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iGaming Glossary / House Edge

What is House Edge?

The built-in mathematical advantage the casino keeps over time. It is the other side of RTP.

House edge is the long term advantage the casino holds on any given game. It is the share of every bet that the operator expects to keep on average, expressed as a percentage. A 2% house edge means the casino expects to keep about 2 of every 100 staked over time.

It is simply the flip side of return to player. If a slot has an RTP of 96%, the house edge is 4%. Lower edge games like blackjack or baccarat give back more over the long run than most slots or game shows.

The edge only shows up across thousands of bets, so any single session can swing either way. It guarantees the house wins in the end, not on every visit. Compare this with RTP in our RTP guide.

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