Casino House Edge Explained: Which Games Give the Best Odds
Casino house edge explained: what the edge means, how it relates to RTP, which games give you the best odds, and what an hour of play costs in pounds.
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About this video: Casino House Edge Explained
Casino House Edge Explained shows the single most useful number to know before you play. It covers what the edge means, where it comes from, and what it costs you. It also compares the main games side by side.
First, the video defines the edge. It is the share of every stake the casino expects to keep. For example, a 2.70% edge returns £97.30 for every £100 staked, on average. Then it links the edge to RTP, so a 96% RTP slot has a 4% edge.
Next, it compares games. Blackjack with basic strategy costs about 0.5%, and the baccarat Banker bet costs 1.06%. However, the baccarat Tie bet costs 14.36%, so the bet you choose matters as much as the game.
Finally, it turns the edge into pounds. At £1 a bet, an hour of blackjack costs about 50p, while 600 slot spins cost about £24. So choose your bet, learn basic strategy, check RTP and slow down.
However, rules and offers change. For that reason, we check every video against the Gambling Commission and other official sources. In fact, we last checked this one on 16 October 2026.
Read the transcript
The house edge is the most useful number to know before you play. Here’s what it means, what it costs you in pounds, and how to lower it.
The house edge is the share of every stake the casino expects to keep over a very large number of bets. For example, a game with a 2.70% edge returns, on average, £97.30 for every £100 staked.
Slots show the same idea the other way round, as return to player. A slot with 96% RTP has a 4% house edge. So the house edge is simply 100% minus the RTP.
The edge comes from the rules, not from luck. In roulette, it is the green zero. In baccarat, it is the commission on Banker wins. And in blackjack, you act first, so you lose if you bust.
Blackjack with basic strategy has the lowest edge, at about 0.5%, followed by baccarat’s Banker bet. However, its Tie bet costs over 14%. So the same game can be good or poor value.
The edge applies to everything you stake. At £1 a bet, an hour of blackjack costs about 50p on average. Roulette costs about £2.16. But 600 spins of a slot costs about £24.
So choose the bet, not just the game. Learn basic strategy for free first, check slot RTP, and slow down. Finally, ignore betting systems, because they never change the edge.
18+. Please gamble responsibly.
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