RTP vs House Edge
RTP and House Edge are easy to mix up. Here are both definitions from the HighRisk Media glossary side by side.
Comparison table
| Term | RTP | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Return to Player | — |
| In short | RTP (Return to Player) is the theoretical share of player stakes that a game pays back to players over the long run. | Mathematical advantage of the operator over the player: the average share of the total amount wagered that a casino or bookmaker keeps in the long run. |
| Verticals | Gambling | Gambling, Betting |
What is RTP?
RTP (Return to Player) shows what share of bets a slot or other game is designed to return to players over a very large number of rounds. If the RTP is 96%, then over millions of spins an average of 96 out of every 100 units wagered is paid back, and the casino keeps about 4%. This is a mathematical expectation, not a promise of any result in a specific session.
What is House Edge?
House edge is the expected margin of the operator on a game or event, expressed as a percentage of the amount wagered. If the house edge is 2.7%, then over a large number of bets the operator keeps about 2.7% of turnover on average, and the player loses that share. This is an average over a sample, not a guarantee of the result of a single session.