Gambling isn’t as popular as it once was in Las Vegas. However, the majority of people who visit Las Vegas still like to get in on the action. Even if it’s not the main attraction, gambling is still part of the Vegas experience. If gambling isn’t your focus when you visit Las Vegas, you might want to read up on some of the better games to play.
Casino games are supposed to provide the customer a fun experience with the chance of possibly winning a few bucks. At the same time, every game available in the casino is designed to make the operator money. When the games are set up with traditional rules both sides are satisfied. The visitor has fun and over time the casino operator makes money.
That’s not always the case in casinos on the Vegas Strip today. Over the years since casino games were first introduced the rules have changed. When a casino operator changes the rules of a game, it’s usually for their benefit. Today on the Vegas Strip you’ll find worse rules in some casinos for blackjack, roulette, and craps than you did five years ago.
Each of these rule changes has given the casino a larger house edge. This means that over time they’ll make more money from every hand bet than with the old rules. For example, with perfect play and liberal rules the house edge on a blackjack game could be close to 0.18%. Under today’s rules at many casinos, the house edge in blackjack is over 2% even with perfect play.
Having said that, even bad blackjack rules aren’t the worst bet in the casino – if you know how to play perfect basic strategy. More than ever before, most people visiting Las Vegas don’t know basic strategy. Why would they? Casino gambling makes up a small portion on how much a visitor will spend in Las Vegas.
It’s not all doom and gloom in the casino. You can still find casinos with good rules and odds if you head off the Vegas Strip. Even if you stay on the Vegas Strip, there are still more than a few good bets you can make. In fact, some of the best bets in the casino involve the most the most fun game in the casino. Take a look.
Craps
This is easily the most fun game in the casino and it has some of the best bets in the casino. That said, craps can also be the most intimidating game in the casino. It’s understandable that the large table, number of players, amount of betting options and rambunctious players might intimidate new gamblers. However, hidden behind the chaos are some of the best bets in the casino.
The starting bet for most craps players is also the best bet on the table. The house edge on a Pass Line bet is 1.41%. You can reduce that edge by placing free odds (different at each casino) on the Pass Line bet after a point is established. If you’re a contrarian you can play against the table and play the Don’t Pass bet. The house edge on the Don’t Pass wager is only 1.36%.
Pai Gow Poker
If you prefer a slower paced game then you might want to look at Pai Gow Poker. This might not be the first game you think of when visiting a casino but it’s one of the best you can play for a variety of reasons. The players must make two hands with each deal. The player wins the wager when they beat the dealer with both hands. Likewise, the player loses the wager if the dealer wins both hands. If the game is split, then the hand is a push.
You’ll see a push over 40% of the time when playing Pai Gow Poker. All of the pushes helps to extend the amount of time play. Above and beyond the pace and pushes, Pai Gow Poker has a small house edge. Overall, this game only has a 1.46% house edge. This is among the smallest in the casino.
Baccarat
This isn’t the most popular game in the casino by the number of tables. However, there’s often more money wagered on baccarat than all other table games in Las Vegas. The game is simple, you wager that the player or banker will win or that there will be a tie.
The house edge when you bet on the banker is only 1.06%. That’s the best bet in the casino. The house edge when you bet on the player is only 1.24%.
