Introduction

Video poker is among the most popular casino games – both online and in a real casino. This is because the games have a very low house edge. In fact, sometimes the player has the edge. 

It is also one of the very few electronic casino games where the player has an impact on the results. However, in order to achieve the low house edge (or player edge) the video poker player must use the proper playing strategy. Strategy charts can help a player play perfectly.

Table of Contents

1. What is Video Poker Playing Strategy?

Simply put, video poker playing strategy is a set of rules determining which cards to hold and which to discard from the originally dealt hand to maximize the return.

2. How the Optimal Video Poker Strategy is Determined

Determining video poker playing strategy is a complex process. It is very difficult to do without the aid of computers.

In order to determine the optimal video poker playing strategy:

• Each possible initial hand is examined. There are 2,598,960 possible initially dealt hands.
• Each possible hold for that hand is determined. There are 32 possible holds.
  • No cards – 1 possible hold
  • One card – 5 possible holds
  • Two cards – 10 possible holds
  • Three cards – 10 possible holds
  • Four cards – 5 possible holds
  • All five cards – 1 possible hold 

3. Video Poker Strategy Charts

A strategy chart is simply a list of the specific cards to hold (if any) from the initially dealt hand starting with the hold having the highest return.

A chart is a printed summary of all the information gathered by the computer program. It can be used by the player to help determine the hold that produces the maximum average return.

Strategy charts can be found in books, online, and in computer- and smartphone-based video poker apps. Strategy charts are sometimes sold in casino gift shops.

4. Using Strategy Charts

Using a video poker strategy chart is straightforward. Here’s how they work.

5. Is Using a Strategy Chart Illegal?

If you’re playing video poker online, you could play perfectly without using a strategy chart. However, to do so would require a video poker strategy app on your computer or smartphone.

Here is how it could work.

• From the online video poker site, deal a hand.
• Switch to the video poker strategy app and enter the hand that was dealt.
• Have the app calculate the best hold.
• Return to the online video poker site.
• Hold the cards specified by the video poker strategy app.
• Move on to the next hand.

Obviously, this would dramatically slow the playing speed, but it would produce the highest possible return.

After a while many of the proper holds for certain hands (royal flush, straight flush queen high or lower, etc.) become obvious. The app would only need to be referenced for the less obvious hands. To be absolutely certain, however, the app should be referenced for each hand played.

Playing in a casino is quite a different matter. Devices that are used as an aid in playing casino games are highly illegal in almost all gaming jurisdictions. Making use of such a device while playing in a casino could very likely mean arrest and possibly jail time.

In virtually all gaming jurisdictions, a strategy chart is not considered a “device.” That classification is reserved for mechanical (before the advent of electronics) or electronic devices such as computers or smartphones.

There is a difference between using a device and using a strategy chart. 

Casinos consider the “use of a device” when the player inputs the hand that was dealt into a device. The device also determines the proper play and a player holds the cards specified by the device.

However, when using a strategy chart a player looks at the cards that are dealt and simply scans the strategy chart looking for the line that defines the dealt hand.

Do you see the difference? A player has to use his or her skills to find the proper line on the strategy chart. The chart does not automatically give you the proper hold and players can, and will, make mistakes while a device does not.

It’s not illegal for a player to use his or her skills in casino play. For example, card counters playing blackjack are despised by casino management. It is not illegal, however.

Casino management can eject them and ban them from ever re-entering their casino. They cannot have them arrested simply for counting cards, however.

Taking the blackjack example a bit further, most casino gift shops actually sell blackjack strategy cards. They allow players to openly use them while playing blackjack.

The reason this is allowed is because even though the players are using a card to keep the casino edge lower, the casino still gets their share. Card counters can get an edge over the casino, strategy card users do not.

The same thing is true for video poker strategy charts. The player can get no more than the machine’s programming allows. The pay table determines the house edge.

Some casino gift shops even sell video poker strategy charts for certain games. Would they do that if using them was illegal? For more on the legality of video poker strategy charts, go here:
Strategy Chart: Video Poker Cheat Sheets are Legal (888casino.com)

6. Why You Should Avoid Using a Strategy Chart

If it's not illegal to use a strategy chart, is there any reason to avoid using one? That is a rather rhetorical question. Of course, there are reasons. No, they are not illegal.

Yes, most casinos allow blackjack players to use strategy cards while playing blackjack. Yes, some casinos sell video poker strategy charts for some video poker games. All these statements are true. 

Like all businesses, casinos are in business to make money. In fact, if they did not make money, there would be no casinos.

Casinos may like an occasional big winner so they can sell the public that their casino is a great place to win. They have little patience, however, for a consistent winner.

We all know that casinos monitor the casino floor at all times. The famous quote by Sam “Ace” Rothstein from the movie Casino is true.

“In Vegas, everybody's gotta watch everybody else. Since the players are looking to beat the casino, the dealers are watching the players. The box men are watching the dealers. The floor men are watching the box men. The pit bosses are watching the floor men. The shift bosses are watching the pit bosses. The casino manager is watching the shift bosses. I'm watching the casino manager. And the eye-in-the-sky is watching us all.”

Casinos watch blackjack players for signs that they are counting cards. Out of the ordinary acts like drastically changing bet sizes or playing the same hand differently at different times, are strong indications the player is a card counter.

There are no inherent indications of a skilled video poker player. More specifically, there are no indications if the player does not use a strategy chart.

Casinos that have programmed the video poker pay tables to produce a house edge of around two percent or higher, probably don’t care that much about skilled players. The house edge is similar to other casino games where the player has no control over the game.

7. Summary

• Video poker strategy charts allow the player to determine the hold cards that will maximize the return on their play. 
• Developing a strategy chart is a very complex process that requires the use of a computer.
• To use a strategy chart: 
  • Compare the dealt hand on the game to the lines on the chart starting from the top.
  • When you come to the line the contains the cards in the dealt hand, hold those specified cards
  • If the dealt hand is not described in the chart, discard the entire hand.
• Using a strategy chart is not illegal because it is not a mechanical or electronic device.
• Even though strategy charts are legal, it is a good idea to forego using them in a casino.

The use of video poker strategy charts in a casino is a controversial topic. It is best to memorize the chart and practice playing at home. Practice until your play is perfect – or nearly so. 

By following the advice given here, you will make the most of your casino video poker play. Isn’t that what you really want?

Updated on March 18, 2025

What Are Blackjack Side Bets?

Blackjack side bets are additional wagers you can make while playing traditional blackjack in a land-based or online casino. These optional bets typically require a small stake and generally offer payoffs exceeding customary even-money blackjack payouts. Unlike the main game, where blackjack strategy plays a crucial role, most side bets don't involve skill, one of the reasons for their growing popularity.

The most player-friendly blackjack side bet options have a relatively modest house edge (less than 5%). While new side bets are constantly being developed to attract players, only the best make it to the casino floor. This article explains the three most advantageous side bets blackjack players should consider.

Blackjack Side Bets Explained: How to Place Them

Many blackjack players enjoy side bets blackjack options for three main reasons:

1. The cost to make a side bet is low (usually just $1)
2. There's no skill involved
3. The payouts exceed standard even-money blackjack returns

There is usually signage on a blackjack layout or on a placard that sits on the blackjack table, which specifies what side bet is being offered. You don’t have to make a side bet. It’s an optional bet in addition to the bet that you would make on your hand in the main game.

To place a blackjack side bet, simply position your chips in the designated betting spot on the layout after making your main wager. Most casinos require players to bet on their hand in the main game before placing any side bet. Betting limits for side bets are typically posted on the table. If not, just ask the dealer.

While side bets blackjack options generally have a higher house edge than the main game (which can be less than 1% with proper strategy), if you want to try your luck at a larger payout, I recommend you wager on the side bets that have the lowest house edge.

What follows is a list of the best side bets, specifically the ones with the lowest house edge.

Top 3 Blackjack Side Bets Worth Considering

1. 21+3: Combining Blackjack and Poker

This popular blackjack side bet combines elements of blackjack and three-card poker. It involves the player’s initial two cards and the dealer’s upcard, which combined, make a three-card poker hand. 

In the original version, if the three cards form a flush, straight, three of a kind, or straight flush, the player wins with a 9-1 payout, yielding a modest 3.24% house edge in a six-deck game (2.74% with eight decks).

Modern versions of this blackjack side bet offer varied pay tables, such as:

(Note: Unlike a five-card poker hand, a straight pays more than a flush in three-card poker.)

With the above pay table in a six-deck game, the house edge is 4.14% (If fewer decks are used, the house edge increases to 7.76% for three-deck game. If the game uses eight decks, the house edge is only 3.18%).

For players familiar with lay bets craps options who want to try something different, the 21+3 blackjack side bet offers an exciting alternative with reasonable odds.

(Note: I would also recommend the article written by Eliot Jacobson on counting systems for 21+3 that target flushes.)

2. Perfect Pairs: Matching Your Initial Cards

The Perfect Pairs blackjack side bet focuses solely on your initial two cards and wins if they form a pair. The bet automatically loses if your first two cards don't match in rank.

There are three pair types with different payouts:

1. Mixed Pair – Two cards of the same rank but different colours. For example, Queen of clubs and Queen of diamonds.
2. Coloured Pair – Two cards of the same rank and colour. For example, Queen of hearts and Queen of diamonds.
3. Perfect Pair – Two identical cards, such as two Queens of spades.

The payouts vary from one casino to another, but common structures for an eigh-deck game include:

As shown, the house edge varies from 2.17% to 4.09%, making this one of the more favourable side bets blackjack players can choose.

3. Royal Match: Suited Cards With Royal Potential

This blackjack side bet is based on the player’s initial two cards’ being suited. Different casinos offer various payout schedules depending on the number of decks used.

The two most common Royal Match structures found in casinos are:

Another version uses six decks of cards with a 25 to 1 payout for Royal Match, 5 to 1 for Suited Blackjack, and 5 to 2 for all other matches. This variation has a respectable house edge of 3.70%.

Note: There is a card-counting system for the Royal Match in these two books: Beyond Counting by James Grosjean, and The Big Book of Blackjack by Arnold Snyder.

Is Any Blackjack Side Bet Worth It?

The three blackjack side bets highlighted above represent the best options due to their lower house edge compared to other side bet alternatives. While the main blackjack game remains superior in terms of expected return, these side bets offer entertainment value and the potential for larger payouts.

For advanced players, it's worth noting that published counting systems exist for some higher house edge side bets (specifically Over/Under 13, Super Sevens, and Lucky Ladies) that could significantly reduce the house advantage or even give players an edge under the right conditions.

Whether you're playing in an online casino or at a physical table, understanding these blackjack side bet options can enhance your overall gaming experience while keeping the house edge at a reasonable level.

Originally published on October 19, 2021

I have written about some of the wild streaks that have happened at the game of roulette in my book Spin Roulette Gold and in articles for this website. Roulette has had amazing events happen over the centuries and many roulette players have been privileged or, yes, cursed to be at the game when such events happen.

I decided to ask inveterate roulette players what were some of the outstandingly weird, wild, wacky and turbulent things that have happened at the table when they played. 

Betting System Gone Bad

Theresa:  You know the idea that is called the Martingale betting system? Well, I saw the same guy one three-day weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, use it twice and both times he got to the end of it and lost. The losses were gigantic. He was a $25 player and he just kept doubling up after his losses.

He was at the roulette table every time I went there so he was an avid player. The casino floor person and pit boss knew him well and so did most of the dealers. He used that Martingale all the time and most times he would win that $25 but his wins could not approach how much he lost when he got to the end and couldn’t bet any higher.

I felt sorry for him because he tried to pretend that the losses meant nothing to him but I could see he was upset. I don’t think the players who use the Martingale realize that they are asking to get hurt really bad if it doesn’t work out for them.

Martingale Madness

Melvin:  Martingale? Martingale? Tell me about it. This was about 10 years ago and this one guy was playing it but he wasn’t just betting the same bet, you know like “high-low” or something like that. He would jump around. He’d bet $10 on say the “red” and if he lost, he’d bet $20 on the “odd” so he would bet different wagers but he kept losing during one session and he was getting angry because he kept losing.  

And when he bet “red” and lost and then he’d bet, you know, “high” and then “red” would hit and he’d get furious. He started to say that the dealers had it against him. He even complained to the supervisor and asked if they had fixed the wheel so he could lose tonight because he beat them yesterday. One time he did this and on the next spin he won his bet. He took that as confirmation that they were fixing the wheel against him because as soon as he complained he won his bet.

I would say this guy was the most obnoxious roulette player I ever saw at a table. Usually roulette players don’t blame the casino when they lose. They just groan. Roulette players know the game is random. Or they better.

This guy had a persecution complex. I think he thought he was in a movie or something. When I would come to the roulette tables the next few days, I avoided every table that he was playing at. He made the game miserable. He never stopped complaining even on the times he was winning.

Doubling Up

Joseph: This happened just two years ago, just before COVID-19. It was a young man and his girlfriend. He bet $10 on a number, I think it might have been the number 30, and he hit. That paid him $350. 

He parlayed the bet. He now had $360 on the number 30. Of course, everyone at the table was now rooting for him to hit his number again. When the dealer called “no more bets,” we all waited with excitement. I’d never seen anyone parlay a straight bet on a number, although a couple of times I have seen a number hit twice in a row. But this was a whole new ballgame.

The ball spun and spun then landed and bounced a few times and settled in a pocket. It hit! The number hit a second time! The table went berserk. It was as if we all won that bet. 

Now the kid said, “I’m going to parley again!” Everyone at the table was shocked. Could the same number hit three times in a row? The floor person came over and said, “You’d be over the table maximum, sir.”

One idiot yelled out, “Let him bet! Let him bet!” The rest of us at the table thought going for a third hit was nuts. 

The kid laughed, “I’m not going for a third time. What do you think, am I crazy? Nope. I’m taking my winnings. I just wanted to see how everyone would react.” Everyone did react – we all applauded. And that’s what he did. He took his winnings and left the table.

Name a Number Game

Peggy: I called the man “name a number” because when he came to the table, he asked us what number we’d like to play. There were five of us, and him, at the table. We each said a number and he put $50 on the numbers we had chosen. He also put a $50 bet on each of our numbers and then on one of his own.

Now you would think the guy was drunk, right? No, he wasn’t. He was this happy fellow. I don’t know why he did that but when we all lost, and we did all lose, he asked us for another number and he did the same thing. 

One of our numbers hit. He was on the number too. We all cheered. Heck, we were playing for bigger stakes than we normally would and it wasn’t even our money. But after that win, that was that. He left the table and I didn’t see him again for the rest of my trip. 

Those of us at the table asked if any of us had ever seen the guy before. None of us had. What about the dealers? None of them had. The floor person and pit boss? Neither had ever seen him before. 

The “name a number” man will never be forgotten by those of us who were at the table with him. Why he did what he did, I have no idea, but it was fun being part of it.

Five Times the Fun

Karen: In a scoreboard of twenty numbers, I saw the same number hit five times. Not back-to-back but five times in total. What did everybody do? Everyone bet the number. It didn’t hit again for the next twenty spins and everyone was kind of down. We all thought we had found a biased wheel and what we found was essentially nothing.

I asked the dealer if she had ever seen anything like that and she said, “When you are at the game every day you see a lot of strange things. Had it gone six times it would be the most I ever saw.”

Well, I never saw anything like that before or after this. But I am not at a wheel every day so who knows what happens.

Causing a Major Scene

Laura: Roulette players are not usually the angry types. You lose, you just kind of take it. That’s part of the game. You win some, you lose some. Until this one time, I had never seen anyone go crazy at a table.

I like roulette players for their temperament. This man, with a heavy accent from who knows where, was drinking a little too much and every time he lost, he cursed under his breath. At first the curse was a whisper but it slowly got louder and louder.

I was uncomfortable and some other players were too but all the roulette tables were packed with players so we stayed at this one. That was in retrospect a big mistake.

The man was betting a bunch of inside numbers. A couple of times he did win but his losses were really mounting and he kept increasing his bets too. I would say the man was taking a hammering.

Then he started yelling at the dealer and asked that she be removed from the table. The pit boss came over and told him that the dealer was doing her shift and that the man could write a letter of complaint if he wanted to. He smiled at the rest of us, and we smiled at his joke, but his joke did not hit the, shall I call him the gentleman, as funny.

No, it did not. The man then started saying that he didn’t like people to make fun of him. He wouldn’t take that from anyone. 

The pit boss saw that this was getting out of hand and he immediately apologized to the man and asked the man if he’d like a comp to the buffet. The man got even angrier. “The buffet? The buffet? You dog! You pig!” 

“It’s okay, sir. It is okay, calm down,” said the pit boss.

The man then threw his drink at the pit boss. He didn’t just throw the liquid out of the glass but the whole glass, which got a bunch of us wet at the table. The glass hit the pit boss and then the man swept his arm right over the layout knocking over the piles of chips, sending most of them flying off the table.

We all jumped up and the man leapt onto the layout. Then the security arrived and these weren’t the old folks you see in uniforms standing around and acting like security, but they were younger men and women. They grabbed the man, who was thrashing to get to the pit boss, and dragged him off the table. 

The man thought he’d fight the security people. That was stupid. They had him on the floor in about a second and he was then handcuffed. A little while later the man threw up and they took him to wherever they take people like him. 

The pit boss said that they would give us our bets when they looked at the tape and we gave him our room numbers, those of us who were staying there, and we departed the area.

The roulette table was closed and we all made our way to other tables or to some place else, as the casino was crowded and there weren’t many spots at other tables available. I went to the bar and ordered a drink. And gave all of this some thought.

Roulette is a great game and this man was unique in my experience. Okay, people don’t like to lose. That’s a given. But that behavior is totally unacceptable at a game. If you can’t handle playing then don’t play. He should take up knitting.

Lucky Numbers For a Great Night

Doris: Let’s talk about a great night at the table; the greatest night I’ve ever had. I bet three numbers straight up. They are 7, 22, and 28. I was 7 when my father died. I was 22 when I got married. I was 28 when I had my only child.

Are these my lucky numbers? Not more or less than any other numbers would be. I know the game is random as is the lottery where I play these numbers too. Occasionally I’ll win something, more often I lose. I think that is everyone’s experience at games of chance. You win a few and you lose a few more.

But this one night, my numbers were on fire. They didn’t hit every spin but they hit enough that I was piling up the chips. 

I felt as if I was in another world. It didn’t seem real after a time. I thought I was in a dream but it wasn’t a dream; it was real life. The dealer would congratulate me every time I won. 

Other players started to bet my numbers and they won too. How could all of this be real? But it was. It was real.

I won’t tell you how much I won but it was the most I have ever won in my life at anything. I can say that it was a glorious evening at the roulette table.

All the best in and out of the casinos!
 

You may have tried sundry systems and many methods for playing roulette. I think a good percentage of roulette players have at least flirted with the classic ones before settling on how they now play.

Casino playing is a step-by-step learning process for many of us before we settle in. I guess that is how it should be. Sample the dining offerings before giving the waiter your order.

Visual Tracking

I have tried many approaches to the game. I did the Martingale doubling up after a loss system to be devastated by it. 

I once played a visual tracking system where I followed the ball around the wheel in order to predict where it would land. I got nauseous and almost threw up on the layout. Throwing up doesn’t appeal to me.

I’m sure it wouldn’t have appealed to the other players at that table either. I can’t see how anyone can actually do this but there are a few people who claim that ability. Not me, that’s for sure.

The Biased Wheel

My wife, the Beautiful AP and I played a biased wheel in the early 1990s in Las Vegas until the pit boss closed the table. No one bet our numbers (there were three of them together) even as they saw us winning consistently. 

I doubt any of these biased wheels actually exist now on the modern roulette table. The wheels are almost as perfect as almost-perfect can get. Shallow pockets make those roulette balls bounce and bounce and bounce some more.

Dealer Signatures

I even privately interviewed dealers to find out if they could land the ball in given areas or if they knew of any dealers who could do this or who might have claimed they could do this. That was over three decades ago. 

The technique is called “dealer signatures.” Did it exist in the real world? Did it ever exist? I don’t really know.

I talked to the old timers because the few new ones I talked to had no idea of what I was talking about. “Dealers controlling where the ball will land? You gotta be kidding me,” laughed one young dealer.

Another said, “Someone is bending your ear bub. That is impossible. I’ve been dealing for years and no way is it possible.”

A couple of old timers said they knew a dealer, maybe two, from the past (the distant past!) who might have had that ability. Today? “Nahhh,” answered one. “Nahhh,” answered the other. “Nahhh,” I figured.

The Bottom Line

Of course, I have spoken to an assortment of players and other gambling writers about roulette and most of the other games. That world goes from the sublime to the somewhat stupid. 

[Please note: Not all casino gambling writers are brilliant. Some writers told me they believed roulette was a 50-50 game. It isn’t. I have no idea how they could say that or, worse, write that. Some believe that knowing the math of roulette is a waste of time and that man’s “logic” can defeat the game. Not so. As for players? They come in all intellectual shapes and sizes.]

How Do You Play the Game?

I think it is fairly obvious that there are four basic ways to play the game of roulette:

• Play straight-up bets either as singles or as combinations 
• Play one or more proposition bets such as the “even-money” bets or the “columns” and such
• Play a combination of straight-up bets and proposition bets
• Let it all hang out wildly

Danger! Danger! Danger!

The biggest danger for any casino player is not being in control of his or her emotions and thereby allowing the game to play them instead of them playing the game. That is a truly dangerous situation.

Money management is the most important aspect of a relaxed style of play. By “relaxed” I mean simply not having to worry about losses. We should always keep in mind that the casino has the edge and that edge will prevail. If trips to the casino end with you kicking yourself in the posterior, then what is the purpose of going? Casino play should be fun, whether you win or lose.

You should never bet more than you can afford to lose, nor should you pretend, as many players do, that you can afford a lot more in playing money. Think smaller. Losses hurt even if you pretend they don’t.

People who are looking to invest money in this or that stock sometimes think they are more able to handle larger losses than they actually can. If losses subsequently hit them, they become rattled, sometimes severely rattled.

So don’t overestimate your ability to handle high betting levels unless you enjoy being rattled from time to time. In short, stay relaxed. Stay controlled and contained in your money management philosophy.

Dangers in Various Playing Methods

Despite the fact that the casino’s edge on roulette is stable, no matter which ways you wager, the patterns of wins and losses can be radically different. On a single, straight-up bet on a number, a player has 37 chances of losing and only one chance of winning on the double-zero wheel. The player has a better chance with 36 ways of winning and one way of losing on the single-zero wheel.

[Please note: The house edge on roulette is easily figured. On the double-zero wheel the payout is 35-to-one but the real odds are 37-to-one. The casino shorts the player by not paying the true odds when the player wins. It shorts the player by two units. The house edge is therefore 5.26 percent. On the single-zero wheel, the casino also pays 35-to-one but the true payment would be 36-to-one, thus shorting the player by one. The house edge is therefore 2.7 percent.]

Those straight-up bets on one number can create somewhat long losing streaks, but rarely do they create long winning streaks. With so many losses as opposed to so few wins, you can see why this happens. Of course, a hit brings in 35 units for every one unit wagered (meaning $35 for every $1 wagered and won). That certainly takes the sting out of a losing streak if it pushes the player over the top.

If a player bets two numbers, the losing streaks will be shorter but the amounts won will be less. Single-bet players must be ready to experience such losing streaks. The fact that the wins are large brings the house edge to 5.26 percent and 2.7 percent on the double-zero and the single-zero wheels respectively. Yes, the same as on all the bets at the game.

Bankroll Size for Straight-Up Bets

You must factor in the potential for somewhat long losing streaks if you are betting straight-up on a single number. You will face the same house edge, as I’ve stated as any other roulette player, but you have to be able to ride a losing streak to a possible win. Thus, you need to bring sufficient funds to last if things turn against you – and they can turn against you from the very beginning.

Assuming you are a $10 player then you need at least $1,200 with you for a session. Don’t blanche. The good news is that a 35-to-1 payout will catapult you up financially. I’m hoping – and you should be hoping along with me – to get that 35-to-1 hit sooner rather than later. Although your bankroll for a session is quite high, early or almost early hits will see you in decent shape. I doubt that you’ll find many losing streaks where your number never hits and you lose that $1,200.

[Please note: Yes, you have noticed that I am always aware of the possible ways to lose. I wish to win but I dread to lose. So, I always want more money behind me than less; that also means money I can afford to lose without losing my cool.]

Multiple Straight-Up Numbers

You can wager multiple straight-up numbers with a single bet. If you choose to do two numbers per decision, you can reduce your session bankroll in half – to $600. If you are betting four numbers, then your bankroll can go down to $300.

 

Proposition Bets  

The game has a host of proposition bets that allow you to bet many numbers with a single bet without having to face monstrously long losing streaks. On the “even-money” bets, you are betting 18 numbers or colors.

You lose on 20 numbers or colors or on the zero and double zero. So, 18 chances to win and 20 chances to lose. You don’t need a ton of a session bankroll to play the even-money bets. How does $200 sound? That would mean you would have to lose 20 more decisions than you win. 

On the single-zero wheel you would win on 18 decisions and lose on 19 decisions. I prefer the “even-money” bets in my roulette play, especially in casinos that allow surrender or en prison which allows you to keep half of a losing bet if the 0 or 00 is the decision. The house edge is then reduced in half on both the double-zero and single-zero games.

You also have proposition bets that pay back 2-to-1 such as the columns bets and the dozens bets. Here you have 12 ways to win with 26 ways to lose on the double-zero wheel and 12 ways to win and 25 ways to lose on the single-zero wheel. You can go with $200 on these as well.

What I find likeable on the proposition bets is that you only need to make one wager to cover many numbers. I prefer to avoid long losing streaks than win large amounts. I once lost my entire bankroll on my third visit to Atlantic City and that burned me. I was, as the song says, “All shook up!” I became quite cautious after that. You have to decide whether you wish to follow my cautions. 

[Please note: My bankroll requirements are merely an opinion. You must decide how much you wish to bring to the table for a session. If you really have a high tolerance for long losing streaks or big losses in exchange for possibly large wins then go for it. You are the arbiter of your money.]

The Wild Style of Play

Now there is a small percentage of roulette players who like to let it all hang out at the table. They are wild to say the least.

They will bet every type of bet; straight-up bets, many straight-up bets, proposition bets of each type. Some will cover the layout with so many bets that the dealers have to expressly tell these individuals personally “no more bets, sir or madam” after they have already told all the other players “no more bets” because these wild players can’t seem to stop wagering.

All these types of bets are placed during one round. Yikes!

It is “crazy time” when such players descend on a table. Many of them are joyous players too. They are having a ball, a blast, and the money just seems of secondary importance. Maybe they have their own printing press.

What type of bankroll for them? I have no idea. They are going to get hits, perhaps hits galore, even on losing decisions so – beats me what to recommend. I can’t see how they win when the house is wresting from each and every bet that they make. The house edge is relentless. 

Inconvenient Truth

Keep in mind that the total bet a player makes at the game is subject to that edge – there is no getting around that. You can’t escape no matter how you bet. Even if you bet every single number straight-up, you will lose every time you do that because the house is keeping one or two units with each decision at the single- or double-zero games.

That’s the true inconvenient truth. I think every roulette player has to make his or her decision based on the above criteria. 

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Immersive Roulette is an online live casino game played on a single zero roulette wheel. The house edge is 2.70%, the same percentage as any other roulette games using one green zero.  

The fully-regulated software company Evolution Gaming developed the game. The company films live roulette games from studio casinos based in European countries and livestream high-definition footage to the customers of top online licensed casino sites such as 888casino. 

Playing Immersive Roulette 

In 3D cinematic style, Immersive Roulette draws players into the action of live European roulette games. Whether on the move or in the comfort of your home or office, Immersive Roulette use HD-quality video so you can livestream a real-life casino experience. The game is even optimized for various operating systems and screen sizes for:

• Smartphones
• Tablets
• Laptops
• Desktop
• Smart TV

When logged in to this roulette game, you can ven adjust the video quality depending on the speed of your internet service. 

How Good of an Experience is Immersive Roulette?

Casino industry experts regard Immersive Roulette as being the best online live roulette game there is. Read on to discover if Immersive Roulette really does deliver an excellent user experience.

To know how good of a live roulette experience Immersive Roulette is, I’m going to compare it to live roulette in land-based casinos and standard online live roulette games. When I play roulette in a casino I can:

• View the winning number and previous numbers on the billboard display.
• Interact with a croupier.
• Watch a dealer’s facial expressions and how hard they flick the ball into the ball track.
• Look at the ball spinning and slowing then falling onto the wheel and coming to rest in one of the numbered pockets. 
• See the amounts players win.

With Immersive Roulette, not only can you view previous outcomes on the billboard display, but you also have access to detailed statistics based on 500 previous outcomes. These include the percentage occurrences of:

• The green zero
• Outside chances such as the Low and High, Even and Odd, Red and Black
• Columns
• Dozens
• Tiers, Orphelins, Voisins Du Zero, Jeu Zero (accessed on the racetrack betting area)
• Hot and cold numbers (ideal for when using the Andrucci roulette betting system)

 

 

 

Interaction and Viewing the Action

You can interact in real time with the friendly croupiers by typing messages. The croupiers do speak comments to players who message them. You can also use the live chat function to communicate with other players. You can switch to other roulette games and choose your favourite croupiers.

Evolution Gaming uses high-quality cameras shooting footage in 200 frames per second. When playing Immersive Roulette, you can get the impression you’re in a brick-and-mortar casino and watching an action movie of the game at the same time.

Immersive Roulette uses multiple cameras to show you most of the wheel with the croupier and billboard of previous roulette outcomes clearly visible in the background.

Players can also view the roulette betting table layout in front of the wheel and also get an overview looking down onto the wheel so you can see all the numbers.

The numbered pocket the ball had landed in and about four pockets on each side are also easily visible. Players have the option of three viewing angles in high-quality slow-motion replay of the ball landing in the winning pocket.

You just can’t get this experience in a land-based casino. You may recall the last few seconds of how the ball came to land in a pocket, but you’ll never get to see closeup slow motion replays of the event. Immersive Roulette also displays the winner’s usernames and the amount each player received.

Despite the number of speedy transitioning viewpoints, the pace of the game is just right, and this translates into casino experience. There is ample time to place your bets and all normal roulette rules apply including the time allotted to place bets before the start of a new game.

There are three text alerts above the roulette betting layout that replace the dealer’s announcements. These include:

1. “Place your bets”
2. “Bets closing” (meaning to finish betting)
3. “Bets closed” (meaning no more bets)

After you have placed your bets the text alert will read “Bets accepted.”

Immersive Roulette Features

There are features you can use when playing Immersive Roulette you’re not able to find in land-based casinos or in online games. Some of those are:

• Choosing from standard tables and exclusive roulette games. The smallest bet size is £1 and the maximum is £10,000.
• Immersive Roulette has a structure for complex bet and wagering selections for advanced betting system players. This includes saving up to 15 betting selections, which is ideal when using different roulette strategies. 
• There’s a direct game launch. 
• You can select side-bet options. 
• Multi-game play is a useful feature.
• You’re able to control the sound effects.
• And you can change camera angles.  

Conclusion

Given the rules are the same as standard online live roulette games it’s a no-brainer to choose to play on Immersive Roulette because of all the extra features and the high-class atmosphere. 

Most other roulette games are boring because there are limited camera viewpoints. The dealers often talk too much about their lives and all sorts of topics from holidays to shopping to relationships. I can just hear players screaming at their screens: “Just get on with it ... spin the ball.”

If you switch games and choose to try Immersive Roulette, you leave behind dealers in other roulette games and encounter dealers who’ve been transformed into croupiers like Cinderella – and they dress like princesses too. But more importantly than their looks, they’re sophisticated and behave in a professional, dignified manner. They add to the tranquil, relaxing atmosphere Immersive roulette creates for you to enjoy.  

I like the atmosphere of brick and mortar casinos, moreover high-class ones, but playing roulette online is so much easier. You avoid the hassle of changing money at the tables and handling chips. You also avoid other players getting in your way when you’re trying to place bets. 

By playing Immersive Roulette, I feel like an important customer in the comfort of my own environment. All I need to do is launch a game, deposit funds, and place my bets.
 

First, let me get this title out of the way. I’m going to pit the game of roulette against many other of the most popular casino games but not against all of them since the new-fangled games come and go. Many of the new games are called “carnival games” and like real carnival games they are often fly-by-night. 

The real questions are rather simple: Is roulette in the same league as the other games? Is roulette better than other games? Is roulette worse than other games? Are roulette players happier than other players? 

 

 

Although I’ve talked to many players, mine is not a scientific hypothesis. Still, I do think it is accurate.

Roulette Versus Blackjack

Roulette is one of, if not the oldest game in the casino – perhaps only behind craps. Blackjack has a history too, stretching, some writers believe, all the way to China. History is one thing; playing the games is entirely another thing.

Blackjack

Let’s take a look at blackjack. It is overwhelmingly the most popular table-game in the casino. Players have a multitude of decisions to make, not the least of which is how much to bet. Since there are hands that players get that require another bet to be made to play properly, it is not enough to say, “I will bet thus and such amount.” 

If players choose to double down or split pairs or double down on split pairs, they will have to double or triple their bets. Therefore, the bankroll requirements must be handled with care. Under betting at blackjack can cause disaster; a losing streak can wipe a player out. 

[Please note: I am using the correct basic strategy. Players could choose not to increase their bets or to increase the bets to less in some cases – neither is a good idea.]

Blackjack also has a reward for getting a hand of an ace and a 10-valued card, called a blackjack, by paying the players 3-to-2. Although some blackjack games only pay 6-to-5.

The game requires the players, meaning those who wish to play properly, to use a computer derived basic strategy. Usually, players memorize this strategy but many just bring a basic strategy card with them to the casino. Most casinos will allow this.

Since there are many different types of blackjack games based on the number of decks and the individual rules of the casino, there can be many different basic strategies but very few players memorize all of them since the differences between them are not that great.

There is one annoying factor to blackjack that is sometimes encountered by the players and that concerns other players fancying themselves “experts.” These players constantly give advice on how to play one’s hands.

You don’t find this all the time but you do find it enough to share this experience with just about all blackjack players. No one likes the “experts,” except for the “experts” themselves. That’s a big negative.

Roulette

Now to roulette. You don’t have to memorize long lists of strategy decisions. You do have to know:

• where to bet
• how many bets to make since there are a multitude of them
• whether you’re looking for a big hit or a steady back-and-forth with the casino

You can win one-to-one on a bet or anything up to 35-to-1. Yes, the range of payouts is immense. But once you make those choices you just wait for the ball to spin around the wheel, land, bounce, and finally come to rest in a colored pocket with an individual number.

Your sole decision is made when you bet. In blackjack, your decisions are made after you bet when you receive your cards and see what card the dealer is showing. You can actually bet on high payout bets or one-to-one payoff bets at the same time. The choices are all yours.

Finally, a one-on-one game with a dealer in blackjack can cause a player to play between 100 and 130 hands per hour. So even with a small house edge of about one-half percent, the costs can mount up. Playing at a crowded table is a must.

On the other hand, roulette is a leisurely game but the house edge is 5.26 percent on the double-zero wheel and 2.70 on the single-zero wheel. You really want to play at a crowded table to keep the number of decisions as low as can be.

The Decision

This a tough call. If you like a game where actual strategy decisions count heavily, then blackjack is for you. If you like a game where you can win a lot of money with some good luck or play a conservative game with small payouts but better chances of winning by not taking a bad beating on a losing streak, then roulette would be for you. TIE.

Roulette versus Mini-Baccarat

Oh, mini-baccarat, thou art a double-crossing-agent of shame. The real game of baccarat that took place in the high-roller rooms of usually top casinos was a gem. It was leisurely, elegant, with several dealers and your very own pit boss or floor person. The female dealers wore evening wear and the male dealers often wore tuxedos.

The house edges on its two best bets came in at the low one percent mark. The third bet was to be ignored. Yes, the stakes were high but the slower speed of the game kept the damage somewhat lower than one would expect.

And you actually took turns dealing the cards if you wanted. That made no difference in the results of the game but it was still a lot of fun to do.

And now to mini-baccarat. The speed of this game is perhaps the fastest speed of all the games in the casino. Small house edge? Yeah, sure, the same edges as real baccarat but playing 150 to 200 hands per hour will make small edges huge in their results.

You don’t get to deal the cards either. The dealers are the twins of the superhero named Flash in the speed of their dealing. Yikes.

Add to that, this: some of the most superstitious players in the casinos play this game and are adamant about their superstitions. Even the table numbers have been changed to satisfy some of them. They take it badly if you win and they lose. They figure you took their luck. You didn’t but you’ll never be able to convince them of that.  

There are some high-roller room roulette games, often of the single-zero variety, but these games are really no different than the main floor games.

The worst thing, other than a losing streak, is some lug knocking over your chips when he or she bets. At least this is not happening because they think you are in league with the devil.

The Decision

Hands down, roulette is the better game. You want leisurely, not speedy. If the real baccarat game still existed and you could afford it, then it would be a closer call.

Roulette Versus Craps

This is going to be a somewhat close contest. Craps goes all the way back to the ancient times when men used ankle bones of animals and their fellow man to ask the gods what was about to happen or to prostrate themselves asking for whatever they desired. That usually involved defeating the other tribe or getting their mothers-in-law off their backs. 

Over time bones started to be used in the games of chance. I’m guessing people still prayed during these games as they still pray in games of chance today. I guess a lot of people want divine assistance. 

Craps has a legion of bets, as does roulette, but these bets range in house edges that go from 1.36 percent or 1.41 percent all the way up to (ugh!) over 20 percent! (I’m taking in some of the bonus bets here such as the fire bet.)

Perhaps craps has the most enthusiastic fans in the casinos. You can hear the players cheering and moaning throughout a game. The layout looks as if it is cuneiform and many other players who wish to play craps can get frightened by it. 

The best bets at the game are some of the best bets in the casino; the worst bets are some of the worst bets in the casino. You have bets that pay out very large sums. These are, naturally, the high house edge bets. You have bets that can make the game a very, very close contest.

The game can seem fast but that is only a mirage because some bets will not be resolved with every decision. However, the more bets players make, the more the house edges will likely hammer them. A conservative approach to craps makes it a great game. An action approach makes it a very, very dangerous game indeed.

A wonderful aspect to craps is the fact that a player gets the opportunity to roll the dice. (“Roll dem bones!”) The player takes the dice into his or her hand and lets them fly, determining the next decision. That is an appealing aspect to the game.

Played properly, craps is a great game. Played poorly, craps is a very dangerous game.

Craps does have one strange element; it is truly the only domain in the casino table games world that is about 95 percent male. Correct. In all the time that craps has been played in the casinos, males dominate the game.

It is rare to find a woman at the table, other than a wife or a date or a companion for a male. Yes, more women play today which means almost none.

The Decision

If you tend to be a wild player, stay away from craps. If you are a conservative player, craps can be a great game. Given the nature of the game, roulette versus craps has shadings that other games don’t.

If you’re female? Then roulette wins. 

If you’re male? Then craps wins if you’re the type of male who enjoys the rough and tumble of male relationships which you’ll see and hear at a craps game. It’s kind of like table game football. Maybe that’s what keeps women away?

Roulette Versus Pai Gow Poker

I am a Pai Gow poker fan. I especially love the face-up version of pai gow poker. A player gets to make decisions that count in terms of how high the house edge will become. In face-up Pai Gow Poker, the player knows the hand the dealer has and that makes the strategy change for playing one’s own hand.

The game has another fun element. It is leisurely. No one rushes you to play fast. You can take your time making your decisions and dealers will happily help you if you don’t know quite what to do with your hand. There are plenty of ties too, which means the hit on your bankroll will not be overwhelmingly bad if things are not going your way.

Happily, I’ve never found the type of “expert” player who lambasts you with his or her version of how to play the game as in blackjack. Pai gow poker players seem to be more reserved, far classier than those annoying blackjack “experts.”

Sadly, not every casino has the game. The bigger ones do but those small places probably don’t. Even in casinos where the game exists, you probably won’t find more than a couple of tables. Some casinos will place the game in their Asian rooms since there is a popular game called pai gow found there. However, that pai gow game is played with dominos.

The Decision

I have to tell you that this was my hardest decision. I love Pai Gow Poker and look for it in every casino where I play – and most of them have it! 

I think many players might find the game too leisurely if they are the action types. So here goes: TIE!

All the best in and out of the casinos!
 

We all love to play video poker. It’s a fun, low-stress way to enjoy the venerable card game without having to wait for others to buy in or needing to outthink human opponents. Instead, you play against the casino and get to experience the action that comes with putting together straights and flushes and full houses.

No wonder, then, that there exists no shortage of poker variants programmed into video poker machines. The most common form is Jacks or Better, where you need a pair of Jacks in order to wrest a payout from the machine. But our favorite version is Deuces Wild.

One reason for the affinity is that we are suckers for games with wild cards. They allow you to build stronger hands and, hell, we all like to swing for the fences. More importantly, when Deuces Wild is played with what video-poker guru Bob Dancer classifies as “beginner strategy,” we can actually play at an advantage.

Follow his advice to a T and you’ll be operating at 100.76% (that is, with a .76 percent advantage). This may not sound like much, but, over time, it definitely adds up. For anyone who’s ever gone against the house with a negative expectation (and, let’s face it, we all have), this edge makes for an irresistible proposition.

A Look at the Game

On the surface, Deuces Wild functions like most every other video poker game – you’re dealt five cards and can either play them (if you happen to land a phenomenal hand right out of the gate) or trade in any of those cards for fresh ones and try to make a better combination.

Things get interesting here when you take into account that deuces are wild – meaning that they can be used as any card in the 52-card deck out of which the game is dealt.

Because those four wild cards increase the likelihood of making premium hands, the bare minimum hands – say, a pair of 7s, or 6s over 4s – are not at all desirable. However, hitting five of a kind is possible. For example, if you get three 2s and a pair of 9s, you would have five 9s and be in line for a windfall of cash. In order to leverage that windfall, it’s worthwhile to search out a Deuces Wild machine that rewards players at the top end of the pay schedule (based on five units being wagered):

• 4,000 units for a natural royal flush
• 1,000 for four deuces (which will essentially be five of a kind)
• 125 for a royal flush made with deuces
• 75 for five of a kind (helped along by a deuce or two or three)
• 45 for a straight flush
• 25 for four of a kind
• 15 for a full house
• 10 for a flush
• 10 for a straight
• 5 for three of a kind

As alluded to earlier, a pair or even two pair will not pay off. No need to worry, though, as wild cards are your friends and they will make possible the kinds of premium hands that we typically dream about hitting. And don’t be put off by the relatively meager payout that comes with four of a kind: You’ll land there more often than you think.

Analyzing Hands

According to a modus operandi that is credited to Dancer and Liam W. Daily (who also sell advanced strategies, for overcoming the game with higher expected values), beating Deuces is as simple as rigorously following a regiment of very specific instructions:

• Hands with 4 deuces – hold all 4 deuces
• Hands with 3 deuces – consider a wildcard royal flush to be a pat hand; otherwise just keep the three deuces and discard the other two cards (yes, you will sometimes dump out of five of a kind in the hopes of hitting something better).
• Hands with 2 deuces – just draw one card if you are four to a straight flush or royal flush; otherwise, hold onto the pair of deuces and draw three fresh cards
• Hands with 1 deuce – hang onto all paying combinations; draw one card with four to a royal flush, straight flush, flush or straight; draw two cards with three to a royal flush (excluding Ace high) or three to a straight flush; otherwise, keep the deuce and swap out for four fresh cards
• Hands with zero deuces – hold all paying combinations; draw one card with four to a royal flush, straight flush, flush or straight; draw two cards with three to a royal flush; if dealt two pair, discard one of the pairs and draw three cards; hold onto suited Queen, Jack; suited Queen, 10; and Jack, 10; anything else, discard the entire hand and draw five fresh cards.

 

 

Strategy Options

As one who has applied similar lines of thinking to other casino games (we’ll get into that particular adventure at a later date), I can tell you that there are a couple of things to keep in mind when applying small-edge strategies. Most importantly, remember that you are not smarter than the strategy.

Even if you’ve tried something a few times and failed – say, winding up with a busted hand when drawing one card while going for a straight flush with no deuces – it’s important to stick with the strategy no matter what. We all face variance and bad luck (as well as good) when playing casino games. Those things iron themselves out over time as long as we stick to mathematically sound baselines.

Secondly, don’t forget that your profits can extend beyond your winnings from the game. While video poker comps are usually below those offered for playing slot machines (casino bosses are more than wise to the fact that video poker can be played at an advantage), they can still pile up significantly.

So before putting money into the video poker machine, find a casino where you will get a good return on comps related to your play. Establish a tight relationship with a proactive host and make sure you are always logged in to receive those coveted freebies.

Finally, game selection is important. All video poker machines do not pay out equally. Work hard to find one that offers the full pay schedule that is outlined in this story.

Then wait for the machine to shuffle up and deal, play within your budget and proceed to slowly crush this entertainingly beatable game.
 

In a previous article, I explained the insurance bet and why it is a bad bet for basic strategy players. In this article, I will focus on the “even money” proposition, which is equivalent to making an insurance bet when you have a blackjack hand. 

Even money comes into play when you have a blackjack hand and the dealer’s upcard is an ace. When this occurs, the dealer will ask you if you want “even money.” 

• If you say “yes” she will immediately pay you even money on your wager, before she peeks at her hole card, and then place your cards in the discard tray. If you had wagered, say, $10, the payoff is even money or another $10.

Most players are perplexed when the dealer asks if they want even money, and they usually will ask the dealer or another player for advice on what to do. The response is usually “take the even money because you can’t lose.” That’s because no matter what the dealer’s hole card happens to be, you won’t lose any money, especially if the dealer has a 10 in the hole for a blackjack.

Years ago, there was no such thing as even money; if you wanted to “insure” your blackjack hand, you would make the insurance bet just like everyone else would sometimes do on non-blackjack hands.

However, some bright casino executive dreamed up the “even money” proposition, where a player with blackjack is paid even money right on the spot regardless of whether or not the dealer ends up with a blackjack. Therefore, players jump at the opportunity to take even money when it’s offered to them. Life is good … or is it?

Even Money Is the Same as Insurance

Let me pause for a moment to explain why taking even money is the same as making the insurance bet when you have a blackjack.

Suppose you wager $10, you are dealt a blackjack hand, and the dealer shows an ace upcard. There are four possible outcomes, which are listed below in the four rows. The first column indicates if the player does (Yes) or does not (No) take the even money. The second column shows the possible outcome for the dealer's hand – either she has a 10 in the hole for a blackjack (Yes) or doesn’t have a 10 and blackjack (No).

The third column shows the amount won or lost for the initial $10 wager, and the fourth column, the same for the insurance bet. The last column shows the net amount of money won or lost on the combined outcome of the initial wager and the insurance bet.

Notice that if you always insure your blackjack (possible outcomes 1 and 2 above), you always win even money regardless of the dealer’s outcome on her hand. This is why casinos have reverted to the “even money” proposition when a player has a blackjack hand and the dealer’s upcard is an ace.

Instead of letting a player go through all the motions of making an insurance bet, the casinos will gladly give the player ”even money,” even before the dealer checks for a blackjack. By immediately giving the player the “even money” payoff, it also speeds up the game, which is bad for the player but good for the casino.

Remember when I mentioned earlier that most players believe that you can’t lose when you take even money? This is because of the third outcome above, namely, if you don’t take even money when you have a blackjack then you risk the possibility that you will win nothing if the dealer has a blackjack. The masses of players will take the certain one-unit win rather than the possibility of winning nothing. Even the experts in the casino pit will say to take the sure even-money payoff. However, here is the rest of the story.

In a single-deck game, when you are dealt a blackjack and the dealer shows an ace, the dealer will end up with a 10 in the hole 15 times out of 49. This is because:

• There were three cards removed from the 52-card deck, namely, the dealer’s ace upcard, and your blackjack hand, consisting of an ace plus 10-value card. Removing three cards from a 52-card deck leaves 49 unplayed cards.
• In a deck of cards, 16 are valued at 10 (the four 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings). One 10-value card is in your blackjack hand; therefore, there are 15 ten-value cards in the 49 unplayed cards.
• The dealer will end up with a ten in the hole for blackjack 15 times out of 49 or about 30.6% of the time.

 

 

(Note: For a six-deck game, the math is 95 times out of 309 or 30.7%.)

Therefore, the bottom line on the even money is this – is it better to:

• Take the sure one-unit win by taking even money, or
• Risk nothing extra some of the time, to win 1.5 units some of the time by passing up the even-money proposition?

As mentioned above, 30.6% of the times that the dealer has a blackjack you will win nothing, but the other 69.4% of the times, you will win 1.5 times your bet. If you do the math, the latter will result in an average win equal to about 1.04 units every time you pass up the even-money proposition. So, which is better?

• Win 1 unit for certain by taking even money, or
• Win 1.04 units on average by declining to take even money.

The bottom line is this: the value of your blackjack hand is 1.04 units. If a casino were to offer you more than 1.04 units for your blackjack, you should take the offer. However, if they offer you less than 1.04 units, which is the case when they offer you even money or 1.0 unit, you should play smart and decline the offer.

(Note: Casino bosses are not stupid. They know the value of a player’s blackjack hand is worth more than even money, which is why they will gladly give a player even money right on the spot. Surprise them the next time you play blackjack and decline their “not-so-generous” offer.)

Even Money in 6-5 Blackjack Games

Nowadays, many land-based casinos have reduced the payoff for blackjack from the traditional 3-2 to 6-5. I’ve already written about the evils of 6-5 blackjack games; however, I’ve also received many inquiries as to why most casinos don’t offer even money on these games. 

Without going into the math, I’ll give you the bottom line. If casinos offered even money on 6-5 games, players would have a slight advantage on this proposition, which is the reason that they don’t offer it on their 6-5 games.

(Note: The overall house edge in a 6-5 game is affected very little if they offered the even-money proposition; therefore, my recommendation toward 6-5 games remains the same: avoid playing them.)

Should You Ever Take the Even Money?

I’ll give you two scenarios when it makes sense to take even money.

1. Suppose you are in a single-deck game with three other players. You are dealt a blackjack and the dealer shows an ace upcard. You can see your fellow players’ hands and none of them has any tens. Now the ratio of tens to non-tens in the unplayed cards is 15/43 or 34.9%. Anytime this ratio exceeds 33.33%, taking even money becomes profitable. The point is this: when you know ten-value cards are abundant in the unplayed cards, taking even money could be profitable. This leads me to the second point.
2. By learning a card counting system, you will know when taking even money is a profitable bet. (See Chapter 10.7 in my Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide for details on this.)

Lastly, let me address one more “suggestion” that has been proposed as a reason for taking even money. Namely, a player with a limited bankroll who puts a large amount of it at risk by making a big bet and then is dealt a blackjack with the dealer showing an ace. This player has a “safety net” of a guaranteed win by taking the even money rather than possibly losing the bulk of his stake, or worse, tapping out.

My take on this scenario is this: any player who places the majority of his bankroll on one wager is grossly overbetting his bankroll. You will always lose less or win more in the long run when you stick with the math and never take the even-money proposition, regardless of how much you wagered on the hand.

Here’s a quick look at some gambling-related questions posed to me in 2021.

QUESTION: “I have been enjoying your articles but when it comes to betting at roulette, I have some disagreements with your analysis. You say to bet the ‘even-money’ bets of red or black, odd or even, high or low. Why not go for the two-to-one payoffs on the ‘columns’ or ‘dozens’ bets? While your chances of winning are reduced, you still get a better payoff of two-to-one.” 

FRANK RESPONDS: “You are right, of course, the payoffs are better on the two-to-one wagers. In addition, you can still go back-and-forth with the wins and losses during most sessions. The back-and-forth between the player and the casino is what I enjoy. 

“Remember that the ‘even-money’ bets have an expectation of 18 wins against 20 losses on the American double-zero (0, 00) wheel and 18 wins and 19 losses on the European single-zero (0) wheel. Your two-to-one bets have 12 winning numbers with many more losing numbers. You can get into a hole faster betting this way.

“When a player bets on an inside number straight-up there can be many long losing streaks. Some losing streaks can be amazingly long. That usually requires a bigger bankroll for such betting because you have to hang in there during those bad runs waiting for a hot hit. In terms of patterns of wins and losses such a method is very similar to playing a slot machine, losing streaks and big hits. Requires patience and the ability not to panic to bet this way.

“The house edge on the game is the same in either form of betting. But one betting method has more engagement than the other and that, my friend, is the one that I like. Kidding aside, you have to bet the way that makes you enjoy yourself the most. I don’t go for super big wins because I want to keep my exposure low each and every time I play. Yes, the long-run edge is the same but the steps of getting to it are quite different.”

Going Inside

QUESTION: “You can bet on more numbers inside, right? There you get a better game in terms of back-and-forth but you will leave yourself open for some nice hits. So why not go that way to increase potential profits?”

FRANK RESPONDS: “You are not actually increasing profits in the long term. Your long-term expectations will be the same no matter which way you bet. That expectation, sadly, is negative. The casino has the winning expectation; the players do not. Yes, it’s sad but true. Naturally, if the casino did not have the positive expectation, then there would be no casinos. That’s a major truth too.

“If you play casino games you have to understand that you will be playing against a house edge.

“On a given session you can have an epic win, whereas the ‘even-money’ bets rarely give you such an epic hit against the casinos. But with ‘even-money’ bets you also rarely take an immense hammering. As said, I prefer caution every time I play. Long run, the game is the same. Today, it can be really different. I play for today.”

Surrender Explanation

QUESTION: “Now you have mentioned something called ‘surrender’ at the ‘even-money’ bets. Explain that again, please.”

FRANK RESPONDS: “Some casinos and even some venues will give back half of your ‘even-money’ bets if the 0 or 00 hits. On the double-zero wheel this will reduce the house edge from 5.26 percent to 2.63 percent. On the single-zero wheel, the house edge goes from 2.70 percent to 1.35 percent. The single-zero wheel might have the option of ‘en-prison’ which essentially does the same thing.

“Now reducing the house edge at roulette by one-half is a great benefit for the player. The single-zero wheel becomes one of the best bets in the casino!”

Single Zero Versus Double Zero

QUESTION: “You are therefore saying always bet the single-zero wheel if you can? It’s always a better bet than the double-zero wheel?”

FRANK RESPONDS: “Well, yes, and no. Sometimes the minimum bet on the single-zero wheel is much higher than the minimum bet on the double-zero wheel. The expected loss can then be much higher even though the house edge is much lower. If you are a player who bets $10 per decision and the minimum is $50 then you would be asking for trouble betting that $50.

“Let us say that you are experiencing 50 decisions per hour on the wheel. You are betting one of the ‘even-money’ wagers. If you bet $10 per wager on a double-zero wheel, your total bet for the hour is $500. Your expected loss is $26.30. Or half of that, which is $13.15, if there is surrender.

“Okay, you bet $50 per ‘even-money’ wager at a single-zero wheel. You are now betting $2,500 per hour. Your expected loss is $67.50. If the game has en-prison, your expectation will be a loss of $33.75.

“This is important; your expected loss-per-hour must be lower at the game. In short, you have to be able to afford the losses. Otherwise, you are getting a better game with worse economic results. You don’t want that.”

Shifting Gears

QUESTION: “But can’t you change how you bet? I don’t mean bets that are not ‘even-money’ but I mean how you bet?”

FRANK RESPONDS: “Yes, true, you could for example bet half the time or less than half the time. Now with those $50 bets you only bet 40 percent of the spins. Your expected loss would be $27 or $13.50 with ‘en-prison. Not much worse than the double-zero game. You could go to 39 percent of the spins and be losing less at this game than you would at double-zero ‘even-money’ bets!

“It could be even better too. If the single-zero wheel is only coming in with a $25 minimum then lowering the number of decisions you face doesn’t have to be too drastic. Your expected loss at this $25 game is $33.75 or $16.88 with ‘en-prison.  Reduce the number of spins played by 20 percent and you have that expected loss down to $27 or $13.50 with ‘en-prison.

Bankroll Management

QUESTION: “What kind of bankroll would you need to play the way you are suggesting?”

FRANK RESPONDS: “Okay, first, you must have an account for casino gambling from which to take your playing money. Do not use your household money or serious savings money. I call this the 401G account, with the ‘G’ standing for gambling. Put this money in some interest-paying account.  You can add to the account with wins and/or with small deposits as you would with a regular 401K.

“Now you want to play a conservative game. You do not ever, ever, ever want to wake up the next day and say to yourself ‘I did what last night?’ If you are a drinker, try to limit your consumption until after your last session of the day. You’ll thank yourself for that.

“So let us say you are betting $10 on those even-money bets. How much should you give yourself for each session of play? First of all, how long of a session do you want? An hour, two or three? How many sessions a day? These are the parameters that you have to fill in and stick to.

“Let us say that you will play for two hours a session for two sessions a day. You’ll actually have to come up with your ideas. I’m just giving my overview.

“We estimate how many decisions per hour. Let’s keep it at 50 per hour as in the above examples. You will therefore be playing 100 decisions in that two-hour period. That means you will be wagering a total of $1000 during that time. 

“What don’t we want during those 100 decisions? Obviously, we don’t want to be wiped out and lose every penny we brought with us to play for that session. Now just figure you will win 18 times and lose 20 times on the double-zero wheel. Let’s make it simple by using nine wins and 10 losses. For every 19 decisions, the math says you will lose one bet of $10. 

“Keep in mind that we are just dealing in averages. You could be ahead after 19 decisions or behind, or monstrously ahead, or cripplingly behind. Who knows? In 100 decisions, the math indicates a loss somewhere around $50. Here we go with a guesstimate: bring enough money to lose $100. Make it easy for yourself, bring $300 to play ‘even-money’ bets for 100 decisions.

“There’s an excellent chance you will not get wiped out by having $300 as your session stake. 

“And what if you are getting hammered? Must you plug away and stay in the game? Of course not. You can pull that plug anytime you wish and take a break from play. Whatever money you have left over, just put it away and don’t use any of it for your next session. 

“If you are winning, just play your two hours and rejoice as you take your win with you. You won’t use any of that win during your next session.

“Session two is done the exact same way. Give yourself $300 again and proceed. That comes to $150 per hour or per 50 decisions.  

“The total you need to bring with you is $600 to play four hours with a decent expectation that you won’t get wiped out.”

Single-Session Fun

QUESTION: “I like to go for one afternoon a week and I just play one session. What then?”

FRANK RESPONDS: “Play $150 per hour if you are betting $10 per decision given the parameters above. If you play for four hours it still comes to $600.”

Expanding Gaming Sessions

QUESTION: “And what if I go to the casinos for a vacation, say for four days, what then?”

FRANK RESPONDS: “Just make it $150 per hour of play. Stick with that and try to keep the number of decisions to 50 per hour or even fewer if you can. 

“Obviously, I am taking a shot in the dark about what will happen in an hour’s time or two-hour’s time but it is a shot that can’t destroy you if bad streaks happen.

“My biggest concern is losses, especially among those of us who are committed casino players. You want to go to the casinos often? Then you have to be contained, controlled, and yes, disciplined. That includes cutting short a session that isn’t going right if you start to think that you don’t want to take any more negative hits. You can always come back for more.”

‘Action’ players

QUESTION: “All of this sounds good but I really don’t like the ‘even-money’ bets. I am an action player in the best definition of that word. I am looking for a thrill. Don’t you have ways to play that can give me a thrill and keep my money safe or as safe as possible?”

FRANK RESPONDS: “I think you should take the same context that I’ve been giving and extend it to the inside bets. You have a one-in-38 chance to win on the double-zero wheel and a one-in-37 chance to win on the single-zero wheel with a single inside-number bet. 

“The question you must ask yourself is exactly how much to give yourself per session betting those inside numbers? Basically, you go per number. If you decide to bet 18 numbers all at once, then you give yourself $300 for a two-hour session. If you decide to go to nine numbers, you give yourself $600 per session, meaning $1,200 for two hours. 

“The bottom line is simple: The more numbers you bet at once, the less your bankroll has to be since it is easier to get a hit. The fewer numbers you bet, the more your bankroll must be because you can have – and you will have – major losing streaks.

“Yes, you can get a big hit right off the bat betting inside and then the day may turn out to be clear sailing. Drowning is what I fear most.”

All the best in and out of the casinos!
 

For some gamblers, bigger is better – and that does not apply only to how much they wager or to the square-footage of their suites. There is also something special about playing in the world’s largest casinos, which hold records for space devoted to wagering and other alluring pursuits.

Inevitably, these palaces of chance have larger varieties of accommodations. But they also tend to boast more restaurants, better shows and, most critically of all, a multitude of tables on which to place your bets.

In addition to a wider range of games – maybe even some new ones that have not yet come to your local gambling dens – more people in action make for a livelier vibe. So if you believe that size matters, then these casinos, five of the largest in the world, will be worth checking out.

Buckle up and prepare to be overwhelmed. We won’t be surprised if you make reservations, book airfare, and put together a bankroll as soon as you finish reading this.

Five Biggest Casinos in the World are:

1 – WinStar World Casino

 

If someone asked you to guess the location of the world’s largest casino, you would not immediately go with Thackerville, Oklahoma, right in the middle of America’s cowboy-country, not far from the Texas border. But, amazingly, that is where the world’s largest casino resides.

Its 600,000-square-feet of gaming space make WinStar the most generously proportioned gambling joint in the world. Getting clever with its seemingly endless expanse of house-crushing opportunity, Winstar has 8,600 machines, 100 table-games, a fantastic poker room (it boasts 55 tables and has been the site of multi-million-dollar tournaments), and three high-limit rooms.

To keep players engaged, the casino is broken up into nine plazas, with each one themed to a particular city. Beijing Gaming Plaza, for example, aims to replicate the Asian gaming experience, complete with the baccarat spinoff Dai Bac (it comes with innovative, high-paying bonus bets), mythical beasts scattered around for good luck and a top-flight Mongolian restaurant.

2 – Venetian Macau

 

The Venetian’s outpost in Macau – modeled on the original in Vegas but much more sprawling – ranks among the biggest buildings in the world. And its 550,000-square-foot casino, the second largest in existence, is notable as well. There are nearly 1,000 table games and 3,300 slot machines.

Of course, though, baccarat rules the high-stakes roost. In case you get thirsty while playing, attendants roam through the casino, wheeling carts loaded with sweet and milky tea.

Though gambling is the thrust, this place does not stint on restaurants, with dozens of places in which to dine. Travel around the world with Venetian’s food options by checking out the Cantonese Lei Garden, McSorley’s ale house for British fish and chips, and top-notch Italian at Portofino.

3 – MGM Cotai

 

In a part of the world where casinos are famous for being glitzy, design-forward enterprises, MGM Cotai, situated in Macau, really stands out.

On its exterior, the Las Vegas spin-off appears to be constructed from sleek building blocks. Inside, there are around 200 gambling tables spread across some 500,000-square-feet (making it the globe’s third largest gambling enterprise).

4 – City of Dreams

5 – Wynn Palace

 

Coming in with the fifth-largest gambling den on the planet, Wynn Palace on the Cotai Strip boasts 420,000-square-feet of gaming opportunities. Though it is clearly larger than Steve Wynn’s creations in Las Vegas, Wynn Palace has some of the same elements that make its Sin City counterparts beloved by high rollers. That includes premium sushi restaurant Mizumi and top drawer Chinese eatery Wing Lei Palace – along with mega-high limits for those who really like to splash around.

Shopping is first rate – stores on premises include Prada, Cartier and Pacific Cigar with its walk-in humidor – and the rooms are gorgeous. When it comes to gambling, Wynn Palace does not hold back. There are in excess of 1,000 slot machines and more than 350 tables where dealers spread sic bo, roulette, blackjack and, of course, baccarat. Rooms overflow with the cleanly designed luxury that Vegas habitués (and, now, those in Macau) come to expect at Wynn properties.