Casino Odds
What Casino Games Have The Best Odds?
WHICH CASINO TABLE GAME HAS THE BEST ODDS?
- UNDERSTANDING CASINO LINGO
- WHICH CASINO TABLE GAME HAS THE BEST ODDS?
- CARIBBEAN STUD POKER | ODDS OF WINNING 42.78%
- THREE CARD POKER | ODDS OF WINNING 44.91%
- BACCARAT | ODDS OF WINNING 44.62 - 45.86%
- ROULETTE | ODDS OF WINNING 47.37 – 47.4%
- CRAPS | ODDS OF WINNING 49.3%
- BLACKJACK | ODDS OF WINNING 49-51%
- WHICH CASINO GAME HAS THE HIGHEST ODDS?
- TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE!
Navigating casino odds, online or in person, can be a discombobulating experience. Shiny slots, kitschy keno, dynamic dice and the captivating card games are all vying for your attention – and your hard-earned money! To wager with confidence its vital that you understand online casino games and, importantly, what casino games have the best odds.
UNDERSTANDING CASINO LINGO
For those aspiring casino aficionados who are novices on the casino floor, some of the terminology used in these games may sound almost foreign. However, it is essential that you get to know the most important casino terms before you get started. Understanding these casino terms will help ensure that nothing gets lost in translation, and you can maximise your enjoyment with as little confusion as possible.
With that in mind, here is a quick summary of some of the casino lingo you may not already be familiar with.
Ante Bet: This is the initial, and mandatory, bet that poker players make at the start of the hand. Each player’s ‘ante’ builds the initial pot which the winner of the hand will claim.
House Edge: This is the statistical advantage that the casino holds over the player across its various games. Generally illustrated as a percentage, this conveys the average amount of a player's stake the casino could expect to keep as profit. For example, if the house edge is 2%, this means the casino would expect to retain $2 per every $100 staked on that game.
Payout Table: This table represents the potential winnings or payouts for different combinations or outcomes in both casino games and slots. This is important to read before making an initial bet as it will highlight the amounts that can be won based on specific bets and results.
Return To Player (RTP): Given as a percentage, RTP illustrates the amount of money a player could expect to receive back from their stake over a long period of time. Understanding a games RTP will help to assess the odds and potential profitability of a given game.
WHICH CASINO TABLE GAME HAS THE BEST ODDS?
As the table below shows, the casino game that has the best odds is undoubtedly blackjack. Your odds of winning will vary depending on certain rules and your own skill, but overall, you can expect to have a 49-51% chance of winning your hand!
Let’s look at these casino odds in more detail.
|
What Casino Games Have The Best Odds?
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Game | House Edge | Odds of Winning | |
| Blackjack | 0.5-1% | 49-51% | |
| Craps | 1.36% | 49.3% | |
| Roulette | 2.7-5.26% | 47.37-47.4% | |
| Baccarat | 1.06-1.24% | 44.62-45.86% | |
| Three Card Poker | 3.37% | 44.91% | |
| Caribbean Stud Poker | 5.22% | 42.78% | |
CARIBBEAN STUD POKER | ODDS OF WINNING 42.78%
Coming in sixth in our list of the casino table games with the best odds in Caribbean Stud Poker. The house edge can vary from casino to casino, but more often than not it will be around 5.22%. This edge comes firstly from the pay table where lower amounts may be paid for common hands like pairs, but significantly higher than usual for rarer hands like a Royal Flush.
The second factor influencing the house edge is that the dealer must hold a hand that is at least as strong as Ace-King to continue. If the dealer’s hand does not qualify then players receive even money return on their ante bet – no matter what hand they hold.
Despite this, Caribbean Stud Poker still gives the player a decent 42.78% chance of winning. It is just paramount that you inspect the payout table before playing to manage those expectations if you get dealt a winner!
THREE CARD POKER | ODDS OF WINNING 44.91%
Three card poker offers significantly better casino odds than its Caribbean cousin for two main reasons. First, the dealer’s qualifying hand is slightly weaker. In Three Card Poker, the dealer’s hand will qualify with just a Queen-High. This results in more hands being played, giving the player more opportunity to win.
The second, and perhaps more significant, difference is that players have much more control over their game. After the first ante, players can decide to raise, or fold based on the strength of their cards, options that simply aren’t available in Caribbean Stud.
Generally, Three Card Poker offers players a 44.91% chance of winning, although this can again vary depending on how the pay table is structured. Whilst these are better odds than Caribbean Stud, stepping away from poker will lead us to the very best casino game odds…
BACCARAT | ODDS OF WINNING 44.62 - 45.86%
Baccarat is a simple game that offers simple returns – and the second-best odds on the casino floor. A house edge of between 1.06-1.24% compares very favourably to the previous games mentioned on this list, and it affords the player odds of winning of around 44.62-45.86%. The reason for the variation in the odds is due to different return rates on whether you are backing the banker or the player to win.
Another factor that will influence the house edge in the numbers of decks being used to play. If you want to improve your odds of winning baccarat, then look for the games that use the least number of decks.
ROULETTE | ODDS OF WINNING 47.37 – 47.4%
When playing roulette, it is important that you take note of which type of roulette is being offered as this has a dramatic impact on the house edge and, in turn, your odds of winning.
With European Roulette the house edge is just 2.7%. This is thanks to there being just one ‘0’ pocket on the wheel. The zero pocket is what gives the house it’s edge, and more zero’s there are, the bigger the advantage the casino has.
The impact of that the zero pocket has can be clearly seen in American Roulette. Here there is a Double zero, but everything else remains the same. Just this one small addition allows the house edge to almost double from 2.7% to 5.26%.
CRAPS | ODDS OF WINNING 49.3%
The Craps table is one of the most popular games on the casino floor, and with good reason! This fast-paced game gives the house an edge of only 1.36% for its popular “Pass Line” bets. This bet will give you odds of winning of around 49% making it the casino game with the third-best odds.
However, there are some other bets on the Craps table that can give you significantly worse odds. For example, if you take the “Any 7” bet and back the next dice roll to produce a 7 you will be handing the house a 16% edge and reduce of chances of winning from 49% to just 16%!
BLACKJACK | ODDS OF WINNING 49-51%
Blackjack is the casino game with the best odds of winning, with a house edge that can be as low as 0.5%. It is important to note that Blackjack relies on skill as well as luck, so a poor strategy can lead to the house edge more than doubling and your chances of winning will fall dramatically.
The rules being utilised will also have significant impact on both the possibility of your strategy working and the overall edge that you are giving to the casino. Before playing you should find out – amongst other things -how many decks are being used and when you may be allowed to double-down on specific cards. Each may have significant impact on the strategy you wish to employ.
WHICH CASINO GAME HAS THE HIGHEST ODDS?
The casino game with the highest odds is Keno, which has mighty house edge of around 2—35%. This results in a typical Return to Player of around 70-80%. It’s important to note that casino odds for keno can vary dramatically from provider to provider, so it’s important that you examine the keno game you are playing before making that first bet!
Given that keno has the highest odds out of casino game, its everlasting appeal may be surprising. However, sometimes there is an attraction to simplicity – and keno is nothing if not simple! All you need to do is select six numbers from 1-80 and wait for the draw!
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE!
Interested in putting your newly knowledge gained to the test? Well, fortunately for you the Lottoland Casino is well stocked with all of these casino games and plenty more!
CASINO GAMES ODDS FAQ
WHAT DOES HOUSE EDGE MEAN IN CASINO GAMES?
House edge is the built-in advantage that the casino has over players in a particular game. It’s expressed as a percentage, showing how much the casino expects to keep over time. For example, in New Zealand casinos, European Roulette has a house edge of 2.7%, meaning for every $100 wagered, the casino expects to keep $2.70 on average.
HOW DOES RETURN TO PLAYER (RTP) AFFECT YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING?
Return to Player (RTP) is the opposite of the house edge and indicates the expected percentage of wagered money a player can win back over time. A slot machine in a New Zealand casino with an RTP of 95% means that, on average, players will get back $95 for every $100 wagered. However, this is calculated over thousands of plays, so short-term results can vary widely.
WHICH CASINO GAME OFFERS THE LOWEST HOUSE EDGE?
Blackjack typically has the lowest house edge, sometimes as low as 0.5% when played with optimal strategy. This means Kiwi players have a nearly 50/50 chance of winning, making it one of the best games for those looking to maximize their odds in a land-based or online casino in New Zealand.
WHY DOES BLACKJACK HAVE THE BEST ODDS AMONG CASINO GAMES?
Unlike games that rely purely on luck, blackjack involves an element of skill. By making strategic decisions—such as knowing when to hit, stand, split, or double down—New Zealand players can reduce the house edge significantly. Some versions of blackjack offered at SkyCity Auckland and other local casinos have favorable rules that further improve player odds.
HOW DOES THE NUMBER OF DECKS IN BLACKJACK AFFECT YOUR ODDS?
The fewer decks used in blackjack, the better the odds for the player. Single-deck blackjack offers the best RTP, but most New Zealand casinos use multiple decks to maintain their advantage. Online blackjack games available to Kiwi players sometimes offer different variations, so checking the number of decks can help you choose the best option.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN ROULETTE?
European Roulette has a single zero (0), while American Roulette has both a zero (0) and a double zero (00). This extra pocket increases the house edge in American Roulette to 5.26%, compared to just 2.7% in European Roulette. If you're playing at a New Zealand casino, look for the European version to improve your chances of winning.
WHY DOES CRAPS HAVE BETTER ODDS THAN MANY OTHER CASINO GAMES?
The "Pass Line" bet in craps has a house edge of just 1.36%, making it one of the better bets in any New Zealand casino. However, some side bets in craps—like "Any 7"—have a much higher house edge, so it’s important for Kiwi players to stick to the lower-risk bets for better odds.
WHY DO KENO GAMES HAVE SUCH HIGH HOUSE EDGES?
Keno in New Zealand casinos often has a house edge between 20% and 35%, making it one of the worst odds games for players. The high house edge comes from the fact that players need to match multiple drawn numbers to win big, and the odds of hitting a perfect selection are extremely low. While Keno is fun and offers large payouts, it’s not the best choice for consistent wins.
WHAT STRATEGIES CAN YOU USE TO IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES IN THREE CARD POKER?
One of the best strategies for Three Card Poker in New Zealand is to raise (play) with any hand of Queen-6-4 or better. Folding weaker hands helps reduce long-term losses and keeps the house edge lower. Also, checking the payout structure at different casinos can help you find more favorable versions of the game.
