Roulette wheel | Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Spending a weekend gambling in Vegas may be fun, though you’ll probably have an even better time if you win big at the tables. If you’re hoping to beat the odds at the casino, the game you choose to play matters. You’re more likely to come home a little bit richer if you sit down at the blackjack table rather than settling in with the gray-haired set at the slots.
It all comes down to math. Amateur gamblers may hope luck is on their side when they walk through the doors of the Bellagio or Caesars Palace, but what they really need to think about are the odds of winning at different games. While the house always has an edge, it’s much bigger in some situations than in others. That’s why you never see smart gamblers wasting their time playing keno or wheel of fortune – games where you’re almost guaranteed to lose money.
Triple Cash Wheel Slot Machine. Feel the power of three with this Triple Cash Wheel video slot from Bally Wulff, a multi-slot gambling game with three sets of 5-reel slots, each of which has 20 paylines. Mar 15, 2016 This video is unavailable. Watch Queue Queue. Watch Queue Queue.
Casino games with the best odds
Savvy gamblers are going to cluster around the blackjack tables, where the casino’s edge is usually between 0.5% to 1%, though the number varies depending on the number of decks and other rule variations. You can calculate the house edge on a particular game of blackjack using the Wizard of Odds online calculator. Those numbers also assume you’re playing with what’s known as basic strategy, or making the best possible decision based on the cards you’ve been dealt. For the average player who’s going to make some mistakes, the house’s edge increases to 2%, according to the University of Nevada’s Center for Gaming Research.
Blackjack table | Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
“Blackjack is one of our easiest games to play,” Jay Bean, a floor manager at Caesar’s, told Cleveland’s Newsnet5. “You’re just looking for a number that beats the dealer’s number without going over 21.”
“You are somewhere between 44% to 48% in every single hand of winning,” Michael Magazine, a professor of analytics at the University of Cincinnati, said of blackjack.
After blackjack, the games with the best odds are baccarat and craps. In baccarat, which is a game of chance rather than skill, the odds are close to 50/50, though your chances are slightly better if you bet on the banker rather than the player. At the craps table, the house edge on a pass line bet is 1.4%.
Roulette is one of the easiest casino games to play, and the odds are also fairly good. If you only bet on red or black or evens or odds (as opposed to a specific number) the house edge is 5.26%, assuming you’re playing in an American casino with double zeros on the wheel. Your odds of winning are better in a European casino with a single-zero wheel.
Video poker is another game with fairly good odds for players. “For video poker the statistical advantage varies depending on the particular machine, but generally this game can be very player friendly — house edge less than 3% is not uncommon and some are less than 1% — if played with expert strategy,” per the Center for Gaming Research.
Casino games with the worst odds
Slots may be less intimidating to novice gamblers than table games like blackjack, but the house is more likely to take you for a ride. Each slot machine is different, but the Wizard of Odds estimates the house edge for penny slots at between 6% and 15%. If you can’t resist the slots, chose a higher-denomination machine, since these tend to have a higher payout percentage than lower-denomination slots.
“The average slot machine is probably two, three times more costly to players than the table games,” Bill Zender, a former professional gambler, told Mental Floss.
Even worse than slots are “sucker games” like wheel of fortune and keno. The house advantage on keno averages 27%, according to the Center for Gaming. For wheel of fortune games (which also go by names like “big six” and “lucky wheel”), the house edge ranges from 11% to 24%, depending on your bet.
Whether you choose to take a chance on the wheel of fortune or are a high-roller playing baccarat, understanding how the game is played will put you ahead of most other players.
“Ninety percent of the people who walk into a casino have no idea of the odds stacked against them,” Zender said.
Also keep this in mind: The more you gamble, the likelier you are to lose. An analysis of online gamblers found that those who bet the least also had the highest winning percentage. But even then, the numbers weren’t great. Seventeen percent of the lightest gamblers ended up in the black over a two-year period. Only 5.4% of the heaviest gamblers came out ahead.
High Roller Wheel Las Vegas
“[T]he average person doesn’t understand the math” of the multiplier effect, Jim Kilby, who has written books on casino management, told the Wall Street Journal. “Casino games are nibbling machines, and the more nibbles you have, the bigger your losses.”
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Introduction
This name goes by various names: Big Six, Wheel of Fortune, Money Wheel, Big Wheel, and Lucky Wheel. Whatever the name, it is a big vertical wheel where the player bets on the number it will stop on. The odds are conveniently the same as the number. For example, a bet on 5 will pay 5 to 1.
The odds are pretty bad but at least you can count it usually being staffed by the front door with an attractive well-endowed dealer. Just one of those Vegas traditions.
Las Vegas Rules
The following table shows the betting options, payout odds, number on wheel, and the house edge under the Las Vegas rules Big Six rules.
Las Vegas Rules
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 1 | 24 | 44.44% | 11.11% |
| $2 | 2 | 15 | 27.78% | 16.67% |
| $5 | 5 | 7 | 12.96% | 22.22% |
| $10 | 10 | 4 | 7.41% | 18.52% |
| $20 | 20 | 2 | 3.70% | 22.22% |
| Logo #1 | 40 | 1 | 1.85% | 24.07% |
| Logo #2 | 40 | 1 | 1.85% | 24.07% |
Atlantic City Rules
The Atlantic City is the same as the Las Vegas one, except they change one $1 position to $5, and the pay 45 instead of 40 on the two logos.
Atlantic City Rules
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 1 | 23 | 42.59% | 14.81% |
| $2 | 2 | 15 | 27.78% | 16.67% |
| $5 | 5 | 8 | 14.81% | 11.11% |
| $10 | 10 | 4 | 7.41% | 18.52% |
| $20 | 20 | 2 | 3.70% | 22.22% |
| Logo #1 | 45 | 1 | 1.85% | 14.81% |
| Logo #2 | 45 | 1 | 1.85% | 14.81% |
Charles Town Rules
The Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, West Virginia, follows the Atlantic City rules, except pays only 40 on the two logos.
Big Six — Charles Town WV Rules
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 1 | 23 | 42.59% | 14.81% |
| $2 | 2 | 15 | 27.78% | 16.67% |
| $5 | 5 | 8 | 14.81% | 11.11% |
| $10 | 10 | 4 | 7.41% | 18.52% |
| $20 | 20 | 2 | 3.70% | 22.22% |
| Logo #1 | 40 | 1 | 1.85% | 24.07% |
| Logo #2 | 40 | 1 | 1.85% | 24.07% |
Macau Rules
In Macau there is a similar game. One or two wheels each can be found in the larger casinos. It does not seem to be a popular game there. The game wheel is the same size, but instead of dollars, it has colors. The table below shows the number of stops on the wheel, probability, and return for each bet. The table shows the best bet is tied for orange, purple, and green, at 7.69% each.
Big Six — Macau Rules
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | 1 | 24 | 46.15% | 7.69% |
| Purple | 3 | 12 | 23.08% | 7.69% |
| Green | 5 | 8 | 15.38% | 7.69% |
| Blue | 10 | 4 | 7.69% | 15.38% |
| Yellow | 20 | 2 | 3.85% | 19.23% |
| Logo 1 | 45 | 1 | 1.92% | 11.54% |
| Logo 2 | 45 | 1 | 1.92% | 11.54% |
Australia Rules
The Star City casino in Sydney has a similar game, called the 'Big Wheel.' Instead of money, it uses native Australian animals. As the following table shows, the house edge is the same on all bets at 7.69%.
Big Six — Australia Rules
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koala | 1 | 24 | 46.15% | 7.69% |
| Kookaburra | 3 | 12 | 23.08% | 7.69% |
| Lizard | 5 | 8 | 15.38% | 7.69% |
| Echidna | 11 | 4 | 7.69% | 7.69% |
| Platypus | 23 | 2 | 3.85% | 7.69% |
| Emu | 47 | 1 | 1.92% | 7.69% |
| Kangaroo | 47 | 1 | 1.92% | 7.69% |
Aruze & Interblock Lucky Big Wheel
Aruze and Interblock are makers of electronic table games. They both make a Big Six wheel that are mathematically equivalent. The following tables show the bets available, the number of stops for each one, the probability of winning, and house edge.
Aruze and Interblock Big Six Wheel
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 1 | 26 | 48.15% | 3.70% |
| $3 | 3 | 13 | 24.07% | 3.70% |
| $6 | 6 | 7 | 12.96% | 9.26% |
| $12 | 12 | 4 | 7.41% | 3.70% |
| $25 | 25 | 2 | 3.70% | 3.70% |
| Flag | 50 | 1 | 1.85% | 5.56% |
| Joker | 50 | 1 | 1.85% | 5.56% |
| Total | 54 | 100.00% |
In addition, Aruze makes another version with a $6.50 symbol instead of $6 and the Joker and Flag bets pay 52 instead of 50. This more liberal wheel I've seen at the Star City casino in Sydney, Australia. The full odds are below.
Aruze Lucky Big Wheel — Australian Version
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 26 | 48.15% | 3.70% |
| 3 | 3 | 13 | 24.07% | 3.70% |
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 7 | 12.96% | 2.78% |
| 12 | 12 | 4 | 7.41% | 3.70% |
| 25 | 25 | 2 | 3.70% | 3.70% |
| Joker | 52 | 1 | 1.85% | 1.85% |
| Flag | 52 | 1 | 1.85% | 1.85% |
| Total | 54 | 100.00% |
The house edge on both versions of the Aruze game is significantly less than standard Big Six, with a live dealer.
Gamesys
Internet casinos using Gamesys software have two wheel of fortune games. Both have a 49-stop wheel with prizes of $1, $3, $7, $15, $23, and $47. The following table shows the number of stops of each win, what it pays, probability of winning, and house edge. As you can see, every bet has a house edge of 2.04%. That is the best Big Six/Wheel of Fortune game I've ever seen, by far.
Aruze Lucky Big Wheel — American Version
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 24 | 0.489796 | 0.020408 |
| 3 | 3 | 12 | 0.244898 | 0.020408 |
| 7 | 7 | 6 | 0.122449 | 0.020408 |
| 15 | 15 | 3 | 0.061224 | 0.020408 |
| 23 | 23 | 2 | 0.040816 | 0.020408 |
| Logo | 47 | 1 | 0.020408 | 0.020408 |
| Joker | 47 | 1 | 0.020408 | 0.020408 |
| Total | 49 | 1.000000 |
Storage On Wheels Las Vegas
The also have a 'zero house edge' version. In that game the rules are the same, except:
- If the wheel stops on the Logo, then any bet besides the Logo shall push, instead of lose.
- If the wheel stops on the Joker, then any bet on the Logo shall push, instead of lose.
By changing one stop from a loss to a push on all bets, that does indeed make the house edge exactly 0.00%. However, there is a catch. The player must pay a 10% commission on any net win per 'gambling session.' Any break between bets of an hour or more shall end a session and no session may last over 24 hours.
KGM
I saw this machine at the 2018 Global Gaming Expo. The Bonus issues prizes on a separate prize wheel of 5, 20, 50, 100, 250, and 100. I have no idea how they are weighted, so am leaving the return on that one a question mark.
Wheel Wizard In Las Vegas
Aruze Lucky Big Wheel — American Version
| Bet | Number on Wheel | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2 | 24 | 46.15% | 7.69% |
| $4 | 12 | 23.08% | 7.69% |
| $6 | 8 | 15.38% | 7.69% |
| $16 | 3 | 5.77% | 7.69% |
| $24 | 2 | 3.85% | 7.69% |
| $48 | 1 | 1.92% | 7.69% |
| Bonus | 2 | 3.85% | ? |
| Total | 52 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Interblock Big Six
Yet another Interblock produce is titled 'Big Six.' It follows the same rules as the Australian version, except adds two more slices to the wheel titled 'Super Spin.' If the player bets on Super Spin and the wheel lands in one of those two slices on the wheel, then an electronic wheel in the middle of the big wheel will spin to determine the win. Possible wins are 20, 50, 75, 100, 500, and 1000. I do not know how this inner wheel is weighted. Company literature I obtained at the 2019 Global Gaming Expo indicated there are five different pay tables for the Super Spin Feature. Since then, I saw the game at the Resorts World casino in New York City.
The following table shows the return of each bet. Wins are on a 'to one' basis. The table shows a return of 88.89% on all bets (or 11.11% house edge) except the Super Spin, which I can't quantify without knowing the wheel weightings.
Interblock Big Six
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 24 | 44.44% | 88.89% |
| 3 | 3 | 12 | 22.22% | 88.89% |
| 5 | 5 | 8 | 14.81% | 88.89% |
| 11 | 11 | 4 | 7.41% | 88.89% |
| 23 | 23 | 2 | 3.70% | 88.89% |
| Red Diamond | 47 | 1 | 1.85% | 88.89% |
| Yellow Diamond | 47 | 1 | 1.85% | 88.89% |
| Super Spin | ? | 2 | 3.70% | ? |
| Total | 54 | 100.00% |
Other Wheel Games
- Money Wheel is a similar game to Big Six, but involves multipliers and extra spins.
- Wheel looks like Big Six but plays more like roulette on a wheel with 19 possible outcomes. It is a live dealer game by BetGames.tv.
- Dream Catcher, by Evolution Gaming, plays like Big Six, but offers 2x and 7x multipliers.