The rules of all casino games are designed to give the casino a slight advantage over the player, which keeps the business profitable. If you want to learn more about online casino games, check out our guide here.

Decision Making

In many games, you have to make some kind of decision before the round starts. For example, you have to choose what you bet on, as well as choose the size of the bet.

In some games, different decisions or bets have different advantages for the casino. For example, in Baccarat, the banker’s hand is statistically more profitable. This is the game that James Bond plays in Casino Royale.

Every casino game has some kind of Casino Edge. It’s true that you may get lucky in one gaming session, but luck probably won’t be on your side all the time.

The longer you play, the closer you are to the house edge and the more likely you are to lose. It’s simple math.

In most games, this odds are so small that it is equal to 0.5%. In Keno and some of the worst slots, it is over 15%.

This odds, simply put, is your probability of losing each round.

Example: You are playing a game with a house edge of 4%. After 100 rounds of 1 euro, on average you are left with 96 euros, and the casino takes 4 euros from your deposit.

You can win or lose each round within a single current session. Over time, the results of the game will become very close to the probabilities and the casino will take its share.

Keep in mind that the higher the house edge, the greater the probability of you losing.

The house edge is very similar to the RTP ratio. RTP, or return to player, is the average percentage of winning bets.

RTP = 100% – house edge.

The house edge is calculated by comparing the payouts and probabilities for each game.

Example: In European roulette, the payout for each number is 35:1. This means that the initial bet you made is returned and you will receive 35 times the amount of your bet as a profit. However, there are 37 numbers in total and the house edge is 1/37=2.7%. Without the house edge, the payout would be 36:1 instead of 35:1.
The variance parameter shows you how much the game results fluctuate in the short term. This is also related to the risks of the game and the corresponding profits.

Volatility is synonymous with variation. In games with low variance, the winnings are lower compared to your bet. Compared to games with high volatility, here you have a higher probability of winning. As a result, you will win more, but the individual winnings will not be very high.

In contrast, in high-variance games, the payouts vary significantly in size from your bet. However, the probability of winning is lower.

Most casino table games are low-volatility, although there are also high-volatility ones.

Example: Betting on red or black in roulette is a low-variance bet. With a payout of 1:1, you win half of the rounds played. Betting on the same number is a high-variance bet. The payout is 35:1 and on average your number will appear once every 37 rounds.

Online slots are categorized into low-, medium- and high-volatility slots. Compared to table games, slots have relatively high volatility.

Games also differ in whether they follow a straight line or are full of variety. The nuances that define simplicity are as follows:

Simple rules

You don’t have to make a decision in the middle of the game.
Logical payouts

Simple rules

Most casino games have relatively simple rules, they are largely intuitive and easy to learn. The layout of the game will often guide you to key elements, such as the payouts.

Of course, there are also games that are more difficult to understand. For example, both poker and craps are games that require the player to spend a little more time to master. However, this effort will not be in vain: if you take a little time to learn the game, the gameplay will become more fun.