What Does Return To Player Mean In Slots?
If you’re new to playing online slot games, you may have come across the term Return to Player, often shortened to RTP. Understanding what the RTP means can help you make better-informed decisions when exploring different games.
This blog will explain RTP in simple, clear terms and help you understand how it fits into your overall slot experience.
You’ll also learn how RTP differs from another important slot feature – volatility – and why both can influence your time playing slot games at Ivy Casino.
Whether you’re just starting out, or want to understand a bit more about how slot games are designed, this guide is here to support your understanding in a clear and responsible way.
What Is RTP In Slots?
RTP stands for Return to Player. It’s a figure shown as a percentage, and it tells you how much money a slot is designed to return to players over time. For example, a slot with an RTP of 96% is programmed to return £96 out of every £100 wagered. However, that figure is worked out over millions of spins, not during one play session. This means you could win more, less, or nothing at all.
The RTP doesn’t apply to one individual player. It’s a long-term average calculated across a huge number of spins. It helps show how the game is designed to behave over time, but it won’t tell you how your session will go.
At Ivy Casino, each slot game shows its RTP clearly in the game’s information section. This transparency can help you make informed choices before you decide to play. While the RTP can be a useful guide, it’s just one part of understanding how slots work.
How Does RTP Work In Slots?
Each time you spin a slot, the outcome is determined by a Random Number Generator (RNG). This technology makes sure that every spin is independent and fair. The RTP, on the other hand, is based on how the slot is programmed to behave over a long period of time.
Let’s say a particular slot game on Ivy Casino has an RTP of 97%. This doesn’t mean you will get £97 back for every £100 you wager. Instead, it means that over time – across millions of spins from many players – the game is expected to return 97% of the money wagered.
Individual results will vary. Some players may see a return much lower than 97%, and others might win more. That’s because slot games are designed as random games of chance – there’s no pattern or guarantee in the outcome.
Some slot games may also have adjustable RTP settings, depending on how they’re configured by the game provider, or how the game is set up on a particular platform. This is why it may be worth checking the RTP for each specific slot, especially if you’re switching between games or casinos.
How Is RTP Calculated?
The RTP is worked out using large-scale simulations run by the game developers. These tests involve spinning the game millions – or sometimes billions – of times in a controlled environment. The total money returned across all those simulated spins is then measured against the total amount wagered.
For example, if a slot game was tested over 10 million spins and returned £960,000 out of £1 million wagered, the RTP would be 96%. This process is not random; it’s based on fixed probabilities written into the game’s software. However, the outcome of every real spin is random, due to the RNG.
In the UK, developers must have their slot games tested and certified by independent labs approved by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This ensures that the RTP listed is accurate and that the game behaves as it’s supposed to.
At Ivy Casino, the slot games you’ll find have all been tested and approved, so you can trust that the figures shown reflect the actual design of the game.
How Do You Find The RTP on a Slot Machine?
When playing at Ivy Casino, or any UK-licensed online casino, you can usually find the RTP in the game’s paytable or information section. This might be shown as an “i” icon, a question mark “?”, or under a settings or help menu.
The RTP is typically listed alongside the game rules, symbol values, bonus features, and paylines. This section can also give you a good idea of how the slot works and whether it includes features like free spins or expanding symbols.
If the RTP isn’t immediately visible in the game, you can also check the slot’s details on the game developer’s official website. Most developers list full specifications, including the RTP and volatility.
Being aware of this information before you start playing may help you understand what kind of slot game you’re choosing – and how it might behave over time.
What Is a Good RTP Rate?
The average RTP for online slots in the UK is generally around 95-96%. Some players may view anything above 95% as being fair, while others might look for slots offering 97% or more. Higher RTP rates suggest a greater long-term potential return, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get that result in your own play session.
Slots with higher RTPs might seem more appealing to some players, but the type of game, theme, and features often matter just as much. Whether a slot game feels enjoyable to play can depend on more than just one percentage.
Keep in mind that other factors, like volatility and bonus features, also affect how a game plays. You might prefer a lower RTP game if it offers features that make it more entertaining or suit your style of play.
At Ivy Casino, you can explore a wide range of slots with different RTPs, styles, and bonus mechanics, giving you the chance to choose the games that best match your preferences.
Is RTP The Same As Volatility?
No – RTP and volatility are two separate things. The RTP is about how much a game may return over time. Volatility, on the other hand, is about how often and how much a slot may potentially pay out.
A high volatility slot may have longer gaps between potential payouts, but if any wins do happen, they might be larger. A low volatility slot tends to pay out more frequently, but the amounts may be smaller. Neither is better – it depends on your personal playing style.
Volatility isn’t usually displayed as a number like the RTP. Instead, developers often classify it as low, medium, or high. You can often get a feel for a slot’s volatility by reading the game’s description or looking at its paytable. Slot games that offer fewer, but larger possible prizes or rare bonus features, often have higher volatility.
Choosing a slot based on volatility can help you find a game that fits your preferences, whether you prefer the possibility of regular small wins, or are comfortable with longer waits in between larger potential payouts. Whatever you choose, remember that slots are games of chance. There is no strategy that can change how the game is programmed to behave.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these slot games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.