Summary: The return to player (RTP) is a percentage that describes the expected payback of a slot machine to players over time. It is a theoretical estimate, and individual players may experience different results in the short term. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know.
If you’ve spent any amount of time playing online slots, then RTP is a term that you’ll have certainly come across. It stands for “Return To Player”.
But what exactly does Return To Player mean? And why does it matter?
On this page, we will be explaining everything you need to know about RTP, including how high RTP slot games could actually result in you potentially winning more money.
What Does RTP Mean on Slots?
RTP stands for Return-To-Player, and it is an indication of the amount of the money that will be returned to the players, of all money wagered on the slot game. This number is usually from 0 to 100, and the higher numbers represent better odds of winning.
An example of RTP is when it is placed at 85%. That means players will receive £85 in winnings for every £100 that is wagered. A slot game of 98% RTP, on the other hand, will suggest players receive £98 of £100 wagered. This is a huge differentiator when you compare the two options.
The RTP rate is an important aspect of a slot game and should be considered before play. It can infer the games that offer the best chance of winning, with those with higher RTPs regarded as the best options for avid players.
It is, however, important to point out that higher RTPs do not necessarily guarantee wins. It is just but an indication of the return expected from playing the slot over time. It is thus important to look at other aspects of a slot game, such as bonuses, volatility, and others.
What Is a Good RTP For Slots?
A good RTP with slots is an RTP that is 96% or more. With slot machines, the players wager small amounts and stand a chance of winning huge jackpots. Therefore, the odds of winning for a player tend to be worse on slots when compared to table games.
For table games, the best RTP is ideally 98% or more. Popular table games such as blackjack offer an RTP of 99.8%, and you can also get slots that come close to this rate.
Is RTP The Same as Volatility?
The straight answer to the question is no, they are not the same. RTP refers to the payback percentage of a slot game, whereas volatility refers to the frequency of the slot game’s payout. That means a slot game that has low volatility will pay out more frequently than a game with high volatility.
An easier way to understand this is by using an example of two slot games, each with an RTP of 96%, but one has a low volatility and the other a high volatility. If the player has chosen to play on both with £2 a spin, then they should expect something similar to that outlined below:
- High volatility – big wins of £25 to £50 from time to time, with most of the spins paying nothing.
- Low volatility – half of the spins generate wins of £0.10 to £5.
Volatility represents the general setup of a game, just like RTP. It is determined by the random number generator, and that means the slot can pay low wins frequently, big win infrequently, or provide a mix of the two.
How Can You Find a Slot Game’s RTP?
Casinos or gaming establishments are required by law to publicly display the RTPs for their slots. The player can easily find the RTP for online slots, but it might be a little more difficult to find the RTP for land-based slots.
For online slots, you will need to type the name of the slot game and then add the term RTP to it before initiating an online search. That should be sufficient to give a result with an estimated payout for the game. You can also preview the information section of the game itself to find out the RTP of the slot game.
Another way to determine a slot game’s RTP is by going through independent gambling site reviews. You will be able to get a detailed review of your favourite slot games on these sites with their RTP explained. You can also enjoy a higher RTP when you participate in promotions and bonuses. These come with attractive offers that can boost your chances of winning.
Here are some sampled RTP for popular online slot games:
- BetSoft Gaming’s Monster Pop has an RTP of 97.7%.
- Real Time Gaming’s Achilles has an RTP of 95%.
- Real Time Gaming’s Coyote Cash has an RTP of 97.5%.
- Concept Gaming’s Fruit Loot Reboot has an RTP of 97.24%.
As for land-based slot games, their RTP tends to be lower in comparison to online casinos. On average, their RTP is required by law to be 75% or higher.
You might be lucky to find a well-displayed RTP on signboards in some brick-and-mortar casinos, and for others, you might have to request customer service to share. Don’t, however, be surprised if you are given a non-definitive response.
Does RTP Really Matter?
If you play for real money, then RTP will matter, unlike the hobbyist that is thrilled by simply playing for the fun of it. The latter might not feel a pinch when they lose a few bucks, but the same cannot be said for the player that has invested a considerable amount of money into the game and is looking forward to a good return.
A slot game’s RTP will give you a picture of how much return you can expect from the game. A good RTP will mean you are guaranteed a fair probability of getting more value for your money. It assures the gamer that the slot has been programmed in such a way that it gives out a percentage of all the money that is wagered, whether to the player or any other player.
The RTP is an important aspect of the slot game, irrespective of whether you play a land-based or online casino, and it guarantees players the chance to recoup the money they have wagered. The house might always have the advantage, but RTP helps players to get back the specified percentage at the end of the game.
Which Slot Games Have the Highest RTP?
Some of the slot games that have the best RTP include the following:
Mega Joker
This game by NetEnt offers an RTP of up to 99%. The RTP might change with the stake level, with the best returns guaranteed for those that bet a minimum of 10 coins.
Jackpot 6000
This is another popular game from NetEnt with an RTP of 98.8%. It is the best game for players who love to have full control over the game outcome.
Chess Mate
Multi Slot’s game with an RTP of 98.7% that comes with 15 pay lines. There are also attractive bonus features that include a win multiplier and free spins. This game is, however, not available in all online casinos.
1429 Uncharted Seas
An older game by Thunderkick that offers an RTP of 98.6%. It is quite unattractive in terms of graphics and visuals, but the attractive RTP and free spins are hard to resist.
Monopoly on the Money
With its RTP of 98.1%, this slot game from, Barcrest is a popular slot game. Its RTP in the base game is 94%, but players enjoy an RTP of 98.1% in the Big Bet mode.
Bloodsuckers
With its very low volatility, 25 pay lines, 2 independent bonuses, and other attractive features, this video slot by NetEnt is one of the best for gamers. The vampire-themed slot with its 98% RTP is worth trying out.
Starmania
A popular slot game by NextGen Gaming boasting an RTP of 97.87%. It is a 10-pay line slot game with some of the best graphics and symbols.
Kings of Chicago
This game from NetEnt, with its RTP of 97.8%, is designed for players that love poker and casino gambling. The player is paid for making poker hands such as quads, trips, full houses, and straights.
Devil’s Delight
This is another top slot game from NetEnt with an RTP of 97.6%. It is an animated game that comes with bonus features and entertaining game tweaks.
Big Bad Wolf
This is a fairy-tale-based slot game from Quickspin that has an RTP of 97.4%. It has low volatility and is highly entertaining for players. Its signature feature is the little pigs that turn into wilds. You will also find symbols that cascade on the reels.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that the RTP in the casino is your tool for weighing what games to play or avoid if you are a serious online or land-based gambler. It is the quickest way of ascertaining the highest-paying casino slots.
RTP can help secure your bankroll and boost your chances of winning real money while playing slots. You can calculate the RTP of your favourite game by dividing the amount of the total winnings returned to the players by the total bets for the game. The winnings should include the small wins and big jackpots.
The good news is that you don’t have to look through all of the individual slot games to find the games with the highest RTP because we’ve already done the hard work for you.
We have a high RTP slots page here at Best Casino HQ that we continually update whenever we find new slot games with high return-to-player percentages.
So, if you’re interested in browsing the highest RTP slots, you can access the page here.
