Edge in blackjack can be quantified in a variety of ways, but the most common is to divide the house advantage – the percentage of money that the casino stands to gain from bettors – by the amount of money wagered. A theoretical house edge of 0.
5 percent is thus maintained when players wager $10 per hand. In practice, this edge gradually diminishes as players increase their wagers.
Casinos generally maintain edge percentages in the neighborhood of 0.5 percent, with some sporting smaller advantages and others larger ones. (The largest casino advantage reported as of 2004 was 2.
2 percent.) This means that for every $100 wagered, the casino will earn $102 in revenues – or $10 per hand.
Despite the house edge, blackjack remains one of the most popular casino games because it is easy to learn and play. The theoretical odds of winning any given hand are 2:1, but due to the house edge, actual winnings are typically much lower.
Nevertheless, for those who enjoy playing blackjack and are willing to put up with a small loss per hand, casinos offer generous comps (free chips and other rewards) that can make the game very profitable indeed.
