House edge for online casino games

Casino games can now be played from the comfort of your own home thanks to the popularity of online casinos. When playing at an online casino, one important concept to understand is the house edge – the mathematical advantage the casino has over players in each game. Knowing the house edge helps you make informed decisions when playing.

The house edge refers to the mathematical advantage that the casino has over players in each game offered. It represents how much of each bet the casino expects to keep over time. The house edge exists because casinos are businesses that need to make profits to cover costs and make money. Every casino game has an inherent house edge that cannot be eliminated, but sometimes be reduced with optimal play.

For example, if a game has a 5% house edge and you bet $100 per round, the casino expects to earn about $5 per game. Of course, in the short term, you may win or lose various amounts, but over hundreds or thousands of bets, the house edge drives casino profits. The higher the house edge, the more the casino profits over time.

House edge for common online casino games

The house edge varies significantly between different casino games. These are average house edges for some popular online casino games:

• Slots – 2% to 15%
• Blackjack – Under 1% with optimal strategy
• Roulette – 2.7% (European) or 5.26% (American)
• Baccarat – 1.24% (Player Bets), 14.4% (Tie Bets)
• Craps – 1.4% (Pass/Come), 1.4% (Don’t Pass/Don’t Come)
• Video Poker – Under 1% with optimal strategy

House edge is the lowest for blackjack, craps, and video poker when using optimal strategies. It is extremely high for some niche bets like a tie in baccarat. Slots have a wide range but are generally not favorable to players. Understanding these percentages lets you focus your play on best online australian casino games with better odds.

How house edge works in different games?            

The specific way house edge works differs between games:

• Slots – The house edge is programmed into the game mathematics, paying out less than the true odds over millions of spins.
• Blackjack – The dealer gains an advantage by acting after players and winning pushes. The optimal strategy minimizes this.
• Roulette – The 0 and 00 slots give the house an automatic edge since they lose on all other numbers.
• Baccarat – Banker bet house edge comes from the casino taking a 5% commission on winning banker bets.
• Craps – The edge comes from players losing the pass line on a 12, while the house wins on 2 and 3 on the don’t pass.
• Video Poker – The house edge is in the payouts being less than the true odds of winning each hand.

House Edge works through game rules that statistically favor the casino over time. It helps to learn the source of the edge for games you want to master.