Which Casino Games Have the Best Odds?

Part of the process of enjoying your time at any casino is playing the games you love most. For some, that means slot games, while for others, it's the roulette wheel or blackjack table that has more allure.

Yet there is another aspect to think about too, and that's the idea of boosting your odds of winning prizes. Some people are intent on trying to make a profit on the cash they use to make bets with, and if you're in that group, it's worth thinking about this in more detail.

Of course, there are no guarantees when you play any kind of casino game, so it's wise to keep that in mind. While all casino games return most of the cash they generate to the players, most players won't receive more than they put in. The casino will always win in the end, so remember this and only ever bet with cash you can afford to say goodbye to, in case that is the outcome. With that set straight in your mind, let's press on and check out the best games to try.

Table games always offer better odds than slots

If you randomly talk to, say, 100 casino players, most of them probably prefer the slots and find them more enjoyable. However, the table games hold the better odds and have a lower house edge. So, let's see what we can find out from that point, shall we?

Blackjack is your best bet

There is a slice of skill involved in blackjack, and the good news is it's one of the easiest table games to understand, even if you've never played before. Most people can get the hang of the rules within minutes. If you play online blackjack, you can usually settle down for a few demo plays with practice coins before deciding whether to play the real thing, too. This applies with most online games unless there is a live dealer involved.

With each hand of blackjack, it's you against the dealer, rather than trying to beat several other players. This keeps things simple, and the idea is to try and hit the magic 21. You can still win a hand with a lower score, so long as your score is higher than the dealer's. Go over 21 and you go bust.

The house edge for blackjack is usually around 1.5%.

Craps is next up for a good house edge

The house edge for craps comes in anywhere between 1.4% if you're fortunate to around 5%, so check this at various online casinos before deciding where to play. You may get a percentage house edge that's around the same as blackjack.

Craps is a game involving dice. The idea is to bet on the outcome of rolling two dice. You can either play against the house - most common at casinos - or against other players. Be aware before you play which method is involved with your chosen craps game. The rules are a little more complex for craps compared to blackjack, and there is the option of making side bets as well in some cases.

Baccarat has the next best odds for players

The odds can come in at around 1.5% depending on the casino. Baccarat is a card game that requires no skill, hence why it's ideal for beginners with little to no knowledge about card games. The dealer receives cards in this game, as do the players, but there is only one set of cards for all the players. You then have your own area to make bets in.

Card values work a little differently in baccarat, so it's best to have a guide to help you understand the values before you get underway. If you can find computer versions of baccarat, you can play in demo mode for a while to make sure you get the hang of it.

What about the house edge for slot games?

You might notice that we haven't mentioned slot games yet. That's because they are among the hardest games to win while playing them. They're tricky because there is no skill involved in playing them. The return to player works on the lifetime of the game and the predicted return over that period. It's best not to play anything that dips below 96% RTP, and if you can go higher, so much the better.

The best we have found while writing this article is a game called Book of 99, created by Relax Gaming. This has a relevant return to player value of 99%, which means 99% of all bets are returned to players in prize money. Make sure you understand, though, that this does not mean you will receive 99% of your bets in prizes. You could receive far less than this during your stint on the game. The odds of having a fortunate run - or even a single spin - to get back more than you bet on it are long. The house edge is low here though, so it's something to think about.

It's also worth noting that progressive jackpot slots tend to guarantee a percentage of the bets made as the jackpot. This could be something like 1.5% of all real bets placed, for example. The paytable should tell you this. All progressive jackpot slot games usually have two RTP values - one for the base game and another that considers the jackpot as well.

Which casino games offer the most appeal to you?

If you're keen on any other casino games, it's best to do some research on those as well before you decide which ones to play. Having the best chance of scoring some prizes is important, of course, but enjoyment is also a big part of the deal. If you are fully aware of what you are doing, and you only ever play with money you can afford to set aside for entertainment, you'll be in a knowledgeable position to play.