Further reading — Module 08
House edge by game
Every popular casino table game carries a built-in mathematical advantage for the house. The table below lists the most common ones, ordered from the highest expected value for the player to the lowest. Figures assume standard rules and, where applicable, optimal strategy.
| # | 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 |
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Further reading in Module 08
Why do casinos offer free bets? →
Free bets, free spins and welcome bonuses aren't gifts — they're marketing spend backed by the mathematics of the house edge.
Understanding wagering →
Wagering requirements multiply the number of bets you must place — compounding the house edge and the expected value against you.
Why casinos don't need to cheat →
Fair wheels, honest shuffles, printed rules — and the house still wins. The edge lives in the payouts, not the mechanics.
RNGs and physical randomness →
A certified random number generator and a physical wheel produce the same fixed mathematical conditions — online play only accelerates them.