By Green Niles
When playing at live dealer casinos, one major factor determining the house edge and winning potential is the game’s inherent odds. Just as in land-based venues, some live casino games give better odds to players than others when using optimal strategy.
Live Blackjack
Blackjack offers the lowest house edge when following a basic strategy of all the table games found in live casinos. Using the perfect strategy, the house edge can be kept below 0.5%. Live dealer blackjack uses 6-8 decks providing decent player odds. By learning optimal blackjack strategy around when to hit, stand, split, double down, and surrender based on your hand versus the dealer, players gain a significant advantage that cuts the house edge dramatically compared to unskilled play. Live blackjack also allows side bets on dealers’ busting that improves odds further when used prudently.
Live Roulette
European roulette offers better odds to players than American roulette thanks to having just a single zero on the wheel rather than double zero. It cuts the house edge in half to around 2.70% versus 5.26% for American roulette. French roulette improves odds further by returning half-lost even money bets when the ball lands at zero. This “La Partage” rule cuts the house edge to just 1.35% in French roulette. Live dealer sites often spread all three roulette variants.
Live Baccarat
Tarafbet baccarat has one of the lowest house edges of any casino game at just over 1% in basic Player and Banker bets. The set drawing rules require no strategy, making it a simple game to learn. Tie bets have a higher house edge and should be avoided. Some live baccarat games offer optional side bets like Dragon Bonus, Dragon 7, and Panda 8 to improve players’ odds. Using prudent side bet amounts relative to the base wager amplifies your expected return in baccarat.
Live Casino Poker
The most favorable odds are found in Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em at live dealer sites. Using proper strategy, especially around the raise/call playing decision, the house edge averages around 2-3%. Decent odds for poker games require skill. Live Casino Hold’em and Caribbean Stud have slightly higher house edges, but sub-optimal play pushes this even higher quickly. Required knowledge and strategy keep the house advantage reasonable in live poker tables.
Live Craps
Played with odds bets backing Pass/Don’t Pass wagers, live craps have less than 1% house edge. Odds bets carry no built-in house advantage. But imprudent bets on one-roll propositions swing odds heavily in the house’s favor. It pays to learn crap odds based on the bets offered.
Live Sic Bo
With simple betting on dice outcomes, live sic bo carries house edges around 2.5% on even money wagers. Odd/even and big/small bets have a chance at 50/50 odds. Side bets add variance but should be used sparingly due to higher margins favoring the house. But Sic Bo remains a relatively even game overall.
