5 online casino games with the lowest house edge

Have you ever heard someone use the phrase, "The elephant in the room?" It means there is something obvious that is important or perhaps controversial, but no-one likes talking about it.

Let me introduce you to an elephant called house edge.

Casino house edge explained

If there were no such thing as a casino house edge, there would be no such thing as casinos. That’s because the house edge is the mathematical probability, represented in percentage terms, that the casino will win on a game.

Naturally, the casino has the house edge on every game it offers, from slots to table games, because if it didn’t make a profit, it would lose and go bust.

So that explains the elephant thing. We all recognize the house edge is there, it’s just that we don’t like to discuss it.

With all that being said, anyone can win on a table game or slot in the short term. Further, some casino games have a lower house edge, which is good for the player, because, in the long run, he or she will lose less money.

Here are five of the most player-friendly online casino games.

Blackjack

If you asked which casino game has the lower house edge, then blackjack would be the common answer. Most people would say the house edge in blackjack is 1.5%, but if you took on board even the most basic blackjack strategy, that house edge could come down to as low as 0.5%.

Roulette

Roulette house edge is reckoned to be 2.5%, at least in the European version, which has a single zero segment. The American Roulette wheel has a single and double zero segment, thereby doubling the chances of all your bets being nullified.

Video Poker

Depending on the variant, video poker could have a house edge as low as 0.5%. Unlike slot games, there is an element of skill in video poker, so if you followed a decent strategy, and understand the probability of hitting specific poker hand rankings, you could do reasonably well.

In live casinos, there are often video poker machines embedded in the bars, so you are encouraged to spend a few hours, beer in hand, losing very little.

Baccarat

I’m not here to pass judgment on any game, but baccarat is not the most taxing of pursuits. You have just one decision to make – whether to bet on player, banker, or tie – and that is it. The swings are not too difficult to deal with either, with the baccarat house edge said to be 1.5%. With not much else going on, it’s the perfect game to sit back with a drink and lap up the casino atmosphere.

Slot games

The slot machine house edge varies from one game to another. If you search around, you will uncover the expected return to player (RTP) of any slot, and that will give you an indication of the house edge. A slot with an RTP of 98% is quite good since over the long term, you will lose your cash slower.

That said, if you played on a slot with an RTP of around 95%, it could be it’s a classic high variance game, meaning that although you will win fewer times, the winnings might be more significant.

How to calculate the house edge

I’ll be honest here and admit I am not a professor of mathematics. Happily, those who know their binomial coefficients from their infinitesimal calculus have done all the hard work and come up with the house edge calculations for us.

Once you play various online casino games for a length of time, you will come to understand that blackjack (when following strategy) can be most profitable for the player. Slot games, if you have an unlucky streak, can be least profitable in the short term. Of course, get lucky, and you could hit a slots jackpot on your first spin. Such is the unpredictable and thrilling nature of casino gaming.

Test out the house edge for yourself

Now that you have an idea about which games have the lowest house edge, you might like to go and try them for yourself. The easiest way is by signing up with BetAmerica Casino because you can try games for free first.

Once you are confident you know what’s going on, make your first deposit and take the generous new player bonus.

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