Nobody ever plays online casino games hoping to lose their money. We want to win big when we play, taking home the winning hand or jackpot spin. But just how likely is that to happen? Depending on the game, the odds may be against you. After all, the house edge will influence the odds overall, which comes down to your likelihood of winning. This edge, in combination with the skill of the game, can significantly impact your success overall. Finding games with a low house edge and high skillset may be the ticket to big wins online.
What Exactly is the House Edge?
In every online casino game, a percentage of profit is given to the house. This applies to virtually every game you play, from slot machines to roulette. The house advantage takes a
small portion of every game as profit, calculated as an overall percentage. These profits can include hitting the 00 on roulette or having a losing spin on the slot machine. The percentage varies by game, calculated by random number generators. The RNG ensures that every outcome at the online casino is truly random and unpredictable. The software is regularly audited by third parties to ensure fairness and accuracy at all times.
If a house advantage for a slot machine is 5.6%, that means for every $100 wager, the player should expect to lose $5.60. The higher the percentage, the worse it is for, the better. This
the percentage doesn’t account for strategies or skillset within a game, just a generic baseline for
every online casino game.
Top Casino Game Odds
Blackjack
Also referred to as 21, this classic card game is one of skill. The payouts on the game are similar in–house or online, holding the best odds for players. A blackjack (getting your cards total 21 in your hand) pays out 3:2 odds, while other wins payout 1:1. If a player develops skill or strategy to play the game, the house edge is lower than 1%.
Roulette
One of the oldest casino games, roulette, has several play options available online. These include the American, European, and French versions. The differences between the games hold
different odds overall, which are essential to note.
French Roulette
French roulette has an approximate 1.35% house edge. This game is the lowest odds comparatively and brings two rules to play. The first rule is called La partage. If the ball lands on zero after the player wagers an even–number bet, it pays half the wagered amount. The second rule is called En Prison. If the ball lands on zero, the wager will remain available for the next
spin.
European Roulette
Sitting at approximately 2.7% house advantage, the European roulette is the middle ground for the house edge. This version features a single–zero when, which has half the odds of its
American partner. The rules remain the same as American roulette but have better odds due to the single zero on the wheel.
American Roulette
Although this game is considered a fan favorite, it holds the highest house edge. While the two other versions of roulette contain 37 compartments, the American wheel has 38. The additional compartment is home to a double zero. This “00” space influences the overall likelihood of winning and shifts the odds to 5.26% overall. It is the worst odds out of all three–roulette
versions for the player. Those looking to try their hand at roulette would be better to play the
French or European versions.
Casino War
One of the least played casino games is also one of the best odds for players. House edge sits at approximately 2.4% but can be impacted by the ruleset used and the number of decks included in the draw. It’s a fast–paced game that offers three potential outcomes. Win, lose or tie. Two cards are drawn; yours and the dealers. If your hand beats the dealer, the payout is 10 to 1. If the dealer wins the hand, you lose your wager. A tie is resolved with additional cards played.
What makes the house advantage so low is the high payout for 50/50 odds of winning.
Keno Holds the Highest House Advantage
While this game is popular for online casinos, many bettors fail to understand the whopping
30% house edge. That means for every $100 wager, a player can anticipate losing $30 to the house. It’s a game entirely drawn from chance, making it similar to bingo or lottery draws. As there is no skill involved with a game of chance, users can play effortlessly and hope to win big. If you’re hoping to stick with games offering a low house advantage, steer clear of this lottery–
style game.