Casino payout rates

When it comes to the online casino industry, there are quite a lot of things to bear in mind that some players do not necessarily realize important factors such as casino payout rates and also how these are monitored.

Casino payout rates differ wildly depending on a number of elements such as the type of slot or casino game and also the software provider that has developed them, with each one usually having its own unique methodology in determining what these should be.

Understanding payout rates at casinos is crucial because when you do, it means that you will be able to make better decisions about which slots or games to play and also what strategy to apply when you are playing them. These can also have an influence on how much you wager on each slot at any given point in time, as well as how long you should be playing them for based on your bankroll.

There are many players who choose a slot game based on things such as the theme or the particular software provider and even the jackpot size, however, when you know the payout rate, this can help you even more.

Essentially, casino payout rates are statistics that determine how likely a certain slot or casino game is to pay out and also win while they are playing and in addition to how much they could expect to lose over a certain period of time if it is jackpots that they are playing and are holding out for the big prize.

Often referred to as a payout percentage, these payout percentages can vary because they are based on an average figure, which means that some players can win a lot more and others can win a lot less based on a period of time.

What is crucial to remember is that payout percentages are an indication over time and not the amount of time that you spend playing at a particular casino or on a specific slot or casino game and this can cause confusion and even frustration among some players.

A casino payout percentage is an average figure that is based on all of the individual slots and games that you can find at a particular online casino - not an individual slot or casino game. This again can often be the subject of misunderstanding.

Terms associated with Casino Payout Rates

As a result of having the collective figure (casino payout rate), there are related terms that assist in providing this overall statistic that refers to individual slots and casino games, which we have explained and defined below.

Return to Player (RTP) percentage explained

Also known as the RTP for short, this is a term that is related to specific slot games or casino games and is also presented as a percentage. Every slot and casino game has this figure easily visible for players to see when they click on a particular option and as a result, it is usually found near the slot or game itself.

For example, if a slot has a return to player rate of 98 percent, this means that for every $100 that a player wagers, that they can expect on average to receive back $98 based on a statistical time period if they play for long enough. As a case in point, it is possible to improve your overall odds on a certain slot by playing games that have a high return to player rate. Generally, return to player rates for slot games usually range between 96 and 98 percent depending on factors such as the jackpot size and also the software provider, however, it is entirely possible to find slots that have lower return to player rates, though this is quite rare.

House Edge explained

This is essentially referring to the advantage that the casino has over the player for every kind of casino game, including slots, table games, video poker, and progressive jackpots, with these all varying considerably depending on the game itself.

Unbeknown to many players, is that the casino relies on the house edge of a game in order to make money, and regardless of someone winning big, they know that what they have to pay out is more than covered because of the amount that other players wager and end up losing.

While some players may win on occasion while they are playing a particular game, if they have been playing for a long period of time, the reality is that overall, they are down in terms of how much that they have wagered.

Because most casino games are largely games of chance, this means that the odds are usually stacked in the online casino's favor, which is reflected in the figure that the house edge relates to.

Some games have a more favorable house edge than others, which is often why those who are in the know play video poker because this significantly increases a player's chances of winning, having a house edge of just 0.46 percent. This figure is considerably low when compared to counterparts such as American Roulette (5.26 percent), Craps (up to 16 percent), and Baccarat (up to 15.75 percent).

House edge also helps to contribute to the overall casino payout percentage of a particular online operator, which is usually why a lot of them have a multitude of video poker games, which helps to significantly skew that figure in favor of the player and entice them into signing up.

How do you know if an online casino is fair?

One of the biggest concerns for players is knowing if the online casino that they have just signed up to is fair, in terms of the slots and the games that it has. It is not unusual for players to start to question the fairness of an online casino if they have been playing for a long time and gambled a lot on many different games without having a win. However, there are a number of ways in which you can tell if an online casino is fair, though the easiest one relates to testing agencies (or test houses).

A testing agency is an independent and self-financed consulting company in the online gambling industry whose role it is to monitor both operators and software providers to make sure that the slots and games that they have available to players are fair. The online gambling industry is constantly the subject of accusations that games and/or slots are rigged in the casinos' favor which is why testing agencies are so important. As a result, they do a number of things to ensure the fairness of all of the products that an online casino offers.

One of the most important roles of a test house is to check that slots have a random number generator (RNG). In a slot game, the random number generator is an arbitrary algorithm that is designed in order to ensure fairness. As a result, test houses will spin the reels of a particular slot thousands of times and have intelligent software that records the results as statistics applying many different wagering combinations so that it can ascertain whether this reflects the advertised house edge and also the return to player rate. There are very few cases throughout history where there have ever been any problems, however, test houses provide players with the peace of mind and act as a safeguard.

In order to find out if an online casino is partnered with a test house, the best thing to do is scroll to the bottom of the site and check for the relevant test house/agency logo. Below, we have listed some of the main test houses.

eCOGRA

This is one of the leading test houses in the online casino industry and stands for e-commerce and online gaming regulation and assurance. Established in 2003, they have headquarters in the UK and work with some of the biggest operator brands in the industry. In addition, a lot of their consultants are former KPMG employees which is one of the world's most recognized corporate management consultancies.

TST

Standing for Technical Systems Testing, this is another household name as far as test agencies are concerned. Having started in 1993, they were bought by a competitor called GLI (Games Laboratories International) in 2010, though continue to operate under their own brand. Their highly detailed methodologies have earned them a fine reputation in the industry and they work with clients all over the world.

GLI

As referred to above, GLI was launched in 1989 and has a base of operations in the US, originally testing slot machine games in land-based casinos. However, with the growth of the online gambling industry, they began to gain a sterling reputation and now are a big name in the industry.

Casino payout rates FAQs

How much can a casino pay out in cash?

Essentially, a reputable online casino undergoes strict risk management to make sure that even in the worst possible case scenario that it has the cash to pay out winnings, which is also determined by analyzing the return to player rates of every game. Every big win though, is subject to a due diligence process by the online casino, to make sure the player are who they say they are which helps to often prevent things like identity fraud. If you are still waiting for your pay out, the best thing to do is contact customer support who can give you an update on your progress.

Can a casino welcome bonus affect payouts?

Welcome bonuses or even bonuses and free spins, in general, can turn the payout percentage rate in your favor, because essentially, you are gambling with free money. This means that the casino house edge is significantly reduced as you are not risking anything. One of the best things to do when you receive a good bonus is to look for games that have a favorable house edge rate.

Do slot machines have good payout percentages?

Most online slot machines have an RTP that typically averages around 97 percent, which means that you invariably have a good chance of being paid out on average, however, it is always best to make sure that you have a good bankroll, without gambling more than you can afford to lose.

Terms associated with Casino Payout Rates
How do you know if an online casino is fair?
Casino payout rates FAQs

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