- Learn about card counting, a unique casino strategy that actually works.
- Discover how the d’Alembert system can lower your risk while betting on the tables.
- Use martingale system to flip the odds in your favor while playing blackjack.
When it comes down to it, most casino games are based entirely on chance. But over the years, many players have come up with clever ways to tip the scales in their favor.
I’m of course talking about various gambling strategies, many of which have been used for centuries. However, some have been tweaked and modified along the way to make them more effective.
If you’re looking for an edge at the casino, I strongly recommend paying close attention to the following tactics. Whether it’s card counting or taking advantage of bonus offers, these techniques really work.
5. Become a Card Counter
Everyone’s heard of card counting, but not many people understand the concept fully. Movies and television shows have made it out to be some sort of mutant power that only Kevin Spacey and Rain Man possess.
Truth be told, anyone can learn how to count cards and use this skill to win free money from the casino. Of course, learning the basics is much easier than becoming a professional-level counter. The latter takes a lot of practice and discipline.
So, what exactly is card counting?
Put simply, this strategy requires players to keep track of high and low cards that have been dealt from the shoe. High cards are friendlier to the player, while low cards are better for the dealer. By weighting the counts accordingly, you’ll be able to tell how beneficial the remaining deck is.
The most popular card counting method uses the following system:
- +1 for each two, three, or seven that’s dealt
- -1 for each two, three, four, five, or six
- +1 for each eight, nine, or ten; and
- Zero for all aces
It’s natural to think that memorizing plus and minus values is all it takes to become a pro counter. Unfortunately, things aren’t that simple.
First off, you’ll need to learn how to “burn” your count. This means accurately knowing when to increase your bet and leave the casino with profits. Burning the count involves several factors such as the number of decks, number of decks left, and betting unit.
Secondly, you have to perfect your “pickup” technique. Casinos shuffle the cards whenever they feel enough hands have been dealt. The goal is to break up any counts that players may have established. Therefore, it’s crucial to know how many undesirable cards have been shuffled out in order to make an accurate estimation on the remaining deck.
Lastly, appear normal and don’t attract attention. Casinos will kick you out if they suspect you’re a counter, even if you haven’t done anything illegal. Therefore, you’ll want to master the art of not showing emotions at bad beats or lucky deals for the dealer.
Is card counting illegal?
Counting cards is indeed legal, but cheating is not. For example, trying to signal your count to other players so they can adjust their bets would be considered colluding. Similarly, attempting to steal signals from counterparts who’ve already taken their seats at the table is also wrong.
There’s a fine line between being considerate and courteous versus disrespectful to other customers. Therefore, I suggest always treating the dealer and fellow players with kindness and gratitude.
Another way casinos try to prevent card counting is by using continuous shuffling machines (CSMs). These devices automatically shuffle the cards after every hand, thus making it harder to establish and burn a count. You can still win as a counter against CSM tables, but the whole dynamic changes.
As for the best game to count cards in, blackjack is obviously the answer. Players have an average RTP of around 42–49 percent when they don’t count, but this number can surpass 70 percent with a good count and basic strategy.
But again, becoming a skilled counter takes time and dedication. If you’re interested in giving it a shot, I highly recommend reading a book before burning through your bankroll at the local casino.
Books to Read
The above titles provide a solid foundation for beginners and offer advanced concepts for experts.
Recommended Online Casinos to Practice
You can certainly try card counting at online casinos. Although the games are simulated and don’t include a live dealer, you will be playing authentic versions of blackjack and other card games.
I recommend practicing your skills at blackjack or another relevant game to get into the zone. Just remember to set a small budget and stay disciplined.
4. Use the D’Alembert System
Also known as the Monte Carlo method, the d’Alembert system was supposedly created by Jean-Baptiste le Rond d’Alembert back in the 18th century.
This strategy is commonly used on even money bets with a 1:1 payout, such as red/black in roulette. The idea is to increase your wager by one unit whenever you lose, and decrease by one when you win.
Let’s look at an example to clarify things.
- You start with a base unit of $10 and make a $10 bet on red in roulette.
- The ball lands on black, so you bet $10 again.
- Another losing bet sends your stake to $20; and
- Winning this bet lowers it to $10 once again
Some people might call the d’Alembert a conservative strategy because it gradually increases your action during losing streaks. Martingale, which we’ll discuss next, is more aggressive due to doubling bets.
One of the main benefits to d’Alembert is that you can’t blow your bankroll too quickly. Everyone encounters variance in gambling, otherwise no one would ever lose. Therefore, it’s important to have a strategy that minimizes risks during these moments.
Another advantage is that you can lower your bets whenever you want. Maybe you’ve won a certain amount of money and are satisfied. In this case, you can turn d’Alembert into a reversed martingale by decreasing stakes after wins instead of losses.
Of course, d’Alembert will never change the house edge that the casino has. It’s merely a tool to help you manage your money during good and bad times.
Can you use the d’Alembert system while playing online ? Absolutely. In fact, this is one of the top casino gaming tips for all players regardless of experience levels or bankroll sizes.
One final thing to mention is that you should avoid crazy bets like the Triple Street and Double Street in roulette. These side bets offer interesting payouts like 30 to 1, but “hits” require the ball to land on the actual number as well. Sticking to red/black, odd/even, and high/low will do.
3. Flip the Odds with Martingale
Martingale is one of the oldest gambling strategies in history. As the story goes, an 18th century French gambler by the name of Martingal eked out a living by doubling bets every time he lost.
Obviously, this system wouldn’t work over the long term. But if you could eventually win everything back, you would end up profiting one unit every time.
Martingale is great because it gives you a chance to overcome huge negatives and get back to even ground. Therefore, you have a fresh start rather than digging yourself deeper.
Let’s illustrate the martingale strategy with an example.
- You’re betting $10 per hand in blackjack and lose the first round.
- The second bet is $20; you lose again.
- $40 is on the line in round three, and unfortunately, you lose this one too; but
- A win at $80 returns $160, leaving you with a $80 profit
Notice how one win at the highest bet size can erase three straight losses. Therefore, martingale allows you to defy the odds and gain the advantage.
Like d’Alembert, this strategy can be used on even money bets. Furthermore, you can substitute numbers for units to apply it to higher minimum bets.
For instance, if $5 minimums are too high, you could go with the 3, 4, 5, 6 sequence instead of 2, 4, 8, 16. Another option would be 10, 20, 30 with max bet restrictions.
Of course, going on an extremely long losing streak can be disastrous for martingale players. That’s why many gamblers put a cap on how high they can go.
Common Limits
• Five bets (1, 2, 4, 8, 16) • Six bets (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32) • Six or seven bets (10, 20, 30, 60, 110 or 120) with max limit
The first sequence is the most common, while the second is a larger version. Some players will continue doubling until they hit a casino maximum.
It’s almost inevitable that you’ll maximize table limits somewhere down the line. Therefore, smart martingale players will walk away before this happens.
Many blackjack enthusiasts follow the 3, 4, 5 sequence because it only goes up to $60 (three units) when starting with $5 minimums. From there, they’ll either switch to a new table or head home.
Like the other unusual casino winning strategies covered in this guide, martingale does not change house advantages. You’ll still be facing around 45–48% RTP in blackjack without any skill.
Therefore, everyone is destined to lose when using martingale. The purpose is to minimize those losses and take advantage of your own skill or luck.
Keep in mind that not all casinos allow very large bets. Furthermore, tables with high limits often feature strict rules that reduce player RTP. Therefore, you might want to stick to blackjack and maybe other games like baccarat.
2. Take Advantage of Bonuses and Promotions
Free chips, cashback, reload bonuses, VIP programs, and other offers can greatly improve your chances of winning at the casino. Most people view welcome bonuses as nothing more than extra funds for the bankroll, but they’re so much more.
Let’s look at the typical online signup bonus as an example—100% match on your first deposit up to $1,000.
Most new members will see this as a chance to double their bankroll right away. Therefore, they might deposit $500 to take full advantage of the offer.
But the true value of a welcome bonus is the extra cashback.
All online casinos offer some form of cashback or negative balance protection. Therefore, you cannot lose money as long as you forfeit your deposit. Let me show you what I mean with our welcome bonus.
- $500 deposit ← qualifies for the entire 100% match
- $250 is the released bonus ← only your original $250 can be lost
Common Cashback Structure
• 10% to 20% cashback on losses • 10% to 20% bonus clearance rate
Most cashback is tied to bonus clearance rates, which work just like an online casino bonus. Therefore, everyone should view these protections in the same light.
Any losses up to 20% of the release amount will be refunded the following week. Therefore, you cannot possible lose more than this percentage while clearing a welcomed bonus.
Putting it all together, here’s a recap of the protection our hypothetical depositor receives—100% match worth $1,000 plus a $250 cashback guarantee.
- Max $500 deposit ← qualifies for entire $1,000 bonus
- $250 is the released bonus ← only $250 can be lost
- $250 is protected by 20% cashback guarantee
This brings the effective risk down to just $0 or $50. Of course, you can keep the deposit and release/clear the entire bonus. Alternatively, you can forfeit the bonus and keep only the cashback. Or maybe you divide the bankroll however you like between the two.
The point is that having a bankroll smaller than your welcome bonus/cashback combo is essentially playing risk free casino games.
I know what some of you are thinking—“What if I hit a massive winner and lose everything?”
This is definitely a possibility, especially considering that you still have to deal with the house advantage in the games. Nevertheless, having proper insurance makes it less likely that you’ll suffer a big loss. Therefore, you shouldn’t discount the fact that you’re mitigating risks when signing up for a quality online casino bonus.
The same logic applies to other types of promotions, including reloads, tournaments, VIP perks, and so forth. Not every offer is worthy, but the good ones will give you extra insurance or rewards that enhance your bottom line.
Be sure to read our for more information on understanding how they work and where to find the best deals online.
1. Play Slots with High RTP
Winning at slots seems impossible sometimes considering the huge RTP gaps between games. Progressive jackpots can dive into the 90% range, while many flat jackpot slots come in at 70% or below.
This leaves us with two options when picking a machine—take a low probability of winning a large prize, or opt for a higher probability of winning a small prize. Most people go with the first choice and hope to catch lightning in a bottle.
Instead of dreaming for a miracle, I recommend seeking out the best RTP slots. Sure, prizes will be smaller, but you’ll have a much greater chance of winning on a regular basis.
High RTP video slots usually offer multiple rows, reels, and special features like free spins. These games can be just as entertaining as older 3-reel machines with lower paybacks. Sometimes they even tell stories or are based on popular movies/TV shows.
In addition, progressive jackpot slots with RTP ratings exceeding 93% are available online. Instead of seeing prizes dip down to balance the pot, a portion of each wager goes towards a set top prize.
A word of warning, though—high RTP slots with huge progressive jackpots usually have multiple million dollar prizes that require maximum bets to win. Therefore, everyone’s risk will go up if they desire a chance at hitting these life-changing pots.
Here are a few hot drops slots we recommend that carry a 96%+ RTP:
Exclusive Offer - Sign up at JackpotCity Casino through PokerListings and receive a 100% Match Bonus up to $1,600.
Best Online Casino Games For Beginners (With High RTP)Every online casino is different when it comes to promotions. Therefore, you’ll want to compare sites to find the best slots bonus for your needs.
Some operators offer large matches to get you started, while others have better reload bonuses and cashback protection. Additionally, you’ll want to consider non-monetary perks like birthday gifts, account manager support, and VIP vacations.
Other Weird Casino Strategies That Don’t Suck
The five strategies covered above are indeed weird, but they’re far from the only ones that can actually work. Let’s look at a couple more unusual methods that fall into a gray area.
Optimal Bet Size
As mentioned earlier, even money bets have the lowest house edges in the casino. Therefore, this is where optimal strategy index (CSI) is at its highest.
CSI equals the difference between your expected win-rate and the casino’s win-rate. So, a positive CSI is good because it means you have a greater chance of winning than the house does.
- Red/black bets in roulette = 48.65% RTP / 47.37% house edge = 1.28 CSI
- Applying optimal strategy in blackjack (S17, DAS, re-split) = 49.27% RTP / 41.81% ED = 7.46 CSI
- Baccarat (banker bet) = 45.86% RTP / 40.98% ED = 4.88 CSI
Most people assume that blackjack is the best casino game in terms of winning opportunities. And they would be correct…unless they compared it to baccarat.
As you can see, baccarat actually has the highest CSI rating at 4.88. Therefore, the odds are slightly greater that a person will win a banker bet in comparison to the house.
But isn’t the banker bet the worst option with a 1.06% house edge? Yes, that’s true.
The player bet in baccarat incurs a 1.24% ED, which puts its CSI at 3.42. This makes it the second-best game at the casino, according to the math.
Unbelievable Benefits of Playing Live Dealer Casino GamesThe key is to find the optimal bet size in baccarat. Most people simply bet the minimum to preserve their bankroll, or maximize each wager to clear bonuses.
Unfortunately, hitting the banker bet exactly at 40.98% is the goal. Anything higher or lower will reduce your CSI rating. Here’s a chart to illustrate the consequences.
Baccarat House Edge Chart
• 1.06% = 40.98% bet size = 4.88 CSI rating
• 0.95% = 39.98% bet size = 4.78 CSI • 0.84% = 38.98% bet size = 4.68 CSI • 0.73% = 37.98% bet size = 4.58 CSI • 0.62% = 36.98% bet size = 4.48 CSI
As you can see, reducing the house edge by 0.12 percent (from 1.06 to 0.94) lowers the CSI from 4.88 to 4.78. No one is going to bet randomly at baccarat to achieve this because it would be suicide.
But maybe there’s a happy medium between max betting and minimum wagers? Could finding a sweet spot add 0.14 points to someone’s CSI by cutting the house edge from 1.06 to 0.92 percent? I don’t have the answer, but I do know someone who might.
Andrew Brisman is a mathematics professor who has consulted for Caesars Palace regarding optimal baccarat strategy. According to Brisman, experienced players can bring the house edge on banker bets down to 0.92 percent with basic strategy.
Therefore, applying this strategy could turn a 4.88 CSI into 5.60. Needless to say, that would make baccarat the best game in the house by a wide margin.
As for poker chase hands like 3-3-4-9 for a natural 7-7, most players will agree that making such bets is basically throwing money away. But what if the math showed that that specific chase actually improved overall odds? Would you start making the bet?
These are the kinds of questions you should ask yourself when devising your own unconventional casino strategy.
Poker Basic Strategy Chase Hands
Speaking of poker chase hands, do you think pursuing certain hands could improve your overall RTP?
Chases involve going after a certain combination by calling large bets. Most players avoid chases because they can burn through bankrolls quickly.
Amazing NDB Promo Codes That Really Work (Daily Updated)Basic strategy chases are different because they could potentially improve your overall win rate at the table.
Blackjack players are supposed to follow basic strategy charts to maximize CSI. Doing so lowers the house edge in situations where taking insurance is involved, sitting player advantages, and more.
Basic strategy also prepares you for common situations so that you don’t make costly mistakes. Hit on 12 vs dealer 13 through 16; stand on 13 vs 2. Etc.
Let’s say that following basic strategy increases your win-rate from 41.81% to 42.21%. That’s not a huge improvement, but it does push your CSI from 7.46 to 8.46.
Now the question becomes, “Are there certain hands that are more important to hit for than others?”
Maybe hitting on 12 vs a 13-16 dealer showing reduces your RTP by 0.40 points, but going for 11-20 vs a 2 showing raises it by 0.45 points. If the net effect is positive, then it would be worthwhile to chase that particular scenario.
No one has run the numbers for basic strategy chases in blackjack. Therefore, it’s unknown whether this strategy has any merit. But again, this is the kind of thinking that can lead to odd casino strategies that actually work.
Getting Started With Casino Winning Strategies
Everyone wants to boost their odds and win more often when gambling.
Some people choose to focus on personal development, such as studying to make better decisions and control emotions like tilt. Others look toward playing games with the best odds, like baccarat and high RTP slots.
Then you have unusual casino strategies like card counting and chases, which seem crazy at first glance. Nevertheless, these tactics have helped people improve their fortunes in the past.
If nothing else, these strategies will make your next trip to the casino more exciting and memorable. Who knows, maybe you’ll develop your own strange method and go down in history.
Additional Helpful Reading:
Simon is a cryptocurrency journalist with over five years experience in the ventures. He's fourth on Blockonomi's list of the 50 Best Blockchain Journalists to Follow. His expertise is in breaking news reports involving, but not limited to, Bitcoin, Ethereum, ICOs, and the latest trends in the crypto industry.
When not writing, Simon likes to read about litecoin and futuristic blockchain technologies .
