RTP & House Edge: Casino Games Ranked by Payout

What Is the House Edge?

Every casino game is a little different from the others — they differ not only in terms of their rules and functions, but also in terms of the house edge. The house edge shows how much the casino keeps for itself on average and is therefore the casino’s main source of income. Since the edge isn’t the same for all games, some are better and more lucrative for players than others. Games with a low house edge are much more worthwhile than games where the house edge is high because this gives you a greater chance of winning.

The house edge for each game is completely transparent at most casinos. However, this only applies to games in online casinos; in bricks-and-mortar casinos, this type of information is not always easy to find.

How Exactly Does the House Edge Work?

The house edge describes the casino’s theoretical advantage, as a percentage, over you as a player in the long term. Since some games can lead to a tie between the player and the house, it is not easy to calculate the bank advantage in these games. Seasoned players know that a game with a low house edge is much more lucrative than a game with a high bank edge. With slot machines, for example, the house edge is almost always higher than it is for table and card games. In roulette, the edge can be as low as 1.35%; in blackjack, it can sometimes amount to only 0.28%. Slots vary widely, but they usually have a house edge of around 4%.

Let's stay with roulette for a moment. In European Roulette, the average house edge is 2.7%. Here’s an example:

€10 Wager - €0.27 House Edge = €9.73

This means that if you bet €10 on roulette with a house edge of 2.7%, you’ll lose an average of €0.27 every round, leaving you with €9.73. This is, of course, only an average and does not account for the long-term gains you can amass by adopting a strategy.

Now, let’s see how the house edge plays out in a range of other games.

Casino Games Ranked by House Edge

1. Ultimate Texas Hold'em

House edge: 0.5%

Ultimate Texas Hold’em is at the top of the list when it comes to having the lowest house edge. The game is relatively fresh on the market. UTH is offered in most online casinos and can be played with a very low house edge. However, there’s a certain amount of strategy that you need to master to get the most out of it. Don’t worry; the strategy is easy to learn, and we’ll teach you some tricks later.

2. Blackjack

House edge: 0.28% - 0.8%

Blackjack is the supreme discipline among casino players, and this game is particularly advantageous when it comes to the house edge. The casino’s house edge varies widely according to the exact rules of the game you’re playing, but if you play optimally, it’s always below one percent. If you have the choice, you should pick a blackjack game where the dealer can no longer draw on soft-17 because these games have a better house edge.

Caution: In the US, and in some parts of Europe, there are casinos that only pay 6:5 instead of 3:2 for a blackjack. These games have a significantly higher house edge (over 1.7%) and should be avoided.

3. Texas Hold'em Bonus Poker

House edge: 0.53% - 1.47%

With a house edge of 0.53% (according to Las Vegas rules), Texas Hold'em Bonus Poker is also a superb casino game. These are the rules that are used in most online casinos. The strategy in Texas Hold'em Bonus Poker isn’t that easy to master because there are several points where you can make a decision. We’ll explain the basic strategy later in this guide.

4. Punto Banco Baccarat

House edge: 1.06%

Punto Banco Baccarat is a game that's particularly popular with high rollers. As a player, you don't have to do anything other than bet on whether the banker or player will win the round. If you bet on the banker, the game has a house edge of a little over 1%. However, it should be noted that most casinos only offer baccarat with very high minimum stakes and that a lower house edge can quickly add up to become a large sum.

5. Video Poker

House edge: 0.46% - 1.7%

Video poker has traditionally been a game that many casinos offer with a very low house edge simply because many players have no idea how to play the game properly. So, if you play poker poorly, the actual payout might be 95% or less — even if the machine has a payout percentage of 99.5% (that’s a house edge of 0.5%).

6. Craps

House edge: 1.36%

Craps has always been one of the most popular games, especially in American casinos. But this dice game has also become increasingly popular online. It is possible to play craps with a manageable house edge. If you limit yourself to the simple bets, such as Pass / Don’t Pass and Come / Don’t Come, the house edge is 1.36 and 1.41 percent, respectively. Other bets, however, are significantly worse for the player and have a house edge of up to 17%.

7. Three-Card Poker

House edge: 2.01%

Another poker variant is Three-Card Poker. This is played with three cards and is much easier than most other casino poker options. The player only needs to make a strategic decision at one point in the game, and this is extremely straightforward. Accordingly, the house edge in this game is not as good as it is in many other poker games. But with an effective house edge of 2.01%, Three-Card Poker is still better choice than a lot of other popular games played at casinos.

8. Online Slots

House edge: 1% - 10%

When it comes to the house edge, slot machines don't look too bad. There are some slots that have a 99% payout ratio. As a player, however, you have to keep in mind that this does not apply to a single spin. The return to player is calculated as an average over thousands of spins, which means you might be unlucky and not win at all, or you might get a huge win. Basically, it’s the volatility of the game together with the random number generator that will determine whether you win or lose short term, even though the long-term wins will be awarded according to the stated payout ratio. Therefore, if you enjoy slots, you should approach them with a bit of caution.

Tip! The best slots always offer 96% RTP (a 4% house edge) or higher.

9. Roulette

House edge: 1.35% - 5.26%

Roulette appears fairly low down in our ranking. Arguably the most popular casino game, it just isn't that good when it comes to payout percentages and house edge. Of the games in this category, French Roulette has the lowest house edge at 1.35% (thanks to the La Partage and En Prison rules), while European Roulette (with a single zero) has a house edge of 2.7% on all bets and American Roulette (with the additional double zero) has a house edge of 5.26%. So, when you're choosing your table, look out for the ones with the best odds!

10. Progressive Jackpots

House edge: 5% - 10%

While regular online slots rank quite well in this list, the jackpot slots are at the lower end of the spectrum. These machines lure players with jackpot winnings in the millions which, while accurate, shouldn't hide the fact that these progressive slots have a rather weak overall payout ratio. That said, a lot of players choose to play regardless of the low theoretical payouts because the possibility of winning life-changing jackpots is simply too irresistible.

Tips & Tricks for Online Slots

Online slots are by far the most popular games in online casinos today. You can choose from thousands of styles, bonus features, and themes. But in the end, they have one thing in common. Whether you're winning or losing comes down to luck. This might be a bit disappointing, but unfortunately, there's no secret sauce that will guarantee a win with your next spin. All you can do is keep your fingers crossed and hope that the random number generators work in your favor this time around.

However, this doesn't mean that there's no way to increase your odds. We've come up with a few tips and tricks that will help you increase your chances of scoring a win and getting the most for your money:

1. Look Out for Slots With High RTP

The house edge in slots is usually displayed as RTP, which stands for return to player. By picking a slot with high payouts, your chances of winning will naturally be much greater, so pick one with a high RTP whenever you have the option. Even if you don’t win anything, you'll at least be able to play for a fairly long time, so you’ll get quite a bit entertainment out of it, if nothing else.

We recommend that you only play slots with an RTP of 96% or higher. Anything lower than that might drain your bankroll fairly quickly if you don’t manage to land a big win on time. But an RTP of 96% is certainly not the pinnacle of what’s available. Here are some examples of the highest paying slots out there:

RTP	Game	Provider
99,07 %	Ugga Bugga	Playtech
99 %	Mega Joker	NetEnt
99 %	Ooh Aah Dracula	Barcrest
98,66 %	Jackpot 6000	NetEnt
98,6 %	1429 Uncharted Seas	Thunderkick
98,1 %	The Catfather	Pragmatic Play
98 %	Rainbow Riches Pick’n’Mix	Barcrest
98 %	Jokerizer	Yggdrasil
98 %	Blood Suckers	NetEnt

Tip! The RTP can usually be found in the info section of each slot.

2. Take Advantage of Free Spin Offers

Most online casinos offer free spin bonuses in some shape or form. The most lucrative deal is often the welcome package for new players that can include hundreds of spins to play with on your first deposit. If you’re lucky, you might even come across free spins you can play without a deposit. This could be a reward for signing up to a new casino, for example. This way you get a chance to win some real cash without risking anything.

3. Play With a Bonus

It’s always wise to look out for bonus offers while you’re playing. Almost all casinos will match your first couple of deposits with a certain amount of bonus money. This way you can keep playing with your bonus even if you’ve lost your initial deposit. With a bonus that doubles your money, you can play twice as long, and you might even get a second chance to win big if you manage to complete the wagering requirement. It’s absolutely worth it!

4. Be Careful With Volatile Slots

There are different kinds of slot games. Some of them pay out winnings fairly frequently but in lower amounts. On the other end of the scale, you have insanely volatile slots that don’t tend to pay out very often — but if they do, you’re in for a treat! The downside of volatile slots is that you might run out of money before you get to that point. So choose a bet size accordingly and don’t risk too much in one spin. In addition, keep an eye on your bankroll!

5. Take Your Time and Have Fun

You should always play with the intent of having fun and never use money that you can’t afford to lose. If you win while you’re having a good time, it’s all the better, and if you lose, you don’t have to break a sweat. Just relax and enjoy the fantastic graphics and animation that were built into these lovingly designed video slots. Don’t rush it. The next big win might be just around the corner.

6. Try a Jackpot Game

When it comes to jackpots at online casinos, it’s a bit like playing the lottery. You don’t really expect to win, so you don’t really stress about it if your ticket isn’t a winner. But if it is – Hallelujah!

Winning a Jackpot

When we talk about jackpots in online casinos, most people think of the gigantic jackpots that can be found in progressive jackpot slot games. Unfortunately, there’s no real formula for winning a big jackpot; it can happen suddenly and any time you decide to take a spin. In the end, it really boils down to being in the right place at the right time with a whole lot of luck. But jackpots at online casinos are cracked more often than you might think. So maybe next time, it’ll be your turn.

One thing to look out for is the size of the current jackpot. If it’s getting bigger and bigger, that means nobody has managed to crack it recently. So a big jackpot might be due for a big win very soon. Obviously it’s also smart to play when the jackpot is reaching its peak. If you win you want to win big!

There are a bunch of online tools that allow you to track the development of certain progressive slots. Using these, you can see not only the current size of the jackpot, but also the last time a player won it and how much money was awarded. This might give you an indication of which slots are hot and about to be cracked very soon.

Some of the most inspiring jackpot wins can be seen in the immensely popular games of Microgaming and NetEnt. The progressive slots we want to highlight are Mega Moolah and Mega Fortune. Mega Moolah alone is responsible for eight of the biggest jackpots in the current Top10 list, but Mega Fortune and Jackpot Giant don’t fail to impress either:

Game	Date	Amount	Casino
Mega Moolah	September 28, 2018	€ 18 915 721	Grand Mondial
Mega Moolah	January 20, 2013	€ 17 860 868	Paf Casino
Mega Moolah	January 30, 2019	CA$ 20 057 734	Zodiac Casino
Mega Moolah	October 6, 2015	£ 13 212 882	Betway
Mega Moolah	August 17, 2020	€ 14 679 069	Lucky Casino
Mega Fortune	April 5, 2020	CA$ 16 495 060	Jackpot City Casino
Mega Moolah	September 23, 2011	€ 11 735 446	Betsson Casino
Mega Moolah	May 8, 2020	CA$ 13 617 374	—
Jackpot Giant	March 5, 2019	CA$ 12 945 603	Luxury Casino
Jackpot Giant	October 20, 2019	€ 10 710 483	—

So when you’re looking to score big, you should always keep an eye on these amazing machines. Other progressive jackpot slots to look out for are Hall of Gods, Arabian Nights, Joker Millions, Empire Fortune, Divine Fortune, and Major Millions. Of course, there are many more out there that can make you a millionaire in a single spin, but the list would simply be too long to add them all in here.

Pro tip! If you’re serious about betting to win the jackpot, you should make sure you have the bankroll for it. Even though it’s completely random when a jackpot drops, your chances of triggering it are greater with a big bet than they are with a smaller one. This is because you’re contributing more to the jackpot with a bigger bet. However, that’s not to say that you can’t win a jackpot even when you make a tiny little bet. Also, keep in mind that the number of spins you play will not impact your chances in any way. So, it could be better to bet €2 per spin for 10 spins, instead of betting €0.20 on 100 spins, if the goal is to get that mega jackpot win.