The displacement of standalone console games with online titles such as Fornite and League of Legends has been swift and decisive. These days, online gaming makes up the majority of revenue in the global gaming industry, with fewer and fewer people opting for traditional games.
Another area which has seen phenomenal growth in popularity recently is online casino gaming and online sports betting, which now enjoy millions of regular players worldwide and revenues in the tens of billions of dollars.
Real-money gaming is a diverse playing field, with thousands of slots, card games, table games and sports betting options gamers can play online. However, playing it the right way means knowing how to make the most of it.
If you can’t get maximum bang for your buck, then you’re not playing the way you’re meant to. Here’s how to get the most out of your online betting experience.
Step 1: Choose Wisely
The first thing any novice gamers should know about real-money gaming is that there are literally thousands of different games and platforms to choose from. Not all of these are equal, with each offering vastly different sign-up bonuses, gaming options, payment gateways, and in-game odds.
Therefore, anyone who is just starting out should use casino gaming comparison sites like USA Online Casinos to see what the experts think of all of the leading casino platforms out there, as well as what bonuses they offer to first-timers and whether they actually offer the specific games you want to play.
If you’re a mobile gamer, then these comparison sites are a godsend, as they let you know which casinos are mobile friendly.
Step 2: Practice First
Like other forms of online gaming, digital betting can be a competitive field. If you want to rise to the top of the rankings and increase your chances of winning big, the best thing for you to do is practice for free before committing to any particular game.
Virtually all of the major casinos and sports betting websites allow players to play for free without wagering any real money. This is an ideal way to get a feel for different platforms and find out which games suit you best. See which games just out to you and select the “play for free” option to get to grips with it.
Step 3: Use Offers and Bonuses
Any experienced online betting pro will tell you that you should never play real-money games at the standard rates. Every casino offers a wide range of welcome bonuses to new players in order to entice them in.
This can include free spins on the top slot titles, matched deposit bonuses on card games, and free bets on some of the biggest sporting events in the world. If you sign up to multiple e-casinos at once, you’ll be able to enjoy hundreds of hours of gameplay at zero or a heavily discounted cost.
Step 4: Understand Your Odds
Playing online betting games means that you’ll be confronted with a whole lot of numbers right from the get-go. To have the best chance at winning, you’ll need to understand what all of the different odds mean so that you can bet strategically.
For sports betting, this is the most important step. Bookmakers use a vast array of different odds and systems such as accumulators, with different sports like hockey having completely different betting systems. For online slot games, you’ll want to understand the return-to-player (RTP) that each title offers.
This is the amount you typically win back for every dollar you spend. For example, if a slot offers a 96% TRP, this means the average players win 96 cents for every dollar they spend. Higher RTPs means better odds.
Step 5: Find a Game That Works for You
Online casinos are a broad church. Even mid-sized iGaming platforms will typically offer hundreds of different slots and table games, as well as odds on pretty much every sport imaginable, including eSports tournaments.
The important thing is to look past the odds and make sure you’re playing a game that feels right and works for you. There is no use committing to, say, video poker if you have a natural talent for blackjack or roulette.
This is why free play options can be so helpful. They allow you to test out different games until you learn which ones you’re more skilled at.
Step 6: Have a Strategy in Place
In every type of online game, whether it’s Black Ops 4 or the Mega Moolah slot game, the key to success is having a premeditated strategy in place. You’ll want to consider how you’re going to spread your bets, how much you’re willing to wager, and what kind of exit strategy you want.
An exit strategy will ensure you don’t go overboard and know when to call it quits. This might involve setting yourself a loss limit or ensuring that you don’t spend more than a certain amount of hours each day playing online games. Sometimes, the best strategy is knowing when to stop.
Once you’ve taken these six essential steps, you’re ready to become an iGaming champion. Get started today to ensure you make the most out of your betting experience.