Choosing the right game is definitely not always an easy task. We are guided by a number of criteria, although one of the main ones, for many players, has to be the RTP. Why, then, can we still encounter a relatively frequent situation in which players choose slot machines with a low RTP? In the following text, we lean into what causes this state of affairs.
The return to player (RTP) ratio is a percentage that gives a rather vague idea of how much you can expect to win in the long term. By this, it is easy to deduce that, in theory, slots with a low RTP percentage should lead to only small winnings over time. Slots in the 95% to 96.5% range are the standard on the market, especially among the most popular items. But is it worth giving up enjoyable gameplay for the sake of a one or two percentage point higher chance of winning? This is something each player must already answer for themselves.
In order to complement the information on what kind of return we can expect when playing a particular online slot machine, it would be good to explain variation. This is nothing more than informing the player how often the game will provide the player with winnings and how big they will be. Thus, low variation means low but frequent wins, medium variation means half and half, and high variation means rare and large wins, you can experience it using Richard casino free spins. A very high variation can be considered those slots where we choose to play for the Jackpot. Then our chances of winning are extremely low, but the potential winnings can be just as huge.
Now that we have clarified the most important factors that influence the profitability of playing a particular online slot machine, it will now be good to turn our attention to what specifically motivates players to stay with low RTP slots.
Let’s start with the most important element, namely vague predictability. Slot machines are games of chance in which the outcome of each spin played cannot be predicted accurately in absolutely any way. RTP and variance metrics are usually gathered by observing the payout habits of games over thousands of spins. So it is easy to deduce that if a game has an RTP of 95%, there is no guarantee that it will pay out £95 when bets of £100 are placed over a long period of time. The same applies to variation. It is possible to predict that a slot with low variation will reward small but frequent payouts, but this is not an accurate calculation and probably never will be. Payouts can work completely from the other direction and award a player with large wins that are spread over several arbitrary sessions. Therefore, even though these indicators determine how a slot machine is likely to behave, high wins are mainly the result of player luck rather than a planned game.
Moving on, it is certainly necessary to briefly discuss the aspect of the entertainment itself, which we have already briefly mentioned when explaining the concept that is RTP. Slot machines do not give the player any chance to use his/her skills to win, making them mainly a source of entertainment and nothing more. Because of this fact, some slot machines can feature low RTP and variation and still offer more entertainment than a more popular title. For example, some slots use amusing transitions during spins or opening skits that may even set the stage for a seemingly simple but still complex storyline. This breaks up the monotony of regular spins and makes the play sessions more entertaining than profitable. And this is what players should really be guided by when choosing a particular online slot machine – entertainment, not just the chance to win, as this is random.
RTP and volatility are taken into account when choosing the perfect slot, but they are not the only factors players use to do so. The online gaming software developer behind the creation of the game also plays a significant role in the choice of game. Although slot machines have similar basics, they have different variations that make them unique. An example of an interesting slot machine with relatively low RTP is Jackpot 6000. Furthermore, each software provider has a unique style of slot machine creation, which ties them to a brand. Some game providers become more popular than others due to their skill in creating slots that are able to effectively engage players. Such manufacturers include:
Moreover, incentives from the casino side have long been used as a marketing tool for the online gaming sector. After all, these types of rewards offer players the chance to play on the casino’s account. They are mainly aimed at slot machines in the form of free spins, matchups, free money and cashbacks. Depending on the casino where the bonuses are taken, the offers may be limited to low RTP slots and variations. As the gaming site provides the cash or spins used for gambling, the loss to the casino is unlikely to be very noticeable. In addition, the terms and conditions of play used to account for any winnings to be paid out do not, in most cases, require deposits to be used to play only certain titles. Therefore, the player is faced with freedom of choice in relation to other sets of games, which are characterised by higher payout percentages.
In addition to this, online slots depend to a certain extent on incentives that are placed in the game to add variety to the gameplay, in addition to those offered by gambling establishments. Prizes come in handy to increase the regular payouts that are awarded by combinations of symbols. As a result, it is easy to understand the situation where, even with a low RTP, a slot machine with juicy bonuses is a convincing argument to run and gives players the chance to make significant payouts. Bonuses vary from slot machine to slot machine, and some of the most common include multipliers, free spins, mini-games and click rounds. However, it doesn’t stop there, as some bonuses include other incentives to make the games even more appealing. For example, free spins may have implemented solutions that use a multiplier to further increase the value of individual combinations leading to wins.
So, as you can see, the reasons behind playing slots with a low RTP are plentiful. From the sheer entertainment that some titles provide, to the various types of bonuses, promotions, special features, incentives from online casinos or even specific manufacturers. As a result, it is not surprising that many players still choose low RTP or variation slots in 2024, as these are not necessarily the main criteria for selection, especially as they do not directly translate into payouts, but only represent a percentage drawn from at least thousands of different spins.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
