If the latest reports are anything to go by, online casinos have never been more popular.
According to recent reporting, the global online gambling market is expected to grow from around $73bn in 2021 to $81bn in 2022, with a compounding annual growth rate of 10.4%.
This is a staggering rate of growth and reflects not only the sector’s response to the forced closures of in-person betting locations during the Covid-19 Pandemic but also the massive investment into online and mobile gaming that has taken place across the industry over the last decade.
While this level of growth has obviously been a very positive development for the industry as a whole — with both revenues and profits at all-time highs — it has also been positive for individual users. With more online gambling platforms to choose from these days, there are more users than ever setting up accounts for the first time.
Given that there are so many new users dipping their toes into the world of online casinos for the first time, however, there has never been a better time to discuss some of the tips and tricks that will not only help you to be a savvier player but will also improve your playing experience overall.
With that said, in this short article we will set out some of the most important tips, tricks and strategies you need to keep in mind when gambling at online casinos. By keeping these tricks in mind, you will be able to approach online casinos just like the pros!
Choose your casino wisely
Perhaps one of the most important tips to keep in mind — and which is certainly something the pros always stick to — is to choose your casino wisely.
Although there are quite literally hundreds of high-quality, player-friendly online casinos out there, not all casinos are created equally.
Online casinos can differ from each other in quite significant ways. For example, the games on offer might be quite different depending on who you choose to play with. Choosing a provider with the right games is particularly important as some developers produce titles that are more player-friendly in terms of the odds available.
This might be due to the nature of the game itself, which might give more favorable odds, or it might be due to the Return to Player (RTP) on offer. The RTP rate is an important stat to examine, as it gives you an indication of how much of a return you can expect to see on average over time for any money you spend.
With this in mind, you want to look for casinos that offer games with a decent RTP or specific kinds of jackpots. This might be the progressive jackpots at SkyCity, which are popular with online casino fans. You might also want to stick to games with a low house edge, as these tend to be the ones where you will experience the most success over time.
Additionally, casinos can differ in terms of the bonuses and promotions on offer. Although the bonuses and promotions are by no means the most important criteria to look for when choosing an online casino, they can be quite useful when you are looking to maximize your winnings. So, it is important to shop around and choose a casino offering a package that best suits your needs.
Know when to call it quits
Another important tip to keep in mind when playing online, which is something all professionals are good at doing, is knowing when to call it quits. By this we mean you should never play longer than you plan to.
Always go into a playing session with a purpose in mind, whether that is to play for a set amount of time or a budget you need to stick to.
By setting these parameters at the beginning of your playing session, you will be less likely to overstay your welcome or to keep playing longer than your budget can allow.
Bank roll management also forms an important part of this, which is essentially another word for managing the money you have available to play with on a given day. Much like wealth management, the focus is on protecting the funds you have to play with and ensuring they last for as long as possible.
One of the main differences between amateur or more casual online casino players and professionals and advanced players, is that the latter are much better at managing their playing sessions. This means they are better at walking away from the table when they are finished for the day or sticking to their budget.
So, if you want to elevate your playing from amateur to pro, make a plan in advance and stick to it!
Manage your emotions
Although in certain respects this tip follows on from the previous one, it is so important that it is worth mentioning it on its own!
One of the most immediate differences you will be able to notice between an amateur casino player and a professional, is how well they can manage their emotions when gambling.
Amateur players tend to become emotionally invested in games, particularly when they are on a downward slide. However, it is not only when they suffer losses that amateurs tend to get overly emotionally invested in a casino game, this also tends to happen when they are winning!
If you are hoping to elevate your game, however, this is a habit you need to stop yourself from repeating. When you are losing, you tend to ‘chase’ your losses and open yourself up to more losses. When you are winning, you tend to become overconfident in your abilities and take unnecessary risks.
In contrast, professional players rarely get dragged into these heightened states of emotion. Losses are treated as an inevitable part of the game, while victories are treated as a welcome development but by no means a guarantee of future success.
With that said, if you are hoping to approach online casinos like a pro in 2022, the psychology of gambling is something you will need to fully understand!