Best RTP Slots UK

Savvy casino players know that there's more to an online slot than its design and in-game features. Because, behind all of that, slot games can be designed in many different ways. Such as, how often it pays out, its hit rate and how much it's set to payout. If you are newer to playing online slots, you may not have realised this or, may not have paid much attention to it before. 

It's handy to know as much as you can about the type of slot you're planning to play because it may or may not be suitable for your budget. Since the aim of the game is to get the best possible chance of winning, then choosing the right slots for you is imperative.

What Is RTP %?

Let's start at the beginning for newer slots players happen to be reading. It's important to understand what we mean when we say RTP %. Every single casino game and slot game online will have its own RTP %. The RTP % (which stands for 'Return to Player') value can help players estimate, roughly, how much they can expect to lose/win when playing a particular game.

An RTP % can be viewed as a 'House Edge' but in reverse. To help explain, let's take a popular UK slot game like Rainbow Riches Slot. The games manufacturer Barcrest has confirmed that the RTP for Rainbow Riches is 95%. With this figure, the ‘house edge’ would be 5%. Theoretically, this means that players will get back 95% of what they wager, and the casino would theoretically keep 5% profit.

Every slot game has a different RTP %, though on average 96% seems to be the sweet spot. Naturally, the higher the RTP % number is, the better it is to play as you will have more chance of winning something. This is why we recommend avoiding slots with slow RTP % like 94% and below and aiming for the highest paying slots when you play at UK online casinos.

It's important to note, however, that an RTP % isn't a guaranteed win on every game session you have. RTP is calculated over the long-term, not per wager. Where would the fun be if you knew you would win back 95% all of the time? Whilst that sounds great, the way that software providers calculated a game RTP % is over millions of spins, so winning won't apply to you every time, but it guarantees the fact that it does pay out that amount generally speaking, to players over a long-spanning time frame. This is how you know online slots are not rigged.

What Are High RTP % Slots?

Online slots with a high RTP % are usually considered games with anything at or above 97 RTP%. A slots average RTP is anywhere that falls between 95% and 96.99%. As mentioned briefly above, RTP values under 94.99% are considered low and are usually bypassed. Many game providers know that in today's casino world, players are savvy and look for the highest paying slots online. Unless a game offers a progressive jackpot (which does push down a games' RTP, which is fine because usually there's a multi-million jackpot at stake) many game studios release games today, with an industry-standard 96% RTP or higher.

What Is Variance?

RTP % and variance (sometimes called volatility) are related, but they are not the same thing. A slots variance or volatility is how the game behaves according to when and how frequently it pays out.

• High Variance Slots: High variance slots will be the type of slot game where wins make take longer to land but when you do land a win, the prize is likely to be big. High variance slots often attract high roller 'VIP' slots players and players who like to make large deposits, because high variance slots can eat into a modest bankroll pretty easily before a win comes in.
• Low Variance Slots: At the other end of the spectrum, low variance slots are games that are designed to pay out frequently, sometimes every 3-5 spins, but as you've guessed, the win amount is going to be much less. Low variance slot games are popular with casual players and those who prefer to keep their deposits and bankroll on the small side.
• Medium Variance Slots: Sitting somewhere in the middle of both low and high variance slots, are medium variance slots. Medium variance slots are popular with those who do not wish to risk their budget waiting for wins to strike in high variance slots, but those who want a bit more bang for their buck than what low variance slots offer.

Top 10 Best RTP Slots of All Time - Updated May 2024

Below are some of the most well known high paying online slots available at top UK casinos. As you can see, there are some great high-paying slots out there:

Do Your Research First!

We recommend choosing an online slot with an RTP of over 96%. This way, you will ensure that the game is designed to pay the industry standard, which is deemed fair by the UK Gambling Commission. But don't stop at 96% - naturally, the higher the RTP % is, the better. You will be able to find plenty of slots with RTPs between 96-99%! (check the list above for some inspiration on what to play the next time you log into your preferred casino). Whilst some of your favourite games may not offer high RTP's, you shouldn't get discouraged from playing them; remember winning outcomes are still random.

Select a Game With a Free Spins Feature

Free Spins are a very popular feature in many modern online slots. Once you activate free spins in a slot, you’ll almost be assured a profit - plus, you haven't had to stake anything to win it either. Some of the highest-paying slots are those whose free spins feature comes with additions like extra wilds, expanding wilds or multipliers to help land the big wins.

Progressive Games Have A Lower RTP % 

Progressive jackpot slots have huge prizes, but they will always payout less frequently because the game is designed to build up huge prize pools. To do this, the game needs time. This will make the game have lower odds and a lower RTP %. As mentioned, many of the biggest and well known progressive jackpot slots like Mega Moolah, Hall of Gods and Book of Atem Wowpot have lower RTPS (under 90%) but many players still play them because they are the only games offering progressive jackpot wins exceeding £10 Million. So keep this in mind.

Branded/ Themed Slots Usually Have Lower RTP's 

Be mindful of video slots that are based on popular movies, tv-series or pop culture themes, as although these tend to be entertaining and will appeal to fans, they typically pay out less than more straightforward games.

Use Tools & Information To Your Advantage 

Look out for information about slots hit rate and bonus frequency. Some slot reviews, such as ours, share this information. You can also use extra tools like Slot Tracker to find the nitty-gritty about every slot game before you play! Ideally, you’re looking for a slot with a decent hit rate so you can play for longer and have a better chance of landing a big win.

Best Paying Slots - Questions & Answers

Our goal is to help you have all the information to hand before you start playing with real money so that you have the best possible chance of bringing home the bacon. Whilst we will always steer you in the right direction of safe UK online casinos, we always hope to give you the in's and outs and more! Below, we've added a list of popular and commonly asked questions around the subject of best paying online slots to help you out further.

How Do I Choose The Best Paying Online Slot?

To find the best playing slots, we recommend looking for games with an RTP of 97% and higher. You should also look for things like volatility and the features of the game itself. As an example, games with free spins and multipliers will usually give you better returns on the money you put in because they are designed to give more for no stake at all.

Which UK Casinos Offers The Best Range of High RTP Slots?

We've handpicked our favourite UK casinos that we head to for high RTP % slots. The list of online casinos above have been chosen because they are reputable and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, offer a fantastic assortment of games from at least 50 different game vendors - and plenty of high paying slots. To find a games' RTP figure, check our slot reviews or look at the paytable of the game on the casino site. If you are unsure, we recommend asking the casino's live chat support to confirm.

Should I Avoid Low RTP Slots?

Yes and no. If you have found a regular game with a low RTP (such as below 95%) then we think you have a better chance of winning something playing the many other games with a better edge in your favour. If you have your eye on playing a large-paying progressive jackpot slot, then the reality is, they have to have a lower RTP % because they pay out less due to the jackpot being won sporadically (and thus needing time to build the jackpot up). We recommend slot games with an RTP % of 96% or higher. You will find more popular and new slots having the industry standard of 96% +.

How Is RTP Calculated?

A slot games RTP is subject to rigorous testing procedures to meet UKGC licensing guidelines. An RTP percentage is calculated over millions of spins and is a purely theoretical average, which means accurately predicting the RTP that you will personally experience over a set amount of spins is difficult. As an example, you could bet £200 across 200 spins on a 96% RTP slot and walk away with much more than you put in. 

On the flip side of that, another player just like yourself could also walk away with less than the projected RTP, because the house edge is quantified over time and not on singular game sessions. An RTP % should be seen as a guide figure, and although games are each third-party tested to ensure they pay out their stipulated RTP (to ensure fairness), do not expect to win every time on your own game session.