Roulette vs baccarat
Baccarat's banker bet costs less than half of European roulette and is just as simple.
By Ryan Jessop. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Roulette: 2.70% on a single-zero wheel.
- Baccarat: about 1.06% on banker.
- Cheaper per pound staked: baccarat.
- Cheaper per hour at typical stakes: baccarat.
AnswerBaccarat's banker bet costs less than half of European roulette and is just as simple. Roulette offers more ways to bet.
Side by side
| Line | Roulette | Baccarat |
|---|---|---|
| House edge | 2.70% on a single-zero wheel | About 1.06% on banker |
| RTP | 97.30% | 98.94% |
| Skill | No | No |
| Rounds an hour | About 40 | About 50 |
| Volatility | Low to high, by bet | Low |
| Best bet | Even-money bets on a French wheel | Banker, every hand |
| Avoid | Anything on a double-zero wheel | The tie |
| Bonus contribution | 0% to 20% | 0% to 20% |
An hour of each
| Game | Stake | Rounds | Staked | Average cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roulette | £1 | 40 | £40 | £1.08 |
| Baccarat | £1 | 50 | £50 | £0.53 |
Typical stakes and pace. A long-run average.
£100 staked
On roulette, £100 of stakes costs £2.7 on average. On baccarat, £1.06.
In practice
Both are games of pure chance with a dealer doing all the work. The difference is the bill: fifty hands of baccarat on banker at £1 cost about 53p; forty spins of roulette about £1.08. On a French table with la partage, even-money roulette at 1.35% runs baccarat close.
How they feel
A ball, a wheel and a table of bets. Which wheel you play matters far more than how you bet.
Two hands, player and banker, are dealt to fixed rules. You bet on which will finish closer to nine.
Verdict
Choose roulette if
you want simplicity and a choice of bets.
Choose baccarat if
you want low cost with nothing to learn.
Full guides
Roulette and Baccarat. Any pair: comparison tool.
More comparisons: Blackjack vs baccarat, Slots vs roulette and Video poker vs slots.
Elsewhere on the site: Cheapest casino games per hour, Volatility explained, Roulette systems, How to play slots and Blackjack side bets 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
Is roulette or baccarat better?
Baccarat's banker bet costs less than half of European roulette and is just as simple.
Which has the lower house edge?
Baccarat.
Which is cheaper per hour?
Baccarat, at typical stakes.
Which needs skill?
Neither.