Since their creation in the 1990s, casino websites have been one of the favoured pastime activities online. But in 2020, as the world was shocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, and people all over the globe had to comply with lockdowns and social distancing measures, traditional brick-and-mortar casinos were forced to shut down operations and online casinos became a safe alternative for many bettors.
There are many reasons why online casino games are so popular, from the convenience and, especially in these days, safety of playing at home to their many bonuses and jackpots. And, since most land-based venues are still closed in many countries, online gambling became some kind of resort for people seeking alternate forms of entertainment. With the industry going through a surge in recent years, specialists project the online gambling market to reach over US$120 billion by 2027, and online casinos account for almost 50% of this income.
Online casinos were created around 1994, and by 1996 there were already more than 15 casino websites, with companies like Microgaming behind the development of these games. However, back then, the selection of games was very limited, and most websites only offered slot machines. But with technology advancements and the improvement of personal computers, companies started investing in different games, with better graphics and gameplays, to provide an authentic casino experience to punters playing at these websites.
Today, the offer of casino websites and casino games is almost unlimited, and classics like roulette, blackjack and craps are available at almost every online casino. In this article, we’re going to cover a few aspects that can improve your winnings in some of these games, or, at least, decrease your losses; but in this page you can find everything else you need to know about online casinos in Canada.
Roulette
Roulette is one of the most celebrated casino games, and it is available at online casinos since their creation. Most websites offer several variants of the game, including the American and French wheel layouts, themed tables and multiball roulette, and the game is also available in live dealer tables, controlled by professional croupiers.
Since roulette is a game of chance, there aren’t many strategies that would make you win more. But there’s a simple way to decrease losses in roulette: correctly selecting the game variant. Starting with the wheel design, you should always opt for the French roulette. As it features only one zero pocket, the house edge is much lower than the American roulette. The house advantage for the French layout is 2.7%, while the American layout has a 5.26% house edge.
Apart from the wheel layout, you should look out for some rules that can help improve your winnings. Games that offer the surrender rule grant refunds in case the ball lands on the zero pocket, and the en prison rule gives players an extra ball if the first one lands on the zero.
Blackjack
Blackjack is certainly the most popular casino game and of the most famous card games in the world. It is favored by many bettors for its straightforward rules and lower house edge. But, despite being easy to play, blackjack requires a lot of study and practice.
The best way to improve your blackjack winnings is to study the game and the strategy chart. A blackjack strategy chart is a color-coded guide that helps you identify the best approaches to different hands in the game. Practice at play-money tables, before heading into the real-money action, to get a better understanding of its different strategies.
Also, stay away from 6:5 payout tables, as the 6-to-5 ratio means a $100 bet will only get a $120 payout, instead of $150 with the 3:2 payout. Finally, never play insurance and other side bets, because these wagers usually increase the house edge to over 7%.
Craps
Craps is a dice game beloved all over the world for its many intricacies and exciting gameplay. While playing craps at a traditional brick-and-mortar casino can be a little intimidating, online craps is much easier, as most casino websites provide players with screen guides and visual aids that help get a better understanding of the bets involved in the game.
When playing craps at an online casino, you should only play at tables where punters can take odds on the Pass and Come bets, and never place proposition bets. A simple strategy for novice players is the six-eight strategy, through which you play the Place to Win bet on 6 or 8, as these numbers have the highest dice combinations and the best chances of winning.
You can also consider using one of the betting systems such as the Martingale and the Paroli systems. However, these can prove to be risky and expensive strategies, so you should always remember to gamble responsibly.