Game On, Girl: Your Smart Start to Playing Casino Games Online

Are you ready to flip the script on online betting? This isn't a man's game anymore. It isn’t dominated by football and rugby bets. In fact, a very different type of punter has begun to emerge over the last couple of years: smart, strategically-minded Women are crafting new blueprints to betting success in the online casino space. Ready to join the movement? Here’s your guide to getting started in the world of online casinos.

Getting to Grips with Slots

The first thing you should be doing as a new online casino player is getting to grips with online slots. There’s so much more to these flashy games than mindless spinning. Understanding RTP and Volatility and how these concepts affect you based on your budget is important.

For example, if you’re a bit of a thrill-seeker and you’ve got a bigger budget to sustain your gameplay over longer periods, then high-volatility games are for you. The converse is true if you’ve got a smaller bankroll. Low volatility games – which payout more frequently but in smaller amounts – keep you in the action for longer despite not having a massive budget.

It’s also worth looking for games that offer high-RTP. The term RTP refers to the percentage of total money bet on a game which is paid back to players over an extended period of time. The general rule of thumb? Look for games with an RTP of 96.5% or higher.

Don't Be Afraid of the Tables

Don’t be intimidated by online casino table games! Forget the pressure of brick-and-mortar casinos. Lucky Fish’s games give you space to learn while you place. Want to watch before you play? No problem. You can ease into the action when you’re ready.

There are also loads of variations of our Roulette and Blackjack tables, all with different minimum and maximum bets. This means that there is a table in our game suite that will suit your budget. Not all bets are created equal.

Roulette

Avoid any “American” versions of Roulette. These games feature wheels with two zero pockets, pushing the house edge further in favour of the casino. It’s better to play the even money bets – Red/Black, Odd/Even etc. These bets keep you in the game for longer and allow you to gradually build up your balance.

Blackjack

Let’s be honest, Blackjack is an intimidating game. The rules appear complicated and there are a number of decisions that need to be made with each hand. Using a basic strategy card like the one below takes all the guesswork out of proceedings. Combine this with playing at tables where the dealer stands on soft 17, Blackjack pays out at 3/2, you’re allowed to re-split Aces, and you could keep the house edge as low as 0.5%.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Card

The card below indicates what you should be doing based on your hand versus the dealer’s. Before looking at the card, here are some key terms that you’ll need to understand:

Hard Hands v Soft Hands: A soft hand in Blackjack includes an Ace that is counted as an 11 without busting the hand. A hard hand either does not contain an Ace or contains an Ace that must be counted as a 1, because a value of 11 will bust the hand.
Double Down: Doubling Down lets you double your initial bet in exchange for receiving exactly one more card.
Splitting: Splitting lets you convert a hand of two cards of the same rank into two separate hands. This requires a second bet equal to the first bet.

| Hand Type | Player Total / Pair | Dealer Showing 2–6 | Dealer Showing 7–A | |---------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------------| | HARD | 4–8 | HIT | HIT | | | 9 | DOUBLE | HIT | | | 10 or 11 | DOUBLE | DOUBLE (if more than dealer) | | | 12–16 | STAND | HIT | | | 17–21 | STAND | STAND | | SOFT | 13–15 | HIT | HIT | | | 16–18 | DOUBLE | HIT | | | 19–21 | STAND | STAND | | SPLITS | 2/2, 3/3, 6/6, 7/7, 9/9 | YES | NO | | | 8/8, A/A | YES | YES | | | 4/4, 5/5, 10/10 | NO | NO |

Mastering Bankroll Basics

We’re saving the most important for last here! Master your bankroll and you’re already on your way to a more enjoyable, empowered experience! Firstly, decide on what your bankroll is. What is a bankroll? Simply put, it’s the total amount of money you’ve set aside for betting – your betting budget if you will. Follow these basic bankroll rules to keep your gaming experience enjoyable:

Set Your Budget Before You Start Playing

This one goes without saying, but make sure you set your budget before you start playing. If you’ve set aside R500 for the week to bet, ensure that you break it down into sessions. Five sessions means that you’ll have R100 to play with per session.

Use the 5% Rule

Don’t bet more than 5% of your total bankroll on a single wager – that means your maximum bet with a bankroll of R100 should be R5. Stick to this rule even if you manage to snag a big win. In fact, winning R500 on a bet shouldn’t affect your R100 bankroll. Your winnings are your winnings! Don’t feed them back into your budget.

Walk Away if You Lose 50% of Your Bankroll

Losing half of your bankroll in a session means it’s time to take a break. Chasing your losses leads to frustration and a loss of control. When your strategy goes out the window, your chances of winning plummet. Take a breather, stick to your plan when you come back and play with clarity.

Wrapping Up

Now that you've got the basic tools at your disposal, are you ready to take the plunge? Whether you’re spinning reels, doubling down, or placing your first bet, the power is in your hands. Register with Lucky Fish today and take your online casino experience to the next level with the strategies outlined above. Because fortune doesn’t favour the brave, it favours the prepared!