Slot RTP information rules

Slot RTP information rules for online games (RTS 3)

For online slots the rules are in the Gambling Commission’s Remote gambling and software technical standards (opens in a new tab), usually called the RTS. Standard 3 is titled ‘Rules, game descriptions and the likelihood of winning’, and its stated aim is to let customers make informed decisions about whether to gamble based on their chances of winning. It applies to gaming (including bingo), lotteries and betting on virtual events, so every online slot offered to players in Great Britain is covered.

Two words in RTS 3C matter. The information must be ‘easily available’, and it must be there ‘before they commit to gamble’. The guidance says it can sit in the game’s artwork and text, a help or how-to-play page, or supporting material, and should be easy to reach, for example from the home or game selection pages. That is why the RTP of a UK slot is usually one tap away in the game help screen.

Jackpots, skill and other special cases

The RTS 3 guidance adapts the rule to different games. For games with an element of skill, other than peer-to-peer games, the RTP should be worked out using either the auto-play strategy or a standard or published strategy. For peer-to-peer games and bingo, where the chance of winning depends on other players, a description of how winners are decided is enough. Where a prize isn’t known in advance, describing how it is set will do.

Jackpots get specific mention. The rules should explain jackpot contributions and how the jackpot is won, and changing jackpot displays should be updated as often as practicable, especially after a reset following a win. On a progressive jackpot slot, part of the stated RTP may come from the jackpot itself, so the help screen often splits the figure into base game and jackpot parts; our page on how slot jackpots are funded explains why.

RTP display rules for gaming machines in venues

Land-based machines follow the Commission’s gaming machine rules rather than the RTS. Its gaming machine categories guidance (opens in a new tab) sets out the RTP display duty by category, summarised below.

For B1, B2, B3 and B3A machines the value is verified by the manufacturer or an accredited test house. No minimum RTP is set for any category, so two pub machines side by side can show different figures and both be legal. The draft technical standards consulted on in 2025 also included notices such as ‘THIS GAME IS RANDOM’ or, for a compensated machine, a statement that results may be influenced by previous play. Our guide to reading a machine label shows where the figure usually sits.

What a displayed RTP figure means in pounds

RTP is the share of all money staked that a game is designed to pay back over a very large number of games. The rest is the house edge. Over a short session the result can be far above or below it, which is why the RTS asks for ‘information to help customers make an informed decision’ rather than a forecast.

A two-point difference in RTP doubles the average cost between 96% and 92%, which is why the figure is worth checking. But it says nothing about how often a game pays or how big the swings are; that is volatility, which no rule requires to be shown as a number. Our main RTP explainer covers the maths in full.

RTP variants and why the casino’s figure is the one that counts

Many developers release the same slot at several RTP settings, and each casino chooses which version to run. Because RTS 3 ties the information to the game you are about to play, the help screen inside the casino is the place to look; a figure on a developer’s website or a review may describe a different version. Developers’ game sheets often list each version’s figure, and where to find RTP on UK slots shows typical screen locations.

If a casino’s help screen and the game’s published sheet show different RTPs, the casino version is what you are playing. A missing RTP, house edge or odds statement is worth raising with the casino’s support team.

What the RTP information rules don’t require

• A minimum RTP: none is set for gaming machines, and RTS 3 sets out what to disclose, not a minimum figure.
• Hit frequency or bonus trigger odds: RTS 3C allows RTP or house edge instead of event probabilities, so slots rarely show how often a feature lands.
• A volatility rating: many developers give one, but it is optional.
• Session results: RTP describes the long run, not your next 100 spins.
• A figure on crane grabs or penny falls: these Category D machines are exempt from the RTP display rule.

If you want those extra numbers, the hit frequency and odds of triggering a slot bonus pages explain how they are estimated and why the figures are rarely published.

How to find a slot’s RTP under the UK rules

1. Open the slot and look for an ‘i’, ‘?’ or menu icon; this opens the help or paytable screen.
2. Scroll to the end of the rules, where the theoretical RTP is usually stated, sometimes with a jackpot share.
3. Check whether more than one RTP is listed, for example for different bet modes, and note which applies.
4. On a machine in a venue, read the label or information screen for the target percentage.
5. Compare the figure with similar games before you decide, and set a budget whatever it shows.

Our how to find a slot’s RTP guide covers the steps in more detail.

Who checks that the displayed RTP is right

Gaming machine makers and online game suppliers must use a test house approved by the Commission. At 2 March 2026 the approved test house list (opens in a new tab) had 14 entries, including GLI, BMM and eCOGRA. The test house checks the game’s maths and random number generation against the standards; the Commission reviews test reports and audits but doesn’t repeat the tests itself. Our explainers on how slot machines are tested and whether slot machines are rigged go further.

Myths about slot RTP figures

• ‘96% RTP means I’ll get £96 back from £100.’ Only on average across a very large number of spins.
• ‘Casinos switch the RTP during my session.’ Each version’s maths is tested before release, and the help screen should show the version you are playing; check it when you open the game.
• ‘A machine that hasn’t paid out is due.’ Results are random; a compensated machine adjusts within its design but never becomes ‘due’ in a way you can exploit.
• ‘Higher RTP slots always cost less.’ On average yes, per pound staked, but higher volatility can make a session far more expensive.

Slot RTP information rules timeline

Checking RTP at our partner casinos

At any UK-licensed casino, including the two below, the RTP should be available in each slot’s help screen before you spin. Coral Casino gives 100 free spins at 10p each when you deposit and bet £10 or more on slots; the spins are on selected games, must be accepted within 48 hours and last 7 days, with no wagering on winnings. Ladbrokes Casino gives up to 500 free spins, 50 a day for 10 days at 10p each, after you deposit and spend £10 on slots, also with no wagering. Both are 18+, for new customers, with excluded payment methods. Free spin games are chosen by the casino, so open each game’s help screen to see its RTP. Game lists change; search the lobby. Terms apply.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.