Did you know that many players are looking for casino games with lowest house edge when they are using online casinos?
House edge, or the casino’s average profit from the bets placed by players, is very important because it helps you understand your average loss. To put it in simple words, if there’s a 5% house edge involved, and players place bets worth $100.000, the casino will pay back around $95.000 and earn around $5.000.
Of course, it’s not just the house edge that you should be looking for when you are trying to find the best casino games. But, if you are focused only on this factor, you’ve come to the right place because I will use this article to highlight 10 great casino games with lowest house edge. You’ll also find out:
- How to play the best casino games with lowest house edge
- A few interesting facts about them
- The history of these games
In any case, you will get access to a list of exciting games that are found on almost any casino site. They are played by many players around the planet. Now without further introduction, let’s check the list of 10 casino games with lowest house edge that I’ve “grilled” for you.
1. Baccarat
House edge: From around 1.10%
Country of origin: France/Italy
Date: 19th century
Game type: Card game
Return to Player percentage: 98% banker/player bets, 85% tie bets
Volatility: Low
This is one of the casino games that I want to play when I want to relax after a hard working day at the kitchen. Baccarat is a casino game which is present on almost all casino sites today. Even though it’s a very old game, it’s still quite attractive and that’s why you can find it not only in online casinos but also in live casinos. This is a card game where players are comparing their cards with the dealer’s hand.
Today, the most played type of baccarat is North American/ Punto Banco baccarat. Other examples of popular baccarat games include Three Card Baccarat, Baccarat en Banque, Chemin de Fer and Super Pan 9. The game originates from France and Italy where it was played since the 19th century (or even before that).
Regardless of the specific kind of baccarat players will choose, the main objective always stays the same – beat the dealer’s hand by getting a hand that’s close to nine or exactly nine. So, baccarat works in a similar way like blackjack, but this time the cards have slightly different values. Besides that, players are free to bet on other players, on the banker or even on a tie. Each option has a different payout and the type of bet you have selected will affect the house edge. The same goes for the side bets which include either pair bets, banker pair bets, high or low etc.
Facts about Baccarat
- It’s one of the oldest casino games on the market
- Available in almost every online casino
- You can use this game for your progressive betting strategy
Pros
- A game with a very simple gameplay
- You don’t have to develop a special strategy
Cons
- The house edge depends on your bet
2. Blackjack
House edge: From around 1.5%
Country of origin: Europe
Date: 17th century
Game type: Card game
Return to Player percentage: Around 99%
Volatility: High
While we are talking about casino games with a low house edge where you have to play against the dealer, we would like to mention blackjack. This is a casino game which has been very popular for many years now. If you take a close look at the casino sites where you can play this game, you will realize that almost all of them have it in their offer. Many people know blackjack as 21/twenty one. It represents another card comparing casino game with exciting gameplay.
It’s not quite sure where the first game of blackjack was played, but it’s definitely in Europe. Even the classic novel by Miguel de Cervantes known as Don Quixote talks about this game. Another thing that makes blackjack and baccarat similar is the presence of different kinds of blackjack including progressive blackjack, classic blackjack, Spanish 21, Atlantic City blackjack, Pontoon, Vegas Strip blackjack, and European blackjack.
Each of these variants has specific modifications, but the goal is to get a better hand than the dealer. In order to achieve this goal, you will have to land a hand which is as close as possible to twenty-one or even better – exactly twenty-one. In the beginning, you will get two cards just like the dealer. Your cards are visible while the dealer has one face-down card. Players can ask for as many cards as they want, but if their value exceeds 21, they will lose automatically.
Fact about Blackjack
- A well-established European casino game
- Almost every casino site has a few variants of this game
- A game with a fast gameplay
Pros
- One of the lowest house edges in casino games played today
- Different types of games to choose from
- Good RTP
Cons
- Not the right game for those who want to avoid risks
3. Pai Gow Poker
House edge: From around 2.5%
Country of origin: USA
Date: 1985
Game type: Card game
Return to Player percentage: Around 97%
Volatility: Low
If you are interested in games with a high house edge, then you should avoid Pai Gow Poker. With a house edge of just 2.5%, this is one of the best casino games in terms of house edge at least when it comes to players. Pai Gow Poker includes elements of two popular games – a domino game that comes from China and poker. It was released in 1985 and it’s also known as Double Hand Poker due to the specific type of gameplay.
Sam Torosian, a poker enthusiast from the United States is the creator of this game where you will play a unique form of poker with a deck of 52 cards and one joker. Once again, you will compete against the dealer not the rest of the players. The participant that has the hands with the highest value will win the round.
What’s completely different than other poker games is that you actually have two hands – 5 + 2 cards. You must have two winning hands to defeat the dealer. When you get just one better hand, it’s a push. In this form of poker, players can place additional bets.
Facts about Pai Gow Poker
- A new, exciting type of poker
- A casino game with a very low house edge
- A card game with low volatility
Pros
- An excellent RTP percentage
- You are trying to defeat the dealer
- A wide array of bets
Cons
- Not much strategy involved
4. European Roulette (Single Zero Roulette)
House edge: Around 2.7%
Country of origin: Europe
Date: 18th century
Game type: Table/Dice Game
Return to Player percentage: Around 97%
Volatility: High
Now let’s spice up the list with another popular casino game which actually made casinos so popular in the past. Thanks to modern technology, you can now play casino games like European roulette anywhere you want and get a similar atmosphere. It’s good to know that the country of origin when it comes to this game is France. The game was developed in the 18th century when the first roulette wheel was designed.
Just like in the case of baccarat and blackjack, there’s more than one type of roulette, but for many people, European roulette is the best one. What makes this type of roulette specific is the presence of a single zero. That’s why some people call it single zero roulette while American roulette is known as double zero roulette.
In European roulette, players can place bets on combos of numbers and on any specific number. Besides that, they can bet on red or black, odd or even and other things. The house edge we have mentioned above applies to simple bets like black or red, high or low or odd or even. The house edge is lower when it comes to bets like column bets for example or choosing four numbers. All in all, it’s all about choosing the right outcome of the next spin which involves a roulette wheel with 36 numbers from 1 to 36 and 0 and a roulette ball.
Facts about European Roulette
- Very popular casino game which is played around the globe
- You can find it on almost any casino site
- This game has a fast gameplay
Pros
- Attractive house edge percentages
- Multiple betting options
- A very exciting game
Cons
- High volatility which is a negative thing for some players
5. Online Slots
House edge: Between 2% and 8%
Country of origin: USA
Date: 1975
Game type: Electronic game
Return to Player percentage: Between 93% and 98%
Volatility: High-Low
It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about casino games with lowest/highest house edge or casino games in general, I must mention online slots. There are many things that I like about these casino games which are the main selling point of almost every casino site today. But, one of the best things is that you can find slots with so many different themes including my favorite themes – restaurant, cooking, chef, and pub themes.
The electronic slots were introduced in 1975, and online slots became available right after the introduction of online casinos. Today’s online slot games look amazing and include special visual effects (some of them even have 3D visuals) as well as great sounds and music. As I’ve said before, many of them have great stories – you can travel to fantasy lands, be a chef, follow a group of gangsters, be a pirate and do many other things in these games. Needless to say, these are some of the simplest casino games with the highest house edge you can play.
In most of these games, players have to select the size of their bets and press the Spin/Play button and that’s it. Some of them even provide auto-play options which mean that you can work on your computer and leave the game spin the reels in the background. The best part is the presence of special features that some slots have as well as progressive jackpots.
Facts about Online Slots
- Most casino sites have a high number of these games
- They are usually associated with casino bonuses
- Dozens of different themes to choose from
Pros
- Fun and enjoyable games
- Beautiful graphics, sounds, and stories
- Some of them have progressive jackpots
Cons
- Some of these games don’t have the best house edge percentages
6. 3-Card Poker
House edge: From around 1.5%
Country of origin: USA
Date: 1994
Game type: Card game
Return to Player percentage: Around 96%
Volatility: Medium
When I am tired of preparing food and I have free time, I am usually looking for a simple, more fun versions of poker and 3-Card Poker is definitely one of them. This is one of the casino games with lowest house edge that you can learn to play in a matter of minutes. It’s like boiling eggs – anyone can do it.
3-Card poker was introduced in 1994 by one of the most famous casino game inventors at that time – Derek Webb from the United States. His objective was to come up with a game that has faster gameplay and he managed to achieve that objective. With a good house edge, solid payouts and fun gameplay, 3-Card poker became an instant global hit. Today, you can find 3-Card poker on many casino sites, land-based casinos, and special tournaments.
As for the rules of this casino game, you will start the round with an ante bet. After that, the dealer will provide three cards to each player. All the cards are visible except for the dealer’s cards which are face-down cards. After checking the situation, you can raise or fold.
Facts about 3-Card Poker
- A relatively new and fun version of classic poker
- It’s a fast-paced casino game
- It has a good house edge
Pros
- Potentially large payouts
- Easy to master
- You can use standard poker strategy
Cons
- Medium volatility
7. Craps
House edge: Between 1.4% and 5%
Country of origin: USA
Date: Early 19th century
Game type: Dice game
Return to Player percentage: Around 99%
Volatility: High
If you need excitement in your life (who doesn’t) and you want to play a casino game that shows the results right away, then you probably can’t go wrong with Craps. This is a dice game that’s all about action. When you encounter this game for the first time on a casino site, you will probably be confused, but the fact is that mastering craps is easy.
The European game known as Hazard was played for many centuries and it was in the early 19th century when Americans modified this game and introduced the early form of craps. What makes new players confused is the table which comes with many words and fields. But, the gameplay is very easy. Players have to place bets on the different areas of the table – pass line bets, pass bet, don’t pass bet, place, place a bet to lose, buy, lay etc.
For starters, you can place a pass line bet and wait for the shooter to roll the dice. In case you got a 7 or 11 you will multiply your bet by two and the roll is over. If you hit 2, 3 or 12, you will lose your money instantly. If there’s another combination, you have established a so-called point. After that, you can place other kinds of bets if you want to.
Facts about Craps
- There are not many casino games that belong to the dice games category
- A relatively old, but fun casino game
- It was invented in the United States
Pros
- Good house edge percentage
- You can place different bets
- You can learn to play this game quickly
Cons
- No strategy involved
8. Video Poker
House edge: Between 0.5% and 5%
Country of origin: USA
Date: 1970
Game type: Electronic game
Return to Player percentage: Around 99%
Volatility: Medium
I didn’t think much before placing video poker on this list of casino games with lowest house edge because this is a very fun type of game. The first electronic video poker games were released in the 1970s, but it took about two decades later for the casino sites to add these casino games to their offer.
Players can choose from a wide selection of video poker games like Aces and Face video poker, Bonus Poker Deluxe, All American Poker, Joker Poker, Double Joker Poker, Deuces Wild poker and more. All of these games are based on the well-known five-card draw poker.
This means that every player gets five cards and it is up to them to keep some of the cards or to keep them all or to change all cards. There is no one else to beat in this game – you just have to make a winning combination. These winning combos are based on the traditional poker hands – royal flush, two pairs, a pair, straight etc.
Facts about Video Poker
- A variety of video poker games available to online players
- One of the best Return to Player percentages you can find
- It’s possible to use strategy to increase winning odds
Pros
- A game with one of the best house edge percentages
- Easy to play
Cons
- None that I can think of
9. Let It Ride
House edge: 3.5%
Country of origin: USA
Date: 1993
Game type: Card game
Return to Player percentage: Around 96%
Volatility: Medium
I have mentioned one type of poker in this article, but this doesn’t mean that there are no other interesting forms of this classic casino game. Let It Rise is another great example of a great casino game with lowest house edge. The game was introduced in the 1990s by Shuffle Master. Of course, back then it was played only in land-based casinos, but starting from the late 1990s online casino players have started enjoying this exciting game too.
Similar to other casino games of this kind, Let It Ride is all about winning the pot by defeating the rest of the players at the table. In the beginning, you will get three cards. In addition, you will get access to two face-down cards. Once the first round is finished, players can place bets or fold (let it ride). Next, one of the two cards is revealed leading to another round. If they stay in the game the second card is revealed and players can see whether they’ve won or not.
Fact about Let It Ride
- A game that looks like a simplified poker game
- Fast gameplay
- Relatively high wins
Pros
- Solid house edge
- Easy to master
Cons
- Medium volatility
10. Caribbean Stud Poker
House edge: From around 5%
Country of origin: USA
Date: 1982
Game type: Card game
Return to Player percentage: Around 97%
Volatility: High
I have decided to finish this list of the best casino games with lowest house edge with Caribbean Stud Poker, a game which you can play on many casino sites that are offering poker games. I really like the story behind the invention of this game – it was created for people using cruisers. So, the game reminds me of the Caribbean islands and on top of that, it has great gameplay.
If you’ve played five-card draw poker, then you will figure out how to play Caribbean Stud Poker right away. You have to place an ante bet and you will get five cards just like the dealer. Every player at the table can check their cards and just one card assigned to the dealer. You can raise or fold. After this round, the dealer will reveal their hand and you will find out who won the round.
Facts about Caribbean Stud Poker
- A livelier form of classic poker
- You can play for a progressive jackpot
- A card game that’s easy to master
Pros
- You can play it on most casino sites today
- You are playing against the dealer
- Good RTP percentage
Cons
- You can’t apply all of the standard poker strategies
