The cheapest bet per game
| Game | Bet | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| European roulette | Any | 2.70% |
| American roulette | Any (avoid the five-number bet) | 5.26% |
| Blackjack | Basic strategy | About 0.5% |
| Baccarat | Banker | 1.06% |
| Sic Bo | Big or Small | 2.78% |
| Craps | Don't Pass plus odds | Under 1.36% |
The house edge of a bet is the share of each stake the casino keeps on average over many rounds. A house edge of 1% means the casino keeps S$1 of every S$100 staked in the long run. One session can finish far above or below that average. The figure describes cost over time, not the result of tonight's play.
Our knowledge base records the house edge of each bet from published odds tables. Roulette on a single-zero wheel carries a house edge of 2.7% on every bet. Roulette on a double-zero wheel carries a house edge of 5.26% on every bet except the first five. The first-five bet on that double-zero wheel carries a house edge of 7.89%.
Roulette: the wheel sets the cost, not the bet
Roulette is the one table game where the wheel decides the cost. A European wheel has 37 pockets. An American wheel has 38 pockets. The extra double-zero pocket is why American roulette costs about twice as much per spin.
On a single-zero wheel, a straight-up bet carries a house edge of 2.7%. A straight-up bet pays 35:1. An even-money bet on the same wheel carries the same house edge of 2.7%. The long-run cost is identical, so the choice between them is a choice of volatility. Players who want fewer losing rounds pick even-money bets. Players who accept long losing runs for a rare large win pick straight-up bets. Rules and layout for each bet are covered in our guide to how to play new roulette games.
Some single-zero tables offer La Partage or En Prison on even-money bets. Both rules soften the loss when the ball lands on zero. La Partage lowers the house edge of even-money bets to 1.35%. En Prison lowers the house edge of even-money bets to 1.39%. Check the rules panel before placing a chip, because not every table offers either rule.
Baccarat and Sic Bo: the cheapest bets and the ones to skip
Baccarat has three main bets: banker, player and tie. The banker bet is the cheapest, with a house edge of 1.06% after the casino's commission. The player bet follows with a house edge of 1.24%. The tie bet at 8:1 is the one to skip, because it carries a house edge of 14.36%.
The banker bet wins about 45.86% of hands. The player bet wins about 44.62% of hands. A tie occurs in about 9.52% of hands. Commission-free tables change the maths. The commission-free banker bet, where a banker win on 6 pays 1:2, carries a house edge of 1.46%. That is higher than the standard banker bet, so read the payout rules before choosing a commission-free table.
Sic Bo is a three-dice game with dozens of bets and one cheap pair. The small and big bets pay 1:1. Small and big carry a house edge of 2.78%. Under Atlantic City pay tables, a specific-double bet carries a house edge of 18.52%. Under Macau pay tables, a specific-double bet carries a house edge of 33.33%. Check which pay table a live Sic Bo game uses before betting on doubles.
Blackjack: the payout and the rules set the house edge
Blackjack is the table game where your own decisions change the house edge. Basic strategy is the fixed set of decisions that gives the lowest edge. On a six-deck game that pays 3:2 and has the dealer hit soft 17, basic strategy carries a house edge of 0.46%. The same game paying 6:5 carries a house edge of 1.82%. Players who want the full decision charts can read our blackjack basic strategy charts, rules and odds guide.
Skipping basic strategy is the most expensive mistake at the table. A player who never hits a hard 12 or more faces a house edge of 3.91% under Atlantic City rules. A player using basic strategy under the same rules faces a house edge of 0.43%.
Insurance is a side bet that carries a house edge of 7.4%. Basic strategy never takes it. Decline insurance and put the stake on the next hand instead.
Craps: take the line bet and add odds
Craps offers dozens of bets, and most of them cost more than the line bets. The don't pass bet carries a house edge of 1.36%. The pass line bet carries a house edge of 1.41%. The odds bet carries a house edge of 0%. The odds bet adds no cost of its own, so backing a line bet with odds lowers the average cost of each stake. Our tips for beginners in online craps show how to place each bet.
Proposition bets sit in the middle of the table and cost the most. The any craps bet carries a house edge of 11.11%. The any seven bet carries a house edge of 16.67%. Leave both bets alone until the line bets feel routine.
At a live table
- Bet before the timer ends; late bets are refused.
- Keep chat polite, and never ask the dealer for tips on play.
- Check the table limits; minimums of S$1 to S$10 are common.
- Your connection matters: a drop can leave a bet to default rules.
Limits
- Choose a loss limit and a time limit before you sit down.
- Use flat stakes rather than progressions.
- Play free versions first, as our beginners guide explains.
Limits protect a budget as much as bet choice does. A loss limit is the amount you accept losing in one session. A time limit is how long you play. Set both numbers before the first chip goes down, because a losing run makes limits harder to set.
Flat stakes keep the cost of each round predictable. Progressions raise the stake after losses, which brings the end of the budget closer. With table minimums of S$1 to S$10, a S$100 budget covers 10 to 100 minimum bets. If play stops being fun, Singapore players can call the NCPG Helpline on 1800-6-668-668.