House Edge House Edge
The share of wagers the game operator is designed to keep over the long run. In slots it is 100% minus the RTP, so an RTP of 96.5% means a house edge of 3.5%.
| English | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Classification | Math & Probability |
| English | House Edge |
| Category | Math & Probability |
| Calculation | 100% - RTP |
| Example | RTP 96.5% → 3.5% |
| Online slot range | About 3-6% |
| Related land-based metric | Hold percentage (Nevada 2025 slots 7.13%) |
Overview
House edge is the share the operator (the house) is designed to keep on average over a very long period. In slots it is the opposite of RTP, so it is calculated as house edge = 100% – RTP.
For example, a game with an RTP of 96.50% is designed to return 96.50 for every 100 wagered in the long run, and the remaining 3.50 is the house edge.
RTP and house edge table
| RTP | House Edge | Theoretical share kept per 1,000,000 won bet |
|---|---|---|
| 97% | 3% | 30,000 won |
| 96.5% | 3.5% | 35,000 won |
| 96% | 4% | 40,000 won |
| 94% | 6% | 60,000 won |
| 91% | 9% | 90,000 won |
This amount is a theoretical value averaged over an enormous amount of play. Results in short sessions can differ greatly from this value because of volatility.
Why the same game can have different house edges
Providers supply one game in multiple RTP versions. For example, Gates of Olympus has 96.50%, 95.51%, and 94.50% versions, so its house edge varies as 3.50%, 4.49%, and 5.50%. Play’n GO offers five tiers from 96% down to 84%, so the lowest version has a house edge of 16%. You can check which version is actually in use from the RTP on the in-game info screen.
Hold at offline casinos
Offline casinos publish “hold,” the share of actual bets the casino kept, instead of house edge. In 2025, the overall slot hold in the US state of Nevada was 7.13%. House edge is a theoretical value from the design, while hold is an actual result. Generally, the house edge of online slots (about 3-6%) tends to be lower than offline.
Regulatory standards
Some jurisdictions set a minimum RTP, effectively capping the house edge. Malta’s MGA requires a minimum RTP of 85% (house edge up to 15%), Nevada in the US requires a minimum of 75% (up to 25%), and Pennsylvania requires a minimum of 85%.
