Casino House Edge and Expected Loss

Casino house edge is a theoretical advantage measured against turnover under stated rules. Expected loss combines that edge with the sum of stakes. It cannot predict one person’s next result.

The calculation

Expected loss = stake per round × number of rounds × house edge. Enter edge as a percentage in the tool. A 2% edge means multiply turnover by 0.02. The units stay the same as your stake: credits entered produce a credits result.

For 120 rounds at two credits each, turnover is 240 credits. At a 3% edge, expected loss is 7.2 credits. That does not mean the final balance will be exactly 7.2 credits lower. Individual outcomes vary. The calculation also assumes the edge and stake remain unchanged throughout the specified rounds.

Turnover is different from a starting balance

A starting balance can be played repeatedly. Adding 50 credits and then making 200 one-credit bets creates 200 credits of turnover, not 50. This distinction is especially important when comparing a purchase amount, a bonus requirement and expected loss.

If stakes vary, add the stakes rather than multiplying one stake by the number of rounds. If the applicable game edge changes, calculate the components separately. A single blended number without the underlying assumptions can be misleading.

Inputs do not certify a game

The tool accepts your assumed edge. It does not verify a platform, detect fairness or retrieve a current paytable. A blank, negative or invalid input produces a validation message rather than a result. The tool handles nonnegative values; zero rounds or zero edge produces zero mathematical expected loss under that assumption.

Expected value is not a recommended budget. Use a personal spending limit and take breaks independently of a theoretical calculation. If a game has conditions not captured by the model, the result is incomplete.

Try the calculation

Sources and scope

Source check: October 11, 2026. Rules are jurisdiction-specific. Provider policies are attributed statements, not firsthand tests.

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