While the main intention behind playing at a casino is usually to make bank, how much you actually manage to make is not only dependent on your luck and skill, but also on the house edge of the game of your choice. Although each game has its own house edge, the lower the house edge, the greater the chance of winning.
What does the term house edge mean?
The house edge, which is also known as house advantage to many gamblers out there, is a mathematical term that’s used to describe the advantage the casino has over the player. Each and every game at the casino has a different house edge that represents the probability of losing and winning through the use of a percentage.
Is it possible to balance or avoid the casino house edge?
No, we are afraid not. The house edge is how the casino makes its money. If you have no house edge then you will have no casino and if you have no casino, you will have no game. That said, you can minimize the house edge by employing the right rules and strategy, but even then, you’ll never manage to get it down to zero.
What kind of house edge can players look forward to?
The house edge depends solely on the game. There are games which have less than one per cent house edge, but there are also others which have significantly more. Games with more than 5% house edge should be avoided at all costs as players will end up literally haemorrhaging money. An example of one such game is American Roulette which operates has more than a 5% house edge. If you’re after a game with no house edge than we suggest you stick to regular poker which we will speak more about below.
The 10 Casino games online with the lowest house edge
10. Keno House Edge – Around 25%
Asian in origin, Keno is a wonderful mix of bingo and lottery. In Keno, you simply choose 2-10 digits from 80 and wait for 20 balls to be drawn. The more numbers drawn from the ones you originally chose, the higher the payout. That said, just as with Lotto, the chances of a direct hit are very low meaning that Keno is not a suitable game for long-term profit. You can read all about Online Keno on our dedicated page.
9. Caribbean Stud Poker House Edge – Around 3-5%
Although Caribbean Stud Poker is a pretty easy game to understand and play, your Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy does also play a role in how much the house edge effects you. Players and dealers receive five cards each and a dealer's card is dealt face up. It’s at this point that the player evaluates his hand and decides whether or not to give up the hand and lose the ready set bet or continue playing and triple the bet. If you choose to keep playing, the dealer and the player must show their hands and the better one will win. Since there are really high payouts for strong hands like full houses, this game is very fascinating. Nevertheless, it is best to play this game just for fun because if you want to make money in the long run, it is not the right choice.
8. Slots House Edge – Around 2.8%
There is not much to explain here, however, what players should pay attention to in this game is the payout rate. Modern slot machines have come a long way and have become a far cry from the old, rusty machines that used to be found in the corners of bars. Not only do they offer more action, more variety and more options, but they also have the potential to drain you of a lot more money which means that you have to pay special attention to the payout rate and make sure that it is favorable to you. The payout rate of the machine you are playing on should be at least 95%. Every machine which offers less than this payout percentage will inevitably dissipate your bankroll much faster.
7. Roulette House Edge – Between 2.7% and 5.4%
Roulette is undoubtedly the game most people immediately think of when they hear the word casino. The Roulette house edge arises exclusively from the zero pocket on the Roulette wheel. The difference between American and European Roulette is the fact that American Roulette has a further pocket with a double zero in it that means the house edge for American Roulette is even greater. That’s why if you’re in it to win it and not get double the house edge you should always stick to French or European Roulette. For more information about this, visit our Roulette page.
6. Pai Gow Poker House Edge - 1.5%
Pai Gow Poker originated in Asia and is played with seven cards against the dealer. Once you have received your seven cards, you make two poker hands, one with five cards and one with two. The dealer does the same. The aim of the game is for both of your hands to be stronger than the house. If that's the case, you win. If you both win one hand each, there is a draw and if the house has two stronger hands, the house wins.
5. Craps House House Edge - ≥ 1.4%
While most casino games are considered to be somewhat simple, Craps is the big exception to the rule. Craps tables are jaw-droppingly complex because there are so many different ways to bet that you quickly lose track. In Craps, it is the numerous outcomes which change the house edge so dramatically! If you want to play Craps but want the lowest house edge possible, opt for the "Do not Come / Do not Pass" bet, which actually gives the house an advantage of only 1.4%.
4. Baccarat House Edge – 1-3%
If you’ll pardon the pun, Baccarat has lost a little of its edge fashionwise. While poker has only been played in the James Bond universe since Daniel Craig’s tenure, Baccarat first appeared in 1962 in ‘Dr. No’. Of all the casino games out there, Baccarat has one of the lowest skill factors, all you have to do is learn which cards or combinations of cards mean which score and you're good to go. Baccarat also has the great advantage of being more or less in line with the dealer as far as the odds are concerned.
3. Poker House Edge - Fixed Fee
Poker is the most popular card game in the world. The casino has no house edge in this game because you do not play against the house but against other players. The house only provides the cards, chips and dealers. The fee basically depends on the size of the pot, but it is capped so it cannot exceed a certain amount set by the house. That said, it is important that you always read the terms and conditions of each and every casino you play at as there might always be differences.
2. Blackjack House Edge - ≥ 0.5% house edge
No casino game has so many options and can use as many different strategies as blackjack. It’s also one of the casino games where players have a level of control about the outcome. Read our Blackjack Strategy to learn more about what it takes to keep the house edge even lower. We can even teach you to count cards.
1. Video Poker Jacks or Better House Edge - 0.46%
There are many versions of Video Poker, but Jacks or Better gives you the best odds. With Video Poker, as with classic draw poker, you have to choose from five cards that you will hold onto and trade the others once. When the game is over, if you are holding at least one pair of Jacks, you win. The strategy in short form is basically to hold all pairs or better. If you have no pair, you hold onto the cards that have a value which is higher than a ten. If that does not work, one looks for possible draws. The stronger the hand, the higher the payout.