Are you a fan of slot games slot games? Seeing as these are by far the most popular titles at online casinos, there’s a good chance you are. If so, you’ve probably come across the acronym, RTP, which means Return to Player. In this guide, we take you on a journey through everything you need to know about RTP odds, and how they help make all the games fair. If you want to get some in-depth insider knowledge, read on.
How do Online Casino Games Work?
When casino games moved to an online setting at sites like Mr Green, they were all virtual. Roulette, blackjack - you name it. All the classic titles were digitalised and didn’t have dealers to shuffle the cards or spin the wheel. So how did developers make them fair? This was the key dilemma that early online casino pioneers had to figure out quickly. It’s thanks to their implementation of an infallible system that allowed the online casino industry to boom.
This was, of course, the use of a random number generator, otherwise known as RNG. This complex computer algorithm is a string of mathematical code that can’t be copied or predicted. Some say it’s more random than randomness itself. The RNG determines which cards will be pealed from a deck in blackjack, where the ball lands in roulette, and what symbols spin into view on a slot machine.
With slot games, it gets slightly more complicated than with the table offerings. This is because there are a vast number of different possible combinations, and each of these combinations has a different pay out. For this reason, developers need to ensure that the probability of matching symbols of high value is lower than the probability of a series of symbols of low value. We refer this to as hit frequency, and it’s an integral part of a game’s design.
A slot game always has its prize symbols that match up to pay out the jackpot. Lining up all five may have a probability of 0.001%, for example. The lowest value symbol would have a 7% chance of spinning in, and all the other symbols would be set somewhere in between. RNG can be set to determine the frequency of these symbols spinning into view, but it has to operate in tandem with the predetermined RTP. We will explain this in more detail in the next section.
We should note that the live casino games here at Mr Green don’t use RNG. This is because real-life expert dealers shuffle the cards and spin the wheels with their own fair hands.
Return to Player (RTP) – How Does it Work?
RTP refers to the theoretical percentage that a game should pay out to players, but it isn’t as simple as it sounds. Someone could easily misinterpret that a game with a 97% RTP should pay out 97 coins to every 100 invested. It doesn’t quite work like this, and this is thanks to RNG.
Players don’t want to play games that are this predictable. RNG makes it so that a player could win a jackpot from a few spins. On the flip side of that, it could also determine that a game doesn’t pay out even after 500 spins. Over a long enough period, though, the games should level out based on their pre-programmed RTP.
RTP is set alongside the probability of an outcome in a game. In offerings like roulette and blackjack, it’s simply because the probability of any card being dealt or any number spinning in is the same. Therefore, the theoretical RTP exists within the fundamental laws of the game. In slots, however, the RTP percentage needs to align with the probability of each outcome.
Predominant in Slots Genre
Most casino players first heard about RTP from playing slot games. The algorithm is determined by the slot developer itself, rather than the online casino, and it can be used to increase the competition between games. Many players choose the slot they want to play based on the theme, while others will look at the RTP and play because of that.
RTPs in the slots genre range from around 92-97%, and in some circumstances, it can go even higher than that. The higher volatility games can entice players, however, lower volatility offerings have been known to pay out high amounts too.
RTP Information is Clearly Listed
The RTP information of a slot machine is easily accessible for online casino players, who can find this out by clicking on the details of a game. If it’s not clearly listed, you can simply do a quick Google search of the game.
Some sites may list RTP as a payout percentage, which means the same thing. It’s based on the percentage likelihood of any given scenario rewarding the player with winnings.
What are the Common Misconceptions About RTP?
Slots run hot and cold. You must have heard a so-called expert reel spinner tell you that in the past. One of the most widespread myths in the whole of the online casino industry is that somehow playing slots at the right time gives you a better chance of winning. Likewise, wannabe professors of the game will also tell you to steer clear of a machine after a pay-out.
There may have been some truth to these statements in the old days, especially when the physical machines only had a certain amount of wealth stored inside that they could dish out to jackpot winners. However, with online games, this isn’t the case. They could theoretically have an infinite number of coins to release, and they do so based on a combination of the RNG and RTP algorithms. Sorry to burst your bubble, but the idea of slots being ready to pay out is an urban legend.
Another misconception about slots is that players can influence the result of the game. Some players may think that changing the bet sizes from time to time or waiting between spins has an effect. This is not true. Players are simply passengers on slot games, and they are only tasked with pressing a button. This is where the thrills are found, as you have no idea what’s going to happen on each spin.
Does Knowing About RTP Benefit Players in Any Way?
You may be wondering why you even need to know about RNG and RTP. Some people may think it’s like delving into the inner workings of our neural pathways – interesting, but generally useless knowledge. This is true to an extent. Players cannot influence the outcome of a slot machine, but they can choose to play games that have a higher RTP.
Besides that, knowing about RTP can help put your mind at ease if you haven’t had a pay-out for a while. It reminds you that the machine is set to pay back a certain amount of money that’s been invested in it. This may mean that you may end up recouping a portion of your stake if you play for long enough. Still, this doesn't mean you'll end up winning.
Another way you can take advantage of your RTP knowledge is by using casino deposit bonuses and free spins on games with high RTP. This maximises your chances of winning something from the free playing money.
Which Slot Machines Have High RTP?
Now that you know about RTP, you may wonder where you can take advantage of the games that have the highest percentages. Here at Mr Green, we have a wide range of slots with different RTP percentages. Here are some of the highest returners.
Katmandu Gold
Katmandu Gold is a unique slot game in that players can set the volatility level themselves.
Wolf Gold
Wolf Gold is one of the leading games from Pragmatic Play, a studio that has been making massive waves in the slots markets in recent years.
Bonanza
Bonanza was one of the first slots to incorporate the brand-new and exciting Megaways engine that offers over 100,000 win lines.
Gonzo’s Quest
When it comes to all-time classics of the genre, Gonzo’s Quest is up there with the best.
Extra Chilli
Fancy a spicy slot where the action always turns up the heat? This Big Time Gaming offering has a great RTP.
The Bottom Line
Having a firm understanding of RTP Odds can help you understand why slot games behave in the way they do. Implementing RNG makes the games fair, and the set RTP percentages determine the probability of a set of symbols spinning into view. The chances of a game’s five highest-value symbols landing are slim, while the lower-paid symbols are set to spin in more frequently.
If you want to have a higher chance of winning a game, you can search out the slots with greater RTP. Online slots generally have much higher RTP percentages on their slot games than land-based slots, because there are fewer overheads for the casinos to pay. In a physical casino, you’d most likely be looking at slots with an RTP of around 93%. Online, they can reach up to 97%.
