We’ve all heard the phrase “the house has the edge”. It’s not about cheating; it’s about a statistical advantage called the house edge. These two concepts are the most important numbers in gambling.
Defining the Casino’s Advantage
The house edge is the percentage of a player’s original bet that the casino expects to win, on average, casino over the long term. A 2% edge means the casino will, on average, retain 2% of all money wagered. This is a statistical probability over millions of wagers, not a guarantee for any single session.
What is Return to Player (RTP)?
Return to Player (RTP) is essentially the flip side of the house edge. It’s the theoretical percentage of wagers that a game will pay out. For example, a slot machine with a 96% RTP will, on average, pay back $96 for every $100 that is bet on it.
Looking up a game’s RTP is a smart move before playing.
How Games Stack Up
Different casino games have vastly different odds for casino the player. Smart players gravitate towards games with a low house edge.
Game
Average Edge
Notes
Blackjack
~0.5% – 2%
This low edge is only achievable when playing with perfect basic strategy. Poor decisions increase the edge significantly.
Baccarat
~1.06% (on Banker bet)
The Banker bet has one of the lowest house edges in the casino. The Tie bet has a very high edge (~14%).
European Roulette
Exactly 2.7%
Always choose European over American if available.
American Roulette
5.26%
This version offers significantly worse odds for the player.
Slots
Varies widely
The RTP can vary massively between different slot games. A good online slot typically has an RTP of 96% or higher.
The Takeaway
You can use these numbers to your advantage. You can’t beat the math, casino but you can select the most favorable conditions. This gives you the best statistical chance of walking away a winner and ensures you get the most entertainment value for your money.
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