House Edge
Players Guide
Casino games, such as Roulette, Blackjack, Punto Banco etc, are bankers games and, as such, are games of “unequal chance”. The nature and structure of these games therefore gives an advantage to the casino (the House). This is called the House “Edge”, and it gives a measure of the percentage that a casino would expect to retain, on average, from each hand or spin, given normal patterns of play.
The “Edge” is a universally accepted feature of international casino gaming and, in fact, is often less in the UK than that applied in other countries. The Casino industry and the Gambling Commission both support a policy of openness, as such this page aims to make players more aware of the House Edge and understand the way it is applied.
Only the basic House Edge percentages have been illustrated. However, please note that these figures will vary in certain playing conditions. In Blackjack, for example, the Edge can fluctuate widely (both for and against the house) depending on the techniques applied by individual players. There are many books and websites dedicated to the best playing strategy to assist players in developing their own technique.
The House Edge for the most common games are listed below:
American Roulette
Dragon Roulette
11.76%
Blackjack
Pai Gow
2.39%
Baccarat
Ur Way Égalité
Hi-Ti Baccarat
Pay Table 3 House Edge %
Pay Table 4 House Edge %
