If you’ve spent any time browsing the casino games at Tonybet, it’s likely that you you’ll have come across a statistic or number called the RTP. A casino game’s RTP can be a useful marker, along with its volatility or variance, to work out its true value over long-term play.
Some players use the RTP of a slot game or a live casino table to decide whether or not a game is likely to be generous. However, it shouldn’t ever be used to measure how frequently prizes will be offered. With that in mind, what exactly does the RTP of a casino game do, how is it calculated, and why is it so important in practice?
Below, we break down everything you need to know about casino game RTPs, and why you should keep your eyes peeled for them.
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What is RTP (Return to Player)?
RTP, which stands for Return to Player, tells us how much a specific game is likely to pay out, theoretically, over millions and millions of plays across its lifetime. It’s represented as a percentage, meaning that, for example, a game with a 95% RTP will hypothetically give €95 for every €100 wagered.
This is a long-term figure, meaning that you can’t simply assume that, say with a slot game, you can expect to claim a prize 95 times out of every 100 spins. The fact that modern casino tables and online slots are built on Random Number Generators (RNGs) guarantees that every bet placed has a completely unique and random outcome in the interest of fairness.
The RTP of a game is important because it helps us to work out its true value, and effectively the edge that a casino has over players. The theoretical game mentioned above, therefore, has a house edge of around 5% if it has an RTP of 95%.
How is RTP calculated?
RTP is calculated during game development, and through millions of hypothetical bets and spins, based on a huge number that adequately represents its lifespan. Because some games, such as Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest, are still running after years and years of their launch date, these calculations can and often do account for incredible numbers that players alone can’t effectively work out for themselves.
For that reason, gambling regulators ensure that casinos maintain fair and thoroughly tested RTPs to guarantee that players are protected from scams. It’s also why reputable casinos choose leading slots and table game developers with provable expertise in RTP testing and fair gameplay development. After all, an online casino is only as fair as the games it hosts. This is why Tonybet thoroughly vets all of the studios and games collections it hosts.
What is a good RTP percentage?
A good RTP percentage generally varies depending on what you play. However, the general rule is that 96% is an acceptable and fair level. Anything below this is considered to be a low RTP, meaning that players may lose more often. However, low-RTP games are frequently balanced with large bonus features and higher volatility (more on that below).
Many casino tables have higher RTPs than slot games, so don’t be surprised to see a blackjack table, for example, carrying an RTP of around 98%-99%. Crucially (and we’ll cover this a little more further down), you should never expect to get prizes the amount of time the RTP suggests. It’s just a hypothetical marker that isn’t bound by patterns.
RTP vs volatility: what’s the difference?
RTP and volatility are two key attributes that shape how games perform, with the RTP focusing on theoretical returns over time, and volatility confirming how prizes may be delivered.
For example, a low-volatility game is likely to offer more prizes than most, but in smaller increments. A high-volatility game, meanwhile, doesn’t give prizes away often, but its prizes are higher than most. As you’d expect, medium-volatility games fall in the middle and offer the best of both worlds.
It’s also worth noting that volatility and variance mean the same thing in the world of casino games, meaning that you don’t have to worry about getting the two confused when researching games.
RTP and volatility can work together to create interesting gaming setups. For instance, a high-RTP game might be generous over its lifetime, but its prizes will be small. At the other end of the scale, a low-RTP game with high volatility carries very high risks of loss, meaning that they are not ideal for more conservative players.
Regardless, it’s always worth looking at both RTP and volatility ratings in the game information section before you start playing. Once you have an idea of the types of games and RTP and volatility levels you prefer, it will get easier for you to compare games and choose new titles!
Does higher RTP mean you will win more?
Mathematically, a higher RTP does mean that you will claim more prizes than games with lower RTPs on average, but you will need to bet on them millions of times for the maths to convert in your favour. It’s a common misconception that a game with a 96% RTP will ‘pay out 96% of the time’ – again, thanks to RNG game design and sheer luck, that is never going to be the case in practice. Remember, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to playing casino games, which is why it’s always important to set careful limits and to play responsibly.
If you are interested in playing high-RTP games, it is always wise to keep an open mind. If you’re new to slot games, higher RTPs aren’t always recommended because they may give the impression that you experience streaks, which are dangerous to follow. Therefore, our advice is to simply try a range of different tables and slots to find an RTP/volatility balance that suits your attitude to risk and what you’d like to get out of online casino play.
Above all, you should never follow advice or strategies that encourage playing more than you can afford on high-RTP games or otherwise. At reputable casinos such as Tonybet, there are no shortcuts and prizes are always given away at random.
Where can you find a slot’s RTP?
You can usually find a slot’s RTP in the game’s information tab or menu, which is generally represented as an ‘i’. You can also find out more about most leading slot games and their statistics by heading directly to developer websites. Rest assured, the Tonybet team does everything possible to give you all the stats and figures you need to know about our leading games lineups.
After all, we understand that, sometimes, you want more than just flashy graphics or bonus features to inspire you to play a game. Plenty of our regular players are statistics heads, meaning that they stop at nothing to grab data such as RTP to find slots and tables that appeal to their playing styles.
In the meantime, however, remember that RTPs can be useful to measure game performance, but don’t use them wholesale to work out whether or not they will give you prizes – otherwise, you will be there for a long time trying to match up with the maths!
