Skill vs Luck – How Much of Each is Needed?

Monday, June 17th, 2024

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The gaming world routinely blends elements of skill and chance. Players are often easily swayed into one of these schools of thought—games of chance or skill. Truthfully, the entertainment arena is predicated on quantitative and qualitative elements, with chance weaving its magic across the board. There is this pervasive notion that players cannot ‘influence’ favorable outcomes in chance-based games. On the contrary, online gaming aficionados have carte blanche to assess the types of games they wish to play. 

 

Players cannot alter the outcomes of games or manipulate gameplay while a game is in progress. However, the tactics and strategies employed by players in anticipation of selecting games are where the skill-based elements, logic, and thought processes must be focused. For example, concepts such as volatility, variance, minimum/maximum values per spin, return to player percentages, in-game features and functions, and the like are essential elements of game selection. Ironically, a significant element of skill is involved in games of chance.

 

There is this misconception, at least in gaming circles, that games of chance offer limited opportunities for players. Fortunately, there are a variety of technical elements that allow players to make careful, calculated decisions regarding which games to play and which games to avoid. Chance-based games offer players opportunities to select according to criteria. These elements, as evident in social casino games like Book of Wizard 3 Oaks and various Megaways Series slot games, feature a cornucopia of helpful information designed to make game selection that much easier.

 

How to Make Your Own Luck with Social Casino Games?

 

Interestingly, the entertainment landscape has many canvases. An exciting paradigm exists where players can pick and play their favorite attractions in a social gaming format. That means it’s always free to enter or win games without buying in for real money. By removing the risk element, players have much more to gain. Concepts such as volatility are important barometers of a game’s ability to pay out and at what frequency. A high-volatility game tends to be associated with larger wins (even in the form of gold coins) less frequently. A low-volatility game, by contrast, tends to be associated with smaller, more frequent payouts.

 

When viewed from the perspective of a social casino milieu, it is not real money casino. No cash is exchanged. The social casino arena is fashioned off the use of gold coins. These serve as virtual currency for players to use in games. Minimum and maximum values per spin are equally important in terms of pacing oneself for chance-based games. A low minimum value of 75 gold coins benefits players on a limited virtual bankroll, allowing players to enjoy more spins over time. 

 

A high maximum spin value serves an important purpose in terms of accommodating high rollers looking for big paydays. And yet another concept closely related to volatility is variance. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but there are nuanced differences between them. Savvy social casino players understand that volatility tends to focus on how often players win and how large those wins will be. But here’s the kicker – volatility is short-term oriented while variance is the overall trend – the long term.

 

Naturally, players are best served by carefully selecting that combination of factors designed to make social casino sessions more beneficial. Players with a penchant for risk tend to wager more gold coins per spin, select high-volatility games, and play casino games with many in-game features, functions, and elements. Players averse to risk are likely to choose social casino games with low volatility, low minimum number of gold coins per spin, etc. Fortunately, social casino games featuring free-to-play attractions negate much of this. 

 

Standout skill-based games like blackjack, poker, and video poker differ from run-of-the-mill slots. Specific tactics, strategies, rules, and regulations are in effect with skill-based games. For example, savvy blackjack players tend to have a firm grasp of strategy charts, perfect blackjack strategy, card counting prowess, odds calculators, etc. Those at the top of the game consistently perform well – it’s not a coincidence that skill is involved. Viewed in perspective, it is possible to make your luck with social casino games. Players have much to gain from understanding the pre-game nuances, selections, and options. And then it’s simply a matter of click and spin, deal or draw to get the ball rolling! 

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