What is RTP?

If you’re a fan of casino and slot games, one acronym you will come across very frequently is RTP. It appears very often in slot reviews, and you can also find it mentioned on game information pages in online casinos. So what exactly does RTP stand for? And is it something you need to know when choosing what games to play? 

These are common questions in gambling circles, and the usual answers are; RTP means Return To Player, and yes, it is crucial. But the reality is not quite as clear-cut as that, so read on to find out more.

RTP stands for Return To Player and is calculated and expressed as a percentage. The common explanation is that if you put 100 coins into a slot game with an RTP of 96%, you will receive 96 coins back in prize money. But this is not strictly true. 

RTP is a theoretical number and refers to the expected percentage of all the money bet on the game over its lifetime that will be paid out in prize money. It is not a guarantee of what each individual player can expect to win from a game. 

It is, in fact, an average figure that refers to all players of the game and not each individual. And this means that for any big wins that a slot pays, there has to be more in losses to keep the balance. 

You might think this would be the case, but it isn't. Slots and games with high RTP percentages don't necessarily give the highest payouts. If you want to know what you can expect in the way of wins from a slot, you also have to take into account variance or volatility, as it is also known. 

Volatility is expressed as a range, not as a figure or percentage and refers to how often you can expect a payout to happen. Slots can be low, medium, or high variance. Low volatility slots award prizes frequently, but they are usually on the low side. Medium volatility means a combination of smaller and larger wins. And high volatility slots can see long dry spells, but the wins are usually more substantial when they come. 

So to get an idea of what is in store in the way of wins, you have to look at both the RTP and volatility of the slot. A slot with low volatility and high RTP will award lots of little wins but very few big prizes. On the other hand, a slot with high volatility and RTP will eventually award a big payout. But you will need good bankroll management to stay in the game between wins. 

A knowledge of RTP and volatility together can give help you decide which games are worth playing. But neither measurement is a guarantee of a big win. Every player’s experience will be different, and in the end, RTP, just like the House Edge, always favours the casino. So always set a loss limit for each gambling session, and never bet money you can’t afford to lose. Good Luck.