Blackjack vs Roulette – Which Casino Game is Right for You?

Posted by Harry Kane on Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Table games account for approximately 15% of the gross gaming yield (GGY) in the UK, making this the second most generative vertical behind online slots. Of course, this vertical includes the games of roulette and blackjack, which are commonplace in online and live casinos and boast a number of exciting iterations online.

While there are some similarities between blackjack and roulette, there are several differences that should guide you in deciding which game is most suitable for you. This determination will be based on your skill level, experience and appetite for risk, but understanding the primary differences here will help you to make the most informed decision possible.

Exploring the Differences Between Blackjack and Roulette and What They Should Tell You

In addition to understanding the differences between these two games, you must strive to comprehend why these distinctions matter and how they impact on your experience. Here’s our take on the primary points of distinction between blackjack and roulette, and the key takeaways for individual players.

The Gameplay

Roulette is a pure game of chance, in which a ball will spin a so-called “roulette wheel” before landing on a random number. There are 37 numbers on a European roulette wheel, while there are also a variety of bets including single numbers and specific groupings, black or red and odd or even. The latter are examples of even money wagers, which dramatically increase your chances of winning but deliver a lower payout over time.

The biggest distinction in the case of blackjack is that this card discipline is a game of skill. Here, you’ll build hands and play directly against the dealer, with the goal being to achieve a value as close to 21 as possible. The best hand is a ‘blackjack’, which comprises both an Ace and a picture card (King, Queen or Jack). The ace can be worth either one or 11 in most hands, while you can use numerical ability and strategic bets to optimise your chances of winning.

The Takeaway

As a game of skill, blackjack affords experienced and knowledgeable players a distinct advantage. This rule also applies to players with numerical ability and a penchant for mental arithmetic. Conversely, beginners may prefer to play roulette, which is a game of chance in which you seek to minimise losses by covering as many potential outcomes as possible.

The House Edge

We’ve already touched on how the European roulette wheel has 37 numbers a single zero groove. However, there’s also an American iteration with 38 numbers and a double zero groove, with these two versions boasting different house edge values. European roulette has a competitive house edge of 2.70, for example, whereas this increases to 5.26 for American roulette. These values reflect roulette’s status as a game of chance.

As a game of skill, blackjack enables you to leverage ability and strategic betting to better control outcomes and improve your chances of winning. Single or multiple decks may be leveraged too, with the result that some iterations boast a house edge as low as 0.5%. These games offer a return-to-player (RTP) rate of 99.5%, which means that you can recoup £99.5 for every £100 wagered on average.

The Takeaway

Clearly, blackjack version with a house edge of just 0.5% at least theoretically improve your potential returns over time. However, this relies in part on your skill level and ability, so it’s important to balance your knowledge of blackjack with the favourable house edge values in play. Roulette fans can also look to minimise their losses by choosing European or French iterations of the game.

Interactivity and Decision Making

In roulette, you’ll have a small window in which to place your bets while the wheel is still. Once the wheel is in motion, however, you can sit back and wait, while the outcome is purely dependent on chance and where the ball lands. This creates a more passive gameplay experience, but one that’s arguably suited to novices or casual players who aren’t gambling solely to bank winnings.

The reverse is true in the case of blackjack. Here, you must determine how to play your hand, measuring its constantly changing value against the dealer’s up card. You’ll have to decide whether to ‘hit’ or ‘stand’ after each card is dealt, while some blackjack iterations feature different rules that may enable you to double down, split your hand or surrender and retain some of your stake. This creates a much more immersive and active gameplay experience.

The Takeaway

As we’ve touched on, roulette offers a more passive experience that’s arguably ideal for casual bettors who play for fun. Conversely, blackjack requires far more intense levels of concentration and focus, while you must be able to make quick and informed decisions in real-time. Otherwise, you may be likely to lose a higher percentage of your hard-earned bankroll.

Bet Types and Payout Values

Roulette offers a broad range of wager types: including inside and outside bets. Inside bets include wagering on a single number, which offers odds of 35:1 (or 36:1 in American roulette) and a similar payout. Outside bets include wagering on the colour the ball will land on (red or black) or whether it will be odd or even. This feature delivers a payout of 1:1 but a significantly higher chance of winning.

An initial wager is placed in roulette before the cards are dealt. Additional betting options include doubling down (when you double your initial wager in exchange for an extra card) and ‘splitting’. The latter enables you to place an extra stake and split your single hand into two. Payouts are 3:2 for the aforementioned blackjack, while the house tends to pay out 1:1 for standard wins.

The Takeaway

Clearly, there are more bets to contend with in roulette, and while it can take longer to get to grips with these, they also offer greater flexibility in terms of covering potential outcomes. Although there are fewer wager types in blackjack, you can still expect similar payouts across the most common outcomes. It’s easier to understand the betting rules and variations when playing blackjack!