Table games: the rules that matter
Roulette, blackjack and baccarat have public rules that are centuries old, which makes them the most transparent casino games: you can work out exactly what the house keeps in the long run. You find them both as digital games and at live tables. Below are the basic rules, standard payouts and the decisions that change the result.
Roulette
European roulette has 37 pockets: numbers 1 to 36 and a single zero. American roulette adds a double zero for 38 pockets, which almost doubles the house edge.
| Bet | Payout | Numbers covered |
|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 35:1 | 1 |
| Split | 17:1 | 2 |
| Street | 11:1 | 3 |
| Corner | 8:1 | 4 |
| Six line | 5:1 | 6 |
| Dozen or column | 2:1 | 12 |
| Red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36 | 1:1 | 18 |
On European roulette the house edge is 2.70% on every bet, whichever you choose. Some variants apply “la partage”: on an even-money bet lost to zero, half the stake is returned, which lowers the edge on even-money bets. Check whether the table applies it.
Blackjack
The aim is a hand higher than the dealer’s without going over 21. Cards 2 to 10 count at face value, picture cards as 10, an ace as 1 or 11. A natural blackjack (ace plus a ten-value card) usually pays 3:2; some tables pay only 6:5, which raises the house edge noticeably — it is the first rule to check.
Basic decisions: hit, stand, double (double the stake and take exactly one card), split (a pair becomes two hands). “Basic strategy” is the chart showing the best decision for every combination of your hand and the dealer’s up card. Played correctly, it brings the house edge below 1% under common rules.
Insurance, offered when the dealer shows an ace, is a separate side bet that favours the house over time.
Baccarat
At baccarat you make no decisions about cards: you bet on the Banker hand, the Player hand or a Tie, and cards are drawn under fixed rules. The hand closest to 9 wins; only the last digit of the total counts. Banker pays 1:1 minus a commission, usually 5%; Player pays 1:1; Tie usually 8:1. The house edge is lowest on Banker and highest on Tie, which is why Tie is the bet to avoid.
Common mistakes
- Believing a number is “due” after a long absence. Every spin is independent.
- Playing blackjack without checking the natural blackjack payout.
- Betting Tie at baccarat because the payout looks big.
- Picking a table whose minimum is too high for the budget.
Where to play them
Live versions are covered under live casino. For bonuses, table games usually contribute little to wagering; see wagering.