The world of online casinos continues expanding with a speed and determination that’s hard to keep up with, and that’s a good thing. Of course, the main course continues to be the exquisite and premium casino game collection. With so many slots, blackjack options, and seemingly everything else under the sun, knowing where to begin and which games to bet on seems overwhelming.
Don’t worry. That’s where this guide comes into play. The purpose is to learn how to pick the best games with the best odds, like a pro.
What Is the House Edge and RTP?
The foundation for picking the best games to make the most informative bets begins with the relationship between the house edge and RTP.
House Edge
Depending on your gaming travels, you might hear the terms house edge and house advantage. Both are interchangeable. The foundation for choosing the best games and, ultimately, the types of bets for the best odds begins with a first grasp of the house edge.
The best way to understand the house edge is that even if you win, the “house,” better known as the casino, gets a percentage of those bets. Either way, the casino wins something, win or lose.
RTP
The RTP is the best gauge to help players best decide how much money or a return they can expect to get back over a reasonable amount of time. The traditional rule of thumb is to base RTP on a $100 wager.
The RTP applies to all casino games but is most associated with slot games. When dealing with slots, in particular, the RTP and the volatility heavily influence the type of slots you play.
Benefits of Favorable House and RTP Games
To clarify, to get the best out of your casino game experience, these are the top reasons to study the house edge and RTP for common casino games.
Get the Most Out of the Budget
Unfortunately, not all of us have deep pockets and can spend without a care. The reality is we all have finite budgets. Therefore, every wager counts. Because a random number generator determines the fate of each playing round, it’s important to make every bet count.
The first step is to choose the games with a low house edge and, in turn, the highest RTP possible. Even if you can spend like a high-roller, it is still a good practice to set a budget and play time. Playing online lets you set fixed playing times and spending limits to help prevent problem gaming.
A Greater Winning Probability
Again, it’s important to study the relationship between house edge and RTP. To give yourself a fighting chance to win in the long run, choosing a game with a low house edge is critical. Then, there are the bets in that game that offer the best odds of success.
Gain Confidence
It’s like they say to a basketball player who is struggling with his jump shot to get to the free throw line; the same thinking applies to casino players, especially beginners. Sometimes, seeing slow and steady returns is enough to keep you dedicated to playing. Choosing highly favorable bets and player-friendly games with a low house edge is a step in the right direction.
Recapping House Edge and RTP for the Top Casino Games
As we dive into the heart of this article, let’s quickly outline the best casino games that put together the concepts of house edge and RTP.
| Casino Game | Skill Level | Favorable Odds? |
| Slots | For everyone | Yes. Especially classic slot games. |
| Blackjack | For everyone | Yes |
| French and European Roulette | For everyone | Yes |
| Baccarat | For everyone | Yes |
The Games with the Ideal Odds
At last, we get to the moment of truth – the casino games with the best odds. With the foundation properly laid down, let’s get to it!
Slots
The reason why slots are the most abundant at online casinos is that they are the easiest to play and have very favorable RTP rates. While most slots have an RTP rate of 90% or more, the best ones to play are those beginning at 95%. For beginners or those on a budget, playing these types of slots generally pays more over time because of the low volatility.
That’s why it might make more sense to play classic slots like Joker’s Jewels or the Ugga Bugga slot game compared to a multi-million dollar progressive slot like Mega Moolah.
Blackjack
Blackjack consistently ranks near the top of the list of casino games to play for beginners. For starters, it’s RTP rate begins normally at 99%. However, the more prominent blackjack variants, like American and European Blackjack, feature an RTP of 99.50% or more. Because the nature is to have a higher playing hand than the dealer, the odds of winning blackjack are nearly 50%.
French and European Roulette
While American Roulette is the most popular variant in most American online casinos and land-based ones, the house edge is 5.26%. Therefore, playing the French or European version is more favorable. The typical house edge for these variants is 2.35%, with French Roulette offering 1.35% for the En Prison and La Partage features.
The beauty of playing roulette means there are several types of bets that offer a 50% probability of winning. For example, betting on red or black or odd and even numbers has a 50% chance of bearing fruit.
Baccarat
Baccarat dates back to 16th France, so it has a long-built legacy behind it. The key to baccarat is choosing one of its three bets: the banker, the player, or the tie. The tie wager isn’t user-friendly, with an RTP over 14%. However, the player’s and the banker’s bets are more favorable. The banker’s bet takes the cake with a 1.05% house edge. However, many live dealer casinos support no-commission, meaning the house edge drops to as low as 0.50%.
Choosing Your Game: Luck of the Draw?
Even though all casino games are games of chance, you can do yourself a favor by choosing the casino games not solely on bonuses but the ones that offer the best odds. As technology improves, the leading casino game developers will continue refining and producing new variants that are bound to shake up the betting range for more and bigger winning probabilities