Ever wonder how one person can be confident enough to start a casino? Ever wonder how a casino operator knows he's going to make money, if people play? Ask yourself a simple question, "what do I need to run a successful business?" If your answer was profit, then you're thinking is right on track.

So what exactly is the House Edge?

The House Edge means the casino's advantage for each game.

To be precise, House Edge equals the difference between the true odds (a $10 wager pays $10) and the odds that the casino actually pays you when you win (i.e., a $1 wager wins 95 cents).

The only exceptions to the idea of intrinsic profit are Blackjack and Video Poker. Both of these games include extra variables such as Skill, Rules, Number of Decks in Play, Game type and Pay Table. Look at the following chart to see a breakdown of the House Edge for some of the most popular casino games.

House Edge Chart

Game	Bet	Percent (minus)	HPH
Baccarat	Bank	1.06	80
	Player	1.24
	Tie	14.4
Craps	Pass/Don't	1.4	30
	Field	5.6	100
	Hardways	Up to 16
Roulette	Double 00	5.26	50
	Single 0	2.7
Caribbean Stud	Ante	5.3	40
	Bonus	48
Free Ride	Base	3.5	40
	Bonus	15-30
Keno	Average	27	7

As mentioned above, the outcome of Blackjack and Video Poker games is dependent on more than just the House Edge.

For Blackjack, players must figure in their personal skills, house rules, and the number of decks used in the game. But as you see below, these variables produce an advantage for you.

Basic Strategy Poor/Hunch Counter

50 3-5 +

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HPH 60

For Video Poker too, players must figure in their personal skills, game rules, and the set pay table. Just as in Blackjack, the extra variables give you an advantage.

Video Poker **

Perfect Play

+

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HPH 600