Understanding and Using RTPs to Your Advantage

Robin Storm

Senior Author

Robin Storm

Senior Author

5 Min Read

Playing online casino games can be highly entertaining and rewarding if you understand the basics. Every casino game found online comes with a Return to Player (RTP) percentage set by the software provider. Many players will load and play games without fully understanding or knowing how these affect their gameplay.

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What is RTP?

The RTP refers to the percentage. The total bet amount the slot or casino game will pay back to players over a certain period. The higher the percentage is the more often you will be able to win playing the game over a longer time.

The RTP of any online slot or casino game is a theoretical calculation and shouldn’t be taken to heart. It isn’t applied to random big wins or long losing streaks. An RTP can only tell you the average estimation of the amount that will be paid back throughout the game’s lifetime.

How does RTP work?

The RTP is the opposite of the house edge so if your game has a 3.7% house edge it comes with a 96.3% RTP. The RTP is calculated using a simple formula where the total amount returned to players is divided by the total amount of bets made by players.

Essentially with a 96.3% RTP, you could get back $96.30 on every $100 bet, theoretically. As the RTP is calculated using the bets made by all players this is never the case. The RTP also counts larges wins in the average. So if one player gets a jackpot win from the game all other players participating in the game at the same time will experience a loss on their wagers.

Understanding RTP charts

RTP is calculated for thousands of games which is why any player could potentially strike a jackpot spin on their first spin. On the other hand, you could also play hundreds of spins and not get a single jackpot win.

When it comes to video slots the RTP should always be viewed as an overall average payout that can be awarded. Video slots impact the RTP differently than other casino games as they also come with a set variance that dictates how frequently they’ll payout.

Video slots are divided into three variance categories, Low Variance, Medium Variance and High Variance.

Low variance slots payout small wins quite frequently where high variance games payout rarely but provide big payouts on those winning spins. The medium variance slots are more popular as they give you a balance of small regular payouts with the possibility to strike big wins.

In essence, before deciding to play any video slot you not only need to look at its RTP percentage but its variance. These two go hand in hand with ensuring a rewarding and entertaining gaming experience. When playing video slots you will be stuck with a set Return to Player percentage that cannot be altered.

Games with flexible RTPs

While video slots have an RTP set in stone some games come with flexible RTPs. The flexibility comes from applying strategy and skill to your game to turn the odds in your favour.

A popular game with flexible RTP is Blackjack. When playing online blackjack you can easily impact the RTP by the choices you make with every hand you play. With the right strategy and skill, you can turn the odds in your favour and ensure a win.

Where video slots award wins or losses at random. One of the easiest ways to improve the RTP of Blackjack is by using the perfect blackjack strategy. Keep in mind that the strategy will be determined by the blackjack variation and its ruleset.

Video Poker is another game that enables you to change the odds in your favour using a strategy chart. Certain Video Poker variants provide the option of increasing the RTP to over 100%. While a profit is never guaranteed using the correct strategy chart does improve your winning chances.

Unfortunately, turning the RTP with video Poker is quite difficult. It generally entails playing near the top end of the wagering scale which can be difficult if you’re playing on a bankroll budget.

The usefulness of RTP Charts

RTP Charts enable you to choose the best games that will offer a better payout before you even get started. Keep in mind that using RTP charts to choose your video slot or table game will not guarantee a win.

Online casino games remain games of chance and winnings are never a given. In games such as blackjack and video poker, you can turn the odds in your favour using the correct strategies or betting at the highest levels. Still, the odds will never be fully in your favour.

Use RTP Charts to help you choose your games, don’t count on them to help you win when playing at online casinos. Here are some of the casinos we suggest you to practice:

Robin Storm

Author & Casino Games Expert

869 Articles

Robin works tirelessly to make gambling fun and worry-free for all players. With his impressive industry experience, he is passionate about being able to play casino games in a fun and safe environment, ensuring players avoid all the hassles that may appear.

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