When choosing a slot, you will often come across two characteristics: RTP and volatility. RTP indicates how much a game theoretically returns over the very long term, while volatility describes how unevenly payouts may be distributed across spins and sessions.
If you are looking purely at the mathematical expectation, RTP is therefore more important. A higher RTP means a lower average house edge; low volatility may make your balance fluctuate less sharply, but it does not make a game more favourable in itself.
What does RTP mean in slots?
RTP stands for Return to Player and is expressed as a percentage. A slot with a 96% RTP is designed to pay out an average of €96 for every €100 wagered collectively over a very large number of game rounds; the theoretical house edge is therefore 4%.
That percentage does not apply directly to your individual session. After one hundred spins, your return may be well above or below 96%, because the average only becomes meaningful across an enormous number of game rounds.
RTP is therefore not a promise of what you personally will get back, nor is it a minimum percentage you should expect after a single session. It is a theoretical expected value built into the game model. A difference of one percentage point is relevant when comparing games over the long term, but far too small to reliably predict the result of a short series of spins.
The Dutch Gambling Authority also uses RTP as a measure of the average payout percentage. At a Dutch casino, you can usually find the current RTP in the game information or paytable.
What does volatility mean in slots?
Volatility, also known as variance, describes how potential payouts are distributed. Low-volatility games generally produce smaller wins more frequently, while high volatility is more often associated with longer losing streaks and less frequent but potentially larger payouts.
Two slots can have exactly the same RTP yet play very differently. One may award many small prizes, while another allocates a larger share of its theoretical return to rarer bonus rounds or high multipliers.
Low volatility therefore does not automatically mean high RTP. Burning Hot is listed at Casino777 with a 93.89% RTP and low volatility, while Fruits & Gold has a 96.85% RTP and low-to-medium volatility.
Which is better: high RTP or low volatility?
If by ‘better’ you mean which characteristic is mathematically more favourable, a higher RTP is more important. All other things being equal, a 97% RTP means a lower theoretical house edge than a 94% RTP: 3% compared with 6% respectively.
Volatility mainly determines how that theoretical return is distributed. A slot with a 94% RTP and low volatility may frequently pay smaller amounts, while a game with a 97% RTP and high volatility may hit less often but still offer a higher expected return over the long term.
This distinction matters when considering the ‘best chance of winning’. RTP concerns expected value across a very large number of rounds, while volatility concerns the spread of results. Neither guarantees a win in an individual session.
| Example | RTP | Volatility | Main effect |
| Slot A | 97% | Low | Low house edge, relatively steady |
| Slot B | 97% | High | Same return, larger fluctuations |
| Slot C | 94% | Low | More regular small results, higher house edge |
| Slot D | 94% | High | Higher house edge and larger fluctuations |
High RTP and high volatility: how does that combination work?
A high RTP and high volatility can easily go together. Joker’s Jewels by Pragmatic Play, for example, is listed at Casino777 with a 96.50% RTP and high volatility: the theoretical return is relatively favourable, but the prizes are distributed more unevenly.
In these slots, a larger share of the total payout may be concentrated in less frequent combinations, bonus features or high-value prizes. A short session can therefore differ considerably from the stated RTP.
‘High RTP’ does not mean ‘win frequently’. If you want to know how often a game produces a winning result, hit frequency is more useful when this information is available; however, it still says nothing about the size of those wins.
Lower RTP and low volatility: do you win more often?
It may feel that way, but receiving a prize more often is not the same as getting more money back. A payout that is lower than your stake on that round can be recorded as a winning spin even though your balance still decreases.
Suppose a slot regularly pays €0.40 on a €1 stake. The spin counts as a payout, but financially you are still €0.60 down on that round.
Anyone looking purely at theoretical value would therefore favour the higher RTP over the lower volatility when comparing similar slots. Volatility is mainly useful for determining the desired risk profile.
Are jackpots and high maximum wins always highly volatile?
Not always, but high maximum payouts and jackpots can indicate that a larger share of the payout structure is concentrated in rarer prizes. The complete game mathematics ultimately determines the volatility.
A maximum win of, for example, 10,000 times your stake only tells you what is theoretically possible. It does not indicate how likely that payout is to occur.
A Joker, Wild, Scatter or bonus wheel also reveals nothing by itself about your chances of winning. The exact probabilities are built into the paytable and game mathematics.
Why should you check the RTP of the version being offered?
The same slot can exist in several RTP configurations. Reel The Groove by Yggdrasil, for example, lists versions with RTPs of 96%, 94%, 90.5% and 86%; the Casino777 game page lists 94% for the version offered there.
A review on another website may therefore mention a different percentage without either figure necessarily being incorrect. Always check the game information for the version you actually open.
Always base comparisons on current game data. The Dutch Gambling Authority also requires licence holders’ gaming systems to be tested and relevant changes to be assessed again.
How do you compare slots based on RTP and volatility?
If you want the lowest theoretical house edge among comparable slots, compare the RTP first. If you also prefer less pronounced fluctuations, then look for low or medium volatility.
A practical order is:
- Check the current RTP in the game information.
- Check the volatility or variance.
- Check the hit frequency if available.
- Look at the maximum win and bonus features.
- Compare games with similar stakes and rules.
- Set your budget and limits in advance.
In the online gambling lobby, you will find slots from providers such as Pragmatic Play, Playson, ELK, Hacksaw and Amusnet. If you want to compare roulette, Blackjack or baccarat with a dealer, you can also visit our online live casino, where RTP depends on the game rules and the bets you choose.
Which combination best suits your playing style?
A high RTP combined with low or medium volatility offers a relatively low theoretical house edge and generally less extreme fluctuations. However, every spin remains random, and even a slot with these characteristics can result in a loss during a short session.
A high RTP combined with high volatility follows the same long-term logic, but with larger swings. A lower RTP with low volatility may appear steadier, but it is not mathematically more favourable simply because smaller prizes occur more frequently.
A lower RTP combined with high volatility means both a higher theoretical house edge and stronger fluctuations. Use RTP to assess expected value and volatility to assess the risk profile.
RTP and volatility help you choose, not predict
RTP and volatility are useful tools as long as you interpret them correctly. RTP indicates how much a game theoretically pays back over the very long term, while volatility describes how smooth or uneven the route towards that average can be.
If you want to compare games purely on the numbers, prioritise a higher RTP and use volatility as a second filter. Do not treat either as a system for predicting wins: slots remain games of chance.
Only play with money you can afford to lose, set your limits in advance and never try to chase losses. Casino777.nl is 18+ and provides responsible gambling tools and personal limits.
Frequently asked questions about RTP and volatility
- Is a 97% RTP better than 96%?
Theoretically, yes. With a 97% RTP, the average house edge is 3%, compared with 4% at 96%, measured over a very large number of rounds. For an individual session, that difference does not predict a win or loss.
- Does low volatility give you a better chance of winning?
Not automatically. Low volatility generally means smaller, more frequent payouts, but the overall theoretical return is determined by the RTP. A low-volatility slot can therefore have a lower RTP than a high-volatility slot.
- Can a slot have both a high RTP and high volatility?
Yes. RTP and volatility measure different things. A high RTP combined with high volatility means a relatively favourable theoretical return, but with larger fluctuations between individual results.
- Which is more important: hit frequency or RTP?
RTP is more relevant to theoretical value over the long term. Hit frequency indicates how often a game records a winning result on average, but it does not tell you how large those wins are.
- Can RTP predict when a slot will pay out?
No. RTP has no memory and does not mean that a slot is ‘due’ to pay out after a series of losses. Previous results do not necessarily make a future win more likely.