Play Slots Online & Manage Your Bankroll

Slot fans who are seasoned poker players may already be familiar with the concept of bankroll management, but the term is just as important when you play slots online. Within this guide, we’ll provide some useful money management slot tips to help you select the right slot titles for your budget, based on a range of factors such as volatility, RTP percentages and more.

Although these bankroll management tips won’t improve your odds of winning – because all slots are games of chance – it is possible to use these slot tips to spread your risk, minimise losses and have a more enjoyable slot gaming experience.

Tip 1: Set A Budget

Before you spin a single slot reel, you should take some time to calculate how much you can afford to play with. Any money you do spend on the reels should be funds you know you can afford to lose.

Set aside a slot budget that doesn’t limit any of your essential monthly outgoings. You could label it as part of your monthly entertainment expenses. When you spend money going to the cinema, you wouldn’t expect a return on your cinema ticket at the end of the movie. You should adopt the same mindset with your slot gaming budget.

When you make a deposit into your LiveRoulette account for the first time, you can claim a deposit bonus up to a maximum of €50. All winnings from this bonus money must be played through 40 times and cannot be withdrawn until play through conditions are met. Through careful game selection, it’s possible to find games that have greater winning probabilities than others to help make your bonus funds last longer. However, some games may not be eligible for bonus offers, so read the terms and conditions carefully. You’ll learn more about this as you advance through this guide.

18+ | begambleaware.org | Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Terms & Conditions apply.

Tip 2: Choose The Right Slot Game

Ultimately, you will want to choose slot games that you can engage with. Whether it’s a themed slot based on one of your favourite hobbies or pastimes or a slot with the kind of bonus features that you enjoy – such as free spins or pick-me bonuses – the right slot for you is ultimately the one you enjoy the most.

However, it’s a good idea to be more selective with your slot titles if you want to make sure your slot budget goes further. All slot games are different – they come with different volatilities and return to player percentages, which means that some are more likely to pay out more frequently than others.

Understanding Return To Player (RTP) Percentages

When you search through lists of available slot games, most games will also have their RTP percentage displayed within the game’s help pages. RTP is an important factor for experienced slot players. Those slot players determined to manage their bankroll properly will use RTP percentages to determine the slots they should and shouldn’t play. RTP is short for return to player, which means the amount a slot player could expect returned to them over a high number of spins.

Let’s say for example that a slot game displays an RTP of 96.5%. This means that for every €100 spent on its reels, the slot is programmed to return €96.50 over the long-term. Because of variance and the fact that all online slot titles are powered by decentralised random number generators (RNGs), there will be variations when you play short-term, but the RTP is what you can expect to be paid out over an infinite number of spins.

Each slot will also be programmed with a hit frequency in tandem with an RTP percentage. The hit frequency is best described as the number of times you can expect to land a winning combination on the reels within 100 spins. If a slot has a hit frequency of 20, that means there is a 20% possibility of landing a winning combination on any spin. However, this is an average over an infinite number of spins, so there can be variance with the hit frequency over the short-term, just like the RTP percentage.

What Does Slot Volatility Mean?

Slot volatility is often confused for RTP. The RTP of a slot game does not set the volatility of a slot, although they are closely related. The opposing ends of the slot volatility spectrum are:

  • Low Volatility
    A low volatility slot is programmed to pay out more frequent wins of a smaller size. By design, low volatility slots give you a chance to keep your bankroll going for longer, with smaller maximum payouts or jackpots.
  • High Volatility
    As for high volatility slots, these games tend to feature multiple bonus games and larger fixed prizes or progressive jackpots. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find that these slots will tend to trigger these features less frequently than a low volatility game. However, when the jackpots do land, it’s possible to win big.

Select The Right Number Of Paylines

Sensible bankroll management for slot gaming also involves choosing the right number of paylines to play with per spin. The higher volatility slots that are linked to progressive jackpots may only qualify players for the biggest jackpot prizes displayed when they bet the maximum number of paylines per spin. The probability of triggering these progressives is slim. You must therefore weigh up whether your slot budget can absorb betting the maximum or if you should find slots with lower maximum bets and reduced volatility instead.

It’s also important to take into consideration the coin values available for each payline. Most slots will allow you to wager multiple credits on each active payline. For instance, if you play all available lines in a ten-payline slot at a cost of €0.10 per line, you’re spending €1 per spin. If you are just starting out with slots online, it’s a good idea to start playing with the smallest coin denominations per payline while you learn the game’s dynamics.

Choose Between New And Classic Slot Games

If you have looked at the portfolio of slot games at LiveRoulette, you may have recognised slot titles tend to fall in two different categories – classic slots and newer, state-of-the-art video slots.

Classic slots are built to celebrate the purity of old-school slot machine gaming. Think of the original fruit machine games with cherries, watermelons, lemons and a healthy selection of lucky sevens on the reels. There are still plenty of classic slots online. Most of these can be played with modest budgets as they offer fewer paylines – sometimes as few as three.

At the other end of the spectrum, newer video slots are popular for their more advanced gameplay. These are often packed with paylines, features and high volatility which may make them more expensive to play. Of course, some new slot releases will have lower volatility than others, so it’s a case of doing your research.

Tip 3: Setting Aside Your Winnings

Always put your winnings aside. If you sit down with €20 to play your favourite slots and you win €15, you could withdraw the €15 from your balance and play on with your remaining funds. If you know you could be tempted to spend your winnings and put them back into your slot game, this could be an option for you.

However, a better way might be to set a winning target and a stop-loss for each gaming session. Once your balance hits your win goal or stop-loss limit, you simply walk away, win or lose. There will be winning sessions and losing sessions this way, but ultimately you’ll protect your bankroll through the ups and downs.

Tip 4: Control Your Emotions

Keeping your emotions in check is an vital when playing slots online. Seasoned slot players would agree that it’s good to be consistent and accept your losses and wins as part and parcel of the game. That may sound easier said than done, but sensible management of your slot bankroll will also ensure that you are prepared to handle the peaks and troughs of wins and losses. If you feel like your emotions are getting ahead of you, stop playing immediately.

Tip 5: Play Slots Online Responsibly

The bottom line is that playing should be fun. Spending beyond your means and chasing jackpots you can’t afford to chase is anything but fun. 

Dividing your daily, weekly or monthly slot budget into units based on your minimum wager is one way to budget and keep your gaming going week on week. You can then divide those units into equal amounts depending on the number of gaming sessions you plan to have throughout the month.

By treating your slot bankroll with respect, you can be safer with your slot gaming, which is the only way we recommend at LiveRoulette.

How Much Time Should You Spend Playing One Slot?

Take control of the length of time you spend playing slots using our Reality Check function. By switching on the Reality Check feature in your LiveRoulette account you will receive prompts reminding you how long you’ve been playing.

Each time the prompt appears on-screen, you will be asked whether you wish to continue playing or to leave the game, with your win/loss rate also visible to help you make your mind up. It’s an effective way of monitoring your gaming sessions and ensuring you don’t exceed your maximum losses and wins.

Tip 6: Set Yourself Daily, Weekly Or Monthly Betting Limits

At LiveRoulette, we always promote responsible gaming behaviour. That’s why we give all our players the flexibility to set their own gaming limits and boundaries. Within your LiveRoulette account it’s possible to set daily, weekly and monthly limits on how much you can deposit.

These limitations are there for your own good and to prevent you from chasing losses during losing slot sessions. Our friendly customer support team is available 24/7 should you need any guidance with setting your deposit limits.

Hopefully this article has helped to reinforce the importance of managing your bankroll when you play slots online at LiveRoulette. With these slot tips for money management, you can be sure to save your winnings and limit your losses when either scenario occurs.

With so many different video slots and slot genres ready and waiting to be explored at LiveRoulette our Canadian online casino, we hope this guide helps you to pick slot titles that are right for you.

How to play Trash & Game Rules with Video – PlayingCardDecks.com

(Above is the set up for the card game Trash)

(Above is the set up for the card game Trash)

Card Game Rules

Trash, or Garbage, is a classic card game for two player. It requires a standard 52 playing card deck and is suitable for ages 8 and up. The objective of Trash is to be the first person with a complete hand of 10 cards.

For more classic card games, check out our guides for Kemps and Crazy Eights.

If you are looking for cards to play Trash with, check out a standard deck here or check out one of our more recent arrivals here.

Set Up

To set up a game of Trash, players need to first sit around a suitable gameplay area. Before gameplay can begin, every player draws a card from a shuffled deck. The player with the highest card becomes the first dealer. Ties are broken by a redraw. The dealer then shuffles the deck and passes out ten cards, faced down, arranged in a 2 x 5 grid. Players do not look at these cards.

The remaining deck forms the the stock pile.

In Trash, Aces are 1, 2s-10s are their face value, Jacks are wildcards and Queens and Kings are unplayable.

How to Play

The player who doesn’t deal the cards starts the game. The first player draws from the stock. If they can play the card (meaning Ace through Jack) the player places the card in the appropriate spot on their grid. If they drew an Ace, for instance, they would place it in the top left position of the grid; a 10 would be the bottom right and so on. When they place a card on the grid, they flip over the faced down card previously in that position. If they can use that card then they do the same thing until they get a card they cannot play (meaning a King, Queen, or a card they have already played).

When they have an unplayable card, they place it face up beside the stock pile, forming the discard pile, and player 2 begins their turn.

Starting with player 2’s first turn, players can choose to either draw from the stock pile or the discard pile.

The first player to fill out their entire grid wins the round

Scoring

The player who won the previous round removes one card from their grid. This means that the 10 will be unplayable for them in round 2, the 9 in round 3, and etc. 

A player wins the game when they only have one card in their grid and draw an Ace or Jack.

For more information, check out Pagat’s article here.

Looking for more card games to play?  Check out this article:

40+ Great Card Games For All Occasions

About the author: John Taylor is a content writer and freelancer through the company Upwork.com. You may view his freelancing profile here. He has a B. A. in English, with a specialty in technical writing, from Texas A&M University and a M. A. in English from the University of Glasgow. You may view his previous articles about card games here and his LinkedIn profile here.

John Taylor Head shot

Last update date: 02/08/21

US Online Casino Players Love Omni, Cross-Channel Play, Says Light & Wonder Official

Light and Wonder (LNW) told Bonus about its most popular online casino games and, surprisingly, revealed that US online gamblers prefer the versatility of omnichannel and cross-channel play. In other words, Americans like to bet on games they can play on mobile devices, then desktops, and, ultimately, at land-based casinos.

Rob Procter, LNW game development vice president, told Bonus in the interview:

Traditional US players have distinct preferences and play styles compared to European and UK players. One significant difference we have seen across our in-house content is US players’ affinity for cross-channel and omni products.

In his July 9 responses to Bonus questions, the leader at the Las Vegas-based gambling products and services provider elaborated on information about the most popular games by LNW (Light & Wonder Inc 104,88 +1,17%).

In Q1 2024, LNW’s best-performing iGaming titles around the world were the following:

  • World of Wonka
  • Pirots 2
  • Cygnus 4
  • Thundering Series

Procter had a far more nuanced response about which online casino games were the most popular among US iGaming enthusiasts.

LNW’s Procter Provides US iGaming Context

On July 9, Procter answered five questions from Bonus that stemmed from LNW’s globally popular iGaming titles.

His answers ranged from a discussion of LNW’s games created in-house, which he clarified are intellectual property (IP).

Procter also notes that the worldwide favorite casino games, Willy Wonka slots, are exclusively provided to US online casino players via FanDuel Casino. The online gambling operator retains exclusive rights to Willy Wonka slots. In March, the first game launched — Willy Wonka: World of Wonka.

The question from Bonus are in bold. Procter’s answers are below, verbatim.

What do World of Wonka, Pirots 2, Cygnus 4, and Thundering Series have in common that made them successful?

Rather than focusing on what these games have in common, their success stems from their differences and the unique space each fills in the market. Light & Wonder has historically been very good at adapting IP and staying true to the original brand, which is exemplified by the digital adaptation of land-based favorite Willy Wonka: World of Wonka. Pirots 2, produced for Light & Wonder by ELK Studios, blends modern animations, a storyline, and new mechanics to provide a refreshing change to classic casino games. Building on a strong IP and a beloved game series, Cygnus 4 is another ELK title that introduces new elements while retaining familiar aspects, creating a slot experience that resonates with players. In contrast, our Thundering series capitalizes on established familiarity from within land-based environments and customer trust. Integrating our Local Area Progressive jackpot features into two titles within the series, Thundering Shenlong and Thundering Gorilla, has proven highly successful.

Are players’ tastes changing at all? Did any new mechanics or themes really take off this year?

Absolutely. Player preferences are constantly evolving, mirroring broader trends in the digital entertainment sector, where even popular mechanics can shift quickly. Take Megaways, for example, which has adapted over time to align with current player trends.

From the beginning, we knew ELK’s CollectR mechanic would have real staying power, and its modern yet straightforward approach has made it a standout feature among players this year.

At Light & Wonder, we strive to cater to these dynamic tastes by offering a diverse range of content. Our portfolio includes traditional slots, instant win games, innovative table games, and classic steppers. We continuously introduce new mechanics, such as those in our Thundering series, along with various jackpots and core jackpot products. As player preferences in the US are rapidly evolving, we’ve expanded our content offering across numerous genres to effectively meet these growing and diverse demands.

Are any or all of those four games available in the US market now? If not, are they coming soon?

World of Wonka is exclusively available through FanDuel, and the Thundering series is widely available across the US, including in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, with more games coming soon. Our second Local Area Progressive jackpot series from Lightning Box, called Egg Link, will also be launching soon, which we’re particularly excited about. While the Pirots series is widely available in the UK, European markets, and beyond, it is not yet live in the core US markets. But [it] is in the pipeline as we continue to expand our suite of content. Similarly, Cygnus 4 is not yet live in the US, but will be as we continue our rollout.

What were L&W’s top games in the US last quarter?

Several games stood out for us last quarter. World of Wonka performed exceptionally well and has continued to thrive with its FanDuel exclusivity. The team at FanDuel has done a fantastic job promoting this game, and we plan to roll out more Willy Wonka-themed games with them. Another major success was Ultimate Fire Link Cash Falls, particularly the China Street and Olvera Street versions, which have been standout performers. These games have charted impressively in industry reports and are prominently featured on customer websites. The success of these games highlights the strength of our omni-channel approach, which remains a significant differentiator in the market. Harnessing beloved IP and mechanics and combining our major brands, such as Ultimate Fire Link and Cash Falls, into a single game has resonated well with both online and land-based players.

What differences are there between US customer preferences and the international audience?

Traditional US players have distinct preferences and play styles compared to European and UK players. One significant difference we have seen across our in-house content is US players’ affinity for cross-channel and omni products. The US is our home ground, and we excel at delivering these experiences and have delivered over 20 of these games to the market this year.

Familiarity is also paramount for US players. They recognize and resonate with our internal IPs like Cash Falls, Ultimate Fire Link, and Rich Little Piggies. These games are easy for them to pick up and play because they understand the mechanics and know what to expect. This familiarity fosters a sense of trust and comfort, making it easier for players to engage with our content.

In contrast, the UK and European markets value freshness and innovation in game mechanics and player engagement. Our partnership with Flows, for example, allows us to offer new engagement tools and features, such as marketing jackpots and tournaments. Therefore, we approach both markets individually, tailoring our offering to meet those differing demands.

The post US Online Casino Players Love Omni, Cross-Channel Play, Says Light & Wonder Official appeared first on Bonus.com.

How To Play Blackjack: Rules & Bets

Few other card games gather more players or draw more intensity than a game of blackjack. With its immersive gameplay and a worldwide reputation as an iconic card game, it’s one of the most straightforward games you’ll find in the entire casino range.

Blackjack may look simple on the outside, but beneath the surface, you’ll find there’s much more to this classic card game. Let us tell you more in our beginner casino guide. Here you’ll get the basic rules, card values and more, so you get acquainted with the game in any setting.

Already know the game? Log in or join LiveRoulette and get your seat at the table.

What’s The Aim Of Blackjack?

Ultimately, the aim is to beat the dealer’s hand without exceeding 21- It’s that simple! If your hand goes higher than 21, you “bust”, which means you lose that hand.

What Are The Rules?

Whether you want to play live, online or
otherwise, the rules of the game are pretty much the same. Up to seven players
are seated around the semi-circular table (but more players can be seated
online, such as in a game of Infinite
Blackjack). There’s a betting spot in front of each player, where you
must place your wager in the form of chips before the dealer plays the hand. If
space allows, you can play more than one hand at the table, placing chips in
each betting spot.

Once everyone has placed their chips, the dealer will hand out two cards to each player. They will then draw themselves a card turned face down (known as their “hole card”). Note that there are some variations of this game that allow the dealer to receive two cards: one turned down and the other facing up.

Next, each player can decide to hit (take another card) or stand (keep just their current cards). This all depends on the value of the hand in front of you.

What Are The Card Values?

The game is played with standard playing cards and up to eight decks. The cards from 2 through 10 are worth their exact value while all the face cards – King, Queen and Jack are worth 10. An Ace can have two values – either worth 1 or 11.

How Does The Game Start?

If the total value of the cards you get is 21 (for example if you get a 10 and an Ace), you immediately win a Blackjack, and the dealer will pay out odds of 3:2 on your initial wager. This is the ideal scenario! But what are your options if you don’t get this hand?

Natural Blackjack Hand

You Can Hit…

Essentially, you’re requesting another card from the dealer to increase your hand’s value. You can do this as many times as you like – just be careful you don’t go over 21 and bust!

You Can Stand…

If you stand you won’t accept any more cards for that round and gameplay will move to the next player. So, if you have a hand with two 10-value cards and you stand, your final value of 20 will be pitted against the dealer.

Or You Could Split

If you have two of the same value cards dealt to you, you can split them, and place the same wager again on the second hand. Now, you can choose to hit and stand on each hand independently depending on what cards you’re dealt next. Now that’s potentially two chances to beat the dealer instead of one.

What Does It Mean To “Double Down”?

This option allows you to double
your initial bet in return for receiving one (and only one) more card. In
most casinos, you can only double down after you receive your first two cards
and before drawing another card. There are
plenty of guides and strategies for doubling down, but it all depends on what
card the dealer holds and what’s left in the deck: not easy to know.

Check out our five-minute blackjack strategy guide for more on how to double down.

Dealer’s Play

Unlike you, the player, a blackjack dealer has specific rules to follow. Casino rules specify that a dealer must keep drawing a card if their hand totals less than 17 and stand when the total is 17 through 21. There are variations to dealer’s play, so make sure you check out the table rules carefully before you take a seat.

Insurance

Some casinos will allow you to take an
insurance bet, which only becomes available if the dealer draws an Ace as their
first card. In essence, you’re betting that their next card will be a 10-value
card, resulting in a Blackjack. An
insurance bet enables you to win back half your original wager instead of potentially
going bust.

How To Play Live Blackjack

A game of live blackjack doesn’t vary that much from a game at the table. There may be more variations to play such as single-deck games, party-style games and tables where more players can take part. Check out LiveRoulette’s library live games and discover just how easy it is to switch from table games to live!

And Finally: Blackjack Payouts

The payout for a winning hand is 1:1, so if you put down a €5 bet, you’ll get €5. If you manage to win on a natural Blackjack, you’ll receive a payout of 3:2, making it the highest return in the game. There are various table limits available, giving you diverse betting options that match your bankroll and playing style.

That’s everything a first-timer needs to know to get by in a game
of blackjack. Why not put your newly found knowledge to the test in one of
LiveRoulette’s games?

18+ | begambleaware.org | Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Terms & Conditions apply.

How to play Spoil Five & Game Rules with Video – PlayingCardDecks.com

(Above is the set up for the card game Spoil Five)

(Above is the set up for the card game Spoil Five)

Card Game Rules

Spoil Five is a casino game for two to ten players. It requires a standard 52 playing card deck and poker chips. The objective of Spoil Five is to win 3 or more tricks in a round.

For other casino type games, see our guides for Texas Hold’em Poker and Seven Card Stud Poker.

If you are looking for cards to play Spoil Five with, check out a standard deck here or check out one of our more recent arrivals here.

 

Set Up

Before gameplay can begin, every player draws a card from a shuffled deck. The player with the highest card becomes the first dealer. Ties are broken by a redraw. The dealer then passes out five cards to each player. The remaining deck is placed to the side. Its top card assigns the trump suit for that round.

Card Ranking

When a suit is trump, the ranking is as follows from high to low:

Spades and Clubs: 5, Jack, Ace of Hearts, Ace, King, Queen, 2 up to 10.

Diamonds: 5, Jack, Ace of Hearts, Ace, down to 2

Hearts: 5, Jack, Ace down to 2.

When a suit is not trump, the ranking is as follows from high to low:

Spades and Clubs: King, Queen, Jack, Ace, 2 up to 10.

Diamonds: King down to Ace.

Hearts: King down to 2.

The Ace of Hearts is always the third best card.

 

How to Play

Players begin by placing an ante in the middle. The top card of the deck is flipped over to establish trump for the round. Starting with the person left of the dealer, players try to win tricks by playing the highest ranking card. Players must follow the suit of the lead card if they can. 

If a player has the Ace of trump, they may exchange any card in their hand for the top card in the deck. If they refuse to do so, they must announce that they are turning down the trump.

If an Ace is initially flipped over when establishing trump, the dealer may take it after the first trick in exchange for any of their cards. They could also refuse it.

 

Scoring

If a player wins 3 or more tricks in a round, the player gets all of the poker chips in the middle. For the next round, every player adds one chip to the middle again.

If no player wins 3 or more tricks in a round, then the pot carries over. For the next round, only the dealer adds a chip to the middle.

Looking for more card games to play?  Check out this article:

40+ Great Card Games For All Occasions

About the author: John Taylor is a content writer and freelancer through the company Upwork.com. You may view his freelancing profile here. He has a B. A. in English, with a specialty in technical writing, from Texas A&M University and a M. A. in English from the University of Glasgow. You may view his previous articles about card games here and his LinkedIn profile here.

John Taylor Head shot

Last update date: 08/29/20

How to play Thirteen & Game Rules with Video – PlayingCardDecks.com

(Above is the set up for a game of Thirteen)

(Above is the set up for a game of Thirteen)

Card Game Rules

Thirteen is a four player trick-taking card game that requires a standard 52 playing card deck. In Thirteen, 2s are high and 3s are low. The suits are ranked with Hearts being the highest, then Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades. The objective of Thirteen is to be the first player to get rid of their cards. 

For other trick-taking card games, see our guides for President and Bezique.

If you are looking for cards to play Thirteen with, check out a standard pack here or one of our more recent arrivals here.

Set Up

Before game play can begin, a dealer must be selected. Each player draws one card from a shuffled deck. The player with the lowest card becomes the dealer. The dealer shuffles the deck and passes out thirteen cards to each player in a clockwise fashion. 

How to Play

The player with the 3 of Spades makes the first move. Going clockwise, players can either player a card that is of equal rank (with a higher suit) or higher than the card previously played. Once nobody can play a higher card, the pile is removed and the last person to play a card starts the new pile.

Cards can be played as singles, pairs, three of a kinds, four of a kinds or a sequence of 3 or more. Players must however follow whatever the lead play was. If somebody leads with a single, players cannot beat it with a double or etc. 

Bombs

A four of a kind and a double sequence of three cards are called bombs. Bombs can beat a single 2. A double sequence of four cards can beat a pair of 2s and a double sequence of five cards can beat three 2s.

Miscellaneous Rules

If a player has four 2s or a sequence of 3 to Ace, they immediately win the game.

The last card in a sequence determines its suit.

The player who gets rid of all of their cards first wins the game.

Looking for more card games to play?  Check out this article:

40+ Great Card Games For All Occasions

About the author: John Taylor is a content writer and freelancer through the company Upwork.com. You may view his freelancing profile here. He has a B. A. in English, with a specialty in technical writing, from Texas A&M University and a M. A. in English from the University of Glasgow. You may view his previous articles about card games here and his LinkedIn profile here.

John Taylor Head shot

Last update date: 08/29/20

Can you play poker online with friends for free?

Everything is better with friends, and poker is no exception. In fact, the experience changes completely and apps like Pokerhub offer a very interesting alternative to enjoy poker with friends in private clubs that is very attractive for those who want to enhance the social side of poker.

Here you have an excellent option to play poker online with friends… free! How? Keep reading, we are going to tell you how to enjoy games of poker with friends online free, at no cost!

Where to play free online poker with friends?

Before we delve into Pokerhub, it is important to understand that not all online poker websites offer the possibility to play for free with friends. Most online poker platforms are designed for real money play, and while some allow free games, they often don’t offer the same experience or flexibility as Pokerhub.

Pokerhub is a poker app that has been noted for giving players the opportunity to play poker online for free and, even more excitingly, with friends. This means that you can organize private and personalized poker games with your friends without spending a penny. No real money is required to join or enjoy Pokerhub, making it an ideal choice for those who want to practice, socialize or just have a good time without risking their finances.

Below you can find out why Pokerhub is the best free online private poker app to play with friends. Take a look!

Why choose Pokerhub to play poker with friends for free?

There are several reasons why Pokerhub is the best free online poker site to play with friends. It is an excellent choice for playing free online poker with friends. Here are some of the most outstanding features and advantages of Pokerhub:

  • Easy to use. Pokerhub stands out for its intuitive and easy-to-use user interface. This makes it easy for players, even beginners, to join and create games in a matter of minutes.
  • Private games. Pokerhub allows you to organize private games with your friends. You can create a personalized game room and share the link with your friends, ensuring that only the people you invite participate in the game.
  • Variety of modes. Pokerhub offers a wide range of poker games, from Texas Hold’em to Omaha, allowing you to choose the game you like the most or try several of them.
  • No need for downloads. Unlike some online poker platforms that require software downloads, Pokerhub works directly in your smartphone. You won’t have to worry about installing additional programs on your device, just the Pokerhub app.
  • Live chat. Pokerhub has an integrated live chat system that allows you to communicate with your friends during the game, adding a social dimension to your online games.
  • Detailed statistics. Pokerhub provides detailed statistics of your games, allowing you to evaluate and improve your game over time.
  • Security. Security is a major concern in online gaming. Pokerhub takes measures to protect players’ privacy and ensure that their games are fair.

How to organize an online poker game on Pokerhub?

Hosting an online poker game at Pokerhub is a simple process. Here we will guide you so you can enjoy free online poker games with friends in private:

  • Registering at Pokerhub. First of all, you will need to register at Pokerhub if you don’t already have an account. Registration is quick and easy, and will only require you to provide a few basic details.
  • Log in to your account. Once you have your Pokerhub account, log in to the platform with your credentials.
  • Create a private game. In the Pokerhub control panel, you will see the option to “Create a private game”. Click on this option to start setting up your game.
  • Configure the game. Here you can define the details of your game, such as the type of poker you want to play, the specific rules, the betting limits and the duration of the game. You can also set a password for the game if you want only your friends to have access.
  • Invite your friends. Once you have set up the game, Pokerhub will provide you with a link that you can share with your friends. They will be able to join the game by clicking on that link.
  • Start the game. Once you and your friends have joined the game room, you can start the game. Pokerhub will provide the cards and supervise the game in an unbiased manner.
  • Enjoy poker with friends. Now you can enjoy an online poker game with your friends in a safe and controlled environment. Use live chat to maintain communication and enjoy an authentic social experience.

Don’t miss out:

How to create a poker club on Pokerhub

Advanced Roulette Strategy – How To Play Roulette

Contents

Moving On from Roulette Basic Strategy
Who Should Use Advanced Roulette Strategy?
How To Win at Roulette: Why Things Don’t Always Work Out
Advanced Roulette Strategy – The Top Non-Standard Roulette Tips
Dealer Signature
Wheel Bias Analysis
Visual Ballistics
How To Win At Roulette: Other Advanced Strategies

Live And Online Roulette Tips

In the world of casino games, roulette sits somewhere between online slots and blackjack. If the latter involves a decent amount of skill and the other does not, then roulette is a mixture of both. You place your bets as strategically as you like, but the wheel in motion decides the outcome.

However, if you’ve ever read anything about live or online roulette, you’ll know there are various betting techniques that some believe improve your results.

No roulette strategy can ever be 100% effective. However, there are some advantages to roulette betting strategies such as the Martingale. Again, there isn’t a single tip we can offer that will help you influence the outcome of a game. But you may be able to get an edge if you’re willing to think outside of the box.

In this guide, we’re going to take you outside of the proverbial box and offer some advanced roulette tips that have been used in casinos all over the world, though they won’t necessarily work in a live game. We’ve put together some of the most popular advanced online and live roulette techniques

Moving On From Basic Roulette Strategy

The main benefit of basic roulette strategy is structure. By following a set betting pattern, you have more control over those bets. For example, if you use the Martingale technique, you know that you must double your bets following a loss and reset after a win.

The idea behind these systems is that they follow a set pattern, giving you some direction or goal. Neither can swing the odds in your favour, but that’s not the point: basic roulette strategy and betting techniques are designed to mitigate risk, so you stand a better chance of riding the natural ups and downs of the game.

When it comes to advanced roulette strategy, things are slightly different. In general, you’re looking for some sort of anomaly or bias that you could exploit to get ahead. In practice, the chances of spotting a trait you can exploit are extremely slim. Even if you do, it’s not easy to take advantage of.

Who Should Use Advanced Roulette Strategy?

It should be obvious but advanced roulette tips should only be used by experts. If you’ve been playing for a while, you may be able to consider these tactics. If, however, you’re new to playing roulette online or live, it’s best to stick with the basics. In fact, the best thing you can do is learn about the game’s structure, devise a system that suits your own preferences and go with that.

At the end of the day, roulette, like the online slots other casino games in our Vegas hub, is about having fun. If you spend too much time worrying about how to win at roulette or roulette cheats, you’ll miss the experience.

How To Win at Roulette: Why Things Don’t Always Work Out

No roulette strategy is guaranteed to work, even if you follow the guidelines to a tee. Therefore, when you’re reading through the tips below, keep in mind that success isn’t assured.

Advanced Roulette Strategy – The Top Non-Standard Roulette Tips

If you’re confident you understand the basics of roulette online and you want to expand your horizons, advanced strategy might be for you. In the following sections, you’ll learn more about advanced roulette strategies, what they are and how they could help you.

Dealer Signature

If you play roulette inside a casino or online via a web stream, you can try using the Dealer Signature strategy. Before we get into the nuances of this roulette strategy, let’s talk about the main idea. Dealers are humans and, because of that, they often slip into set patterns.

Unlike the random number generators (RNGs) that control automated online roulette games, live tables are managed by real people. So there could be times when a dealer makes certain moves repeatedly without realising it. If you accept that this strategy is plausible, it’s accepted in roulette circles that a dealer will develop what’s called a “signature” (habit) after 1,000 spins.

To test this theory, you’d need to watch the dealer for an extended period. Eventually, you may pick out some habits that could allow you to predict where the ball may land. Naturally, you’re not going to predict the exact number. However, if you can spot patterns in the following areas, you may be able to build up an idea of what section/area of the wheel the ball is going to land.

Dealer Signature patterns could include:

  • Where do they drop the ball?
  • How fast do they drop it?
  • At what angle do they drop it?

If – and it’s a big if – you can spot patterns in these areas, you may be able to predict where the ball is going to land. However, even if you do notice certain habits, it’s still tough to guess where the ball will stop as there are many other factors involved in addition to the dealer.

Wheel Bias Analysis

When you play roulette online, the outcome is controlled by a random number generator (RNG). These algorithms are also used in online slots, blackjack, and any other digital casino game. In simple terms, RNGs use complex mathematical equations to create random results. For you as a player, this means there are no distinguishable patterns or biases. To put it another way, everything is 100% fair and random, 100% of the time.

In centuries gone by, this may not have always been the case in some of the world’s smaller land-based casinos. Although a biased wheel is extremely rare in live venues today, it’s something that can happen due to a defect. Whether a wheel is slightly worn on one side or its internal mechanics have been compromised, roulette wheels have been known to develop a bias.

The idea of a biased wheel has been around for more than a century, but one of the first investigations into the phenomenon came courtesy of Joseph Jagger. The English engineer predicted that, theoretically, it was possible for wheels to develop a bias. Using his knowledge of engineering and how certain mechanisms can break down over time, he decided to test his theory in the 19th century. With the help of six croupiers, he was able to analyse results from a roulette table inside the Beaux Arts Casino, Monte Carlo.

Historical Analysis Leads To Modern Reliability

After thousands of spins, Jagger spotted patterns that didn’t tally up with the odds. In other words, certain numbers appeared more than they mathematically should have. With the ball drifting more towards a certain section of the wheel, Jagger agreed that a bias had developed. From this, the idea of biased roulette wheels became better understood by the mainstream.

In practice, strict gaming rules are in place to ensure roulette wheels inside a live casino aren’t biased. Constant checks are performed and, if any defects are spotted, the wheel is removed. However, in the 19th century, the checks weren’t always as strict. Fortunately, things have changed. What’s more, we now have online roulette. Playing online eliminates the possibility of a bias wheel by default. Because games are powered by RNGs, you never have to worry that a fault has developed, and the numbers aren’t spinning in randomly as they should.

Visual Ballistics

For a roulette strategy based on scientific principles, this is the one to use. Taking a concept from physics and applying it to a game of chance, this technique requires you to predict where the ball is going to land by calculating certain variables. Just as scientists can predict where a ball is going to land based on its weight, how hard someone has thrown it, the air density and other factors, theory is that it’s be possible to do the same in roulette.

When the wheel is spun and the ball is released, there’s a certain amount of inertia that has to be used up. When the ball has slowed to a sufficient speed, it will drop into a number. If you’re able to calculate the speed of the wheel, the speed of the ball and when it was first dropped, you may have a chance of predicting where it’s going to land with more accuracy.

As you’d expect, the calculations aren’t going to be 100%, far from it. We don’t have lasers for eyes, so we can’t log the exact speed of the ball or the moment it was dropped and where. You may be able to make estimates though. If you can, there’s a slim chance you can work out which section of the wheel the ball is likely to stop, based on all the variables in play.

Guide To Advanced Roulette Strategies Infographic

How To Win at Roulette: Other Advanced Strategies

If the trio of techniques outlined above seem too complex or too farfetched, here’s a quick rundown of some other advanced strategies you might want to try:

Oscar’s Grind: With this system, you’re aiming for a series of small wins. To start, you divide your chips into two equal piles of 12. From here, you bet on 1-12 with your first stack and 25-36 with your second. Assuming a number in the second 12 doesn’t hit, you’ll make an 11-unit profit.

The Lucky 7 System: If you’ve got a large bankroll, this system can give you an 18.93% chance of winning. In simple terms, you need to select seven numbers and bet on each of them straight up. If you win, you stick to betting the same amount. If you lose, you increase your bet according to a set chart.

The important thing to note here is this can be an expensive strategy and should only be used by someone with the appropriate funds. In general, you’ll need at least €3,000 to try this technique if you’re betting €1 per number. This is to ensure you’re able to cope with an extended losing run. Indeed, there may be times when you go through 20 spins and don’t win (if you reach this point, you stop for the session). Therefore, you need a bankroll that can handle those swings.

In reality, if the system requires that much of a financial buffer, you actually need a lot more money in your bankroll. Whichever roulette betting technique you’re using, however much you’re staking, you always need a surplus. If the potential costs of this strategy are €3,000, you should have at least €6,000. You need to ensure that you can comfortably afford the ups and downs. This is known as bankroll management and is all part of a responsible gambling approach.

To start, you need to stake €1 per number for a total outlay of €7. When you win, you stick at the current level. If you lose, you increase the bet per number according to the table below. The reason the bets increase as they do is to ensure that, if you win, your profit will outweigh the amount you’ve wagered to that point.

Round Stake Per Number Number of Picks Profit When You Win
1 €1 7 €28
2 €1 7 €22
3 €1 7 €15
4 €1 7 €8
5 €3 7 €59
6 €3 7 €38
7 €5 7 €75
8 €5 7 €40
9 €7 7 €63
10 €7 7 €14
11 €13 7 €139
12 €13 7 €48
13 €21 7 €189
14 €21 7 €21
15 €35 7 €301
16 €35 7 €56
17 €59 7 €507
18 €59 7 €94
19 €100 7 €870
20 €100 7 €170

As you can see, the stake per number gradually increases. Again, this is to ensure you make a profit any time one of your numbers comes in.

Using These Online Roulette Tips Wisely

The techniques listed here are both complex. Even though they are based on sound principles, the principles aren’t always in play. For example, if you can spot a biased wheel, there’s a strong chance you can predict where the ball is going to land, but wheels don’t usually have a bias. And, if they do, they’re taken out of service. So, while it’s great to know these techniques, it’s important to understand that they’re not always practical.

To test out any of these tips or simply have fun playing roulette online, join LiveRoulette!

How To Play Safely At Online Casinos

Online casinos are fun and entertaining, however, it’s always good to remember to play safe, be it with regards to responsible gaming, playing on licensed sites or choosing secure payment methods.

During these emergency measures, the safety and well-being of our players is our top priority, which is why we’re reminding you of our safer gambling tools.

Gamble Responsibly

We want you to have fun but be responsible every time you play with us. LiveRoulette encourages its players to gamble responsibly, and to use your funds wisely. Borrowing money to play, spending more than you can afford or using money which has been saved for other reasons is not the right way to go, as it can cause problems for yourself and the people around you.

LiveRoulette has several responsible gaming tools in place to help you play in the right way. You can set up your own gaming limits, budgets and boundaries. We work together with the Global Gaming Guidance Group (G4) to provide players with the tools to prevent unhealthy gaming behaviour. Here’s a recap of our top tools:

Set Deposit Limits

If you’re spending more time at home or you’re spending more time online, you can control your funds with a daily, weekly or monthly deposit limit. You can set up these limits through My Account and accessing the Responsible Gaming page. You’ll also be prompted to set a limit when you first open an account.

Use Reality Checks

These days, most online casinos offer cool-off options, from 24-hour time outs to more permanent solutions. Need a reality check on your gaming? No problem. With LiveRoulette you can be notified through a Reality Check which helps you keep track of how long you’ve been playing. You can be informed every 15 minutes, 30 minutes, one or two hours, depending on the frequency you choose.

The Reality Check feature will automatically stop the game you’re currently playing until you either decide to continue with the game or you choose to exit. This feature gives you a detailed breakdown of your online casino activity, such as information about your current gaming session with regards to time spent and information regarding any wins and losses.

Take Time Out

Think you might be playing too much? Give yourself time to cool off by temporarily suspending your account.

For players who may wish to self-exclude on a more permanent basis, LiveRoulette and a number of online casinos allow you to register with GamStop. GamStop is a handy and free service which allows players to self-exclude from all online gambling companies which are licensed in Great Britain. To find out more information and to sign up for this service simply visit www.gamstop.co.uk.

Take A Self-Assessment Test

If you’re concerned about the possibility of developing a gambling problem you can try our online Self-Assessment test (if you’re a registered player), and see what the results show. If your test result has reason to concern you, consider activating a timeout on your account or contact customer support to receive further advice.

Protect Your Kids

It’s illegal for anyone under 18 to open a casino account in the UK, and we take all the necessary precautions to ensure we do not attract or target minors. All accounts are fully age-verified before anyone can play, and if an account cannot be verified for any reason it is suspended, and no play can go ahead.

Whilst you and your children might be spending more time at home, there are measures you can take to ensure that your children aren’t exposing to gambling sites:

  • Do not play in front of your children or minors.
  • Log out as soon as you’ve finished playing.
  • Keep any card details secure and out of reach.
  • Do not use auto-fill for email addresses, passwords and other account details such as usernames.
  • If you share your computer with people who are not yet of age, you can install software such as NetNanny to monitor, limit and protect your family from harmful content.

A Final Word Of Advice

Do not gamble if you feel anxious, tired or frustrated, and do not let your gambling get in the way of your daily activities. Gambling is not a solution to financial problems and should be done with your entertainment budget, not with your phone bill or rent money.

Decide how much you can afford to lose before you start playing, and remember once it’s gone, it’s gone. Apart from setting monetary limits, set yourself a time limit or a particular time window for play.

Get More Help

Should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.

How to play Carousel & Game Rules – PlayingCardDecks.com

(Above is an ending layout from a game of Carousel Rummy)

(Above is an ending layout from a game of Carousel Rummy)

Card Game Rules

Carousel is a Rummy type game for 2-5 players. For 2 players, Carousel requires a standard deck of 52 playing cards and 1 Joker. For 3-5 players, Carousel requires 2 standard decks of 52 playing cards and 2 Joker. In Carousel Aces can be High or Low, however they cannot connect a King and 2. The objective of Carousel is to play all of your cards by melding them.

If you are looking for cards to play Carousel with, check out a standard deck here or one of our newest arrivals here.

For more Rummy type games, check out our guides for Canasta and Gin.

Set-Up

Before game play can begin, a dealer must be selected. Each player draws one card from a shuffled deck. The player with the lowest card becomes the dealer. Ties are broken by a redraw.

The dealer then shuffles the deck and passes out ten cards one at a time to each player. The remaining cards form the stock pile.

How to Play

Starting with the player left of the dealer, players try to meld off as much cards as they can. A player begins their turn by first drawing from the stock. If they cannot make any melds with their cards, they draw another card from the stock. If they still can’t make any melds, they draw a final card from the stock and end their turn, even if they can make a meld with the drawn card. 

Notably, a player may rearrange all of the melded cards as long as they return to valid melds at the end of their turn.

Melds

A player makes a meld by either having three or more of a kind or by having three or more of a run. A run is made of three or more cards of the same suit in increasing or decreasing order. When a player makes a meld they lay it face up on the table. 

Melds are communal, meaning once a meld is made, another player can continue the sequence/set with their own cards.

Joker

Jokers are wildcards. If a player has the card that the Joker is replacing, they can swap the two and get the joker to make their own melds. 

Knocking

Once a player has a hand of 5 or less points, a player can choose to “knock” and end the round.

Scoring

In Carousel:

Jokers are worth 25 points.

Face cards are worth 10 points.

Cards 2-10 are worth their face value.

Aces are worth 1 point.

Once somebody Knocks, the player with the least number of points in their hand wins the difference between their opponents’ hand and their own.

If a player Knocks after playing all of their cards, they win a 25 point bonus.

If a player Knocks while somebody else has a lower hand than them, the person with the lower hand wins the points for the round and a 10 point bonus.

For more information about Carousel, check out The Rummy Rule book here or Pagat.com’s article here.

Looking for more card games to play?  Check out this article:

40+ Great Card Games For All Occasions

About the author: John Taylor is a content writer and freelancer through the company Upwork.com. You may view his freelancing profile here. He has a B. A. in English, with a specialty in technical writing, from Texas A&M University and a M. A. in English from the University of Glasgow. You may view his previous articles about card games here and his LinkedIn profile here.

John Taylor Head shot

Last update date: 08/29/20

OLG’s PROLINE Is Where Pros Play

Picking 12 winning teams across multiple sports in a single day is no easy task, but that’s exactly what Joe from Cambridge, ON, did on a cold January day when he chose the victors across a series of a dozen hockey and basketball games.

Once the Florida Panthers finished off the Colorado Rockies late that evening – a game Joe called “a nail-biter until the end” – the Ontario construction worker netted nearly $80,000 on a $10 parlay ticket playing PROLINE.

With 12 games needing to go his way, the odds were not in Joe’s favour. In fact, they were stacked against him by a factor of about 8000 to 1. If he played such a ticket once per week for his entire life, chances are he’d never win. No matter the odds, though, there are no guaranteed outcomes when it comes to sports gambling. Anything can happen. Joe trusted his gut and used his own knowledge of the teams and sports he wagered on. And in this case, his risk paid off.

When playing odds like that, never assume a win is in the cards. Play for the fun of playing. Winning, if it happens, is just the sugar on top.

May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favour

You’re never guaranteed to win when placing a bet. An undefeated team going up against the worst in the league still has a very real chance of losing. No outcomes are certain. That’s a huge part of the thrill of sports, and it’s also the main part of the fun of betting.

Betting odds are calculated by teams of sports analysts who use algorithms that take into consideration an enormous variety of factors that affect the chances of a team winning or losing a particular contest. The goal is to provide players a clear picture of how likely it is that one team will best another so that they can make informed wagering decisions.

But there’s no such thing as a sure bet. Great athletes can make errors or get hurt, and mediocre teams can find their groove and rally to come back. Consider your bets money spent, and never count on a big return.

How to Play Smart

The best way to play smart is to set a bankroll (that’s wagering talk for budget). Decide the limit you’re willing to spend on betting each day, week, or month with no expectation of earning anything back. Once you hit that limit, stop – regardless of whether you’re up or down. Don’t try to win back your losses. And know to quit when you’re ahead – losing your winnings can hurt as much as watching your favourite team blow a three-goal lead in the final period.

Learn more about wagering, too. Get to know the different markets – the types of outcomes you’re betting on, like over/under and point spread – so that you can make better decisions on game results you think may happen. And make sure you have a handle on how odds are calculated using the decimal, American, and fractional systems to better understand your chances of winning.

Whatever you do, don’t fall into the trap of thinking a particular team is due for a win, or that a winning streak is bound to be snapped. Remember that the 1993 Dallas Mavericks lost 39 of their first 41 games, and that the 1972 Miami Dolphins won all 14 regular-season and all three postseason games for a perfect season. There’s no telling how many games a team will win or lose before their fortunes change!

Play for the Fun of the Game

Betting is a game – and much like the sports we bet on, the reason it’s fun is because of the mixture of skill and luck involved. It’s our chance to put a little skin in the game.

Setting your knowledge and understanding of sports, teams, and players against the odds established by sports analysts is thrilling and often gratifying. If it comes with a payout – as it did for Joe – great!

The key is to never expect a win. Placing bets is a thrill, but no bets are sure. That’s the best mindset for playing smart.

How to Play Live Casino Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the easiest casino table games to grasp, but it can take you a little longer to master. With the aid of this comprehensive guide on how to play blackjack, we can equip you with the skillset and knowledge to have fun even when you are sat playing against a real dealer in the LiveRoulette live casino.

With over 20 live blackjack tables to choose from at LiveRoulette, there is always an opportunity to play a basic hand of blackjack or dabble with some of the side bet variants that can switch-up your gameplay. Before you get started, why not familiarise yourself with the basics of blackjack and get to grips with an optimal strategy to minimise the house edge.

The on-screen layout of a live blackjack table

From the moment you load up your live casino blackjack table, you will meet a friendly, professionally trained dealer to manage your game. You can see the seven-player seats around the table. Vacant seats will say ‘Sit Here’ and you only need to click to join the action.

The display of your account balance is in the bottom left corner of the screen and you can choose the size of your stake in the ‘Total Bet’ button next to it. Click the inner circle of your seat position once to bet one unit. You can also click on the side bet areas to place additional bets if you wish.

It’s possible to chat with the dealer and the other players at the table in real-time using the ‘Lobby’ button in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Card values in live blackjack

The values of cards in a game of blackjack are easy to follow. They correspond to their numerical value displayed on the card. Face cards (Jack, Queen and King) are worth ten, while an Ace can be worth either one or 11 and played however you see fit.

In-play actions available in live blackjack

Hit

By ‘hitting’, you’re requesting an additional card from the dealer to try and improve your hand(s). You can continue to hit cards until your hand value is 21 or greater.

Stand

You can choose to stand on your hand, which means that you are happy with the value of your cards and don’t require any more from the deck. You may choose to stand your hand to avoid exceeding 21 and going bust.

Split

When a dealer gives you two cards of equal value, you can split them. Splitting turns these cards into two separate hands, with the dealer giving you one additional card for each hand. You must pay to split. The additional bet must be equal to your starting stake.

Double Down

If you believe one additional card will improve your hand to defeat the dealer, you may choose to double down. You’ll only get one more card from the deck and you must double your starting stake.

Insurance

Whenever the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, the dealer will offer you an insurance side bet which can cover your losses if the dealer has a blackjack.

How many hands can you play in live blackjack?

You can play as many hands as you want at most live blackjack tables. Wherever there is a vacant seat at the table, you can normally use it to play multiple hands in different seats – providing you have the bankroll for it. Unlike other card games such as Texas Hold’em Poker, where it’s not possible to take up multiple seats at a table, you can do so in blackjack because you are not playing against the other players at the table, only the dealer’s hand.

What does bet behind mean?

At some live casino blackjack tables, you may have the option to ‘bet behind’ another active player at the table. This means that you will be betting on your chosen player’s hand to beat the dealer’s hand. Although you will have no say or control over how the hand turns out, you obviously have a choice as to which player you choose to bet behind.

Each active player at the table will have icons displayed next to their name, displaying how well they are playing. Those on a ‘hot’ or winning streak will usually have a gold medal or star next to their name.

How does the dealer play their hand?

You should now know how to play your blackjack hand at the tables, but do you know how the dealer plays their own hand? Put simply, if the dealer’s first two cards add up to 16 or less, they must hit and take an additional card. If their first two cards value is between 18 and 21, they must stand and take no further cards.

If the dealer has a ‘hard’ 17, they must stand. A hard 17 is a hand that does not contain an ace or has one or more aces with the value at one. If the dealer has a ‘soft’ 17, they must hit and take an additional card. A soft 17 is a hand that does contain an ace with the value being at 11.

The dealer’s hand automatically wins the round if your hand busts, or if the option is available to surrender your hand and half of your original stake. Their hand also wins if it is closer to 21 than yours. If you and the dealer have hands of the same value, then this is a ‘push’. In this event, you receive your original stake in full due to the tied game.

It’s worth noting that the dealer has very little say in how they play their hand. They must adhere to the house rules of standing on hard 17 and hitting on soft 17. Under no circumstances can they change tac and play their hand differently.

Available payouts at the blackjack tables

First and foremost, if you win a hand of live blackjack against the dealer’s hand, you will win a payout worth 1:1. If you bet €10, you’ll receive €10 in winnings, plus your €10 stake back.

It’s a little less straightforward for blackjacks. Some tables payout 6:5 for blackjack, while others will pay 3:2. For example, if you bet €10 and get a blackjack at a 6:5 blackjack table, you’ll receive €12 in winnings, plus your €10 stake back. If you bet €10 and get a blackjack at a 3:2 blackjack table, you’ll get €15 in winnings, plus your €10 stake back.

If you choose to take out the insurance bet, this pays out at 2:1 in the event the dealer lands a natural two-card blackjack.

Side bets in live blackjack

Although bet behind is also considered a side bet option, there are two primary side bets that you can place when sat at most of our live blackjack tables:

  • 21+3
    Let’s start with the 21+3 side bet. This one happens around the first two cards you receive, as well as the dealer’s visible ‘upcard’. If you can form a three-card poker hand using your first two cards and the dealer’s upcard (flush, straight, straight flush or three-of-a-kind) you will win a payout. The size of the payout depends on what kind of poker hand you can form. It typically ranges from 5:1 for a flush through to 100:1 for three-of-a-kind cards of the same suit.
     
  • Perfect Pairs
    Perfect Pairs is the second most popular side bet you’ll find at our live blackjack tables. This optional side bet requires you to find matching card values, card colours or, better still, two identical cards. You can win 5:1 for a Mixed Pair, such as a pair of eights of different suits. You can win 12:1 for a Coloured Pair, like a pair of sixes of the same colour i.e. diamonds or hearts. Finally, you can also bag 25:1 payouts for a Perfect Pair, which is two identical cards.

Understanding optimal strategy in live blackjack

The key to giving yourself the best chance of winning at the live casino blackjack tables is to adopt a smart strategy. A smart strategy is one that minimises the game’s house edge. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the betting techniques you should employ as part of an optimal blackjack strategy:

  • Doubling down on 10 and 11
    Some casinos will only allow players to double down on hands when their initial two-card hand is worth 10 or 11. Doubling down on 10 or 11 is a powerful play, particularly if the dealer’s hand is lower. It may even be prudent to double down when your hand is worth nine and the dealer’s hand is of a lower value still.
     
  • Splitting Aces and 8s
    If you have a pair of aces in your hand, this is a hard or soft total of 12. This is rarely a good situation to be in. There’s a high probability of landing a face card or a ten with your next card and going bust. Splitting them gives you a chance to potentially land two blackjacks or two cards valued higher than 12.

    A pair of eights is a hard total of 16, which means there are plenty of cards in the deck that could bust your hand when you hit. Splitting your eights into two hands gives you a chance to land a ten on both hands to achieve 18, which is a respectable outcome in this scenario.
     

  • Avoid taking Insurance
    Whenever the dealer’s upcard is an ace, you will get the chance to buy ‘Insurance’. This requires you to pay half the size of your original stake as a side bet, which pays out 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack, ensuring you break even for the hand. The dealer will not have a blackjack more than 50% of the time, so Insurance is a statistically bad play – unless you are certain their next card will be a ten.
     
  • Surrender 16 against a ten (if allowed)
    If early or late ‘Surrender’, the best time to use it is when you have a hand value of 16 against the dealer’s ten. There are plenty of cards in the deck that can bust your hand and a similar amount that can give the dealer’s hand an unassailable advantage. That’s why it makes more sense to cut your losses and surrender half your stake in this position.

Live blackjack variations

Not content with conventional live blackjack games? We’ve got you covered. At LiveRoulette, you can immerse yourself in three different blackjack variations. All of which offer exciting, fast-paced gameplay, available on all desktop and mobile devices.

Speed Blackjack

Are you short on time? If you don’t have a moment to waste, Speed Blackjack could be the ideal solution for you. Powered by LiveRoulette partner Evolution Gaming, Speed Blackjack accelerates the gameplay wherever possible. The first two cards play as normal, but the next step is completely different.

In Speed Blackjack, the quickest players to make their decision to stand, hit, split or double down will play first with the dealer. It reduces the waiting time for experienced players that know what they are doing, even if it does not provide a mathematical edge to your action.

Infinite Blackjack

If you are someone that can only devote time to playing live blackjack during ‘peak’ hours, the chances are that most live blackjack tables will be full of players when you log in. There’s no need to worry about not being able to play though, thanks to our Infinite Blackjack tables.

As the name suggests, these low bet limit tables cater to an unlimited number of players, with no need to wait for a seat to become available. That’s because all active players receive a ‘community’ two-card hand. Subsequently, each player can play the remainder of the hand however they wish. There are no less than four side bets to choose from too.

Blitz Blackjack

Blitz Blackjack, powered by LiveRoulette partner NetEnt, operates on the same principle as Infinite Blackjack. All players receive the same two cards on-screen from the dealer and are then given the option to hit, stand and split the two cards to make the remainder of the hand their own. Again, there is no limit on the number of players that can play at these tables, which is great for peak hour gaming.

Blackjack is not a complex or scary casino game. You can grasp it within minutes and start to enjoy yourself at the tables of our Canadian online casino!

18+ | Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly |  Terms & Conditions apply

How to play Faro & Game Rules with Video – PlayingCardDecks.com

(This is the typical set up for the game Faro)

(This is the typical set up for the game Faro)

Card Game Rules

Faro is a historical casino game for two or more players. It requires a standard 52 card deck, an extra set of 13 cards for each rank, a set of betting chips for each player, and a penny for each player. In Faro, Aces are low and Kings are high. The objective is to win the most bets. 

If you are looking for cards to play Faro with, check out a standard deck here or check out one of our recent arrivals here.

For more casino games, check out our guides for In-Between and Baccarat.

You can also find an 1882 rule book to Faro here.

Set-Up

To set-up a game a Faro, place the extra 13 cards in two rows face up in the middle of the playing table. These cards make up the tableau. From the top left going right, the card order should be King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, and 8. The 7 should be placed to the right of and halfway down from the 8. The 6 should then be placed to the left of the 7 and directly below the 8. From the 6 going left, the card order should be 5, 4, 3, 2, and Ace.

The dealer sits opposite of the players with a faced down deck of shuffled cards in-front of them. Players bring their own chips to bet with. Every player receives a penny to bet against cards with.

 

How to Play

The dealer begins the game by showing everyone the top card of the deck. The card is then placed face up to the side of the gameplay area. Players then place bets on one of the cards in the tableau. Next the dealer draws two card from the deck and places them face up for all the players to see. The first card is the loser. The second card is the winner. Bets on the first card are lost. Bets on the second card receive 1:1 payout from the dealer.

The flipped over cards are placed to the side and another round begins. Players can move their bets around, keep them where they were or begin placing bets on multiple cards. Multiple players can bet on the same card. Gameplay continues until the deck runs out.

 

Misc. Rules

A player can bet that the winning card is higher than the losing card by placing chips next to the deck. Payout is 1:1.

A player can bet on the losing card by placing a penny on top of their chip. 

When the deck has three cards left, players can bet on the order of the final draw.

If the losing and winning cards are of the same rank, then the dealer receives half of the bet made.

If a player places a bet on a card that has already been drawn four times from the deck, the first person (player or dealer) who notices can say “dead bet” and receive the chips.

History

(A game of Faro in 1895)

(A game of Faro in 1895)

Faro was first played in 18th century France. It was named after the picture of an Egyptian pharaoh that appeared on many French playing cards. The game spread eastward towards Russia and eventually reached the American West in the 1800’s. By 1925, the game became virtually extinct as Baccarat and Blackjack took over as the more popular games at casinos.

For more information about Faro, check out David Parlett’s article here or Pagat.com’s article here.

 

Looking for more card games to play?  Check out this article:

40+ Great Card Games For All Occasions

About the author: John Taylor is a content writer and freelancer through the company Upwork.com. You may view his freelancing profile here. He has a B. A. in English, with a specialty in technical writing, from Texas A&M University and a M. A. in English from the University of Glasgow. You may view his previous articles about card games here and his LinkedIn profile here.

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Last update date: 0/25/21

How to Play Roulette and Where You Can Find It for Free

Roulette is a casino game with an infinite number of spins.

Players bet on the outcome of the ball in the roulette wheel, or its position relative to numbers on the board or in relation to other numbers.

The game is played by placing bets with chips on various portions of the roulette table, which can correspond either to numbers, colors, or even whether the player is betting “even” or “odd”.

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Roulette is a game played with a spinning wheel that has slots for placing bets. In this game, the players place their chips on the table as they choose one of the numbers or colors on the wheel. The croupier spins the wheel and then spins it again after all of the players have placed their bets.

In order to win, you have to bet on a number or color that is coming up in a random fashion under one of those two spins. You can also bet on a specific range of numbers or colors by putting your chips at the back edge of those numbers or colors. There is also an option called “outside bets” which are any other number outside of 0 and 00 that you can place your bet on.

The odds at winning roulette