There’s a saying in the world of casino gaming that the “house always wins”. That’s because every table game offered incorporates some form of house edge – a mathematical margin built into the game which gives the casino an advantage over their players.
Although players can beat the house in the short term, this mathematical edge means the casino will win in the long run. Understanding the house edge of the most popular table games can be hugely beneficial. It empowers you to hand-pick games which have the thinnest house advantage and are therefore the most competitive to play. Below, we’ll explore the house edge of the games typically offered by the leading land-based and online casino operators.
Roulette
Roulette is quite possibly the most popular casino table game there is. Famed for its simplistic gameplay, ensuring pick-up-and-play appeal for all casino-goers, players just bet on the numbered pockets they think the ball will land on once the next spinner has been called.
Stylistically, the house edge of roulette games varies depending on which version you choose. European roulette is known as “single-zero” roulette. It only has one green zero pocket on the wheel. American roulette is marketed as “double-zero” roulette. It has two green pockets – a zero and a double zero. The addition of the double zero almost doubles the game’s house edge from 2.70% in European roulette to 5.26% in American roulette.
There’s also a French roulette game which has special game rules called “La Partage” and “En Prison” which offer a house edge of just 1.35%, despite the fact it’s still played on the same wheel as a European roulette game.
Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular card-based table games at offline and online casinos. Famed for its varied gameplay, blackjack is hugely engaging, especially since the house edge can be as low as 0.5%. The house edge is that low so long as the game offers certain conditions to players. These include the option to double down on any two cards, and the dealer being forced to stand on soft 17.
Some blackjack players like to dabble with side bets which offer different house edges. The 21+3 side bet is an increasingly popular option, especially with those familiar with poker. That’s because the side bet’s success is linked to how strong a three-card poker hand is made using your first two cards and the dealer’s upcard. However, its house edge stands at 3.62% for eight-deck games, 3.7% for six-deck games and 6.39% for four-deck games. That’s because the more cards in play, the better chance this side bet has of making a high-ranking three-card poker hand.
Baccarat
Baccarat is second to blackjack in having the most competitive house edge for a casino table game. It is a very basic game, whereby players simply bet on whether they or the banker will be dealt the highest-value card. That’s literally it.
There’s minimal strategy involved here. Just bet on whether the player’s hand or the banker’s hand wins – or the tie.
Pai Gow Poker
Pai Gow Poker is another card game which offers a fusion of American-style Texas Hold’em poker with the ancient Chinese domino game of Pai Gow. The aim of the game is to build two poker hands – a two-card hand and a five-card hand – which beat the dealer’s corresponding hands.
There is a modest 1.46% house edge applied to Pai Gow Poker. It can be altered somewhat based on player strategy. However, the slower pace of this game, coupled with the greater opportunity for pushes (tied/voided hands) makes it a reasonable choice for those keen to make their gaming bankroll stretch further.
Craps
The fast-paced table game, Craps, is one of the most vibrant and entertaining games on a casino floor. The dice game comes with a plethora of betting options, which means the house edge differs depending on the type of bet you place.
The most popular Pass Line and Come bets both have a house edge of 1.41% respectively. Meanwhile the Don’t Pass and Don’t Come bets have a slightly thinner house edge worth 1.36%. The “True Odds” bet is considered one of the best value wagers in any casino game, since it doesn’t carry any house edge.
By improving your general awareness of the house edge of leading table games, you can make smarter decisions about the games and bets to take to prolong your chip stack.
