SlotWhat is RTP in slots?
By the SlotMystery team. Updated .
RTP stands for return to player. It is the share of all money staked on a slot that the game is designed to pay back over a very large number of spins. A slot with an RTP of 96.50% returns 96.50 for every 100 staked over the long run. The other 3.50 is the house edge.
What RTP does not tell you
RTP is an average across millions of spins and all players. It says nothing about a single session. You can lose your whole budget on a 97% game or win on an 88% one. Wins are never guaranteed, whatever the RTP.
RTP also says nothing about how wins are spread out. Two games with the same RTP can feel completely different: one pays small amounts often, the other pays rarely but in large amounts. That spread is volatility, covered in slot volatility explained.
What RTP means in money
The easiest way to compare RTPs is to turn them into a cost. Take 100 spins at a 1.00 stake: 100 staked in total. Over the long run, the average cost is 100 minus the RTP.
| Slot | Provider’s default RTP | Average cost per 100 spins at 1.00 |
|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | 3.29 |
| The Dog House | 96.51% | 3.49 |
| Gates of Olympus | 96.50% | 3.50 |
| Sweet Bonanza | 96.48% | 3.52 |
| Wanted Dead or a Wild | 96.38% | 3.62 |
| Starburst | 96.08% | 3.92 |
| Zeus vs Hades: Gods of War | 96.07% | 3.93 |
| Wolf Gold | 96.01% | 3.99 |
Every RTP above comes from the provider’s own game page, read on 25 October 2026. The costs are our calculation. The gap between the top and bottom of this list is 0.70 per 100 spins at 1.00. In this table, default RTPs sit close together.
The figure that matters is your casino’s version
Providers can build several RTP versions of the same game and let each casino choose one. The figure on a provider’s game page is the default, not necessarily the one your casino runs. Hacksaw Gaming publishes four versions of Wanted Dead or a Wild, from 96.38% down to 88.42%. At the lowest version, 100 spins at 1.00 cost 11.58 on average instead of 3.62.
We cover this in full in slot RTP versions and how to check yours.
Where providers publish RTP
Each provider publishes it in a different place:
- Pragmatic Play shows one RTP under “Basic Game Info” on each game page.
- NetEnt shows RTP in a spec sheet with hit frequency, max payout and bet range.
- Hacksaw Gaming lists several RTP versions under “Game Data”.
- Play’n GO’s Book of Dead page did not show an RTP in its text when we read it, so our Book of Dead data file lists none.
How to check RTP in the game
Open the game at your casino and look for the information, help or paytable screen, often behind an “i” or a menu icon. The RTP of the version running is usually stated there. If the figure is lower than the provider’s default, you are playing a lower version.
FAQ
Is a higher RTP better?
A higher RTP means a lower average cost over the long run. It does not change what happens in a short session.
Does RTP change while I play?
The RTP belongs to the game version the casino installs, not to your session. Check the information screen to see which version that is.
What is a good RTP for a slot?
Every default RTP in our table sits between 96.01% and 96.71%. A version below the provider’s default costs you more on average, so compare the in-game figure with the default on our data file.
Written by the SlotMystery team. SlotMystery is a brand voice. Pages are written and checked by the site team, not by a named individual.