What is RTP in Slots?

It is quite common for users who are quite new to crypto gambling with slots to get confused by the RTP label. Many users wonder; “If a slot says 97% RTP, do I get 97 dollars back for every 100 I play?” which does sound reasonable at first glance, however it is not how slots work. RTP only applies for a huge number of spins, short sessions do not count. Think of RTP as a long-term average that you only see over many spins. If you are new to slots and their terminology, it will make more sense as you continue reading this article.

What RTP really means

Return to Player, or RTP is the average payback that a slot machine is built to give back to its players over the long run. For example, if a slot lists 97 percent RTP, it returns about 97 out of every 100 in the very long run, which means a 3 percent house edge

Think of RTP like a city’s average temperature. A slot with an RTP of 97 percent is the average over many days, not a promise for tonight, you need over a thousand spin to get closer towards that number, however that does not mean that you could not hit a max win in a very short lucky session.

Why two 97% RTP games can feel completely different

Imagine slots having personalities, some pay small amounts often which is common in third party providers such as Pragmatic Play, while others, mostly coming from NoLimit City provider stay quiet for a while depleting most of your balance, till in one session it returns a rare big hit or max win. Both can have 97% RTP, yet your balance react to each in a different manner.

• Low Variance Providers: lots of small wins that can keep users engaged, but the balance can still be drained slowly.
• High Variance Providers: lots of quite spins that could give a feeling of helplessness with occasional win spikes that feel dramatic.

Two slots can have the same 97% RTP yet feel like totally different games, which is explains why some users leave with a smile while others with a tear.

How to check the RTP you are actually playing

Most crypto casinos show the RTP percentage of each slot machine, it will show as 96.0, 94.0, or 92.0 percentage. It is important to note that the operator, jurisdiction and third party provider can all alter those settings, which is why it’s important to pick a reputable crypto casino before signing up randomly. You can usually find the exact number inside the game’s help screen or info panel. The game can still grant the user a win regardless of any setting, but their long term expectation changes with the setting.

How do “Features”, Turbo Play” affect RTP

The RTP shown is for the base game in most cases, feature buys and bet boosters can change how your bankroll moves, even if the RTP is similar. Buying bonus features makes the game more volatile and unpredictable your results will swing more from session to session. On the other hand, turbo and auto play just fastens the animation and do affect RTP in any way, they just speed up how quickly you experience the variance.

A simple ‘on-chain’ illustration of 97% RTP

Imagine a simple on-chain game where a certain smart contract calls a ‘random generating’ function and returns a number from 0 to 9,999 on each spin. The smart contract maps that number to outcomes so the long term average payback is 0.97 for every 1 unit bet.

Number Range	Payout
0 to 6,015	0
6,016 to 7,715	1x
7,716 to 9,515	2x
9,516 to 9,915	5x
9,916 to 9,995	20x
9,996 to 9,999	200x

These ranges are picked so that over a million of spins, the average comes out at 97%. In a one time session however, where only 100 spins are hit, luck can swing and you might still hit a 20x or 200x and finish, or you might also not hit anything. The RTP label describes the long run. Your session is a small sample inside that long run. Closing thoughts RTP is a guide not a promise that a win is guaranteed, it just informs you how a game is expected to behave after long sessions of playing time, but not matter how low or high the RTP is, luck is always at the top. There has been many cases where users get lucky enough to hit a max win from the very few spins, regardless what the RTP label dictates, this is what makes the experience thrilling altogether, the element of randomization. Keep it practical: · Play only on reputable crypto casinos · Treat every spin as paid entertainment. · Rotate third party providers and do not just stick with one provider. · Set a time limit and a stop loss without breaking the rule · Walk away after a big win or when a limit is hit. You cannot control randomness, but you can control your choices and your pace. If you want more crypto casino guides and casino reviews, head over to Bitgamble