House edge explained: what casinos keep from each bet
The house edge is the average share of each bet the casino keeps over the long run. It turns any game into a cost per hour you can plan around.
Reviewed Oct 14, 2026
Answer first
90s| Game or bet | Typical house edge | Cost per $100 bet |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack (basic strategy, good rules) | About 0.5% | $0.50 |
| Baccarat banker | 1.06% | $1.06 |
| Craps pass line | 1.41% | $1.41 |
| Three Card Poker ante | 3.37% | $3.37 |
| Roulette (00 wheel) | 5.26% | $5.26 |
| Reel slots | 5–12% | $5–$12 |
| Keno | 25–35% | $25–$35 |
Key numbers
Edge, RTP and hold
In short
Key takeaways
- The edge is a long-run average, not what happens in one session.
- Multiply bet size × decisions per hour × edge to get your average cost per hour.
- A low-edge game played very fast can cost more per hour than a high-edge game played slowly.
- Hold, the share of chips bought that the casino keeps, is higher than the edge because players re-bet winnings.
Disagreeing counts
One hour at $10 a decision
4
USD, blackjack
80 hands × 0.5%
Low edge and moderate pace.
26
USD, roulette
50 spins × 5.26%
Higher edge, slower pace.
48
USD, $1 × 600 spins
600 spins × 8%
Fast pace and higher edge.
Averages only. Real sessions swing above and below.
Edge vs RTP vs hold
| Term | What it measures | Example |
|---|---|---|
| House edge | Average share of each bet kept | 5.26% on roulette |
| RTP | Average share of each bet returned | 94.74% on roulette |
| Hold | Share of chips bought that the casino keeps | Often 15–25% at tables |
| Win | Casino’s total result in a period | Reported by state regulators |
Hold is higher than edge because players keep betting the same money until they leave.
Sequence
Estimate a session cost
Step 01
Find the edge
Look it up for your game and bet.
Step 02
Count decisions per hour
Blackjack 70–100, roulette 40–60, slots 400–800.
Step 03
Multiply
Bet × decisions × edge = average cost per hour.
Step 04
Set a budget
Plan for the average and expect swings around it.
Why the casino needs no luck
Every bet is priced slightly in the casino’s favor. Over millions of bets, the results land very close to the average.
A player making a few hundred bets can end up far ahead or behind. The casino, making millions, cannot.
That is why games with lower edges and slower pace stretch a budget furthest.
Floor rules
Terms
Know before you sit
- House edge
- Average share of each bet the casino keeps.
- RTP
- Return to player, the share paid back.
- Variance
- How far results can swing from the average.
- Theoretical loss
- Bet × decisions × edge; used for comps.
Playbook · Beginner
Pick a game by cost
Tip 01
Under 1%
Blackjack with good rules, video poker full pay, craps odds.
Tip 02
1–2%
Baccarat banker and player, craps pass and don’t pass.
Tip 03
3–6%
Three Card Poker, roulette, many carnival games.
Tip 04
Over 6%
Most slots, keno, Big Six and most side bets.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01House edge
What does house edge mean?
It is the average share of each bet the casino expects to keep over the long run. A 5.26% edge means an average loss of $5.26 for every $100 bet.
Which casino game has the lowest house edge?
Blackjack with good rules and basic strategy, at about 0.5%, along with full-pay video poker and the craps odds bet. Baccarat banker and pass line in craps are close behind.
Is house edge the same as RTP?
They are two sides of the same number. RTP is 100% minus the house edge, so a 96% RTP game has a 4% edge.
Can I beat the house edge?
Not on games with a fixed edge such as roulette or slots. Card counting in blackjack and some video poker can tilt the odds slightly, but they require skill and casinos limit them.
Why do I lose more than the house edge?
Because you bet the same money many times. Re-betting $100 for an hour can mean thousands in total bets, and the edge applies to all of it.
What is the house edge on slots?
It varies by game and denomination, typically 5–12% on land-based reels. Penny games usually keep more than $1 or $5 games.
02Planning
How do I lower my cost per hour?
Choose lower-edge games, bet smaller amounts, and play slower. Taking breaks and avoiding high-edge side bets helps too.
03More questions
Why is the edge on slots higher than on tables?
Slots run without staff at the machine, take many bets per hour, and are designed with fixed paybacks set by the manufacturer and approved by regulators.
What is hold percentage?
Hold is the share of chips bought that the casino keeps. It is higher than the house edge because players bet the same money several times.
Does the house edge change with bet size?
No. The edge is a percentage, so a $100 bet loses $100 times the edge on average, a $10 bet one tenth of that.
Is house edge the same online?
The concept is the same. Licensed online casinos often publish RTP for slots, and table games online follow the same rules and edges as in person, though rule sets can differ.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — House edge Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 14, 2026House edge by game
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 14, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER
- American Gaming Association — Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026US casino industry data