House Edge & RTP Reference for Every Casino Game
Every common casino game in one table: what the casino keeps on average, and what that means as return to player (RTP).
How to read this table
House edge is the share of each bet the casino keeps on average over a very long run. RTP (return to player) is the other side of the same number: RTP = 100% − house edge. A 2.7% edge means an RTP of 97.3%, so on average you get back $97.30 for every $100 you bet. Neither number tells you what will happen tonight; both describe the long run.
The “Gambling101 figure” column is taken from our house edge by game guide, which gives typical ranges because rules differ from casino to casino. The “Wizard of Odds” column is the figure from the Wizard of Odds house edge comparison, which assumes specific rules and optimal play. Where the two differ, it is usually because we quote a range and they quote one rule set. “Not listed” means that source does not give a figure for that bet. RTP is worked out from our figure.
House edge and RTP by game
| Game | Bet | Gambling101 figure (house edge) | RTP (100% − our edge) | Wizard of Odds figure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack | Main hand, basic strategy | ~0.4–1.0% | 99–99.60% | 0.28% (liberal Vegas rules); 0.43% (Atlantic City rules) |
| Blackjack | Side bets (Pairs, 21+3 and similar) | ~5–20%+ | — | not listed |
| Spanish 21 | Dealer stands on soft 17 | ~0.40% | 99.60% | 0.40% |
| Spanish 21 | Dealer hits soft 17 | not listed | — | 0.76% |
| Baccarat | Banker | ~1.0–1.2% | 98.80–99% | 1.06% |
| Baccarat | Player | ~1.2–1.3% | 98.70–98.80% | 1.24% |
| Baccarat | Tie | ~10–14%+ | — | 14.36% (8 to 1 payout) |
| Roulette | European, single zero | 2.7% | 97.30% | 2.70% |
| Roulette | American, double zero | 5.26% | 94.74% | 5.26% |
| Craps | Pass / Come | ~1.4–1.6% | 98.40–98.60% | 1.41% |
| Craps | Don’t Pass / Don’t Come | ~1.4–1.6% | 98.40–98.60% | 1.36% |
| Craps | Odds bet (behind a line bet) | 0% on the odds itself | 100.00% | 0.00% |
| Craps | Place 6 or 8 | ~1–3% | 97–99% | 1.52% |
| Craps | Any seven | ~5–16%+ (proposition bets) | — | 16.67% |
| Video poker | Full-pay Jacks or Better, correct strategy | ~0.5–1% | 99–99.50% | 0.46% |
| Video poker | Short-pay versions | 2–5%+ | — | not listed |
| Three Card Poker | Ante & Play | ~3.37% | 96.63% | 3.37% |
| Three Card Poker | Pair Plus | ~2.3–7.3% | 92.70–97.70% | 7.28% (one common paytable) |
| Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em | Base game | ~2.19% of ante (~0.53% of total action) | 97.81% | 2.19% (element of risk 0.53%) |
| Let It Ride | Base game | ~3.51% (~2.85% of total action) | 96.49% | 3.51% (element of risk 2.85%) |
| Let It Ride | Bonus side bet | ~14–25%+ | — | not listed |
| Caribbean Stud Poker | Ante / Raise | ~5.2% (~2.56% of total action) | 94.80% | 5.22% (element of risk 2.56%) |
| Mississippi Stud | Base game | ~4.91% of ante (~1.37% of total action) | 95.09% | not in the comparison table; see the game page |
| Pai Gow Poker | Player | ~2.5–2.85% | 97.15–97.50% | 1.46% (overall figure in the table) |
| Pai Gow Poker | Banker, when offered | Often under 1% | — | not listed |
| Sic Bo | Big / Small | ~2.78% | 97.22% | 2.78%–33.33% across all bets |
| Sic Bo | Triples and long-shot totals | ~15–20%+ | — | see range above |
| Keno | Typical game | ~5–25%+ (grouped with novelty games) | — | 25%–29% |
| Slots | Typical machine | ~4–10%+ (varies) | — | 2%–15% |
| Casino War | Go to war on ties | ~2.88% | 97.12% | 2.88% |
| Big Six wheel | $1 bet | not listed | — | 11.11% |
| Red Dog | Six decks | not listed | — | 2.80% |
Element of risk (or “total action”) figures divide the expected loss by everything you end up betting, including raises, instead of by the first bet. They make games with extra wagers easier to compare with simple games.
What the numbers mean for your money
Multiply the house edge by everything you bet to get your expected loss. Fifty $10 hands of blackjack at a 0.5% edge cost about $2.50 on average. Fifty $10 spins of American roulette at 5.26% cost about $26.30. Speed matters as much as the edge: a fast slot with a modest edge can cost more per hour than a slow table game with a higher one. The bankroll duration simulator shows this for your own numbers.
The detailed guides
This page is a quick reference. It does not replace the full explanations, which go into rules, strategy and why each edge exists:
- House edge by game: the comparison guide our figures come from.
- House edge in gambling: where the casino’s advantage comes from and how it compounds.
- House edge calculator: work out the edge for any paytable or bet.
- Complete odds theory: the probability behind it all.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds: House edge of casino games compared
- Wizard of Odds: Mississippi Stud
- Gambling101: House edge by game
Reviewed by Greg Parsons, editor, against the sources above.