The Fascinating Math Behind Online Casino Games

If you’re a new casino player, you’re probably wondering: what casino games should you play to win money often? The short answer is that you need to choose games with high payout rates.

The long explanation is that you should look at multiple factors before you play a game. Things like jackpots, rules, and odds all play a role in determining how often you win and lose.

Against that backdrop, this article aims to help you become a better casino player by explaining the math behind your favorite slots and table games. Let’s get started.

 Random Number Generator Software

Most casino games use a Random Number Generator (RNG) software to determine when you win and lose. This algorithm uses math to calculate how often it should trigger winning symbols.

Every slot machine has unique RNG software. The program is designed to be fair; meaning neither players nor casinos can rig modern games. This is especially true for Bitcoin slots.

Crypto slots operate on blockchain technology—the decentralized ledger of records through which crypto is stored. Blockchain helps developers create truly fair slots and table games.

To expound more, these slots are provably fair. You can check a game’s algorithm to ascertain that a game triggered winning symbols randomly. That said, not every casino has crypto games.

Find the best Bitcoin casinos if you want to experience provably fair slots. Most of these sites welcome you with generous bonuses. They match your first deposit for a maximum of 1BTC or more.

Return to Player (RNG) Software

 Return to Player gives you a good idea of whether to play a slot or not. It shows you a game’s expected payout over time. Some slots have been programmed to return 95% of wagered money in the long term. Play these games: they increase your odds of winning.

Some slots have RNG algorithms with lower payouts of 85% to 95%. Although you can win playing such a game, your chances are low. Most classic slots and jackpot games have low RTPs.

As a result, look at each game’s RTP before you risk your money. Prioritize games with payouts above 95%. You can find these games at top real money casinos. However, ensure the games come from respected developers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Betsoft, Play’n GO, Evolution, and Playtech.

House Edge

The house edge is a casino’s statistical advantage in a game. Let’s say you want to bet on even/odd numbers in roulette. The wheel has 36 numbers on its wheel—1 to 36.

Naturally, you should have a 50% chance of winning. Unfortunately, this bet type has 48.6% odds in European roulette. The explanation is that the game has a green-colored pocket containing the number zero.

As such, there’s always a chance that the wheel will stop at zero—thereby giving the casino a slight advantage. Nearly every casino game has a pre-determined house edge.

Take slots as an example. If a game has a 96% RTP, it means it will pay out 96% of wagered money in the long term. The remaining 4% is the house edge—the money casinos will keep as profits. Owing to that backdrop, you should play games with low house edges:

  • Blackjack—1%
  • European roulette—2.7%
  • Video poker—1%
  • Baccarat—1.24%

Volatility/Variance

Volatility describes a game’s frequency of paying out money to winners. Some games trigger winning symbols regularly albeit in small amounts. Some slots make you wait for a win. But when you eventually win, you walk away with a lot of money.

Variance comes in three types: low, medium, and high volatility. Low-variance games trigger winning features regularly. Examples include Mega Joker, Tomb Raider, Star Joker, and Dazzle Me.

Interestingly, many low-variance slots have high payouts. Mega Joker has a 99% RTP. Yet, this game has a maximum prize of 2000 coins. Most features pay you x10, x40, or x200 your stake.

Medium volatility slots give you a blend of decent winnings and dry spins. Most video slots fall into this category—Money Train 3, Gonzo’s Quest, Book of Ra, and Guns N’ Roses to name a few.

High variance slots promise incredibly high payouts. Think of the Mega Moolah jackpot game. It pays out up to $20 million to lucky winners. As a tradeoff, you must be extremely lucky to win.

Game Features

Every casino game has features and rules you must follow. These features sometimes determine your winning chances. Paylines in slots are an excellent example.

They dictate the number of ways you can win money. Assume a slot has 10 paylines. You can bet on all paylines. This way, you make money each time one of the paylines appears on the reels.

If a slot has 256 paylines and you bet on 50 of them, you increase your winning chances even further. However, it also exposes you to more risks. Another important feature is the bet amount per line. You stand to win more money if you maximize your bet amounts.

Other features worth noting include bonus rounds, free spins, jackpots, scatters, and wilds. Games with these features are more exciting to play. What’s more, they maximize your odds of winning.

Table Game Rules

A game’s rules play an important role in dictating how often you win and lose. Think of French roulette. This game has a 2.7% house advantage. However, it has two rules that can lower the advantage to 1.35%.

With blackjack, the casino edge tends to be 1% or 2%. However, using strategies like card counting can lower the advantage to a measly 0.5%. Of course, a low house edge increases your chances of winning.

Each casino game has rules. Most rules either lower or increase the house edge. Find games with fair rules if you like to win regularly. Also, learn the odds for different bet types.

For example, you have a 37 to 1 chance of winning a straight number bet in roulette. The odds lessen to 38 to 1 if you play American roulette. In poker, you have a 20 to 1 chance of producing two pairs. However, the odds can be as high as 649,000 odds to 1 for a royal flush.