Place one bet, though, and the odds are nearly 50-50 that you'll win. Unless you employ what is known as 'basic strategy' (meaning that you make the best move in every situation), the house will get the better of you the longer you play. Here the object is to beat the dealer in getting as close to 21 without going over. Next time you're in Vegas, consider this trip around the casino floor. 'The more you bet, the more you will lose.' Placing a big one-time bet 'cuts the house edge to its bare minimum because it works on your stake only once,' says Anthony Curtis, a one-time professional gambler and president of. Sure, you might win some of your early losses back if you keep flipping, but in the long run, the edge eats you alive. When you flip that theoretical coin at the casino, you only win, say, $9.75 if you lose, the entire $10 goes to the house. The house doesn't take the extra risk-you do. The 'house edge' lies in the misalignment between the promised payout and the inherent odds of the game. In a fair game-one in which you are appropriately compensated for your risk-you would either double your money or lose it all.īut the casino isn't fair. Say you flip a coin 10 times and bet $10 per flip. Still, if you lose, at least you know you gave it your best mathematical shot.

It's a difficult strategy to stomach, and your night could be over in a hurry. If your goal is to nab the best risk-adjusted return (as opposed to playing for hours on end), place fewer, smarter and larger bets.

Best odds game to play in casino