Casinos are incredibly profitable businesses, and their success relies entirely on cold, hard mathematics.
This guaranteed profit margin is known universally throughout the industry as the “house edge.”
True Odds vs. Casino Payouts
If a game paid out at exactly the true odds, the casino would eventually break even and go bankrupt.
Take European roulette, for example: there are 37 numbers on the wheel, making the true odds 36 to 1.
- The edge is an average calculation over millions of rounds
- It cannot be defeated by betting systems
- Short-term luck can temporarily overcome the edge
The Flip Side of the House Edge
While table game players talk about house edge, slot machine players focus on Return to Player (RTP).
This means that over millions of spins, the machine will pay back $95 for every $100 wagered.
Finding the Best Casino Odds
Smart players actively seek out games where the mathematical advantage of the casino is incredibly thin.
Video poker can also offer an edge below 1%, and sometimes even dips into negative territory with perfect play.
| Casino Game | Average House Edge | Player Skill Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack | 0.5% (with strategy) | High |
| European Roulette | 2.70% | None |
Accept the edge as the price of admission for the entertainment, and gamble responsibly.