Casino games are, of course, incredibly popular and have been for centuries. They are some of the most loved games in the world and this all stems from their unique ability to combine risk with reward.
That being said, knowing just exactly how risky (and how rewarding) a casino game is, is incredibly useful. It can help you figure out which games you want to play, and which are best to avoid.
Moreover, finding out which games have the highest payout can also help you manage your casino bankroll and budget effectively.
This is why this question is so commonly asked by online gamblers, and why we’ve decided to answer it for you! On this page, you can learn all about:
- How casino game payouts are calculated
- The casino games with the highest payouts
- The casino games with the lowest payouts
How Are Casino Games Payouts Calculated?
Before wagering any money at an online or mobile casino, you should always be aware of how much a game pays out. This will not only help you to work out what kind of rewards you may receive, but can also help you avoid playing at an unscrupulous casino.
UK casino regulations dictate that all UK casinos must publish payout lists. You can find these by visiting the casino's help pages and payouts will either be expressed as a ‘house edge‘ or a ‘payout percentage‘. This means you need to be familiar with what these two terms mean in order to understand which casino game has the highest payout.
The House Edge
The house edge is the term used to describe the casino's profit. It is expressed as a percentage of the player's original bet.
For example, a game which pays out 95p to every £1 would have a 2.5% house edge.
The house edge is always theoretical and it's calculated on the basis of what would happen if you were to play over a certain period of time. Moreover, it's also calculated on the basis that all players would be using perfect strategy against the game. Safe to say, if you're a terrible player, you can't expect the house edge to remain the same.
Payout Percentage or RTP
Online and mobile casinos may also express their payouts using a ‘payout percentage' or ‘return to player rate‘. This is also a percentage and this is calculated using the percentage of total wins, over the total stakes paid.
Again, RTP's are theoretical and calculated over an extended period of play. This means that if a slot has an RTP of 96%, you shouldn't expect a 4p loss and a 96p win for every pound you wager.
This is because sometimes, your 96p could be funding someone else's win or vice versa. The RTP of the game is not evenly distributed, which is part of the beauty of gambling. If you knew you were going to lose 4p on ever £1 wager, what would be the point of playing?
The Casino Games with the Highest Payouts
Now you know all about house edge and payout percentages, you can start to work out which games carry a good payout and which have poor odds.
That being said, on this page, we've done the hard work for you. Below you can find out which three games offer the best payouts – spoiler alert, they're all table games.
? 3. Roulette
Roulette offers a house edge of 2.7% and therefore it's the third most profitable casino game there is. What's more, roulette is an incredibly simple game to get to grips with and so it's perfect for all types of casino players.
In general, most online casinos set the house edge for European roulette at roughly about 2.7%. Remember, however, that different variations of roulette may have different house edges. For example, American roulette (which is played with two zero pockets) generally has a higher house edge of around 5.3%
? 2. Craps
Craps isn't one of the most popular online casino games, but it's actually very rewarding. In fact, craps has the second best odds of all casino games. This is because it has a low house edge and can, potentially, offer some very high returns.
The average house edge for craps is around 1.2%, yet some online casinos offer as low as 0.6%.
What's more, the ‘pass line' bet in craps almost guarantees that every player earns a small return. This is why, although craps may seem complex at first, it's well worth playing.
? 1. Blackjack
Blackjack has the best odds of winning, and therefore the highest payout, at almost every online casino. This is why the game is so popular!
The house edge for Blackjack is usually set at under 1%, with many online casino providers offering as low as a 0.1% house edge. Moreover, Blackjack can be played with a strict strategy in mind, which means that whilst the house edge is theoretical, it's easy to ensure that you're getting your money's worth.
That being said, like Roulette, it's important to bear in mind that different variations of Blackjack may have different house edges. This can, in turn, impact the size of the payouts you'll receive.
The Casino Games with the Lowest Payouts
Now you know which games you should be playing, it's time to look at the games you may want to avoid. The results may surprise you, yet it's important to remember that payouts aren't the only factor to consider when it comes to playing online casino games.
? Slots
Slots are shiny and exciting, and they're some of the most popular games to play at online casinos across the world. However, unfortunately, slots have, on average, the worst payouts.
Slot payouts are almost always expressed as RTP rates. Whilst a good slot will have an RTP rate of around 96% or higher, there are many slots which have RTP rates of as low as 85%. This gives the worst kinds of slots a house edge of 15% – which, in comparison to the 0.1% house edge of blackjack, seems ludicrous!
This is why it's always important to check the RTP of a slot game before playing. Moreover, whilst we wouldn't recommend you play a slot with a very low RTP, it's also a good idea to weigh up what you enjoy the most about the casino.
Slots are fun and engaging and often offer innovative new game features. They're also very easy to get to grips with, quick to play, and cheap. This means that whilst slots may have the lowest payouts, it's easy to understand why they're so well loved.