You're at a US casino to have fun, but let's be real: you want to walk away with more cash than you started with. The key isn't just luck—it's picking the right game. Not all casino games are created equal when it comes to your potential return. Some have built-in edges for the house that are nearly impossible to overcome, while others give you a genuine shot at turning a profit with the right strategy. For American players, understanding which games offer the best odds is the first step to actually making money.
Blackjack: Your Best Bet for Consistent Wins
If you want to make money at a casino, blackjack is where you should start. With a house edge that can drop below 1% when you use basic strategy, it's the closest you'll get to a fair fight. At top US online casinos like BetMGM Casino and Caesars Palace Online Casino, you'll find classic blackjack tables with rules that favor the player, like the dealer standing on soft 17 and allowing double-down after splitting. The key is discipline. Memorizing basic strategy charts, which tell you the mathematically correct move for every hand, turns the game from a guessing contest into a skill-based endeavor. Card counting, while more advanced and not applicable online due to continuous shufflers, is the ultimate proof that blackjack can be beaten.
Picking the Right Blackjack Table
Your potential profit starts with the table rules. Avoid any online or live dealer game that pays 6:5 on a natural blackjack—always look for the standard 3:2 payout. Games that let you surrender (especially late surrender) and re-split aces give you even more tools to minimize losses and maximize wins. A $10 minimum bet table with good rules is a smarter path to profit than a $100 minimum table with poor rules.
Video Poker: Where Skill Meets High Payouts
Forget the slot machines next to it; video poker is a different beast entirely. Games like Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild, when played with perfect strategy, can offer a return to player (RTP) of over 99.5%. That means for every $100 you wager, you can expect to get back $99.50 in the long run. The catch? You must play perfectly. Using a strategy chart specific to the game variant is non-negotiable. Look for "full-pay" machines, which for Jacks or Better means a 9/6 paytable (9 coins for a full house, 6 for a flush). You can find these high-RTP games at Borgata Online Casino and DraftKings Casino. Treat it like a puzzle, not a pull-and-pray slot, and your bankroll will thank you.
Craps: The Low House Edge Bet
The craps table looks chaotic, but it hides some of the best odds in the house—if you stick to the right bets. The "Pass Line" bet with odds, and the "Don't Pass" bet with odds, carry a house edge of just 1.41% and 1.36% respectively. Once you place your initial bet, you should always take the maximum "free odds" bet allowed. This is an extra wager placed behind your original bet that pays true odds and carries zero house edge. At FanDuel Casino's live dealer craps, you might see 3x, 4x, 5x Odds, meaning you can bet 3 to 5 times your original wager with no house advantage. Avoid the tempting center-table props like "Any 7" which have edges over 16%.
Baccarat: The Simple, High-Stakes Flip
Baccarat is favored by high rollers for a reason: it's simple and the banker bet has one of the lowest house edges in the casino at 1.06%. The player bet isn't far behind at 1.24%. You're essentially betting on a coin flip with a slight commission (usually 5%) taken on winning banker bets. There's no strategy; you just pick a side. This makes it an incredibly efficient game for managing a large bankroll with predictable, slow variance. You'll find high-limit baccarat rooms at places like Bet365 Casino, appealing to players who want to make big money moves without overcomplicating things.
Poker: Playing Against the House, Not the Casino
This is the ultimate money-making game because you're not playing against the casino's edge—you're playing against other players. In casino poker rooms and online poker sites, the casino just takes a small fee (the "rake") from each pot. Your skill, psychology, and bankroll management directly determine your profit. Texas Hold'em is the most popular, but games like Pot-Limit Omaha can offer even more profitable opportunities against weaker competition. Platforms like BetRivers and Borgata have robust player pools. Success here requires serious study, but the ceiling for earnings is higher than any other casino game.
The Games to Avoid If You Want to Make Money
Let's be blunt: you won't make consistent money on these. American Roulette (with both 0 and 00) has a hefty 5.26% house edge on most bets. Keno and the Big Six wheel are pure lotteries with edges often above 15%. And modern slot machines, while entertaining, have programmed RTPs usually between 92-96%, meaning they're designed for long-term loss. Stick to the tables and video poker terminals if profit is your goal.
FAQ
What is the #1 game to make money at a casino?
Blackjack. With a sub-1% house edge using perfect basic strategy, it gives you the most control and the best statistical chance to walk away a winner over a long session compared to any other table game.
Can you really make a living playing video poker?
Yes, but it's a grind. You need to find full-pay machines (like 9/6 Jacks or Better), play with flawless strategy, and take advantage of casino comps and promotions. It requires a significant bankroll to weather variance and the discipline to play thousands of hands. Most people treat it as profitable entertainment, not a full-time job.
Is it easier to make money at online or physical casinos?
Online casinos often offer better odds because they have lower overhead. You'll find blackjack games with 0.5% house edges online, while physical casinos rarely go below 1%. Online also lets you play more hands per hour and use strategy charts discreetly. However, physical casinos offer more opportunities for comps like free rooms and meals, which add to your overall value.
What's a good bankroll to try and make money?
For blackjack at a $10 min table, bring at least $500 (50x the min bet). For serious video poker play on quarter machines, $1000 is a safer start. This lets you survive normal losing streaks without going bust. Never bring your rent money—only gamble with what you can afford to lose entirely.
Do casinos kick you out for winning too much?
Legally, no, not for simply winning. Casinos are in the business of accepting random wins. However, if they suspect you of card counting in blackjack, they have the right to ban you from playing blackjack or ask you to leave. For games like slots or video poker where you're just using skill, they can't ban you for winning.