What is the return to player in a casino?

Each casino game has its own return to player (RTP), which can be an important factor when choosing a casino game or selecting a winning slot machine.

The return to player (RTP) in a casino is the percentage of the total volume of deposits that a player can expect to be returned to them while playing on a slot machine or in a casino game. Generally, the higher the RTP of a game, the greater the chance a player has of winning and the lower the chance of losing. The RTP is calculated over the long term, mainly from the casino's perspective. In the short term, a player can therefore win or lose everything.

How to calculate RTP in a casino?

If we consider that a player puts a total of 100 € into the game, the RTP tells us what part of this sum the player can expect back in the long term.

For example, if a game has a 96% RTP, it means that the player can expect to get back €96 out of every €100 they put into the game. The remaining €4 represents the casino's profit.

From an individual's perspective, this is very individual and cannot be relied upon to receive the exact % determined as the RTP of a given game.

It is therefore better to look at the RTP indicated for individual games or slot machines from the casino's perspective. Let's say that in one day, €100,000 was lost on a game with a 96% RTP, the casino paid back €96,000 to players. The remaining €4,000 is the casino's gross profit.

Purely theoretical example: In the long run, only three players would play on a slot machine with a 96% RTP. The balance of the first player would be a loss of €3,000, the balance of the second player would be a loss of €7,000. The balance of the third player would be a profit (win) of €9,600. The casino's revenue is the players' losses, i.e. €10,000, 96% back is €9,600.

What is the RTP for casino games?

The RTP for individual casino games varies and depends on various factors, such as game rules, the number of winning lines, the software used, and so on. Here are some examples of RTP for some popular casino games:

Blackjack: The RTP in blackjack is around 99% if the player plays with an optimal strategy and the game is played with advantageous rules, such as a single-deck game.

Baccarat: The RTP in baccarat ranges from around 98.5% to 99%.

Roulette: The RTP in roulette ranges from 94% to 98%, depending on which version of the game is played and what the rules are.

Slot machines: The RTP of slot machines varies and can be from 90% to 98%. The RTP of slot machines varies depending on their type, the number of winning lines, the software used, and so on.

The RTP is set based on a mathematical calculation over the long term and does not guarantee a certain win in the short term.

The RTP is a useful indicator for players who are looking for games with more favorable rules and a higher chance of winning.