RTP: return to player meaning

What RTP means

Return to player describes how much of the money put into a game comes back out as winnings, averaged over a huge number of plays. If players stake £1,000,000 on a 96% RTP slot, the game is designed to pay back about £960,000 in total. The other £40,000 is the operator's margin.

Flip the figure and you have the house edge: 100% minus 96% is 4%. That's the same number viewed from the casino's side. RTP sits close to volatility in our glossary, because the two together describe what a game is like to play: RTP sets the average cost, volatility sets how bumpy the ride is.

How to read an RTP figure in pounds

The useful way to use RTP is to turn it into an expected cost. Multiply the total you'll stake by the house edge. Because winnings usually get re-staked, total stakes are often much bigger than your starting balance.

The gap between versions matters. Gonzo's Quest 2, for instance, is published at 96.06%, with 94.15% and 92.13% versions also in existence. On £500 of stakes the difference between the top and bottom version is about £20 of expected cost.

These are expected figures. Any single session can end well ahead or well behind, especially on a high-volatility slot. Over time, though, the house edge means you should expect to lose.

Why RTP can differ between casino apps

Studios often supply a game at several RTP settings and the operator chooses which one to run. Wizard of Odds notes that a slot's RTP can also vary from one jurisdiction to the next, and its slots page (opens in a new tab) lists Dead or Alive at 96.82%, which is that game's highest version.

So a figure you've seen online may not be the one in your app. That's the operator's choice of version, not something apps do by default; our answer to is RTP lower on casino apps goes into why. The only reliable figure is the one in the game you're actually playing.

1. Open the game in the app, but don't place a stake yet.
2. Tap the information, help or paytable icon inside the game.
3. Look for the line giving the return to player or theoretical RTP percentage.
4. If the game has a jackpot, check whether the figure includes the jackpot contribution.
5. Compare it with the figure in other apps if you play the same game elsewhere.

Our step-by-step guide on how to find a game's RTP in an app covers more cases.

UK rules on showing RTP

The Gambling Commission's RTS 3 standard (opens in a new tab) aims to let you decide whether to gamble based on your chances of winning. Requirement 3C says operators must give information such as the house edge, the RTP percentage or the probability of winning events. For games of chance, the guidance says the figure to show is the average theoretical RTP.

A few related points are worth knowing:

• Game rules and prize information must be available before you commit to gamble.
• Rules, payouts and probabilities can't change while a game is available for play.
• For progressive jackpots, the jackpot system's RTP should also be shown, so look for whether a quoted figure includes it.
• No minimum RTP is set for online games in Great Britain.

Our RTP information rules page sets out the standard in more depth.

A worked RTP example with free spins

Free spins make RTP concrete. PlayOJO's welcome offer gives 80 spins at 10p each on Big Bass Bonanza, a total of £8 in spin value. Big Bass Bonanza is listed at 96.71% RTP, so if the version in the app matches, the expected return from the spins is £8 × 96.71%, about £7.74, paid in cash with no wagering.

That's an average. With a high-volatility slot like this, most sets of 80 spins will return less, and a few will return much more. Our Big Bass Bonanza review covers the game itself, and high RTP slot apps compares where to look for top versions.

Related terms

• RNG: the random number generator that produces each result behind the RTP figure.
• Paytable: the list of prizes that, combined with the odds, sets the RTP.
• Progressive jackpot: where part of the RTP goes into a growing prize pot.
• Wagering requirement: where RTP decides how much a bonus costs to clear.

Partner casino apps and what their offers are worth

RTP depends on the game version, so check the help screen in whichever app you use. Our partners' welcome offers are all spin offers, which makes their value easy to estimate with RTP. Each is 18+ for new customers and terms apply.

• Coral: 100 free spins at 10p (£10 of spin value) on selected games when you deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10 or more on slots, from 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. Accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days; no wagering on winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid card or certain debit cards are excluded.
• Ladbrokes: up to 500 free spins at 10p (up to £50 of spin value), given as 50 a day for 10 days after you deposit and spend £10 on slots. Claim by 23:59 daily, use within 7 days; no wagering.
• PlayOJO: 80 free spins at 10p (£8 of spin value) on Big Bass Bonanza with a first deposit of £10 or more, for new UK customers outside Northern Ireland. No wagering, cash winnings, can't be combined, designated link only.

Coral and Ladbrokes are both LC International Limited (Entain) brands, so opening new accounts at both may not be possible.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.