Blackjack, video poker and certain craps variations deliver house edges between 0.5% and 2%, making them substantially more favorable than slots or roulette which carry 4-15% house advantages. The difference between these games determines whether players lose money gradually or quickly, transforming the long-term outcome of any gambling session.
Understanding House Edge and Return-to-Player Percentages
The house edge represents the mathematical advantage that the casino maintains over players in every single bet. When a game shows a 1% house edge, the casino expects to retain 1 dollar from every 100 dollars wagered across millions of bets. Return-to-Player (RTP) percentage functions as the inverse calculation, showing what percentage of total wagered money returns to players over extended play periods.
Ruby Reels and other reputable online casinos publish these percentages transparently because gaming regulators require them to do so. A blackjack game with 99.5% RTP means the house keeps 0.5%, while a slot machine at 96% RTP allows the casino to retain 4% of all money bet. This seemingly small difference multiplies dramatically when considering monthly or yearly player activity.
Understanding these metrics requires distinguishing between theoretical returns and actual session results. RTP calculations derive from millions of simulated hands or spins, so individual players experience significant variance. A player might win considerably on a 96% RTP slot or lose money on a 99.5% RTP blackjack game in the short term, but over thousands of bets the percentages demonstrate their accuracy.
How Skill Influences Payout Odds
Skill-based games allow players to make decisions that directly impact outcomes, whereas pure chance games follow predetermined mathematical formulas. Blackjack offers the clearest example because optimal strategy reduces the house edge from approximately 4% (for casual players making intuitive decisions) down to 0.5% (for players following basic strategy charts). This 7-fold improvement in odds stems entirely from learning which hands to hit, stand, double down or split.
Video poker similarly rewards players who memorize hand rankings and holding strategies. A casual video poker player might face a 1-2% disadvantage, but skilled players can achieve parity or slight advantages on certain machines. Craps allows strategic bet selection where proposition bets carry 16% house edges while pass and don’t pass bets feature only 1.4% edges.
Comparing Payout Odds Across Major Casino Games
Different games present vastly different odds structures that players must evaluate before placing bets. The following table shows how major casino games rank by payout favorability based on optimal play conditions and standard rule variations.
| Game Type | House Edge Range | RTP Percentage | Skill Factor |
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | 0.5-1% | 98.5-99.5% | High |
| Video Poker (optimal play) | 0.5-2% | 98-99.5% | High |
| Craps (pass/don’t pass) | 1.4% | 98.6% | Medium |
| Baccarat (banker bet) | 1.06% | 98.94% | Low |
| European Roulette | 2.7% | 97.3% | None |
| American Roulette | 5.26% | 94.74% | None |
| Slot Machines (average) | 4-15% | 85-96% | None |
Games Offering Competitive Payout Odds
Several games besides blackjack deliver favorable odds when players understand the mathematics and avoid poor-value bets. Here are the primary alternatives for players seeking better returns:
- Video Poker – combines poker hand rankings with machine play, allowing strategic hold decisions that minimize house advantage
- Craps – offers multiple bet types ranging from 1.4% to 16% house edge, letting players choose optimal wagers
- Baccarat – requires minimal decisions but features a 1.06% house edge on banker bets and 1.24% on player bets
- European Blackjack – variations with favorable rules like early surrender reduce the house edge below standard blackjack
- Three Card Poker – certain side bets offer reasonable odds when played with proper strategy awareness
Slot Machines and Lower-Payout Games
Slot machines represent the opposite end of the payout spectrum, with house edges ranging from 4% to 15% depending on the specific game and casino. Players often favor slots due to their simplicity and entertainment value, but mathematically these games return significantly less money than table games.
The mechanical structure of slots prevents skill application since outcomes depend entirely on random number generators. A player cannot improve odds through strategy because no decisions influence the result. Modern progressive jackpot slots sometimes feature slightly higher volatility but maintain identical long-term house edges.
Below is a breakdown of typical payout odds across different game categories to help players understand where their money goes over time:
- High-payout games (0.5-1.4% house edge) – blackjack, video poker, craps, baccarat
- Medium-payout games (2-5% house edge) – roulette variations, some specialty table games
- Low-payout games (4-15% house edge) – standard slot machines, keno, lottery-style games
Maximizing Payout Odds Through Strategy
Players can improve their expected returns by selecting high-RTP games and applying appropriate strategies. Learning basic blackjack strategy takes approximately 30 minutes and eliminates the majority of the house advantage. Video poker strategy requires memorizing hand rankings and hold decisions but rewards study time with better returns than casual play.
Money management also influences effective odds because bankroll preservation extends play duration and increases the likelihood of hitting winning streaks. Avoiding proposition bets in craps or side bets in other games preserves money that poor-value bets would consume.
Online casinos provide an advantage here because players can consult strategy charts during gameplay without pressure from surrounding players or dealers. This accessibility makes achieving near-optimal play substantially easier than in physical casinos.