Two numbers explain almost everything about what a casino game costs you, and most players use them interchangeably even though they describe opposite sides of the same coin.
The definitions
RTP (return to player) is the percentage of all stakes a game returns over an enormous number of rounds. House edge is what it keeps: 100% minus the RTP. A 96% RTP slot has a 4% house edge. A blackjack game with a 0.5% house edge has a 99.5% RTP. Same statement, two directions.
What they do not tell you
- They say nothing about your session. RTP converges over millions of rounds, not over three hundred spins.
- They do not describe how the return arrives. That is volatility, and it decides whether your experience resembles the average at all.
- They are not a schedule. A game does not owe you a return because it has been cold.
The number that actually predicts your loss
Expected loss equals stake times rounds times house edge. This is the calculation worth doing before a session, because it converts an abstract percentage into rupees per hour.
| Game and pace | Stake | Rounds per hour | House edge | Expected cost per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slots, normal pace | ₹20 | 500 | 4% | ₹400 |
| Slots, turbo | ₹20 | 900 | 4% | ₹720 |
| Live blackjack, basic strategy | ₹100 | 60 | 0.5% | ₹30 |
| Live Andar Bahar | ₹50 | 80 | 2.15% | ₹86 |
| Dragon Tiger | ₹50 | 120 | 3.73% | ₹224 |
| Aviator | ₹50 | 200 | 3% | ₹300 |
| European roulette | ₹100 | 40 | 2.70% | ₹108 |
Volatility, properly explained
Volatility describes the distribution around the average. Two games at 96% RTP can produce completely different experiences: one pays small amounts constantly, the other pays nothing for two hundred spins and then returns your session in one feature. Low volatility means your results resemble the theoretical return; high volatility means most sessions end below it and a few end far above.
Where to check the numbers
The game info panel inside the casino, every time. Studios ship multiple RTP builds and operators choose which to run, so a figure from a review site, including ours, is a guide rather than an authority. See high RTP slots.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between RTP and house edge?
They are the same statement from opposite directions. RTP is what a game returns over the long run; house edge is what it keeps. 96% RTP means a 4% house edge.
Does a high RTP game pay more often?
Not necessarily. How often a game pays is volatility, not RTP. Two games with identical RTP can pay in completely different patterns.