“RTP” and “house edge” are common terms in the Las Vegas casino online space. If it’s your first time seeing these terms, you may not understand why they matter. In this post, we get down to the basics and explain what RTP and house edges mean for you as a player.
What Is RTP?
The Return to Player, abbreviated as RTP, is a measure of the amount of money a casino pays back in an infinite amount of time. It is essentially the opposite perspective of the house edge.
For example, if a casino game has an RTP of 96%, it means that over the lifetime of a game, players can expect 96% back. The leftover 4% is the house edge.
Usually, you’ll see the RTP of a game written as a percentage in game descriptions. You can check the game developers’ page or online reviews for the RTP. However, sometimes game developers do not share RTPs.
Does that mean that you should not play games without RTPs?
Well, not really. Why? To answer this question, we look at the impact of RTPs.
What do RTPs mean for you?
RTPs are statistical estimations over an infinite time. No one can play for an infinite period. So, what does this mean for you?
The outcome of each game is completely random. However, the longer you play, the more you move the outcome towards the RTP. One chance won’t change the probability of winning, but multiple chances over time increase random opportunities for winning. And if you’re at the right place at the right time, you could be the player that lands the biggest win in the game.
The RTP helps the casino estimate how much it can win from a game on average and thus adds it to the game library. As a player, you can use RTP to calculate how long you need to keep playing.
Imagine if you have $100 coins and bet 1 in each game, you’ll lose $0.01 for each game to the house at 99% RTP. Therefore, you need 10,000 games to break even. However, the chances are random, and the odds might not work in your favor. Overall, personal preferences dominate when choosing RTPs.
What Is House Edge?
The house edge is a measure of a casino’s profit margin. For example, the casino may have a 5% house edge. This means that for every coin spent at the casino, the house takes 5%. The house edge is the remaining portion without the RTP, which means that if you have one, you simply need to subtract from 100% to get the other.
In figures, imagine you played $100, and the casino gets $5 for every game. Usually, the house edge is expressed as a percentage and represents the odds of the house against the player. This edge is determined by the game’s rules.
However, if the house sets the game rules, this means you should not only bank on the house edge when playing but still factor it into consideration. A larger house edge means the casino gets a bigger profit per game. In this case, going for games with a smaller house edge makes sense.
RTPs in Action
Different casino games have varied RTPs. For instance, the popular table game European Roulette operates at a 97.3% RTP. This means the possibility of landing a win 1/37. The casino takes the multiplier and uses it to increase your wager. Over time, you will notice your returns will move towards RTP.
Generally, online casinos have higher RTPs than physical casino games, going as high as 99% because they have lower operational costs. Also, online casinos offer casino welcome bonuses to attract players which further increases your chances of maximizing the RTP.
However, always remember that the individual game outcome changes per session. Also, different casinos have different house edges for certain games, depending on the house rules. Slots are consistent despite the casino and, therefore, offer better certainty if you’re playing in different online casinos.
Blackjack RTP
Blackjack RTP varies per game. While the table game is lauded for high payouts, the theory doesn’t always hold up. Some games offer RTPs below 97%, which is low for players seeking higher-level payouts. GrandeVegas casino games real money with fair rules are the best way to begin your search for a game.
Since the Vegas online casino might not announce their blackjack house edge, you’re better off understanding the rules and studying the impact of the game on your payback. Over time, you’ll master which blackjack variants pay more.
Overall, you want to remember that different moves affect the house edge. For example, a single deck reduces the house edge by 0.47% and if a dealer stands on a soft 17, the house edge goes down by 0.2%. Late surrender only increases your odds by 0.07%, while re-splitting aces adds a 0.08% edge to the player.
Baccarat House Edge
Baccarat house edge plays out differently because you can bet on the dealer, the player or a tie. Also, RTP may vary depending on the bet. In many cases, the house edge favors the dealer. The dealer also pays out more because of the commission. Therefore, you have to consider the payouts plus the RTP when choosing which bets to place.
While you’ll most likely find an eight-deck game of baccarat, your chances of winning improve when you’re playing with fewer decks. Usually, the house edge for an 8-deck game is 1.059% and it decreases to 1.056% when you play with six decks. As the decks decrease, the better betting on the banker becomes.
Regulatory Requirements
Generally, the regulatory landscape affects the type of RTP you can access. Some regulatory bodies restrict games with extremely low RTPs. You may find a minimum RTP allowed for online casinos.
For example, online casinos operating under the Malta Gaming Authority have an 85% minimum RTP. The UK Gambling Commission has a 99.9% minimum RTP on all slot games up from 95%. This means that online players in that region have access to all slots with higher RTPs.
After a game is on the market, the developer cannot change RTP. It is a permanent measure and if changed, would affect the transparency of the game. However, players can still experience high and low wins over time even if there is a high RTP.
Learning the fundamentals of RTP and House Edge
It’s never too late to understand the foundations of online gambling to help you make informed decisions about which casino games to play. When you know the odds of a game, you can plan your bankroll accordingly and bet on games that are likely to generate wins.
When choosing online casino games, always remember RTPs and house edge are theoretical measures of the possibilities of winning and not a guarantee of specific gains. Understanding the implications of RTPs and house edge should not lead you to depend only on those numbers to secure a win. Remember to increase your gaming skills, study strategies and understand the game rules. Only use the RTP alongside other measures to get a better view of the overall picture before gambling online.
