Dynamic House Edge in Crash Gambling: Does it Exist?
The topic of dynamic house edge has been the subject of some heated debates on Reddit, and naturally, I wanted to intervene with some clarity and reason.
It’s become quite rare to see crash games convey their house edge like this: ‘3-4%’, but then again, it’s not unseen. So, if you’ve ever wondered what a ‘dynamic house edge’ is, you’re in the right spot.
What is a ‘Dynamic House Edge’ in Crash Gambling?
Dynamic house edge is a concept or a variable used to describe the range of the expected casino’s advantage at different payout levels in the game.
It introduces a variable element to the equation, where the casino’s advantage over the players is not fixed but fluctuates based on certain factors within the game. What those factors are and at which point the fluctuations come into play usually remain a secret.
For instance, if a game advertises a house edge of 3-4%, it is to be expected that the lowest house edge (in this case, 3%) can only be realized when cashing out early on in the game.
General rule
The higher the cashout, the bigger the risk and the higher the house edge.
The dynamic nature of the house edge is tied to the game’s mechanics and algorithms. Game developers use sophisticated systems to calculate the probability distribution of when the crash might happen and adjust the house edge accordingly.
How to Know if a Crash Game Has a Dynamic House Edge?
This is where things get tricky, and the truth is, in most cases, we just don’t know. Very rarely do crash games reveal their code, and there’s no one forcing them to do so.
Generally speaking, a good example of a game that does not hide its dynamic house edge is Aero by Upgaming. This game clearly conveys that the house edge ranges between 4.1% and 5%. They also disclose that in order to play under the lower 4.1% house edge rating, the player should cash out before 1.12X.
In the case of Aero, there is a clear relation between the house edge and the multiplier at which the game crashes.
However, in 99% of the games, this information is not as public. What we players usually get is a static house edge or return-to-player rating that, in theory, is realized over a period of 1000s and even 1,000,000s of rounds of the game.
Depending on the back-end code of the game, the house edge may or may not be static, but over a period of that many rounds, game providers can assure players of the average RTP of the game, regardless of the dynamic or static nature of the house edge.
The key thing to remember here is that the RTP or house edge figure provided is the average realized return of the game over an extended period of time.
Multipliers, Probability and House Edge
In games with a ranging house edge, the dynamic house edge phenomenon comes into play as the multiplier rises. Initially, when the multiplier is low, the house edge is also correspondingly lower.
This creates an enticing opportunity for players to cash out early, minimizing their risk and potentially securing a profit. However, as the multiplier climbs higher, the house edge also increases proportionally.
This effectively heightens the risk for players who choose to cash out at higher multipliers, as the likelihood of a crash occurring before they cash out becomes more significant.
As a player, I think this topic carries less significance than you might think. The one reason you should always seek out games with a higher RTP or cash out earlier in the game is the higher odds of winning.
| 1% House Edge (99% RTP) | Multiplier | Probability of winning |
|---|---|---|
| 0.99 | 1.01 | 98.02% |
| 0.99 | 1.1 | 90.00% |
| 0.99 | 1.5 | 66.00% |
| 0.99 | 2 | 49.50% |
| 0.99 | 5 | 19.80% |
| 0.99 | 10 | 9.90% |
| 0.99 | 100 | 0.99% |
| 3% House Edge (97% RTP) | Multiplier | Probability of winning |
|---|---|---|
| 0.97 | 1.01 | 96.04% |
| 0.97 | 1.1 | 88.18% |
| 0.97 | 1.5 | 64.67% |
| 0.97 | 2 | 48.50% |
| 0.97 | 5 | 19.40% |
| 0.97 | 10 | 9.70% |
| 0.97 | 100 | 0.97% |
As you can already see, based on the two tables above, you should be interested in a particular game’s house edge and RTP figures because you are more likely to win at a higher RTP/lower house edge. Now let’s look at the probabilities in a game with a high 5% RTP.
| 5% House Edge (95% RTP) | Multiplier | Probability of winning |
|---|---|---|
| 0.95 | 1.01 | 94.06% |
| 0.95 | 1.1 | 86.36% |
| 0.95 | 1.5 | 63.33% |
| 0.95 | 2 | 47.50% |
| 0.95 | 5 | 19.00% |
| 0.95 | 10 | 9.50% |
| 0.95 | 100 | 0.95% |
Whether a crash game employs a higher house edge at the 10X+ multipliers is not as significant as the house edge rating at the lower multipliers where the majority of players cash out.
The later you cash out, the smaller the differences in probabilities of you actually winning, only 0.04% per cent between a game with a 5% house edge and a game with a 1% house edge.
Conclusion
Statistically speaking, there are 3 lessons us players can take away here:
- Choose games with a fixed high RTP rating, like Crash by BC Originals and Crash by Stake Originals. Both come with a 99% RTP or 1% house edge.
- Cash out early to enjoy the highest long-term return on your money.
- Crash is luck-based; no strategy can offer you a positive expected value. Just have fun and practice good bankroll management.
There you have it! I’ve been playing crash games for the last 5+ years, and the more I play, the less interested I am in topics like this. Sure, it’s interesting to learn about various concepts and what they mean, but at the end of the day, I just want to have fun.
The top-rated crash casinos that allow me to do that while still ensuring a low house edge are:
Good luck, and gamble responsibly!
