RTP is often a confusing term for many amateur casino players. We’ve seen all sorts of misunderstandings surrounding how RTP is calculated, even what it means. Fortunately, with our experience, we know exactly how RTP works, and in this guide, we’re going to walk you through the basics.
In just a few short minutes, we’ll explain what RTP is (and what it isn’t), show you how it works in online slots, we’ll touch on where to find it, and even how to calculate it correctly yourselves. If you’re tired of guessing what RTP means and want to learn why it’s important to optimise your strategies by playing high RTP slots, you’re in luck. Let’s begin.
RTP Explained Simply
Let’s begin with a definition, and a straightforward one at that. As we’re sure you’re aware, RTP means Return to Player. This is the theoretical rate upon which a slot (or casino) pays out its players.
In the case of a single slot machine, the RTP tells you how much money (on average) the game pays out to all players over all time, for every $1 wagered. When it comes to casinos, RTP rates are known as payout percentages, and they tell you (again, on average, over all time) how much a casino pays out with every $1 bet it takes.
Let’s give you an example:
- If a slot machine has an RTP of 96%, this means that the casino will pay out $0.96 for every $1 wagered by its players on that game. The other 0.4% it keeps as pure profit.
Now, that might sound like a fairly bad deal at first. You might be thinking that you’ll never win anything substantial if you’re only going to get $0.96 bet for every $1 you bet. However, there’s something you’re missing. The key things to remember are “average”, “all players”, and “all time”.
What RTP Does Not Mean
RTP isn’t calculated on what YOU might play during a single session, but on what every player at the site wagers over tens of millions of spins, across all time. In theory, over tens of thousands of spins, you should average out at $0.96 for every $1 bet. However, it is entirely possible that one player might win substantially more, and another substantially less.
Next time, it could very well be the other way around. The point is that over time, 96% of every stake will end up paid out to players.
If this confuses you, there is a simpler way to look at RTP. Don’t look at the 96% of each bet as your winnings. Look at this way: for every $1 wagered on a slot, the casino keeps $0.04 and puts $0.96 into an imaginary pot for all players to win over time.
The Opposite Side of a Coin That Includes House Edge
Before we go on, let’s talk briefly about that 4%. If 96% is a slot game’s theoretical RTP rate, what is the 4%? This is what’s known as the house edge. This is the percentage of each bet that is never available to win – it is the casino’s pure profit.
Casinos with Low RTP Games
Duel Casino
Duel has gotten known as the “most fair crypto casino” as of recent with their 0% House Edge Games. These games include Plinko, Dice, Blackjack and other in-house games. One might ask: “How do they make money with a 0% house edge?”, which is a good question. They make their money on casino games like slots, with an RTP set by the developer often ranging from 4-6%.
Pros
- 0% House Edge
- Most Transparent Crypto Casino
- Custom Games
- Instant Payments
Cons
- No Welcome Bonus
- No VIP Program
Information
BC.Game
As of January 8th 2026, BC.Game has started their “Zero Edge Project” (might have gotten inspired by Duel). This project promises that 100% of House Edge will be returned to users through Cashback through their own token.
The 0% house edge is exclusive to their BC Originals games, which include Plinko, Mines, Blackjack and a few others.
Pros
- Large Game Selection
- Generous Loyalty Bonuses
- Fast Payouts
- 24/7 Customer Support
Cons
- Country Restrictions
- Mixed Player Reviews
Information
The Average RTP in Slot Machines
As you can probably surmise from our definition and examples above, the higher the RTP rate in a casino game, the more profitable it is for you. We typically deem games with higher RTP rates to be fairer. Who decides what the RTP rate should be in each game, though, and what is the average RTP rate slots should have?
Who Decides Slot RTP?
Assuming we are talking about a perfectly legitimate, licensed, and regulated casino software provider, it is the developer behind the game you’re playing that determines its RTP rate. There are, of course, software providers who allow casinos to manipulate those RTP rates, but they don’t tend to stay in business for very long.
The RTP Rate You Should Aim For
When we talk about casino RTP, we’re generally referring to slot RTP rates. The average RTP rate in slot games is typically 95% to 96%. It’s normal for some older games to have RTP rates of 92% to 94%.
For modern games, we don’t recommend dropping below 94% unless the game is exceptional. As for the highest? Some slots have RTPs of around 97% to 98%.
High RTP Slots Are Always Favourable
As discussed, the higher the RTP rate, the fairer the game. This means that casinos are paying out the vast majority of the funds they receive through stakes. As more players familiarise themselves with RTP rates, casinos are having to adapt.
Most casinos publish the RTP rates in their games, or at least don’t hide them. Some have even begun offering dedicated categories showcasing slots with the highest RTP rates on their sites.
Why RTP Isn’t the Only Factor You Should Consider
Seeing RTP rates goes some way in helping you identify the best games to play. However, there are other things to consider:
Buy a Bonus Mechanics: Some games hide mechanics behind a paywall. If your slot expects you to buy these features, there is a good chance that it won’t be as fair as other games.
Volatility: Low variance games pay out regularly, but do so with smaller wins for top-paying combinations. Highly volatile slots pay out epic wins for big paying symbols, but regular wins aren’t as frequent.
Where to Find RTP Rates
Finding the RTP rates of casino games is a lot easier than it used to be. Nowadays, most casinos publish the RTP rates of their games. You can also find them on the game’s paytable and on the websites of the software providers behind those titles.
In the event that the RTP rate of a game isn’t listed anywhere, then you may have to calculate it yourself. This is easier than it initially sounds, as we’ll explain next.
How to Calculate RTP Yourself in Slot Games
To calculate RTP rates, you need to divide the amount you’ve won by the stakes wagered on the game.
For instance:
- Low RTP: $11/$12 = 0.91666, or 91%.
- Average RTP: $22/$23 = 0.95652, or 96%.
- High RTP: $24.50/$25 = 0.98000, or 98%.
Remember, this needs to be over many spins. The more spins you play, the more accurate it will be. For this reason, we always recommend playing free demo slots to calculate RTP, as you can play tens of thousands of spins to help you formulate an accurate RTP rate.
Again, you should also consider volatility. The volatility level will inform you whether your figure being below or above the published RTP rate is more acceptable.
The general rule is that it is okay to be a little further off the mark in highly volatile games than in low variance ones. In low variance games, your RTP calculation should be fairly close to the published RTP rate.
RTP Helps with Fair Play and Game Certifications
Independent auditors regularly check casino games to ensure that they are fair. They test the RNGs (random number generators) and RTP rates to do this. When verifying whether a casino’s games are fair, these regulatory bodies will calculate a game’s RTP and measure that against those published by software providers to see if everything checks out.
If a casino is RNG-certified by a reputable body (and the best sites are), it means that they haven’t tampered with anything, including RTP rates.
Top Tips for Choosing Slots Based on RTP Rates
Now you should have a clearer understanding of RTP rates at casinos. Let’s leave you with a few top tips for choosing slots based on RTP.
Many casinos have High RTP game sections. Even so, sketchy casinos might include games with low RTP in those genres to dupe players. Check the RTP rates and don’t take casinos at their word.
High RTP rates mean slots are fairer, but they don’t guarantee wins. Even so, you should always aim to play slots with high RTP rates of 96% or higher.
RTP rates of 96% don’t mean you will win 96% of the time. Don’t pick a slot based on that misunderstanding.
RTP doesn’t mean you will only win $0.96 for every $1 you bet. You could win a bit less, or potentially millions of dollars more, depending on your luck.
The RTP rates of most slots are publicly available, so you can find out what RTP your favourite slot has before you play.