Return to player (RTP) is one of the most important aspects for online casino game developers and fans to consider. In simple terms, the metric indicates to players the average amount they can expect to win back from £100. Of course, this is never guaranteed, but the average amount can be a helpful indicator of which games are more likely to pay out.
Just as a surge in AI-related demand has driven Nvidia chip sales, the increasingly popular online slots world has benefited from a surge in RTP percentages and wider understanding. Back in the early days of the online slot industry, most games were below the 96% average, with a handful going in the opposite direction and hitting heights of over 98%. Developers quickly realised that the highest-scoring titles were also the most popular, which is unsurprising considering the improved chances of success they provided to players.
Since then, RTP has been the primary benchmark for players and game developers. The concept has been central to enhancing the overall online casino experience, giving players something akin to the house edge that conventional gambling strategy guides for games like blackjack seek to minimise as much as possible.
Below, we explore the concept of RTP in greater detail, investigating how it has enhanced slot machines at online casinos. We’ll also offer commentary on how to make RTP work to your advantage and offer a few more useful tips and tricks to optimise your online slot gameplay.
What is return to player (RTP)?
First things first — what is RTP? As we briefly mentioned in our introduction, RTP stands for return to player and is indicative of the average amount you can expect to win back from your stake. RTP is given as a percentage and reflects the theoretical payout over a long period of play. For example, an online slot with 96% RTP would return £96 for every £100 wagered on average.
In reality, this value is almost certainly going to be different. Players could win or lose far more than £96 from £100. It’s integral to remember that while RTP can be a reliable indicator of the likelihood of a payout, it’s by no means a statistic that has to end up being correct. Learning about RTP in slots and other essential characteristics is crucial for beginners in particular, which is something that the casinomeister.com/blog/ can be incredibly useful for.
How is RTP calculated?
Understanding how RTP is calculated is also extremely important, as this knowledge helps you understand how software providers arrive at their figures. Game developers run long-term simulations to calculate the average return from every £100, often with millions of simulated spins. This provides a statistically proven average rather than a simple estimate.
These scores are also verified by independent game testing organisations like iTechLabs and eCOGRA. As a result, players can be sure that game developers are being 100% transparent regarding their RTPs. One thing to always remember is that these scores are calculated over millions of spins. This means that players will most likely get a different RTP score while running their own tests using a dozen or so spins.
In other words, just because a game has 98% RTP doesn’t mean it will payout more than a 96% RTP game unless you’re playing millions of spins.
The importance of choosing high RTP games
Despite the fact that RTP cannot guarantee one game pays out more than another, choosing games with higher scores is a simple way to boost your statistical chances. Higher RTP games offer better potential returns over time, so choosing these games naturally makes more sense than low RTP options. This can keep your bankroll going for longer and offer better value, but it’s also not quite this simple.
For example, progressive jackpot slots typically have lower RTPs than other games, but your payout will be far larger if you’re lucky enough to hit the jackpot. Slot volatility can also make a huge difference as it describes how frequently you’ll hit winning spins and the potential sizes of the payouts. A low volatility slot will be more likely to payout smaller amounts more frequently, while a high volatility slot will likely result in fewer winning spins but they are likely to have larger values.
So, while choosing high RTP games is an important part of maximising your online slot strategy, be careful not to get tunnel vision.
RTP in slot machines: Will it keep rising?
By now, you can probably see the value of RTP in enhancing your results while playing online slots. Game developers are always looking for new ways to attract new players to their games, and offering attractive RTP scores is a key part of the equation. As a result, the average RTP has steadily crept up over the past decade, with many games now hitting the 97% mark and beyond.
But can RTP keep rising? It’s a tricky question, as game developers and online casinos still need to retain some kind of house edge to stay profitable. Most experts expect RTP scores to gradually plateau over the next few years, with software providers needing to think up new ways to attract players.
For example, game designers are already experimenting with brand-new gaming mechanics, with the Megaways concept being one of the most exciting. Slots that incorporate the Megaways mechanic can deliver up to 117,649 ways to win, providing players with more winning opportunities. This is just one of the ways that game developers can enhance the online slot machine experience without solely worrying about the game’s RTP.
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