RTP information rules for UK casino apps

What the RTP information rules say

The RTP information rules live in the Gambling Commission’s Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards, known as the RTS. Section 3 is titled rules, game descriptions and the likelihood of winning, and its stated aim is to let customers make informed decisions about whether to gamble based on their chances of winning. It is one of the standards listed on our UK rules for casino apps hub.

RTS 3 has four requirements. Each one says what must be available to you, and the first three set the timing: before you commit to a bet.

You can read the Commission’s wording in RTS 3 on rules, game descriptions and the likelihood of winning (opens in a new tab). The page was last updated on 7 May 2024.

RTS 3C: how the RTP information rules define your chances

RTS 3C is the heart of the RTP information rules. It asks for information that lets you reasonably judge your chances of winning. The Commission names three ways to express that: the house edge (or margin), the return to player percentage, or the probability of winning events.

Those are really the same fact viewed from different sides. A slot with a 96% RTP has a 4% house edge, because 100% minus 96% is 4%. Over a very large number of spins, it is expected to return £96 for every £100 staked.

Games with skill or other players

The guidance adapts for games where the odds aren’t fixed. In peer-to-peer games, where results depend on other players, a description of how winners are decided can be enough. In casino games with a skill element, such as blackjack, the RTP should be worked out using an auto-play strategy or a standard published strategy, so the figure assumes sensible play rather than random decisions.

Progressive jackpots

RTS 9 links back to RTS 3C for progressive jackpots. The jackpot system’s return should be shown in line with RTS 3C, and if you aren’t eligible for a game’s jackpot, that has to be made clear. Jackpot values should also update as often as practicable.

RTS 7: no compensated games and no secret changes

Displaying an RTP only helps if the game actually behaves as described. That is where RTS 7, the standard on generating random outcomes, comes in. Its aim is simple: games must operate fairly.

• RTS 7A: outcomes must be acceptably random, and compensated or adaptive games are not allowed. A game can’t change its probabilities during play to make up for earlier results.
• RTS 7B: games must follow the rules and advertised payouts you saw before play started, mapping random numbers to outcomes as stated.
• RTS 7C: designs that mislead you about the likelihood of results are banned, including swapping one losing result for a near-miss losing result.
• RTS 7D: rules, payouts and probabilities can’t change while a game is available for gambling, unless its rules allow it and you are told.

The full text is in the Commission’s RTS 7 on the generation of random outcomes (opens in a new tab). Guidance there also says a vague clause such as rules may be changed at any time isn’t acceptable.

In practice, RTS 7 is why the myth of slots running hot or cold doesn’t hold up for UK online games. Every spin is produced by the random number generator and the game can’t steer towards its RTP. Our answer on whether casino apps rig games covers the testing side.

Why the RTP information rules exist

Without these rules, a casino game would be a black box. You’d know what you were staking but not how much of it, on average, you could expect back. RTS 3 puts the price of play in front of you.

The rules also stop a quiet form of unfairness. If an operator could lower a game’s return mid-session, or show a misleading near-miss to keep you spinning, the published figure would mean nothing. RTS 7 closes that door.

There is a wider link to the Commission’s design rules. Its January 2020 warning on feature buy-ins cited RTS 3A alongside RTS 14A, the rule against encouraging people to chase losses. Since a Gambling Commission warning in January 2020, feature buy-ins are not offered to British players. Our page on online game design rules covers the rest of that framework.

How RTP information shows up in casino apps

The guidance gives operators some freedom over where the information goes. It can sit in in-game artwork, a help or how-to-play page, or supporting material, with prominent links from home pages, game selection pages, menus or inside the game. On devices with small displays, at least a menu item or link is needed.

On a phone, that usually means an information icon or help option inside each game. Because layouts differ, we won’t name a specific button; look for the game’s help, info or rules screen. Our guide on how to find a game’s RTP in an app goes through the common places.

1. Open the game in the casino app but don’t place a bet yet.
2. Look for the game’s help, information or rules screen.
3. Find the RTP percentage, house edge or probability information.
4. Read the paytable to see what each outcome pays.
5. Check whether any jackpot has a separate return or eligibility condition.
6. Note the figure for that game in that app, as another operator may run a different setting.

Turning RTP information into a cost in pounds

The most useful thing you can do with RTP information is convert it into an expected cost. Standard game maths says expected loss equals the total staked multiplied by the house edge.

The same slot at 94% instead of 97% doubles the expected cost of that session, from £4.50 to £9.00. That is why checking the help screen is worth 20 seconds.

These are long-run averages. A single session can end far above or below them, and how far depends on volatility, which the RTP figure doesn’t capture. Treat any session as entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it.

A table game comparison

Single-zero roulette has a house edge of 2.70% according to Wizard of Odds’ house edge comparison of casino games (opens in a new tab). Sixty £5 spins means £300 staked, so the expected loss is £8.10 (£300 × 2.70%).

What the RTP information rules don’t cover

These rules make information available. They don’t set a floor on how generous a game must be.

• No minimum RTP: none of the RTS pages sets a minimum return for online games in Great Britain.
• No single universal RTP: one slot can be supplied at several settings, and operators choose which to run.
• No hit rates: RTS 3C allows probability information, but most slots show RTP rather than how often features land.
• No volatility label required: many studios describe volatility, but the RTS requirements above don’t mandate it.
• No unlicensed sites: offshore apps outside Commission licensing don’t have to follow RTS 3 or RTS 7 at all.

The rules also don’t make apps worse than websites. Our answer to whether RTP is lower on casino apps explains that the setting is chosen by game and operator, not by device, and our page on games on apps versus desktop covers the rest.

RTP information rules timeline

The idea of showing customers their chances is long-standing. These are the dated points that shape the current pages and how they connect with other rules.

The 2021 and 2025 dates belong to neighbouring rules, covered on our pages on the autoplay ban and game speed rules. They matter here because they change how quickly you move through the stakes that RTP is measured against.

Using RTP information to choose games sensibly

RTP is one input, not a recommendation engine. A higher figure lowers the expected cost of play, but nothing makes a profit likely.

1. Decide on a budget for the session before you open the app.
2. Compare the RTP of the games you enjoy, using each game’s help screen.
3. Work out the expected cost: total you plan to stake × house edge.
4. Consider volatility, since high-volatility games swing more around that average.
5. Remember the slot stake limits of £5 per spin (25 and over) and £2 (18 to 24).

If you prefer lists that already focus on return, see our high RTP slot apps page, and always confirm the figure in the app itself.

UK casino apps that must follow the RTP information rules

All three partner apps below hold Gambling Commission licences, so RTS 3 and RTS 7 apply to every game they offer. We don’t publish RTP figures for their lobbies because settings vary by game; check each game’s help screen, for example in the Coral slots app. All offers are 18+ for new customers and terms apply.

• Coral Casino: from 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027, deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10 or more on slots to get 100 free spins at 10p each on selected games. Accept within 48 hours; spins are valid for 7 days; no wagering on free spin winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don’t qualify.
• Ladbrokes Casino: deposit and spend £10 or more on slots to get 50 free spins a day for the first 10 days, up to 500 spins at 10p each on selected games. Claim before 23:59 each day; spins last 7 days; no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits are excluded.
• PlayOJO: make a first deposit of at least £10 to get 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each, with no wagering and winnings paid in cash. New UK customers only, excluding Northern Ireland; not combinable with other offers; designated offer link only.

Free spin offers apply to slots only, and the house edge applies to every spin, bonus or not. More detail is in each review: Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO.

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.