Why Does Luck Matter More Than Skill at Online Casinos?

Last Updated on 29 October 2025

Gambling has been a popular pastime across the globe for centuries. Time and time again, thrill seekers look to place their prosperity in the hands of chance and fight against the odds in hopes for that big win. Although some level of strategy might prove useful in certain casino games, such as poker, whether or not the player succeeds really is in the hands of fate. In this article, we’ll explore how luck overcomes skill in the modern setting of online casino gaming, taking a deep dive into how casino games work with an overview of key concepts such as return to player and house edge.

The Best Online Casinos

Any gambler who wants to try their luck in the casino world should be aware of the myriad of online options available to them. Casino gaming is now more accessible than ever, as explained by experts here. These casino reviewers compare and contrast some of the best online casino platforms in the country, giving you an all-in-one place to explore the various options available. These reviews consider everything from how impressive the welcome bonuses are to how quickly withdrawals can be processed, so every gambler is bound to find a platform that suits their needs.

What We Mean by Luck

Before we explore the role of luck in the online gambling scene, it is important to clear something up. Luck, in the context of online gambling, is not something the player has any control over or influence on in any way. We are not suggesting that you start gambling with objects you deem as ‘lucky’ and expect to find more success, as this simply isn’t the case. Instead, when we look at the role of luck in online gambling, we are referring to the massive elements of chance that influence whether or not an individual’s gambling time sees them turn a profit.

Random Number Generators

A significant number of online gambling games, such as slots and virtual roulettes, work on a technological system known as random number generators. This is one of the key ways that luck greatly influences gaming within online casinos. Whether or not a player secures a win depends on whether the game’s built-in random number generator randomly brings up said win.

Such mechanics in online casinos eradicate the myth of casino games being ‘due a win’, which can cause gamblers to bet recklessly and beyond their means. The truth is, these machines are never due to win. Random number generators mean that every time a game is played, it has been reset, and the chances of landing on a winning number or sequence are the same every turn.

Return-to-Player

Learning what a return-to-player score is and the effect it has on casino games is a great way to understand how luck can be used in the gambler’s favor. As stated, a win at a casino is often determined by a random number generator and is left entirely to the hands of chance. However, when casino games are observed over a long period of time, we are able to make informed estimations on how likely they are to return the initial wager to a player over the long term. For example, a return to player score of 96% indicates that a gambler can expect to make back 96% of their money wagered over an extended duration of play.

All this being said, it is important that gamblers remember that return-to-player scores are based on long-term observations of a casino game and that every time they play, it is luck that will determine whether they win or lose. The return-to-player score indicates probability over millions of plays, whereas each individual play is still governed by randomness. Still, using casino games that have a high return-to-player score is a highly effective way to ensure luck works in the gambler’s favor when gaming.

House Edge

House edge refers to the mathematical advantage casinos have over their players to ensure they turn a profit. If the return-to-player score is what indicates how much of their initial wager a gambler can expect to make back over a long period of play, then house edge is the direct opposite. For example, if we return again to an online casino game with a return-to-player score of 96%, then the house edge for this game is 4% and the casino can expect to secure $4 for every $100 wagered. This is what ensures casinos are able to stay in operation.

However, much like the return-to-player score, this is a figure that is determined over millions of plays. Although they are worth bearing in mind, it is not the return-to-player score nor the house edge that determines whether or not a casino game wins. If it could be predicted in such a way, then luck would be removed from the equation, and casino games would no longer be a form of gambling. Odds might favor the casino slightly over millions of outcomes, but each game is always in the hands of luck.

The Role of Luck in Skill-Based Games

Now, there are several casino games, poker chief among them, that do require some element of skill. Knowing how to bluff in poker, for example, is a proven way to improve your chances of success. However, we must remember that the winning hands dealt in poker are given to the player from a shuffled deck. For all the skill in the world, a bad hand is a bad hand, a good one is good, and luck is certain to determine the outcome of the game.

Even professional poker players have spoken about the effect of luck on their games. Phil Hellmuth, a highly successful poker champion, once stated, “If it weren’t for luck, I’d win ‘em all.” In a simple sentence, Hellmuth explains that for all the skill in the world, sometimes a bad hand is just a bad hand and there is nothing but bad luck to blame it on.

This being said, it has been observed that having some level of skill when it comes to these kinds of games does have a positive effect on the outcome. A study by the University of Nottingham found that poker shifts from being a game of luck to one deeply influenced by chance after around 1,500 hands. This is proof that skill does make a difference in certain poker games. However, the fact that the games are still so heavily influenced by luck does not allow the game to move fully into skill territory.

Conclusion

Luck is certainly more important than skill in casino games and is the driving force that determines whether a gambler wins or loses. That being said, there are multiple things gamblers can learn and look out for, such as a high return to player score and a low house edge, which can help them shift the odds in their favor. Similarly, learning strategies and tactics for skill-based games like poker is certain to give a player an advantage, but it is still luck that has the final say on their success.