“Everyone has a system.” The phrase is almost as old as gambling itself. For years the phrase was followed by, “but systems don’t work.” These days players and casino owners know that is not always true.

If the system involves placing a small stuffed teddy bear on the side of a slot machine, or blowing on the dice and saying, “Daddy needs a new pair of shoes” before shooting craps, then the systems won’t work. If the system is based on mathematics and probability, then it still might not work, but chances are a lot better.

It should come as no surprise then that some of the best systems for beating the casinos have been devised by statisticians and mathematicians. Perhaps the most famous of these is Professor Edward Thorp, recognized as the inventor of card counting.

Number problems were Thorp’s hobby and after reading an article on blackjack strategy in the Journal of the American Statistical Association, he put his mind to the problem. The year was 1962 and when he was finished, the world of casino gambling changed.

When Thorp went to test his system, the dealer probably chuckled as the spectacled professor slowly made his bets while consulting a note card he held in his hand. His bankroll was a whopping $10. He made no money that day but convinced himself the system was valid. When he published an article in a scholarly journal, it was seen by a newspaper reporter who wrote about it.

He became very popular. Thorp got a backer to put up $10,000 and the rest really is history. His book, “Beat the Dealer,” became a best seller in 1963. Today he is very wealthy and casinos have changed the way cards are dealt in blackjack. “Card counting” is dirty words in casinos and if the house thinks a player is counting cards, they will get the bum’s rush to the door.

Internet gamblers do not have these same problems. In the safety of their homes, players can use any reference materials they want and even calculate odds on a calculator. Unfortunately the principles of card counting do not work for internet blackjack where the deck is reshuffled after every hand, but there are ways to maximize the odds of winning.

There are lots of web sites and many books that detail these systems. The most basic advice a prospective gambler can get is to thoroughly understand the rules of the game, the types of bets possible, and the odds of each of these bets coming home. In other words, more statistics.

Another bit of advice is to know and accept reality. That reality is that the house always has the edge. In the long haul, the dealer always wins. Therefore, to increase the odds of winning, online gamblers should know not only the odds, but which games to play.

Card games, such as blackjack, have higher payouts than do slots. That is the reason all the slot machines in real casinos are placed close to the door with big shiny lights. In casinos, 60 percent to 70 percent of income is derived from slot machines, so the basic strategy is simple – do not play them.

For internet gamblers, the rules are little different. This is because most virtual casinos use the same basic software to run their games. There are only six companies that furnish most gaming software and each has its peculiarities. Some software offers better odds for blackjack, some for poker, some for baccarat.

Internet gamblers who have favorite games, even slot monkeys, will earn more (or lose less) if they frequent online casinos that use the software offering the highest payouts for that game. Even if the online casino does not advertise which software it uses, there are many web resources where the information can be found.