What Is RTP?
RTP (return to player) is the percentage of all wagered money a game pays back to players over the very long run, measured across millions of spins or hands. A game with 97% RTP returns, on average, $97 for every $100 wagered across that huge sample.
The flip side of RTP is the house edge, the casino’s built-in margin. A 97% RTP means a 3% house edge. The lower a game’s RTP, the bigger the house edge, and the more the casino keeps over time.
The crucial caveat: RTP is a long-run average over an enormous number of games. It tells you nothing about a single session, where you can win big or lose fast regardless of the percentage. RTP is a tool for choosing better games over time, not a prediction of tonight’s results.
What Counts as a Good RTP?
It depends on the game type:
- Pokies/slots: the average is around 96%. Above 97% is very good; below 92% is worth avoiding. Some standout titles reach 99% (see the table below).
- Blackjack: among the highest, commonly around 99% with good rules, and the house edge can go lower still with optimal strategy.
- Baccarat: typically around 98–99% depending on the bet.
- Roulette: European/French roulette (single zero) is meaningfully better than American (double zero).
- Video poker: strong, with many variants above 99% under correct play.
Highest-RTP Pokies
Pokies make up the majority of most casino libraries, so picking high-RTP titles matters. These are well-documented high-RTP pokies you’ll find at many AU-facing casinos [VERIFY current RTPs, as providers sometimes ship multiple RTP versions of the same game]:
| Pokie |
RTP |
Provider |
| Ugga Bugga |
~99.07% |
Playtech |
| Book of 99 |
~99% |
Relax Gaming |
| Mega Joker |
~99% |
NetEnt |
| Jackpot 6000 |
~98.8% |
NetEnt |
| Blood Suckers |
~98% |
NetEnt |
Highest-RTP Table Games
Table games generally beat pokies on RTP. Approximate figures [VERIFY against the specific variant and rules]:
| Game |
Type |
Approx. RTP |
| Classic Blackjack (good rules) |
Blackjack |
~99.5%+ |
| Single Deck Blackjack |
Blackjack |
~99.8% |
| Baccarat (banker bet) |
Baccarat |
~98.9% |
| French Roulette |
Roulette |
~98.6% |
| European Roulette |
Roulette |
~97.3% |
A reminder: exact RTP varies with the specific variant and house rules. The numbers above are typical ranges, not guarantees, always check the game’s own info screen.
How Do We Test Online Casinos For RTP?
As mentioned above, our team tests every casino by depositing real money. But when it comes to the best payout casinos, we went a step further. We hired two programmers to create a tool that calculates the RTP of casinos.
In a nutshell, it works like this: It creates a list of all the games in a given casino, along with the RTP of each game. Then it calculates the casino’s average by dividing the number of games by the RTP. That’s how you get the final result. Later, we compared the average RTP of all 51 casinos and came up with the list above.
Of course, the payout percentage is the most important factor in the evaluation of a casino, but we also looked at other things like whether the bonus and its terms were okay, whether the casino paid out fast, and much more.
Choose Audited, Transparent Payouts
The single most important payout-related habit: favour casinos that clearly publish per-game RTPs and have their games independently audited. A casino that hides or won’t disclose RTPs is one to be wary of.
Inflated RTP claims are a real (if not universal) problem; a game with a true 92% RTP advertised as 97% is simply misleading. Independent auditing is your protection. If a casino’s games carry these seals and it publishes RTPs openly, you can trust the payout figures far more than a marketing headline. The most recognized testing bodies are:
- eCOGRA — among the most trusted auditors in the industry; its logo is a good sign.
- iTech Labs — widely used independent testing for RNG and RTP.
- Gaming Labs International (GLI) — licensed across many jurisdictions, long-established.
Best Payout Casino Games
Blackjack
Blackjack is a favorite of many players because of its high RTP and strategic elements. The goal is simple: beat the dealer without going over 21. In Blackjack, the house edge is really minimal. In fact, it is the only casino game where you can have an advantage over the casino (if you play offline and count cards).
Remember that even the slightest change in the rules can significantly reduce your RTP. In general, the more decks you have, the better off you are. However, you need to be very experienced to take advantage of this.
Baccarat
Baccarat is known for its straightforward gameplay. You bet on either the player or the banker, and the one with a hand value closest to 9 wins. The casino advantage here is also very minimal; most games have an RTP of around 99%, so really great. Favorite game of high rollers.
Video Poker
Video poker combines the thrill of poker with the simplicity of slots. Most titles pay back more than 99%, which is really awesome. Examples? Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, or Aces and Eights.
High-RTP Software Providers
Some providers are consistently strong and transparent on RTP. Favouring their games is an easy way to tilt the odds slightly in your favour:
- NetEnt — long-established, with several titles around or above 99%.
- Playtech — broad catalogue, including some of the highest-RTP pokies (Ugga Bugga among them).
- Relax Gaming — home to Book of 99 and other high-RTP titles.
- Microgaming — huge catalogue spanning pokies and table games.
- Evolution — the leader in live dealer, where table-game RTPs are strong.
