In the vast and growing world of
While many players focus on operators with attractive sign-up bonuses or regular
Here, we demystify RTP, explain its significance, and examine the typical RTPs for popular casino games.
Table of contents
So what is RTP?
RTP, or Return to Player, is a percentage that indicates the average amount of money a game returns to players over time. For instance, games might have an RTP of 85%, 90%, or 96%.
This percentage represents the portion of your total bets you can expect to win back.
👉 Take a slot game with a 96% RTP as an example. This means that for every £1 you wager, you can expect to receive 96p back on average, translating to an average loss of 4p per spin.
Of course, outcomes can vary widely on individual spins—you might lose the entire £1 or hit a win. However, over a large number of spins, your returns should average out to the game's RTP.
The more spins you play, the closer your results will likely align with this percentage.
Why do casinos use RTP?
RTP exists because casinos need to ensure profitability. Unlike traditional retail businesses that mark up goods to make a profit, casinos embed their profit margins within the games themselves.
Consider a European Roulette wheel with 37 numbers (0-36). The true odds of winning a single-number bet are 36/1, but casinos pay out only 35/1 on such bets, giving the house a 2.70% edge.
It may seem like a small margin, but RTP is the percentage that provides a profit for the casino and is the driving force behind the growth of gambling meccas such as Las Vegas and Macau.
In slot games, the edge is built into the software. The payouts for winning combinations or bonus features are ever-so-slightly less than the true odds of hitting those combinations, resulting in an RTP that favours the house.
The importance of RTP
At first glance, the difference between RTPs of 96%, 92%, and 88% might seem minor. However, this difference becomes significant over many bets.
🚨 Casino games typically involve high turnover, with players able to place bets quickly and repeatedly.
For example, 1,000 x £1 bets on a 96% RTP slot would produce an expected loss of £40, whereas 1,000 x £1 bets on an 88% RTP slot would produce an expected loss of £120.
Watch out for variable RTPs
While games like Blackjack and Roulette generally have fixed RTPs due to their set rules, many slot games feature variable RTP ranges.
This means that casinos can select an RTP from within a given range. Always check the information section of the game to discover the RTP in use.
Typical RTPs for popular casino games
RTPs can vary slightly depending on the casino due to different rules and special bets, but here are standard RTPs for popular games:
- European (single zero) Roulette: 97.30%
- American (double zero) Roulette: 94.74%
- Blackjack: 99.45% (with perfect strategy)
- 3-Card Poker: 98.24%
- Craps: 98.64%
- Baccarat: 98.94%
- Slots: 90-99%
Higher RTP means better value
In essence, the higher the RTP, the better the deal for the player. While casinos will always have a built-in profit margin, games with higher RTPs offer a fairer experience.
👀 Sticking to games with RTPs close to those in the list above can help ensure you're getting reasonable value for your money. If a game's RTP is significantly lower, it might be worth considering another option.
What slot games have the best RTP
It's an age old question, and the quick answer is that there are so many slot titles now—literally thousands of them—that determining the slot title with the best RTP warrants an article in its own right, which we will get published soon.
In the meantime, we always recommend playing a slot that you enjoy and never gambling more than you can afford to lose. Even though the average return to player (RTP) is technically between 90% and 99%, try to find a game you like that has an RTP around the 95%+ mark.
Also, watch out for volatility—keep your bet in check and play for entertainment rather than in the hope of winning huge sums.
