RTP Explained

RTP stands for Return To Player and it describes the amount a slot pays back to the players over a large number of spins, usually indicated as a percentage. For example, a slot with an RTP of 96.5% will give back £96.5 for every £100 that goes into it. So, this number basically explains how much you can expect to win playing a particular slot game.

It is important to understand that this number is calculated based on a huge number of spins, usually millions.  Usually, the RTP is calculated as a theoretical value taking into account a mathematical model of a particular slot (number of lines, number of combinations, symbols on the reels and so on).  Then, a slot is tested using special simulations to confirm whether the theoretical RTP is accurate.

So, over a short session of a few hundred or a few thousand spins, everything can happen, which is exactly what makes slots exciting. A game that would pay back exactly £96.7 after 100 spins played at £1 would hardly be entertaining to play.  

But over a session of 100,000,000 spins, you can expect to predict if a slot is going to pay or not.  For example, after a series of non-winning 9,999 rounds game with RTP of 95% will have a probability of about 99% to pay out on the next spin.

Whilst many people decide which slot to play based on the theme, special features or promotional offers, the savvy gamblers steer towards slots with the highest RTP. The house edge of online slot machines can vary widely, and it stands to reason that the lower the house edge, the better your chances of winning.

How can math help you?

If you played brick and mortar casino you are probably aware of “hot stations” or “hot machines”. Those are slots that have spun a high amount of spins without paying back anything, and the chances are higher that these machines will payout on the next spin.

Games that you find in casinos are all provided by the game providers. They are managed and controlled by the providers, and they monitor their performance. In cases, where the actual RTP goes crazy (too low, or too high), they are supposed to report this. They monitor RTP performance across all their clients, meaning that if you know actual RTP now you have better chances of predicting the outcomes.

For example, the “Book of Dead” slot that you find at Casino A is the same slot at Casino B that shares the same RTP of 96%. So, if the game at Casino A performs with a low actual RTP, the chances of winning at Casino B while playing this game are higher.

We are monitoring actual RTPs of popular slot games across a number of casinos where millions of spins are made every second.  Before you do your next spin you can see where it will be more profitable for you!