The Best Time to Go to the Casino

Is there a best time to go to casino resorts or other land-based casinos? This is a question we receive regularly, and there’s a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to such a seemingly simple question. In this guide we’re going to settle the matter once and for all.
A stopwatch with a roulette wheel inside and playing cards imposed on the face.
Published on: 18 June 2020

The Best Time to Play Casino Slots

The best time to play casino slots is the early evening, in our opinion. At this time, the atmosphere in most casinos is happy, with after-work players having a couple of drinks. However, the floor is unlikely to be rammed, and there are fewer drunken players than if you stay into the small hours of the morning.

Of course, you may find that these generalisations don’t cover the patterns at your local casino. If you are finding that you cannot get access to your favourite slot machines at the times of day that you are visiting, then switch things up!

The other thing to note is that, when you play at online casinos, you won’t ever have to queue to play a slot game. Instead, you can log in and play massively popular slot titles like Mega Moolah and Starburst without having to wait at all.

The Best Time to Play Blackjack and Roulette

The best time to play blackjack, roulette and other table games is pretty similar to that for slots. The only difference is that you are likely to have fewer seats available at table games than you will with slots.

With this in mind, we reckon that the ideal time to play table games at casinos is in the morning. If you avoid the crowds, you will get a chance to pick your favourite seat, settle in and have a chill gambling session.

While getting to know the dealer doesn’t actually improve your chances of winning, we have found from personal experience, that getting a chance to exchange some chat with the croupier leads to a better experience for you. So, head to the casino at a time where you can play in peace.

Things That Affect the Best Time to Play at Casinos

As with many other aspects of casino gaming, the best time to play depends almost entirely on your own personal preferences, which can encompass a variety of factors. We’ve outlined some of these factors below, just to give an overview of what to consider before you visit a casino.

A clock.

Factors that affect the best time to go to casino locations:

The above might seem pretty obvious, but they’re the key elements to consider before making your trip to the casino. In the next few sections, we’ll be breaking down each of these factors in a bid to establish the best time to go to the casino.

What Game Will You Play?

There’s more than one way to have fun at a casino. Between slots, blackjack, roulette and poker, there are a lot of really exciting options on offer. Depending on which game you’re planning to play, the best time to play casino games will differ.

Play at Off-Peak Times

At many 24 hour casinos you will be able to play slots at any time. There is a popular myth among gamblers that states that the best time to play slots is when the casino is at its most busy, with many players believing the machines pay out more during peak times.

We’d like to take the opportunity to debunk this myth. Every slot machine pays out according to the software’s RTP, and this does not change depending on time of day. Perhaps players think this is the case because when the casino is busy, it’s likely that you’ll witness several people winning at once.

This, of course, is simply the law of averages. There is no magical hour where the machines will pay out more. Therefore, the best time to go to casino slots depends entirely on the atmosphere you want – peak times will mean a bustling atmosphere, whereas you’ll have greater choice and peace if you choose off-peak.

Play When the Tables Are Open

While slots can easily be available around the clock, the same cannot be said of table games. This, of course, is because table games are manned by actual people, and even croupiers need to sleep eventually.

While you will find some 24-hour casinos that offer table games at all times, many will have specific opening hours for their tables. As a result, choosing the best time to play will often mean that you are beholden to the stated opening hours.

Luckily, even table games with strict opening hours generally stay open until late. This is good news, as many table game players consider 2am to be the best time to go to casino tables. This is thanks to the low traffic, relaxed atmosphere, and increased chances of betting against other high rollers – as opposed to risk-averse tourists and newbies.

Avoid Holidays

It’s not just the time of day you need to take into account, but also the time of year. Depending on the season, you might find that the establishments are more or less busy. This can affect the quality of your visit, and is worth considering before you embark on your trip.

Furthermore, public holidays will have an effect on opening hours. This again sounds like common sense, but it would be remiss of us to suggest certain times to visit while failing to point out that 2am on December 25th won’t be a great time to visit your local casino. Of course, the best online casino sites are open every single day and around the clock, if you want to play at unconventional times.

Play When Jackpots Are High

There’s scarcely a gambler alive who doesn’t dream of hitting the jackpot someday. If this is a dream of yours, timing is definitely a factor you should consider. Many experienced players recommend keeping a keen eye on the progression of a jackpot before buying in.

Nowadays, you can get an overview of a casino’s jackpots on its official website. This is a good factor to inform the time of your visit. If you visit while the jackpot is still low, you could miss out on a bigger win. Visiting when the jackpot is high is definitely the best time to go to the casino.

Check the Busy Times in Your Local Casino

Location also plays a big part in determining the best time to go to a casino. For instance, the timing of going to a small, local casino will differ greatly from going to a larger resort or inner city establishment.

If you’re planning on going to a small land-based casino, there will likely be fewer fluctuations in traffic, as a small population with few tourists can only offer so much business. This means you can visit at your leisure, without expecting any issues in terms of finding a free machine or seat at a table.

Larger casinos and those based in busy urban areas are a whole different ballgame, however. When visiting one of these locations, you’ll first have to consider the time of year and how that will affect traffic to the casino. Resorts are often at their busiest during the Summer, so prepare to face crowds.

There will also be greater variations in traffic throughout the day in urban areas where more businesses stay open late, making late night gaming easier for dedicated players. So for a quieter game, you might decide to play early in the morning or much later when only the serious players remain.

Where Your Casino Is Located

This overlaps with the opening times and the peak times a bit. If you are playing at 24-hour casinos that are located in central London, then the busy times will be different than if you are playing at a limited-opening hour establishment in a smaller town.

On the whole, it is best to try and play when there are fewer people around, so that you have a choice of tables and slot machines. If you are turning up at peak times, then you may well have to wait.

While weekend evenings will always be the busiest time, we recommend that you avoid the late night sessions if you are playing at a casino based on a high street. Nothing interupts a good gambling session more than drunken groups who are just looking for a place to throw around some cash.

On the other hand, if you are playing in a house away from the clubs and bars, then the early hours of the morning may well be the quitest times of day, allowing you to concentrate more easily, which is key when you are playing any real money casino game.

Full List of the Best Times to Go to Casinos

Though there’s no cut and dry answer to the question of the best time to go to casino locations, we hope this guide has helped in some way. As a general rule, certain times of day tend to be the most rewarding and enjoyable for players, which we’ve summarized below.

The best time to go to casino:

  • Early morning – two hours after opening
  • 2am (for 24 hour casinos)
  • 6am (for 24 hour casinos)
  • After lunch
  • For dinner
  • For after-work drinks
  • Friday night
  • Saturday night

As you’ll guess from our list above, there are lots of options as to the best time to go to casino establishments. This is because there are lots of reasons why people enjoy going in the first place.

If you like to have peace and quiet, pick an off-peak time. But if you enjoy the hustle and the bustle, then a Saturday night is your best bet.

Playing Online

Of course, if you don’t have any gambling houses near you that are open at times to suit your schedule, you can always try online sites instead.

You will find that the best real money casinos are open 24/7, 365 days a year. This means that the best time to go to a casino online is whenever you want to play.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to go to casino?

The best time to go to casino for fun is in the evening. This is when the atmosphere is usually the best, which is why most people choose to play at land-based sites in the first place. If you would like the atmosphere of a bricks and mortar establishment from the comfort of your own home, then check out the best live casino sites.

What is the best time of day to go to casino and play slots?

The best time of day to go to casino and play slots is during off peak times. This is so that you can always get a chance to play on the slot machines that you like. Of course, you will never have to wait in a queue to play any of the games at the top slots casinos.

When is the best time to go to the casino and win?

The best time to go to the casino and win is during the morning, as concentration is key when you are trying to play seriously. You should avoid crowds when trying to focus on your blackjack strategy or other gameplay system.

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