The old adage ”the house always wins” is well-known for a reason. This refers to the ”house edge,” a fundamental concept that is the basis of the entire casino industry. It represents the average percentage of a player’s bet that the casino expects to keep over the long run. Understanding it is crucial for any smart gambler.
The house edge is derived from the difference between the true odds of winning a bet and the odds that the casino (goldfish.it) pays out for that win. Roulette provides a very clear illustration.
The wheel has 37 numbers in total.
The actual probability of your number coming up is 1/37.
But, the payout for a winning single-number bet is 35:1.
The casino profits from this statistical difference.
In this case, the house edge is 2.7%. This means that for every $100 bet on the wheel over a long period, the casino expects to make an average profit of $2.70.
Not all games are created equal; the house advantage can be very different depending on what you play.
Game | Typical House Edge | Notes |
---|---|---|
Blackjack | 0.5% – 1% | The player’s skill level has a massive impact on the house advantage. |
Baccarat (Banker Bet) | Around 1.06% | Betting on the Banker offers one of the lowest house advantages available in any casino game. |
Craps (Pass/Don’t Pass) | Under 1.5% | The game offers some great bets and some terrible ones. |
European Roulette | Exactly 2.70% | This is a constant, casino unchangeable edge. |
American Roulette | 5.26% | The ’00’ significantly increases the casino’s advantage. Always choose European if possible. |
Slots | Usually 4% to 8% | The edge on slots is generally higher than on table games. |
Winning is still possible, as the edge only applies over a huge sample size. Short-term results are all about variance. Anything can happen. However, casino (enquiry) knowing about the house edge allows you to make smarter choices. By choosing games with a lower house edge, you are mathematically giving yourself a better chance of having a winning session and making your bankroll last longer.
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