Understanding RTP on Online Casinos and Why It Matters

If you’ve been playing online real money games for a while, you’ve probably come across the term Return to Player (RTP) percentage. Ever wonder what it is and why it’s important to know about it?


Well, you’re on the right page because we’ve got everything you need to know. So, soldier on and keep reading. By the end of this article, you’ll know what exactly RTP is and how you can use it to your advantage when playing online casino games.


What is RTP?


The RTP percentage lets you know the average returns you can expect when playing a casino game. This is calculated based on the amount wagered on a game and how much it paid players back over time.


If you see a game with a 90% RTP, it means that if you place a $1 bet 100 times, you can expect to get at least $90 of your bets back.

 

 

  • However, this isn’t the specific calculation and it’s still not guaranteed that you’ll get your $90 back. Know that online slots for real money are impossible to predict, so it can only give you a glimpse of how much it already paid the players. 

 


The house edge also has to be considered when calculating RTPs. Don’t worry, you don’t have to do that because the RTP presented to you already includes that.


We can even say that RTP also has something to do with the house advantage. Let’s say a game has a 20% house edge, then the RTP is 80%. It simply means that 20% is what the house keeps and 80% is what the players get.


RTP in Online Slots


When talking about RTP, players likely have slots in mind right away. That’s because many online casinos disclose RTP percentages of slots on their websites. Some of them even have a dedicated page with all the slot games and their RTPs listed.


So, does that mean you should only play high RTP slots? Well, ideally, yes, but you don’t have to stay away from low RTP slots if you have good reasons. 


A good RTP slot for slot machine games is 96% and above. Slots with at least 96% RTP can be beneficial if you don’t mind playing for a while to make profits.


High RTP slots allow you to place small wagers for a chance to win jackpots or win more with free spins. However, it could take a while for you to win something significant. Sometimes, before that happens, your gaming budget is already gone, so bear that in mind.


Low RTP slots are games with lower than 94.99% RTP. The truth is that you probably should avoid playing them because you'll be less likely to get a high return on your bet. 


However, some players don’t mind playing low RTP slots because they aren’t as volatile as high RTP games. Some people simply don’t mind the low RTP because the game itself is something they prefer in terms of theme and story.


Note that slots RTP can only go as high as 99%.


RTP in Other Online Casino Games


Yes, other online casino games also have RTPs. Here’s a quick look at what the ideal RTP percentages are for the most popular table games:

 

 

  • European Roulette: 97.30%
  • American Roulette: 94.74%
  • Classic Blackjack: 99.40%

 

 

When it comes to table games, the RTP is more about the house edge. The casinos are usually the ones to decide how much house edge they’ll be charging, but typically, this isn’t the info you’ll see straight up on their websites.


You can always ask customer support about this, so they can give you info on how they calculate the house edge for certain games. Expect that some casinos may not share details on this. If that’s the case, you’ll have to rely on review sites that cover RTP percentages at online casinos.


For European roulette games, the house edge can go around 2.70%. American roulette typically has a higher house edge with around 5.26%. There is a difference because even if they are identical in gameplay, winning odds are different for both games. American roulette has extra wheel pockets which increase the RTP.


The Bottom Line


If you’re serious about making profits by gambling online, understanding RTP is important. If not, and you’re someone who only wants to have fun playing real money games, then this shouldn’t bother you as much.

 

What you should always prioritize is your online safety! That said, only go for online casinos with a license, so you know that they have a fair and reasonable house edge, especially on table games.