Best and worst odds in casino games: every game ranked by house edge
Last updated: April 2026
Not all casino games are created equal. The difference between the best and worst odds is enormous — a blackjack player using basic strategy faces a 0.5% house edge, while a keno player faces 25-40%. That's the difference between losing 50p and losing £25 for every £100 wagered. If you've ever wondered what casino game has the best odds — or which has the worst — this guide ranks the best odds casino games and the worst from top to bottom, with the real numbers behind each one.
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Every casino game ranked by house edge
This is the definitive table. The lower the house edge, the better value you're getting — and the longer your money lasts. Casino games ranked by house edge, from best to worst:
| Rank | Game / Bet | House Edge | RTP | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Video poker (Jacks or Better, optimal) | 0.46% | 99.54% | Best |
| 2 | Blackjack (basic strategy) | 0.50% | 99.50% | Best |
| 3 | Baccarat (banker bet) | 1.06% | 98.94% | Best |
| 4 | Baccarat (player bet) | 1.24% | 98.76% | Best |
| 5 | French roulette (La Partage) | 1.35% | 98.65% | Best |
| 6 | Craps (pass / don't pass) | 1.41% | 98.59% | Best |
| 7 | Blackjack (average player, no strategy) | 2.00% | 98.00% | Good |
| 8 | Betting exchange (typical margin) | 2-3% | 97-98% | Good |
| 9 | European roulette | 2.70% | 97.30% | Good |
| 10 | Online slots (high RTP, 97%+) | 1-3% | 97-99% | Good |
| 11 | Online slots (average, 95-96%) | 4-5% | 95-96% | Mid |
| 12 | Sports betting (major markets) | 4-6% | 94-96% | Mid |
| 13 | American roulette | 5.26% | 94.74% | Poor |
| 14 | Sports betting (niche markets) | 6-10% | 90-94% | Poor |
| 15 | Caribbean Stud Poker | 5.22% | 94.78% | Poor |
| 16 | Online slots (low RTP, branded) | 8-15% | 85-92% | Bad |
| 17 | Craps (proposition bets) | 11-17% | 83-89% | Bad |
| 18 | Baccarat (tie bet) | 14.36% | 85.64% | Bad |
| 19 | Keno | 25-40% | 60-75% | Worst |
| 20 | National Lottery (UK) | ~50% | ~50% | Worst |
For an interactive version where you can calculate exactly what any house edge costs you over time, use our house edge calculator.
The best odds — games under 2% house edge
Video poker (0.46%)
The best odds in any casino — but only with perfect strategy. Jacks or Better with optimal play returns 99.54% of money wagered. The catch: you need to memorise the correct hold/discard decisions for every possible hand. Without optimal play, the house edge rises to 3-5%. It's the only casino game where skill can push the house edge below 0.5%.
Blackjack (0.50%)
The second-best odds, and the most popular table game in the world. Basic strategy — a set of mathematically optimal decisions for every hand based on your cards and the dealer's upcard — is what gets you to 0.50%. Without it, the average player faces a 2% edge. The blackjack house edge is the most researched in gambling mathematics. Our blackjack guide covers the rules and basic strategy in full.
Baccarat banker bet (1.06%)
The best odds for zero effort. Unlike blackjack and video poker, baccarat requires no strategy — you just bet Banker every hand. The 5% commission on banker wins is already factored into the 1.06% figure. Our baccarat guide explains why the Banker wins more often and why the tie bet is one of the worst bets in any casino.
French roulette with La Partage (1.35%)
The best roulette variant. The La Partage rule returns half your even-money stake when the ball lands on zero, cutting the roulette house edge from 2.70% to 1.35%. Not available everywhere — look for French roulette specifically. Our roulette guide covers all three variants and their house edges.
Craps pass line (1.41%)
One of the oldest casino games and one of the best bets. The pass line (and don't pass) offer a 1.41% house edge. The craps table looks intimidating, but the basic bets are simple. The craps house edge on proposition bets, however, is 11-17% — stay away from those.
The middle ground — 2-6% house edge
European roulette (2.70%)
The standard roulette variant in UK casinos. Better than American (5.26%) but worse than French (1.35%). The house edge in roulette with a single zero is 2.70%, and every bet on the table carries exactly the same edge — no bet is "better" than another on a European wheel. The European roulette house edge is one of the most consistent in gambling.
Online slots (3-5% average)
The most popular form of online gambling — and the range is enormous. The best RTP slots in the UK include titles like Blood Suckers (98%) and Mega Joker (99%) which sit near the top of the rankings. Average slots (95-96%) are mid-range. Low-RTP branded slots (85-92%) are among the worst odds in any casino. The RTP slots meaning is simple: it's the percentage of money returned to players over time.
Always check the RTP before playing. An RTP slots list for any game is usually available in the game's help menu or on the provider's website. The difference between a 97% and an 88% slot is £9 per £100 wagered — over hundreds of spins, that adds up fast. Our RTP explained guide shows you how to find and interpret these numbers.
Sports betting (4-6% on major markets)
Sports betting is different from casino games because the outcome isn't purely random — knowledge and analysis can influence your results. The bookmaker's margin on major football markets is typically 4-6%. Niche markets can be 8-10%. Betting exchanges offer lower margins (2-3%) because you're betting against other people, not the house. Our lay betting guide explains how exchange betting works and why the margins are lower.
The worst odds — games above 10%
Craps proposition bets (11-17%)
The same craps table that offers 1.41% on the pass line offers 11-17% on proposition bets — single-roll bets on specific numbers or combinations. The house edge is 10-30× worse than the basic bets, yet they're prominently positioned in the centre of the table. This is a textbook example of dark patterns in gambling — placing the worst-value bets where they're most visible and accessible.
Baccarat tie bet (14.36%)
Pays 8:1 but the true odds are roughly 10:1. The gap is one of the largest in any casino game. Some tables offer 9:1 (reducing the edge to ~4.8%), but the standard 8:1 payout is terrible value.
Keno (25-40%)
The worst odds of any standard casino game. Pick numbers, hope they're drawn. The house edge makes lottery look generous. Keno exists because some players value the dream of a big win more than the mathematics — but the mathematics are brutal.
National Lottery (50%)
Roughly half of all ticket sales go to the operator and good causes before a single prize is paid. The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 45 million. As a gambling product, it offers the worst expected return of anything on this list. Per pound wagered, it's the most expensive form of gambling available. For the full picture of UK gambling spending, our UK gambling statistics page shows how much the nation spends across every product type.
What the house edge actually costs you
The percentages above are abstract. Here's what they mean in real money over 2 hours of play:
| Game | House Edge | Bets/Hour | Avg Bet | 2-Hour Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | 0.50% | 60 | £10 | £6.00 |
| Baccarat (banker) | 1.06% | 70 | £10 | £14.84 |
| European roulette | 2.70% | 35 | £10 | £18.90 |
| Online slots (96% RTP) | 4.00% | 500 | £1 | £40.00 |
| American roulette | 5.26% | 35 | £10 | £36.82 |
| Online slots (88% RTP) | 12.00% | 500 | £1 | £120.00 |
The speed of play matters as much as the house edge. Slots at 4% seem moderate — but at 500 spins per hour, you wager far more than at a 35-spin roulette table. The cost of gambling calculator factors in both the house edge and the speed of play to show you the real hourly cost.
If those numbers look higher than you expected, you're not alone. Most gamblers significantly underestimate how much they lose over time. Our blog post 5 numbers every gambler should check puts these costs in the context of real spending data.
How the house edge works
The house edge is the mathematical advantage built into every casino game. It exists because the payout odds are slightly lower than the true odds of winning.
Roulette example: a straight-up bet on a single number pays 35:1. But there are 37 numbers on a European wheel (1-36 plus zero). The true odds are 36:1 against. You're paid 35:1 on a 36:1 shot — the difference is the house edge.
This margin is built into every spin, every hand, every roll. Over time, it's inescapable. The house doesn't need to cheat or be lucky — the mathematics guarantees profit over sufficient volume. For a deeper dive into how this works, our house edge explained guide covers the concept in full.
Casino games with the best odds — choosing wisely
Knowing the house edge changes how you think about gambling. Among casino games with best odds, here's a practical framework:
If you want the longest session for your money: play blackjack with basic strategy (0.50%) or baccarat banker (1.06%). Your money lasts longest because you're losing the least per bet.
If you want entertainment with reasonable cost: European roulette (2.70%) or high-RTP slots (97%+) offer a good balance of entertainment value and mathematical cost.
If you want to avoid the worst value: skip American roulette (play European instead — same game, half the edge), avoid branded low-RTP slots (check the RTP before playing), and never touch the baccarat tie bet or keno.
If you're betting on sports: the "house edge" equivalent is the bookmaker's margin. Major market margins (4-6%) are lower than most casino games. Betting exchanges offer 2-3%. Our betting odds explained guide covers how to read and compare margins.
Regardless of which game you choose, the house edge means the expected outcome is always negative for the player. Gambling should be treated as entertainment with a known cost — not as a way to make money. If you're spending more than you can afford, our how to stop gambling guide covers practical steps and free UK support.
Frequently asked questions
Written by
David Burke
David is a gambling industry analyst and poker player based between London, Spain, and Malta. He has spent over a decade observing the European betting and casino landscape, with particular expertise in odds, probability, game strategy, and how the bookmaking industry works. At WiseStaker, David writes guides on bet types, game rules, and the mathematics behind gambling.
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