Game-by-Game House Edge: Slots, Blackjack, Roulette, Dice
Every casino game keeps a mathematical cut called the house edge — the flip side of RTP. It varies widely: blackjack and some video poker sit near 0.5 percent with correct play, baccarat's banker bet around 1.06 percent, European roulette 2.7 percent, American roulette 5.26 percent, and slots typically 2 to 8 percent. Strategy lowers the edge only in games with real decisions; in slots, roulette, baccarat and most dice or crash games the number is fixed and no betting system changes it. All of these figures describe the long run, not any single session — gambling carries real financial risk, is 18+ only, and may not be legal where you live, so check local law first.
What is house edge, and how does it relate to RTP?
House edge is the operator's long-run cut; RTP is the same figure seen from the player's side.
House edge is the percentage of every wager a game is designed to keep for the operator over millions of rounds. Return to player (RTP) is the mirror image: the share paid back to players. A 96 percent RTP is simply a 4 percent house edge. Both describe averages over enormous sample sizes, so short sessions can and do swing wildly in either direction. For the full distinction and the traps in reading these numbers, see our explainer on RTP vs house edge, and keep our crypto gambling glossary open for any unfamiliar terms.
How does the house edge compare across games?
It ranges from roughly half a percent to eight percent depending on the game and rules.
The single most useful thing a player can do is know the rough edge of what they are betting on before they bet. The table below lists typical ranges seen at online and crypto casinos. Actual figures vary by the specific title, rule set, and paytable, so treat these as industry reference bands rather than fixed guarantees.
| Game | Typical house edge | Approx. RTP | Does skill change it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | ~0.5% | ~99.5% | Yes — decisions matter |
| Video poker (strong paytable) | ~0.5%–2% | ~98%–99.5% | Yes — decisions matter |
| Baccarat (banker bet) | ~1.06% | ~98.9% | No — fixed by bet choice |
| Baccarat (player bet) | ~1.24% | ~98.8% | No |
| Roulette (European, single zero) | ~2.7% | ~97.3% | No |
| Roulette (American, double zero) | ~5.26% | ~94.7% | No |
| Dice / crash (crypto-native) | ~1%–5% (adjustable) | ~95%–99% | No — edge is preset |
| Online slots | ~2%–8% | ~92%–98% | No — RTP is fixed |
Why do slots carry a higher edge than table games?
Slots are pure chance with a fixed RTP baked into the math model — no decision helps.
A slot's return is set by its design: the reel weightings and paytable determine RTP, and nothing you do at the button changes it. Bet size, timing, and "hot" or "cold" streaks are irrelevant to the long-run number. Studios publish RTP figures commonly between 92 and 98 percent, and some titles let operators pick from several RTP versions of the same game — so the identical-looking slot can differ between casinos. This is exactly why RTP transparency is part of how we assess sites, alongside the licensing and payment checks in our crypto casino guide.
Where does strategy actually move the number?
Only in games with genuine decisions — mainly blackjack and video poker.
The headline figures for blackjack and video poker assume optimal play. Deviate and your effective edge rises, sometimes sharply. That is the crucial asymmetry: a low quoted edge is only available if you make the mathematically correct choice on every hand. Understanding where skill applies keeps you from wasting effort where it cannot.
- Blackjack: Basic strategy (when to hit, stand, double, split) pushes the edge toward ~0.5%. Rule variations — dealer stands on soft 17, blackjack payout of 3:2 vs 6:5 — meaningfully shift it.
- Video poker: The paytable is everything; a "9/6" Jacks or Better returns far more than a short-pay version, and correct hold decisions are required to realise it.
- Roulette, baccarat, slots, dice/crash: No decision changes the odds. Bet selection changes variance and which fixed edge applies, but not the long-run expectation.
Martingale, Fibonacci and similar progressions rearrange when wins and losses land; they never alter a game's built-in house edge. On a fixed-edge game the long-run math is identical regardless of the pattern you bet.
European vs American roulette: why the gap?
The extra double-zero pocket nearly doubles the American edge to 5.26 percent.
European (single-zero) roulette has 37 pockets and a house edge of about 2.7 percent. American (double-zero) roulette adds a second green pocket for 38 total, raising the edge to roughly 5.26 percent while paying the same odds. The bet looks identical to a casual player, but the American wheel costs nearly twice as much per unit wagered over time. Where both are offered, the single-zero wheel is the mathematically stronger choice.
How should players use these numbers?
Treat the edge as a long-run cost of entertainment, not a session prediction.
Knowing the edge tells you the average price of play, not what will happen tonight. Variance dominates short sessions, which is why a high-edge slot can still hand out a big win and a low-edge blackjack shoe can still lose. Use the figures to set expectations and bankroll, favour lower-edge games and correct strategy if value matters to you, and set firm limits before you start. Our responsible gambling resources cover deposit and loss limits, and you can see how edge and RTP feed into site selection on our ranked best crypto casinos list.