Which casino games have the best odds? Blackjack played with correct basic strategy usually comes out on top, with a house edge of roughly 0.5%, followed by the banker bet in baccarat, the pass and don’t pass lines in craps and even-money bets on French roulette. Slots and keno sit much lower. Every game still keeps an edge, so losses are the expected result over time.
Blackjack with basic strategy (about 0.5% edge) and baccarat’s banker bet (about 1.06%) give the best odds of the common casino games.
French roulette with La Partage halves the edge on even-money bets to about 1.35%; American roulette doubles it to about 5.26%.
Expected loss = total amount staked × house edge, so speed and stake size matter as much as the game.
Since 17 January 2025, online RNG table games in Great Britain must take at least 5 seconds per game cycle, which slows how fast the edge works.
No game has odds in your favour, and no betting system changes that.
Best common odds
Blackjack, basic strategy (about 0.5% edge)
Close behind
Baccarat banker (about 1.06%), craps pass line (about 1.41%)
Roulette
French 1.35% (even money, La Partage), European 2.70%, American 5.26%
Online slots
Usually 94%–97% RTP, so a 3%–6% edge
UK speed rule
5 seconds per RNG table game cycle since 17 January 2025
Checked
20 October 2026
Which casino games have the best odds: the short answer
The casino games with the best odds for players are the ones with the lowest house edge: the percentage of each stake the game keeps on average over a very long run. Ranked from best to worst among games you will find at a UK online casino, the order is roughly blackjack with perfect strategy, baccarat (banker, then player), craps line bets, French roulette on even-money bets, European roulette, a handful of high-RTP slots and video poker, then American roulette, most game shows and keno.
Two points change how that list works in practice. First, the edge applies to the specific bet, not just the game: in baccarat, the banker bet is one of the best wagers in the building while the tie bet is one of the worst. Second, the figures below are standard published values for the usual rules. A casino can run a variant with different rules or pay tables, and the game’s help screen shows the figure for the version in front of you. Our house edge explained guide covers the maths in more depth.
Better odds mean you lose more slowly on average. They never mean you are expected to win. Treat any game as paid entertainment and set a budget before you start.
Casino game odds compared: house edge by bet
This table uses the standard published figures for each bet under common rules. Return to player (RTP) is simply 100% minus the house edge.
House edge and RTP of popular casino bets (standard rules)
Game and bet
House edge
RTP
Notes
Blackjack, basic strategy
About 0.5%
About 99.5%
Varies with deck count, dealer soft 17 rule and 3:2 vs 6:5 payouts
Why blackjack usually has the best odds in a UK casino
Blackjack is the one mainstream casino game where your decisions change the edge. A player who follows blackjack basic strategy, a chart of the mathematically best move for every hand, typically faces an edge of around 0.5% under good rules. Someone who plays by hunch, stands on 12 against a dealer 2 or never doubles can easily push that figure to 2% or more.
Rules matter as well. A table that pays 3:2 on a natural, uses fewer decks and has the dealer stand on soft 17 is better for you than one paying 6:5. Side bets such as Perfect Pairs or 21+3 carry much higher edges than the main hand, so they drag the overall figure up. Our blackjack rules page and our answer on the house edge in blackjack go through the rule variations one by one.
Baccarat and craps: low-edge games with no skill needed
Online baccarat offers some of the best odds available without any strategy at all. You simply back banker or player. The banker hand wins slightly more often, which is why the casino takes a 5% commission on banker wins, leaving an edge of about 1.06%. Player sits at about 1.24%. The tie bet, usually paying 8 to 1, has an edge above 14%, so it turns one of the best games into one of the worst if you use it often.
Craps works in a similar way. The pass line and don’t pass line carry edges of about 1.41% and 1.36%, and the optional odds bet placed behind them pays at true odds, so it adds no edge at all. Proposition bets in the middle of the table, such as any seven, carry edges well into double figures. Wizard of Odds’ craps guide (opens in a new tab) lists every bet if you want the full breakdown.
Best odds in roulette: French, European or American
Roulette shows clearly how a small rule change moves the odds. Every European roulette bet has a 2.70% edge because there are 37 pockets but payouts are calculated as if there were 36. American roulette adds a double zero, which almost doubles the edge to 5.26% for the same payouts. French roulette uses the single-zero wheel but adds La Partage: when zero lands, half of an even-money bet is returned, cutting the edge on those bets to about 1.35%.
Inside bets (straight up, split, corner) have the same edge as outside bets on the same wheel; they just swing more. Our roulette odds page shows the payout and true odds of every bet type.
What better odds mean in pounds: worked examples
The house edge turns into a simple formula: expected loss = total staked × house edge. Total staked is your bet size multiplied by the number of bets, not the money you deposit. The same £10 a hand can cost very different amounts depending on the game.
Expected loss on 200 bets of £10 (£2,000 staked)
Game and bet
House edge
Expected loss
Expected balance from £100
Blackjack, basic strategy
0.5%
£10
£90
Baccarat, banker
1.06%
£21.20
£78.80
French roulette, red/black
1.35%
£27
£73
European roulette
2.70%
£54
£46
Slot at 96% RTP
4%
£80
£20
American roulette
5.26%
£105.20
Likely busted before 200 bets
These are averages over many players. Any one session can finish well above or below them, which is why volatility matters alongside the edge. A low-edge game still loses money over time, just more slowly.
Game speed and the UK 5-second rule
How quickly you play changes the cost per hour as much as the edge does. Since 17 January 2025, Gambling Commission rules have required online casino games other than slots, including RNG roulette, blackjack and house-banked poker, to take at least 5 seconds per game cycle, with autoplay banned across all online casino products. Slots have needed at least 2.5 seconds per spin since 31 October 2021. The remote gambling and software technical standards (opens in a new tab) set out these requirements, and our table game speed rules page explains the timeline.
In practice, a slot played at the minimum 2.5 seconds can run 1,440 spins an hour. At £1 a spin and a 4% edge, that is about £57.60 of expected loss an hour. An RNG blackjack game at the 5-second minimum tops out at 720 hands an hour; at £1 and 0.5%, the expected cost is about £3.60. Live dealer games run slower still because a real croupier deals each round.
How to find the best odds at an online casino
Use this routine whenever you open a new table or game. It takes a couple of minutes and avoids the expensive mistakes.
Open the game’s help or info screen and find the RTP or house edge for the main bet.
Check the rules that move the edge: blackjack payout and decks, zero rules on roulette, commission on baccarat.
Look up the edge on any side bet before using it; they are almost always worse than the main bet.
Pick a stake that keeps your planned number of bets inside your budget.
Set a deposit limit and a reality check in your account before you play.
Stop when the budget is gone; never raise stakes to recover losses.
“Doubling up after a loss improves my odds.” The Martingale system changes the size of your bets, not the edge on each one. A long losing run or the table maximum ends it.
“Red is due after eight blacks.” Each spin is independent; this is the gambler’s fallacy.
“Live games have better odds than RNG games.” The edge depends on the rules, not the format. A live European wheel and an RNG European wheel both run at 2.70%.
“Big bets win more often.” Stake size has no effect on the probability of winning a hand or spin; it only scales the result.
All five of the casinos we feature hold UK Gambling Commission licences, so the same baseline protections apply whichever game you choose. You must be 18 or over and verified before you can play, including demo versions. Credit cards have been banned for gambling since 14 April 2020. Since 31 October 2025, casinos must prompt you to set a financial limit before your first deposit. Online slot stakes are capped at £5 a spin (25 and over) or £2 (18–24), but those caps do not apply to roulette or blackjack, so table limits are set by each casino. The UK casino rules summary lists every change with dates.
Where to play casino games with good odds in the UK
Any UKGC-licensed casino offers the main low-edge games, so focus on the rules of each table rather than the brand. Bonuses rarely help table players: many casinos exclude or reduce the contribution of blackjack and roulette towards wagering, as our game weighting guide explains. The two offers below are slot offers, not table bonuses.
Coral Casino: new players aged 18+ who deposit and bet at least £10 on slots receive 100 free spins at 10p each on selected games, between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027. The spins must be accepted within 48 hours and used within 7 days, winnings from them have no wagering, and deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards or certain debit cards don’t count. T&Cs apply.
PlayOJO: new UK customers aged 18+ (not in Northern Ireland) who make a first deposit of £10 or more get 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, worth 10p each, with any winnings paid in cash rather than bonus funds. Claim through the designated offer link; it can’t be combined with other offers. T&Cs apply.
Neither partner offer is a table-game bonus: both are slot free spins offers. They are shown because they carry no wagering on spin winnings, which keeps the terms simple. 18+, T&Cs apply.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Which casino game has the best odds?
Blackjack played with correct basic strategy has the best odds of the common casino games, with a house edge of around 0.5% under good rules. That figure depends on following the strategy chart and on table rules such as a 3:2 payout for a natural. Without strategy, baccarat’s banker bet at about 1.06% is the best simple option, since it needs no decisions. Remember the edge still applies, so you should expect to lose a little over time. Our blackjack basic strategy page shows the chart in full.
Which casino game has the worst odds?
Keno and some side bets usually have the worst odds, with house edges that can exceed 20%. Baccarat’s tie bet at about 14.36% and American roulette’s five-number bet are also expensive. Many big-wheel game shows have edges of several per cent on certain segments. High payouts on these bets look attractive, but the casino prices them so the house keeps a much larger share of every pound. Check the help screen before you bet, and compare it with the figures in our understanding casino odds guide.
Do slots or table games have better odds?
Table games usually have better odds than slots, though there are exceptions. A typical slot returns 94% to 97%, an edge of 3% to 6%, while blackjack, baccarat and European roulette range from about 0.5% to 2.7%. Some slots publish RTPs above 97%, and some table side bets are worse than any slot. Slots also play faster, so the hourly cost is often higher even at the same edge. Our slots vs table games comparison sets out the differences side by side.
Is roulette a good game for odds?
Roulette is reasonable on a single-zero wheel and poor on a double-zero one. European roulette has a 2.70% edge on every bet, French roulette with La Partage cuts that to about 1.35% on even-money bets, and American roulette sits at 5.26%. That makes the wheel type more important than which numbers you choose. No bet pattern changes the edge. If roulette is your game, pick a French or European table and read our best roulette bet answer for the detail.
Does the house edge mean I will lose that exact amount?
No, the house edge is an average over a very large number of bets, not a fixed charge on each session. Over 50 hands you might be well up or well down. Over tens of thousands of hands, results tend towards the edge. That is why short-term wins are possible but long-run profit is not expected. Use the edge to estimate the average cost of your play, then set a budget that covers it. Our house edge glossary entry has more worked examples.
Are the odds the same online and in a live casino?
The odds are the same when the rules are the same. A live European roulette table and an RNG European roulette game both have a 2.70% edge, because the wheel layout and payouts match. Differences come from rule variations, such as Lightning-style multipliers that lower the payout on straight-up numbers, or blackjack tables with different deck counts. Live games are slower, which lowers the hourly cost. See our live vs RNG comparison for a fuller explanation.
Can a betting system improve casino odds?
No betting system can improve the odds of a casino game. Systems such as Martingale, Fibonacci or D’Alembert change how much you stake after a win or loss, but every individual bet still carries the same house edge. Raising stakes after losses can also lead to large losses very quickly and to chasing behaviour. The only ways to reduce the cost of play are choosing lower-edge bets, betting less and playing more slowly. Our betting systems guide runs the numbers on each system.
Is video poker a good-odds game?
Video poker can offer good odds, but only on generous pay tables played with correct strategy. A full-pay Jacks or Better game with a 9/6 pay table returns about 99.5% with perfect play, while lower pay tables, such as 8/5, drop noticeably. Many online versions use reduced pay tables, and mistakes in which cards to hold cost more than people expect. Compare the pay table for a full house and flush before playing. Our Jacks or Better page explains the key pay table lines.
Do UK rules limit stakes on table games?
UK stake limits apply only to online slots, not to table games. Since 9 April 2025, players aged 25 and over can stake up to £5 per slot spin, and since 21 May 2025 players aged 18 to 24 are limited to £2. Roulette, blackjack and baccarat are not covered, so table limits are set by each casino. Separate rules require at least 5 seconds per game cycle on RNG table games. The £5 slot stake limit page explains who the caps cover.
Which casino games are best for a small budget?
Low-edge games with small minimum stakes stretch a small budget furthest. Blackjack and baccarat tables with low minimums, or European roulette on even-money bets, lose more slowly than high-volatility slots. Slots with low volatility pay small amounts more often, which can lengthen a session, but their edge is usually higher. Decide your total spend first, then divide it by the number of bets you want. Our casino bankroll basics guide shows how to size stakes for a set budget.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get free support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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