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Quick Answer
Table game odds are calculated differently by family because each game has a different probability engine. Roulette and baccarat are mostly payout-driven. Blackjack is decision-driven. Craps is bet-type-driven. Poker-style casino games often add a built-in fee through payout structure, antes, or reduced paytables.
Best Way To Use This Article
Pick the game you are most likely to play, then focus on the bet types and rule variants that change the house edge. Most “bad odds” decisions happen at the bet selection level, not the game selection level.
Biggest Advantage
You will stop treating “table games” as one category and start spotting where the edge is actually created: payouts, rules, or player mistakes.
Common Mistake
Comparing games by name only. A single rule change or a different bet type can move the house edge more than switching to a different game family.
Pro Tip
If a table offers many bet types, assume the main wager is the best value and the side bets are the most expensive until you verify otherwise.
The Two Main Ways Table Games Create House Edge
Most table games create the edge through one or both of these levers.
Payout-Driven Edge
The probability is fixed, but payouts are slightly under true odds.
This is common in:
- Roulette
- Baccarat
- Many side bets across all games
The casino does not need you to make mistakes. The payout schedule alone creates the long-run cost.
Decision-Driven Edge
The game has a “best play” strategy, and mistakes increase the house edge.
This is common in:
- Blackjack
- Some poker-style games where you choose whether to continue or fold
Here, odds are not one number. They depend on how you play.
Roulette: Fixed Probabilities And Underpaid Payouts
Roulette is one of the clearest payout-driven games.
The wheel defines the probability. The payout table defines the price.
Why The House Edge Exists
If a bet pays slightly less than fair odds, the gap becomes house edge.
A simple example is the single-number bet.
- True odds depend on how many pockets exist
- The payout is fixed
- The gap between fair payout and actual payout creates the edge
What Changes Across Roulette Variants
The main driver is the number of zeros.
- Fewer zeros usually means better odds
- Extra zeros increase the house edge because they add losing outcomes without improving payouts
What To Compare In Roulette
When comparing roulette tables, start with:
- The wheel type and zero count
- The specific bets you plan to place
- Whether special rules apply to even-money bets
Roulette is a good example of why “odds” is not just a game label. It is a rule and payout label.
Baccarat: Fixed Outcomes With A Commission Mechanism
Baccarat is also payout-driven, but it adds a twist.
The probabilities of Banker, Player, and Tie are not equal, and the payouts are not symmetrical.
Why Banker And Player Are Not The Same
The game structure gives Banker a slight probability advantage.
Casinos typically take a commission on Banker wins or pay Banker slightly differently, which is how the edge is balanced.
Why Tie Bets Are Usually Expensive
Tie outcomes are much rarer than they feel.
Because the event is rare, the payout needs to be extremely high to be fair. Most tie payouts are not high enough to match true odds, which is why the tie bet is often a poor-value choice.
What To Compare In Baccarat
Focus on:
- The commission rate on Banker
- Any “no commission” rule and what it changes
- Side bets offered at the table
Baccarat teaches a key principle: the best-value bet in a game is often the simplest one.
Blackjack: Odds Depend On Rules And Player Decisions
Blackjack is the most important decision-driven table game.
It is also the easiest place for players to accidentally increase house edge without realising it.
Why Blackjack Is Different
Blackjack has two moving parts:
- The rules of the table
- The decisions of the player
The house edge you see published is usually based on optimal or near-optimal play. If you play differently, your effective house edge changes.
The Rule Levers That Change House Edge
Small rule changes can shift the edge because they change the probability of favourable outcomes.
Common levers include:
- How the dealer plays certain hands
- Whether doubling is allowed, and when
- Whether splitting is allowed, and how many times
- Whether surrender is offered
- Payout differences for a blackjack result
The Player Lever: Mistakes
If you hit when you should stand, or stand when you should hit, you change the distribution of outcomes.
That can feel small in the moment, but it compounds across many hands.
Blackjack odds are not just math on paper. They are math plus behaviour.
What To Compare In Blackjack
Start with:
- The payout on blackjack outcomes
- The doubling and splitting rules
- Whether surrender exists
- Whether the table encourages fast play that increases volume
If you want better odds, blackjack can be a strong option, but only if you play the rules and decisions seriously enough to keep the edge low.
Craps: One Table, Many Different Odds
Craps is not one bet.
Craps is a menu of bets with very different prices.
That is why players often get confused. They assume the whole game has one house edge.
In reality, the house edge depends heavily on which bets you choose.
Why Craps Can Be Both Good And Expensive
Some bets are structured close to true odds. Others are priced as entertainment.
That creates a table where:
- Some bets are relatively efficient
- Some bets carry a much higher cost per dollar wagered
What Makes Craps Odds Unique
Craps odds come from:
- The distribution of dice totals
- The sequence of point establishment and resolution
- The specific payout schedule for each bet type
Because multiple steps exist, craps is also a good place to use probability-tree thinking.
A bet can look simple, but it might depend on several outcomes in a specific order.
What To Compare In Craps
Focus on:
- Which bet types you are actually making
- Whether the table offers odds-style options that reduce the effective cost of your strategy
- How often you are placing high-edge “action” bets out of habit
Craps rewards disciplined bet selection more than almost any other table game.
Poker-Style Casino Games: Built-In Fees Through Structure
Casino poker-style games are not the same as player-versus-player poker.
They usually create house edge through:
- Payout tables
- Ante structures
- Bonus bets
- Qualification rules
Some also include decision points, like choosing whether to continue or fold.
Why Payout Tables Matter More Here
In poker-style casino games, the payout table is effectively the pricing engine.
Two games with the same name can have different returns if:
- The payout table differs
- The bonus side bet differs
- The qualification rules differ
The Decision Factor
If the game lets you choose whether to continue, your decisions can change results.
But even with good decisions, these games are usually priced to remain negative EV long term.
The difference is that smart play can reduce the cost, while careless play increases it.
What To Compare In Poker-Style Games
Check:
- The exact payout schedule
- The minimum requirements for certain wins to count
- The side bet structure and how often it is offered or promoted
Why Side Bets Are A Separate Category
Side bets exist in almost every table game family now.
They also share a common truth.
Many are priced worse than the main wager.
Why Side Bets Often Have Worse Odds
Side bets tend to be:
- Rare-outcome bets
- High-volatility bets
- Bets with payouts that look exciting but are underpaid relative to true probability
This does not mean you can never play them.
It means they should be treated as paid entertainment, not as “smart value.”
The Practical Rule
If you are trying to reduce long-run cost:
- Make the main wager your default
- Treat side bets as occasional, capped choices
A Simple Comparison Framework That Works Across All Families
If you want one method that applies to roulette, baccarat, blackjack, craps, and poker-style games, use this.
Step 1: Identify The Engine
Ask:
- Is the edge mostly payout-driven or decision-driven
- Is it one bet, or many different bets
Step 2: Find The Levers
Then ask:
- What rule changes affect edge
- What payout changes affect edge
- What bet types are likely overpriced
Step 3: Decide Your Session Goal
Different games fit different goals.
- If you want simplicity, choose fixed-probability structures and avoid high-edge add-ons
- If you want to reduce cost through skill, choose decision-based games and commit to better play
- If you want excitement, accept that high-volatility bets often cost more and plan your budget accordingly
Step 4: Compare Like With Like
Do not compare:
- A blackjack table with strict rules to a generous table and call them “the same game”
- A roulette wheel with different zero counts and call them “the same odds”
- A craps table without separating bet types
Compare the version and bet type you will actually play.
FAQs About Table Game Odds Calculations
Why Do Table Game Odds Vary So Much By Bet Type
Because many games offer multiple wagers with different probabilities and payout schedules. Some bets are priced close to true odds, while others are priced as entertainment.
Is Blackjack Always The Best Odds Game
Not automatically. Blackjack can offer strong value with favourable rules and good decisions, but poor rules and frequent mistakes can increase the effective house edge quickly.
Why Are Roulette Odds So Easy To Compare
Roulette probabilities are defined by the wheel, and payouts are fixed. The main comparison driver is the wheel type and zero count, plus any special rules on even-money bets.
Why Do Baccarat Side Bets Have Worse Odds
Many side bets depend on rare outcomes and are underpaid relative to the true probability. They feel exciting, but they often carry a higher long-run cost than the main bets.
How Should I Compare Craps Odds
Treat craps as a set of different bets, not one game. Focus on the specific wagers you plan to make, because the house edge depends heavily on bet selection.
Where To Go Next
Now that you understand how odds calculations differ across table game families, the next step is learning how to calculate risk of ruin so you can connect house edge and volatility to a realistic bankroll plan.
Next Article: How to Calculate Risk of Ruin in Casino Gaming
Next Steps
If you want the full foundation that ties probability, odds, house edge, EV, and variance together before you go deeper into bankroll planning, go back to The Complete Guide To Casino Game Odds And House Edge.
If your goal is to play smarter from the very first session, use The Ultimate Player Checklist for Evaluating Game Odds & House Edge.
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