Casino Game Comparison Calculator

Last updated: 2026-07-14

Compare house edge, expected loss per hour, and win probability across blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, video poker, and slots.

Best Value / Hour
$11.20
Blackjack costs you least — about $11.20/hour at these stakes.
Games to Compare (2-5)
Expected Loss Per Hour, Ranked
★ Blackjack
$11.20
Craps
$14.10
Roulette
$27.00

Why House Edge Alone Doesn't Tell the Full Story

House edge determines your expected loss per dollar wagered, but your actual cost per hour depends on hands per hour and bet size. Roulette at 5.26% edge with 40 spins/hour costs less than slots at 3% edge with 500 spins/hour at the same bet size.

How Win Probability Changes With Session Length

Shorter sessions give you a better chance of walking away ahead. In a 1-hour blackjack session, you have about a 46% chance of being up. After 8 hours, the house edge grinds that probability down to roughly 38%. The math always favors stopping while ahead.

Standard Deviation: The Hidden Factor in Game Selection

High-volatility games like slots and video poker produce more extreme sessions — both bigger wins and bigger losses. Low-volatility games like baccarat and roulette produce steadier results closer to the expected loss. Choose based on your entertainment preference and risk tolerance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which casino game has the lowest house edge?
Blackjack with basic strategy offers the lowest house edge among common table games at 0.5-0.8% depending on rules. Full-pay Deuces Wild video poker can actually give the player an edge of 0.76% with perfect play.
How much can I expect to lose per hour at blackjack?
At $25 per hand with 70 hands per hour and a 0.64% house edge, expect to lose about $11.20 per hour on average. Actual sessions vary widely due to standard deviation.
What is house edge and why does it matter?
House edge is the mathematical advantage the casino has over the player, expressed as a percentage of each bet. A 1% house edge means the casino expects to keep $1 for every $100 wagered over time.
Is European roulette better than American roulette?
European roulette has a 2.70% house edge compared to American roulette at 5.26%. The difference is the extra 00 pocket on American wheels. French roulette with La Partage drops to 1.35%.
What is standard deviation in casino games?
Standard deviation measures outcome volatility per hand. Slots have high standard deviation (big swings), while baccarat has low standard deviation (more predictable). Higher standard deviation means more extreme sessions.
Are slots or table games better value?
Table games typically offer far better value. Blackjack at 0.5% edge costs roughly $9/hour at $25 bets. Penny slots at 10% edge and 500 spins/hour cost $50/hour per dollar bet. Table games cost 5-20x less per hour.
How does video poker compare to blackjack?
Full-pay Jacks or Better (9/6) has a 0.46% house edge, slightly better than most blackjack tables. The tradeoff is higher variance — video poker sessions swing more dramatically due to rare premium hands.
What is the entertainment cost of gambling?
Entertainment cost is your expected loss per hour. Low-stakes blackjack ($10/hand) costs about $4.50/hour — less than a movie. High-stakes slots can cost hundreds per hour. This calculator puts every game in entertainment-cost context.

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