Strategies from the Console to the Casino

In recent years we’ve seen the rise of mini-games within video games, often having some kind of gambling element. Admittedly the gambling aspect tends to be contained within the game so its not a real-money scenario, but does their presence soften the idea of gambling among players, and are there any transferrable skills that players could use to dominate on the best US poker sites for example?

Fortnite teaches patience

If you’ve ever played on a games console, there’s a chance you’ve played Fortnite. It’s the games that redefined online gaming in the late 2010s. The free-for-all shooter prompted patience and biding your time with an element of strategy—those who rushed in with all guns blazing usually lost games very quickly.

Those who were patient enough to survive and navigate the foolish gunslingers exhibited attributes of top poker players—assessing and reading the room without acting hastily. Of course, neither example wants to miss their chance to strike – but picking the right time is imperative in both games.

Reading opponents from EAFC to the poker table

The EAFC series (known as FIFA before) is one of the most competitive video games. Millions compete to have the best players and collect the most significant victories. To succeed, players must read their opponents, how they line up their team, observe how they attack the game, and any tangibles that can allude to how they play.

Poker is very similar. You can’t win a game by just focusing on your game. Or if you do, you’ll lose more than you win. Poker players must be adaptable and change their game according to how their opponent behaves or is lining up. EAFC players who do this well can bring transferrable skills to the poker table.

Knowing when to put the controller down, when to leave the table

Any good video game player knows when they are having a bad day. Whether it’s being unable to complete a level, accomplish all the targets, or simply not competing with other players online. Knowing when to call it a day and put the controller down is integral to success. The same skills are necessary for poker as well. Those who jettison out of a troubling situation before it becomes a woeful financial predicament.

SimCity teaches bankroll and financial management

Who remembers the first wave of ‘good PC games’? The ones that were more than re-branded arcade games. SimCity was one of the first to show the world that video games could be much more immersive and intricate than a few pixels.

As the mayor of a virtual city, players need to be savvy with their financial resources to ensure they can sustain their metropolis. Setting aside funds for amenities and emergency reactions is the best way to ensure the city’s prosperity.

Poker has similar financial practices. Players must play within their bankroll and exceed what they can afford to lose. The best poker players have clear segregation between their poker funds and other financial resources – which cannot be used for poker or any gambling avenue.

Those who managed a virtual city and balanced the books along the way may be able to bring the same financial wisdom to the poker table with some success.

Get used to not winning all the time, Donkey Kong fan

Poker is a game of few chances. You might have a great hand, but your opponent has a better one. You might have another good hand, but you folded. That cycle of losing or not winning will test a player’s threshold for downswings. If players cannot handle pressure, they will probably not succeed at the poker table.

How can you train for this? Play Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze is known to be one of the most challenging (but popular) games for the Nintendo Switch. The incredibly steep learning curve will frustrate many players as it takes several attempts to clear a level. It’s a bit like poker; getting a winning hand can take a few times around.

Those who enjoyed poker on Red Dead Redemption 2

Was Red Dead Redemption 2 the most excellent video game of all time? There’s a lot of fanfare and conjecture about the Rockstar Studios game being the hallmark of a legendary video game. One aspect lending itself to this discussion is the immersive depth of the game; players can interact with the broader world without genuinely needing to follow the storyline.

One of the side quests or mini-games that players can participate in is the various poker games dotted about the vast map. Here, you can play hand after hand with other computer-controlled cowboys, with a decent AI system that doesn’t let you always win. Some of the game’s community swear by this mini-game as one of the best methods to procure the in-game currency.

It should come as no surprise that some players developed a genuine interest in poker after playing it in RDR2. Given that they are playing the same game on online poker platforms, it’s logical that they can bring their skillset across from the video game to the online casino.