to where they are standing. The middle of the table contains a variety of bets that players can play independently of the other bets on the table. Craps is a dice game that is played with a pair of dice that rotate among the various players throughout the game. Until the shooter "craps out," the dice do not pass to another player. The goal of the game in general is to "make a number" with the "come out roll" of the dice. Once a number has been "made," the goal is to keep rolling until the shooter "craps out," or rolls a 7. There are several ways for players to win when the shooters roll the dice. The dealers at the table are there to assist you not only with betting and placing chips on the table, but also with understanding and playing the game. Craps may be one of the most difficult games to learn while gambling, but it is also one of the most enjoyable. Craps has one of the best player odds in the casino once you learn how to play. Craps has a 49% chance of winning, which is a huge draw, not to mention the excitement that the table tends to generate.

Poker, Pai Gow. This is a combination of traditional western poker and the ancient oriental game of Pai Gow. In the oriental version, the game is played with tiles. The traditional western version is played with a standard 52-card deck plus a single Joker. The Joker can only be used as an Ace or to finish a straight, flush, or straight flush. When playing the game, players can bet against the house and bank their winnings. This is a progressive version of the game, and it allows the player to bet that five of their seven cards will have a high enough poker rank to receive a progressive payout. This is a separate type of wager that wins or loses independent of the Pai Gow poker wager. If you win this bet and have a pair in your two-card hand, you will receive an even higher payoff. Pai Gow is a fun, active game with a high winning percentage among players. On average, players win approximately 29% of the time.

Poker, Texas Hold’em. A game made popular by television and movies can be found in almost every casino's Poker Room. A standard 52-card deck is used to play the game. Players at the table will see three buttons: the dealer, the Big Blind, and the Small Blind. The buttons aid in directing the flow of play and managing the initial bets. Nobody in the game deals any cards. The dealer button instructs the casino dealer on where to begin playing. In Texas Hold'em, you play against the other players at the table, not the house. The dealer will deal each player "hole cards" at the start of the game. Only the player is permitted to examine their cards. Following the distribution of all cards to the players, betting will begin and continue until a total of five community cards are dealt for the table. The player will use their two cards as well as any combination of the remaining five cards to form the best five-card hand. When the betting round is finished and there are at least two players left, they show their "hole cards" and a winner is revealed. Because there are so many variables in Texas Hold'em, calculating the winning odds is extremely difficult. Many of the variables depend on what the player notices about the cards that are dealt and how they figure out the odds. According to estimates, the average player only wins about 17% of the hands dealt.

Poker, Three Card. Three-card poker is played in the same way as poker, with the dealer dealing three cards to the player and three to the dealer. A player has betting options prior to the deal. The ante and/or "pair or better" option come first. When the cards are dealt, the ante player must either fold or raise. If a player folds, they forfeit their ante bet. If the player chooses to play, they must place a play bet equal to twice their ante bet. When play begins, the dealer must open with a queen or higher. The best poker hand wins when both the player and the dealer are in play. When a player wins the ante, all bets are paid out in full, and "pair or better" poker hands are paid out according to a casino-specific table chart. If the player has a hand worth playing, the chances of winning are considered here. Players fold their hands 31% of the time on average. When you play, the percentage ranges from 6% to 46%.

Roulette. This is the original casino glitz and glam game. Until 1933, roulette was exclusively played in Monte Carlo. Although the game is no longer surrounded by players dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns, it still draws a large crowd. A large wheel and a small ball are used in the game, which is played at a table. The wheel spins in one direction, while the ball spins in the opposite direction. The ball eventually lands inside the wheel, where a series of numbers appear. The numbers 1 through 36 are presented in alternate colors, typically red and black. The numbers 0 and 00 stand for two extra spaces, which are usually shown in green. On the table, all of the numbers are represented. Simply put, the ball spins and lands on a number represented on the table inside the wheel. Bets are either "inside" or "outside" bets and are placed on the table. The bets on the inside of the table correspond to the numbers on the wheel. Outside bets include playing a full row of numbers, one-third of the numbers, or simply choosing red or black. Because there are so many different ways to play roulette, the chances of winning vary as well. The chances of winning range from as low as 2.63% to as high as 46.37%.

Away from the Tables Gambling

There are numerous non-table games available in the casino. You can keep yourself entertained by playing bingo, keno, slot machines, or the wheel of fortune (The Big Six). Each of these games has varying degrees of chance, and the odds of winning can vary depending on the number of players, such as in bingo.

There appears to be less discussion about strategies in non-table games, but don't tell that to a seasoned Slots player or the blue-haired lady who has been working a bingo card longer than you have been alive.

Bingo. Casino bingo is the same game you played as a child in school or church. Bingo is played with a caller who announces a letter and a number, such as B-2 or O-56. On a purchased bingo playing card, players typically dab each of the squares that match what the caller calls out. Players win when they fill the entire card or a complete row, depending on the game they have chosen to play. The casinos offer several variations on the basic game that allow you to raise the stakes by playing on harder-to-complete game cards. Winning at bingo can take several forms, depending on the game you choose to play. The only way to determine your chances of winning is to know the total number of bingo player cards in play. If there are 100 cards in play and only one card wins per session, the calculation would be 1:100.

Keno. Most casinos offer Keno as a video gambling game or as a game where you fill out a card and hand it to a caller. In theory, playing this game is very similar to playing bingo. Players choose 15 numbers at random from the available numbers on a keno playing card or video board. When 20 numbers are called for that session, the game is played, either by the caller or on the video board. The payouts for the 15 numbers that a player plays vary depending on how many of the winning numbers are matched. There are also side bets and side games that are played in addition to the main game. A player can win to varying degrees, much like when playing bingo. The odds of winning a game are determined by the number of players actively participating in the game. The average player's chances are approximately 4.68%.

Slot Machines. As I've already said, table games are my favorite because I can talk to the other people at the table. That is a personal preference of mine. Some players prefer to play alone in order to avoid being bothered by other players at the tables. Slot machines are the ideal game in a casino because they allow a player to enjoy their gaming while also providing some solitude. When you walk into a casino, there are plenty of slot machines to choose from. For the most part, the return is the same regardless of which set of blinking lights you choose. When you walk up to a slot machine, your chances of winning are about 3%. However, if you understand how slot machines work, you will not simply walk up to one and play once or twice before leaving. Slot machines, like tables, necessitate a strategy and a certain amount of patience. Players who stick to their strategy and play slots have frequently won in the 40% range.

Video, Rock Paper Scissors. I couldn't pass up this video game when I saw it. Having played this game as a child and used it to decide who went first in a game to settle disputes. It is played on a computer in the same way that it is played between two people. The player selects the option they want, and the game makes the choice. Either the player wins or loses. A tie is a defeat. This game's chances of winning should not even be considered. This is a purely recreational game.

Wheel of Fortune (The Big Six). The original Wheel of Fortune has been a casino fixture for decades. The odds of winning on this game are terrible, and it is frequently used by players to squander a few dollars. The wheel has 54 numbers, and players place their bets on the corresponding numbers at a table near the wheel. Depending on the casino, there are various cash payouts and large prizes, such as cruises and cars, that are frequently given away. This game has a less than 10% chance of winning.

Conclusion

First and foremost, keep in mind that the odds of winning at any game are frequently (if not always) in favor of the casino. So, if this is your first time visiting a casino, it might be a good idea to look at the games available online before you go.

Gambling can be more of an acquired skill where you use strategies that you have honed over many years and trials. Now that we can get online sites and apps for our phones, we have more chances to practice our strategies. We can often practice without incurring the costs associated with gambling in a casino.

So, find the games you like and play them as much and as often as you want. If you choose a less cautious approach, start reading and studying how to best craft a strategy, then start practicing and practicing often. often.