skip to Main Content

What Is the Average Slot RTP?

chart showing up and down movements averageAnyone who is familiar with playing casino slot machines will generally know that they have return to player (RTP) rates attached to them. In fact, there are some gamers who like to know of this rate before deciding upon playing a game or not. Of course, the higher the RTP rate of a slot, the better it is likely to be for payouts on average in the long run. But it would be good to know what the average for this is, because otherwise, how can you really judge what a good RTP rate is and what isn’t?

Here, we’ll give you a bit of an insight into how RTP rates work and the difference between rates in land-based casinos and online sites. Furthermore, we aim to give you a look at what the average RTP rate of these games is overall, so you know what you’re getting from a slot when you decide to play it. You should remember that this percentage is something that is worked out over a large number of spins, reaching the thousands and sometimes millions. Therefore, it isn’t something you should solely look at when choosing a slot to play.

What is Slot RTP?

rtpThe Return to player rate is something that casino operators use to express the total of a slot’s wagered amount that will be returned to players as payouts. It could be said that it is the odds of being successful on a specific slot machine. As noted though, this payback to players is worked out over a period of time, and it is described as a percentage. The higher up that this percentage is, the more you can expect to receive in returns, on average over a long period of time.

This doesn’t mean that if you wager £100 on a 98% RTP rate slot machine that you will get £98 back from it then and there. It means that this is the expected amount calculated over those numerous slot spins. Each slot game has its own particular RTP rate at every casino, with land-based establishments tending to have a bit more control over this than online ones. Generally speaking, land-based casinos can program the RTP rate as low as 80% and up to 98%, and over time, the machine will pay back its players the RTP rate that has been assigned to it.

From a game’s RTP rate, a player can also figure out what the house edge is like on a slot. Should a slot game come with an RTP rate of 97%, then it means that the house has a 3% edge in that particular game. Players like to be able to reduce the house edge as much as possible, which is why the slots with the higher RTP rates tend to be more popular for those who like looking at this percentage.

The next question would probably be about where to find the RTP rate of a slot machine. Well, locating this for an online slot game is usually quite easy. If you load a game up, you can normally open the pay table or the rules and find it one of those pages. Alternatively, you could simply search for the RTP rate online.

When it comes to land-based casino slot games, things are a little different. These can be somewhat harder to locate, and as it happens, the land-based RTP rates tend to be lower when compared to online games. Sometimes, you may have to look at a board that it placed around a particular cluster of slots, which says something like RTP Rate: 96-99%, for example.

This is usually because these slots all come from one specific developer, whereas another board at an alternate cluster of machines may have a different RTP rate stated because they come from another provider. It’s worth enquiring with the customer service desk, although they are not specifically obliged to give you details of the games’ RTP rates.

Is RTP Something That Matters When Playing Slots?

people playing a bank of slot machines

RTP rates of slot machines differ in how much they matter from player to player. Some people really like to know about the RTP rate before they go ahead and play with real money on slots, while others simply bypass the RTP associated with a game altogether. The thrill of the game is enough for the latter of these types of gamers.

For those who consider themselves as being more invested in slot gaming, the RTP rate provided gives you a fairer chance of getting more value from the investment you put into them. Essentially, the RTP assures you that the game you are playing is programmed to provide a percentage of all the wagered money in payouts, whether that comes to you or to someone else participating in the same game as you.

Yet as noted, you cannot guarantee when or where the payouts of a slot will occur. A higher RTP rate simply means that you stand a slightly higher chance of getting more out of a slot than one with a lower RTP rate. It is also important to consider the hit frequency and variance of a slot alongside the RTP it has had assigned, though.

It is important to note that in the United Kingdom, there is no minimum RTP rate on a gaming machine. The average RTP is generally measured over 10,000 or 100,000 games for compensated machines and more games than this for random machines, depending upon their category.

Random machines rely on the statistical chance of an outcome occurring to meet their target RTP percentage, while compensated ones vary the chance of winning depending upon results from previous games played. Should one of those latter machines be below its target RTP rate, then it may become more generous to players to equal itself out on this front.

Within the UK, it is also absolutely vital that every gaming machine displays its associated RTP rate. This could be viewed in the form of a label, or a notice attached to the machine, and can sometimes be found on the back of the machine in question. A game help screen, if it is an electronic machine, may also display this percentage for you.

Online Versus Land-Based Slot Games

friends sat on sofa gambling online on various devicesIt is true to say that online casino slots tend to fare higher in terms of the RTP rates associated with slots. That’s because there are fewer operating costs and overheads to consider. Apart from the initial setup and infrequent maintenance costs associated with an online casino, these cost less to operate in general.

This is why you may find that some slots present in online casino lobbies provide RTP rates as high as 98% and 99%. The Ugga Bugga slot from Playtech, for example, has a percentage of 99.07% attached to it, while Mega Joker by Netent comes with a 99% RTP rate.

When it comes to land-based casinos, the scenario is altogether different. You’re getting a much more rounded casino experience. That could include access to additional perks, such as food and free drinks, private VIP player rooms, and other extra ambiance and perks. Obviously, we the players visit these casinos for that sort of experience, and it is what venues in places like Las Vegas thrive on, drawing people in. Therefore, they have little interest in the RTP rates, variance and so on. This sees the slot machines frequently come with lower RTP percentages in comparison to their online counterparts.

The industry standard found in brick-and-mortar establishments featuring slots is 86%, and sometimes, you’ll find casinos with a lower rate than this in place. Those previously mentioned overhead costs and maintenance are always calculated when determining the RTP rate that is required within those games. In doing so, they know that they’ll be able to take enough from players’ bets to cover those costs when they choose to gamble on the slots.

Should You Turn to RTP Rate When Choosing A Slot?

low volatilityIf you didn’t know it before, you know now that online slot machines often have higher RTP rates in general than physical slot machines. And that might lead you to the conclusion that playing these games online is far more beneficial to you. Yet this does actually depend upon what type of casino player you are.

As noted earlier, there are those players who enjoy slots simply for the thrill and enjoyment of their themes, special features and so on. In this instance, it is much more likely that the RTP rate of a game has very little impact on the player. Therefore, it would matter little whether this type of gamer is accessing slots online or offline.

Yet for those people who do like to know about the RTP rate and base their decision on gaming around this percentage, the online scene is likely to be of more appeal. Even so, there are other factors for a player to consider when making such a decision. The general appeal of the slot’s theme, for example, is something that may be considered. The included special features may also be thought on. But it is much more likely that things like the slot’s variance and the betting range available within are factors that come into making a slot decision.

high volatilityWhile the RTP rate of a slot is very much something that many people like to know about, it should not be the only thing that determines whether you play a game or not. After all, this does not dictate that you will always be successful when playing online slots over land-based options.

You only need to look at the story of Donna from Hazlet, New Jersey, who managed to scoop herself the jackpot payout at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City in 2021, garnering a total of $1.64 million (£1.33 million). That was just one of several jackpot payouts obtained from people engaging in land-based slot releases.

Random chance really does play into slot gaming a lot, and this is also down to the random number generator (RNG) installed in all legitimate slot games. This determines that every spin taken on a slot, whether online or offline, provides a random and fair result. Those with higher variance levels will pay out larger amounts less frequently, while those with lower variance provide smaller payouts more frequently.

To Conclude

playing online casino gamesIn the end, the RTP rate is a nice enough guide to take into consideration when selecting slots to play. It’s just important to remember that the offline slots tend to come with lower expected returns over a time period in general than those online. While it could be determined that a higher RTP rate gives you a higher chance of getting more money back from a slot game in theory, this is not necessarily how it will play out in practice. And that’s primarily because the RTP rate is calculated over an extended time period and there are many other gamers accessing the same slot(s) as you.

With regard to the initial query asked here, the average RTP rate of online slot games stands at about 96%, and they can feature rates of between 90% and 99% for the most part. Meanwhile, land-based casino slots tend to have an industry average RTP rate of 86%, which is 10% less than their online counterparts.

Back To Top