Although playing at online casinos is largely a matter of luck, there are some mistakes that new players make which tend to harm their winning chances.
In this article, we’ll reveal the top five mistakes new casino online players make and how you can avoid them to maximise your winning potential.
Playing at the wrong online casino is the first mistake new players tend to make. Choosing a secure online casino is the first and most essential step to ensuring an enjoyable, fair, and safe gaming experience.
The first thing any new player should check is the casino’s licence and security certifications to pick the best online casino.
Playing at an unlicensed and unregulated casino creates the risk of issues with withdrawing winnings or even unfair game results.
A casino should also have security measures like data encryption and trustworthy payment methods.
Another practical tip for choosing an online casino with real money games that you can trust is to check player reviews and feedback.
Before signing up, check whether any complaints have been filed against the casino and what the general feedback about the operator is.
More importantly, check reviews on reliable platforms with verified players.
Next, let’s discuss the importance of setting and managing a gambling budget to minimise the risk of major losses. Many players underestimate the importance of effectively managing their bankroll.
The first step to setting a gambling budget is to decide on the amount you want to spend on the game.
Whether you’re playing online slots or trying your hand at online poker, you should always have a clear budget in mind.
More importantly, it should be an amount you can afford to lose. After all, you never know if you’ll win or lose when gambling online, and without a fixed amount, it’s easy to overspend.
Here are some practical tips you can follow to manage your bankroll effectively when playing any casino game with real money:
One of the most common beginner mistakes many players make is playing casino games without checking the game rules or understanding how they work.
Besides familiarising yourself with the game rules, it’s also essential to understand some basic terms like RTP to ensure you make the right decisions and choose the right games.
Although you may already be familiar with the rules of a game, it’s always a good idea to refresh your memory and review them before playing.
Additionally, remember that many games, like online blackjack and online roulette, can be found in many variants.
The rules, bets, and payouts may vary slightly for each variant, so you’ll want to check the game information and rules before playing.
The RTP rate is among the most important terms to learn when playing real-money casino games.
This refers to the return-to-player rate, the theoretical percentage a game pays back to players based on the total amount wagered on it.
Many players mistakenly understand this to be the amount they can win when they play the game, failing to understand that the RTP is calculated over at least one million spins.
What’s good to remember about the RTP is that the higher it is, the better your winning chances.
Therefore, you should always check the RTP percentage and choose games with an RTP of at least 96%, which is the average rate for most games.
While most online casino games like slot machines, online roulette, and baccarat are solely luck-based games, there are some games where your skills can influence the outcome.
Although the element of luck or chance can never be eliminated, games like blackjack and poker require skills and strategy to play correctly, which means the decisions you make in the game can impact your winning odds.
On the contrary, when you play games like slots, there’s nothing you can do to influence the odds, so it’s good to explore other strategy-based games occasionally.
These games are particularly fun to play at live casino online sites because the pace is faster, and you can play with a real dealer and other players.
And if you’re unsure of the rules or need some practice, you can always play a demo version first.
Another common mistake many rookie players make is failing to check online casino bonuses they can use to boost their balance or earn Free Spins.
New players are generally eligible to receive a Welcome Offer, but most casinos also offer bonuses and promotions for existing players.
Checking the applicable terms and conditions is even more important than claiming the top online casino bonuses in the UK.
Sometimes, what looks like the best online casino bonus turns out to be unfavourable once you look at the T&Cs.
Many players skip reading the terms and are disappointed when they realise that the maximum winnings are unfairly capped or that the wagering requirements are unreasonable.
Remember, casino bonuses are always optional, and you can always play with your funds if you prefer.
However, if you’re going to claim an online casino bonus, these are the most essential terms to look out for and understand before depositing.
| Terms | Definition |
|---|---|
| Wagering/Playthrough Requirement | The number of times you’ll need to wager the deposit or bonus amount (sometimes both) before you can request a withdrawal. You’ll forfeit the bonus if you withdraw any amount before completing the wagering. |
| Minimum Deposit | The minimum amount you must deposit to receive the bonus. |
| Maximum Bonus | The maximum bonus amount you can receive, regardless of the deposit amount. |
| Maximum Winnings | Many casinos limit the maximum winnings you can withdraw when playing with bonus money. If you win more than this amount, you can only withdraw the maximum. |
| Game Contribution Rates | Games usually contribute different percentages to the wagering requirement, so it’s important to check these to ensure you’re playing games that contribute 100% so you can complete the wagering quicker. |
Whenever you join a new online casino, remember to check for any loyalty rewards or VIP programs you can join.
These could be a great way to unlock extra rewards like deposit bonuses, cashback offers, and Free Spins, just by playing real money casino games.
One of the most common but overlooked mistakes players make when playing online casino games is forgetting the basic principles of responsible gambling.
From chasing losses to playing without any limits, players can quickly rack up major losses.
Whenever players are unlucky at an online casino, they often make the mistake of depositing more money to try and win back what they’ve lost.
This is known as chasing losses, and most of the time, it leads to even bigger losses. For this reason, it’s crucial to know when to stop by setting a predetermined budget before playing.
Remember, winning is never guaranteed, and it’s important to accept your losses and take a break when you don’t get lucky.
Any reputable online casino in the UK offers various responsible gambling tools to help you stay in control of the amount of time and money you spend on gambling.
The best way to ensure you play responsibly is by using tools like the ones listed below as soon as you sign up. This way, you won’t be tempted to exceed your limits.