RTP is a long-run average: 96% RTP means a 4% house edge, not a guaranteed loss...

https://charlottessuperjournals.tearosediner.net/why-no-system-works-isn-t-moralizing-it-s-just-math

RTP is a long-run average: 96% RTP means a 4% house edge, not a guaranteed loss on every £1. Volatility describes how uneven results can be. Over a short session, wins or losses can differ sharply from the average, so don’t treat RTP as a forecast.