Does using a wiki help improve casino game performance?
Do Wikis increase the odds of winning at gambling? I own a casino and gaming wiki as well as gaming blog/forum. If you're a gambler who wants to get better at the game how helpful are wikis (or other sites) in learning the odds, best strategies and techniques? Have people here seen an improvement in their play and overall results from the use of strategy guides?
3 Answers
Best AnswerWikis and strategy guides are good for a lot of things, particularly when they’re based on sound mathematics and empirical evidence. They can inform you about what the best play is in a game of poker, blackjack, or video poker. But even so, gambling remains gambling, and the house always has its mathematical advantage. In skill-based games, however, wikis and strategy guides will certainly prove useful in helping players avoid errors and make better decisions more often.
The only effect I’ve seen is that, at least initially, players who use such resources are more rational – they play more intelligently than new, instinct-driven players do. Make sure your wiki contains appropriate warnings about the dangers of gambling and promotes responsible gaming. In your forum, consider setting clear guidelines that discourage any mention of “guaranteed” or “unbeatable” systems. The truth is that gambling is for fun rather than profit, but a disciplined approach clearly pays off.
Wikis, strategy pages, and other internet resources are great tools for figuring out how to play a certain game properly, understanding probabilities, and seeing some fundamental strategies (and thus they’re useful for skill-based games such as blackjack and poker). The problem is that if you try gambling on a game with no skill component (such as a slot machine or roulette), you’ll never overcome the house advantage, despite all your reading; and even if you do learn from internet tutorials, gambling is ultimately a game of chance where your ability to win depends on luck, not the advice of experts.
Wikis and guides are 100% useful in teaching the mathematics and proper play of blackjack, craps, video poker, and other games. The game strategy is known, and sticking to it will improve your long-run outcome. You won’t overcome the house advantage to win in those games, though. Players should use these resources to minimize errors and make better choices; casinos should use them to keep players engaged.