Beating The House

Gambling is a fickle thing. One moment you are winning and just a few bets later you are down. But there are a few handy tips to keep in mind if your plan is to beat the house.

You may think it sounds silly, as most would argue it’s every persons plan to beat the house, but there are a few different types of gamblers. There are the individuals who go in comfortable losing their money with no strategy attached. Then there’s the person whose competitive spirit outweighs everything else. The only thing this individual has in mind is beating the house. Hopefully, when you play you fall somewhere in the middle, which is the first piece of advice: make sure you are comfortable losing what you’re playing with, but still, always try to win.

With that in mind here are the best games to play and the best tips to beat the house on your next Vegas adventure.

WORST GAMES TO PLAY:

Any Seven

In craps, this is a famous bet, likely because the roller typically never wins. The House’s edge is 16.67 percent. The bet is that the next one-roll bet will be a seven. Stay away from this one.

Progressive Slot Machines

Loud music and lots of colors sure look like a lot of fun but, like the Hunger Games, the odds are not in your favor. The House’s edge ranges from 12 to 17 percent. This means you lose somewhere around $12 to $17 for every $100 you wager in the long run. It makes it worse that these games are incredibly fast, meaning that you may be winning this second, but in the next minute your earnings may all be gone.

Keno

This is likely the game you will find with the worst odds. The average house edge is around 25 percent, which is better than even state lotteries.

5-Cent Slot Machines

Although you are playing for a very small amount of money, the slot machine still has a high edge. The house edge ranges from 10 to 12 percent.

Three Card Poker

This is a game where you have the ability to beat the house if you play it right. The Casino has a 2.3 edge. It’s fast, so feel free to sit out a few rounds while you play. You may actually leave the table with some winnings if you do so.

Spanish 21

This is a variation of black jack where the 10-spot cards are removed. The house edge is around 1.9 percent, depending on the casino rules. This is another good one to play, but it’s fast and can quickly become dangerous if you don’t know when to walk away.

Roulette

Roulette is one of the more popular casino games, likely because it’s interactive like crabs. You feel as though you’re playing with friends, or you can choose to bet against the table and stand-alone. Although roulette has some of the worst odds, it’s best to not pay attention to the screen attached to the table. Go in to roulette playing your numbers or leaving it up to chance, because that’s really all the game is – chance.

TIPS TO WINNING:

• Don’t Let Colorful Things Fool You: At craps, the most absurd bet is the field or any 7. These are the most colorful. The House frequently has the games with the worst odds for you look the most appealing with bright colors. Don’t be subconsciously attracted by this.

• Don’t Let Distractions Fool You: Casinos have a lot of distractions. Attractive female dealers wearing interesting outfits as well as dancers, booze, and sometimes pole dancers. In some casinos, these areas decrease the payout of their tables from 3/2 to 6/5.

• Buy A Watch: You will never see a clock in a casino. Most people already know that the reason is because the House doesn’t want you to know what time it is, but you should know. It allows you to check back out of the game when you are winning, so go with a watch.

• Some Wheels Wear Out: In a game like roulette, it is possible for the wheel to become unbalanced with age. As the white ball bounces to and from certain numbers, the wheel is put through a bit of wear and tear. Although this likely won’t be the case at some of the nicer hotels, pay attention to wheels that repeat number patterns. If it looks old then there may be a reason those numbers consistently hit.

• Be Careful of Getting Liquored Up: Casinos notoriously feed you free booze while you play, but many people get upset when they play small time slots and don’t have a waiter come and get your drink. That’s because the booze isn’t free. Many casinos have a “player reinvestment fund,” which essentially predicts the amount of money you’re going to lose. People who play for a little bit of money get watered down drinks, while those who are playing with a lot get high end alcohol. The better chance you have of losing, the more likely it is you will land a free drink.

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