Why Some 98% RTP Slots Pay Worse Than 95% Alternatives

Slot machines with a 98% return to player (RTP) may seem hugely appealing compared to 95% RTP titles. After all, the higher the RTP, the more money the game pays back over an infinite number of spins. However, in practice, some 98% RTP slots actually pay less than 95% alternatives. How can this counterintuitive situation arise?

In essence, it comes down to the volatility of the game. Slot variance, also known as volatility, refers to how often and how big the wins are. High variance slots have fewer but larger wins, while low variance games land smaller prizes more frequently.

As an example, let’s imagine two theoretical slot machines:

• Game A has 95% RTP and low variance. It pays out lots of small and medium wins regularly.
• Game B has 98% RTP but with high variance. It can go long stretches without a win, but when it does pay, the prizes are huge.

Over a long enough timeline, Game B with the 98% RTP would eventually pay more than Game A. But in a single session, the difference in variance means Game A is likely to pay more. The key is the dry spells in Game B where you may play tens of thousands of spins without a big win. During that time, the 95% RTP on Game A steadily pays smaller amounts.

This demonstrates why raw RTP numbers don’t tell you how much a game will pay in a reasonable timeframe. To understand that, you need to factor in the variance.

Volatility Impacts Actual Player Returns

Theoretical RTP percentages are calculated over billions of spins. As a player at Spin Bit or on other platforms, you care more about actual returns within the number of spins you can afford to play. This is where variance makes a huge difference.

Take two more hypothetical slot machines:

• Game C – 98% RTP, low variance
• Game D – 95% RTP, high variance

Over a few hundred spins, Game C with the higher RTP would likely pay more. Its low variance structure ensures reasonably frequent payouts.

But now imagine playing 10,000 spins on each game. Game D’s high variance means that in those 10,000 spins, you might hit two or three huge jackpot prizes. The total payout from those big wins could easily overtake the steadier drip of small wins from Game C, even though its RTP is lower.

So when comparing slot game RTPs, don’t focus solely on the percentages. Also research the variance to understand how the games will play in practice over your chosen session length.

Bonus Features Boost Actual Payouts

Another aspect that RTP percentages fail to capture is bonus features. These are the mini-games, free spin rounds and other attractions many modern video slots incorporate.

Bonus features usually pay higher than average rewards. This lets developers create games with high nominal RTPs through the features, while the base game remains tight.

For example, imagine a slot with:

• 95% RTP on the core game
• Bonus feature with 98% RTP

The bonus round is triggered on average once every 200 spins. Factoring in the higher-paying feature, the overall RTP of the game rises to 96.5%.

In practice, players may still earn more from a non-bonus 94% RTP slot with higher base game payouts. This demonstrates why understanding bonus frequencies and rewards is essential when interpreting RTPs.

Comparing Example Slots By RTP and Variance

To illustrate how variance and bonuses impact actual returns versus RTP, here is a comparison of three popular online slots:

Despite having the lowest RTP, Mega Moolah’s high variance and million-dollar jackpot potential means it can easily outpay both Starburst and Book of Dead in a short session. This demonstrates why RTP isn’t everything when estimating slot payouts.

Key Takeaways

Slot RTPs are an average calculated over billions of spins. Due to factors like variance and bonuses, higher RTP games won’t always pay more in practice:

• High variance means extended dry spells offset by big wins – these can outpace lower RTP games.
• Bonus features boost RTP but aren’t always triggered enough to overtake lower RTP slots.
• Focus on actual returns over your chosen session length rather than theoretical RTPs.

So next time you see a slot boasting a 98% RTP, don’t take that as a guarantee it will pay more than a 95% game. Check the variance and bonus features to determine the likely outcomes over your timeframe of play.