How to Reduce Casino House Edge
Whether you’re playing online casino games or heading to a retail casino, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll be confronted with (and possibly frustrated by) the casino house edge.
If you’re looking to maximize your chances at the tables, understanding what you’re up against and what you can do to boost them will help.
Casino House Edge, Explained
So, what is the house edge on casino games?
The house has a statistical advantage. Over time, the casino will, on average, keep a percentage of every bet you make—that’s the casino house edge. It’s designed to give the casino a long-term edge and ensure they make a profit.
Players can make large short-term gains and can hit big winning streaks. But over the long term, the house always wins. It’s part of the makeup of every casino game.
Overview of House Edge for Casino Games
Every casino game has its own different RTP and house edge. Therefore, it's important to find casino games with the lowest house edge.
The casino edge can vary depending on the software developer and whether any strategy is involved.
| Game | House Edge | Explanation |
| Craps | 0-16.67% | 0% edge when playing Pass/No Pass line but side bets can increase house edge |
| Slots | 1-8% | Fixed house edge with higher rewards, like jackpots for small stakes |
| American Roulette | 5.26% | Relatively large fixed house edge |
| European Roulette | 2.7% | Smaller fixed house edge than American counterpart |
| Baccarat | 1.06-14.36% | Low house edge when betting on banker; edge jumps when betting on Tie |
| Blackjack | 0.4-2% | House edge increases when taking Insurance bet |
| Super Fun 21 Extreme | 1.29% | Relatively low house edge with changes to blackjack rules |
| Pai Gow | 1.5% | Relatively low house edge because you're playing vs. dealer and due to pushes |
| Sic Bo | 2.78%-33% | House edge jumps massively with risky side bets |
| Ultimate Texas Hold'Em | 0.73% | Low house edge because you can increase bets after seeing cards |
| Let it Ride | 4.29% | Higher house edge due to infrequent poker hands |
Variable House Edge Tips: How to Reduce the Casino's Advantage
You can help to reduce the house edge in games like blackjack or Sic Bo with varying house edges by playing an optimal strategy or optimal play.
The smarter your play, the better your chances of a return.
Blackjack
You can reduce the house edge at the blackjack table to around 0.4-0.5% if you understand the casino's “soft 17” rule. If the dealer has to hit on a soft 17 (a 17 that contains an Ace), it gives the casino better odds and increases the house edge.
Knowing whether your online casino requires the dealer to hit or stand on a soft 17 will allow you to make a more informed decision.
It can also help to know exactly how many decks the game uses. The more decks, the higher the house edge.
You can find this information in the casino lobby or on the game’s help page.
Sic Bo & Craps
Dice games like Sic Bo and craps feature a large array of bets and payouts. By picking the right wagers, you can help reduce the house edge.
The casino house edge in craps varies from 0% for Odds 6&8, Odds 5&9, and Odds 4&10 bets, to 16.67% for the Any Seven bet.
In Sic Bo, you make bets on the outcome of three dice. Choose the smart bets like Small or Big totals, and the house edge can be as low as 2.78%. However, go for riskier bets all the time, such as a total of 4 or 17, and the edge can reach 33%.
Live Dealer Games
Live casinos offer several variations of table games with a real human dealer.
In a regular online casino, you might only have access to one or two variants of blackjack or roulette. In the live casino, you may be able to play over a dozen variations, each with its own set of payouts and house edges.
By choosing the right variant, you can help shorten your odds.
What's the Difference Between the House Edge & RTP?
You’ll usually see an RTP value listed in the game's information. This is the Return to Player percentage, which is the theoretical return to players in winnings over the long term.
For example, an online slot with an RTP of 95% will, on average, pay $95 for every $100 wagered over millions of spins.
You can calculate a slot's house edge by subtracting the RTP from 100. So, slots with a 95% RTP will have a house edge of 5%. A slot machine with an RTP of 99% will have a low house edge to the casino of just 1%.
Top 5 Online Slots with Low House Edge & High RTP
When it comes to slot house edge, players face a major decision. The house edge can range from 1% to 8%. However, the majority of slots sit in the 4% to 5% bracket.
| Slot | RTP | Provider |
| Mega Joker | 99% | NetEnt |
| Ooh Aah Dracula | 96-99% | Barcrest |
| Blood Suckers | 98% | NetEnt |
| Rainbow Riches Pick 'n' Mix | 98% | Barcrest |
| White Rabbit Megaways | 97.72% | BTG |
Of course, the RTP is only a guide to how a slot pays out over the long term. A progressive slot may have a low overall RTP, but it can still pay out huge jackpots over its lifespan.
Volatility
Slots also have a built-in volatility, the frequency with which bonus features and jackpots trigger.
For example, a high-volatility slot will pay out big jackpots infrequently. You may hit a long run of losing spins before triggering a bonus or winning a jackpot. These games may have a high house edge, but are still worth the risk.
When choosing online slots, bettors need to weigh the overall RTP and volatility. You can only do this by practicing with a few free slots or by studying the paytable first.
'The Grind:' How Casinos Make Money
The house edge applies to the amount you bet, not the amount you start with. So, if you bet $100 and immediately win $1,000, you haven’t changed the house edge; you just got lucky.
The casino will continue to chip away at every other wager you continue to make.
You may win some rounds and lose others; for some of those rounds, you’ll be betting with your winnings. The effect of the house edge cutting into your winnings as you continue to bet is called “the grind.”
How It Works
Let’s say you start playing online blackjack with $100. You choose to play $5 a hand (5% of your entire stake). You play 20 hands an hour, betting $100 an hour.
You're only able to do this if you continue to win, therefore using your winnings to fund your further bets.
After an evening’s play, you’ve racked up $2,000 in total bets. That’s 20 times the size of your original bankroll.
How to Limit Grind
With a house edge, the casino will always have a statistical advantage over its players. But by making smart moves and selecting the right games, you can help to reduce the edge over time.
Here are some ways to "beat" the grind:
- Keep your bet-to-bankroll ratio small.
- Keep your gaming sessions short.
- Choose strategies and games with the lowest house edge.
You can also keep the house edge low with bonus money. With casino bonuses, you can win more by spending less.
Where to Play Real-Money Online Casino Games with Low House Edge
