One indisputable rule of gambling is that the house always wins. Whether you are playing slots, placing a number bet, or wagering on esports tournaments, the casino has an edge that helps it turn in a profit. And it makes sense – after all, casinos are businesses that need to make money to stay open. They let you win some money to maintain your business, but they earn more in the long run. The mathematical advantage that makes this possible can work against you. Fortunately, the house does not always have to win. You can cheat the system – without breaking the law – and beat the house. Here is how:
Card Counting
About five decades ago, mathematician Edward Thorp released a book explaining "card counting" as a blackjack strategy. In the game, where the goal is to get a hand as close in value to 21 without going bust, the dealer draws several hands from the same deck of cards. This means that the events of one hand can influence subsequent hands. For instance, if you draw a 10 in this hand, it cannot appear in the next hand. Keeping track of the played cards can tell you how many high cards are left.
Per card counting, a large number of high unplayed cards improves your chances of winning. This is because you can decide not to draw if you have a high hand, but the dealer has to because they are under strict rules. Consequently, they are more likely to go bust. You can combine card counting, which is legal, with a basic strategy to give yourself a 1 percent edge over the house.
Stopping Power
In roulette, the house has a 5 percent advantage that kicks in the more you place. You may win the first, second, and third spins, but if you keep playing, you will likely lose all your money. This is why stopping when you are on a winning streak is important. Every casino has a point at which your fortunes will be reversed, and the house will make back everything you have won so far and more. If you don't know when to stop, ask a friend to alert you when you overdo things.
Card Holing (Identify Clumsy Dealers)
According to Bill Zender, leading gaming consultant and author of Card Counting for the Casino Executive, there are less than 100 expert blackjack card counters across the globe. Card counting may give you a 1 to 1.5 percent edge over the house. But if you do not possess these skills, your next best bet is to find a clumsy dealer. This is ideally a dealer who is sloppy and accidentally flashes the face-down card. Otherwise called card holing, this strategy can give you a 6 to 9 percent advantage.
High-Roller Betting (Slots)
Slots are fun and easy to play, but the house has a 15 to 20 percent edge on most penny slots. This is why you should stick to $5 and above slots and only play the maximum bet. With these numbers, you have a much higher chance of beating the house.
Practice
Finally, and most importantly, the best way to beat the house is to sharpen your gambling skills. One game where this will flip the tables significantly is video poker. Usually, the house maintains a meager 0.46 percent edge in this game, with some versions even skewed in your favor. The payoffs are high too. But, to win, you need to play expert-level video poker, which most people cannot do. So, practice.
Wrapping Up
You do not have to lose every time simply because the odds are always stacked in the house’s favor. A basic strategy that includes practice, knowing when to stop, and playing games where the odds are better can help you beat the house. For that something extra, you can throw in perfectly legal tactics like card counting and card holing – just make sure the house doesn’t catch you. They don’t like to lose.
