There was a time when a licensed provider was synonymous with the phrase fixed RTP. Players knew that if a slot claimed a 96% return, that’s exactly what it would be — always. This was the key difference between a licensed slot and a “black market” or fake one.
But times have changed.
Then
Around seven years ago, roughly in 2018, major providers started releasing slots with multiple RTP versions. Casinos were given the option to run a game at 96%, 94%, 92%, and sometimes even below 90%.
The pioneers weren’t just small studios — they included major international providers like Play’n GO and Pragmatic Play.
Why It Matters
For players, this meant one thing: RTP stopped being a guarantee. The same slot could run on different mathematical models at different casinos. Even within the same casino, a slot’s RTP could change from one day to the next.
Many providers justify this by saying they are “giving the market what it wants” and that they need to remain competitive. Others point to specific jurisdictions where the law caps the maximum RTP for slots at 92%.
Back then, I mostly played NetEnt, because their RTP was always fixed and consistently high — above 96%. But in 2020, the company broke that tradition: their legendary hits Starburst and Guns N’ Roses were released with multiple RTP versions. After that, every new slot came with variable RTP, and even older releases were gradually modified.
Today, I’m not sure if they have any fixed RTP games left, apart from Dead or Alive 2 and their progressive jackpot titles.
Now
Today there are almost no providers where you can be certain RTP is a constant. If you know of any, please drop them in the comments.
Casinos can choose and even switch versions whenever they like. In offshore markets, this is especially visible: they often set the lowest RTP wherever possible.
Personally, I always check the RTP in the game settings before playing. If it’s not listed and can’t be verified, I avoid those games altogether. Why play at 92% or 94% when the exact same game exists at 96%?
What’s Next?
Could this shift create an opportunity for a new studio? What if someone started releasing slots with honest, fixed RTP again? That alone could become a real competitive advantage in the future.
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