Top 10 Casino Games With the Best Payouts
When it comes to maximizing your chances of winning at the casino, selecting games with favorable odds is crucial. Here's a detailed breakdown of the casino games offering the highest theoretical returns to players.
1. Single-Deck Blackjack
Single-deck blackjack stands as the undisputed leader with an incredibly low 0.15% house edge when playing with optimal strategy. This classic card game offers the best mathematical probability of winning among all casino games.
2. Standard Blackjack
Multi-deck blackjack maintains excellent odds with a mere 0.5% house advantage when players employ perfect basic strategy. The game's combination of skill and chance makes it a top choice for strategic players.
3. Video Poker
Select video poker variations, particularly Deuces Wild, can deliver remarkable 99.54% return-to-player (RTP) rates. Players must master optimal play patterns to achieve these high theoretical returns.
4. Craps
The classic dice game offers generous 98.64% returns on pass line bets with odds. Craps provides some of the best betting opportunities in the casino, especially when taking advantage of odds bets.
5. Baccarat
The banker bet in baccarat maintains a slim 1.06% house edge, making it one of the most favorable games for players seeking consistent returns. This elegant card game requires no complex strategy to achieve optimal odds.
6. European Roulette
With a 97.3% theoretical return, European roulette significantly outperforms its American counterpart. The single-zero wheel provides better odds than the double-zero version found in many casinos.
7. Pai Gow Poker
This strategic poker variant offers extended playtime and favorable odds when played correctly. The relaxed pace and frequent push outcomes help preserve your bankroll while providing entertainment value.
8. Three Card Poker
While featuring a higher house edge than some other options, Three Card Poker provides good returns when playing both the ante and play bets with proper strategy.
9. Progressive Slots
Select progressive slot machines can offer positive expected value when jackpots reach certain thresholds. However, players must carefully track jackpot sizes and maintain strict bankroll management.
10. Ultimate Texas Hold'em
This poker-based table game rounds out the top ten, offering reasonable returns when played with optimal strategy and appropriate bet selection.
Blackjack
Mastering Blackjack: Ultimate Strategy Guide
Understanding Basic Strategy and House Edge
Blackjack offers players exceptional statistical advantages, delivering a remarkably low house edge of 0.5% when implementing optimal basic strategy.
The game's favorable odds derive from its unique player-versus-dealer format and strategic decision points throughout each hand.
Mastering mathematically proven decision matrices enables players to determine precise moments for hitting, standing, doubling down, or splitting pairs.
Implementing Advanced Strategy Techniques
The basic strategy chart serves as a fundamental tool for reducing the house advantage significantly compared to intuitive gameplay.
Strategic decisions must account for both player holdings and the dealer's up card. Critical scenarios include hitting on hard 16 against dealer seven or higher, despite potential bust risks.
Maximizing Returns Through Optimal Table Selection
Perfect basic strategy execution delivers near-even odds against the house, making card counting unnecessary for excellent returns.
Table conditions significantly impact expected returns – optimal scenarios include:
- 3:2 blackjack payouts
- Double after split allowance
- Dealer stands on soft 17
These favorable rules can reduce the house edge by several tenths of a percentage point, maximizing player advantage potential.
Video Poker
Video Poker Strategy Guide: Maximizing Returns Through Optimal Play
Understanding Video Poker Return Rates
Video poker offers exceptional return rates of up to 99.54% payback with perfect strategy on full-pay Deuces Wild machines.
These mathematically favorable odds make it a premier choice for strategic casino players seeking optimal returns.
Through careful machine selection and mastery of variant-specific strategies, players can achieve significantly better odds compared to traditional slot machines.
Pay Table Analysis and Machine Selection
The most prevalent variant, Jacks or Better, requires careful evaluation of pay tables.
9/6 machines represent the gold standard, offering 9x payout for full houses and 6x for flushes, delivering the optimal 99.54% return rate with perfect play.
Players should avoid 8/5 or 7/5 machines, which substantially decrease expected returns by multiple percentage points.
Strategic Play and Common Pitfalls
Perfect strategy implementation stands as the cornerstone of successful video poker play.
Each hand presents 32 potential holding combinations, requiring instant recognition of the mathematically optimal play.
Critical strategic errors, such as retaining two pair when four cards to a royal flush are available, can significantly impact long-term expected value.
Maximum returns in video poker depend on combining perfect strategic execution with selective machine choice.
Craps
Craps Strategy Guide: Maximizing Your Odds at the Casino
Understanding the Fundamentals of Craps
Strategic craps play can deliver exceptional returns up to 98.64% on Pass Line bets with odds, positioning it as one of the most mathematically advantageous casino table games.
The optimal approach centers on Pass Line betting combined with maximum allowable odds, which effectively minimizes the house edge to its lowest possible threshold.
Essential Betting Strategies
Avoiding proposition bets in the table's center is critical for success, as these carry substantial house edges between 5.56% and 16.67%.
Focus instead on these fundamental bets with their respective house edges:
- Pass Line: 1.41%
- Don't Pass: 1.36%
- Come: 1.41%
- Don't Come: 1.36%
When combining these with odds bets (which carry zero house edge), players can significantly enhance their expected returns.
Probability Analysis and Optimal Play
The foundation of successful craps strategy lies in understanding dice combination probabilities.
Key probability distributions include:
- Seven (7): 16.67% probability (6/36 combinations)
- Twelve (12): 2.78% probability (1/36 combinations)
This mathematical understanding enables informed decisions for optimal bet placement and effective risk management strategies at the craps table.
Baccarat
Understanding Baccarat: Odds, Edges, and Optimal Strategy
House Edge Analysis
Baccarat offers some of the most favorable odds in casino gaming, with a remarkably low 1.06% house edge on banker bets.
While banker wins incur a 5% commission, this bet still outperforms the player bet's 1.24% house edge.
The tie bet carries a substantial 14.4% house edge, making it mathematically unfavorable for strategic play.
Probability Breakdown
The mathematical probability distribution in Baccarat shows:
- Banker hand: Wins 45.86% of hands
- Player hand: Wins 44.62% of hands
- Tie outcomes: Occur 9.52% of hands
When excluding ties from calculations, the banker hand wins 51.17% of decisions, demonstrating its statistical advantage.
Strategic Betting Approach
The optimal Baccarat strategy centers on consistent banker betting, despite the 5% commission on wins. This approach leverages the lowest house edge available in the game.
Effective bankroll management combined with disciplined banker betting maximizes playing time and statistical advantage.
Key Mathematical Facts
- No skill element affects the fixed probabilities
- Previous outcomes don't influence future results
- Odds remain constant throughout gameplay
- Statistical advantages are mathematically proven
This straightforward probability-based game essentially functions as a structured coin flip with slightly weighted odds, making it attractive for players seeking mathematically sound betting opportunities.
European Roulette
European Roulette: Complete Guide to Rules, Odds & Strategy
Understanding the House Edge
European Roulette distinguishes itself with a favorable 2.7% house edge, substantially lower than the American variant's 5.26%.
This advantage stems from the wheel's single zero (0) configuration, unlike American Roulette's additional double zero (00) pocket.
Probability and Payouts
The winning probability for most bets stands at 48.65%, making European Roulette one of the more balanced casino games.
Straight-up bets on single numbers offer 35:1 payouts, while even-money bets like red/black and odd/even deliver 1:1 returns.
With a 1-in-37 probability for specific numbers, players can expect a theoretical return rate of 97.3% during extended play sessions.
Optimal Betting Strategies
Outside Bets
Even-money wagers represent the safest betting option, providing maximum winning probability.
Column and dozen bets yield 2:1 payouts with a 32.4% success rate, offering an attractive risk-reward balance.
Mathematical Independence
Each roulette spin operates independently, making previous results irrelevant to future outcomes.
While European Roulette may not offer the highest casino payouts, its transparent rules and favorable odds make it particularly appealing for strategic players seeking consistent gameplay.
Recommended Approach
Focus on outside bets for sustainable play, especially even-money wagers that maximize winning frequency.
Combine this with proper bankroll management to optimize your roulette strategy and maintain longer playing sessions.
Traditional Poker
Traditional Poker: Strategy and Returns Analysis
Understanding Casino Poker Mechanics
Traditional poker distinguishes itself as a skill-based casino game where strategic decisions directly influence potential returns.
Skilled players can achieve theoretical returns reaching 98% in popular variants like Texas Hold'em, though outcomes vary significantly based on expertise and competition level.
House Edge and Rake Structure
The casino rake serves as the primary house edge mechanism, ranging from 2.5% to 10% of each pot with established maximum caps.
Unlike other casino games, poker pits players against each other rather than the house, creating opportunities to overcome the rake through superior strategy and calculated decision-making.
Tournament Poker and ROI Potential
Tournament poker presents unique opportunities where return-to-player (RTP) percentages can exceed 100% for high-performing players after accounting for prize pools and buy-ins.
Success hinges on mastering probability analysis, position play, and reading opponent patterns.
Texas Hold'em and Omaha variants offer the highest skill-based potential returns among casino games, particularly when implementing disciplined bankroll management and consistent strategic approaches.
Strategic Advantages in Traditional Poker
Advanced players capitalize on position play, pot odds calculations, and opponent tendencies to maximize returns.
Maintaining strict bankroll management while focusing on games with the highest skill elements provides optimal conditions for long-term profitability in traditional poker formats.
Single Deck Blackjack
Single Deck Blackjack: The Ultimate Guide to Optimal Play
Understanding House Edge and Probability
Single deck blackjack stands as the most mathematically favorable table game in casino settings, offering an exceptional 0.15% house edge when played with optimal basic strategy.
This remarkable advantage stems from players' enhanced ability to track card distribution and make probability-based decisions within a single 52-card deck configuration.
Mathematical Advantages of Single Deck Play
The core benefits of single deck blackjack manifest in three crucial mathematical aspects:
- Natural Blackjack Probability: Players experience an increased 4.8% probability of being dealt a natural blackjack, compared to 4.3% in six-deck games
- Double-Down Optimization: Card removal effects become significantly more pronounced, enabling precise calculation of double-down opportunities
- Strategic Surrender Decisions: The smaller, more predictable card pool allows for enhanced assessment of surrender situations
Modern Casino Considerations
Finding authentic single deck blackjack games has become increasingly challenging in contemporary casino environments.
Many establishments have implemented modified rule sets, such as the 6:5 blackjack payout structure instead of the traditional 3:2, which elevates the house edge to approximately 1.45%.
However, when located, genuine single deck games with favorable rules remain the most mathematically advantageous option in modern casino gaming.
Important Rule Variations
- Traditional 3:2 Payout vs Modified 6:5 Payout
- House Edge Variations: 0.15% to 1.45%
- Card Counting Effectiveness: Maximum in single deck configurations
Pai Gow Poker
Understanding Pai Gow Poker Strategy and Odds
Game Overview
Pai Gow Poker combines traditional poker mechanics with ancient Chinese Pai Gow elements, offering a low-volatility gambling experience with a modest 2.5% house edge under optimal strategy.
The game's unique structure enables extended gameplay sessions while maintaining bankroll stability.
Key Statistics and Probabilities
The defining characteristic of Pai Gow Poker lies in its remarkable 41.48% push rate, creating frequent ties between player and dealer.
The overall probability distribution breaks down to 28.61% winning hands and 29.91% losing hands.
With the standard 5% commission on winning bets, players can expect an average loss of $2.50 per $100 wagered.
Strategic Hand Formation
Players must strategically arrange seven cards into two distinct poker hands:
- High Hand: Five-card poker hand
- Low Hand: Two-card poker hand
Critical Rules and Strategy Points
- The high hand must always outrank the low hand
- Straights and flushes don't count in the two-card hand
- Victory requires winning both hands against the dealer
- Optimal strategy focuses on maximizing the two-card hand while maintaining hand hierarchy
This structured approach to hand formation, combined with the game's built-in probability distribution, creates a balanced and engaging casino experience focused on strategic decision-making and sustained gameplay.
Three Card Poker
Three Card Poker Strategy Guide
Essential Game Mechanics
Three Card Poker stands as one of the fastest-growing casino table games, offering streamlined gameplay with house edges ranging from 2.01% to 7.28% depending on wager selection.
The game's distinctive three-card format creates unique hand rankings where straights outrank flushes, setting it apart from traditional poker variations.
Optimal Betting Strategy
The core Ante/Play betting strategy requires playing any hand of Queen-6-4 or better while folding weaker holdings.
This approach maintains the lowest possible house edge of 2.01% when executed properly.
The Pair Plus side bet offers higher potential payouts for pairs or better, regardless of dealer qualification.
Dealer Qualification Rules
Dealer qualification requires Queen-high or better, adding a strategic layer to gameplay.
When dealers fail to qualify, players win even money on Ante wagers while Play bets push.
Following optimal strategy yields an expected win rate of 44.91% across all hands played.
Key Strategic Elements
- Base Game: Focus on Ante/Play wagers for lowest house edge
- Hand Rankings: Adjusted for three-card format
- Side Bets: Optional Pair Plus with higher variance
- Qualification: Dealer needs Queen-high minimum
- Payout Structure: Even money on winning qualified hands
Slots With Progressive Jackpots
Understanding Progressive Jackpot Slots
How Progressive Jackpots Work
Progressive slot machines operate through an interconnected network where the jackpot grows incrementally with each wager.
These games typically reserve 1-3% of every bet to fuel the progressive meter, directly impacting the base game's return percentage.
The theoretical return to player (RTP) can surpass 100% during peak progressive accumulation periods, creating potentially favorable betting conditions.
Optimal Playing Strategy
Tracking progressive jackpot thresholds is crucial for maximizing potential returns.
Consider Megabucks slots, which begin at $10 million and can climb beyond $30 million. While the base game maintains a relatively low RTP of 88%, the overall expected value increases substantially as the progressive jackpot grows.
Understanding Variance and Risk
Mathematical variance in progressive slots remains exceptionally high.
Even when playing during optimal conditions with a theoretical 102% return rate, players face significant statistical challenges.
The probability of hitting the main jackpot typically stands at millions to one, making these games high-risk despite potentially favorable mathematical expectations.
Key Considerations
- Monitor progressive jackpot levels
- Calculate theoretical return rates
- Understand variance impact
- Assess risk tolerance
- Track historical jackpot thresholds
This strategic approach to progressive slot gameplay requires careful consideration of both mathematical probabilities and risk management principles.
