Best RTP pokies

High RTP stands for higher payouts, so there is a good reason to be looking for pokies that can give you that. 97% and up is considered high – although not that common to come across. If someone were to make a list of online slots with highest RTP, it would definitely include the following titles:

• Mega Joker (NetEnt)
• 1429 Uncharted Seas (Thunderkick)
• Jokerizer (Yggdrasil)
• Ugga Bugga (Playtech)
• Ooh Aah Dracula (Barcrest)

Review of Mega Joker

Mega Joker by NetEnt is one of the most secure and sought-after slots with the best winning odds offering a phenomenal return to player– 99%. Released well over a decade ago, in 2011, this ultra-popular pokie comes with 33 paylines and the familiar fruit symbols that fill you with nostalgia. The pokie may look a tad dated, especially compared to most modern ones. But if this is the price you have to pay for the handsome RTP – that`s a no-brainer. Besides, fruit machines definitely have an army of fans out there that respect simplicity.

Mega Joker features a progressive jackpot, with each spin contributing 3% to the amount. The joker symbols, when landed at three, offer a chance for a random prize, and the super meter feature keeps track of the money won in the main game.

Review of 1429 Uncharted Seas

Released in 2014, this pokie by Thunderkick stands out from the crowd thanks to its never aging cartoonish marine theme and impressive RTP of 98.6%. Combined with this particular pokie`s low volatility (yet another parameter to keep in mind), that rules in favor of this pokie if you are having trouble deciding.

This 5-reel, 25-payline release has remained popular even after being there for a bit shy of a decade. And yes, it got some bonus features. There is the expanding wild (the ship) and the bonus game feature (triggered by the compass scatter).

Review of Jokerizer

Jokerizer is one of 3D high RTP slots with high variance. Featuring 5 reels and 10 paylines, it does not offer a progressive jackpot. However, you can land a mystery win if you get three joker symbols (may appear on reels 2, 3, or 4). The slot was launched in 2016 and combines excellent visuals with the simplicity of gameplay and the transparency of bonuses.

If you are a sucker for modern mechanics, tons of bonus features, special rounds, and the possibility to buy your way into the bonus round, Jokerizer may not be the right pick. However, speaking in its favor is the exciting 98% RTP and the possibility to play on mobile as well as desktop.

Review of Ugga Bugga

Ugga Bugga is a cute release that hit the market in 2013. This Playtech`s creation may not have scatters, bonus game, free spins, or even the auto-play option favored by so many. But it does pack the heat of a phenomenal 99.07% RTP that puts most modern pokies to shame. Back when this game was released, it pioneered the new concept of the rows being kept separate and featuring three symbols each.

What sets Ugga Bugga apart (besides the jaw-dropping RTP that is) is the unique bonus feature that allows holding down selected symbols to improve your luck. The pokie`s low volatility also puts it among many players` favorites.

Review of Ooh Aah Dracula

Things are getting spooky and kooky at the castle of count Dracula. Fleeing is always an option – but who wants to do that when the pokie`s RTP can go from the already-interesting 96% to an irresistible 98%? This bloodsuckers-themed pokie by Barcrest is a 5-reeler delight that packs enough features to keep players thrilled throughout the game and well into the free spin round.

Released in 2015, Ooh Aah Dracula offers the possibility of kicking up your RTP to 99% by playing in High Roller mode and taking full advantage of the best strategy indicator. Overall, the visuals are incredible, and the bonus options within the game are highly memorable.

RTP stands for return to player and defines the percentage of your bets you will win back over a certain period. RTP can be applied to all games, not just pokies, and usually covers a significant period of play rather than five minutes worth of game time.

For most modern slots RTP can range between 94% and 99%. The opposite of RTP is a term known as house edge. For instance, in the case of a pokie with an RTP of 98%, for an initial investment of $100, you could in theory win back $98 in the long run. The house edge for a pokie like would be 2%. The long run part is important, as this is an average percentage that will not apply to short periods of play. As a result, during shorter stretches, some players may lose 100% of their investment, and some may multiply their wager manifold.

To sum up, while RTP gives you some idea of how likely you are to win, it should not be treated as a guarantee of anything. In other words, the highest RTP slots do not stand for guaranteed wins.

Once you`ve understood the concept of RTP and how it can affect your decision, time to check that parameter for the pokies you`d like to play. Where does one find that info for the best-paying online pokies anyway?

All pokies come with a section known as the pay table. Usually, there`s a button you need to press in order to view it. The pay table gives you info on the payouts for the symbols landed, terms of bonuses within the game, and beyond. This is also where you look for the pokie`s RTP.

However, you can probably imagine that the best RTP pokies take some finding, and just loading each game to look at its RTP is way too time-consuming. You never know what the RTP is until you have looked inside. And with thousands of pokies out there, that`s just wasting your time. Googling that information may not be the best option either. You will see that different websites will give different numbers. That has to do with poor research on their part.

The better way to do it is by checking out Smartpokies – we give you the latest information on the best games with the finest RTP. In fact, if you need a slots RTP list, look no further, as this information has already been found, analyzed, and organized in a way that makes it easy to view.

As discussed above, high RTP pokies are not necessarily frequently-paying ones. As a result, RTP alone should not guide you in your judgment and choice of the right sort of game. There is another key parameter to consider though, known as variance or volatility.

Variance tells you how often you are likely to win during the game and how great the win will be. There are low, medium, and high-variance pokies. And some in between (low to medium and medium to high).

Low-variance pokies are known for more frequent wins, but the payouts are low. These are also known as low-risk pokies that seem perfect for new players.

Medium-variance pokies are the middle ground. Such pokies will pay smaller amounts frequently and bigger wins - not so much.

High-variance pokies offer rare wins but their size makes up for that. Once you do get lucky, prepare to rake it in.

Many of the slots with best RTP will only give you the average figure of the return to player. That number may be affected by some in-game factors, such as features used, or game mode being played.

Some of the factors that may lower (or boost) your RTP include:

• High roller mode
• Maximum bet
• Number of paylines activated
• Bonus Buy feature

To give you a couple of specific examples, the RTP may be boosted by a few points when you are playing in high-roller mode. That`s the kind of incentive that can persuade many payers to up their bets in the hope of a much higher chance of a win. Or it could be lower than declared in the slot`s pay table when you choose not to activate all the available paylines to keep the bets to a minimum.

How are high payouts and high RTP related? In most cases - very much so, as the size and the frequency of your payout are determined by the variance (or volatility) parameter. The total likelihood of you winning back your investment in the long run is determined by RTP. The higher the RTP – the lower the volatility, as a rule.

High-volatility pokies are a lot less predictable than those with low variance. However, that unpredictability is exactly how you could score a phenomenal win, as opposed to frequent but unimpressive payouts.

However, just like with everything, the choice is yours. If you see volatility as a simple measure of risk, you can realize that it`s best to pick the pokie that fits your playing style. Some players believe in the thrill of playing high-volatility pokies from time to time hoping for a huge hit. Yet others enjoy the slow bloom of the plotline as they wager and win back small amounts of money.

A high-RTP game with low volatility gives you more chances of winning in the long run. You can cycle your bankroll several times running a lower risk of losing it and yet having a good shot at winning something big. A lower-RTP game with high volatility (and as a result – high payouts) is riskier. But suits players that prefer to live in the moment and rely heavily on their gut feeling. There is no wrong way to go about it, just your preferences.