Online Table Games: Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and Casino Poker
Online table games come in two forms: live tables with a real dealer, and digital versions where a random number generator deals the cards and spins the wheel. This page covers the digital versions — they have their own pace, low minimum stakes and often a demo mode. The live variant is on the live casino page.
Digital versus live
| Feature | Digital table | Live table |
|---|---|---|
| Result | random number generator | physical cards and wheel |
| Pace | set by you | set by the dealer and the betting window |
| Minimum stake | usually lower | usually higher |
| Demo mode | often available | none |
| Atmosphere | none | chat, dealer, stream |
With the same rules, the house edge is the same in both forms. The difference is speed: digital tables let you play more rounds per hour and so pay more house edge in the same time.
Roulette: European, French, American
European roulette has a single zero and a 2.70% house edge. American roulette adds a double zero, lifting the edge to 5.26% — nearly double the price for the same bet. French roulette, with rules that return half of even-money bets when the zero lands, cuts the edge on those bets further still. If you have the choice, the American version is not worth playing.
Blackjack and its rules
The house edge in blackjack depends on the table rules: the blackjack payout (3:2 or 6:5), the number of decks, whether the dealer stands on soft 17, and the options to double and split. With good rules and basic strategy, blackjack is one of the cheapest games in the casino. A 6:5 payout raises the edge markedly — the detail is usually printed on the table or in the rules.
Baccarat and casino poker
Digital baccarat follows the same rules as the live version: banker is the cheapest bet, tie the most expensive. Poker games played against the house, such as hold'em variants against the dealer, differ from classic poker in that you are not playing other players but a fixed paytable. Their house edge varies by variant and strategy and is shown in the info panel.
Video poker
Video poker sits between slots and table games: you are dealt five cards, choose which to hold and the paytable decides the payout. With correct strategy and a favourable paytable the RTP is high; with a poor paytable it is much lower. You can tell versions apart by the payout for a full house and a flush in the paytable.
Budgeting at the tables
A low house edge tempts you to play longer and bigger. But loss comes from volume as well as percentage: 1% of €1,000 in bets is €10; 1% of €10,000 is €100. Play digital tables quickly and the volume grows unexpectedly. Set a number of rounds or a time limit and keep to it. If you want to improve your decisions, use demo mode where the operator offers it.