Playbook Brand · Library
Game guides
Plain-language guides to how each game works: the odds, the house edge, and common myths. Written for players at a sixth-to-eighth-grade reading level, they are free to read and reuse.
The guides
Each guide covers the same ground: a 30-second version, how the game works, the bets, the underlying math, key terms, and common myths. Start anywhere.
Slots
house edge2–15%Slots are pure chance.
Read the guide
Blackjack
house edge0.5–2%Blackjack is a card game where you try to get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over.
Read the guide
Roulette
house edge1.35–5.26%Roulette is pure chance.
Read the guide
Sports Betting
house edge4.5–10%+Sports betting is wagering on the outcome of sporting events.
Read the guide
Video Poker
house edge0.5–5%Video poker is one of the few casino games where your decisions change the odds.
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Baccarat
house edge1.06–14.4%Baccarat is pure chance with no player decisions after the bet.
Read the guide
Craps
house edge1.36–16.7%Craps is a dice game where one player (the shooter) rolls two dice.
Read the guide
Bingo
house edge5–25%Bingo is a random draw game.
Read the guide
Lottery
house edge35–50%Lottery is a pure-chance game.
Read the guide
Horse Racing
house edge15–25% takeoutHorse racing betting combines skill elements, form, conditions, jockey, track, with significant uncertainty.
Read the guide
Compare
Odds at a glance
Every game has a house edge – the built-in mathematical advantage that keeps the business running. This table puts them side by side so you can compare before you play.
| Game | Best bet (lowest edge) | Typical range | What determines outcome | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack | 0.5% (basic strategy) | 0.5–2% | Skill + chance | Read → |
| Baccarat | 1.06% (banker bet) | 1.06–14.4% | Chance | Read → |
| Craps | 1.36% (don’t pass/don’t come) | 1.36–16.7% | Chance | Read → |
| Video Poker | 0.5% (Jacks or Better, optimal play) | 0.5–5% | Skill + chance | Read → |
| Roulette (European) | 2.70% (single zero) | 2.70% | Chance | Read → |
| Roulette (American) | 5.26% (double zero) | 5.26% | Chance | Read → |
| Sports Betting | 4.5% (standard vig) | 4.5–10%+ | Skill + chance | Read → |
| Slots | 2% (high-RTP machines) | 2–15% | Chance (RNG) | Read → |
| Poker | Varies (rake-dependent) | 2.5–10% rake | Skill + chance | – |
| Bingo | 10% (varies by hall) | 10–25% | Chance | Read → |
| Lottery | 40% (state lotteries) | 40–55% | Chance | Read → |
| Scratch Cards | 25% (typical) | 25–50% | Chance | – |
House edge is the share the operator keeps over the long run: a 5% edge means about $5 of every $100 wagered, on average. Lower is better for the player, but it never guarantees a win. Any single session can go either way; the edge only shows up across many bets.
Part of the Playbook Brand system, the open, public-domain core for player education. Under CC0, you can copy, adapt, and publish it without permission or attribution.