Learn RTP and Volatility To Maximize your Casino Bonus

Understanding RTP (Return to Player) Percentages

Return to Player (RTP) is a term that expresses the average percentage of stakes a game returns to players as winnings over time. It’s essential to keep in mind that these numbers are based on an infinite number of rounds.

Therefore, they do not represent the return you can expect during any given gaming session.

In other words, playing a game with an RTP of 97% doesn’t’ mean you will win 97 out of 100 rounds. What it means is that 97% of all placed stakes will be distributed as winnings to all players. The remaining 3% is the casino's profit, or house edge if you will.

This is better understood if we consider the potential return on every USD 100 invested in a game. Expressed in this way, it shows the profitability and fairness of casino games, especially slot games, in comparison to other games.

Calculating RTP

RTP is calculated as a simple formula:

For instance, if a slot game has an RTP of 98%, it means that for every USD100 wagered, USD98 will be returned to players over time (on average). Consequently, the higher the RTP, the greater the potential for long-term winnings.

Consider the following example: A slot game with a 93% RTP played with USD1,000 over time would theoretically return $930 to players. On the other hand, a game with a 98% RTP would return $980 for the same wager.

The difference of USD50 illustrates the impact an extra 5% RTP has on potential returns for the same amount wagered, emphasizing the importance of choosing games with higher RTP percentages.

RTP on Slot Games

As we all know by now, when it comes to gambling, the house always has the edge over the player. However, statistically speaking, players do have a shot at picking up wins – big ones at that in the case of a progressive jackpot – and giving the house a run for its money.

The above situation depends largely on being able to pick the right game to play, and one factor that can help you (to an extent) in determining which game it could probably be is RTP.

RTP value associated with a game is a theoretical and also realistic measure of how much money a slot machine pays you back over a definite period of time. This value is expressed as a percentile and is usually anywhere between 94% and 99%. A slot with a 95% RTP value will return $0.95 for every $1.00 wagered; this is the amount that the slot pays back after hundreds of thousands of spins.

The $0.05 that’s left behind is the profit that the casino enjoys for the $1.00 you bet. The RTP in this case is 95%, and the remaining 5% is the house edge. Just so we’re clear, the 95% RTP doesn’t mean you get back $95 for every $100 you bet; it’s the amount that the slot hands out as winnings among all.

If you want to know which online slots yield the biggest potential returns, we suggest you start by exploring these volatile slots:

• Big Bad Wolf
  97.4%
  Quickspin
• Wolf Gold
  96.01%
  Pragmatic Play
• Sakura Fortune
  96.61%
  Quickspin
• Gears of Time
  96.98%
  Betsoft
• Primal Hunt
  96.10%
  Pragmatic Play

• Gems Bonanza
  96.51%
  Pragmatic Play
• Wild Walker
  96.55%
  Pragmatic Play
• Quest to the West
  97.53%
  Betsoft
• Curse of the Werewolf Megaways
  96.50%
  Pragmatic Play

Busting a Couple of RTP Myths

There are quite a few myths about RTP value when it comes to slots. One of the most popular myths which needs to be squashed is whether casinos are able to control a game’s RTP. Contrary to popular belief, casinos or their operators don’t have the technology or resources wherewithal to tweak the RTP settings to its favor. A casino doesn’t own slot games, they're usually sourced from providers.

Another popular misconception is that RTP doesn’t matter when only a solitary session is considered. While this is mostly untrue, there is a miniscule of truth here. There’s no predicting the outcome of a game based on a single session, but, it’s also true that a slot with a 90% RTP won’t play as well as one with a 98% RTP.

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The 10 Best Slots with High RTPs

The higher the RTP value the better it is for a player, because it means the more the overall return amount over a period of time is going to be. Here is a list of 10 slots with the highest RTPs.

1. Ugga Bugga – this Playtech slot has an RTP value of 99.07%.
2. Mega Joker – a classic NetEnt slot and definitely a favorite because of its RTP of up to 99%. The RTP value varies depending on the stake level you play at. To benefit from the 99% RTP, you’ll have to bet all 10 coins at maximum value.
3. Ooh Aah Dracula – this slot from Barcrest has a gothic theme – with Dracula as the central character – and an RTP value of 99%. Superb bonuses like the Graveyard Bonus, Super Graveyard Bonus and the Heart Attack Bonus gives you a shot at putting together some good wins.
4. Jackpot 6000 – yet another favorite title from NetEnt, this slot comes with an RTP value of up to 98.8%. Like the Mega Joker slot, you’ll need to play this one too with all 10 coins to trigger the maximum RTP value. But that’s not all… you must also know when it’s a good time to pick up your winnings from the Supermeter.
5. Chess Mate – this game from Multi Slot has a high RTP value of 98.7%.
6. 1429 Uncharted Seas – hailing from Thunderkick this game has an RTP value of 98.6% attached to it.
7. The Catfather – this cute and cuddly slot from Pragmatic Play has a sweet RTP value of 98.10%.
8. Blood Suckers – an exciting slot from, you guessed it… NetEnt gives you a shot at good wins and has a fabulous RTP value of 98%.
9. Jokerizer – Yggdrasil is known for its high quality slots, and this one is certainly a stellar pick – thanks to its cool features and superb RTP value of 98% - is Jokerizer. Features to help you score wins include the Joker mode and the Mystery Win.
10. Rainbow Riches – Pick ‘n Mix: This fantastic slot from Barcrest is a sequel to the equally popular Rainbow Riches. Helping you score some lovely wins include bonus features like Pots of Gold, Magic Mushroom and Road to Riches.

High Vs. Low Volatility - A Comparison

Now you have an idea of the different risk and reward levels of volatility, let’s look at how they compare at the extreme ends with a side-by-side comparison, along with their key benefits and drawbacks:

Top Pro Tips for Selecting the Best Bonuses Based on RTP and Volatility In 2024

Selecting the best bonuses based on RTP and volatility involves a strategic approach to maximize win potential.

To help in this process, here are our top pro tips for evaluating bonuses:

Tip 1: Research Slot RTP Values

Look for games with higher RTP percentages. Reliable online resources, like this one here at NoDepositFriend.com, offer game reviews that disclose this type of information. Choose bonuses featuring RTP above 96% for better long-term returns.

Tip 2: Understand Slot Volatility Profiles

Evaluate the volatility of games linked to the bonus. Low and low to medium volatility games are better suited to casino bonuses because they provide wins frequently enough to help you make it through wagering with sufficient profit.

Players may not have the luxury of waiting to land a big win with high volatility games. Moreover, if win caps are in place, as they usually are with no deposit bonuses, then anything above the cap is forfeited, rendering them pointless.

Tip 3: Always Check Bonus Terms and Conditions

Examine the terms associated with the bonus. This will give you all the information you need on game inclusions and exclusions, wagering requirements, and game weighting contributions.

Try to ensure that the bonus allows play on high RTP games and is not tied to excessively high wagering requirements.

Tip 4: Opt for a Balance of High RTP and Low Volatility

You might be limited on the games you can play with a bonus. Under these circumstances, seek games that strike a balance between high RTP and reasonable volatility.

With that said, low - Medium volatility games with a high RTP often offer a good compromise, providing decent payouts without excessive risk. Finding the optimal balance maximizes the chances of securing substantial wins while enjoying a balanced gaming experience.

Tip 5: Try Slots and Games before committing funds

After researching the games attached to bonuses, try a few out to see how they perform. You can do this through demo games or, even better, through a free spins bonus that gives you the chance to win real money.

Furthermore, it offers the opportunity to assess the RTP and the volatility of different slots under the conditions of playing real money games. This provides a better perspective on the best games to play before committing funds.

High RTP Slot Game Providers

There are many online slot game providers. However, some are more prolific than others when it comes to providing high RTP slots.

When looking for top slots to play, games from the following providers generally provide higher RTPs and, therefore, better conversion rates.

Here are some of the best slots providers around:

RTP Percentages In Blackjack

As Blackjack rules may vary from one casino to another, RTP percentages differ as well. However, generally, a player using a basic Blackjack strategy can expect an average return of 99.5%.

When it comes to Blackjack, the RTP changes as the game progresses due to the fact cards are continuously leaving the deck. Depending on which cards are left in the shoe, the RTP may range from 95% to 102%.

Card counters try to benefit from this fact by counting cards and estimating the RTP. They will then look to place high bets when they believe the RTP has risen above 100%.

How Variance Affects a Betting System

To demonstrate how a game's variance can alter a betting system's RTP, we have conducted a series of tests.

In our experiment, we simulated a scenario where two players played European Roulette. The experiment assumes both players have a $100 budget and that they will stop playing when they have a bankroll of $500 or more.

To clarify, in this experiment, 'a win' is defined by a player achieving a total bankroll of at least $500.

The players proceed to place bets with different variance:

• Player A bets $10 budget on a number. This is a high variance bet with a return of 36 to 1.
• Player B places bets on colours which has a low variance of 2 to 1.

To simulate what would happen, we ran a vast number of simulations which yielded the following results:

How To Find The Best Betting Strategy

As we can conclude from the given examples, a profitable betting system needs to consider the odds of achieving a particular win and the win's size. It also needs to take into consideration how much time you intend to spend playing.

In the table below, you can see the results of different simulations we have made. These simulations assume you have a $100 budget, and that your goal is to stop playing when you have a bankroll of $500 or more.

Looking at the table, you will see the RTP of a particular betting system change as bet size and variance are altered. When it comes to Roulette, you adjust variance by changing the kinds of bets you place. If you play slots, variance will vary depending on which game you choose.

As you can see in the table above, high variance bets on numbers have a much higher betting system RTP than low variance bets on colour. In a slot game, this means your betting system RTP would increase if you played highly volatile slots.

If your goal is to spend a bit of time playing and have good odds of winning, we recommend you choose a high variance game and place relatively small bets.