Games of chance are one of the most profitable gaming models in the industry, and they are popular for good reason. Gamers love testing their luck against a system that is designed to only occasionally drop the items or prizes that they desire. This randomness also means you can trigger a win twice or more in a row; it’s rare, but it is known to happen.
However, there is a limit to the seeming randomness in some games of chance, and understanding it is a key to winning more consistently. Many games of chance also incorporate other mechanics in the game to increase player engagement, boost gameplay consistency, and avoid players getting demoralized. This can help in eliminating the randomness over time and create room for skill expression.
So what exactly is a game of chance? A game where an outcome is determined predominantly by the luck factor is considered a game of chance. Most gambling games are games of chance. In contrast, a game where the outcome is determined by the player’s skill is called a skill-based game. As stated earlier, most games of chance are only random to a certain extent.
By doing risk assessment, bankroll management, and accounting for RTP (return to player ratio), you can significantly increase your chances of winning. Below, we have provided a few examples of games of chance where you can beat the odds by managing resources and applying long-term strategies. Calculating for these factors and then winning more frequently is a skill that can be learned.
Randomness in online slots
In online slots, the house or the game developer determines the RTP of each game. For instance, the popular online slot “A Night With Cleo” has RTP of 95.49%, which means the game pays out $95.49 for every $100 wagered on average. The return to player percentage is calculated by taking into account millions of rolls and spins, so don’t hope to get your money back in only one gaming session. However, if you manage your bankroll responsibly and don’t get triggered by minor setbacks, you can score more wins over time. Those who play online slots in Australia can claim bonuses, trigger various types of jackpots, bonus rounds (mini games within a slot), and free spins, and access other features that play a major role in multiplying your original bet. These are features common in most modern slots and give players some level of control over their chances of winning.
So make sure you find out the RTP of every game you play on online platforms. This information is easily available on the platform offering the games or the developer’s website. Other things you should look for are pay lines, win multipliers, wilds, and conditions for triggering jackpot prizes. You may come across games that feature periodic jackpots, such as hourly and daily jackpots.
There are a plethora of video games in the mainstream that feature the gambling mechanic under different names. In these games, players can buy the in-game currency with real money and use it to take a chance at acquiring in-game items such as weapons or characters. This mechanic in video games is referred to as a gacha mechanic. Here also, resource management plays a major role if you want to get the desired outcome.
Randomness in gacha games
One of the popular video games that incorporates this gacha mechanic is Genshin Impact. In this game, a player has to roll for the characters and weapons they want, but one roll or two rolls isn’t enough to get them in most cases. If you are lucky, you may get what you want in just a couple of rolls, but you will lose a lot of the time. Though there is a limit to this, you are guaranteed a win every 180 rolls for a character and 160 rolls for a weapon. The base drop rate of the highest rarity characters in the game is 0.6% per roll; this percentage is only increased when you reach your 75th roll, and at your 90th roll you are guaranteed a 5-star character. But to get the desired 5-star character, you need another 90 rolls.
Once a player hits their first 90 rolls, there is only a 50% chance that they will get the 5-star character they wanted. After losing their first 50/50, the next rolls are guaranteed to drop the desired character. This is why resource management is very important in these games; understanding the limit of randomness is key to saving the funds for your target in-game item.
180 rolls in Genshin Impact cost around $200, but you can save the in-game currency by avoiding rolling on every single character banner and only rolling on banners when you have enough in-game funds to get a guaranteed win. In-game currency in Genshin Impact can be purchased with real money, which a lot of players do, but it can also be acquired by playing the game – although the latter is a very slow process.
The drop rate of rare items varies with each gacha game, just as the RTP of each slot machine is different. The conclusion is that there is very little room for skill expression in games of chance. It all comes down to resource management and making smart decisions by understanding the nuances of the game mechanics. With AI revolutionizing various sectors, we might see more creative approaches to these games in the future by both developers and players, perhaps opening up the opportunities for skill expression a little more – but we’ll have to wait and see.
