Since their inception, casinos have operated on a simple principle: the house always has the edge. Simply put, this means the casino can remain profitable regardless of whether punters win or lose.
However, some players don’t enjoy this arrangement and have devised interesting strategies to tip the odds in their favor. This is what we refer to as advantage play.
In this article, we will provide an overview of advantage play and how it factors into different games. If you are ready to learn about these tactics, be sure to read to the end. Let’s jump straight into it.
Blackjack Card Counting
If you love watching wagering movies, you have undoubtedly encountered card counting. This technique is so effective that it increases the odds of the player by 1 to 1.5%. However, a very specific atmosphere must be created for this tactic to work.
Card counting works best in traditional casinos that don’t use custom shuffling machines. However, it becomes difficult when playing online for this precise reason.
Nevertheless, you can be smart and play live games equipped with actual dealers. While card counting is not illegal in many countries, casino management highly frowns upon it.
Multi Accounting
Multi-accounting is the evolved version of sports betting accounting. Since we now have online casinos, punters can open multiple accounts with different sites to take advantage of certain features.
For instance, you can open an account with Betway, enjoy the benefits, and after you are done, open with other sportsbooks to enjoy their offers. To do this successfully, however, you will need to call on your tech-savvy side and use software like Virtual Privat Networks (VPN) to change your location.
Having multiple accounts is very legal, and no one will penalize you for this. You can go a step further and spread out your bankroll to have a different feel for these sites.
Progressive Jackpot Exploiting
This tactic is very popular when playing slots since they have the most progressive jackpots than in any other game. Certain slot games with progressive jackpots will often strike after a specific set amount. All you have to do as a player is time it.
Back in traditional casinos, this tactic was known as vulturing: waiting around for players to have their turn at slot machines and leaving them at a favorable spot to exploit. When playing online, you can jump into tournaments and take advantage of this feature since it significantly reduces the house’s edge.
Baccarat Edge Sorting
This one, like card counting, will only work when playing live games where you can interact with an actual dealer. The key to this is identifying any discrepancy in the card and managing to sway the dealer to arrange the shoe in a certain design.
Sounds easy enough, right? In this tactic, your vision must be eagle-like since these defects may be only a millimeter thick. Furthermore, you will have to sway the dealer to rotate the cards in such a fashion that the low digits and high values face opposite directions.
If you are a renowned poker enthusiast, you must be well acquainted with the legend Phil Ivey, who popularised this trick for many players.
Sports Betting Arbitrage
In this tactic, punters will often place several bets on the same game across different service providers. This method attempts to cover all the risks involved since there were only three outcomes to a single game initially.
Now that wagering has gone online, you can place several bets on the same game on different platforms like Betway. You can easily discover discrepancies in odds on different websites and take advantage of them in a way that ensures you are profitable.
However, to fully take advantage of this, you need to have conducted thorough research on odds since they can change rapidly.
Using Betting Systems
Online betting has become so advanced that there are certain systems in place that punters can use to tip the outcomes in their favor. Several algorithms, such as Martingale, Fibonacci, and D’Alembert, which adjust your next bet size based on the previous outcome, have vastly shaken up the space.
These algorithms work based on trying to recover or continue winning streaks based on previous patterns. While they may lower the house edge, they are just as risky. But in online casinos, the more risks you take, the higher the chances of getting a reward.
Loss Rebate
Established casino members often use this tactic. Traditionally, it would involve a high roller visiting the casino to negotiate a certain rebate amount in the event of a loss. So, to enjoy the benefits over the long run, they would just have to play games with a lower house advantage, like blackjack.
However, the narrative has shifted in online casinos, and most active members can access this feature. You may have come across it in the form of cashback bonuses.
These casinos also use this method when business is slow. For instance, you may get a promotional message saying that if you deposit $100 on a Friday, you will get 15% of your losses the following Friday.
Game Selection Based on Volatility
This, unlike the methods we have previously reviewed, doesn’t have any harm to it since it involves viewing the variance of particular titles and playing them. It is ultimately dependent on your goals as a punter and bankroll too.
For instance, if you aim to hit a bonus, then games with low variance are more suitable. However, if you are a high roller and have a large risk appetite, go for the highly volatile games since they will maximize your returns in a shorter while.
Understanding this simple concept will also help you make more informed betting decisions and know what games or bets to pick.
Final Thoughts
That’s it! Everything you need to know about advantage play in the age of online casinos is summed up. Several tactics will depend on your goals, ambitions, and even game preference. Some popular methods include card counting, Baccarat edge sorting, and using betting systems like Martingale.