Does the “house edge” in online casino games matter to recreational players?
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If you’re interested in casino games, you have probably heard that the “house always win”. It means that all casino games are created so that, in the long term, the game will be profitable for the casino regardless of the short-term outcomes.
The concept might sound unfair, but a casino is a business that has to earn money to remain profitable and provide its services to patrons. The long-term advantage a casino has over the players is known as “house edge”.
Given the meteoric rise in online casinos in India with many now accepting UPI as a payment option, it might be useful for new players to understand how the house edge works.
The “house edge” varies for different casino games.
What’s interesting is that different casino games come with different house edges. It means that some casino games have a higher house edge than others. In some cases, even different variants of a game can have different house edges.
For example, let’s take a look at Roulette, one of the most popular casino games. In Roulette, a ball is dropped on a spinning wheel with sections marked by different numbers and colours, and the player has to bet on which number or colour the ball would drop on.
If we take the odds of winning for a bet on a particular number, the player should have a chance to win 1 in 36 times, because you can bet on any number from 1 to 36. However, the Roulette wheel also contains a marked segment for the number 0, and if the ball stops in that segment, the house will win the bet. So the actual odds become 1 in 37 times, giving the house an edge in the long-term. In some Roulette variants, the number 00 is also featured in the wheel which further increases the house edge.
Games with the lowest house edge
Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges out of all casino games. If the player follows the right strategy, Blackjack’s house edge is as low as 0.5%. Craps and Baccarat are two other games with very low house edges set at 0.8% and 1.06%.
On the other hand, games with the highest house edge include slots (17%) and keno (25%).
Can I win more if I play games with only low house edges?
In theory, you will be more profitable if you stick to games like Blackjack, where the house edge is significantly low if you follow the perfect strategy. Unfortunately, it is not easy for everyone to execute the ideal strategy while playing Blackjack.
Additionally, while the concept of “house edge” is fascinating, it does not affect you if you’re playing casino games for recreation. The basic premise of playing a casino game is that you’re flirting with chance and luck.
Sure, the casino might win in the long term against every player collectively, you can still win a lot individually. As a recreational player, the games’ house edge should not be a pressing concern but something to keep in mind, so you understand the correct odds of winning at any particular game.
