I’ve been brushing up on my blackjack skills recently, and something keeps coming up—what is the normal house edge in blackjack? I know blackjack’s meant to be one of the fairest games, but I can’t quite wrap my head around how the house edge works and what a “normal” number should be.
Could someone shed some light? And if you’ve got tips to lower it, do share! Cheers!
House edge in blackjack is usually around 0.5% if you play perfect basic strategy. Play badly? It skyrockets.
seen a guy double on 12 against a dealer 6 dealer made 18 lad stared at the table like it betrayed him
@buddyTed classic. Some people play blackjack like they’re ordering mystery sushi- “Let’s see what happens!”
Then they act shocked when it’s bad.
@lilymojo I once watched someone hit on 18 because they “felt lucky”. Dealer made 20. Guy looked shocked. Like, come on.
@malekinnn Yeah, people complain about blackjack being unfair, but the real scam is how many players beat themselves before the house even tries.
To be fair, blackjack is one of the few casino games where skill actually matters. The house edge stays low if you play correctly.
Unlike, say, slots, where you’re just at the mercy of RNG. That’s why casinos push side bets so hard - house edge jumps to 5-10% on those. You think they want you sticking to a smart strategy? Nope. They want you chasing a “lucky hunch” and throwing money at insurance, perfect pairs, and 21+3.
Casinos don’t need to cheat in blackjack. They just wait for people to make dumb plays, then scoop up their chips 
If you stick to basic strategy, blackjack is as “fair” as a casino game gets. But the second you start chasing gut feelings? Congratulations, you just became the house edge.
@Hector99 online blackjack is fair but only if rules are good and payouts proper. some sites sneak in bad stuff, you ve got to watch for that
@buddyTed Exactly. Online blackjack can be fair, but people don’t check the rules, and that’s how casinos get them. A fair game has 3:2 payouts, allows doubling after splits, and dealer stands on soft 17. But a lot of online sites tweak the rules just enough to tilt things way further in their favor.
The worst offenders? Continuous shuffling machines (CSMs). If a game is using one, you have zero way to track cards, even casually. Also, some platforms reshuffle way too soon, even in “live dealer” games. If you see the shoe being shuffled at 50% penetration or less, that’s a dead giveaway that the casino wants to eliminate any chance of counting.
If you’re playing online, always check the fine print. If a blackjack table has weird side bets or gimmicks like “Triple 7s Jackpot,” it’s just another excuse to drain your bankroll faster. Stick to the clean, fair versions of the game.
@malekinnn Yep, most players have no clue how bad some blackjack rules actually are. They sit down, see “blackjack pays 6:5,” and don’t realize that rule alone makes them lose way more money over time. And let’s talk about those fake “low house edge” blackjack variations casinos push — stuff like “Free Bet Blackjack” or “Super Fun 21.” Sounds exciting, right? 
Yeah, no. Those games mess with the standard payouts an rules in sneaky ways
The thing is, casinos know most players won’t notice a slight increase in house edge. They just look at the flashy graphics, some big jackpot promise, and assume it’s all the same game. thats how they trap people. Honestly, I tell everyone the same thing: if the blackjack table has weird rules or flashy side bets, just walk away.
@lilymojo Yeah, the best way to lower the house edge is just playing at a good table. Sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many people ignore this.
Then there’s the issue of how people play. Basic strategy already drops the house edge to around 0.5%, but the moment you start making emotional decisions—hitting when you shouldn’t, standing when you should hit — that edge goes way up
Biggest tip? Always check the table rules before you sit down, and never take side bets. They might look fun, but the house edge on those can hit 10 percent or higher.
@Hector99 saw this happen all the time in live casinos - lads sittin down playin no clue whats good or bad rules, just see blackjack and throw chips at it dealer says 6:5 and they nod like it’s normal
worst thing is some of them win a few hands and think they cracked the code and then bet big and lose it all. table just watches in silence
@buddyTed That’s the problem -people mistake short-term luck for long-term skill. Sure, anyone can win a few hands in a row, but that doesn’t mean they know what they’re doin. I’ve seen people hit big on a terrible play and then start thinkin they have some special system.
Then they get confident, start making bigger bets, and BOOM - gone. The casino doesn’t care how much you win in the short run. They know they’ll get it all back if you keep playing badly. The house edge isn’t some evil magic -it’s just math playing out over time.
If people actually stuck to basic strategy, the house edge wouldn’t be enough to drain them quickly. But most players don’t. They take insurance (why?!), they chase losses, they ignore math. Thats why blackjack is profitable for casinos, even when it should be one of the fairest games.
@malekinnn exactly! It’s wild how some players act like blackjack is rigged when they’re literally handing the house their money with bad plays. I had a guy at my table once who refused to hit on 16 against a dealers 10 because,
and I quote,
“I don’t trust the math.”
…
Bruh.
You know what happened? Dealer had a 10 in the hole. He lost.
@lilymojo one of the biggest myths I see is that blackjack is “random”. No, it’s not. The order of cards is random, but the strategy is not. Every decision has an optimal move based on probability. If you ignore it, you’re making it easier for the casino to win.
That’s why casinos don’t need to cheat in blackjack. The house edge is small, but most players increase it for them. If you just stick to smart plays, it’s one of the best games you can play
@Hector99 blackjack only as fair as the player lets it be
@buddyTed That’s the thing -casinos love bad players. They don’t want everyone playing correct strategy because then theyd barely make any money. Blackjack would be way less profitable if people actually followed the math.
Ever noticed how casinos heavily promote side bets and gimmick versions of blackjack? That’s not an accident. They want players distracted. They want you to think blackjack is all about luck, not skill. They want you making bad calls, because the moment you do, the house edge jumps.
And if you win big? They make sure you feel like a high roller - free drinks, nice chat from the dealer, n so on. Why? Because they know if you stay long enough, you’ll give it back. That’s how they play the long game. And most people never see it coming.
@malekinnn this is why I laugh when people think casinos fear card counters 
Nah, they fear smart players, period. Even if you’re not counting, just playin solid basic strategy makes you less profitable for them.
Like, look at how fast they shut down people who play too well. You’re sitting there, never making side bets, flat betting, making all the right moves, and suddenly the pit boss notices you. but some guy at the next table is doubling down on everything and they just let him be. That’s not a coincidence.
@lilymojo true. At the end of the day, blackjack is beatable if you play smart. But most people won’t. They’ll chase losses, play hunches, ignore the math, and then wonder why they’re losing. That’s why blackjack remains one of the best and most profitable casino games.
Bottom line? Learn strategy, avoid bad tables, and don’t fall for gimmicks. Otherwise, the house edge will find you