Blackjack played with basic strategy has one of the lowest house edges in the casino. The banker bet in baccarat, the pass and don't pass bets in craps with odds behind them, single-zero roulette and full-pay video poker are also low. Slots and keno usually have the highest edge, and every game still favours the house over time.
Which game is best for you also depends on how much skill you want to use and how fast you want to play. I've ranked the main games below by house edge, and I'll flag the bets in each game that quietly give the casino more.
What house edge means
House edge is the built-in advantage the casino has on a game. Over thousands of rounds, the casino expects to keep a small slice of every unit staked. A low-edge game keeps a thinner slice. A high-edge game keeps a thicker one.
It doesn't tell you what happens tonight. In a short session anyone can win or lose, and luck swings wildly. The edge shows itself over a long run, which is why no betting system or lucky routine beats it. A lower edge simply means you'd expect to lose less per unit staked, not that you'll win.
The games ranked, lowest edge first
Blackjack
Played with basic strategy, blackjack has a low edge. Basic strategy is a chart that tells you whether to hit, stand, double or split for every hand. Rules matter a lot: a table that pays 6 to 5 for a blackjack instead of 3 to 2 gives the casino a bigger edge, so check the table before you sit down. If you want to learn without risking anything, you can practise blackjack at home for free.
Baccarat
Baccarat asks very little of you. You bet on the player, the banker or a tie, and the cards decide. The banker bet has the lowest edge, even though most casinos take a commission on banker wins. The player bet is close behind.
Craps
The pass line and don't pass bets have a low edge. Once a point is set, you can add an odds bet behind them. Odds bets are paid at true odds, so they add no extra edge for the house. Just remember you have to place the pass or don't pass bet first, and the middle of the craps table holds some of the worst bets in the casino.
Roulette
Single-zero (European or French) roulette has a medium edge. Double-zero (American) wheels have a noticeably higher edge, because the extra zero pocket adds to the casino's side. If you play roulette, look for the wheel with one zero. Even-money outside bets like red or black are the simplest.
Video poker
Video poker can be low to medium, but only if you pick a full-pay version and play it with correct strategy. Pay tables differ from machine to machine, and a worse table can raise the edge a lot. Check what a full house and a flush pay before you start.
Slots and keno
Slots and keno usually sit at the high end. Slots need no skill at all, and the outcome is random. Each game has its own return to player, and many licensed operators publish it. If you play slots, choose games that show a higher return and don't expect to beat the machine. Keno works in a similar way, with a high edge on most bets.
| Game | Best bet | Skill needed | House edge level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack | Play by basic strategy | Medium (learn the chart) | Low |
| Baccarat | Banker | None | Low |
| Craps | Pass or don't pass, plus odds | Low | Low |
| Roulette (single-zero) | Even-money outside bets | None | Medium |
| Video poker (full-pay) | Hold the right cards | Medium | Low to medium |
| Slots | Games with a higher published return | None | High |
| Keno | No best bet | None | High |
Skill matters most in blackjack and video poker. In those two games, good decisions lower the edge, and poor ones raise it. In baccarat, craps, roulette, slots and keno, your choices are mostly about which bets you place, because you can't influence the cards, dice or wheel. So with the lower-skill games, the best you can do is pick the lowest-edge bets and keep your stakes small.
Bets to avoid
- Blackjack insurance. It's a side bet with a high edge for the casino.
- The baccarat tie bet. It pays well, but it comes up rarely and carries a high edge.
- Craps proposition bets, the one-roll bets in the middle of the table.
- The five-number bet on a double-zero roulette wheel, which has one of the highest edges at that table.
- Most side bets on any card game. They're built to look generous and keep more for the casino.
Online vs in person
In a casino, check the rules posted at the table: blackjack payouts, whether the wheel has one zero or two, and the commission on baccarat. Online, the same rules apply, and you also need to check who is running the site. Only use an operator licensed by the UK Gambling Commission or by your state regulator, and check the licence number on the regulator's own register, not just the site's footer.
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Many online games show their rules and return to player in a help menu. If you can't find it, that's a reason to pick a different game or site. If you like seeing how technology and card games mix, there's an interesting look at AI research into blackjack and poker.
One more thing to watch is bonuses. A bonus can come with conditions on how much you must play before you can withdraw, and some games count for less toward those conditions. Read the terms before you accept anything.
Playing safely
The best-odds game in the casino still loses over time, so think of what you spend as the price of an evening out. Set a limit before you start, only play if you're an adult and it's legal where you live, and never chase losses. In the UK, free help is available from GamCare and BeGambleAware. In the US, the National Council on Problem Gambling offers a helpline.
If you run a casino business and want to share what you know, here's how to write for my casino section.
This is general information, not advice. Gambling is for adults only where it's legal, it should never be a way to make money, and free help is available if it stops being fun.
This guide is part of my Free Games to Play Offline and Online: Every Guide in One Place (2026).
Frequently asked questions
Which casino game is easiest to win?
No game is easy to win. Games with a low house edge and simple rules, like the banker bet in baccarat, give the smallest built-in disadvantage. Every game still favours the casino over time.
Is single-zero roulette better than double-zero?
Yes. A single-zero wheel has a lower house edge than a double-zero wheel, so it's the better choice if you want to play roulette.
Does basic strategy beat the casino in blackjack?
No. Basic strategy cuts the house edge to one of the lowest in the casino, but the casino still keeps a small advantage. Rules at the table change the edge, so check them first.
Why do slots have such a high house edge?
Slots are built on random outcomes with no skill involved, and the machine is set to return less than it takes in. Many licensed operators publish a return to player figure so you can compare games.
