Casino games are designed to make money for the house, but some offer better odds for players than others. By sticking to games with good odds and making smart bets, you can maximize your chances to walk away a winner. Here’s an overview of some of the best casino games to play if you want to beat the house.
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games because when played properly, the house edge can be very low – even under 1% with perfect basic strategy. The key is learning when to hit, stand, split or double down based on your cards and the dealer’s upcard. With the right blackjack rules and good strategy, your odds are better than most other games on such platforms as StayCasino.
|
Rule Set |
House Edge |
|
8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, late surrender |
0.40% |
|
6 decks, dealer hits soft 17 |
0.45% |
|
Single deck, no late surrender |
0.50% |
Baccarat offers some of the best odds in the casino if you stick to betting on the banker. The house edge on banker bets is just 1.06%, compared to 1.24% on player bets. Tie bets seem enticing with 8:1 payouts, but have a massive 14.4% casino advantage. With proper strategy, baccarat gives you an almost even shot against the house.
|
Bet |
House Edge |
|
Banker |
1.06% |
|
Player |
1.24% |
|
Tie |
14.36% |
Craps might look intimidating, but some bets give players remarkably good odds. Pass line and come bets only have a 1.41% house edge – one of the lowest in the casino. Avoid sucker one-roll bets like proposition bets, big 6/8 or any 7. Stick to pass, come, place, odds, and you can get near even odds.
Unlike slots which rely 100% on luck, video poker introduces a skill element with optimal strategy. Jacks or Better played perfectly only holds a 0.46% edge for the casino. Other good full-pay games include Deuces Wild (0.76%) and Double Bonus (0.50%). With a perfect video poker strategy, you can erase almost all the house edge.
|
Game |
Payback |
House Edge |
|
Jacks or Better |
99.54% |
0.46% |
|
Deuces Wild |
99.24% |
0.76% |
|
Double Bonus |
99.50% |
0.50% |
By sticking to these casino games with good odds and making smart bets, you can give yourself the best chance to walk away a winner, even in 2025. Just beware that variance can cause big swings short term.
Poker is unique among casino games because it allows skilled players to gain an edge over the house long-term. While the casino generates revenue by taking a rake from each pot, good poker players use odds, hand-reading ability and exploitative strategies to turn a profit over tens of thousands of hands.
Games like Texas Hold’em rely on as much luck as skill per hand, but over time the skilled strategic player overcomes variance to beat weaker opponents. Poker pros use advanced strategies to tilt odds in their favor. With training, study, experience and optimal bankroll management, poker offers the greatest opportunity for players to potentially turn the tables and gain the advantage vs. the casino.
The key is avoiding “gambling” attitudes and approaching poker strategically as a skill and math-based endeavor, maximizing value bets while pot controlling against loose players. Choose your games selectively, study optimal strategy charts, practice hand reading and fine-tune your decision-making to scrub out weak points from your game. Over sufficient volume, poker represents one-way, players can shift the mathematical advantage to their favor.
