However, blackjack has tested strategies that could reduce the game’s already low house edge to zero if you know what you are doing. Below we explain in further detail why blackjack is the easiest casino game to win.
Why Blackjack is the Easiest Casino Game to Win
There are several reasons blackjack is considered the best casino game to play if you want to win.
Blackjack Involves Some Skill
So, let us put this out there before we continue: all gambling games are games of chance. This means that every time you place a wager, you could win or lose.
However, in some casino games, skill does play a small role in increasing your odds of winning. Knowing the right strategies and when to increase or decrease bets makes all the difference in how much you win.
Blackjack and poker are two games where your skill at the game affect the outcome. Thus, it is important to know all the game’s ins and outs, which brings us to our next point.
Blackjack is Easy to Learn How to Play
Blackjack is one of the easiest casino games to learn how to play. You aim to beat the dealer without getting a score over 21. Although there are few other rules to keep in mind, the goal always remains the same.
Contrast blackjack to other casino games, and you’ll see what we mean. For example, craps is often touted as being a straightforward game, but once you start moving past standard Pass Line and Come bets, the rules can become cumbersome for newer players.
Another example can be seen in poker. You can’t learn how to play poker at a casino table because there is just too much going on in the game. You need to understand hand combinations, how to bluff, how betting rounds work, blinds, and more to play the game properly.
In blackjack, learning how hand scores work takes a few seconds. Thereafter, you are ready to play the game. Although, we recommend learning some strategies first.
The Game Has a Low House Edge
There are many blackjack variations with varying house edges. That said, most games have a standard house advantage of around 2% without strategies.
Although this is already very low for a casino game, some players might say that it is higher than games like craps, baccarat, and some video poker variants.
However, with the right strategy, you can lower blackjack’s house edge to less than 0.5%. If you count cards (which is frowned upon by casinos), you could lower the advantage to 0%. Not many games allow you to do this.
There are Effective Blackjack Strategies
Blackjack has two major strategies that can reduce the house edge. The first is basic strategy, which is a guide on whether to stand, hit or surrender on each possible situation you encounter in the game.
The second is card counting, where you attempt to predict the hands you and the dealer will have in the next round by process of elimination. Casinos don’t like this strategy because effective card counters have won millions from them.
With some gambling games, the strategy is very limited because of the game’s generally random nature. You place a bet and wait for the outcome. There is nothing more you can do to influence how the game ends.
For example, when you play a lottery game, you buy a ticket and wait for the numbers to be drawn. The only way to increase your odds of winning is to buy more tickets, but this has a marginal effect.
Maybe you think that is an unfair comparison, but you can see this even when you line-up blackjack against other casino table games. For example, in roulette, the best strategy is to stick to even money bets because you are more likely to win on these spins.
However, after placing your bet, your actions do not affect whether you win or lose, simply because there is nothing you can do.
If You Want to Win, Avoid Slots
Although slots are very entertaining games, these often have the worst house edge in the casino. We won’t deny that these games offer you a chance to win big, but the reality of the situation is that you will probably never win on these games.
While blackjack is the game you should play if you want the best chance of winning, other table games also offer bets with low odds, including roulette, craps, and baccarat.
However, remember that your aim should be to have fun while gambling. So, if slots is what does it for you, by all means, play it. Just don’t expect to win as often as you would on table games.