Online Casino

Plenty of newcomers to the world of casino gambling are overwhelmed by the incredible array of table games, slot machines and crowds of people apparently all engaged in winning their fortune from the house. The reality is far different from first appearances and what soon becomes clear to anyone who gets involved in any casino game is that it’s not the players who are winning their fortunes, it’s the casino.

However, not all games are equal. Some carry a higher house edge than others and clued up gamblers know the best games to play and the ones to avoid. That doesn’t mean that there is any one game that you can statistically beat the house with. Just that some games give you a much better chance than others of winning, or at least minimising your accumulated losses over time. Here we’ll take five popular casino games and reveal their true colours, so that you’ll be able to vastly improve your chances of winning over a complete novice.

Keno

If you like playing national or state lottery games, then keno will appeal to you for its similarity to a standard lottery and its ease of play. Unfortunately, as far as gambling goes, this game also provides one of the poorest betting odds of all casino games. This is born out by the fact that depending upon the casino, the house edge can be anywhere between 25% and 35%. This is clearly a good game for the casino, but a very expensive one for the gambler.

Roulette

Of all the many games of chance, roulette is probably the one which first comes to mind when a casino is mentioned. For the gambler, there are two main forms of roulette wheel. They are the American roulette wheel, which is typified by its two green “zero” pockets and the European roulette wheel, has only one. The mathematicians amongst you will have already realise that the American wheel’s additional zero pocket increases the house edge on that game to 5.6%. In contrast, the European wheel with its single zero pocket, means a house edge of only 2.7%. The smart gambler therefore seeks out the European wheel wherever possible.

Baccarat

If you like simple card games that come with a sophisticated air and the feel of a high roller’s pursuit, then baccarat is a must. Its simplicity and great odds have made this game a firm casino favourite with aristocrats throughout the ages. The banker bet, with a slim 1.71% house edge statistically wins slightly more often than the player bet, with a house edge of just 1.63%. However, the banker bet is slightly more expensive with the addition of a commission fee added on. Either way, this is one casino game that you can play steadily for ages without losing very much if you’re careful and don’t take risks.

Craps

Craps has to be the most energetic and exhilarating of all casino games. Where else can you stand around a table and bask in an electrically charged atmosphere as the shooter throws the dice? Or take your turn to be that shooter and have the chance to make or break the luck of every excited player around the table? The best part is that as long as you stick to the popular pass line bet, you’ll be giving yourself the best chances of winning with a house edge cut to a healthily slim 1.41%. Sevens or elevens never sounded so good!

Blackjack

Of all the casino games on offer, blackjack provides the experienced and skilled player with the very best house odds. It even provides the means to beat the house by using card counting skills, although this is a practise that is now easily identified by casino security guards and perpetrators are rapidly ejected from the premises. However, if you play it straight and stick to a tried and trusted basic strategy, it’s possible to whittle the house odds down to as low as 0.8%. While it’s not completely free, it’s the best chance you’ll get of hitting a winning streak to leave you in profit.

Whether you prefer automated games or enjoy putting your playing skills to the test, there are games to suit everyone’s preference in a casino. It may come as no surprise that the game that requires the most skill also carries the best house odds depending upon how well you can put that skill to use. Remember, however that playing the games in any casino is meant to be an enjoyable experience. As long as you are careful how you spend your money, you will certainly get that money’s worth in entertainment value which is why most people go to a casino after all.