Learn more about online slots and RTP – the exhaustive guide to understanding RTP (return to player) and how it affects your online slot experience.
Online Slots and Why RTP Matters
Online Slots continue to deliver some of the most engaging online casino experiences. Many factors influence just how engaged you are with any given game, but one the most important is RTP or return to player. RTP is represented as a percentage and helps to determine how much a game will pay out over time.
Here we’ll go through everything you need to know about RTP and why it matters to you as a player. A firm grasp of the concept will help you make far better decisions about the games you play.
RTP Definined
RTP is a statistical metric that indicates the percentage of wagered money a slot game returns to players over time. Essentially, it represents the inverse of the house edge, which reflects the casino’s advantage over the players.
So if we look at a game like Hot Hot Fruit for example. This Habanero title is one of the most popular Spina Zonke games here at Hollywoodbets and was also one of about 40 titles that formed part of our online slot launch.
Hot Hot Fruit has an RTP of 96.84%. This means that 96.84% of all money wagered on the game should be paid back to players over an extended period. However, your personal RTP will likely be higher or lower because you typically play a few spins at a time. But if you were to play millions or even billions of spins on Hot Hot Fruit, you’d find that the RTP percentage will converge at a point very close to 96.84%.
Here are some ranges that slots players generally divide slot games into based on their return to player percentages:
- 96% RTP is usually considered high and is most desirable;
- 94%-95% are less desirable but can still be quite attractive depending on features;
- Below 94% – these games are probably not worth your time.
What Can Affect RTP?
Many factors influence the RTP of online slot games. You must be aware of these when you’re looking for a new game to play, or just analysing one of your current favourite titles. Let’s unpack some of these below.
Providers with variable RTP games
Did you know that game providers can offer a single title with several configurable RTP percentages? Let’s look at Pragmatic’s smash hit Big Bass Bonanza as an example.
The version on our site has an RTP of 96.71% but Pragmatic (the game’s developer) also offers alternative versions at RTP rates of 95.67 and 94.5%. Always check a game’s settings or help section to determine which version you are playing.
Game Mechanics
There are also titles whose mechanics can affect the RTP percentage depending on the game’s state. For example, the RTP can increase if you trigger a free spins feature versus what it’d typically be during the base game. Again, always check the info/help section to determine whether or not this is the case with your chosen slot.
Is This All Fair?
Well, that depends. Here at Hollywoodbets we only offer games from world-renowned, licenced providers. We ourselves are licenced and subject to the rules and regulations set out by South Africa’s Gambling Boards. Our games do what they say on the box – this is true of both RTP and volatility.
However, some online casinos aren’t licenced at all or are licenced by overseas territories with looser regulations. They may try and hoodwink you with their offerings or may even look for ways to avoid paying you out.
Always ensure that the casino you’re playing at is locally licenced and offers titles from legitimate providers. You can find more information about our licences here.
Generally speaking, RTP percentages north of 96% are considered good. But remember, a higher RTP gives you better odds of winning in the long run but won’t have a bearing on short-term outcomes.
Online slots usually have better RTP percentages than those you find in a land-based casino. Remember, a land-based casino has far more costs to worry about – building maintenance, a far higher staff complement etc. This all affects RTP percentages.
