Which casino games have the best odds?
One thing is for sure though; nobody wants to walk out with empty pockets. This is exactly why you need to know everything you can about the odds being offered by the games on offer.
Every game has its own set of odds and some are better than others, much better in fact. Before heading down to your nearest glitzy casino it is essential that you familiarise yourself with these in odds. If you want to walk out smiling with a pocket full of cash, you’re going to need every edge you can get against the house.
What Exactly Is a House Edge?
You’ve obviously heard of the house edge. Well, this refers to the percentage chance the casino has of winning versus what you the player has. This is basically the advantage the casino has over the player, and don’t be fooled, the casino has an edge over players in every game, there are no exceptions.
What Are Odds?
Betting odds give players an idea of how likely it is for an event to occur and, how much the player can expect to win should they make the correct bet. Odds are depicted in two different forms; they will either be displayed in fractional form or in a percentage form.
Fractional odds are probably the easiest way for players to quickly tell how much they stand to win. For instance, if you see the odds of 10/1, this indicates that if you bet 1 you’ll win 10 back. Percentage odds when using 10/1, indicates that there is a 9% chance of you winning. This is calculated 1/ (10+1) = 0.09.
The games you choose to play are vital to your winning percentages; there are few games which offer the player much better odds than others. It’s no surprise at all then that blackjack, poker and roulette are such popular casino games.
Roulette
Roulette is a game based more on luck than skill making it a thrilling adventure for any player. This must be the reason the game is considered one of the most popular worldwide.
There are 2 different versions of roulette, European roulette and American roulette. Both versions are basically the same thing apart from one little difference. Both roulette wheels contain the numbers 1 – 36 in both black and red. Both wheels have a 0; however, the American wheel has included a 00 as well.
The odds differ between the two versions of the game and sometimes quite dramatically, European roulette gives the house less of an edge on all bets in actual fact.
Betting on odds, even, black, red, or on a single gives you much lower odds of winning. Betting on numbers 1-18 and 19-36 gives you even odds.
Bets | Payout | Probability |
| 1-12 | 2:1 | 32.4% |
| 13-24 | 2:1 | 32.4% |
| 25-36 | 2:1 | 32.4% |
| Single number | 35:1 | 2.7% |
| 2 number combo | 17:1 | 5.4% |
| 3 number combo | 11:1 | 8.1% |
| 4 number combo | 8:1 | 10.8% |
| 6 number combo | 5:1 | 16.2% |
As you can see, the odds change quite a bit depending on the probability factor. Using this as a tool to increase your “luck” is always a smart decision.
Blackjack
Blackjack is arguably the most played game in the world, next to slot machines of course. It’s been a staple throughout history which can only be attributed to how simple the game is to learn and play well. Don’t be fooled though, the game of blackjack gets its complexity from the number of different bets and their nuances.
The object of the game is to have your hand total 21 without going over, if you do though, it’s referred to as going “bust”. One aspect that will never change remains the fact that with every card taken or “hit”, the odds of you going bust increase which means that your odds of winning decrease.
Value of hand | percentage bust after hit |
| 21 | 100% |
| 20 | 92% |
| 19 | 85% |
| 18 | 77% |
| 17 | 69% |
| 16 | 62% |
| 15 | 58% |
| 14 | 56% |
| 13 | 39% |
| 12 | 31% |
| 11 or less | 0% |
These are just your basic odds; the game has so many different variables that change your odds. There are numerous different side bets players can make in order to decrease the house edge. If you’re looking to really get the most bang for your buck, it is vital that you familiarise yourself with the variety of bets you can place to give you a better chance at taking advantage of the house.
Craps
Craps seems to be the quintessential casino gambling game, featured in countless movies which must surely be the reason players are so captivated by it. To the beginner craps may be somewhat intimidating initially, but as soon as you familiarise yourself with basic bets you’ll be able to hit the bright flashy lights with confidence.
There are a staggering number of bets involved in craps, for the purpose of this article we are only going to focus on the basic bets made. The house edge and odds may vary depending on the table and the casino you’re playing at, so always check before jumping in.
Bet Type | True Odds | Payout Odds | House Edge |
| Pass Line | 251 to 244 | 1 to 1 | 1.41% |
| Come | 251 to 244 | 1 to 1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass | 1031 to 949 | 1 to 1 | 1.36% |
| Don’t Come (Bar 12) | 1031 to 949 | 1 to 1 | 1.36% |
| Pass / Come Free Odds | 2 to 1 on 4 or 10 3 to 2 on 5 or 9 6 to 5 on 6 or 8 | 2 to 1 on 4 or 10 3 to 2 on 5 or 9 6 to 5 on 6 or 8 | 0% |
| Don’t Pass / Don’t Come Free Odds | 1 to 2 on 4 or 10 2 to 3 on 5 or 9 5 to 6 on 6 or 8 | 1 to 2 on 4 or 10 2 to 3 on 5 or 9 5 to 6 on 6 or 8 | 0% |
| 7 Out | 5 to 1 | 4 to 1 | 16.67% |
| Yo 11 | 17 to 1 | 15 to 1 | 11.11% |
| 3 | 17 to 1 | 15 to 1 | 11.11% |
| 2 Snake Eyes | 35 to 1 | 30 to 1 | 13.89% |
| 12 Box Cars | 35 to 1 | 30 to 1 | 13.89% |
| Hi-Lo | 17 to 1 | 15 to 1 | 11.11% |
| Craps | 8 to 1 | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
| C and E | 5 to 1 | 3 to 1 with craps 7 to 1 with 11 | 11.11% |
| Field | 5 to 4 | 1 to 1 with 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 2 to 1 on 2 or 12 | 5.56% |
| Field (alternate) | 5 to 4 | 1 to 1 with 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 2 to 1 on 2 3 to 1 on 12 | 2.78% |
| Horn | 5 to 1 | 27 to 4 with 2 or 12 3 to 1 with 3 or 11 | 12.50% |
| Whirl / World | 2 to 1 | 26 to 5 with 2 or 12 11 to 5 with 3 or 11 0 to 1 on 7 (push) | 13.33% |
| Hard Way 4 or 10 | 8 to 1 | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
| Hard Way 6 or 8 | 10 to 1 | 9 to 1 | 9.09% |
| Big 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 | 1 to 1 | 9.09% |
| Place 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 | 9 to 5 | 6.67% |
| Place 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 | 7 to 5 | 4.00% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 | 7 to 6 | 1.52% |
| Buy 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 | 2 to 1 plus commission (5%) | 4.76% |
| Buy 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 | 3 to 2 plus commission (5%) | 4.76% |
| Buy 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 | 6 to 5 plus commission (5%) | 4.76% |
| Lay 4 or 10 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 plus commission (5%) | 2.44% |
| Lay 5 or 9 | 2 to 3 | 2 to 3 plus commission (5%) | 3.23% |
| Lay 6 or 8 | 5 to 6 | 5 to 6 plus commission (5%) | 4.00% |
As you can see, there are numerous different normal bets and this isn’t even all of them. These should get you started and on the right track though. If you plan on taking it to the next level it is vital that you do some research.
