Casino Table Games that Offer the Lowest House Edge

Playing casino games with the lowest house edge gives you a better chance of earning a profit at an online gambling sites. You can take steps to reduce the house edge even further by claiming bonuses and applying various strategies at the table. This guide highlights the casino games with the lowest house edge, and explains the variants of those games you should avoid.

What is House Edge When Playing at Online Casinos?

The house edge is the mathematical casino advantage built into a casino game. For example, there is an inherent house edge on red/black bets in roulette because the ball could land on the green zero. If you spin the roulette wheel an infinite number of times, it should land on the zero 2.7% of the time. This 2.7% is the house edge. If you play American roulette rather than European roulette, there is also a double zero, which pushes the house edge up to 5.25% on red/black, high/low and odd/even bets.

Another way to think about the house edge is by considering each casino game’s RTP (Return to Player) ratio. That tells you the theoretical return you could expect if you played the game an infinite number of times. The best online casino sites will tell you the RTP of each casino game they offer. Online casino games are controlled by strictly regulated random number generator algorithms, which ensure the correct RTP is upheld at all times. This allows them to precisely replicate the situational results you would see in a brick and mortar casino.

If you see an RTP of 98.5% on an online slot, it tells you that you should theoretically expect $98.50 back by betting $100 in a session. Of course, it does not always work out like that. Some players win and other players lose, and the prospect of winning is why people bet in the first place. The house edge is the difference between the RTP and 100%. The house edge on a slot with an RTP of 98.5% would therefore be 1.5%. It is essentially the ratio of the average loss to the initial wager amount, but it can also be viewed as the overall gross profit a casino expects to make from each game.

Casino Games with the Lowest House Edge

Blackjack House Edge

Blackjack is renowned as the casino game with the lowest house edge. There are different variants of blackjack, but if you play classic blackjack with basic strategy you are looking at a house edge of just 0.5%. Advanced blackjack strategy can bring the house edge on a niche variant, Blackjack Switch, down to a mere 0.13%.

You must make the most statistically advantageous decisions in each instance to bring the house edge down to that level, but it is certainly possible. You can then claim bonuses and loyalty points to essentially bring the house edge down even further, and your chances of walking away with a profit start to look pretty interesting. Your chances of success will be boosted even further if you apply correct bankroll management, so it is easy to see why online and live dealer blackjack are such popular games among experienced bettors.

Craps House Edge

The house edge when betting on craps depends on the wagers you make. Multi-roll bets typically offer the best value. For example, betting on don’t pass has a house edge of just 0.4% per roll, whereas pass has an inherent house edge of 0.42% per roll. It is around 1.4% on either option per resolved bet made. You will also find a low house edge of 0.42% per roll by betting win only on Buy 4 and 10 wagers. Lay 5 and 9 has an appealing house edge of 0.56%, while there is no house edge on taking and laying odds on certain pairs.

The largest house edge appears when you opt for Big 6 and 8, as that is 2.78%, and the house edge can go up to 16.67% on some single-roll bets. Craps is a fun and varied game, and it also has a very high RTP if you make the right decisions, so you can apply various positive and negative progression strategies when playing it to boost your chances of success.

Video Poker House Edge

Video poker is a fun game based on five-card draw poker. It does not require you to sit at a table with fellow bettors, as you simply pit your wits against an RNG algorithm. There are many different variations of video poker, and the casino house edge differs from one game to the next, so it is important to check the RTP before playing.

A great option to look out for is Jacks or Better, as it can have a house edge of just 0.44%. To unlock maximum value, you must find a game on full play. Also look out for games that offer odds of 6:1 on a flush and 9:1 on a full house. Remember that poker is a game of skill, so you will need to make astute wagering decisions in order to succeed. If you are new to the game, it might be worth developing your online poker strategy by practicing on free software before playing for real money at the leading gambling sites.

Slots House Edge

The house edge on slots can fluctuate dramatically from one game to the next. The slots casino games with the lowest house edge include Playtech’s Ugga Bugga, which has an RTP of 99.07%. That equates to a house edge of just 0.93%. The Mega Joker slot machine by NetEnt has an RTP of 99%, as does Book of 99, while 1429 Uncharted Seas has an RTP of 98.6%.

Some progressive jackpot slots have a very high house edge, but players are willing to accept that in a bid to secure great payouts. You should be able to see the RTP on a particular slot before you start playing. The RTP includes the various bonus rounds, wilds and so on.

There are no specific strategies for success when playing online slots, but it pays to really familiarise yourself with the rules and the different features in order to give yourself the best possible chance of enjoying a solid return. Also consider whether you want to play a low, medium or high volatility game.

Baccarat House Edge

The two bets with the lowest house edge on a baccarat table are the player bet and banker bet. A tie bet is not worth bothering with, as it has a house edge of 14.36%. If you bet on the player hand winning, the house edge is 1.24%. If you bet on the banker’s hand, it goes down to just 1.06%, so it is the most appealing option.

The banker bet should come in slightly more than half of the time in baccarat, because the mechanics of the game are weighted slightly in the banker’s favour. However, you have to pay a 5% commission on winning banker bets, meaning the odds are 19:20 as opposed to even money (1:1) on a player bet. A successful tie bet will typically pay out at 8:1, but the 14.36% casino house edge makes it a good one to avoid.

Keno House Edge

Keno is another game whereby the house edge varies wildly between different games. In certain titles, the house edge is an appealing 1.25%. In other Keno games, the casino house edge goes up to 25% or even 29%.

It is therefore really important to investigate the RTP of a Keno game before playing for real money, as finding the Keno casino games with the lowest house edge can have a really strong impact upon your overall bankroll.

Roulette House Edge

Roulette is an extremely popular casino game, but playing the wrong variant can prove really costly. The house edge soars from 2.7% on a European roulette wheel to 5.25% on an American roulette wheel, because the latter includes a double zero. You should therefore avoid American roulette, unless a casino is offering you a really compelling bonus to choose it over European roulette.

You should also remember that French roulette includes a rule called la partage. This means you get half of your stake back on red/black, high/low and odd/even bets if the ball lands on the green zero. It cuts the house edge down from 2.7% to 1.35%, so you should always seek out opportunities to play French roulette instead of other roulette variations.

Pai Gow Poker House Edge

Pai Gow is a popular Asian game played with Chinese dominoes. In Pai Gow Poker, cards are used instead of dominoes, with a 52-deck plus a single joker. The objective is to create a five-card poker hand and a two-card poker hand from seven cards that beat both of the bank's hands.

The house edge on Pai Gow Poker is only 1.46% and it is a game of skill, so it appeals to many players. Pai Gow and Pai Gow Poker are increasingly popular in the west as well as Asian markets, and you can find Pai Gow Poker featured on all of the leading online casino sites.

Casino Poker House Edge

Casino players have a huge range of poker games to choose from at the top online betting sites. They include Hold ’Em, Caribbean Stud Poker, 5-Card Draw, Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7-Card Stud, 2-7 Triple Draw, 5-Card Omaha, Badugi, HORSE, Razz, Chinese Poker, Short Deck, Pineapple and various others.

The house edge deviates significantly between different games. A broad range would be 2.16% to 6.34%. When playing games like Caribbean Stud or Oasis Poker, you should check the RTP, as it will tell you the house edge. The games are great fun, but if you want a better RTP, try blackjack or craps instead.

Sic Bo House Edge

Sic Bo is a game of chance played with three dice. Like Pai Gow, it originated in China, but it has spread around the globe. Players enjoy the fast-paced, no-nonsense style of Sic Bo, and it seems to appeal to anyone that likes roulette and craps. It is not available at every online casino site, but it is becoming increasingly commonplace.

The house edge ranges from 2.78% to 29.2% or 33.3% depending upon the game you play and the bet you make. The bets with the lowest house edge are Big / Small, (2.78%), and it soars for wagers like a triple or 1-6: 1. Once again, it is important to familiarise yourself with the rules before playing Sic Bo, and you can practice for free before taking the plunge and playing for real money.