How to find a slot's RTP
How to find a slot's RTP: open the game, tap the menu or ‘i’ icon, and scroll through the rules until you reach a line labelled RTP, return to player or theoretical return. That in-game figure is the one that applies at that casino. The developer’s website, review pages and lobby filters are useful too, but they may describe a different version of the same game.
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Key takeaways
- The figure in the game’s own rules screen is the live RTP for the casino you are playing at.
- Developers often release several RTP versions, so their published figure may be the highest or default one.
- A two-point gap on £500 of stakes is a £10 difference in theoretical cost.
- Games with jackpots or optional extras may list more than one RTP; read which applies to your stake.
- If you can’t find the number, ask support and consider choosing a game that shows it.
- Most reliable source
- The game’s rules or help screen
- Usual label
- RTP, return to player or theoretical return
- Gap between versions
- Often a point or two, sometimes more
- Where else to check
- Developer page, casino tile, review pages
- Measured over
- Millions of simulated spins
How to find a slot's RTP inside the game itself
Every slot has a rules or help screen, and that is where the RTP lives. The route differs slightly between studios, but the pattern is the same: a menu icon (three lines, a cog, or an ‘i’) opens a panel with tabs for the paytable, the rules and settings. The RTP usually sits in the rules section, often near the end, alongside the maximum win and the note that malfunctions void all pays.
The reason to trust this figure over any other is simple: it describes the exact version of the game loaded in front of you. A developer can ship the same slot with several maths settings, and the casino chooses which one to run. Only the in-game rules are tied to that choice. If you want the background on what the figure measures, our RTP explained guide covers it.
Step by step: finding the RTP on phone or desktop
- Log in and open the slot in real-money or demo mode (demo play needs age verification on UK sites).
- Before spinning, look for the menu, cog or ‘i’ icon, usually in a corner or beside the spin button.
- Open the rules, help or game information tab, not just the paytable.
- Scroll to the end; search for ‘RTP’, ‘return to player’, ‘theoretical return’ or ‘expected payback’.
- Note every figure listed, plus what each applies to (base game, jackpot contribution, optional bet).
- Compare it with the developer’s published figure to see whether you are on the top version.
- Repeat at another casino if you want to compare versions of the same game.
The different labels studios use for RTP
Not every studio calls it the same thing, which is why a quick scan sometimes misses it. These are the labels you are most likely to meet, and what they mean.
| Label you may see | What it means |
|---|---|
| RTP | Return to player, the long-term payback percentage |
| Theoretical return / theoretical RTP | The same figure, worked out from the game’s maths model |
| Expected payback | Older or land-based phrasing for the same idea |
| RTP including jackpot | Figure counts the share of stakes feeding a jackpot pool |
| RTP with extra bet active | Applies only when an optional side stake is switched on |
| Minimum / maximum RTP | The range across stakes or modes in one game |
Where you see two numbers, read the line around them carefully. A jackpot game might show one figure for the base game and a combined figure including the jackpot. The glossary entry on theoretical return has more on why it is called ‘theoretical’.
Why the same slot can show different RTPs
Studios commonly build several versions of a game with identical graphics and features but different symbol weightings, and so different RTPs. Operators pick one, sometimes for commercial reasons, sometimes because of local rules. A few examples from published figures show how far apart they can be.
| Slot | Developer | Published RTP | Other version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bamboo | Push Gaming | 96.13% | 94.13% |
| Fluffy Favourites | Eyecon | 95.39% | 93.29% |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | Novomatic | 95.1% | 94.26% |
| Gemix | Play’n GO | 96.83% | Lower versions exist |
| San Quentin xWays | Nolimit City | 96.03% (default) | Other settings possible |
None of this is hidden or illegal, as long as the game shows the live figure. Our guide to slot RTP versions explains how the versions are built, and the glossary covers the RTP range idea.
What an RTP gap costs in pounds
The difference between versions looks small as a percentage but adds up with turnover. Take Big Bamboo at 50p a spin for 1,000 spins, which is £500 staked. On the 96.13% version the theoretical cost is 3.87% of £500, about £19.35. On the 94.13% version it is 5.87%, about £29.35. Same game, same stake, roughly £10 more expected cost.
| RTP | House edge | Theoretical cost of £500 |
|---|---|---|
| 97% | 3% | £15.00 |
| 96% | 4% | £20.00 |
| 95% | 5% | £25.00 |
| 94% | 6% | £30.00 |
| 88% | 12% | £60.00 |
These are long-run averages. One session can end well above or below them, especially on a high-volatility game. Still, if you play the same slot regularly, finding the higher version is one of the few choices that genuinely lowers what you pay for your entertainment.
Using the developer’s website and review pages
Studios list RTP on their own game pages, and that is where figures on review sites, including ours, usually come from. Treat that number as a reference point. It is often the default or highest version, so if the casino’s rules screen shows a lower figure, the casino has chosen a different setting. Our individual reviews, such as Big Bass Bonanza at 96.71%, quote the published figure and remind you to check the game.
Review pages and comparison tools are handy for shortlisting high-RTP games across studios. Our high RTP slots list and the slot comparison tool do that, but the in-game check remains the final word.
RTP on casino lobby tiles and filters
Some casinos print RTP on the game tile or let you filter the lobby by it. That is helpful for browsing, but it is the casino’s own data entry and can lag behind a version change. Open the game and confirm the figure in the rules before relying on it. The same caution applies to ‘best payout’ lists, which often mix game RTP with a casino’s overall payout percentage. The guide to slot RTP vs casino payout separates the two.
Games that list more than one RTP
Some slots legitimately quote several figures. Progressive jackpot games may show a lower base figure because part of each stake feeds the prize pool; Mega Moolah has a published RTP of 88.12%. Others change with stake level or mode. Mega Joker is the classic example: its published figure is up to 99%, reached only at the top stake using its Supermeter mode, with lower returns otherwise. Read the condition attached to each number, because the headline figure may not apply to the way you play.
If you can’t find the RTP anywhere
UK-licensed games are expected to explain how they work in their rules, and RTP information is a standard part of that. If you genuinely can’t find it, the rules may be split across several tabs, or the information may sit in a separate ‘more info’ link. Failing that, ask the casino’s support which version they run. If they can’t tell you, you can simply choose a game that shows the figure clearly. Our page on how to read a slot’s game info screen shows where the rest of the useful information sits.
Three common misreadings of a slot’s RTP
- RTP is not your expected session result. It is an average over millions of spins; one evening can land far from it.
- RTP is not hit rate. A 96% slot might land a win on one spin in four or one in three; the hit frequency is a separate number.
- Higher RTP doesn’t mean lower risk. Volatility decides how wins are spread, so a high-RTP game can still swing hard.
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Frequently asked questions
Where do I find the RTP on a slot game?
Open the game’s menu or ‘i’ icon and go to the rules or help section, then scroll until you see RTP, return to player or theoretical return. It is often near the end, close to the maximum win and the malfunction notice. This in-game figure is the one that applies to the version running at that casino. If the rules are split into tabs, check each one. Our guide on reading a slot’s game info screen shows the full layout.
Why is the RTP lower at my casino than on the developer’s site?
Because many slots are released in several RTP versions, and the casino has chosen a lower one. The developer’s website usually shows the default or highest version, while the game at your casino shows the setting actually loaded. Both figures are genuine; they just describe different builds of the same game. If the gap matters to you, compare the figure at another licensed site. Our answer on why RTP differs between casinos explains more.
What is a good RTP for a slot?
Around 96% is a common benchmark for modern online slots, and anything noticeably below about 94% means a higher built-in cost unless there is a reason, such as a progressive jackpot. A few games publish figures above 97%, like Blood Suckers at 98.00%. A good RTP lowers your expected cost over time but does not change the odds of any single spin. Our page on what a good RTP is compares typical ranges.
Can a casino change a slot’s RTP while I am playing?
No. The RTP is set by which version of the game the casino loads, and the result of each spin is decided by the game’s tested random number generator on the provider’s server. A casino can’t tweak the odds for individual players or sessions. It can, however, switch to a different certified version of a game, which is why checking the rules screen from time to time is worthwhile. See can casinos control slot wins for more.
Does a demo slot show the same RTP as the real-money game?
Not always. A demo may load the developer’s default version, while the casino’s real-money game runs a different one. The rules screen in each mode shows its own figure, so check both if you are comparing. Remember that demo play on UK-licensed sites requires age verification first. Demo results also tell you nothing about future real-money results. Our guide to testing a slot in demo mode covers what demos are good for.
How much difference does 1% RTP make?
Each percentage point costs £1 for every £100 you stake, in theory. If you put £1,000 through a slot over a month, the difference between 96% and 95% is about £10 of expected cost. That sounds small, but turnover builds quickly: 200 spins at 50p is already £100 staked. Over a single session, luck will swamp the difference, but over many sessions it adds up. Our guide on how slot RTP is calculated shows the maths behind the figure.
Why does a jackpot slot have such a low RTP?
Part of every stake on a progressive jackpot slot goes into the jackpot pool, and the RTP figure either excludes or includes that share depending on how the studio presents it. Either way, the money paid back through ordinary wins is lower than on a standard slot. Mega Moolah’s published RTP is 88.12%, for example. The jackpot is very rarely won, so most players experience the lower everyday return. See progressive jackpot slots for more examples.
Is the RTP shown in the game accurate?
Yes, for UK-licensed games the figure is based on the game’s maths model and is checked by an approved testing house before the game can be offered. It is a long-run theoretical figure, so it is accurate as an average across millions of spins rather than as a prediction for your session. A game that hasn’t passed that testing can’t be offered by a UK-licensed site. Our page on who tests UK slots explains the testing process.
Should I always choose the slot with the highest RTP?
Not necessarily. RTP sets the long-run cost, but volatility, features and how much you enjoy the game matter too. A 98% low-volatility slot and a 96% high-volatility slot give very different sessions. A sensible approach is to pick games you like and then prefer the highest RTP version of them. Remember that all slots are designed to keep part of what is staked. Our list of best payout slots ranks options by published RTP.