RTP on Slot Machines

December 28, 2021

Gambling guides and strategies, Slot guides and strategies

When it comes to slot machines, the market is oversaturated. They are launched daily, so facing hundreds of titles may be overwhelming for both newbies and seasoned players. You can choose slots by the provider, theme, video and sound quality or bonus features they offer. Another factor you may take into consideration is the volatility of a slot machine and its hit frequency.

Although all of these factors are important when choosing a slot game, there is another one that may be crucial to the gameplay and we often oversee it. It is a return to player or simply RTP. Are you interested in an RTP on slot machines and what its impact on the gameplay is? Stay with us as we bring you a comprehensive guide to an RTP in slots with examples of high RTP slots you can start playing today.

What is RTP?

An RTP is all about the mathematics behind a game. A return to player represents, as the term itself suggests, the percentage of the total money wagered on a slot machine that is returned to the player. An RTP varies from one slot title to another, but it is expressed always in the same way, as a percentage. If a slot machine has an RTP of 96%, it means that it will pay £96 on £100 wagered on it in theory.

Before we go into detail, let us first tell you that an RTP is calculated over the long term. So, when choosing a slot machine you will play for an hour or so, you cannot expect that an RTP will reflect your future winnings. Slot developers run tests on hundreds of thousands of spins to get an RTP. When we play a slot game, we never play that many spins in a single session. And, as you know, each spin is an individual event. If a series of spins ends in a loss, the next spin can be big enough not only to cover your previous losses and but also to give a boost to your bankroll.

How RTP Works?

Now that you understand that an RTP does not affect individual spins, you should be aware of the fact that it can still indicate whether a slot machine is worth your while. To put it simply, the higher the RTP the better. When choosing a slot machine, you should go for those with a higher RTP since the one with a 97% RTP will pay better than the one with an RTP of 82% only. It does not mean that you cannot lose while playing the former, but it provides you with better odds of winning.

In this chapter, we would also like to address an RTP in progressive slots. Unlike in regular video slots, an RTP of progressive slots may be a bit misleading. The value of their RTP comes from progressive jackpots, which are included in their payout rate. However, these prizes come rarely and you have extremely lucky to win them. If progressive jackpots would have been left out from the calculation, the RTP in these slots would be considerably lower. Still, there is always a chance to hit a life-changing progressive jackpot.

Another thing you should bear in mind is that online casinos cannot change the RTP of slot machines they offer. These values are set by the developers and they are a given, so RTPs are not configurable at the operators’ end.

RTP in Online vs. Land-Based Slots

If you are a slot enthusiast, an RTP is one of the reasons why you should start playing online slots. While many land-based slots have been turned into online slots, they are not the same games. The main difference is in their RTP. While land-based slots have an average RTP of 85%, titles you can play at online casinos have an average RTP of 96%.

Running a land-based casino business comes with many expenses, so operators must make money to cover them. Also, brick-and-mortar gaming venues have a limited capacity when it comes to the games they offer. On the other hand, online casinos can offer hundreds if not thousands of slot machines that can be played by an unlimited number of players at the same time.

Some of the ways how developers adjust a slot machine to have a lower RTP is by changing a few rules. For instance, the same feature, like free spins, can be triggered by two Scatters in the online version of the game. To unlock the same feature in the land-based game, you may need three special symbols.

Slot Variance vs. RTP

Slot variance or volatility is a term that indicates how frequently a slot machine pays. On the web, you can find low, medium and high variance slots. Low volatility slots pay more frequently yet the payouts they deliver are of lower value. Highly volatile slots pay out larger prizes less often while medium volatility slots are somewhere in between. They promise balanced gameplay.

What you should keep in mind is that some high volatility slots have a high RTP thanks to their bonus features where big wins can land. However, these bonuses rarely trigger, so you may experience a long series of dead spins before it happens. These slot machines are more suitable for experienced players with a solid bankroll.

In a nutshell, the volatility of a slot machine is all about how much risk it involves. So higher the variance, the more risk involved. Take all these factors into account when choosing the slot game you will play.

High RTP Slots and Bonus Wagering Requirements

When using casino bonuses, slot machines are the best bet. Not only that they can pay out some hefty prizes, but they are games that contribute to the wagering requirements at the highest rate of 100%. However, if you visit the terms and conditions of any gambling site, you will notice that some slots may be completely excluded from wagering requirements. And guess what? In most cases, these are high RTP slot machines.

Although we don’t like the fact that operators exclude some of the best paying slots from bonus wagering requirements, it represents the confirmation of what we have stated earlier in this article. An RTP in slot machines matter and you should pay attention to its value whenever you choose a title to play.

Top 10 Online Slots with Highest RTP

Now that you are familiar with what an RTP stands for and how you can benefit from choosing slots with a higher RTP value, let us introduce you to the top 10 high RTP slots machines you can play at online casinos.

Ooh Aah Dracula – Barcrest (99%)

Brought to you by Barcrest, Ooh Aah Dracula is a 5-reel, 10-payline slots with an unparalleled RTP of 99%. The slot uses a horror theme bringing vampires and Count Dracula to the reels. Match symbols to win up to 50,000 coins in a single spin. While the game may look dated when compared with the latest slot releases, its bonus features and a high RTP make it worth your time and money.

The game benefits from the free spins feature activated by 3 or more Heart Scatters. If you trigger it with 3 Scatters, you will receive 15 free turns with one of the award symbols acting as Wild throughout the feature. Activate the feature with 4 or 5 Scatters and you will be offered to choose from two or three options. You can choose from 15 free spins with a single Wild, 10 free spins with two symbols going Wild or 5 free games with three symbols acting as Wilds.

The game offers the Best Strategy Meter that can help you decide whether you will collect winnings from free spins or continue to play more free spins for a chance to win a bigger payout. You can also use the Big Bet feature and play 5 spins at a higher stake. In this mode, if free spins trigger, you will benefit from the Graveyard or Super Graveyard Bonus where you can win instant prizes. The game has an RTP of 99% when you use the Big Bet feature.

1429 Uncharted Seas – Thunderkick (98.50%)

Another slot with an extremely high RTP comes from the Thunderkick production. It is 1429 Uncharted Seas, a 5-reel, 25-payline slot, taking you on a quest to the unknown seas. The release has low volatility and a high RTP of 98.50%, which is the perfect combo for novices to this form of entertainment. The maximum possible win you can hit while playing the Thunderkick release is 1,250x the bet.

1429 Uncharted Seas benefits from two bonus features. In the main game, Expanding Wilds can appear on three central reels to cover them completely. If you land 3 or more Compass Scatters, you can win from 10 up to 50 free spins. The feature can be retriggered. The slot is impeccably designed, so not only that you can benefit from its high RTP, but you can also enjoy its sounds and visuals.

The Catfather – Pragmatic Play (98.10%)

With an RTP of 98.10%, The Catfather is a 5-reel and 9-payline slot powered by Pragmatic Play. This simple yet exciting game is themed on feline mobsters and boasts some striking visuals and captivating sounds. Think of The Godfather featuring furry animals. As you hang around with them, you can pocket up to 2,251x the bet per spin.

This is another low variance slot with a high RTP. It provides players with Random Stacked Wilds in the base game, a feature that can turn up to three middle reels into Wilds. There is also the Free Spins feature activated by 3 or more Mouse Scatters. Once triggered, it awards 10, 15 or 25 free spins with all wins quadrupled. Free spins can be retriggered.

Jokerizer – Yggdrasil (98%)

With their Jokerizer slot, Yggdrasil Gaming goes retro. This is an old-school fruit machine that uses 5 reels and 10 paylines. It is all about the jester who can award a mystery prize of up to 6,000 coins, which is the top prize in the game. There is no free spins or complex bonus rounds here, so if you are into the games that offer straightforward gameplay, Jokerizer can be the perfect fit for you.

The main objective in the game is to land 3 or more Jokers anywhere in view to score a Mystery Win. Place 3 Joker symbols in a horizontal or diagonal line and you will win the maximum payout worth 6,000 coins. Whenever you win, the Jokerizer Mode triggers and you can collect your win or use it for a chance to hit a Mystery Win with 2 Joker symbols only.

Blood Suckers – NetEnt (98%)

Here is another horror-themed high RTP slot, this time coming from the NetEnt creative kitchen. Blood Suckers has 5 reels and 25 paylines and pays up to 1,000x the stake per spin. While it may scare you a bit, its RTP of 98% makes the game worth your while.

The Blood Suckers slot offers two bonus features. Land 3 or more Vampire Bride Scatter anywhere on the grid and you will win 10 free spins plus up to 100x the stake. All payouts you win while playing free games will be trebled and the feature can be retriggered. There is also the Vampire Slaying Bonus feature where you have to open coffins and slay vampires to win up to 203.2x the bet.

Starmania – NextGen Gaming (97.87%)

Another simple yet entertaining game with an amazing RTP of 98.87% comes from NextGen Gaming. Played at 5 reels and 10 paylines, the game pays both ways while taking you to outer space. The maximum prize you can win in a single spin stands at 1,000x the total bet.

This is a medium variance slot where you can benefit from a single bonus feature. It is the free spins feature where up to 30 extra Wilds can be added to the three middle reels. Initially, you will receive 10 free turns, but the feature can be retriggered, awarding up to 20 free spins in total.

Good Girl Bad Girl – Betsoft (97.79%)

Powered by Betsoft, Good Girl Bad Girl is a slot with highly exciting mechanics. Not only that it boasts a high RTP of 97.79%, but it also offers players to choose from three modes of play. By choosing one of them, you can opt for less or more volatile gameplay. The 5-reel, 15-payline slot is themed on the concept of good and evil and pays two progressive jackpots.

As for bonus features, players can take advantage of Wilds coming with a 2x and 4x multiplier. The Click Me feature awards cash prizes and access to the Money Wheel Bonus. This bonus round can also award instant prizes, free spins or one of the two progressive jackpots.

White Rabbit – Big Time Gaming (97.77%)

If simple games are not your cup of tea, consider playing White Rabbit, an innovative Megaways slot title powered by Big Time Gaming. Loosely based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the slot brags an RTP of 97.77% and pays up to 13,000x the stake per spin. It uses 5 reels that can feature up to 7 icons, meaning that you can win in up to 16,807 ways in the base game.

Things get more exciting in the free spins feature where each reel can contain up to 12 symbols, thus providing you with up to 248,832 ways to win. The feature can be retriggered up to 5x. Besides up to 75 free spins, players can benefit from Caterpillar Wilds coming with 2x or 3x multipliers. The game also comes equipped with the Feature Drop feature that allows you to access free spins immediately if you pay 100x the total stake. This amount can be decreased by collecting BTG gold coins that show up on the reels.

Golden Tour – Playtech (97.71%)

Themed on golf, Golden Tour is a 5-reel, 5-payline slot by Playtech. Its high RTP of 97.71% and the maximum win of 2,000x the stake compensate for its poor graphics. It is one of the older Playtech releases where players can benefit from the pay both ways mechanics and an interactive pick-me game.

The game features 3 Scatters represented by the gopher, catfish and duck. To enter the Golden Tour Bonus feature, you need to land 3 or more same Scatters on adjacent reels. Once in, you will be prompted to pick a driver, an iron and a putter. Then, you will see a golfer sending the ball in the hole and you get paid based on the number of clubs and triggering symbols.

Wild Orient – Microgaming (97.5%)

The Microgaming title takes you to the Far East with 5 reels and 243 ways to win. Wild Orient brings elephants, tigers, monkeys and pandas to the reels set in a dense jungle. With an RTP of 97.50%, the game pays up to 480x the bet in the free spins feature.

Within the base game, you can use the Respin feature at the end of any spin. It allows you to respin any of the reels as many times as you want at a certain price to hit a win. The game also offers the free spins feature awarding 15 free games with all payouts tripled. You can win up to 30 free spins per trigger.

Big Bad Wolf – Quickspin (97.35%)

Quickspin is the developer behind the award-winning slot machine that has an RTP of 97.35%. Big Bad Wolf uses 5 reels and 25 paylines and draws inspiration from the popular fairytale about three little pigs. This is a medium to high volatility slot where you can score up to 1,225x the bet in a single spin.

While playing the Quickspin title, you will enjoy crisp cartoon-like graphics and benefit from a total of four bonus features. After every win, the Swooping Reels feature triggers to remove successful symbols and add new ones to their positions. The feature is active as long as new combos are formed. On every second swooping win, 1 out of the 3 pig icons will go Wild to boost your chances. The Big Bad Wolf slot Free Spins feature awards 10 free spins. Within the feature, another bonus can activate. It is the Blowing Down the House feature unlocked when the Moon symbol appears on reel 5. Collect Moon symbols to get extra free spins and a 2x multiplier.

Conclusion

After we have shared some of the slots machines with the highest RTP in the market, you have no excuse to play those with a lower payout rate. As you can see, a high RTP slot is considered any title where RTP is over 97%. Although a high RTP does not guarantee that you will win big during your playing session, it indicates that the game pays better than others in theory. Knowing when to stop playing is crucial to your success at online slots, so play responsibly and have fun!