About Us
Contact UsComparing Blackjack and Roulette – What Is Better?
Blackjack and roulette are two popular casino games that millions of gamblers love. Each one has its pros and cons, but is one better than the other? The answer to this question comes down to personal preference – which game will you enjoy the most?
When comparing blackjack vs. roulette, the key thing to remember is that you’ll have to decide for yourself which one is better. I can help make things a little easier by comparing the two games and highlighting their pros and cons. This includes information on the rules, strategies, and house edge.
Blackjack vs. Roulette Rules
Both games have unique sets of rules that vary from each other significantly. I want to discuss how each game works and why you’ll have to play them completely differently.
Roulette is ultimately a game of chance. You have a wheel with numbered slots of alternating colors (black and red). The American version also consists of an extra zero (0 and 00). The goal of the game is to guess where the ball will land after you spin the roulette wheel.
Blackjack, on the other hand, includes a lot of skill, and the goal is to beat the dealer. With each hand, you’re trying to obtain a score that’s closest or equal to a value of 21. If your hand exceeds 21, you automatically lose.
In blackjack, numbered cards count towards their face value; Kings, Queens, and Jacks are valued at 1; Aces are valued at 1 or 11, depending on the rules. After your first two cards are dealt, you can draw as many cards as you want until you decide to stop or bust.
The variety of bets you can make in roulette is another major difference between the two games. With blackjack, you can simply choose to keep your hand or draw an additional card.
Furthermore, the payouts in roulette can vary according to the type of bet you make. The smaller ones start from 1:1, but you can win up to 35 times your wager. Blackjack offers you a fixed payout (either 3/2 or 6/5, depending on where you play the game).
Blackjack vs. Roulette Strategy
Blackjack hinges on strategy and decision-making skills, whereas roulette is a game of chance. Both offer you ways in which you can improve your chances of winning, and here’s how:
With roulette, it all comes down to fixed odds. In other words, certain bets are often more successful than others. However, to get the most out of each session, you need to get lucky and string together a few winning combinations.
Blackjack is much different from roulette in that every decision you make will affect your odds. The best thing you can do is practice the game and prepare for every possible situation. Knowing all the probabilities and scenarios will give you more control over the game.
Mastering blackjack is pretty difficult, and not everyone can do it. Skill-based games are ultimately better in terms of minimizing your losses.
At the same time, roulette offers you a variety of bets and fixed odds, so you know exactly what you’re going to get.
Blackjack vs. Roulette Odds and House Edge
As I already discussed, roulette has fixed odds with every bet that you make. However, both roulette and blackjack have what is known as “house edge”, which affects your winnings over the long term.
In European roulette, the house edge is roughly 2.7%, and with the American version, it increases to just over 5.3%. Because the US roulette wheel has one extra slot, your odds of winning will diminish.
Here are fixed odds for the types of bets that you can make when playing American and European Roulette and the probability of winning.
| Roulette Bet | Payout | Chance to win (EU) | Chance to win (US) |
| Single Number | 35:1 | 2.7% | 2.6% |
| Two-Number Combinations | 17:1 | 5.4% | 5.3% |
| Three-Number Combinations | 11:1 | 8.1% | 7.9% |
| Four-Number Combinations | 8:1 | 10.8% | 10.5% |
| Five-Number Combinations | 6:1 | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| Six-Number Combinations | 5:1 | 16.2% | 15.8% |
| Column | 2:1 | 32.4% | 31.6% |
| Dozen | 2:1 | 32.4% | 31.6% |
| Even/Odd | 1:1 | 48.6% | 47.4% |
| Red/Black | 1:1 | 48.6% | 47.4% |
| Low/High | 1:1 | 48.6% | 47.4% |
The house edge for blackjack is a lot more favorable at 0.5% for an experienced player. In other words, implementing a basic strategy ensures that you’ll win more consistently. House edge increases to 2% if you’re a beginner at blackjack, which is still pretty favorable.
Reducing the blackjack house edge is all about getting good at the game. You can even study strategy charts that’ll explain what to do in every scenario. This ultimately allows you to extend your gambling sessions and get the most out of your bankroll.
Blackjack vs. Roulette Variations
Both blackjack and roulette have multiple variations, so it’s important to pick one that suits your needs and offers favorable odds.
American and European Roulette are both popular table games. Obviously, the latter is almost always significantly better because of the lower house edge.
You need to make a choice with blackjack too. Not many people know the game has two different payout structures – 3:2 and 6:5. They greatly affect the amount of money you’ll win over time. I advise that you learn more about 3/2 vs. 6/5 blackjack to determine which one you should play first.
Roulette vs. Blackjack Online
The good news is that both roulette and blackjack are very popular online. The two games are available for real money play in almost every casino on the internet. The experience you get is quite similar in a number of areas.
First and foremost, you can enjoy multiple versions of them. Secondly, most casinos feature live dealer tables for both. On the downside, you won’t find too many promotions because of the relatively low house edge.
The top gambling sites do find ways to give back to the players, though. They also offer many variations of roulette and blackjack. If that sounds appealing, feel free to check them out.
500%
up to $7,500
- Top-notch payout speed
- Robust selection of casino games
- Extremely high bonus totals
250%
up to $1,500
- Superb bonus structure
- Download or instant play
- Excellent for crypto users
125%
up to $3,750
- Highly established brand
- Hugely popular among bettors
- Lightning-fast payouts
$20,000
welcome package with 400% match bonus
- Great bonuses
- Strong loyalty program
- Large slots selection
$125 FREE!
with $25 deposit
- History of reliable service
- Tournament offerings
- Substantial progressive jackpots
500%
up to to $7,500
- High bonuses/low rollovers
- Banking versatility
- Reliable live dealer options
300%
up to $3,000
- Huge bonus offers
- You can gamble with Bitcoin
- Nice table game selection
My conclusion is that no game is definitively better than the other. Personal preference should be the deciding factor.
If you love card games that are strategy-based, you should choose blackjack. However, if you’re looking for more of a thrill, I recommend roulette.
The best part is you don’t have to pick one or the other. Depending on your mood, you can easily switch between these two and other casino games.
