Traditional casino games require skill as well as luck and offer gameplay that can be as profitable as it is entertaining. If we look at the data from sites like Mr Bet, we see that the most popular table game options are blackjack, poker and roulette. This is also true for Canada: most Canadians choose one of these three games in the “table game” category.
So, which one should you choose? Which traditional table game is a better choice than the others? This is not an easy question to answer, as these games differ from each other in many different ways. However, we can help you choose by listing them all and explaining what to expect from them. If you would like to try these games against real dealers, remember that you can visit the live casino MrBet!
Blackjack: Game With the Lowest House Edge
| PROS | CONS |
| The house edge can be as low as 0.50% | Some tactics become more difficult to use as the number of decks increases |
| Easy to learn – simple gameplay | One of the most difficult table games to master |
| Optimal moves increase your winning chance | You can easily fall into the gambler’s fallacy trap |
Blackjack is a game that even beginners can learn in an hour at most because it is based on simple basics. Your goal is to reach 21 points or beat the dealer, and once you have learnt the point values of the cards and the basic moves, you are ready to play. With optimal gameplay, it is even possible to increase the RTP up to 99.50% – in this respect, it is known as the casino game with the lowest house edge.
However, optimal gameplay can be surprisingly difficult to achieve, and it is one of the most difficult card games to master. It’s also dangerously good at creating unfounded confidence in the player – it’s very easy to think you can’t lose. Finally, if you’re playing in land-based casinos, it can be quite difficult to find classic variants played with a small number of decks. Ideally, blackjack should be played in online casinos.
Roulette: Game of Aristocrats
| PROS | CONS |
| The right variant can drop the house edge to 1.35% | The wrong variant can increase the house edge to 5.26% |
| Easy to learn and fun gameplay | Luck plays an important role even if you are a professional gambler |
| Lots of exotic variants with big payouts | The gameplay can be quite complex in some variants |
Roulette is not difficult to learn: you bet on a single number, a range of numbers or colour and watch the wheel spin. Each of the possible outcomes offers a different winning chance and payout amount. There are three basic variants of the game (European, American, French) and the house edge of some of them can be almost as low as blackjack. In the live games category, you can find many exotic versions of roulette that pay with multipliers: these can pay as high as 10,000 times your bet.
Unfortunately, if you don’t choose the right variant, the house edge becomes very high and there is no real benefit from having experience or using a strategy. Roulette is still basically a game of chance. Also, variants with a low house edge (such as French roulette) can be complex enough to confuse beginners.
Poker: It Takes Skill, Not Only Luck
| PROS | CONS |
| A skill game – luck has almost no significance | Not easy to learn |
| Several variants to choose from | If you don’t play against a real person, you have to rely on luck |
| High RTP rates in every variant | It is a high roller game for casinos – options for players with low budgets are limited |
If you’re looking for a casino classic where skill and experience count more than luck, you’ve found it: poker is known as the game of choice for professional gamblers. There are dozens of variants to choose from, meaning everyone can find an option that suits them. What’s more, each of these options offers satisfying RTP rates. The gameplay can be extremely satisfying as each round requires considering different dynamics.
However, poker is not that easy to start playing: it takes a long time to both learn and master. Beginners have no chance against professional poker players. Another problem is that it is an extremely social game. Some of its mechanics, such as bluffing, require a real person in front of you, so if you are playing against a computer, you can’t say that you are playing poker. Lastly, it can be quite difficult to find in casinos. In most establishments, most poker variants are available only in special rooms, which are not open to everyone.
