Every casino game has a built-in mathematical edge for the house. RTP expresses that edge from the player's point of view: it is the percentage of wagered money returned to players over the long run. The remaining percentage — 100% minus RTP — is the house edge.
If a slot has an RTP of 96%, the house edge is 4%. Over millions of spins, the game is designed to keep about 4% of everything wagered. This is a long-run statistical average, not a guarantee for any single session.
The house edge is simply the flip side of RTP. Use this relationship:
The lower the house edge, the better value the game offers over time — but the house always has an edge, which is why the casino is profitable.
Low volatility games pay out small wins frequently. Your balance moves smoothly and sessions last longer, but big wins are rare. These suit players who want longer entertainment for a fixed budget.
High volatility games pay out rarely but with much larger amounts when they hit. Your balance can swing sharply. Two games can have the same RTP but feel completely different because of volatility.
| Type | Typical RTP | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low volatility slot | 95–97% | Frequent small wins, longer play | Rare big wins |
| High volatility slot | 94–97% | Large potential payouts | Long dry spells, fast swings |
| Table games | 97–99% | Lowest house edge with strategy | Require some skill/rules knowledge |
RTP varies significantly by game. Slots typically range from 94% to 97%. Video poker and blackjack, played with correct strategy, can exceed 99%. European roulette is about 97.3%, while American roulette (with its extra double-zero) drops to about 94.7%. Keno and some scratch games can be much lower, often 80–90%.
Casinos do not need to cheat to profit. The house edge, baked into every game's RTP, means that across all players and all rounds the casino keeps a predictable margin. A game returning 96% RTP earns the operator 4% of everything wagered on it over the long run.
Licensed casinos use game software from independent providers whose RTP is tested and certified by labs such as eCOGRA and iTech Labs. This is why choosing a properly licensed casino matters — the games are verified to pay out at the stated RTP.
Use our free casino check tool to see the payout rate (RTP) for any of the 16 casinos in our database, or visit our live casino comparison to compare sites side by side.
RTP (Return to Player) is the theoretical percentage of all money wagered on a game that is returned to players over the long run. A slot with 96% RTP returns, on average, £96 for every £100 wagered across millions of spins. The remaining 4% is the house edge.
RTP is set in the game software by the provider and independently tested by labs such as eCOGRA or iTech Labs. It is a long-run average of total returned to players divided by total wagered, measured over millions of rounds — not a promise for a single session.
A competitive slot RTP is 96% or higher. Anything below 94% is considered low. Table games often have higher RTP: European roulette is about 97.3% and blackjack with optimal strategy can exceed 99%. Check payout rates with our free casino check tool.
No. RTP is a long-run average across all players over millions of rounds. In any single session you can win or lose far more than RTP suggests. Treat gambling as entertainment, not a way to make money. 18+ | Gamble responsibly | begambleaware.org
Last updated 2026-09-16. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or gambling advice. 18+ | Gamble responsibly | begambleaware.org