What Every Casino Player Should Know About RTP

Return to player (RTP) is one of the most fundamental concepts that every casino player should understand. RTP refers to the percentage of wagered money that a casino game pays back to players over time. Understanding what RTP is and how it works can help players make smarter choices when playing casino games at Nine Win or any other platform of your choice.

What Exactly is RTP?

At its core, RTP tells players what percentage of money wagered on a game that they can expect back in winnings over an infinite number of plays. For example, if a slot game has an RTP of 95%, it means that for every $100 wagered on that game, $95 will be paid back to players as winnings. The other $5 is kept by the casino as profit.

RTP is determined by the game’s rules, payouts, odds and other factors hard-coded into the game by its developer. Each casino game has a set RTP percentage that does not change. Even over shorter sessions of play, the game’s actual payout percentage will vary—sometimes you win more, sometimes less. But the more spins played, the closer the game’s payouts should come to the RTP.

Why RTP Matters

RTP gives players a statistical predictive tool to estimate their chances of winning over a long period of time. All other things being equal, games with a higher RTP percentage are more advantageous to the player, whereas games with a lower RTP are more beneficial for the casino.

Consider two slot games:

• Game A has an RTP of 92%
• Game B has an RTP of 97%

Over 100,000 spins, Game A with the 92% RTP is statistically likely to pay out $92,000 in winnings on $100,000 worth of spins. Meanwhile, Game B is expected to pay back $97,000 to players wagering $100,000.

As you can see, the game with the higher 97% RTP pays back over $5,000 more on the same amount wagered. This demonstrates why seeking out games with better RTP can give players a better chance of winning over time.

RTP Ranges by Game Type

RTP percentages can vary notably across different casino game types:

As shown above, certain games like blackjack and video poker have very high RTP percentages approaching 100%. Meanwhile slots have a wider variance, with some games offering very player-friendly 99% RTP while other slots are less generous at 88%.

Finding the RTP of Individual Games

The RTP for an individual game should be published somewhere by the casino or game-maker. Often it is included somewhere within the game’s rules or pay table. If not directly available, a quick online search can typically surface the game’s RTP.

Reputable online casinos publish the RTPs for all their games. However, this level of transparency remains less common in land-based casinos. Players may need to do more digging to find the RTP of games in brick-and-mortar establishments.

Factoring in House Edge

Closely related to RTP is the house edge. The house edge equals 100% minus the game’s RTP percentage. So for a slot game with a 95% RTP, the house edge is 5%. This means the casino can expect to keep 5 cents of every dollar wagered on that slot over an infinite number of spins.

In addition to RTP, considering the house edge can further illustrate if a game favors the player or casino over extended play. Games with a very slim house edge are more advantageous for players.

Using RTP to Make Informed Decisions

Understanding the published RTP percentages for the games you play lets you make smarter gambling decisions built upon quantifiable data versus blind intuition. All things being equal, you boost your chance of winning over time by selectively playing games with a higher return-to-player.

Of course, RTP should not be the only factor driving your casino game selections. The fun and entertainment value of a game still matters too. However, with a proper understanding of RTP in your toolbox, you can better balance games with both high returns and personal appeal.

Think Long-Term When Using RTP

While RTP gives useful projections of payouts over essentially an infinite number of bets, it does not predict what will happen over a short session of play spanning just 10 or 100 spins. Results can swing widely above or below the RTP over such a limited timeframe.

RTP only reliably applies when your lifespan of wagering reaches into the tens or hundreds of thousands of bets. So do not make the mistake of using RTP to judge a game that has stiffed you over a small sample. Remain cognizant that the percentages require a long-term outlook.

RTP and Variance

Furthermore, RTP alone does not account for a game’s variance—the natural ups and downs between payouts over shorter intervals. Some games pay out many smaller wins more frequently. Others have fewer but bigger payouts.

High variance games swing through more extreme hot and cold streaks, while low variance games serve up steadier drip-feed payouts clustered closer to the RTP. Always factor variance into your decision beyond solely looking at RTP.

Use RTP And Have Reasonable Expectations

While results vary widely in the short run, RTP ultimately serves as a touchstone to estimate what casino games pay back over extended play. With RTP as part of your gambling toolkit, you gain a more educated perspective of the games you play.

Armed with the knowledge above, you can now better appreciate what return-to-player means and how to use it to your potential advantage. Just be sure to remember RTP only applies over the long haul involving tens of thousands of bets. Manage your expectations properly when utilizing RTP percentages in your decision-making process.