Best casino game for one big 50/50 bet?

Hi there,

I am off to Vegas with some friends next month and we have decided we are gonna put some money together and make one big bet on 50/50 outcome. We're not talking massive money but probably $1000-$2000 total, the hope being that we would double up on our money. So I was wondering what would be the best bet to make in this situation?

I was thinking of a single-zero roulette wheel, just betting red/black or odd/even..I know it has a reasonably high house edge but given that it is just going to be a one-off bet we are making we do not want something that has high volatility. Does anyone have any suggestions? Would something like baccarat possibly be better?

Thanks!

First off, there is no 50/50 bet in any casino. The house would make no money on such a bet. (True, the house has no advantage on the odds bet in craps, but the catch is that you must first make a Pass Line bet.)

Quote: r45

Would something like baccarat possibly be better?

Yes, if you're going to make one big bet, your best option is probably betting Bank in baccarat.

Quote: Beethoven9th

First off, there is no 50/50 bet in any casino. The house would make no money on such a bet. (True, the house has no advantage on the odds bet in craps, but the catch is that you must first make a Pass Line bet.)


Yes, if you're going to make one big bet, your best option is probably betting Bank in baccarat.

Sorry I didn't mean a 50/50, I meant a 1:1 payout bet.

In this scenario you would probably be better betting the Player in Baccarat.

Depending on how strict you are about it being 1:1, your best bet would be either the player (1.24%) or the banker (1.06%, and you're more likely to win than lose, but it's technically 19:20) in baccarat, but that's likely to annoy the regulars. The line bets in craps are only slightly worse - don't pass is technically the better bet, but the difference is so slight (1.41% vs. 1.36%) it's practically nonexistent, especially if you're resolved to keep it up on a 12 (in which case it goes up to 1.40%). I recommend craps, probably pass.

Just about all 1:1 bets have the same standard deviation, which is 1. (It's slightly less if there's a possibility of a push, but if you keep it up through pushes it becomes 1.) Volatility isn't a concern at all.

Quote: r45

Sorry I didn't mean a 50/50, I meant a 1:1 payout bet.

If that's the case, then aluisio is correct. Your best option is to bet Player in baccarat (which is slightly better than a Pass Line/Don't Pass bet in craps).

The answer to your question is baccarat. But, if I was doing this and trying to win $1000, I'd go somewhere with 100x craps odds. Put $12 on don't pass, and wait till 6 or 8 came up, then put $1200 down on odds. I'd be a decent favorite to win, and my house edge is less than it would be in bac. The only minus is that you have to lay $150 more to win the $1000, and you might have to wait a little bit to get the 6/8. Good luck! (I mean variance, gotta use proper forum terminology)

Quote: Beethoven9th

if you're going to make one big bet, your best option is probably betting Bank in baccarat.

NO. For a small bet you best option in Baccarat is Banker with its 19:20 payoff, but if you bet large then your "commission" is still to be paid out of your bankroll. So a mega bet in Baccarat is better on Player despite the teensy weensy better chance of Banker Bet being the winner.

Yes, a roulette Red/Black has a 1:1 payout at 5.25 percent house edge but the whole point of making one big doozy of a bet is that the house edge will operate on your bankroll only ONCE. However, once may prove to be enough. GOOD LUCK.

I'd vote for a game that you ENJOY as the first criterion.

I'd also speak to the Pit Boss/Floor Walker FIRST. Tell him you will be making what is for your bankroll a large bet and you would like him to have the Tray Lizard present. He will understand. He will make sure you hand your card over and that he scans it while waiting for your beverages to arrive. One thing is certain. Absolutely certain: No matter if the bet wins or loses, he will note it in the Comp System. Even if you are at a casino where your bet is considered small potatoes, they will atleast treat you well. If you are at a casino that is appropriate for your bankroll, the One Big Bet will likely get you some drinks and some comps even if you lost. Don't be surprized is some lovely young ladies materialize at the table as your bet is about to be made. If you've given the Pit Boss enough of a warning he will use the opportunity to milk it for the casino's benefit. Two happy go lucky guys who show up and put a bundle at risk are great enjoyment for everyone at the table.

Good luck.

Quote: FleaStiff

NO. For a small bet you best option in Baccarat is Banker with its 19:20 payoff, but if you bet large then your "commission" is still to be paid out of your bankroll. So a mega bet in Baccarat is better on Player despite the teensy weensy better chance of Banker Bet being the winner.

YES. I agree that a Bank bet is only very, very slightly better than a Player bet, but technically speaking, Bank is the better option regardless of bet size. (House Advantage: Bank = 1.06%, Player = 1.24 %)

But this is all a moot point since the OP specified that he wants a 1:1 payout.

How about $500 Don't Pass then back it with $500 - $1500 odds? If you can get past the Come out 7 or 11, the odds are actually working in your favor.

I recall that the Wizard advised some folks with similar goals for a reality TV show. He think he went with the Passline since it was good for TV, but they crapped out.

In any case, best of luck to you, and keep us posted on the adventure...

Quote: Ayecarumba

How about $500 Don't Pass then back it with $500 - $1500 odds?

Place less on the line and more on the odds. Even at a strip property (3x4x5x), you can lay 6x odds on a DP. (eg DP 285 with 1,715 odds)

Quote: Ayecarumba

I recall that the Wizard advised some folks with similar goals for a reality TV show. He think he went with the Passline since it was good for TV, but they crapped out.

In any case, best of luck to you, and keep us posted on the adventure...

Did they crap out or PSO?

If you're gonna do a 1:1 Roulette bet, here's what I'd do:

Absolutely use a single zero table!

Bet $30 on 0 and $970 on the 1:1 bet of your choice.

You'll either win $970 to have a total of $1,940 or win the zero bet for a total of $1,085. Or lose.

If you won the 0 bet, then do it again and bump the bets to $35 and $1,050. Etc.


Good luck!

How about bet Banker at an EZ Bacc table? Lower house edge AND 1:1 payout.

Avoid craps. Avoid 00 and even 0 roulette. Bacarrat is your best choice.

Good luck.

Quote: bigfoot66

How about bet Banker at an EZ Bacc table? Lower house edge AND 1:1 payout.

Yes, that would be good, but face it... if everyone is going to do this the important thing to remember is to have fun doing it and that means the primary determinant is some game that you enjoy.

Also, its likely that IF you win you are going to take a portion of those winnings and have a fling at something else "while your luck is good" so you might as well be at some game you like... just don't give it all back right away.

banker on ez bacc table is ideal for this

Actually, something just occurred to me (and I fully expect certain members especially dogmatic about HE to jump down my throat for this): taking into account that you'll probably leave your bet up if there's a tie, the house's cut of your total activity goes up in baccarat, by a factor of over 1/10. So the effective edge isn't 1.06% for banker and 1.24% for player, but 1.17% for banker and 1.36% for player. (And still 1.41% and 1.40% for the pass and don't pass, respectively.) Keep that in mind.

Quote: bigfoot66

How about bet Banker at an EZ Bacc table? Lower house edge AND 1:1 payout.

Ah, nice call! That is absolutely the best option for the OP. (EZ Baccarat house advantage: Banker = 1.02%)

Quote: Beethoven9th

Ah, nice call! That is absolutely the best option for the OP. (EZ Baccarat house advantage: Banker = 1.02%)

Are $2000 max or higher EZB tables common? I'm not familiar with them at all.

Harrah's Rincon's (San Diego) posted limit is $5k and I assume they take much larger action. In fact I don't think they have a traditional Bacc table. In fact I don't think there is one in all of Southern California. I can't speak to the Baccarat in Vegas but I don't see why the limits would be lower on EZ Bacc than traditional Bacc.

Edit: He said a group of friends are playing, worse case senario they could bet $500 or whatever the limit is in multiple spaces on the table.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Are $2000 max or higher EZB tables common? I'm not familiar with them at all.

Off the top of my head, I believe I saw one at a Station casino for $2,000, but don't quote me on that. (It may have been higher, too)

I know you are going to Vegas, but it's an interesting question...best bet in the USA (on tables)
Buy the 4 or 10 at Santa Ana Star in ABQ, NM. Even Money. Or Tampa, Florida, and Buy the 4 and 10 and only pay 1c commission per 20 dollars. Are those our current best non-AP bets in the USA, sans Video Poker Grinders?