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The House Always has an Advantage
You know the concept of the house advantage. Whether you want to admit it to yourself or not, casino games are always designed so that the odds favor the institution. Think of it this way: if this were not the case, no casino would be able to stay afloat financially (this includes online casinos) and you would no longer have a place to play your favorites game - online or otherwise. The house advantage is, therefore, essentially what the house expects to win in terms of a percentage of each player's wager. House advantage is also often known as either house odds, house edge, cut take or P.C.
Casino House Advantage in Blackjack
The casino's house advantage in Blackjack usually runs from 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent. In other words, for every $100 that the player bets, he or she can expect to lose - on average - between $.50 and $1.50 over time. However, there is some degree of debate on this, as every source quotes slightly different percentages. That is, one source might claim that the house advantage for Blackjack is as mentioned, while another source will claim that the house advantage can run as high as 5% - which is $5.00 for every $100.00 that the player bets. These are, of course, only average figures; the house advantage will vary somewhat from institution to institution, online and otherwise. If one runs a quick search for the house advantages in other casino games, it turns out that Blackjack has one of the lower percentages of the group.
Make your Blackjack Move
That stated, it must be mentioned that the player is not entirely defenseless when it comes to determining the general amount that the casino will win from the player's bets over time. In some games like slots, in which the player has little control over the results of each round, the house advantage remains fairly steady. In Blackjack, however, the player has the ability to analyze the cards that he or she holds and to make a responsible decision as to what the next move should be. The goal is clear - to achieve 21 or closer to 21 than your opponent without going over the limit. In other words, you as the player have a measure of control over your own actions and your own bets. In the long run, you may therefore be able to cut down slightly on that house edge. However, know that the house will come out on top in the end, even if slightly. Sometimes, however, casinos in Las Vegas will amend the rules to work the house edge better into their games. The dealer may hit on a soft 17 and there is no surrender allowed.
Don't let this discourage you from playing Blackjack, however. Though the warnings that the casino will come out on top in the end may sound ominous, the player is the one ultimately in charge of his or her own actions and of his or her own bets. As long as you, as the player, stay within your pre-set financial limits, Blackjack ought be nothing less than an enjoyable pastime.
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