Whether it’s , online slots or online bingo , all casino games have an RTP. RTP is an abbreviation for the term ‘Return To Player’, and it is the algorithm casinos use to set the payout amount of a game
Remember you need to be 18+ to gamble within the UK and please feel free to visit BeGambleAware.org for more information on how to gamble safely.
What is RTP?
The RTP of a game refers to the amount a player can expect returned to them over the lifetime of a game via a percentage. This also helps attract players to a casino – especially if the RTP is above 95%.
Most RTP’s range between 92-97%. This means that over the duration of the game for one player, this amount can be expected to be returned for every pound that is staked during a session. Of course, different games will offer a different RTP depending on the game type.
An example of how RTP’s work is if an online slot has an RTP of 97%, you could expect to win an average of 97p for every £1 staked during the lifetime of your gameplay.
How Do Casinos Calculate the RTP?
The formula to calculate the RTP is simple enough. The RTP is calculated through a significant amount of game players over time and is an average of the prize achieved. The formula is the total amount to be returned to players divided by the total amount gambled by the players. However, how often you win is not determined.
It’s much easier to determine when you will receive a win with table casino games such as Blackjack, however game machines are more ambiguous. Although the RTPs of Blackjack are difficult to calculate as they are also determined by the skill of the player. To give you an average breakdown of casino game RTP’s, we have the following:
- Online Slots at 93 -99%
- European Roulette at 97.3%
- American Roulette at 94.7%
Knowing how to calculate the RTP of a game is great for a players decision making when selecting what game, they want to play. Don’t forget, that the more often a game is played, the higher a player’s chances are of a win. With so many online slots available, it would be difficult to pick which casino game you’d want to play. However, online slots or other casino games with a lower RTP should still be considered!
Volatility of Online Slots
The thing about online slots is that you never know when you can get a win, or even a Jackpot win. High volatility slots refer to games that may not offer even a small win for a long period of time but can then hit players with a massive Jackpot win. Low volatility slots refer to slots that offer small but frequent wins. However, the likelihood of winning a Jackpot on these games is very slim.
Of course, the volatility of a game is a personal preference for a player.
House Edge Games
Casino Games such as Roulette, Blackjack or Baccarat are games that are considered to give the land based or live casinos the advantage. This gives reference to the name house edge and is the average percentage a casino would expect to retain from each hand. This is similar to the RTP of an online casino game.
Conclusion
Most online slots are very clear on their RTP, and they can usually be found in the game pages of a slot or in its Terms and Conditions. When choosing an online slot to play, it’s not just the RTP you should look out for. Any online casino you wish to play on, should be regulated by a governing body. If it’s not, then it means the casino is not properly licensed. To name a few of the governing bodies:
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- UK Gambling Commission
- Swedish Gambling Authority
This information can also be found in the footers of most casino sites.