Some games have a hefty house advantage and the results will almost always end up favouring the casino – no surprise there! But by intelligent, disciplined use of betting strategies and your funds, you at least have the chance to win.
CRAPS
Craps is not very popular in the UK. Some casinos offer it, and it’s likely to increase in popularity if the Americanization of British casinos comes about. But, before writing it off, consider this: Statistically, the second-best bet in the casino is found on the craps table. The bettor is only backing a 1.4 per cent disadvantage when playing the pass or don’t pass lines. And when you add the “odds” bet, the casino advantage can be cut to less than 0.2 per cent. To get such advantages, however, you must risk plenty of money. If your funds can’t survive a loss when your big bet is on the table, craps can be a dangerous game.
BACCARAT
The casino’s most glamorous game, the bank bet on the baccarat table is the casino’s most advantageous bet. With a house advantage of only 1.17 per cent, baccarat offers one of the best chances to win.
But because baccarat is surrounded by ritual, and frequently hosts big gamblers to the exclusion of average players, many people looking for the best bets often look elsewhere.
The complicated rules have no bearing on the way you play the game. The game is deceptively simple, and once you get used to the pampering you get in the baccarat pit, you may never return to the “masses” of blackjack or craps players.
ROULETTE
One of the world’s most popular games, the American version of roulette is one of the worst bets in the casino. In a double “00” roulette game – the American version – you face a rather formidable 5.26 per cent. In Atlantic City, a special rule reduces the odds on even-money bets to 2.7 per cent. French, or European roulette – the single “0” wheel has that same 2.7 per cent house advantage for all bets. Roulette is an enjoyable game, but there are few opportunities to use either strategy or money management to combat those casino disadvantages.