Easy Casino Games To Win
You want to enjoy the thrill of a casino game, maybe make a little profit, but you don't want to throw your money away on a game where the house has an overwhelming edge. You're looking for the path of least resistance, the games that give you the best shot at walking away a winner, even if it's just for a few hours. That's a smart way to approach it. Not all casino games are created equal, and some are significantly easier to win at than others, especially when you know the rules and play strategically.
Blackjack: Where Skill Meets the Odds
If you're looking for a game where your decisions directly impact the outcome, blackjack is the king. The house edge in blackjack, when you play with basic strategy, can be as low as 0.5% or even lower at some tables. That means for every $100 you bet, you're expected to lose only about 50 cents in the long run. Compare that to slots, where the house edge can be 5-10% or more. The key is memorizing basic strategy—a chart that tells you the mathematically correct move for every possible hand against the dealer's up card. Online casinos like BetMGM, DraftKings, and Caesars Palace Online offer low-stakes blackjack tables perfect for practicing. Stick to tables that pay 3:2 for a natural blackjack, not the stingier 6:5 payout.
Basic Strategy is Your Best Friend
You don't need to count cards to gain an advantage; you just need to follow the chart. This means always hitting a 16 when the dealer shows a 7 or higher, and always doubling down on 11 against a dealer's 2 through 10. Deviating from basic strategy because of a "hunch" is what pads the casino's profits. Free online trainers are widely available—spend 30 minutes with one, and you'll dramatically cut the house's advantage.
Baccarat: The Ultimate Low-Decision Game
Baccarat is famously James Bond's game, but it's actually one of the simplest and most player-friendly in the casino. You have three betting options: the Player hand, the Banker hand, or a Tie. The rules are fixed; the cards are dealt according to a set formula, and you make no decisions after placing your bet. The Banker bet has a house edge of just 1.06%, and the Player bet is 1.24%. The Tie bet, with its tempting 8:1 or 9:1 payout, carries a massive edge over 14% and should be avoided. Your strategy? Bet on the Banker consistently. Most US online casinos, including FanDuel and Borgata, offer commission-free baccarat tables, which make the Banker bet even more attractive.
Craps: Finding the Smart Bets on a Busy Table
Craps looks chaotic, but it contains some of the best odds in the entire casino—if you know where to place your chips. Avoid the tempting big-payout bets in the center of the table (like Any 7 or Hardways), as their house edge is enormous. Instead, focus on the Pass Line bet with Odds. The Pass Line bet itself has a low house edge of 1.41%. Once a point is established, you can back it up with a "free odds" bet, which has zero house edge. If the casino offers "3x-4x-5x Odds," you can often bet multiples of your original Pass Line bet without any penalty. This combination brings the overall house edge on your total action down below 0.5%. Learning this simple two-step bet makes craps a surprisingly viable game for patient players.
Video Poker: The Slot Machine You Can Actually Beat
Forget traditional slot machines. If you're drawn to a screen-based game, video poker is in a different league. Games like Jacks or Better, when played with perfect strategy, offer a return-to-player (RTP) of over 99.5%—meaning a house edge under 0.5%. The key is playing the full-pay version, often called "9/6 Jacks or Better" (9 for a full house, 6 for a flush). You must learn the proper hold strategy for every dealt hand. It's more memorization than complex math, and strategy cards are available. Many online casinos offer video poker in their table game sections. Play for fun credits first to get the strategy down cold before playing for real money.
Roulette: Stick to the Outside
American roulette, with its 0 and 00, gives the house a 5.26% edge on most bets. That's not great. However, you can improve your chances slightly by sticking to "even-money" outside bets: Red/Black, Odd/Even, or 1-18/19-36. The edge remains 5.26%, but these bets give you nearly a 50/50 shot of winning on each spin, making your bankroll last longer. If you can find a single-zero European roulette table (online casinos like bet365 often have them), the house edge on those same bets drops to a much more reasonable 2.7%. Avoid the inside number bets and the five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) which has the worst edge on the layout at 7.89%.
Games to Avoid If You Want to Win
Knowing what not to play is just as important. Steer clear of most slot machines, especially progressive slots with their tiny odds of a life-changing jackpot. The house edge is built-in and unavoidable. Keno and the big six money wheel are pure lottery-style games with huge house advantages, sometimes exceeding 25%. Sic Bo and other novelty dice games also tend to have poor odds for the player. Stick to the games where your knowledge and betting choices can influence the outcome.
FAQ
What is the easiest casino game to win money at?
For a beginner, blackjack using basic strategy offers the best combination of low house edge and straightforward learning. Baccarat is even simpler to play (just bet on Banker) and has a similarly low house edge, making it a close second for ease of winning in the short term.
Can you really win at video poker consistently?
Yes, but only if you play the full-pay versions (like 9/6 Jacks or Better) and use perfect strategy for every single hand. This requires memorizing a strategy chart. With perfect play, the theoretical return is over 99.5%, making it one of the few electronic games where skilled play can overcome the house edge in the long run.
Is craps too complicated for a beginner?
It looks complicated, but you don't need to know every bet. As a beginner, just learn the Pass Line bet and how to take Odds. Stand at the table, place your chip on the Pass Line before the come-out roll, and if a point is established, ask the dealer for "odds." This two-bet combo gives you some of the best odds in the casino without needing to understand the rest of the chaos.
What's the best bet in roulette for a better chance to win?
Stick to the outside even-money bets: Red, Black, Odd, Even, 1-18, or 19-36. While the house edge on American roulette is still high (5.26%), these bets give you an almost 50/50 chance on each spin, which helps your money last. Always seek out European roulette (single zero) if available, as it cuts the house edge on these bets in half.
Are online casino games easier to win than live games?
The odds and house edges are mathematically identical for regulated online games like blackjack, roulette, and video poker. The advantage of playing online is you can play at lower stakes, take your time with decisions, and often find single-zero roulette or better blackjack rule variations more easily than in a crowded physical casino.