Best RTP Slots

?? Best RTP Slots: How RTP works

When searching for the perfect slot machine, it is crucial to consider the return to player (RTP) value. Generally speaking, a higher RTP means more money will be returned to players over time. However, it is important to note that there are various factors to consider, and a high RTP does not always guarantee the best experience for the type of game you prefer. By the end of this guide, you will have a comprehensive understanding of RTP and how to use it to enhance your slot gaming experience.

Before beginning your search for the best RTP slots, it is essential to understand the meaning of the term. During the development of a game, the studio conducts a large number of simulated spins to test the performance of the mathematical model. One of the results they are looking for is the amount of money paid out over time. Below, you will find a list of the best RTP slots currently available on the market. Keep reading to learn more.

?? The Best RTP Slots Are Found Online

The good news for players who prefer to gamble online is the highest RTP slots values can be found there. Overheads at bricks and mortar establishments are much higher, so physical casinos need to recoup their costs. Land-based slots can therefore have RTP's as low as 75%, compared to 95-96% on average online. That is a significant difference and the reason why slots with the best RTP can be found at online casinos.

Book of 99 (Relax Gaming) – 99% RTP

Quite simply, if you're looking for the best RTP slot, you cannot beat Book of 99 from Relax Gaming. Its 99% return value stunned everyone when it was released and means all but 1% of money poured into will be returned to players over time.

Book of 99 is a 'book of' slot offering all of the expanding special symbol action you could ever ask for, played out over a 5-reel, 10-payline grid. Max is 5,000x the bet, and the bonus game can be triggered by scatters or through a wild collection feature. If you want the most generous RTP slot, then Book of 99 is the one.

Bonanza Megaways (Big Time Gaming) – 96% RTP

The slot that opened the floodgate for the Megaways revolution also comes with a solid RTP value to boot. Lurking behind the 6-reel, 117,649 ways to win game grid is a math model producing a respectable value of 96% and equally respectable potential of 12,000 times the stake.

The goal in Bonanza Megaways is to land the magical four-letter word 'G', 'O', 'L', 'D' using scatter symbols to trigger free spins. There, an unlimited win multiplier comes into play starting at x1, rising by +1 following each reaction. A common feature now but ground-breaking at the time.

Marching Legions (Relax Gaming) - 98.12%

Marching Legions is another slot from Relax Gaming, packing a generous RTP value of 98.12%. The rest of the game is pretty unique, revolving around a 5-reel, 243 ways grid with legionnaire stacks and nudges which kick off Marching Respins.

Collect enough legionary stacks to trigger free spins, starting at Wave 1. Collecting horn symbols moves you to higher Wave levels where legionnaire stacks expand until they cover the full grid for wins as high as 10,000 times the stake.

Jammin' Jars 2 (Push Gaming) – 96.4% RTP

Push Gaming's follow up to their iconic grid slot Jammin' Jars is not only jam-packed with new features but offers a high RTP value of 96.4% on top. Played out on an 8x8 sized grid, the goal is to form clusters of five or more matching symbols, which then trigger a cascade feature.

Helping in this task are wild jam jar symbols. Not only do they replace regular pay symbols, but they also come with progressive multipliers to help increase payout amounts. New elements include instant prize coins and Giga Spins, which may come with instant prize blocks. Add in those jumping jam jars, and wins up to 50,000x the bet are on the cards.

*Push Gaming uses flexible RTP, so this value could potentially be lower depending on where you play.

Wild Flower (Big Time Gaming) – 96.52% RTP

BTG's slot Wild Flower follows in the illustrious tradition of Danger! High Voltage, The Final Countdown, and Lil' Devil. As well as providing an excellent RTP of 96.52%, it also comes with huge potential to win 114,000 times your stake on a single free spin.

It does this by cranking out some crazy multiplier action during its two bonus game. One option is 'My Heart Beats Faster', where modifiers reach 800x; the other choice is 'The Most Beautiful Thing' where banks of four 12x multipliers can create some ridiculous gaming moments.

Dinopolis (Push Gaming) – 96.4% RTP

Push Gaming's slot Dinopolis not only comes with a high RTP, it also puts Dinosaurs to use as you've never seen them in a slot before. However, you may recognise them from TV as the studio found inspiration from a hit 1990s show called Dinosaurs. The scaled characters might be cute, but the gaming is far from it.

In this highly volatile slot, the goal is to hit coins for instant prize wins or trigger free spins where the real magic can occur. Here, the 3-4-4-4-3 arranged grid lands sticky wilds and multipliers to push lucky players towards a max win of 50,000x their stake. Dinopolis provides fresh, fun gaming with a big RTP on the side.

*Push Gaming uses flexible RTP, so this value could potentially be lower depending on where you play.

White Rabbit Megaways (Big Time Gaming) – 97.24% to 97.77% RTP

Trust Big Time Gaming to choose a popular theme like Alice in Wonderland and take players on a real rabbit hole of an adventure. White Rabbit made excellent use of the studio's Megaways mechanic in ways never seen before. Proving to be a true iGaming wonderland, White Rabbit also packs one of the highest RTP values of up to 97.77%.

White Rabbit brims with innovation in just about every possible way. It's most wide-reaching influence, though, was the introduction of a feature buy. No longer did players have to battle through the base game to get to the game's most exciting bits. Laying out 100x the bet gets you straight there instead. This is where a reel expansion feature boosts the grid up to 12 rows high, increasing win ways and leading to wins of up to 13,000x the bet.

Zeus Lightning: Power Reels (Red Tiger) – 97.73% RTP

Whatever you think of the big reel, modest payline setup that is typical of the Power Reels range, they often come with some of the highest RTP figures attached*. Such is the case in Zeus Lighting where you'll find a value of 97.73%. The game is played on a 7x6 grid with 30 paylines which Zeus hurls lightning bolts at to transform symbols.

Players who like to push their luck can do so when the bonus game triggers by gambling for the chance to win up to 20 free spins. During the round, extra Zeus symbols are added to the reels leading to expanding symbols, symbol upgrades, and wins of up to 5,037x the bet.

*Red Tiger uses flexible RTP, so this value could potentially be lower depending on where you play.

King of Cats Megaways (Big Time Gaming) – 96.72% RTP

Big Time Gaming once again turned their considerable development talents to another populous slot category and came up with something unique. One of the innovations is the option of playing in two modes –Lion Game or Puma Game, both accessible via the Playerselect feature. Each game type offers different features and bonus rounds, though both benefit from a high RTP.

The Lion Game lands giant symbols up to 4x4 in size with multipliers up to x16. Flipping to Puma mode is where full reel wild symbols land with multipliers up to x6. In both games, when free spins trigger, multipliers become larger, leading to wins as high as 56,620x the bet.

Money Train 2 (Relax Gaming) – 96.4%/ 98% RTP

Relax Gaming's original slot Money Train was a popular beast of a game, but its follow-up stepped everything up – including RTP. The base game is already decent at 96.4%, but it becomes one of the highest RTP slots on the list at 98% when buying the feature. It's tempting too, as when the right symbols land, players can win up to 50,000x the bet, which has been recorded in several exciting highlight clips.

In the bonus round, bonus symbols or golden symbols land displaying values of 1x to 200x the bet. These are enhanced by a stack of special symbols that can drastically increase the value of the coins in view. If you imagine the most insane hold & win feature, then multiply it by five, you're just about close.

Highest potential slots

When it comes to best-paying slots, the word 'best' will mean different things to different people. The highest RTP is certainly a factor, as it means the house edge is lower, so more money flows back to players. However, best for some players means the biggest wins possible. As such, here are several of the highest paying slots on the market, hitting totals that were unthinkable a few years ago.

San Quentin xWays (Nolimit City) – 150,000x

If you're going to base a game around an infamous high-security prison, you have to bring it. Even so, no one would have expected Nolimit City to pull out so many stops to make San Quentin xWays one of the highest-paying slots you can find. Played over 5 reels and 243 initial ways to win, San Quentin xWays is full of features and modifiers, climaxing during Lockdown Spins.

Whether bought or triggered when three or more scatters land, Lockdown Spins use Jumping Wilds, Razor Split enhancers to incredible effect, leading to wins of up to 150,000x the bet. A huge number indeed, which has been verified by lucky players who have managed to hit the win cap and trigger the Psycho Manhunt final feature.

Robin Nottingham Raiders (Peter & Sons) – 121,500x

Peter & Sons original Robin Hood slot was a pleasing mix of solid game dynamics, eye candy, and features. The second, Robin Nottingham Raiders, completely lifts the lid and goes mental like no Peter & Sons game ever has – nor, for that fact, has many of its competitors. The base game is a simple 5-reel, 20-payline affair with a wild collection system to break up the flow. However, an innovative bonus game makes Robin 2 a slot like few others.

During free spins, collected wilds are released onto the game panel as jumping wilds which create multipliers when 3 or 4 land on a reel. Since multipliers multiply each other before being applied to any win, values can skyrocket in a moment to 121,500x the bet.

Lil' Devil (Big Time Gaming) – 100,000x+

While the official numbers might not suggest so, Lil' Devil has proven to produce results of over 100,000 times the bet. The game bears many resemblances to Wild Flower, and that's not a bad thing for players who like big, volatile games, which can smash their official max win figure.

You'll need to trigger the bonus game to do so where there are two forms. Be My Angel Free Spins uses sticky wilds that can turn into full reel x12 wilds – get two of them at once, and you've got a 144x multiplier improving hits. The other bonus is Dynamite Lover Free Spins which uses cascades and multiplying dynamite wilds. Either bonus provides thrilling gameplay, so it is players' preference as to whether they prefer the highly volatile one or the very highly volatile one.

Rome The Golden Age (NetEnt) – 100,000x

NetEnt's historically-minded slot Rome The Golden Age takes you back to the glory days of Ancient Rome, where all manner of entertainment took place in the Colosseum. For players, it means spinning a 5-reel slot with 20 paylines to land winners across. With an RTP of 96.06%, a Frames mechanic takes wilds and transforms symbols adjacent to them also into wilds.

As in other games mentioned so far, it's multipliers in free spins where the heat is turned up. Filling a progress bar during the feature increases a multiplier up to a possible 2,000x where wins of 100,000 the stake become a possibility.

Razor Shark (Push Gaming) - 85,000x

Razor Shark from Push Gaming is another slot with scant regards for so-called max win figures. Officially the most you can squeeze from the aquatically themed game is 50,000x, but results of 85,000x have been captured on film, causing quite a stir.

The keys are Mystery Stacks and multiplier coins. Stacks of seaweed tiles move one position per spin when they land, revealing matching symbols or gold shark symbols. It's these gold shark symbols that can produce multiplier coins up to 2,500x in value. Mystery stacks get a further nudge in free spins as a win multiplier increases by +1 each time they move.

Wheel of Fortune Megaways (Big Time Gaming) - 80,150x

We'll round off this section with another massive slot from Big Time Gaming. Utilising the Megaways engine means Wheel of Fortune provides 6 reels and up to 117,649 ways to win, while the visuals are heavy on imagery from the hit game show. Keep an eye out for Vanna White, who appears on full reel Wilds Stacks.

During the bonus game, players spin the wheel of fortune to determine the starting number of Megaways. Then it's a case of landing Expansion symbols which grow reels up to 10 positions high, leading to up to a million Megaways, and wins of up to 80,150 times your stake.

?? Other statistical considerations

As well as RTP, there are several more helpful stats we can use to break a game down and assess how it is likely to play out. One of these is hit frequency which is the theoretical probability of winning on a single spin. This varies widely, typically from around 10% to 50%, meaning a hit once in ten to once every two spins. A higher hit frequency doesn't exactly mean you'll win more money overall, though. For example, one big payout could be worth several smaller ones, so hit frequency is not a gauge as to whether a game pays out more money.

Bonus frequency tells you how often you can expect to trigger a slot's bonus game. Like other states, the bonus frequency is calculated over millions of spins, so you could get lucky by triggering free spins more frequently than the stats say, or less. Like hit frequency, a higher bonus frequency does not mean the game is guaranteed to pay more money.

?? RTP and Volatility

While playing a slot, you are unlikely to perceive the difference between an RTP of 94% or one of 98%, for example. Volatility, on the other hand, will have a noticeable impact on the experience. In short, RTP governs how much money will be won back, while volatility determines how it will be paid.

Volatility, also referred to as variance, determines how a slot behaves in terms of risk level, winning payouts, and the frequency of those payouts. Volatility is an indicator of whether the game you are looking to play is high, medium, or low risk, with potential rewards to match. The highest RTP slots may come with any level of volatility.

Highly volatile slots

Highly volatile slots are capable of delivering big wins in shorter spaces of time, but lesser wins may be fewer and further between. These sorts of slots may not be as suitable for casual gamblers, or those uncomfortable with a higher risk, though higher reward style of gambling. Many highly volatile games also possess some of the best RTP slots values, generating exciting yet fair gameplay.

Low volatile slots

At the other end of the scale are low volatile slots. These games trigger payouts at a consistent rate but struggle to produce massive hits like their highly volatile siblings. It's not that they are completely incapable of doing so, but they tend to have lower winning potential to match their lower-risk nature. Calculated risk-takers might prefer to go large with something more volatile; yet these low volatile games suit a more relaxed approach to online slots gambling. The long-term return value can still be generous, though, and many low-volatile slots also come with high RTP values.

Many slots are not so forthcoming with their volatility information as they are with their RTP, and oftentimes this information is missing from a paytable. Be sure to check our reviews to find detailed information in this regard to avoid pairing up with an ill-fitting game.

?? Jackpot Slots and RTP

These slots are a bit different to regular ones because a portion of the RTP is held back to be paid as jackpot prizes when they are won. This is why the return figure for progressive jackpot slots is often lower than with non-jackpot games. Let's look at one of the most popular examples of jackpot slots, Mega Moolah, as an example.

Mega Moolah is a progressive jackpot slot that has paid out millions in prize money since it launched. This includes many instant millionaires, yet the game has an RTP value of 'just' 88.12%. The reason it is so low actually makes a lot of sense. To continually grow its prize pool, Mega Moolah essentially holds back a percentage of the bets it receives from players to do so. Each time you hit the spin button when playing a game like Mega Moolah, most of the stake goes into the regular prize pot, while a smaller percentage goes to the jackpot pool. Of course, another smaller percentage is kept by the house as profit.

If progressive jackpots do not have a high RTP, are they bad value for money? Not necessarily, since players aren't usually spinning these sorts of games to win from the base or bonus game. It's the life-changing sums of money possible from the jackpots that most, if not all, are playing for. Many players perceive the chance of winning prizes in the millions as good value for money, despite the lower return figures.

?? How to find the RTP

Certain regulators require gaming machines to display RTP so players know what they are getting. You can usually find the return to player figure in the paytable. Clicking on the help button or paytable menu will list a slot's rules, symbol values, and statistical information.

Be sure to check since some providers ship games with varying RTP levels. Just because you've seen a game advertised at a certain value doesn't mean an online casino has it set to the same level. Studios like Play'n GO or Nolimit City let operators adjust the return so casinos have more control over the house edge. A game like Book of Dead has a high RTP setting of 96.12%, and low one of 84.18% - depending on the market.

Different regulators set different limits, so you tend to find higher RTPs in some jurisdictions and lower in others. What you need to look out for is unscrupulous offshore operators who have the ability to set the lowest possible level – and maybe not even let players know what it is.

?? High RTP Slots and Casino Bonuses

To help obtain new customers or to keep their existing customers happy, most online casinos provide promotions or welcome offers in the form of bonus cash or free spins. A common stipulation is that bonus cash or money won from the offers is subject to playthrough or wagering requirements. For example, let's say you receive a matching bonus of 100% up to €100 with a 30x wagering requirement. This means you will have to play through the bonus 30 times, or €3,000, to withdraw the bonus funds.

It makes sense, in this case, to play through the wagering requirement on a slot with the highest RTP possible. Casinos know this as well, so they restrict which games may be played to clear a wagering requirement. Maybe it's the slots with the highest RTP; maybe not – be sure to check to secure the best probability for retaining your bonus.

?? Wrapping up

RTP might not be the final word on choosing which slot to play, but it is a key indicator of how to approach them. Generally speaking, a high RTP is more desirable, and if you can find the same slot at a different casino with a better value, then it makes sense to play that one. Over time, the more you spin a certain slot, the closer, in theory, you will get to its stated RTP value. Most likely, you will never achieve the exact figure due to volatility, and the random way slots pay some players more than others.

To sum up, RTP is a key piece of information you can use to determine if a slot is right for you. Since the casino always wins in the long run, playing slots shouldn't be viewed as a money-making venture. Rather an exciting pastime that may or may not pay back more than what you put into it. RTP is useful as a guide, but it doesn't tell you how or what, if anything, you are going to win. Luck, whether good or bad, is the overriding factor as to how a game plays out.

?? FAQs

What is RTP?

Put simply, RTP is the percentage of money returned to players over a long enough time frame. A slot with an RTP value of 95% theoretically pays out €95 for every €100 wagered.

Is RTP connected to winning frequency?

No. The two do not have a direct connection to each other. Two games may have the same return value but completely different hit frequencies.

Will I win more on high RTP slots?

Maybe, maybe not. If you play a game long enough, your results are more likely to mirror the stated RTP value. However, in the shorter term, you may win more; you may win less.

How can I find the RTP value of a game?

Most slots list the RTP on their paytable or help files. Other places you can find this information are via our in-depth reviews or at providers' websites. If you cannot find an RTP value anywhere, this is an instant red flag as to whether you can trust the game.

What are the highest RTP casino slots?