The answer comprises close examination of several key elements, such as personal circumstances, choice of online casino, regulation, games played and state of mind.

In order to adopt a winning strategy it is important not to fall into the loser’s trap.

Personal circumstances

• Is gambling a last-ditch attempt at making some money or are you gambling for fun?
• Do you have a gambling budget or are you using borrowed money to try and make some more?
• Do you know when to stop while you are gambling?

Choice of online casino

• Online casinos are popping up just about everywhere on the Internet. Choose only an online casino which is reputable.
• Are you able to game in your preferred language and currency?
• What about rewards and bonus programs?
• What are the online casino’s payout rates?

Regulation and Responsibility

• Is your chosen casino licensed? Where? How? Which jurisdiction?
• Does the casino adopt Responsible Gaming practices?

Games played

• What games have you opted to play?
• What is your proficiency level on these games?
• Do you know the rules and have you read the fine print?

State of mind

• Once the intricacies of online casinos have been understood, the most crucial factor comes into play – your state of mind. It is advisable not to play while being intoxicated, depressed or otherwise imbalanced.

How to win

By combining all these factors with level-headedness, a winning strategy can be employed. Winning has a lot to do with not selecting a losing strategy to begin with. The answer therefore is to use common sense, gathering as much information along the way as possible and knowing your limits. The rest is up to Lady Luck!

In its simplest form, poker is really an easy game to understand. True, there are multiple versions of poker which have all been juxtaposed into the online format of the game. For the purposes of instruction let’s stick to the basics: The 5-Card Draw Poker.

The basics of poker are as follows:

• The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards
• The ranking descends from Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9,8,7,6,5,4,3 to 2
• Aces are always high cards
• Suits are: Clubs, Spades, Hearts and Diamonds

Getting into it:

• 5 cards are dealt to each player
• Players aim for the highest valued hand

Ranking your hand in poker

• Royal Flush – 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, all the same suit
• Straight Flush – Five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit
• Four of a Kind – Four cards of the same numerical rank plus a random card
• Full House – Of five cards in your hand, three have the same numerical rank, and the two remaining have the same numerical rank
• Flush – Five cards of the same suit, regardless of rank
• Straight – Five cards in numerical order, regardless of their suits
• Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same numerical rank
• Two Pair – Two sets of pairs + a random card
• One Pair – A single pair + 3 random cards
• High Card – The highest card in the player’s hands wins in a face-off

Keeping a poker face

A big part of the poker experience and one which players revel in is the bluff. It’s simply a term for pretending to have or not have a certain hand. This requires an intimate knowledge of the game or an innate ability in the art of deception. There are many intricacies in poker such as knowing when to raise the bet, when to hold and when to fold. These techniques require patience and practice. Poker has been likened to a game of tremendous skill and isn’t simply a game of luck.

Claiming the pot

In a round of poker – whether it be online or bricks and mortar gambling – players will deposit money to buy into a game. Bets will be raised and those players who wish to fold will forfeit their bets and those who wish to continue may raise their bets. In the end the player with the best hand may reveal it to the remaining players in the final showdown. Then the player may claim the pot.

The reason that poker is more than a game of chance is that it goes with player expectations. If a player feels reasonably confident of his/her ability to bluff other players in order to gain a psychological edge, then a reasonable expectation would allow for a comparative advantage to such a player – regardless of the hand being held.

The best hand – a natural nine – would contain just 2 cards totaling 9. Or a player could generate a natural eight, with an 8 total. Once a player has either of these possible outcomes, no other players, including the banker may draw a third card. The player with the natural eight or nine would win, unless of course a tie ensued in which case the game is nullified.

Betting in Baccarat begins when no players have the natural eight or nine. Of course the option of folding is on the table too.

From the 8 decks of cards the banker and the players will play to win. Players can bet on player’s hands, banker’s hand or a tie. But nothing comes from the latter option if a player bets on a tie. A tie is not only rare but betting on one will cost you around 14% of your winnings.

Be sure to check up on house edge for banker’s hand and player’s hand before you game. You always draw if your card total is less than 6 or 7 and a banker always stands on 7.

The craps table

The typical craps table can seat 24 people. If the dice are hot, then that table is going to be buzzing like a live wire. The reason craps is so energized is that it’s a collective players’ game. On a good day the typical craps table runs at around 100 decisions an hour. Plus craps players have multiple bets running concomitantly. Thus your bankroll is going to be way higher than other table or slots games. And that’s because craps simply has so many betting options available for players.

Getting down to business

Many craps table have double layouts with a boxman (collects cash and supervises) at the center and a stickman (gives the shooter the dice) opposite him. The table’s center comprises boxes for proposition (1 roll) bets and there are hard-way bets too. These are more specific bets. There are dealers at the sides, taking bets and paying winners. The players cover the rest of the table.

The lingo at the craps table

• Field – a one roll bet that 1 of 7 numbers will be realized.
• Place or Buy – these are boxes marked 4, 5, Six, 8, Nine and 10. (Six and Nine are spelled so that there is no confusion to players on opposite sides of the table). Boxes 6 and 8 are the ‘Big 6’ and ‘Big 8’ bets.
• Craps – 2,3 or 12
• Boxcars – 2 sixes
• Yo, Yo-leven – 11
• C and E Craps – 11
• Snake Eyes – Two 1’s
• Little Joe – a 4 roll
• Jimmy Hicks – 6
• Skinny Dugan – a loser 7
• Skate and Donate – 8
• Center Field – 9
• Puppy Paws – Two 5s
• Natural Winner – 7 or 11 on the come-out roll

Betting and Technique

First up is the come-out roll. This is the first roll of the dice. There are Pass and Don’t Pass bets. Pass bets begin with the shooter and Don’t Pass bets are against the shooter. The shooter then tosses the dice to the opposite wall of the craps table. If the come-out roll is 7 or 11 then Don’t Pass bets lose and Pass bets win. When the come-out roll is 2, 3, or 12, that’s craps, and the Pass bets lose. Don’t Pass bets win on 2 or 3, but 12 is not allowed. Don’t Pass bets don’t win or lose if the come-out roll is 12.

A point is a come-out roll of any other number. When the point number is rolled again prior to the next 7, Pass bets will win and Don’t Pass bets will lose. But if a 7 comes up before the point number, Don’t Pass bets will win and Pass bets will lose. If the shooter doesn’t make the point, the dice are given to a new shooter. This goes in a clockwise direction. Field bets are for one roll bets stating that one of seven numbers will come up. They may be placed before any roll.

Bet to win

The house has a 1.41 percent edge on a Pass bet and 1.4 percent on Don’t Pass. Most players bet the Pass line. This is because they enjoy getting behind the shooter. There are come/don’t come bets – essentially the same as Pass/don’t pass except they’re placed on rolls besides the come-out.

Busting the myths

• Payback percentages are not lower when there is greater demand for a particular slots machine
• Winning slots machines are not necessarily placed where they are most visible including online
• Playing a machine that hasn’t hit a jackpot isn’t going to bring you any closer to winning one
• If a slots machine has recently recorded a big jackpot win it can still generate more winnings

So what are the techniques for playing slots then?

• First choose a reputable and licensed online casino
• Make sure you read and understand all the fine print
• Find out the payout percentage rates of the online casino
• Choose a game whose rules you clearly understand

It’s good to remember that slots machines can account for up to 80% of all casino revenue. This means it’s serious business and players should know what they’re doing. Many popular online slots games are 5 reels, 25 payline video slots. They often offer progressive slots options – meaning the jackpot mounts exponentially as you get deeper into the gaming.

How you would play

A typical video slots game requires you to hit a button for your preferred number of paylines. The more paylines, the more the spin costs and the greater the likelihood of your hitting a jackpot. Many video slots offer from 5 to 50 paylines and sometimes more. Some slots even accept $100 wagers per spin.

Everything from fabulous Marvel comics superheroes to weird and whacky games are available in today’s slot machines.

Here are some tips:

• Remember to game responsibly
• Play the maximum number of paylines
• You may want to stay informed of special promotions on slot machines
• Always go for higher-bonus slots
• Go for online casinos offering first time sign-up bonuses
• Work off your budget and don’t exceed it

Symbols and graphics

Features common to all modern video slots are wild and scatter symbols. Wilds are substitutes and scatters trigger winnings across various paylines. But there’s even bonus rounds where players get to add to their winnings as they move into a separate screen and rack up some bonus credits. Online slots have the added advantage of simulating real-life casinos replete with superb audio and graphics and some of the best animation around. Companies such as Playtech and Microgaming are world leaders in this field.

Jackpots

Today’s online slots machines can pay out figures in the millions. There are multiple smaller jackpots which are being won on a daily basis so it’s certainly worth a try.

There are a handful of strategies to implement allowing players a better chance at recognizing the way the game can be enjoyed and taken advantage of. If you follow the rules, learn the main strategies and implement them with a cool head – you’ll have greater success in this exciting game.

Getting Started

After you’ve received your stash of chips, place your bet. Next up, the dealer gives you 2 cards and 2 cards to himself or herself. But one of the dealer’s cards is face down. Now it’s time to make decisions.

Blackjack playing terminology

After you’ve received your cards and seen the dealer’s face-up card, you can make decisions:

Hit – This means you are asking the dealer to give you another card.

Stand – This means you don’t take any more cards.

Double Down – Doubling down doubles your initial bet and you will receive only 1 more card. You will have to stand after it has been dealt.

Split – This occurs when you have 2 cards of equal value. You now play 2 separate hands and place a wager equal to your original bet while splitting your cards. The dealer will give you 2 more cards.

If your hand is simply not worth playing you’ll have the option to throw in your cards and you’ll receive 50% of your bet back.

Cards and values in blackjack

All numbered cards are worth their value. Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth 10. Aces are either 1 or 11 depending on your hand. That’s it. Typically a game of blackjack is played with 1 – 8 decks of cards. A hand without an ace is a hard hand while one with an ace is a soft hand.

What you need to know

Naturally there are loads of technical points that can give you better chances such as Insurance Bets which safeguard you in the event of a dealer’s Ace up card being dealt.

But more importantly, is knowing when to hold and when to fold – here’s a simple example:

A blackjack table will state that a dealer stands on 17. Or a dealer hits on soft 17s. This means that until a dealer has 17 they will hit or draw until they reach 17 or go bust.

Read the rules

Like every game, there are rules. Understand exactly what it is that you’re getting involved in. For instance wagers – do you know the max and minimum bets that you’re allowed? Because if not you may find yourself at a high roller table with big minimums. The house advantage in blackjack is roughly as follows:

• 7% without a basic strategy
• 0.5% with a basic strategy

And that’s it, in a nutshell.

Typical casino baccarat comes replete with dealers in tuxedos, amazing ambience and lots of buzz. But baccarat betting minimums are high. Playing the game is simple, here’s how:

Getting into it

The way baccarat is played is by placing a bet on the banker’s or player’s hand. Essentially that’s as simple as it is. Two cards are dealt from a shoe. The player receives the first hand and the second is the banker. It is possible for a third card to be dealt to either player or banker.

Baccarat odds

• Bank wins 45.84% of the time
• Players’ win 44.61% of the time
• A tie occurs 9.54% of the time

The house advantage is the following

• The Bank: 1.17%
• The Player: 1.36%
• A Tie: 4.57%

The cards

The goal is to get as close to 9 as possible. All cards that are 10 or above (picture cards) count as zero and all numbered cards from 1 to 9 are taken at face value.

Here’s where it gets interesting. If both cards dealt total a two-digit number, then only the last number counts. For example 6 + 8= 14 so the baccarat total is 4. Bets are paid even money and a commission is charged on winning banker wagers. A profitable albeit rare win would be on a tie hand which pays 8 to 1.

Knowing the rules

• Players and the banker will stand on a total of 8 or 9
• The player always draws a card if his/her total is less than or equal to 5, otherwise the player stands
• If the player does not draw a third card, then the Banker’s hand stands on a total of 6 or more and takes a third card on a total of 5 or less
• When the banker’s total is less than or equal to 2 then the banker draws another card – despite what the player’s third card is
• When the banker’s total is 3 then the banker draws another card unless the player’s third card is an 8
• When the banker’s total is 4 then banker draws another card unless the player’s third card is a 0, 1, 8, or 9
• If the banker’s total is 5 then banker draws another card if the player’s third card is a 4,5,6, or 7
• When the banker’s total is a 6 then the banker draws another card if the player’s third card is a 6 or 7
• Finally if the banker’s total is 7, then the banker stands firm

But there are ways of putting the percentages in your favour. Firstly you’ve got to decide what version of roulette you’re playing. European Roulette offers better odds because unlike the American version, there is no 00 meaning there is less chance your number won’t come up.

Players get their own colored chips

In order to get gaming, players are given different colored chips. If you win, you simply exchange your chips for cash. Playing is really easy. You take a look at the table and decide which numbers, odds or evens, or color you feel is going to come up. That’s it essentially. But there are many, many betting options where bets are divided or multiplied depending on how much you wager, where your chips are placed and how lucky you are.

Get spinning

The croupier waits for players to place their bets and then gives the wheel a big turn. Momentarily before the ball is about to drop into a slot, the croupier will announce ‘no more bets’. Once the croupier has placed the dolly on the number the ball has landed on, everyone but valid winners will lose their chips and the winners will be rewarded.

What are the odds and rules in roulette?

In European Roulette the house advantage is 2.7%; on American Roulette tables the advantage is 5.26% and a whopping 7.9% on the 5-number combo 0-00-1-2-3. It is important to note that there are no guarantees in roulette. Say for instance the ball lands on red 25 times in a row, there is no greater likelihood that it will land on black next spin around other than 50% (barring the green 0).

Crunching the numbers

• A wager on one number only typically pays 35 to 1
• A two-number wager, known as a split bet, pays 17 to 1
• A three-number wager, known as a street bet, pays 11 to 1
• A four-number wager, known as a corner bet, pays 8 to 1
• A six-number wager pays 5 to 1
• A wager on the outside dozen or column, pays 2 to 1
• A wager on the outside even money bets, pays 1 to 1

Some rules to look out for

Things like the ‘En Prison’ rule and ‘La Partage’ rule are common lingo in roulette. On even-money bets that show results on a zero, some casinos allow players to take back 50% of the bet or let the bet rollover – ‘En Prison’ for another spin. If the second result is zero the bet is lost. The ‘La Partage’ rule differs somewhat. If the player loses half the bet, the player has no recourse of leaving the bet ‘En Prison’ for a second spin.