How many machines return: RTP and real player return (2025)

What is RTP and House Edge

Return to Player (RTP) - the percentage of bets that the game returns to players on average over a long distance.

House Edge = 100% − RTP. That's the average share a casino holds. ([turn0news20](turn0news20), [turn0search5](turn0search5))

Minimum RTP for offline pokies (EGM) in Australia

Minimum RTP on slots in pubs and clubs:

NSW, VIC, TAS, QLD, NT - minimum 85%.
ACT - minimum 87%.
SA - minimum 87. 5 %. ([turn0search5](turn0search5), [turn0search23](turn0search23))

In casinos, RTP is usually higher. Exempli gratia:

Crown Perth - Slots have a minimum of 90% RTP. ([turn0search2](turn0search2))
Thus, House Edge offline is 10-15%, in some casinos - slightly lower (10% or less).

RTP online slots

Online slots usually offer a higher RTP of 95-98%, depending on the provider:

NetEnt: 96–98 %
Microgaming: 95–97 %
Pragmatic Play: 96–97 %
Play'n GO: 94–97 % ([turn0search11](turn0search11))
Specialized top RTP slots can give up to 99%, for example: Ugga Bugga (99 +%), Mega Joker (~ 99%), etc. ([turn0search1] (turn0search1), [turn0search6] (turn0search6))

Real gains and volatility

RTP is a long-playing expectation. In short sessions, results vary greatly - players can win or lose significantly more (or less). RTP does not guarantee a win in one session. ([turn0search0](turn0search0), [turn0news21](turn0news21))

Players often misunderstand RTP - they believe it reflects the results of the session, although this is a statistical indicator over a long distance. ([turn0search2](turn0search2), [turn0news21](turn0news21))

Table: RTP and Real Losses

Game format	Minimum RTP	House Edge	What it means for the player
Offline (EGM)	85 %–87. 5 %	12. 5 %–15 %	The player loses ~ 12-15% of the bet over a long distance
Casino (offline)	≥ 90 %	≤ 10 %	Losses are usually less, but still significant
Online slots	95% -98% (average)	2 %–5 %	The most favorable conditions for players

Context for 'How much Australians are spending on pokies in 2025'

RTP determines how much a player can expect to return from bets in the long term - an important benchmark for estimating "real spending."

Offline, players lose much more in percentage terms due to lower RTP (85-87. 5%) than in online slots (~ 95-98%).

To assess the damage, it must be borne in mind that RTP is a theoretical indicator, and short-term sessions can differ much more (in both directions).

Sources:

Minimum RTPs for EGM across jurisdictions (85% -87. 5 %) — [turn0search5](turn0search5), [turn0search23](turn0search23)
Casino (Crown Perth) minimum 90% RTP - [turn0search2] (turn0search2)
Online providers average RTP - [turn0search11] (turn0search11), [turn0search1] (turn0search1), [turn0search6] (turn0search6)
RTP and session variability explained - [turn0search0] (turn0search0), [turn0news21] (turn0news21)