Casino games have always been a favorite pastime for many people in the United States. This fact is even more pronounced in the current digital landscape, where amazing online gambling experiences are usually no more than a few clicks away. Players will often choose games based on several factors including the ease of learning and playing, the gameplay mechanics as well as the odds of winning.
While each casino game is designed to offer a great deal of fun and excitement, they are not built the same. Casinos are businesses that need to keep operating and they need money for that. To ensure this is achieved, gambling operators always have an advantage over the players in every casino game that they offer. This advantage is referred to as the “house edge“.
What Exactly is the House Edge?
Well, for any gambling business to ensure that it can make some profit and continue growing, they need a statistical advantage over the player. The house edge, this advantage, is the percentage of a player’s initial bet that the casino operation will likely earn of a given gambling duration.
Since it is the inverse of the Return to Player (RTP) percentage which stipulated the amount that a player can expect back from the bet, paying attention to it is very important especially if you intend to make some money from your real money gambling activities.
Tip: The lower the house edge, the higher the RTP and vice versa.
Naturally, to make the most out of your gambling adventures, games with the lowest possible house edges are your best bet.
This guide briefly breaks down the casino top five casino games with the lowest house edge:
Blackjack
The house edge for this game typically falls between 0.42% and 1.5%.
In theory, the house edge could even drop down to as low as 0.28%. The reason why the house edge is not fixed is that it will likely be dependent on the format of the blackjack game you are playing and the platform you are playing from.
Still, the house edge is extremely impressive which gives lots of people a reason to play the game.
It is worth noting that one of the things that contribute to the low house edge in blackjack is the different strategies that players can use. These are often available in tabular form on dozens of websites and are widely used even at the top online gambling sites. Moreover, the game is easy to learn and play. Players can quickly rise from being newbies to pro players in a fairly short time.
Video Poker
Depending on the video poker title that you are playing you will be dealing with a house edge that could be as high as 5%.
This might seem a little high but most of the best video poker games do not go beyond that. In fact, some video poker variants have non-existent houses edges even though they are quite rare. Deuces Wild, for instance, has an RTP of 100.76% which means that the house edge is a mind-bending -0.76%.
Most of the popular variants of video poker have a house edge of just 0.5% which is still very enticing.
As it is also a game of skill, players can increase their advantage and lower the house edge of the game they are playing even further. Some tips and tricks will certainly come in handy in making the experience fruitful. So long as it is legal, using these strategies is a great way for players to legally reap more from their video poker gaming adventures.
Slots
When it comes to online slots, the house edge usually falls between 1% and 12%. This is, of course, dependent on the specific title that you are playing.
Most of the slots we have come across at the top online gambling sites have house edges of just 3% or less.
Many of them are also high variance titles, something which implies that the winnings might be few but the amounts are likely to be significant.
Progressive slots are notorious for being the titles with the highest house edges – this is something the casinos can justify due to the huge amounts at stake.
Perhaps the biggest downside when it comes to online slots is that they are purely based on luck. The outcomes are not only unpredictable but there is also no way for the players to influence the house edge. Proper bankroll management is, therefore, likely the best strategy when playing these games.
Baccarat
Known for its very high stakes, baccarat is often associated with high rollers. However, if you are looking for a game that is offered with a decent house edge this one is a great option.
Given its simplicity, it is fairly easy for the players to know how much advantage the casinos have over them.
Case in point, if you are playing basic baccarat with a single deck of cards, the Banker bet has a 1.1% house edge, the Player bet 1.29%, and the Tie 15.75%.
Considering how straightforward this game is, it is quite easy to get comfortable with. Players barely need to break a sweat when making any baccarat bets. Moreover, being at nearly the same odds as the dealer is something that not many other games can offer.
Craps
With their low house edge that falls somewhere between 1.4% to 5% percent, craps are the perfect casino game if you are looking for a fun and exciting game as well as a chance to land some wins.
Some bets can even result in even lower house edges. It all depends on the kind of wagers that you are making at the tables.
For the most part, it is advisable to stick to bets that promise the most profit. The game may seem rather complex which means players may lose track of their bet. In case that happens, the house edge could sway wildly to as high as 14%. Fortunately, players always have the option of using some strategies to increase their chances of winning.
The House Always Wins
As hard as this is often hard to address, it is an important aspect to grasp as you learn about the house edge and how it affects your gameplay. Even with the lowest possible house edge, there is no guarantee that you will win every game that you play. Having strategies and using tricks such as proper bankroll management could make things better to varying degrees but that is just about it.
Summary
The thrill of beating the casino despite the house edge is what attracts many people to gambling in the first place. Having some info about the advantage that a casino has over you for any particular game may be useful in helping you work up a strategy. It is also useful when it comes to managing player expectations.
All in all, for the best possible experience you must find a reputable gambling site that you can trust. If you would like to get to know more about these, we have a list of the best sites with accurate and trustworthy house edges for all their games. All of them are handpicked based on stringent selection criteria to ensure they offer you the best experiences.
Kevin was raised on sports since a young teen and following a (fortunate) injury pursued new hobbies in table games such as Blackjack and Poker. Since 2009 Kevin has been writing for casino sites for various big names in the industry and CasinoSites.us is but one of his latest passion projects.