A Guide for Canadians on How to Understand the Odds

Odds in casino games can be hard to understand at first, whether you are a new player or have been playing for a long time. If you're playing a new game or betting on sports for the first time, trying to figure out the odds can be like trying to read a strange language.

We've made a guide to help you understand this brand-new "language" and figure out the best bets to make to make the most of your money. With our guide to gambling odds, you'll know how to make the most of your money in both online and real-world casinos.

The House Edge

Probably the most important thing to know is that the odds of any game will always be in the casino's favour, whether you play in person or online. This is called the "house edge," and it is a number that shows how often a player loses their first bet (not all of their wins together). If you're thinking about playing a blackjack game with a house edge of about 0.3%, you'll lose an average of 6 cents for every C$10 you bet.

The house edge is always set by the rules of the game itself. Before you play a game like blackjack, you should always find out if there are any special rules. Also, remember that this number is based on the idea that the person is generally playing perfectly. So, if you are new to the game, the real advantage of the house will be even bigger. Most internet games with good odds and a small edge for the house will be the same as those in a real casino.

Online Casino Odds

Land-based casinos have to pay for things like workers, buildings, maintenance, etc. that online casinos don't have to pay for. Most people think that the edge for the house is a little bit cheaper online. For table games like blackjack, baccarat, and Spanish 21, online casinos use a random number generator (RNG) instead of the luck of the draw. Even though the numbers are picked at random, they are set up so that more people will lose than win.

If basic technique is used, blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of any gambling game. You can lower this edge even more by using a basic strategy plan while playing online, which would never be allowed in a real-life game. This will help you play the odds properly. The house edge will be smaller in video poker, and some machines may even say that the player has an edge of 100.7%. Even though poker isn't exactly a gambling game, it has the best chances because you play against other people instead of the casino.

Land Casino Odds

The odds of winning are better when you play poker in a casino or online. Video poker, on the other hand, has a very tiny edge (around 0.50 percent). Blackjack is known as one of the best bets you can make in a casino. If you can count cards and use simple tactics, which you can't do online, the house has less of a lead. Also, Don't Pass/Don't Come and Passline/Come bets have an edge of just over 1 percent most of the time in craps, a game that doesn't really work well online.

Slot machine players often want to know what their odds are. Statistical research doesn't back up the idea that machines at the end of a "block," near places with a lot of traffic, or even by the front door give out more money. But there are "loose" and "tight" machines, and the average return rate can be anywhere from 85% to the middle of the 90%. The house edge has been hard to find out, especially for real slot machines with reels instead of video screens. But if you look hard enough, you can usually find reward odds for individual machines with a quick online search.