Casino games with best odds are usually the games where the house edge is lowest and the rules are clear: blackjack with basic strategy, baccarat banker/player bets, certain craps bets, and strong video poker pay tables. The worst odds usually sit in high-edge side bets, keno, some wheel games, poor roulette variants, and slots with low RTP or extreme volatility.
That does not mean these games are a way to beat the casino. Odds, RTP and house edge are long-term math tools, not promises about the next spin, hand or session. A good game can still lose quickly, and a bad game can still hit a lucky result. The point of this guide is simpler: understand the math before you choose what to play.
Trust and risk note: GBC Time may earn affiliate revenue from some casino-related pages. That does not change the editorial advice here. Gambling carries financial risk, and the house edge is built into the games. Treat casino play as paid entertainment, set a budget before you start, and stop if the session stops being fun.
Quick answer: which casino games have the best odds?
For most players, the strongest casino games by math are:
- Blackjack, if you use basic strategy and avoid bad rules such as 6:5 blackjack payouts.
- Baccarat, especially banker and player bets, while avoiding tie and side bets.
- Craps, mainly pass line, don’t pass and odds bets.
- Video poker, but only when the pay table is strong and you know the correct strategy.
- European or French roulette, which is usually better than American double-zero roulette.
The weakest choices are usually keno, wheel-style games, high-edge side bets, low-RTP slots and American roulette. These games can still be entertaining, but they are rarely the best choice if your main filter is house edge.
RTP vs house edge: the simple version
Two numbers matter most:
- RTP, or return to player, is the theoretical long-term percentage a game is designed to return. A 97% RTP means the long-term house edge is roughly 3%.
- House edge is the casino’s mathematical advantage. Lower house edge is better for the player.
The UK Gambling Commission explains how RTP is calculated from game turnover and wins, while volatility affects how close real play is to theoretical RTP over a smaller sample. In plain English: RTP becomes more meaningful over many rounds, not over one evening.
If you want a deeper GBC explanation, see our guide on how RTP can be used to choose games.
Casino odds comparison table
The table below uses common rule sets and public house-edge references. Real numbers can change by casino, software provider, pay table, roulette wheel type, blackjack rules, bonus rules and player decisions.
| Game type | Better version to look for | Typical house edge / RTP | Skill factor | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack | 3:2 blackjack payout, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split, basic strategy | Often around 0.5%-1% house edge with good rules and correct play; some variants can be lower or higher | High | Bad rules and poor decisions can turn a strong game into a weak one |
| Baccarat | Banker bet or player bet in standard punto banco | Banker about 1.06% house edge; player about 1.24%; tie often above 14% | Low | Banker is mathematically strongest, but commission and tie/side bets matter |
| Craps | Pass line, don’t pass and odds bets | Pass line about 1.41%; don’t pass about 1.36%; odds bet has 0% house edge but only after a line bet | Medium | Many center-table proposition bets are much weaker |
| Roulette | French roulette with La Partage/En Prison, or single-zero European roulette | French even-money rules can be around 1.35%; European single-zero about 2.70%; American double-zero about 5.26% | Low | Betting systems do not remove the house edge |
| Video poker | Full-pay pay tables with correct strategy | Strong pay tables can approach 99%+ RTP; some can be higher with comps, but weak pay tables drop fast | High | The pay table is everything; small rule differences matter |
| Slots | Published high-RTP slots from reputable providers | Common online slot RTP often sits roughly in the 92%-97% range, but titles vary by provider and market | Low | Volatility can make a high-RTP slot feel rough in short sessions |
| Keno | Video keno with published return, if you play it at all | Often much worse than table games; live keno can carry very high house edge | Low | Usually a poor math choice compared with blackjack, baccarat or craps |
| Wheel games | Low-edge variants are rare; avoid large long-shot segments if math matters | Often high house edge compared with table games | Low | Simple gameplay usually comes with expensive odds |
Best casino games by odds
Blackjack: strong only if you play correctly
Blackjack deserves its reputation as one of the best casino games by house edge, but only under the right rules. The game is not just “get close to 21.” The payout for blackjack, the number of decks, whether the dealer hits soft 17, surrender rules and double-down rules all affect the math.
If you play blackjack, start with the basics:
- Choose 3:2 blackjack over 6:5 when possible.
- Learn basic strategy instead of guessing.
- Avoid insurance unless you have a proper card-counting reason.
- Be careful with side bets.
Our blackjack beginner guide is a useful next step if you want the strategy side without turning this odds guide into a blackjack manual.
Baccarat: simple rules, low house edge
Baccarat is one of the cleanest games for players who want low house edge without making many decisions. In standard eight-deck baccarat, the banker bet has about a 1.06% house edge and the player bet about 1.24%, according to Wizard of Odds’ baccarat analysis. The tie bet is the trap: its house edge is much higher.
The practical takeaway is easy:
- Banker is usually the best baccarat bet, even after commission.
- Player is close behind.
- Tie and side bets are entertainment bets, not value bets.
Baccarat is not a skill game in the same way blackjack is. Once you choose the bet, the cards decide the hand.
Craps: good line bets, dangerous center bets
Craps has a reputation for being complicated because the table is busy, but the best bets are not complicated. Pass line and don’t pass are among the stronger bets in the game. The odds bet is mathematically special because it has no house edge, but you can only make it after a line bet.
Where players get hurt is the middle of the table: hardways, horn bets and other proposition bets can be exciting, but they usually carry worse math. If you are playing craps for odds, stay with the simple line-bet structure.
Video poker: pay table first, strategy second
Video poker can be one of the strongest casino categories, but it is unforgiving. You need both:
- a good pay table;
- the correct strategy for that exact game.
Wizard of Odds notes that some video poker pay tables can return over 100% when played properly and when player incentives are included. That is not the normal experience for casual players. Most people should treat video poker as a high-skill game where the visible pay table decides whether the game is worth considering.
European and French roulette: better than American roulette
Roulette is easy to understand, but the wheel type matters. European roulette has one zero. American roulette has zero and double zero, which raises the house edge. French roulette rules such as La Partage or En Prison can improve the math on even-money bets.
If you like roulette, look for:
- single-zero European roulette over double-zero American roulette;
- French roulette rules when available;
- simple outside bets if you want lower volatility;
- no belief that a betting system changes the built-in edge.
Worst casino games by odds
Keno
Keno is usually one of the weakest games by house edge. Wizard of Odds’ keno survey found returns as low as 65%-80% in live Las Vegas keno, while video keno returns varied more widely. That is a huge gap compared with low-edge table games.
The appeal of keno is the lottery-style pace and large-looking payouts. The problem is that the math often prices those payouts very expensively.
Wheel games and Big Six-style games
Wheel games are easy to play and visually satisfying, but simple does not mean efficient. These games often use large long-shot segments and uneven payout structures, which can produce a heavy house advantage. They are fine as a novelty, but they should not be the core of an odds-focused session.
Slots with low RTP or high volatility
Slots are not all bad, but they are difficult to compare without the exact RTP and volatility profile. A slot with 96.5% RTP is different from a slot with 92% RTP, and two slots with the same RTP can feel completely different if one has extreme volatility.
Use the game info screen where available. If a casino hides the RTP, or the game has several RTP versions across markets, be cautious. For more on this topic, see our guide to online slots with the highest RTP.
Side bets
Side bets are usually where strong table games become expensive. Blackjack side bets, baccarat pair bets, roulette special bets and craps proposition bets can add fun, but many have much higher house edge than the base game.
If your goal is to play the best odds, treat side bets as occasional entertainment only.
Why “chance of winning” can mislead players
A game can have many small wins and still be bad value. Another game can lose often but have a stronger long-term return. This is why “how often does it win?” is not enough.
You need three pieces of context:
- RTP / house edge – the long-term math.
- Volatility – how rough the short-term ride can be.
- Rules and decisions – whether the version you are playing matches the version used in the math.
This is also why vague claims about “games that pay the most” are dangerous. A high-RTP game still has risk, and a player can lose quickly even in a mathematically better game.
How to choose a casino game by odds
Use this short checklist before you play:
- Check the RTP or house edge if the casino or provider publishes it.
- Choose games where the rules are visible and easy to compare.
- Avoid side bets unless you accept the extra cost.
- For blackjack and video poker, learn the correct strategy first.
- For slots, check both RTP and volatility, not just theme or bonus features.
- Decide your loss limit before the session starts.
- Never raise stakes to recover losses.
If you are still learning the mechanics, our explainer on how online gambling works is a safer starting point than jumping straight into real-money play.
