Everyone walks into a casino or logs onto an app thinking the same thing: what’s the one game where I actually have a shot? Most of the time, the answer you get is vague advice like “play smart” or “manage your bankroll.” But if you’re looking for concrete numbers and specific titles where the house edge is razor-thin, you want games with the highest Return to Player (RTP) percentages. We’re talking about differences that matter—like playing a slot with a 96% RTP versus one with 99%, or choosing blackjack over American Roulette. Here’s where to find the best odds in the house.
If you’re strictly looking for the game with the best statistical chance of winning, blackjack is the undisputed champion. When you play standard American blackjack with standard rules, the house edge sits at roughly 0.5%—provided you use basic strategy. That’s nearly a coin flip. Compare that to slots, where the house edge can climb above 5% or higher, and the math speaks for itself.
The key here is “basic strategy.” If you play hunches, the edge balloons to 2% or more. But if you memorize the chart—which tells you exactly when to hit, stand, split, or double down based on your cards and the dealer’s up-card—you bring the odds down to that beautiful sub-1% range. Online platforms like BetMGM and Caesars Palace Online Casino offer virtual blackjack tables that enforce these standard rules, making it easy to practice without the pressure of a live pit boss.
Variants matter, too. Look for “Blackjack Pays 3:2” rather than 6:5. A 6:5 payout increases the house edge by roughly 1.4%, which is a massive difference over a session. Always check the table rules before you sit down, whether it’s a digital table or a live dealer game on DraftKings Casino.
Often overlooked in favor of flashy slots, video poker is one of the few casino games where skill actually impacts the outcome. Unlike a slot machine where you just hit a button and pray, video poker requires you to make decisions on which cards to hold and discard. Get good at it, and the house edge plummets.
The gold standard here is “Full Pay” Jacks or Better. If you can find a machine or an online version with a 9/6 pay table (meaning it pays 9 coins for a Full House and 6 for a Flush), the RTP is 99.54%. That means for every $100 you wager, the theoretical return is $99.54. Even better, Deuces Wild Full Pay can push the RTP over 100% with perfect strategy—yes, that means you have a mathematical edge over the house. These full-pay machines are rare in land-based casinos, but you can still find competitive pay tables at operators like FanDuel Casino and BetRivers.
For players who want great odds without learning complex strategy charts, baccarat is the sweet spot. It’s purely a guessing game: you bet on the Banker, the Player, or a Tie. That’s it. The dealer does all the work, drawing cards according to fixed rules.
The math heavily favors betting on the Banker. Because the Banker hand wins slightly more often (roughly 45.8% vs. 44.6% for Player), the house edge on a Banker bet is just 1.06%. Casinos account for this by taking a 5% commission on Banker wins, but even with that cut, it remains one of the best bets in the building. Just avoid the Tie bet—it carries a massive house edge of over 14%, making it a bankroll killer.
Slots are generally the worst bet in the house, but not all of them are created equal. A small percentage of online slots offer RTPs above 98%, rivaling table games. If you prefer spinning reels to playing cards, you need to hunt for these specific titles.
The most famous example is Mega Joker by NetEnt. When played in “Supermeter” mode with max bet, the RTP climbs to an incredible 99%. Another top contender is Blood Suckers, a vampire-themed slot with a 98% RTP that is a favorite among bonus hunters because it typically contributes 100% to wagering requirements. Starmania by NextGen is another solid pick, offering a 97.87% RTP with frequent hits and low volatility, meaning your bankroll tends to last longer.
Avoid branded games tied to movies or TV shows. These usually have lower RTPs (often 94-95%) because the developer has to pay licensing fees. Instead, look for classic fruit machines or high-RTP games listed in the information section of the slot menu at sites like Borgata Online or Hard Rock Bet.
Craps offers some of the best bets in the casino, but also some of the worst. If you stick to the Pass Line and Come bets, the house edge is a respectable 1.41%. Where players get crushed is on the proposition bets in the middle of the table—the Any 7 bet, for example, carries a whopping 16.67% house edge. If you want to win at craps, ignore the center action entirely and stick to the basic line bets or take the odds bet (which has a 0% house edge).
When it comes to roulette, the version you play is critical. American Roulette has a double zero pocket, pushing the house edge to 5.26% on almost every bet. European Roulette, which only has a single zero, cuts that edge to 2.7%. If you can find French Roulette with the La Partage rule (where you get half your even-money bet back if the ball lands on zero), the edge drops further to just 1.35%. Always seek out the European wheel if it’s available.
Not all games are created equal when it comes to your chance of walking away with cash. Here is a quick breakdown of the best options available at US casino apps, comparing the house edge and what you need to do to get those odds.
| Game | House Edge | Strategy Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack (Basic Strategy) | ~0.5% | Medium | Players who want control |
| Video Poker (Full Pay) | ~0.46% | High | Skilled grinders |
| Baccarat (Banker Bet) | ~1.06% | Low | Beginners / Low stress |
| Craps (Pass Line) | ~1.41% | Medium | High energy fun |
| European Roulette | ~2.7% | Low | Simple betting variety |
Blackjack generally has the highest payout percentage, with a house edge of roughly 0.5% if you play basic strategy correctly. However, certain Full Pay video poker variants like Deuces Wild can theoretically offer an RTP of over 100% with perfect play, giving the player a slight mathematical advantage.
Most slots have lower RTPs than table games, usually between 92% and 96%. However, high-RTP slots like Mega Joker (99%) or Blood Suckers (98%) offer odds comparable to blackjack. If you play slots, always check the game info for the RTP and look for games with a return higher than 97%.
The odds in live dealer games are identical to their digital or land-based counterparts because they use real cards and equipment. For example, live blackjack follows the same math as virtual blackjack. However, live games play much slower, meaning you will wager less money per hour, which actually helps your bankroll last longer.
Always bet on the Banker. Statistically, the Banker hand wins slightly more often than the Player hand, resulting in a low house edge of just 1.06%. Even with the 5% commission taken on wins, the Banker bet is mathematically superior to the Player bet (1.24% edge) and much better than the Tie bet (over 14% edge).