If you’re playing online slots for real money, one of the most important numbers to understand is RTP — short for Return to Player. It tells you how much of the money wagered on a game is paid back to players over time, and it can make a real difference to your chances.
In this guide, I’ll break down how RTP works, what counts as a good RTP, how to find it, and how to use it when choosing which slots to play.
RTP stands for Return to Player, and it’s shown as a percentage. It tells you how much a slot is expected to pay back to players, on average, over millions of spins.
So if a slot has an RTP of 96%, that means that for every £100 wagered, £96 is returned to players, and the other £4 is kept by the casino. That leftover is called the house edge, and it’s how casinos make money.
RTP and house edge always add up to 100%. If the RTP is 95%, the house edge is 5%.
It’s important to remember that RTP is calculated over the long term, not your next 10 or 100 spins. You could still lose your bankroll quickly on a 98% RTP game — but it’s less likely than on a 90% RTP slot.
Most modern online slots fall somewhere between 94% and 97% RTP. Anything over 96% is generally considered good.
It might not sound like a huge difference, but even a small increase can make a big impact over time. Here’s a quick example:
| RTP | Average return per £1,000 wagered |
|---|---|
| 94% | £940 |
| 96% | £960 |
| 98% | £980 |
A 2% difference adds up fast, especially if you’re playing regularly or working through wagering requirements.
Just keep in mind that RTP doesn’t tell the full story. Some games with high RTPs might be super volatile, meaning you can still go bust quickly while chasing big wins. It’s best to look at RTP alongside other factors like volatility and hit frequency.
RTP doesn’t tell the full story. How often a slot pays out (hit frequency) and the size of those wins (volatility) also matter a lot.
You could play a high RTP slot that’s very volatile and hit a long losing streak, or a lower RTP slot that pays small amounts regularly.
For steady play and bonus wagering, low volatility and a decent hit frequency combined with a high RTP can help stretch your bankroll further. If you prefer chasing big jackpots, you might accept lower RTP and higher volatility instead.
You can usually find the RTP in the game’s help screen or paytable. Look for an “i” icon or a menu option called “Game Info” or “Help”.
Some casinos are upfront about it and even list the RTP next to the game in their lobby. Others make you dig for it. And annoyingly, some slots have multiple RTP versions, so the same game might offer 96.5% on one site and just 94% on another.
If you can’t find the RTP, you can:
High RTP slots give back more money to players over time. That doesn’t mean you’ll always win, but it does mean the odds are less stacked against you.
Here’s what you can generally expect:
Some players don’t mind a lower RTP if the slot has other appealing features, like a massive jackpot or unique bonus round. That’s totally fair. But if you’re choosing between two similar games, it’s worth going with the one that pays more back.
Some slots are designed to offer exceptional return-to-player rates, and a few go well above the usual 96% range.
Below is a list of popular online slots available in the UK with some of the highest RTPs around. I’ll keep this list updated, but always check the game info yourself — casinos sometimes lower the RTP without much warning.
| Game | Developer | RTP | Volatility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ugga Bugga | Playtech | 99.07% | Low |
| Book of 99 | Relax Gaming | 99.00% | High |
| Mega Joker | NetEnt | 99.00% | High |
| Ooh Aah Dracula | Barcrest | 99.00% | Medium |
| Jackpot 6000 | NetEnt | 98.90% | High |
| Thrones of Persia | Relax Gaming | 98.80% | Medium |
| 1429 Uncharted Seas | Thunderkick | 98.60% | Low |
| Marching Legions | Relax Gaming | 98.12% | Medium |
| Pearl o’ Plinko – Mermaid Cove | Relax Gaming | 98.10% | Medium |
| Pearl o’ Plinko – Fire & Bones | Relax Gaming | 98.10% | Medium |
| Multi Bricks | Relax Gaming | 98.10% | Medium |
| Madame Mystique Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 98.03% | High |
| Toro Wilds Reel | Relax Gaming | 98.03% | Medium |
| Money Cart 2 | Relax Gaming | 98.00% | High |
| Blood Suckers | NetEnt | 98.00% | Low |
| Jokerizer | Yggdrasil Gaming | 98.00% | Medium |
| Dragon Dance | Microgaming | 98.00% | Medium |
| Rainbow Riches Pick’n’Mix | Barcrest | 98.00% | Medium |
| Starmania | NextGen Gaming | 97.87% | Low |
| White Rabbit Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 97.77% | High |
| Blood Suckers Megaways | Red Tiger | 97.66% | High |
| Medusa Megaways | NextGen Gaming | 97.63% | High |
| Big Bad Wolf | Quickspin | 97.35% | Medium |
| Apollo God of the Sun | Novomatic | 97.30% | Medium |
| White Rabbit | Big Time Gaming | 97.24% | High |
⚠️ Note: Some slots exist in multiple RTP versions, so what’s listed here is the maximum RTP the game can offer.
The RTP figures here come directly from the game developers, but keep in mind these can vary slightly depending on the casino’s version of the slot.
Volatility ratings are based on gameplay data and developer insights to help you understand how often and how big the wins typically are.
If you’re trying to stretch your budget or complete a bonus with tough wagering requirements, picking high-RTP slots is a smart move.
I usually go for games above 96% and stick to low-stakes spins. This slows things down, reduces variance, and gives me a better shot at walking away with something. It’s not exciting, but it’s the most efficient way to play if you’re grinding a bonus.
Here’s why:
It’s not a guarantee, but it tilts the odds slightly in your favour.
There are a few common misunderstandings about RTP that are worth clearing up.
Just because a slot hasn’t paid out in a while doesn’t mean it’s about to. This is a classic example of the gambler’s fallacy – the idea that past results influence future outcomes in random games. They don’t.
Nope. RTP is calculated over millions of spins, not your next 50 or even 500. You could hit big right away, or lose quickly despite playing a 98% RTP game. It’s all about long-term averages.
RTP doesn’t decide whether you’ll win today, but it’s still one of the most useful numbers in online slots. It tells you how much of an edge the casino has, and how generous the game is designed to be.
It’s not a strategy in itself, but if you’re comparing games or planning a session with bonus wagering in mind, picking a higher RTP slot is the smartest first step you can take.
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