The cost of play
Any single session can win or lose, but over time gambling has a price, and it is predictable. If you treat play as paid entertainment, this is the ticket price.
The formula
average cost per hour = rounds per hour × bet × (1 − RTP)
At 60 rounds an hour with a bet of 1 in a crash game with 97% RTP, the average cost is 1.80 per hour. Two bets per round double it to 3.60. Faster play, bigger bets and more bets per round all raise the price in direct proportion.
Calculator
Typical RTPs
| Game | RTP | Average cost per 100 bets of 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Crash (97% RTP) | 97.0% | 3.0 |
| European roulette | 97.3% | 2.7 |
| American roulette | 94.7% | 5.3 |
| Blackjack, basic strategy (typical rules) | 99.5% | 0.5 |
| Online slot (typical 96%) | 96.0% | 4.0 |
| Lottery (typical) | 50.0% | 50.0 |
These are typical figures. Many games exist in several RTP versions and the operator chooses one; the game’s rules panel states which. Lottery returns vary widely by country and draw.
Averages hide the swings
The calculator shows the average. Real sessions swing far above and below it: at a 2x target you finish ahead after 100 bets about 34% of the time, and after 1,000 bets only 16% of the time. The longer you play, the closer your result gets to the average cost.
Use the number as a budget. If the cost per hour is more than you would happily pay for an hour of entertainment, lower the stake or the time, or stop. The budget planner helps you set limits before you start.