How to play every major casino game. Know the rules before you sit down.
| Game | House Edge | Skill Involved? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack | ~0.5% | Yes (basic strategy) | Best odds at the table |
| Baccarat | ~1.1% | No | Simple, fast, good odds |
| Craps (Pass) | ~1.4% | Minimal | Social atmosphere |
| Roulette (Euro) | ~2.7% | No | Simple, iconic |
| Three-Card Poker | ~3.4% | Minimal | Quick decisions, big payouts |
| American Roulette | ~5.3% | No | Avoid the 00 wheel |
Basic Blackjack Strategy cuts the house edge to about 0.5% — the best odds on the casino floor. It tells you the mathematically correct decision (hit, stand, double, split) for every combination of your hand vs. the dealer's upcard. Printable basic strategy cards are legal in most casinos.
Baccarat is the simplest high-limit game. Always bet Banker (house edge: 1.06%). Never bet Tie (house edge: 14.4%). That's the entire strategy.
Craps Pass Line is one of the best bets in any casino at 1.41% edge. Adding maximum odds behind your pass line bet (when allowed) brings the combined edge below 1%.
Blackjack with perfect basic strategy has the lowest house edge (~0.5%). Baccarat (Banker bet) and Craps (Pass Line) are also strong at ~1-1.4%. Slots and keno have the worst odds (5-25% house edge).
The house edge is the percentage of each bet the casino expects to keep over time. A 2% house edge means for every $100 wagered, the casino expects to keep $2. It's a statistical measure over millions of bets, not a per-hand guarantee.
A push means you and the dealer have the same hand total. Your bet is returned, and no money changes hands. Pushes are not wins or losses.
Bet on Player, Banker, or Tie. Two cards are dealt to each hand. The hand closest to 9 wins. Face cards and tens count as zero; Aces count as one. If a hand totals over 9, only the last digit counts (e.g., 15 = 5). See the full baccarat rules →
A soft 17 is any hand containing an Ace counted as 11 (e.g., Ace + 6). "Dealer hits soft 17" means the dealer takes another card on this hand instead of standing. This rule slightly increases the house edge and is noted on the table felt.