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You may think that gambling sites provide the same chances for the same slot machine. But in fact, there are significant deviations in odds. For example, Starburst, one of the most popular slot machines provided by NetEnt, features 96% Return to Player (RTP). However, some online casino platforms provide versions of this title with RTP of 94% or even 92%.
In other words, you may receive $96, $94, or $92 of your money back from the bet of $100. But why does this happen? Actually, there are many reasons for various odds of the same game offered by gambling sites. Understanding these reasons may help you to play on the most profitable platform. Let’s look into details.
What RTP means and why it is important
Return to Player (RTP) is a percentage of total money invested by all players that a certain slot machine gives back to its gamblers. RTP is calculated using mathematical models tested by the game developer or independent regulating body and is not the indicator of winnings of each particular gamer.
That means that in case you are playing a game with 98% of RTP you will not be able to receive back £98 of your £100 bet. Rather, the machine pays out £98 per every £100 of the money that has been wagered by all gamers who play this title.
How RTP percentages work
Calculations of RTP involve mathematical modelling and testing of the game by the developer and regulator. It implies running of millions or even billions of spins to understand how much the machine pays out and how much it accepts.
For example, a machine with 95% RTP pays out £9.50 for every £10 invested by gamers. In order to reach their target RTP value, gaming machines require different numbers of game cycles: 10,000 or 100,000 for compensated games and significantly bigger number for completely random ones. Compensated machines reach their target after tens or hundreds of thousand games, while fully random machines need around a million or even more game cycles. The number becomes more useful once you see how it applies to actual games, and Info Casinos puts RTP alongside game mechanics, casino reviews and the bonus terms that can affect how a player experiences them.
RTP as a long-term statistic
RTP is a long-term statistic which cannot be applied to particular gaming session. The odds of win do not depend on previous gaming sessions for random machines and remain constant.
You may face with higher or lower returns during short period of play. High volatility and variance significantly influence the way RTP works during gaming sessions.
High-volatility games provide you with big winnings infrequently, while low-volatility machines pay out smaller and more regular rewards. No matter what is the RTP of the machine, you can either earn big or lose your money fast.
Relation of RTP to the house edge
The house edge is a direct inverse relation to the RTP: their sum equals to 100%. Thus, the formula is as following: RTP + House Edge = 100%. Thus, if you have a slot machine with 96% RTP, the house edge is 4%. That means that the theoretical advantage of casino is 4%.
RTP Percentage
House Edge
Return per £100
98%
2%
£98
96%
4%
£96
92%
8%
£92
You can easily calculate the house edge and RTP if you know the other value of the two.
Why casino online sites offer different RTP versions
Game providers do not lock their slot machines to a particular configuration of odds. They provide gambling sites with several certified versions of the title and the operator chooses the one which suits him better.
Game providers create several RTP configurations
Play’n GO creates five different RTP configurations of virtually every slot machine. It provides you with versions from 88% to 96%. NetEnt, Red Tiger Gaming, Pariplay and StakeLogic provide variable RTP configurations of their slots. That is why the game name alone does not tell the whole story: CasinoInsikt.se covers slots, their providers, the casinos offering them and the bonus terms around them in one place.
For example, Book of Dead can be played with 96% RTP and provides 4 £ profit per 100 £ wagered. At the same time it can also be played with 88% RTP providing 12 £ per 100 £. That means three times more profits of casino. These are not modified files of the games; they are the versions certified by the provider and independently tested.
Regulatory requirements differ by region
Malta forces minimum floor of RTP for covered games. UK regulates by forcing casinos to provide RTP, house edge or probability of win to the players. Germany has 5.3% turnover tax that forces RTP to be around 90% or even lower. It was one of the reasons of decreasing market from €800 million in 2022 to €470 million by the end of 2025. Thus, jurisdictional restrictions determine which versions of the game are allowed for use.
Profitability and strategy of the casino
Operators that focus on player acquisition usually opt for high-RTP versions of the games. Those that focus on quick profits usually choose lower RTP versions that give them bigger margins per spin. Crypto casinos that spend much on bonuses may need lower-RTP versions to maintain their profitability.
Connection of RTP to promotional offers and bonuses
Casinos adjust the RTP level depending on their promotional expenses. Slot games that are connected with big bonus offer may have slightly lower RTP.
Demographics of players influence RTP choices
Casinos that target high rollers may need to provide higher RTP versions of premium games in order to keep their valuable customers. Those casinos that attract casual visitors may be more interested in variety of games than high RTPs.
Level of market competition
High competitive markets force gambling sites to offer high RTP versions of games in order to attract gamers from the competition. In the markets with low competition there is no such pressure.
How RTP variations influence your gameplay
Different RTP of gambling sites influences your playing experience even if you play the same slot machine.
Influence of RTP variation on the bankroll and gaming session
High-RTP games extend the time of your playing by decreasing the cost of each spin. The slot machine with 98% RTP costs you £2 per 100 £ bet, while 92% costs £8 per 100 £. Choosing the slot with higher RTP helps you to increase your chances of prolonged play.
However, variance makes this formula complicated. High-volatility slots require bigger budget in order to survive losing streaks regardless of the RTP. For example, 96% RTP high-volatility slot may consume your budget quicker than 94% RTP low-volatility game due to extended dry periods between wins.
Frequent wins vs frequent losses
RTP does not tell you the frequency of your wins. Hit frequency measures the frequency of winning spins regardless of the payout and varies from 20% to 30% for most modern slots. Slots that pay you small amounts on 30% of spins behave differently from slots that pay out on 18% spins concentrating the value in free spins. Even if these games have the same RTP of 96%, they are completely different in playing experience.
High-volatility slots give you big payouts rarely, while low-volatility slots provide you with frequent smaller winnings. Both games can have the same RTP and give you totally different experience.
Short-term results are random
Every gaming session is statistically insignificant. After 100,000 games RTP may differ from theoretical average by 3.47%. 1,000,000 games make the gap smaller and it becomes approximately 1%. Your session with hundreds of spins is far from these numbers, thus short-term results are random on any casino online platform.
How to check and compare RTPs of gambling sites
To verify the RTP information of the gambling site you need to know how to find the required information and what variations may indicate problems.
Finding RTP in game information screens
Every slot provides RTP percentage in its information screen, accessible by pressing “i” or “?” buttons. Usually, you will see Game Rules or Paytable Information section in which the percentage is located at the bottom. If it is lower than the RTP mentioned in the reviews, you play the reduced-RTP build. UK providers are obliged to show RTP in help file of the game or pay table. Alternatively, you can use the ExactCasinos.com website, which contains all the information about slot RTPs and where to find them.
Checking provider websites
Websites of game providers like NetEnt, Microgaming and others usually show RTP specifications for their games. You need to cross-reference these data with the RTP shown in the game screen of the casino online platform. Occasionally, third party audit reports may be found on provider websites or in casino footers.
Comparing the same game versions
Titles of Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play and Red Tiger come in multiple RTP configurations. You need to compare different gambling sites and pay attention to the fact that one platform has higher-RTP versions of game while another has the opposite.
You can contact the customer support if RTP information is not available in the game or on the fairness page.
Knowing when lower RTPs can bring you some benefits
Sometimes lower RTPs are accompanied by some bonuses like loyalty rewards, access to exclusive prize drops and fast withdrawals. Also, exclusive slot tournaments or jackpot network may be available only in games with some specific RTP.
