When most people think about casino games like Poker and blackjack, they imagine high-rollers and million-pound jackpots. But the buy-in for that sort of jackpot is usually more than most of us can afford. For you and me, the low-stake casino games are pretty much our only option…unless you’re willing to save up to play a round of high-stakes baccarat, poker, or blackjack, and I’m not sure anyone would see that as worthwhile – save for a month, play for 5-minutes, seems pointless.
But that leaves many people asking, “Are the low-stake casino games worth playing?” The answer depends on who you are, but the following 5 questions will help you decide if low-stakes is right for you.
Do you enjoy playing table games?
A lot of people like playing casino games because they’re fun and have some strategy. You can learn to get better and the games can be exciting. If this describes you, then the low-stakes games will be fun – maybe not as adrenaline-fuelled as the high-stake games, but still fun.
Whether you play online or at the casino, table games also have a social element that other games don’t, making table games even more fun and challenging.
If you have fun when you play table games, there’s no reason to up the stakes if you can’t afford to, or don’t want to.
Are you looking to get rich?
Unfortunately, you’ll be playing for longer than you have time for if you want to get rich from low-stakes table games. You might be lucky if you win £50 once a month or so – hardly the stuff of retirement dreams.
Nah, if you want to get rich playing poker, baccarat, or blackjack, then you’re going to have to become a high-roller. And as the highs go up, the lows go down in equal amounts. It’s the road to ruin for many people and something I’d avoid unless I won the lottery. Even then, I’d only waste a bit of money, because let’s face it, it IS a waste when the chances of winning are slim.
You have to be exceptionally talented and equally lucky to win the massive jackpots. The competition is fierce when you reach the top. If you’re not an apex player, you’re just prey for the big boys and girls.
Are you trying to make the game more exciting?
There is a danger in upping the ante. Sometimes people do it to bring some excitement to their lives, but it’s a dangerous thing to do. Chasing the highs with high stakes can border on addiction and it is one of the signs that your gambling habit has become a problem.
If you’re spending money that you don’t have to spare (e.g., you should have bought food, or saved for a rainy day) just to get a bit more excitement, then it’s a sure sign that you should be sticking to low-stakes.
If you can’t do that, then my recommendation is that you self-exclude from the online and offline casinos. Removing the temptation goes a long way in helping you to avoid problem gambling.
Do you have false expectations about winning?
If you’re playing table games and you’re not aware that they always favour the house, have a word with yourself. Playing high or low stakes doesn’t make any difference to the number of times you win. Yes, you’ll win more money if you play high stakes and win, but that doesn’t mean you’ll win any more often – the odds don’t change.
But what can change is the expertise of the people you’re playing. High stakes are much more likely to attract people who’ve spent time trying to master the game.
Whether it’s baccarat, blackjack, poker or low stakes slots you’ll meet better players the more you’re willing to bet. The only exception is if you stumble across a whale, and that’s unlikely.
If you think playing low stakes means fewer wins, you’re mistaken. It just means smaller pots if you do win.
How long do you want to play?
If the reason you’re playing casino games is that you want to have fun, you probably prefer longer sessions than shorter sessions. One problem that low-stakes players can have is betting too much on each hand and blowing through their cash too fast. If you only have a tenner and you’re staking £1 each time, you’ll be out of cash fast.
To draw out your entertainment on a small budget, you have to lower your stakes.
To sum up
Low-stake casino games are great for people that play for fun. You won’t win big, but that means you won’t lose big too!
