
The return to players percentage (RTP) is the amount of money refunded to gamblers over a period of time. Big jackpots and infrequent high payouts might bring in new casino players and casual gamblers, but the old foxes are primarily interested in a game’s RTP. They will look for games that will return most of their money over time, regardless of how big the payouts are.
Of course, casinos don't like to advertise their RTPs because if everyone knew which games were the most generous, those would be the only ones being played! That's why we do the research for you and find the best matches with the highest RTP so you can maximize your chances of winning.
RTP is also known as “payback percentage.” In some cases, it may be called the “hold percentage.” The term “volatility” also describes how often a player can expect to win. High volatility games offer the chance of big wins, but they are also elevated risk. Low volatility games offer smaller wins more often.
What is the House Edge?
The “house edge” is the ratio of the cost of a bet to the amount won if it wins. The house edge is really the negative difference between RTP, otherwise known as the “anti-RTP.”
In An Ideal World gambler would be to spend £4 on an online slot, win £200 and then cash out. However, in reality is not the case; most games have a 95% and higher House edge, meaning that casinos always have long-term strategies to ensure they make a profit.
RTP is also known as “payback percentage.” In some cases, it may be called the “hold percentage.” The term “volatility” also describes how often a player can expect to win. High volatility games offer the chance of big wins, but they are also elevated risk. Low volatility games offer smaller wins more often.
How to Calculate RTP
The formula is: (amount of money won – the amount of money bet) / amount of money bet.
For example, if you wagered £100 on a game and won £120, your RTP would be 20%. If you wagered £100 and only won £80, your RTP would be -20%.
RTP is a long-term average. In the short term, anything can happen. You could win £200 on your first spin or lose £100. The most important thing to remember is that over time the game will average out to the stated RTP.
Bear in mind that The RTP is different for every bet type. For example, in Roulette, a bet on red has an RTP of 48.65%. A bet on black has an RTP of 47.37%. A chance on a single number has an RTP of just over 35%.
RTP vs. Volatility
In “gambling speak,” volatility refers to the amount of risk involved when playing a particular game: with “high volatility” meaning you have an increased chance of winning (or losing!) big while “low volatility” implies you’ll win and lose smaller amounts on a more frequent basis.
As key gambling terms, volatility and RTP (“Return to Player”) are frequently used in combination when describing a game. While high volatility and RTP games give you a better chance at a larger payout, they also summon a higher chance of losing (eek!). On the flip side, low volatility and RTP games give you a higher chance of winning but—you guessed it—a lower chance of receiving a hefty payout.
Why Is RTP Important?
RTP is an essential player statistic as it corresponds with the likelihood of winning (e.g., slots with higher RTPs boast better odds than others). While long-term gamblers looking to win more often should most certainly familiarize themselves with RTP percentages, even short-term players can employ related strategies.
RTP rates are easily calculated for some games, such as roulette, but doing so for others (like slots) is often more challenging: as online slots, for example, are loaded with complex algorithms that make it impossible to calculate the RTP for every single spin. Thankfully, most online casinos publish the RTP for each game on their “regulations” page. This includes slot games!
Although physical slot machines have a 10% higher RTP than online slots, many gamblers prefer the latter as it allows them to enjoy gameplay from the comfort of their own home while also taking advantage of extra benefits such as bonuses and free spins.
How do Online Casinos set the RTP?
Online casino sites don’t set the RTP. The game provider, such as Microgaming, Playtech, or NetEnt set the RTP. They build a random number generator (RNG) to ensure that the game is fair and the numbers are genuinely random. The RNG is subsequently verified by independent audit labs such as iTech Labs and eCOGRA. After that, both the developer and the lab may use software to examine hundreds of thousands of spins quickly. The algorithm implemented in the RNG determines how much money people will get back when they play the game.
What is a Good RTP?
The industry average RTP is between 92% and 97%, but some games have RTPs as high as 99%. Having high RTP means that for every £100 you bet, you will get back £99. Of course, this is an average, and in the short term, you could win or lose more than this.
On the other hand, some online slots have RTP as low as 75%. These games should be avoided. Stick to games with an RTP of 95% or higher.
High RTP games are not always the most exciting but offer the best chance to win. If you want a more thrilling experience, you can try games with lower RTPs. Just remember that your chance of winning is less.
You can find the RTP for most online slots in the game’s help section, regulations page, pay table screens, or third-party casino review websites.
Slots Games with the Highest RTP
If you want to make money quickly when playing slots, choose the ones with the best return to player (RTP). The RTP statistic shows how much of what you wagered during the game time will be returned to you. The higher the RTP, the higher your chances of winning.
The following is a table of the slot games with the highest RTP:
Slots Game | Software | RTP |
---|---|---|
Mega Joker | NetEnt | 99% |
Ugga Bugga | Playtech | 99.07% |
Ooh Aah Dracula | Barcrest | 99% |
Joker Strike | Quickspin | 98.11% |
Blood Suckers | NetEnt | 98% |
Jackpot 6000 | NetEnt | 98.86% |
Pai Gow Poker | Playtech | 96.50% |
Jokerizer | Yggdrasil | 98% |
Siberian Storm | IGT | 96.40% |
Gladiator Jackpot | Playtech | 95.50% |
Rainbow Riches Pick n Mix | Barcrest | 98% |
The Catfather | Pragmatic Play | 98.10% |
European Roulette RTP – 97.30%
The RTP for European Roulette is 97.30%, 2.7% higher than American Roulette. When you compare the two side by side, you will see that zeroes are the main difference. American Roulette has two zeroes (0 and 00), while in European Roulette, there is only one zero (0). The number of zeroes makes a big difference to the RTP.
The following is the RTP and House age by the BET TYPE:
Type of bet | Odds | House Edge | RTP |
---|---|---|---|
Split | 17/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
Street | 11/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
Corner/Square | 9/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
Line | 5/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
Straight-up | 35/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
Columns | 35/17 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
Dozens | 35/17 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
Even money bets | 5/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
American Roulette RTP – 94.74%
The RTP in American roulette is 94.74% lower than all the other roulette RTPs. American roulette has two zeroes (0 and 00), making it less favourable to the player.
The following is the RTP and House age by the BET TYPE:
Type of bet | Odds | House Edge | RTP |
---|---|---|---|
Split | 17/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Street | 11/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Corner/Square | 8/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Line | 11/35 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Straight-up | 35/35 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Columns | 35/17 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Dozens | 35/17 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Even money bets | 11/35 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
French Roulette RTP – 98.65%
The RTP for French Roulette is 98.65%. The house edge for French Roulette is, therefore, lower. The following is the RTP and House age by the BET TYPE:
Type of bet | Odds | House Edge | RTP |
---|---|---|---|
Split | 17/17 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Street | 11/11 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Corner/Square | 8/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Line | 11/35 | 5.26% | 98.65% |
Straight-up | 35/35 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Columns | 35/17 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Dozens | 35/17 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Even money bets | 11/35 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Multi-Wheel Roulette RTP – 97.30%
Multi-wheel Roulette means that you can place bets on many different wheels at the same time. This way, you can win more money if you are lucky. The RTP for multi-wheel Roulette is 97.30%.
The following is the RTP and house age by the BET TYPE:
97.30% | Odds | House Edge | RTP |
---|---|---|---|
Split | 17/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Street | 11/11 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Corner/Square | 8/1 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Line | 11/35 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Straight-up | 35/35 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Columns | 35/17 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Dozens | 3/1 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Even money bets | 11/35 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Lightning Roulette RTP – 97.3%
This is a live dealer game where you can simultaneously place bets on the outcomes of up to five roulette wheels. The RTP for this game is 97.30%.
The following is the RTP and House age by the BET TYPE:
97.30% | Odds | House Edge | RTP |
---|---|---|---|
Split | 17/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Street | 11/11 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
Corner/Square | 8/1 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Line | 11/35 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Straight-up | 35/35 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Columns | 35/17 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Dozens | 3/1 | 5.26% | 97.30% |
Even money bets | 11/35 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
By understanding RTP, you can become a more informed gambler and thus boost your chances of winning: a true win-win! In fact, RTP is merely one useful tool for your overall gambling strategy. Experiment with different games and betting strategies to learn what works best for you—and always gamble responsibly!
FAQs

RTP is an abbreviation for "Return to Player," which represents the expected percentage of money a casino game pays back to players in the long run.

RTP is calculated by dividing the total amount of money returned to players by the total amount of money wagered on the game. This calculation is based on the game's rules and payout structure.

Generally, a high return-to-player (RTP) rate implies that a game is highly profitable for players in the long run. Nevertheless, it's essential to remember that RTP does not guarantee winning; short-term results can still be unpredictable.

Unfortunately, no casino game has a return-to-player rate of 100% or higher. This is because such an RTP would mean that players could potentially break even in the long term or win more money than they invested—something casinos cannot allow.

Absolutely not! Players cannot alter the RTP of a casino game in any way. The RTP is determined by a combination of established rules and payouts, set forth by either the game developer or the casino itself.

A game's RTP does not change over time. However, the actual payouts a player receives in the short term can vary widely due to the volatility of casino games.

One potential downside of using RTP as a measure of a game's profitability is that it does not take into account the variance or volatility of the game. A high-RTP game may still have a high degree of variance, meaning that players could experience long losing streaks before hitting a big win.