How to calculate return to player RTP Explained 2025

RTP is a percentage that indicates how much of the wagered money will be paid back to the player over time as they play a casino game. It’s important to remember that RTP is a long-term average and by no means a guarantee. Table games like blackjack and French roulette offer even better RTPs, often exceeding 98% with optimal play. Nevertheless, it’s important to understand that these factors are also influenced by your budget, gameplay choices and even just pure luck.

• The house edge is the percentage of wagered money that the casino is expected to keep, while RTP is the percentage expected to be returned to players.
• Remember the example of a game with an RTP of 97% that paid out 97% of all money wagered to players?
• On the other hand, a game with high volatility is meant to pay out less often but has bigger prizes to offer when you win.
• If you struggle to find a slot’s RTP, you can also take a look at the game provider’s website which will usually have all the details you need.

She earned her Double Majors in Economics and Political Science from the prestigious Lahore School of Economics. At Play Casino, Farah is our senior content writer, working as a responsible gambling specialist. This is a topic that we hold to high standards, as player safety is our ultimate goal. Farah has done extensive research in this field and, as a result, has produced top-notch quality content to help our customers navigate the iGaming and Casino world. This is because casino RTP alone does not provide you with all the information you need regarding a slot. There are other considerable factors as well, one of which is slot volatility.

Using RTP and Volatility To Your Advantage

However, online casinos don’t have to struggle with these physical limitations. There are online casino sites that host thousands of online slot games at the same time. Within this sea of options, any slots with an extremely low RTP value will just go unnoticed, and hence, not be played. If you pick a high RTP and low volatility slot, you can expect to win small but frequent payouts.

Who Determines the RTP

Whether you are a novice to casino gaming or you’ve ever tried spinning the reels of an online slot machine, you have probably encountered the term RTP. And although you might be struggling to get its meaning, the RTP (return to player) percentage is one of the most vital factors for casino gaming. The RTP parameter or the return percentage of the slot is the basis of a casino’s pay rate in terms of winnings. In other words, the higher the casino’s RTP, the higher the casino players rate their chances of winning. While the goal of online casino games is to enjoy the gambling experience, players also want to maximise their return – so it’s essential to get to grips with the basics of RTP.

The house (casino) collects bets and pays out winnings according to set rules. Over time, the system is designed so the casino wins more than it pays out. RTP and volatility play a significant role in determining your experience while playing casino games online. RTP sets the groundwork for your anticipated returns and represents the house edge, while volatility indicates the probability and magnitude of potential payouts.

While it won’t influence luck or outcomes in a single spin, it sets a statistical baseline for how a game is designed to perform over time. Whether you’re a casual spinner or a numbers-driven strategist, knowing what does RTP mean helps you spot the games that treat your bankroll more fairly. And in the world of online casinos, that knowledge can make all the difference. A “game of chance” is any casino game where players place bets hoping for a win, but the outcomes are ultimately determined by randomness. Slot machines, roulette, blackjack, baccarat—all fall into this category.

The steeper gradient represents the more erratic results found with highly volatile games, whilst the flatter line indicates consistent returns found with lower volatile versions. Both will converge towards the RTP in their own distinct way when approaching an infinite number of spins. Because RTP is a theoretical metric, the chances of it coinciding exactly with the outcome of your individual game session is very small. Instead, it’s calculated over an extensive number of gamerounds which stretch into the hundreds of thousands, or even millions.

Therefore, your best bet here is to pick a highly volatile game, regardless of the RTP. You can designate 40 spins at $0.50 each in the hope of hitting a sizeable win in a short space of time, far exceeding the initial $20 you started with. However, you 1win login must be willing to accept all may be lost by taking this approach. As an example, you may set aside a conservative gambling pot of $20. You hope to turn this into a substantial win – perhaps by unlocking an exciting bonus round or hitting a lucrative jackpot payout. Higher RTP slots don’t guarantee bigger wins, but they do indicate a higher probability of winning over time.

Every casino game has a different RTP percentage, which is typically determined by the game’s rules and mechanics. It’s important to note that RTP is not a guarantee of success and doesn’t predict individual outcomes. Even a high RTP slot machine can result in a long losing streak or a large win on a single spin. However, nowadays, it’s common for multiple versions of a game to be developed with different RTPs, allowing casinos to choose which version to offer. This practice only affects virtual games, particularly slot machines.