7 Ways to Win Money at a Casino

I doubt many of you gamble to donate your hard-earned money to the casino. If you do enjoy seeing the house beat you over and over again, maybe it’s time to reevaluate your hobby of choice. However, if you want to increase your odds of winning, you need to approach the gambling experience with a solid base of information.

New gamblers are known to make simple and avoidable mistakes. If you’re still new to casinos and find yourself continually making the walk of shame to the ATM after losing your bankroll, you’re not alone. By following these seven tips, you will increase your chances to turn your luck around and start winning more money at the casino.

1 ‒ Play Games With the Best Odds

Most casinos feature a variety of games, including table games and a plethora of slot machines. Casinos are a business and want to take your money. That’s a simple fact that all of you should be aware of by now. And if you’re new to gambling, or your luck has run dry, you need to be aware of the odds of all the games you could find yourself playing.

If you want to take control of your destiny at a casino, stick to games that require a bit of skill versus games that are purely reliant on chance. The lights and sounds of slot machines are alluring but require no skill whatsoever, and the results are entirely out of your control. On the other hand, table games like blackjack enable gamblers to strategize and have an impact on the results of the hand.

2 ‒ Stick to Your Game of Choice

One of the keys to winning is to be consistent in your approach. An easy way to apply this principle is to grind away at one game to get into a rhythm. By choosing one game and sticking to it, you will hopefully hone your gambling skills as you gain more experience.

When deciding on the game you want to play, I recommend picking one of the three listed in the first point to increase your chances of winning. My game of choice is blackjack due to its simplicity and better odds than other table games. When picking a table, be mindful of the payout, as that can vary from table to table.

Regardless of your decision, make sure to become familiar with the rules and strategies associated with each game. For blackjack, there are specific rules according to “the book” that, if followed, should lead to more wins. Particular points of strategy vary from person to person, but make sure to arm yourself with the best information to make the best decisions possible.

3 ‒ Stick to a Certain Bet Per Hand

Gamblers should arrive at a casino with a few critical things in mind. First, you should set an amount that you are willing to lose and under no circumstance surpass it. Second, you should have an idea of which games you are planning on playing. Finally, you should know what stakes you want to play and how much you want to bet.

If your bankroll is $100, betting $5 per hand 20 times is typically more advisable than betting $25 per hand four times.

While the odds of blackjack are among the best, the house still has a slight edge, so you need to be able to play the long game and sit at the table for the most time.

Regardless of the outcome of a hand, you must stick to the amount you set upon arrival. If you deviate from this and start getting aggressive, your gambling day could come to an abrupt end.

4 ‒ Bet Conservatively

The ebbs and flows that come with gambling can lead to many newer gamblers to make poor decisions based on the outcome of any given hand. Let’s say you are on a heater and win several hands in a row. You are most likely gaining confidence and can throw caution to the wind and start betting more substantial amounts.

The issue with this reality is that every heater comes to an end, and your table will get cold at some point. By being conservative in the approach to your game of choice, you enable yourself to be able to ride out these cold streaks. Most gamblers have felt that undeniable feeling that you are about to win and can trick themselves into betting big.

If those risks pay off, which is certainly possible, the high-risk high-reward style of play is a dangerous gamble for newcomers. Even if you are on fire and cannot lose, remember that this will pass at some point, and you need to prepare to take a few losses.

5 ‒ Skip the Drinks

One of the most important things I tell new gamblers and something I wish I had practiced as a novice is to avoid drinking while gambling. It sounds counterintuitive to gamble sober, I understand. You must consider that casinos want to take advantage of every edge possible, and one they can influence is the sobriety of gamblers.

Certain casinos will pay for your drinks if you’re gambling, thinking they can maximize the edge by deadening their players’ cognitive abilities. The temptation to drink at a table is undeniable, especially with the constant temptation of free alcohol. If you are serious about winning money, you should avoid the temptation at all costs.

Playing cards for hours on end is taxing enough as it is, so don’t make it harder on yourself. If you want to drink, be smart about it because one beer can quickly turn to several. Stick to water at the outset to get into a good rhythm at the tables and maximize winnings.

6 ‒ Know When to Walk Away

It’s next to impossible to walk away from a table if you’re winning because the potential of continuing to win always exists. Consider previous points and recall that in each game, the casino has an edge. Even if you are up big, statistically, you are going to lose.

I am not advising you to walk away from a heater. But most of my successful trips to a casino could have been even more profitable if I hadn’t ignored the signs to get up from the table. One thing I have started doing is setting an amount that I am comfortable with losing and setting a goal amount. If I hit that amount, I cash in my chips and go home.

If you find it hard to walk away from a table, you’re not alone. Gambling is addicting, and winning while gambling is even more so. Remember why you are gambling in the first place before wins turn to losses, and your bankroll suffers.

7 ‒ Stay Composed

When gambling, emotions can swing from one extreme to the next at the drop of a hat. Big wins are intoxicating, and tough losses are seemingly unbearable. If you play smart, statistics say you should win about half of your hands and break even. Veteran gamblers make their money by not letting their emotions get out of hand.

New gamblers are predisposed to succumbing to their emotional immaturity. When you walk into a casino for the first time, perhaps the most important thing to do is remind yourself to keep your head straight.

To my previous point, new gamblers need to recognize when a table is getting too cold for comfort. If you push past that point and stack losses, it’s incredibly challenging to bounce back and recoup your losses.

It’s hard to expect new gamblers to act like they’ve been there before, but you must if you want to win money during your first trip to the casino. Like I said, if you’re bleeding money, don’t get flustered. Take a break to get your mind right and attack the next table.

Conclusion

Winning real money gambling at casinos is a daunting task that even the most advanced gamblers can struggle with. Without the years of preparation and experience, new gamblers are already at a disadvantage walking into a casino for the first time.

Remember to play the games with the best odds, stick to a solid game plan, and don’t deviate from your betting amount. If you find yourself losing money at a rapid pace, take a break, reevaluate your game plan, and even try a different table. By heeding the tips listed above, you’ll increase your likelihood of finishing on top.