Wondering which casino games with the best odds are worth learning first? Here are seven good options. Each has a proven house edge, and you can pick up the basic rules for all of them in under twenty minutes.
Below, you’ll find each game’s exact house edge, an example showing what that edge might cost you per hour, and a list of games you might want to avoid until you have more experience.
The 7 Picks, With the Edge Stated
The best casino game for beginners depends on what matters most to you. Blackjack leads on raw edge, baccarat wins on simplicity, and both make this list for a reason.
Here are the seven casino games with the best odds, ranked from lowest house edge to highest.
|
Game |
House Edge |
Learn Time |
| Blackjack | 0.5% | ~10 min for basic rules |
| Baccarat (Banker bet) | 1.06% | ~5 min, very simple |
| Craps (Pass Line) | 1.41% | ~15 min, more moving parts |
| Pai Gow Poker (as Banker) | 1.46% | ~20 min, slower-paced |
| European Roulette | 2.70% | ~5 min, but skip the American version |
| Casino War | 2.88% | ~2 min, the simplest game on this list |
| Three Card Poker | 3.37% | ~10 min, one strategy rule to remember |
Blackjack has a 0.5% house edge if you use basic strategy. The strategy is a simple chart that tells you when to hit, stand, double, or split based on your cards and the dealer’s card. You can learn it in about 10 minutes, then just follow the chart for each hand.
Baccarat’s Banker bet has a 1.06% house edge, and it’s easily the simplest game here. You just bet on Banker, Player, or Tie, and then the cards are dealt automatically with no decisions left to make. Some Vegas X games offer this format for players who want a game with no strategy to learn.
Craps' Pass Line bet has a 1.41% house edge, but if you add odds bets, it drops to about 0.37%. However, craps is more complicated than the other games here. For beginners, it’s best to stick with the Pass Line and odds bets, and ignore the rest of the table until you feel more confident.
Pai Gow Poker has a 2.84% house edge for regular players, but it drops to 1.46% if you take the banker role. The dealer lets players be the banker in turn, and it’s a good idea to accept when it’s your turn. Around 40% of hands end in a push, so Pai Gow is one of the slowest-paced games you’ll find.
European roulette has a 2.70% house edge, as long as you're playing the single-zero wheel and not the American double-zero version. To play, just pick a number, color, or range, and watch the wheel spin. Before your first session, check for a BitOfGold promo code - a bonus can help you play longer at this edge.
Casino War runs a 2.88% house edge, and it's the simplest game on this entire list. You get one card, the dealer gets one card, and the higher card wins. On a tie, always choose to go to war instead of surrendering; that one rule is the entire strategy.
Three Card Poker’s Ante/Play bet has a 3.37% house edge, which is the highest among these seven games, but still lower than most casino games. The strategy is simple: play any hand of Queen-6-4 or better, and fold anything weaker. If table games aren't your speed, highest RTP slots cover the equivalent picks for slot players.
How Much Does the House Edge Cost Per Hour?
For example, at a $10 blackjack table, you’ll play about seventy hands per hour. If you bet $10 on each hand, that’s about $700 in total bets during one hour.
With a 0.5% house edge, the expected cost is about $3.50 in that hour. Of course, your actual results may be higher or lower, but $3.50 is the average based on the math.
Now compare that to Three Card Poker at the same $10 bet. You’ll play about thirty hands per hour, so total action comes to about $300. At 3.37%, the expected hourly cost is roughly $10, three times blackjack's for a third of the hands.
Games to Skip at First and Why
What casino games to avoid at first matters just as much as what to start with. Here are three common traps to watch out for.
American roulette looks just like the European version, with the same wheel, bets, and table. The only difference is an extra pocket, the double zero, which almost doubles the house edge from 2.70% to 5.26%. Always check which wheel you’re playing before you start.
Three Card Poker’s main game has a 3.37% house edge, but the Pair Plus side bet next to it has an edge of 7% or more. It might seem tempting since it pays out on pairs or better, no matter what the dealer has. It’s best to skip this side bet and stick to Ante/Play only.
Craps has a similar risk. Proposition bets and hardways are in the center of the table and offer big payouts, but their house edge is between 11% and 16%. It’s best to stick with the Pass Line and odds bets, and just watch the rest for fun.
FAQ
Do Simple Games Have Better Odds?
Not necessarily, and baccarat versus Three Card Poker proves it. Baccarat is one of the easiest casino games on this list, one bet with zero decisions, and it also has one of the lowest house edges at 1.06%. Three Card Poker is just as simple to learn, with one strategy rule, but its edge is more than three times higher.
Are Side Bets Ever Worth It?
Rarely, and it depends entirely on the specific bet. Craps' odds bet is the one real exception, a genuine 0% house edge tied to the Pass Line. Nearly everything else labeled a side bet, from Pair Plus to hardways, carries a much higher edge than the main game next to it.
Where Can You Practice Before Playing With Real Stakes?
Starting at the table minimum on a low-edge pick like blackjack or baccarat is the practical way to practice. You're playing real hands, but the cost per hand stays low while you learn these casino games with the best odds.
Once you know which games to start with, you can sign up and play with the edge already in mind.
These casino games with the best odds are available through BitOfGold for entertainment only, and no outcome on any hand or spin is ever certain. Players must be 21 or older to participate.