House edge calculator: what each casino game costs you per hour
The house edge is the average share of each bet the casino keeps over the long run. Expected cost per hour is average bet × bets per hour × house edge. RM 10 on Banker in baccarat, 60 times an hour, costs RM 6.36 an hour on average, for example. Pick a game below and enter your own pace.
Formulas checked · SlotKaki calculator team
Pick a game and its house edge
| Game and bet | House edge | Average cost per RM 100 wagered |
|---|---|---|
| Baccarat: Banker (5% commission) | 1.06% | RM 1.06 |
| Baccarat: Player | 1.24% | RM 1.24 |
| Baccarat: Tie paying 8:1 | 14.36% | RM 14.36 |
| European roulette (single zero) | 2.70% | RM 2.70 |
| American roulette (double zero) | 5.26% | RM 5.26 |
| Blackjack, basic strategy | about 0.5% | about RM 0.50 |
| Sic bo: Big or Small | 2.78% | RM 2.78 |
| Slot with 96% RTP | 4.00% | RM 4.00 |
The baccarat figures are for eight decks. Blackjack depends on the table rules (number of decks, blackjack payout, dealer rules) and only gets that low if you play basic strategy accurately. For a slot, choose "Slot" and enter the RTP shown in the game information: the house edge is 100% − RTP.
How many bets you place in an hour
A small edge becomes a big cost when the pace is fast. The number of bets per hour depends on the game, the table and you. As a rough guide for the examples on this page:
- Live baccarat: about 50 to 70 rounds an hour.
- Live roulette: about 30 to 40 spins an hour.
- Slots: several hundred spins an hour, more with autoplay or turbo spins.
Count your own bets for 10 minutes and multiply by six. That beats any general estimate.
Expected cost per hour and per session
| Result | Formula |
|---|---|
| Total wagered | average bet × bets per hour × hours |
| Expected cost per bet | average bet × house edge |
| Expected cost per hour | average bet × bets per hour × house edge |
| Expected cost per session | total wagered × house edge |
Worked example: Banker in baccarat, RM 10 a hand, 60 hands an hour for 2 hours. Total wagered is RM 1,200. Expected cost is RM 1,200 × 1.06% = RM 12.72, or RM 6.36 an hour. That is a long-run average. In a single session you can lose far more or walk away ahead, because the swings are much larger than the average cost.
Baccarat, roulette and slots compared hour by hour
This table uses the example pace from above. Notice how a RM 1 slot can cost more per hour than RM 10 baccarat.
| Game | Bet × pace | Wagered per hour | Expected cost per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baccarat Banker | RM 10 × 60 | RM 600 | RM 6.36 |
| Baccarat Tie | RM 10 × 60 | RM 600 | RM 86.16 |
| European roulette | RM 10 × 40 | RM 400 | RM 10.80 |
| American roulette | RM 10 × 40 | RM 400 | RM 21.04 |
| Sic bo Big/Small | RM 10 × 40 | RM 400 | RM 11.12 |
| Slot, 96% RTP | RM 1 × 500 | RM 500 | RM 20.00 |
For slots, the expected session cost by RTP calculator lets you start from spin size and number of spins.
Limits of a house edge figure
The house edge is an expected value, not a fixed bill. It only becomes accurate over a very large number of bets; in a short session, variance dominates. Terms such as expected value, variance and the gambler's fallacy are defined in the glossary of probability terms.
No way of betting turns the house edge into a player edge. A rebate trims the cost a little, and the rebate calculator shows by how much. Live game edges on SlotKaki follow each table's rules, so check the payouts shown before you play.
Frequently asked questions
What is the house edge in baccarat?
In eight-deck baccarat, the Banker bet with 5% commission has a house edge of about 1.06%, Player about 1.24% and a Tie paying 8:1 about 14.36%. On average, every RM 100 bet on the Tie costs RM 14.36 over the long run.
How do you work out the expected cost per hour at a casino?
Multiply your average bet by the number of bets per hour and the house edge. RM 10 on European roulette at 40 spins an hour is RM 400 wagered and an expected cost of RM 10.80 an hour. A real session can land far from that average.
Do slots have a higher house edge than baccarat?
Usually, yes. A slot with a 96% RTP has a 4% edge, against 1.06% for the Banker bet in baccarat. Slots are also faster, so the hourly cost can be higher even with small spins. Every slot has its own RTP, shown in the game information.
Choose a game with your eyes open Check the table payouts and rules, or the RTP in the slot information, before you play. Set a deposit limit and time reminders in your account so the hourly cost stays inside your budget.
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