RTP of Slot Machines
Definition and Numeric Expression
The return of the slot, the RTP of the game, the theoretical percentage of return are all the same parameter. RTP is shorthand for Return To Player. The term is official and is used in land-based and online casinos for all types of gambling. Usually return to player is expressed as a percentage and is calculated using a simple formula: RTP = winnings / bets * 100%.
Important! All slot machines in real land-based casinos and online slots are required to indicate an accurate return rate. This is one of the main licensing requirements for a developer. At the first check, the regulator must check the compliance of the RTP value declared by the developer, and issues a license to the game only if this parameter is specified correctly. After a while, the machine is re-checked.
It is not enough to know the percentage of return, it is also important to understand how it works in practice. So, RTP = 96.34% means that the player will return 96.34% of all bets made on the machine, but during a long distance. It is not true to believe that if you spend 100 coins in 10 or 100 spins, then there will necessarily be a win in the amount of 96.34 coins. The minimum length of the distance is 1000 spins, and the regulators and the developers themselves check the return on several million spins.
The opposite of RTP is House Advantage - the advantage of the casino. It is also calculated using a simple formula: House Advantage = 100% - RTP
Accordingly, for the slot machine “A” it will be 3.66%, and the return on slot “B” is 3.37%. This means that in the long run only slightly more than 3% of all bets made by the player will go to the casino.
What are the RTP values?
All licensed casinos are required to use only slot machines with the RTP size required by the laws of the country in which the gambling establishment or site operates.
Since the costs of maintaining land-based casinos are significantly higher, the RTP of slots in the halls varies from 75% to 95%. Moreover, these indicators differ in different countries: in Australia, the return on a slot cannot be lower than at least 85%. In different states of the United States, the indicators also differ and are enshrined in gambling legislation.
The return on virtual slots fluctuates between 90% and 98%, but in recent years there has been a tendency to increase this indicator. Large developers rarely create games with an RTP below 95%. Developers prefer to give more opportunities to gamblers, and this strategy pays off as players become more loyal to online casinos. They prefer to place their bets more often, as they are sure that most of them will return.
How is the RTP of the slot machine set?
The value of the RTP slot is embedded in the software of both slot machines in real casinos and virtual slots.
For real machines, special chips are created that contain the program for the entire operation of the game, the random number generator algorithm and RTP parameters. The chip is programmed once and tested. If the check is successful, the chip is mounted in the machine and sealed.
When it comes to virtual casino games, the return percentage is also part of the developer's code. Once development is complete, the declared RTP is reviewed by the regulator. Only after successfully completing it, a license is issued, the slot goes on sale and is placed in licensed casinos.
Can a casino change the RTP of a slot?
This question is of great concern to all gamblers, and the answer to it is always the same: the casino cannot change the RTP, its value remains the same throughout the entire operating time of the slot machine. This applies to real and virtual casinos, but only those whose activities are confirmed by a license.
As we said above, the real slot receives a hard-writed RTP chip. To change it, you need to remove the seal, remove the chip, use specialized equipment and software to perform a flashing. This procedure is performed only when the machine needs repair or the time has come for the next check. On the machine itself, there are no special buttons or connectors that allow you to somehow get access to the operation algorithm.
With online casinos and online games, the situation is somewhat different. The licensed casino also has no way to get to the return to player settings. A virtual casino is essentially a convenient platform that provides access to slots, conducts financial transactions, organizes tournaments and other entertainment for its users. And all game transactions take place exclusively on the servers of the developer's company.
Since all operations take place not on the casino sites, but on the developer's side, no gambling site can influence the RTP of a slot machine. And independent regulators monitor the activities of developers and the correct operation of each game.
Attention! Licensed casinos cannot change the RTP of a slot, but this does not apply to gambling halls and virtual platforms operating without a license. Scammers have many ways to change the settings of the slot machines. Therefore, in order to get a guarantee of fair play and the possibility of real winning, you should definitely check the availability of a license and place bets only if there is confidence in its availability. Otherwise, the player agrees to play without rules.
What does RTP knowledge give the player?
The return of the slot speaks not only about how many bets you can play over a long distance. An experienced player can say much more about the game by this indicator.
Thus, the RTP of a slot machine is indirectly related to variance. For real casinos, the connection is very strong. So, slots with a low RTP of about 75% also imply low variance: they often give out small wins. If the RTP is high, for example, 95%, then you have a game with high variance, which occasionally gives out significant jackpots when playing with high stakes.
In online casinos, the range of return to player values is not so high, but the principle of relationship with variance is approximately the same.
Simply put, the slot machines with lower returns will appeal to players who are looking for a low variance, prefer to make small bets and win more often on little things. The high RTP is good for jackpot hunters who are willing to endure periods without significant wins.
Also, knowledge of the RTP slot allows, with a good study of the game's functionality, to understand how much time you can afford to play at the rates of the selected level. Of course, we are talking about a long distance and planning a bankroll for at least a month.
The modern unified system of operation of slot machines, controlled by regulators, gives players not only the opportunity to have a good time, but also certain guarantees. And even having a little experience of playing in an honest online casino, by the value of the RTP of a slot, you can predict its behavior and draw up a game scheme that is convenient for yourself.
Return To Player or RTP of a slot machine is one of the key metrics of all licensed online casino games. Knowing this parameter gives an idea of the generosity of the slot, and also helps to choose the optimal betting strategy.