RTP range
An RTP range is the spread of return-to-player settings a slot is certified to run at, for example 96.71%, 95.67% and 94.62% for the same game. The studio builds several versions and each casino chooses which one to offer. The reels and features look identical, but the long-run cost of playing differs, so the version matters.
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Key takeaways
- Many slots come in several certified RTP versions; the casino picks one.
- The headline RTP a studio advertises is usually the top of the range.
- On £500 of total stakes, a two-point RTP gap is worth about £10 in expected cost.
- The game's own help screen shows the version you are actually playing.
- Typical spread
- About 2 to 6 points
- Who chooses
- The casino operator
- Where to check
- Game help or info screen
- Changes the look?
- No
- Changes the cost?
- Yes, over the long run
What an RTP range is
RTP is the share of all money staked on a slot that the maths model pays back over a very long run. A single game can be released with several different RTP settings, each tested and certified separately. Together they form the game's RTP range. The studio usually publicises the highest one, while an individual casino may run that version or one of the lower ones.
Each version keeps the same symbols, paylines and features. What changes is the fine detail of the maths: symbol weights on the reels, how often a feature lands, or the size of certain awards. You won't spot the difference by watching, which is why the number on the help screen is the only reliable guide.
RTP range examples from real slots
These figures come from the studios' published information for each game. Where only two versions are listed, others may still exist.
| Slot | Developer | Published RTP versions |
|---|---|---|
| Bigger Bass Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 96.71%, 95.67%, 94.62% |
| The Dog House Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.55%, 95.53%, 94.55% |
| Sweet Bonanza 1000 | Pragmatic Play | 96.53%, 95.52%, 94.51% |
| Big Bamboo | Push Gaming | 96.13%, 94.13% |
| Diamond Mine Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 96.43%, 93%, 92.01% |
| Eye of Horus Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 95.49%, 93%, 92%, 90% |
| Fluffy Favourites | Eyecon | 95.39%, 93.29% |
Pragmatic Play's three-step ladder of roughly one point between versions is a common pattern. Some other studios offer wider gaps, as the Eye of Horus Megaways spread of more than five points shows.
What the gap in an RTP range costs you
The easiest way to judge an RTP range is to turn it into an expected cost. Expected loss equals total amount staked multiplied by (100% minus RTP). Take 1,000 spins at 50p, which is £500 of total stakes, on the three Bigger Bass Bonanza versions:
| Version | House edge | Expected loss on £500 staked |
|---|---|---|
| 96.71% | 3.29% | £16.45 |
| 95.67% | 4.33% | £21.65 |
| 94.62% | 5.38% | £26.90 |
The lowest version costs about £10.45 more on average over the same play, an increase of roughly 64% in the expected loss. Any single session will swing far more than that because of volatility, but over months of play the version is one of the few things you control. Our guide to slot RTP versions works through more examples.
These are long-run averages, not predictions. A 96.71% version can still lose your whole session budget, and a 94.62% version can still pay a big feature.
Other ways an RTP can vary inside one game
Sometimes the range sits inside a single version rather than across several. Three patterns turn up in game info screens:
- Stake-dependent RTP. A few classic-style games pay a higher return at higher stakes. Mega Joker is listed at up to 99% only at the top stake with its Supermeter mode, and Reels of Gold is listed as up to 96% depending on stake.
- Feature-dependent RTP. Where a game offers optional modes, each can carry its own figure. Holy Diver is listed between 96.39% and 96.54% depending on the level chosen.
- Jackpot-inclusive RTP. On progressive jackpot slots, part of the RTP is the jackpot contribution, which most players will never collect.
In each case the help screen should say which figure applies to which choice. If it doesn't, the casino's support team should be able to tell you.
How to find which RTP version your casino runs
- Open the slot (in demo mode or with real money) and tap the info, help or question-mark icon.
- Scroll to the rules section; UK games state the theoretical RTP there, often near the bottom.
- Compare that figure with the studio's published versions for the game.
- If the screen shows a range or several figures, check which setting or stake each applies to.
- Repeat at another casino if you want to compare; the same game can show different numbers at different sites.
Our step-by-step guide on how to find a slot's RTP has screenshots of where common studios put the figure, and why RTP differs between casinos explains the business side.
Related terms
An RTP range sits alongside theoretical return, which is what each version's figure actually measures, and the house edge, which is simply 100% minus the RTP. For players who want the highest versions, our best payout slots page lists games by verified RTP.
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Frequently asked questions
What does RTP range mean on a slot?
It means the slot has been certified at more than one return-to-player setting. For example, Bigger Bass Bonanza has published versions at 96.71%, 95.67% and 94.62%. The casino decides which one it offers, and the game looks and plays the same in each case. Only the long-run payback differs. The figure you are playing is shown on the game's help screen. For the basics of the percentage itself, see our RTP explained guide.
Why do slots have different RTP versions?
Studios build several versions so casinos can choose the commercial balance that suits them. A lower RTP keeps a little more of each stake for the operator over time, which may help fund promotions or cover costs. Each version still has to be independently tested before a UK casino can offer it, and it can't be changed while players are using it. Our page on why RTP differs between casinos covers the reasons in more depth.
How much difference does a lower RTP version make?
Over a long period it can make a noticeable difference to how much you lose on average. On £500 of total stakes, a 96.71% version has an expected loss of £16.45 and a 94.62% version £26.90, so the lower setting costs about £10 more. In a single short session, luck dominates and you may not notice. Over months, though, choosing higher versions reduces the average cost of play. The house edge entry shows the same sum another way.
Can a casino change a slot's RTP while I'm playing?
No, UK technical standards say a game's settings can't be changed while it is available for gambling, and adaptive behaviour that alters outcome probabilities during play is banned. A casino can switch to a different certified version at another time, so the figure you saw last month could change. That is why it is worth checking the help screen occasionally. Read can casinos control slot wins for how UK rules protect fairness.
Is the RTP shown on a review the one my casino uses?
Not necessarily. Reviews and studio pages normally quote the highest version, while your casino may run a lower one. The only figure that applies to your play is the one displayed in the game's own information screen at that casino. Our reviews state the published figure and, where known, the other versions that exist, so you know what to look for. Our guide on reading a slot's game info screen shows where it sits.
What is a good RTP range to look for?
As a rough guide, a version at 96% or above is at the higher end for modern UK slots, and versions below about 94% cost noticeably more over time. The gap matters more than the label: compare the version at your casino with the top published version for that game. Remember that even the best version still has a house edge, so losses are likely over time. See what is a good RTP for a slot for more context.