Halloween season is upon us, and if you’re planning on celebrating all things eerie and weird with a trip to the casino, it’s important to know which games are worth your time and which ones are out to take your money. 

from special seasonal promotions and free spins to games offering a solid return

From high house edges to complicated bonus terms, there are plenty of tricks you’ll need to steer clear of. On the other hand, there are also plenty of treats, from special seasonal promotions and free spins to games offering a solid return to the player.

Here’s our guide to help you enjoy your evening at the casino, and make sure you don’t have any nightmares from the trip.

Trick: High house edge

When you’re at the casino, not all bets are created equally. Some of the games you’re able to play have a far higher house edge than others, and it’s always best to find the lowest one possible where you can.

Keno, bonus wheels, and some slot machines can all have very high house edges which make them a losing proposition over a much shorter timeframe than playing other games which are more generous towards the player. Some games, such as craps and three-card poker, also have varying house edges on different bets within the game, so it’s important to check these before you visit.

Treat: Halloween promotions

In the spooky season, you’ll often find casinos running special promotions for the occasion. These can range from general gaming bonuses, to free spins for playing certain Halloween-themed slots, or even prizes for the best costume that evening, if you’re going to a real-life casino.

These bonuses can vary a lot in how valuable they are, but they’re always better than having no bonus, and they only appear at this time of year, so it’s important to get the most out of them while you’re able to.

Trick: Complex bonuses

Bonus offers that casinos offer can be appealing, but they’re not always all they seem. If you’re playing online, you’ll often see deposit match bonuses, but these have to be wagered multiple times before any bonus cash is unlocked and available to be withdrawn.

Wagering requirements of 40x or more are difficult to make a profit on, but they are still worth a shot. Some games will also not count for the full amount of clearing the bonus, so make sure you check the small print.

Treat: New customer bonuses

For online players, you’ll often find new customer bonuses, which will give you an early boost when you sign up for a new account on the site. As we mentioned, there can be tricks to these, but if you’re playing at a new casino anyway, they’re always well worth signing up for.

Since virtually every online casino will offer new casino bonuses, it’s worth shopping around to find out which one is best for you. While some will just be straight-up better value than others, you’ll also find that some are better suited to players who prefer different games, while others might favour high rollers or players with smaller bankrolls.

Trick: Psychological traps

It’s not just bonus offers and promotions – there are lots of other ways casinos can try to part you with your heard-earned money, so always make sure you have a set budget for any trip.

Casinos typically lack clocks and windows, and are laid out to encourage you to lose track of time and continue playing. Taking regular breaks and being aware of your surroundings can help you stay in control.

Secondly, there are natural traps to fall into which can encourage you to lose more than you planned to spend. Remember that every individual bet in a casino is independent and not affected by others – you’re never “due” a bonus spin, or a certain number of colour coming up on roulette.

Treat: Familiar games

Some games in the casino can offer a great house edge, like Blackjack and Video Poker. The downside is that in order to get that edge, you’ll have to know what you’re doing.

For blackjack, you can find basic strategy charts online for free easily

Video Poker isn’t too complicated a game, but it does require you to know what to do in each situation. For blackjack, you can find basic strategy charts online for free easily, and some casinos will even sell them in their store. However, you’re unlikely to memorize the whole thing in an evening, so if you haven’t got it down already, it’s best to stick to what you know. 

Seeking out games like European roulette, or playing the pass line bet on craps don’t require any strategy, and they’ll still give you a reasonable return, offering fairly low house edges compared to other games. Go with what’s familiar to you and make sure you maximise your potential.

Trick: High-variance games

If you play games like slots, or side bets on table games such as blackjack and three-card poker, you can stand to win a huge amount for just a small wager. While this is appealing to a lot of casual gamblers, it’s also a common trap to fall into at the casino.

Not only do most of these wagers have a much bigger house edge than more standard bets, but the long odds make it unlikely that you’ll be walking away with a profit. Jackpot slots can be the worst, quickly sucking up your entire budget for the evening before you’ve even had a chance to settle in. While it ultimately comes down to personal preference, lower-variance bets are usually better.

Treat: Live shows and events

If you’re heading to a brick-and-mortar casino, not everything has to be just about the gambling. Bigger casinos will often have special events and shows to celebrate Halloween, and they’ll often push the boat out in a bid to attract more gamblers.

it’s definitely worth checking out what they have on to make the most of your night

If you’re heading to a major establishment, it’s definitely worth checking out what they have on to make the most of your night. As well as enjoying the spectacle, it also helps you take a well-earned break from the tables.

FAQs

What games have the highest house edge?

Keno, bonus wheels, and some slot machines can all have very high house edges which makes it more likely you will lose cash on these over a short timeframe than other more generous games. Other games, such as craps and three-card poker, have varying house edges on different bets within the game.

What is a deposit match bonus?

A deposit match bonus is a promotion often offered by online casinos and sportsbooks. The gamling site will provide you with a bonus or free bet matching the amount of your first deposit onto the platform. These have to be wagered multiple times before any bonus cash is unlocked and available to be withdrawn.

What does high-variance mean?

On a high variance game, you can win a large amount from a smaller wager because the odds of winning are longer. This is typical for games like slots, or side bets on table games such as blackjack and three-card poker. The long odds make it unlikely that you’ll be walking away with a profit though.

What are the best Halloween slots?

If you fancy some spooky Halloween-themed slots, then there are plenty to choose from. Some particularly scary titles include 10 Vampire Bats by EGT, Pumpkin Smash by Yggdrasil Gaming, Zombie Rabbit Invasion by Massive Studios, and Blood & Shadow II by Nolimit City.