RTP display rules in the UK

What the UK RTP display rules require

The RTP display rules in the UK come from the Gambling Commission’s remote gambling and software technical standards (opens in a new tab), usually shortened to RTS. They are made under sections 89 and 97 of the Gambling Act 2005, and every online casino licensed in Great Britain must meet them. The current version was published on 2 February 2021 and the overall document was last updated on 31 October 2025.

The relevant standard is RTS 3, titled ‘Rules, game descriptions and the likelihood of winning’. Its stated aim is to let customers make informed decisions about whether to gamble based on their chances of winning. It applies to gaming (including bingo), lotteries and betting on virtual events. You can find the other standards summarised on our UK casino rules hub.

In short, before you place a stake, a UK-licensed casino must make easily available: how the game works, how winners are decided, the house edge or the return to player percentage (or probability information), and the possible prizes and payouts.

RTS 3 explained: the four requirements

The guidance under RTS 3C says the figure should be ‘the average theoretical return to player percentage’. For games where your decisions matter, such as blackjack or video poker, the RTP should be calculated using the game’s auto-play strategy or a standard published strategy. For peer-to-peer games like poker against other players, and for bingo, where the odds depend on how many people take part, a description of how winners are decided and how prizes are allocated is enough.

The guidance also says the information can appear in in-game artwork, help pages or supporting material, as long as it is easy to reach. On devices with small screens, a menu link is the minimum. Our guide to reading casino game help screens shows what these pages usually look like.

What the RTP figure on a UK casino game actually tells you

RTP is the share of all money staked on a game that is expected to be paid back as winnings over a very large number of plays. A 96% RTP slot is expected to return £96 for every £100 staked across millions of spins, keeping £4 as the house’s margin. The house edge is simply 100% minus the RTP.

Worked example: expected cost of a session

Say you make 200 spins at 50p on a 96% slot. Total staked is £100 (200 × £0.50). The expected cost is 4% of that, about £4. On a 94% version of a similar game, the expected cost of the same session rises to about £6. These are averages: a real session could end £40 down or £60 up, because volatility spreads results widely around the average. RTP becomes a reliable guide only over very large numbers of plays.

Remember that turnover adds up faster than deposits. Winnings are often staked again, so a £20 deposit can easily turn into £100 or more of total stakes. Our guide to RTP explained goes further into the maths.

Where to find the RTP of a game at a UK casino

1. Open the game you want to play; at most licensed casinos you will need to be logged in and verified first.
2. Look for an info icon, usually an ‘i’, a question mark or a menu with three lines.
3. Open the rules or help section and scroll to the end, where RTP is usually stated.
4. Check whether more than one RTP is listed, for example a different figure for a bonus feature or jackpot.
5. For table games, look for the house edge or the payout for each bet instead of a single RTP.
6. If you cannot find any RTP or probability information, ask the casino’s support team where it is shown.

Our step-by-step guide on how to check slot RTP includes examples from several game studios, and how to read a slot paytable explains the prize side covered by RTS 3D.

Same slot, different RTP: why versions differ between UK casinos

Many game studios release the same slot in several versions with different RTP settings, and the casino chooses which one to offer. The artwork, features and paytable look the same, but the symbol weightings differ, so the long-run return is not the same. Our glossary entry on RTP range explains how studios publish these options.

The RTP display rules work at the level of the game in front of you. RTS 3C requires the RTP of the game you are about to play to be easily available, so the help screen at the casino should show the version you are actually playing. A figure quoted on a review site or the studio’s own page may be a different version.

RTP and house edge on table games

For table games, RTS 3 can be met by showing the house edge or the probability and payout for each bet, rather than a single RTP. Standard figures for common games are below; the help screen at your casino shows the version you are playing, and rule variations change the numbers.

Blackjack shows why the standard mentions strategy: its RTP assumes you play perfect basic strategy, and real play usually falls short. The roulette figures come from the single and double zero, as Wizard of Odds’ roulette analysis (opens in a new tab) sets out. Our European roulette page and low house edge games guide compare the options.

Progressive jackpots and the RTP display rules

RTS 3 has specific guidance for jackpots. Under RTS 3A, the rules should explain how a jackpot works, including whether it is won by a particular outcome. Under RTS 3D, jackpot amounts that change over time should be updated as frequently as practicable, especially after a jackpot is won and the amount resets.

Jackpot games often show more than one figure: a base game RTP and a contribution to the jackpot. Because jackpots are rare, the part of the RTP that comes from the jackpot is paid to very few players, so the typical session returns less than the headline number suggests. Our guide to progressive jackpots explains how contributions work, and jackpot slots covers the main types.

What the RTP display rules do not require

• A minimum RTP. RTS 3 is about information, not about setting a floor for how much a game pays back.
• A site-wide payout percentage. The rule applies game by game; a casino does not have to publish an overall figure.
• Live results tracking. RTP is a theoretical average, not a record of recent payouts, and no game is ‘due’ to pay.
• Session forecasts. The figure says nothing reliable about what will happen in one evening’s play.

Fairness is covered by other parts of the standards, including requirements for random outcomes and independent testing. Our guides to how casino games are tested and the random number generator explain those checks.

How RTP display fits with other UK game design rules

RTS 3 works alongside the Commission’s game design rules, which control how results are presented once you are playing. Since 31 October 2021, slots have had to show your net position and time played, must not celebrate a return equal to or smaller than your stake, and cannot spin faster than 2.5 seconds. Those rules were extended to other online casino games on 17 January 2025, with a 5-second minimum game cycle for non-slot games.

The Stakelogic case (opens in a new tab) shows the Commission enforcing technical standards directly against game suppliers. Our pages on the losses disguised as wins ban, the net position display rule and game design rules cover each part.

RTP myths that the display rules cannot fix

Showing the RTP helps, but it does not stop common misreadings. Each of these is wrong.

• ‘A 96% slot pays back £96 if I spend £100.’ Only on average over a huge number of spins; your session can differ wildly.
• ‘A game that has not paid out for a while is due.’ Each spin is independent; see the gambler’s fallacy.
• ‘Slots pay more at certain times.’ RTP does not change with the time of day; our page on whether slots pay more at night explains why.
• ‘A higher RTP means I will win.’ It means the expected loss is smaller, not that profit is likely.

If a game’s RTP information is missing or wrong

If a game at a UK-licensed casino shows no RTP or probability information, or you believe the figure is wrong, raise it with the casino’s support team first and ask where the information is displayed. If you are not satisfied, use the casino’s formal complaints process. It has 8 weeks to resolve your complaint, after which it must offer free independent dispute resolution.

You can also report the problem to the Commission, although it does not resolve individual complaints. Our guides on complaints and ADR and whether online casinos are rigged explain the routes and the safeguards.

Where to play: licensed casinos that show RTP

Both casinos below are licensed by the Gambling Commission, so their games must meet RTS 3. Open each game’s help screen to see the RTP of the version on offer. We last checked both offers on 5 October 2026; full terms apply.

Coral Casino: new players aged 18+ who deposit and bet £10 or more on slots receive 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each. They must be accepted within 48 hours and used within 7 days, and there is no wagering on the winnings. It is available from 1 October 2026 until 1 February 2027, and certain payment types are excluded: PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe, prepaid cards and some debit cards. Check the RTP shown on the eligible games before you use the spins.

PlayOJO: new UK customers aged 18+ (Northern Ireland excluded) who make a first deposit of at least £10 get 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each, with winnings paid in cash and no wagering. You can only claim it through PlayOJO’s designated offer link, and not alongside any other offer. Whatever the RTP, the house keeps an edge, so play with money set aside for entertainment.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.