Every casino game has a built-in mathematical advantage for the house. The size of that advantage varies enormously — from under 0.5% in Blackjack with perfect strategy to over 25% in lounge Keno.
This page ranks the most common casino games and bet types by House Edge, from best to worst. Each entry includes the specific conditions under which the edge applies, and whether the figure is a fixed mathematical value or an estimated range.
For a dynamic version that calculates your expected hourly loss based on bet size and game speed, use our Casino Game Cost Calculator.
Important: House Edge Is Not the Whole Story
Before reading the ranking, understand two things:
1. Edge ≠ Hourly Cost. Your actual cost per hour is: Bet Size × Rounds per Hour × House Edge. A 2% edge game played at 500 rounds/hour costs more per hour than a 5% edge game at 20 rounds/hour. The ranking below is sorted by edge percentage only — use the Casino Game Cost Calculator to compare hourly cost at your bet size.
2. Some edges require skill. Blackjack (0.5%) and Video Poker (0.46%) are achievable only with perfect strategy. The average player makes mistakes that increase the effective edge to 2-3%. Roulette and Baccarat edges are fixed by the rules — no skill required, no skill possible.
The “Reliability” column below tells you whether the number is exact (rule-defined, identical everywhere) or estimated (varies by machine, casino, or jurisdiction).
The Ranking
Tier 1: Under 1% House Edge
| Game / Bet | House Edge | Reliability | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Poker (9/6 Jacks or Better) | 0.46% | Exact | Full-pay 9/6 paytable, optimal strategy, max coins |
| Blackjack (Basic Strategy) | ~0.5% | Rule-dependent | 6-deck, S17, 3:2 BJ, DAS. Changes with rules. |
| Craps (Don’t Pass + Max Odds) | ~0.05–0.4% | Exact (varies by odds multiple) | Combined edge depends on odds offered (3-4-5× ≈ 0.37%) |
| Craps (Pass Line + Max Odds) | ~0.1–0.5% | Exact (varies by odds multiple) | Combined edge depends on odds offered |
Why these are best: Craps with full odds has near-zero effective edge. Blackjack and Video Poker require learning optimal strategy — without it, the real edge is 2-3× higher.
Tier 2: 1–3% House Edge
| Game / Bet | House Edge | Reliability | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baccarat (Banker) | 1.06% | Exact | Standard 5% commission on banker wins |
| Baccarat (Player) | 1.24% | Exact | No commission |
| French Roulette (La Partage) | 1.35% | Exact | Even-money bets only, with La Partage rule |
| Craps (Don’t Pass, no odds) | 1.36% | Exact | Without laying odds |
| Craps (Pass Line, no odds) | 1.41% | Exact | Without taking odds |
| Pai Gow Poker | ~1.5% | Rule-dependent | With optimal hand-setting strategy |
| Craps (Place 6 / Place 8) | 1.52% | Exact | Standard payout 7:6 |
| Blackjack (6:5 payout) | ~1.9–2.5% | Rule-dependent | 6:5 BJ payout with basic strategy. The switch from 3:2 adds ~1.4%. |
| European Roulette | 2.70% | Exact | Single zero, no special rules |
| Sic Bo (Big/Small) | 2.78% | Exact | 1:1 payout, any triple loses. 105 of 216 dice outcomes win. |
Note on Blackjack 6:5: Many casino floors now default to 6:5 payout at lower minimums. Always check the payout before sitting down — this single rule change nearly triples the edge compared to 3:2.
Note on Sic Bo: only Big and Small belong in this tier. The other bets on the same layout run from 7.87% (Single Number) to 18.98% (Total 9 or 12 at 6:1) under the common Macau paytable, and the same bet can cost more or less elsewhere because Sic Bo payouts are not standardised. The house edge of every Sic Bo bet under the Macau, Atlantic City and Crown Melbourne paytables is tabulated on SicBoCalc.
Tier 3: 3–8% House Edge
| Game / Bet | House Edge | Reliability | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slots (High Limit) | ~2–5% | Estimated | Varies by machine and jurisdiction. Better than penny slots. |
| Caribbean Stud Poker | ~5.2% | Rule-dependent | Optimal strategy |
| American Roulette | 5.26% | Exact | Double zero (0 and 00) |
| Craps (Field, no triple on 12) | 5.56% | Exact | Without triple payout on 12 |
| Keno (Video/Online) | ~5–15% | Estimated | Varies widely by paytable. Better than lounge Keno. |
Tier 4: 8–20% House Edge
| Game / Bet | House Edge | Reliability | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slots (Penny/Low Limit) | ~8–15% | Estimated | Varies widely. Penny slots often have the worst odds in the casino. |
| Big Six Wheel | ~11–24% | Rule-dependent | Depends on segment. Ranges from 11% (low-pay) to 24% (joker/logo). |
| Baccarat (Tie) | 14.36% | Exact | Standard 8:1 payout |
| Craps (Any 7) | 16.67% | Exact | One-roll bet |
| Craps (Hop Bets) | ~11–17% | Exact | Exotic single-roll bets |
Tier 5: Over 20% House Edge
| Game / Bet | House Edge | Reliability | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keno (Lounge/Live) | ~25–35% | Estimated | Live lounge Keno in land-based casinos. The worst common bet. |
Fixed vs. Estimated: How Reliable Are These Numbers?
Exact / Fixed: Roulette, Baccarat, Craps standard bets. The edge is determined entirely by the rules and payouts. It is the same at every table worldwide that uses those rules. These numbers are mathematically proven.
Rule-dependent: Blackjack, Video Poker, Caribbean Stud, Pai Gow. The edge depends on specific table rules or paytable. The numbers above assume the most common favourable conditions and optimal strategy. Deviations from optimal play or less favourable rules increase the edge.
Estimated: Slots, Keno. Actual RTP varies by machine, casino, and jurisdiction. Exact figures are rarely published. The ranges above are industry benchmarks, not guarantees for any specific machine.
Why Speed Matters as Much as Edge
House edge tells you the cost per dollar wagered. But your actual cost depends on how many dollars you wager per hour — and that is driven by game speed.
| Game | Edge | Typical Speed | Hourly Cost ($10 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | 0.5% | 60 hands/hr | $3.00 |
| Baccarat (Banker) | 1.06% | 70 hands/hr | $7.42 |
| European Roulette | 2.70% | 50 spins/hr | $13.50 |
| American Roulette | 5.26% | 50 spins/hr | $26.30 |
| Video Poker (9/6 JoB) | 0.46% | 400 hands/hr | $18.40 |
| Slots (Penny, ~10%) | ~10% | 500 spins/hr | $500.00 |
Video Poker has the lowest edge (0.46%) but costs $18.40/hr at 400 hands — more than European Roulette ($13.50/hr) despite having 6× lower edge. Penny Slots at 500 spins/hr cost $500/hr — nearly 170× more than Blackjack. Speed is the hidden multiplier that the edge percentage alone does not reveal.
Key Takeaways
The same game can have very different edges. Blackjack ranges from 0.5% (3:2, favourable rules, basic strategy) to 2.5%+ (6:5, no strategy). Always check the specific rules.
Player decisions can change expected loss in several casino games. Blackjack and video poker are familiar examples; Casino War also offers a choice after an initial tie. Use the Casino War strategy calculator to explore surrender, going to war and the separate tie bet.
Side bets are almost always terrible. Baccarat Tie (14.36%), Craps Any 7 (16.67%), and most slot side features carry edges several times higher than the base game. Casinos earn disproportionate profit from these bets.
Low edge does not mean low cost. Use the Casino Game Cost Calculator to compare hourly cost, not just edge percentage.
Sources and Assumptions
House edge values are standard benchmarks from probability theory and published references. Slot and Keno edges are estimates — actual RTP varies. Blackjack and Video Poker edges assume optimal strategy; mistakes increase the edge.
- Wizard of Odds — House Edge of Casino Games Compared: reference figures for baccarat, craps, roulette, video poker and keno.
- SicBoCalc — all 216 Sic Bo dice outcomes: the enumeration behind the 2.78% Big/Small figure (105 winning outcomes, 6 losing triples, 105 losing totals).
- Stanford Wong, Professional Blackjack, and Mason Malmuth, Gambling Theory and Other Topics: blackjack and general edge methodology.
This table is a reference guide. Always verify the specific rules and paytable at your casino.
Related Tools: Keno Payout Analyzer | Blackjack Strategy | Video Poker Analyzer | Session Budget Calculator