Casino players notice worse casino odds in different ways.
Serious casino players know when a game is a ripoff. Noticing a “blackjack pays 6/5” disclaimer, a third zero on a roulette wheel, or a bad video poker paytable is easy for experienced gamblers.
On the other hand, recreational players do not have this same level of understanding. They go to the casino to play with the hope of winning or at least getting the entertainment value out of their gambling budget.
Key Highlights
- Blackjack payouts that have worse odds
- Watch out for how many zeros the roulette wheel has
- Video poker paytables can impact losses
- When it comes to casino games, paytables matter.
While recreational players may not know a bad game from a good one, eventually they realize that something is wrong. Over time, it is believed that a casino or game is luckier than another, even if they do not understand the math.
Warning Signs That Something is Off
Inexperienced or casual players may not know a bad game from a good one, but they eventually realize that something is wrong.
Their money does not go as far at one casino or game as it does at another. Over time, players have believed that a casino or game is luckier than another, even if they need help understanding the math.
Blackjack 6/5 Versus 3/2 Payouts
One of the most common cases of lousy casino odds is when blackjack pays 6/5 instead of 3/2. A six-deck blackjack game that pays 3/2 and allows double down before and after splitting while hitting soft 17 holds about 0.6% when the player uses perfect strategy. A 6/5 game that otherwise has the same rules holds about 2%. That makes the 6/5 game’s house edge 3.3 times worse than the 3/2 game. Theoretically, a player loses that much faster at a 6/5 table than at a 3/2 one.
A typical 6/5 Las Vegas blackjack table has a $15 minimum bet. At 70 hands an hour, the $15 6/5 player loses about $21 per hour. If that same table paid 3/2, the expected per hour is only $6.30. It would make a player accustomed to a 3/2 table feel like the 6/5 one is unlucky when it is math causing the additional losses. It may affect future visitation to that casino.
What You Should Do: Play at 3/2 Blackjack Tables
What You Should Avoid: 6/5 Blackjack Paytables
Number of Roulette Zeros Matter
The most common roulette wheels have two zeros. In many markets, that is the only type of roulette available. However, triple zero roulette is dealt in nearly all Las Vegas Strip casinos and a few in other parts of that market. Some Maryland casinos also have it. The number of zeros substantially affects the house edge.
The house advantage of double zero roulette is 5.26%. It is 7.69% at triple zero roulette. A roulette spin occurs about once per minute. At a $10 table, the double zero players will lose, on average, $31.56 at one spin per minute. A $10 triple zero roulette player will lose $46.14. The triple zero player will lose an additional $100 approximately every seven hours compared to the double zero player betting the same $10. That is quite unlucky, or at least what an inexperienced player may think.
What You Should Do: Play Double Zero Roulette
What You Should Avoid: Triple Zero Roulette Wheels
Video Poker
Video poker players can see hundreds of hands per hour. At one hand every six seconds, 600 hands per hour are dealt. This is why paytables matter so much.
Jacks or Better gives a simple example of how this works. The best Jacks or Better video poker game pays 9 on a full house and 6 on a flush. This returns 99.54% with perfect play. The next paytables below this are 9/5 and 8/6. Both return about 1.15% lower than the full pay game.
An average video poker player gets dealt about 600 hands an hour. Fast players can get twice as many hands per hour. At 600 hands per hour, this is the difference in losses between paying full pay Jacks or Better and the 8/6 paytable at each denomination when betting five coins per hand:
Video poker players may sit at a machine for hours. These losses add up quickly. This is why it is imperative for video poker players to find casinos with looser paytables. Many online casinos offer 9/6 Jacks or Better at all denominations and other 99% and higher games. Retail casinos offer fewer of these games today. However, savvy players still know what to look for and where to find them.
Playing Jacks or Better with an 8/6 Paytable Vs. Full-Pay Game*
| 5 Coins x Hand | 8/6 Pay Difference |
|---|---|
| $0.25 | $8.70 |
| $0.50 | $17.40 |
| $1.00 | $34.80 |
| $5.00 | $174 |
What You Should Do: Pick Full-Pay Jacks or Better Video Poker
What You Should Avoid: 9/5 and 8/6 Paytables
Don’t Fall For Sucker Bets!
Having more information and understanding of the casino game you want to play and the importance of paytables is crucial. You should protect your bankroll and still have some fun.
Whether you are visiting Las Vegas on playing these casino games online, always avoid the sucker bets!
And remember, gambling is a way of entertainment, so enjoy yourself but play responsibly.
