How casinos actually make money

Time saverEvery game has a built-in house edge. The casino earns a small percentage of every bet, and volume makes that percentage reliable. Bonuses, comps and design all push you to play more rounds.

The house edge

Each game pays slightly less than true odds. On a single-zero roulette wheel a winning number pays 35 to 1 but the true odds are 36 to 1, so the casino keeps 2.70% of money bet on average.

Over thousands of players and millions of bets the average becomes extremely stable. Your short session can swing either way. The casino's year cannot.

Volume matters more than the percentage

Expected loss is bet size x number of bets x house edge. A fast game with a modest edge, such as slots at 600 spins an hour, costs more per hour than a slower game with a higher edge.

That is why the Games section shows an hourly cost for each game, not only the edge.

Other revenue

Rake in poker, margins in sports betting, commissions on baccarat banker bets and sub-optimal payouts such as blackjack 6:5 all work the same way. Hotels, food and shows add revenue on land-based floors.

Educational content, not financial or legal advice. Gambling involves risk. 18+.

BeginnerBasics3 min