RTP stands for Return to Player and measures the theoretical percentage of total money wagered that a game pays back to players over time.
RTP casino terminology can be confusing for beginners, but the concept is straightforward.
For example, an RTP of 96% would theoretically pay out €96 for every €100 wagered over time.
However, it can take thousands or millions of spins for actual results to approach the theoretical RTP, meaning players can win or lose significantly more than the RTP percentage in the short term.
This guide explains how to find the RTP on a slot machine, answers what a good RTP for slots is, and breaks down common misconceptions.
Key findings
- RTP (Return to Player) is the theoretical percentage of all money wagered that a game pays back to players over the long term.
- A 96% RTP means an expected €96 return per €100 wagered over millions of spins, not in any single session.
- House edge is 100% minus RTP, so a 96% RTP game gives the operator a theoretical 4% edge.
- Volatility and hit frequency describe how and how often a game pays out, while RTP only measures how much it returns overall.
- The same slot can carry different RTPs by casino and jurisdiction, and minimums vary, with Malta setting 85% and Italy 90% for online slots.
What is RTP in casino games?
So, what does RTP mean in slot machines and casino games?
The RTP percentage measures the percentage of stakes a game returns over time, not how much users are guaranteed to win in a single session.
For example, over 1 million €1 spins, a game with 96% RTP would theoretically pay out €960,000.
However, in a single €100 session on the same game, users may receive returns that are higher or lower than €96.
If three separate bettors each wagered €100 on the same 96% RTP casino game, they could receive €178, €91, and €57, respectively.
A game’s volatility, meaning the frequency and size of payouts, also impacts when returns are distributed.
For example, a high-volatility game may offer infrequent but large payouts. Theoretically, a player may win €178 in a €100 session but secure significantly less over their next €100 session.
Over 1 million or more spins, the actual return would theoretically be more likely to approach the game’s RTP, although individual outcomes can still vary.
Yet, even over 1 million spins, RTP is theoretical, and players may receive different actual outcomes.
Below is an example of how an online casino RTP may contrast with actual outcomes over a €1 million lifetime session.
Total wagers: €1,000,000
Theoretical RTP: 96%
Theoretical return: €960,000
Theoretical difference: €40,000
Actual return: €982,000
Actual RTP: 98.20%
How does RTP work?
Actual RTP refers to the percentage of total stakes that is returned to players over a specific period or sample of play.
This differs from RTP, which represents the percentage a player is theoretically expected to receive based on the game’s mathematical model.
To calculate actual RTP, users should use this formula:
Actual RTP = (amount returned to players ÷ amount wagered) × 100
In practice:
€982,000 ÷ €1,000,000 × 100 = 98.20%
Actual RTP can be calculated over any sample size. For example:
€12 ÷ €15 x 100 = 80%
However, a game’s theoretical RTP is based on long-term averages calculated from its mathematical model.
In the United Kingdom, the UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission) states that licensees must have sufficient RTP monitoring in place and that the main form of monitoring should calculate actual RTP and compare it with the expected RTP.
Essentially, a game must undergo independent testing to ensure that its actual performance is consistent with its theoretical RTP.
What does RTP mean in slots?
So, what is RTP in slots? Slots RTP works the same way: it represents the theoretical percentage of wagers a slot is designed to return to players over the long term.
| Example slot | RTP | Theoretical long-term return per €100 wagered |
| Slot A | 94% | €94 |
| Slot B | 96% | €96 |
| Slot C | 98% | €98 |
The RTP slots meaning is therefore relatively simple: the figure represents the theoretical long-term return from a slot game.
However, a slot with a 98% RTP doesn’t guarantee exactly €98 returns per every €100 wagered.
What is a good RTP for slots?
A higher slot RTP means a greater theoretical long-term return.
For example, 97% RTP slots are expected to secure more returns than 95% equivalents.
However, there is no definitive answer to what a good RTP for slots is. Most slots have RTP percentages below 100%, meaning players are expected to lose over time.
On some occasions, casinos offer 100% – 102% RTP promotions. However, these rare promotions don’t eliminate risk. A user could still wager €100 on a slot with a 102% RTP and only secure €88, a €12 loss.
Promotions with higher slot machine RTP percentages are expected to produce greater returns over time, but don’t guarantee users break even or make a profit.
| Slot | Provider | Published RTP | Volatility |
| Star Pigs of the Clusterverse | Gaming Corps | 95.80% / 94.00% /91.80% | 8/10 |
| Raiders of the East | BF Games | 92.24% / 94.11% / 96.30% | High |
| Prospect Wilds: Get Lit | Prospect Gaming | 95% / 93% / 91% | High |
RTP vs house edge: What’s the difference?
What is house edge and RTP, and how are they related? RTP and house edge are two sides of the same mathematical concept.
To calculate the casino’s house edge, bettors should complete the following formula:
100% – RTP = house edge
For example, for a slot game with an RTP of 95.80%, such as Star Pigs of the Clusterverse, the formula is as follows:
100% – 95.80% = 4.20%
This means that, over time, the operator has a theoretical house edge of 4.20%, giving them a mathematical advantage.
It doesn’t mean the operator has a 4.20% house edge on every wager. For example, if a user wagers €100, the operator isn’t guaranteed €4.20 profit.
| RTP | House edge |
| 94% | 6% |
| 96% | 4% |
| 98% | 2% |
RTP vs volatility vs hit frequency
Casino game’s product pages often include three metrics: RTP, volatility, and hit frequency. But how do the metrics differ, and what does volatility mean in slots?
Volatility measures how often a slot pays out and how big those wins are. For example, in a high-volatility game, a user may receive limited returns on dozens of spins before securing a large payout on the 35th attempt.
Over millions of spins, high- and low-volatility games with the same slot RTP offer the same expected returns. Volatility measures how those returns are distributed.
In a ten-spin sequence, two users playing high- and low-volatility slot games may both secure €50, but receive their returns differently.
| Spin 1 | Spin 2 | Spin 3 | Spin 4 | Spin 5 | Spin 6 | Spin 7 | Spin 8 | Spin 9 | Spin 10 | Total | |
| Stake | €6 | €6 | €6 | €6 | €6 | €6 | €6 | €6 | €6 | €6 | €60 |
| High volatility game returns | €0 | €0 | €0 | €1 | €0 | €0 | €44 | €0 | €5 | €0 | €50 |
| Low volatility game returns | €6 | €4 | €5 | €4 | €5 | €1 | €5 | €8 | €4 | €8 | €50 |
Meanwhile, hit frequency measures how often a spin results in a winning combination or payout. Unlike RTP, it does not indicate how much a player is expected to win, only how frequently wins occur.
| Metric | What it tells you | Usually expressed as |
| RTP | Theoretical long-term return | Percentage |
| Volatility | General distribution/pattern of payouts | Low/Medium/High or provider rating |
| Hit frequency | Theoretical frequency of winning outcomes | Percentage |
How can you find a game’s RTP?
Each game’s RTP information is available in several places.
While the game’s product page on its provider’s website may feel like the most logical place to find the RTP, it may offer several different figures.
Providers can offer two, three, or more RTP percentages for individual casinos and jurisdictions to choose from.
For example, Star Pigs of the Clusterverse may have an RTP of 95.80% at one casino and 94.00% at another.
As such, it’s safer to find a game’s RTP on the casino’s information page, which usually also includes volatility and hit frequency.
In the UK, licensed online casinos must provide customers with information about a game’s chances of winning before they gamble, which can include its RTP percentage.
Does a higher RTP mean you are more likely to win?
Games with higher RTP percentages are more likely to offer greater long-term returns, but the metric has limitations in predicting the outcomes of a user’s next few spins.
For example, previous spins don’t influence future outcomes. If a user has failed to secure a return over several consecutive spins, they’re no more or less likely to win the next one.
Random number generators (RNGs) determine a game’s outcome independently of previous results.
The RNG operates according to the game’s underlying mathematical model, including its RTP percentage, which determines the probabilities of different outcomes independently of previous spins.
As such, RTPs indicate a game’s long-term expected returns, but they don’t explain whether the next spin will win, when wins occur, or how much a user will win or lose in a particular session.
How is RTP regulated and tested in Europe?
While UKGC-licensed casinos require third-party organisations to test RTP before a game is released, regulations vary across Europe.
In Malta, MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) compliance processes require game sheets showing RTP, RNG certification and technical documentation. The MGA can use periodic checks/certification to verify RTP compliance.
The MGA also stipulates that games must have a minimum RTP of 85%.
Meanwhile, Italy’s ADM (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli) requires online slots to have a minimum RTP of 90%, while land-based video lottery terminals (VLTs) must return at least 83%.
Most other European nations do not have minimum RTP regulations. Theoretically, in Germany, games could have RTP percentages of 65%. However, such games would be unlikely to attract customers.
However, Germany’s GGL states that online gambling is subject to technical supervision and mandatory IT monitoring systems. The German regulator states that players must be shown the probability of the maximum win and the average payout per euro staked (RTP).
| Market | RTP requirement/disclosure | Testing/certification approach |
| Great Britain | None | Independent testing of game maths, theoretical RTP and RNG before release; live RTP monitoring |
| Malta | 85% | Games must be tested/certified by approved independent testing laboratories |
| Italy | 90% (online slots); 83% (land-based VLTs) | Minimum RTP is monitored periodically |
Common RTP myths
Beginner gamblers often misinterpret what RTP measures.
A 96% RTP score doesn’t guarantee that a user loses 4% per session. A bettor may receive higher or lower returns in a single session, while actual returns may not reflect RTP until millions of rounds have been played.
Meanwhile, others may believe a 98% RTP game must pay out more frequently than a 96% RTP game.
While a 98% RTP game is expected to generate higher returns than a 96% equivalent over time, those returns could be distributed less evenly, depending on the title’s volatility and hit frequency.
Hit frequency explains how often games offer returns while volatility explains whether those returns are expected to vary in value or remain relatively consistent.
RTP does not predict when a game is likely to pay out; it only indicates the expected proportion of money returned to players over time.
A game’s RTP percentage can vary by operator and jurisdiction. Operators can offer a game with an 80% RTP in the UK, but not in Malta.
As such, several game providers offer two, three or more RTP percentages to casinos. The same title can have a different RTP percentage across casinos.
