Uncover the time-honored favorites along with the lesser-known strategies you can use to enhance your chances at online casinos and play more thoughtfully.
For online casinos, we all dream of winning the massive jackpot or walking away with a tidy profit. But come on, gambling is about more than chance. Yes, luck has a big role to play in it, but smart players know that being well-prepared with a decent strategy is what sets them apart. As a recreational spinner or a professional card player, mastering various gambling strategies can help ensure you enjoy the game and risk-manage better.
Why strategies matter at online casinos
Before we get to the nitty-gritty, it is important to understand the nature of online casinos. They are venues formed to provide entertainment more than anything else, and the house is always ahead slightly. That means there is no winning strategy to win every time. But the right approach will definitely help you increase your chances at online casinos, extend your playing duration and help you keep your bankroll in a healthier state. Moreover, knowing strategies helps you discipline yourself and that is the majority of the battle at times.
Classic strategies you’ve heard of
The Martingale system
It’s a gambler’s staple and typically the very first strategy that individuals learn. The Martingale system is simple: You double the stake after every loss, thus the initial win pays off all previous losses and a profit equal to your initial stake. It’s used mostly in even-money bets, for example, red or black in roulette or heads/tails in coin tosses.
Sounds great, right? The issue is that you need a deep pocket as losses can go up very fast, and most online casinos impose betting limits which will kill this strategy even before you even get out of the hole. However, for spurts and with proper bankroll management, some players swear by it.
Card counting in blackjack
Counting cards is one of the only methods that can actually tip the odds a little bit in your direction, but it’s more difficult to do online because of the constant shuffling software employed. In live casinos, card counting involves monitoring which cards have already been dealt to guess if the next card will be beneficial for the player or the house. Online casinos shuffle after nearly every hand, so the technique becomes largely unfeasible in digital environments.
That being said, there are some online blackjack games that have “shoe” versions wherein multiple decks are shuffled before reshuffling, providing chances for good counters. It pays to check the game rules first before taking the plunge.
The Fibonacci system
This approach is somewhat more conservative than Martingale and is derived using the famous Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and so on). You increase your bet according to this sequence when you lose and come back two steps in the sequence when you win. The idea behind this is that losses are recouped in time and without taking the massive risk of doubling bets blindly.
Players prefer the Fibonacci system because it gives a hint of structure without the wildness of huge bet jumps, but still requires discipline and patience.
Lesser-known strategies to try
The D’Alembert system
This plan is another “progressive” betting scheme but far less extreme than Martingale. You increase your wager one unit after each loss and lower it one unit after each win. You try to balance the losses and winnings in the long run.
The D’Alembert system will be less likely to lead to bankroll annihilation since you’re not doubling the wagers, and hence it’s popular with players who like solid, controllable risks.
The James Bond strategy for roulette
If you’re into roulette, the James Bond strategy might pique your interest. It involves placing bets that cover more than half the table: 70% on high numbers (19-36), 25% on numbers 13-18 and 5% on zero. This way, you’re “hedging” your bets, covering multiple outcomes each spin.
While not as lofty, it reduces the risk of losing your entire stake in a short period. Be careful, however, to realize that this requires a decent-sized bankroll to start and will yield small wins rather than huge jackpots.
The reverse Labouchere
Labouchere is a cancelling bet system where you write down a series of numbers and wager the total of the first and last figures. If you win, you eliminate those figures. If you lose, you add the size of your last wager at the end of the list. Reverse Labouchere flips the concept around, increasing with winnings rather than losses, with the purpose of taking advantage of winning streaks.
It’s more confrontational but can be fun for those players who are looking for a system that favors momentum.
Implementing strategies
No matter which system you use, the following advice will keep you on track:
Establish limits: Decide on your bankroll and hold to it. Strategies can only work with realistic bets, not prevent losses.
Play the right games: Some strategies work with some games but not others. For example, betting systems work better on roulette than on slot machines, since the outcomes are random.
Learn the rules: Not all online casinos are the same, and specific games have side bets or bonuses that might impact how your strategy is going to go.
Remain calm: Betting in the chase of losses or greed is the quickest way to lose your bankroll. Strategy isn’t desperation but discipline.
Wrapping up
Ultimately, it always has to be entertaining and enjoyable. There is no system that can do away with the house edge or guarantee a win, but using one can spice up your playing sessions and make them more structured. Whether you use classic systems like Martingale or experiment with lesser-popular ones like D’Alembert or Reverse Labouchere, never forget to play responsibly and within your limits.