When deciding which online slot machines to play, more players than ever look to its current RTP% payout information and will only play ones with high or above-average payout rates.
In other words, many seasoned pros will stick to playing online slot machines with a 96.00% to 98.00% or higher return to player payout percentage rate because, mathematically speaking, high RTP slots are more likely to pay than low RTP slots.
Still confused? Don’t be. Let’s dive straight in to discover more about how the results in today’s most popular online slot machines are calculated and reveal why some players prefer high RTP slots over low RTP slots.
What is RTP, and why does it matter?
Online slot machines, aka video slots, that are commonly found on fully licensed and regulated iGaming sites are computer-generated.
The software providers and game development studios that produce these games use the latest computer programming/coding languages to create the graphics, sound effects, background audio, and animated sequences to give the illusion of the reels spinning randomly.
However, the results are, in fact, also computer-generated. They are determined by highly sophisticated mathematical algorithm programs called Random Number Generators. Players who are looking to maximise gains with high-yields will look for high payout rate slots because, as mentioned, they are more likely to pay out.
The higher the RTP% payout rate, the greater the chance of winning. However, you are still never guaranteed to win more on a high RTP slot compared to a low RTP slot.
The results are designed to mimic real life and be as realistic as possible by mirroring true randomness. Although it’s pre-determined each time you hit the spin button, there is no discernible pattern, and whether you win or lose still boils down to luck.
However, the payout rates can be tweaked only slightly, meaning some online slots will pay out slightly more or less. It’s all based on how much is wagered on them, which could be $/€/£100.00, $/€/£1,000.00, $/€/£10,000, $/€/£100,000.00, or $/€/£1,000,000.00.
Most online slot machines today are from the well-established software providers, also known as top-tier providers, because their games produce consistently high or above-average payout rates.
They are classed as fair results by the industry and typically have an average of 92.00% (sometimes slightly lower) to 98.00% (sometimes slightly higher) RTP% payout rate.
What is volatility?
You may have also heard about how volatile an online slot machine is. For example, some online slots are highly volatile; at the other end of the spectrum, you have low volatility slots.
The thing to remember is that high volatility slots are riskier because, although the wins are typically higher in value when a winning combo forms on the reels, the payouts occur less often.
In comparison, low volatility slots, which are considered far less risky, pay more often, but the wins are typically smaller in value. These ones are ideal for beginners or for people who enjoy playing longer sessions.
Let’s take a look at a few quick examples:
- Online slot: Book of 99. Software provider: Relax Gaming. RTP% payout rate: 99.00%. Volatility: HIGH
- Online slot: Blood Suckers Megaways. Software provider: Red Tiger Gaming. RTP% payout rate: 97.66%. Volatility: HIGH
- Online slot: Jokerizer. Software provider: Yggdrasil Gaming. RTP% payout rate: 99.00%. Volatility: MEDIUM
- Online slot: Big Bad Wolf. Software provider: Quickspin. RTP% payout rate: 97.35%. Volatility: MEDIUM
- Online slot: Blood Suckers. Software provider: NetEnt. RTP% payout rate: 97.99%. Volatility: LOW
- Online slot: White Rabbit Megaways. Software provider: Big Time Gaming. RTP% payout rate: 97.24%. Volatility: MEDIUM
Here is an example of how RTP and volatility work using the same examples above, starting with Relax Gaming’s Book of 99 online slot – a high volatility slot with a 99.00% RTP payout rate.
In this game, theoretically speaking, for every, let’s say, $/€/£100 spent on this game, it should pay back $/€/£99 in winnings. The wins won’t occur too often because it’s a highly volatile slot, but when they do pay, they should be slightly higher in value.
In NetEnt’s Blood Suckers online slot, the wins typically occur more often but are slightly lower in value because it’s a low volatility slot. Also, in this game, for every $/€/£100 spent, players should theoretically receive $/€/£97.99 back in winnings.
However, the important thing to remember is that these are just ‘average’ payout rates and that you are never guaranteed to win back that exact amount because there could be hundreds of thousands of players across the globe, all playing the same online slot machine as you at the same time.
If one thousand players all spend $/€/£100 (so $/€/£100,000 combined) on the Blood Suckers slot (97.99% RTP), then those same players should receive back $/€/£97,999 in winnings.
However, one player might get lucky and double or triple their money, and another player might only win $/€/£10 or $/€/£20 from that initial $/€/£100 bankroll. It’s all random.
Some of the iGaming industry’s most trusted third-party online casino testing agencies that safeguard players and test online slots to discover their RTP% payout rates are eCOGRA, iTech Labs, BMM Testlabs, Gaming Laboratory International, and Technical Systems Testing, to name a few.
Final thoughts
While it’s a great strategy to look for high or above-average RTP% payout slots, don’t forget that winning and losing is all still about luck. Sometimes, you will get lucky and win; other times, you won’t.
When deciding which online slots to play, if you still want to stick to playing low volatility slots with a high RTP payout rate, you can usually find this information in the slot’s paytable. Remember to gamble responsibly at all times, and never play while tired or intoxicated.
Only play online slots from well-established providers on legally permitted iGaming sites with overwhelmingly positive reviews, and avoid playing on unlicensed and unregulated sites with software from companies that nobody has ever heard of.
