“Payout percentage” is used for two different numbers, and mixing them up leads to bad decisions. One is a game’s RTP (return to player), a theoretical figure built into its maths. The other is a casino-wide payout rate, a measured figure for everything played at a site over a period. This page explains both, how RTP versions work, and how much your own results can differ from either. It is part of our casino tips and strategy guides.

Game RTP: The Theoretical Return

RTP is the percentage of all money wagered on a game that it is designed to pay back over a very large number of rounds. A pokie with 96% RTP returns, on average, A$96 for every A$100 bet across millions of spins. The other A$4 is the house edge. RTP is set by the game’s paytable and reel configuration and confirmed by testing labs during certification.

Game	Typical RTP	House edge
Online pokies (most current releases, maximum version)	95% to 97%	3% to 5%
European roulette	97.30%	2.70%
Blackjack, common online rules, basic strategy	about 99.5%	about 0.5%
Baccarat, Banker	98.94%	1.06%
9/6 Jacks or Better, optimal play	99.54%	0.46%
Progressive jackpot pokies	often 88% to 94% (part of the return sits in the jackpot)	6% to 12%

RTP Versions: Same Game, Different Return

Many large studios sell the same pokie in several RTP configurations, and the casino chooses which to run. The artwork, features and maximum win are identical; only the frequency or size of wins differs slightly. For popular titles the published range can run from about 96.5% down to the low 90s, and some studios offer versions in the 80s.

The cost difference is significant. On A$1,000 of total spins:

RTP version	Expected return	Expected loss
96.5%	A$965	A$35
94.0%	A$940	A$60
91.0%	A$910	A$90

A 94% version costs about 70% more per dollar wagered than the 96.5% version of the same game. You cannot tell them apart by playing them.

How to Find the RTP You Are Playing

1. Log in and open the game in real-money mode (demo mode at some casinos loads the provider’s default version).
2. Open the menu, info (i) or paytable screen and scroll to the bottom of the game rules.
3. Look for “theoretical RTP”, “expected return” or “return to player”. If several figures appear (for example with a bonus buy), note the base game figure.
4. Compare it with the maximum RTP listed on the game page or provider’s site. Our RTP check walkthrough has screenshots of where common providers place it.
5. If the number is noticeably lower, look for the same game at another casino, or pick a different title. The high-RTP pokies list is a starting point.

Casino-Wide Payout Reports

Some casinos publish a monthly payout percentage audited by a testing firm, for example “96.8% in September”. This is a measured average across every game and every player. It is useful as a sign of transparency, but it has limits:

• It blends high-RTP table games with lower-RTP pokies, so it says little about the game you choose.
• Large wins in one month can lift the figure; it moves around from month to month.
• It does not measure how quickly or reliably withdrawals are paid, which matters more at offshore sites. That is covered in withdrawing winnings and our fast payout casino comparison.

“Payout speed” is also sometimes called “payout” in marketing. Fast withdrawals and high RTP are separate qualities.

Why Your Results Differ From RTP

RTP is a long-run average. In the short run, variance dominates. To show the scale, take a pokie with 96% RTP and assume a standard deviation of 10 times the stake per spin, a plausible figure for a high-volatility game (lower-volatility games have smaller values).

Spins at A$1	Expected return	Roughly two-thirds of sessions return between
100	A$96	A$0 and A$196 (bounded at zero)
1,000	A$960	A$644 and A$1,276
10,000	A$9,600	A$8,600 and A$10,600
1,000,000	A$960,000	A$950,000 and A$970,000

Over 1,000 spins, a session returning 70% or 120% is ordinary. Only over hundreds of thousands of spins does the result settle close to 96%. Real pokie results are also skewed: most sessions finish below the average and a minority finish far above it because of large bonus wins. More on this in the volatility guide.

RTP and Bonus Features

• Bonus buy: many games list a separate RTP for buying the feature, often similar to or slightly higher than the base game. Higher cost per round still means higher hourly loss. See bonus buy explained.
• Ante or double-chance bets: usually raise the stake by 25% to 50% while keeping RTP roughly the same.
• Progressive jackpots: part of the RTP is the jackpot contribution, which most players never receive.

Practical Rules

• Check RTP in every new casino, even for a game you know.
• Prefer games where the RTP is shown clearly in the rules; hidden RTP is a warning sign.
• For bonus wagering, a higher RTP game reduces the expected cost of clearing; check which games are excluded under game weighting.

Frequently Asked Questions

RTP below 100% means gambling costs money over time. Play only if you are 18+; Gambling Help Online is available on 1800 858 858.