What Casino Games Can be Beaten, Really?
Learn which casino games you can beat in the long term.
Most people seem to think there is just one, maybe two casino games that can be beaten. In reality, there are three of them. But it’s probably not what you’re thinking. The two games most commonly believed to be beatable are blackjack and video poker, mostly because they have the lowest house edge of all traditional casino games. But in this day and age, you’ll need to think outside the box to get it right.
Unfortunately, blackjack is no longer a realistically beatable casino game. Video poker was never beatable, except under very extreme circumstances. In the following text, we’ll tell you about the three games you really can beat, and why blackjack and video poker don’t make the list.
Casino Games You Can Beat Long Term
Anyone can beat any casino game in the short term. It just takes luck. But the more you play, the more luck is set aside, replaced by mathematical probabilities. And the probabilities of most casino games state that you will lose in the long term. The rules of each game and their corresponding pay tables are designed to ensure that this holds true. It’s how casinos make money.
The only games you can actually win on any consistent basis are:
- Poker
- Horse Racing
- Sports Betting
What do all of these gambling verticals have in common? You have to be extremely knowledgeable to gain an edge. The good news is that you can pick and choose which vertical you want to invest your time and mental fortitude in. Let’s have a closer look…
Why is Poker Beatable?
That’s easy – because you’re not competing against the “house”. Poker pits players against each other. It only makes sense that someone has to win. The casino makes it’s money by collecting a small percentage of all the money wagered. Thus, winning at poker is not just a matter of luck, but skill. The most skilled player will – with just a little luck – beat their opponents.
How much luck is involved? Well, that depends on who you ask. Some say it’s a toss-up – 50% skill and 50% luck. Ask any professional poker player, however, and they’ll tell you luck plays, at best, a 30% role in the game. That means that, at least 70% of the time, it’s the most skilled players who win. A 70% win rate is far better than any traditional, house-banked casino game can offer.
- Learn More: Tips & Tricks to Win Poker
Winning at the Track
To win at horse racing, you need to know everything there is to know about the track, the horses, the jockeys, and any underlying conditions that may impact the results. You should also have a strong understanding of how pari-mutuel betting pools work.
If you think this might be your niche, the following guide will teach you about pari-mutuel pools, calculating odds, simple and complex betting options, handicapping, and other strategic tips.
Betting for Die-Hard Sports Fans
Sports betting has been around for ages. With legalization and regulation currently sweeping Canada and the United States, it’s quickly becoming the most popular choice among the three beatable casino games. Why? Because there are far more recreational sports enthusiasts than there are recreational card players or horse race followers. And every die hard fan thinks they can pick all the winners – at least, most of the time.
The truth is, it’s very hard to be so successful as to win more than you lose betting on sports. But for those who are genuine followers of one or more leagues – football, baseball, basketball, etc. – it is certainly possible.
Why Blackjack and Video Poker Can’t be Beat
In days past, blackjack was the easiest casino game to beat. Not easy for anyone, mind you, but easy for a professional card counter with a few more tricks up their sleeve. It required basic strategy, based on the rules, pay table and number of decks in play. You would need to keep a prefect hi/lo count, along with side counts, ace sequencing, bet sizing, bankroll management, and a reasonable understanding of deck penetration.
Today, such strategies aren’t as effective. Card counting only becomes a viable option at 50% deck penetration. Casinos limit deck penetration to 45-50% max depth. The end result is that the games scientifically calculated, rule-based payout percentage will hold true. Thus, an RTP of 99.5% will eventually return 99.5% over the long term; equivalent to a loss of 0.5%.
The same goes for video poker. These are not casino games you can beat. They are electronic games with an RTP mathematically rendered by probabilities and pay table. If the game is designed to pay out at 99.72%, applying an absolute perfect strategy is the only way to achieve that RTP. There is no strategy better than perfect. Therefore you can expect a long term loss of 0.23%.
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