Every casino game keeps a small share of what's wagered over time. That share is the house edge — and knowing it helps you understand which games are, statistically, the cheaper form of entertainment.
Edge and RTP are two sides of the same number
RTP 97% equals a house edge of 3%. One describes the player's expected share, the other the casino's. Both describe millions of rounds — not any single session you play.
Which name gets used depends on the game
Table games are usually described by their house edge (a low number, like 1–3%). Slots are usually described by their RTP (a higher number, like 95–97%). It's the same underlying idea, just framed from opposite sides.
Why the edge differs so much between game types
- Table games (blackjack, baccarat, European roulette) tend to sit lowest, generally 0.5–3%, because the outcomes are simpler and closer to pure probability.
- Video slots typically land in the 2–8% range, shown directly as RTP on each game.
- Games with bigger potential payouts — like progressive jackpots — usually carry a higher edge, since the chance of hitting the big win is much smaller.
The edge of common games
| Game | Typical house edge |
|---|---|
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | 0.5% |
| Baccarat (banker bet) | 1.1% |
| European Roulette | 2.7% |
| American Roulette | 5.3% |
| Slots | 2–8%, shown as RTP on each game |
Why one session looks nothing like the edge
Variance. In 100 spins of a slot with a 4% edge, the result is rarely a clean 4% loss — it's often a much bigger loss, or a win. The edge only shows through when the number of rounds is very large, far beyond any single sitting.
A note on bet types within the same game
Even inside one game, the edge can shift depending on what you bet on. In baccarat, betting on the banker's hand carries a lower edge than betting on the player's hand, and betting on a tie carries a much higher one. Where a game offers different bet types, it's worth checking whether one carries a meaningfully lower edge than another.
What to do with this
- Prefer games with a lower edge when the entertainment value is the same to you
- Check the RTP on each slot before you play — two similar-looking games can differ by several points
- Treat the edge as the price of the entertainment, not as odds stacked against you in any given round