If you've ever heard someone talk about RTP in slots and wondered what on earth they were talking about, wonder no more. Here's what RTP is and how you can use it to improve your slots experience.
directory
1.what is rtp
2.What is volatility
3.What's a typical RTP for slots
What does RTP mean?
As a player it is important to understand RTP. It means "Return to Player". Expressed as a percentage, this figure simply represents the amount of money a player can expect to win from their bets on casino slots or other games. If you play a game with an RTP of 95%, for every $1 you bet you can expect to get back $0.95.
Basically, RTP represents the house edge of the game. In this example, the house edge is 5%. This means that an RTP will always be less than 100% - if it is higher, the casino will lose money on the game.
Of course, RTP is calculated over a large sample size of simulated betting rounds. This does not mean that if you play a game with a 95% RTP you will lose exactly 5% of your bankroll. Even a long, sensitively managed gaming session over hours is unlikely to reflect a slot's true RTP.
Basically, for the individual slot player, the probability of winning more or losing less than the RTP indicates is very high. That said, there's a good chance that you'll be more likely to win in any given session if a game has a 98% RTP rather than a 90% RTP.
Is RTP the same as volatility?
In a word: no. However, the concepts are closely enough related that they would not legally be allowed to marry each other.
What is volatility in slots?
Volatility in a casino slot denotes the distribution of its RTP. That's why there's no guarantee that you'll win more on a slot with 98% RTP than on one with 90% RTP over a small sample. Let's illustrate this with two extreme examples of 95% RTP slots.
In the first game, you wager $1 per spin for 1,000 spins and lose on 999 spins, winning $950 on one spin. In the second game, you bet $1 per spin for 1,000 spins, lose on 300 spins, win $0.50 on 300 spins, win $3 on 300 spins, and win $5 on 100 spins.
In both games, you wagered $1,000 and received back $950 with a 95% RTP. The first game is a high-volatility slot: it doesn't pay often, but when it does, it pays big. The second game is a low-volatility slot that pays out much less but more frequently.
What's a typical RTP for slots?
Most online slots will have an RTP ranging from 92% to 97%. However, you may find some slightly lower or higher. The decision on what the RTP will be lies not with the casino but with the game developer. If it's too high, the game won't be profitable for the casino to host; too low, and players won't enjoy the experience.
However, to maintain the balance of their gameplay volatility, the number of paylines, bonus features, and the frequency of mini-games must be balanced with the RTP. A slot with lower RTP but less volatility and frequent bonus features may be more popular than a high RTP slot that rarely pays out. Playing several spins without winning anything can be just as enjoyable for some players.