Odds, Probability & Bankroll
House edge
The house edge is the percentage of each wager the casino expects to keep as profit over the long run. It represents the average loss a player can expect per bet.
Key points
- The house edge measures the casino's average profit relative to the player's stake, based on the difference between true odds and payout odds.1
- For games like craps, the edge may be calculated per bet resolved rather than per initial wager, because some bets take multiple rolls to settle.2
- Even a small house edge compounds over many bets, making the casino profitable in the long run regardless of short-term results.1
- The house edge is not a guarantee of loss on any single bet, but the casino's expected profit over many wagers.1
House edge by game
| Game / Bet | House edge |
|---|---|
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | 0.5%2 |
| Baccarat (banker bet) | 1.06%4 |
| Craps (pass line) | 1.41%3 |
| Roulette (American single number) | 5.26%6 |
| Roulette (European single number) | 2.70%6 |
Common questions
What is the house edge in blackjack?
With basic strategy, the house edge in blackjack is about 0.5%, meaning the player can expect to lose 50 cents per $100 bet over the long run.2 This figure assumes optimal play and standard rules; deviations or side bets can increase the edge.
What is the house edge in baccarat?
The house edge on the banker bet in baccarat is approximately 1.06%, while the player bet has an edge of about 1.24%.4 These figures are calculated per bet resolved, excluding ties.
Where this term is used
Related terms
Sources
- House Edge of Casino Games Compared wizardofodds.com Provides the general definition and comparison of house edges across casino games.
- Gambling Glossary wizardofodds.com Supplies the formal definition, the formula for win/loss bets, and the blackjack 0.5% example.
- House Edge for all the Major Craps Bet on Both a Per ... wizardofodds.com Gives the house edge for the craps field bet at 5.56%.
- Baccarat - FAQ wizardofodds.com Provides the baccarat house edge figures for banker and player bets.
- Gambling mathematics en.wikipedia.org Confirms the alternative names house advantage and vigorish.
- Roulette en.wikipedia.org Provides the 5.26% figure for American roulette and the 2.70% for European roulette.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.