4 in 1 casino game table

A casino’s table game pit can be intimidating for new players. The procedures and other players can make for an uncomfortable atmosphere. Games with a difficult basic strategy or ones like blackjack where a player’s action may affect others at the table can be too much for a new player. There are alternatives.

The games listed below require no skill when determining the outcome of a bet. Each has a reasonable house edge and are available at lower limits.

As a rule, it is a good idea to avoid side bets as these usually have a larger house edge than the main bet. The most notable exception is when a progressive jackpot is massive.

See also: Easiest Casino Skill-based Table Games

Casino War

Casino War is the simplest of casino table games. The player makes a wager and tries to beat the dealer’s card with the one dealt. The player wins if that card is higher than the one held by the house. If there is a tie, the player makes another wager and it plays out again in a war like in the children’s game, winning one back if the player wins the war. The player generally wins the ante back on a second tie. The house edge for this game is 2.33%.

Craps

Craps is the best casino game for players that do not want to learn a strategy that requires in-play skill. A player throws the dice down the table and the number rolled determines the outcome.

A craps table seems complicated when a player walks up to it. New players can ignore most of the bets on the table. There are only two that should matter to beginners.

The pass line is the most popular bet on the table. It has a 1.41% house edge. There are free odds bets that lower this by a significant margin. Once a point is established, which is when a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled first, you may place money behind the original bet for odds on the number. There is no house edge on this.

Making this odds wager lowers the overall edge on the action, depending on the maximum allowed per house rules. The percentages below take the entire wager amount and the time it would take to resolve each wager:

• Double odds: 0.57%
• 3-4-5 times: 0.34%
• Five times: 0.33%
• Ten times: 0.18%
• Twenty times: 0.1%

Craps is not as complicated as it looks. When a roll begins, it is decided immediately if the player rolls a 2, 3, 7, 11 or 12. The pass line immediately wins on a 7 and 11. It loses on a 2, 3 or 12. If it is any other number, it becomes the point. This is where the player may place odds. A pass line player wants the point to come before a 7 is rolled.

The don’t pass is the opposite of the pass line. It is an unpopular way to play as most craps patrons feel it is betting with the house. Its house edge is 1.36%. Below is the house edge when making don’t pass wagers up to the maximum allowed:

• Double odds: 0.43%
• 3-4-5 times: 0.27%
• Five times: 0.23%
• Ten times: 0.12%
• Twenty times: 0.07%

Don’t pass players want the opposite. On the come out roll, 2 and 3 win on the don’t pass. A 12 pushes. The bet loses on 7 or 11 on the come out roll. If it is any other number, the player wants a 7 to come before the point is rolled again. Odds may be placed from the don’t pass. 

There are two identical bets on the table to pass line and don’t pass. These are called come and don’t come. These are side bets on a new roll.

Baccarat

Baccarat tables can feel uninviting. Many baccarat players are serious and superstitious. Do not let this get to you. There are only two bets on the table to follow. One is the player’s hand, while the other is for the banker. The house edge on the banker bet is 1.06%, while the player bet is 1.24%.

The tie is the most common side bet. It typically returns 14.36%. Jackpot bets on the table may be higher.

In baccarat, the player wants the hand wagered on to get as close to nine as possible. There are no busts. A point value over 9 rolls over to zero again and counts from there. For example, getting dealt two sevens is a count of 4. The player does not need to know what to draw for as the dealer does all the work based on a predetermined strategy. 

Pushes in baccarat occur almost 10 percent of the time. This helps the player stay in the game longer.

Roulette

There are many bad roulette games in Las Vegas, especially at lower limits. The exception is single zero roulette. You may find this game at Plaza for $10 and $25 at Cromwell when it reopens. The house edge on all bets is 2.7%. However, the game is slow, and the minimum is friendly enough to keep players in the game a long time.

If you cannot find a seat at a lower limit single zero roulette table, playing a $5 double zero one is the same as the $10 single zero in terms of theoretical loss per spin.

Bet your numbers or outside bets and hope the ball lands where your money is. The largest win pays 35:1. This is when you pick the exact number that is called.

John, a founding member of Advantage Media LLC, got his start in gaming as a prop player at online poker sites. He played online poker from 2001 to 2005. In 2004, he created a site that served as a directory for an online poker promotional method known as rakeback. He sold that site in 2006 and moved his family from Atlanta to Rapid City, SD to work for a similar company. They later moved to Las Vegas in 2010. John’s favorite game is full-pay video poker. His favorite table game is Ultimate Texas Hold’em, though he would rather play it in video form. Currently, John is best known for compiling blackjack and table game data including all Las Vegas and Clark County casinos.

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