The best casino table games odds
Casino gambling can be fun, but there’s one problem…
Do you know which table games have the best odds? You may have heard that some games are more “rigged” than others. That’s true, but it’s not the whole story.
Many beginners don’t realise just how different each table game can be. Not every game at the casino has the same house edge. In fact, some are much easier to win than others.
Understanding classic casino table games and their winning odds is the first step towards enjoying your visit to the casino. And the good news is that…
It’s free and easy to learn the basics.
What you’re going to discover:
- What Is House Edge And Why It Matters
- The Best Odds In Roulette Explained
- Blackjack And Baccarat: Your Best Bets
- Smart Strategies For Table Game Success
What Is House Edge And Why It Matters?
Before we jump into a look at each table game, it’s important to understand one crucial concept first.
House edge.
House edge is the mathematical advantage that the casino has over all of its players. It’s calculated as a percentage. This percentage tells you how much of every bet made at the casino it expects to keep over time.
For instance, a house edge of 5% means the casino expects to win 5 cents for every dollar wagered over the long run. As you can imagine, the lower the house edge, the better the odds for players.
Here’s why this matters to you…
Casinos have never been more popular than today. According to the American Gaming Association, 57% of adult Americans participated in some form of gambling last year. This was a record high. 40% of adults gambled online or played poker at an internet casino. And an astonishing 18% visited a brick and mortar casino at least once.
Yet, despite the massive growth in gambling over the past few years, many players still don’t understand the concept of house edge. Different casino games come with wildly varying house edges. Slot machines are terrible, with a house edge often ranging from 2% to 15%. But as you’ll learn next, the same can’t be said for table games. There are some real gems to be found when you know where to look.
The Best Odds In Roulette Explained
You can’t go far in a casino before you come across the roulette table. This game has a long history going all the way back to 18th century France. And roulette remains one of the most popular casino games to this day. But not all roulette wheels are created equal. The layout actually makes a huge difference.
There are three main types:
- American Roulette: 0 and 00 pockets with a house edge of 5.26%
- European Roulette: Single 0 pocket and a 2.70% house edge
- French Roulette: Special rules that lower the house edge to just 1.35%
Do you see the difference? American roulette nearly doubles the house advantage of European roulette. But french roulette offers the best odds of all. Special rules like “la partage” and “en prison” return half your stake on even-money bets if the ball lands on zero. This effectively cuts the house edge in half.
The takeaway:
If you have a choice of roulette tables, always go with European or French over American. It’s one of the easiest ways to improve your odds without needing to learn any advanced strategy.
Blackjack: Where Skill Meets Luck
Blackjack is different from any other casino game for one big reason.
Your choices actually matter.
In roulette, the outcome is completely random. In blackjack, it’s all about the decisions you make. Do you hit or stand? Double down? Split? Every choice you make changes your expected return.
Play with a perfect basic strategy, and blackjack has an incredibly low house edge of 0.5%. Can you imagine a casino game with just a half a penny profit on every dollar wagered? That’s better odds than you’ll find anywhere else in the casino. It means that you only expect to lose $0.50 for every $100 you bet.
Let’s compare blackjack to other casino games:
- Blackjack (basic strategy): 0.5% house edge
- Baccarat (banker bet): 1.06% house edge
- European Roulette: 2.70% house edge
- American Roulette: 5.26% house edge
Success at blackjack starts with learning and using a basic strategy. This is a set of mathematically proven decisions for every possible hand combination. The basic strategy chart tells you when to hit, stand, double, or split based on your cards and the dealer’s upcard.
Don’t worry. Basic strategy charts are available all over the internet. And you can bring your own to the casino without any problems. It takes a little practice, but the reward is well worth the effort.
Baccarat: Simplicity With Great Odds
Baccarat is a game that many people don’t know very well. There are images of baccarat in every James Bond film. But you also see it as the main game of choice for high rollers at the casino.
But here’s the truth…
It’s actually one of the easiest games to play in the casino. And it’s full of great odds to take advantage of.
Players can place their bets on three possible outcomes. The Player hand wins, the Banker hand wins, or the result is a Tie. That’s it. There are no other decisions to be made. It’s really that simple.
The odds work out like this:
- Banker bet: 1.06% house edge (5% commission on wins)
- Player bet: 1.24% house edge
- Tie bet: 14.36% house edge
The banker bet is one of the safest bets in the entire casino. Sure, there’s a small commission taken on winning bets. But even after that, the odds remain very good indeed.
One warning: Never bet on a tie. A house edge of 14.36% is just way too high. That 8:1 payout doesn’t even begin to make up for how infrequently ties occur.
Smart Strategies For Table Game Success
So far, we’ve looked at each table game separately. But there’s some practical advice that applies to all games in the casino. These are my top tips to help you have fun at the tables while still giving you the best possible chance of winning:
- Set a budget. Decide before you play how much money you are willing to lose and stick to it. Don’t ever chase your losses by increasing your bets.
- Learn the rules. Every game has slightly different rules that impact the house edge. Make sure you know the particular rules of the game you’re playing, such as whether the dealer stands on soft 17 in blackjack.
- Skip the side bets. Side bets are there to look flashy and offer big payouts. In reality, they almost always come with a much higher house edge than the main game itself.
- Take your time. There’s no need to rush. The slower you play, the fewer bets you make per hour, and the less you’re exposed to the house edge.
Wrapping It Up
Learning about casino odds doesn’t mean you’re going to win every time. After all, the house always has an advantage in the long run. But learning about the best table games odds will at least put you in the best possible position to win.
Key points to take away:
- Go for European or French roulette over American
- Play blackjack with a basic strategy to minimise the house edge
- Stick to banker bets when playing baccarat, avoid tie bets
- Set limits and gamble responsibly
Casino table games offer some of the best odds at the casino when you play correctly. Learn the basics and the math, and you’ll enjoy the games much more. The math is never going to lie to you. Make it work for you.
