The Mathematical Advantage of the Casino
It's a well-known saying that "the house always wins". But what does this actually mean? These two concepts are the most important numbers in gambling.

The House Advantage
In simple terms, the house edge is the long-term average profit the casino makes from a player's wager. A 2% edge means the casino will, on average, casino retain 2% of all money wagered. It's important to remember this is a long-term average. In the short term, anything can happen – you can win big or casino lose fast.

The Player's Perspective
It's the same concept but viewed from the player's side. RTP tells you what portion of the total bets a game is programmed to return to its players in the long run. If a slot's RTP is 96%, it means for every $100 wagered, it will theoretically return $96 to the player pool over its lifetime.

RTP is most commonly used for slot machines, and you can often find this information within the game's help or information screen.

A Comparative Look
Different casino games have vastly different odds for the player. Choosing games with a lower house edge (and higher RTP) gives you a better chance of winning in the short term and makes your bankroll last longer.

Game Typical House Edge Important Details

Blackjack Less than 1% Requires optimal strategy to get this low edge.

Baccarat Around 1.2% The Banker bet has one of the lowest house edges in the casino. The Tie bet has a very high edge (~14%).

European Roulette Exactly 2.7% The one green '0' pocket is the source of the edge.

American Roulette 5.26% The addition of the double zero ("00") pocket nearly doubles the house edge compared to European Roulette.

Slots 2% - 10% (90-98% RTP) The RTP can vary massively between different slot games. A good online slot typically has an RTP of 96% or higher.

Playing Smarter
Understanding house edge and RTP empowers you to make informed choices. Your goal should be to play games with the lowest possible house edge. It's the smartest way to manage your gambling bankroll and enjoyment.