RTP rates have generally been decided by the creator of the game, and not by the casinos themselves. But RTP ranges are shuffling this situation and casinos are now able to change their own RTP rates for specific games.
RTP rates were generally decided by game studios rather than by the casinos themselves. But RTP ranges are changing how the RTP is set. Now more than ever, casinos can often control the RTP as long as they remain within the range set by the game developer.
The return-to-player rate (RTP) is an important stat to casino players since it affects the long-term profits and strategy. Imagine their concern if an online casino pulled the rug from under their patrons by changing the RTP of their games.
ONLINE CASINO GAME RTP EXPLAINED
Return-to-player (RP) rates are a statistical prediction of how much money you win back after spinning the reels several times.
Statistically, if you are to spend $100 worth of wagers on a slot with a 97% RTP, you are likely to get $97 back after several spins.
RISE OF RTP RANGES
While new casino players or casual visitors are only interested in jackpot prizes or high payouts, regular patrons are much more interested in a slot’s RTP. High-rollers and advantage players are looking for a long-term payout, which involves a steady growth of their bankroll through more than 1,000 spins.
Information is critical to players looking for a long-term payout. Such information includes a slot machine’s RTP, variance, and hit frequency. All information is displayed on the cabinet or within the game.
Variance rate is the risk vs reward percentage of a game where high rates result in a small number of wins with higher payouts and low rates offer numerous wins with low payouts. Hit frequency is the percentage of wins you can get out from spinning the reels a certain number of times. You got it, it’s all about the slot developer’s mathematical model.
With the RTP and other important mathematical stats, players can pinpoint the slot game(s) where they have the best edge against the house. This also allows seasoned patrons to avoid casino gimmicks or slots that are designed to extract as much money form a patron.
CAN ONLINE CASINO OPERATOS CHANGE THE RTP OF THEIR GAMES?
Some operators are capable of changing the RTP of their online slots. This includes the slot machine cabinets among land-based casinos and online casino software among gambling sites.
Slot machine cabinets have EPROM chips that allow operators to set the game’s RTP. Adjusting the EPROM chip can alter the slot machine payout to match the RTP set by the operator. This chip is responsible for the random number generator (RNG) algorithm of the game, which determines if you win or lose a spin.
Online casino operators can only change the RTP if there is an option for them to do so, built-in by the slot game developer.
CAN ONLINE CASINO HIDE THE REAL RTP OF THEIR GAMES?
Operators are not obligated to show the RTP of their online casino slots or other games. However, licensed online casinos are required by law to be transparent with the fairness of their games. If an operator has an online game with a different RTP as advertised on their website, they are likely to get in trouble with the regulation office. This is why most online gambling sites and cryptocurrency casinos do not show the RTP of their games.