I have never been much of a gambler. Sure, I played a few hands of cards with my friends and family every once in a while, but most often, the stake was who had to do the dishes instead of money.
I didn’t have a ton of interest in gambling because I just didn’t have enough money to be willing to risk any of it.
But another reason that I didn’t dive into the betting world was that I was confused. Even when I played with my friends, I always felt terrible asking questions, and I always lost because I didn’t know the rules or strategy.
All of that changed when I got a promotion at work. I paid off some debts, and for the first time in my adult life, I had money to spare.
I am still a stickler for putting most of my hard-earned cash into savings, but I gave myself a larger budget for entertainment.
Soon afterwards, a neighbor invited me to a monthly poker game. I wanted to go to the game, but I didn’t want to make a fool of myself because I didn’t know anything about gambling or the particular variation of poker we would be playing. So, I decided to be proactive.
As we often do in today’s society, I looked to the internet for some help. The world wide web is full of information, and I quickly learned that there were several ways that the internet could prepare me for my first live poker game.
Since then, I have used the plentiful resources on the internet to help me master the finer techniques of the game.
And now, I am using all that I have learned to help other beginner bettors by compiling it all into one article for you. Here are three ways that technology can help you become a better gambler.
It probably goes without saying, but you can find everything you ever wanted to know and more on the internet. So instead of going into things blind, do a quick Google search and read up on gambling.
Don’t try to read everything out there; just focus on the specific type of betting that you are interested in trying.
Here are a few things I learned to make my research more effective.
The first thing I learned when it comes to research on the internet is not to go down the rabbit hole. It is way too easy to get sucked in, clicking on one link after another, and before you know it, you have spent hours reading.
The second thing I learned about internet research is to be specific. If you research gambling in general, you are going to get a ton of information that only applies to particular circumstances. If you know the game you want to play or what sport you want to bet on, start by researching that one in particular.
If you aren’t sure what you want to do, a quick read on the basics of each type of gambling can help you narrow it down from there. Here are a few possibilities to get you started.
Casino Games Sports Betting Poker BingoThe most important thing that I learned is to bookmark helpful articles. If you read five blogs, you are going to remember one thing that stuck out to you, but you will forget which section it came from.
You don’t want to have to try to go back through all of the links you clicked on to try to find the same information again. Clicking on a bookmark that you already saved is going to be a great deal faster.
The last thing that I learned when reading information on the internet is that not all websites are created equally. Some other websites accept payment to write positive reviews of online casinos.
Other sites are going to be produced by people who don’t know what they are talking about. Still other websites will be trying to sell you something.
The best strategies and approaches to gambling aren’t reserved for the high-rollers who spend every weekend in the casino.
The internet can give you advice and hints on every possible wager, including charts that tell you what move to make in every blackjack hand or guides that tell you how to make the most when you are betting on sports and resources for making sure your gambling hobby doesn’t become an addiction.
So, use that information to beat the system and play smart.
The old adage is true; practice really does make perfect, whether you are practicing a musical instrument, a new skill, or gambling. In my opinion, the best way that technology can help you become a better gambler is by allowing you to practice.
You can read information online all day long (literally, if you don’t pay attention), but none of that information matters if you don’t have a chance to try it out.
You can play the exact game that you would be playing for real money, but you don’t have to pay for any of your practice hands.
Of course, you don’t win any real money on your practice wins, either, but it’s a great way to get started. Free-play options might not be available for live-dealer games or sports betting.
If you are playing for real money, you can also win bonuses that allow you to practice for free. It is a great way to try different games from the same casino without having to risk your money. But the best part is that if you win when you are using bonus money, you get to keep your winnings.
As I mentioned before, when I tried gambling in the past, I always lost because I didn’t know what I was doing and I was too afraid to ask questions. I hate feeling like I am annoying the people who came to play for fun.
Free-play games online gave me the opportunity to practice, make some mistakes, pause to clarify something with more research, and learn strategy at my own pace.
Playing a few practice hands before that first neighborhood poker game made a world of difference in my confidence and understanding.
Another reason that I use the play-for-fun option is that some sites are not trustworthy. Free-play games allow me to try out an online casino, see how they operate, and experience their customer service before I ever give them access to my funds.
I always read reviews and do some of my own digging before I sign up for any online casino, but I like the option of trying it for myself before I spend money. Check out our independent reviews page to get you started on finding a reputable online casino.
Live-dealer games are another way to use technology to get some practice. If you have only ever played automated, online games, you might find that the live experience is a little different. That is where live-dealer games come in.
You can still play from the comfort of your own home, but you are playing with a human dealer via a video connection. Most online casinos offer live-dealer options for table games like poker, baccarat, roulette, craps, and blackjack, but some games are not available in a live-dealer format.
Before my first neighborhood poker game, I had played online, and I was comfortable with the rules of the game. But I wasn’t prepared for navigating the interpersonal aspects of the game.
I had no idea how to read other people’s tells, and my face gave it away every time I tried to bluff. I was also used to pausing to contemplate my next move. The other players became annoyed with my time-consuming thought process very quickly.
Between the first and second poker nights, I decided to try to find a way to practice the social parts of the game. I live a couple of hours away from the nearest casino, so going there on a regular basis to practice wasn’t a viable option.
My friend suggested trying live-dealer games online, and they turned out to be the best way for me to learn. Live-dealer games didn’t allow me to practice playing with other players, but interacting with the dealer helped me get used to having other people influence my moves.
I was able to learn at my own speed, and I used a variety of options to make sure that I had practiced every aspect of the game. Each type of online gambling had a specific purpose, so here is my recommendation.
After you have done some basic research, try out a few hands with a play-for-fun game, then advance to a real-money game so that you can practice making bets in the heat of the moment, then try live-dealer games to get a feel for the social aspects of the game.
The internet and mobile technology have made our lives so much more convenient in so many ways. They have made gambling so much more convenient, too. Here are a few ways that I think mobile gaming is particularly helpful for beginners.
The best part of more recent technology is mobile gaming that allows you to practice anytime, anywhere, on almost any mobile device.
In the US, online casinos usually have a mobile-friendly version of their site that you can use to play through the internet browser on your smartphone or tablet. In other countries, some casinos offer a downloadable app instead of a mobile site.
Online casinos mean that you can practice your game from home on your computer. But mobile gambling allows you to practice even more often because you can practice on a plane ride, during your lunch break, or any other time you have a few minutes to spare.
If sports betting is your particular style of gambling, the ability to watch and wager on any game at any time is revolutionary. Gone are the days of having to go to the bookmaker and watch the race or game in person. Online sportsbooks make it easy to bet on any sport, anytime, from anywhere.
The flexibility of online sportsbooks is fantastic because they allow you to choose the sport you want to bet on, including esports. Most of them even let you bet on international games.
They stream the matches, so you can watch your winnings pile up without having to switch between several websites. Statistical information is usually included on the same site so that you can choose your picks wisely.
Poker games were how I began gambling, so I am just starting to branch out to the world of sports betting. I personally love the convenience offered by online sportsbooks.
My research is usually open on one browser and the sportsbook open on the other so that I can refer back to the information I need before I make my bet.
The ability to bet on two different games that might be playing at the same time without having to be at either game in person is another benefit.
Another way that the internet makes online gambling easier for beginners is the ability to get expert help. YouTube has hundreds of videos from expert players showing you exactly what they would do in specific situations. Many professional poker players even have their own websites with blog articles, videos, and tips for playing.
One of my good friends from my hometown is Lou. He isn’t a professional, but he is an avid player who knows a lot. But my hometown is over 2,000 miles away. Thanks to the convenience of mobile technology, I can get his advice anyway.
I appreciate that I can always text Lou with a specific gambling question, and he usually responds pretty quickly. But we have discovered an even better way for Lou to share his wealth of knowledge.
We start a video chat using Skype or another similar program. Then one of us can share our screen with the other one. This way, Lou can walk me through every step of a hand that he is playing, and I can ask questions any time I need to.
Or I can share my screen with him, and he can see exactly what I am talking about so that he can give me the best advice. If you happen to have a friend who lives far away but has a vast knowledge of the game you are learning, give a video chat a try.
Online casinos and informational websites give you convenient, mobile, and easy ways to learn everything that you can about gambling.
The more you learn and the more you practice, the quicker you will become proficient.
Do some research, practice online, and try video chatting with a knowledgeable friend to master your game quicker than ever before possible.
Good luck at your next poker night, or wherever your gambling takes you.
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