Although this may sound laughable to some seasoned online casino players, there are still plenty of players who will wager their hard earned money at a game they do not really understand – leading to perhaps the most obvious question that should be lingering at the back of their minds: ‘How do I know if I have actually won?’

Understanding the rules of a game give you a better chance of winning it...

It is easy to understand why some people shun the rules of a game; after all, why bother reading up on a game when you can ‘learn by doing’ and get stuck in and play. This attitude is not flawed in itself; the only aspect that should be reconsidered is wagering money on a game that is not fully understood by a player…

This is particularly true if you take into account the fact that 99% of reputable online casinos also offer a ‘free play’ mode; during which, players can dive head first into a game in order to get to grips with it, without having to instantly lose their money as a result of a lack of understanding!

European roulette is the smart player's choice...

Roulette has become a staple in casinos following a long and colourful history, which has seen some adaptations and changes to the way in which the game is played. The most significant of these changes concerned one which was made in the United States during the 20th Century; at this point, casino owners decided that the game was not yielding enough of a profit for them and so decided to make a subtle change to the roulette wheel that made a big difference to customers – the addition of a second ‘zero’.

The double ’00′ is the crucial difference between American and European versions of roulette; although it may seem trifling, it serves to almost double the house edge – this could mean very big things for a players bank roll (and not in a good way…)

In short, whenever the choice is given, a savvy roulette player should always choose to play the European version – this way, the odds are always in their favour…

Luckily, the internet is a wonderful tool for research and the key point to remember about choosing an online casino is that ‘somebody else has gone through it all before’. With this in mind, it is always worth checking what other people’s experiences have been with the online casinos that you are contemplating giving your custom to.

Choosing an online casino can certainly seem confusing...

While there are plenty of websites that claim to provide unbiased reviews of casinos online, it is always worth obtaining the opinions of real players; only then can you get the genuine inside scoop on how the casino actually treats its customers after all the glitz and glamour of attracting a new player has passed. Our recommendation is Gala. Gala are a full service online casino with a great reputation for offering a range of games and an easy to navigate site. You can also use their chat function to meet other players and learn tips on the go!

It is also worth remembering to trust in the opinions of friends; not only are they going to be brutally honest about the casino with you – if you like what you hear, there is always a chance of earning a little extra cash between you with the casino’s ‘Refer a friend’ scheme.

One of the most common mistakes that casual casino players make is not claiming all of the online bonuses that they are entitled to. This is a case where the old adage ‘if you don’t ask, you won’t get’ is as true as it has ever been. Although many online casinos are excellent with their customer service and promotions, there are many more who will not advertise their bonuses to existing customers as well as they could. Not every player is automatically entered into their promotional offers, with many requiring that a player must ‘opt in’ in order to be eligible to claim any bonuses.

It doesn't take much to get the most out of your online casino...

By simply checking if your chosen online casino has any promotions available, you could potentially earn a nice little bonus…

The next most common mistake made by casual players is a lack of awareness about the game they are gambling on. Many players choose to ‘have a punt’ or play a game which they do not have a full understanding of the rules for. This is an obvious mistake, as being as aware as possible about what you are staking money on and how it works will more often than not lead to much better results.

Our next favourite bonus this week is being offered by William Hill and is worth £150 to new players who open an account and deposit just £100. This means that for just £100 of your own money you get £250 to play with and you just need to play through this 20 times in order to qualify to make a cash withdrawal. As usual different games contribute different amounts to the play though score.

Our next favourite bonus offer is made by Ladbrokes. We like this one in particular for the way in which you can tailor it to meet your personal requirements. For instance you can choose a bonus of up to £50 which matches your initial deposit 100% and requires that you play through the deposit and bonus just 20 times before you can make a withdrawal. The second option is to receive up to £250 in a deposit matching bonus that you must play through thirty times on a restricted number of games, and with the third option you can claim up to £500 in 100% deposit matching bonus again with the requirement of thirty play throughs but with additional restrictions on the available games.

Comparing odds is not difficult to do at all. All you need is the right online odds comparison tool to help you and you will be able to complete the process in no time at all. The online tool can help you look into odds offered by different bookmakers for a particular sporting event, and tell you the best odds to get.

What’s important is for you to have accounts on top online sports betting sites and bookmakers. This way, you will have no trouble at all wagering your money as soon as you find the best odds available. Let’s not forget that offered odds are also changing as we get closer to the sporting event, so timing your bet placement perfectly can also make a huge difference.

With a £100 wager, for example, odds difference of .50 means a difference of £50 of return; imagine how big the difference can be if your wager is larger. Make sure you compare odds carefully before you place your sports bets online.

The best online gambling opportunity would have to be online poker, especially if you have all the skills needed to stay ahead of the game. If you are not familiar with poker, you can settle for the second best gambling opportunity: online blackjack. Make sure you use the right blackjack matrix and basic strategy in order to beat the house advantage.

Video poker is also noted as one of the most rewarding online gambling opportunity today. Again, the best way to approach the betting opportunity is to learn various aspects and playing strategies before you even begin playing.

It is safe to say that the game of craps can also be considered rewarding. Betting on Don’t Pass against a house advantage of 1.14% can surely be profitable in the long run. You can reduce the house advantage even further by laying double odds; the house advantage is substantially reduced to 0.59%.

Last but certainly not least, we have online roulette. With the right roulette betting strategy, you can easily win a lot of money and beat the house hands down. Make sure you manage your bankroll properly and stick to your betting strategy at all times.