House edge & expected value
The number underneath every other number on this site. House edge sets what a session costs, what rakeback is worth, and how much of a bonus survives its wagering requirement.
Slots 92–97%. Blackjack with basic strategy ~99.5%. Crypto originals 99%.
Expected cost of the session
Expected value is what happens on average across thousands of sessions. A single session can land anywhere — that spread is variance, and it is why the number above never matches what you remember.
How the three numbers connect
House edge is simply 100% minus RTP. A 96% slot has a 4% edge: for every dollar wagered the operator expects to keep four cents, and a session of 2,000 one-dollar spins has an expected cost of $80 no matter how the individual spins fall.
Rakeback is a percentage of that four cents, not of the dollar. At 5% rakeback you get back 0.2 cents per dollar, taking the effective RTP from 96% to 96.2%. Useful, real, and nothing like the "5% back" the headline suggests.
Which is why game choice beats casino choice. Moving from a 96% slot to a 99% original cuts your expected cost by 75% — more than any rakeback rate on this site could give back. Compare rakeback rates →
How to use the house edge & ev
- Enter the game's RTP — it is printed in the game's info panel at every casino here.
- Add your bet size, the number of bets in a session and your rakeback rate.
- The cost per hour line is the most honest price tag a casino game has.
Rakeback rates to test
| # | Casino | Promo code | Bonus | Rakeback | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Shuffleshuffle.com | SHFLVIP | 200% up to $1,000 | 5% of edge | Claim |
| 2 |  Stakestake.com | GETRAKEBACK | Rakeback offer | 3.5% of edge | Claim |
| 3 |  Rainbetrainbet.com | BOOST20 | Up to $2,100 + 60 spins | +20% boost (72h) | Claim |
| 4 |  Roobetroobet.com | roospins | 100% up to $1,000 | Undisclosed % | Claim |
| 5 |  Gamdomgamdom.com | 15BOOST | 15% rakeback + 100% match | Up to 15% (intro) | Claim |
| 6 |  BC.Gamebc.game | qs57bd7r | Welcome package | 5–15% of edge | Claim |
| 7 |  Coins.Gamecoins.game | MAXBONUS | Up to 100 free spins | 10–30% by level | Claim |
| 8 |  Duelduel.com | MAXRB | Rakeback on every wager | 50% of edge | Claim |
| 9 |  Thrillthrill.com | maxrakeback | Up to 70% rakeback | Up to 70% of edge | Claim |