What is RTP? Return to player explained
· 4 min read
RTP stands for return to player. It is the share of all money bet on a game that the game pays back to players over a very large number of rounds. A game with a 99% RTP pays back, on average, 99 for every 100 that is bet. The other 1 is the house edge: what the casino keeps.
RTP and house edge are two sides of one number
Add the RTP and the house edge together and you always get 100%. A 99% RTP means a 1% house edge, a 96% RTP means a 4% house edge. The lower the house edge, the longer your money tends to last.
| Game | RTP | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack | 99.5% | 0.5% |
| Dice, Limbo, Mines, Plinko | 99% | 1% |
| Baccarat (Banker) | 98.9% | 1.1% |
| Roulette | 97.3% | 2.7% |
| Volthouse slots | 96% | 4% |
What RTP does not tell you
RTP is an average over millions of rounds. In one session anything can happen: you can win far more than the RTP suggests, or lose your whole budget. A 99% RTP does not mean you get 99% of your money back tonight.
RTP also says nothing about how a game pays. Two games with the same RTP can feel completely different: one pays small wins often, the other pays rarely but big. That difference is called volatility.
How to use RTP
- Compare games: a higher RTP gives you more play for the same budget on average.
- Check the info tab: every LuckyZoo game shows its RTP.
- Remember that no strategy changes the RTP of a game with random results.
- Set a budget anyway. The house edge is small, but it is always there.
LuckyZoo is a free social casino for adults: Credits have no cash value and there is no real money gambling. Play for fun, and set limits if you need them.
