RTP is one of the most important numbers in casino gaming — yet most players misunderstand it. This guide explains exactly what RTP means, how it affects your sessions, and how to use it to your advantage.
RTP (Return to Player) is the percentage of all wagered money a casino game pays back to players over millions of rounds. A slot with 96% RTP pays back $96 for every $100 wagered — on average, over a very long period.
Imagine 1,000 players each bet $1 on a slot machine with 96% RTP. Total bets: $1,000. Total payouts: $960. The casino keeps: $40. That $40 is the house edge — the flip side of RTP.
This doesn't mean you'll get exactly $96 back for every $100 you bet in a single session. RTP is a statistical average calculated over millions of spins. In any given session, your results can vary wildly — that's called variance or volatility.
Always choose games with the highest RTP available. The difference between 94% and 97% RTP compounds dramatically over long sessions — a 3% difference means 3x the house edge working against you.
Use this calculator to understand how RTP affects your bankroll over a session:
This shows the theoretical expected loss. In reality, variance means your actual result will differ — sometimes much better, sometimes much worse. RTP only reflects averages over millions of rounds.
Not all casino games are equal. Here's how different game types compare:
| Game | Typical RTP | House Edge | Visual | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack (Optimal) | 99.5% | 0.5% | Excellent | |
| Video Poker (Optimal) | 99.0% | 1.0% | Excellent | |
| Baccarat (Banker) | 98.9% | 1.1% | Excellent | |
| Crypto Dice | 99.0% | 1.0% | Excellent | |
| Roulette (European) | 97.3% | 2.7% | Good | |
| High RTP Slots (97%+) | 97–99% | 1–3% | Good | |
| Average Slots | 95–96% | 4–5% | OK | |
| Roulette (American) | 94.7% | 5.3% | Avoid | |
| Low RTP Slots | 92–94% | 6–8% | Poor |
One of the biggest advantages of crypto casinos is consistently higher RTP. Here's why:
Crypto casinos have lower infrastructure costs — no physical locations, lower payment fees — which allows them to pass savings to players in the form of higher RTP. On top of that, Provably Fair technology lets you verify each game result independently, making high RTP claims verifiable rather than just marketing.
When clearing a casino bonus, the game's RTP becomes critical. With a 30x wagering requirement on a $100 bonus, you must wager $3,000 total.
Bonus: $100 | Wagering: 30x = $3,000 to wager
Playing a 96% RTP slot: Expected loss = $3,000 × 4% = $120 → Bonus is not worth it!
Playing a 99% RTP game: Expected loss = $3,000 × 1% = $30 → Much better odds of keeping profit!
Always choose the highest RTP game allowed for wagering. Check the casino's bonus terms — some games may contribute less than 100% toward wagering (known as game weighting).
Browse our curated list of crypto casinos with the best RTP slots and table games.
RTP (Return to Player) is the percentage of all wagered money a casino game pays back to players over millions of rounds. A 96% RTP slot pays back $96 for every $100 wagered on average over time — though your individual session will vary.
Not necessarily in the short term. RTP is a long-term statistical average across millions of rounds. In a single session, variance (volatility) plays a far bigger role. However, higher RTP does mean better long-term expected value — you lose less per bet on average.
Anything above 96% is considered good. The best crypto casino games offer 97–99% RTP. Blackjack with optimal strategy reaches 99.5%, making it one of the best games. Avoid games below 94% RTP.
They are two sides of the same coin. House Edge = 100% - RTP. A game with 96% RTP has a 4% house edge. RTP represents the player's perspective (what comes back), while house edge represents the casino's advantage (what they keep).
Generally yes. Crypto casinos have lower operating costs and use provably fair technology, allowing them to offer higher RTP. Many crypto casino slots offer 97–99% RTP compared to 92–95% at traditional land-based casinos.