Choosing which game to play in a casino is a hard decision nowadays. This is because casinos offer many games and loads of versions of the same game. However, they all have something crucial in common: the casino has a built-in advantage.
Despite this, you should remember that this house edge is not always the same. Some games are much better for your chances of winning than others. Due to this, selecting the game with the lowest house edge can make a significant difference between a lucky night and an empty wallet.
So, are you interested in increasing your winning odds? Then, you’re in the right place. Today, we will reveal which casino games have the best payouts and the lowest house edge. So, let’s delve into more detail!
What is the House Edge?
Casinos often lure you into the gambling world with their flashing lights and fantastic game offers. But, of course, you won’t always win a fortune, so don’t be fooled by these techniques. Regardless of the game you choose, the house must have a favour from it.
That said, the odds are always tipped in favour of the casino. This built-in advantage is known as the house edge. It makes sure that the casino always makes a steady profit. In other words, the house edge acts like a small tax.
In some games, this advantage is smaller, like a half per cent to a couple per cent. However, other games may have a steeper house edge. So, don’t be surprised if you run into a game from which the casino makes 15-40%. Therefore, winning in such a game makes you extremely lucky.
Casino Games with the Best Winning Odds
Now that you have understood what the house edge means and that it is an inevitable part of every casino, let’s move on to the games with the best winning odds. Some of the most promising games are:
- Video Poker: -0.05% – 2% house edge
- Blackjack: 0.43% – 2% house edge
- Baccarat: 1.06% – 1.24% house edge
- Craps: 1.36% – 1.41% house edge
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em: 2.20% house edge
- European Roulette: 2.70% house edge
- Pai Gow Poker: 2.84% house edge
However, this doesn’t mean that you’ll always leave the casino happy. Only your winning chances will be a bit bigger.
Video Poker
Video poker stands out as one of the best games for winning. This is because the house edge can vary significantly depending on the specific version you play. Usually, this advantage is between 0.5% and 5%, but some games can even give you an advantage.
The best part is that unlike roulette or slots, where the outcome relies only on chance, this game offers you some control. Having this in mind, you can choose between different poker variations, such as Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. The most favourable Jacks or Better game features a 9/6 pay table, showing the payouts for a full house and a flush, respectively.
However, let’s understand the pay table a bit better and how it is related to the house edge:
- 9/6 – 0.46%
- 9/5 – 1.55%
- 8/6 – 1.61%
- 8/5 – 2.70%
- 7/5 – 3.85%
- 6/5 – 5%
Blackjack
The second game on our list is blackjack. This game offers a unique blend of chance and strategy, allowing you to challenge the odds of winning through skilled play. Basically, you go head-to-head with the dealer while you’re both trying to get a hand closest to 21, not more.
Your chances of winning can drastically jump if you learn basic blackjack strategies, such as counting cards. This smart strategy can be easily combined with the house edge, which can be as low as 1%. Due to this, blackjack is one of the most favourable games that you can choose.
Additionally, you have almost a 50/50 shot of winning the dealer. So, if you’re searching for a refreshing alternative to an engaging and potentially rewarding casino game, you should definitely check out a casino game review about blackjack.
Baccarat
Baccarat is another card game that is attractive to players due to its simplicity and exciting gameplay. This game is especially suitable if you are seeking a thrilling experience, as it boils down to pure chance and high uncertainty.
You simply place a bet on some of the player’s hand or the dealer’s hand, and you try to get a hand value of nine. But what makes baccarat really intriguing is that it has a fast pace of playing, and you can win a double wager if you guess the hand on which you’ve bet correctly.
What’s also crucial for you to know about baccarat is that both you and the dealer have a chance of winning from 44% to 46%. This creates a sense of fairness, but you should always be aware of the house edge.
Craps
Craps is a dice-based game that brings a fantastic amount of entertainment to players. Like baccarat, it is a game of luck and chance. More precisely, one player is the shooter and rolls the dice while you throw down bets on the predicted result. You can even bet on whether the shooter will win the next roll of the dice.
However, the best part is that while being simple, craps has pretty decent winning odds. In fact, your odds are roughly like a coin toss – 50/50. However, there’s more to this game. Thanks to its numerous betting options, the level of complexity and house edge change, making it even more thrilling.
Roulette
We’re wrapping up our list of the games with the best payouts with roulette. This game is also a game of luck, but it’s a bit different from the previous ones. The whole excitement and outcomes are based on the spin of the wheel and the bounce of the ball.
In other words, roulette comes with a wheel with numbers from 1 to 36, coloured red or black. If you’re playing American roulette, you’ll also notice two green pockets that are marked 0 and 00. Its working mechanism is pretty amusing, as the wheel spins in one direction, and the ball goes in the opposite.
But the real beauty of this game lies in its simplicity. You only bet on where the ball will land. Still, there are many wagering options. For example, you can play it safe and bet on broad categories like red or black with a 50% chance of winning or choose a specific number and get an even higher payout.
More precisely, American roulette comes with a winning odds of around 47% of winning due to the two green pockets, while European roulette has odds of almost 49%.
Casino Games with the Worst Winning Odds
After exploring the best casino games with more secure wins, let’s mention some of the worst games if you like to leave the casino with some cash:
- Slot machines: The RTP of slots varies from game to game. However, the house edge can also start as low as 3% and go all the way up to 15%.
- Keno: With a disadvantage of 30%, Keno is the worst game if you want to win at least something.
- Wheel of Fortune: Despite their popularity, Wheel of Fortune games can have a house edge of up to 10%.
Final Thoughts
Playing at casinos and experiencing the adrenaline is great. But what’s even better is to get out of there with some money in your pocket. So, instead of searching for a game that will bring you high chances of winning,aimlessly, give poker, blackjack, craps, baccarat, or roulette a chance.
Their house edge is relatively low, making them suitable if you want to minimise risk and maximise your potential winnings.