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Humans are competitive by nature. The desire to win is deeply ingrained in our minds, and we always strive to win no matter what we do. Casino players are no different. Every single person who ever set foot in a casino did so with one single intent: to win. Even casual players aim at scoring big as opposed to walking away empty-handed.
Your chance of winning greatly depends on your luck, but if you have knowledge of casino games, an optimal strategy, and you’re great with numbers, it may benefit you too.
Many players prefer casino games that require more skill, while others choose games at random. Choosing the right game could be a daunting task if you are a first-time player.
We made a list of the most popular casino games with the best odds of winning, so you don’t have to wonder where to begin and which game to place your bets on.
Craps
Craps is one of the most popular casino games worldwide. You can find craps tables at every gambling establishment or online casino. The game’s simplicity could provide hours’ worth of entertainment.
Craps is a dice game where one player (called “shooter”) rolls the dice, and the other players place wagers against the casino (or the “bank”), trying to predict the results.
Origins
There is no singular opinion on the origins of the game. Some believe the Roman soldiers invented craps using pig knuckle bones as a pastime between campaigns.
There is evidence of craps-like games found in Indian crypts and Egyptian tombs. Sophocles, the Greek playwright, wrote that soldiers played a game similar to craps during the siege of Troy.
Many believe that the game of craps evolved from an ancient recreational activity called Al Dar, popular on the Arabian Peninsula, and brought to Europe by merchants in the 12th century.
The modern-day craps are often accredited to American dice maker John H. Winn, who introduced the “don’t pass” betting option to the already popular game across the North American colonies.
Rules
Craps is a fairly easy game. The player wins if they “shoot” 7 or 11, and loses if the dice roll 2, 3, or 12. Any other number will push the game into another round.
The most common betting strategy involves betting on PASS LINE or DON’T PASS. The first refers to players betting that either 7 or 11 to win, or 2, 3, or 12 to lose.
Winning odds
Your chances of winning are always around 50%. If you bet on the PASS LINE the winning odds are approximately 50/50, and the house edge would be around 1.4%. The best odds could swing in your favor if you place your bet on the craps table DON’T PASS line. In this case, you’re looking at a 1.36% advantage for the bank.
Compared to many other casino games, craps tend to be quite generous when it comes to winnings. Betting smart will significantly increase your chances of walking away victorious and with a handful of money in your pockets.
Blackjack
Blackjack is another popular casino game that yields good results if you are willing to put some effort into it. This card-based game pits players against the casino dealer.
The winner is the one who first scores 21 or is the closest to that number. This game is so appealing because it is not a game of luck, but rather one based on numbers.
On the blackjack table skill plays a significant role in deciding the winner, but skill is also needed, as players need to know when to draw a card, and when to stop.
Origins
The murky history of Blackjack games could be dated back to the 16th century when it was first mentioned by the celebrated Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes in his classic novel Don Quixote. The card game saw a significant rise in popularity in 18th-century France, where it was known as Vingt-et-Un (meaning 21).
Americans took a keen interest in the game, which was quickly adopted by the local gambling establishments. Blackjack became a permanent staple in American casinos after gambling was legalized in the state of Nevada in 1931.
Rules
The main objective is to beat the dealer. If the player draws 21, and the dealer fails to do so, the player wins. Another way is if the player’s hand value exceeds that of the dealer. Lastly, if the dealer’s hand goes above 21, then the player wins.
Winning odds
The odds of winning are pretty good – around 49%. It’s considered that the player and the dealer have even chances of winning, with the blackjack house edge being around 1%. On average the payout for Blackjack is around 99.43%.
The ability to know when to “hit” another card, and when to hold when you have a good hand, is what will guarantee you an enriching experience both in terms of money and entertainment.
Roulette
A solid staple in any respected land-based or online casino, roulette is arguably one of the best-known online gambling attractions, presenting the players will very good odds of winning. This casino game is pretty easy to get into.
The player bets on a specific number or a color group of numbers, and the roulette dealer (here called croupier) spins the roulette wheel. The player wins when the ball lands in the prechosen position.
Origins
No one knows for sure when the first roulette was made. Some people claim that roulette’s origins lie in ancient times. Certain theories place the birthplace of the gambling game in China, others – in Ancient Greece or Rome.
It is widely believed that the roulette that we came to know today was created by the renowned French mathematician Blaise Pascal in the 17th century when he attempted to create a perpetual motion machine.
Later on, two Frenchmen – Francois and Louis Blanc, improved the game by removing the double zero pocket and thus bringing down the house advantage to 2.70%. Their version would come to be known as French roulette. It was hugely popular in France in the 19th century.
From France, the roulette would go on to make a splash in America, where the local gambling patrons played a version of it with double zero pockets, known across the Atlantic as American roulette.
Rules
Playing roulette is quite straightforward. The player places their bet and the croupier spins the roulette wheel. The player has the freedom to bet on a single number, adjacent number, or row of numbers. They can also bet on colors (black or red), or odd and even numbers.
Winning odds
Placing your bets on the roulette table on either red or black provides a winning odds of almost 50%. It is possible to increase the payout by betting on specific numbers, but this also decreases the odds of winning significantly. Roulette has an extremely generous payout of around 97.30%.
Roulette is a game completely dominated by Lady Luck. Having a basic strategy might slightly tip the scales in your favor, but ultimately it all boils down to where the ball lands. Bet smart and have an exit strategy.
Baccarat
This casino game saw a significant rise in popularity in the last century due to its simple rules and high rewards.
Baccarat offers high thrills in which players and dealers draw cards. The winner is the person whose hand value is closer to 9.
Similar to Blackjack, Baccarat does not solely rely on luck. It requires players to familiarize themselves with the rules to get a competitive advantage.
Origins
The card game of Baccarat is said to originate in Italy as a favorite pastime activity of the local nobility in the 15th century. Called baccara by the Italians, the name was slightly changed by the French to include an extra “T”.
Some historians believe that the famous explorer Marco Polo brought the game to Italy from China, where the locals played a domino-based gambling game known as Pai Gow (which roughly translates as make nine).
Initially, Baccarat was played with four players, each dealing cards and potentially becoming the banker. Players had the option to place bets against each other or the bank.
In its present-day version, the game has only one banker, the dealer, and the player only bets against the house.
Rules
Baccarat is a pretty straightforward casino game. The player is dealt two cards face up. Same for the dealer. The winner is the person whose hand value is closer or equal to 9.
Winning odds
With a payout of 99.07%, it is no wonder that baccarat is amongst the most popular casino games. Betting on the player’s hand brings double winning, whereas betting on the dealer pays 95% of the wager (5% commission).
If both the player and the dealer are dealt the same hand size, then it’s a stand (none of them wins or loses).
The tie pays 8 to 1 (sometimes 9:1). Depending if you place your bet on the player’s or the banker’s hand, the best odds of winning would be between 44.62%-45.85%, with the banker’s hand paying slightly higher (around 1% on average). Tie is estimated at around 9.53%.
The house edge varies between 1.01% to 1.24% depending on the player and banker bets, and the type of the table. The best odds vary depending on the table limits. House advantage for a tie sits at around 14.4%.
Having an optimal strategy, knowing when to bet, and paying attention to the cards dealt are what would guarantee you a win. Having a bit of luck makes the games exponentially more interesting.
Conclusion
Modern gaming is a vast industry, offering people countless ways for entertainment, and winning big while doing so. Cards, dice, or roulette it doesn’t matter as long as you have fun playing responsibly.
The casino games we present are just some of the most popular gambling games found on the casino floor. Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, and Baccarat offer immersive experiences and many delightful moments, making them a desirable first choice for beginners.
Craps and Roulette would be ideal for people who don’t like significant risks and want to have fun without thinking too much about it. Both games are easy to get into and provide excellent winning odds. If you are looking for something more challenging, we suggest Blackjack and Baccarat.
Both require a certain extent of skill and game knowledge. Putting some effort into these and getting familiar with the rules will bring you generous winning.
