When gambling, a win is never going to be 100% guaranteed, but there are many strategies out there which people suggest with the intention of making it more likely. They vary depending on what you are betting on; card games, luck games, sports etc. And not every strategy is a good choice to follow. The best ones depend on probabilities and mathematical calculations to help you maximise your chances of making money, and even though they may not show the biggest returns, they are fairly reliable. However, most people are tempted by some of the crazier strategies because they promise big wins, but they are usually unpredictable, and you may just end up heavily out of pocket.
So how can you tell the good strategies from the bad? And which are the best to follow? Have a read through our guide and you’re sure to find something that works for you.
Roulette
Roulette is a very popular game because of how simple it is to play. A ball spins around a wheel and you bet on which number you think it will land on. While the highest odds pay out when you pick just one number, the chances are fairly low that you’ll be right, so the best bet is always to go for a winning group like black/red or odd/even. These play even odds if you’re right, meaning you could slowly build a nice little pile of winnings. The inclusion of 0 and 00 on the wheels means that you don’t have exactly a 50% chance of red coming up – the actual probability is 48.6% – but that’s still a really good chance.
However, the best way to bet on roulette is to look at the 1/3 categories: the 1st twelve numbers, 2nd twelve numbers and 3rd twelve numbers. These pay 2:1 odds, but if you bet on two of them simultaneously, you’re covering nearly 2/3 of the numbers for even odds – much better than just choosing a colour.
While this is not the most exciting way to play, or the quickest to large winnings, it is a very reliable strategy that will see you walk away in the black.
Blackjack
Probably the most popular table game in casinos, the idea is to make a combination of two or more cards with a total as close to 21 as possible, without going over. Multiple players play against the dealer, meaning you must beat the dealer’s cards, not each other’s, so it’s a great game to play in a casino with friends as you’re not going to be taking money from each other.
The best blackjack strategies rely on the mathematical probability of your next card being helpful or not. It can get quite complicated so to make things a lot easier, read this comprehensive guide on casino odds, it’s written by an expert on the subject and it will enable you to see which of the tricky 12-16 value hands are worth hitting on. But remember, the odds depend on what card the dealer is showing, as well as which other cards you can see in front of other players. If you have a 12, there are four tens, and 12 picture cards which could cause you to bust; but if you can already see half of them on the table, then your chances of drawing one are greatly reduced.
Sports Betting
Whatever sport you’re into, there are hundreds of ways to bet on your team; pick the winner, the first to score, how many penalties are given…you can even cash in your bet before the end of the game if you’re worried the score might change away from your liking. And the evolution of online sports betting has made it even easier to see all these options and choose the best one for you.
While the appeal of betting on score lines etc can be exciting, the best way to make a profit is often to bet against something happening. This is called laying a bet. For example, instead of betting for a team to win, you can bet against them winning – which includes both a loss and a draw, making it far more likely that you will strike it lucky. While the odds don’t pay as well, you are more likely to make a small profit, and if you make a lot of lay bets, you’ll soon be quids in!
The Martingale – An All-rounder
If you like to dabble in a variety of different gambling activities, then you might be on the lookout for a ‘one size fits all’ strategy to keep things simple. While there are a few out there, The Martingale is definitely the easiest to implement.
Very simply, the Martingale strategy aims to make sure you always leave with a profit by doubling your bet after every loss. This ensures that when you do hit a winning hand or roll a winning number, your winnings will instantly recoup all your losses, with a bit extra on top. Fans of this approach claim it guarantees that you make a profit, and it does…as long as you can afford to keep doubling until you win.
Because that’s the major flaw with the Martingale and other loss-based strategies. Sometimes you could end up on a long losing streak before jetting that one win that will make you money. If you can’t afford to carry a large loss, these aren’t the right strategies for you.
In Conclusion
People gamble for different reasons; to make money, to blow off steam, to have fun etc. Depending on what you want to get out of your gambling session, then picking a good strategy might be hugely beneficial to you. If you’re looking for a way to heighten the excitement of the experience, something like the Martingale would work well for you, as when your wins come in, they’re going to be large.
However, if gambling for you is more about making profit than excitement, it’s probably best to choose a mathematically sound strategy where you have increased chances of winning. Although the individual sums will be smaller, you can build up more of them, meaning that you will eventually have a nice sum in the bank.
