About Casino Probabilities

In general, probability is a term that refers to the likelihood of the occurrence of an event. When it comes to casino game probability, the term refers to the likelihood of a player winning or losing based upon the casino game itself.

Winning or Losing

In order to better understand casino game probability, it is best to use an uncomplicated example like roulette. If there are 36 pockets on the wheel and the player chooses to place his or her bet on a single number, that player has a one in 35 chance of winning the round--relatively small in the casino world. However, if the player chooses to bet on red or black, that player has an almost one in two chance of winning. This is a much better probability for the player, though the payout is not as high.

How Probability Affects Payouts

To play any game effectively, players should also understand how and why casino game probability will affect the amount of money they receive when they win. Using the above example, the player who bets on a single number out of 36 pockets has a shot at winning the highest payout in the game, simply because the odds of actually guessing the number correctly are so very slim. The player who wins on an even bet of red or black will win the smallest payout because this bet has the highest odds of winning.

Probability Applies to All Games

Casino game probability has an effect on every game, not just roulette. The mathematics behind formulating and calculating these probabilities is different for each game, with craps being one of the most complicated games and blackjack being the least. Players who hope to place smart bets and avoid losing their bankrolls early will do well to understand how these probabilities affect them.

Regardless of a player's skill level or familiarity with certain casino games, probability is something that should always be kept in the back of the mind. Everything from roulette to poker and even slot machines pay out based upon nothing more than mathematics and casino game probability.