Casino Games with Constant vs Fluctuating House Edge (RTP)
House Edge or RTP is the most important parameter of any casino game, and the majority of online casino players are very aware of it as they should. However, have you known that the same casino game can have different House Edge (RTP) levels depending on the kinds of bets players make? Actually, they are not just slightly different, they may vary significantly.
Therefore, I think it is super beneficial for online casino players to learn about:
Constant vs Fluctuating House Edge (RTP) along with the reasons why they exist
Lists of casino games with Fluctuating and Constant House Edge (RTP)
If you are not comfortable enough with what House Edge and RTP are (including their difference), I have an article in regard to this matter.
What’s Constant and Fluctuating House Edge (RTP)
Constant House Edge (RTP). If House Edge (RTP) in a particular casino game remains the same no matter what settings of the game a player has adjusted, then such casino game is considered to have Constant House Edge (RTP).
For example, in Roulette you have different betting options which have different levels of risk involved, and, as a result, different payouts rates. A player can bet on Black/Red (pays 1:1) and on Straight Up (pays 35:1), but both bets have the same House Edge (RTP) of 2.7% (97.3%).
Fluctuating House Edge (RTP). If House Edge (RTP) in particular casino games varies depending on the player's behaviour (for example, different bet types), then such casino game is deemed to have Fluctuating House Edge (RTP).
For example, in Baccarat you have basically two betting options which have different levels of risk involved, and, as a result, different payouts rates, exactly the same as in Roulette in that sense. A player can bet on Banco/Punto (pays 1:1) and on Tie (pays 8:1). However, unlike Roulette, those bets in Baccarat not only vary in terms of payouts, but House Edge (RTP) as well. Bet on Banco has House Edge of 1.06% and RTP of 98.94%, but bet on Tie has House Edge of 14.4% and RTP of 85.6%. I guess, it is needless to emphasize how huge the difference is and how heavily it impacts the gaming experience.
What purposes does Fluctuating House Edge (RTP) serve
I have analyzed the most popular casino games in terms of which House Edge (RTP) they have: Constant or Fluctuating, and I have discovered a very interesting pattern that is consistent among all of them.
Casino games with Fluctuating House Edge (RTP) always charge casino players more for more risky bets. By charging I mean that these casino games have higher House Edge for more risky bets which makes those bets better for “the house” and much worse for casino players.
For example, in Craps House Edge fluctuates from very lucrative (for casino players) 1.36% to blatant 16.67%. The least risky bets (for example, on Pass/Come) pay not very exciting 1 to 1 but have the lowest House Edge of 1.36% (which is, by the way, one of the best you can find in casinos). However, if a player decides to take the riskiest bets (for example, on Any Seven) in an attempt to win more thrilling 30 to 1, then House Edge becomes absolutely terrible (for casino players) 16,67%.
No doubt that casino games are deliberately designed in such a manner in order to exploit players’ desire to hit a decent winning. In other words, Fluctuating House Edge (RTP) is here to abuse casino players as I cannot pick other words to describe it.
Also, guess what gambling activity has the most terrible House Edge (RTP). Correct, those are government lotteries where House Edge can reach even 50%. Lotteries have the biggest prizes with a huge gap and the highest House Edge, which perfectly confirms the pattern I was talking about earlier.
Why government lotteries are the biggest scam?
List of casino games with Constant and Fluctuating House Edge (RTP)
Let’s take a brief look at them and discuss both categories in details further.
Constant House Edge (RTP) casino games:
Online Slots (the majority of them)
Roulette (all types except for French Roulette)
Fluctuating House Edge (RTP) casino games:
Online Slots (very few of them). Mainly slots with some progressive jackpot features may have different RTP levels.
French Roulette. Outside box bets (Black/Red, Odd/Even, High/Low, Dozens, Columns) have House Edge of 1.35% (RTP 98.65%), but Inside box bets have House Edge of 2.7% (RTP 97.3%).
Baccarat. Bet on Banker (Banco): House Edge 1.06% RTP 98.94%, Bet on Player (Punto): House Edge 1.24% RTP 98.76%, Tie with 8:1 payout: House Edge 14.4% RTP 85.6%, Tie with 9:1 payout: House Edge 4.85% RTP 95.15%
Craps. From House Edge of 0% (bets on Pass Odds/Come Odds) to House Edge of 16.67% (bets on Any Seven).
Sic Bo. From House Edge of 2.78% (bets on Big/Small, Odd/Even) to House Edge of 29.2% (bets on Specific Double and Single).
Please notice that some casino games, for example, Blackjack, do not have constant House Edge (RTP), but I still refer to it as a Constant House Edge game. I think it is a reasonable methodology because in Blackjack, casino players can introduce some strategy that affects House Edge (RTP) of the game, for sure. But these strategies have rather a little impact on House Edge, and all bets are initially (when the game starts) equal in terms of House Edge.
I make a distinction between Constant and Fluctuating House Edge (RTP) to only highlight casino games where there is a significant difference between different kinds of bets in terms of RTP (House Edge) so that you can avoid bets with disastrous House Edge.
Conclusion
Summing up, everybody knows how important House Edge (RTP) is, but fewer casino players are aware of the fact that some casino games trick them into less favorable wagers. So to speak, don’t get relaxed, whenever you see House Edge in a single number. Some casino games may disclose only the maximum possible RTP, hiding a less appealing part of the story.
Given all that was said, it is crucial for online casino players to establish whether a casino game has Constant or Fluctuating House Edge (RTP). And if it has Fluctuating House Edge (RTP), then it is a smart thing to find out what bets you’d better stay away from.
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