Online casinos are more popular than ever, and more players than ever are also starting to understand the mechanics of online casinos and how games are pre-programmed to pay back a certain amount.
Games rely on frequently tested RNGs (Random Number Generators), which are highly complex mathematical algorithm programs, something which my brain just cannot comprehend.
The average returns a player can expect when playing any computer-generated games that use RNGs to produce the outcomes/results is known as the RTP% (Return To Player) payout rate.
Mathematically speaking, the higher the RTP, the better it is for you as a player.
Let’s dive straight in to discover more about RTP rates at online casinos without going into too much detail and explain it in a way that most people should be able to understand.
Three things worth understanding how RTP at online casinos
When playing at online casinos, each game has an expected payout rate based on how much is wagered on that game.
For example, if players spent a total combined amount of $/€/£10,000 on the Jurassic Park online slot machine from Games Global, and it has a 97.60% RTP payout rate, those same players should receive $/€/£9,670 in winnings.
The operator collects the remaining 3.40% (or $/€/£330) or ‘house edge’ as revenue. However, winning is still random, and it doesn’t mean to say that if you spend $/€/£100 on the game, you are guaranteed to get $/€/£96.70 back in winnings. You might win more than this, or you might win less.
Therefore, the three most important things to understand about RTP payout rates at online casinos are the following:
- Although, mathematically speaking, the highest RTP slots there are online today are more likely to pay back more money than low RTP slots, it doesn’t always guarantee you will win
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Online slots and scratchcards have a much higher RTP payout rate than most table & card games (up to 10% higher)
- All games have an average RTP payout rate, which fluctuates, and the payout information can usually be found in each game’s paytable/info section.
Most people consider anything lower than a 92.99% RTP payout rate to be low or below average. Slots and other casino games with a 93.00% to 98.00% RTP is considered an average payout rate and anything that’s 98.00% or higher is considered above average or high.
Which online slots are known for having a relatively high RTP% payout rate?
If you are still adamant about playing online slot machines with high (or above-average) and want to avoid low RTP casino games, then you may want to keep an eye out for some of these famous online slots from various market-leading providers:
- RTP% payout rate: 96.98%. Game: Guns N’ Roses online slot. Software provider/game development studio: NetEnt
- RTP% payout rate: 98.00%. Game: Money Cart online slot. Software provider/game development studio: Relax Gaming
- RTP% payout rate: 96.06%. Game: Fishin’ Frenzy – Power 4 Slots online slot. Software provider/game development studio: Reel Time Gaming and Blueprint Gaming
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RTP% payout rate: 99.00%. Game: Ooh Aah Dracula online slot. Software provider/game development studio: Barcrest
- RTP% payout rate: 98.01%. Game: Blood Suckers online slot. Software provider/game development studio: NetEnt
- RTP% payout rate: 98.44%. Game: Maya Gold online slot. Software provider/game development studio: Play Digital IGT
- RTP% payout rate: 98.00%. Game: Jokerizer online slot. Software provider/game development studio: Yggdrasil Gaming
- RTP% payout rate: 98.10%. Game: Rainbow Riches – Pick ‘N Mix online slot. Software provider/game development studio: Barcrest/Light & Wonder
Today, there are over 9,000 online casino games to choose from, but most online casinos only have between 2,000 and 4,000 games. To make things easier for you, some online casinos even have what is known as a ‘Hot’ and ‘Cold’ section.
Their high RTP games that are currently paying out or ones that are expected to pay can be found in the ‘Hot’ section, and the ones least likely to pay with a low RTP payout rate can be found in the ‘Cold’ section.
You may want to keep an eye on this section if your casino has one to save you from having to check the RTP of each game every time you launch one.
I’ve played at online casinos for over ten years now, and I must admit that when I first learned about how RTP payout rates are calculated and that higher RTP slots are better than low RTP slots, I would do what many other players do and only hunt for the high RTP slots.
Today, I hardly ever play a game just because it has a high RTP, and I also don’t avoid playing certain other games because they have a low RTP. I’ve found that in the grand scheme of things, the kind of RTP the game has doesn’t make too much of a difference.
The important thing about online casinos is they provide this information. It enhances their transparency, and players can use it to their advantage if they want. If I like a game, I will often return to it no matter how high or low its current RTP is, but you might be different.
