What does RTP and volatility mean In Games?

RTP and Volatility are the two most important factors determining how much you win from a slot and how frequently you will win. After testing, playing, analysing and reviewing different games across various UK casino sites, this is what BestCasino experts discovered about RTP and Volatility. 

This guide also includes a few examples of popular games that offer favourable Return to Player and Variance, which you can use in your gaming strategies. 

What is Return To Player (RTP)?

RTP is the amount you receive from your bet when you win a game. A percentage figure usually represents RTP and is different for each game. In table games, RTP is the exact amount you will win from a bet, while in slots, RTP is the percentage or how much of your stake you will receive over time.  

For example:

Blackjack has a 99% RTP, making it one of the highest-paying games online. If you placed a £100 stake and won, you will likely get back £99.  

What is Volatility in casino games?

Most casino review experts in the UK usually include volatility in slots. Unfortunately, research proves that many slot players must pay more attention to game volatility rates. After all, it is one of the most crucial decisions players must make when choosing what to play. 

So, what is volatility? Volatility, also referred to as variance, is the frequency of wins in a game. Today, there are three major types of volatility.

• High  – A game whose wins happen less often but offer the highest payouts.
• Medium – The game provides a fair share of small and occasional big wins. The frequency of payouts is moderate.
• Low – In low-volatility games, the wins are frequent but in smaller amounts.

Here is a table showing how each type of variance affects a player’s risk and the size of your win. 

How does RTP and Volatility affect your odds or players’ risk?

Now that you understand the basics of Return to player and volatility, we can examine how variance and RTP can affect your gaming strategy and odds of winning. 

Example:

If you don’t have a considerable bankroll

If you have a low bankroll and want to win more during your gaming session, it would be better if you played a low-volatility and high RTP game (with a 97% RTP or more). This strategy is used by seasoned players to spread their stake across multiple rounds and play longer. Also, it is advisable to choose high RTP games that allow a minimum bet of 0.10. 

If you have a medium-big bankroll

Players with a larger bankroll can choose medium or high-volatility slots with a high RTP (any game with a 94% RTP or more). They can also pick games with max bet limits of 50 or more. This is a smart strategy that gives you big individual wins and a generous return to the player over time.  

How to know a game’s RTP and volatility 

Some casino players might wonder if regular players can know a game’s volatility without using gambling mathematical calculations used by UK Gambling Commission and experts. Well, there are various ways of finding out what a game has to offer:

• Check the game’s paytable – After launching a game, look for the Paytable icon and expand it. In most games, the paytable is represented by the (?), settings or menu icon. 
• Play the games for free while analysing the symbols paytable – If it is a slot, spin the slot for free in demo mode and keep an eye on the grid to see how often the highest symbols appear. 
• Read casino game reviews from trusted experts – Look for forums, platforms or sites where specialists discuss games in detail. 
• Analyse the bonus features – Check how frequently high-paying symbols appear during active bonus rounds. Play in demo mode to calculate how many rounds in the free spins feature delivered a winning combination and the size of the win. 

Examples of popular slots and their volatility 

There are thousands of online slots, and hundreds are released every other day. Here are some of the most popular games, along with their RTP and bonus features.

We have reached the end of our volatility and RTP guide. Remember, whatever you choose depends on how much time and bankroll you want to spend on your gaming session. Above all, play responsibly and use the Stop Loss settings tool whenever you activate AutoPlay.