Casino Games With the Best Odds (and the Worst)
This is an educational guide. House edge and RTP figures are typical industry values and vary by individual game and operator. No game can be beaten in the long run — play for entertainment, not as a way to make money.
Every casino game is built with a "house edge" — the small mathematical advantage that lets the casino profit over time. But that edge varies enormously between games, from well under 1% to 10% or more. If you want your money to last longer, knowing which games carry the lowest edge is the single most useful thing to understand.
What "house edge" and "RTP" mean
House edge is the percentage of each bet the casino expects to keep over the long run. RTP (return to player) is the flip side: a game with a 2% house edge has a 98% RTP. These are long-run averages across millions of rounds — any single session can swing wildly in either direction.
Lowest house edge: the best-odds games
| Game | Typical house edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Video poker (full-pay Jacks or Better) | ~0.5% | Requires correct strategy; pay tables vary |
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | ~0.5% | Edge rises sharply with poor decisions |
| Baccarat (banker bet) | ~1.06% | Banker is the best bet; avoid the tie |
| Craps (pass line) | ~1.41% | Lower still when backed with odds bets |
| European roulette | 2.7% | Single zero — always better than American |
| American roulette | 5.26% | The extra double-zero doubles the edge |
| Slots | ~2%–10% | RTP usually 90%–98%; varies by game |
The blackjack and video poker caveat
Blackjack and video poker only carry their low house edge if you play with correct strategy. Make poor decisions and the edge climbs quickly. That's different from roulette or slots, where the edge is fixed no matter what you do — there are no decisions that change the maths.
Where slots fit in
Slots have a higher house edge than the best table games, but they're played for different reasons: simplicity, big top-end potential, and entertainment per spin rather than grinding a small edge. The key number to look for is the game's RTP, which good operators publish for each slot. A 97% RTP slot keeps less of your stake over time than a 92% one.
The honest bottom line
No game can be beaten in the long run — the edge always favours the house, which is exactly how casinos stay in business. Choosing lower-edge games and higher-RTP slots makes your money last longer and your session more fun, but it's still entertainment with a cost, not income.
At fortunegames.com you can browse slots with their RTP shown, so you can pick games that suit how you like to play.
Frequently asked questions
Which casino game has the best odds?
Blackjack played with basic strategy and full-pay video poker both carry a house edge of around 0.5%, the lowest of the common games.
Is European or American roulette better?
European, every time — its single zero gives a 2.7% house edge versus 5.26% for American.
Can you beat the house long-term?
No. Every game keeps a mathematical edge for the casino; lower-edge games simply make your money last longer.