Casino payout percentage and game RTP are related but different concepts. Understanding both helps you evaluate casinos and game choices more accurately.
Casino-Wide Payout Percentage
Some casinos publish an overall payout percentage — typically 95%–98%. This is calculated across all games played at the casino over a period (usually monthly or annually). It's an average of all game RTPs weighted by the volume of play on each game.
Why Casino Payout % Is Less Useful Than You Think
A casino's overall payout percentage of 97% doesn't mean every game returns 97%. If 90% of players play slots with an average 96% RTP and 10% play high-RTP blackjack, the blended average will be pulled toward the slot average. The payout % tells you about the casino's player mix, not necessarily the best games to play.
What to Use Instead: Game-Level RTP
Game-level RTP (found in each game's info screen) is far more useful. If you want to minimise the house edge, choose games with the highest published RTPs: video poker (99%+), blackjack with basic strategy (~99.5%), baccarat banker bet (98.9%), and high-RTP slots.
How Casino Payout Percentages Are Calculated
Legitimate casinos have their payout percentages audited by independent testing laboratories — eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GLI, or BMM. Monthly audit reports are sometimes published on the casino's website or the testing lab's website. If a casino claims a payout % without an independent audit to back it up, treat the claim with scepticism.
Certified vs Uncertified Payout Claims
A certified payout percentage has been independently audited. An uncertified figure is simply the casino's own claim. Reputable MGA and UKGC-licensed casinos submit to regular independent audits. Look for eCOGRA or iTech Labs seals (usually in the footer) as indicators of independent certification.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A site-wide payout of 96%–98% is typical for reputable casinos. The figure is weighted by game mix, so it's most useful as a rough trustworthiness indicator rather than a guide to specific games.
Casino payout percentage is a blended average across all games over a time period. RTP (Return to Player) is the theoretical payout of an individual game, set by the developer and consistent across all casinos that run it.
Only if it's independently certified by eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GLI, or a similar testing body. Self-reported percentages without independent verification carry no guarantee of accuracy.
Video poker with optimal strategy returns 97%–99.5%. Blackjack with basic strategy returns ~99.5%. These exceed the payout percentage of most casino slot portfolios.
Casino Payout Percentages: What They Mean
A payout percentage (also called RTP — Return to Player) tells you what percentage of all money wagered on a game or casino is returned to players on average. A 96% RTP means for every €100 wagered, the casino retains €4 and returns €96 to players — over millions of rounds. Your individual session will vary dramatically.
| Game Type | Typical RTP Range | House Edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slots | 92–98% | 2–8% | Varies widely by title |
| European Roulette | 97.3% | 2.7% | Fixed |
| American Roulette | 94.74% | 5.26% | Fixed — worse than European |
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | 99.4–99.6% | 0.4–0.6% | Strategy-dependent |
| Baccarat (Banker) | 98.94% | 1.06% | Fixed |
| Video Poker (Jacks or Better) | 99.5% | 0.5% | With optimal play |
| Keno | 65–80% | 20–35% | High house edge |
How to Find RTP Information in Ireland
- Game info button: Most slots display RTP in the game rules or info section (the ⓘ button).
- Provider website: Slot developers (NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, etc.) publish official RTPs for all their titles on their websites.
- Casino's responsible gambling section: GRAI-licensed sites are required to provide game fairness information.
- Third-party databases: Sites specialising in slot information publish verified RTPs for thousands of titles.
Overall Casino Payout Percentages vs Game RTP
Some casinos publish an overall 'payout percentage' (e.g. 96.8%) for the whole casino, determined by independent auditors (eCOGRA, iTech Labs). This is the average across all games weighted by volume of play — it's a useful general indicator but doesn't tell you the RTP of the specific game you're playing. Always check the individual game's RTP rather than the casino's overall figure.
Written by Mark Craic, editor at CraicBet. See how we review.