House edge of every bet
The share of each bet a casino keeps on average over a long run. Every figure is our own count, card by card and roll by roll, from a pay table a Canadian operator or publisher prints, named beside it. It is an average cost, not a forecast of one evening.
Blackjack
Blackjack’s edge depends on the rules at the table: the payout for a blackjack, the number of decks and what the dealer does on soft 17. Played at 88 casinos we list.
| Bet | House edge |
|---|---|
| Pays 3:2, six decks, dealer hits soft 17All four blackjack rows are worked out by the same engine as our Blackjack strategy tool, with every hand played by the chart: the dealer checks for blackjack, you may double on any two cards and after splitting and split up to four hands, there is no surrender, and the cards are shuffled after every hand. | 0.62%worked out Source
Pays 3:2, six decks, dealer hits soft 17 Worked out: our blackjack engine, the same as in our Blackjack strategy tool, with every hand played by the chart under these rules. |
| Pays 3:2, six decks, dealer stands on soft 17 | 0.40%worked out Source
Pays 3:2, six decks, dealer stands on soft 17 Worked out: our blackjack engine, the same as in our Blackjack strategy tool, with every hand played by the chart under these rules. |
| Pays 6:5, six decks, dealer hits soft 17 | 1.98%worked out Source
Pays 6:5, six decks, dealer hits soft 17 Worked out: our blackjack engine, the same as in our Blackjack strategy tool, with every hand played by the chart under these rules. |
| Pays 6:5, six decks, dealer stands on soft 17 | 1.76%worked out Source
Pays 6:5, six decks, dealer stands on soft 17 Worked out: our blackjack engine, the same as in our Blackjack strategy tool, with every hand played by the chart under these rules. |
| Free Bet Blackjack: free doubles on 9, 10 and 11, free splits, dealer’s 22 pushesMeasured against the first bet.Played at 37 casinos we list | 1.09%worked out Source
Free Bet Blackjack: free doubles on 9, 10 and 11, free splits, dealer’s 22 pushes Worked out: our blackjack engine, the same as in our Blackjack strategy tool, with every hand played by that game’s own chart under the rules the document states. If the player gets a blackjack, the bet is paid 3 to 2, except when the house's hand is also a blackjack. When a two-card hand totals 9, 10 or a hard 11, the "free bet" marker can be used instead of chips in order to double the bet. SPLIT, i.e. separate two cards of the same value cards (e.g. king and 10, pair of 9s) to play more than one hand, for a maximum of four hands. … In the case of a pair of aces, players can split only once and hit for only one additional card for each hand. … Each time players split a hand, they must place an additional bet equal to their initial bet or use a "free bet" marker, which can only be used when the cards in the split have a value other than 10. Players may also double down on each hand after SPLITTING two cards of the same value, except in the case of a pair of aces. The same applies if the point count of the player's hand is 21 or less and the house's hand totals the same value or a hard 22. In the event that the house does not get a blackjack and the house's second card has not yet been revealed, players may: Source
Free Bet Blackjack: free doubles on 9, 10 and 11, free splits, dealer’s 22 pushes (B.C.) Worked out: our blackjack engine, the same as in our Blackjack strategy tool, with every hand played by that game’s own chart under the rules the document states. In our words: Free Bet uses six ordinary decks, dealt from a continuous shuffling machine. BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read In our words: draw on 16 or less, and on soft 17; BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read In our words: A blackjack pays 3 to 2. BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read In our words: Two cards making hard 9, 10 or 11 can be doubled for free. Other two-card hands can still be doubled, but the extra bet comes from your own chips, not a free one. BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read In our words: Pairs can be split again, up to four hands in all. Any pair can be split for free, except a pair of ten-value cards. A pair of aces can be split one time, and each ace then gets just one card. BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read In our words: After a free split, a new hand of hard 9, 10 or 11 can still take a free double. BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read In our words: When the dealer goes over on exactly 22, bets still in play are pushed, with these exceptions: BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read In our words: before you act on your first two cards, you may surrender. Surrender is not available when the dealer holds a blackjack. BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read In our words: When the dealer has a blackjack, a doubled hand loses its first bet. then deals the dealer’s own card face up, in front of the chip rack; BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read |
| Spanish 21: dealer hits soft 17, bonuses paid on split hands tooBefore the Super Bonus, which lowers it a little.Played at 8 casinos we list | 0.78%worked out Source
Spanish 21: dealer hits soft 17, bonuses paid on split hands too Worked out: our blackjack engine, the same as in our Blackjack strategy tool, with every hand played by that game’s own chart under the rules the document states. Spanish 21 is played with 1 to 8 decks of 48 cards, with the number 10 cards removed from each deck. In Spanish 21 all four tens are removed from each deck of cards in the shuffle. That means a 48-card deck instead of 52, containing 12 ten value cards instead of 16. After revealing the house's face-down card, the dealer completes the house's hand, if necessary, according to the house strategy indicated at the table which may either be: SURRENDER if they are not satisfied with their first two cards. In that event, they forfeit the hand underway and lose half of their initial bet. … SURRENDER AFTER A DOUBLE DOWN if they are not satisfied with the value of their hand after a double down and the point count of their hand does not exceed 21. … The players therefore forfeit the hand underway, lose their initial bet, but retrieve the amount of their DOUBLE DOWN bet. If you don't expect to win based on your first two cards, Spanish 21 lets you surrender and leave the round and get half your original bet back. … If you double down without busting (going over 21), and you still don't like your hand, you can take back your double down bet, but must forfeit the match and your original wager. DOUBLE DOWN, i.e. bet an additional amount that is equal or lower than their initial bet on a hand with two or more cards, except if the hand is a blackjack or totals a hard 21, while complying with the limits indicated at the table. … Players may also double down on each hand after SPLITTING two cards of the same value. In Spanish 21, you can double down even after you've hit for a third, fourth, fifth - any number of cards. Players can split any two equal cards (pairs) like usual, but unlike the traditional version, if the new hands also contain any pairs they can split again (re-split), up to maximum of four hands at a time. SPLIT, i.e. separate two cards of the same value (e.g. king and jack, pair of 9s) to play more than one hand, for a maximum of four hands. … Each hand is then played separately. The point count of the player's hand is 21, except when the house's hand is a blackjack. … The player's hand is a blackjack, even if the house's hand is also a blackjack. Reach a hand total of 21, and you always win, even if the dealer gets a natural Blackjack (an ace and a ten-value card as their two first cards). Any 5 Card 21 = 3 to 2 … Any 6 Card 21 = 2 to 1 … Any 7+ Card 21 = 3 to 1 Bonus 21 and Super 7 Bonus payouts do not apply to doubled hands. 6-7-8 (Mixed Suits) = 3 to 2 … 6-7-8 (Same Suits) = 2 to 1 … 6-7-8 (Spades Only) = 3 to 1 … 7-7-7 (Mixed Suits) = 3 to 2 … 7-7-7 (Same Suits) = 2 to 1 … 7-7-7 (Spades Only) = 3 to 1 Bonus 21 payouts apply to split hands, where appropriate. … Super 7 Bonus payouts do not apply to split hands. Bonus 21 prizes are still paid out on split hands, but the Super Bonus is not. |
| Insurance, pays 2 to 1A side bet that the dealer’s hidden card is a ten when the up card is an ace. Worked out without your own two cards. | 7.40%worked out Source
Insurance, pays 2 to 1 Worked out: pays 2 to 1; with six decks and the dealer’s ace showing, 96 of the 311 unseen cards are tens: 1 − 3 × 96/311 = 7.40%; with eight decks, 1 − 3 × 128/415 = 7.47%. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Basic Blackjack, 4.6.2. In our words: Insurance pays 2 to 1 when the dealer turns out to have a blackjack. BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read Rules published by Loto-Québec for its casinos, The player options. If the house draws a blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2 to 1. Rules Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara publish for their tables, Blackjack terms: Insurance. All winning insurance wagers pay 2 to 1. Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Blackjack · read |
- 6 decksSource
B.C. (BCLC): 6 decks
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Basic Blackjack, 1.1.
In our words: The dealer deals from a shoe holding six ordinary decks.
BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2Source
B.C. (BCLC): Blackjack pays 3 to 2
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Basic Blackjack, 7.1.1.
In our words: A blackjack pays 3 to 2.
BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read
- Dealer hits soft 17Source
B.C. (BCLC): Dealer hits soft 17
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Basic Blackjack, 8.8.
In our words: draw on 16 or less, and on soft 17; and stop drawing at hard 17.
BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read
- Double on any two cardsSource
B.C. (BCLC): Double on any two cards
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Basic Blackjack, 4.3.
In our words: you may double on any first two cards by adding a second bet.
BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read
- Double after splittingSource
B.C. (BCLC): Double after splitting
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Basic Blackjack, 4.4.6.
In our words: Doubling is allowed on hands that came from a split.
BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read
- Pairs may be re-splitSource
B.C. (BCLC): Pairs may be re-split
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Basic Blackjack, 4.4.1.
In our words: A pair that turns up after a split can be split again.
BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read
- Aces split once, one card eachSource
B.C. (BCLC): Aces split once, one card each
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Basic Blackjack, 4.4.2.
In our words: A pair of aces can be split one time, and each ace then gets just one card.
BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read
- Late surrenderSource
B.C. (BCLC): Late surrender
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Basic Blackjack, 4.5.
In our words: after your first two cards and before you act, you may surrender. Surrender is not available when the dealer holds a blackjack.
BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read
- No hole card; a dealer blackjack takes only your original betSource
B.C. (BCLC): No hole card; a dealer blackjack takes only your original bet
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Basic Blackjack, 8.2.2, 4.3.4.a, 4.4.8.a.
In our words: then deals the dealer’s own card face up, in front of the chip rack; If the dealer has a blackjack, a doubled hand loses only its first bet; the extra chips come back. If the dealer has a blackjack, a split hand loses only its first bet; the extra bet for the split comes back.
BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read
- Insurance pays 2 to 1Source
B.C. (BCLC): Insurance pays 2 to 1
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Basic Blackjack, 4.6.2.
In our words: Insurance pays 2 to 1 when the dealer turns out to have a blackjack.
BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read
- A 6:5 table opens only alongside a 3:2 tableSource
B.C. (BCLC): A 6:5 table opens only alongside a 3:2 table
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 4.0 6 to 5 Blackjack, 1.6.
In our words: Whenever a 6 to 5 game is open, a game paying 3 to 2 for a blackjack has to be open as well.
BCLC · BCLC Rules of Play for Table Games - Blackjack · read
- Blackjack pays as posted at the tableSource
Fallsview and Casino Niagara: Blackjack pays as posted at the table
Rules Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara publish for their tables, Blackjack.
you have "Blackjack" and will be paid odds as marked on the layout (3 to 2 or 6 to 5).
Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Blackjack · read
- Soft 17: as posted at the tableSource
Fallsview and Casino Niagara: Soft 17: as posted at the table
Rules Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara publish for their tables, Blackjack.
The Dealer must draw cards according to the rules posted on the table;
Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Blackjack · read
- Split to 4 hands; aces split once, one card eachSource
Fallsview and Casino Niagara: Split to 4 hands; aces split once, one card each
Rules Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara publish for their tables, Blackjack terms: Splitting Pairs.
This may be done to a total of four hands except for Aces. Aces receive only one card and may be split only once.
Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Blackjack · read
- Double after splitting, except split acesSource
Fallsview and Casino Niagara: Double after splitting, except split aces
Rules Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara publish for their tables, Blackjack terms: Splitting Pairs.
You may also "double down" on the first two cards of each hand after the split, except when splitting Aces.
Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Blackjack · read
- Insurance pays 2 to 1Source
Fallsview and Casino Niagara: Insurance pays 2 to 1
Rules Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara publish for their tables, Blackjack terms: Insurance.
All winning insurance wagers pay 2 to 1.
Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Blackjack · read
- 1 to 8 decksSource
Québec (Loto-Québec): 1 to 8 decks
Rules published by Loto-Québec for its casinos, The cards.
Blackjack is played with 1 to 8 decks of 52 cards.
- Soft 17: as posted at the tableSource
Québec (Loto-Québec): Soft 17: as posted at the table
Rules published by Loto-Québec for its casinos, The house strategy.
according to the house strategy indicated at the table which may either be: HIT on a count of soft 17 or less and STAND on a count of hard 17 or more, or HIT on a count of 16 or less and STAND on a count of (soft or hard) 17 or more.
- Blackjack pays as posted at the tableSource
Québec (Loto-Québec): Blackjack pays as posted at the table
Rules published by Loto-Québec for its casinos, The payouts; Variations.
If the player gets a blackjack, the bet is paid 3 to 2, except when the house's hand is also a blackjack. … If the player gets a blackjack, the payout is issued according to the payout indicated at the table.
- Split to 4 hands; aces split once, one card eachSource
Québec (Loto-Québec): Split to 4 hands; aces split once, one card each
Rules published by Loto-Québec for its casinos, The player options.
for a maximum of four hands. … In the case of a pair of aces, players can split only once and hit for only one additional card for each hand.
- Double after splitting, except split acesSource
Québec (Loto-Québec): Double after splitting, except split aces
Rules published by Loto-Québec for its casinos, The player options.
Players may also double down on each hand after SPLITTING two cards of the same value, except in the case of a pair of aces.
- Insurance pays 2 to 1Source
Québec (Loto-Québec): Insurance pays 2 to 1
Rules published by Loto-Québec for its casinos, The player options.
If the house draws a blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2 to 1.
The house edge for a given set of these rules is worked out in Blackjack strategy
Roulette
On a given wheel every bet costs the same, except the five-number bet on a double-zero wheel. Played at 84 casinos we list.
Roulette in B.C.
Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Double Zero, 1.2.
The layout and wheel for a roulette game contain the numbers 1-36, 0 and 00.
Roulette in Québec
Rules published by Loto-Québec for its casinos, The wheel.
The wheel contains the numbers 0 to 36 (English roulette), or 00 and 0 to 36 (American roulette).
| Bet | Single zero Source
Roulette, single zero Worked out: every bet pays as if the wheel had 36 numbers, and the zeros are the difference: 1 − 36/37. it significantly lowers the house edge: 2.7% compared to American Roulette’s 5.26%. Rules published by Loto-Québec for its casinos, The wheel. The wheel contains the numbers 0 to 36 (English roulette), or 00 and 0 to 36 (American roulette). | Double zero Source
Roulette, double zero Worked out: every bet pays as if the wheel had 36 numbers, and the zeros are the difference: 1 − 36/38. In American roulette it’s 5.26% averaged across all bets – relatively high compared with other games. | Triple zero Source
Roulette, triple zero Worked out: every bet pays as if the wheel had 36 numbers, and the zeros are the difference: 1 − 36/39. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight upPays 35 to 1 · one number | 2.70%SD 5.84 | 5.26%SD 5.76 | 7.69%SD 5.69 |
| SplitPays 17 to 1 · two numbers | 2.70%SD 4.07 | 5.26%SD 4.02 | 7.69%SD 3.97 |
| StreetPays 11 to 1 · three numbers | 2.70%SD 3.28 | 5.26%SD 3.24 | 7.69%SD 3.20 |
| CornerPays 8 to 1 · four numbers | 2.70%SD 2.79 | 5.26%SD 2.76 | 7.69%SD 2.73 |
| Five-number betPays 6 to 1 · 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 | not on this wheel | 7.89%SD 2.37 | not on this wheel |
| Six linePays 5 to 1 · six numbers | 2.70%SD 2.21 | 5.26%SD 2.19 | 7.69%SD 2.16 |
| Dozen or columnPays 2 to 1 · 12 numbers | 2.70%SD 1.40 | 5.26%SD 1.39 | 7.69%SD 1.38 |
| Red or black, odd or even, 1–18 or 19–36Pays 1 to 1 · 18 numbers | 2.70%SD 1.00 | 5.26%SD 1.00 | 7.69%SD 1.00 |
Craps
Per bet resolved and per roll: a place bet waits several rolls for its decision, a proposition bet is settled on the next roll. Per roll is the fair way to compare them. Played at 40 casinos we list.
| Bet | House edge | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass line or comePays 1 to 1 | 1.41%worked out Source
Pass line or come Worked out: come-out 7 or 11 wins, 2, 3 or 12 loses, a point wins if it comes before a 7: win 244/495, lose 251/495; the bet lasts 557/165 ≈ 3.376 rolls on average. Pass Line/Come Bet Actual or “True” Odds: 251 to 244 Odds Paid or Payout: 1 to 1 House Edge: 1.41% OLG PlaySmart · Craps — odds · read | ||||||||
| Don’t pass or don’t come, 12 pushesPays 1 to 1 | 1.36% per bet made · 1.40% resolvedworked out Source
Don’t pass or don’t come, 12 pushes Worked out: a 12 on the come-out is a push; per bet made the push stays in: 1.36%; per bet resolved it does not: 1.40%. Don't Pass/Don't Come Bar Actual or “True” Odds: 244 to 251 Odds Paid or Payout: 1 to 1 House Edge: 1.36% OLG PlaySmart · Craps — odds · read Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Craps, 2.2.3, 2.2.3.a. The Player attempts to roll a total of 2 or 3 with the two dice to get paid even money on their wager. … If a Player rolls a total of 12 with the two dice, their wager is considered a push, | ||||||||
| Odds behind the pass linePays true odds: 2 to 1 on 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on 5 or 9, 6 to 5 on 6 or 8 | 0% Source
Odds behind the pass line they pay out at true odds, which means there is no house edge. 2 to 1 on 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on 5 or 9, 6 to 5 on 6 or 8 OLG PlaySmart · Craps — odds · read Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Craps, 6.1.2. The Player's Odds wager may be up to a maximum of 3 times the amount of the Pass Line and Come wager if the point is 4 or 10; … The Player's Odds wager may be up to a maximum of 4 times the amount of the Pass Line and Come wager if the point is 5 or 9. … The Player's Odds wager may be up to a maximum of 5 times the amount of the Pass Line and Come wager if the point is either 6 or 8. | ||||||||
| Pass line with full 1× oddsMeasured against all money bet, pass line and odds together. | 0.848%worked out Source
Pass line with full 1× odds Worked out: the pass line loses 7/495 of the pass bet on average and the odds lose nothing, so the same loss is divided by everything bet: 1.414% ÷ (1 + 0.6667 average odds per pass bet). 2 to 1 on 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on 5 or 9, 6 to 5 on 6 or 8 OLG PlaySmart · Craps — odds · read they pay out at true odds, which means there is no house edge. | ||||||||
| Pass line with full 2× oddsMeasured against all money bet, pass line and odds together. | 0.606%worked out Source
Pass line with full 2× odds Worked out: the pass line loses 7/495 of the pass bet on average and the odds lose nothing, so the same loss is divided by everything bet: 1.414% ÷ (1 + 1.3333 average odds per pass bet). 2 to 1 on 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on 5 or 9, 6 to 5 on 6 or 8 OLG PlaySmart · Craps — odds · read they pay out at true odds, which means there is no house edge. | ||||||||
| Pass line with full 3-4-5× oddsMeasured against all money bet, pass line and odds together. Lower only because the free odds bet is counted in the total; in dollars an hour it costs the same as the pass line alone. | 0.374%worked out Source
Pass line with full 3-4-5× odds Worked out: the pass line loses 7/495 of the pass bet on average and the odds lose nothing, so the same loss is divided by everything bet: 1.414% ÷ (1 + 2.7778 average odds per pass bet). 2 to 1 on 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on 5 or 9, 6 to 5 on 6 or 8 OLG PlaySmart · Craps — odds · read they pay out at true odds, which means there is no house edge. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Craps, 6.1.2. The Player's Odds wager may be up to a maximum of 3 times the amount of the Pass Line and Come wager if the point is 4 or 10; … The Player's Odds wager may be up to a maximum of 4 times the amount of the Pass Line and Come wager if the point is 5 or 9. … The Player's Odds wager may be up to a maximum of 5 times the amount of the Pass Line and Come wager if the point is either 6 or 8. | ||||||||
| Pass line with full 5× oddsMeasured against all money bet, pass line and odds together. | 0.326%worked out Source
Pass line with full 5× odds Worked out: the pass line loses 7/495 of the pass bet on average and the odds lose nothing, so the same loss is divided by everything bet: 1.414% ÷ (1 + 3.3333 average odds per pass bet). 2 to 1 on 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on 5 or 9, 6 to 5 on 6 or 8 OLG PlaySmart · Craps — odds · read they pay out at true odds, which means there is no house edge. | ||||||||
| Pass line with full 10× oddsMeasured against all money bet, pass line and odds together. | 0.184%worked out Source
Pass line with full 10× odds Worked out: the pass line loses 7/495 of the pass bet on average and the odds lose nothing, so the same loss is divided by everything bet: 1.414% ÷ (1 + 6.6667 average odds per pass bet). 2 to 1 on 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on 5 or 9, 6 to 5 on 6 or 8 OLG PlaySmart · Craps — odds · read they pay out at true odds, which means there is no house edge. | ||||||||
| Place bet on 6 and 8Pays 7 to 6 | 1.52%worked out Source
Place bet on 6 and 8 Worked out: 6 before 7: 5 ways against 6, pays 7 to 6. 9 to 5 on 4 or 10, 7 to 5 on 5 or 9, 7 to 6 on 6 or 8 … 6.67% on 4 or 10, 4% on 5 or 9, 1.52% on 6 or 8 OLG PlaySmart · Craps — odds · read Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “PLACE BET WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.3.5:
| ||||||||
| Place bet on 5 and 9Pays 7 to 5 | 4.00%worked out Source
Place bet on 5 and 9 Worked out: 5 before 7: 4 ways against 6, pays 7 to 5. 9 to 5 on 4 or 10, 7 to 5 on 5 or 9, 7 to 6 on 6 or 8 … 6.67% on 4 or 10, 4% on 5 or 9, 1.52% on 6 or 8 OLG PlaySmart · Craps — odds · read Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “PLACE BET WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.3.5:
| ||||||||
| Place bet on 4 and 10Pays 9 to 5 | 6.67%worked out Source
Place bet on 4 and 10 Worked out: 4 before 7: 3 ways against 6, pays 9 to 5. 9 to 5 on 4 or 10, 7 to 5 on 5 or 9, 7 to 6 on 6 or 8 … 6.67% on 4 or 10, 4% on 5 or 9, 1.52% on 6 or 8 OLG PlaySmart · Craps — odds · read Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “PLACE BET WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.3.5:
| ||||||||
| Big 6 or Big 8Pays 1 to 1 | 9.09%worked out Source
Big 6 or Big 8 Worked out: the same as a place bet on 6, but paid even money: 5 ways against 6. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Craps, 6.10.4. Big 6 or Big 8 is won the wager will be paid even money. | ||||||||
| FieldOne roll: wins on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12, loses on 5, 6, 7 or 8. | 5.56%worked out Source
Field Worked out: one roll: 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 pay even money (14 of 36), 2 and 12 pay 2 to 1 (2 of 36), 5 to 8 lose (20 of 36). Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. A Field bet is a one roll bet that wins if 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 is rolled. Table “FIELD BET WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.9:
| ||||||||
| Hard 6 or 8Pays 9 to 1 | 9.09%worked out Source
Hard 6 or 8 Worked out: the pair on 6 (1 way) before a 7 or an easy 6 (10 ways), pays 9 to 1. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “HARDWAY WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.7.5:
| ||||||||
| Hard 4 or 10Pays 7 to 1 | 11.11%worked out Source
Hard 4 or 10 Worked out: the pair on 4 (1 way) before a 7 or an easy 4 (8 ways), pays 7 to 1. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “HARDWAY WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.7.5:
| ||||||||
| 2 or 12Pays 30 to 1, one roll | 13.89%worked out Source
2 or 12 Worked out: one way of 36 wins 30 to 1. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “PROPOSITION BET WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.6.4:
| ||||||||
| 3 or 11Pays 15 to 1, one roll | 11.11%worked out Source
3 or 11 Worked out: two ways of 36 win 15 to 1. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “PROPOSITION BET WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.6.4:
| ||||||||
| Any craps (2, 3 or 12)Pays 7 to 1, one roll | 11.11%worked out Source
Any craps (2, 3 or 12) Worked out: four ways of 36 win 7 to 1. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “PROPOSITION BET WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.6.4:
| ||||||||
| Any sevenPays 4 to 1, one roll | 16.67%worked out Source
Any seven Worked out: six ways of 36 win 4 to 1. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “PROPOSITION BET WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.6.4:
| ||||||||
| Hop bet on a pair (for example 3-3)Pays 30 to 1, one roll | 13.89%worked out Source
Hop bet on a pair (for example 3-3) Worked out: one way of 36 wins 30 to 1. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “HOP BET WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.8.5:
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| Hop bet on two different numbers (for example 1-4)Pays 15 to 1, one roll | 11.11%worked out Source
Hop bet on two different numbers (for example 1-4) Worked out: two ways of 36 win 15 to 1. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “HOP BET WAGER”, 1.0 Craps, 6.8.5:
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Baccarat
Eight decks unless stated. Played at 68 casinos we list.
| Bet | House edge |
|---|---|
| Banker, 5% commissionPays 1 to 1, less 5% | 1.06%worked out Source
Banker, 5% commission Worked out: eight decks, every deal worked out card by card: player wins 44.6247%, banker wins 45.8597%, tie 9.5156%. At 1.06% for the Banker’s hand and 1.24% on the Player’s hand … The difference between the payout and odds results in a very high house edge of 14.36% Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Mini-Baccarat, 1.1. Mini-Baccarat is a card game played with six (6) to eight (8) standard decks of 52 playing cards dealt from a shoe Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Mini-Baccarat, 5.1. A 5% commission shall be charged for winning banker bets. |
| PlayerPays 1 to 1 | 1.24%worked out Source
Player Worked out: eight decks, every deal worked out card by card: player wins 44.6247%, banker wins 45.8597%, tie 9.5156%. At 1.06% for the Banker’s hand and 1.24% on the Player’s hand … The difference between the payout and odds results in a very high house edge of 14.36% Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Mini-Baccarat, 1.1. Mini-Baccarat is a card game played with six (6) to eight (8) standard decks of 52 playing cards dealt from a shoe |
| Tie, paid 8 to 1Pays 8 to 1 | 14.36%worked out Source
Tie, paid 8 to 1 Worked out: a tie comes up 9.5156% of eight-deck hands. At 1.06% for the Banker’s hand and 1.24% on the Player’s hand … The difference between the payout and odds results in a very high house edge of 14.36% Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Mini-Baccarat, 1.1. Mini-Baccarat is a card game played with six (6) to eight (8) standard decks of 52 playing cards dealt from a shoe Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Mini-Baccarat, 7.3. Winning bets on the tie are paid 8 to 1. |
| EZ Baccarat banker: no commission, a three-card banker 7 pushesPays 1 to 1At B.C. tables this game is called Ruyi Baccarat.Played at 15 casinos we list | 1.02%worked out Source
EZ Baccarat banker: no commission, a three-card banker 7 pushes Worked out: the banker wins with a three-card 7 in 2.2534% of eight-deck hands, and that win pushes. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 7.0 Ruyi Baccarat, 1.1-1.3, 3.2.1. No commission is taken on winning Banker bets; … which pays 40 to 1 when the three card winning total of 7 occurs in the Banker hand … which pays 25 to 1 when the three card winning total of 8 occurs in the Player hand … A bet on the Banker hand is a push; Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Mini-Baccarat, 1.1. Mini-Baccarat is a card game played with six (6) to eight (8) standard decks of 52 playing cards dealt from a shoe |
| Dragon 7: the banker wins with a three-card 7 (at B.C. tables, Gold 7)Pays 40 to 1Played at 15 casinos we list | 7.61%worked out Source
Dragon 7: the banker wins with a three-card 7 (at B.C. tables, Gold 7) Worked out: 2.2534% of eight-deck hands, paid 40 to 1. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 7.0 Ruyi Baccarat, 1.1-1.3, 3.2.1. No commission is taken on winning Banker bets; … which pays 40 to 1 when the three card winning total of 7 occurs in the Banker hand … which pays 25 to 1 when the three card winning total of 8 occurs in the Player hand … A bet on the Banker hand is a push; Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Mini-Baccarat, 1.1. Mini-Baccarat is a card game played with six (6) to eight (8) standard decks of 52 playing cards dealt from a shoe |
| Panda 8: the player wins with a three-card 8 (at B.C. tables, Jade 8)Pays 25 to 1Played at 15 casinos we list | 10.19%worked out Source
Panda 8: the player wins with a three-card 8 (at B.C. tables, Jade 8) Worked out: 3.4543% of eight-deck hands, paid 25 to 1. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 7.0 Ruyi Baccarat, 1.1-1.3, 3.2.1. No commission is taken on winning Banker bets; … which pays 40 to 1 when the three card winning total of 7 occurs in the Banker hand … which pays 25 to 1 when the three card winning total of 8 occurs in the Player hand … A bet on the Banker hand is a push; Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos, 1.0 Mini-Baccarat, 1.1. Mini-Baccarat is a card game played with six (6) to eight (8) standard decks of 52 playing cards dealt from a shoe |
Sic Bo
Pays on the totals, doubles and triples differ between casinos. These are the pays Loto-Québec publishes for its casinos, and Fallsview’s where it prints them; your table’s sign decides. Played at 18 casinos we list.
| Bet | House edge |
|---|---|
| Small (4 to 10) or big (11 to 17), not a triplePays 1 to 1 | 2.78%worked out Source
Small (4 to 10) or big (11 to 17), not a triple Worked out: 105 of the 216 rolls of three dice win, 1 to 1. Sic Bo Dynasty. A bet placed on Big (dice total between 11 and 17) or Small (dice total between 4 and 10) pays 1:1 |
| Total of 4 or 17Pays 50 to 1 | 29.17%worked out Source
Total of 4 or 17 Worked out: 3 of the 216 rolls of three dice win, 50 to 1. F. Sum (Somme). If the sum is 17, winning bets are paid 50 to 1 |
| Total of 5 or 16Pays 30 to 1 | 13.89%worked out Source
Total of 5 or 16 Worked out: 6 of the 216 rolls of three dice win, 30 to 1. F. Sum (Somme). If the sum is 16, winning bets are paid 30 to 1 |
| Total of 6 or 15Pays 18 to 1 | 12.04%worked out Source
Total of 6 or 15 Worked out: 10 of the 216 rolls of three dice win, 18 to 1. F. Sum (Somme). If the sum is 15, winning bets are paid 18 to 1 |
| Total of 7 or 14Pays 12 to 1 | 9.72%worked out Source
Total of 7 or 14 Worked out: 15 of the 216 rolls of three dice win, 12 to 1. F. Sum (Somme). If the sum is 14, winning bets are paid 12 to 1 |
| Total of 8 or 13Pays 8 to 1 | 12.50%worked out Source
Total of 8 or 13 Worked out: 21 of the 216 rolls of three dice win, 8 to 1. |
| Total of 9 or 12Pays 6 to 1 | 18.98%worked out Source
Total of 9 or 12 Worked out: 25 of the 216 rolls of three dice win, 6 to 1. |
| Total of 10 or 11Pays 6 to 1 | 12.50%worked out Source
Total of 10 or 11 Worked out: 27 of the 216 rolls of three dice win, 6 to 1. |
| A given double (for example two 4s)Pays 8 to 1 | 33.33%worked out Source
A given double (for example two 4s) Worked out: 16 of the 216 rolls of three dice win, 8 to 1. |
| A given triple (for example three 4s)Pays 150 to 1 | 30.09%worked out Source
A given triple (for example three 4s) Worked out: 1 of the 216 rolls of three dice win, 150 to 1. |
| Any triplePays 30 to 1 (Fallsview), 24 to 1 (Loto-Québec) | 13.89% to 30.56%worked out Source
Any triple Worked out: 6 of the 216 rolls of three dice are a triple: at 30 to 1 (Fallsview) 13.89%, at 24 to 1 (Loto-Québec) 30.56%. C. Any three of a kind (Tout triplé). Winning bets are paid 24 to 1 Sic Bo Dynasty. A bet placed on Any Triple pay 30:1 |
| Two given numbers (for example 2 and 5)Pays 5 to 1 | 16.67%worked out Source
Two given numbers (for example 2 and 5) Worked out: 30 of the 216 rolls of three dice win, 5 to 1. |
| One number, paid by how many dice show itPays 1 to 1 for one, 2 to 1 for two, 3 to 1 for three | 7.87%worked out Source
One number, paid by how many dice show it Worked out: of the 216 rolls, 75 show the number once, 15 twice, 1 three times, 125 not at all. H. One of a kind (Simple). If the number appears on one of the three dice, winning bets are paid 1 to 1. H. One of a kind (Simple). If the number appears on two of the three dice, winning bets are paid 2 to 1. H. One of a kind (Simple). If the number appears on all three dice, winning bets are paid 3 to 1. |
Pai Gow Poker
Against the dealer, playing the house way. Played at 16 casinos we list.
| Bet | House edge |
|---|---|
| Against the dealer, house way, 5% commission | 2.80%worked out Source
Against the dealer, house way, 5% commission Worked out: our simulation of 10,000,000 hands, both hands set by the BCLC house way, the dealer as banker and 5% off every win; the figure is good to about 0.05 of a percentage point either way. |
Poker games against the house
These edges assume every decision is made the way that loses least; a guess costs more. Measured against the first bet, the Ante; element of risk divides the same loss by everything bet in the hand. Played at 80 casinos we list.
| Bet | House edge | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Card Poker: Ante and Play, ante bonus 5-4-1Measured against the Ante; the Play bet is not counted.Played at 33 casinos we list | 3.37%worked out Source
Three Card Poker: Ante and Play, ante bonus 5-4-1 Worked out: every hand of three cards against every dealer hand from the rest of the deck, playing each hand the way that costs least: an Ante bonus of 5 to 1 on a straight flush, 4 to 1 on three of a kind and 1 to 1 on a straight, and the dealer qualifying with a queen or better. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “ANTE BONUS PAY TABLE”, 6.0 Three Card Poker with Six Card Bonus Side Bet, 5.8:
Rules published by Loto-Québec for its casinos. Regardless of how the dealer's hand ranks, if the player raised and his hand is a straight flush, a three of a kind or a straight, his initial bet is also paid according to the following payout table: Table “INITIAL BET PAYOUT TABLE”, Bonus prize:
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| Ultimate Texas Hold’em: Ante and BlindMeasured against the Ante alone, although the Blind is bet too.Played at 65 casinos we list | 2.185%worked out Source
Ultimate Texas Hold’em: Ante and Blind Worked out: every pair of starting cards, every board and every dealer hand, with each decision made the way that costs least, and the BCLC Blind pay table. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “BLIND PAYOUT SCHEDULE”, 11.0 Ultimate Texas Hold'em, 5.6:
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| Let It Ride, the pay table BCLC publishesMeasured against one of the three bets.Played at 6 casinos we list | 3.51%worked out Source
Let It Ride, the pay table BCLC publishes Worked out: every hand of three cards and two community cards, each of the first two bets taken back whenever that costs less. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “5.3 Bets shall be paid according to each hand:”, 1.0 Let It Ride, 5.3:
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Side bets
Side bets are where pay tables differ most. Each figure is worked out from the pay table named beside it; the check for your own table is below.
| Bet | House edge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pairplus (Three Card Poker)Pays on a pair or better in your three cardsPlayed at 33 casinos we list | 7.28%worked out Source
Pairplus (Three Card Poker) Worked out: 22,100 three-card hands: straight flush 48, three of a kind 52, straight 720, flush 1,096, pair 3,744; pays 40-30-6-3-1. HAND PAYOUT Straight flush 40 to 1 Three of a kind 30 to 1 Straight 6 to 1 Flush 3 to 1 Pair 1 to 1 Source
Pairplus (Three Card Poker) (B.C.) Worked out: 22,100 three-card hands: straight flush 48, three of a kind 52, straight 720, flush 1,096, pair 3,744; pays 40-30-5-4-1. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Table “PAIR PLUS PAY TABLE”, 6.0 Three Card Poker with Six Card Bonus Side Bet, 5.9:
Source
Pairplus (Three Card Poker) (Québec) Worked out: 22,100 three-card hands: straight flush 48, three of a kind 52, straight 720, flush 1,096, pair 3,744; pays 40-30-6-4-1. Rules published by Loto-Québec for its casinos. Table “PAIR PLUS SIDE BET PAYOUT TABLE”, Pair Plus bet:
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| 6 Card Bonus (Three Card Poker)Pays the highest five-card hand from your three cards and the dealer’s three | 15.28%worked out Source
6 Card Bonus (Three Card Poker) Worked out: the highest five-card hand from the player’s and the dealer’s six cards, over all 20,358,520 six-card deals: royal flush 188, straight flush 1,656, four of a kind 14,664, full house 165,984, flush 205,792, straight 361,620, three of a kind 732,160. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. Combined maximum total Ante Bonus, Pair Plus and 6 Card Bonus payouts to all Players during any one round of play shall be an aggregate amount of $50,000.00. Table “SIX (6) CARD BONUS PAY TABLE”, 6.0 Three Card Poker with Six Card Bonus Side Bet, 5.10-5.11:
6 Card Bonus. Royal Flush 1000 to 1 Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Poker — Three Card Poker · read 6 Card Bonus. Straight Flush 200 to 1 Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Poker — Three Card Poker · read 6 Card Bonus. Four of a Kind 50 to 1 Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Poker — Three Card Poker · read 6 Card Bonus. Full House 25 to 1 Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Poker — Three Card Poker · read 6 Card Bonus. Flush 15 to 1 Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Poker — Three Card Poker · read 6 Card Bonus. Straight 10 to 1 Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Poker — Three Card Poker · read 6 Card Bonus. Three of a Kind 5 to 1 Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Poker — Three Card Poker · read | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trips (Ultimate Texas Hold’em)Pays three of a kind or better in your final handPlayed at 65 casinos we list | 1.90% to 6.18%worked out Source
Trips (Ultimate Texas Hold’em) Worked out: the highest five-card hand from the player’s two cards and the five on the board, over all 133,784,560 seven-card deals: royal flush 4,324, straight flush 37,260, four of a kind 224,848, full house 3,473,184, flush 4,047,644, straight 6,180,020, three of a kind 6,461,620. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. The combined maximum total Blind and Trips Bonus payout to all Players during any one round of play shall be an aggregate amount of $50,000.00. Table “TRIPS BONUS PAYTABLE”, 11.0 Ultimate Texas Hold'em, 5.7-5.8:
Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. ROYAL FLUSH 50 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. STRAIGHT FLUSH 40 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. FOUR OF A KIND 20 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. FULL HOUSE 7 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. FLUSH 6 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. STRAIGHT 5 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. THREE OF A KIND 3 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Source
Trips (Ultimate Texas Hold’em) (B.C.) Worked out: the highest five-card hand from the player’s two cards and the five on the board, over all 133,784,560 seven-card deals: royal flush 4,324, straight flush 37,260, four of a kind 224,848, full house 3,473,184, flush 4,047,644, straight 6,180,020, three of a kind 6,461,620. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. The combined maximum total Blind and Trips Bonus payout to all Players during any one round of play shall be an aggregate amount of $50,000.00. Table “TRIPS BONUS PAYTABLE”, 11.0 Ultimate Texas Hold'em, 5.7-5.8:
Source
Trips (Ultimate Texas Hold’em) (Québec) Worked out: the highest five-card hand from the player’s two cards and the five on the board, over all 133,784,560 seven-card deals: royal flush 4,324, straight flush 37,260, four of a kind 224,848, full house 3,473,184, flush 4,047,644, straight 6,180,020, three of a kind 6,461,620. Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. ROYAL FLUSH 50 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. STRAIGHT FLUSH 40 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. FOUR OF A KIND 20 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. FULL HOUSE 7 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. FLUSH 6 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. STRAIGHT 5 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read Three of a Kind or More side bet payout table. THREE OF A KIND 3 to 1 Loto-Québec · Game rules: Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker · read | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Perfect Pairs (blackjack), 25-12-6Pays perfect pair 25 to 1, coloured pair 12 to 1, mixed pair 6 to 1The pay table Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara publish in “Playing Blackjack”; the document does not say how many decks.Played at 6 casinos we list | 6.11%worked out Source
Perfect Pairs (blackjack), 25-12-6 Worked out: the player’s first two cards: with six decks 780 perfect pairs, 936 coloured and 1,872 mixed of 48,516 two-card starts; with eight decks 1,456, 1,664 and 3,328 of 86,320. Rules Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara publish for their tables. MIXED PAIR Pays 6 to 1 A pair with 1 red card and 1 black card. COLOURED PAIR Pays 12 to 1 A pair of the same colour but different suits. PERFECT PAIR Pays 25 to 1 An identical pair. Pay table, Blackjack side bets: Perfect Pairs:
Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara · Playing Blackjack · read | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fire Bet (craps): 4, 5 or 6 different points before the seven-outPays 24, 249 and 999 to 1 (at B.C. tables written 25, 250 and 1,000 for 1) | 20.76%worked out Source
Fire Bet (craps): 4, 5 or 6 different points before the seven-out Worked out: the chance of making 4, 5 or 6 different points before the shooter sevens out: 0.880%, 0.1640%, 0.01624%, worked out exactly over which points are already made. Rules published by BCLC for B.C. casinos. The side bet shall be paid according to the number of individual points the Shooter successfully makes before rolling a `Seven Out'' … A `Fire Bet' wager may be a minimum of $1, up to a maximum of $5. Table “FIRE BET WAGER”, 2.0 Fire Bet, 5.2-5.4, 3.3:
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Slot machines
A slot machine’s edge is set by its program, and no casino publishes it per machine. What is published: the average return in B.C. and the lowest return Ontario allows.
| Bet | House edge |
|---|---|
| Returns 92% (average at B.C. casinos) | 8%worked out Source
Returns 92% (average at B.C. casinos) Worked out: 100% − 92% returned. The average return to player at B.C. casinos is 92 percent. |
| Returns 85% (lowest allowed in Ontario)A floor set by law, not an average: machines return this or more. | 15%worked out Source
Returns 85% (lowest allowed in Ontario) Worked out: 100% − 85% returned. 11.9.1 The minimum theoretical payout percentage of a Game is eighty-five (85.000) percent. |
Your table’s pay table
Side-bet pay tables differ from table to table, and the house edge changes with every line. Type the pays printed on the felt or the sign at your table. Where the pays alone decide the odds, the house edge is worked out exactly; where it also depends on how you play (Let It Ride, the Blind), we only recognise the pay table BCLC publishes, which our own engine has worked out.
Decisions per hour
How many rounds an hour you play decides what an hour costs. None of the Canadian documents we read publishes how many rounds a table deals in an hour, so table games use an example pace, not a measured one; craps uses the pace casino rating systems are set to; slot machines, as fast as the machine allows. Your table may be faster or slower.
| Game | Pace | Source |
|---|---|---|
| BlackjackAn example pace | 70 hands | |
| BaccaratAn example pace | 72 hands | |
| CrapsPace casino rating systems are set toAbout 60 rolls an hour, the pace player-rating systems are set to; a line bet is settled once in about 3.4 rolls, so that is about 18 pass-line decisions. | 18 decisions | Source
Pace: Craps Worked out: 60 rolls an hour ÷ 557/165 ≈ 3.376 rolls a decision ≈ 18 pass-line decisions an hour; 557/165 is the average number of rolls a line bet lasts, counted over every roll of two dice. Most systems have been pre-programed to reflect sixty (60) rolls per hour. … the pass/come wager (either “do” or “don’t) is subject to a win/loss decision, not every roll, but every 3.4 rolls. … The correct number of decisions in the player tracking computer for craps wagering should be closer to 15 to 18 decisions per hour. |
| Roulette, double zeroAn example pace | 38 spins | |
| Roulette, single zeroAn example pace | 35 spins | |
| Sic BoAn example pace | 45 rounds | |
| Pai Gow PokerAn example pace | 34 hands | |
| Poker games against the houseAn example pace | 50 hands | |
| Slot machinesAs fast as the machine allowsTimed on reel slots at an Ontario casino: about one spin every 6 seconds. Video slots in the same study allowed one about every 3 seconds, 1,200 an hour. This is the machine’s limit, not how fast people usually play. | 600 spins | Source
Pace: Slot machines We analyzed the PAR Sheets and played the four games for approximately 60 hr at an Ontario casino, Grand River Raceway, which has 200 slot machines. … We estimated the speed of play by using the second hand on a watch. … traditional mechanical reel slot machine games, the player can play approximately every 6 s, which is approximately 10 spins per minute, or 600 spins per hour. On the two video slots games, the player can play approximately every 3 s, which is 1,200 spins per hour. |
How it’s worked out
House edge is the average loss as a share of the bet. Over many rounds, what you lose tends towards it; over one evening, luck swings far wider in both directions.
Worked out means our own exact count: every roll of the dice, every card of the shoe, every poker hand. Pays come from the published table named beside the figure. Where a Canadian publisher prints the same figure, it is quoted next to ours, and the page is only built when the two agree to the last digit the publisher prints.
Games where the play matters — blackjack, poker games against the house, pai gow — are worked out by our own engines with every decision made the way that costs least: blackjack under the rules each document states, the poker games under BCLC’s pay tables. Pai gow is the one figure from a simulation, of ten million hands, and it says how close it is.
Pay tables of B.C. and Québec are taken from the rules BCLC and Loto-Québec publish for their casinos. They describe the games the operator runs, not a given casino’s table; a table may post a different sign, and the sign at your table decides.
SD is the standard deviation of one bet, in bets: how far one round usually lands from the average. Element of risk divides the average loss by everything bet in the hand, raises included.
What these figures leave out. Every win is assumed paid in full. BCLC caps what all players at a Three Card Poker or Ultimate Texas Hold’em table are paid in one round at $50,000 together; a single player reaches it only with a bet above $50 on a 1,000 to 1 hand. Progressive jackpots are not counted. Card counting is not considered.
If it stops being fun
If gambling stops being entertainment, help is available. 19+ in most of Canada; 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. More on responsible gaming.
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