What Is RTP? Return to Player Explained
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RTP, or return to player, is the percentage share of all stakes money on a game that is paid back as winnings. RTP is calculated across millions of spins with each title assigned a percentage RTP value out of 100%.
While game RTP is a fixed percentage, personal RTP plays a bigger factor, meaning you can win more or less depending on your individual session. RTP is set by the game’s maths and checked by independent testing labs over millions of spins. The RNG then decides the result of each spin, so a 96% RTP is not a guarantee of what you’ll get back.
This page is purely informational and used to help you understand how RTP affects gameplay. Check out our Responsible Gambling page if you need any assistance with your gambling habits or want to set safe limits to your gameplay.
What Does RTP Mean?
RTP is the average percentage of all bets a game is designed to pay back over a very large number of rounds. RTP is determined over millions of tested spins with a percentage out of 100% determined based on the average return on bet values.
RTP in gambling is applicable to a number of online casino games including online slots, RNG table games like blackjack or roulette, and online casino titles. The RTP is applied to the game itself and is not indicative of the player or the casino played at; games are tested independently to determine their RTP value.
How Is RTP Calculated?
RTP is calculated using the formula:
Total paid out value ÷ total wagered amount × 100.
As an example, if you wager £100 million on a game and it pays back £96 million over time, the RTP is 96%. The formula looks like this:
£96m ÷ £100m × 100 = 96%
Games start with a theoretical RTP based on the game's maths. This is then tested independently by testing labs over millions of spins to determine a game’s final published RTP value. This final value is what is displayed when the game becomes available on UK casino sites.
RTP values are tested across millions of theoretical spins to determine a game’s final RTP value that is visible on the game’s paytable. Games on UK-licensed sites are tested by independent labs such as eCOGRA and iTech Labs. UK-licensed casinos must make information about each game’s RTP available to players, usually in the game’s info or paytable.
What 96% RTP Really Means
While RTP is a vital statistic for helping you determine your next online casino game to play, it does not indicate a guarantee of wins or potential losses.
| The Myth Around RTP | The Reality Around RTP |
|---|---|
| RTP indicates a guaranteed return on my bets i.e. 96% on £100 guarantees £96 | Each spin is random, so in one session you could get back more or less than £96 for every £100 |
| The remaining RTP percentage is the fee I expect to pay on my bets i.e. £100 on 96% means I lose £4 | The 4% is the house edge, the casino’s expected share over a very large number of bets. In one session, you could lose more or less |
| RTP is purely based on the initial amount deposited and played on a game | RTP applies to every bet you make, including bets made with winnings, not just your first deposit. |
| RTP is the only factor to consider on an online casino game | There are a range of factors to consider including Volatility, RNG, and your budget |
Why Your Results Can Be Very Different From the RTP
RTP isn’t the only factor that can impact the results of your playing rounds. As well as considering the RTP value of your game, be mindful of other factors including:
Variance and Volatility
As well as RTP, many slots show a volatility level, from low to high, in the game info. Volatility describes how often a game pays out and how big the wins tend to be. High Volatility slots pay out less often but with larger average payouts with Low Volatility working in the opposite way for frequent and small wins.
A reminder that, like RTP, Volatility does not guarantee wins or higher average returns as it still runs on RNG technology. Your results can still be much higher or lower than the RTP, because each spin is random.
The Role of the Random Number Generator (RNG)
Online slots and RNG table games use a random number generator technology, meaning that the results of each round are determined by random chance. Much like RTP, RNG is independently tested to ensure the results of each round are fully randomised and fair for all players.
Sample Size
Sample size affects how close your own results get to the RTP. Theoretical RTP values are tested across millions of spins to determine the assigned RTP value. When playing an individual session over only a few hundred spins, the session RTP can be higher or lower based on the smaller sample size that can include more or less frequent winning spins.
Jackpots and Features
Certain jackpot functionalities can also impact your RTP as a percentage of the game’s RTP contributes towards the jackpot feature. Additionally, jackpots have a much lower likelihood of activating compared to a standard win, meaning your personal RTP could be lower based on the chance of triggering the jackpot prize.
RTP and House Edge
RTP and House Edge are complementary statistics when looking at your favourite online casino games. The higher the RTP, the lower the House Edge, so you can expect to lose less on average over time.
Check out the average RTP and House Edge you can expect on common game types including:
| Game type | Typical RTP range | House edge range |
|---|---|---|
| Online slots | 94%-97% | 3% to 6% |
| Roulette | 94.74% (American) to 97.30% (European) | 2.70% to 5.26% |
| Blackjack | 99%-99.80% | 0.2% to 1% |
| Baccarat | 98.76% to 98.94% (Player and Banker bets) | 1.06% to 1.24% |
| Video Poker | 95% to 99.5%+ (depending on version) | 0.5% to 5% |
Can RTP Change?
When playing a game on a casino site, RTP values can differ depending on a number of factors. Check out some of the most common factors that can impact your RTP percentage including:
- Multiple RTP Versions - Many slots are released with several RTP versions. The casino chooses which RTP version it offers, so the same game can have a slightly different RTP at different sites.
- Regional Differences - Different regions feature different RTP ranges based on legislation and regulations. RTP versions can differ between countries depending on local rules.
- Bonus Features - Some games will include bonus features or side bets that impact the total RTP value. For example, jackpot slots will remove a percentage of the total RTP for the base game and put it towards the RTP of the jackpot function.
At UK-licensed casinos, each RTP version must be tested and approved, and the game’s info should show the RTP that applies. Any time a game RTP changes, it has to go through the same independent testing to ensure that it still maintains the same level of fairness for all players.
RTP in Sports Betting (The Betting Margin)
RTP in Sports Betting works differently as it carries a factor known as The Betting Margin. Essentially, the bookmaker determines the odds based on the theoretical probability of the bet. The bookmaker sets the return of the bet and this can alter dynamically as the game or match progresses.
For example, odds of 2.50 (decimal) mean a winning £10 bet returns £25, including your £10 stake. The betting margin is the bookmaker’s built-in profit. On a coin toss with a true 50/50 chance, fair odds would be 2.00 on each side. A bookmaker might offer 1.91 on both, which gives a margin of about 4.7%, the equivalent of an RTP of around 95.5%.
Similarly to RTP, however, betting margins don’t guarantee wins, nor can they tell you when a bet will win. Sports results are uncertain, so no bet is guaranteed to win.
What RTP Can and Can't Tell You
While RTP is an important aspect when picking your next online casino game, it doesn’t cover everything you need to know about a game. When looking at a game’s RTP, keep your expectations in check and be aware of what RTP can and can’t tell you about a game’s winning potential.
| What RTP Can Tell You | What RTP Can’t Tell You |
|---|---|
| The statistical chance of return on your stake across multiple spins | The average return a game is designed to pay over a very large number of rounds |
| How two games compare on a statistical chance level i.e. blackjack vs roulette | The total return you will receive on an individual session |
| The legitimacy of a game or site’s testing process; lower-than-average RTP values could indicate an unlicensed casino site | Which version of a game a casino is using, if it shows a lower RTP than the provider’s maximum |
Gambling Within Your Limits
When playing online casino games, it’s important to always keep Responsible Gambling at the centre of how you play. Always keep within your limits and never play beyond your comfortable boundaries or budget. To help keep you safe, check out the following resources available all UKGC-licensed casino sites.
- Deposit Limits - You can set Deposit Limits to help you stay within your budget. You can also extend this to how much you can spend per session to keep you informed at all times.
- Time-Outs - Set Time-Outs to make sure your sessions never exceed a comfortable amount of time. Time-outs let you take a break from your account for a set period. The options vary by casino.
- Reality Checks - Set up Reality Checks that notify you when you’ve exceeded your comfortable limits. These can be set for session times or spending limits to give you a helping hand.
- Self Exclusion - If you want to self-exclude from all UKGC-licensed online casinos at once, use GAMSTOP. For free, confidential support, call GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, available 24/7, or visit GambleAware.