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Casino games explained
Rules, odds and house edge for every type of casino game, so you know what each game costs you on average.
Short answer
Every casino game has a built-in house edge: the share of stakes the casino keeps on average. It ranges from about half a percent in blackjack played with basic strategy to more than 5 percent on American roulette and many game shows.
The table lists the main types of casino games with the typical house edge of their standard versions. Read it as a price list: the house edge is the share of every stake the casino keeps on average, so a lower figure means your budget lasts longer. The figures come from published game maths and providers’ own rule pages, and every game type links to its own page with the rules that move the number.
Where a row shows more than one figure, the version of the game and the bet you choose decide which one applies to you.
| Game | Typical house edge |
|---|---|
| Slots | Typically 2% to 6% (RTP 94% to 98%), set per game version |
| Live Casino | Depends on the game: about 0.5% (blackjack, basic strategy) to above 5% (some game shows) |
| Blackjack | About 0.5% to 1% with basic strategy, depending on the rules |
| Roulette | 2.70% (single zero), 1.35% on even-money bets with La Partage, 5.26% (double zero) |
| Baccarat | About 1.06% (Banker), 1.24% (Player), 14.36% (Tie at 8:1) |
| Casino Poker | Varies by game and paytable |
| Crash Games | Set by the game, often 1% to 5% (RTP 95% to 99%) |
| Bingo | Depends on the room and ticket price |
How casino games differ in cost
Casino games differ mainly in their house edge, which ranges from well under 1% for some bets to more than 25% for others. According to the Wizard of Odds, the Banker bet in baccarat carries 1.06%, single-zero roulette 2.70%, double-zero roulette 5.26% and keno 25% to 29%. The house edge is fixed by the rules, which is why the same game can show different figures: a blackjack paying 6:5 costs more than one paying 3:2, and a wheel with two zeros costs almost twice as much as a wheel with one.
House edge and RTP: two sides of one number
RTP (return to player) is 100% minus the house edge: a game with a 2.70% edge returns 97.30% of all stakes over the long run. Slots and crash games usually state their RTP, while table games are described by their house edge.
Many providers release a game in several RTP versions and the casino chooses which one to run, so the help screen of the game in front of you is the figure that counts. Land-based machines show how wide the spread can be: the Wizard of Odds quotes 2% to 15% across one major manufacturer’s slot machines, while the slots row in our table refers to online versions. To turn an edge into the expected cost of a session, use the RTP and house edge calculator.
Skill versus chance in casino games
Only a few casino games reward your decisions. In blackjack and video poker your choices change the house edge; in roulette, baccarat, crash games and bingo every bet has a fixed expectation.
The Wizard of Odds calculates that copying the dealer’s rules in blackjack produces an edge of 5.48%, many times that of correct blackjack strategy, and full-pay Jacks or Better video poker returns 99.54% with optimal play. In games of pure chance no betting system changes the edge.
Variance: why short sessions rarely match the average
Variance describes how far results swing around the average: low-variance games pay small amounts often, high-variance games pay rarely but more. The Wizard of Odds gives a standard deviation per bet of 0.93 for the baccarat Banker bet, 4.42 for full-pay Jacks or Better and 8.74 for a typical slot machine. A high-volatility game can empty a small budget long before the average means anything, so set a loss limit before you start; our responsible gambling page explains the tools casinos offer.
Frequently asked questions
Which casino game has the lowest house edge?
Among common games, blackjack with correct strategy and good rules has the lowest edge; the Wizard of Odds puts it at 0.28% under liberal Las Vegas rules. Full-pay Jacks or Better video poker is similar at 0.46% with optimal play. The Banker bet in baccarat follows at 1.06% and requires no decisions at all.
What is the difference between RTP and house edge?
They describe the same thing from opposite sides. The house edge is the share of stakes the casino keeps on average, RTP is the share it pays back, and the two always add up to 100%. A European roulette wheel with a 2.70% house edge therefore has an RTP of 97.30%.
Can you beat the house edge?
Not in the long run in games of pure chance, because every round carries the same negative expectation and betting systems do not change it. You can lower the edge you face by choosing better rules and bets, and in blackjack or video poker by playing correct strategy. Short-term wins are variance, not an advantage.
Which casino games are best for beginners?
Games with simple rules and a low edge on the main bet work well: the Banker or Player bet in baccarat, even-money bets on single-zero roulette, or blackjack with a basic strategy chart beside you. Try a game in demo mode first if the casino offers it, and keep stakes small while you learn.
Sources: Wizard of Odds: house edge of casino games, Wizard of Odds: blackjack basics, Wizard of Odds: Jacks or Better pay tables, Wizard of Odds: roulette basics
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