It almost feels patronizing when you read those guides that tell you “learn these simple tricks to win money at a casino” or “casinos don’t want you to know this one cheat”. As most are aware, it’s complete rubbish. In general, the house will always win. Yet, there is nothing to say that an individual won’t have a profitable session when playing at a casino, and there is always the chance of walking away with a life-changing sum of money.

Below we are going to discuss five ways you can be smarter about your visit to an online casino. Remember, there is no guarantee that you will win, but considering these factors can potentially increase your chances of having a profitable time, or at least mitigate any losses. At the very least, they won’t hurt. Consider these five rules:

Check the Stats and Rules

So many of us are guilty of rushing headfirst into playing a casino game without considering the options available. By options, we mean the games that have the best odds. For instance, if you check out the live blackjack at mansioncasino.com/ca, you will see that there are different variants with different rules. These are real games, played with real dealers and cards, so if the rule states that the dealer must stand on soft 17 or there is a single deck if card counting etc., consider that as part of your strategy, because they can move the advantage in your favour by a couple of percentage points.

Don’t Be a Mug

In light of the above, let us tell you this: Never ever play American roulette. Why? Because it has inferior odds to that of the European versions, especially French roulette with La Partage rule. It all comes down to the double zero pocket on the American roulette wheel, which adds a few percentage points to the house edge. European wheels have just one zero pocket. The important thing to know, however, is that virtual games will mimic the house edge in real games. So, even if the game is decided by an algorithm, choose European every time. The difference can be around 2%, which is massive if you are a high roller.

Learn About Slots

If anyone tells you they know how to beat the slots, they are simply lying. They run on random number generators and even the casinos don’t know what will happen. However, slots will have different rates of payout over time, and that information is obliged to be published. Let’s break it down: A game like Halloween Fortune by Playtech has an RTP of 97.06%, meaning the casino keeps about 3% and pays the rest back to players. A game like Chippendales (by the same developer) has an RTP measured at 92.00%, meaning that Halloween Fortune is 5% less profitable for the casino and more generous to players. Simple math.

Set Your Limits

Probably the most important thing for a casino player to be aware of is their own limits. Gambling can get out of hand, especially if you have a had a beer or two, so knowing when to cut your losses is of the utmost importance. Thankfully, modern online casinos offer tools to create limits on the amount you can deposit, wager and the amount of time you spend playing. It’s all about playing safely online. These limits will require a cooling off period before you can play, so set them before you start spinning.

Be a Bonus Hunter

Online casinos, just like their counterparts in the swanky resorts of Las Vegas and Macau, have massive marketing budgets to entice players to play. However, not everyone will take full advantage of what is on offer. You should first hunt around the site before you play, seeing if any games have special promotions that require an opt-in. Failing that you should check the casino’s social media page to see if you can bag some free spins or a promo code. Finally, and only do this if you are a regular player or big spender, send an email asking for a freebie; the worst they can say is no.