Return to Player (RTP) in online gambling refers to the average return you’ll get when playing a game. For many, it’s a way to gauge the house edge – that is, how much of a cut the casino will take from the money you pay into your games.
However, it’s a little more complicated than it first seems – RTP doesn’t tell you how much you are guaranteed to win or how likely you are to win.
Many casino players and slot fans use RTP to determine how generous the games they play can be. RTP tells us about the overall potential return from a game during its entire lifetime.
If you’re already working out figures mentally, you might already realise that RTP can’t tell you if you’re due to win or lose. Regulated slot games are truly random.
What RTP can do, however, is help casinos measure how much money they get back from players in the long run. Therefore, it’s an interesting set of statistics for the house as much as it is for the players.
Let’s dive a little deeper into how exactly RTP breaks down in casino and slot games, what certain figures mean, and how you can analyse them in the games you play.
How is RTP calculated?
Casinos calculate the RTP of slot games based on hypothetical millions and millions of spins or plays. The RTP of a slot game, for instance, is based on an enormous total of plays to represent its lifespan – from the moment a casino launches the game to the moment it removes it from the catalogue.
RTP tells us how much you can expect to receive from a game over its complete run. For example, let’s say a slot game has an RTP of 97%, which is fairly high. This means that it’s likely to pay out to players 97% of the time – on average.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that you can expect to pay in $100, play through it, and get $97 back. This figure applies to the whole of the game’s lifespan. The winnings that make up this 97% could be spread over years or even decades. There is simply no way to guarantee when you’ll win or lose.
It’s possible to calculate the RTP by dividing a game’s payouts by its turnover. So, if a slot game pays out $192,000 and makes $200,000 during its lifetime, that’s an RTP of 96%, or 0.96.
RTP testing takes considerable time and effort. Casinos work with game developers on the understanding that an RTP will protect their income to a certain extent over years of running certain games.
With casino table games, such as roulette, it can be a little simpler, because the rules of these games tend to arrive as standard. For example, a game of European roulette, without a ‘00’ space, is likely to sit at around 97%, taking into account the different odds available.
A high RTP, or one that’s likely to suggest a fairly generous game, sits at around 96% and over. Anything lower than this is a little stingier over the long run. It’s one of many reasons why slot players look for these stats when choosing new games to play.
That said, RTP is often confused with another variable in the mix – volatility – which gives us an even better idea of how likely a game is to pay out.
Volatility vs RTP: understanding the difference
A game’s volatility tells you how often you might expect it to pay out, while RTP tells us how much it’s likely to pay out during its lifetime. Again, we’re working with averages, not guarantees.
It’s also worth noting that ‘variance’ is a term commonly swapped out for volatility in slot game terminology.
Volatility also tells us how big prizes are likely to be alongside the volume at which they arrive. Slot experts rank volatility under five different grades:
- Low
- Low-medium
- Medium
- Medium-high
- High
These grades are usually easy to spot in slot game paytables to give players as much clarity as possible. In some games, it’s even possible to switch volatility as part of the bonus features!
Let’s quickly break down the different levels of volatility to help you understand where they differ from RTP:
- Low volatility – Prizes are likely to be low, but are more frequent per spin or play.
- Low-medium volatility – Prizes appear occasionally, but are still low value.
- Medium volatility – Applies when games offer a fair balance of prize amount and payout frequency.
- Medium-high volatility – You can expect higher-value prizes than average, but they don’t appear very often.
- High volatility – A game offers higher payouts than most, but your chances of winning per spin are very low.
Of course, the definition of volatility from one game to another varies, which is why it’s useful to have RTP as an extra measure.
A slot marked as having low volatility with a high RTP means that you’re playing a game that’s likely to give regular prizes but not necessarily big jackpots. That said, again, even using RTP and volatility together doesn’t guarantee that you’ll win a specific amount, if at all!
How to analyse RTP in slot games
Regulated and verified casinos and slot game developers will calculate the RTP for you, meaning that you never need to do any of the complex maths yourself. However, when playing online slots, you might find it useful to account for RTP while managing your gaming bankroll.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when looking for slots to play and how to analyse RTP.
Always read the paytable
A slot game’s paytable should be the first thing to look for if you’re trying it out for the first time. The paytable shows you the potential prizes on offer when you line up specific symbols in a slot, what happens if you activate the bonus round, and what counts as an official winning line.
You’ll also find that there’s information on RTP – at least, you will find the facts in reputable games! The RTP, as mentioned earlier, is presented as a percentage – the average percentage at which the game will pay out for as long as it runs.
Check the RTP and set expectations. You shouldn’t be chasing wins anyway, but if you have a set bankroll and financial limits (which we always recommend), it’s worth knowing how generous a slot might be before you start playing for real.
Know which RTPs to avoid
Many high-volatility or high-variance games will have fairly low RTPs, indicating that winning prizes might require serious investment from players. Provided that you have clear limits set for yourself, whether you opt for low or high RTPs depends entirely on your attitude toward risk.
Generally, as mentioned, a generous RTP is likely to be around 96% or higher. Any lower – and some go lower than 90% – and the game will expect some serious endurance.
If you choose a low-RTP game, remember that you’re never ‘due a win’. It’s all down to luck, probability and averages. Manage your games sensibly and choose an RTP rate that falls in line with your risk attitude.
Measure game RTPs yourself
Of course, you could also measure the RTPs of slot games by testing them in free-play mode before you use any of your bankroll.
Free-play games let you use virtual credits that don’t impact your balance. Open a free game, set yourself a small limit of spins, and record each result.
For example, you could set 50 spins in free play and record how many times you win, if at all, and the prizes. Try this with a couple of different games, remembering that you’re doing this in free-play mode only!
Compare the results. One game might offer prizes 10% of the time, while another might pay out 30%, but the latter might have lower payouts. This means that, hypothetically, the second game has a higher RTP and lower volatility.
We always recommend that you try out games for free before using any real money. Measuring RTP for yourself is also a good way to find slots that fit your gameplay style.
Be careful with varied volatility games
Some slot games give you the opportunity to try different modes where the volatility changes. This has become more commonplace over the years as titles have become more feature-rich and complex.
Varied volatility games appeal to many players, but they might be a little overwhelming for those who are just getting started. If you’re especially new to the idea of RTP, it’s worth trying games at default RTPs before you make any changes.
Spotting games with varied volatility is relatively simple. Those that offer this feature generally do so as part of a main bonus offering. Or, as advised, you should take a look at the paytable of any games you want to play.
These games can get confusing if you are trying to measure and analyse the RTP and volatility for yourself, so only consider them once you’re comfortable with the risks involved.
Expect the unexpected
A crucial mistake that many players make, at least initially, is believing that RTP and volatility dictate exactly how much they’re likely to win from slot games. However, this really isn’t the case.
Don’t use RTP to dictate how long you play for or how much you should use within your bankroll. You should set these limits carefully before you make any kind of deposit – and use game-limiting tools provided by online casinos to support you.
RTP and volatility stats are interesting if you’re really getting into slot games, but you shouldn’t use them wholesale to determine the prizes you might win.
Using RTP to your advantage
RTP can be confusing given the fact that it’s based on an infinitely high number – but it’s extremely useful for casinos to measure and manage how much they’re likely to pay out while hosting a particular slot.
For players, it can be a reasonable measure of how generous a game is, but it can be dangerous to use it to measure risk. If you’re interested in RTP and volatility, always check a game’s paytable and try a new slot in free-play mode.
Set clear limits for time and/or bankroll, and keep an open mind. Remember, slot games are completely randomised, there are no shortcuts.
Click here to play online slots and test your RTP knowledge.
