How to read casino game rules

Why reading casino game rules saves you money

Two games with the same name can cost very different amounts to play. A blackjack table paying 6 to 5 on a blackjack costs about 1.39% more of every stake than one paying 3 to 2. A double-zero roulette wheel nearly doubles the edge of a single-zero one. Those differences are written into the rules screen, usually in plain sight, and most players never open it.

In pounds, the 6:5 rule on £10 hands costs an extra 13.9p a hand on average. If you play 60 hands an hour, that's about £8.34 an hour more than the 3:2 table, for exactly the same game. Learning how to read casino game rules is the cheapest improvement you can make, and it takes a couple of minutes per game. Our house edge explainer covers the maths behind every figure on this page.

What UK rules make games tell you

Under the Gambling Commission's RTS 3 on rules and the likelihood of winning (opens in a new tab), an explanation of the rules must be easily available before you commit to gamble, and so must the potential prizes and payouts, or how they are calculated. The game must also give information that lets you judge your chances of winning: the house edge, the RTP percentage or the probability of winning events. The stated aim is to let customers make informed decisions based on their chances of winning.

There are sensible exceptions, such as peer-to-peer games and bingo, where the chances depend on other players. For casino games, though, the information should be there. Our pages on RTP information rules and UK RTP display rules go into more detail.

Where to find the rules in each type of game

On a phone the button is often tucked into a menu, so look for three lines or a cog. If you can't find the RTP inside a UK game, ask support; the information is a regulatory requirement.

How to read any casino rules page: a checklist

1. Open the help or paytable screen before placing a bet, and note the RTP or house edge.
2. If more than one RTP is shown, find which applies to the bet you plan to make.
3. Read the payout for your main bet and compare it with the standard figure for that game.
4. Look for any rule that differs from the standard game, such as no hole card, a zero rule or a commission.
5. Check the minimum and maximum stakes, and for slots the maximum win.
6. Read what happens on a malfunction or disconnection; the help screen usually says.
7. Note any side bets and their RTP separately; they are often far more expensive than the main bet.
8. Only then decide your stake, using stake × house edge to estimate the average cost per round.

Reading blackjack rules: the lines that cost you

Blackjack help screens are full of short lines that each nudge the house edge. Wizard of Odds' table of blackjack rule variations (opens in a new tab) measures each one against an eight-deck baseline where the dealer stands on soft 17. The ones you'll meet most in UK games are below.

Many UK online and live blackjack tables use the no-hole-card procedure, but each game's own help page sets its rules, so always read it. The blackjack payouts and blackjack house edge pages show more rule combinations, and the strategy chart guide explains why the rules decide which chart to use.

Reading roulette and baccarat rules

Roulette: count the zeros, then look for La Partage

The first thing to check is the wheel. A single-zero wheel has 37 pockets and a 2.70% edge; a double-zero wheel has 38 and a 5.26% edge. A straight-up bet pays 35 to 1 on both, but wins 1 time in 37 on a single-zero wheel against 1 in 38 on a double-zero one. Then look for La Partage: under that rule, even-money bets lose only half the stake when zero lands, cutting their edge to 1.35%. Inside bets, dozens and columns keep 2.70%. On a £10 red or black bet, that's 13.5p a spin instead of 27p. See La Partage and European roulette.

Baccarat: the commission and the tie payout

Standard baccarat pays Banker wins at even money less a 5% commission, for a 1.06% edge, and Player wins at even money, for 1.24%, figures you can see in Wizard of Odds' baccarat guide (opens in a new tab). The line to read carefully is the tie payout. With eight decks, a tie paying 8 to 1 carries a 14.36% edge; at 9 to 1 it drops to 4.84%. Commission-free versions change the Banker bet instead: in the common 'Super 6' rule, a Banker win on 6 pays 1 to 2, which lifts the Banker edge to about 1.46% with eight decks. See baccarat commission and no commission baccarat.

Reading paytables in video poker and slots

Video poker: two numbers tell the story

In Jacks or Better, look at the payouts for a full house and a flush. The '9/6' paytable pays 9 and 6 per coin and returns 99.54% with optimal strategy; the '8/5' table pays 8 and 5 and returns 97.3%, according to Wizard of Odds' video poker analysis (opens in a new tab). That one-coin difference on two hands more than quadruples the house edge, from 0.46% to 2.7%. The returns also assume maximum coins, because the royal flush pays 800 per coin only on a max bet. Our video poker pay tables page lists the common versions.

Slots: RTP version, volatility and maximum win

A slot's help screen should show the RTP, how wins form (paylines, ways or clusters), what each feature does and the maximum win, usually as a multiple of your stake. Read the RTP inside the game rather than relying on a review, because some slots come in more than one RTP version. The published figure for Christmas Big Bass Bonanza is 96.71%, with lower versions also in circulation, and Starburst Galaxy has a 96% version and a 94% version. On £100 of spins, that 2-point gap is worth about £2 on average. Maximum wins need context too: a 2,100x maximum on a 10p spin is £210.

Understanding RTP and house edge wording in game rules

RTP and house edge are two sides of one number: a 96.71% RTP means a 3.29% house edge. Both are long-run theoretical averages, not a promise about any session. For games with decisions, such as blackjack and video poker, the published figure assumes optimal or standard strategy, so playing by hunch costs more than the rules screen suggests.

Some rules screens show a range rather than one number, because different bets have different edges; live game shows often do this. Wizard of Odds also uses a measure called 'element of risk' for games where your final stake can grow during a hand. For Caribbean Stud Poker, the house edge is 5.22% of the ante but only 2.56% of all money bet. If a rules screen quotes a low figure for a game like that, check which measure it uses. See RTP explained and RTP vs house edge.

No RTP figure turns a game into a way to make money. Almost every casino game carries a house edge, so losses are the likely result over time, however carefully you read the rules.

Common mistakes when reading casino rules

Side bets deserve their own warning; our page on whether casino side bets are worth it runs through the numbers.

Partner offers and game rules

The offers below are slot offers, so the rules that matter most are the slot's RTP and the offer's own terms. For blackjack, roulette or baccarat, read the table's rules screen in the casino's lobby; these offers don't apply to table games. All are for new customers aged 18+, and terms apply.

• Coral: deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10 or more on slots for 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each; accept within 48 hours; valid 7 days; no wagering on free spin winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify.
• PlayOJO: first deposit of £10 or more for 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each, a slot with a published 96.71% RTP; no wagering, winnings paid in cash. New UK customers excluding Northern Ireland; can't be combined with other offers.
• Ladbrokes: spend £10 or more on slots for 50 free spins a day for 10 days (up to 500), 10p each on selected games; claim by 23:59 each day; valid 7 days; no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don't qualify.

Read the offer terms the same way you'd read a game's rules screen: find the stake, the spin value, the expiry and the excluded payment methods before you opt in.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.