Many casino fans prefer to play at online casinos simply because it is more convenient. They do not have to leave the comfort of their homes and battle through a crowd to reach the gambling table they wish to join. Web-based casinos often attract newcomers by throwing in some lucrative bonuses no one can resist. Another reason to play at a gambling site is that virtual casinos offer a greater diversity of games than land-based casinos.
Enthusiasts whose gambling career is in its infancy are advised to first play at online casinos as the chance to get distracted is smaller. In addition, plenty of interactive casinos provide players with the opportunity to play most of the games for free. Next to that, most games feature a user-friendly interface, allowing novice casino enthusiasts to easily place bets. The games come with multiple unique features, the purpose of which is to help players build their strategy by analyzing statistics.
Tips Every Online Casino Player Should Read
Successful casino players know how to manage their bankroll and keep it healthy. Before you start playing at an online casino, determine the amount of money you can afford to lose. Discipline is crucial when it comes to the proper management of your bankroll. An important piece of advice is to keep your winnings separate from your bankroll and never cross your budget line.
As we already mentioned above, virtual casinos offer mouth-watering bonuses to lure in new signees and retain their already existing patrons. But before you rush to claim a given promotion, read carefully its terms and conditions. Casino fans have to remember that online casinos are not charitable organizations but business entities designed to make money.
- Build a bankroll and manage it properly
- Keep your emotions in check
- Select a web-based casino that corresponds to your preferences
- Read the terms and conditions of the casino you intend to play at
- Test the games for free in demo mode
Choosing the right online casino is of paramount importance. You have to make sure that the casino is licensed and corresponds to your preferences. Nowadays, online casinos offer all kinds of games – from classic casino staples such as roulette and blackjack to the latest video slots. Knowing the ins and outs of the game you wish to play will significantly boost your chances of winning. Even though the element of luck plays a key role in all casino games, players have to know that some bets are more advantageous than others.
Blackjack’s Worst Bets
Blackjack is one of the most popular card games that has been around for ages. It features easy-to-grasp rules and adrenaline-fueled gameplay.
The game’s attractive nature can be attributed to the fact that it does not exclude the element of skills. Using the blackjack basic strategy can significantly improve the players’ odds of winning. Even though blackjack is the game with the lowest house edge, casino fans have to know that there are some special rules that might affect its size. Here is a list of the special blackjack rules that reduce the house edge:
- The dealer stands on soft 17
- Naturals pay 3:2 instead of 6:5
- Early/late surrender
- The less decks, the better
- Doubling on any first two cards
- Doubling down after a split
- Resplit Aces
- Hitting split Aces
- The dealer peeks at the face-down card when the upcard is an Ace or 10
Blackjack devotees have to keep in mind that selecting the right blackjack variation is of crucial importance. Next to that, players should know that the insurance bet is the worst bet to make when playing online blackjack. The blackjack insurance bet is offered to the players when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. In other words, blackjack enthusiasts bet on the dealer to have a natural blackjack.
Many players are attracted by the insurance bet simply because they think that the likelihood for the dealer’s face-down card to be 10 or a picture card valued at 10 is high. It is crucial to mention that the insurance bet is separate from the players’ original bet. So, if you lose the insurance bet, you still have the chance to win. Casino fans who want to take the insurance bet have to wager half of their original bet.
Provided that the insurance bet turns out to be successful, players will pocket a 2:1 payout but lose their original bet. But if the dealer does not have a natural blackjack, then players lose the insurance bet and continue to play with their main bet.
Then, why is the insurance bet so bad? For card counters, making an insurance bet makes sense as they can keep track of the cards left in the deck. However, when playing online blackjack, counting cards is not possible as interactive casinos use shuffle machines, making it impossible for blackjack devotees to count cards.
The truth is that the insurance bet stacks the odds in favor of the house. We cannot say the exact size of the house edge associated with this bet as it depends on the special rules of the blackjack variation you choose to play, but it is safe to say that the insurance bet has a negative expected value in the long term.
| Deck Number | House Edge |
|---|---|
| 1 | 5.88% |
| 4 | 7.24% |
| 6 | 7.39% |
| 8 | 7.47% |
The figures reveal that the house edge jumps up to 7.47% if you play an 8-deck game and you decide to insure your hand. So, taking the insurance bet is a rather senseless move since you can just stick to the basic strategy and reduce the house edge to under 1%.
Worst Wagers in Baccarat
Baccarat is an exciting card game played at land-based and online casinos. For years, only aristocrats could play this game. Nowadays, almost every web-based casino offers different variations of baccarat. It is a quite popular game among players who are looking for a James Bond-style casino experience.
Baccarat is based on two hands called the Player and the Banker. Each of the hands consists of 2 cards. A third card might be dealt due to the special baccarat drawing rules also known as the “tableau”. Players have to accurately predict which hand will total closest to 9. Cards from 2 to 9 are worth their face value, while Aces are worth 1 point. The 10’s and the picture cards have no value. The main baccarat bets include the Player, the Banker, and a tie.
The house edge varies between the different bet types. The Banker bet features a house edge of 1.06%, while the house edge associated with bets on the Player is 1.36%. The casino applies a 5% commission to winning bets on the Banker as it is the most advantageous bet. Its advantage comes from the fact that the Banker’s hand is the last to complete. While on the subject, we would like to mention not some baccarat variations does not levy a commission. However, there are other rules in place to compensate for it. The Tie bet comes with the highest house edge that amounts to the staggering 14.40%.
The Banker’s hand pays 0.95:1 (1:1 minus the 5% commission), the Player’s hand offers a 1:1 payout, while the Tie bet has a payout of 8:1. Despite its huge payout, players are advised to avoid the Tie bet due to its massive house edge and low winning odds. The probability of the Banker hand winning is 45.86%, bets on the Player’s hand have 44.62% winning chances, while bets on a Tie come with 9.52% odds of a win.
| Deck Number | Tie Bet Payout | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 8:01:00 | 9.5% | 14.44% |
| 8 | 8:01:00 | 9.51% | 14.36% |
Sucker Bets in Online Craps
At first glance, craps is a complicated casino game due to the multiple betting fields on the table. But things are not always what they seem. Craps is a game that is played with two dice. The sum of the numbers showing on the two dice determines the outcome of the game. Among the game’s most recognizable features are the multiple betting options it offers. Of course, each of them features a different house edge, payout, and win probability.
If you want to have better chances of winning when playing online craps, be advised to avoid the Big Six and the Big Eight bets. These bets win only if the shooter lands a 6 or 8 before a 7. Even though the Big Six/Eight bets are popular among craps players, these bets stack the odds in favor of the house, featuring a house edge of 9.1%. When it comes to these bets, we can say that the risk/reward ratio is not worth it as the payout is 1:1.
Usually, novice craps players go for the Bix Six/Eight bets attracted by the high probability of rolling these numbers. However, these craps bets are so rotten that no Atlantic City-based casino offers them.
| Bet Name | Casino Odds | True Odds | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Six/Eight | 1:01:00 | 6:05:00 | 9.1% |
| Hard Six/Eight | 9:01:00 | 10:01:00 | 9.1% |
| Hard Four/Ten | 7:01:00 | 8:01:00 | 11.1% |
| Any Craps (2,3, 12) | 7:01:00 | 8:01:00 | 11.1% |
| Hop (2 ways)/Three/Eleven | 15:01:00 | 17:01:00 | 11.1% |
| Horn | 17:04:00 | 20:04:00 | 12.5% |
| Whirl | 8:05:00 | 10:05:00 | 13.3% |
| Hop (1 way)/Twelve/Two | 30:01:00 | 35:01:00 | 13.9% |
| Any Seven | 4:01:00 | 5:01:00 | 16.7% |
As you can see from the table, these craps bets come with an enormous house edge. In addition, some bet such as Hop (1 way), Twelve, Two, and Horn have true odds that are far from the casino odds.
Another thing we would like to mention is that some casinos try to trick players by expressing the payout as “5 for 1”. However, you should know that 5 for 1 does not mean 5 to 1. It means that the payout is 4 to 1. So, pay attention to details and play smart.