House Edge in Casino Games Explained

Playing casino games is one of the favourite pastime activities for people from all the corners of the world. It can help you unwind after a long day at work, and if you are lucky enough, you can even win some money. Now, what if we tell you that your online gambling experience does not rely solely on luck?

The truth is there is serious science behind casino games. If you invest some time in understanding how they work, you can become a more successful casino player. In this article, we will discuss the house edge in casino games and how to choose which ones you will play based on it.

What Is the House Edge?

The house edge, also known as the house margin or the casino advantage is a percentage which represents how much of your bet the casino keeps. If a return to player represents how much a particular game pays back to the player, the house edge is quite the opposite. Both parameters are calculated over a long period of time and cannot be applied to single bets.

The house edge stands for the profit generated by the casino through a casino game on average. Though it cannot tell you how much you will lose or win on every single bet, it can help you find out which games pay better or worse in theory. And that should be your starting point when choosing which casino game you will play.

How to Choose a Casino Game Based on House Edge

Now that you know what the house edge represents, you can conclude that the games that have a higher house edge pay less compared to those coming with a lower house edge. On the Internet, you can find the house edge for each and every casino game and even for different bet types. That means that there is no excuse to play those games that can suck the life out of your bankroll.

Here is the lowdown on some of the casino favourites and their house edge:

• Blackjack

  Blackjack is popular with players as it allows players to lower the house edge by making the right moves. While its house edge may vary depending on the rules in play, Blackjack has a house edge of around 0.5%, meaning that on €100 you wager, the house keeps only €0.5. You should not take this information for granted, though, as to make use of such a low house margin, you must apply the optimal Blackjack strategy for the variant you play.

• Baccarat

  Unlike Blackjack, Baccarat is a game based on sheer luck. It is popular due to its easy to learn rules and a quite low house edge. Yet it varies, depending on the bet you choose to play. For instance, the preferable wager to play is the one on the Banker side as it comes with a house edge of 1.06%. The Player bet has a higher house edge of 1.24% while the Tie wager has an abysmal house edge that ranges between 14.36% and 15.75%, depending on the card decks in play.

• Roulette

  The first thing you should learn about Roulette is that you should avoid its American version because of a 5.26% house edge. European Roulette with a house edge of 2.7% is a more acceptable option. This game is an example of how a simple rule can affect the house edge and put the player at a disadvantage.

• Slots

  Finally, slot machines are players’ favourites at online casinos as they can provide them with hefty payouts in a single spin of the reels. However, the house has a bigger advantage here, with a house edge sitting at around 5%. Yet, it can be considerably higher and go up to 15%. When choosing a slot machine, always check out its RTP and you will easily calculate how big its house edge is.