Roulette vs. Other Casino Games: Edge Hierarchy
Last reviewed: June 2026
European roulette’s 2.70% house edge puts it squarely in the middle of the casino floor — meaningfully better than slots and craps proposition bets, but noticeably worse than blackjack basic strategy and baccarat’s Banker bet.
If you have ever wondered whether roulette is a “good” game or a “bad” one, the honest answer is: it depends on what you are comparing it to. Knowing where it sits in the full edge hierarchy helps you make informed decisions about how you spend your entertainment budget at the tables.
The Full Edge Hierarchy
The table below ranks common bets from best to worst for the player. Lower edge means the house takes a smaller cut of every dollar wagered over the long run.
| Bet | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Craps free odds | 0.00% |
| Blackjack basic strategy (3:2 table) | ~0.50% |
| Craps Pass + 3-4-5× free odds (combined) | ~0.37% on total action |
| Baccarat Banker (with 5% commission) | 1.06% |
| Craps Don’t Pass | 1.36% |
| Craps Pass/Come | 1.41% |
| Baccarat Player | 1.24% |
| European roulette (single zero) | 2.70% |
| Craps Place 5 or 9 | 4.00% |
| Craps field (2:1 on 2 and 12) | 5.56% |
| American roulette (double zero) | 5.26% |
| Craps Place 4 or 10 | 6.67% |
| Slots (typical range) | 4–10% (up to 15%) |
| Craps any-craps proposition | 11.1% |
| Craps Any 7 | 16.67% |
Roulette appears twice in that list, which is the first lesson worth internalizing: the game you sit down to play matters less than the specific version of that game.
Why European Roulette Is Reasonable
A single-zero wheel has 37 pockets. Every straight-up bet pays 35:1, meaning you collect $35 profit on a $1 wager when you win. The house earns its edge from the one extra pocket — the zero — that belongs to neither a number nor a color. Across 37 spins on average, the casino expects to keep $1 of every $37 wagered, which is exactly 2.70%.
That 2.70% figure is fixed regardless of which bet you make on a European wheel. A column bet, a red/black bet, a corner bet — they all carry the same edge. There is no “better” or “worse” spot on the layout in terms of pure mathematics, only bets with different variance profiles. For a deeper look at how the layout bets compare structurally, see Roulette Inside vs. Outside Bets.
Why American Roulette Is a Meaningful Step Down
Adding a second zero — the double-zero pocket on an American wheel — raises the edge to 5.26%. That is almost double the European figure. The payout schedule stays the same (35:1 on a straight-up), but now the wheel has 38 pockets instead of 37, so the gap between the true odds and the payout widens. For a side-by-side breakdown of the two versions, see American vs. European Roulette.
There is one bet on the American wheel that is even worse: the five-number bet (covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3) carries a 7.89% edge, making it the single worst standard wager in roulette. Avoid it entirely.
How Roulette Compares to Blackjack
Blackjack played with basic strategy on a 3:2 table achieves roughly 0.50% house edge — about one-fifth of European roulette’s edge. That gap is significant. On a $100 session of 50 hands, basic strategy blackjack costs roughly $0.50 in expected loss per hand; European roulette at comparable bet sizes costs roughly $2.70 per spin.
The catch is that blackjack requires studying and memorizing the correct play for every hand. Roulette requires no decisions beyond choosing where to place your chips. The edge premium you pay for roulette is, in part, the cost of simplicity. If you are willing to put in the study time, learning basic strategy is one of the highest-return skills in casino play.
Watch out for 6:5 blackjack tables. When a blackjack natural pays 6:5 instead of 3:2, the house edge jumps to roughly 1.4% — worse than baccarat and approaching European roulette territory. The layout looks identical; only the payout sign on the felt changes.
How Roulette Compares to Craps
Craps is unusual because it offers both some of the best bets and some of the worst bets in the casino on the same table. The Pass line carries a 1.41% edge. Backing it with free odds — a side bet at true odds, meaning 0% house edge — reduces the combined edge on your total action to as low as ~0.37% when the table allows 3-4-5× odds. That makes craps Pass + max odds one of the most player-friendly positions in any casino.
But the same table offers proposition bets like Any 7 (16.67% edge) and any-craps (11.1% edge). A player who sticks to Pass line and free odds is playing a fundamentally different mathematical game than one chasing hardways and propositions. For details on identifying the safe spots, see Craps Trap Bets and Craps Optimal Strategy.
European roulette at 2.70% sits between the good and the bad craps bets. It is better than any craps proposition, better than the Place 5/9 (4.00%) and Place 4/10 (6.67%) bets, but worse than the Pass line, Don’t Pass, and especially free odds.
How Roulette Compares to Baccarat
Baccarat Banker comes in at 1.06% after the standard 5% commission, and Player at 1.24%. Both are comfortably better than European roulette. The game is as straightforward as roulette — no strategy required — which makes baccarat worth knowing about if pure edge is your priority. See Baccarat Banker vs. Player for more on which side to back.
How Roulette Compares to Slots
Slot machines typically run house edges between 4% and 10%, with some machines reaching 15%. Unlike table games where the rules and payouts are visible on the felt, slot RTPs are rarely posted on the machine itself — you often need to dig into the game’s help screen or look up the paytable analysis. On average, even a modest slot session erodes a bankroll faster than European roulette. For a full breakdown, see Slot RTP and Volatility.
Where Roulette Fits
Roulette is genuinely mid-tier. It is not the most player-friendly game on the floor, but European roulette is a reasonable choice if you enjoy the experience of the spinning wheel and are not willing to memorize strategy charts. The key decisions are simple: choose European over American wherever possible, avoid the five-number bet, and understand that every spin is an independent event — a long run of red tells you nothing about the next outcome. For more on that last point, see Gambler’s Fallacy and Betting Myths.
For a comprehensive view of where every major bet stands, the House Edge by Game reference page and Best and Worst Casino Bets are good next reads.
Frequently Asked
Is roulette a bad game? European roulette (2.70%) is mid-tier — better than slots, craps propositions, and the Place 4/10 bet, but worse than blackjack basic strategy, craps Pass + free odds, and baccarat Banker. “Bad” or “good” depends on your comparison point and how much the playing experience matters to you alongside the math.
Which roulette version should I play? European (single zero) whenever available. Its 2.70% edge is almost exactly half of American roulette’s 5.26%. If only an American wheel is on offer, the game is still playable — just go in with clear session limits. See American vs. European Roulette for the full comparison.
Can betting systems reduce the roulette house edge? No. Betting systems like the Martingale change the distribution of wins and losses across a session, but they do not change the mathematical edge on each spin. Every legal roulette bet on a single-zero wheel carries the same 2.70% edge, regardless of how you size or sequence your wagers.
What is the single best bet in a casino for a low house edge? Craps free odds at exactly 0% is theoretically the best, but it can only be placed alongside a Pass or Come bet. On a standalone basis, blackjack basic strategy on a 3:2 table (~0.50%) and baccarat Banker (1.06%) are the most accessible low-edge options for players who want minimal complexity. See Lowest House Edge Bet for a dedicated breakdown.
Sources & Further Reading
- Wizard of Odds — House Edge of Casino Games — comprehensive edge figures for every major bet
- House Edge by Game — LearnTheOdds reference table
- Best and Worst Casino Bets — ranked guide to high- and low-edge wagers
Educational explanation only. No real-money gambling happens on LearnTheOdds.
Responsible gambling: Play for entertainment, not income — the math favors the house over time. Set limits, never chase losses, and if it stops being fun, take a break. 21+. Need help? Call 1-800-MY-RESET (1800myreset.org).