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9 Gambling Strategies that are PROVEN to Work

9 Gambling Strategies that are PROVEN to Work

Gambling Strategies: All You Need to Know

Legit gambling strategies work. Doubts are out of the equation. Statistically speaking, a gambling strategy is just a method of playing casino games that takes full advantage of probabilities to maximize your chances of winning. When using a gambling strategy, or aiming to recreate a betting system, you put yourself in a favorable position of winning in the short term, even if the house always keeps an edge on the game’s odds – even when you play in the world-class casinos found in the following table.

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As seemingly fun as they are to implement, gambling strategies are far from infallible. In fact, putting them into practice could lead you toward a false sense of security that may leave a very sour taste in your mouth whenever that eventual bad streak of results comes around.

We, at The Casino Wizard, see gambling strategies as useful tools that could help you make the best of your gambling experience if you know how to use them and thoroughly understand their drawbacks. We’ll tell you everything you need to know in this guide.

1. Basic Blackjack Strategy (Perfect Blackjack Strategy)

Effective in: Blackjack

As the name of this method suggests, perfect blackjack strategy consists of a series of charts and rules that will have you making optimal decisions when playing blackjack. Before employing this method, it’s important to consider that there are different blackjack strategy charts, as efficient plays may slightly vary depending on table rules. Be sure to study the perfect blackjack strategy for the blackjack version that you wish to play.

blackjack gambling strategy
Live blackjack is one of the best blackjack games to play with perfect strategy

For classic blackjack, basic blackjack strategy consists of a series of must-know rules, such as:

  • Always splitting aces and eights, regardless of what the dealer is dealt;
  • Stand if the dealer has a 2-6 and you have a 12-16;
  • If you have an 11, always double if the dealer has anything from 2 to 10;
  • Hit if the dealer has a 7-Ace and you have 2-6;
  • Always play Aces and anything from 2 to 6, be it by doubling or by hitting;
  • Never pay insurance – it’s not worth the investment.

If you’re planning to start implementing “basic blackjack strategy”, you may want to check our blackjack guide, where we break down every aspect of basic blackjack strategy to help you get a strong grasp of how to put it into practice.

Basic Blackjack Strategy Pros & Cons

Pros

  • It’s the only way to play the game at maximum RTP
  • Helps minimize your losses
  • Gives you the best chance of beating the house
  • Easy to memorize – especially if you use charts to study it
  • Does not require complex skills like card counting

Cons

  • It could take a while to thoroughly master
  • Could lead to a false sense of security

2. Martingale System

Effective in: Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, Games with 50/50 odds, Sports betting

The Martingale system is the world’s most popular betting system. The method consists of doubling your bet whenever you lose, and going back to your first bet whenever you win. It works best on games that pay double your bet, like outside bets in roulette or player/bank betting on baccarat.

martingale-roulette-strategy2.jpg
An example of how the Martingale gambling strategy works

Roulette example: you start by placing an outside bet of $1 on black. If you lose, you double up by placing a $2 bet on black. If you lose again, you do the same: $4 bet on black. You can switch up red or black if you like, but you must always double up when you lose.

Albeit it may look like a fool-proof way of making money when gambling online, this method is very risky and tests the resolve of players when unlucky streaks occur. It’s smart to start with a bet that is small enough that makes it possible for you to double up at least eight times, which would mean that a bet of $1 would require a total budget of $255 (1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 + 64 + 128).

Martingale System Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Could lead to short-term wins on most casino games
  • You can win back your losses in a single bet
  • Easy method to implement
  • Great method for those who play with limited time

Cons

  • Very risky way of playing
  • May lead to short gaming sessions if you’re unlucky

3. Controlled Bankroll Gambling

Effective in: All games

One of the best and most effective betting strategies is the one where your bankroll dictates your actions. This is also one of the most versatile gambling strategies, as you can adapt it to your particular needs or tweak it depending on how risky you like to play.

poker strategy
Employ Controlled Bankroll techniques to play games like poker for much longer

The concept of this strategy is simple: set a maximum percentage of your total bankroll to be your maximum stake in a game. For example, if you have a bankroll of $200 and set a 2% limit on your wagers, your maximum wager should be worth $4 per spin in slots or per play in table games.

icon Casino Wizard Tip
You can combine controlled bankroll gambling with other game strategies, such as Ultimate Texas Hold'em Strategy if you're playing online poker

Here’s the trick with this strategy: as your bankroll grows, so will the amount of money that you can bet on a single game. However, if you lose, you’ll be placing smaller bets. Such a strategy is crucial when playing craps, and goes in hand with the best craps strategies.

Controlled Bankroll Gambling Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Helps you wager for longer without running out of money
  • Makes it easy to control your spend
  • Progressive way of betting online
  • Low-risk gambling method

Cons

  • You’ll have to keep track of how much you have to determine the value of your bets
  • Requires you to start wagering low sums of cash

4. Banker Betting

Effective in: Baccarat

Whether you’re new to baccarat or you deem yourself an expert, chances are that you’ve heard that placing banker bets is the safest way to play the game. The banker is more likely to win than the player, which is why most baccarat strategies revolve around banker bets.

baccarat strategy

In fact, if it weren’t for the commission that the house charges for bets placed on the banker, the RTP for these bets would be favorable for the player. That’s the reason why the house always charges 5% of your profit when you win a banker bet.

In “No Commission Baccarat”, the house doesn’t take a cut on your banker bet wins. However, banker bets pay 1:2 odds when the banker hand’s total is equal to six!

Banker Betting Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Gives you the best odds of winning
  • Ideal method to apply the Martingale system
  • They offer the lowest house edge

Cons

  • The house always takes a commission on your winnings

5. Fibonacci System

Effective in: Roulette

The Fibonacci system is one of the safest ways in which you can play roulette. It consists of following the Fibonacci sequence. You can start betting at any point in the sequence, as long as you follow the betting system’s rules. You will move one number to the right of the sequence when you lose, and one number to the left when you win.

fibonacci strategy
The simple-to-use Fibonacci system is an effective way to play online roulette

For reference, this is the first part of the Fibonacci sequence: 1 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 8 – 13 – 21 – 34 – 55 – 89 – 144 – 233 – 377 – 610 – 987.

For example: let’s assume that you start the sequence at the leftmost number (the first 1). In that case, you’ll place a bet of $1. If you lose, you’ll move on a number to the right and place another bet of $1. Lose again and place a bet of $2. Get unlucky again and place a bet of $3. If you win, bet $2 again. The method allows for more leniency on your losses – especially during the first few numbers of the sequence.

Fibonacci System Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Low-risk strategy
  • Potentially really profitable
  • Lets you start at any point in the sequence, adapting to any bankroll
  • Extremely versatile

Cons

  • Cannot be combined with algorithmic strategies

6. Value Betting

Effective in: All games

Value betting represents the ability for you to detect when it is most favorable to place a bet on a game or event. This type of betting strategy may be employed in any sort of casino game, but it is more commonly employed in sports betting.

sportsbook strategy
Some sportsbooks offer really favorable odds for certain events

It’s a method that works best among savant players. You need to know which games offer the best odds for bets that may seem advantageous for the player. This is precisely the reason why it’s a fantastic system for sports betting.

For example, let’s say that you’re knowledgeable about a specific football league. If you’re really confident about a team’s chances of winning and the sportsbook is offering 2.00+ odds for it to happen, then taking advantage of such an opportunity would be considered value betting.

Value Betting Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Could prove to be extremely profitable
  • May lead to frequent high-value wins
  • Best way to bet for industry experts

Cons

  • Terrible system for non-experienced players
  • Subjective to personal opinions

7. Labouchere System

Effective in: Roulette

The Labouchere system, also known as Split Martingale, is one of the most popular gambling strategies employed by roulette players around the world. Just like the Martingale, it’s a system designed to play outside roulette bets with close to 50/50 odds (red/black, odd/even, high/low).

The Labouchere system gives the player free will to select an amount of cash to win, so they can create a formula based on the expected profit of the player. You’ll create a list and cross-out numbers based on your betting success. This system is much better explained with an example.

labouchere system strategy
The Labouchere system is very easy to implement in any roulette table

Let’s say that you set an earning goal of €50 for the night. You must create a list that has numbers with a total value that is equal to 50. For example: 7-3-5-5-5-4-6-5-3-2-2-2-1-5. You will then place a bet equal to the value of the leftmost number (7, in this case).

If the bet wins, then you remove the number from the list, leaving you with 3-5-5-5-4-6-5-3-2-2-2-1-5; if the bet results in a loss, you move the number to the rightmost part of the list, leaving you with 3-5-5-5-4-6-5-3-2-2-2-1-5-7.

Repeat the process until you’ve run out of numbers. When that happens, your new bankroll will be equal to the amount of cash that you’ve started with plus €50!

Labouchere System Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Ideal system for all players, regardless of budget
  • Lets you set your desired profit before you play
  • Comes with a lower risk than the Martingale system

Cons

  • You may need to place large bets at some point

8. High-RTP Game Hunting

Effective in: All games

Online casinos have a massive advantage over land-based gambling sites: it’s possible to tell the specific return rate of each game. The RTP represents the amount of money that the game is expected to return, and although it is often calculated based on at least 10,000 rounds of play, playing high RTP games is the best way to maximize your chances of winning money in the short term.

mega joker
Mega Joker is one of the highest-paying slots, with a progressive jackpot and a 99% RTP

There are many ways in which you can find the games that offer the best RTP in your favorite casino:

  • Look for the name of the game name + RTP on Google or any other search engine. It will display reviews of the game that mention the potential return of the title;
  • Boot up the game in your casino of choice and click on the informationtab, often displayed as an “i” or as a question mark. Scroll down and find the expected RTP of the game. Software developers are often required to share this information in licensed casinos;
  • Look for high RTP games and then play in an online casino that offers games from the said developer. Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Play’N Go, and Betsoft are known to offer slot games with RTP rates of 97%+

Be wary when going on a hunt for high RTP games, though. Some companies offer multiple versions of their games – an issue that is often seen in modern slot games. For example, NetEnt has made available six different versions of Starburst, the world’s most famous slot game.

You’re probably acquainted with its 96% RTP version, but you’ll likely to find Starburst versions with 92% or 94% RTP as well. Always open the information tab of a casino game before you wager money on it.

High-RTP Game Hunting Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Gives you a good chance of winning
  • High RTP games have the most favorable odds
  • You’ll know which games are the most profitable across the entire industry

Cons

  • Looking for high-RTP games can be tedious
  • It limits your pool of gaming options

9. Kelly Criterion

Effective in: Sports betting

The Kelly Criterion, Kelly Bet, or Kelly Formula, refers to a type of betting system that assigns value to your bets with an actual mathematical formula, to maximize your long-term profit and look to guarantee the biggest returns based on how much you’re willing to bet.

kelly criterion strategy
The Kelly Criterion is an effective sports betting formula, popular among expert players

It’s one of the few betting systems that have a formula with replaceable values, which is the following: f=(bp-q)/b. F is equal to your bankroll; B is equal to the decimal odds: P stands for the probability of winning; Q is the probability of losing.

So, in sports betting, let’s assume that you’re going to wager on an event with odds of 3.00. F the probability of winning is 40% and the probability of losing is 60%, then you should wager 20% of your bankroll on the event: ((3x0.40) - 0.60) / 3 = 0.20.

Kelly Criterion Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Designed to avoid running out of money
  • It could lead to huge wins
  • May represent long-term success
  • One of the best ways to bet on sports

Cons

  • Some values of the formula are arbitrary
  • Can be difficult to calculate the real worth of each bet

Gambling Systems that Work – Do They Exist?

All of the gambling methods mentioned in this article work, statistically speaking, but keeping your expectations at bay will be a crucial fact in taking full advantage of them. Ultimately, betting systems will help you legally exploit certain bets, or take advantage of game payouts, to try to win as much money as possible in the short term. Losing feels worse than winning feels good, so you may as well try to maximize the chances of the latter.

However, the odds will always remain in favor of the casino. It doesn’t matter how good the popular Martingale system looks; ultimately, by simply taking a look at statistics, you’re going to have a bad streak of results that will cause you to lose your entire bankroll, leaving you unable to double up again in an attempt to recoup what’s lost.

So, do gambling systems work? Yes, they do – but don’t expect them to guarantee you a long-term profit.

Best Way to Gamble Online

Using a gambling strategy is a fantastic way to play, but it’s not the only factor that you should take into consideration if you’re looking to maximize your time in an online casino. Here are some tips, put together by our team, that will help you improve your gaming experience and help maximize the way you implement gambling strategies in the world’s best online casinos.

Don’t Risk More than What You Can Lose

The best and most effective way to gamble online is to never risk more money than what you’re certain that you can lose. Set a budget and stick to it even if you happen to go on a lucky streak and win multiple times what you’ve designated to play in one session. This will help you keep the money that you’ve won and, should you fail to win, this will help you prevent a catastrophic loss of money.

Stick to Games that You Know How to Play

Although slot games are purely based on luck, other games could have their RTP influenced by how you play them. If you’re not good at poker or blackjack, we can guarantee that the RTP will be much lower than the potential 99%+ return rate that is often advertised in the world’s best online casinos.

Only play games that you’re good at or learn to play new games before you wager real cash on them, be it blackjack, poker, roulette, or slots. Games like video poker have different versions, for example, and it's important to know how each works. Jacks or Better is the best video poker game in terms of return rate: discover the best Jacks or Better video poker strategies!

Avoid Low-RTP Games

Even if you’re not going to use the classic strategy of sticking to high RTP games, it’s always a smart choice to avoid playing games that aren’t favorable. Games with low return rates could have extremely high payouts, as is the case with some scratch card titles, but your chances of making a profit are much lower than in games like slots.

Take Advantage of Legit Casino Bonuses

Knowing how to tell an illegitimate bonus apart from a legitimate one could help you take full advantage of the world of iGaming. Although not all casino bonuses are as good as advertised, claiming the world’s best casino bonuses could prove to be one of the best gambling strategies in your handbook. Turn those free spins into free cash by playing with legit online casino bonuses!

Play in Proven Online Casinos

It’s just as important to play in proven online casinos as it is to claim legit bonuses. These sites are regulated, which helps ensure a level of security that makes these casinos just as safe, or even safer, than some land-based complexes. Stick to playing in legit online casinos, like the ones we mentioned in this article, and keep your money safe.

Finding the Perfect Gambling Strategy

We’ve aimed to create a list of gambling strategies with an unprecedented degree of variety. The methods that we’ve listed are among the most popular ways that you can gamble online, or in land-based casinos, to try to make a profit – but does the perfect gambling strategy exist?

Ultimately, the best gambling strategy may differ from player to player. Some players may see the Martingale system as the most effective way of wagering online, whilst others may opt for a less risky approach like stake-based gambling.

  • Look for a strategy that works on games that you like.
  • Remember that all strategies are bound to fail at some point.
  • Make sure that the casino does not frown upon the strategy of your choosing.

Best Bonuses to Put Betting Theory Into Practice

We’ve gone on and on about how it’s important to claim legit online casino bonuses, so, before you go, we’re going to share with you a list of the world’s best casino bonuses. These offers are profitable, but, most importantly, it’s possible to turn them into real cash, as they’re given by regulated online casinos that hold reputable licenses in the online gambling world.

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Try Out these Gambling Strategies in the World’s Best Online Casinos

You now know which are the best gambling strategies in the casino industry and where you can safely try them out from home. Now, the most important part is around the corner: choosing which online casino offers the games in which you want to try out these strategies, creating your account, claiming your welcome bonus, and beginning to play.

Will you opt for the high-risk, high-reward Martingale system? Or will you play it safe by going with the classic stake-based gambling strategy? The choice is yours and options are aplenty!

Last updated  October 2, 2023
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About the author

Marco

Marco

Chief Content Writer

Marco

Chief Content Writer

Marco is an experienced casino writer with more than half a decade of gambling-related work on his back. He took a keen interest in gambling as a young adult and started writing expert content for the casino and sports betting niche in 2015. Now, he specializes in online slots, table games, and sports betting – producing well-researched content on all fronts of the iGaming world.

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