- If you’re looking to make some money in a casino, your best bet is to hit up video poker machines.
- Craps and baccarat also have relatively low house edges if you play correctly.
- Slot machines are king when it comes to losing money as quickly as possible.
When it comes down to it, most casino games are designed to fleece you out of your hard-earned cash. However, some casino games are worse than others. Some will suck you dry quicker than others, while others will see you lose way more than you reasonably should.
I’ve played pretty much every game a casino has to offer, from the weird and wonderful to your bread-and-butter slots and roulette. I want to share my experiences with you so that you know which casino games you should avoid like the plague, and which ones aren’t too bad.
Do you want to know the casino games that will suck your soul and leave you broke? Stick around.
The Best Casino Games
Before we get into the worst casino games you should avoid, let’s take a look at the best ones worth playing.
It goes without saying that no game in a casino is going to give you an edge over the house, but some are definitely better than others. These are the casino games I tend to gravitate towards.
Video Poker
If I’m going to play inside a casino, I might as well have a shot at taking home some extra cash, right? That’s why I love video poker.
This underrated casino gem gives you the best chance of leaving with more money than you came in, with some strategies and techniques.
The main reason why this game is great is because it has the lowest house edge out of all casino games. Some say that expert players can even gain an edge over the house.
It moves fast, it’s fun, and there are tons of different variants to try out. Whether you’re new to the world of casinos or a seasoned pro, you shouldn’t pass up a chance to play video poker.
I recommend starting small and learning as you go along. You could always consult a guide on how to play video poker if you need a bit of help.
Baccarat
Baccarat might be James Bond’s casino game of choice, but it doesn’t mean only 007 agents can play it.
This game has gained a reputation as being for the elite, but it’s actually very simple. All you have to do is bet on either the player, banker, or tie.
The best part about this game is that the house edge is really low, especially if you bet on the banker. The overall house edge for betting on the banker is just 1.06%, while the player sits at 1.24%. Ties are more common than you think, but the house edge is a higher 1.87%.
One thing you need to know about baccarat is that ties usually have high margins. Don’t bet on the tie unless you’re willing to leave with nothing. Ever.
best casino sign up offersIf you want to be just like James Bond, I highly recommend giving baccarat a shot. Who knows? You could end up quipping one-liners and walking away with a pile of cash.
Double Exposure Blackjack
Blackjack is a classic casino game, but most versions of it give the house a slight advantage. That’s why I prefer double exposure blackjack.
With regular blackjack, you’re at a disadvantage because you don’t know if the dealer has a good hand or not. They have one card facing up and one card facing down, and you have to make decisions based off of one of their cards.
In double exposure blackjack, both of the dealer’s cards are facing up. This evens the playing field and makes it easier to decide what to do. Since the deck is still 52 cards, the house will still have a small edge, but it’s not too bad.
You could also use a blackjack cheat sheet to help you learn optimal strategy. Every little helps!
If a casino has this version of blackjack, I’ll play this over regular blackjack any day. Why not get an equal chance of beating the dealer?
Craps
Craps has a reputation for being a complicated game, but it’s not as confusing as people make it seem. It’s definitely one of the best casino games if you want to have some fun without worrying about strategies and techniques too much.
There are two rounds in craps: the first roll (the “come out” roll), and then the rest of the game. If you roll a 7 or 11, you win. If you roll a 2, 3, or 12, you lose. If you roll any other number, that becomes the point number, and you continue to roll until you hit that number again or a 7.
There are lots of different bets you can place in craps, including single rolls and more comprehensive wagers that last until a 7 is rolled. If you play your cards right, the house edge can sit below 1%.
Just make sure you know the etiquette before you go anywhere near the craps table! There’s nothing like throwing your bet at the wrong time to really piss people off.
European Roulette
If you don’t mind living on the edge – the edge of the wheel, that is – then European roulette may be your jam. Just be prepared to take baby steps if you value self-preservation.
While there are 38 pockets in American roulette, its European cousin has just 37, making its house edge a slightly more manageable 2.70%.
You can also use a few to help you survive a little longer at the table. Just don’t forget to keep one eye open for the guy with the pocket watch and the creepy smile. Weirdos love roulette.
The Worst Casino Games
Now that you’ve seen five awesome casino games you should totally play, it’s time to look at the worst games you should avoid at all costs.
These are the games that are specifically designed to take your money and run. If you want to walk away with more cash than you came in with, these are the games you need to stay clear of.
Keno
Keno looks like bingo, but don’t let its old lady vibes fool you. It’s one of the worst games you can play in a casino, as the house typically has an edge of around 30%.
Thirty. Percent.
In keno, you pick up to 15 numbers between 1 and 80. Then, 20 numbers are chosen randomly. If your picked numbers match any of the drawn numbers, you win. The more matches you get, the more money you win. It’s mind-numbingly simple.
Unless you’re picking every number from one to 15, your odds of winning are abysmal. However, those who have absolutely no understanding of math often find themselves drawn to the bright lights and promise of easy wins.
Don’t fall for it. If you want to , try something else.
Touch-Bet Table Games
Touch bet tables sound cool in theory. In reality, they’re terrible. So terrible, in fact, that most casinos don’t have them anymore.
Remember when I said craps wasn’t as complicated as it seemed? Touch bet craps are exactly what they sound like: you touch bet amounts on a screen instead of verbally telling the dealer or placing chips down yourself. It’s faster, but it’s also way worse.
The reason why is because the stakes can easily get out of control. One tap of your finger can place a $100 bet, which can quickly snowball into a massive loss. Plus, you don’t truly understand how much you’re risking because it’s not physical chips leaving your stack.
Another issue is that distractions can affect the outcome of the game. If you’re tapping away at the screen, you might miss an important number that costs you big time.
Some casinos have replaced their touch-bet tables with COVID-19 safe measures, so be careful. If you see a table where you don’t have to interact with anyone in person, just remember how the casino is making up for the loss of revenue.
Hint: it isn’t the food stalls.
Instant Win Games
Instant win games sound amazing. Who wouldn’t want to scratch off a card or stick, and instantly know whether they’ve won or lost?
Me. I don’t. Because they’re awful.
Deposit Bonus Casinos in the UK for 2023 - Top British OperatorsThe house edge on instant win games can range from 30% to 50%. Thirty. To. Fifty. Percent.
Slots are bad enough, but at least you get a semblance of entertainment from watching the wheels spin. What’s the entertainment factor in scratching off a card or sticking a plastic cherry in a pot of gold?
Nothing. There’s nothing.
Plus, you look absolutely ridiculous waving a plastic apple around, trying to shove it into a pot of gold. I speak from experience.
Save yourself the embarrassment and skip instant win games altogether. Your wallet— and your dignity — will thank you.
Protip: if you see a slot machine with a large LCD screen showing a Wheel of Fortune style minigame, just keep walking. Same deal.
Slot Machines
Slot machines are the kings – some may even say gods – of draining your funds as quickly as possible. They’re so good at separating you from your money that entire economies have been built upon them.
Everyone knows someone who has dropped $500 into a slot machine and “only” lost $100. That’s how insidious they are.
The flashing lights, constant noise, and illusion of control (you choose how much to bet!) make them irresistible to some. However, the chances of you walking away with more cash than you started with are slim to none.
They’re so notoriously awful that laws are in place to limit how much money slot machines can pay out. Do you know why restaurants and bars rarely pay out more than $500-$1000 for a jackpot? It’s because they’re exempt from serving alcohol if you win less than $1000 in one go.
Next time you see an old lady put $5 into a slot machine and walk away an hour later with $150, follow her. Chances are she’s putting in $500 at a time, and has probably already lost $350. She’s saving his casino a ton of paperwork by only taking small wins.
Pound Deposit Casino (2023) - Best £5 Minimum Deposit CasinosAs Larry David would say: Salude.
If you must play slots (seriously, they’re the worst), you could check out a to increase your chances. But honestly, just don’t play them.
Wheel of Fortune / Lucky Wheel Games
Wheel of Fortune games are fun at home. You can spin the wheel and win cool prizes without spending a dime.
In a casino, they’re just another way for you to lose all your money. Fast.
Much like touch-bet table games and instant win stations, these games let you place huge bets with the swipe of a finger. The allure of a big win makes you throw caution to the wind and bet everything you have left on that final spin.
Not only do these games drain your funds, but they’re also ridiculously loud and obnoxious. Listening to some sweaty stranger yell at a screen because they didn’t land on red is not my idea of fun.
In fact, it’s not an idea at all. It’s just some dude losing his shit over nothing.
My advice? Spin to win at home, where you stand to win sick prizes like board games and candy.
If you want to spin to win at a casino, opt for a slot machine. Yes, I know I just called them the worst, but hear me out.
At least with a slot machine, you can pick when you want to play. Lucky wheel games and similar attractions operate on a set schedule, which means you have no control over when you can play and how much you have to bet.
With a slot machine, you can insert as many bills as you want and start spinning whenever the machine is free. Sure, the chances of you walking away with more cash than you came in with are slim, but at least you have some control over the situation.
Plus, you don’t have to listen to other people celebrate/cry over their wins.
Other Games to Avoid
The above casino games are the absolute worst, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other contenders for the title. Here are a few more games I tend to avoid when I’m out on the town.
Digital Roullete
Digital roulette sounds pretty great, right? No weird ass old guys creeping on your girlfriend, no one swooping in to steal your bets, and no one knocking over your drinks.
What it does have, however, is a insane house edge.
Instead of hiring plenty of dealers to man traditional roulette tables, casinos opt for digital screens with touch bet functionality. While I already explained why touch bets are bad, the digital aspect also sucks.
For starters, you’re limited to certain bets. You can’t place splits, streets, corners, baskets, or tops. You can only place straight-up bets, splits, street bets, and red/black/odd/even.
That already increases the house edge from around 2.7% to around 5.26%. Great.
On top of that, there’s no en prison rule. If the ball lands on zero, your even money bets are not saved for the next spin. You lose them.
It’s a blatant money grab, plain and simple. If you see a long line at the digital roulette screens and a short line at the regular roulette tables, do yourself a favor and join the queue.
High Card Draw Poker
Video poker is great. It gives you the chance to beat the house and walk away with some extra cash. High card draw poker? Not so much.
In high card draw poker, each player is dealt five cards. They can then discard any or all of these cards and receive new ones. They are paid out based on the value of the cards they hold onto.
The biggest problem with this game is that people massively overvalue their “good” hands. A pair of jacks or better is eligible for a payout, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good hand.
Let’s look at two hypothetical scenarios.
Scenario #1: You throw away three low cards and keep a king, jack, ten, and jack. Total payout: 1x your bet. House edge: 8.66%.
Scenario #2: You throw away four low cards and keep a queen, ten, eight, and six. Total payout: 2x your bet. House edge: 7.74%.
Even though Scenario #2 results in double the payout, it actually has a higher house edge. This is because the likelihood of getting a good hand is much greater in the first scenario.
People think that keeping any pair is a smart move, but that popular belief is what gives the house its edge.
War
Ever played the card game War as a kid? It’s pretty much just rock-paper-scissors with cards, and way less strategic.
All you have to do is put down a card, see whose card is higher, and take both cards if you win. Bet bigger amounts for twice the stakes, and hope that your gran’s beat-up Joker plays in your favor.
Simple, right? Well, it bloody well better be because that “game” has a house edge of 2.86%.
There’s no skill involved; it’s pure luck. The only time you need to make a decision is when you up the ante, and even then, there are only two options.
Personally, I don’t have a problem with playing War at home. It’s a fun distraction, especially if you’re waiting for your friends to finish Candy Land so you can pelt them with pillows.
But at the casino? Nah. There are so many other games available that offer better odds and more excitement. Save your money and play War with your nephew next Thanksgiving.
Conclusion
Casinos are designed to take your money. That much is obvious. However, not all casino games are created equally when it comes to draining your wallet.
Some games are way worse than others. Take instant win games, for example. Not only do they have a disgustingly high house edge, but they’re also incredibly boring.
Why would I waste my cash on a game that offers no entertainment value whatsoever? Seems counterproductive, doesn’t it?
Of course, there are other games that aren’t quite as bad. Baccarat, for instance, only has a house edge of around 1% if you bet on the banker. That’s pretty decent odds, especially since you don’t really need to think about what you’re doing.
So, what’s the best thing to do when you’re at the casino?
Stick to games that favor the player. Video poker, craps, and baccarist are great places to start, but there are tons of other games out there that can boost your chances of coming out ahead.
Can you win at the casino? Absolutely. Millions of people do it every year.
Should you expect to win at the casino? Not really. The house does have an advantage, after all.
Footnotes:
- Mathematics of Blackjack is from .
Anna is our Yoga author. She has done 500+ yoga training videos, wrote multiple eBooks on yoga and even produced a yoga app.
She is a master when it comes to sharing the benefits of Yoga and in her articles, she loves to get people moving, to encourage that yoga becomes a part of everyone's daily life, no matter if you are a high flying executive or aHarlem Globetrotzer.