What Is RTP in Casino Games?

In casino games, Return to player (RTP) is an indicator that expresses the part of the player’s bet that the casino returns to him long-term. Usually RTP is displayed for slots and roulette.

RTP in gambling means “the percentage of return to the player from their bets”. It is calculated by the formula: RTP = sum of winnings / sum of bets x 100%.

Why is RTP Important in Casinos?

When players know what percentage they can get back from certain casino games, they can make more accurate choices about what to play and avoid unnecessary risks. Casinos use RTP info to attract players by showing them the expected value of investing in certain types of games over the long term.

For players, the main goal of understanding casino payout percentages is to make an informed choice of the best RTP casino games and its types, so as not to overpay the casino.

Casino RTP vs House Edge

According to the Return to Player explained earlier on this page, this indicator shows how much money you can get back (win) from the casino.

In contrast, the house edge is a measure of how much money the casino expects to make from each bet you make. For example, if you play a game with a 95% RTP, the house edge is 5%.

High RTP vs Low RTP Games

How does RTP affect your winnings? Well, the higher the RTP in a game, the more profitable it is for a player to spend time on it in the long run. At the same time, it is pointless to focus on this indicator in the short run.

It’s also worth noting that casinos often advertise their low RTP games with better bonuses or extra cashback, making them more profitable in the short term than games with a higher RTP.

What’s also important is that different games have different RTP. For example, at 888casino, this percentage of the best casino games RTP is provided as a reference to better understand its offerings:

Casino War — 98.82%
Blackjack — 98.55%
Three Card Poker — 97.02%
Pai Gow Poker — 96.78%
Craps — 96.34%
Roulette — 94.25%
Let it ride — 93.33%

Each casino and gambling operator has its own RTP statistics for its games. So if you see, for example, 98% RTP in blackjack in one casino — do not expect the same percentage in another casino. So, always check the RTP before choosing a game and betting.