RTP, or return to player, is the percentage of wagered money a game is designed to return over a very large number of rounds. House edge is simply one hundred minus RTP.

A 97 percent RTP slot has a 3 percent house edge, meaning the game is designed to keep three dollars of every hundred wagered over the long run.

Short sessions can vary wildly from RTP. You can win big or lose fast on a high-RTP game, because RTP describes long-term averages, not your next ten spins.

Comparing RTP across games is useful, but volatility, bet size, and session length matter just as much for what your bankroll actually experiences.