On n’est pas des Pigeons: which casino game really pays out the most?

Roulette, blackjack or slot machines: are some games actually more favourable than others? Between popular beliefs, personal accounts and mathematical data, the investigation by On n’est pas des Pigeons reveals a reality that is more nuanced than it seems.

The illusion of the ‘winning’ game

In the aisles of the Circus Casino Resort in Namur, where over 200,000 visitors pass through each year, convictions are often deeply held. Some players swear by a particular game, convinced they have found the key to success.

Christian, a regular at the venue, talks enthusiastically about his winnings on the slot machines:

“If you play for 10 cents, well, that’s a pittance. If you play for €2.50, the lights and everything are at their best. There you go, I just won €5,600 on that machine there.”

For him, it all comes down to betting strategy. Betting more, he claims, leads to bigger winnings. An appealing but misleading logic.

A few metres away, another player defends roulette:

“But the biggest sums I’ve ever won were on that game. Because actually, if you put in €10, it’s multiplied by 36. So imagine if you put in 200, that’s €7,000.”

Annie, for her part, dismisses these certainties out of hand:

“It’s all down to luck. It’s random – one day you win, the next you lose.”

The figures that change everything

Contrary to what players might think, casinos operate on the basis of extremely precise mathematical models. Every game has a house edge, which is a margin that guarantees a long-term profit for the establishment.

In roulette, the payout rate is around 97%. In other words, for every 100 euros wagered, 97 euros are paid back to players on average… and 3 euros remain in the casino’s coffers. If 10,000 players each bet 100 euros on roulette, that amounts to one million euros. With a 2.7% edge, the casino automatically retains €27,000.

This calculation is inescapable. Regardless of the occasional winners, the casino always comes out on top in the long run.

Are there more favourable games?

Not all games are created equal, however. Table games, such as roulette or blackjack, generally have a lower house edge.

In roulette, certain bets — such as red or black — offer almost a fifty-fifty chance of winning. But one subtle detail changes everything: the presence of the zero. It is this that gives the casino the edge.

A croupier explains it simply:

“You have almost a fifty-fifty chance if you bet on red or black. Apart from the zero, you lose half your stake; otherwise, it’s always a fifty-fifty chance.”

Blackjack, on the other hand, appeals for a different reason: the sense of control. Players make decisions, interact with the dealer and devise strategies. This interaction gives the impression of influencing the game, even though, once again, the odds remain fixed.

Can you really beat the casino?

The answer is simple, but hard to accept: no, not in the long run. All games are designed to guarantee an advantage for the casino. Even if some offer better odds to players, that advantage never disappears.

One account illustrates this mechanism well:

“My biggest win here was 20,000 in the afternoon, which I quickly lost again.”

The only variable a player can truly control is their bankroll management. Knowing when to stop remains the key. As the presenter of On n’est pas des Pigeons points out after an unexpected win:

“I’ll leave it there. You have to know when to stop.”

If the odds are stacked against you, why do casinos still hold such a strong appeal? A casino offers an experience: adrenaline, suspense, social interaction, hope. It is not just the prospect of winning that drives people, but the intensity of the moment. Every roll of the dice, every card dealt, every spin of the slot machine creates a unique sense of tension. Ultimately, a casino sells an emotion rather than a promise of wealth.