Every online casino player has seen those three little letters, RTP, usually tucked away in small print somewhere near the game info button. Most skip over it. Big mistake. RTP quietly tells you how much a game pays back over time. Although it is by no means a guarantee of any kind, but it is the closest thing you will get to peeking behind the curtain of casino maths.
Two things to keep in mind. RTP is “theoretical” and “very long term.” What this basically means is that you cannot expect to get 96% of your money back playing a video slot that has an advertised RTP of 97% in a few sessions.
RTP in Simple Terms
Let us do the simpler explanation first.
RTP stands for Return to Player. It is the percentage of all wagers a game is expected to return to players over the long run.
If a slot has an RTP of 96%, it means that, statistically, £96 is paid back for every £100 wagered, while the remaining £4 goes to the house.
Notice the keyword there: statistically. RTP is based on millions of simulated spins. It is not a promise that your £100 will magically turn into £96 back. It is just an average over time.
Just like a weather forecast, the RTP of a game tells you what is likely. Not what is guaranteed.
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RTP vs. House Edge
A lot of games advertise their house edge. Popularly, table games have a small house edge compared to slots. In simple terms, the RTP is the player’s share and the house edge is the casino’s share. They are interchangeable.
- 96% RTP means 4% house edge in a slot game, for example
- And 1.5% house edge means 98.5% RTP in a table/live game, for example
The house edge is the casino’s (or game’s) built-in advantage, the cut for running the game.
Every casino game, from roulette to blackjack, has a house edge. RTP simply flips the perspective to show how much is theoretically returned to you. Why is this done? Well, otherwise, things would look something like this:
Table games have a small house edge (and very large RTP). Single-deck blackjack, most baccarat games, three-card poker, etc., have a house edge of 1.5%. Pai Gow and roulette with single zero have a 2.5% house edge. The house edge of some craps games can be as low as 1.4%.
If we use the same metric for video slots too, then you will see a house edge of 7%, 10%, 15% (especially older slots, as most modern slots have at least an RTP variant of 96% or higher). This will discourage folks from playing a video slot. Which one will you choose? 15% house edge video slot or 1.5% house edge blackjack?
So, they flipped it. They advertise the RTP instead. 80-90% RTP used to be the case until very recently as well. Sure, today you have games of 94-97% RTP easily. But many of those have variants where the RTP is lower, sometimes in the 80s.
With that in mind, let us take a closer look at slots.
How RTP Works in Slots
Slots are where RTP really gets attention because the range varies widely. You will see:
- Low RTP Slots: Around 90 to 94%. Some older games or some variants of new games can be in this range, if not even lower. Anything below 94% is not recommended as it is easy to find standard RTP slots on any online casino site in the UK anyway.
- Standard RTP Slots: Roughly 95 to 97%, with 96% being considered the “industry standard” currently.
- High RTP Slots: 97% and above. Rare, but they do exist. Most popularly, you have: Playtech’s Ugga Bugga (99.07%), Relax Gaming’s Book of 99 (99%), Thunderkick’s 1429 Uncharted Seas (98.6%), Relax Gaming’s Marching Legions, Money Cart, and Money Cart 2 (98% to 98.12%), Yggdrasil’s Jokerizer (98%), NetEnt’s Blood Suckers (97.99%), Light & Wonder’s Starmania (97.87%), and the only jackpot game in the top 10, Red Tiger’s Blood Suckers Megaways (97.66%)
Many casinos do not have the highest-RTP games in their catalogue, even if they do have the game provider. Some of the highest-RTP games are downright terrible to play. Even a new slot game with 96% RTP and interesting bonus mechanics can be a better use of your time and bankroll.
Often, branded or feature-heavy slots sacrifice RTP for flashy bonuses and visuals.
Does RTP Affect Short-Term Wins?
No, not directly. RTP is calculated over an astronomical number of rounds: think hundreds of thousands or even millions. You could spin 50 times and lose everything, or hit a massive win in 10 spins. Both outcomes are still consistent with a 96% RTP in the long term.
It is kind of like flipping a coin 10 times. You might get 8 heads, but over 100,000 flips, the result will hover close to 50/50. RTP is the same principle, just with more flashing lights.
RTP in Table Games
RTP in Table Games
Slots dominate RTP discussions, but table games have their own figures too:
- European Roulette: ~97.3% RTP
- American Roulette: ~94.7% RTP
- Blackjack: up to 99.5% RTP (with perfect strategy)
- Baccarat: around 98.9% RTP
Unlike slots, skill-based games let you influence your RTP slightly through decisions, especially in blackjack. But the house always keeps its slice.
The Illusion of “Fixed” RTP
Here is a common misconception: that RTP changes mid-play. It does not. The math behind RTP is built into the game’s programming and audited by regulators.
However, many slots offer different RTP versions.
For example, Play’n GO’s Book of Dead has 5 RTP versions (84.18%, 87.25%, 91.25%, 94.25%, and 96.21%). The version running on one site might be less generous than another.
Always check the RTP in the game info before spinning. You might find you have been playing the low-paying twin without realising.
RTP and Volatility
For the most part, rather than just relying on the RTP as the key decision-making variable, you will be better off considering the duo of RTP and volatility together.
RTP tells you how much is paid back. Volatility tells you how often.
- Low volatility: frequent but smaller wins.
- High volatility: bigger wins, but fewer of them.
Two games with 96% RTP can play completely differently. One may trickle out regular small hits, while the other feels like a drought punctuated by the occasional jackpot. Understanding both helps set realistic expectations and avoid disappointment.
Generally, it is preferred to stick to low or medium volatility games for beginners. Then, you can start playing medium-high volatility games. High-rollers or seasoned players almost exclusively play high-volatility slots as their bankrolls can afford those big wagers.
How Casinos Use RTP
Casinos use RTP to balance profit margins. They know players love higher RTPs, but games with better returns attract smaller long-term profits. So they mix it up: high-RTP games for trust and reputation, lower-RTP ones for marketing draw-ins.
You can see this in slot libraries: casinos quietly tuck their lower-RTP branded slots right next to fairer, lesser-known ones.
Additionally, casinos often offer free spins or other promotions on standard RTP slot games. If a game is popular, like Gates of Olympus by Pragmatic Play or Fishin’ Frenzy Even Bigger Fish by Blueprint Gaming, it allows the casino to get more sign-ups.
Even though the RTP of these games could be lower (94.5%, 95.5%, and 96.5% for Gates of Olympus and 91%, 92%, and 94% for Even Bigger Fish 3).
What I will tell you here is that knowledge is cheaper than luck. And that is precisely why you should always care about a game’s RTP. It helps you choose smarter where to bet, compare games fairly (in the same volatility range, let us say), and most importantly, avoid traps like a low-RTP branded slot.
Avoidance is the keyword here. RTP might not help you win more. But it can surely help you avoid games designed to make you lose faster.
FAQs About RTP in Online Gambling
How is RTP calculated for slot machines?
RTP is the theoretical percentage of all money wagered that the game is programmed to pay back over its lifespan. It is calculated by dividing total winnings by total bets over a massive number of simulated or actual spins.
Does higher RTP guarantee profit for short sessions?
No, a higher RTP does not guarantee profit in short sessions. RTP is a long-term average calculated over millions of spins. Short-term results are governed by chance and volatility. The best way to put this is statistically, you will lose less over time with higher-RTP games.
How to find a game’s verified RTP before playing?
Look in the game’s paytable or information screen, often under an ‘I’ or ‘?’ icon. You can also check the online casino’s website or the game provider's official site. Sometimes, the game has a game info button or a menu with this information.
Where to find independent RTP audit reports for a title?
Look for the casino’s monthly or annual audit reports, usually on their site’s footer or a “Fair Gaming” section. These are issued by labs like eCOGRA, iTech Labs, or GLI.
How is RTP tested and certified by audit labs?
Independent labs perform extensive simulations, often running millions of spins on the game’s Random Number Generator (RNG). They verify that the actual payout percentage aligns with the game’s advertised theoretical RTP.
Are there any tools to independently calculate RTP from game logs?
While you can calculate “actual” RTP by dividing your own total wins by total bets from your game logs, there are no public tools for players to verify the theoretical RTP using the full game code or data. Audit labs use specialised, proprietary mathematical models and programs for this.
Is RTP the same as payout percentage?
Yes, it is the long-term expected payout percentage of a game.
Can casinos change RTP after launch?
Some can, depending on licensing rules. Always check the info screen of the game you are playing.
What is a “good” RTP for slots?
Anything above 96% is considered fair. Below 94%? That is expensive entertainment.
