The RTP percentage is a factor that often pops up when players search for the best slot games. And we have to say; it’s quite an important one.
In the world of online casino gambling, players are constantly on the hunt for the best video slots with the best stats. After all, the slot machines with the best stats are where the big wins are at… right? While elements such as hit frequency and volatility are ones to watch out for, a game’s RTP should not be passed over, either. Let’s dive into what the term ‘RTP’ means.
WHAT IS ‘RETURN TO PLAYER (RTP)’?
‘RTP’ is a term used to describe how much a player can expect to win in a single session over time. Also known as the Return-to-Player percentage, the RTP basically provides a visual representation of how much profit a player might win as they play. A lower percentage implies that players stand to win less, so the RTP can also be a figure that describes the house advantage, but we’ll break all of that down a little later.
A higher RTP is often used to attract players to a slot game, but it is important to note that an RTP can never be over 100%. This is because a 100% RTP implies that players will win over 100% of their bets back over time, which is when online casinos would start losing money on the game. That said, players may find slots with high RTPs pushing 98%!
Before we get into all the different games you can play, let’s take a look at how to calculate RTP in slots.
HOW IS RTP CALCULATED FOR ONLINE SLOTS?
Setting up a slot RTP is quite a complex process, and this process gets even more complicated the more mechanics and features the slot machine has. If providers are planning on releasing a game with multiple special symbols, a large number of winning lines, and elaborate bonus features, they need to develop these mechanics in a way that the percentage expected is returned exactly.
So, as we’ve said, the way RTP works is that it shows how much players expect to earn back over time in a single session. A slot machine would be programmed to give the percentage of the total amount of money that goes into it back.
Of course, the Return-to-Player percentage of a particular slot game is calculated over a huge sample size, meaning that game developers would have the slot go through thousands of spins to ensure the percentage is accurate.
WHO DECIDES THE RTP FOR A SLOT GAME?
Most players often think that casino operators determine the slot RTP — this is actually not true.
The RTP is determined prior to a game’s release, so the Return-to-Player percentage is developed by the provider that created the game. This is also why some games may have a higher RTP than other slots. Providers like NetEnt and Relax Gaming are known for releasing slots with high RTPs of 97% and above.
So, if you’re looking for a game with the best RTP, you may want to consider researching the developer too!
RTP — THEORY OR PRACTICE?
Whether you’re gambling at land-based casinos or online ones, along your journey, you’ll likely come across theories, myths, and superstitions related to playing slots. One tip you’ll often encounter is to play slots with a high RTP — and this couldn’t be more right.
Whether a game’s RTP affects your gameplay is far from a theory; it is a cold, hard fact. The RTP is a mathematically calculated percentage, not one that was simply decided upon. To help you visualise how this works, allow us to break it down with a practical example.
AN EXAMPLE THAT WORKS
For the sake of this example, take a look at Pragmatic Play’s slot, The Catfather, with an RTP of 98.10%.
An RTP like this one indicates that you can expect to be paid €98.10 for every €100 spent. You can even get an idea of the house edge of the game, which is 1.9%. This is why playing a slot with a high Return-to-Player is much more beneficial.
Having a good understanding of how this percentage works is quite beneficial. But, it is crucial to remember that while you might win 98% of your bet back, this isn’t always a guarantee, and the RTP does not indicate what kind of payouts you can expect. Even a long (and responsibly managed) playing session over the course of hours may not reflect a slot’s true RTP, and this is due to the game’s Random Number Generator.
The RNG randomises which symbols fall onto the reels with every spin, so whether you win or not would be totally unpredictable. You could hit a number of small wins and still not win the amount you’ve bet back, or you could hit the jackpot and win 10,000x your bet — it all depends!
VOLATILITY IN SLOTS GAMES
Volatility and RTP are closely related, but they are not precisely the same thing.
The volatility of a casino slot indicates how the RTP is distributed — which is also how there is never a guarantee that you’ll win back your bet or that you’d win more in one slot over another over a short period of time. In a nutshell, slot volatility represents how often a slot game will pay, as well as the size of those payouts.
Let’s break this down further with the following example of two slots with an RTP of 95%:
Suppose you bet €1 on one slot, spin the game 1,000 times, lose 999 of them but win €950 in one spin. Then, suppose you place the same bet on the second game and earn the following outcome:
- Win €0.50 on 300 spins.
- Lose €1 on 300 spins.
- Win €3 on 300 spins.
- Win €5 on 100 spins.
In both instances, you’ve managed to win €950 after wagering a total of €1,000. But, the frequency at which you collected these wins varied, leading us to our next point.
LOW VOLATILITY
Online slot games have different volatility levels. You’ll find casino slots with low, medium, and high volatility levels, which play a part in the rate at which a slot forms winning combinations — as we saw in the previous scenario.
A slot game with low volatility implies that the game has a high hit frequency in that players may be able to collect winnings frequently; however, those wins would be rather small.
HIGH VOLATILITY
Where low-volatility slots offer small payouts frequently, high-volatility games are the opposite. The chances of forming a winning combination in these casino slot games are pretty low, having a low hit frequency. But, if you are lucky enough to hit a win in a single spin, that payout would be pretty large.
WHAT IS ‘VARIANCE’ IN ONLINE SLOTS?
As we’re sure you’ve noticed by now, there can be a number of factors that affect your ability to win when spinning a slot game — aside from RTP, that is. These may include the frequency of wins, whether a slot has five reels or three reels, whether a game features progressive jackpots or other bonus features, etc.
You’ll often come across other players talking about variance. Don’t worry, though. The variance isn’t another term you have to memorise and get to grips with — it is actually just another way of referring to volatility!
HOW TO START PLAYING RTP SLOTS?
Getting started is pretty straightforward, but the process may vary depending on whether you’re playing land-based slots or are spinning at online casinos.
For starters, no matter where you play, you need an appropriate amount of funds to spin with. At online sites, you must place a deposit with your preferred online payment provider. From there, simply head to the casino’s slot collection and sift through the games.
Once you’ve found a slot to try, hover over its thumbnail and select the ‘PLAY’ button. You will be transported to the game’s landing page, where the slot will begin to load up.
Bear in mind that casinos have different interfaces, so you may need to navigate various sites in different ways. If you’re playing at a good online casino, though, you can rest assured that you’re in for an experience that is as user-friendly as possible.
WHAT IS A HIGH RTP FOR ONLINE CASINOS GAMES?
An RTP of 97% and above is what many players consider to be a high RTP and are often preferred over other games with a lower RTP. That said, it is important that you keep in mind that RTP isn’t the only thing to look out for.
Bonus features like free spins and Wilds, or mechanics like Megaways™ and Daily Jackpot Drops can help make or break your experience as well. At the end of the day, slots must be seen as a form of entertainment, not as a way to make money. So, it would be good to check out what the slot actually has to offer in terms of gameplay instead of eyeballing at the stats.
For more info on this, check out our article RTP in Slots at our LV BET Blog, where we dive in deeper!
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HIGH AND NORMAL RTP?
There aren’t many differences between games with varied RTP rates aside from the fact that some games simply potentially pay more than others over time. Theoretically, players stand to win more from a game with a 98% RTP than one with a 94% RTP.
BUT, as we’ve said time and again, RTP is not a true indication of the type of payouts to expect, as there are many other elements that may affect a game’s gameplay — it’s not always about finding the slot game with the best RTP!
HOW TO FIND HIGH RTP SLOTS?
Online casinos allow players to access RTP information easily. The majority of the time, players would be able to cop this info by simply looking at the game info as they play the slot of their choice. Where the RTP would be listed exactly depends on the game developers.
TOP 5 SLOTS WITH THE HIGHEST RTP
If you’re itching to see a high RTP game in action, here are top five slots with the highest RTPs in the industry:
- White Rabbit Megaways™ by Big Time Gaming — 97.24%
- Blood Suckers™ by NetEnt — 98.00%
- 1429 Uncharted Seas by Thunderkick — 98.60%
- Mega Joker by NetEnt — 99.00%
- Ugga Bugga by Playtech — 99.07%
RETURN TO PLAYER (RTP) — IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHEAT SLOT MACHINES?
Gambling is fun, but it can become addicting, which is why so many online gaming sites advocate for responsible gaming.
Casino operators are granted licences to ensure that all gambling activities are safe and reliable, so players can rest assured that their experience is trustworthy. For this reason, if betting at a licensed, reputable casino, it would be impossible to cheat a slot machine.
Aside from that, slots also have an in-built RNG that randomises the symbols that fall onto the reels with every spin.
CONCLUSION — DECIDE WHICH RTP IS BEST FOR YOU
The house edge and RTP in slots are good statistics to know, but they are not the only things that come into play. Each game offers a unique experience depending on its features, bonuses, theme, symbols, etc.
If you want a truly unforgettable gaming experience, check out what mechanics and features the game offers in both the base game and the bonus round. You can even play in the demo mode and spin for free using virtual money instead of your own!
Whether you enjoy elaborate Free Spins rounds or prefer to keep things simple, the industry is your oyster.
FAQ
✅ DOES RTP ONLY APPLY TO SLOT CASINO GAMES?
Generally, yes. Poker, roulette, baccarat, and blackjack use the house edge metric to measure a player’s advantage.
✅ DOES RTP AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF WINNINGS?
No. The RTP describes how much of their money a player stands to win back over a long period of time. It does not determine the size of payouts per spin.
✅ DO ONLINE SLOTS HAVE A BETTER RTP THAN LAND-BASED CASINO SLOTS?
Because of better technology, online slots tend to offer better RTP rates than those played in land-based casinos.
✅ CAN I USE BONUSES TO PLAY HIGH RTP SLOTS?
You definitely can as long as the Terms and Conditions allow it.
✅ DOES THE RTP VALUE DEPEND ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TRADED?
No, the RTP is simply a theoretical percentage.
✅ WHICH LV BET CASINO SLOT HAS THE HIGHEST RTP?
There are many high RTP slots in our collection, so it’s difficult to pick one. But, 1429 Uncharted Seas offers quite a high rate at 98.60%!