Key Insights
Quick Answer
House edge varies widely by game and by variant. Games like blackjack and video poker can offer low house edge with the right rules and decisions, while many side bets and some roulette formats carry much higher long-run cost.
Best Way To Use This Guide
Pick the game you enjoy most, then learn which version and which bets inside that game have the lowest house edge.
Biggest Advantage
You can pay less per hour for the same entertainment by avoiding high-edge traps like poor paytables, rule-heavy variants, and most side bets.
Common Mistake
Comparing games by payout size or short-term streaks instead of comparing the built-in edge and the rules that change it.
Pro Tip
House edge is a pricing label. Variance is the experience label. Use both before you choose a game.
What House Edge Comparison Actually Tells You
House edge is the average percentage of each wager the casino expects to keep over the long run.
If two games feel equally fun, the lower-edge game is usually the better value because the long-run cost is lower.
House edge does not guarantee the outcome of a session. It tells you what happens when the same bet is repeated again and again.
Why The Same Game Can Have Different House Edge
When you compare games, you are not only comparing game names. You are comparing versions and bet types.
House edge can change because of:
- Rule variations
- Paytable variations
- Whether the game is decision-based or chance-only
- Whether you are playing main bets or side bets
- Whether you are playing optimal or mistake-heavy strategy
So the correct comparison is not “roulette vs blackjack.” It is “this exact roulette bet on this wheel” versus “this exact blackjack rule set with this level of play.”
Quick House Edge Snapshot By Game Family
Use this as a directional map. The exact number depends on rules, paytables, and bet type.
- Blackjack: can be very low with strong rules and near-optimal play, but rises quickly with mistakes and side bets
- Baccarat: usually low on the banker and player bets, with a noticeably worse tie bet
- Craps: many core line bets are relatively low edge, while many proposition bets are high edge
- Roulette: depends heavily on wheel type and bet, with some formats carrying a high built-in edge
- Video Poker: can be low edge with the right paytable and correct decisions, but the wrong machine can be expensive
- Slots: typically published as RTP rather than house edge, and the edge varies by game, setting, and sometimes jurisdiction
Blackjack House Edge
Blackjack is the classic example of a game where player decisions can change house edge.
Why Blackjack Can Be Low Edge
With favourable rules and near-optimal strategy, blackjack can have a relatively low house edge on the main game.
The catch is that small mistakes repeat often, and repeated mistakes raise the effective edge.
What Changes Blackjack House Edge Most
- Rules (dealer hits or stands, doubling rules, surrender, number of decks)
- Penetration and pace (more hands per hour means more volume)
- Strategy quality (basic strategy reduces mistakes)
- Side bets (often priced much higher than the main wager)
Practical takeaway
If you like blackjack, your best value usually comes from playing the main game with decent rules and skipping side bets.
Baccarat House Edge
Baccarat is mostly chance-based once you choose your bet, which makes it easy to compare.
The Key Baccarat Difference
The banker bet is typically the best-value core option because it is priced with a small edge (even after commission in many formats). The player bet is usually close behind.
The tie bet is usually the expensive trap. It looks exciting because the payout is large, but the probability is low and the payout is short compared to true odds.
Practical takeaway
If you play baccarat for value, treat the tie bet as a rare “fun swing,” not the default.
Craps House Edge
Craps is a game with a wide range of edges inside one table.
Low-Edge Areas In Craps
Many of the core line bets and odds-style structures are designed to be relatively efficient compared to the flashier options.
High-Edge Areas In Craps
Many proposition bets are priced for excitement. They can carry much higher house edge, and the volatility is often extreme.
Practical takeaway
Craps rewards a simple approach. The more you wander into novelty bets, the more you usually pay for the same table time.
Roulette House Edge
Roulette is a clean example of how a tiny rule difference changes house edge instantly.
Wheel Type Matters Most
European roulette has a single zero. American roulette has a single zero and a double zero. That extra pocket increases the house edge across the board.
Even if the game feels identical, the built-in cost changes.
Bet Type Does Not Remove The Edge
Different roulette bets change variance, not the underlying wheel advantage.
Outside bets can feel steadier. Inside bets can feel swingier. The wheel edge remains.
Practical takeaway
If you are choosing roulette for entertainment, choose the better wheel format first. That is the biggest value decision you can make.
Video Poker House Edge
Video poker is a decision-based game, but it is also paytable-driven.
That means two machines with the same name can have very different value.
What Changes Video Poker House Edge Most
- Paytable (this is the big one)
- Your decision quality (optimal play matters)
- Whether the machine is set to a reduced-pay version
Practical takeaway
If you like video poker, spend your effort on finding a strong paytable first, then improving the few most common decision mistakes.
Slots House Edge
Slots are usually described by RTP rather than house edge.
RTP is the long-run return to players. House edge is the long-run gap.
If a slot is 96% RTP, the long-run house edge is roughly 4%.
Why Slot House Edge Feels Harder To Compare
- Probabilities are weighted and not fully visible
- RTP can vary by game and sometimes by operator settings
- Volatility changes how the return is distributed, which changes the session feel
Practical takeaway
When RTP is available, use it as your comparison tool. When it is not, treat the slot as unknown cost and keep your stakes and add-ons conservative.
The Big Pattern You Should Notice
Across the casino, the worst value usually clusters in the same places.
- Side bets
- Tie-style longshot bets
- Proposition bets
- Bonus buys and add-ons that trade value for convenience
- Reduced-pay tables and tight paytables
The best value usually comes from:
- Main bets in low-edge game families
- Strong rule sets and paytables
- Consistent decision-making in strategy games
A Simple Way To Choose Better Odds Without Overthinking
Use this process when you are deciding what to play.
Step 1: Choose The Game You Actually Enjoy
Value only matters if you will actually play it. Start with enjoyment.
Step 2: Choose The Best Version Of That Game
Look for the biggest value levers:
- Wheel format in roulette
- Rule set in blackjack
- Paytable in video poker
- Bet types in baccarat and craps
- Published RTP for slots when available
Step 3: Avoid The Highest-Edge Add-Ons
If you want side bets or longshots, budget for them deliberately.
Do not let them become the default.
Step 4: Match Variance To Your Bankroll
Lower edge does not remove variance. Choose stakes that give you time.
The goal is not to beat the casino long-term. It is to choose lower-cost entertainment and avoid paying extra by accident.
FAQs About Comparing House Edge
Does Lower House Edge Mean I Will Win More Often
Not necessarily. It mainly reduces your long-run expected loss. Win frequency depends on game structure and variance.
Which Game Has The Best Odds
It depends on rules, paytables, and decisions. In general, the best odds usually come from strong versions of decision-based games or efficient main bets, not from side bets.
Are Slots Always Worse Than Table Games
Not always. Some slots have competitive RTP, but they often have higher variance and less transparency. When RTP is not available, comparison becomes harder.
Why Do Side Bets Usually Have Worse Odds
Side bets are priced for excitement and big payouts. The probability is low and payouts are typically short compared to true odds.
What Should I Compare First
Compare house edge or RTP first when available. Then compare the rules, paytables, and volatility.
Where To Go Next
Now that you can compare house edge across major games, the next step is understanding why some games offer better odds than others in the first place.
Next Article: Why Some Games Offer Better Odds Than Others
Next Steps
If you want to revisit the full foundation and see how odds, EV, and variance connect, 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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