The 7 best casino games

Updated October 2026.

There is no single "best casino game" for everyone, but there is an objective way to rank them: the house edge, the percentage of every bet the casino keeps in the long run. The lower it is, the longer your money lasts and the better your real chances of finishing a session ahead. By that measure, blackjack with basic strategy, baccarat and craps lead the list; slots and keno close it.

Here are the seven most played casino games ranked by house edge, with a short explanation of each, who it suits and the mistake to avoid.

The 7 best casino games at a glance

These are the standard mathematical edges of each game under common rules; worse rules (blackjack paying 6:5, American double-zero roulette) make them noticeably worse. Poker stands apart because you do not play against the casino: your opponents are the other players and your result depends on playing better than they do.

1. Blackjack

The goal is to beat the dealer's total without going over 21. What makes it the best casino game for the player is that every decision (hit, stand, double, split) has a mathematically correct answer given your hand and the dealer's up card. Follow it and the house edge falls to around 0.5%; play by feel and it rises to 2% or more.

Tip: learn basic strategy before you sit down, avoid tables paying 6:5 on blackjack instead of 3:2, and never take insurance. We have the basic strategy chart for blackjack explained step by step.

2. Video poker

It is a machine, but not a slot: you are dealt five cards, choose which to hold and get paid according to the final hand. With the right pay table (9/6 Jacks or Better, paying 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush) and optimal play, the return is close to 99.5%. With a worse pay table or poor play, it drops several points.

Tip: always check the pay table before playing and learn the poker hand rankings, which are the same as at the poker table.

3. Baccarat

You bet on which of two hands, player or banker, will come closer to 9, or on a tie. You make no decisions after betting: the cards are dealt according to fixed rules. The banker bet carries a 1.06% house edge even after the 5% commission on its wins; the player bet, 1.24%; the tie, over 14%.

Tip: always bet banker or player, never tie. Side bets (pairs, "dragon bonus") carry much higher house edges.

4. Craps

The table game with the most different bets and, for that reason, the most intimidating for a beginner. But its two basic bets are among the best in the casino: the pass line has a 1.41% edge and don't pass, 1.36%. The "odds" bets you can add behind them carry zero house edge, which lowers the total edge even further.

Tip: stick to pass or don't pass with odds and avoid the one-roll bets in the centre of the table, whose edge exceeds 10%.

5. Roulette

Pick a number, a colour or a dozen and wait for the ball. The decisive difference is the wheel: European roulette has a single zero and a 2.70% house edge on every bet; American roulette adds the double zero and jumps to 5.26%. In French roulette, the "la partage" rule returns half of even-money bets when zero hits and leaves the edge at 1.35%.

Tip: only play single-zero wheels. No betting system (Martingale, Fibonacci, D'Alembert) changes the house edge; it only changes how your losses are distributed. More in roulette tips and the numbers that come up most in roulette.

6. Poker

The only game on this list where you do not play against the casino but against other people. The house takes a commission from each pot (the rake), and the rest of the money moves between players according to skill. It is the only game where a prepared player can win consistently, and also the one where an unprepared player loses faster than at any casino table.

Online, part of that commission can be recovered through rakeback, a periodic refund of a percentage of the rake you have generated. At Habwin we compare online poker rooms precisely by the rakeback and conditions they offer. To get started, read the rules of poker.

7. Slots

Slots are the most played game in any online casino and the worst-paying one on this list: with a typical RTP between 94% and 97%, the casino keeps 3% to 6% of every bet, and the pace (several hundred spins per hour) multiplies that cost. In exchange they offer the largest top prizes, especially progressive jackpots, and require no decisions.

Tip: choose slots with a published RTP of 96% or more and a volatility that matches your budget. We explain both numbers in what a slot is and how it works.

The ones that do not make the list

• Keno and scratch cards: house edges that often exceed 20%.
• American roulette: the same game as European with twice the edge for the house.
• Side bets in blackjack, baccarat and craps: almost always worse than the main bet of the same game.
• Crash and "mines" games popular in some crypto casinos: their return depends on the operator, so check that it is published.

How to choose the best casino game for you

• You want your money to last and to make decisions: blackjack with basic strategy or video poker.
• You want simplicity with a low house edge: baccarat on the banker or craps on the pass line.
• You want a slow, relaxed pace: European roulette with even-money bets.
• You want your skill to really count: poker, with rakeback to reduce the commission.
• You want the big prize and accept paying for it: progressive jackpot slots.

All of these games also exist with a live dealer, streamed from a studio: same rules and same house edge, with the feel of a real table. To compare operators, see our online casinos.

Frequently asked questions

Which casino game has the best odds of winning?

Blackjack played with basic strategy and video poker with a full pay table, both with a house edge close to 0.5%. Among games with no decisions, baccarat on the banker (1.06%).

Which is the worst casino game?

Keno, with edges that often exceed 20%, followed by table-game side bets and American roulette.

Can you beat the casino in the long run?

In games against the house, no: the mathematical edge guarantees that players as a whole lose. In poker, yes, because you play against other people and skill decides.

What is the house edge?

The percentage of each bet the casino retains in the long run. A 2.70% edge in European roulette means that, for every 100 units wagered over millions of spins, the casino keeps 2.70 on average.

Responsible gambling. No casino game is a way to make money. Set a budget, play only with what you can afford to lose and stop when it is gone. 18+ only.