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Have you ever wondered how casinos work? Many people have difficulty understanding how casinos determine who gets the jackpot and who walks away with nothing. And when choosing one of the best new online casino sites, knowing how casinos work is integral to winning in the games. We break down the operations you should know:
How Do Casinos Work?
The general working of a casino remains a mystery to many. People know they place wagers on a game, and the casino determines whether they win or lose. But what goes into that decision?
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Chance
Have you ever tried predicting whether you will win or lose in a game? Here’s a little secret. You cannot predict the outcome whenever you play a game of chance. Such games have so many possible outcomes that knowing the result is impossible. Let’s look at some examples:
- Slots: To win this game, you must match symbols in a given order. And while it may seem easy, matching the required symbols is easier said than done. Most games have hundreds of combinations, and your prediction chances are minimal.
- Bingo: This numbers game features cards you must mark per the winning numbers. Of course, it is all about guesswork, as knowing the winning numbers is next to impossible.
See? These games have so many outcomes, and the number of outcomes depends on each game. For example, a 90-ball bingo game will have different possibilities from a 30-ball game. Since the possibilities are many, the online casino software does not adjust for winning or losing patterns. It just goes with the outcome, as it is hard for people to keep guessing the correct outcomes.
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Randomness
As stated above, the possibilities in any game are so many that guessing them is impossible. But how do casino machines choose an outcome? They depend on random number generators. For example, the software generates the winning numbers in a bingo game to ensure the outcome is fair to all players. And since the selections are as random as the possibilities, beating the system is challenging. Let’s look at how randomization affects games:
- Blackjack: Card counting was rampant in traditional casinos. But it’s unlikely in online casinos, as the software uses random shuffling in the card decks. So, even if players want to keep track of the cards, they cannot.
- Roulette: Betting where the ball will fall in traditional casinos is hard enough. How about online setups? They use randomness to account for the multiple possibilities. Guessing where the ball will fall is hard, which forces players to depend on luck.
This factor is prevalent in games of chance and skill.
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House Edge
Casinos are in the business of making money. And while randomness and chance affect payouts, casinos also incorporate their profits into the equation. They do this by setting an edge in every game. For example, slots often have an edge between 3% and 20%. As such, for every $100 spent on wagers, the casino keeps anything from $3 to $20 and pays out the rest. Knowing the house edge enables players to capitalize on winnings as they can opt for games with higher returns.
How to Play to Win
While randomness, chance, and house edge may work against you, tweaking these factors to your advantage is possible as follows:
- Play games with low house edge: The lower the casino profit, the higher your payout,
- Differentiate between games of skill and chance: Games of skill, like poker, allow you to use strategies to increase your winning chances. But games of chance depend entirely on luck and do not have room for such strategies.
- Learn the rules: You have a much better chance if you know how a game works.
- Work with a budget: Since the outcomes are random, you should only play with money you can afford to lose.
Lastly, start small. Before playing for jackpots, get the hang of how things work.