10 Casino Games with the Lowest House Edge

Kia ora Kiwi punters! We're here to win right? I mean casino games are all about having a bit of fun, but at the end of the day, a bit of extra dosh wouldn't go astray, right?

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Well, the bad news is, on average, the house wins every time. You can hide behind sunglasses or try that strategy you read on the back of a Weetbix box, but nothing beats the house. Okay, some casino strategies can reduce the house edge, but our point remains.

So what's the good news? All casino games have a house edge, and some games have a lower house edge than others. The lower the casino's house edge, the better the odds for you!

If you can find a casino game that you like, and also has a low house edge, your chances of having a win go up by quite a bit. So don't worry about fancy tactics, or trying to crack the code, just check out these top 10 casino games with the lowest house edge!

How to Calculate House Edge

The house edge is represented as a percentage. So if a casino game has a house edge of 5%, then that means for every $100 bet, the casino/house on average, will earn/keep $5 of that 100.

Another way to look at it is the opposite of Return to Player (RTP). So if the house edge is 5%, then the RTP is 95%.

The lower the house edge, the better it is for you!

10. Backgammon

House Edge from 6.39% to 4.82%

Some people see Backgammon as that game you play at the bach with Nana, but others see it as a pretty fun game to play at the online casino. Either way, Backgammon has a pretty favourable house edge for players.

In online backgammon, you play with either the black or white pieces. The opponent, in this case, is the computer. You'll start off by making a bet, and then the name of the game is to get the first two pieces over the jump bar by moving as you roll your two dice.

9. Caribbean Stud Poker

House Edge from 5%

The good thing about Caribbean Stud Poker is that you don't need to have James Bond levels of cool to win because there is no bluffing required. This is because you play against the house, and not other players. You'll start by placing a bet, and then the dealer will give you three cards.

You need to judge whether your hand is better than that of the dealer's and if it is, you're on to a winner! However, if it's worse than the dealer's hand, you have the option of folding or doubling down.

8. European Roulette

House Edge from 2.5%

European Roulette is a classic casino game that has been around for ages. It's fairly simple and easy to understand and seems to attract more than its fair share of punters either looking for a quick spin, or having their own basic strategies to win.

The idea of roulette is pretty straightforward - you place your bet on which coloured or numbered pocket you think the ball will land in. Oh, and if you were wondering, American Roulette has a slightly higher house edge, because there are two zeroes on the wheel, instead of just one.

7. Pai Gow Poker

House Edge from 2.5%

Pai Gow Poker probably sounds super-exotic, but in reality, it's kinda just like a mix between poker and dominos. The idea is that you can win by forming two winning hands out of the seven cards that are dealt to you. You can form your hands with either the five cards you are dealt or the two that the dealer provides.

The game has a pretty low house edge, and there's no bluffing involved, so it's pretty simple to understand too. It also doesn't need any special skills like poker does - there is no need to "read" your opponent.

6. Video Poker

House Edge from 5% to 0.5%

We love a bit of video poker - you get all of the excitement of regular table poker, but you don't have the bum-clenching stress of playing at a real table with real players that might be total sharks.

Video poker is also said to be free of the house edge, thanks to the fact that it's a game where you are playing against other players' hands rather than against the casino. But, c'mon, online casinos are out to make a profit, so we kind of doubt that!

Either way, because it's a game of skill that has the stress taken out of it, we reckon it's a pretty good option to reduce the house edge.

5. Online Pokies

House Edge From 2% to 10%

Hey, if this is a list for Kiwi casino games, we'd be pretty bummed if we couldn't include the pokies! it's true that the house edge for pokies will vary quite a bit, but that also means there are heaps of options to choose from. If you choose a pokies game with a low house edge, you can putter away for ages just making small bets and small wins.

Pokies are great because they also include all sorts of bonuses in terms of free spins, bonus rounds, and if you're lucky, big jackpots. Pokies are huge business, which means with a bit of hunting, you'll find a game that suits you to a tee.

4. Three Card Poker

House Edge from 1.5%

Three Card Poker is another great poker game for those who can't bluff to save themselves, as you play against the dealer, not the other players. And like other no-bluff poker games, it's got a pretty low house edge as well.

It's a pretty simple concept - you're dealt three cards, and from there, it's your job to beat the dealer. The dealer will only play if they have a Queen high or better. The best possible hand is a straight flush.

3. Baccarat

House Edge from 1.5%

Let's face it - Baccarat is an old-fashioned casino game. It's usually played at high stakes and is favoured by rich businessmen and the super-rich who like to gamble big money on a regular basis. But y'know, there's nothing stopping you from playing online while you're in your dressing gown - that's the beauty of the internet.

There's no room for bluffing or tricky strategies here, as there are only three possible outcomes: player, banker, and draw. We recommend going for the player bet, as the banker bet has a fee on it.

2. Craps

House Edge from 5% to 1.4%

Next to roulette, we're not sure there is a more iconic casino game on the planet. Whether it's in the high-roller's room in a Las Vegas Casino, or down a New York alleyway, craps is everywhere. And now you can play it online from the comfort of your own home!

The game is played with two dice, and the person rolling the dice is called the shooter. Every game starts with a pass line bet, where you guess whether the dice will land to add up to 7 or 11 to pass the line. A 2, 3, or 12 loses. It can take a bit to get used to, but it's a super-rewarding game with a potentially very low house edge.

1. Blackjack (Single Deck)

House Edge from 1.5%

Blackjack can have varying house edges, but it all depends on how many decks are in play. So you'll want to look for an online blackjack game with just one deck because that means the house edge could be as low as 1.5%.

Blackjack is a super-easy game to play, because it's all about knowing when to hit. Just follow some basic blackjack strategy, and you'll be up to speed in no time. With a bit of good luck and good management, you could be walking away with a nice little payout at casino nz site.