The virtual felt: a battleground where fortunes are won and lost with the click of a mouse. Online poker, for many, appears to be a game of chance, a digital lottery where the best hand—and lady luck—triumph. We’ve all been …

I once saw a guy at the blackjack table, not the highest roller by any means, calmly cash in what looked like a free weekend stay at a five-star suite. The secret wasn’t luck; it was understanding the casino’s loyalty …