Most of the house's edge comes from the fact that the player loses when both the player and dealer bust. Blackjack players using basic strategy lose on average less than 1% of their action over the long run, giving blackjack one of the lowest edges in the casino.

In blackjack , dealers have an advantage because players act first and can bust before the dealer plays. Dealers follow fixed rules, avoiding risky decisions. Ties go to the dealer, and only the dealer's blackjack can collect all player bets.