AP Glossary
WhatIsReturntoPlayer?
The theoretical percentage of wagered money returned to players over time. A 95% RTP means $95 returned per $100 wagered on average. RTP above 100% means the math is in your favor.
Why It Matters
Why this matters for advantage play
RTP is the standard reporting unit for slot payback. Knowing certified RTP for a machine gives you the ceiling on what the base game can do; everything above that has to come from progressive or bonus enhancement, which is where AP lives.
Slot Machine RTP ListCross-Reference
Related terms
Hold
The percentage of coin-in that the casino keeps. A machine with 8% hold returns 92% to players (92% RTP). Hold is the inverse of RTP.
House Edge
The casino's built-in mathematical advantage on a game, expressed as a percentage. On a slot with 92% RTP, the house edge is 8%. Advantage play temporarily reverses this edge on specific machines in specific conditions.
Base Game Return
The expected payback percentage of the slot's regular spins, excluding progressive contributions and bonus features. Knowing this helps calculate total RTP when adding progressive and bonus value.
EV (Expected Value)
The mathematical average outcome of a bet calculated over infinite repetitions. Positive expected value means the play is profitable long-term; negative expected value means the house has the edge. AP players only take plays where the math is in their favor.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about return to player
No — RTP is a long-run average. Single sessions can return 0% or 500%. The 'long run' that produces certified RTP is millions of spins.
Casinos choose between certified RTP versions provided by the manufacturer. Changes typically require regulator notification and can take days.
Not on a per-session basis. Higher RTP just narrows the long-run gap. For a single session, variance dominates.
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