Which players get the best bonus benefits?

July 13, 2010

A recent study of online casinos and gamblers was was undertaken to establish whether blackjack players are afforded the same benefits when it comes to casino bonuses and the results probably won’t surprise you…

It is no secret that the majority of online slots players switch between casinos not only to try out new games on offer but also to take advantage of the variety of bonus offers available, and let’s face it, there are continuously new games launched new bonuses made available to these players by nearly every casino out there.

Blackjack players on the other hand are a different kettle of fish. Profiles of blackjack players revealed that most play the original or standard version of the game and may only on occasion try something different. They also switch casinos less frequently and usually prefer to stick to a select casino and take advantage of the occasional loyalty bonuses on offer (which are considerably fewer than for those offered to slots players). New versions of blackjack are not regularly launched so there is no real need to switch casinos based on game offerings either.

From the study it seems that online slots players are afforded way more bonuses and games offerings than the more loyal blackjack players, this is simply due to the fact that they generally spend more (with slots having greater margins for casinos than blackjack where the players skill can affect the house edge) and are therefore more profitable to casinos and are worthy of the retention efforts.

This is not to say that Blackjack players are treated badly by any means and some casinos like Spin Palace and Ruby Fortune offer regular bonuses and tournaments to loyal blackjack players. So the trick is to find the best casinos for the game of your choice.

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Turn the odds in your favour

May 13, 2009

It is possible to turn the casino’s odds in your favour. And, I’m not talking about special software or cheating the casino. Then how? The answer is as simple as counting to 21. I’m talking Blackjack, folks! Blackjack is the only casino game where you can turn the casino’s odds in your favour. Forget Craps or even Roulette. You see the difference between games like Blackjack and Roulette is randomness. In Roulette, the wheel spins, a button is pressed, and the ball lands on a number. This happens over and over again. However, the first spin does not influence or have any influence over the 2nd or 3rd or any other spins. The spins are random.

This is not the case in Blackjack, however, because when a hand is played, the cards are removed from the deck, thus changing the proportion of threes and sevens and Aces. And, if you know how to play your cards strategically, then you could have the upper hand, thereby turning the odds in your favour.

It’s not difficult to do. It’s just a matter of counting cards. There is a strategy to counting cards. When a good card is dealt, count up and when a bad card is dealt, count down. Below, is a fairly simple card counting guide:

  • Card 2 - Count +1
  • Card 3 - Count +1
  • Card 4 - Count +1
  • Card 5 - Count +1
  • Card 6 - Count +1
  • Card 7 - Count 0
  • Card 8 - Count 0
  • Card 9 - Count 0
  • Card 10 - Count -1
  • Card Jack - Count -1
  • Card Queen - Count -1
  • Card King - Count -1
  • Card Ace - Count -1

The easiest way to do this and understand the concept is to start from zero. Whenever you observe a given card, change the count by the indicated amount. When the count is positive, the deck is in your favour and you should increase the size of your wager. The larger the count, the more favourable the deck is to you.

The next question people usually ask is “Is card counting legal?”. In my opinion, it isn’t illegal or cheating. It’s just good mathematics. However, many casinos don’t take too kindly to card counters, because in their opinion, card counters know how to win, which undermines their overall goal - to win money from Players. So, now, you’re probably wondering if it even makes sense to count cards because it seems like a lot of work. Well, that depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re trying to become a millionaire counting cards; then forget it. Even the best card counters only get a one percent advantage over casinos; meaning they need to bet $100 to make back $1. If, however, you are trying to hone your skills and come away with a small stash; then you’re in the right field.

Learn more about Card Counting.

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