What Does RTP Mean?
Return to player describes how much of the money put into a game is designed to come back out as winnings, across all players and all spins over a very long period. It is set by the game's mathematical model: how often each symbol lands, how much each combination pays and how often features are triggered.
RTP includes every way a game can pay, including line wins, bonus rounds, free spins and jackpot contributions.
Pokies in Australian venues must meet minimum return requirements set by each state and territory. NSW Government gambling information, for example, explains that gaming machines are required to return 85% to 92% of all money bet over their lifetime, and Tasmania sets a minimum return to player of 87%. Many online slots publish higher figures, often around 94% to 97%, although many games are available in more than one version.
RTP and the House Edge
The house edge is the flip side of RTP. It is the share of all money wagered that the game is designed to keep.
House edge = 100% − RTP
- A pokie with a 96% RTP has a house edge of 4%.
- A pokie with a 92% RTP has a house edge of 8%.
- A pokie with an 87% RTP has a house edge of 13%.
The house edge is how venues and casinos make money from pokies. Because it is built into every game, players as a group lose money over time.
What RTP Means in Real Money
RTP is easier to understand when you look at the total amount you wager, not just your starting balance.
Every time you spin, your stake counts towards the total amount wagered, including when you re-bet money you have just won. That total can be much larger than the amount you started with.
Example: You play a pokie with a 96% RTP at $1 per spin. If you play 600 spins in an hour, you have wagered $600 in total. On average, the game is designed to keep 4% of that, so the expected cost of an hour's play is about $24.
The same hour on a game with a 90% RTP has an expected cost of about $60, because the house edge is 10%.
These are averages. In any single hour, you could lose much more than this, or finish ahead. But the longer you play, the closer the overall result tends to move towards the house edge. That is why the speed of play matters as much as the RTP.
Why Your Results Differ From the RTP
RTP is calculated over millions of spins. A single session might be a few hundred spins, which is far too few for results to settle near the average.
In the short term, outcomes can swing a long way in either direction:
- You might hit a large bonus and finish well ahead of the RTP.
- You might go a long time without a significant win and lose most of your budget.
How far and how often results swing depends on the game's volatility. High-volatility games can spend long periods paying below their RTP and then pay a large amount in one go. Our guide on RTP vs actual slot results explains this in more detail.
Why Many Games Have More Than One RTP Version
Many online slot developers release the same game in several RTP versions. For example, a game might be available at around 96%, 94% and 92%. The game looks and plays the same in every version, but the lower versions keep a larger share of money wagered over time.
The casino chooses which version to offer. This means two casinos can offer the same title with different RTPs. Some games with a bonus buy feature also have a slightly different RTP when the feature is bought.
When we quote an RTP in our slot game reviews, we use the figure published by the developer and note when lower versions exist.
How to Find a Pokie's RTP
- Check the game's information or help screen. Most online slots list the RTP in the game rules. This shows the version you are actually playing.
- Look at the paytable. Our guide on how to read a slot paytable shows where to find the RTP and other key details.
- Check the developer's website. Many studios publish RTP and volatility for each game, which you can compare with the figure shown in the game.
- For venue pokies, individual RTPs are not always displayed, but every machine must meet the minimum set by your state or territory.
RTP Compared With Other Casino Games
RTP is not unique to pokies. Every casino game has a built-in house edge. For example, single-zero (European) roulette has an RTP of about 97.3%, because there are 37 numbers and a straight-up bet pays 35 to 1. Pokies differ in two important ways: their RTPs are not visible from the game itself, and the fast pace of play means more money is wagered per hour.
Common Misconceptions About RTP
"A 96% RTP means I will get 96% of my money back."
No. RTP is an average across all players and millions of spins. Your own results in a session can be far higher or lower.
"A game that has not paid for a while is due to pay."
No. Every spin is decided by a random number generator and is independent of the last. RTP is not a target that the game actively works towards. Our guide to pokies myths covers this in more detail.
"A higher RTP means I will win."
No. A higher RTP means a lower house edge, so the expected cost of playing is lower over time. It does not mean you will win, and it says nothing about volatility.
"Casinos change the RTP depending on the time of day."
Each game's RTP is set by its maths model and the version installed. In Australian venues, machine settings must meet approved standards. Online, the version a casino offers is shown in the game's information screen.
Using RTP Sensibly
RTP is a useful way to compare games, but it is only one part of the picture. When choosing a game, consider the RTP alongside the volatility and your budget. A higher RTP reduces the expected cost of playing, but no RTP makes pokies a way to make money.
If you choose to play, set a budget and time limit first. Our guides on setting gambling limits and recognising gambling harm explain practical steps, and Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858.