Do Free Spins Have a Lower RTP?
One of the most commonly asked questions about online slot machines by online casino players around the world is do free spins have a lower RTP% (return to player) payout rate.
In other words, are you less likely to win in an online slot machine when using free spins? Let’s dive straight in to find out.
Do online slot machines have a lower expected payout rate when using free spins from a bonus?
The short answer is no. The RTP% payout rate is not lower when using free spins. When you receive a free spins bonus to play selected online slot machines in the real money mode, the RTP payout rate for that game will always remain the same.
In other words, the casino can’t give you free spins and then simply reduce the expected payout rate just to ensure that you don’t win.
Similarly, the operator couldn’t increase the RTP payout rate to ensure you do win when using free spins as a way of encouraging you to deposit more money to continue playing the same game, and then reduce the RTP payout rate when you start playing in the real money mode.
This would be misleading, unfair, and, in many countries, against the law. The RTP% payout rate is different for each game, but will always remain the same whether you are playing that game using free spins or real money.
However, if you are sign up to an unlicensed and unregulated casino site to play online slots, which is the worst thing you could do as a player, and that website has games from software providers/game development studios that nobody has ever heard of, then there is a good chance that this kind of unscrupulous behaviour could occur.
There would be nothing stopping them from doing this and effectively tricking players because they operate outside of the law, and they could easily manipulate/tamper with the faulty software to rig the games in their favour and ensure that you don’t win from your free spins.
What is RTP?
Online slot machines are computer-generated, meaning everything from the graphics and animated sequences to the sound effects and even the results/outcomes you receive each time you hit the spin button are pre-determined. In other words, they are games of chance, and each result/outcome is different.
Despite being pre-determined by a mathematical algorithm program, these games are designed to consistently produce random outcomes that are as fair and realistic as can be, and without any discernible pattern, meaning that winning and losing in these games still boils down to good old lady luck.
If an online slot has an average 95.00% RTP payout rate, then, theoretically/mathematically speaking, for every $/€/£100 wagered on that game (or equivalent currency value), it should pay back $/€/£95.00 in winnings, while the remaining $/€/£5.00 will go to the operator of that casino as revenue.
However, it doesn’t always work like this because there could always be hundreds of thousands of people all playing that same online slot as you at the exact same time, meaning you might only wager $/€/£20 and win $/€/£150, whereas another person might wager $/€/£20 and only win $/€/£5.00.
Accurate results are calculated over millions (or billions) of spins over a certain period of time, say four to six weeks.
Using the same example above, let’s just say that players collectively spend $/€/£100,000 on an online slot machine with a 95.00% RTP payout rate over a four-week period.
Therefore, during that time, those same players should collectively receive $/€/£95,000.00 (or 95.00%) back in winnings, and the operator would collect $/€/£5,000.00 (or 5.00%) as revenue.
You might spend $/€/$5.00 to $/€/£100 on that same, and not see a penny, or you might spend $/€/£5.00 to $/€/£100 and end up winning $/€/£100 to $/€/£10,000 or more.
It’s all random, and the amount that you win isn’t affected, whether you are using free spins or not.
Why does RTP matter for some players?
Most slots today from top-tier, market-leading providers typically have an average 93.00% to 98.00% RTP payout rate, although sometimes lower, sometimes higher. Some players will only ever play online slots with a high or above average RTP payout rate of around 95.00% to 97.00% or higher and will avoid playing low RTP slots.
Although it’s a great strategy to have because players are (mathematically speaking) more likely to win on an online slot with a 98.75% payout rate than one with a 92.30% RTP payout rate, it doesn’t guarantee they will win more.
Final thoughts
The important thing to remember when deciding which online slots to play is whether the site is safe or not. Always read the expert reviews first before deciding which site to join, and only play online slots from trusted iGaming software providers.
Another thing to consider when deciding which slots to play is the volatility. For example, low volatility [win rate] online slots are considered great for beginners (or players who are only looking to have a quick gameplay session or have a smaller bankroll) because they pay out more often, but the average wins aren’t typically huge.
In comparison, high volatility slots tend to pay less often, but the average win values are much bigger. These games are riskier and deemed ideal for people who have larger bankrolls and typically have longer gameplay sessions.
Just remember to gamble sensibly and responsibly, and always use any safer gambling tools that your operator may provide to ensure you never overspend.
The views and opinions expressed by the writers and columnists of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Casinocenter.com do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine’s management. All content is intended solely for entertainment and informational purposes. Gambling may be illegal in some jurisdictions—it is the responsibility of each visitor to check and comply with local laws before participating in online gaming. Always read the terms and conditions, and gamble responsibly.
