Games
What Is House Edge? Baccarat and Roulette Odds
House edge is the share of each bet that a casino game is built to keep over the long run, written as a percentage of the stake. On a European single-zero roulette wheel it is about 2.70% on standard bets; in baccarat played with eight decks and the standard drawing rules, it is about 1.06% on Banker (with a 5% commission), 1.24% on Player and 14.36% on Tie paid at 8 to 1. These are general maths figures for standard rules, not the payouts of any particular table, and they describe millions of rounds, not one session. This guide explains how house edge relates to RTP, where the baccarat and roulette figures come from and why they change when the rules change.
House edge vs RTP
House edge and RTP (return to player) are two sides of the same number:
- RTP is the share of all money staked that the game is designed to pay back over a very large number of rounds.
- House edge is the rest: 100% minus RTP.
A bet with a 2.70% house edge has an RTP of 97.30%. Slots usually quote RTP for the whole game; table games are more often described by the house edge of each bet, because every bet on the table has its own figure. For how RTP works on slots, see slot RTP and volatility explained.
Roulette: where 2.70% comes from
Premises: a European wheel with one zero (37 pockets, 0 to 36) and standard payouts, such as 35 to 1 on a single number.
- Put 1 unit on each of the 37 numbers. You stake 37 units.
- One number wins and pays 35 to 1, so you get back 36 units (35 plus your stake).
- You are 1 unit down out of 37: 1 ÷ 37 = 2.70%.
The same 2.70% applies to the other standard bets, such as red or black: the zero is the pocket those bets do not cover. On a double-zero wheel (38 pockets, with 0 and 00), the edge on standard bets rises to 2 ÷ 38 = 5.26%. The roulette rules for beginners guide explains the wheel and each bet type.
Baccarat: Banker, Player and Tie
Premises: eight decks, the standard third-card rules, Banker wins paid 1 to 1 minus a 5% commission, Player wins paid 1 to 1, Tie paid 8 to 1, and Banker and Player bets returned on a tie.
| Bet | Chance of winning (8 decks) | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banker | about 45.86% | 1 to 1 minus 5% commission | about 1.06% |
| Player | about 44.62% | 1 to 1 | about 1.24% |
| Tie | about 9.52% | 8 to 1 | about 14.36% |
The remaining share of rounds are ties, when Banker and Player bets are returned. The drawing rules are covered in baccarat rules for beginners.
Why Banker pays a commission
Under the standard third-card rules, the Banker hand wins slightly more often than the Player hand (about 45.86% against 44.62% of rounds). If Banker were paid at a full 1 to 1, that bet would favour the player. The 5% commission on Banker wins brings its house edge to about 1.06%, just under Player's 1.24%.
When the rules change, the edge changes
Every figure above depends on its premises. The edge moves when:
- The payout changes: for example, a Tie paid 9 to 1 instead of 8 to 1, or a no-commission table that pays a reduced amount on some Banker wins.
- The wheel changes: a double-zero wheel instead of a single-zero one.
- Extra rules apply: some roulette tables have special rules for even-money bets when the ball lands on zero.
The table's rules panel lists the payouts that apply at that table, and those are the numbers to use.
What house edge does not tell you
- It is not a prediction. A 1.06% edge does not mean you lose 1.06% in any given session; results in a short session can be far above or below.
- It does not change round to round. Each round is independent. Earlier results, streaks or patterns do not make the next round more or less likely.
- There is no way around it. Betting systems change how much you stake, not the edge on each bet.
House edge in Go2win live casino
Go2win's live casino has baccarat and roulette tables, among other games, and each table shows its payouts and commission on its rules panel. The figures in this guide are general maths for standard rules, not Go2win's payouts. For the full product range, start at Go2win Malaysia, then open a Go2win account with your +60 number and a password. New members get RM18 on sign-up.
FAQ
What is house edge in simple words?
House edge is the share of each bet a casino game is built to keep over a very large number of rounds, shown as a percentage of the stake. For example, it is about 2.70% on standard bets on a European single-zero roulette wheel. It describes millions of rounds, not one session.
How is house edge different from RTP?
House edge and RTP add up to 100%: RTP is the share the game is designed to pay back, and house edge is the rest. A bet with an RTP of 97.30% has a house edge of 2.70%. Slots usually quote RTP, while table games are more often described by the house edge of each bet.
What is the house edge in roulette?
The house edge in roulette is about 2.70% on standard bets on a European single-zero wheel, and about 5.26% on a double-zero wheel, with standard payouts. The 2.70% comes from 1 ÷ 37: a single number pays 35 to 1, so 1 unit on each of the 37 numbers returns 36 units.
What is the house edge on Banker and Player in baccarat?
With eight decks and standard rules, the house edge in baccarat is about 1.06% on Banker with a 5% commission and about 1.24% on Player. Tie paid at 8 to 1 is about 14.36%. These are general maths figures for standard rules, not the payouts of any particular table.
Why does the Banker bet have a commission?
The Banker bet has a commission because the Banker hand wins slightly more often under the standard drawing rules, about 45.86% against 44.62% of rounds. Paid at a full 1 to 1, that bet would favour the player. The 5% commission keeps the bet's house edge at about 1.06%.