What is Return to Player?
Return to Player, also known as RTP, is a term you’ve certainly come across before if you play games at online casinos. In short, Return to Player is the percentage average of a game’s wins over the entire lifetime of the game. For instance, if a slot has an RTP of 96%, for every £100 bet, the game should pay back £96 to players over time.
Hence, before you start playing gambling online, it’s important that you understand what RTP means and how it works. Fortunately, in this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of Return to Player, including how it’s calculated and the ways you can quickly identify a game’s RTP.
How is RTP calculated?
The Return to Player, or RTP, simply refers to the percentage of wagers a game returns to players over the games life time. Although RTP is mainly associated with slots, it affects all types of gambling options, including table games, live games, and arcade-style games. Notably, even sports betting options have a theoretical RTP, though it differs from that of average casino games.
For instance, the RTP of a 5-reel slot like Play’n GO’s Book of Dead is calculated by combining the probability of every symbol combination over billions of spins. Therefore, it’s practically impossible for the average player to determine the RTP from spins alone, as it’s done over billions of simulated spins by the game studio. Fortunately, games from most reputable studios are usually rigorously tested to ensure the stated RTP is accurate.
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1 The Return to Player Formula
Although you now understand how a slot’s RTP is calculated, you need to keep in mind that it can differ across various online casinos. Let’s say a slot RTP is calculated to be about 97%, meaning it returns £970k for every £1 million wagered over time during tests. However, depending on the casino the game is provided at, the actual RTP might differ. That’s because the agreement between the online casino and the game provider might lead to a lower RTP version of that particular slot being offered. Hence, though you might be keen to choose high RTP slots based on real-world player results, you need to keep in mind that you might be unable to get similar results due to your preferred casino’s RTP.
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2 Theory vs Actual RTP
One thing many players usually get mixed up when it comes to online casino games is the theoretical RTP and the actual RTP. Although knowing a slot’s RTP is usually a good baseline to determine returns over time, it doesn’t guarantee getting that exact percentage. All casino games are games of chance, meaning the results are always random. For instance, whilst a game with a 96% RTP shows that it returns £96 on each £100 bet, it’s all theoretical, as a player might not get that amount back on every £100 wagered. Furthermore, the RTP is the average of the percentage returned over the lifetime of the game, so it might take an incomprehensible amount of time before the game returns that amount to a player.
How to Find the RTP of Casino Games
Now that you understand the basics of Return to Player, you know just how useful that information is when it comes to picking a great online casino game. Notably, identifying the RTP of games at an online casino is quite easy. Based on our experience, most online gambling sites usually display the RTP in an info tab when a particular game is clicked or hovered on. Furthermore, many game studios display the RTP of a game within the game itself.
Alternatively, you can also visit the game provider’s website, as they usually contain all the important details regarding a particular game. Keep in mind that certain games will have higher RTP than others, as it depends on the agreement between the game provider and the particular online casino.
Blackjack RTP
Although many players flock to slot machines with the highest RTP, few understand that other games like blackjack also have associated Return to Player percentages. However, when it comes to strategic games like blackjack, the RTP differs significantly compared to that of slots. Even though base blackjack typically has a 99.5% RTP, it depends mainly on the skill of the player and the strategy used.
Keep in mind that, whilst it might be harder to know the RTP of blackjack games, some reputable game providers usually display it. When we visited Pragmatic Play’s official website, we discovered that it provides the RTP, alongside other info, of each of its games, including blackjack.
Baccarat RTP
Besides slots and blackjack, baccarat games also fall within a respective RTP range, usually around 98.94%. However, similar to blackjack, the RTP is dependent on the strategy used. For example, choosing the Banker’s Bet offers an RTP of 98.94%, as it has a relatively low house edge of 1.06%. Hence, it’s popular compared to other bet types with higher house edges like the Players Bet.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to perform any calculations to know the RTP of your preferred baccarat game. As top game studios like Evolution display the Return to Player percentages of games like baccarat, all you need to do is visit their official sites.
RTP vs House Edge
You can’t understand how RTP works without knowing what the term “House Edge” means, as they are both two parts of a whole. Whilst the RTP shows the theoretical percentage of bets returned to a player over time, the house edge refers to the percentage of the wager the online casino expects to keep over a period. For example, if Play’n GO’s Book of Dead has a 96.21% RTP, the house edge must be 3.79%, as both total to 100% of the wager.
Hence, knowing either the RTP or the house edge of a game will let you determine the other. As you might’ve guessed, a slot with a lower house edge is generally preferred, as it signifies a high Return to Player. Therefore, if you want the best RTP slot machines, always consider the house edge.
Volatility
Besides the house edge and slot RTP, the volatility is another important aspect you need to understand. In short, volatility simply refers to the risk level of a casino game. Whilst the RTP shows the theoretical percentage of bets returned as wins, the volatility level determines how often wins occur and the size of winnings. For instance, although a low volatility level signifies small, frequent wins, a high volatility means a game could offer less frequent but higher wins.
Keep in mind that a game’s volatility doesn’t relate to its RTP, as we’ve seen highly volatile slots with low Return to Player percentages. In our opinion, it’s best to stick to medium-volatility slots, as they offer a decent balance between risk and reward.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a new player getting into gambling or a long-time gambler seeking a fresh look, understanding what RTP is and how it works is crucial. Overall, the RTP is a great way to estimate the percentage of your wager that a game will theoretically return in the long run. However, it’s best to understand that the Return to Player is simply a guideline percentage on a game’s payouts, as players might get different results whilst playing.
Furthermore, besides the RTP, considering the volatility level before playing a casino game is something we recommend. It’s best to go for a high RTP slot with medium volatility, as you get a decent balance of the rate and size of wins.
Nonetheless, as we always say, responsible gambling must be prioritised. Although it’s easy to get carried away playing high RTP slots, you need to set appropriate limits and take breaks from gambling when needed. That way, you’ll be able to get a fulfilling gambling experience. Furthermore, if you’d like to find out more about slots, you can do so on this page.
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