Table Game Odds Compared: Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and Craps

Every casino table game has a built-in mathematical advantage for the house. Understanding these odds helps you make informed decisions about which games offer better value for your money and what to realistically expect over time. This guide compares four widely available games across land-based and online casinos on their actual odds, not promises. Remember: no game favors the player in the long run, but some games are mathematically fairer than others.

Blackjack typically offers a house edge of 0.5% to 1% when you follow basic strategy—a mathematically optimal set of decisions for every hand combination. This is the lowest edge among these four games. The house advantage varies by casino rules: games that pay 3:2 for blackjack are better than those paying 6:5, and the number of decks in play also affects your odds. Some casinos offer side bets with significantly higher house edges (5% or more), so basic blackjack is preferable if your goal is to minimize losses. The skill element means your decisions genuinely matter, though no strategy can eliminate the house edge entirely.

American roulette carries a house edge of 2.70% on every spin, because the wheel contains both a 0 and 00, in addition to numbers 1–36. European roulette, with only a single 0, reduces this to 1.35%. The odds remain constant regardless of what numbers have appeared recently—each spin is independent. You can bet on single numbers (paying 35:1), pairs, columns, red/black, or odd/even, but all bets carry the same house edge. Roulette requires no decisions once you place your bet, making it purely a game of chance. Online casinos sometimes list both American and European versions, so check which you're playing.

Baccarat is a simple game where you bet on the player, banker, or a tie. The banker hand has a slight mathematical advantage and wins slightly more often, so the banker bet typically pays 19:20 (or 95% of your stake) to account for this. Betting on the player usually pays 1:1 but loses slightly more often. Tie bets pay 8:1 or 9:1 but occur infrequently, and carry a house edge of around 14%, making them poor value. The overall house edge for banker bets is roughly 1.06%, while player bets are around 1.24%. This game involves no decisions after your initial wager, and outcomes are determined purely by card dealing rules.

Craps offers the widest range of odds because it has many different bets available. The pass/don't pass and come/don't come bets carry a house edge around 1.40%. Taking or laying odds (additional bets placed after the initial bet) can lower your effective house edge significantly, sometimes below 1%. However, proposition bets in the middle of the table carry much higher edges, ranging from 2% to over 16%, and should be avoided if minimizing losses matters to you. Craps is more complex than the other games listed here, requiring you to understand multiple bet types, but the basic bets are competitive with blackjack and baccarat in terms of fair odds.

For players focused on favorable odds, here is the typical ranking: (1) Blackjack with basic strategy: 0.5–1%; (2) Craps pass/don't pass bets: ~1.40%; (3) Baccarat banker bet: ~1.06%; (4) Baccarat player bet: ~1.24%; (5) European roulette: 1.35%; (6) American roulette: 2.70%. These are mathematical averages over many hands or spins. No individual session or night guarantees these outcomes—variance means you may win or lose significantly in the short term. The house edge is a long-term measure, and the edge always favors the casino. Responsible play means setting a budget you can afford to lose and viewing any winnings as a bonus rather than income.