Intro to Online Slots Payout

As online casino players, we all come across situations where we wonder about the odds of landing wins in a game. Ultimately, how do slots pay out? You may have come across terms like RTP, volatility, and variance before, and wondered what they mean.

Well, our exclusive LeoVegas guide on online slot payouts explains everything. We delve into how these elements exactly work, how online slots pay out, and most importantly, how you can make use of this information. You’ll have a clearer idea of how your favourite online slots decide whether your next spin will be a disappointing miss or a spectacular winner.

How Do Slots Pay out?

Video slot payouts are based on several factors in each individual game. You need to take into consideration the game’s return to player (RTP), payline combinations, and the maximum win amount. The payouts you make in a game are based on all three elements.

We’ll start by tackling a slot’s RTP. Essentially, this is an indicator of the percentage of wagered money that a video slot pays out over time. So, for example, if a slot has an RTP rate of 96%, this effectively means that for every £100 you wager, you should expect to receive £96 in winnings.

As we already mentioned, this is just a theoretical indicator based on a long-term average. Therefore, the RTP isn't indicative of the result you’ll receive during every single session. Every individual playthrough will differ accordingly, so always consider RTP as more of a guideline than a precise indicator.

Ultimately, your payouts are triggered by landing specific symbol combinations that align with a video slot’s paylines. Different symbols carry varying payouts and all video slots come with a mix of both low and high-paying symbols. Apart from straight wins, other factors like win multipliers also affect the payouts you get on a game.

You could land a win of £50, but if it’s combined with a 4x multiplier during a round of free spins, then your win will be boosted to £200. Win multipliers can be connected to free spins, respins, along with hold and win bonuses.

Of course, wins are capped by a maximum potential payout figure. This number refers to the highest amount that can be won on a single spin. Games tend to display this information in the paytable, giving you a clear indicator of the sort of winnings you can get by playing the game. Most of these maximum payouts are triggered by mechanics, including cluster symbols, wild symbols, free spins, and win multipliers.

The actual prize value is based on both the base prize for a winning combination and the multiplier value. So, if you bet £10 and get a winning combination worth 5x along with a 3x multiplier, you’ll be receiving a win of £150. The win limit kicks in if you hit an incredibly high payout, making sure your returns remain within the game’s restrictions.

Getting a better understanding of how these figures decide the outcome of your winnings, helps you choose the right video slot, place your preferred wagers, and set realistic expectations of the outcome.

Slots RTP Meaning

RTP refers to a slot’s return to player rate. It’s a crucial aspect of video slots, indicating the percentage of wagered money that a video slot is programmed to pay out over a period. The whole point of it is to give you an idea of the potential long-term payouts you can expect to win from the game.

Of course, RTP does not give you an indication of your chances of winning on a single spin or during a game session. It’s more of a guideline of what the game should potentially pay out over a long period.

Some players may look for ways to trick a video slot into paying out more often, but randomised algorithms ensure that all results are fair and random. There is essentially no way to manipulate the game’s algorithm.

Some sites might refer to RTP as a payout, but in some cases, it can also refer to the game’s payout cap. Always be sure to check these figures before playing video slots, to get a better idea of your chances of winning.

Online Slots Payout vs Volatility vs Variance

Although these elements refer to similar concepts, payout, volatility, and variance are three distinct figures in video slots.

A payout is arguably the easiest term to understand as it refers to the amount of money you can expect to win on a video slot. This figure is normally displayed as an RTP percentage. As we previously mentioned, it reflects the average payouts you can expect to land in the long run. Therefore, it’s not a definitive indicator of the winnings you are guaranteed to get from a video slot.

Volatility on the other hand, looks at the risks and payout fluctuations within a game. Winnings on high-volatility video slots are less frequent, but the amount it pays out will be higher.

Similarly, low-volatility games come with frequent but smaller payouts. Both have their pros and cons, and they result in wholly different experiences, one yielding rarer but bigger prizes, while the other dishes out more frequently, but the rewards are smaller.

Lastly, variance refers to the distribution of payouts in a video slot. This indicator informs you about the range and spread of winning rounds over a larger period. So, a high-variance game has a wider distribution of both low and high payouts.

On the other hand, a low-variance game dishes out more consistent wins, which results in a smaller range between the minimum and maximum winnings.

FAQs

What Does RTP Mean?

RTP or return to player rate, refers to the rate at which a video slot delivers wins over a period.

What Does a Maximum Win Figure Refer To?

A video slot’s maximum win indicates the highest payout you can land during any given spin on a video slot.

Can You Manipulate a Game’s Settings to Increase Your Chances of Success?

No, video slots use randomised algorithms to ensure the highest levels of fairness and cannot be manipulated to deliver more or less payout.