What is the House Edge in Roulette?

No matter what casino game you are playing, the basis of the game is about risk and reward. In other words, you are risking your money and betting no matter what game you’re playing. If things go your way, you win money. If they do not, you lose money. Of course, you are betting against the House in the game. This is where there is risk.

If you have played roulette before, you may have heard people talk about the House edge. Indeed, this is a popular term you can hear in the casino. Let’s take a look at what this is so that you can understand how it works when you are playing roulette.

What is the House Edge?

When you hear the term ‘House edge’ used in reference to casino games, this is used to describe the advantage that the House or dealer has over you as the player. Most of the time, the House is always going to have an advantage, as this is how casinos are able to make money – it is after all a business. There is more risk for you as a player than there is for the House. But this does not mean that you can never win, as many people know. Indeed, with some luck and the right strategy, you can win big.

The House edge is normally expressed as a percentage and it will differ depending on what game you’re playing. There are going to be some games where there is more risk playing than others. For example, the House edge can vary from 1 percent to 17 percent depending on the game, with some of the best online casinos operating at the lower end of the scale.

Understanding the House Edge in Roulette

Now, the House edge in roulette is slightly different from other games. It is important that you learn about it before you start playing. This is going to help you understand risk and how you can bet. Let’s start with the basics. Roulette has 37 numbers on the wheel. They are numbered from 1 through to 36. In addition, the numbers are going to be black or red. Of course, if you have played before, there is also a zero that is green.

This zero is a demonstration of the House edge. If you win at roulette, you are going to be paid out as if there are 36 numbers on the wheel. This means you are actually paid less than you think. For example, say you bet on one of the red numbers of the wheel. Of course, there are 18 of them so you think that you are in with a good shot of winning. However, you actually have less than a 50 percent chance of coming out on top. The House edge and the zero ensure this is the case.

In addition, if you like to play American roulette, there is going to be even more of a House edge. This is so because in American roulette, there are two zeros on the wheel. There is the zero and double zero. This means that there is an even stronger House edge to consider.

However, as with all games of chance the winning is a bonus and the more you play, the better you will be able to work out a winning strategy. But it makes sense to test thoroughly with proper testing software, without real money – before risking real money.