Putting games on one scale
To compare casino games fairly you need a common measure. The house edge works because it expresses each game as an average cost per unit wagered, as a percentage. A game with a 2% edge costs, on average, $2 for every $100 bet. The figures below are typical textbook values, rounded. Specific tables, pay tables and machines can differ, so check the rules before assuming any of them applies.
The main games in rough terms
| Game | Typical edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack, basic strategy, favourable rules | about 0.5% | Rises with poorer rules or weaker play |
| Roulette, single zero | about 2.7% | 1 in 37 |
| Roulette, double zero | about 5.3% | 2 in 38 |
| Baccarat, banker bet | about 1.1% | After the usual commission |
| Baccarat, player bet | about 1.2% | No commission |
| Baccarat, tie bet | around 14% at 8 to 1 | Varies with the payout |
| Slots | varies widely | Set by the operator, often higher |
The percentages for roulette follow from simple counting. A single zero wheel has 37 pockets. A bet on one number pays 35 to 1, so if you bet 1 unit on every number, you would win 35 once and lose 36 times: net result -1 across 37 units, or about 2.7%. With a second zero there are 38 pockets, and the same count gives -2 over 38 units, which is about 5.26%.
Blackjack
Blackjack is unusual because the edge depends on the player’s choices. Used well, basic strategy puts it near the bottom of the range. Poor rules, such as a natural paying 6 to 5, push it up considerably. A player ignoring strategy can also face an edge several times higher. So the lowest figure is conditional on both the table and the player. Each rule shifts the figure by a small amount, and the rule effect values add up.
Roulette
Roulette has a fixed edge for nearly every bet on a given wheel, which is a useful contrast. No decision you make changes it. Whether you bet on red, a single number or a column, the average cost per unit wagered is about the same. Choosing a single zero wheel over a double zero wheel roughly halves the edge, and that choice is the only lever.
Baccarat
Baccarat is easy to play because the rules fix most decisions, so the player’s choice is largely which bet to make. The banker and player bets have low edges compared with most casino games. The tie bet looks attractive because of the large payout, but its edge is much higher. This is a general pattern: a big headline payout often goes with a larger edge, as in many blackjack side bets.
Slots
Slot machines are different in kind, because the edge is set by the operator through the machine’s design and is not visible from the outside. Return figures are sometimes published as return to player, which is 100% minus the edge, but they can vary between machines and venues. Typically the cost per unit wagered is higher than at table games, though there is no single number to quote. Slot results also tend to be very uneven, with long quiet stretches and occasional large wins, which makes the average hard to feel.
Why a low edge does not always mean low cost
The edge is only half of the cost. The other half is how much you wager and how fast. A game with a small edge but fast play can cost more per hour than a game with a larger edge played slowly. If you want to turn an edge into a figure, multiply it by the money wagered over the time you play.
For a rough illustration with round numbers: 600 bets of $10 is $6,000 wagered. At 0.5%, the average cost is $30. At 5%, the same wagering costs $300. Those are averages, and a given session can differ a lot.
Variation around the average
Edge describes the long run. In the short run, luck dominates in every game. A player can win at roulette or slots on a given night, and lose at blackjack, even though blackjack with good play has the lower edge. This is normal variation and is part of why casinos do well: many players, many bets, and an average that eventually shows through. The point is explained further under the law of large numbers.
Using the comparison
A fair summary is that blackjack, played carefully at a good table, is among the lower-cost games in the casino, but it is not free. None of these games gives the player an average profit. If you play, treat the edge as the price of entertainment, decide how much you are willing to spend in advance, and stop there. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and do not try to recover losses. If gambling is causing difficulty, a local support service can help.