When visiting any online casino, the first thing you will most likely see is an endless line of slots. However, even though slot games make up the majority of any online casino’s games, some players prefer to roll the dice or take a spin with the roulette wheel. Unlike slot games, which are pretty much press play and go, excelling at table games takes understanding the house edge and, most importantly, the bets with the best odds. The purpose of this guide is to help you pick the best table games with the best odds like a true pro.
- Understanding Table Game Odds
Going about table games is a bit different from slot games. With slots, the emphasis is more on the RTP than it is on the house edge because slot games don’t have the same variety of bets as table games. When choosing table games at online casinos for real cash, the first consideration should be for the house edge. The house edge is the opposite of RTP which outlines how much from each winning bet the house keeps.
So, for those new to playing table games, the house edge is the primary stepping stone to begin your journey. While nobody wants to pay the house even if they win, you win in the first place because the house exists. Therefore, the online casino has to take a percentage of wins because, with losses, the online casino keeps 100% of the bet, but that’s not enough to sustain themselves.
- What the House Edge Means to the Player
With the proper understanding of the house edge, as a player you can turn your attention to the table games that offer fantastic RTP rates. The return to player speaks for itself because it is the amount of the bet a player gets back if they win. One of the reasons why games like online blackjack are so popular and draw bigger crowds than poker games like Texas Hold’em, for example, is the RTP rate usually begins well over 99%.
- Table Games with a Low House Edge
Now that you understand the basics of house edge and RTP, here comes the fun part – the table games with low house edge and a friendly RTP.
- American Blackjack
As we mentioned, most online blackjack games begin with an RTP of at least 99%, which means the house edge is only 1%. American Blackjack does one better with an average 99.50% RTP. It is a similar case for European Blackjack.
- Video Poker
Believe it or not, while video poker games are often overlooked, they, too, usually feature RTP rates of around 99%. Because they play like slot machines, you can easily set the bets in auto mode and let the computer pick the five cards for you, knowing that the house edge is only around 1%.
- European and French Roulette
Because French and European Roulette only have a single zero, the house edge compared to American Roulette, which was introduced to America by French immigrants after French colonial rule in America, has a house edge of 2.63% to 2.70%. Because some French games offer La Partage and En Prison rules, the house edge dips to an even lower 1.35%.
- Finding the Best Odds
After accomplishing the first step of finding the table games with a favorable house edge, the next move is to find the specific bets that offer the best odds. For example, when playing baccarat, while the tie bet offers impressive payouts because the house edge is over 14%, it doesn’t offer the best odds. In contrast, making the banker’s bet offers better odds because that particular house edge is 1.05%. And if it offers no commission, the payouts become even better because the house edge can dip below 1%.
- Final Thoughts
While at the end of the day, all table games are games of chance, you can do yourself a favor by choosing the ones that statistically give you a better chance of winning. While we all want to bring the house down with a monster, bet like a high-roller, sticking with bets with a low edge, and those that pay even money can steadily build profit.
