Casino Game Guides
Every casino game has a fixed mathematical cost, the house edge, and most players never see it stated. These guides set out the rules of each game type, the exact odds where they can be calculated, the strategy decisions that change your results, and the decisions that only appear to. The figures are calculated or taken from published rule-variation and provider data, and each guide explains where a number comes from. The section covers 12 game types available at online casinos that accept Australians, from blackjack and roulette to pokies, crash games and live game shows.
House Edge by Game: Quick Comparison
| Game and bet | Typical house edge | Depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack, basic strategy (3:2, S17) | about 0.4%–0.6% | Table rules and correct play |
| Video poker, Jacks or Better 9/6 | about 0.46% (99.54% RTP) | Paytable and optimal play |
| Baccarat, Banker bet | 1.06% | Commission rules |
| Craps, Pass Line | 1.41% | Bet type; odds bets have no edge |
| French roulette, even-money with La Partage | 1.35% | Zero rule |
| European roulette | 2.70% | Single vs double zero |
| Sic Bo, Big/Small | 2.78% | Bet type; other bets much higher |
| Online pokies | commonly 3%–6% (RTP 94%–97%) | Game and RTP version |
| Crash games | commonly about 3% (RTP about 97%) | Game settings |
| American roulette | 5.26% | Double zero |
| Live game shows | commonly about 4%–6% | Segment or bet chosen |
| Keno | often well above 5% | Paytable and spots picked |
House edge is the long-run share of every dollar staked that the casino keeps. It does not predict a single session, but it decides what a session costs on average: expected loss = total staked × house edge. The concept is explained in house edge explained, and how to find a game’s figure in how to check a game’s RTP.
Casinos With Table and Live Games
The casinos below accept Australian players and, according to our reviews, offer live casino sections with tables from studios such as Evolution, Pragmatic Play Live or Ezugi, alongside RNG table games and pokies. Game selection and rules vary between casinos; check the game info panel for RTP and table rules before playing.
Table Games
- Blackjack guide — rules, basic strategy charts, house edge by rule set, side bets, live tables and card counting, in 14 guides.
- Roulette guide — European, American and French wheels, exact odds and payouts, La Partage, Lightning Roulette and betting systems, in 11 guides.
- Baccarat guide — third-card rules, exact 8-deck odds, Banker vs Player, side bets, speed and squeeze tables, in 7 guides.
- Craps guide — the rules of the dice game, the odds of every bet and the low-edge way to play it.
- Sic Bo guide — the three-dice game’s rules and why Big/Small is the only low-edge bet.
- Casino poker guide — video poker, Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Casino Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, Three Card Poker, hand rankings and strategy basics.
Pokies and Instant Games
- Online pokies guide — how pokies work, RTP and volatility, Megaways, cluster pays, bonus buys, jackpots and the myths around them.
- Crash games guide — how crash, Plinko, Mines and Dice games work, their RTP and what strategy can and cannot change.
- Online scratch cards guide — how digital scratch cards work and how to read their prize tables.
- Keno guide — rules, paytables and the odds of hitting each number of spots.
- Online bingo guide — game formats, ticket pricing and prize structures.
Live Dealer Games
- Live casino guide — streamed table games and game shows including Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, Dream Catcher, Deal or No Deal and Funky Time, plus practical tips for live play.
What These Guides Will and Won’t Tell You
They will give you the probability of an outcome, the payout, the house edge and the cost in A$ for a stated stake and pace. Where a game involves decisions, as in blackjack and video poker, they give the decision with the highest expected value. Where figures depend on settings, such as pokies RTP versions or side-bet paytables, they say so and show how to check.
They won’t offer systems that beat the house edge. In games with independent outcomes, such as roulette, pokies and crash games, no betting pattern changes the long-run return. Progressions such as the Martingale change how results are distributed, not their average; see betting systems and gambler’s fallacy. The only common exception is card counting in blackjack dealt from a physical shoe, explained on our card counting page.
Three Rules Across All Games
- Choose the version with the lower edge. Single-zero roulette over double-zero (2.70% vs 5.26%), 3:2 blackjack over 6:5 (a 1.39% difference), the higher RTP version of a pokie where the casino states it.
- Count the pace. Expected loss scales with the number of rounds. A RNG game at 200 rounds per hour costs about five times as much per hour as a live table at 40, at the same stake and edge.
- Skip high-edge side bets. Blackjack’s 21+3 costs 3.70%, baccarat’s Pair bet 10.36%, its Tie 14.36% at 8:1, compared with under 1.3% for the main bets.
Playing From Australia
Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, it is illegal to offer real-money online casino games, including pokies, blackjack and roulette, to people in Australia. Australians who play online use offshore casinos that are not licensed here and are not covered by Australian dispute resolution. Our online gambling in Australia section explains the law, licences and how to check an operator; casino reviews and ratings are in the casino reviews section.
Whatever the game, set a budget and a time limit before playing, and use the casino’s deposit and session tools. See responsible gambling for limit-setting, self-exclusion through BetStop and support services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Blackjack played with basic strategy at a 3:2, S17 table (about 0.4%–0.6%) and full-pay Jacks or Better video poker with optimal play (about 0.46%). Baccarat’s Banker bet is next at 1.06%.
Blackjack and video poker reward correct decisions, and casino poker games have optimal strategies. Roulette, baccarat, pokies, keno, crash games and game shows are games of chance with no decisions that change the house edge.
No. Betting systems change stake patterns, not probabilities. Only card counting in physical-shoe blackjack can create a small edge, and it is impractical in most online play.
Return to player: the long-run percentage of stakes a game pays back. RTP = 100% minus the house edge, so a 96% RTP pokie has a 4% house edge.
Offering real-money online casino games to people in Australia is prohibited under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Offshore casinos accept Australians but are not licensed in Australia.
18+ only. If gambling is causing harm to you or someone close to you, Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858.