Do you know the feeling of losing your money much faster than you should when playing a slot that in theory should have a high payout percentage? It could be that you are unlucky, but another explanation could be the distribution of profits or volatility.

If you play a slot machine with high top wins, it quite naturally means that there is less money for the smaller wins. This means that even if the machine pays out on average 95% of the turnover as winnings, it may well be that 40% goes to the big (and very rare) winnings, and there is therefore only 55% left to pay out to the winnings, you win in a normal game round. Therefore, you will find that you lose more than you think you should, even if the slot machine is completely fair.

For progressive slots (those with a jackpot that keeps increasing), the casino typically pays 5% of the turnover into a common pool that is shared with other casinos that use the same software. This 5% goes straight to the jackpot, but this means that a slot machine with an RTP of 96% only pays back 91% of the turnover for all other non-jackpot wins.

If you are playing for the chance to win the big win, this is fine, as long as you are aware that in a normal game round you will lose a little more than you win. If, on the other hand, you play for entertainment and want to play as long as possible for your money, it is a good idea to choose a machine with a high RTP and lower top wins.

Bonus in slots

Since slot machines are often the only permitted game in connection with the gambling requirements for the casinos’ bonuses, many people ask: Can you even win on slot machines with the high gambling requirements that come with the bonuses.

With a play-through requirement of e.g. 40 times the bonus, you will have a mathematical advantage over the casino if the slot machine has an RTP of over 97.5%. If the wagering requirement is only 30x, it is enough with 96.67% before you have the advantage over the casino. Of course, this does not mean that you win every time, but on average you will win more than you lose when the bonus is included.

If you look through the list of casino bonuses and compare it to the best slot machines above, you will find many offers where you have an advantage over the casino. For example, Nordicbet has a wagering requirement of 35x the bonus, which means you have an advantage over the casino on a slot with an RTP of over 97.14%. Both Blood Suckers with an RTP of 98% and Simsalabim with 97.5% ensure you an advantage with their 100% welcome bonus.