The Ultimate Gambler's Guide to RTP: What You Need to Know

A good RTP for an online slot is generally considered to be 96% or higher. Anything below 95% is typically viewed as low. While many land-based casino slots have lower RTPs (often around 90-94%), the convenience and lower overhead of online casinos allow for much more favorable percentages. At Chase The Scatter, we prioritize reviewing games with a strong RTP to give you the best possible value.

They are two sides of the same coin. The RTP is the percentage of money returned to the player, while the House Edge is the percentage of money the casino keeps in the long run. Formula: RTP + House Edge = 100% Example: A slot with a 96% RTP has a 4% House Edge. This means for every $100 wagered, the game is programmed to return $96 to players and keep $4 for the casino.

No. This is a common misconception. RTP is a theoretical average calculated over millions of spins. In a short session, anything can happen. You could win big on a high-RTP game or lose your entire bankroll. This is due to the game's Random Number Generator (RNG), which ensures each spin is completely random and independent of the last. A high RTP simply means the odds are more favorable to you over the long run.

Volatility does not affect the RTP. They are two separate metrics that describe different aspects of a game. RTP: Tells you how much a game is programmed to pay back over time. Volatility: Tells you how the game pays back. Low Volatility: Frequent, small wins. High Volatility: Less frequent, but potentially much larger wins. A high-RTP game can have either low or high volatility. For example, a 97% RTP low-volatility slot will pay out a lot of small wins, while a 97% RTP high-volatility slot will have longer dry spells but offer the chance for significant payouts. The end result, over a massive number of spins, is the same.

Yes. While the RTP of a game is set by the game developer, some developers release their games with multiple RTP settings. This allows the casino to choose which version to offer its players. This is why checking the game's information screen and consulting trusted reviews—like those at Chase The Scatter—is so important. A slot that has a great reputation might be set at a lower RTP at a specific casino, and a wise player should be aware of this.