Explaining Online Slot Machines Concepts: Return to Player (RTP)

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This content was produced in partnership with Bazoom Group.

In online casino sites, without a doubt, the most popular game has to be slots. The game owes its popularity to its ease of play and the payout rate. It also relies on the fact that the games return a portion of the money back to you as you play.  This concept is known as Return to Player. 

If you truly want to master the game of slot machines, then this is a concept that you will need to understand fully. Online slot machines are fun to play because you get an assurance of getting your money back. Let's start to understand how this works. 

What is Return to Player?

As we just explained, RTP is the concept that allows players to get a portion of their money back from slots. You’ll never get the whole amount you spent back because otherwise, the gambling sites won’t make any money.

The amount you could get back is represented as a percentage, which gamblers refer to as the RTP of a slot. The higher this percentage, the more you will get back. 

Now that you have the gist of it, let’s see how it works. 

How Does RTP Work?

The Return to Player percentage is set using an algorithm created by the software developer. It’s not decided ahead of time. Rather it’s done after running what’s known as a Random Number Generator (RNG) algorithm. 

After setting the game up with this algorithm, the games are tested hundreds of thousands of times, just like a simulation. Based on the number of wins against the amount spent to get those wins, the providers can determine the value of the RTP. 

Is the RTP Fair?

How do players know whether the RTP is fair or not? What’s to say there has not been any tampering to ensure that the advantage is biased toward the operators? This is assured by authorized testing labs that ensure the fairness of the RTP. 

The most popular testing labs in this field are iTech Labs, eCOGRA, and BMM, among others. These companies verify the randomness of the RNG and confirm the RTP that the provider can use for their games.  

But keep in mind that the RTP percentage is only a theoretical calculation. In the real world, no one will ever play for hundreds of thousands of spins. So don’t expect to get 90% of your money back after 10-15 spins. 

Is Return to Player the Only Factor to Consider?

When getting your money back from slot games, RTP is not the only thing that matters. It’s part of several of other factors that determine how often you will get your money back and how long it might take.

Here are some of the other factors that you need to consider:

• Hit Frequency: The rate at which you might land winning combinations. Slot games are designed to have lower hit frequency. But it’s compensated with a large number of pay lines. 
• Game Volatility: In some games, you will find yourself winning more often but in fewer amounts. Other times, the wins won’t be as frequent, but the payout will be higher. This is referred to as volatility. The lower the frequency of winning, the higher the volatility. 

So, How Do You Choose a Good Online Slot Then?

Given everything that we’ve talked about up until now, what determines a good slot? It’s a combination of all of the things that we’ve discussed so far. 

1. A high RTP is always desired because although it’s theoretical, it still gives you an idea of how much money you can get back. It might take you a thousand tries or a single lucky one. The average RTP for slots sits somewhere around 96-97%.
2. The volatility of the game also comes into play. If you’re only in it for the entertainment value, you’re better off with a high RTP, low volatility slot. The wins will be frequent with low payouts. But if you also want to win some money, look for games with high volatility. 
3. An increased number of pay lines means you have more ways of winning from a single spin. This is related to hit frequency because the more chances you have of getting paid, the more likely you are to hit a win. 

These are just some of the steps that you can use when getting started. For beginners, keeping these in mind when choosing a game should ensure a good gambling experience. 

Wrapping Up 

As slots are played with real money for the most part, it’s crucial to understand how the concept of RTP works completely. Since you want to have fun at the casino, getting your money back from the games just ensures you enjoy playing more.

If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.