The Mathematics Behind Casino House Edge

Every single game on a casino floor is meticulously designed with a built-in mathematical advantage for the operator.


The house edge is the invisible force that ensures the establishment always makes money over the long haul.

The Math Behind the Advantage

The concept is simple: if the true odds are 35-to-1, the casino will only pay you 35-to-1 instead of 36-to-1.


The presence of the green zero on the roulette wheel is what creates the house edge on all even-money bets.

This slight discrepancy in payouts guarantees that the casino retains a small percentage of all money wageredA 2% house edge means the casino expects to keep two dollars out of every one hundred dollars betOver millions of spins, this tiny percentage translates into billions of dollars in guaranteed revenue
Understanding Return to Player (RTP)

In the digital world, software providers use the term RTP to explain the theoretical payout of a game.


An RTP of 95% indicates that the machine is programmed to pay back $95 for every $100 wagered over its lifetime.

Betting OptionStatistical DisadvantagePlayer RecommendationBaccarat (Banker Bet)1.06%Excellent choiceKeno25.00% - 30.00%Terrible odds, avoid

You cannot defeat the math, but by choosing games with a low edge, you can play much longer for the same price.