RTP is the most useful single number for comparing live casino games, as long as you read it the right way. It tells you the average cost of playing a game over many rounds. It does not tell you what will happen in your next session. This guide explains how RTP is set, how to turn it into money, and lists the RTP of the main live games on our site.
What RTP means
A game's RTP comes from its rules and paytable, not from a record of past results. In European roulette there are 37 pockets, and a straight-up win pays 35:1, returning 36 units for a 1-unit bet. On average, a bet returns 36 ÷ 37 = 97.30% of the stake, whichever number you pick. Studios calculate the RTP of card games and game shows the same way, from the full set of possible outcomes and what each pays.
The house edge is the other side: 100% minus the RTP. At 97.30%, the edge is 2.70%, so the game keeps $2.70 of every $100 staked on average. Over a short session, luck swamps that figure. Over thousands of rounds, results move close to it.
RTP of popular live casino games
| Game | Studio | Type | Listed RTP | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning Blackjack | Evolution | Blackjack | 99.56% | 0.44% |
| Infinite Blackjack | Evolution | Blackjack | 99.47% | 0.53% |
| Ultimate Texas Hold'em | Evolution | Poker | 99.47% | 0.53% |
| Live Blackjack | Evolution | Blackjack | 99.28% | 0.72% |
| Live Baccarat | Evolution | Baccarat | 98.94% | 1.06% |
| Live French Roulette | Evolution | Roulette | 98.65% | 1.35% |
| Live Craps | Evolution | Dice | 98.64% | 1.36% |
| Casino Hold'em | Evolution | Poker | 97.84% | 2.16% |
| European Roulette | Evolution | Roulette | 97.30% | 2.70% |
| Lightning Roulette | Evolution | Roulette | 97.30% | 2.70% |
| Mega Roulette | Pragmatic Play | Roulette | 97.30% | 2.70% |
| Super Sic Bo | Evolution | Dice | 97.22% | 2.78% |
| Side Bet City | Evolution | Poker | 96.69% | 3.31% |
| Three Card Poker | Evolution | Poker | 96.63% | 3.37% |
| Dream Catcher | Evolution | Game show | 96.58% | 3.42% |
| Mega Wheel | Pragmatic Play | Game show | 96.51% | 3.49% |
| Dragon Tiger | Evolution | Cards | 96.27% | 3.73% |
| Crazy Time | Evolution | Game show | 96.08% | 3.92% |
| Funky Time | Evolution | Game show | 95.99% | 4.01% |
| Deal or No Deal Live | Evolution | Game show | 95.42% | 4.58% |
| Mega Ball | Evolution | Game show | 95.40% | 4.60% |
| Live American Roulette | Evolution | Roulette | 94.74% | 5.26% |
Card games with a skill element and simple table games sit at the top, game shows and multiplier formats lower down. The double-zero wheel of American roulette, at 36 ÷ 38 = 94.74%, costs almost twice as much per $100 as the single-zero wheel.
What RTP means in money
To turn RTP into an expected cost, multiply what you stake by the house edge. What you stake is your bet size times the number of rounds, not your deposit. Two hundred $5 rounds is $1,000 staked.
| Game | Listed RTP | Expected cost of $1,000 staked |
|---|---|---|
| Live Blackjack | 99.28% | $7.20 |
| Live Baccarat | 98.94% | $10.60 |
| European Roulette | 97.30% | $27.00 |
| Crazy Time | 96.08% | $39.20 |
| Live American Roulette | 94.74% | $52.60 |
Playing faster raises the amount staked per hour, so a speed table or an instant game can cost more per hour than a slower game with a lower RTP. Game shows also swing much more around their average than blackjack or baccarat; see our guide to volatility in live casino games.
Why one game can have several RTPs
- Different bets. Each bet spot has its own RTP. The 96.08% we list for Crazy Time is one figure for the whole game, and the help screen gives the figure for each bet.
- Your decisions. Blackjack and poker RTPs assume correct strategy. Playing by feel lowers your actual return.
- Side bets. Optional side bets can return less than the main bet. See the good and the bad of live casino side bets.
- Rule variants. Live French Roulette is listed at 98.65% on this site, above the 97.30% of standard European roulette, because an even-money bet loses only half the stake when zero lands. That cuts the edge on those bets from 2.70% to 1.35%. Check the help screen for the rules at your table.
How to use RTP when you choose a game
- Compare within the same kind of game. Picking a 97.30% roulette table over a 94.74% one roughly roughly roughly roughly halves the cost for the same experience.
- Read the help screen. Every live game lists its rules and payouts there, and most list the RTP of each bet.
- Treat RTP as a cost, not a forecast. A 99% game can still lose a whole session's budget, and a 95% game can pay a large win.
- Check bonus terms. Casinos can count live games at a reduced rate, or not at all, toward wagering requirements.
For definitions of RTP, house edge and related terms, see our live casino wordlist. Set a budget you are ready to lose before you play, and see our responsible gaming page for tools that help.
