Whether your cup of tea is online slots, blackjack, or video poker, winning consistently means more than signing up for the right online casino. While capitalizing on generous promotions, including the generous welcome bonus, it takes mastery of the house edge and the casino game odds. This article helps you take your online casino game to the winning level with these essential terms.
- What Is House Edge?
Often referred to as the house advantage, the house edge is the percentage or piece of each bet the casino, better known as “the house,” gets to keep. Seasoned online casino players selectively choose their games and manage their budgets because lower house edge games increase the “odds” of winning more often than not. Even though all casino games are games of chance, still knowing these terms is a stepping stone toward long-term success.
- Games with Lower House Edges
- Blackjack: Blackjack continues to be the casino game of choice because the house edge is a deficient 0.5%. American and European Blackjack are usually available for that reason.
- Video Poker: Although video poker is a cross between slot and poker games, the house edge is unbelievably low. Depending on the video poker variant, like Joker Poker, the house edge can be below 0.50% and as high as 1.25%. Due to their extreme popularity, sweepstakes casinos carry them.
- European Roulette: Like the French version, the house edge for European Roulette ranges between 2.43% and 2.63%.
- Games with Higher House Edges
- American Roulette: While on the one hand, having the additional zero is appealing. Unfortunately, it leads to a whopping 5.26% house edge. For that reason, most new online casino players don’t begin with American Roulette.
- Keno: Most Keno variants carry exceptionally high house edges between 20% and 30% for such a simple lottery-style game.
- Slot Machines: Slot machines vary with the house edge. Jackpot slots and those with high volatility can feature a house edge north of 10%.
- What Are Casino Game Odds?
Unlike the house edge and return to player rates, casino game odds are statistical gauges to help determine a particular outcome. In many ways, the house edge and the particular game rules heavily influence the game odds, but there are slight differences.
- Slot Game Odds
Because slots vary the most in minimum payments, the odds can run the gambit, especially when you factor in the pay lines, reels, and in-game bonuses. For slots, the odds are determined by low, medium, and high volatility. Low volatile slots, like single-pay line options, have more favorable odds because they pay out more frequently.
- Baccarat Odds
While the James Bond movies make playing Baccarat look so effortless, the baccarat odds, especially for Punto Banco, can vary wildly. Because the tie bet carries a high house edge of 14.35%, the odds of winning the tie bet are a low 9.50%. However, the banker’s bet odds improve dramatically to over 45% because of the 1.06% house edge.
- Conclusion
While betting strategies can help manage budgets and lead to wins, knowing how the odds work and the house edge will lead to more informed decisions on how to use it. For table games, roulette offers extensive odds, some high and some low. When playing an online casino game for the first time, it’s wise to stick to simple bets with odds that lead to at least even money.
