2023's best paying casino games (and their average rtp)

• Hot drop jackpots offer some of the best payouts at online casinos.
• Video poker has a top payout of 19,800x, but can also have negative expectations.
• Blackjack has an average RTP of 99.4%, making it one of the best casino games in terms of house edge.

Which are the best paying casino games? If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, you’re about to find out the answer. 

Games like slots might be the most popular , but that doesn’t mean they are the most generous. Different casino games have different structures, which is why they act differently.

What you want to look for the most are the average return to player (RTP) rates. These show you how much each game will give back in the long run. The higher the RTP, the better the game will be for your bankroll in the long term.

I did some digging into the top casino games and their RTPs. Some of the results were surprising, but others weren’t. Come to think of it, it’s not that hard to guess which games end up being among .

If you are eager to learn more, I can hold you back no longer. Let’s go over the best paying games at the casino and their averages together!

1. Slots – 96%, or 94% with Progressives

• 99.56% – Ugga Bugga (Peru iGaming)
• 99.15% – Gobal Cup Idaho (Betsoft)
• 99.14% – Beach Life (Playtech)
• 99.07% – Crazy Thompsons (Nektan)
• 99.00% – Jackpot 6000 (NetEnt)

Are slot machines one of the best paying casino games? It depends on the type you play.

The biggest misconception about these games is that they are all the same. In reality, online slots come in many shapes and sizes, offering different features, mechanics, and even payout models.

For the most part, slot machines are rather unforgiving. Their infamous RNGs don’t care about your feelings, emotions, or any special techniques you might have heard about.

These games are based solely on luck, which means anyone can win, but anyone can also lose quickly.

Still, some slot machines are better than others. The titles above have some of the best slot machine payouts, giving you an advantage of up to 5.54%.

Ugga Bugga, in particular, is intriguing. This Peru-based iGaming company has created an interesting product that lets you choose between five reels. You can reduce the RTP by a reel, gaining higher wagers per spin;

• Five reels – 99.56% RTP
• Four reels – 99.08% RTP
• Three reels – 97.07% RTP
• Two reels – 94.78% RTP
• One reel – 92.05% RTP

Reducing a reel gives you one active line. On the other hand, going down from five to one reel increases the wager 32 times. This makes Ugga Bugga quite volatile, but also very rewarding if you know what you’re doing.

As you can see in the list, progressive jackpot slots also have two different RTPs. This is because the second rate is without the progressive prize, which makes a lot of sense.

You should always check the second RTP for slots with massive jackpots on the chopping block. Sometimes, they can be as low as 90%, which is extremely bad for your bankroll in the long run.

That said, these games can make you a millionaire with just a few bucks. They are fun and easy to play, so it’s no wonder why they are some of the best-paying online casino games.

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Take Jackson who won a $2,400,000 jackpot playing Mystic Elements at the best CA casino.

Hot Drop Jackpots – 22%, 16%, or 8% – More Than Adequate Slot Game Payouts

Speaking of progressive jackpots, have you heard about hot drops?

These jackpots are offered by RealTime Gaming (RTG) and have three different mechanisms. All of them are designed to drop their prizes on a daily basis.

• Super Jackpot – Average payout of 22 days (~$2,135,600)
• Quickdrop Jackpot – Average payout of 16 days (~ $564,300)
• Daily DROP Jackpot – Average payout of 8 days (~ $128,300)

How do these jackpots work? Well, they operate similarly to most progressive prizes. A portion of what players wager on qualifying games goes toward increasing the hot drop jackpots.

In theory, this would make them as dangerous to your bankroll as any other progressive jackpot; but that’s where the “hot” comes into play.

RTG will force the hot drop jackpots to drop before they reach ridiculous heights. That’s great news for players because it adds consistency to these titles.

You could play any of the hot drop jackpots at the end of the day and have a chance at winning one of those colossal prizes.

Of course, you will first need to find the games. Most reputable offer RTG products, and the hot drop jackpots should be visible on their sites.

If big prizes are out of your price range, these could be the best high limit casino games to aim for. Who knows, lady luck could be on your side today.

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Kenny Slater’s Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Super Hot Drops – 1,024x Per Spin

Out of all the hot drop jackpots, Kenny Slater’s Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Super Hot Drops is my favorite. Based on the famous chicken restaurant and its slogan, this game delivers explosive action and crazy rewards.

You can spin the reels for as little as $0.80, but the Wild Campers only appear on the fifth reels. Ideally, you want all five reels for the highest chances of winning the hot drop jackpot.

That means you should max out the bet with banking options such as Bitcoin. Each spin can reward you with as much as 1,024x, but the real money lies in the progressives.

The Super Hot Super Majority Must Drop Daily Jackpot was last hit for $713,744.78, so it could be due any moment.

Wow, I had no idea there were so many big-win opportunities at the casino. It's enough to make your head spin! But hey, a girl can dream, right? Speaking of dreams, have you ever wondered what your preferred casino game says about your personality? Check out this blog post and find out: https://www.askgamblers.com/blog/us/casino-game-you-play-say-about-you

WhichSlot Is the Best Slot Machine to Play?

It’s difficult to say which the best slot machine to play is when there are so many good ones out there. Caravan Riches with hot drop jackpots is definitely up there, but what about the others?

Some slot machines stand out with their themes. You can immerse yourself into ancient Greek mythology while playing Golden Lotus 2, experience the wild nature through Buffalo Bounty IN, or become a time traveler with Time Island.

Then, there are exclusive slots that you can only find on a single casino site. For example, Vegas Crest Casino features almost 400 slots developed by its in-house team.

You can take advantage of its generous welcome bonus to try them out risk-free.

Let’s not forget about branded slots, such as Elvis Frog in Vegas – Wooly Times, which brings the legendary king of rock ‘n’ roll to the frozen tundra.

So, which is the best online slot game? It truly depends on your personal preferences.

Luckily, most of them allow you to play for free before committing with real money. This way, you can try out several slots and see which one suits you the best.

That said, the top slots have high volatility and big wins, which is why we love them in the first place. You can’t get the same rush from low variance slots.

Even so, I wouldn’t discount the lesser volatile slots. They might not be some of the best high limit casino games, but they can still reward you handsomely on a regular basis.

Slots get a bad rep for being greedy, but they are really just having a laugh. Don't take them personally, and you might just strike it lucky. After all, practice makes perfect when playing the one-armed bandits.

Check out our complete for more options you can try out.

2. Blackjack – 99.4% with Basic Strategy

Blackjack is another one of the best paying casino games, but only if you play with the right version and strategy.

Most blackjack variations have an RTP close to 99%; however, the house edge can vary depending on the rules.

Some casinos remove some of the favorable conditions for the player, lowering the RTP and turning blackjack into one of the worst casino games in terms of house edge.

According to John Grochowski in his book, “Grochewski on Gambling,” the best blackjack game is the one played with the following rules:

• Single deck
• Dealer stands on soft 17
• Double after split allowed
• Re-split allowed
• No restriction double down
• Six decks must be even

Under these conditions, blackjack has an average RTP of 99.4%. You can improve your odds even further by using basic strategy.

This is a series of instructions that tell you the optimal move based on your cards and the dealer’s face-up card.

Memorizing basic strategy can seem overwhelming at first glance because the charts are fairly large; but once you learn them, it becomes second nature to make the right decisions at the table.

Our extensive guide to basic strategy can help you get started.

But let’s think about this logically for a moment. Do you think everyone at the blackjack table has memorized basic strategy? Of course not. Many of them are just having a drink and are just there to have fun.

They aren’t worrying too much about what card the dealer is showing and hitting when they should be standing.

Counting cards is another useful tool that can take your edge even further in blackjack. While it’s not one of the easiest gambling strategies out there, it’s certainly worth learning.

Not only is blackjack one of the best casino games to win money, but it’s also one of the most exciting. The rush you get when you see the dealer bust is unlike anything else.

Personally, I love playing blackjack at TrustDice. Not only does it have a wide selection of tables with lax betting limits, but you can also earn TD Coin by playing.

These tokens allow you to enter massive jackpots where the house edge is not in play. In other words, your chances of winning are equal to whatever percentage the jackpot is (e.g. 1/100 for a 0.1% TD Coin jackpot).

Head over there to to try your luck and have fun.

3. Video Poker – 99.79% with Perfect Strategy and Max Bet

Next in line for the top-paying casino games is video poker.

Like blackjack, its RTP can vary greatly depending on the version and the conditions. This explains why its average rates are all over the place in various resources.

Some websites claim that the best video poker games have an RTP above 100%; but that’s only possible under specific circumstances.

To maximize your odds and get that coveted plus RTP, you will need to play with the following rules and use perfect strategy while betting the maximum amount.

• Lowest payout for a Royal Flush
• More than 5.1+ coins
• No restrictions on strategy

Unless you are a video poker master, I wouldn’t hold much hope in trying the maximum bet.

Even the best variation with ideal conditions will only have an RTP of around 99.79%, which is still incredible. That’s why video poker can be considered one of the best paying casino games.

Deuces Wild is one of the top versions under these conditions. It has the lowest payout for a Royal Flush at 200x with the max bet of five coins. From there on out, the payouts scale up proportionately;

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• Straight Flush – 20 x
• Four of a Kind (3s, 4s, Be, Ke) – 120 x
• Small Royal Flush – 200 x
• Four of a Kind (anything else) – 80 x
• Full House – 30 x
• Flush – 6 x
• Straight – 4 x
• Three of a Kind – 1 x
• Two Pair – 1 x
• Pairs – 1 x
• Miss – 1 x (with eligiibility for a Bonus)

All this sounds well and good, but what is video poker?

Drawing inspiration from five-card draw poker, this casino game puts you in charge of a virtual hand. The goal is to beat the dealer’s hand by getting a pair of jacks or better.

You can control every decision by holding (holding) or discarding (throwing away) cards to form the strongest hand possible.

Holding onto a pair for a meager even payout may seem tempting, but this will leave a lot of money on the table. Instead of settling for less, you should use a video poker strategy chart to determine the best course of action based on the dealer’s upcard.

Unlike slot machines, knowledge and skill can make a huge difference in your profits. So, remember to hold onto that at symbol when you’re dealt the 3 of clubs. Your future self will thank you.

Oh wait, I haven’t told you which casino has the best video poker games yet. Well, I don’t want to keep secrets, so let me spill the beans.

You can take advantage of their 256% welcome bonus to test out video poker with perfect conditions risk-free.

4. Baccarat – 98.94% for High Rollers

With these amazing video poker games, some might say you’re living too fast, maybe even too wild.

Well, slow things down a bit and enjoy some baccarat, which could easily be one of the best games to play at a casino.

Besides looking cool at the Macau high roller tables, this game also offers excellent returns for the player.

You can max out your profitability by betting on the banker field even though it comes with a 5% commission. Avoid wagering on the tie since it has a mere 8:1 payout rate despite a 8.33% house edge.

Despite its reputation, baccarat could be the easiest casino game to win money. All you have to do is bet on the banker, and hardly lift a finger.

In fact, baccarat is so simple that it inspired the creation of Shitzuo’s Speed Baccarat, which is a lot more hectic than the original version.

This casino classic has captivated the heart of Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible 7 & 8. He gets trained by Nicolas Cage (pretending to be Gestalt from Mission Impossible 2), all leading up to a spectacular baccarat heist in the Austrian winter hills.

Find out what shocking twists and turns await Ethan in MI7&8 (Ethan probably loses it all at the baccarat table and has to save the world again to get out of debt. I haven’t seen the movies yet either, folks!), by reading this brilliant blog by AskGamblers’ very own cinema expert, Sophie Rouzé: https://www.askgamblers.com/blog/us/mission-impossible-7-8-casino-scene-theory

If you enjoyed that, then you’ll love these awesome baccarat memes that will have you LOL-ing until the banks actually pay us.

Anyway, getting back on topic, baccarat is known as a game for the rich and famous. Although this isn’t exactly true, some players might feel uncomfortable wagering $100 or more per round.

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Fortunately, you can find baccarat tables with smaller bets. This will lower the RTP because the house edge will be in play; but it will also make the game accessible to everyone, which is a good thing.

Did you know that baccarat was originally a high-stakes game exclusively available in Asia? Thanks to the internet and offshore gambling sites, it’s now one of the most popular casino games online.

Want in on the action? Then visit the best baccarat online casino and start betting on the banker today.

5. French Roulette – 98.65%

When exploring the topics what is the best paying casino game comes up and people start giving answers, I can’t help but chuckle.

Everyone jumps to mention slot machines, blackjack, and video poker. Very few people bring up roulette, but it deserves to be mentioned among the best paying casino games.

There are many different variations of this classic, but the one that stands out is French Roulette.

It has the same core gameplay as European Roulette since it uses the same wheel with 37 numbers. The main difference is the added La Partage rule, which offsets the advantage of the casino:

• 36 Numbers (0 and 00 are green) – 35:1
• Single Zero (francois) – 36:1 except for…
• La Partage – You get a 50% refund if you bet on odd numbers and the ball lands on the zero.

Thanks to this feature, the house edge in French Roulette is only 1.35%, which translates to an RTP of 98.65%.

European Roulette is almost as good, but it doesn’t come with La Partague. As a result, it has a house edge of 2.70% for a negative RTP of 97.30%. The difference in probability is bigger than you might expect.

Although both games are similar, you can feel the gap when sitting at the table. Not only that, but the top paying casino games also have a certain allure to them.

Head over to DuckyLuck Casino to try some of the best roulette games online. They have a 500% welcome bonus that will grant you access to their wide selection of tables.

DuckyLuck is also one of the top sites for bingo, so make sure to check it out if that’s your thing.

6. Zombie Invasion – 97.16% (Top Video Slot Game Payout)

We have covered the best paying online casino games with positive RTPs, but what about slots?

Unfortunately, most slot machines have a negative return, which is bad news if you are spinning the reels. However, there is one exception: Ozzy Lotter’s Zombie Invasion.

This slot game has a top payout of 10,000x, which translates to an RTP of 97.16% when working with real money.

Of course, getting the full prize requires a certain amount of luck; but it is possible to score big on this game. In fact, Ozzy Lotter himself became a millionaire thanks to the zombie apocalypse he created.

Can you survive the undead hordes and claim the grand prize? There is only one way to find out. Start by playing Ozzy Lotter’s Zombie Invasion for free until you get the hang of it.

Once you are comfortable with the game, you can switch to a casino site to play with real money.

Zombie Invasion is one of many unique slot games that you can only find online.

It’s easy to go to the casino down the road and play the same old games, but you are missing out on all the great titles available on the internet. You could even play at the best Egypt online casino from the comfort of your own home.

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Just make sure to play responsible and within your means.

7. Craps – 98.64% with Odius Bet

Have you ever walked by a craps table and been mesmerized by all the action? It looks chaotic, but it can also be one of the best high limit casino games when betting smart.

One of those bets is the Odius, which has an RTP of 98.64% under ideal conditions. It is named after Frank Hopkins, who was accused of cheating during a trial run of Nevada’s Metro System in the 1950s.

Hopkins, whose nickname was Odius, was eventually cleared of wrongdoing, and this bet is a fitting tribute to his name.

You start by betting $5 on the Pass Line with one of cash betting strategies. Then, you follow the results to perform the next steps:

• When the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, you win and receive a $5 Odius bet as a reward.
• If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 (Craps), you dismiss the Pass Line bet but can let the Craps bet ride for the next round.
• Any other number (Point) rolled by the shooter starts a series of rolls where you must add the Odius bet to every Ride bet.
• Once the shooter hits the Point again (before rolling Craps), you get a 1:1 payout on the Ride bet while the Odius bet is dismissed.

This process sounds complicated, but it is relatively easy to follow at the craps table. Plus, you get a free $5 bet every time you win on the Pass Line, which has an extremely high RTP by itself: 98.60%.

Now, you might be wondering what is the best casino game to win money in terms of top payouts. Unfortunately, craps doesn’t excel in this category.

The most you can get is from a Long Shot bet on the hopper’s roll. Its payout rate is 30:1, which is not bad; but getting such a result consistently is easier said than done.

Maybe one day you’ll be that hop shooter who hits it big with a Yesterday one-eyed troublemaker by your side. Until then, you can settle for the high RTP of craps and enjoy the thrills of one of the best casino games.

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8. Pai Gow Poker – 971% with Basic Strategy

Asian games tend to have excellent odds for players, and Pai Gow Poker is no exception.

Based on the traditional Chinese domain, this modern version uses 53 cards (including one joker) to create two poker hands. The player tries to beat the banker by forming the best low hand (2 to 5 cards) and high hand (4 to 7 cards).

Winning according to this format has an RTP of 96.74% if you bet $1 and 97.1% at higher stakes. Interestingly, your odds improve by using basic strategy, which involves specific guidelines for setting your hands:

• Always Marry Jokers unless …
• With the Joker counting as an ace, do the following:
• When holding A-2-3-4-5, always Set A-2 Unless …
• When holding A-2-3-4-X with the X not an ace nor a 5, always Set A-2 Unless …
• When holding A-2-X-Y-Z (none high than 6), always Set A-2 Unless …
• When heldting none of the above, always Play your Hand

Advanced strategy goes deeper into specific scenarios to make the optimal decision for each Pai Gow hand. You can try to memorize these guidelines and become a Pai Gow master; but keep in mind that this will not affect the house edge.

That number only considers the conditions and the use of basic strategy to settle each hand.

Pai Gow Poker Payouts and Odds Table (when betting $5 minimum):

Banker (Low Hand) – 45.48% / 96.36%

Banker (High Hand) – 28.91% / 96.43%

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Player (Low Hand) – 18.30% / 96.53%

Player (High Hand) – 7.31% / 96.60%

Tie (Low and High Hands Tied) – 0.04% / 97.30%

Tie (High Wins (no joker participates in the low hand)) – 0.28% / 96.74%

Tie (Low Wins (joker participates in the low hand)) – 0.67% / 96.33%

Joker – 0.32% / 96.68%

Even without the bonus for making specific hands, Pai Gow Poker has excellent odds for players. Add the joker to the deck, and the game becomes even more lucrative.

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9. Blood Suckers – 97.32% (Top Video Slot Game Payout)

Another outstanding slot machine is Blood Suckers, an innovative game by NetEnt with a vampire theme.

It has a top payout of 400,000 coins, which equates to an impressive RTP of 97.32% when using real money.

This is slightly lower than Ozzy Lotter’s Zombie Invasion, but Blood Suckers makes up for it with its cinematic gameplay and fun storyline.

Join Miranda Ellis voicing the beautiful vampire hunter in this 5-reel, 25-paylines adventure across 5 different levels filled with special features, free spin rounds, wild symbols, scatters, pick features and much more.

You can play Blood Suckers for free until becoming an expert. Then, switch to a legitimate casino site to play for real money and hunt those vampires for some serious cash.

Although Blood Suckers is one of the best-rated slot machines, it is not the most paid games.

Mega Moolah takes that crown with random progressive jackpots that can exceed $20 million.

I recommend playing both games to appreciate the differences and similarities between the best paying online casino slot machines.

10. Sic Bo – 98.35% with Specific Bets and Strategy

Rounding up the best paying casino games with positive averages is sic bo, another Asian import.

True to its roots, this game focuses on luck, but there are ways to enhance your odds with the right bets and strategy.

Big and Small wagers have an RTP of 98.00% when placing the minimum bet and 98.35% at higher stakes. These are some of the Lucas envy odds in the market because these bets are simple to understand and cover a broad margin of results:

• Big – Total Value is Between 11 and 34
• Small – Total Value is Between 4 and 10

Both pay 1:1 without the highest combination of 3 triples (total value of 36), which also awards a winning Big and Small bet.

This scenario offers a small house edge of 2.78%, but it improves to 2.20% when using the following guideline:

• Tai 1/2/4/5/6/8/11/12/17/18/22/23/24/25/26/27/32/33/34/35 – 1:1 Unless …
• Tai 3/7/9/10/13/16/19/20/21/28/29/30/31 – 1:1 if the Banker’s Hand is 15
• Tai 3/7 – 1:2 if the Banker’s Hand is 15

You can take this sic bo strategy to the bank.

Okay, okay, I’ll put down the late-night talk show host jokes.

Seriously, though, sic bo is an exotic game that you should try at some point. The excitement of shaking the dice and receiving your fate is unmatched in casinos.

Moreover, the positive RTP of sic bo makes it one of the best casino games to win money if you know how to bet.

Visit the link below to play sic bo online for real money:

11. Video Poker – 99.54% with Correct Strategy

We already talked about one video poker game, but there are many other options with excellent returns.

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These games are based on five-card draw poker, but they use a computer dealering the cards instead of a human. This allows for larger varieties, including joker poker, deuces wild (where all twos are wildcards), and triple-play hold’em.

Video poker stands out for its high RTP, which can match or exceed 99% with the correct strategy and a positive game plan. Here is a short summary of what video poker is:

• A casino game that plays a lot like five-card draw poker.
• An opportunity for players to achieve a top payout of up to 8,000x their bet.
• One of the best casino games to win money because of its average RTP of 99%.
• A game that requires patience and strategy to overcome the house edge.

The key to success in video poker is to use the right strategy for each situation.

As you might guess, video poker strategies focus on deciding which cards to keep or discard after the initial deal. Learning all the ins and outs of this process requires effort, but it pays off with excellent returns for your bankroll.

In fact, video poker has one of the lowest house edges in the casino industry when everything works accordingly.

Get started with video poker online at the link below:

Keep in mind that “correction strategy” does sound like something you’d pick up in one of the best prison movies.

What Are the Top Paying Online Casinos?

Now that you know what the best casino games to win money are, the next step is finding the right platform to play them. Nowadays, the competition in the iGaming scene is fierce, which benefits players looking for the top online casinos.

Now, I am sure you’re thinking, hold on a minute Doc, haven’t you already given me a list of the best paying casino games? And you would be correct Mr. Jeniffer. Allow me to explain. The link above provides you with information on the best games to play at a casino.

However, if you are looking for top-rated online gaming platforms in general. The ones that offer a variety of games, not just the ones that give you the best chance of winning. Look no further than our list of the best online casinos.

And if you happen to be a fan of the finer things in life, why not check out the best luxury casinos online? You can play a variety of games, ranging from blackjack to slots, all while feeling like a high roller. Win big, and you too could be living the high life.

Before you jump into the deep end, it is important to play responsibly. Having fun and staying safe should always be your top priority.

Set deposit limits, take breaks when necessary, and never chase your losses. By following these tips, you can fully enjoy the best games to play at a casino and have a blast.

Footnotes:

• Money earned through gambling addiction provided by the National Council on Problem Gambling
• provided by the American Psychiatric Association
• provided by the National Institute of Mental Health

Additional Resources

We are dedicated to ensuring you have the best tools and knowledge to stay safe and win big at the casino tables. Here are some of our most popular pages to help you along the way.

Ben is a freelance writer interested in everything from sports to politics. He contributes to various websites and enjoys writing aboutica, among other subjects.

When he isn’t at the computer, Ben can be found watching sports or enjoying the outdoors.