What Does RTP Mean in Slot Games? A Beginner’s Guide
Return to Player, or RTP, is a long-term payout percentage of a given slot. It gives some rough indication of odds for the player, but any such odds are quickly faded into insignificance by volatility and pure luck.
If you're a regular player at slot machines, either in land-based casinos or online casinos, you must have come across the term RTP. At first glance, it does appear complicated, but knowing in detail about it will allow you to even make wiser decisions while spinning the reels. So what is RTP, and why should you bother?
Understanding RTP in Slot Games
RTP, or Return to Player, is a percentage that shows the amount of money that, in the long run, a slot machine will be paid back to the players. To see how this works, consider a slot with an RTP of 96%. On average, for every $100 you would bet on that slot, it would pay back $96. But it does not mean that every player is going to receive that amount—it's an average calculated over thousands sometimes millions of spins.
How RTP Affects Your Game
The RTP of a slot game, more or less, gives you an idea of how a bunch of odds are present for you in front of a given game. All RTP games imply higher payouts to players over time; thus, the games with lower RTPs will have the casinos working with the better edge thereof. Generally, experienced players tend to take part in slot machines that pay 95% and above as these machines have better payouts over extended play times.
RTP versus Volatility
Understanding how a slot works goes far beyond just considering RTP. Volatility, or variance, plays a significant role in affecting the entire experience. A 96% RTP slot might be very high in volatility, which means the wins may be rare but then come in gigantic clusters. The inverse is true; the low volatility slot might provide smaller wins but do so on a more regular basis. Understanding this will help you choose a game that suits your style of play.
Why Casinos Always Win in the End
Although RTP tells something about the percentage of bets returned on the player, that does not mean that you should be winning. The house always wins: the longer you play, the more this fact will bear its weight. This is why some players enjoy hitting the big jackpot and then walking away rather than playing until they lose their entire bankroll.
How to Find RTP Information for Slot Games
Most online casinos and suppliers of slot games indicate RTP and you can typically find such by looking through the game details or help section. There are even jurisdictions that mandate casinos to declare that information. If you are still unsure, a simple internet search for the name of the game along with RTP will fetch it.
The Myth of RTP in Short-Term Play
One of the myths is applied to the effects of RTP on every individual session in gameplay. For instance, just because a game is said to possess a 97% RTP does not mean you will get back precisely that much money in a few spins. Some players might strike the jackpot and fly away with enormous profits, while others would lose all of their balance in no time. RTP is a long-term calculation; anything could happen in the short term.
This means that RTP is a relevant concept to anyone who enjoys slot play, although it does not form the whole. With the projections of RTP alongside volatility and house edge, better choices can be made regarding which games to play. Remember, though, that even with a high RTP, slot machines are ultimately a game of chance, so always play for enjoyment and stake only what you can afford.
