House edge by casino game ·
Further reading — Module 08
Where the House Takes More
Every popular casino game carries a built-in mathematical advantage for the house. The table below compares the house edge of common casino games, ordered from the lowest house edge to the highest. Figures assume standard rules and, where applicable, optimal strategy.
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| # | Game | Bet | House edge | Player EV per £100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackjack Assumes correct basic strategy on a common multi-deck game. Deviations widen the edge quickly. | Basic strategy, standard rules | 0.5% | −£0.50 |
| 2 | Baccarat After the standard 5% commission on winning Banker bets. | Banker | 1.06% | −£1.06 |
| 3 | Baccarat | Player | 1.24% | −£1.24 |
| 4 | French Roulette Half your even-money stake is returned when the ball lands on zero. | Even-money with La Partage | 1.35% | −£1.35 |
| 5 | Craps | Pass / Don't Pass line | 1.36%–1.41% | −£1.36 to −£1.41 |
| 6 | Pai Gow Poker | Ante, banking the house | ≈1.5% | −£1.50 |
| 7 | Casino Hold'em | Ante + Call, optimal play | 2.16% | −£2.16 |
| 8 | European Roulette | Any bet, single zero | 2.70% | −£2.70 |
| 9 | Sic Bo Other Sic Bo bets carry edges from roughly 3% to over 30%. | Small / Big | 2.78% | −£2.78 |
| 10 | Three Card Poker | Ante & Play, optimal strategy | 3.37% | −£3.37 |
| 11 | Let It Ride | Base game, optimal strategy | 3.51% | −£3.51 |
| 12 | Caribbean Stud Poker | Ante & Raise, optimal strategy | 5.22% | −£5.22 |
| 13 | American Roulette | Any bet, double zero | 5.26% | −£5.26 |
| 14 | Big Six / Money Wheel | Any segment | ≈11%–24% | −£11 to −£24 |
| 15 | Keno | Standard tickets | ≈25%+ | −£25 or worse |
The view from behind the tables
From behind the tables, players rarely knew — or even considered — the expected value of the game they chose.
They chose the table that caught their attention, the game they understood, or simply the one they enjoyed playing.
The game changed with the player’s preference.
But not the long-term direction.
Final thought
If every game on the casino floor carries its own mathematical price, what are you really choosing when you choose which one to play?
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