What is RTP?

RTP — return to player — is the theoretical expected share of stakes returned by a game's mathematical model over a very large sample. A 96% RTP implies $96 of expected return and $4 of expected loss per $100 wagered across that model. It does not promise a $96 return in one $100 session or after a fixed number of spins.

What does RTP not tell you?

RTP is not a promise about your session. It is the expected value defined by the game's mathematical model over repeated play; one finite sample is not expected to reproduce it. The spread around that expectation is described by volatility, which is why two slots with identical RTP can feel like completely different games.

It follows that RTP cannot tell you when a slot is "due". In games with independently generated rounds, previous outcomes do not change the next random draw. Persistent features can carry published game state, but a losing streak is not evidence that a win is due. What RTP does tell you is theoretical long-run cost: a 94% model has a 6% edge, three times the 2% edge of a 98% model.

What is the median RTP in the RTP Ledger database?

The median recorded RTP across our current database is 96.2%, so that is the comparison notch used on this site. It is a dataset benchmark, not a rule for every provider, market or game. Individual entries can sit above or below it, and each page shows the available source status before you rely on the comparison.

Can the same slot have different RTP values?

The number printed in a review may not be the number you are playing. Our dataset contains multiple recorded RTP values for some titles, sometimes several percentage points apart. A recorded range does not by itself prove that every endpoint is a current provider build or identify which value a particular casino runs.

RTP Ledger shows each recorded range with its source status. A distinct game version or mode can carry another theoretical RTP. Open the game information and read the displayed RTP value in the paytable. Do not infer an active value from an RTP Ledger range when the game omits the value. See how slot RTP versions and active-value checks work.

How should you use RTP?

• Use RTP to compare theoretical long-run cost. A higher RTP implies a lower theoretical house edge.
• Check the in-game paytable for the active RTP value.
• Review volatility separately. Volatility does not predict a session result or bankroll duration.
• Previous outcomes do not predict the next independent game result.

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