A review of how software providers offer casinos varying RTPs and how you can check the payout percentages your casino offers you!. (Image Courtesy of DALL E)
Did you know that game developers offer online casino slots with several different RTP options? Therefore, you may find the same online slot game at two different casinos, but the RTP is not the same. This is why it is important to understand how to check RTPs at your online casino to ensure you get the best payout value.
Not many people know this, but some online slot developers allow the casino to choose the RTP. I.e., they get to decide which version of the slot they want to put into their online slot lobbies. This happens way more than people think. Technically, it happens with every slot that comes with optional RTPs. A casino can use the highest RTP available or a lower one. It is up to you as a player to understand how RTP works and how to check the RTP of the slot you are playing.
Most slot players catch onto when they realize that their demo versions often pay out more than the real money version.
Some folks first got suspicious when they noticed the free demo slots from GameArt paid out way bigger jackpots than the real money games. GameArt did admit that, yeah, they set the demo games to the highest RTP available on their main website, where you can play demo versions of their slot titles. Play’n GO slot titles also come with varying RTPs, as do Quickspin.
How will this RTP casino guide help you? First, the idea is to make you aware that casinos can choose from a selection of RTPs when using a software provider’s slot. Second, is to help you learn where to find the RTP of the slot you are playing at your online casino.
Developers Make Multiple Versions to Please Casinos
See, developers whip up a bunch of versions of each game, with payout rates ranging from 89% up to 96%. That way casinos can take their pick based on what they think will make them more money. Having those options gets the developers more business. And it’s all legit as long as each version follows the gambling rules.
In a Nutshell: You should make sure to check the RTPs of the online slots you are playing at casinos you sign up for.
How do players know which RTP the slot they are playing is set to?
You need to check in the slot’s information area or paytable. Also, you can check on the software provider’s main website because some will also display the payout percentage here. For some developers, you may not find the RTP displayed anywhere. You won’t find this problem with online casinos holding UKGC or MGA licensing, because under the rules of these authorities insist all casinos how the slot’s payout percentage in the pay table or information area.
Here are some examples of how to find RTPs from different software providers:
- Pragmatic Play: Clearly displays the RTP on one of the last pages of its pay table. You can also visit the Pragmatic Play website.
- BGaming: This developer shows its RTPs on its main website and on its slots interface under the ‘i’ button.
- BetSoft: You” find the RTP on the games portfolio section of the developer’s website, but generally the game’s pay table or ‘i’ section does not show the RTP. You’d have to visit the official BetSoft slot page to confirm the RTP of the slot game.
- Microgaming: Microgaming (now Games Global), only make one RTP version of each title. The same applies to partner studios like Gameburger Studios, Just for the Win, Neko Games, and other studios connected to Microgaming. The company is so honest about its RTPs, it openly admits that its Mega Moolah jackpot slots payout on average 88% from normal gameplay because another 5.30% goes towards the the four jackpots.
What about slots that don’t show RTP? Admittedly there are some software providers that don’t show the RTP in the paytable or the information area. Some don’t even show the payout percentage on their website. Therefore, I would suggest sticking to software providers that make the RTP available so you know exactly what you are getting.
Quickspin Shows Varying RTPs on its Website
One software provider’s website that is brutally honest about its varying RTPs is Quickspin. If you visit the Quickspin slot portfolio here, click on any of the online slots in its portfolio, and the range of RTPs the developer offers will be visible. Most players will not go to the Quickspin website and check this.
For instance, the screenshot accompanying this section shows 4 RTPs for the Cash Truck 2 slot game.
- Cash Truck 2 RTPS: 87%, 82%, 94% or 96%.
It is up to the casino to choose which version it implements. Therefore, you may read a casino review showing the RTP as 96%, but that may not be true with your online casino. Also, our ‘Weekly New Casino Games’ report is published every Monday on the Casinoplusbonus homepage and may show 96% for a Quickspin slot. However, there are usually 3 more RTPs your casino can use. You can look through the casino games news category for backdated versions of the Weekly New Casino Games report.
How to check Quickspin RTPs: There is a ‘?’ under the setting option on every Quickspin online slot game. Use this to check which version your casino is using. I put this to the test myself. On the Quickspin website, the demo version shows ‘96.16%’. I also checked LeoVegas and the real money version also shows 96.16%.
Play’n GO Slots At Some Online Casinos Pay Less Than Others
This is a tricky one because Play’n GO does give online casinos the option to use a different RTP. Also, the payout percentage on the demo versions from its main website displaying its online slot portfolio does not show RTPs. Back in 2017, one player shared that the same Play’n GO slot games gave back different amounts at different casinos. This made people angry – they accused the maker and the casinos of ripping them off. Turns out though, it was totally legal.
Where to find RTP on Play’n GO Slot: At UKGC and MGA casinos, you will find the RTP in the ‘?’ option on the slot itself. This is not displayed on the demo version of the slots on the Play’n GO website or for online casinos under Curacao licensing. In the accompanying screenshot, I got the RTP for Book of Dead from LeoVegas under the ‘?’ section – (You can click on the image to enlarge it).
FAQ – Online Casinos Choosing RTPs
Do land-based casinos and slot shops change video slot RTPs?
A 2019 study showed that a single real casino could have nearly 10 versions of the same slot game installed. Their payout rates ran from a weak 85% to an awesome 98%. In some countries, even in land-based casinos, the law says they must show RTP, but in others, there is no law to tell players which machine is set to pay which percentages.
How could the iGaming industry offer more transparency?
Giving casinos full control over how often their slot machines payout is shifty business if you ask me, yet as long as the casino is honest enough to show the payout percentage, then it’s fair game. Players deserve to know what they’re getting into.
Are software providers responsible for clearly showing they offer games with varying RTPs?
The current situation is that the big-name developers don’t mind pumping out tons of versions of all their hot new games to make operators happy rather than keeping RTPs consistent. In the end, more transparency could help the casinos instead of the slot developers, as the casinos offer the B2C side of the business, while the developers are B2B supplies.
How do software providers calculate RTP?
Read up on payout percentages via the Pay-out Ratios & RTP guide here.
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