Article

January 16, 2026

What does RTP mean in slots?

1spin4win team

What Is RTP in slots? A complete guide for casino operators

Every slot game has an RTP (return to player). For an online casino, it’s one of the most vital metrics, as it dictates the average amount paid out to players. A good RTP is one that’s high enough to draw players and guarantee popularity, without tipping the edge in the player’s favor, and that requires some complex math models.

So, what is RTP in slots, and how does a slot developer calculate this and other metrics?

What does RTP mean in slots?

The RTP is an algorithm that determines how much to pay back to players over the long haul. It’s often displayed as a percentage that reflects total wagers.

Let’s use Mega Lucky Cashout as an example. It has an RTP of 96.5%, which means that approximately $96.5 of every $100 is returned to players. Of course, it doesn’t mean that if a player takes 100 spins at $1 each, they will lose $3.50. They could lose much more. They could win. However, when accounting for all spins and players, the average total losses will be around 3.5%.

Through complex mathematical algorithms and simulated spins, slot developers can create, test, and guarantee the RTP in their slots.

Most slots fall between the 94-97% range, with a 96% RTP being the average. At 1spin4win, though, we offer many slots above 97% (such as Booming Spins 243 and Buffalo’s Wealth Fortune), appealing to discerning players while hitting the right notes for casinos.

How a slot RTP is calculated

The issue of how to calculate RTP in slots is a lot less complicated than it used to be. In the early days, a slot provider would rely on physical tests and casino data. These days, developers can run all of the calculations themselves using software that generates millions of spins.

If they program a million spins and calculate a total return of 96%, that becomes the RTP. It might sound like overkill, but these intense simulations negate the impact of variance/volatility.

Think of it in the context of a coin flip. There’s a 50% of either heads or tails, but after 10 flips, the results could be 70/30. If you toss the coin a million times, however, the results smooth out and match projections.

RTP and volatility

Informed players are increasingly turning to metrics like RTP and volatility to identify which online slots to play.

If we think of a slot’s total payouts, volatility is the “how” and “when” while RTP is the “how much”.

Developers use a sliding scale to describe a game’s volatility, ranging from “low” to “high”:

A slot’s volatility helps players pick games that suit their playstyle, such as those seeking big payouts choosing high volatility slots. It also helps them prepare their bankroll, as players with enough bankroll for a small slot session may prefer low volatility slots that are more likely to trigger a return within that time.

The role of the random number generator

A random number generator (RNG) is the brain of every online slot game. It’s a complex algorithm that generates a random stream of numbers tied to specific slot outcomes. When the player hits the spin button, it settles on one of those numbers and shows the result.

Imagine that you have a game with ten different outcomes, and you assign a number to all of them (1 = 1x payout; 2 = 5x payout; 3 = 1x loss; and so on). You then roll a handful of dice, calculate the totals, and use the final number to find the outcome. So, a total of 121 equates to a 1x payout.

This, in simple terms, is how an RNG works in a slot game, except the algorithms are far more complex, so it’s more akin to rolling a whole box of dice.

The complexity and randomness ensure that casinos and players can’t manipulate the RNG, nor can they guess the outcome.

The RNG is not the same as the RTP, but the latter is a product of the former, and developers calculate it using millions/billions of fair and completely random spins.

How RTP works in practice

We’ve discussed the basics, and we’ve shown you how to calculate RTP in slots. However, it’s far from a simple calculation, and it’s key to the player’s experience and the casino’s profitability.

So, let’s put our technical hat on and ask, how does RTP work in slots?

RTP as a long-term average

An RTP in slots is an average based on millions of spins. The slot provider calculates it, and it’s then validated by regulators and independent testing bodies.

It may differ from the casino’s accounts, though, and this brings us to the difference between actual RTP and theoretical RTP in slots.

Let’s say that an online casino checks its net revenues at the end of a day and finds that a slot game generated total revenue of $100,000 and paid out $92,000, giving them an actual RTP of 92%. However, the slot provider lists the theoretical RTP as 96%. That’s because the casino is calculating a relatively small number of spins in a single day, whereas the slot developer uses millions or even billions of spins.

The casino doesn’t have to take the developer’s word for it, either, as regulators and independent testing labs verify RTPs to confirm accuracy.

If the casino continued to monitor the actual RTP, it would likely edge closer to that 96% in time.

Example calculation

You’re launching a new slot and need to run a calculation to determine the RTP. You program 5 million simulated spins at various stake levels and calculate total wagers of $5,600.956. From these spins, the game pays $5,330.956. This gives you a theoretical RTP of 95.17%.

Common myths about RTP in slots

The online gambling community is rife with myths, and we’ve encountered our fair share regarding slot RTPs in particular:

• Slots are never “due” a payout: Players may assume that if a slot hasn’t paid in a while, it needs to pay soon to meet its RTP. However, developers calculate RTPs over millions of spins, so a few hundred spins are just a drop in the ocean. Each spin is independent.

• The time of day doesn’t change the RTP: While it’s true that a casino’s revenue and profits vary by time, day, and season, this has more to do with player numbers and the types of players active at those times. Average individual winnings and losses remain the same, as developers don’t change RTPs based on the time or season.

• The demo slot is the same as the real money version: A demo slot uses the same RTP, RNG, and volatility as the real money version. This way, a player can test slots for free, knowing that the only change is the introduction of real money wagers and payouts. However, the same rules may not apply to the free slots used by a social casino, as these are fully free-play games intended for entertainment only.

• Hit frequency is not the same as RTP: A game’s hit frequency displays how often the game will pay on average. It differs from an RTP, as a “payout” could be less than the user’s stake, whereas an RTP calculates total payouts during an extended session.

High RTP vs low RTP slots

If low RTPs mean more profit for the casino, why would they choose to host high RTP slots? There are actually several reasons for this, and while it seems counterintuitive, high RTP slots may actually generate more money for the casino in the long term.

To understand why, take a look at these pros and cons of high and low RTP slots:

High RTP slots + pros & cons

In the early days of online casinos, the average player didn’t know much about RTPs and RNG. They trusted that a game was fair and played it. Modern players are much more informed, and many of them consider a game’s RTP when deciding which slot to play.

By attracting more players and generating more game sessions, slots with high RTPs, such as Allways Egypt Fortune, may be more profitable in the long term. For example, let’s compare Lucky Gold Miner, which has an RTP of 97.1% and can theoretically attract more players, to a slot with an RTP of 94%:

Low RTP slots + pros & cons

RTPs always favor the casino, so whether it’s low or high, the casino will always profit in the long run. Obviously, lower RTPs generate higher profits, and the higher the player numbers, the bigger those profits.

The trick is to find the sweet spot, one that will earn a steady profit without scaring players away, and as players are more knowledgeable and demanding than ever, that sweet spot is getting higher and higher.

What is considered a good RTP?

What is a good RTP for slots may depend on who you ask, as some players are more tolerant of low RTPs than others. However, the general consensus typically groups RTPs in the following categories:

• Good RTP in slots = 96% and above

• Average RTP in slots = 94-95%

• Low RTP in slots = Under 94%

Many developers aim for a range of 95-97%, and proudly advertise this range to players. However, there are usually a few slots that drop below this rate in their catalogs, especially if you look further back.

At 1spin4win, we focus on rates of 96% and above, with slots like Mighty Red, Wild Lucky Chance, Brumby’s 243, and Allways Lucky Spins sitting at a very high 97.6%.

For many players, such a high RTP is a bigger attraction than a sizeable bonus or a big feature, but just in case, we add plenty of those to our slots as well.

How to find RTP information for online slots

The modern slot player wants to know as much about the game as they can, and casinos have a duty to help them, showing them how to check RTPs on slots, telling them what the rating means, and highlighting other key metrics (volatility, hit rate, etc.). Here are a few ways that casinos can help their players find RTPs on slots:

• RTP table: A simple table showing the full list of games available at the casino, with the game name in one column and the RTP in another. Ideally, players should be able to sort the table by high/low RTP, making it easier to find their preferred games.

• Clear game information: In addition to the game’s name and thumbnails, casinos should also state the slot’s RTP. Modern casinos have a lot of games, and that adds up to a glut of thumbnails, so it’s best to keep this information succinct, including the name, developer, RTP, and feature summary, as seen in the 1spin4win games room.

• Slot RTP checker: A slot RTP checker showcases the game’s theoretical RTP alongside an actual RTP for the day, week, or month. As discussed already, each spin is independent, so whether a slot is paying or not won’t influence future spins. Still, players usually like to see this information.

Casinos can also let players know that every slot game contains a wealth of information in its paytable and menu section, usually accessible via a hamburger icon (three lines), a question mark, or an “i”.

Why RTP can vary between casinos

Slots can have different RTPs at different casinos. If we use Yggdrasil Gaming as an example, we can see that one of its new releases, Raptor DoubleMax 2, lists its RTP as 97%, 96%, 94%, and 90.5%.

It means that one player could be playing a game with a 97% RTP, while another is playing the exact same game but with an RTP of just 90.5%.

It’s a similar story with Bloody Pesos, an Yggdrasil release that advertises three RTPs:

96.0%, 94.0%, and 90.5%.

There are a couple of reasons for this.

Firstly, many regulators set strict conditions determining how low RTPs can go. Developers may tweak games with lower RTPs to ensure that actual RTP rates meet these requirements, and as providers hold multiple licenses and partner with casinos in many jurisdictions, they use variable RTPs in slots to cater to these rules.

Secondly, and perhaps most pertinently, it gives operators a choice between different RTP rates. If they want to cater to discerning gamblers wagering high stakes, the casino may opt for the higher end of that range. If their player base is predominantly casual and small stakes, they may choose a lower RTP.

Testing games in demo mode

Players love to play free demos. They can test the features and familiarize themselves with the rules and mechanics before wagering real money. This is true for all casino slot games, but it’s especially true for those that explore mechanics beginners may not be familiar with, such as the Hold and Win feature seen in Gold Oceanic Hold and Win and Beersburg Fest Hold and Win.

It’s also a great way for operators to test slots before they host them. For this reason, all of our slot game titles are available in free play mode, and users don’t need to pay or even sign up to play them.

Examples of RTP in popular slot games

NetEnt’s Blood Suckers slot is a great example of a high RTP slot, as it’s also one of the industry’s most popular titles. Originally, it carried a 98% RTP, and while that still exists in many variations, some casinos now host versions with much lower RTPs.

Medusa Megaways from Light & Wonder is also considered a very high RTP slot. However, the 97.63% that some sites advertise actually comes from the game’s “Bonus Buy” option, with the base game RTP dropping to 96.28%.

Variations during features can cause some confusion, and are the reason why Mega Moolah, developed by Microgaming, is often regarded as a low RTP slot. The massively popular progressive jackpot slot technically has an RTP of 88-90%, but the progressive jackpot adds another 5.13%, bumping it to 93.42% at its lowest.

Slots O’ Gold from Blueprint Gaming and Gladiator Jackpot from Playtech have the same issue. Both have progressive jackpots, and when you add the RTPs from these into the mix, the total rate is still low, but nowhere near the 88-91% rates discussed online.

Using RTP to encourage a smart slot strategy

By hosting both high and low RTP games and informing players how RTPs work and why they matter, casinos can encourage responsible and safe gambling.

It all comes down to giving players plenty of choice while ensuring they know what they’re looking at, understand how the mechanics work, and can plan a slot session based around the provided metrics.

Casinos can use guides and videos to explain how to calculate RTP in slots; slot RTP checkers to show them how current performance compares to theoretical RTP rates; clear listings that succinctly list the RTP and other key information; and tables that highlight what slots have the highest RTP.

FAQs

What is RTP in slots?

An RTP is a percentage showing the average estimated player returns over an extended period.

What would a 96% RTP mean?

It means the game pays 96% of its total wagers back to players on average (calculated over millions of spins).

How does RTP work in slots?

If a particular game RTP is 97%, it doesn’t mean players will always get 97% of their stake back. They could win more or less, but after accounting for all players and sessions, the casino can expect profits of around 3%.

How is the RTP of slots calculated?

Developers run millions of simulated spins and then compare total wagers to total payouts to get the RTP percentage. To calculate RTP on their own, casinos will compare net revenue to payouts, giving them an “actual RTP”.

Does higher RTP mean more wins for the player?

Technically, yes, but only when evened out over many spins.

Is RTP the same as volatility?

No. The RTP in slots measures the total payouts, whereas slot volatility highlights the ratio at which these are paid (small and frequent; large and infrequent).

What is considered a good RTP in slots?

Anything of 96% or higher is considered good to most players of online slots.

Is RTP the same as a house edge?

Yes, but it works the other way around. So, a 96% RTP equates to a 4% house edge. All online casino games have either a house edge (table games) or RTP (slots).