The house edge in blackjack can vary dramatically depending on various factors, all of which can affect the potential winnings awarded to players throughout a session. While many of these factors are out of the control of players, there are some things that can be done to boost your chances of success!
In this comprehensive guide, we look at what the house edge in blackjack is, how it works, and the key factors that influence it. You can also find a selection of tips for decreasing the house edge when playing blackjack online or at a physical, land-based casino!
What is the House Edge in Blackjack?
The house edge in blackjack refers to the casino’s built-in advantage over players. This mathematical edge ranges from 0.5% to 2% in most blackjack games. The casino advantage means that for every £100 you bet, the casino expects to keep between 50p and £2 over time.
The house edge exists in all casino games and serves as the casino’s profit margin. Players face this disadvantage regardless of skill level, except when card counting at land-based casinos, though smart play can reduce it.
How The House Edge Works
The house edge in blackjack comes from the dealer’s advantage of acting last. Players bust and lose their bets before the dealer plays their hand, giving casinos their profit margin over time. Player decisions can also significantly affect the house edge, as explained below!
The Role of Casino Rules
Casino rules shape the blackjack house edge directly. Each rule change can increase or decrease the casino’s advantage over players. For example, the number of decks used creates big differences – single-deck games can have just a house edge in the 0.10-0.20% region, while eight-deck games can jump to 0.66%.
Dealer choices matter too. A dealer who hits on soft 17 adds about 0.2% to the house edge compared to standing on soft 17. Other rules like early surrender options help players more than late surrender, as discussed further down this page.
Players gain an edge reduction of around 0.13% at tables that allow hitting on split aces, meaning that many experienced players will only sit down at tables that allow this.
The Impact of Player Decisions
While casino rules set the foundation, player choices directly affect the house edge in blackjack. Each decision to hit, stand, split, or double down shifts your odds of winning. Apart from card counting, the optimal decisions are known as ‘Basic Strategy’, represented by a chart that players can use while they’re at the table.
This chart tells each player the best mode for every possible hand, depending on what the dealer is showing, too. These charts can slash the house edge to just 0.5% – much lower than most casino games.
Key Rules Influencing the House Edge
As discussed already, most of the house edge comes from the rules used by the casino or online blackjack provider. Some of the biggest factors to look out for include:
- Number of decks used
- Soft 17 rule
- Payout rates
- Double down & split rules
- Early/Late surrender options
Number of Decks Used
The number of decks in blackjack directly affects the house edge. Single-deck games offer players the best odds with only a 0.17% house edge. This advantage grows as more decks enter play.
Double-deck games increase the edge to 0.46%, while four-deck games push it to 0.60%. Most casinos now use six or eight-deck shoes, which give the house edges of 0.64% and 0.66% respectively.
The Soft 17 Rule
The Soft 17 rule refers to how dealers play a hand totalling 17 with an Ace (counted as 11). Many casinos require dealers to hit on Soft 17 (H17), which adds about 0.2% to the house edge compared to games where dealers stand on Soft 17 (S17).
This seemingly small rule change significantly impacts your chances of winning at blackjack tables. Casino rules vary widely on this point, making it crucial to check before sitting down to play.
Blackjack Payout Rates
As many players would expect, finding a blackjack table that offers a better payout rate for a blackjack (An ace and a card valued at 10) will decrease the house edge. Three of the most common blackjack payout rates are:
| Payout Type | Example | Impact on House Edge |
| 3:2 Payout | £1 blackjack awards £2.50 | Standard house edge |
| 6:5 Payout | £1 blackjack awards £2.20 | Increases the house edge by 1.4% |
| 1:1 Payout | £1 blackjack awards £2 (No bonus for the blackjack) | Increases the house edge by 2.3% |
Double Down and Split Rules
While blackjack payout rates affect your winnings, double down and split rules directly impact your playing options. These casino rules can significantly change the blackjack house edge in blackjack games, with the following having the biggest impact:
- Doubling down after splitting pairs gives players more chances to win. Casinos that don’t allow this add about 0.12% to their house advantage.
- The Reno rule limits doubling down to hard totals of 9, 10, or 11 only. This restriction increases the house edge by roughly 0.1%.
- Some casinos don’t let players hit split aces. Tables that allow hitting split aces reduce the house edge by about 0.13%.
- Resplitting aces is a player-friendly rule. This option decreases the casino’s edge by around 0.03%.
Early and Late Surrender Options
Early surrender lets players forfeit half their bet before the dealer checks for blackjack, while late surrender allows players to do the same after the blackjack check has occurred. From a player perspective, the early surrender option is much more favourite. However, either option will reduce the house edge by at least 0.1%.
It’s easy for players to utilise both of these options if they are following basic strategy, with surrendering being shown as the phrase ‘SUR’ on most charts.
Blackjack House Edge Tips and Strategies
So, what can you do to reduce the house edge when playing blackjack online or at a land-based casino? Here are a few tips:
- Always carefully read the rules of a blackjack table before sitting down to play. One of the easiest ways to do this is by simply checking the RTP (Return to player) rate, which can be clearly displayed on all online blackjack variations. The higher the RTP, the lower the house edge.
- Stick to basic strategy. This allows you to make optimal decisions when at the blackjack table. You can also use a chart so that you don’t have to remember each decision in advance, with most physical casinos allowing these at the table, too.
- Avoiding side bets can also be a beneficial move as these typically come with a much higher house edge.
- Try to find a game that uses fewer decks as usually, fewer decks means a lower house edge. Of course, the other rules will still have a huge impact, so be sure to check these before committing.
- You can also use online casino bonuses or loyalty cards at physical casinos to your advantage.
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The house edge in blackjack refers to the percentage of all wagered funds that the casino expects to make over time. This typically sits at around 2%, however, it can be as low as 0.1% or even lower, depending on the rules and ability of the player.
Yes, there are plenty of strategies that players can use to lower the blackjack edge. These include basic strategy, carefully reviewing the table rules before betting, avoiding side bets, and using casino promotions to your advantage.
The house edge is calculated by subtracting the total winnings of players from their total bets, before dividing it by the result of all wagered funds. This figure is then multiplied by 100 and displayed as a percentage.
Yes, the house edge is a real advantage given to the casino, shown as a percentage. This house edge is how casinos make profit.
The best place to play blackjack online is right here at BetVictor. We have a huge range of games to choose from, alongside a variety of bonus offers for both new and existing customers!
