Discover strategies for playing casino games designed to minimize your losses and maximize your enjoyment. Learn which games offer the best odds and how to manage your bankroll effectively.
What is the Best Casino Game to Not Lose Money? Smart Strategies for Real Money Play
For many casino-goers, gambling represents a fun way to potentially win some real money payouts while enjoying games of chance as entertainment.
But let’s be honest – the primary objective is usually to avoid walking away with an empty wallet or drained online account.
Whether you’re playing slots, table games, or anything else at a real money online casino or land-based gambling floor, smarter game selection and bankroll management strategies go a long way in stemming losses.
While no casino game is ever a sure thing, certain options give you better chances of extending your playing time and leaving with money still in your pocket.
If protecting your bankroll is the top priority, here are some of the best casino games and tactics recommended for real money gambling sessions.
Games With the Lowest House Edges
When comparing the optimal real money casino games from a mathematical perspective, your focus should be on finding the lowest “house edge” or probability of winning.
The lower this built-in house advantage, the better your chances of staying in the green.
For example, slot machines often have some of the worst odds at around 10%+ house edges in order to account for massive jackpot payouts.
Meanwhile, certain bets in games like blackjack and video poker have incredibly low 0.5% to 1% edges when played with perfect basic strategy.
Some of the very best casino games in terms of lowest house advantages include:
- Blackjack – As low as 0.5% house edge if you learn perfect strategy and look for rules allowing re-splitting aces, doubling after splits, etc. Blackjack’s low house edge combined with the potential for earning casino comps makes it one of the best bets.
- Baccarat – Both player and banker bets average around a 1% house edge, with slightly better odds on the banker bet (unless you have to pay a 5% commission). Tie bets should be avoided due to horrible 14%+ house edges.
- Craps – Pass/Don’t Pass bets have an extremely low 1.4% house edge, and taking odds on top can reduce that edge to less than 1%. Just avoid sucker bets like Big 6/8 that have massive 9%+ house advantages.
- Video/Online Poker – With perfect mathematical strategy, the house edges range from 0.5% on full-pay Deuces Wild to 0.25% on games like Jacks or Better and Bonus Poker. Even beginners can do fairly well by learning basic video poker strategy.
Minimizing That House Edge
Even when playing lower house edge casino games, that built-in advantage only applies over time and millions of bets/hands/spins. In the short-term on any given gambling session, you can experience swings of cold and hot streaks out or in your favor.
But adhering to mathematically proven strategies like basic blackjack play, employing bankroll management to avoid ruin when you’re running cold, and knowing the ideal times to stop playing after booking wins can reduce that house advantage even further.
The common mistake many gamblers make is continuing to chase losses after suffering big hits or playing too far past the peak of a hot winning streak. This inevitably leads to giving more back to the casino’s built-in probabilities in the long run.
Finding the Right Bonus Offers
Another way online casino players can protect their bankrolls and avoid excessive losses is through strategic use of bonus offers and loyalty programs.
Most real money gambling sites offer generous bonus cash or free spins to attract new customers and retain existing players.
As long as you clear the bonus wagering requirements which are typically between 20-50x the bonus amount, this free house money allows you to spend more time enjoying real money play while risking less of your own initial deposit.
Online casinos recognize loyal players by offering cash rebates, reloads, and other rewards that can offset net losses from play.
Claiming a casino’s welcome bonus to increase your starting bankroll is a smart way to gain more insurance against downswings and even out your overall win/loss rates.
Manage Your Bankroll
Whether playing online or in-person, one of the most important habits for avoiding massive losses is to never gamble beyond your means.
Set a strict loss limit of the maximum amount you’re willing to risk during each gambling session and stick to it – no exceptions.
As soon as you reach that number, walk away from the tables or log out of your online casino account. Leave any chasing of potential losses for another day when you can re-fund your bankroll with fresh funds you can comfortably afford to lose.
Along those same lines, avoid taking out credit from the casino itself to continue gambling. While the cash advances are tempting, the interest charged essentially makes you start each session at a larger disadvantage compared to the house edge.
Consider Bonuses as Your “Winnings”
Even if your real money casino gameplay results in a net loss during a given session, take full advantage of any bonuses you claimed to boost your original deposit or free play.
Accomplished gamblers view bonuses as supplemental income where those free funds contributed toward overall entertainment value.
If you deposited $200 on a casino site offering a 100% match up to $500, then clearing the $200 bonus is equivalent to walking away with no net loss.
That $200 in bonus cash is what you essentially “won” by meeting the playthrough requirements.
The mindset shift around bonus treatment is helpful for downplaying psychological frustrations around seeing red in your win/loss column.
In the grand scheme of your overall bankroll, bonuses provide cushions to offset downswings and make gambling more sustainable over multiple sessions.
The “Best” Game is Whatever Fits Your Expectations
At the end of the day, there is no definitively “best” casino game across the board for avoiding losses. Slot fans will likely have different expectations and bankroll requirements compared to card game grinders or craps enthusiasts.
But by prioritizing lower house edge games, adhering to optimal betting strategies and progressive bankroll management, and taking advantage of bonus offers – you’ll put yourself in the best position to mitigate unavoidable swings and enjoy more consistent play no matter your preferred casino games.
Realistic expectations also go a long way. The primary objective of any casino is to make a profit, so consistent long-term winning as a player is extremely difficult. Managing losses allows you to be entertained by gambling for longer periods without going completely bust.
Conclusion
With patience, discipline, and insight into the math behind casino games, you’ll experience vastly fewer soul-crushing days at the tables or slots.
That’s the mark of a savvy real money player – playing within your bankroll means for maximum enjoyment and minimal frustration.
Gambling Problem Help
While gambling is meant to be enjoyable, it can become a serious issue for some individuals. If you’re experiencing difficulties related to gambling, seek help from:
- National Council on Problem Gambling or call 1800-6-668-668
- All Addiction 6-RECOVER: 6-7326837 or visit the National Addictions Management Service
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Hao Cheng Cheng is a renowned authority in the online gambling industry, with over a decade of hands-on experience. Holding a Master's in Cryptographic Engineering from Singapore Institute of Technology, he spent years working at Marina Bay Sands, igniting his passion for the intricacies of casino operations and regulations.
For the past 11 years, Hao has dedicated himself to becoming a leading voice in Singapore's online gambling space. His incisive analysis and meticulous research have earned recognition from the Singapore Casino Association, where he serves as an advisory board member.
In addition to his work on BetCasinoSG, John has also contributed articles to the Gambling Insider, The Washington Post, and Business Insider.
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