RTP (return to player) is a frequently used term in the realm of casino gaming, however, it is also among the least understood. For instance, when players view a slot machine and see a 96% RTP next to it, they believe that they can expect to win a certain amount... Show more
RTP (return to player) is a frequently used term in the realm of casino gaming, however, it is also among the least understood. For instance, when players view a slot machine and see a 96% RTP next to it, they believe that they can expect to win a certain amount during the next session, however, they will not. The number itself is factual and accurate, but it does not necessarily indicate anything remotely similar to what the majority of individuals typically perceive or believe. As a result, a lack of understanding around RTP can produce incorrect decisions regarding which games to play and produce unrealistic expectations as to how Sweeps Coins (SC) gameplay actually works.
The RTP at legal sweepstakes casinos matters much more than it does when playing on a purely social gaming platform. All SC have real value for redemption, so how you play, including which games you choose to play will directly affect the total value of prizes you will win from playing. For example, if you are consistently choosing to play the games with an RTP of 94% as opposed to 97%, you will subject yourself to a significantly larger edge for the casino on each SC session you play, which will accumulate through the number of spins throughout each session for the remainder of the time you use that platform.
In this guide, we’ll define what is RTP, explain the relevance of RTP to sweepstake casino games, indicate which games produce good RTP, evaluate how volatility affects RTP, discover where RTP numbers are located when they do not appear and debunk RTP myths. Show less
Oloruntoba Yusuf Casino & iGaming Expert 
Emmanuella Oluwafemi iGaming Content Manager Return to Player (RTP) is defined as a percentage that represents the total amount of all wagers made on a game, which are distributed back to the player over a long period of play (this may consist of multiple spins or hands).
The average payout for a slot machine with an RTP of 96% is $96 for every $100 wagered over thousands to millions of spins. The house would retain $4 from this amount. A machine with a 94% RTP would retain $6 from every $100 wagered. Therefore, the house edge equals 100% minus RTP.
| RTP % | House Edge % | What the House Keeps Per $100 Wagered |
| 99.5% | 0.5% | $0.50 |
| 98% | 2% | $2.00 |
| 97% | 3% | $3.00 |
| 96% | 4% | $4.00 |
| 94% | 6% | $6.00 |
| 92% | 8% | $8.00 |
When taken in isolation, these numbers appear to be extremely low, however, they can build quickly over several hours of play or over many months or years of accumulated play history. So the difference of 94% RTP vs 97% RTP means the potential SC value lost or retained could be quite substantial.
When it comes down to RTP, this will be one of your most important things to understand and the common misconception surrounding it.
When you see the RTP listed as 96% that does not mean you should see $96 for every $100 you have spent in one of those sessions. What the RTP is telling you is that the game has returned 96% of what it has ever taken in (for all people playing on it) through millions and millions of spins over the entirety of time that game has been active.
Your actual return from a game in a single playing session can vary far beyond what is expected based on the statistical return to player (RTP) of the game.
If you play 100 spins on a 96% RTP slot, you could end up winning 150 SC or only 30 SC in the same session.
Although both outcomes are equally likely in terms of RTP statistics, they do not account for the fact that each of these playing sessions is so small compared to the overall number of spins used to produce the RTP projection.
The analogy: a fair coin flip has a 50/50 chance of flipping heads or tails over millions of times. You can flip heads eight times in a row, which seems very reasonable. A run of 10 flips will have some variation from the long term average of 50/50. The RTP is the long term average. Your session will be the short term average.
RTP is determined by game developers while they design and build the game. After creating the game, they submit the game to an independent testing lab that simulates tens or hundreds of millions of spins and calculates the total amount paid out against the total amount wagered. Once the testing lab has completed its tests, it certifies the game and assigns the RTP percentage to that game.
Important note: The RTP of a game is a critical factor as it does not change to reflect where it is played. For example, the same slot game that you might find at Pulsz, WOW Vegas, McLuck, or any other sweepstakes casino will have the same RTP applied to it regardless of where you may choose to play. There is no ability for the platform to establish or change the RTP for any game that will require game recertification in order to do so. For example: if someone says that the slot machines are tighter at that casino, this is not a valid statement regarding any casino. All slot machines operate off of one set of scientific principles (the game’s math), and have nothing to do with which casino you happen to be playing at.
RTP and house edge are just two ways of saying the same thing.
Add them together: RTP + house edge is 100%.
So a 96% RTP game has a 4% house edge, and 94% RTP game has a 6% house edge. The second is worse for you.
Most slots show RTP. Most table games talk about house edge. Either way, it’s the same number, just flipped.
Yes, absolutely. Sweepstakes casinos use the same certified RNG and same games from the same developers as real money casinos. The math behind every spin is identical. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins, the RTP doesn’t change.
So playing SC on a 94% RTP slot is exactly like playing real money at a regular casino. Same house edge, same long term return. The only difference is what happens to your balance and since SC turn into real prizes, the RTP of the games you play actually matters for how much value you keep.
Why this matters for SC play:
Gold Coins has no real value. Their RTP doesn’t really matter. You’re just playing for fun.
Sweeps Coins has real value. Every SC you lose to a bad RTP game is real prize money gone.
Treat SC gameplay with the same RTP awareness you would if you were playing with real cash. That’s the right way to think about it.
The games are often the same. Many sweepstakes casinos use the same titles from big developers like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Play’n GO and Evolution that you’d find at real money casinos. You will find the same game so same RTP. The real difference is transparency. Real money casinos in regulated states are required by law to publish RTP figures. Sweepstakes casinos, on the other hand, have no such rule. Some show RTP clearly in the game info, while others don’t show it at all. That doesn’t mean sweepstakes games have worse RTP. It just means you have to dig a little more to find the numbers. The methods for doing tha, game developer websites, third party databases, in game information panels, are covered in detail later in this guide.
RTP changes a lot depending on the game type. Here’s how the main categories at sweepstakes casinos stack up:
| Game Type | Typical RTP Range | Notes |
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | ~99.5% | Best odds of any game if you play right |
| Video Poker (Jacks or Better, full pay) | ~99.5% | Needs correct strategy, easy to find |
| Baccarat (banker bet) | ~98.9% | Simple game, great odds |
| European Roulette | ~97.3% | Single zero, always pick this over American |
| Slots (high end) | 96% – 97%+ | Good for SC play, look for 96% or higher |
| Slots (average) | 94% – 96% | Okay, but you can do better |
| American Roulette | ~94.7% | Double zero, avoid if European is available |
| Slots (low end) | Below 94% | Avoid for SC play, house edge is too high |
| Keno / Scratch Cards | 85% – 92% | Worst value for your SC, stay away |
The gap between the top and bottom of this table is dramatic. Blackjack with basic strategy gives the house a 0.5% edge. Keno can give the house an edge of 15% or more. Playing SC on keno instead of blackjack isn’t just a matter of preference, it’s a decision to give up meaningful prize value on every session for no mathematical benefit.
Most sweepstakes casinos are packed with slots, so it’s worth knowing what RTP numbers actually mean for your SC.
A simple rule for slot RTP:
Watch out for branded slots:
Those slots that are based on movies, TV shows or celebrities. These are branded slots and they often have lower RTP than regular slots, because the casino pays for the license and they make that money back by giving you worse odds. Not always, but often enough that you should check before playing.
When RTP isn’t listed:
Look at who made the game. Big names like NetEnt, Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, and Yggdrasil usually have solid RTP across their games. Be careful with smaller or unknown developers with no published RTP.
Volatility (or variance) is different from RTP. RTP tells you how much you get back over time. Volatility tells you how the wins are spread out.
Here’s the simple breakdown:
So picking a slot isn’t just about RTP. You also want volatility that matches how you like to play.
Both low volatility and high volatility slots can offer players the same RTP of 96% when both are played for millions of spins. However, the experience a player has on either type of slot will be much different based on the volatility profile of each. A low volatility slot will maintain a player’s balance consistently over time during a session, while a high volatility slot will have tremendous swings between significant periods where a player does not win (dry periods) and larger payouts (jackpots).
This difference has implications for SC gameplay. If a player picks a game using only its 96% RTP as a reference, but didn’t look at volatility, they will lose more SC than they thought because their return from the game is going to come from sporadic large amounts rather than consistent small amounts. The math works out in the long run but the actual session experience is going to be very different.
The right volatility depends on how many SC you have and what you’re trying to do.
Pick low volatility and high RTP, which means more spins and more chances to build up before you hit zero. Your SC will last longer.
Medium or high volatility is fine. If you hit a losing streak, it won’t drop you below your cashout goal.
High volatility is your only shot, but you’ll probably lose. This is not a winning strategy.
What most people get wrong:
Everyone chases high volatility games because the big wins look amazing, but if you’re just trying to cash out $10 or $25, small, steady wins from low volatility games will get you there way more often. A high volatility game will likely drain your balance before you ever hit anything.
Many slot games will show you the RTP (return to player) right in the game. You can usually find it by clicking on an ”i” icon, or on a ”?”mark or in the paytable. The positioning will differ from game to game and developer to developer, but it’s worth checking out before putting your SC into a game you haven’t played before. Some platforms don’t show this information even if the game does support it. For example, some hide the game information box or do not display the RTP field, therefore a blank RTP does not mean it is not there.
If you want information on RTP from a major studio, then the developer’s website is probably your best option. Many of the larger developers have game catalogues on their sites that provide players with data about RTP, volatility and other technical aspects. Try doing a search for the game name, the developer name and the RTP and you should be able to find what you’re looking for in the top few results.
Multiple websites contain catalogues of slots and casino game data such as RTP (return to player) values, volatility (or variance) values, minimum and maxium bet values and the number of different ways to win (such as paylines). These databases are useful when a developer’s website does not display a specific number or when quickly finding the RTP of multiple games for comparison. In the cases where accuracy is critical, cross referencing two sources to verify the information you received is worth the time spent to do so.
When a game’s RTP has not been objectively measured and published anywhere else yet, it can be a yellow flag, however, it does not warrant disqualification outright. Some smaller game makers just don’t share those numbers widely.
What to do when RTP is missing:
The only way to utilize an RTP is to use it and here’s how:
You can create a personal RTP rule, so as an example you could say that you will not play slot machines with an RTP less than 96 percent using the SC. This singular rule will eliminate the possibility of playing the worst games with very little thought each time you play.
If you wish to extend the life of your slot machine, take part in table games. The RTP of blackjack and baccarat are much higher than slots. Table games, when played in an optimal fashion, will mathematically provide the greatest chance to build a balance for redemption.
Try out new games with Gold Coins first: RTP is the average over time, however Gold Coins will show you how the game actually plays, whether there are frequent small wins or rapid losses.
Don’t let high RTP fool you on a small balance: An RTP of 97% and a high volatility slot may still eliminate your usage quickly if your account has a small amount of money in it. Your balance size should match the volatility of the slot you will be playing, not just the RTP figure.
Before playing each new slot game, check the RTP: A two minute research on an unfamiliar slot’s RTP may lead to a better outcome than playing without checking the RTP first.
A game is due after a long losing streak.
False. Each spin is new and independed. Many losses in a row doesn’t mean a win is next.
High RTP means I win most of the time.
False. 97% RTP just means you lose slower than on a 94% game. Most players still lose most of the sessions.
The casino can tighten games whenever they want.
False. RTP is set by the game maker, it doesn’t change by time or day.
More spins unlock better RTP.
False. RTP doesn’t get better the more you play.
GC and SC have different RTP on the same game.
False. The game doesn’t know or care which currency you’re using.
RTP is the same as win rate.
False. RTP is about total money returned, not how often you win. A game can pay out a lot through rare big jackpots while most spins lose.
At a basic level, RTP is an informed consent process for players to know that there is always a statistical edge to every certified casino game, including all types of SC games played at all sweepstakes casinos, and this information is essential to all players looking to interact with these types of platforms fairly.
No game gives you an edge over time. Even blackjack at 99.5% RTP still takes a tiny cut in the long run. That’s not a scam, it’s just how casinos work. Your job isn’t to beat them. It’s to choose games where the cut is smallest.
So here’s the simple four part formula to make your SC last: Higher RTP + Lower volatility + Smaller bets + Session limits. None of this guarantees you’ll win, but together, they give you the best shot at playing longer, losing slower and actually cashing out now and then.
RTP is one of the best tools you have for picking SC games, but only if you get what it actually means. It’s a long term average, not a promise for one session. Also, RTP doesn’t change based on whether you use GC or SC. The game doesn’t care what currency you pick. RTP varies a lot by game type though. Blackjack with basic strategy is around 99.5%. Keno can be below 90% and without factoring in volatility, RTP only tells you half the story.
Practical advice:
These habits won’t let you beat the house, nothing can, but they will help your SC last longer and turn gameplay into real redemptions more often.
SweepsPulse provides game guides with RTP info for major games, plus a list of casinos that publish RTP for players. Use these tools to make decisions based on real math, not just a gut feeling.
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