House edge
The casino's built-in average advantage on a bet, expressed as a percentage of the amount wagered.
The house edge is the share of each bet the casino expects to keep on average. It equals 100% minus the RTP.
Why it matters
The house edge is the price of playing. It applies to every bet, so the more you wager, the more you are expected to lose, which is why wagering requirements cost money. No strategy can remove the house edge on a game of pure chance, and provably fair verification does not reduce it either: it only proves results were not altered.
Worked example
A dice game pays 1.98x on a bet with a 50% chance of winning. A fair payout would be 2x. The difference gives a house edge of 1%: on average you lose $1 for every $100 wagered.
Typical ranges
Provably fair originals at crypto casinos are often around 1%. Slots vary widely, often between 2% and 8% depending on the RTP version. Table games depend on the rules and on how well you play.
Expected loss
Expected loss = total amount wagered x house edge. Turnover, not deposit size, drives it.