Online Casino Odds – What you Need to Know

 

The truth about online casino gaming is that anyone can win a few games or wagers here and there, but it takes a lot more than beginners luck to beat the house in the long run. 

There are plenty of resources out there on adopting effective casino strategies, but if you want to get good at casino gaming it all starts with having a firm grasp of online casino odds.  

Each game offered by your casino provider has different rules, chances of payouts, and house edge – some games are worth playing more than others due to the better odds that they inherently offer.  

So, whether you’re playing at one of the several new casino sites to have emerged in 2021 or a more established gaming platform, if you want to play effectively you need to develop an understanding of the odds of your favourite games. 

House Edge Explained 

How do you think online casinos make a profit with all of the games that they offer?  

Answer: It’s not down to the lost bets that players have made on games, but the House Edge.  

The house edge is the advantage that casinos have over players and it’s built-in to every game. Think of it in terms of revenue that casinos collect on every wager that’s made. For example, if you bet $1 on a game that had a 5% house edge, you’d only get back 95% of that wager should you win.  

While the house edge is frustrating to deal with, savvy players can actually use their knowledge of each game’s house edge to find those that offer the best returns. Games with a higher percentage house edge will pay out less on average than those with margins that are lower, meaning that they should be avoided.  

Which Online Games have the Best Odds?  

Generally speaking, those casino games that feature elements of skill tend to offer the best odds rather than those games that are completely randomised. A game like blackjack, for example, has a high skill element and it can be mastered with an effective strategy.  

However, that doesn’t mean games of chance are out of the running. Even roulette can be beneficial to bet on provided you are playing the right variation.  

Let’s take a closer look:  

Blackjack – as well as being an obvious skill-based game, blackjack is also famous for having a low house edge in both brick and mortar and online casinos.  

There are, however, several different blackjack variations in play at online platforms, so the house edge can vary game by game. Classic blackjack, for example, has a house edge of 0.13%, while European blackjack and Super Fun have higher house edges of 0.42% and 0.94% respectively.  

As far as payouts go, games following standard blackjack rules will pay out 1:1 for a win, 3:2 for a blackjack, and 2:1 for insurance bets.  

Roulette – Roulette is a classic casino game and a top favorite amongst online casino players. Even though its house edge is higher than blackjack, it’s still worth another look.  

Much like blackjack, there are different versions of roulette that you can play, but the house edge varies considerably. European roulette is the most favourable with its house edge of 2.7%. American roulette, however, takes the casino’s advantage to another level with a 5.26% house edge (due to the addition of the 00 on the wheel).  

Roulette payouts are a little more complex than other casino games, so you will want to take the time to familiarize yourself with the different wagers that can be made in a game:  

• Straight bets on single numbers 35:1 
• Split bets on two neighboring numbers 17:1 
• Street bets on three horizontal numbers 11:1 
• Corner bets on four numbers 8:1 
• Six-line bets (over two rows) 5:1 
• Dozen bets 2:1 
• Odd, even, red, black, 1-18, 19-36 1:1

 

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