Top 10 Tips for Playing in an Online Casino

If you want to get into online gambling, we think that's great! It's a safe, fun and legal activity for adults in New Zealand, and we have plenty of ideas on how you can get started. But before you do, we want to give you a few tips that will help improve your Internet gambling experience. Read these tips before you sign up for an online casino, and you'll avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that many novice gamblers run into early in their gambling careers.

1. Know Your Odds

While there are hundreds of different games available at your typical online gambling site, not all of these games are created the same. Each game has its own rules, strategies, and – most importantly – odds. Some games give the player a fighting chance to come out ahead even after a long session, while others take a huge amount of luck to win at even over the short run. If you want every dollar to last as long as possible, then stick to games like blackjack and baccarat that have the lowest house edges.

2. Choose a Good Bonus

When you look at any online casino site, you'll be presented with a bonus offer that looks pretty incredible. But just like the games themselves, no two bonus offers are exactly the same, and what looks promising at first glance might be right for you.

You shouldn't necessarily take the biggest bonus, as not every bonus will allow you to play every game. It's possible that you'll be served better by a smaller bonus that's tailored to your type of play, such as the special blackjack bonuses many Internet casino now offer.

3. Play Within Your Limits

Everyone wants to win big at the casino, which makes it very tempting to bet as much as possible in the hopes of striking it rich. But betting too much on each spin is a sure way to quickly run though your whole bankroll, ending your gambling fun in just minutes. If you deposit $200, for instance, you shouldn't be making bets for $50 – just a few bad hands or spins in a row will leave you broke, forcing you to stop playing or make another deposit. On the other hand, if you made bets of between $1 and $5 instead, your money is likely to last a long time and give you more chances of hitting an elusive jackpot.

4. Look for Progressive Jackpots

Progressive jackpots have the potential to be some of the best values in the entire casino. While a pokie might not be the best bet most of the time, a progressive jackpot pokie an offer added value that improves that game's odds – sometimes even enough to make the machine profitable to play in the long run! If a progressive jackpot is significantly larger than it normally is, the value of that prize makes it well worth your while to play that machine.

5. Understand That Many Games are Random

While strategy is an important part of many casino games, it's important to remember that all gambling games feature an element of luck, and that some games are almost entirely decided by chance. While having a lucky charm can be fun, remember that games of chance like roulette, keno and pokies are completely random, and that each spin or game is independent of the ones you've played before. That means there isn't a special system or technique you can use to turn yourself into a winner, no matter what someone tries to sell you. Just have fun and hope that you have a lucky day! If you do want to try out a 'system' though, have a look here for some of the most common roulette ones explained.

6. Check for Special Promotions

One page on an online casino's website that's often overlooked is the promotions page. You should actually be checking this page (and any emails or notices you get from the casino) regularly, as you might be surprised at how many of these promotions you'll want to take advantage of. You might receive extra bonuses, free plays on a new pokie, or a free invitation to a slots or blackjack tournament just by paying attention to the promotions being offered to you.

7. Don't Drink and Play!

If you've ever been to one of the fine land-based casino in New Zealand or Australia, you've probably had a drink or two while you played there. While there's nothing wrong with drinking responsibly while you play a casino game, the casino aren't giving you the drinks to be nice: they know that the more people drink, the less inhibited they feel, and the more they're likely to spend at the tables.

This applies to online casino play as well. If you plan on gambling on the Internet, try not to drink while you play, and most certainly try your best not to play while you're drunk. Too many times, players have woken up with a hangover only to find that they wiped out their online casino account balance – without even being able to remember the games they've played.

8. Don't Chase Losses

One great way to ensure that you manage your money well is by setting loss limits. This means that before you play, you set an amount that you can lose, after which you are done for the day. The advantage to this approach is that it will prevent you from chasing your losses – a dangerous practice that can lead you to lose far more than you can afford to. When chasing losses, you're likely to play at higher stakes or more impulsively than normal, which often means you'll start losing even faster. Set loss limits to prevent this vicious cycle from even beginning.

9. Remember to Have Fun

Remember, casino gambling is supposed to be fun. Yes, we all want to win every time we place a bet, but there are going to be plenty of times when we lose – and we should at least be playing games that we enjoy so that we get entertainment regardless of our results. Pick games you like to play, and you'll have a good time no matter what happens. Even if that means you aren't playing the games with the very best odds, so be it.

10. Take Regular Breaks

It's important to get up and stretch your legs once in a while to break up your gambling sessions (whether online or live). This will help keep your mind fresh and relaxed, which is very important in any game that requires strategy or memorization to play. It's also a good way to stop yourself from losing or playing more than you intended; each break can be a great way to evaluate where you stand and whether you want to continue playing.

As you can see, none of these tips requires you to do anything particularly difficult, and anyone should be able to follow them regularly. If you do follow our tips, you'll ensure that you have a fun, safe, and entertaining time every time you log into your online casino account. Good luck!

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