How to Make the Most Money from Casino Payback Percentages

Against the Casino Odds

Imagine you were playing a game of coin toss. You wager $10 on heads. If heads comes up, you win $9.75. If you lose, you lose all $10. Not fair, is it? Nope. But that's life—at least in the casinos. In the la casa, the odds are always lined up against you. This is why it is important for every smart gambler to know about payback percentages and how to make the most of them.

To assure themselves a profit, casinos make sure you risk more money than you stand to win. How much they get this way is measured by the house edge. After the house edge is taken by the casino, what's left over is returned to players. This is the payback percentage.

Some games like blackjack have a high payback percentage; others like keno have very low payback rates. Some games like craps change percentage depending on the wager you make. In any case, you need to be able to take advantage of them if you want to survive in the gamblers' jungle.

Tips to Make the Most Money from Payback Percentages

1) Play games with the highest payback percentages (i.e. a low house edge).

If you like video poker, good for you. Video poker generally pays off better than slots. Look for games that pay no less than 99%. Other games with a low house edge include craps, blackjack and baccarat.

2) Learn basic strategy for these games.

Correct strategy is necessary to get the best payback percentage out of a game. Card games like blackjack and video poker often have basic strategies. Do not forget that rule variations in the games call for changes in the basic strategy too.

3) Play the games slowly.

You should play slowly regardless of a game's payback percentage. Take pauses in slots and play at full baccarat tables. Slower play means fewer games/hands per hour. And the fewer games per hour the less money you wager. The less money you wager, the longer your bankroll lasts.

4) Make use of comps.

Comps are the free stuffs you get for being a regular casino player. To get rated for comps, use your slot card for slot machines and other video games. For table games, ask the pit boss to rate you. Your comp rewards, points and rebates can then add to your overall payback percentage.

5) Play the games consistent with your goals.

In general, casino games with a high payback percentage give frequent but small winnings. Those games with a lower payback percentage give out winnings less often, but those wins are larger than usual. An example of a game with modest but frequent wins is blackjack. A game with poor payback is slots, but the jackpot prizes make them worth the risk for many players.

These casino tips should help you be a smarter gambler. Once you understand the ins and outs of payback percentage and how to make the most of it, you will be on your way to a smarter, more fortunate gambler.