What is Casino RTP?

Every player who enjoys a little action at the casino, will almost certainly have asked themselves at some point: what is RTP?

It an acronym that shows up a lot.

It stands for Return to Player and it definitely merits your attention. It’s important to understand what it is and why it varies so much from game to game.

What is RTP?

The RTP is essentially the amount of money a casino game is designed to give back to players, quite literally its return to player.

It’s given as a percentage. On slots, it’s framed to show players how much they can expect to have ‘returned’, as opposed to how much they will lose and the casino will win.

On most other casino games, the percentage is flipped to show the house edge; the Return to Casino.

A typical land-based casino slot has an average Return to Player of between 70% and 90%.

On average, that is, in the long term, one dollar bet on a slot with an RTP of 97%, can expect to return 97 cents to players. It’s that simple.

The RTP is how the casino makes its money; it skews the odds, marginally in its favor, to make a profit in the long run.

Of course, everyone knows that slots are often a case of famine and feast. You’ll spin away for ages and win nothing. Then, you’ll hit a jackpot and be back where you started.

More likely, you’ll have about 97% of your initial stake back. That’s how RTP works.

Casino RTP

If you want to get the maximum bang for your buck at an online casino, you need to pay close attention to RTP.

There are scores of different games to choose from and they all have varying RTPs.

Here is a list of the most popular casino games with their respective RTPs:

Slots

• Classic Slots: RTP can range from 85% to 97%.
• Video Slots: RTP typically ranges from 92% to 98%.
• Progressive Slots: RTP is generally between 85% and 95%.

Table Games

Blackjack (playing perfect strategy)

• Classic Blackjack: RTP – 99.41%
• European Blackjack (restricted splits and double downs): RTP – 99.60%
• Atlantic City Blackjack (surrender option): RTP – 99.65%
• Spanish 21 (48 card deck): RTP – 98.00%

Roulette

• European Roulette: RTP – 97.30%
• American Roulette (double zero table): RTP – 94.74%
• French Roulette (with La Partage rule): RTP – 98.65%

Baccarat

• Punto Banco: RTP – 98.94% (Banker bet), 98.76% (Player bet)
• Chemin de Fer (playing perfect strategy): RTP roughly the same as baccarat – depends on the rules and the skill of the players
• Baccarat Banque: similar to Chemin de Fer

Craps

• Pass Line Bet: RTP – 98.59%
• Don’t Pass Line Bet: RTP – 98.64%
• Taking the Odds Bet: RTP – 100% (the croupier’s favorite)

Poker-Based Games

• Casino Hold’em: RTP – 97.84%
• Caribbean Stud: RTP – 94.78%
• Three Card Poker: RTP – 96.63% (Pair Plus bet)
• Pai Gow Poker: RTP – 97.50%
• Let It Ride: RTP – 96.49%

Video Poker (Full Pay versions – with highest game variant)

• Jacks or Better: RTP – 99.54%
• Deuces Wild: RTP – 100.76%
• Joker Poker: RTP – 98.47%
• Bonus Poker: RTP – 99.17%
• Double Bonus Poker: RTP – 100.17%

Keno

• Keno: RTP can range from 75% to 95%, with online versions typically offering higher RTPs

Other Casino Games

• Sic Bo: RTP ranges from 95.02% to 97.22%, depending on the bet type

• Dragon Tiger: RTP – 96.27%

• Big Six Wheel: RTP – from as low as 80% to as high as 92%, depending on the version and bets

• Scratch Cards: RTP can range from 85% to 95%

Live Casino Games

• Live Blackjack: RTP – 99.28%
• Live Roulette: RTP – 97.30%
• Live Baccarat: RTP – 98.94% (Banker bet)
• Live Casino Hold’em: RTP – 97.84%

Specialty Games

• Bingo: RTP can vary widely, typically ranging from 80% to 90%.

• Arcade Games: RTP varies significantly depending on the specific game, often ranging from 85% to 97%.

Slot Game RTP

Slots are where RTP really comes into play. If you love playing online slots or taking a spin in a land-based casino, it makes sense to play the games with the highest RTP.

We’ve collated data and information from websites specializing in slots RTP.

There are some minor variations in the data but it’s clear to see which games are the favorites. The slots listed below are the slots with the lowest online casino RTP.

Online vs. Offline

Nearly all the slots listed above, and their respective RTPs, are online only games. It’s harder to get the precise data on the RTP of all land-based casino games.

However, take a look at the Nevada Gaming Control Board state-wide monthly revenue report, for all non-restricted locations (June 2024).

Here the average win percent, for the past twelve months, based on 454 licensees and more than 126,000 slots, comes in at 7.16%. That’s an overall average RTP of 92.84%. Not bad.

The number is lower than its average online equivalent. But online casinos have fewer staff, less overheads, and much higher revenue volumes.

RTP – The Math

How is RTP calculated? Fortunately, the UK Gambling Commission goes into great detail about RTP and how it is formulated.

It’s a regulatory requirement that all slots clearly publish their RTP. Remote operators are required to monitor the performance of all the games they offer; this ensures they are operating fairly, both as designed and advertised.

To calculate the RTP, you need to divide the win amount by the turnover amount.

For example: if a slot has a monthly turnover of $1,500,000 and has paid out $1,400,000 in winnings, you divide 1,400,000 by 1,500,000 to get 0.93: an RTP of 93%. It’s that simple.

Another issue to consider is volatility. If you play the slot only a few times, the actual RTP might be higher or lower than the theoretical RTP. With every additional spin, the two numbers should get closer; the theoretical RTP and the actual RTP will eventually match.

On average, RTP is measured from between 10,000 and 100,000 spins for a compensated machine; more times, for a random machine.

A compensated machine is random but varies the chance of winning a prize depending on previous results. If the machine is operating below its target RTP percentage, it may become more generous. The amount and frequency of wins is still determined by random chance.

Slot Game Variance and Volatility

The final elements in the RTP equation are variance and volatility. Neither has any influence on the RTP of a slot, but they can affect the overall gameplay and are good to be aware of if you’re just learning how to play slots.

Variance is simply referring to the deviation in pay-outs that a player will see over time: a low $1 win and then a high $100 win is an indicator that the slot has high variance. It’s calculated over a longer period of time.

Volatility relates to how often a player wins in a short time frame. A high volatility slot, with low variance, would pay out low wins more frequently. Conversely, a low volatility slot with high variance would not pay out as often but, when it does, the wins would be higher.

In the long run, the two merge together. Whatever the variance or volatility, after thousands of spins, you simply divide the win amount by the turnover to get the RTP.

RTP DIY

Now you know the meaning, the math, and the mechanics, you can hit the slots with a little bit more wisdom on your side.

Remember:

• Pick a slot with a high RTP to maximize your chances of winning
• Don’t forget that every slot is eventually going to come out on top
• Only gamble what you can afford to lose
• Treat your time on the slots as entertainment at a cost
• Try to be lucky