What is Casino House Edge?

For example, a game with 96% RTP has a 4% theoretical house edge. Find the game's RTP or house edge in its information panel (marked as “i”) or the paytable on Stake.com. If neither figure is displayed, check the game’s rules or provider information instead of assuming a standard value.

How does house edge work in sports betting (the vig)?

In sports betting, the vig, also called the vigorish or bookmaker margin, is built into the odds offered.

The implied probabilities of all possible outcomes in a market can add up to more than 100%. For example, if both sides of a market are priced at 1.91, the implied probabilities add up to about 104.70%. That excess represents the bookmaker’s margin before other factors affect its actual profit.

If you’re eager to learn more, read Stake’s guide to the vig for the calculation.

How can you use house edge to your advantage?

Use house edge to compare games across various game types. No betting system removes the casino’s mathematical advantage. Instead, use the house edge to set realistic expectations on the game's potential outcome over time.

Keep these tips in mind:

• Compare like with like: Check the exact game, rules, bet type, and RTP before choosing.

• Understand the strategy requirements: blackjack’s theoretical edge, for example, can depend on your decisions and the table rules.

• Separate RTP from volatility: A high-volatility game can produce larger swings without having a lower house edge.

• Set a budget: Decide what you can afford to spend before you start, and don’t chase losses.

• Treat betting systems cautiously: Using progression systems or betting strategies like Martingale or Paroli changes your stake pattern, not the underlying casino odds.

• Check fairness information: Stake Originals uses provably fair technology where applicable. Learn how a random number generator works.

House edge is a useful comparison tool, not a prediction of your next result.

To fund your betting account, see our guide on deposits and withdrawals.

Choose games you understand, set limits, and always gamble responsibly.

Some games fall outside these ranges, so always check the specific game’s information before playing. OneTouch Blackjack, for example, has a low house edge of 0.86% (RTP of 99.13%). Evolution Gaming's Live Blackjack has a low house edge of 0.71% (99.29% RTP).

Slot volatility is also important. It describes how wins tend to vary in size and frequency, rather than the casino’s mathematical advantage. Learn more about game volatility and how it can influence your session.

Which casino game has the lowest house edge?

At Stake.com, some versions of blackjack and video poker have particularly low house edges. The exact figure depends on the game and its rules.

Across blackjack, baccarat, and roulette games, the house edge varies by rules and payouts.

For example, the Stake Originals Roulette house edge is 2.70%, equivalent to a 97.30% RTP. The single-zero European Roulette wheel gives it a lower house edge than other variants. In contrast, Stake Originals Video Poker has a 99% RTP, equivalent to a 1% edge.

Baccarat house edge depends on whether you’re betting on the player or banker. In Three Card Poker Live, the pair plus bonus bet has a 95.51% RTP (4.49% house edge). However, the game's 6-card bonus bet has a much higher house edge of 8.76% (91.24% RTP).

Before playing Stake Originals or other low-house-edge games, check each game's details rather than assuming they share the same house edge.

Which casino game has the highest house edge?

Some high-payout slot games, progressive jackpot games, and particular side bets can carry substantially higher edges, often 5–15%. So there’s no single casino game with the highest house edge across every software provider and version.

Progressive jackpot slots may offer larger potential prizes, but the jackpot alone does not tell you the house edge.

Compare the game's published RTP and rules before playing. Some table games have high-edge bets, even when other bets in the same game have a much lower edge.

House edge vs RTP: what's the difference?

House edge and return to player (RTP) describe opposite sides of the same theoretical payout calculation. RTP is the percentage a game returns to players over time; house edge is the percentage it retains.

For example, if a game has a house edge of 2.5%, it has a theoretical return-to-player percentage of 97.5%.

These figures apply over the long run, not to every session. Read our return-to-player guide for more detail.

How is house edge calculated and where do you find it?

House edge is calculated by subtracting the theoretical RTP from 100%.

• Formula: House edge = 100% - RTP

For example, a game with 96% RTP has a 4% theoretical house edge. Find the game's RTP or house edge in its information panel (marked as “i”) or the paytable on Stake.com. If neither figure is displayed, check the game’s rules or provider information instead of assuming a standard value.

How does house edge work in sports betting (the vig)?

In sports betting, the vig, also called the vigorish or bookmaker margin, is built into the odds offered.

The implied probabilities of all possible outcomes in a market can add up to more than 100%. For example, if both sides of a market are priced at 1.91, the implied probabilities add up to about 104.70%. That excess represents the bookmaker’s margin before other factors affect its actual profit.

If you’re eager to learn more, read Stake’s guide to the vig for the calculation.

How can you use house edge to your advantage?

Use house edge to compare games across various game types. No betting system removes the casino’s mathematical advantage. Instead, use the house edge to set realistic expectations on the game's potential outcome over time.

Keep these tips in mind:

• Compare like with like: Check the exact game, rules, bet type, and RTP before choosing.

• Understand the strategy requirements: blackjack’s theoretical edge, for example, can depend on your decisions and the table rules.

• Separate RTP from volatility: A high-volatility game can produce larger swings without having a lower house edge.

• Set a budget: Decide what you can afford to spend before you start, and don’t chase losses.

• Treat betting systems cautiously: Using progression systems or betting strategies like Martingale or Paroli changes your stake pattern, not the underlying casino odds.

• Check fairness information: Stake Originals uses provably fair technology where applicable. Learn how a random number generator works.

House edge is a useful comparison tool, not a prediction of your next result.

To fund your betting account, see our guide on deposits and withdrawals.

Choose games you understand, set limits, and always gamble responsibly.