Know the rules and the best bet
| Game | Best bet | Edge | Bet to skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack | Basic strategy on 3:2 tables | about 0.5% | Insurance |
| Baccarat | Banker | 1.06% | Tie (about 14%) |
| European roulette | Any even-money bet | 2.70% | American wheel (5.26%) |
| Craps | Pass line with odds | 1.41% on the line | Any seven (16.67%) |
Betting systems, plainly
Martingale, D'Alembert, Fibonacci and Labouchère change the size of your bets, not the odds of each one. A Martingale from R10 needs R640 after six straight losses, and a run of six losses on an even-money roulette bet happens about once in 70 attempts. Use systems, if at all, as a way to pace a session, never as a way to win back losses.
Choose the right table
- Pick a minimum stake of 1% to 2% of what you brought for the session.
- Check the rules card: 3:2 blackjack, single-zero roulette, commission on the banker in baccarat.
- Live tables run about 60 rounds an hour; RNG tables can run several times that, so stakes cost more per hour there.
Limits that keep it a game
- Set a loss limit for the session and stop when you hit it.
- Decide what win would make you stop, and cash some of it out.
- Do not raise stakes to recover a bad run.
More in our guide to staying in control at new casinos.