What is a Casino House Edge?

The casino house edge describes the average share of every bet a game keeps over the long run. It’s built into how games pay out, compared to the true odds of each outcome. If you’ve ever typed “what is house edge” into a search bar or wondered what does house edge mean in practice, this is the short version: it’s the game’s built-in mathematical advantage, expressed as a percentage. For example, online roulette’s 2.7% house edge means the game retains 2.70 of every 100 units wagered over many rounds, not in each round.

 

The game’s house edge matters when choosing games on popular social online casino sites like BitSpinWin. BitSpinWin offers a variety of games with different house edges, such as slots, fish tables, and keno, across platforms like Game Vault and Vegas 7. Here, we’ll show how the edge changes from one game to the next and how to check it before you play.

House Edge in One Line

The house edge is the difference between what a perfectly fair game would pay and what it actually pays. That’s what does house edge mean at its simplest: the gap between fair odds and actual payouts. Operators list the house edge as a percentage, such as 2.70% or 4.00%, and that number depends on the game.

The Math, Step by Step

European roulette is the easiest place to see where an edge comes from, since every pocket on the wheel is equally likely. The wheel has 37 pockets, and a single-number bet pays 35 to 1. Picture 37 spins of 1 unit each, with every pocket coming up exactly once:

 

	Units
Staked (37 spins × 1 unit)	37
Returned on the 1 hit (35 + 1 stake back)	36
Retained by the game	1
House edge (1 ÷ 37)	2.70%

 

The edge averages out over many rounds, so a short session can land well above or below it. The longer you play, the closer the results move toward that 2.70% of everything wagered based on the roulette payout chart.

House Edge vs RTP

House edge and the Return to Player (RTP) percentage describe the same number from two sides. If you’re looking for what house edge and RTP are, the short answer is that RTP is the share the game pays out on average, and the house edge is the share it keeps, so they add up to 100%. For more information on how to compute RTP, see our guide on how slot RTP is calculated.

How the House Edge Changes by Game

The house edge varies by game type. It depends on the rules, payouts, and number of outcomes. Here is how it works in the main game types you will find on BitSpinWin.

Slots

On a slot, the house edge is 100% minus the RTP. The RTP is listed on the game’s info screen, so you can calculate the edge in a few seconds. A slot with an RTP of 95.02%, such as IGT’s Cleopatra, has a house edge of 4.98%.

RTP is not the same thing as volatility. Volatility describes how wins arrive, in smaller, more frequent hits or bigger, rarer ones, while RTP sets what the game keeps on average. Our guide explains what slot volatility means.

Keno

Keno has a higher house edge since the paytable pays well below the true odds of matching numbers. Each game sets its own payouts, so the edge changes from one keno game to the next. If you play Fireball Keno, review its paytable before you pick.

Roulette

Roulette shows how one extra pocket changes the edge. The European wheel has a single zero, which gives a house edge of 2.70%. The American wheel adds a second zero (0 and 00), which lifts the edge to 5.26%. A single-number bet pays 35 to 1 on both wheels, so the extra pocket is what widens the gap. For more information on how other roulette bets pay, read our complete roulette payout table.

Fish Tables

Fish tables work differently from slots and roulette. You aim at moving targets, each with its own value. We can't quote a standard house edge figure for these games, so check the game itself. Open its info or help screen before you start, and check each target's value and any bonus rules it lists.

Side by Side

The table puts these game types side by side, with blackjack and baccarat added for quick comparison.

 

Game	Typical house edge	Where the edge comes from
Slots	100% minus RTP	Paytable and reel setup; indicated in the slot’s info screen
Keno	Often high	Paytable pays below the true odds; varies by game
European roulette	2.70%	One zero pocket
American roulette	5.26%	Two zero pockets (0 and 00)
Fish tables	No standard figure	Check the value of each target in the game’s info or help screen
Blackjack with basic strategy	About 0.5%	Rule set and correct play; varies by table rules
Baccarat (Banker’s hand)	1.06%	Commission on Banker wins

 

Table games typically have lower house edges because the rules are fixed and the odds are easy to calculate. Learn more about house edge differences in our updated guide to slots versus table games, or see our guide to table games with lower edges.

 

If you’re looking for the lowest house edge games, read our complete list of games with the best odds.

Why It Shows Over Time

How to Check a Game Before You Play

You don’t need to guess the house edge. Most of what you need is inside the game itself:

 

1. Open the game’s info or help screen. This is where a slot shows its RTP and where a fish game lists its rules.
2. Read the paytable. On a slot, subtract the RTP from 100%. On keno, see how the payouts grow with each match. On roulette, check whether the wheel has one zero or two. On a fish table, look at the value of each target.
3. Try the game with the sign-up Free Play before you use a deposit.

 

The sign-up Free Play needs no deposit of your own money. The only condition is verification: a photo of the front of your ID and a live selfie with it. It works on every platform, has no expiry, and requires no playthrough. Cashing out still requires a first deposit of your own money.

 

Keep in mind that Free Play does not change the house edge. The game follows the same odds and payouts, regardless of which credits you use. A better approach is to set your bankroll and treat the house edge as the cost of entertainment. Use our guide to budget and play limits to enjoy games at BitSpinWin responsibly.

FAQ

What is the house edge on slots?

It equals 100% minus the slot’s RTP. For example, a slot with an RTP of 96% has a house edge of 4%. The RTP appears on the game’s info screen, and it varies by slot, so check each game before you play.

What is the house edge on keno?

The paytable determines it, and it is often higher than table games. Every keno game sets its own payouts for matching numbers, so two keno games can have different edges. Read the paytable before you pick your numbers.

What is the house edge on fish table games?

There is no standard figure for fish games, so we don’t quote one. Check the game’s info or help screen, since it shows each target's value and the rules for any bonus features.

Does the house edge apply to free play credits?

Yes, the math behind the house edge also applies to demo play and free credits. The game follows the same gameplay, odds, and payouts, regardless of which credits you use. Free play credits change whose credits are risked, not how the game delivers the outcomes.

Is the house edge the same online?

Yes, the house edge for online casino play is similar to that of a land-based casino. The game's paytable and rules set the house edge and RTP, not where you play it. For online slots and other casino games, the info or paytable shows the RTP, and 100% minus that figure equals the house edge.