Steadiest casino games
Some games drift; others lurch. Ranked from steadiest.
By Ryan Jessop. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Steadiest: baccarat, blackjack.
- Roulette depends on the bet.
- Slots vary by title.
- Volatility is not house edge.
AnswerBaccarat and blackjack are the steadiest casino games: nearly every result is an even-money win or loss. Game shows and high volatility slots swing most.
Ranked on: How evenly results arrive on each game's best bet.
The ranking
- VolatilityLow
Baccarat
Even-money results, hand after hand.
- VolatilityLow
Blackjack
Mostly even-money, with doubles and blackjacks.
- VolatilityLow to high, by bet
Roulette
Steady on outside bets; wild on single numbers.
- VolatilityLow to very high
Slots
From gentle to brutal, by title.
- VolatilityHigh
Live game shows
Most of the return sits in rare bonus rounds.
What volatility means
It describes how a game hands back its return: little and often, or seldom and large. It does not change the house edge.
For a small budget
Steady games make a budget last. On a volatile game, lower the stake until the budget buys a couple of hundred rounds. See volatility explained.
More rankings: Best odds casino games, Best RTP slots UK and Best live casino games.
Games and casinos: Craps UK, Slingo UK, PlayOJO games review and Cheapest casino games per hour.
Reading this ranking
Steadiness matters most when the budget is small. On an even-money game, twenty £1 bets will almost always leave you with something; on a high volatility slot, a hundred 20p spins can vanish without a feature. Steady does not mean safe, since the house edge still applies, but it does mean the money buys the time you expected. If you like volatile games, the answer is a smaller stake, not a different budget.
Every game by volatility
| Game | Volatility | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack | Low | Around 0.5% |
| Baccarat | Low | About 1.06% on banker |
| Craps | Medium | 1.41% on the pass line |
| Roulette | Low to high, by bet | 2.70% on a single-zero wheel |
| Video poker | Medium | About 0.5% on full-pay Jacks or Better |
| Casino poker games | Medium | About 2% to 3.5% on the main bet |
| Sic Bo | Low to very high, by bet | 2.78% on small or big |
| Slots | Low to very high | Around 4%; from about 2% to 10% |
| Live game shows | High | Often 3% to 5% or more, by bet |
| Slingo | Medium | About 4% to 5% |
| Scratch cards | High | About 5% to 15% |
Go further: Video poker vs slots, Casino dice games UK and Casino Hold'em UK.
House edges and RTPs are standard published figures for common rules, and are long-run averages. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
Which casino game is least volatile?
Baccarat.
Are slots volatile?
Some very; some hardly.
Does volatility change the odds?
No.
What suits a small budget?
Steady games at small stakes.