Have you ever wondered how casinos make money off of slots? After all, it is a game of luck so the chances of winning should be equal. Well, if that were the case, all the casinos would be in danger of losing money, so there is a system to ensure they have higher chances of winning money than the slot user. This system is based on slot RTP (return-to-player) percentage. I will explain why RTP is so important in the iGaming industry and how users can use it to better their chances of winning.
Slot RTP explained
RTP means “return to player” and is shown in percentage of how likely a player will win on a certain slot. It represents the average amount of money that the slot will allow a player to win. Let’s say the RTP of a slot is 94%. That means that if a player places a bet worth €1, they will on average have a return of €0.94. Because the RTP percentage is always under 100%, casinos have higher chances of winning money from players than payers have of winning money from casinos.
Keep in mind that RTP is determined by a massive sample size of simulated betting rounds. If you play a game with a 94% RTP, it doesn’t always indicate that you will lose exactly 6% of your bankroll. Even a lengthy, prudently controlled gaming session lasting many hours is unlikely to accurately represent the genuine RTP of a slot machine.
Average slot RTP
Most iGames have an RTP of between 95% and 97% in order to give the players a feel like they are winning often even though the casinos are gaining money from them. Slots usually have similar RTPs but even the small differences bring higher chances of winning for players.
Volatility
However, RTP should not be considered a predictor of how often a player will win. It is not to be confused with volatility, which is an indicator of winning frequency. A higher volatility means that a game is paying out less frequently, with higher amounts, while low volatility is paying out more frequently with smaller amounts.
Therefore, two slots can have the same RTP but very different volatility. Because RTP is looking at the average return to the player, it means the two volatilities can be drastically different but have the same average return.
For example, a player bets €1 on a slot 1000 times and wins only once an amount of €940. That means that the slot has high volatility and a slot RTP of 94%. Another player bets €1 on another slot 1000 times and wins a total of €940 but from multiple smaller winnings. That slot has lower volatility but the same RTP of 94%.
Casino games and RTP
Different games at casinos have different RTP. Knowing the average RTP of each game can be crucial in knowing how to play slots and other casino games. As mentioned above, most slot RTPs are around 95% to 97%. However, other casino games have slight differences which can be the margin between winning and losing.
A good example is the difference between European and American Roulette. European Roulette has an average RTP of 97.3%, while American Roulette has a lower average RTP of 94.74%. This is because American Roulette has an extra 00 slot that lowers the chances of players winning. Therefore, smart players prefer playing European Roulette over its American counterpart.
Some games don’t have a fixed RTP as players can directly increase it with their actions. The two most popular examples are Blackjack and Baccarat. For new players, it is usually around 97.7%, but experienced players can bring RTP up to 99.5% with basic blackjack strategies. Baccarat also has a high RTP of around 99% if you bet on the banker or the player.
Games with best slot RTP
There are certain slot games that are known for having a higher RTP than others. The best RTPs can be found in online casinos, as land-based slots tend to have a much bigger house edge than their online counterparts.
When it comes to specific slot games, there are two games from Relax Gaming that steal the show based on their RTP. Book of 99 is a game that offers its players an RTP that is as high as 99%. The second one is Marching Legions, and it has a slightly lower RTP of 98.12%.
Where to find slot RTP?
Some online casinos offer metrics of RTP or house edge as a part of their user interface so it is clear to the players what games give more average returns. If that is not the case, players can usually find information about slot RTP of a certain game by searching online. However, more and more casinos are focusing on transparency towards the players.
In conclusion, a slot RTP is a metric showing what percentage of a player’s bet can win back on average on a certain slot. It is important to differentiate it from the slot’s volatility as RTP doesn’t indicate how frequently players can win on a certain slot. Knowing slot RTP is crucial for understanding your chances of winning as casinos always have a bigger chance than the player to win money. That’s why playing a slot that has even half a percentage bigger RTP is a significant advantage for the player.