What is the house edge at a casino?
The house edge is the casino’s built-in mathematical advantage on a given game or bet, expressed as a percentage of each wager. A 2% house edge means the casino expects to keep $2 of every $100 wagered over the long run.
It is the flip side of RTP: house edge = 100% − RTP. The lower the house edge, the better the odds for the player. It varies enormously by game — European roulette is ~2.7%, most slots are 2–6%, and blackjack with perfect strategy can drop under 1%.
The house edge is unavoidable and is how casinos profit, but it is a long-term average — it does not stop you winning in the short term. Rakeback effectively returns a slice of the house edge to you, which is why it is one of the most valuable crypto casino perks.
Key points
- The casino’s built-in % advantage on each bet.
- House edge = 100% − RTP (2% edge = 98% RTP).
- Lower edge = better player odds.
- Ranges from <1% (blackjack) to 2–6% (slots) to higher on some bets.
- Rakeback returns part of the house edge to the player.
FAQ
Which casino games have the lowest house edge?
Blackjack with correct strategy (often under 1%), baccarat (~1%) and European roulette (~2.7%) have among the lowest house edges. Most slots are higher at 2–6%.
Can you beat the house edge?
Not over the long run — it is built into the game math. You can win in the short term, and rakeback/cashback reduce its effective cost, but the edge always favours the casino over time.
Related
18+. Gambling involves risk — gamble responsibly (BeGambleAware.org · GamCare.org.uk).