“The house always wins” is a popular saying used by gamblers. It basically means that regardless of a player’s experience at casino games, the casino will always win. While this isn’t entirely true, the casino does win most of the time. Just like every business venture, new US online casinos, as well as old, are created to make profits. They make profits by cashing out on the losses of players. But that doesn’t mean the house would always take home the gold. There are games with better odds for players, and experienced players key in on these games to make huge wins.
What is House Edge?
In simple terms, the house edge is the casino’s advantage over players. House edge reflects the difference between the odds of winning and the casino’s payout for winning wagers in certain games. All casino games are structured so that the house ends up on top. However, table games like roulette offer players a better chance of winning even though the game is entirely based on luck.
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Understanding the Roulette Edge
House edge ranges from 1 – 17% in most casino games. Nonetheless, some jackpot games have a higher house edge of over 20%. In terms of casino advantage, Roulette is considered a mid-range game. In American roulette, the house edge clocks at 5.25%, meaning the casino is more likely to profit from players. In comparison, European roulette offers a better winning chance to the player. Its house edge for single-zero wheels is 2.6%.
Still, a low house edge doesn’t mean players would win on every wager. This is why players should be able to determine the house edge in every game, as it helps them make knowledgeable decisions when betting. As a result, this will minimize their losses when playing for an extended period of time.
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How to Calculate the House Edge in Roulette
European Roulette Table
On the European roulette table, there are 36 numbers in total. Numbers 1 — 36 consist of red and black colors. However, you’ll notice that there is a green space labeled 0. The addition of 0 on the table gives the house an edge because players would only be paid as if there are only 36 numbers against the actual 37 numbers available. Simply put, players are paid 2.7% (1/37) less than they should.
Here is how it goes: The black and red spaces feature an equal count of numbers (18 each). When players make a wager on a black space, they are actually betting that the ball will land on one of the 18 black numbers. I mean, it should be quite easy for the ball to fall on one black number. For most players, this can look like a 50/50 chance. Well, that is not the case. Since there are 18 black spaces, 18 red spaces, and 1 zero, the odds are not 18/36 but 18/37. The percentage here is 48.7% in favor of the house. This means you’re more likely to lose than you are to win.
American Roulette Table
In the American roulette game, the house edge is different and not the best for players. American roulette slightly differs from its European counterpart. In this variant, there is an additional zero on the wheel. This means you would still find 18 red numbers and 18 black numbers, but instead of a single-zero green space, as with European roulette, you get a single-zero green space and a double-zero green space on opposite sides. That’s 38 numbers, 1 more than in European roulette. Though the roulette wheel design slightly differs, the rules of the game remain the same. In American roulette, you would have to wager as if there were 36 numbers on the wheel. This means players only get paid for 36 numbers but would still have to play against 38 numbers. Here, players would get paid 5.26% (2/38) less than they should.
For example, if a player makes a bet on a black number. They get to play against 18 red numbers and two green numbers. The odds here are greatly in favor of the house. In this case, the odds of winning are 18/38, which translates to 47.4%.
While this may not seem like much to most players, it would significantly increase their losses if they plan on playing for longer periods of time.
Conclusion
Though roulette is considered a game of luck, if you calculate the house edge and know your odds of winnings, you can formulate your roulette strategy to significantly increase your chances of winning. Every casino game is designed to give the house more advantage, but some games like roulette offer you a better chance at winning your wager. Basically, the European roulette table provides better odds than the American roulette table.
