Slot RTP explained
RTP is the share of all stakes a slot is built to pay back over its lifetime. Read it as a price.
By Ryan Jessop. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- RTP is a lifetime average.
- 100% minus RTP is the house edge.
- One slot can run at several RTPs.
- The figure is in the help screen.
RTP as the price of a spin
| RTP | House edge | Cost of a 20p spin | Cost of 500 spins at 20p |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97% | 3% | 0.6p | £3 |
| 96% | 4% | 0.8p | £4 |
| 95% | 5% | 1p | £5 |
| 90% | 10% | 2p | £10 |
Averages over millions of spins. A single session can return nothing or many times the stake.
What it is not
Not a forecast of your session, and not a measure of how often you win. That is volatility.
Versions
Developers supply many games at several RTP levels and the casino picks. Starburst's default is 96.09%; versions down to about 90% are reported.
Finding it
- Open the slot.
- Tap the information or menu button.
- Scroll to the rules.
- Read the RTP percentage.
Our slots by RTP
High RTP slots. Cost any session with the spin calculator.
More guides: Slot volatility explained, Free spins explained and How much is a free spin worth?.
What our seven slots cost
| Slot | Default RTP | House edge | Average cost of £100 staked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | 3.29% | £3.29 |
| Gates of Olympus | 96.50% | 3.50% | £3.5 |
| Book of Dead | 96.21% | 3.79% | £3.79 |
| Fishin' Frenzy | 96.12% | 3.88% | £3.88 |
| Starburst | 96.09% | 3.91% | £3.91 |
| Fluffy Favourites | 95.39% | 4.61% | £4.61 |
Five hundred spins at 20p is £100 of stakes and about 21 minutes of continuous play at the UK minimum speed.
Where the RTP lives
A slot's return is split between the base game and its features. In Starburst nearly all of it is paid in ordinary spins. In Book of Dead a large share sits in the free spins, so sessions that never trigger them run well below the headline figure and sessions that do can run far above it.
Progressive jackpots
On jackpot slots part of every stake feeds the prize pool, and that share is counted in the RTP. If you do not win the jackpot, the game you actually play returns less than the published figure.
RTP and free spins offers
Bonus spins run at the same RTP as paid ones. An average batch of 100 spins at 10p on a 96% slot returns about £9.60, though single batches range from nothing to many times that.
Comparing two casinos
Open the same slot at both and read the RTP in each help screen. If one shows 96% and the other 94%, the second costs half as much again to play.
Slot figures are developers' published defaults, each confirmed against two sources; your casino may run a lower RTP. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
What does RTP stand for?
Return to player.
Is higher better?
For long-run cost, yes.
What is typical?
Around 96%.
Where do I find it?
In the game's help screen.