If you’ve ever attended a concert, spectated at a sporting event, or viewed a theater production, you are familiar with the simple premise of the cost of admission for entertainment. Gambling is another form of entertainment, and it carries a similar cost.
All online casino games come with this “ticket price,” which is more commonly known as the house edge. Think of it as what the casino charges you for providing the games and giving you a chance at some winnings.
Whether you’re considering table games like blackjack and roulette or online slots, all of them come with a “cost of admission.” That cost varies across the different games, though, and knowing which games are the least costly can be to your advantage.
How the House Edge Works at Online Casinos
Experienced baccarat and craps players at brick-and-mortar casinos will be familiar with house edges. Veterans of playing slots at such places usually understand return-to-player percentages (RTP) as well, which is a more common term in slots.
Even if you’re a gambling newbie, though, the house edge and RTP are not hard to understand. The simplest explanation is that those terms refer to the portion of all the money bet on a game that the casino keeps instead of returning to players who have wagered on the game.
In that regard, the house edge or RTP works identically regardless of whether you’re playing in-person or online. Roulette variants are a great way to showcase how they can fluctuate based on the exact game you choose.
European Roulette is a Great House Edge Value
When you’re considering games from a house edge perspective, that makes the choice of whether to play American or European roulette very easy. If getting the lowest house edge is of supreme importance, go with European roulette.
American roulette adds another slot to the wheel, nearly doubling the house edge. The standard house edge in European roulette is 2.7%.
A good way to think of that percentage is in the context of money. For every $100 that players wager on the game, the casino makes $2.70.
One important thing that beginners need to know about house edge is that does not mean that you as an individual should expect to win back $97.30 of every $100 you wager playing European roulette. That $100 includes all bets that all players, not just you specifically, make over time.
European roulette is a great choice for players seeking games with a low house edge and you’ll find several options at BetMGM like First Person Roulette and European Roulette Pro.
Other table games are stronger examples of contests with a low house edge, albeit with even greater fluctuations.
Control the House Edge With Blackjack and Craps
While games like roulette have a fixed house edge across all the different ways to bet on the game, other games feature a variable house edge that fluctuates based on how you play. Blackjack and craps are two such games.
The house edge in blackjack can shrink down to 0.4% based on the specific variant you are playing and how you proceed. For example, the overall house edge in the exclusive BetMGM Blackjack Pro game is just 0.47%.
Craps also puts you in control of your house edge. If you’re playing First Person Craps at BetMGM, as an example, a Pass Bet comes with a house edge of 1.41% while a One Roll bet has a much higher 13.9% house edge.
If you’re looking for a more uniform experience, slots might be more to your taste. There is some RTP deviation in those games as well.
Slots With Low RTPs Can Be Rewarding
When you delve into the world of RTP, slots can be a great way to discover this factor for yourself. Different slot titles can vary greatly in that quality.
On the more player-friendly side, the 88 Coins slot has an RTP of 97%. Meanwhile, the exclusive Mirage Mega Magma has an RTP of 91.9%.
That’s no guarantee that you will win more often or that your payouts will be higher playing 88 Coins compared to Mirage Mega Magma. Rather, it’s simply telling you that in a direct comparison isolated to just RTP, 88 Coins returns more money to players than Mirage Mega Magma over time.
Other slots with low RTPs are Bloodsuckers Megaways and White Rabbit. BetMGM wants to help you compile your own list of games with a low house edge.
BetMGM Gives You an Edge With Player Bonuses
The house has its edge, and when you register with BetMGM, you can too. BetMGM offers recurring promotions to all players so you can explore the thousands of game options with minimal risk to your bankroll.
As just one example, new players get an amazing casino welcome bonus that could lead to some free plays on the games of your choice. As you’re playing, you’ll also accumulate BetMGM Rewards points that you can redeem for free play or perks at MGM Resorts properties in the United States.
Checking out the house edge of various bets and games can empower your gambling choices. While you still need luck on your side to win, it’s one way that you can maximize your winnings if you do get lucky.
