What is RTP (Return to Player)?
The theoretical percentage of all wagered money a game pays back to players over an infinite number of rounds. A slot with 96% RTP returns £96 for every £100 wagered on average. The inverse of the house edge.
In Depth: RTP (Return to Player)
RTP is a long-run statistical average calculated over millions of rounds. It is not a guarantee of what any individual player will win or lose.
How it's calculated: Total amount returned to players ÷ total amount wagered × 100
Good RTP by game type:
- Online slots: 94–97% typical; 97%+ is high
- Blackjack (basic strategy): 99.4–99.6%
- European Roulette: 97.3%
- Baccarat (banker bet): 98.9%
- American Roulette: 94.7% (avoid — the double zero reduces RTP)
- Video Poker (full-pay Jacks or Better): 99.5%+
Variance interaction: High-RTP slots can still have high variance. A slot with 96% RTP and high volatility will pay out less frequently but in larger amounts. Low-volatility 96% RTP slots pay out more often in smaller amounts.
All UKGC-licensed casinos must publish RTPs for their games. Find it in the game information or paytable screen.
Real-World Example
Starburst has an RTP of 96.09%. For every £100 wagered across millions of spins, the game pays out approximately £96.09 on average.
Related Terms
RNG (Random Number Generator)
The software algorithm that generates genuinely random outcomes for every spin, card draw, or dice roll at an online casino. All UKGC-licensed casinos must use independently certified RNGs to ensure games cannot be manipulated.
Variance (Volatility)
Describes how a slot distributes its payouts — the balance between win frequency and win size. Low variance means frequent small wins; high variance means rare but potentially large wins. Also called volatility.
House Edge
The mathematical advantage a casino has over players on any given game, expressed as a percentage of each bet. The complement of RTP. A game with 97% RTP has a 3% house edge.