Blackjack Expected Value and House Edge Calculator
Calculate the house edge and expected value of blackjack under different rule sets.
See how rule variations affect your long-run expected loss per hour.
The House Edge in Blackjack Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of any casino game when played with basic strategy — typically 0.5% or less under favorable rules. This means for every $100 wagered, you expect to lose about $0.50 on average. Compare this to roulette (2.7-5.26%) or slots (2-15%).
Rule Variations That Affect House Edge Blackjack pays 3:2 (standard): 0% penalty. Blackjack pays 6:5: adds ~1.39% to house edge. Number of decks: Single deck ~0.17% better than 6-deck. Dealer hits soft 17 (H17): adds ~0.22%. Double after split allowed: reduces by ~0.14%. Resplitting aces: reduces by ~0.08%.
Basic Strategy Playing perfect basic strategy (mathematically optimal decisions for every hand) is essential to achieve the theoretical house edge. Playing by feel or hunches can add 1-4% to the effective house edge.
Expected Loss Per Hour Expected loss = Bets per hour x Average bet x House edge. At 60 hands/hour, $25/hand, 0.5% edge: $7.50/hour expected loss. This is the cost of entertainment.