Best Online Casino Strategies | Play for Free or Real Money and Win

Darko Ilievski by Darko Ilievski Reading time: 21min

In almost every type of game that you can find online, you'll find that some ways to play are better than others and give you greater opportunities to get the result that you want. This is why it's so important to use winning casino strategies in real money games to maximize your chances of landing the payouts that you're after and coming out ahead in your sessions. For the titles most popular among Canadian players, several types and degrees of these strategies are available, and we want to help you to learn them for your own benefit.

casino strategy

What does Casino Strategy Mean?

When you enjoy the different games available at your favorite casinos, you have certain decisions that you have to make. This includes things like which specific variations to go with as well as how much you wager on top of the choices that you make after the betting round has started. Knowing how the games work and how to make better decisions in light of that are the central ideas behind using our custom how to win casino strategies online. That's why, you can always rely on the Online-Casinos.ca guides to find the best tips and tricks in 2024.

How to Win Real Money With Online Casino Strategy - Choose the Right Games

Game selection is one of the most basic but also most important strategies to win at the casino. The main idea is that some titles within a genre will max out at a certain level of payout while others may allow for payout rates to go even higher. Perhaps the most well-known example is the comparison between American roulette and European roulette. While the former has a worse payout rate on every single bet available, they're virtually the same game in terms of what the player experiences. As such, it's generally better to go with the European variant.

blackjack guide

Blackjack Guide

The first game that many people think of when they think of needing to form up the best online casino strategy is blackjack. This is perhaps because casino blackjack strategies have been at the core of many popular books and television shows over the years, ranging from action movies about smooth protagonists at the table to thrillers about teams of players beating the house. A variety of strategic approaches are available, and there's a lot to learn for players at every level. In what follows below, we'll dive into several elements of getting better at this game.

  • Blackjack Rules

    Blackjack is based around the dealer receiving two cards, one of which is facing up, while you have two cards that you can see. Point totals are determined by the cards you are given, and you have the ability to use certain options to add more cards to your hand and manipulate the bet size. We dive into all of this in our page about the rules of blackjack. This includes a lot of breakdowns of the different variations out there and what makes each of them special compared to the others in the genre.

  • Casino Blackjack Strategy

    Improving at blackjack is all about learning how to choose tables, get the most from promotions and pick out the right options when playing to maximize your average return. However, counting cards is frequently not a casino blackjack strategy that is viable in the online environment because of the way the deck or shoe is shuffled so frequently. With that said, we do have full coverage of all of the strategies for blackjack that do work online as well as tips on how you can practice with yourself to learn these approaches quicker and easier.

  • Online Blackjack Winning Tips

    One of the things that's so interesting about blackjack is that you can offer individual tips to players that will improve their average return individually. That allows you to learn these casino tips and strategies at your own pace instead of feeling like you have to learn some sizable bulk of material all at once. In our breakdown of all of the most helpful blackjack winning tips, we walk you through the best individual tactics to learn that will provide serious, incremental boosts to your game that you can work through at your own pace without feeling rushed.

  • Hone Your New 21 Skills at Blackjack Ballroom

    Our recommended site for this game has to be Blackjack Ballroom. However, it's not only because of the game. They have a tremendous selection of over a dozen different table types and variations so that you can pick out a style that fits you as an individual. Additionally, Canadian players can earn a great 100% match up to C$150 on your initial deposit. From there, two more bonuses to the tune of 50% up to C$200 and 25% up to C$150 are up for grabs. These have reasonable 60x base wagering requirements with blackjack allowed for play.

roulette training

Roulette Training

For players who want something a little easier to jump right into, roulette is a good option for learning straightforward strategies that can be a lot of fun with little pressure. In fact, most casino roulette strategies take advantage of the fact that it's actually difficult to make mistakes that lower your payout rate by much. Instead, the majority of them are based around rearranging your bets in fun ways to manipulate the potential payouts that you can land. In the following, we'll give you a quick overview of the strategies available and what to expect.

  • Roulette Rules

    The rules of all roulette games are virtually the same with small differences. Overall, you'll have a ball that spins on a wheel with a range of numbers on it (typically 0-36). Before the spin, you place bets on individual numbers or ranges of numbers, and if the ball lands on a number you've chosen, you win a payout proportionate to the risk of the wager. In our guide to the rules of roulette, we'll show you the differences between the different styles as well as all of the ways to place the plethora of bets available on the table.

  • Casino Roulette Strategies

    Some of the best online casino strategies for roulette center around getting the best bonuses but also picking the right tables. The combination of these strategies by themselves can seriously improve your chances of winning during your sessions, and that's before you even get into ways to make bets at the tables. We'll teach you how to do all of this as well as different ways to structure your wagers to get the best winning chances in our coverage of the top roulette strategies available.

  • Online Roulette Winning Tips

    The first main tip that players get about roulette as a genre is typically about game selection. Knowing which types of tables will offer you the most favorable payout rates is a critical bit of knowledge to have and act on in this genre. We have a complete list of table types and RTPs along with lots of other useful information in our breakdown of winning roulette tips. The whole idea is to make sure that you know what you need to in order to get the best chances to come out ahead when you play.

  • Practice Playing Roulette at Spin Casino

    If you want a good value and a place to practice before you play for real money, Spin Casino is the place to be. They have demo versions of several styles of roulette that look and feel just like the real tables. Additionally, they offer up to C$1000 in rewards across your first three deposits. This includes 100% up to $400 on your first, 100% up to $300 on your second and 100% up to $300 on your third deposits. This offer has a $10 minimum deposit and is good for playing at the roulette tables as well.

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Online Slots Lessons

At any site out there in 2024, you'll find more slots than all other types of games combined. They're also the most popular genre by far because they're so easy to jump into and learn, but it's also because there are simply so many of them to pick from. Players who want to learn online casino slot strategy need to invest some time in a few different areas like learning the details of the rules, how game selection works and how to handle progressive jackpots. In the following, we'll give you more information about each of these elements.

  • Slots Rules

    Despite there being so many titles in the genre, the rules of most slots are pretty similar. In most cases, payouts are handled based on particular lines on the screen called paylines, or they're handled by getting at least one matching symbol on consecutive reels from left to right. Occasionally, you'll win based on getting matching symbols anywhere on the screen, but those are relatively rare. You can learn more about these different ways of getting paid and how all of the features and bonus rounds work in our overview of online slot rules.

  • Casino Slot Strategies

    The core idea behind any winning casino slot machine strategy is to make sure that you get the highest RTP percentage possible. Sometimes this means playing with certain betting types, and other times it can mean picking certain games or side bets. Our breakdown of the best slot strategies gives you plenty of details about the various approaches as well as the pros and cons of each, including how to get the most from the different types of bonus opportunities. This is often a key component of getting as much value as possible from the games that shouldn't be overlooked.

  • Real Money Casino Slots Winning Tips

    Many players want to just jump right in to playing without worrying too much about complicated strategies. For these players, we have a list of winning tips for slots that are quick and easy to understand while still giving a boost to your payout percentages. This can be as easy as some tricks on how to get better bonus offers or learning how to pick out the most favorable side bets that a particular type of game might offer.

  • Spin the Reels with No Risk at Zodiac Casino

    If you want to try out your own strategies without having to risk very much money, then Zodiac Casino has an excellent deal that you'll love. On your very first deposit for only $1, you'll pick up 80 free spins on a progressive title that can turn you into an instant millionaire. Additionally, up to $480 in other bonuses are available in total from your second, third, fourth and fifth deposits. All of these offers can be used to play slots as well, which means you're getting a great value in multiple ways at this casino.

basic casino strategy

Basic Online Casino Strategy

Across all of the different titles, there are common elements to online casino game strategy. While what you need to know about one particular game might vary a bit compared to the next, there are still plenty of important ideas and motifs that can make you a better all-around player. Down below, we'll dive a bit into each of these and what you can do to learn to get better at the entire collection of what's available at your favorite sites.

RNG and RTP

The best casino strategy for any individual table or game has to account for two factors. The first is RNG, which means random number generator, and is the program that creates the randomness on the screen for things like spinning a roulette wheel or dealing cards in a game of blackjack. To account for the RNG and randomness, you choose strategies based on all of the possibilities instead of just the one that you would like to have happen. This element of the situation is why titles like blackjack and video poker have more skill involved.

Next, you need to learn how to manage the RTP. This means return to player, and it's generally expressed as a percentage. For example, a 98% RTP means that, on average, 98% of all of the bets you place on a given game will be returned to players in the form of winnings. Maximizing your RTP is how options like game selection and table selection work. By making sure that you're getting the highest RTP available, you lower the house advantage and boost your chances of being ahead by the time that you're finished with your playing session.

Progressive Jackpots

The best online casino strategies for how to win the biggest payouts typically center around picking games that allow for those payouts in the first place. If you want to shoot for the biggest prizes available, then those generally come from progressive jackpot slots. These have a starting jackpot value that is then increased after every single real money wager placed on the game. The process of seeing this jackpot grow continues until someone wins the whole thing. From there, the starting value is reset, and it plays out again.

You can often win seven figures or more with these titles, so it's easy to see why they're the top pick.

Play to a Low Real Money Budget

Many online casino strategy tips are just as applicable to a large budget as a small one outside of basic bankroll management. For example, you'll never find anyone mention needing a lot of money in casino war strategy because the size of your bet doesn't change the RTP of the game. However, if you have a small budget in particular, this does give you some other options to take advantage of special promotions that people at higher stakes may not have. That's really the main place where your overall approach may change. However, it won't typically change how you approach the gameplay itself.

Best Games to Play in 2024

The top titles that allow for the best casino strategies online actually depend on what you're looking for in your experience. Some games are better for having particularly detailed approaches where you probably need to study up a bit ahead of time. However, others games are better for players who just want to jump in and get started with a few tips. Whether you are looking for some no skills games like slots or games that require strategy and skill such as blackjack or roulette, you'll find everything you need in our free game guides. In the table below, you'll find all the popular game genres and the operator we recommend as being the overall best for Canadian players in 2024.

Game Casino Slots Zodiac Casino Blackjack Blackjack Ballroom Roulette Spin Casino Bingo 888 Casino Video Poker Luxury Casino Scratch Cards Yukon Gold Card Games Captain Cooks

RNG Casino Strategies vs Live Dealer Strategy

When you're learning how to win with casino strategies in one type of game, it always translates to others to some degree. One example of this is looking at the RNG and live dealer versions of the same game like roulette. In most cases, something like European roulette is the exact same title with the same rules and payouts whether you're playing live or at a typical RNG table. Plenty of other comparable situations can be found when looking at the most popular options in the overall life dealer offering.

However, where this changes is when there's a major change to the format and/or set of payouts. A great example of this is something like Lightning Roulette that is not available in an RNG style format and instead only exists as a live dealer title. For titles like this, you won't really have a comparable RNG option to match it up with, so the best approaches to the game have to be worked out independently. That type of scenario aside, there's typically no real change in how you should approach things to get the best RTP rates available.

betting sytemes

Card Counting & Using Betting Systems

Betting systems and card counting are perhaps the two most popular general "umbrellas" for strategies used in casino games. The former involves manipulating the size of your wagers to try to achieve some aim, and the latter is about using some basic mathematics like addition and subtraction to try to gain some information about the composition of the remaining cards left to be dealt. Down below, we'll dive into each of these approaches and give you an idea of their strengths, limitations and games where they are applicable.

Card Counting Explained

Card counting is when you keep up with some sort of number that you either add or subtract from when certain cards are dealt, and it's an approach that can give you an approximation of the condition of the rest of the remaining deck or shoe of cards. Blackjack is the most popular game that can use this type of tactic, especially with something well-known like the Hi-Lo system, but it can be useful in some other games or situations like particular side bets for Baccarat.

The best thing is that it's a completely legal option that only involves using the information you're given from the cards in creative ways. With that said, it's not viable in online games in most cases. This is because it relies on scenarios where the cards are not shuffled after every hand when that's exactly what happens when you play on the Internet. For live dealer games with a shoe, it can provide a moderate improvement in your payout rate, but dealers typically don't go deep enough into the shoe for it to completely flip the tables on the house.

Betting Systems Explained

The idea behind a betting system is to simply increase or decrease the size of your wagers based on the outcome of your previous bet. While they are among the most used casino strategies online, especially in games with even money payouts like blackjack and roulette, they don't fundamentally change the payout rates of the games involved, so they can be a bit more about fun than changing the RTP. Popular systems incline the Martingale, where you double your wager after each loss until you hit a win and the Fibonacci that has a similar idea but instead of doubling after losses, you'll follow the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc.).

What About Strategy Charts?

In games like video poker and blackjack that have a lot of information that you need to keep up with to play correctly, many people refer to charts when choosing how to play their hands. These will give you the best casino strategies possible for games with skill elements like video poker, blackjack and some variations of table poker.

It's worth noting that they are completely legal to use online, and many sites will actually provide these charts within the game interface for convenience. How you handle these charts is up to you, but make sure that you have a chart for the correct variation of the game you're playing.

Online Casino Strategy Tips for Canadian Players

For Canadian players in particular, we have specific tips in what follows that will cover a lot of different types of games. These suggestions and approaches will help you to maximize your chances of getting ahead in the long run even though some of them have nothing to do with how you actually play the games themselves.

  1. If you stick to sites like the ones we have suggested that specifically cater to Canadian players, you'll have a much better experience.
  2. Sticking to trusted casinos that have a history and reputation in the industry for taking care of players is a must.
  3. Taking advantage of a large welcome bonus that accepts the titles that you're looking to play is a great way to add to your bottom line.
  4. For players who specifically want to "go big or go home," the progressive jackpot titles are usually the options that provide this style of play the best.
  5. Keep your bet sizes within your means, and do not bet more than you can afford to lose.
  6. Game selection is always something to pay attention to so that you're playing at the tables or with the variations of a particular title that can give the best payout rates.
  7. Use safe and secure banking methods like electronic wallets or Interac.
  8. Take the time to use the free play versions of games to learn the proper ways to play and to test out new ideas.
  9. Remember that the point is to have fun, and if you take things too seriously, it can detract from how much you actually enjoy it.

How To Win Casino Bonus Strategy - No Deposit Codes

A really cool casino bonus strategy is to focus on promotions that do not require a deposit. The idea is that it's all reward with little to no risk, which effectively maximizes your chances of a good result while minimizing your chances of a bad one. In the following, we'll show you the ins and outs of the different ways you can get bonus value without making a deposit while retaining opportunities to land real money prizes and payouts.

  • No Deposit Free Chip

    The most basic style of this type of promotion is a simple no deposit free chip. You'll have free funds added directly to your account by the site in question with a handful of terms and conditions. In most cases, you can only play slots with this type of deal, but some exceptions can be found here and there. You'll typically get between C$5 and C$20 with these deals that give you a free chip right out of the gate, and the main thing to keep in mind is what the terms and conditions allow you to play.

  • No Deposit Free Spins

    Another way to get in on the action without having to fund your account is a no deposit free spins deal. Instead of adding a chip to your account, no deposit free spins on a popular online slot are added instead. After you play those through, the winnings are accumulated and credited to your account as one singular bonus. That resulting bonus can often be used to play slots only, but sometimes you'll find that some other titles are also available. Getting up to 100 free spins is not rare, but you're typically looking at 20 to 50 in most cases.

  • VIP and Loyalty Rewards

    If you're an established player at a given site, it's possible to pick up bonuses with no deposit attached through the various loyalty programs and VIP rewards setups. In general, this works by giving you points for your real money play that are accumulated over time. From there, those points can be exchanged for bonuses that are credited straight to your account in many cases. This is another way to get in what are essentially free wagers, which is a great way to try to land low risk/high reward wins.

minimum deposit and welcome bonuses

Minimum Deposit, No Wagering, and Welcome Bonuses

A variety of different types of deposit bonuses are available at various levels, and they can be a part of an overall approach geared toward maximizing your chances of being ahead overall. What's really cool about this is that offers are available for players at all different levels of budget, so you're able to take part even if you're playing for stakes on the lower end of things. Down below, we'll give you an idea of the major categories of these deals that Canadian players can pick and choose from.

  • $1 Deposit Bonus $1 Deposit Bonus :

    Even at this low of a deposit level, you can get some good deals like free spin opportunities. We rate and review all the best $1 online casino for Canada where you can enjoy huge free spins deals on some of the best progressive jackpot slots such as Mega Moolah.

  • Deposit $5 Bonus Deposit $5 Bonus :

    For as little as five dollars, deposit bonuses and free spins can be added to your account to give you more ways to get paid. These special low deposit bonuses are a great way to get started and enjoy some big wins. You'll find great deals like deposit $5 and enjoy 100 chances to become an instant millionaire. Check out our best $5 minimum deposit bonuses for 2024 for more information.

  • $10 Casino Bonus $10 Casino Bonus :

    Many sites offer minimum deposits at the ten dollar level with a variety of promotions and other bonus offers. These bonuses aren't just for slots fans and can be used to play table games too. We review the best $10 minimum deposit sites for Canada in 2024 where you can get great bonuses including 150 chances to become a millionaire.

  • No Wagering Bonus :

    When no wagering requirements are involved, you can jump right into enjoying the value given from a bonus promo. No wagering bonuses mean you can cashout your winnings right away without having to clear any wagering requirements. Most no wagering bonuses include a deposit match offer and a batch of no wagering free spins. There are even some no deposit no wagering bonuses and you can find out more about these by visiting the no wagering bonus section of our website.

  • Welcome Packages :

    Getting started off on the right foot at a new site is important for the best chances of winning, and the value granted from these welcome bonus packages do just that. Welcome packages give you larger amounts of free cash to play with, often over $1,000. The bonuses are spread out over your first number of deposits and will often include a large quantity of free spins. The free spins are usually given in batches over a number of days. For more be sure to check out our latest recommended best welcome bonuses for real money Canadian players.

How To Find The Best Online Casino To Play in Canada

No matter how interested you are in strategy or which titles you prefer, you want to find the best site to play at based on your preferences as an individual. With our recommendations, you get to see the results of our detailed reviews and full ratings of all of the most popular options for Canadian players. This includes all of the newest online casinos as well because we want players to know what they have to choose from. However, before you sign up, there are specific criteria that you'll want to keep in mind, and we get into these in the following.

  1. Casino Reviews : Checking our reviews of the given site in question is always important because we've done the in-depth research on what they're actually like so that you don't have to.
  2. Licensing : The license(s) held by the casino you're considering are important in that they should be from reputable jurisdictions while also being in good status.
  3. Software : Which software providers are represented at a given site will determine your overall selection of titles.
  4. Games Library : If you're a fan of a specific set of genres, then having a deep selection of those types of options will help you to continue to have more games to try over a longer period of time.
  5. Payment Methods : Stick with the quickest and most reputable payment options overall, which includes the Interac option that's excellent for Canadian players, and consider using a crypto casino strategy to get lower fees and faster transactions.
  6. Reputation : The history that a site has built with players is a great indicator of whether or not they're currently taking care of the people who play there.
  7. Fair Gaming : A good licensing entity will regularly audit the games to make sure that they are fair and pay out at the rates advertised.
  8. Security : It's critical that the personal information and financial details of players are kept secure with high-level encryption and other methods.

Best Online Casinos in Canada To Play for Real Money in 2023

Our recommended options for Canadian casino fans have been fully vetted with reviews and rating-based breakdowns. While they're all great options, some are better for some types of players than others, which you'll see below.

  1. 1 Sign-Up Offer 100% Match Bonus Up To $1600
  2. 2 Sign-Up Offer 100% Match Bonus Up To $250
  3. 3 Sign-Up Offer 100% Match Bonus Up To $150
  4. 4 Sign-Up Offer 100% Match Bonus Up To $1200
  5. 5 Sign-Up Offer 100% Match Bonus Up To $475
  6. 6 Sign-Up Offer 100% Match Bonus Up To $750
  7. 7 Sign-Up Offer 100% Match Bonus Up To $1000
  8. 8 Sign-Up Offer 100% Match Bonus Up To $480
  9. 9 Sign-Up Offer 400% Match Bonus Up To $4
  10. 10 Sign-Up Offer 100% Match Bonus Up To $1500
  11. Load More

Conclusion

The titles you play and how far you want to go with things determine which casino strategies are the best for you as a player. With that said, some methods like game selection are viable for just about everyone with a minimal amount of effort, and they can seriously change your average payout rate, so we recommend those for virtually everyone. In any case, you should look to customize your strategic approach based specifically on what you want to get out of your experience.

FAQs

  • Can I use an online casino slot strategy to play and win?

    Yes, these tips and tactics make it more likely that you'll come out ahead.
  • How hard is it to win?

    Many titles are set up with a low variance and a higher win percentage than others.
  • What are the best winning online casino strategies to use in 2024?

    Game selection and learning how to make in-game decisions are the most influential strategies in the modern playing environment.
  • What's the best bonus to claim?

    We like the Blackjack Ballroom welcome bonus setup that gives you up to C$500 in rewards.
  • How do I know the games aren't rigged?

    Regular audits from the licensing entities make sure that the games are fair
  • Which game has the highest RTP?

    Some video poker and blackjack variations have RTP rates of more than 99.5%.
  • Are table games better for casino strategies?

    Many table games have in-depth strategic considerations.
  • Can I play on mobile apps and win real money?

    Yes, the mobile versions on both iOS and Android are available for real money play.
  • Do I have to pay taxes on my winnings?

    This depends on provincial and local laws, and consulting those is advised.
  • Is there a crypto online casino strategy to use in Canada?

    Crypto options like Bitcoin and Ethereum can make your transactions quicker than other banking methods.
About the Author
 Darko Ilievski
Darko Ilievski - Managing Editor

Darko is an accomplished managing editor with more than 5 years of experience in the online gambling industry. With a wealth of knowledge at his disposal, he oversees the quality and accuracy of gaming content and specializes in researching and unloading high-quality reviews and articles. Darko also creates engaging and compelling content for various sectors at Online-Casinos.ca