The casino has always had a sort of special appeal to it. Ever since the first establishment was created in the 1600s, it became a huge hit. Pretty soon, the casino dominated Europe, and even beyond. Today, the casino industry generates billions of dollars every year. However, it doesn’t end there.
The internet has made it possible for the rise of a new kind of gambling. Online casinos are exactly what you’d expect; websites where you can find a whole host of different games. Slots, blackjack, roulette, and even poker, all of these and more are available at online casinos.
The Skill vs. Luck Debate
Thanks to the growing popularity of online casinos, an old debate has resurfaced online. That being, are casino games fully luck-based, or do they require a level of skill in order to win? This question has plagued the gambling world for centuries, and it still continues to be a hotly debated issue.
However, the answer might not be as simple as some people expect it or want it to be. Those who like to play at Casino Days Canada may have come to different conclusions about the available games. So, in the interest of answering the question as thoroughly as possible, we will go over different casino games, and discuss whether they require skill, or whether luck is all you need.
Slot Games
It is only fitting that we begin with the most popular of casino games. Whether you are playing online or offline, there is no denying that slots dominate the gambling industry. The big name land-based casinos may house as many as a thousand slot machines, and online, you can easily find way more slot games to play. But, do slots require some level of skill?
The answer is an emphatic “no.” A player could spend their whole life playing slots, and still never improve. The reason is simple; slots are entirely dependent on the luck of the proverbial draw. Even online slots are powered by a random number generator software, which ensures that each new spin is completely random, and there is no pattern to the outcome.
Some may ask if slots have always been just a luck-based game. The answer is yes, since they were first invented in the 1800s, slots have relied solely on luck, and nothing else. Really, not a lot has changed, gameplay-wise for the slot machine. Any major changes are purely cosmetic or mechanical. For the most part, the gameplay has remained relatively consistent.
Blackjack
If the slot is the most popular casino game, period, then blackjack would have to be the most popular table game, both at offline and online casinos. Its online popularity has particularly improved recently, due to the introduction of streaming services. With so many streaming services nowadays, it is hard to pick the best one, but online casinos have managed to deliver an optimal live blackjack option for many players.
Thanks to live blackjack, a lot more people have been exposed to the card game. Therefore, a lot of people are now wondering; is blackjack a luck-based or a skill-based game? The answer isn’t as simple or as cut-and-dry as slots. Because, in truth, blackjack is mostly a luck-based game. However, those who understand the rules also know that there are some strategies that you can implement to improve your game.
The strategies are mostly based on mathematics and come into play when it is time for a player to decide when to hit and when to stand. The following are some common suggestions that experienced players give newbies, about when to stand and when to hit.
- When to Hit:
Always hit if your hand is 8 or less.
Hit on 12-16, if the dealer’s up card is 7 or higher.
Hit on 9 if the dealer’s card is between 3 and 6.
Hit on 10 if the dealer has an Ace or a 10.
Hit on 11 if the dealer has an Ace.
- When to Stand
Always stand if your hand is 17 or more.
Stand on 13-16 if the dealer’s hand is between 2 and 6.
Stand on 12 if the dealer’s up card is 4, 5 or 6.
Stand on 10 if the dealer’s up card is 2-9.
Stand on 11 if the dealer’s up card is 2-10
While it certainly isn’t the most complex of strategies, as it really just involves memorizing numbers, there is no denying that thinking about when you should hit and when you should stand does constitute a kind of strategy. So, to call blackjack “fully luck-based,” would not be quite accurate.
Poker
The final game we are looking at in this article is poker. We’ve talked about one game that is purely luck-based, and one game that has a level of strategy, but mostly relies on luck. Therefore, it is only fair, in the last section, to look at a game that does have a degree of luck to it, but mostly relies on strategy to win. Poker embodies the concept.
There is no denying that luck plays a role. After all, if a player is dealt four aces, there really is no way that they can lose the game, even if they aren’t the best player. However, poker is all about making the best use of your hand. For example; if a player is dealt four aces, and they make their good hand too obvious, the rest of the players will simply fold early, and the four aces player will have wasted a good hand.
However, a really good player knows how to take advantage of even the worst hand. We’ve seen it in film, but what is surprising is just how often it can happen in real life as well. A top-tier poker player can win a round of poker, even if they have the worst hand at the table. That is because poker is a game of manipulation, deceit, and observation. For that reason, it has often been compared to chess.