Return to Player – Why Casino RTP Matters

Return to Player Percentage (RTP)

RTP stands for return to player, and it essentially refers to the amount of money a player can expect to get back from any casino game they play. RTP is calculated over millions of game rounds and is given as a percentage based on 100 units, making it easy to see at a glance the payout level per game.  

Here’s an example of RTP in practice: 

Let’s take a popular slot like Ted Megaways as our example. This slot features six reels with a staggering 117,649 ways to win. The RTP of this game is rated at 96.03%, which is calculated over long-term play, with shorter terms of playing time creating lower percentage variables.  

What this boils down to is that if you put in £100, you can theoretically expect to get back £96.03 on that £100 spent. The higher the RTP percentage, the higher your expected return should be.  

High RTP percentages do not necessarily guarantee high wins. Like all casino games, some sessions will be better than others. So don’t look at the RTP percentage as written in stone since the chances of losing are as high as they are for winning. 

Why is RTP always less than 100%

Let’s take another really popular casino game as an example: 

If we look at the RTP of a game like First Person Lightning Roulette, we see that it offers two different sets of RTPs: 

1. RTP for a straight up bet = 97.10% with a house edge percentage = 2.90%
2. RTP for any other bet = 97.30% with a house edge percentage = 2.70%

So, in this example, it’s easy to see that this game offers a very nice low house edge and slightly higher RTP for all but one betting option. That’s very good news for roulette fans. We’ll use this slightly higher RTP to explain why RTP is always less than 100%. 

If you were to wager that same £100 playing First Person Lightning Roulette, you could expect a return of £97.30. This means that the house (the casino) keeps £2.70 of your money. The best way to think of this percentage that the casino keeps it as a fee for playing their game.  

Ultimately, any casino is a business and, like all businesses, must add a percentage to the price of their goods or services. This is how the casino stays in business, turns a profit, and can continue supplying top casino games to you, the customer. 

Examples of Casino Game RTPs

As you may have guessed by now, RTP percentages vary quite a bit from one game to another, from one genre or game type to another, and from one betting option within a given game to another.  

All online casinos are required to publish the RTP information of their available games. A good casino like Parimatch will make this information easy to access, making game selection easier. With so many great casino games to choose from these days, seeing the differences in RTP between each genre is quite interesting.  

Slots 

Of all casino games, slots tend to vary in RTP much more. This is because slots come in various configurations with all sorts of bonus rounds, jackpots, payline configurations and many other features.  

Generally speaking, the RTP of land-based casino slots will range between 70% and 90%. Online casino slots, on the other hand, tend to start a bit higher, usually around the 94% RTP mark. Online slots are also superior at higher RTP levels, with some slots offering as much as 98%.  

A great example of a fun slot with an RTP of 94.58% is Viking Fury – Spinfinity. Those looking for something a bit higher can try their luck at Marching Legions, which features an RTP of 98.12%. 

Table games 

The game of blackjack is considered to be the most popular casino game of all, not surprising considering its RTP can be as high as 99.72%. A great place to start would be Infinite Blackjack, with an RTP of 99.47% or Lightning Blackjack, with an RTP of 99.56%. 

Roulette is a slightly different kettle of fish, with RTP depending more on the variation of roulette being played. Generally, American roulette will offer an average RTP of roughly 94.74%, European roulette around 98.37%, and French roulette around 98.65%. 

Conclusion

RTP plays an indispensable role in helping you to distinguish between good games and bad ones. Knowing how RTP works and why it exists should help to improve your overall experience when playing your favourite casino games online.  

Here’s some reassurance regarding RTP: 

• Reputable casinos are governed by the rules and regulations of the UK Gambling Commission. The Commission requires software providers to monitor their game’s performance to ensure that each title meets the necessary requirements.  

• All games are subject to annual audits, with harsh penalties for casinos/software providers that fail to meet these standards. Actual RTP must match the disclosed theoretical RTP and, after one million plays, the margin of error for any game RTP must be 1.09760% or less. 

Return To Player FAQs

Is higher or lower RTP better? 

A higher RTP percentage is always considered to be more advantageous to the player. However, no RTP can assure the player of those stated RTP figures since many factors are involved in playing any casino game.  

How does RTP work in casinos? 

RTP is the calculation of the amount of money a player can expect to get back from any casino game. This is based on a % of 100 units. An RTP of 97% means your return on £100 would be £97. 

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