Just what is the house edge? You have probably heard of it, but you may not have worked out quite what it means. Basically, the house edge, also known as the casino advantage, will tell you the average payout of any game (over its lifetime), and which game gives you the best odds of getting a return on your original stake. 

Despite the name, the house edge is not actually set by the casino – it is a number that has been calculated by the game itself, so it makes no difference where you actually play, the house edge on each game will be the same - learn more at 666casino.com.

Using Your House Edge Knowledge

There is little point in understanding what the house edge is if you don’t put that knowledge to good use. From a player’s perspective, the best thing you can do with the house edge information you will find is to determine which games are going to give you the most profit. Those with a higher house edge will pay out less than those with a lower house edge. You’ll be able to see which games have the biggest advantage over the player, and you might choose to avoid these altogether, especially if you are just starting out. Of course you might prefer these games, but having the information means you can choose one way or another. 

Games With The Best Odds

There are so many different types of casino games to play, but knowing which ones have the best odds are sure to be the ones that you will want to start with, at least at the beginning. These include: 

Backgammon – House Edge 6.39% to 4.82%

Backgammon might not be the first game you think of when you consider playing at a casino, but due to its favourable house edge (favourable to the player, that is) it could be a good one to try out. Plus, backgammon is easy to play at home, so you can get plenty of practice in. 

Caribbean Stud Poker – House Edge from 5%

Caribbean stud poker is the same as stud poker, although you won’t have to spend so much time bluffing and putting on your poker face. Unlike most other forms of poker, you are only playing against the house and not the other players, so the odds are better and you can concentrate on your own hand much more. 

European Roulette – House Edge from 2.5%

Roulette is a game of chance, and therefore it has a lower house edge than many other games that require a certain level of skill to play – when there is skill involved, someone will always be better than someone else, making the house edge higher. When it is just luck, the house edge will always be lower. 

Roulette (particularly the European version with a single zero) has one of the lowest house edges of all casino games. If you play with the American version of roulette, you will have the double zero as well, and the house edge will be slightly different.