UK RTP display rules

UK RTP display rules in brief

The Gambling Commission's Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards, known as the RTS, run from RTS 1 to RTS 17. Section 3 covers "rules, game descriptions and the likelihood of winning". Its stated aim is to let customers make informed decisions about whether to gamble based on their chances of winning. Online casinos licensed by the Commission for customers in Great Britain have to meet it.

In plain terms, before you place a stake you should be able to find three things: how the game works, how likely you are to win, and what it pays. For a slot, that usually means a help screen with the paytable and an RTP percentage. For a roulette or blackjack table, it may mean a rules page listing payouts and a house edge. For a game show, it often means an RTP for each bet spot.

The rules sit alongside the wider remote technical standards and our summary of RTP information rules. This page focuses on what the displayed number means and how to use it.

The four RTS 3 requirements, one by one

RTS 3 has four requirements, labelled 3A to 3D. The wording below is a plain-English summary of the Commission's RTS 3 standard (opens in a new tab).

The key phrase in 3A, 3C and 3D is "before they commit to gamble". The information isn't something you should have to ask support for after the event. It should be one tap away from the game itself.

What the guidance adds about the RTP figure

The implementation guidance beneath 3C is where the detail on RTP sits. For games of chance, the figure to show is "the average theoretical return to player percentage". Theoretical means it comes from the game's maths, not from recent results. Average means it describes the long run, not your session.

• Skill games. For events with a skill element (other than peer-to-peer play), the RTP should be calculated using either the auto-play strategy or a standard or published strategy. So the figure on a video poker or blackjack game assumes correct decisions.
• Peer-to-peer and pooled games. Where your chance depends on other players' skill or actions, a description of how the game works and how winners are decided is enough. Bingo and some lotteries that depend on the final number of players are also noted as exceptions.
• House edge and probability. The guidance says the house edge, margin or over-round should be given where relevant, and the probability of each winning event, or enough information to calculate it.
• Where it can appear. Explanations can sit in the game artwork and text, help pages or other supporting material. On small screens, a menu item or link is the minimum.
• Progressive jackpots. Jackpot displays that change over time should be updated as often as practicable, especially after a reset following a win, and the rules should say whether stakes contribute to a jackpot.

How to find a game's RTP at a UK casino

Because the rule requires the information to be easy to reach, you can normally find it in under a minute. These steps work for most slots and table games.

1. Open the game. Many casinos also show basic information on the lobby tile, but the figure inside the game is the one to trust.
2. Look for an "i", a question mark, a menu icon or a "Help" or "Paytable" label, usually in a corner or behind a settings button.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the rules. RTP is often near the end, under a heading such as "Return to player" or "Theoretical return".
4. For game shows and roulette variants, look for a list of RTPs by bet type, because each spot can differ.
5. If a slot shows a feature or jackpot, check whether the RTP includes it. Some figures exclude jackpot contributions.
6. If you can't find any likelihood-of-winning information, ask the casino's support team where it is shown before you stake anything.

Reading the displayed RTP: worked examples

An RTP is only useful once you turn it into money. Multiply your total stakes by (100% − RTP) to get the average cost. Total stakes means every bet you place, including winnings you play back, which is why a small deposit can generate a large turnover.

The Gates of Olympus and Blood Suckers rows show why the displayed number is worth checking. At the same stakes and spin count, a 1.5-point gap in RTP means the average cost differs by £3.75. Over a month of regular play, that gap compounds. For more examples, see RTP explained and our guide to cost per hour.

Slot RTPs in this table are developers' published figures. The setting at your casino may differ, which is why the in-game figure matters.

What the UK RTP display rules don't do

RTS 3 is about disclosure. It makes sure you can see the number; it doesn't set what the number must be. The standard doesn't set a minimum RTP for online games, and you shouldn't assume a UK slot has to return any particular percentage.

The rules also don't require one RTP per title across the market. Game studios often supply several settings of the same slot, and Wizard of Odds notes that a slot's RTP can differ between jurisdictions. Our checked data lists Dead or Alive at 96.82% for its highest version, which tells you other versions exist. This is why you can see different RTPs at different casinos for the same game.

Finally, a displayed RTP says nothing about short-term results. A 96% RTP game can easily return nothing from a £20 session, or several times that. The swing size is set by volatility, which the rules don't require casinos to rate on any standard scale. Volatility labels on UK slots come from developers and aren't standardised.

Behind the number: RTS 7 and independent testing

A displayed RTP only means something if the game really behaves that way. Two other parts of the framework back it up.

The RTS 7 standard on random outcomes (opens in a new tab) forbids adaptive behaviour, meaning a compensated game, in remote gambling. A game can't change its probabilities to make up for past results, so it can't pay out less because it paid out more earlier, or the other way round. Rules, payouts and probabilities also can't change while a game is available for play. That makes the RTP you read a fixed property of the game version you are playing.

The Commission's testing strategy (opens in a new tab) says game testing by a test house covers the game design, the software implementation and the actual RTP, using simulation, emulation and manual testing. Test reports go onto the licensee's games register through the Commission's eServices system. The Commission's list of approved test houses (opens in a new tab) names 14 labs, including eCOGRA, several GLI companies, BMM and Quinel. Read more on how casino games are tested and on the test houses themselves.

RTP display rules for table and live games

RTS 3 covers all remote casino games, not just slots. Table games tend to meet it with a paytable and a house edge rather than an RTP, but the effect is the same. For single-zero roulette, a help file listing that a straight-up pays 35 to 1 on 37 numbers lets you work out the 2.70% edge yourself, which the guidance accepts as enough information to calculate the probability.

Live game shows usually list an RTP for every bet spot. That matters, because the range can be wide. Evolution lists Crazy Time at 94.41% to 96.08%. The table below shows how much difference the spot makes on the same £100 of stakes.

For skill games such as blackjack or video poker, remember the guidance: the figure assumes a standard or published strategy. If you don't follow one, your real return will be lower than the number on screen.

Other UK game rules that sit beside the RTP display

The RTP display requirement works with a set of other game design rules. None of them changes the RTP, but they shape how fast you can stake money through it, and so how quickly the edge adds up.

See our pages on game design rules and slot stake limits for the detail.

Where to play: checking RTP before you claim an offer

Every partner casino we list is licensed by the Gambling Commission, so the RTS 3 display duties apply to its games. Our offers are mainly slot offers, and none of them changes a game's RTP. Matched bonuses come with game restrictions, and table and live games are often excluded or count for less towards wagering, so check the terms. 18+ and terms apply.

Casumo gives new customers who opt in a 50% bonus up to £100 on a first deposit of £20 or more; the bonus must be wagered 10x within 7 days, with a £5 maximum bet while active. 10bet offers new UK customers a 100% match up to £25 when they choose the casino welcome bonus and deposit within 7 days; wager it 10x on slots within 3 days, with maximum bonus winnings of £1,000 and Skrill and Neteller excluded. Coral gives new players 100 free spins at 10p on selected slots after depositing and betting £10 on slots; accept them within 48 hours, use them within 7 days, and keep free spin winnings without wagering.

Before spending bonus spins, open the help screen of the selected game and note its RTP. Then see the rest of our casino maths guides.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.