Maximize Your Wins: Card Games With Best Odds At Online Casinos In Australia
If you’re considering trying your luck at an online casino in Australia, it pays to do your research. That’s because choosing card games with the best odds helps improve your chances of winning! Here are some of our top picks, with some tips to get you started.
1. Blackjack
Blackjack is an excellent choice that offers one of the lowest house edges of any online card game. Depending on the casino, the house edge can be as low as 0.5%.
What is the house edge?
The house edge refers to the mathematical advantage a casino has over a player. It’s expressed as a percentage and calculated based on each game’s different payouts and rules. Typically, games with a high house edge (like Pokies and Keno) usually favour the casino, while low house edge games favour the player.
To show you just how low the house edge is for Blackjack, let’s compare it against another online casino game – European roulette. This game of roulette has an average house edge of approximately 2.7%, which means the casino makes a profit of 2.7% from all money wagered. In Blackjack, the casino only makes a profit of 0.5%.
How to play Blackjack
When playing Blackjack, your aim is to reach a hand total of 21 (or as close to it as possible) while beating the dealer’s hand. If you exceed 21, you lose.
Blackjack is a combination of skill and luck. By learning some basic Blackjack strategies and keeping a close eye on the game you can reduce the house edge even further.
Another factor that influences house edge is the number of decks the online casino uses for the game. One deck is ideal as it helps keep the house edge down. The more you add, the higher the house rate.
2. Baccarat
Baccarat has some of the best odds available in online casinos. It offers three different betting options. You can bet on who you think will win; the Player or the Banker. Or you can bet on a tie. Be mindful that the tie doesn’t give as good odds as backing a clear winner.
The house edge ranges from around 1.06% for betting on the banker to 1.24% for the player bet. The rules are simple, so it makes a great choice if you’re a beginner card player.
How to play
For each round the dealer starts by dealing four cards face up – two to the player and two to the banker. To play, you need to guess which hand you think will be closer to nine in value and bet on it before the cards are dealt.
Unlike some other card games, you don’t need to worry about complicated strategies. Aside from a tie, which is pretty unlikely, there’s a 50/50 chance that the player or banker will win. It really is the luck of the drawer!
3. Online Poker
Poker is another popular card game that offers favorable odds, particularly for experienced players. There are a few different variations of online poker to choose from, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Seven-Card Stud. You’ll typically play against other players rather than the house, which can help you to win more consistently. All you need is a little skill and gameplay.
Each variant of poker has its own unique gameplay and rules. But they’re all based on a basic poker game. The number of cards you get and whether they’re dealt facing up or down can vary depending on the type of poker and the casino. Check the rules before you get started.
How to play
You’re typically dealt five cards and then you place your bets. You can discard three cards (or sometimes four depending on the game) and pick up as many cards from the deck as you’ve discarded. Your goal is to put together a stronger poker hand than your opposition.
When you receive your additional cards you need to work out if you’re going to check (start the betting but decline the opportunity), bet/call (where you match another player’s bet) or fold your cards. Every time one player makes a decision the opportunity to bet passes to the next player.
Once betting finishes, the flop is dealt, which is three face-up cards. This helps to see what other cards are still available. A fourth face up card is then dealt to help build a better hand, followed by another round of betting before a final card is dealt face up. One more round of betting occurs before the winner with the best hand is revealed.
Different Types Of Poker
Here are some of the most common forms of online poker available:
Video poker
There are different versions of video poker in online casinos, such as Jacks or Better, All American Poker, Joker Poker and Deuces Wild. Each has some differentiating factors, such as wild cards or specific requirements for a payout, but follow the basic rules of poker. Check the house edge before you play as it differs between games.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em
This poker game is a casino adaptation of the Texas Hold’em game, which first gained popularity in land-based casinos in the 1970s. Players play against the dealer, and the house edge is usually around 2.2% on the initial bet. Increasing subsequent bets can help lower the house edge further.
Three Card Poker
Three Card Poker combines elements of online casino games with traditional poker. You’ll compete against the dealer’s hand and your goal is to make the best possible three-card hand. It offers a fast-paced game with a house edge of around 2% on your initial bet and 3.37% on subsequent bets.
Strategies To Increase Your Odds
If you’re serious about winning in online poker, it’s worth learning about various poker strategies. The below can help increase your odds of winning when playing in an online casino.
Bluffing
One of the biggest strategies for any online poker player is bluffing. It involves making bets with not much chance of success in the hope that your opponent will assume you have a strong hand and fold – so you win the pot. This can require nerves of steel and can be challenging for many!
Check Raising
This refers to when a player checks after an opponent has made his/her first bet. You’re basically countering their advantage. You can use it to build the size of the pot, while putting the pressure on your opponent.
Continuation Betting
This strategy involves betting after the flop. It can force opponents off their holdings as it shows you’ve got a strong hand. It can be effective late in a game, giving you control over the pot and bluffing against opponents successfully.
Card Games In Australian Casinos
The Australian online gambling market is massive, and it continues to grow each year. There are plenty of online casinos to explore, with a wide range of card games on offer. This year in Australia (and Oceania), revenue in the online gambling market is expected to reach over US$10 billion, with the average user projected to amount to just under US $2,000.
Choosing card games with favourable odds can significantly impact your chances of winning. As with all types of online gambling, it’s important to understand the odds and consider the risks when deciding which card game is right for you.
*Photo credit: Pixabay/Printergy