There are legal online casinos all over the world that promise users fair play. Including beginners. How to start playing to avoid disappointment?
There is a common belief that it is impossible to win at a casino. Some people even believe that you can only lose in gambling establishments. In fact, this is not entirely true.
Gambling is primarily about enjoying a good time. Winning is not very important. If you don’t think so, you are most likely developing a gambling addiction.
However, the fun will be at risk if you lose all the time.
How can you play in a way that minimises the risk of losing?
Actually, it is easier than it seems if you follow a small set of golden rules.
Rule No. 1 – choose the best online casino
After the legalisation of gambling in some countries and the first online casino licences were issued, this task became much easier.
The first thing you should do when choosing an online casino is to make sure that it is a licensed operator.
Simply put, you are playing with an official institution. This will protect you from fraud and make it easy to withdraw your winnings.
Rule No. 2 – choose a casino with good starting bonuses
Among legitimate casinos, you should choose those with the largest selection of available games and the most attractive welcome bonuses.
These include no deposit bonuses and free spins. Some of the legal online casinos have already announced their bonus programmes.
Among the legal casinos, you should choose those that offer a wide range of games and attractive welcome bonuses, such as no deposit options and free spins. Several legal online platforms have already introduced their bonus schemes. An example of a platform that meets these criteria is Staycasino, which features a diverse selection of games and attractive promotional offers.
Before choosing an online casino to play at, compare bonuses and choose the most generous offers.
Rule #3 – learn the rules of the game
It sounds funny, but many novice players neglect this point. And without understanding the rules, they immediately start placing bets.
Even if you have watched a lot of films about casinos, it doesn’t mean that you have a good understanding of how it all works. In the cinema, everything looks quite simple, but in reality, you need to understand the specifics of all games beforehand.
Even seemingly simple games, such as blackjack, require an understanding of the rules and strategy.
Rule #4 – play free games or demos first
Before placing bets for real money, try playing free versions of the games that interest you the most.
It is good that there are many free simulations of blackjack and various slot machines on the Internet. Also, many legitimate online casinos have demo versions of various games.
Try them first, and only then proceed with real money bets.
Rule #5 – choose games that are suitable for you
Online casinos usually have a large selection of slots and other games.
They are different from each other. And it’s ridiculous to think that you can play them all with the same degree of interest.
Choose 1-2 games that you really like. And focus on them.
Rule #6 – consider additional factors
If you want to increase your chances of winning, you should consider several factors.
Evaluate the level of money return in slot machines – do not play those where this indicator is below 95%.
Do not play slots that do not have a jackpot. Although your chances of hitting the jackpot are minimal (it’s really a lot of luck), they are nevertheless there. And in general, your chances of winning in slots with a jackpot are higher than in slots without a jackpot.
Choose slots that are played by many players. The more players there are, the faster the slot gives out winning combinations and pays out money.
Rule No. 7 – set spending limits and do not exceed them
Firstly, this is how you protect yourself from gambling addiction.
Secondly, you generally protect yourself from large expenditures.
In addition, experienced players advise to stop playing immediately after a smaller win. You are unlikely to be lucky twice in a row. And continuing to play after a win is a direct path to a big loss.
Basic terms in games
Payline – a specific line on the playing field. If identical symbols (3 or more) appear on it, it will be a winning combination.
Paytable – the rules that determine how much money a combination of certain symbols brings, as well as the characteristics of the slot, bonus rules, and other details.
Game symbols
All symbols are divided into regular and special ones. Regular symbols simply bring money when forming a winning combination, while special symbols have additional functions.
The special symbols include the Wild, which can substitute for any other symbol in a winning combination, Expanding Wilds, which expand to cover the entire reel and substitute for any symbol, and Stacked Wilds, which cover the entire reel.
The Scatter symbol pays outside of combinations and activates the bonus game.
Other special symbols can also appear in slots, details of which can be found in the paytable.
Slots and their bonuses
Almost every slot has a bonus game, which appears infrequently but gives you the opportunity to win large sums. The type of bonus game depends on the imagination of the developers and can include free spins (free spins), Hold & Win, a wheel of fortune with a risk game, and much more.
Return To Player Rate
The Return To Player Rate, often referred to as RTP, is the percentage of funds given to the player in the long term. The higher this percentage is, the more profitable the slot is for the player.
Player betting levels
In slot machines, the bet amount is determined in different ways:
The player chooses the amount from the proposed options and simply plays.
First, the value of one coin is set, and then the number of coins per spin is determined.
In addition to the value and number of coins, it is necessary to set the level of the bet (a kind of coefficient).
In the first case, the amount of the bet is limited by the developer’s offer, while in the second and third cases, you can bet almost any amount.
Volatility
The volatility determines how often winnings will occur. With high volatility, winnings will be rare but large, while with low volatility, payouts will be more frequent but smaller.
Modern developers often use a ten-point scale to rate volatility. For example, a rating of 5/10 indicates medium volatility, and 7/10 – high volatility.
Don’t let the game control you. Do not invest large sums of money. Remember that casinos are just a means of entertainment, not a way to make money.