If you are new to online casinos and have often wondered whether the outcomes and results in the games that people play are fair or not, you’re not alone, and you’ve come to the right place.
Here is everything a new online casino player needs to know about what is commonly referred to as the return to player (RTP) rate.
What is online casino RTP, and why is it important?
The RTP rate at an online casino essentially tells us roughly how much a game is expected to pay back in winnings based on how much money is spent on that game over time.
The outcomes and results produced in computer-generated online casino games are random.
These games use highly sophisticated random number generators (RNGs) to produce consistently fair results with no discernible pattern. We can calculate the RTP rate for any game based on how much money is spent over a certain amount of time, four weeks for instance, and how much players received back in winnings during that time.
In other words, if an online slot has an RTP rate of 95%, then it should pay back approximately £95 for every £100 wagered.
You can also calculate the average RTP payout rate for live dealer games, even though they don’t use RNGs to produce the outcomes, using the same data.
Online casino software providers and game development studios that make online slots, table games, bingo, lotteries, video poker, arcade games, instant win games and scratchcards typically set the expected RTP rates. The games are then frequently tested in-house and by internationally accredited online casino testing agencies to ensure the games are producing accurate and fair results.
Most online casino games today have an average RTP payout rate of between 92% to 98%. An online casino game with a 98% RTP payout rate is likely to payout more than one with an RTP of 92%.
This is why the RTP rate is important for online casino players.
Some players tend to avoid playing low RTP games and will only play games with a 95% or higher RTP. However, the thing to remember is that thousands of players could all be playing the same online slot machine as you at the same time.
Just because you spend £100 on a 95% RTP slot doesn’t mean that you are guaranteed to get at least £95 back in winnings. For example, you might only spend £10 and win £200, whereas your friend might wager £50 and only win £20.
The RTP rate is the ‘expected returns’ based on the combined wagers. In other words, winning and losing still boils down to luck, although it does still make sense to play higher RTP games.
How to find the safest casino sites with the best RTP payout rates
If you want to play on the safest sites that are known for having thousands of games with high or above-average RTP payout rates, it’s best to trust the experts. For example, you can now find a comprehensive database containing the latest reviews for today’s best casino sites on globally renowned iGaming review sites such as TalkSport.
When you decide which site might be worth your time and create your free account, you can deposit straight away to start playing any of your favourite games. When you launch a game, you can often find the RTP information in the paytable or on the loading screen as the game loads.
Which games have the highest RTP payout rates in 2025?
If you want to play online slot machines with high or above-average RTP rates but can’t seem to find the information or think that it’s taking too long, don’t panic.
You can also find a growing number of blockchain-based games that use provably fair technology, meaning in some countries, where players have access to crypto casinos, they can independently verify the results of the games and each round themselves.
However, crypto-accepting online casinos still aren’t yet mainstream. Top-tier gaming commissions, such as the UK Gambling Commission, still don’t allow crypto payments on any of the iGaming sites that they license and regulate.
Conclusion
When playing at online casinos, always remember to gamble responsibly, and that just because you’re playing a game with a 98% RTP doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to see a minimum return of £98.00 for every £100 that you wager.
Finally, remember to create a sensible budget before playing, take advantage of the safer gambling tools that your operator provides and never treat gambling as a job. Remembering these important tips will help keep things safe and fun and ensure that you never exceed your initial spending budget.