Why Have Online Casinos Flourished In The Last Few Years?

—TechRound doe snot recommend or endorse any casino, gambling, financial, betting or investment advice or practices. All articles are purely informational—

The online casino industry has grown globally over the last few years, with people choosing to play online for a variety of reasons. Some simply enjoy the game, not really minding whether they win or lose.

Others look for the biggest jackpots and largest prizes. Value bettors, though, go looking for the bets that give them the greatest chance of returning a long-term profit. These bettors have a good understanding of the odds of winning, the house edge available on most table games, and the Return To Player (RTP) ratios. 

Online casinos offer access to more games and more variants than physical casinos. According to some, with a Lucky Block casino login, it is possible to play thousands of slots and table games. Games include their win ratios and return-to-player rates, in most cases, too, which can make it easier for value bettors to find their favorite games. When it comes to online casinos, the introduction of blockchain technology and provable fair gaming options have made the entire iGaming experience more pleasant fore players, with more protective features in terms of ensuring fair gaming mechanisms. 

 

What Is Return To Player (RTP)?

 

Return to player is the amount of the total money wagered by all players that is returned to players as winnings. The figure is an average for all players, so it doesn’t guarantee any return to individuals. RTP is most commonly set for games like slots and video poker, which are entirely reliant on random number generation, rather than on player selection.

Most modern online slots offer an RTP of at least 96%, although you can still find good games with RTPs as low as 95%. Some machines offer rates as high as 99%, although these figures are rare. 

 

Slots

 

Slots are the most popular form of online casino game, and although they can include bonus games and bonus features that require player interaction, they are heavily dependent on random numbers. This gives them a certain degree of predictability and software manufacturers provide reliably accurate RTP figures. Most slots come with an RTP of between 96% and 99% and the higher the number the better, for the player.

 

Video Poker

 

Video poker effectively combines the features of video slot machines with some of the gameplay of poker. Players are dealt poker hands and have the option to hold or swap cards, with prizes paid according to the best hand the player can make.

Like slot machines, video poker game results are heavily dependent on random number generators. The RTP of video poker games is also similar to slot machines, typically between 96% and 99%. 

 

What Is House Edge?

 

Table games more commonly use house edge as a means of showing the likely returns of the games.

House edge is the odds advantage in favor of the casino. It is the amount of total money staked by players that the casino can expect to make. The house edge of games varies considerably from one game to another and can also be affected by the variant of the game used, any bets or offers made by the casino, and whether the player takes advantage of additional bets, like doubling down or split bets. Typically, house edge figures are based on optimal player betting strategies. 

 

Blackjack

 

Blackjack, with a single deck of cards, has a house edge between 0.5% and 2%, making it one of the most generous table games in a casino. However, it is rare for casinos to offer single-deck blackjack, and the house edge increases with every deck added to the stack. Stick to basic strategy and bankroll management to minimize losses and increase the chances of winning. 

 

Roulette

 

Roulette is another game where the house edge differs according to the variant played. In European or traditional roulette, with just one zero on the wheel, the house edge is 2.7%. In American roulette, played on a wheel with two zero slots, the house has an edge of 5.26%. Clearly, traditional roulette is the better option for players looking to turn a profit, whereas casinos prefer the American roulette variant. 

 

Craps

 

Craps is a very popular game in land-based casinos, and one of the reasons for its popularity is likely the low house edge it offers. The house has an advantage of just 1.4% in this game, assuming standard bets like “don’t pass”. The key to maximizing winning possibilities in craps is to avoid the more complex betting options. 

 

Baccarat

 

Baccarat is another casino game with a traditionally low house edge – just 1.5% if you bet on the player. Betting on the banker means paying a fee and this increases the house edge, so is not the optimal bet for value bettors.

 

Three Card Poker

 

Three Card Poker has become quite popular at modern casinos, despite being a relatively new addition to table games. When wagering on simple outcomes and avoiding complex bets, there is a house edge of just 1.5%, which may be why it has proven such a popular addition with players.

 

Pai Gow Poker

 

Pai Gow Poker is rarely seen in physical casinos outside China, but it can be found at online casinos. It is essentially a combination of an ancient Chinese domino game and poker. As the player forms two hands from their stock of cards, there are two chances to win with every hand you’re dealt. The house edge for this game is 2.5%.

 

Caribbean Stud Poker

 

In Caribbean Stud Poker, you share a table with other players, but you are only aiming to beat the house. Caribbean Stud has a 5% house edge, but if you avoid playing for the big Royal Flush jackpot, which you are highly unlikely to hit, the house edge should be a little lower. 

—TechRound doe snot recommend or endorse any casino, gambling, financial, betting or investment advice or practices. All articles are purely informational—