Casino games with the lowest house edge

Playing online casino games with the lowest house edge gives you the best shot at holding your ground over the long run. In this guide, I’ll get into the details and highlight the top titles worth trying, along with the best online gambling sites to find them at.

What is house edge in casino games? 

House edge is the built-in advantage gambling sites hold across every game. Now, don’t buy into the common casino myths. It’s not some hidden trick or a way to catch players out. The operator earns money by offering odds that pay slightly less than the true chance of winning, so over time, they profit from every bet placed.

Let’s say you’re spinning a slot with a 4% house edge. That means for every £1 wagered, the casino expects to pocket 4p over time. You won’t lose that exact amount each round. It might be a big win one session and a full wipeout the next, but over millions of spins, the maths still works out to 4p on every pound.

Comparing casino games by house edge 

Different casino games come with varying mathematical structures, so the average house edge can range from under 1% in some cases to over 10% in others, depending on the setup. Let’s break down the most popular ones and where the averages tend to land across UK online casinos.

Blackjack 

In blackjack, you’re dealt two cards and choose whether to hit, stand, double down, or split - aiming to beat the dealer by getting closer to 21 without going over. Single-deck games tend to offer the lowest house edge, since fewer cards improve the odds on certain outcomes. 

Learn more about how to play blackjack online. 

➡️ Blackjack Tip: Avoid insurance bets - they look safe but carry a house edge of around 7% or more.

Switch Studios has a very popular Single Deck Blackjack with a house edge as low as 0.3%, and you can play it at Hippodrome Casino. Once you’ve got the strategy down, there’s also a multi-hand version that lets you take control of a few seats in the same round.

Video Poker 

Video poker plays like five-card draw. You’re dealt five cards, choose which to hold, then draw new ones. Payouts depend on your final hand. 

Top UK poker sites carry plenty of versions. Where the house edge really dips - sometimes below 0.5% - is in full-pay Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild.

➡️ Video Poker Tip: Use a strategy chart specific to the game version to keep the house edge as low as possible.

Heart Bingo Casino features NetEnt’s Jacks or Better Double Up, which carries a house edge of just 0.46% when played at the highest bet level. The paytable follows the classic 9/6 setup. That’s 9 coins for a full house and 6 for a flush.

Baccarat 

The lowest house edge in baccarat comes from backing the banker - just 1.06%, even with the 5% commission taken on wins. A close second is the player bet, which comes in slightly higher at around 1.24%. The aim of the game is simple: predict which hand lands closest to nine.

➡️ Baccarat Tip: The tie bet pays 8 to 1, but with a house edge over 14%, it's best used sparingly.

The most realistic way to play baccarat is through live dealer tables. Evolution is well known for these, and you’ll find their titles at established sites like Fruit Kings Casino. The classic version - alongside First Person, Speed Baccarat, and a few others - are the ones that carry the lowest house edge.

Craps 

Craps is one of the quickest-moving dice games you’ll find. The lowest house edge comes from the pass line bet, sitting at around 1.41%. You’re backing the shooter to hit a seven or 11 off the bat, or to land the same number again before a seven, once the point’s set. 

➡️ Craps Tip: After a point is set, always take maximum odds behind your Pass Line bet for a potential payout with no house edge.

I usually head to Bwin Casino for craps as there’s a nice spread of both RNG and live dealer titles. You’ve got three classics to start with: two by Evolution, one live and the other in First Person with some top-drawer animations, and a standard RNG version done by Win Studios. The fourth one is Win Studios’ own spinoff, built around the same base rules but with a Matrix side bet thrown in.

FAQs  

What’s the lowest house edge you can find in any online game?

Blackjack has the best house edge, as low as 0.3% in single-deck titles with basic strategy. Other low-edge games include full-pay Jacks or Better (0.46%), baccarat banker bets (1.06%), and craps pass line with odds (under 1.5%).

Is it possible to beat the house edge? 

Yes, in the short term, you can win far more than you risk. But over millions of rounds across the entire customer base, the house edge guarantees the casino holds a consistent mathematical advantage.

Do bonuses affect the house edge?

No, bonuses don’t change a game’s built-in house edge. What they do is give you extra balance to play with, so you end up getting more rounds in off the same deposit. That means more chances to land a big payout, which could lift your return when you look at it against your total stakes. Just keep an eye out, though. Games with a low edge, like blackjack, are often excluded from wagering or count at a much lower rate.

Does strategy reduce the house edge?

Yes, playing with optimal strategy lowers the house edge. In full-pay Jacks or Better, for example, consistently holding a single high card instead of a low pair reduces your return by over 1%, increasing the actual advantage the casino has over you.