The 6 Most Popular Casino Games: Rules, Odds and House Edge Explained

Poker may get the TV coverage, but it is far from the only game that fills casino floors and online lobbies. Six classics account for most of the action in land-based and online casinos alike. Here is how they compare:

The house edge is the average share of each bet the casino keeps over the long run – the lower it is, the better your odds. Let's look at each game in more detail.

Slots are the most played casino games in the world and generate the largest share of casino revenue, both online and offline. They are easy to understand – choose your stake and spin – and they offer the biggest potential wins of any casino game.

Classic slots, video slots and jackpots

• Classic slots – usually three reels and a few paylines with fruit, bar and 7 symbols.
• Video slots – five or more reels, themed graphics and bonus features such as free spins, multipliers and cascading reels.
• Progressive jackpot slots – part of every bet goes into a jackpot that keeps growing until someone wins it, sometimes across a whole network of casinos.

The key number to check is RTP (return to player): a slot with 96% RTP pays back on average 96 of every 100 wagered over the long term. Volatility tells you how the payouts are spread – low-volatility slots pay small wins often, high-volatility slots pay rarely but bigger. New to slots? Read our guide on how to play online slots or try popular titles for free in our slots section.

Blackjack is the most popular casino card game. You play against the dealer, aiming for a hand closer to 21 than theirs without going over. Number cards count at face value, face cards count as 10 and aces as 1 or 11.

Because you decide when to hit, stand, double down or split, blackjack is one of the few casino games where skill really matters. With basic strategy – the mathematically optimal play for every hand – the house edge drops to around 0.5%, the lowest of any classic casino game.

Popular blackjack variants

• European Blackjack
• Blackjack Switch
• Free Bet Blackjack
• Spanish 21
• Blackjack Face Up (Double Exposure)
• Pontoon

Many variants offer side bets such as Perfect Pairs or 21+3. They are fun, but their house edge is much higher than the main game.

Pontoon

Pontoon is a British cousin of blackjack that is especially common online. Both dealer cards are face down, a "Pontoon" (an ace plus a 10-value card) pays 2:1, a five-card hand that does not bust also pays 2:1, and the dealer wins all ties. The different rules mean the strategy changes too, so learn the basics before you play. For more, see our blackjack strategy guide.

Roulette is one of the oldest casino games and the symbol of casino glamour. Its appeal lies in the huge range of bets: you can back a single number, groups of numbers, red or black, odd or even, or high or low.

• Inside bets – single numbers or small groups; they pay up to 35:1.
• Outside bets – red/black, odd/even, dozens and columns; they win more often but pay less.

Roulette variants

• European Roulette – single zero, 2.70% house edge.
• French Roulette – single zero plus the La Partage rule, which cuts the edge on even-money bets to 1.35%.
• American Roulette – extra double zero, 5.26% house edge.
• Mini Roulette – 13 pockets for quick, low-stakes games.
• Live Roulette – a real wheel and croupier streamed from a studio.

Always pick a single-zero wheel when you can. Learn the rules and every bet in our European Roulette guide.

Craps is a fast-paced dice game where players bet on the outcome of a roll, or a series of rolls, of two dice. One player – the "shooter" – throws the dice, and everyone at the table bets on the result, which is why craps tables are famous for their crowds and cheering.

The game has dozens of bets, but beginners only need one: the Pass Line. You win if the first roll (the "come-out roll") is 7 or 11 and lose on 2, 3 or 12. Any other number becomes the "point", and you win if the point is rolled again before a 7. The Pass Line has a house edge of just 1.41%, and adding "odds" bets behind it lowers the overall edge even further. Proposition bets in the middle of the table, by contrast, carry some of the highest house edges in the casino.

Casino craps is also known as bank craps or Vegas craps. It is the standard version in US casinos and is also offered in many British, Australian and Asian venues, as well as in online and live dealer form. Read more in our craps guide.

Baccarat (also called Punto Banco) is a card game in which you bet on which of two hands – the Player or the Banker – will finish closest to 9, or on a Tie. Cards are dealt according to fixed rules, so there are no decisions to make after you place your bet.

Baccarat is hugely popular in Asia, where it is the top game in Macau, and it has long been a favourite of high rollers. Contrary to its exclusive image, it offers some of the best odds in the casino: the Banker bet has a house edge of about 1.06% (after a 5% commission) and the Player bet about 1.24%. Avoid the Tie bet – its house edge is over 14%. Learn more in our baccarat guide.

Pai Gow Poker combines American poker with the Chinese domino game Pai Gow. It is played with a 52-card deck plus a joker, and you receive seven cards, which you split into a five-card hand and a two-card hand. The five-card hand must rank higher than the two-card hand. To win, both of your hands must beat the banker's; if only one does, the bet is a push.

Because so many hands end in a push, Pai Gow Poker is a slow, relaxed game that makes a bankroll last. The house edge is around 1.5% when you play the hands correctly, and poker players enjoy using their hand-ranking skills in a new format. For more card games, see our poker guides.

• Best odds: blackjack with basic strategy, followed by baccarat (Banker bet) and craps (Pass Line).
• Easiest to learn: slots and roulette.
• Biggest potential wins: progressive jackpot slots.
• Most social: craps and live dealer games.

Whatever you choose, try the free version first, check the rules and RTP, and play at a licensed casino. Our casino reviews show which sites offer the best selection of each game, and many of them give you free spins or a no deposit bonus to get started.