House edge is the built-in statistical advantage a casino holds over players, shown as a percentage of each wager. It ensures operators—licensed provincially by bodies such as the AGCO in Ontario—stay profitable while delivering entertainment. In plain terms, house edge indicates the average slice of each bet the casino expects to keep over time.
Core Definition of House Edge in Gambling
Think of house edge as a long-run expectation, not a promise for a single session. A game with a 5% house edge doesn’t guarantee you lose $5 CAD on every $100 CAD bet in one go. Rather, over thousands of spins or hands, the casino anticipates holding roughly 5% of total wagers as profit.
House edge differs from odds, which show the likelihood of an outcome. Odds tell you how probable a win is; house edge reveals how the house sets the math to tilt in its favour, device-independent and constant whether you’re playing video poker or slots on your phone.
Relevance of House Edge in Mobile Settings
- Shorter sessions: A quick spin between checking hockey scores means it’s hard to spot the small, steady drain of house edge.
- On-the-go plays: Mobile gaming’s grab-and-go nature drives more, smaller bets.
- Always-on access: With your phone in hand, total exposure to the house edge can add up faster.