The Mathematical Advantage of the Casino
It's a well-known saying that "the house always wins". But what is this "edge" exactly? These two concepts are the most important numbers in gambling.
The House Advantage
The house edge is the percentage of a player's original bet that the casino expects to win, on average, over the long term. It's expressed as a percentage. For example, if a game has a house edge of 2%, it means that for every $100 you bet, casino the casino expects to keep $2 as profit over time. It's important to remember this is a long-term average. In the short term, anything can happen – you can win big or lose fast.
What is Return to Player (RTP)?
RTP is the inverse of the house edge. RTP tells you what portion of the total bets a game is programmed to return to its players in the long run. For example, casino 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
The house edge and RTP can vary significantly from one game to another. Smart players gravitate towards games with a low house edge.
Game Average Edge Important Details
Blackjack ~0.5% - 2% Requires optimal strategy to get this low edge.
Baccarat Around 1.2% Always bet on the Banker for the best odds.
European Roulette Exactly 2.7% The one green '0' pocket is the source of the edge.
American Roulette Over 5% The '0' and '00' pockets give the house a much larger advantage.
Slots 2% - 10% (90-98% RTP) The RTP can vary massively between different slot games. A good online slot typically has an RTP of 96% or higher.
The Takeaway
Understanding house edge and RTP empowers you to make informed choices. Your goal should be to play games with the lowest possible house edge. This gives you the best statistical chance of walking away a winner and ensures you get the most entertainment value for your money.