What RTP means in online slots
By the CasinoCue editorial team · Reviewed 2026-11-10
RTP (return to player) is the share of all money staked on a game that it is designed to pay back over a very large number of plays. A 96% RTP means a 4% house edge in the long run.
A worked example
If players stake £1,000,000 in total on a 96% RTP slot, the game is designed to pay back about £960,000 across all of them. The remaining £40,000 is the house edge.
That figure is an average across millions of spins and many players. It is not a promise for any one session.
What RTP does not tell you
A higher RTP does not guarantee a win or a smaller loss on a given night. Short sessions can land far above or below the average.
Many games ship with several RTP settings, and the operator chooses which one to run. Check the game information panel at the site you are using.
Sources: Gambling Commission
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