For anyone wanting to know what RTP in slots is, this guide is required reading. We’ll cover what a Return To Player percentage is and clear up some of the confusion around it.
We’ll also look at how it works in practice and the typical ranges of the slots you’ll come across at online casinos in your state. You’ll also see how volatility is part of the equation, and how tying them all together can help you get the most from your overall slot experience.
Slot machines, or simply slots, are probably the go-to games for most casino players. There are various types around, and whether you like classics, Megaways, jackpots, or progressive jackpot titles, there is one factor that is key to your experience with all of them: RTP.
Understanding what Return to Player percentages are, and what they mean to you as a savvy player, is essential to your experience and how much you get from your time at any casino. That’s why we’ve put this online casino guide together, and at the same time as explaining how it all works, we’ll also look at some of the misconceptions around RTP, as well as looking at volatility and house edge, so you can make an informed choice about which slots to play, and the best places to play them.
In short, RTP tells you how much is expected to be returned to players over a long period of play, often millions of spins. It’s expressed as a percentage and shows you how much you might get back over time, although we must stress that when playing RNG games, anything can happen. RTP is worked out using this formula:
RTP = (Total amount won by players/Total amount wagered by players) x100
So if a slot has an RTP of 96.5% it means that over time, on average, a slot will return $96.5% for every $100 wagered, or in the case of a sweepstakes casino. 96.5 Gold Coins for every 100 played. It’s important to remember this is calculated over a massive sample size, so playing with $100 yourself will not necessarily get you $96.5. This is a common misconception regarding RTP, and if the figures don’t work out exactly, it does not mean anything is amiss; it’s simply not a large enough sample size.
OK – so you now know what RTP means in slots and how it’s worked out, it’s time to go over why it’s so important. For players, it can be vital when it comes to these key areas of the casino experience.
Knowing the RTP of a title can help you decide which are the best games for you to play and can even be instrumental in how to find the best online casinos. Typically, picking higher RTP titles will give you more a more enjoyable gameplay experience, and if there are two similar slots that catch your eye, knowing the one has a higher RTP could be a deciding factor about which one to play. Additionally, providers can make multiple RTP versions of the same game, and if one casino has a version of your favorite slot with an RTP of 96%, and another has that same game at 98%, then it could influence which casino you pick.
Most bonuses you see at online casinos will have a playthrough requirement, and let’s be fair, some can be quite steep. Picking lower RTP games can mean that you might run out of bonus before you meet that requirement, and while it’s never guaranteed, higher RTP slots can help give you a better chance of meeting that target. If that is your strategy, always check the T&Cs of the offer first, as sometimes a number of slots are excluded from contributing to that playthrough requirement.
As with bonus management, picking a high RTP slot can help improve your status in a VIP program. Many loyalty or bonus programs work on the amount you wager or play with. Here, picking higher RTP slots will mean that you can potentially get more points for your deposit than playing a lower RTP one, as your funds could go further and be played through more times. More points or a higher status can get you more benefits like free spins bonus offers, so this can have a knock-on effect.
As a quick aside, it’s not just slots that have an RTP – table games that also use an RNG to ensure fair and unpredictable outcomes will have one. You can use the same information you’ve discovered here to help with your own online blackjack strategy, especially when it comes to deciding which variation to play.
While it is another key factor, volatility is not linked to RTP in any way. You will find slots that have the same RTP as each other but vastly different levels of volatility. To put it another way, RTP defines the total amount that is returned to players over time, and the volatility defines the size and frequency of those returns:
| Low volatility | A low volatility slot might provide frequent but smaller wins |
| High volatility | A high volatility slot might provide larger wins, but few and far between |
RTP and house edge are often mentioned in the same breath because they are different sides of the same coin. If the RTP of a slot is 97.5%, then the 2.5% that remains is the house edge, and vice versa. If you know the house edge is 1%, then you also know the RTP is 99%. Typically, higher RTP slots, which have a lower house edge, are considered better for players.
Of course, with all this talk of RTPs, you’ll also need to know where to look to find the RTP, or at least the house edge, so you can work it out. At most casinos you’ll find online, you will see a (i) symbol somewhere on or next to the game tile. Clicking on this will often show you the game RTP, as well as the volatility, along with a brief rundown of what that title entails.
Having at least a basic knowledge of how RTP works is one of the most valuable tools a player can have when deciding which online slots to play. While knowing what the RTP of this or that slot won’t help you win more or prevent losses, knowing how RTP works can shape your online slots strategy and let you manage your bank effectively, navigate bonus requirements, or help with your ranking in a VIP program. From a responsible gambling point of view, as well as playing at sweepstakes casinos responsibly, it is also key to making informed decisions about how to spend your playing time.
If you want to find the best slot games with great RTP, you can check our recommended online casinos. Just click on the banners on this page to take a look a their slot catalog.
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