The Casino Lab
beginner8 min read
The House Edge: Why the Casino Always Wins
A complete breakdown of the house edge for every major casino game — and what it actually means for your wallet.
What is the House Edge?
The house edge is the mathematical advantage the casino has over you, expressed as a percentage of each bet. It represents the average amount the casino expects to keep from every dollar wagered.
House Edge by Game
| Game | Best Bet | House Edge | Cost per $100/hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | — | 0.5% | $3.75 |
| Craps | Pass + Odds | 0.85% | $5.10 |
| Baccarat | Banker | 1.06% | $6.36 |
| Pai Gow Poker | — | 1.46% | $4.38 |
| Roulette (European) | Any | 2.70% | $8.10 |
| Roulette (American) | Any | 5.26% | $15.78 |
| Caribbean Stud | — | 5.22% | $15.66 |
| Keno | — | 25-40% | $75-120 |
| Slots | — | 5-15% | $50-150 |
Cost per hour assumes $25 average bet and typical hands/spins per hour
What House Edge Actually Means
A 5% house edge does NOT mean you lose 5% of your money every visit. It means:
- For every $100 wagered, the casino expects to keep $5 on average
- Over 100 bets of $10 each ($1,000 total wagered), you'd expect to lose $50
- But variance means you could win or lose much more in any given session
The Long Run
The house edge is a long-run average. In a single session, anything can happen. But over thousands of bets, your results will converge toward the expected loss. This is why the casino always wins — they play the long game.
Reducing the House Edge
- Choose the right games — Blackjack and craps offer the best odds
- Play optimal strategy — Basic strategy in blackjack cuts the edge in half
- Avoid sucker bets — Keno, Big Six wheel, and slot machines have terrible odds
- Take maximum odds in craps — The odds bet has zero house edge
- Play European roulette — Half the edge of American roulette