Glossary

RTP

Return to player: the share of all money wagered on a game that it is designed to pay back over a very large number of rounds. A 96% RTP describes the game's math, not what any player gets back in a session.

Also called: return to player, RTP rate, payout percentage, theoretical return.

The other side of RTP is the house edge. A 96% game keeps 4% of turnover on average, so $10,000 in bets is expected, in theory, to return $9,600. Volatility decides how that average is reached: a low-volatility slot pays small amounts often, a high-volatility one can run long stretches without a meaningful win and then pay a large one. Neither says anything about one player's evening.

The first catch for affiliates: many slots ship in several RTP versions, and the casino chooses which one runs, so the figure on the provider's page may not match the game at the brand you promote. Check the information screen inside the game at that casino. In Great Britain the technical standards require operators to show the RTP or the probability of winning, so the number should be there.

The second: copy that says a high RTP means you will win more is misleading, because RTP is an average across all players and all spins. For an affiliate on RevShare the house edge on your players' bets is, in theory, where your share comes from, before bonuses and fees are deducted.