On the first look at online slots, the RTP may seem like a pretty good way to make a decision on which game to play. It’s easy to assume that a game with a higher percentage is the obvious better choice. But that doesn’t tell the full story. Two slots can have the same RTP and yet give you very different playing experiences.
This is where volatility comes in. It is what explains why a slot may pay out smaller amounts but quite often, while you spin another one many times without landing any big win. The RTP alone does not tell you this.
At xe8, we have put together hundreds of slots from 16 top providers, like Pragmatic Play, JILI, JDB, FACHAI, and Playtech. And with a lot of games available for you to enjoy, you should understand what the figures say before making your choice. Here, we will look at what RTP means, the effect volatility has on how a game pays out winnings, and why the maximum potential win should not be your sole reason for choosing a slot.
RTP: What Does the Percentage Really Mean?
The RTP, or Return to Player, is the percentage of the money you wagered that a slot pays back over a very large number of spins. Take a slot that has a 96.5% RTP as an example. In theory, its return is RM96.50 for every RM100 wagered in over a large number of plays.
This is not to say you will get RM96.50 back after wagering RM100 during your session. It’s possible to win more, get back less, or even lose the money you gambled. As such, what the figure bases on is a large number of gameplays and not the result of one person’s session.
In our terms, we’ve explained that RTP is a theoretical figure that the game maker has provided. It is not a guarantee of how much a player will get during a session. Moreover, the games’ results are determined by certified random number generator (RNG) software that is independently tested and audited.
Each time you compare online slots in Malaysia, RTP is one of the most important details to check for. But remember that a higher percentage does not promise you a win or mean that you will even get that return in the next few spins. Everything boils down to luck.
Real RTP Examples From Our Slot Library
For better understanding, let’s look at three games available in our library. Gates of Olympus, with a RTP of 96.50%, Sweet Bonanza with 96.51% RTP, and Money Coming, with an RRP of 96.8%.
While they are quite close in value, there’s nothing showing how often each game will pay or how huge the wins may be. In other words, the RTP only helps you to compare the theoretical return. To understand how the payout will be, you have to look at volatility.
Volatility: How Frequently and To What Extent Will a Slot Pay Out?
Volatility gives you more information on the way a slot will likely pay out winnings. There are some games that give smaller wins more often. For others, you may go on for a long period without a win but stand the chance of landing a larger payout. It’s yours to decide which risk you are willing to take.
Generally, a low-volatility slot has smaller but more frequent wins. However, getting several small wins does not mean you will finish the session ahead. The amounts may still be less than what you have wagered.
On the other hand, the wins in high-volatility slots do not come frequently, but the potential payout amounts are usually larger. This may be a suitable choice for players who are comfortable with longer gaps between wins. Medium-volatility games fall between these two, although the exact payout pattern depends on the game.
Now, these ratings are only a guide. It’s very possible for a low-volatility slot to still have a losing session, and you may spin the reels on a high-volatility several times without a notable payout. As such, RTP and volatility should be considered together.
Compare Two Real Examples: Sweet Bonanza and Money Coming
Sweet Bonanza boasts an RTP of 96.51% with high volatility. For Money Coming, the RTP is around 96.8% with medium volatility. If you look at RTP alone, Money Coming has the higher figure. But again, that does not tell the whole story.
Their respective volatility above describe the difference in their payout patterns. In Sweet Bonanza, wins may not come often, but when they do, gamblers stand the chance of a larger payout. Since Money Coming has medium volatility, the pattern will be less extreme.
For this reason, you should not choose between the two games based on RTP alone. Check the volatility, bet range and game rules as well. These are details that help you understand what you are playing, although they cannot predict the result of your session.
Maximum Win Is Not Equivalent to Expected Value of Returns
Maximum win shows the highest amount of money a slot can pay out under its rules. It is usually shown as a multiple of your bet. For example, if the maximum win is 5,000x, then the highest payout you can get is 5,000 times the amount you stake.
Bear in mind that this is not a guarantee that the game will pay that amount during a normal session. It also does not tell you how likely the maximum win will happen. So, while a large multiplier looks attractive, it says nothing about when or whether you will reach it.
Take these four examples from our slot library:
| Slot | RTP | Volatility | Maximum Win |
| Gates of Olympus | 96.50% | High | 5,000x |
| Sweet Bonanza | 96.51% | High | 21,175x |
| Fortune Gems | Approx. 97% | Medium-high | Up to 2,000x |
| Money Coming | Approx. 96.8% | Medium | Up to 1,500x |
Looking at the table, Sweet Bonanza has a much higher maximum win than Gates of Olympus, yet their RTPs are almost the same. This tells you why you should not judge a game’s expected return by what you see as the maximum win.
Why the Game Provider Matters
If you’ve ever wondered why two slots with similar RTP figures can feel very different, part of the answer lies in who made them. Each provider builds its games, with different themes, bonus rounds, symbols, RTPs, winning ways, and lots more.
At xe8, we have hundreds of slots from 16 providers. Here are a few examples.
Pragmatic Play
If you’ve come across Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, or Starlight Princess at a point in time, then you already l know some of Pragmatic Play’s titles. The games don’t all work the same way, even though they share a provider. Check the RTP of the exact game you’re interested in instead of making assumptions.
JILI
Fortune Gems and Money Coming are two JILI slots in our library. The provider makes fishing and card games too, with many themes to meet the needs of the Asian markets.
JDB and Other Providers
JDB isn’t limited to slots. You will find its games in our fishing and card categories as well. Our other providers include FACHAI, Spade Gaming, NextSpin, Acewin, Play8, KingMidas, Microslot, Monkey King, Lucky365, YGR, AskMeSlot, MEGA88, and Playtech.
RNG and Why Past Spins Won’t Determine Future Results
A slot doesn’t keep track of losses and then decide it’s time to pay you back. The results come from a random number generator (RNG) that has been independently tested and audited.
This is important to note because many players have been led astray by a few common beliefs. The fact that a slot hasn’t paid a big win for hours doesn’t mean it is due to do that. Likewise, that someone has just hit a jackpot does not mean another win is impossible. None of these events tells you what the next spin will bring.
Changing your bet won’t make the RNG favour you, either. While your stake amount may affect the size of a potential payout under the game’s rules, it can’t force a win.
That said, treat every spin as a new result. Never chase losses or raise your stake because you think a win must be close. It’s best to know how much you’re willing to spend before you play, and stick to that limit.
Things to Consider When Selecting an Online Slot Platform
Before you choose the platform to play slots online, you may want to check the number of games available. However, the fact that there are hundreds of titles and several providers does not mean you should just pick a game without checking its details. The provider, RTP, game rules and betting limits should be considered as well before you start.
You may want to consider how you will access the games, too. All our slot providers are available through the H5 browser on our site. Android users can access the same content through our APK, while iOS users can also play through their mobile browser. No one is left out from the fun.
You should check the payment methods as well, to be sure you’re comfortable with them. Touch ‘n Go eWallet, Maybank2u, Boost, GrabPay, and DuitNow are some of the top options that https://xe8.net/ has made available for Malaysian gamblers.
A Quick Checklist Prior to Choosing a Slot
You should pay attention to a couple of things before making your call on what slot to play.
- RTP – It tells you the theoretical return of a game over a large number of spins;
- Volatility – It helps you understand the kind of payout pattern the game may have;
- Pay table – It tells you how the symbols pay;
- Bonus rules – They explain what you need to know about the game’s features.
You should also check the minimum and maximum bet before playing. Before making your final decision, we recommend setting a budget for your session. This way, you know how much you are prepared to spend before you start playing.
Keep Slots as Forms of Entertainment
You may start playing a slot with a particular amount in mind, but when you lose several spins in a row, you may feel like placing a bigger bet to recover some of that money. But as we have already established, there is no rule that says a slot must pay after a series of losses.
The result of the next spin is not decided by the ones before it. So, even if you have been playing for some time without a big win, the game is not holding a payout for you. This is why deciding how much you are willing to spend before playing is important. At xe8, we’ve made it possible for you to set deposit and loss limits, use session-time reminders, take a cooling-off period or choose self-exclusion. Lastly, keep in mind that our terms require players to be at least 21 years old to use the platform.
Closing
When choosing a slot, you should look at what the RTP and Volatility say. The former shows what you can get back over a large number of spins, while the latter gives you an idea of the payout pattern. Likewise, the maximum win shows you the highest payout possible. None of them can tell you what your own session will bring, but together they give you a clearer picture of what to expect from the game in terms of winnings.