Arc, we're getting close. I agree with this: "Actual means it has already happened. It is in the past. Done. Finished. It has nothing to do with future results."

Now when I said "how a player plays the game" is also means how the player played the game.

So... if a player played the game and quit the session when ahead it doesn't mean that the expected return changed, it means that he profited while playing the game whether it had a positive or a negative pay table. Does that makes sense to you?

If you need a "third term" then please go ahead and use it.