When playing casino games, you usually have to answer this question: “Do I want bigger wins or more winning?” If you’re looking for the biggest possible wins, you go for the progressive jackpot slots, which usually have a low payback percentage and high volatility. If you want the best payback percentage (consistently win small payouts), your best bet is usually table games, such as blackjack and roulette.
What Is Payback Percentage And Volatility?
Also known as Return to Player (RTP), the payback percentage represents how much of players’ bets were paid back to players. For example, if a slot machine has a 96% RTP, the casino typically keeps 4% of the wagers and pays out 96% in winnings.
Volatility is specific to slots. Low volatility means more consistent wins, most of which are lower than your overall wager. High volatility means fewer wins, but winnings are usually higher than your overall wager. Medium volatility is somewhere in the middle.
However, all online casino games are dictated by random number generators (RNG), which ensure that the payback percentage and volatility are just general guides and not a guarantee of what will happen. You can open up a high volatility slot and immediately win a huge payout. And you could easily go on a ten-spin losing streak on a low volatility slot.
Online Casino Games With The Best Odds
Blackjack
- Payback: 99.60%
- Volatility: Low
- Where To Play: FanDuel Casino (6 versions), WynnBET (6 versions), BetRivers (6 versions), Golden Nugget (5 versions)
- Pro-Tip: Have a blackjack strategy card next to you while you play.
Blackjack is a simple game with the goal of creating a hand that’s closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand without going over. However, not all blackjack variations are created the same. You want to make sure a two-card hand worth 21 (AKA blackjack) pays out 3:2, and you want to double on any two cards. Surrender is also a player-friendly rule.
Once you find the blackjack with the best odds, use a strategy chart to make sure every move you make is according to best practice. Even if you’re an experienced blackjack player, there’s no harm in having the chart handy in case of any doubt.
Baccarat
- Payback: 98.94%
- Volatility: Low
- Where To Play: BetMGM (3 versions), FanDuel Casino (3 versions), WynnBET (3 versions), BetRivers (3 versions)
- Pro-Tip: Practice in demo mode to learn the game before you play.
Baccarat is a somewhat obscure card game in the US, and most online casino players in Michigan aren’t familiar. However, it’s worth it to get familiar, because this card game has odds second only to blackjack. You can find tons of baccarat explainers on YouTube and elsewhere.
Once you learn how to play, try it out in demo practice mode at an online casino to get a feel for the flow. Then play for real money and enjoy low volatility and a 98.94% RTP.
Jacks Or Better Video Poker
- Payback: 98.91%
- Volatility: Low
- Where To Play: BetMGM (7 versions), BetRivers (7 versions), Golden Nugget (4 versions)
- Pro-Tip: Do research on the best strategies to maximize winnings.
All online casinos in Michigan have the “Game King Video Poker” option on their platform. However, Game King has a handful of different versions of video poker within it, such as Deuces Wild and Triple Double. But if you’re looking for the best possible odds, make sure to only play Jacks or Better. Everything else has higher max payouts but lower RTP.
Unlike blackjack, video poker doesn’t have a straightforward strategy chart. The possible card combinations are far more numerous. That means you want to take the time to learn the different strategies via online articles and video tutorials. Once you know all the ins and outs, you’ll be able to play rapidly – and even try out the multi-hand versions available at BetMGM, BetRivers, and Golden Nugget.
Honorable Mention: French Roulette
- Payback Percentage: 98.65%
- Volatility: Low
- Best Places To Play: Not available in Michigan.
- Pro-Tip: Double or nothing outside bets offer the best RTP.
Unfortunately, no online casino in Michigan offers French roulette. But we believe one will launch it at some point in the near future. While both European and French roulette have a single green pocket, French roulette has a special rule that refunds all other bets by 50% if the ball lands in the green pocket.
But if you like roulette either way, European roulette has an RTP of 97.29% versus the 94.74% RTP of American roulette. This is because the American version has two green pockets rather than one. If the ball lands in a green pocket, all outside bets (such as black or red) lose.
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