Guide
RTP slots explained: what return to player means
RTP is a long-run average across all players, not a forecast for your session. How it is calculated, why builds differ and where to check it.
RTP, or return to player, is the percentage of all money staked on a game that the game is designed to pay back over a very large number of rounds. For RTP slots the figure usually sits somewhere around 94% to 97%: a slot set at 96% keeps about £4 of every £100 wagered across all its players over time. It describes the game's design, not what will happen to you in one sitting.
This page explains how the number is produced, why the same title can carry more than one RTP, where the figure is published and how it compares across slots, roulette and baccarat.
On this page
How a return-to-player figure is calculated
For a slot, the RTP is a theoretical figure worked out from the maths of the game: every possible combination of symbols, how often each lands and what each pays. Add up the expected payout of every outcome, divide by the stake, and you get the return. Independent test houses then check that the software behaves as specified before it can be offered in Great Britain.
For table games the figure comes straight from the rules. A European roulette wheel has 37 pockets but a straight-up bet pays 35 to 1, so the expected return is 36 units back for every 37 staked: 97.3%. The missing 2.7% is the house edge, and RTP and house edge always add up to 100%.
Why the same slot can have several RTP builds
Many studios supply one game in several versions with different return settings, and each casino chooses which version to run. The slot spec cards on this site note this for several titles: Play'n GO, for example, supplies lower-RTP builds of Book of Dead alongside the 96.21% version, and NetEnt's own page lists Starburst at 96.08% while lower builds exist. The artwork, features and maximum win look identical; only the long-run return differs.
That is why a figure quoted in a forum or a list can be wrong for the casino you are using. The Book of Dead RTP or the Gonzo's Quest RTP you see online may be the top build, not the one in your lobby. The version offered in Great Britain may also differ from versions in other markets.
Where to find the RTP before you play
- The game's information or paytable screen. This is the figure that applies to that casino's build. Open it from the menu icon inside the game.
- The casino's game rules or RTP page. Some operators list return figures by title in their help centre.
- The provider's own game sheet. Useful for the top setting and features, but it may not match the build a casino runs.
If the in-game figure and a published list disagree, trust the in-game screen.
Highest RTP slots among the games covered here
The table lists the RTP shown on each game's spec card on this site, highest first. Searches for the highest RTP online slots often turn up games above 97% or even 98%, but those figures depend on the build; the list below sticks to the games with a card here.
| Slot | Provider | RTP on the spec card |
|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 96.71% |
| Gates of Olympus | Pragmatic Play | 96.50% |
| Sugar Rush | Pragmatic Play | 96.50% |
| Sweet Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 96.48% |
| Eye of Horus | Blueprint Gaming | 96.31% |
| Book of Dead | Play'n GO | 96.21% |
| Fishin' Frenzy | Blueprint Gaming | 96.12% |
| Starburst | NetEnt (Evolution) | 96.08% |
| Cleopatra | IGT | 95.02% |
| Rainbow Riches | Barcrest (Light & Wonder) | 95.00% |
| Mr. Vegas | Betsoft | 93.60% |
The gap between the top and bottom of that list matters more than it looks. On £500 of total spins, a 96.71% game is designed to keep about £16 and a 93.60% game about £32. The high RTP slots page groups slot games with high RTP by published figure.
RTP on roulette, baccarat and other casino games
| Game and bet | Return to player |
|---|---|
| European roulette, any standard bet | 97.30% |
| French roulette, even-money bets with La Partage | 98.65% |
| American roulette, most bets | 94.74% |
| Baccarat, Banker bet (5% commission) | about 98.94% |
| Baccarat, Player bet | about 98.76% |
| Baccarat, Tie bet paying 8 to 1 | about 85.6% |
Roulette RTP and baccarat RTP are fixed by the rules, so they only change when the rules change: a second zero, a different commission, a different Tie payout. Blackjack and video poker depend on how you play each hand, which is why their figures are usually given for perfect strategy. Crash games such as Aviator, live game shows and multiplier tables publish their own figures in the help screen, and different bet types inside one game can carry different returns.
What RTP cannot tell you
RTP is measured across millions of rounds and all players together. Over a session of a few hundred spins, the result is dominated by luck and by the game's volatility: a 97% slot can empty a budget faster than a 94% one. A higher return lowers the average cost of playing; it does not make a win more likely in the next hour, and no casino or app can raise the RTP for you. Treat the figure as one sensible filter when choosing a game, and set a budget you are comfortable losing. Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over; the responsible gambling page lists limits and free support.
Questions readers ask
Is a 96% RTP slot better than a 95% one?
On average it costs less to play: about £4 per £100 staked against £5. It does not mean you are more likely to win in a single session, where volatility and luck dominate.
Do casinos change the RTP of a slot while you play?
No. A casino chooses a build from those the provider supplies, and that build's return is fixed and tested. Check the game's information screen to see which setting is in use.
Which slot has the highest return to player?
Among the slots with spec cards on this site, Big Bass Bonanza lists the highest RTP at 96.71%. Other games advertise higher figures, but the build each casino runs can be lower.
Is RTP the same as the chance of winning?
No. RTP is the average share of stakes returned over a very long run. Hit frequency and volatility describe how often and how much a game pays.