The house edge is one of the most important factors that players should watch out for. It is also something that players should be aware of before jumping into the world of gambling. In fact, we will go as far as to say that the house edge is one of the most important factors to consider. It is not just about the casino or the games you choose, but rather the in-built mechanism that comes with the games that will significantly impact your gaming session.

The house edge is expressed as a percentage. This percentage states the advantage that a specific online casino game has over the player. It effectively indicates the average loss of every bet placed on a casino game by a player. Players can easily use this information to calculate their expected losses at a gaming session. It’s all mathematics.

The higher the house edge is, the more it will affect you as a player. If you place a bet of €10 on a game that has a house edge of 5%, you can expect to lose, €0.50 per bet. You may think this is not much, but over a period of time, it all builds up to a considerable sum.

When you look at it on a per bet basis, it does not appear to be much of a profit for a casino, but you must also take into consideration the thousands of players that play at this specific casino 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The profits generated are astounding.

The House Edge and Bad Luck

While many players will blame bad luck for losing games, the truth of the matter is, that the house edge is available for all to see. Online casino sites don’t hide this fact and this information is out in the open.

This mathematical percentage acts as evidence that it is not due to bad luck and decisions that you are haemorrhaging funds, though that may be very well the case, but rather the house edge.

Some players will often think that the games are rigged, but the casino would not even need to rig its games as the mechanism is doing all the work simultaneously.

Even so, licensed and regulated casinos cannot rig games as their games have to undergo regular audits. These games' random number generators are regularly tested by independent third parties for fair and impartial results.

So is the house edge all doom and gloom? Some players are likely to achieve some success and walk away a few euros richer, but the majority of the players, are likely to lose a lot more than what they are winning. There are also some strategies that can help players lower the house edge for some specific games, such as Blackjack and Baccarat.

However, the house edge is a built-in mechanism designed to ensure that the casino gets money on each and every bet placed. There is a good reason why online casinos continue to get richer.

The House Edge and Casino Games

Online casino games come in various shapes and forms. Even so, they have a different house edge. The house edge for some games tends to be fixed, while others tend to vary depending on the game variants, the number of card decks used and the rules. Here is the house edge for some of the most popular games on the market:

  • Blackjack: The standard and traditional version of Blackjack has a house edge of 0.25%. This can vary depending on the game variant of the game.
  • Baccarat: The house edge for Baccarat is 1.06% if you are placing a bet on the banker, 1.24% on the player and a whopping 14.36% if you are betting on the house edge.
  • Roulette: The house edge for Roulette varies depending if you’re playing the American or European versions. The European version enjoys a low 2.70% house edge, while the American one has a higher house edge of 5.26% due to the extra pocket on the wheel.
  • Video Poker: The game of Jacks or Better enjoys a very low house edge of 0.36%, and thus a higher payout percentage.
  • Online slots: The house edge for slots can range from 2% to 25%. However, it is difficult to pinpoint a percentage with online slot games due to differing payout percentages from one casino to another.

 

Minimising the House Edge

While it is not always possible to lower the house edge, there are some games that actually give you the power to lower the house edge. First off, you should play games that are more favourable.

Games such as Keno are very popular, but their house edge is through the roof at 35%. As fun as this game is, your bankroll will be depleted in a short time. Opting for games such as Blackjack gives you a higher degree of power since you can influence the game’s outcome.

It is also worth taking the time to pick games that have a low house edge. For example, European and French Roulette as well as Blackjack have a lower house edge, provided you use a basic strategy.

As fun as online slot games are, their house edge is quite high and there is nothing you can do to lower it.

On the other hand, when it comes to RNG card and table games as well as live casino games, you have the opportunity to cut down the house edge by using a basic strategy. Be careful of the many variations of the games available out there. Side bets and different rules could still push the house edge up.

The Return to Player and the House Edge

The Return to Player is the opposite of the House Edge. it essentially states how much you can expect to receive from the money wagered over a period of time. You are more likely to come across the payout percentages of games than the house edge.

Online slot games have a payout percentage of 96%, which although quite good, you cannot improve on it, just like you are unable to lower the house edge.

Gambler’s Fallacy and Online Gambling

It is important to keep in mind the phenomenon better known as the Gambler’s Fallacy. This common symptom is displayed by players who get caught up in gambling. Players often think that luck is on their side, and even if they suffer one loss after another, they often think that a win is just around the corner.

There is no such thing as luck when it comes to online gambling. Since all casino games use a random number generator, each spin of the reels and each card dealt is independent of the other. If you are hitting a losing streak, it does not necessarily mean that a win is around the corner or that you will succeed in recouping your losses.

The longer you play a game, the more like the game’s house edge is going to get you. Have win and loss limits in place to safeguard yourself and your bankroll.

Is it better to play online than offline?

There are many benefits to playing online than playing at a brick-and-mortar casino. An online casino site carries a far higher number of games, including online slot games, RNG games and live casino games. Bear in mind that brick-and-mortar casinos can only host a small number of games due to limited spacing.

In addition to this, online casinos don’t have as many overhead costs as brick-and-mortar casinos, so they tend to offer more casino bonuses and promotions. Since the competition is quite high online, the house edge tends to be lower than that of their offline counterparts as well.

Information such as the payout percentage is easily accessible when you are playing online, including any game’s info sheets, rules and mechanics. You can quickly look up the variance of games online or try the games in free demo mode to get a good feel of the mechanics of the game.

It is important that whenever you approach any type of gambling, you factor in that the house edge is a big part of it and is designed to keep online casinos running. Picking the flashiest online slot game won’t necessarily result in more wins. On the contrary, sometimes the flashiest a game is, the higher the house edge.