How to Choose Slots with the Best RTP — What the Numbers Mean

If you play slots at UK online casinos, the most useful number you can know is a slot's RTP — Return to Player. It's published on every game at every UKGC-licenced casino, it's regulated, and it directly tells you how expensive a game is to play. Here's everything you need to know about it.

What Does RTP Mean?

RTP stands for Return to Player. It's expressed as a percentage and represents the theoretical amount a slot pays back to players over an enormous number of spins — typically millions. A slot with 96% RTP pays back £96 for every £100 wagered, keeping £4. That 4% is the house edge.

The critical word is "theoretical". RTP is a long-run statistical measure, not a guarantee for your session. In any given session of a few hundred spins, you could win or lose far more or less than the RTP implies. Over hundreds of thousands of spins across all players, the number holds. For your individual session, variance is the dominant force.

RTP vs Volatility — Both Matter

RTP tells you the long-run cost. Volatility tells you how the wins are distributed.

A high-RTP, low-volatility slot will return money to you frequently but in small amounts. A high-volatility slot might go 200 spins without a significant win, then pay a large multiplier. Both can have the same RTP, but they feel completely different to play.

For most players managing a session budget, low-to-medium volatility slots with high RTPs are the best combination — you get the most play per pound and the fewest dry spells.

What's Considered a Good RTP?

As a rule of thumb, look for slots above 96%. Some well-known high-RTP titles include Mega Joker (99% on max bet), Blood Suckers (98%), and Goblin's Cave (99.32%) — though these are extreme examples and usually have specific conditions attached.

Most modern slots from major providers sit around 95%–97%. Branded games (based on films or TV shows) often have lower RTPs because the licensing fees are built into the game economics.

How to Find the RTP of a Slot at a UK Casino

Under UKGC regulations, all licenced UK casinos must make RTP figures available for every game. Here's how to find them:

1. In-game information button — most slots have an "i" or "?" button in the game interface; tap it and look for "RTP", "Return to Player", or "Theoretical RTP"
2. The casino's game page — some casinos list RTPs in the game description or a dedicated info tab
3. The developer's website — game providers like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and Microgaming publish RTP sheets for all their titles
4. Online slot databases — sites dedicated to tracking slot RTPs maintain searchable databases

Note: some casinos are permitted to operate games with adjusted RTPs that differ from the developer's default. Always check the figure shown on the specific casino's version of a game.

Does Playing at Higher Stakes Improve RTP?

For most slots, no. The vast majority of online slots have a fixed RTP regardless of stake. A small number of older slot titles (like Mega Joker or certain Novomatic games) have stake-dependent RTPs, where the highest bet unlocks the best return. These are the exception, not the rule, and always highlighted in the game info.

Practical Slot Selection Strategy

When you sit down to choose a slot:

1. Filter or search for games with published RTPs above 96%
2. Consider your session budget — if it's under £20, pick low-to-medium volatility to extend your play
3. Avoid branded slots unless you specifically want the theme — they consistently trade off RTP for IP costs
4. Avoid progressive jackpot slots if RTP matters to you — a portion of every bet feeds the jackpot pool, and the published RTP often includes the jackpot contribution, which most players never win
5. Read the paytable before you spin — understanding what you're looking for makes the game far more interesting

Bottom Line

RTP is the most important number in slot selection, and UK casinos are legally required to publish it. Anything above 96% is good; above 97% is excellent. Pair that with appropriate volatility for your budget, avoid branded titles and progressive jackpots if value matters more than jackpot dreams, and you're making the most informed choice possible in what is ultimately a game of chance.