What Is RTP in Online Casinos?

Online gambling is as simple as it can be – you pick a game you like, learn the rules, place your wager, play, and repeat. But, as you play, you can learn gambling strategies and terms to improve your gameplay and your gambling experience. One key term is Return to Player (RTP). RTP is a common concept applied to casino games like slots. It refers to the percentage online casinos like Betway online casino South Africa gives back to the player from their initial deposit. In the UK, the Gambling Commission requires that gambling sites communicate the house edge and RTP percentages to customers to help them understand their risk levels. Here is a closer look at this term, its meaning, and how it affects your gameplay.

RTP and Length of Play

The RTP of any game refers to the total percentage of your wager that you will get back from the casino in the long run. For example, consider a slot game with a 96 percent RTP. If you wager $100 in your first bet, the slot should return $96 (96% x $100) in the long turn.

However, it is important to note that RTP is calculated over an extended period of play. The number, which is often displayed in a game’s paytable, kicks in after multiple games. This means you are not guaranteed to get $96 back on your first spin. In fact, you probably will not. But, over time, you will lose and win enough games to make this amount back.

RTP and House Edge

Game developers perform millions of simulated spins on a slot game to determine its RTP. In fact, RTP is most commonly used on slot machines or when referring to online slot games. When discussing the player advantage in other casino games, the most appropriate term is house edge.

Essentially, the RTP of a game like blackjack, poker, or baccarat is calculated based on the house edge. For instance, an online casino maintains a 1 percent house edge in online blackjack. This means the house has a 1 percent mathematical advantage in every game.

In turn, blackjack has an RTP of about 99 percent. In other words, you can expect to make back $99 of a $100 blackjack bet over long periods. House edge differs from slot RTP because you can lower it by applying optimal strategy to your gameplay.

Volatility and RTP

Another key concept used in slots is volatility, which is closely related to RTP. Volatility determines a player’s average win rate on a slot and is rated on a Low-High scale. When a slot has low volatility, you have a higher chance of winning, although the payouts are lower. This translates to more frequent wins of low payouts. In contrast, a slot game with high volatility presents a lower chance of winning a spin but higher payouts. In other words, fewer wins but bigger payouts.

Slot games with high RTP rates often have low volatility. This is because the player is likely to make more in the long run from frequent wins, even when the payouts are low. On the other hand, slots with lower RTP percentages often have high volatility.

Final Thoughts

UK software developers are obligated to publish RTP values for their games. But this is not the case everywhere. However, even when one is not printed on the machine, you can usually find out the RTP of a game from its paytable. You can then use this number to devise a winning strategy and budget. Do you play better when the volatility is high or low? Find an RTP that works for you.