Table games: short rules and a visible house edge
Table games are the counterpoint to slots. A slot hides its maths behind animation and features; roulette, blackjack and baccarat have centuries-old rules and a house edge you can calculate. This page introduces them briefly, from the angle that matters to this guide: how they compare with reels.
Roulette
European roulette has 37 pockets, 0 to 36. Bets range from a single number to wide groups such as red or black. The house edge comes from the zero: when it lands, even-money bets lose. Variants with bonus rounds, such as MONOPOLY Roulette, change some rules to make room for the special rounds, so read the table's own rules screen.
Blackjack
In blackjack you play against the dealer, trying to get close to 21 without going over. Unlike slots, your decisions matter: hitting, standing, doubling and splitting all change the theoretical return. Table rules — how many splits are allowed, whether the dealer stands on soft 17 — shift the house edge too.
Baccarat
In baccarat you bet on the player hand, the banker hand or a tie. Cards are dealt by fixed rules and the bettor makes no decisions. Banker and player bets carry a modest house edge; the tie bet pays more but has a much higher edge.
| Game | Player decisions | Where to read the rules |
|---|---|---|
| Roulette | Only the choice of bet | Table rules screen |
| Blackjack | Yes, they affect the return | Table rules and variant notes |
| Baccarat | Only the choice of bet | Bet payout table |
Digital and live versions
Every table game exists as a digital version driven by a random number generator and as a live version with a dealer. Rules can differ slightly between them. For live games, see live casino.
Side bets
Many tables add optional side bets with large payouts, such as perfect pairs in blackjack. They behave like a high-volatility slot bolted onto a table game: rare, big wins and a higher house edge than the main bet. Treat them as a separate game with its own rules.
Tables and slots compared
At a table the house edge is transparent and constant. On a slot it depends on the RTP configuration chosen by the operator, and how the wins arrive depends on volatility. Anyone moving from tables to slots should bring one habit along: read the rules before betting. For reels, start with the slots page.