Many game developers now create slots with multiple Return to Player (RTP) rates so that casino operators can set a high house edge if they wish. This is not good for the slots player as some RTP rates are now very unfavourable. In this article we show why RTP is important and what you can do to ensure you play your favourite slots at the optimum rate.
The Importance of Return To Player
Return to Player (RTP) is the average amount of money a slot game pays back to punters as a percentage of all the money wagered on it.
Slot games typically have an RTP of around 96% to 97%. That means, if you wagered £100 on average you would get back £96 to £97. Of course, the number won’t always be the same, and sometimes you will get back more than you wagered, and other times less. However, it is still a good indication of the expected return from a game.
RTP is just one aspect of the slots experience. The theme and design, the gameplay and features, and the size of any jackpots are all important too. But generally, most slots players want to spin slots with a high RTP to give themselves a good chance of finishing with a positive balance.
A decade ago most online slots had one fixed Return to Player (RTP) rate. It didn’t matter where you played, the RTP remained the same. But that has changed over time. There is now a growing trend amongst slot providers for creating games with more than one RTP rate, sometimes as many as 4 or 5. It is then left to the casino operator to choose which setting to use on their site.
Here is an example:
Play n Go’s famous Book of Dead slot has five RTP rates – 96.21%, 94.25%, 91.25%, 87.25% and 84.18%.
At any slot site you can find Book of Dead running at any one of these RTP rates. Here is how that looks for £1,000 of wagering at the top and bottom RTP rates:
£1,000 wagering at 96.21% returns £962.1
£1,000 wagering at 84.18% returns £841.8
That’s a difference of £120.3.
If you are a regular slots player, wagering £1,000 is not going to be difficult. It is not hard to see how your casino’s choice of RTP rate can seriously impact your winnings.
Slot Providers With Multiple RTP Rates
The move towards slot games with several RTP rates has picked up pace in the last 5 years and now many of the top providers do this, including:
Play n Go
Nolimit City
Pragmatic Play
Big Time Gaming
Red Tiger
Thunderkick
Hacksaw Gaming
And there are more.
How To Find RTP Rate In A Slot Game
Slot sites can run games at whatever RTP they choose and there is nothing in the regulation to stop this.
So, it is down to you to check the RTP wherever you play and decide if you are comfortable with the published setting. Every slot you play will display the RTP rate somewhere in the game rules pages.
For example, in Play n Go slots you click the little ‘?’ at the bottom of the game menu to bring up a page with ‘Game Rules’ printed on it. In this example it says: ‘The average RTP is 94.25%. RTP is achieved through participation.’
Here’s another example from Nolimit City’s Land of the Free slot. If you hit the hamburger button next to the reels it brings up the game rules page. Scroll down and you’ll see the Theoretical Return to Player printed.
Every slot you play will have this information displayed somewhere. Check it before you start spending your money.
Which Slot Sites Run Games At The Top RTP
If you want to find out about RTP rates at different casinos then you can us a specialist in this area like AllSlotSites.com whose slot site reviews include random checks on RTP rates in games. For example, in their research of 5 UK casinos they found that Play n Go’s Book of Dead had the following RTP rates:
Midnite – 96.21%
MrQ – 96.21%
Casumo – 94.25%
Spin Rio – 87.25%
Cosmic Spins – 92.25%
The full spread of possible RTP rates in this small sample shows you why it’s important to do your own checks before you play. In this case, if you want to spin on Book of Dead our advice would be to play at Midnite or MrQ and avoid Spin Rio.
Conclusion
Understanding RTP is an important part of getting the most out of your online slots play. But it doesn’t stop there. With every casino choosing their own RTP rate you must always check the game rules page before you start wagering to be sure you are getting the best value for money.
