Part I: Games & Gaming · Slot Machines & Electronic Gaming

RTP (Return to Player)

Slot Technology

The theoretical percentage of all wagered money that a slot machine will pay back to players over an infinite number of spins. RTP is the inverse of the house edge — a machine with 92% RTP has an 8% theoretical hold for the casino. RTP is calculated from the PAR sheet by summing the products of each possible outcome’s probability and its payout. Individual session results will vary dramatically from the RTP due to variance, but over millions of spins, the actual return should converge toward the theoretical RTP. Regulatory jurisdictions typically set minimum RTP requirements (ranging from approximately 80% to 88%, depending on the jurisdiction and machine type).

In practice

In Nevada, the average slot RTP is approximately 92-93%. In some European and online jurisdictions, RTPs of 95-97% are common. Australia and New Zealand require minimum RTPs around 87-90% depending on jurisdiction.

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.