Return to player (RTP) rates

When you play games at an online casino, the outcomes you receive are determined by the Return to Player (RTP). The Return to Player (RTP) is used by casino software providers to regulate the payouts of online slots. When you select a slot game, there is a fixed percentage (usually above 90%) that the machine can pay back as winnings.

What many people don't understand is that every casino game has a different payout percentage. This doesn't just vary from game to game, but it also varies from casino to casino. An RTP Casino has a general Return to Player that all the games in its library use. Online slot games and other casino games of chance use the Return to Player to keep play fair.

Casino games with high RTP attract players because it means that they will get big wins from the money wagered. Players should also note the difference between the theoretical RTP and the actual RTP. Most RTP calculations done by casino software developers are usually estimates and the actual RTP is the game RTP when real players wagered money.

The RTP tells players how much of the money paid into a particular game will come back as winnings. In this article, we will discuss the role of Return to Player in a casino game, how the Return to Player is calculated, and the factors that determine the RTP of casino games. We will also cover the difference in RTP at online casinos and physical casinos.

Without wasting any time, here is all you need to know about Return to Player percentage and casino RTP.

By Adiela de Bruyn - Last modified 2024/02/08 - Estimated reading time: 15 minutes.

Table of contents

Return to player (RTP) rates

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What Is A Payout Percentage?

A payout percentage is essentially the amount that a casino will pay back to the player on average for every spin. The game RTP (Return to Player) of each casino game is different because the games are made by various game developers. Online slots and other casino games display RTP percentages to guide players on what to expect for every Rand spent.

If a particular game has an RTP of 96%, it means that for every R100 that you wager, you will get R96 back. Therefore, the house edge of this gambling game is 4%, which means that you will not get rewarded 4% of the time. The online casino will make R4 from every R100 that you place as a wager, but this doesn't mean that you can't win when playing.

The RTP calculated depends on the random number generator used by online games. These RNGs ensure that the outcomes of casino games match the Return to Player percentage advertised. Online casino games are tested by independent bodies like the UK Gambling Commission to certify the fairness of each game. The hit frequency of a game also determines the RTP as it is the rate at which a specific game will land on a winning combination. Games with a higher hit frequency have a higher RTP and the opposite for games with a lower RTP.

Games with the same RTP typically have the same house edge, but players should know the casino RTP before they start playing. Experienced players calculate the Return to Player percentage before they make their first wager because they want to know what each casino offers. The higher the RTP a specific game has, the more gamblers want to play.

Casino games with low RTP give players reduced chances of winning, which is why they are usually avoided by gamblers. The return percentage helps players know which games have the best-expected return, which games have an average return, and which games have low chances of winning.

Your aim when visiting a casino is to ensure that you're one of the people walking away with a profit. To check the expected return of an online casino game, you can check the game help screen area for more details. Most Casino game developers provide this information to allow players to choose the right game.

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How to Calculate RTP Percentage

RTP (Return to Player) is a crucial factor for players when assessing the potential profitability of a casino game. It represents the percentage of all wagered money that a slot or casino game will pay back to players over time. Knowing how to calculate RTP can help you make informed decisions when choosing which games to play at an online casino.

RTP is calculated by using various statistical models to determine all the possible outcomes of a given game. This calculation is done numerous times over various game sessions to determine an accurate baseline.

To calculate the average return of a game, players will divide the total amount won by the total amount wagered. The result is expressed as a percentage, which represents the long-term expected return over a period. If a game has a higher RTP than another game, it means that there are better chances for players to get big wins.

Players should be aware of the difference between theoretical RTP and actual RTP. The theoretical RTP is the RTP calculated by the software provider, while the actual RTP is the return-to-player payout experienced by real players. These calculations help players make informed decisions when selecting casino games to play at an online casino.

Here are the RTP percentages of some popular casino games:

  • European Roulette: 97.30%
  • American Roulette: 94.74%
  • Classic Blackjack: 99.40%
  • Online Slot Games: 93%-99%
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Importance of RTP to Players

The RTP percentage of an online casino or slot game is important for many reasons. As players play slot machine games, it is important to grow their knowledge of RTP which will enable them to gain an edge. Here are some of the ways the Return to Player percentage is important to players:

Bankroll Management

When playing slots, the RTP of the game helps you to assess the potential risk and reward associated with each bet. Slot machines with a high RTP have a lower house edge while those with a low RTP has a higher house edge. Players should ensure the RTP is calculated before they play any slot game. In addition, players should use the available information to make decisions about their bankroll so they can win more prizes.

Transparency and Trust

Online gambling websites that publish the RTP information of slot machines build trust with their players. It shows a commitment to player protection and makes it easier for players to play at the casino. Finally, players can trust the balance and fairness of the game which improves their confidence in the online gambling casino.

Smart Decision Making

It guides players in choosing the slot machines with the highest RTP. These machines will have frequent payouts, which may lead to a big win. This is why certain slot machine games have a higher player value than others. Players should compare the RTP of slot machine games and choose the game with a high RTP.

Identify Fairness

The fastest way for players to identify a fair slot machine is through its RTP. Slot machines should have a balance between paying the player and paying the casino. If the house edge is too high, then the game is rigged, and if it is too low, the casino loses money. The RTP of slot machines allows players to determine the fairness of a game before they place bets.

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Factors That Determine the RTP of Casino Games

There are several factors that determine the RTP of a game such as its hit frequency, bonus frequency, and the maximum possible win. Here are some of the major factors that determine the RTP of a slot machine game:

Casino Software Providers

Casino software providers develop games based on various criteria, which affect the RTP. Popular software providers have designed RTP for games to lure in new players. In the same way, smaller casino games providers will usually have games with smaller RTP. Players are encouraged to play games from popular developers because they have better RTP.

Jackpots and Bonuses

Progressive jackpots and other high bonus games usually have a lower RTP than other games. These bonuses may create a more exciting gaming experience but the base payouts are usually worse than regular games. Players should understand the tradeoffs they make with every game that they choose.

Game Design

Game designs play a vital role in the RTP of a game. Games of chance like slots usually have a lower RTP than skill-based games like poker or blackjack. Skill-based games are determined by the player's skills. Therefore, more skilled players have the house edge in their favour, while poorly skilled players will lose money. The player's strategy will determine the outcome of the games.

Game Variation

Game variants have different RTPs because they have varying pay lines, hit frequencies, reels, and bonuses. A mega slot game with numerous bonuses will have a higher RTP than a basic slot title. Players must learn the differences in the different variants of the available games so they can select the Highest RTPs.

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RTP and House Edge

The term RTP stands for Return to Player and it deals with the total number of bets a gambler will win each time they play a game. On the other hand, the house edge is the advantage the casino has during each play. The designed RTP of each game is meant to balance the advantages on each side of the gambling table.

Skill games like American Roulette and European Roulette generally have high RTPs and low house edges. While playing these games, bet types like the Straight up bet and the six line bet increase the chances of players getting huge payouts. The six line bet has a 5/1 odd chance with a 15.79% probability.

If the house edge of a game is 7% that means that the RTP is 93%. Therefore, players will receive R93 for every R100 that they put into a slot machine. Before you play any casino games, you should check out the RTP and house edge to see if it has a payout percentage.

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Is It Different At Land-Based Casinos And Online Casinos?

Put simply, yes it is. For example, video slots at brick-and-mortar casinos tend to have an RTP of around 70-75%. In an online casino, they tend to have an RTP of around 95-96%. This means that players who play at online casinos have a much better chance of getting their money back when playing physical slot machines.

The main reason that the RTP at land-based casinos is so much lower is that they have much higher running costs. So a video slot will be using electricity in between games and will use even more while it's being played. This means that a land-based casino has to have a higher house edge in place in order to cover these extra costs. An online casino cuts down on these costs in a large number of ways, this is why it is able to cut down on the house edge by so much. Even the live dealer casino games cost significantly less than in a land-based casino.

If gamblers want to maximise their winning from these games, it is advisable for them to play the online version. Outside the higher RTP, the online versions of these slots are easier to fund and they have an easier interface to navigate. Players can also access the demo versions of these games learn how the mechanics, symbols, and paylines work.

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Who Sets The Payout Percentages?

This all depends on different factors. There are no laws that say a casino has to have a certain payout percentage in place. The casino can choose the RTP themselves in general. This doesn't tend to be the case with video slots where the software developer will choose the RTP for the game. Of course, if the RTP is too high then the casino might choose not to offer it, so it is in the best interest of the developer to not make video slots with super high RTPs.

Games with extremely high RTPs are loved by players but they lose casinos a lot of money. The higher the game's RTP, the more money goes back into the pockets of players. The RTP of the games available at online casinos are carefully balanced to not be easy or overly unfair for players.

When it comes to online video slots the actual RTP can vary from time to time. This is due to the number of people who are playing them and how many big payouts they have made recently. Obviously, a large payout will impact the overall RTP which will have a slight impact on how it reacts in the short term. In the long term though the RTP should remain at a consistent level.

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Can You Check The Payout Percentages?

The answer to this is both yes and no. You could carry out a test on a particular video slot and then try to work out the RTP over a period of time. However, this would take a lot of time and resources to carry out. So it's not really possible for you to check the payout percentages yourself. There is a solution to this problem though.

Companies like TST carry out independent tests on the RTP of casino games. This means that if the casino you are playing at has the TST logo in place then you will be able to simply click on this logo and then you will be taken to the certificate that shows the true RTP of the game. This allows customers to see if the game truly returns what it advertises.

Some casinos and software developers make the RTP information of their slots available publicly. You can find this by visiting the slots providers page or the sub-menu of the game you are playing. If you want to calculate the RTP yourself, you can use the RTP formula after playing some rounds to have concrete numbers for your calculations. You can also reach out to the casino or game providers for clarity on anything you do not understand.

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Online Casinos with the highest return to player rate

Who Are TST?

TST is also known as Gaming Laboratories International. They are an independent company that specializes in the testing of casino games. Because they are independent, it means that they are not influenced by the companies that they test and you can trust the results of their tests. It's a US-based firm and since 2010 has been regarded as the industry authority on testing casino games.

TST uses testing techniques that check the random number generator, hit percentage, and other factors that affect the outcomes of games. They then compare the output of these factors to the performance of the game. It allows players to have a clearer look into how the game operates and the real RTP. Players can trust the seal of the organisation because they are unbiased body that verifies the accuracy, fairness, and transparency of games.

Because TST testing is not a mandatory requirement, any casino that does submit to TST testing offers a great deal of transparency. If you find a casino that does this it means that they have nothing to hide and you have a better chance of being able to trust them. It also means that you will be able to find out which games offer the best return which should improve your playing in the long run.

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Conclusion

The RTP of a game determines how much a player will get paid when they gamble on a machine. When gamblers play online casino games, the bonuses, rewards, and wins are determined by the Return to player ratio. This ratio determines the advantages players have over the casinos when they gamble online and offline.

There are different factors that affect the RTP of a game and players are encouraged to learn these factors. The volatility of a game determines the efficiency of a game's RTP. Games with high volatility usually have fewer wins that are close to the RTP, while games with low volatility have games that are more rewards that are closer to the RTP. Other factors that affect the outcome of RTPs when you play games include game design, variants, and bonuses.

RTP helps players make informed choices about the games they play. Gamblers will enjoy the feeling of a winning streak when they accurately select the slot machine with the right RTP. It also allows players to manage their bankrolls which ensures that they are able to play responsibly. Furthermore, it helps casinos gain the trust of their players as they have all the information regarding the fairness of the slots they will play.

When using the RTP of games to gamble, it is important for you to consider all the factors that affect the performance of slot games. Calculating the RTP of the games you play gives you an edge in the market and allows you to choose a game that can give you the rewards you want. For more details on the RTP of your favorite game, visit the provider page. Play responsibly!

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Frequently Asked Questions about Return to Player Rates

How do I calculate the RTP of a game?

To calculate the RTP of a game, players should divide the total amount won over a period by the amount wagered. Convert the answer to a percentage to have the RTP of the game. The RTPs of games are different so players are advised to calculate the RTP of each title before they start playing.

What is the average RTP for slot games?

The average RTP for slot games is between 93% to 99%. This means that these games have a house edge of between 1% to 7%. Players are encouraged to calculate the RTP of each title before they proceed to place bets.

What are some of the factors that affect the RTP of a game?

The RTP of a game is affected by various outcomes that determine its final outcome. Some of these factors include volatility, design, variation, and jackpots. High volatility slots have fewer rewards closer to the RTP, while low volatility slots have more rewards closer to the RTP.

Do the RTP percentages of games change after they have been released?

No, the RTP of games is fixed throughout their life cycle.

Author and fact checker: Adiela de Bruyn

Adiela de Bruyn biography

Expertise: Online casino reviews, player insights, and marketing strategies.

Experience: 10+ years. Former croupier, casino enthusiast, and contributor to South Africa's online gambling regulations.

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