{"id":35725,"date":"2026-09-22T13:41:30","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T17:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/casino.betmgm.ca\/en\/blog\/?post_type=article&p=35725"},"modified":"2026-09-22T11:29:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T15:29:24","slug":"understanding-rtp-volatility-in-on-online-slots","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.betmgm.ca\/en\/casino\/blog\/online-slots\/understanding-rtp-volatility-in-on-online-slots\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Slot RTP and Volatility"},"content":{"rendered":"

RTP and volatility are two key statistics that describe the average win-rate for a slot machine. Learn how these stats are calculated and what they mean.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":35726,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[422],"class_list":["post-35725","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online-slots"],"acf":{"article_highlights":[{"hightlight":"RTP and volatility are two stats in every slot machine's mathematical formulas that affect slot payouts."},{"hightlight":"RTP describes the prize money returned per dollar wagered, averaged across all players over a very large number of spins."},{"hightlight":"Volatility describes how frequently a slot pays and in what quantities, with either small frequent prizes or rare large prizes."}],"article_builder":[{"acf_fc_layout":"paragraph","title_only":true,"content":"Many slot gamblers, including those who\u2019ve been playing offline and <\/span>online slots<\/a><\/strong> for years, might not understand what RTP and volatility mean. While these terms might not concern players who just want to spin the reels and have fun, they can dramatically affect the slot experience whether you play online or offline.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nTo learn about the role of RTP and volatility in slots, read on to discover everything players need to know about each of these slot elements and how they are connected.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

Everything Players Need To Know About RTP<\/b><\/h2>\r\nWhile players can still have a great time playing slots without ever knowing what RTP is, the principle is a critical element of the online slot experience.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

What is RTP?<\/b><\/h3>\r\nRTP, or return to player, is a term that\u2019s used to indicate to slot gamblers what the average payout is for a particular slot. Slot RTP is shown as a percentage.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nFor example, a slot might have an RTP of 95%. This means that, on average, for every $100 that\u2019s paid into the game, the game will return $95. This doesn\u2019t mean a player will receive $95 back, but that over a long period of time, an average of $95 will be paid out to all players for every $100 spent. While some slot players will receive more and others will receive less, it\u2019ll average out to 95% in the long run. This is why some players may prefer higher-RTP slots, as they offer a higher theoretical return over the long term.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe average RTP for slots is approximately 96%, although this varies quite dramatically from slot to slot. For example, <\/span>slots with the best odds<\/a><\/strong> have an RTP as high as 99%, while slots with the worst odds can have an RTP of 90% or lower. Another factor to keep in mind is a <\/span>type of slot machine<\/a><\/strong> called jackpot slots, which offer a jackpot prize. Jackpot slots sometimes take the jackpot payout into account for their RTP, which means that the RTP can be much lower without the jackpot prize factored in.<\/span>\r\n

How Is RTP Calculated?<\/b><\/h3>\r\nActual RTP is calculated by dividing the total amount won by players by the total amount wagered on the game, then multiplying the result by 100. However, this may differ from the game\u2019s <\/span>official RTP<\/a><\/strong>, which is part of the slot\u2019s mathematical model and is independently tested. This is for two reasons.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nFirst, RTP isn\u2019t a number you can apply to a short period or a small number of games. It\u2019s typically calculated over tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of games.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nSecond, the observed RTP may vary because of the game\u2019s volatility during any particular session. Learn more about volatility below.<\/span>\r\n

How to Check the RTP of an Online Slot<\/b><\/h3>\r\nWhen playing at an online casino, the RTP is typically available on the game\u2019s page. If the casino doesn\u2019t display the slot RTP<\/span> before starting play, check the slot\u2019s help files in the game itself, located in the same section as the <\/span>slot paytable<\/a><\/strong>. If no RTP is listed under the game\u2019s help files, check online reviews or the game developer\u2019s website for relevant information.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

Everything Players Need To Know About Volatility<\/b><\/h2>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"large_image","image_options":"inline-image","image":35727,"image_link":"","caption_1":"","image_2":null,"caption_2":"","image_2_link":null},{"acf_fc_layout":"paragraph","title_only":true,"content":"Volatility is another important element that can influence a player\u2019s enjoyment of online slots. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about volatility and how it affects the slot gaming experience.<\/span>\r\n

What is Volatility?<\/b><\/h3>\r\nSlot volatility, also known as variance, is the frequency and size of payouts that players can expect from a slot. Volatility is typically divided into three categories:<\/span>\r\n