What’s The Deal With Online Casino RTP Percentages?

Anyone who is even mildly familiar with online casinos is already aware of the advantages that these portals have to offer. Not only can they provide untold hours of fun and excitement, but some will even use these websites to create an additional form of income. Of course, we also need to appreciate the more technical aspects of the online casino industry. You may have come across an acronym referred to as “RTP” from to time. What does this concept entail and why is it so extremely important? Let’s take a more in-depth look at what you need to know before deciding upon a specific provider.

RTP is an abbreviation for the phrase “return-to-player”. This is another way of observing how often a user will be provided with some type of reward. However, we need to highlight an important point before moving on. The RTP does NOT signify how many times you will actually win a hand or a round. It instead encompasses a wide range of bonuses.

In addition to a payout, an RTP includes additional elements such as:

• Multipliers
• Bonus or hidden rounds
• Free spins
• Wild symbols (such as those often associated with slots games)

The return-to-player will always be expressed as a percentage. For instance, you might come across a game that offers an RTP of 90 per cent. In other words, this is the return-to-player that can be attributed to all possible outcomes. Players will therefore receive some type of reward a significant amount of the time.

What About the House Edge?

Now that we have obtained a basic understanding of the RTP, what about the house edge? After all, a casino offering a very high return-to-player should invariably lose money. This is hardly the case. As mentioned in the previous section, rewards can come in various ways, shapes and forms. Only one of these actually involves physical winnings. Furthermore, the RTP will be affected by other variables such as the type of game, the size of the wager and the odds. However, we should still point out that experts recommend playing online casino games which offer a minimum RTP of 95 per cent.

How Does RTP Differ From Volatility?

This is yet another concept to appreciate in greater detail. Users can sometimes fail to understand the differences between the return-to-player and the concept of volatility. A bit of clarification is in order.

Volatility is a way to measure predictability. In other words, it is much more difficult to predict the outcome of a highly volatile slots game when compared to a platform with low volatility. Some players prefer highly volatile games and others gravitate towards those with more certainty. This is often a matter of personal taste.

Those who wish to receive regular payouts will therefore choose a game associated with low to medium levels of volatility. However, keep in mind that more frequent winnings tend to be rather meagre. On the other hand, some will opt for highly volatile games. Although payouts occur on a less frequent basis, they are often much more substantial. Individuals with more experience may sometimes choose this strategy in order to maximise their overall return-on-investment.

Taking Other Aspects Into Account

The return-to-player percentage is very important and yet, it represents a small portion of a much larger picture. What about the rewards themselves? It makes little sense playing a game associated with a high RTP if the actual rewards are not worth the effort. Let’s also remember that the online casino in question should also be examined carefully before committing to a full registration.

What customer support solutions do they offer? What types of games are available and how often is this compendium updated? Have other players supplied positive feedback or do they seem to be disappointed with the portal itself?

Does the RTP Signify the Quality of the Game?

Try not to make the mistake of judging a casino game solely in relation to its RTP. While this is an indicator of your chances of enjoying some type of reward, remember that other factors such as the mechanics of the platform and the developer should be taken into account. There are some games with relatively low RTPs (such as less than 85 per cent) and yet, they are extremely popular due to their entertainment value. Low-RTP games can also be used as a means to hone your skills in the event that you can access a demonstration version.

These are some of the other factors to analyse if you wish to make an objective (and potentially profitable) decision. The good news is that the RTP is easy to understand once the basics have been explained and this information will help you to make the right choice.