What Casino RTP Tables and Payout Percentages Really Mean?

When you engage with an online betting game in the UK, the RTP number - often depicted as a percentage - is displayed. What does this mean? As a starting point, "RTP" stands for Return to Player and is essentially the average of money the game pays back to users over a very long period.

For illustrative purposes, a game with an RTP of 96% means that for every 100 pounds spent on the game, a return of 96 pounds is guaranteed over millions or more spins.

At recommended online casinos in the UK, RTP tables and payout percentages help players understand how games are designed to return money over time.

How Do RTP and House Edge Fit Together?

Again, to understand how these two terms relate to each other, we must understand what they are. House edge is the casino's expected profit over the same time period of RTP. These are two sides to the same coin.

You should not be perturbed by the fact that some online platforms prefer to advertise the house edge as opposed to the RTP. They are inherently linked and so you can understand one by the other's information.

What RTP Tables and Payout Charts Actually Show?

These tables indicate the structure of the game as opposed to the next outcome of a spin. This is often a misconception among punters and can cause unnecessary frustration.

Insofar as slot games are concerned, these are somewhat simple and self-explanatory, albeit dependent on the online platform as well. For table games, the payout charts are often shown in greater detail since they need to take various aspects into consideration.

In roulette, for example, European roulette (single zero) has a higher RTP than American roulette (double zero) because of the extra green zero. In blackjack, house rules such as whether the dealer stands on soft 17 or whether blackjack pays 3:2 instead of 6:5 will naturally change the RTP.

Long-Term Maths versus Short-Term Results

The most important thing you need to understand about RTP is that it is fundamentally based on a massive number of spins or game rounds. The point of it is to show the long-term average as opposed to a session-by-session indicator.

Where punters often find their confusion is that they apply the advertised RTP to short-term sessions and become frustrated and despondent.

UK regulators and other safe gambling sites will communicate to punters that RTP is not a cash-back system or a refund promise; it is merely an indicator as to how the game will behave over a longer period.

RTP, Volatility and How a Game "Feels"

To understand these terms and their relationship simply, RTP is an indication as to how the game will pay back over a period while the volatility of the game seeks to show users how it will get there.

The same online platform will boast a high RTP, but given the difference in volatility, one will pay smaller wins over a longer period, while the other might withhold wins and only pay out massive, sporadic wins. Naturally, these differences will make for a very different feel and experience while playing.

RTP Information and Rules at UK Online Casinos

Safe and reliable online gambling sites ensure that they advertise very clearly how the game works and the associated RTP. This is also a requirement by the UK Gambling Commission for platforms wanting to maintain their license.

Various regulatory bodies ensure that the RTP is monitored and accurately advertised for users to see. An expectation among sites has become more committed to players understanding these terms and ensuring accessibility to explanatory opportunities is the norm.

Simple Checklist for Using RTP Tables

Here is a very simple, yet incredibly powerful, checklist for users wanting to understand the RTP table.

• Check the RTP percentage on the game's information screen and aim to use higher RTP wherever possible.
• Look at the game's volatility description (if available) and decide whether you prefer frequent small wins or the occasional huge payout.
• For table games, understand how small rule differences (such as single-zero vs double-zero roulette) affect RTP.
• Use RTP as a comparison tool, not a guarantee; bankroll limits and time limits matter more than any advertised RTP percentage.

Conclusion

The most important aspect we are trying to communicate here is that RTP and payout tables exist only as an indicative tool for users to understand the expected behaviour of a particular title. They are not single session guarantees nor winning expectations.

All-in-all, they exist for players to ensure they are not wasting their time on low value titles and ensure you are able to compare games before wagering your money. As always, practice responsible gambling and stick to licensed platforms.