Every casino game is built so that the casino keeps a small share of all money bet over time. That share is the house edge. The rest is the return to player, or RTP. The two always add up to 100%.
What RTP measures
An RTP of 96% means that across a very large number of bets, the game pays back 96 of every 100 wagered. It is a long-run average across all players, not a forecast for your session.
Why your results differ
In a few hundred spins almost anything can happen. You might double your balance or lose it all on a game with a 96% RTP. The average only shows itself over a very large number of bets, by which point the house edge has usually done its work.
Variance
Variance, or volatility, describes how results are spread. A low-variance game pays small wins often. A high-variance game pays rarely but can pay big. Two games with the same RTP can feel completely different.
Typical figures
Online slots commonly sit in the mid-90s, and many are offered in several RTP versions, so the same title can pay differently at different casinos. Blackjack played with good strategy has a house edge of around one percent or less, depending on the rules. European roulette has a house edge of 2.7%. Crypto dice and crash games often advertise an edge of about one percent.
What this means in practice
Expected cost is simple to estimate: total amount bet multiplied by the house edge. Betting 1,000 in total on a 4% edge game costs about 40 on average. Faster games mean more bets per hour, so the same edge costs more per hour.
No betting system changes the edge. Systems change how wins and losses are distributed, not the average.
Where to find a game's RTP
Look in the game's help or information screen. If a casino offers a lower-RTP version of a well-known slot, that is where it will show.
