Casinos are incredibly profitable businesses, and their success relies entirely on cold, hard mathematics.

This guaranteed profit margin is known universally throughout the industry as the "house edge."

True Odds vs. Casino Payouts

If a game paid out at exactly the true odds, the casino would eventually break even and go bankrupt.

However, if you win a straight-up number bet, the casino only pays you 35 to 1.

• Every single game has a mathematically defined edge
• It represents the percentage of each bet the casino keeps
• Skill-based games usually offer lower house edges

The Flip Side of the House Edge

While table game players talk about house edge, slot machine players focus on Return to Player (RTP).

This means that over millions of spins, the machine will pay back $95 for every $100 wagered.

Finding the Best Casino Odds

If you want to stretch your bankroll and maximize your chances, you must play low-edge games.

Video poker can also offer an edge below 1%, and sometimes even dips into negative territory with perfect play.

Accept the edge as the price of admission for the entertainment, and gamble responsibly.