In this low-budget video, Mike gives his list of the ten best bets in the casino for educated recreational players. Wizard's demo games can be found at https.
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So there you have it—the worst bets and the best bets you’ll encounter during your next trip to the casino. Good luck, and play smart. Frank Scoblete is the #1 best-selling gaming author in America. He is executive director of the Golden Touch advantage-play seminars in craps and blackjack. Best Bet Casino is Pechanga's free-to-play casino app. Over 70 real casino slots, blackjack & more, you can find your casino favorites at Best Bet, FREE!
Knowing which is which can help make you a winner
by Frank Scoblete
This article began innocently enough. My editor, Len Butcher, sent me the following email: “Frank, I need a piece on the top 10 best and worst casino bets for the December Casino Player issue. Deadline is October 16. Thanks, Len.”
This should be a snap, I thought. I can write this in my sleep. I immediately thought of the worst game, Keno, where the house edge is about 25 percent—which means you lose about 25 cents for every dollar you bet at the game. Surely that would be at the top of the list for the worst bets you can make in a casino.
So I started writing, but then it dawned on me that something was amiss. In Keno, playing every game, maybe four games an hour at some casinos, betting one dollar, you lose about a dollar per hour. Now if we take a good bet like mini-baccarat’s “bank” bet (which has a 1.06 percent house edge) and you bet $10 per decision, and play 150 decisions (which is not unheard of), then you’d lose a whopping $15.90.
So which is the worse bet? In terms of the house edge, it’s Keno. But speed-wise, mini-baccarat is worse. Then I realized there’s another consideration. Some games are just not found in a lot of casinos. Some of the worst bets in all of casino history are at Sic Bo—where the house edge can soar into the 40 percent range. Should I count these bets among the worst, even if you might never see a Sic Bo game in your life?
And what about video poker, where there are so many machines that the entire article could be about these games?
To keep things simple, in this article I will use the “house edge” as the primary criteria of judgment, but I will mention the speed of the games as well, to give you a more complete picture. And I will limit my list to games that are found in almost all casinos. There are even worse bets out there, but they’re games that haven’t made it to most casinos (thankfully).
As for video poker, I’m not mentioning it among the “best bets” although some video poker machines can be positive expectation games if played properly, and others have house edges of between one-half and one percent or so. I’m limiting this list to table games; finding and playing the right video poker machines is another story unto itself. And, finally, I’m not going to bother mentioning the various “side bets” you’ll occasionally see at the tables. These bets come in many different forms, but they’re almost always a bad idea. Avoid them.
With that said, here we go—the worst first.
The 10 Worst Bets
1. Keno
Yes, this is probably the worst bet you will find in most casinos. The average house edge hovers around 25 percent, which is better than state lotteries, but that’s not saying much. Still, the pace of the game is slow and if you only make one bet per game you won’t lose much money.
Yes, this is probably the worst bet you will find in most casinos. The average house edge hovers around 25 percent, which is better than state lotteries, but that’s not saying much. Still, the pace of the game is slow and if you only make one bet per game you won’t lose much money.
2. Any Seven (Craps)
This is a one-roll bet that the next number rolled will be a seven. The house edge is a monstrous 16.67 percent. If you make this bet on every roll, even if you only wager a measly dollar, you can lose about $20 per hour!
This is a one-roll bet that the next number rolled will be a seven. The house edge is a monstrous 16.67 percent. If you make this bet on every roll, even if you only wager a measly dollar, you can lose about $20 per hour!
3. Progressive Slot Machines
Las vegas grand casino. Yes, those gigantic multi-million dollar jackpots sure are tempting, but progressive games are the very worst machines in the casino—no matter what the denomination is. The house edge ranges from 12 to 17 percent. This means you lose between $12 and $17 for every $100 you wager in the long run. Making the situation even more brutal is the fact that people tend to play these games very fast. How much can a $1 slot player lose on an inter-casino linked progressive? Upwards of almost $400 per hour. Yikes!
Las vegas grand casino. Yes, those gigantic multi-million dollar jackpots sure are tempting, but progressive games are the very worst machines in the casino—no matter what the denomination is. The house edge ranges from 12 to 17 percent. This means you lose between $12 and $17 for every $100 you wager in the long run. Making the situation even more brutal is the fact that people tend to play these games very fast. How much can a $1 slot player lose on an inter-casino linked progressive? Upwards of almost $400 per hour. Yikes!
4. Tie Bet at Baccarat
This bet comes with a house edge of around 14 percent. With traditional baccarat, played in the high roller rooms, the game is relatively slow; at mini-baccarat, however, the speed of the game is very fast. This bet is bad in both games.
This bet comes with a house edge of around 14 percent. With traditional baccarat, played in the high roller rooms, the game is relatively slow; at mini-baccarat, however, the speed of the game is very fast. This bet is bad in both games.
5. 2 and 12 (Craps)
Snake eyes (2) and boxcars (12) have house edges of 13.89 percent. These are one-roll bets for the unwary and unwise craps player.
Snake eyes (2) and boxcars (12) have house edges of 13.89 percent. These are one-roll bets for the unwary and unwise craps player.
6. Whirl or World (Craps)
This is a multiple number (2, 3, 7, 11, 12), one-roll bet that has a house edge of 13.33 percent. Steer clear of this one.
This is a multiple number (2, 3, 7, 11, 12), one-roll bet that has a house edge of 13.33 percent. Steer clear of this one.
7. The Horn (Craps)
Another multiple number (2, 3, 11, 12) one-roll bet that comes in with a house edge of 12.5 percent. There is a saying, “See a horn, bet a horn.” The real saying should be, “You have to be an idiot to bet the horn.”
Another multiple number (2, 3, 11, 12) one-roll bet that comes in with a house edge of 12.5 percent. There is a saying, “See a horn, bet a horn.” The real saying should be, “You have to be an idiot to bet the horn.”
8. 3 and 11; Hard 4 and Hard 10; Any Craps (Craps)
Ironically, the 11 has an 11.11 percent house edge, as do the rest of these bets. These bets should hold no interest for you, since making them on each and every roll will cost you $11.11 per $100 wagered.
Ironically, the 11 has an 11.11 percent house edge, as do the rest of these bets. These bets should hold no interest for you, since making them on each and every roll will cost you $11.11 per $100 wagered.
9. 5-Cent Slot Machines
The low denomination, non-progressive slot machines also have high house edges—around 10 to 12 percent—and most people play them fast, causing their losses to add up quickly.
The low denomination, non-progressive slot machines also have high house edges—around 10 to 12 percent—and most people play them fast, causing their losses to add up quickly.
10. Hard 6 and Hard 8 (Craps)
At this point we’ve left the double-digit house edges behind us, but these two bets are still pretty bad with a house edge of 9.09 percent. They are not active on every roll, which helps a little.
At this point we’ve left the double-digit house edges behind us, but these two bets are still pretty bad with a house edge of 9.09 percent. They are not active on every roll, which helps a little.
The 10 Best Bets
1. The Pass, Don’t Pass, Come, Don’t Come with Odds (Craps)
Is payofix legit. Some casinos in America are still offering craps games with 100X, 20X, 10X and 5X odds. Here, the house edge is a small fraction of a percent on these games if you utilize the odds bets. Without odds, the house edge on the above bets is about 1.4 percent—still very good. Also, not every roll impacts you, so that’s a good thing too. Most players will be on about 50 percent of the decisions betting this way.
Is payofix legit. Some casinos in America are still offering craps games with 100X, 20X, 10X and 5X odds. Here, the house edge is a small fraction of a percent on these games if you utilize the odds bets. Without odds, the house edge on the above bets is about 1.4 percent—still very good. Also, not every roll impacts you, so that’s a good thing too. Most players will be on about 50 percent of the decisions betting this way.
2. Blackjack Basic Strategy
If the game you are playing is a traditional blackjack game with the house paying 3 to 2 for blackjacks, with the dealer standing on soft 17, and with the right to double on any first two cards, split and double after splits, the casino will have about a half percent house edge. That means you lose about 50 cents for every $100 wagered—a very good bet indeed. Blackjack is a moderately fast game, but with such a low house edge you still have a very good shot at winning some money on any given session.
If the game you are playing is a traditional blackjack game with the house paying 3 to 2 for blackjacks, with the dealer standing on soft 17, and with the right to double on any first two cards, split and double after splits, the casino will have about a half percent house edge. That means you lose about 50 cents for every $100 wagered—a very good bet indeed. Blackjack is a moderately fast game, but with such a low house edge you still have a very good shot at winning some money on any given session.
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3. The Bank Bet at Baccarat
The house edge at this bet is 1.06 percent. Remember that traditional, high-roller room baccarat, where the players deal the cards, is a slow game. Mini-baccarat is a fast game.
The house edge at this bet is 1.06 percent. Remember that traditional, high-roller room baccarat, where the players deal the cards, is a slow game. Mini-baccarat is a fast game.
4. The Player Bet at Baccarat
The house edge on this bet is a mere 1.24 percent. See #3.
The house edge on this bet is a mere 1.24 percent. See #3.
5. Blackjack Pays 6 to 5 for Natural (Basic Strategy)
This new game is three times worse than traditional blackjack, as it pays only $12 to $10 for a blackjack as opposed to $15 to $10. Usually these games also have the dealers hitting their soft 17s. The house edge on these games is around 1.5 percent, depending on the casino’s rules.
This new game is three times worse than traditional blackjack, as it pays only $12 to $10 for a blackjack as opposed to $15 to $10. Usually these games also have the dealers hitting their soft 17s. The house edge on these games is around 1.5 percent, depending on the casino’s rules.
6. Place the 6 or 8 (Craps)
This bet must be made in multiples of $6. It pays $7 on a win since the house has a 6 to 5 edge on the bet. The house edge is 1.52 percent and the bet is active on 11 of 36 decisions, which means most of the time you will not have your money acted upon.
This bet must be made in multiples of $6. It pays $7 on a win since the house has a 6 to 5 edge on the bet. The house edge is 1.52 percent and the bet is active on 11 of 36 decisions, which means most of the time you will not have your money acted upon.
7. Spanish 21 (Basic Strategy)
In this variation of blackjack, the 10-spot cards are removed but there are all sorts of special awards for premium hands built into the rules. With the proper basic strategy, the house edge is around 1.8 percent, give or take, depending on rules of the casino.
In this variation of blackjack, the 10-spot cards are removed but there are all sorts of special awards for premium hands built into the rules. With the proper basic strategy, the house edge is around 1.8 percent, give or take, depending on rules of the casino.
Cleos vip room casino mobile. 8. Three Card Poker
There are two games in one here. The main game of ante and wager has about a 2 percent house edge. The secondary game, called Pair Plus, has about a 2.3 percent house edge. The game is relatively fast, so you might want to sit out some hands every so often.
There are two games in one here. The main game of ante and wager has about a 2 percent house edge. The secondary game, called Pair Plus, has about a 2.3 percent house edge. The game is relatively fast, so you might want to sit out some hands every so often.
9. Lay the 4 and 10 (Craps)
Here, you are betting that the 7 will appear before the 4 or 10. The house edge is 2.44 percent.
Here, you are betting that the 7 will appear before the 4 or 10. The house edge is 2.44 percent.
10. Caribbean Stud and Pai Gow Poker
Two of the first “carnival” card games are still going strong in casinos. The house edge is about 2.5 percent if you play your hands properly. These are relatively slow games.
Two of the first “carnival” card games are still going strong in casinos. The house edge is about 2.5 percent if you play your hands properly. These are relatively slow games.
So there you have it—the worst bets and the best bets you’ll encounter during your next trip to the casino. Good luck, and play smart.
Frank Scoblete is the #1 best-selling gaming author in America. He is executive director of the Golden Touch advantage-play seminars in craps and blackjack. His websites are www.goldentouchcraps.com, www.goldentouchblackjack.com and www.scoblete.com in association with CasinoCityTimes.com. His recent books are The Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution! and The Golden Touch Blackjack Revolution! His new DVD is Golden Touch Dice Control DVD showing over 200 controlled dice throws – many in slow motion. For a free brochure or to order Frank’s products, call 1-800-944-0406.
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The NASCAR Cup Series moves to Kansas Speedway Sunday at 2:50 p.m. ET for the Hollywood Casino 400. Below, we analyze the Hollywood Casino 400 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.
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Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 11:58 a.m. ET.
The Cup Series continues its playoffs at Kansas. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin (+425 for Sunday’s race) won the first stop this season at Kansas back on July 23, passing Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick (+425) in the closing laps while edging Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski (+800) for the checkered flag.
Harvick has posted three wins, nine top 5s and 16 top 10s with 864 laps led in 29 career Cup starts at Kansas. His 9.59 Average-Finish Position leads all active drivers with at least two starts at the track.Rookie Cole Custer made his Kansas Cup debut back in July, and he ended up with an impressive seventh-place finish.JGR’s Martin Truex Jr. has finished 13th or better in each of his past nine Kansas Cup starts, including two wins and five finished of fourth or better.JGR’s Erik Jones has finished seventh or better in each of his past five Kansas Cup starts, posting a 5.2 AFP.Who is going to win the Hollywood Casino 400?
TRUEX JR. (+500) has been one of the most consistent Cup drivers at Kansas in recent seasons, including a fourth-place run back on July 23.
Truex has a 7.7 AFP in his past 10 starts at Kansas, second-best behind Harvick with a minimum of two cup races. He and Harvick each have two victories during the past eight Kansas starts.
HARVICK (+425) is looking for redemption at Kansas after getting edged out in the most recent race there. He heads into the Round of 8 with a 45-point cushion over the fifth-place spot, but he’d obviously like to grab a win and punch his ticket to the final four. With his history at Kansas, he is a good bet as he has finished ninth or better in seven of his past nine Cup starts at the track, including two wins and five top-5 runs.
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If you’re looking for slightly longer odds, KURT BUSCH (+2200) sits in the eighth and final spot in the Round of 8, and he’d love to work his way into the final four. This has been a good track for the elder Busch bro, as he has five top-10 finishes in his past six Cup starts, including a ninth-place run in July. ALEX BOWMAN (+2200), at the same price as Busch, has finished 11th or better in each of his past four Kansas Cup runs, good for a 7.5 AFP. He is also a strong value.
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Wouldn’t it be amazing to see Sunflower State native CLINT BOWYER (+5000) claim checkers in his final Cup start at his home track? He’s a bit of a sentimental pick, although he has posted a respectable 9.0 AFP in his past three Kansas Cup starts.
JONES (+3500) is on the outside looking in for the Cup Series playoffs, but he is a solid value at Kansas. His past five Cup starts in Kansas have resulted in finishes of seventh or better, good for an outstanding 5.2 AFP. What’s not to like?
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