House edge
House edge is the share of every bet the casino keeps on average. It is 100% minus the RTP, so a 99% RTP game has a 1% edge. On $1,000 of bets that is $10 on average, win or lose on the night.
- House edge
- 100% − RTP
- RTP
- 100% − house edge
- Expected loss
- total wagered × house edge
- Example
- 96.5% RTP → 3.5% edge → $35 per $1,000 wagered
Edge by game, worked out
| Game and bet | House edge | How we got it |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack, infinite deck, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split, 3:2 | 0.51% | exact basic-strategy EV, blackjack page |
| Same blackjack, but blackjack pays 6:5 | 1.87% | same script |
| Baccarat, banker bet (5% commission), 8 decks | 1.06% | every deal of an 8-deck shoe counted |
| Baccarat, player bet | 1.24% | same |
| Baccarat, tie at 8:1 | 14.36% | same |
| Craps, pass line | 1.41% | 7/495 exactly |
| Roulette, single zero, any bet | 2.70% | 1/37 |
| Roulette, double zero, most bets | 5.26% | 2/38 |
| Roulette, double zero, 0-00-1-2-3 line | 7.89% | 3/38 |
| Stake Engine slot, base game | 3.3% to 4.0% | RTP rule 96.0% to 96.7% |
Own calculations, scripts in our repo: growth/growth6/daten/phase2/b1b/blackjack.py, baccarat.py, roulette.py, house_edge_table.py. Blackjack and baccarat numbers assume you play the bet the table describes; other blackjack rules move the edge (see the blackjack page).
The odd one out is the slot row. A table game's edge comes straight from the rules, so you can work it out on paper. A slot's RTP is set by the studio inside the maths file, and the only way to know it is to read the game's info screen. That's also why the same slot can run at different RTPs from one casino to the next.
What an edge costs in money
| RTP | House edge | Per $1,000 wagered | 500 spins at $1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.5% | 0.5% | $5 | $2.50 |
| 99% | 1% | $10 | $5 |
| 98% | 2% | $20 | $10 |
| 97.3% | 2.7% | $27 | $13.50 |
| 96.5% | 3.5% | $35 | $17.50 |
| 96% | 4% | $40 | $20 |
| 94% | 6% | $60 | $30 |
| 90% | 10% | $100 | $50 |
Averages over a very long run. A single session can end far above or below them.
Count what you wager, not what you deposit. Start with $100, spin at $1 and keep betting your wins, and after 600 spins you've put $600 through the game even if the balance never went above $100. At a 4% edge that's about $24 gone on average, and the figure follows the number of spins, not the size of your balance.
Low edge doesn't mean low risk. Baccarat's banker bet costs about $10.60 per $1,000 and still swings hard from hand to hand. Where the edge does help is over many sessions, since every bet you place feeds the same average.
18+. No betting system removes the house edge. Help: Responsible gaming.
Not affiliated with any casino or studio named. Game names belong to their owners.
Questions
What is the difference between RTP and house edge?
They describe the same thing from opposite sides. RTP is the share returned on average, house edge is what it keeps. They always add up to 100%.
Which casino game has the lowest house edge?
Among the common games, blackjack with good rules and basic strategy, at roughly 0.5%. Baccarat banker (1.06%) and craps pass line (1.41%) follow. Some video poker pay tables go lower with perfect play.
Why is the edge in American roulette higher?
The extra 00 pocket. Payouts stay the same as on a 37-pocket wheel, but there are 38 outcomes, so the edge rises from 2.70% to 5.26%.
Does the house edge change how often I win?
Not directly. Hit rate and volatility decide how often you win. The edge decides how much you lose on average over all bets.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds: baccarat basics, 8-deck analysis. cross-check: banker 1.06%, player 1.24%, tie 14.36%, same as our count Checked 12 November 2026
- Wizard of Odds: blackjack rule variations. cross-check of rule effects (soft 17, double after split, no hole card) Checked 12 November 2026
- Engine docs: approval guidelines. RTP of new games between 96.0% and 96.7% Checked 12 November 2026
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