The Best Odds in the Casino
Understanding the odds at which the casino has the advantage is one important factor you must understand when planning a trip to a casino. It is as important as setting you gambling budget. If you know where, over time, your best odds are, the stronger chance you have to enjoy a longer gambling experience which allows your budget to go further.
One important concept to understand is that the house (casino) has the advantage and they will mathematically win overtime. This means you must know that the odds are against you winning money in Las Vegas or in any other casino. Once I allowed this concept to set into my mindset, I actually started to enjoy gambling for a completely different reason. I use to go to a casino for only one reason... to win money. After unsuccessfully doing that strategy for 10 years, I now go to a casino with a different mindset... to be entertained.
What entertains me at a casino is the social aspect of the table games, having fun with my wife and the trill of trying to win a small jackpot at the slot machines. We (my wife and I) set a daily budget for casino gambling money and when that is up, we move on. If I were to make a decision to become a professional gambler in order to support my family, you would never find me in a casino, you'd find me in the poker room.
Below are some generalized odds on the most popular casino games. These are an average of the various variety of games within their category. The purpose is to give you an general understanding of where your best odds are so your money will last LONGER. However, the truth is that - given the choice - most players prefer to win, and there are proven ways to dramatically reduce the chances of losing - namely by not playing games with bad odds - such as keno. Keno carries one of the highest house advantages of all games, weighing in at a hefty 25%. This is actually as good as the odds get for keno, with the odds varying from casino to casino.
Game House Edge
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Craps (double odds): 0.60%
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Blackjack: 0.80%
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Baccarat (banker): 1.17%
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Baccarat (player): 1.63%
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Pai Gow Poker: 2.5%
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Roulette (single zero): 2.7%
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Three-Card Poker: 3.4%
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Let It Ride: 3.5%
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Sports Betting: 4.5%
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Caribbean Stud Poker: 5.26%
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Roulette (double zero): 5.26%
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Big 6 Wheel: 11.1% to 24%
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Keno: 25%
The best way to look at the chart above is to say that this is the rate at which you will lose money over time. You'll lose your money 25x faster playing Keno than you will playing craps or blackjack.
So, don't head to a casino with the expectations to strike it rich every time you go. Yes, you may hit a jackpot, you may win a big hand or get on a lucky streak (and I hope you do). When gambling becomes an event of entertainment versus a way to produce income for yourself, you'll likely realize what took me a long time to realize. The house will win so why not have fun while they do, give yourself a change for longevity and not regret the ride or flight back home.
Good Luck!