Games You
Can Win
The casino advantage has 2 components. The first and
easiest to understand is when you lose. When you lose a
bet, it is lost, period.
But the second is when you win. But how can you lose
when you win? Well, instead of receiving a fair payout for
a winning bet, you are paid less. For example, a fair
payout for a $1 wager on roulette is $37. However, the
casino pays you only $35. It keeps the $2 almost like a
tax. As a result, the $2 disappears in the coffers of the
casino, without you even knowing or realizing it! The
irony of this is that you are happy you have “won” even
though you have just been short changed by the casino.
What you need to know is how much is this hidden tax
and what you can do to reduce it. Because the lower you
reduce this tax or casino advantage, the greater will be
your chances of winning more or at least minimizing your
losses.
The following table summarizes the casino’s advantage
for games where a player with a little luck has a good
chance of winning. A positive casino advantage means the
casino has the edge. A negative casino advantage implies
the player has the better of it. Most casino games have
several different types of wagers, which is why you see a
range of casino advantage for most games.
|
Blackjack (with basic strategy) |
0% to +0.5%
|
|
Blackjack (with basic strategy and card counting)
|
-0.2% to –1.05%
(Player advantage) |
|
Craps
|
+0.2% to +17%
|
|
Pai Gow Poker
|
-0.2% to +2.5%
|
|
Baccarat
|
+0.1% to +14.1%
|
|
Roulette
|
+2.6% to +7.9%
|
|
Video Poker
|
-0.1% to +5.0%
|
|
Sic Bo |
+2.8% to +47.5%
|
|
Slots
|
+0.5% to +10% or more |
The best games – the ones with the lowest potential
casino advantage – are the following casino games:
- Blackjack (with at least basic
playing strategy)
- Craps (but only specific bets)
- Pai Gow Poker
- Baccarat
- Roulette
- Video Poker (full pay machines with
expert strategy)
- Sic Bo
- Slots (only at high payout Casino’s)
These are the casino games, which offer you the highest
potential of maximizing your winnings or minimizing your
losses, and should be a part of every player’s game plan.
|
