For more than a century now, slot machines have been enjoyed as a way of passing the time, having fun, and hopefully bagging yourself a few bucks in the process.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, especially the internet, online casinos have become hugely popular. As far as the fun factor goes, online slots are perfect. Online slot machines are easy to use, come with a variety of different themes, and can pay very generously.
If you’re familiar with online slots you may have heard people talking about RTP, or slots RTP. But what exactly does RTP mean, and can you use it to enhance your online slot experience? Let’s find out, shall we? Here’s everything you need to know about slots RTP explained.
What Does RTP Mean?
Put very simply, whenever you see or hear RTP being used when talking about slot machines, it stands for ‘Return to Player’.
RTP is used a lot in betting terms and is very important when it comes to your overall slot experience, but what the heck is it?
RTP is used to describe the amount of money that the slot machine will pay back to players over a certain number of spins. The number is expressed, typically as a percentage. So, as an example, if you find an online slot with an RTP percentage of 96%, this means that for every $1 that you bet, you will receive $0.96 back.
The percentage has to be less than 100% otherwise the casinos would never make any profits. RTP is calculated based on a vast number of spins which usually spans into the millions. It doesn’t mean that you’d be guaranteed to lose your bankroll by playing one. The uncertainty kicks in over a much shorter number of spins and it is here where the excitement happens as you could very well win big.
What’s a Normal RTP for Slots?
On average, you’ll find that most slots, both physical and online, have an RTP of between 92% and 97%. There are, however, some which have a higher RTP than this, and some which have a lower RTP percentage.
The casino does NOT determine the RTP of the slot machine. It is the game developer who is responsible for that.
RTP and Volatility
When talking about RTP in slots, some people confuse this with volatility. In truth, the two are different and unique.
Volatility in slots is a reference to how the RTP is distributed via the slot. This means that you aren’t guaranteed to win more on an online slot machine with an RTP of 97% compared with one of 90%.
An online slot with high volatility won’t pay out very often, especially in small amounts. When it does pay out it will likely be a large amount. On the flip side, a slot with low volatility will not pay large amounts very often but will pay more frequently in small amounts.
How to Determine the RTP of Slots
By law, slot game providers must display the RTP of the slot. This will usually be located in the game rules section of the online casino.
