What is a Casino House Edge, and Which Games Favour You?

23rd August 2025 Author Image Fruity king
house-edge

One commonly asked question from Fruity King players is: What is a casino edge, and why does it matter? 

Of all the things to check before placing a wager on an online casino game, the house edge is one of the most important, as it shows how much the game typically pays over time. 

Let’s explain what the house edge is and why it’s essential, and give you some house edge examples using games available at Fruity King.

What is a Casino House Edge? 

The house edge is the share of every wager the casino expects to retain over time. For example, if the house edge of a game is 2%, the casino will expect to keep £2 from every £100 wagered, while paying out £98 in wins. 

You can regard the house edge as the cost of playing a casino game. While it’s not guaranteed, it indicates how much a game pays out over time. The lower the house edge, the more the game pays out. So, as an online gambler, it makes sense for you to select games with a low house edge. 

The house edge varies from game to game, but random number generator (RNG) table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat tend to have the lowest house edges at UK online casinos, ranging from 0.30% to around 5% in most instances. 

Slots sit between 4% and 6%, while jackpot games with the biggest potential wins may have a house edge as high as 10% to fund the jackpot payout. 

We advise you to check the house edge before playing a casino game at Fruity King. You can do this by clicking on the game tile and locating the “Rules” or “i” button in the game screen. This leads you to the game’s details, where you’ll find the house edge and other key information to inform your strategy.

House Edge & RTP Explained 

The house edge and the theoretical return to player (RTP) percentage are two sides of the same coin. Both statistics indicate how much the casino expects to retain while showing how much is returned to players, on average. 

For example, if a slot game has a house edge of 4%, its RTP is 96%. This is explained as such: 

  • 4% house edge indicates that the casino expects to retain £4 for every £100 wagered on the game. 
  • 96% RTP indicates that the casino expects to pay £96 for every £100 wagered on the game. 

Some games publish the RTP, while others show the figure as the house edge. If you know the difference and understand their meaning, you can calculate your long-term potential returns by checking for either figure. 

Why is House Edge Worth Considering? 

The house edge is worth considering as it indicates how much the casino retains, on average, for every wager placed on a specific game. A casino keeps this money to fund the costs of providing its service.

While you have a fair chance of winning any wager you place on a game at Fruity King, bets on low house edge titles offer better long-term returns on average. 

So, if you prioritise and play low-house-edge casino games, your bankroll will likely last longer, and you have a better chance of winning over time. 

The Best Games by House Edge at Fruity King 

Keen to preserve your bankroll by playing top games with high RTPs? Here’s an overview of the games that favour you at Fruity King with impressively low house edges:

Blackjack (<1%)

Blackjack is the best online casino game if you’re looking for high RTP and a low house edge. Most UK blackjack games have a house edge of 1% or lower, which is unmatched at online casinos, assuming you play with a decent basic strategy. 

That said, the low house edge in blackjack relates to standard wagers. If you place an insurance bet or any other side bet, the house edge ranges from 5% to 10%. So, use a blackjack strategy that focuses on base game betting, and you can benefit from high RTP gameplay. 

3D Blackjack (0.56%) and Atlantic City Blackjack (0.35%) are excellent games to get you started at Fruity King, with impressively low house edges. 

Baccarat (<2%)

Baccarat is another table game with a typically low house edge, often under 2% if you place player or banker bets. 

However, if you bet on the tie, the house edge increases to around 5%, while side bets in baccarat range from 5% to 10% in most games. So, to keep the house edge low, follow a baccarat strategy that sees you bet on the player or banker’s hand in most instances. 

Baccarat Punto Banco (1.08% to 1.23%) and Baccarat No Commission Live (1.24% to 1.46%) are the best baccarat table games to play at Fruity King with low house edges. 

European Roulette (<3%)

If you’re a roulette fan, the European and French versions of the game are your best options. Why? Because they come with a lower house edge than American and live roulette: 

Game Type  Typical House Edge 
European Roulette  2.70% 
French Roulette  1.35%
American Roulette  5.26%
Live Roulette  4.00% to 6.00% 

American roulette has a higher house edge because of the additional green double-zero pocket, which doesn’t appear in the French and European versions of the game. 

Play RNG roulette table games at Fruity King, such as European Roulette (2.70%) and Announced Bets European Roulette (2.70%), for roulette rounds with a low house edge. 

Video Slots (4% to 5%) 

The best online slots to play at Fruity King have a house edge in the 4% to 5% range, aligned with the industry average. 

One of our favourite slots is Big Bass Bonus Round by Pragmatic Play. The house edge for this Pragmatic Play blockbuster is 5.60% at Fruity King. Spin to win up to 5,000x your bet. 

Another high RTP slot to check out at Fruity King is Jumanji by NetEnt. The RTP is 96.33%, meaning the house edge is just 3.77%, offering better long-term winning potential. 

Finally, check out the excellent Gonzo’s Quest by NetEnt, which has an RTP of 95.97%. This 4.03% house edge is good for slots, offering a decent chance of landing payouts as you play. 

Jackpot Slots (8% to 11%) 

In most instances, jackpot slots have a higher house edge than classic and video slots. This is because a percentage of each stake contributes to the progressive jackpot prize. 

So, while playing jackpot slots at Fruity King, expect the house edge to range from 8% to 11% in most instances. Though the house edge is higher in these games, you can win much more if luck is on your side. 

The Verdict: What is a Casino House Edge? 

So, what is a casino house edge? It indicates how much the casino retains for wagers placed on games in the long run. It isn’t a guarantee of returns, but it’s a helpful indicator of the value of a specific game and how much you can expect to win on average. 

The lower the house edge, the better it is for you, the player. If you’re looking for the lowest house edge games at Fruity King, we recommend RNG blackjack, with most titles boasting a house edge under 1%. 

If you play slots, look for games with a house edge of 4% to 5%, but expect the house edge to be higher if you play jackpot slots with progressive prizes. 

Why Play Casino Games at Fruity King? 

Fruity King is home to over 1,000 superb slots and an extensive offering of RNG table games and live dealer titles from award-winning studios like Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, and NetEnt. 

We publish the RTP of our top games for transparency, and you may also check the game description for a full breakdown of the game’s payouts, depending on the bets you place. 

Register for Fruity King today to play low house edge slots, table games, and live dealer titles. Kick things off today with a deposit match promotion and free spins – terms and conditions apply.

FAQs

House edge is the opposite of RTP. House edge indicates how much the casino retains, while RTP shows how much the game pays out. So, if the house edge is 5%, the RTP will be 95%.
Blackjack typically has the lowest house edge at online casinos, with many variants ranging from 0.5% to 1.0%.
The average house edge at an online casino is 4%. Anything below this is considered a low house edge game, while anything above is considered a little high.