The Skill Factor in Online Casino Games
The outcomes in most casino games are normally down to chance or the luck of the draw. There are some, however, that do require a certain level of skill in order to win. Games like video poker and craps are all best played with an optimal strategy if you want to maximize your odds of seeing a payout.
High Skills
Even though Blackjack is simple in gameplay, there is a degree of skill involved in this casino game. One element is card counting: an advanced technique that many professional blackjack players use in land-based casinos; however, it’s not possible to do this online due to the presence of random number generators. Video poker is another game for highly skilled players, as choosing what cards to discard and what cards to keep in your hand can have big implications on the next move.
Low Skills
Many casino games require hardly any skill at all. The house edge can still be affected by your moves in these types of games, but not significantly. This would include games like Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, and traditional variations of roulette.
Games of Chance
Slots, bingo, baccarat, and keno are the most popular games of chance in online casinos and brick-and-mortar establishments. These games don’t require any skill whatsoever, which is why they are popular. Despite this, the law of averages means the odds are rarely in the player’s favor, and hitting the jackpot is a very lucky affair.
The House Edge in Casino Games
Skill factors aside, it’s also worth knowing what the house edges stand for in casino games. While roulette is a game that has decent odds for the player, the American variant has the complete opposite. If you’ve never played a casino game before, taking the time to investigate the house edge and what the odds are for the different betting markets is going to give you a higher chance of success.
Games with a High House Edge
Keno is a game of chance, but it can have a house edge as high as 25%, making it one of the most difficult-to-win games in the casino. Down from that is the American variant of roulette, which works with a double zero. It’s this extra pocket that puts the house edge up to a whopping 5.26% for the entire game. Craps has much better odds overall, but there is one betting option that has an edge of more than 10%, while the edge in slots can reach as high as 15% despite having a strong RTP.
Games with a Low House Edge
What one player may consider a low house edge could be much higher for another person. Saying that it can’t be disputed that select casino games such as Pai Gow Poker and baccarat have an incredibly low house edge. Most versions of blackjack also pose strong odds for the player, but only when played with a near-perfect strategy.
