RTP in slot machines: what is it and how does it affect the game?

Slot machines are the most popular attraction in casinos. They attract thousands of players and account for a large part of the profits of both online casinos and players. Slot machines work differently depending on the parameters that characterize them. In this article we will look at the RTP of slot machines, what this term means and how it affects the game.

What is RTP?

RTP is the Return To Player (RTP) of a casino slot machine https://pokiesurf-casino.com/. This parameter represents the winnings paid out to players over a long period of time, with the remainder being seen by the casino as profit. A clear example is the following. If players spend a total of €1,000,000 over a period of time on a machine with an RTP of 95%, €950,000 will be returned to the players, i.e. won by them, while the casino will make a profit of €50,000. The RTP of a slot machine therefore defines its gross profitability over a given period. This parameter is theoretical and therefore may not always apply exactly, which is fair since gaming is a matter of chance and probability. The RTP also has, contrary to popular belief, nothing to do with luck and is not the only factor that characterises a slot machine.

What is variance?

Variance is another important factor in a slot machine, not to be confused with RTP. It defines how often winning combinations are selected by the machine. A slot machine with a variance of 30%, for example, will show a winning combination 3 times out of 10. A distinction is made between loose slots, which have a high variance but a relatively low RTP. On these machines you will win more often but your winnings will be low. On the other hand, there are “tight” slots that have a low variance but a high RTP, which means that you can win very large prizes with this type of slot machine, but this rarely happens.

How does RTP affect the game?

The RTP, as you now know, is not enough on its own to affect the game play on a slot machine, at least not on a single player level. Whatever the payout ratio of a slot machine, it is clear that it does not apply to you alone, but to all players using the machine. Remember our definition of RTP, the calculation as well as being theoretical is based on the spending of many players and although with the pseudo-random number generators used in slot machines you can randomly be the one to win the largest share of the payout, the likelihood of this happening is low.

Land-based casino machines also have lower RTPs (70% to 80%) than online casinos (up to 99%), this is because online casinos have fewer operating costs to bear. Casinos have long kept the RTP of their machines secret so you don’t know what type of machine you are playing on, but this information is now public as a sign of good faith on the part of the gaming establishment. The relevant bodies also carry out checks on casino machines as recommended by law, to prevent and punish various frauds by gambling establishments.