Blackjack House Edge by Rules
How much the casino wins on average, and how much each rule changes it.
The house edge is the share of each bet you lose on average in the long run. In blackjack it is one of the lowest in any casino game, but only if you play basic strategy and the table rules are good. Bad rules or mistakes can multiply it.
House edge by table rules
These figures are the average loss per £100 you bet, with perfect basic strategy. They are calculated exactly for an infinite deck, a dealer who checks for blackjack, and resplitting allowed, not simulated. Real games with four to eight decks come out a little lower than these numbers, but the order and the size of the differences are the same.
| Rules | House edge | Average loss per £100 bet |
|---|---|---|
| Typical good rules (dealer stands on soft 17, double after split, blackjack pays 3 to 2, no surrender) | 0.51% | £0.51 |
| …with late surrender allowed | 0.42% | £0.42 |
| …dealer hits on soft 17 | 0.73% | £0.73 |
| …no doubling after a split | 0.65% | £0.65 |
| …dealer hits soft 17 and no double after split | 0.87% | £0.87 |
| …blackjack pays 6 to 5 instead of 3 to 2 | 1.86% | £1.86 |
| …6 to 5 and dealer hits soft 17 | 2.08% | £2.08 |
| …blackjack pays only even money | 2.76% | £2.76 |
The biggest single change is the blackjack payout. Paying 6 to 5 instead of 3 to 2 raises the house edge by about 1.35 percentage points, which is more than all the other rule changes in the table put together.
What the house edge does and does not mean
- It is an average over a very long run. In a single session you can win or lose far more than the percentage suggests.
- It applies to your total money bet, not to your starting balance. A player who bets £10 on 100 hands has bet £1,000.
- It cannot be beaten by betting patterns. Raising or lowering your bet after a win or loss does not change the percentage.
What makes it worse
- Not using basic strategy. Every wrong play adds to the edge. The strategy chart and the strategy trainer help here.
- Taking insurance. It is a separate bet with an edge of about 7.7%. See why you should never take insurance.
- Worse rules. Check the payout, whether the dealer hits soft 17 and whether you can double after a split before you sit down. See dealer hits or stands on soft 17.
More blackjack strategy guides
Want the move for a particular hand? Use the blackjack calculator.
Check any hand in the calculator
Choose the dealer's card and your cards to see the best move for your table rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is the house edge in blackjack?
With perfect basic strategy and good rules (dealer stands on soft 17, double after split, blackjack pays 3 to 2) it is about 0.51%, which means a loss of about £0.51 for every £100 you bet.
Does the dealer hitting on soft 17 change the house edge?
Yes. It raises it by about 0.22 percentage points, from 0.51% to 0.73%.
How much worse is 6 to 5 blackjack?
A lot. With 6 to 5 payouts the house edge is about 1.86%, against 0.51% for 3 to 2. It is the single most expensive rule change.
Can I beat the house edge with betting systems?
No. Changing the size of your bets after wins or losses does not change the percentage you lose on average. Only the table rules and your playing decisions do.
Are these numbers exact for real casinos?
They are exact for the stated model: an infinite deck, a dealer who checks for blackjack, and resplitting allowed. Real tables with four to eight decks are a little different, but the effect of each rule is similar.