House Edge Comparison Chart: Every Casino Game Ranked
Interactive comparison of house edge and RTP for every major casino game. Sort by house edge to find the best and worst odds at a glance.
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| Game▲▼ | House Edge▲▼ | RTP▲▼ | Best Bet | Worst Bet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craps (with full odds) | 0.37% | 99.63% | Don't pass + max odds | Proposition bets |
| Video Poker (Jacks or Better, 9/6) | 0.46% | 99.54% | Full-pay machines | Short-pay tables |
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | 0.50% | 99.50% | Stand on hard 17+ | Insurance / side bets |
| Baccarat (banker) | 1.06% | 98.94% | Banker bet | Tie bet (14.4%) |
| Baccarat (player) | 1.24% | 98.76% | Player bet | Tie bet |
| Craps (pass/don't pass) | 1.41% | 98.59% | Pass + odds | Any 7 (16.7%) |
| Blackjack (average player) | 2.00% | 98.00% | Learn basic strategy | Playing by feel |
| Roulette (European) | 2.70% | 97.30% | Even-money bets | Single number |
| Sic Bo (small/big) | 2.78% | 97.22% | Small/Big bets | Specific triple (16.2%) |
| Pai Gow Poker | 2.84% | 97.16% | Bank when possible | Bonus side bets |
| Slots (high RTP) | 3.00% | 97.00% | Check RTP before playing | Progressive side bets |
| Crash Games | 3.00% | 97.00% | Low multiplier cashouts | Chasing high multipliers |
| Plinko | 3.00% | 97.00% | Medium risk mode | High risk, few rows |
| Sports Betting (standard vig) | 4.55% | 95.45% | Shop for best lines | Parlays |
| Caribbean Stud Poker | 5.22% | 94.78% | Raise with pair+ | Progressive side bet |
| Roulette (American) | 5.26% | 94.74% | Avoid American wheels | Five-number bet (7.9%) |
| Slots (average) | 6.00% | 94.00% | Higher denomination | Penny slots |
| Bingo | 8.00% | 92.00% | Fewer players = better odds | Large-pool games |
| Scratch Cards | 10.00% | 90.00% | Higher-price tickets | $1 tickets (~40% RTP) |
| Slots (low RTP) | 12.00% | 88.00% | Avoid these | Playing without checking RTP |
| Keno (4-spot) | 20.00% | 80.00% | 4-5 spot tickets | 10+ spot tickets |
| Keno (8-spot) | 30.00% | 70.00% | Fewer spots | More spots |
Showing 22 of 22 games
House edge figures reflect optimal strategy where applicable. Actual results depend on game rules, pay tables, and player skill. Side bets and progressive wagers typically carry a significantly higher house edge than the base game.
Why House Edge Matters
The house edge is the mathematical percentage the casino expects to keep from every dollar you wager over the long run. A game with a 2% house edge returns 98 cents of every dollar on average — the casino keeps 2 cents.
This chart compares house edge across every major casino game type so you can see at a glance which games give you the best odds and which take the biggest cut.
Use the sort and filter controls above to explore by game type or rank from lowest to highest edge.
How to Read This Chart
House Edge — lower is better for the player. Under 2% is excellent, 2–5% is average, above 5% is steep.
RTP (Return to Player) — the flip side of house edge. RTP = 100% − house edge. Higher is better.
Best Bet — the specific wager within that game that gives you the lowest house edge.
Worst Bet — the wager to avoid (often side bets or proposition bets with dramatically higher edges).
Game links — click any game name to read the full Academy guide with detailed odds and strategy.
Key Takeaways
Best odds in the casino: Video Poker (9/6 Jacks or Better, 0.46% edge) and Blackjack with basic strategy (0.50% edge). Both require learning optimal play — the house edge jumps significantly if you play by feel.
Best odds with zero strategy: Baccarat banker bet (1.06% edge) and Craps pass line (1.41% edge). Just place the bet and wait.
Worst odds in the casino: Keno (20–35% edge) and low-denomination scratch cards (~40% edge on $1 tickets). These are entertainment products, not advantage plays.
The side bet trap: Nearly every game has side bets with dramatically higher house edges than the base game. Baccarat's tie bet (14.4%), craps proposition bets (up to 16.7%), and blackjack insurance (7.4%) are the most common traps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which casino game has the best odds?
Full-pay video poker (9/6 Jacks or Better) has the lowest house edge at 0.46% — but only if you play optimal strategy for every hand. For no-strategy-required games, baccarat's banker bet (1.06%) is the best.
Does a lower house edge mean I'll win?
No. House edge is a long-run average, not a prediction for any single session. You can win big at keno (30% edge) or lose at blackjack (0.5% edge) in a single session. The edge only manifests over hundreds or thousands of bets.
Why do different bets in the same game have different house edges?
Because each bet type has different payout ratios and probabilities. The casino sets payouts to ensure a margin on every bet, but some bets have thinner margins than others. Smart players stick to the lowest-edge bets within each game.
Are online casino games the same house edge as live casinos?
The base math is the same — blackjack rules, roulette wheel layouts, and baccarat procedures don't change online. However, slot RTP can vary significantly between online and land-based casinos. Online slots typically offer higher RTP (92–97%) than physical machines (88–93%).
What about crypto-native games like Crash and Plinko?
Crash games and Plinko typically run at 2–4% house edge, comparable to table games. The key advantage is that many are provably fair — you can mathematically verify the outcome wasn't manipulated.
Sources
About the author
Provably Fair & Payments Writer
Devon covers the technical side of crypto: how blockchains reach consensus, provably fair verification, seeds and hashes, and how deposits and withdrawals actually move — from casino approval to network confirmations.