What Games Have The Best (And Worst) Odds In Vegas?

Nevada’s state-wide gross gaming revenue (GGR) totaled $15.52 billion last year. This marks the third consecutive year of GGR growth.

That’s a hell of a lot of money.

And there’s a reason why casino owners get rich – especially in Las Vegas.

If you weren’t already aware, the house always wins. This is because of the house edge, also known as the casino advantage, and it varies from game to game.

So if you’re looking for games with the best odds, you want to look for games that have the lowest house edge.

Games with a lower house edge pay out more on average over time compared to games with a higher house edge.

Still with us?

Let’s take a look a some of the games that offer the best and worst odds of winning so you’re all set for your next trip to Sin City.

Casino Games With The Best Odds

1. Baccarat – House Edge 1.06-1.24%

Baccarat is a simple game with a very small house edge for the casino, making it one of the best games to play. All you have to do is bet whether the “player” or the “banker” wins the hand, and if you guess right, you will double your initial wager. 

You should avoid betting on the tie since it has a 14.36% house edge, compared to only 1.06% when betting on the banker and 1.24% when betting on the player.

2. Blackjack – House Edge 0.5–2%

Although in blackjack you’ll need to understand the rules and a basic strategy, whether you win or not relies on the luck of the cards drawn.

If you’ve never played, it’s a very easy game to pick up.

You’re looking to score 21 or get as close to 21 as possible with your cards without busting, and without the dealer having a higher total.

Read more about blackjack’s house edge.

3. Video Poker – House Edge 0.5–5%

Video poker is played on machines at the casino, against the machine – rather than other players.

You can also play online video poker.

4. Craps – House Edge 0–5.56%

In craps, you’re betting on the outcome of a roll of two dice by one of your fellow players, the “shooter”.

The ways to win are slightly more complicated than blackjack, but you’ll pick it up within a few rolls.

The house edge varies in craps, depending on the bets placed. Always check an individual casino’s odds and payout tables before playing.

5. Roulette – House Edge 2.7-5.26%

Another simple game of chance with pretty good odds of winning is roulette.

The ball rolls, it falls into a numbered slot on a wheel, either you picked the number – or group of numbers, or high and low, odd or even, red or black – or you didn’t.

It is also worth mentioning that there are multiple roulette variations. The most popular is European roulette, which has one zero field on the wheel and features a 2.7% house edge.

On the other hand, American roulette has a double zero field on top, which makes the house edge a whopping 5.26%, so you should definitely avoid it whenever you have a choice.

Casino Games With The Worst Odds

1. Slots – House Edge 2–15%

Slot machines are hugely popular with casino-goers because they’re easy to play, entertaining, addictive, and – if you get lucky – you can win a lot of money.

There is nothing you can do to improve your win rate, though, as they are totally random.

So if you want to gain an edge over the casino you should consider playing a game where you can actually use a strategy.

2. Wheel of Fortune – House Edge 11%

In Wheel of Fortune, you bet on whether the wheel stops on $1, $5, $10, $20 or a joker.

But even if you bet that the wheel will land on a $1 mark (the safest bet), the house edge is 11%.

Bet on a joker and the house advantage is as high as 24%.

3. Keno – House Edge 20–40%

In keno there are 80 numbers. The house picks 20 and you win according to how many of that 20 you selected.

Just don’t start looking at the actual mathematical probabilities involved; they will make your eyes spin like one of those slots we just talked about.

This is usually the worst game to play at the casino in terms of your odds of winning, so if you do play, know that you’re unlikely to win. Ever.

Go For Entertainment, Not To Make Money

Look, you’re in Las Vegas to have fun.

Maybe you’ve saved up for a trip of a lifetime and you know the money in your pocket won’t be there when it’s time to head to the airport.

But it’s definitely worth looking out for games that’ll help your cash go a bit further.