Return to player
The share of stakes a machine pays back over its lifetime.
By Ryan Jessop. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Online slots: about 96%.
- Venue machines: often lower.
- One slot can have several versions.
- A long-run figure.
In shortRTP is the percentage of all money staked that a slot machine pays back over millions of spins. A 96% machine keeps £4 of every £100 on average.
Seven popular slots
| Slot | Developer | RTP | Volatility | Max win | Layout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 96.71% | High | 2,100x | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Gates of Olympus | Pragmatic Play | 96.50% | High | 5,000x | 6 reels, 5 rows |
| Book of Dead | Play'n GO | 96.21% | High | 5,000x | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Fishin' Frenzy | Blueprint Gaming | 96.12% | Medium to high | 5,000x | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Starburst | NetEnt | 96.09% | Low | 500x | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Fluffy Favourites | Eyecon | 95.39% | High | 5,000x | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Sweet Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | Varies by version (96.48% to 96.51% quoted) | High | 21,100x | 6 reels, 5 rows |
Online against venues
Online slots commonly return around 96%. Machines in pubs, arcades and betting shops are often set lower, and must display their return on the machine.
Versions
Developers supply the same online slot at several RTP settings and the casino chooses one. The figure in the game's help screen is the one that applies.
What it does not tell you
Anything about one session. Over a hundred spins, results are dominated by chance.
Keep reading: Pays-anywhere slot machines, Sweet Bonanza slot machine, 10bet Casino slot machines and Slot machine finder.
The sum
House edge is 100% minus RTP. At 96%, £200 of spins costs £8 on average; at 94%, £12. Over an evening the difference is small; over a year of regular play it is not.
Go further: Fluffy Favourites vs Fishin' Frenzy, Cluster pays slot machines and Wild symbols.
In other words
RTP, return to player, payout percentage and payback percentage all mean the same thing. House edge is its mirror image.
Keep reading: Ladbrokes Casino slot machines, The cherry symbol, Why slot machines are so absorbing and Paylines and ways to win.
Slot figures are developers' published defaults, each confirmed against two sources; the version at your casino can differ. UK land-based stake and prize limits and online rule dates were checked against Gambling Commission and licensing authority sources on 6 October 2026. History follows commonly cited accounts. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
What does RTP mean?
Return to player.
What is a good RTP?
About 96% online.
Do pub machines have lower RTP?
Often.
Where is it shown?
In the help screen or on the machine.