{"id":47002,"date":"2024-10-16T13:49:07","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T13:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/safestcasinosites.co.uk\/?page_id=47002"},"modified":"2024-10-16T13:49:07","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T13:49:07","slug":"house-edge-explained-understanding-the-odds-of-different-casino-games","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/safestcasinosites.co.uk\/house-edge-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"House Edge Explained: Understanding The Odds Of Different Casino Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

By having house edge explained concisely, you\u2019ll be able to understand the payout probability of different casino games. In addition to learning what the house edge is and how it\u2019s calculated, it\u2019s important to distinguish it from return to player (RTP) percentages.<\/p>\n

As you read through this casino house edge explained guide, you\u2019ll find practical examples of different games, such as blackjack and roulette. We\u2019ve also included handy tips that explain concepts or terms in further detail to ensure that you learn everything there is to know about the casino’s margin.<\/p>\n

\n

What Is The House Edge?<\/h2>\n

The house edge is a core element of casino gaming, both online and land-based. It represents the mathematical advantage that an operator holds over players in a particular game. This advantage ensures that, in the long run, the casino makes a profit even if some players win from time to time.<\/p>\n

A game\u2019s house edge is expressed as a percentage of a player\u2019s wager. It indicates how much of their bet the casino expects to retain over time. For example, if a game has a house edge of 5%, the operator is expected to keep, on average, \u00a35 out of every \u00a3100 wagered.<\/p>\n

Over the shorter term, the house edge is less meaningful. To increase the probability of turning a profit, a casino operator spreads its risk across thousands of players. Some of these will likely win profitable payouts that cause the platform to lose money. However, the rest will likely lose more money than they win, allowing the operator to recover lost money and turn a profit.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

House Edges Across Different Casino Games<\/h2>\n

Casino games feature a wide range of house edges and most have different values for different bets. Understanding these differences can help you make more informed choices about which games to play at the top online casinos in the UK<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Roulette House Edge Explained<\/h3>\n

The difference between American and European versions of this casino table game highlights the impact that game variations can have. Roulette odds<\/a> vary primarily due to the 00 in the American version. However, they are also different due to the La Partage or En Prison rule found in French versions.<\/p>\n

European Roulette\u2019s single zero gives it a lower house edge of 2.7%. American Roulette, by comparison, has a house edge of 5.26% even if you use roulette strategy<\/a> to determine your bets. French Roulette, meanwhile, can have an edge of just 1.35% owing to the special rules that come into effect if the winning number is zero.<\/p>\n

\n

Handy Tip: <\/strong>The best online roulette casinos in the UK<\/a> offer several variants of the game with bonus payouts. These games may have different house edges, so it\u2019s important that you check the paytable and rules before playing.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\"Roulette\n

Blackjack House Edge Explained<\/h3>\n

Blackjack is a popular casino card game that\u2019s easy to learn, but challenging to master. Using the perfect blackjack strategy<\/a>, the house edge in blackjack can be as low as 0.5%. This makes it one of the most player-friendly games available at online and land-based casinos. However, poor decisions by players can raise the edge significantly, so using a chart is always recommended.<\/p>\n

Just like with roulette, blackjack variants<\/a> feature differing house edges. Single Deck Blackjack, for example, can have an edge as low as 0.15%, whereas the edge of Perfect Pairs Blackjack can be over 13% if optional side bets are factored in.<\/p>\n

\n

Handy Tip: <\/strong>Using blackjack strategy to lower the casino’s advantage is simpler than on most games thanks to the availability of free charts or tables. These explain the best possible actions based on your hole cards and the dealer\u2019s up card. Moreover, the best blackjack casinos<\/a> let you practice playing for free using demo mode before you\u2019re comfortable playing with real money.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\"Blackjack\n

Baccarat House Edge Explained<\/h3>\n

Like blackjack, baccarat has one of the lowest house edges of any casino game. This popular card game lets you place three main bets. The Banker bet has the lowest house edge at 1.06%. The Player bet, meanwhile, has an edge of 1.24%. Tie bets have the highest edge at 14.36% and are not recommended due to their poor player odds.<\/p>\n

Deciding how to bet is complicated slightly since winning Banker bets are normally subject to a 5% commission. Some top baccarat casinos<\/a> offer variants that don\u2019t charge commission, but these games have alternative setups that actually raise the house edge of the Banker bet to 1.46%.<\/p>\n\"Baccarat\n

Craps House Edge Explained<\/h3>\n

Craps is a dice game that offers numerous betting options and each one has a different edge. This variety is daunting for new players, but generally, most can learn how to play craps<\/a> in a few minutes. One of the most player-friendly bets in the game is the Pass Line Bet which carries a house edge of 1.41%.<\/p>\n

The Don\u2019t Pass Bet, a wager that the shooter will lose, has an every lower house edge at 1.36%. Harways, Any 7, and other exotic bets, however, give the casino a higher advantage which sometimes exceeds 10%. Like side bets in blackjack or roulette, these bets are popular amongst players willing to take higher risks for the chance to win greater payouts.<\/p>\n\"Craps\n

Poker House Edge Explained<\/h3>\n

It is trickier to calculate the house edge in poker given the sheer number of variants and formats available. Texas Hold\u2019em<\/a> and similar multiplayer games don\u2019t have a house edge since the house is not competing in the game. Casino-style and electronic games, including video poker, do have an operator edge, which, in some cases, is very close to 0%.<\/p>\n

Three-Card Poker<\/a>, a popular casino-style game that is similar to blackjack, gives the casino an advantage of 3.37%. In Caribbean Stud the edge is closer to 5.22% while in certain Casino Hold\u2019em games, it can go as low as 0.82%. Surprisingly, with some video poker titles, such as Double Double Bonus, the house edge is actually a negative, but these games are harder to find.<\/p>\n

\n

Handy Tip: <\/strong>To cover their overheads and make a profit, poker sites offering Hold\u2019em, Omaha, and similar variants charge poker rake<\/a>. This can be charged in different ways but is typically a percentage of the total pot or part of a buy-in.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\"Three\n

Slots House Edge Explained<\/h3>\n

Top online slots<\/a> are the most popular casino games in the UK but have some of the highest house edges. With tens of thousands of titles available, house edges vary significantly but typically range between 2% and 10%. A few titles are outliers and can have edges below 1% or above 11%.<\/p>\n

Unlike blackjack, poker, and similar table games, you don\u2019t need any skill to learn how to play slots<\/a>. Game outcomes are entirely based on luck and powered by random number generators (RNGs). It\u2019s thanks to their simplicity and range of bonus features that slots are so popular despite their high house edges.<\/p>\n\"Slots\n

Comparing Table Game House Edges And Payouts<\/h2>\n

This table compares the bets with the lowest casino advantages across the most popular casino table games and lists their corresponding payouts.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table Game<\/strong><\/td>\nBet<\/strong><\/td>\nHouse Edge<\/strong><\/td>\nPayout<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
European Roulette<\/strong><\/td>\nAll bets<\/td>\n2.7%<\/td>\n1:1 – 35:1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
American Roulette<\/strong><\/td>\nAll bets<\/td>\n5.26%<\/td>\n1:1 – 35:1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
French Roulette<\/strong><\/td>\nAll bets<\/td>\n1.35%<\/td>\n1:1 – 35:1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blackjack<\/strong><\/td>\nAnte<\/td>\n0.5%<\/td>\n1:1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Baccarat<\/strong><\/td>\nBanker<\/td>\n1.06%<\/td>\n0.95:1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Craps<\/strong><\/td>\nDon\u2019t Pass<\/td>\n1.36%<\/td>\n1:1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Handy Tip: <\/strong>The house edges in the table above are based on classic rules but can vary from one game or developer to another. You should always be able to find the exact house edge or RTP by launching the game and browsing through its options menu for a pay table or list of odds and payouts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

How To Calculate The House Edge<\/h2>\n

In this next part of our house edge explained guide, you\u2019ll find a brief explanation of how this mathematical advantage is calculated. This task typically falls to software providers and is audited by independent labs, such as iTech Labs<\/a> or eCogra.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Identify the bet\u2019s potential outcomes – <\/strong><\/strong>For each bet, list the possible winning outcomes and their associated payouts.<\/li>\n
  2. Calculate the expected value for each outcome – <\/strong>Multiply the probability of each outcome by its payout.<\/li>\n
  3. Determine the total expected value – <\/strong>Add up the expected values of all possible outcomes.<\/li>\n
  4. Calculate the margin – <\/strong>Subtract the total expected value from 1 (or 100%) to find the house edge.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The best way to understand how to calculate a casino game\u2019s house edge is with an example. To keep things simple, we\u2019re using European Roulette. The roulette wheel has 37 pockets and if you win a straight-up or single-number bet, the payout is 35:1. The probability of winning this bet is 1 in 37, or 1\/37, and the probability of losing is 36\/37.<\/p>\n

    \n