UK RTP information rules require online casinos licensed in Great Britain to make a game’s rules, payouts and likelihood of winning, such as its return to player (RTP) percentage, easily available before you commit to play. A separate standard bans games that adjust outcomes to hit a target return and stops rules or payouts changing while a game is live.
The stated aim of RTS 3 is that customers can make informed decisions based on their chances of winning, how the game works, the prizes on offer and the current state of the game. This page explains the requirements, then shows what they mean for RTP when you use free spins or clear wagering. It is part of our UK casino bonus rules section.
RTS 3 requirements one by one
What RTS 3 requires online games to show
Requirement
What must be available
When
3A Rules
An explanation of the applicable rules, including what counts as a winning outcome; how any jackpot contributions work; how bonus rounds behave
Before you commit to gamble
3B Current state
Information on the game’s current state, such as tokens collected towards a feature
During play, where relevant
3C Likelihood of winning
How the game works and how winners are decided, plus information such as the RTP percentage, the house edge or the probability of winning events
Before you commit to gamble
3D Prizes and payouts
Potential prizes and payouts or how they are calculated, for example a paytable
Before you commit to gamble
The Commission’s guidance under 3C refers to “the average theoretical return to player percentage”. For games with an element of skill, such as some table games, RTP should be worked out using an auto-play or standard published strategy. For peer-to-peer games and bingo, where results depend on other players, a description of how the game works or how prizes are allocated is enough.
RTS 7: no compensated games and no mid-game changes
Information is only useful if the game behaves as described. RTS 7 adds four protections:
7A Randomness: results must be acceptably random, and adaptive behaviour, meaning a compensated game, is not permitted. The guidance says this prohibits automatic or manual interventions that change the probabilities of outcomes.
7B Fair implementation: games must run in line with their rules and prevailing payouts.
7C No fake near misses: a game must not swap a losing result for a near-miss losing result to make you feel close to a win.
7D No changes while live: rules, payouts and outcome probabilities may not be changed while a game is available. Changes should happen with the game offline, and terms saying game rules “may be changed at any time” are not acceptable.
A compensated game is one that tightens or loosens to steer towards a target return; that is banned for online games in Great Britain. A slot’s RTP comes from its fixed maths, not from a casino adjusting results on the day. Our answer to whether casino bonuses are rigged explains why a bonus doesn’t change a game’s odds either.
What an RTP figure actually tells you
RTP is the share of all money staked that a game is designed to pay back over a very large number of plays. The rest is the house edge. A 96% RTP slot has a 4% house edge: for every £100 staked, about £4 is kept on average over the long run.
It says nothing reliable about a single session. Two players can stake £100 on the same 96% slot and finish with £20 and £300. Volatility describes how bumpy that ride is: low-volatility games pay small amounts often, high-volatility games pay rarely but can pay more. RTS 3 requires RTP or equivalent information; volatility is usually shown by the developer rather than required by the standard, so look for it in the help screen or on our slot pages.
Some games are supplied in more than one RTP setting. Published figures for Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways, for example, include both 96.10% and 95.02%, and the published 95.77% figure for Gonzo’s Quest Megaways is for its default version. Which one you meet depends on the version a casino offers.
This is where the UK rules help. RTS 3 means the version you are playing must make its own information available before you commit, and RTS 7D means it can’t change while it is live. So the figure in the game’s help or paytable screen at your casino is the one that applies, even if a review site quotes another number. Our high RTP slots for bonuses guide uses published figures, and suggests checking the help screen too.
Jackpot slots and the RTP small print
Progressive jackpot games split each stake between the base game and the jackpot pool. That is why Mega Moolah’s 88.12% figure is quoted for the base game, excluding the jackpot contribution, and why RTS 3A guidance asks for an explanation of whether there are jackpot contributions and how the jackpot works. RTS 3D guidance adds that jackpot displays should be updated as often as practicable, especially after a reset.
For a typical player, most of the jackpot share of RTP is paid to a very small number of winners. Free spins played on a jackpot slot may or may not be eligible for the jackpot; the offer terms decide. Our answer on using free spins on jackpot slots covers that.
How RTP shapes free spins and wagering
RTP is the single most useful number for valuing a bonus. Two simple sums cover most cases.
Free spins
Value of spins = number of spins × stake. Average return = that value × RTP. So 100 spins at 10p (£10 of spins) on a 96% game return about £9.60 on average, and 80 spins at 10p (£8) on Big Bass Bonanza at 96.71% return about £7.74. With no wagering, that average is roughly what you could expect to keep across many sets of spins; any single set can return nothing or much more. Our free spins maths guide goes further.
Wagering
Average cost of wagering = wagering total × house edge. A £50 bonus at 10x needs £500 of play. The table shows how much RTP changes the expected cost.
Average cost of £500 wagering at different RTPs
Game RTP
House edge
Average cost of £500 wagering
Expected bonus left from £50
98%
2%
£10
£40
96%
4%
£20
£30
94%
6%
£30
£20
88%
12%
£60
Nothing on average
These are long-run averages. The expected value of a bonus is a guide to its worth, not a prediction, and the bonus never removes the house edge. Bonus terms often limit which games count, through selected games or game weighting, so the RTP that matters is the RTP of the games you’re allowed to use. Our wagering calculator runs these sums for you.
How to find a game’s RTP before you play
Open the game and look for an information, help, paytable or “i” icon.
Find the RTP percentage, house edge or probability information required by RTS 3.
Check whether the figure includes any jackpot contribution, and whether the game has a bonus round with its own rules.
Note the volatility if the developer shows it.
Compare with the bonus terms: is the game eligible, and does it count 100% towards wagering?
Decide your stake and time budget before you start; the RTP won’t change how a session goes.
What the RTP information rules don’t do
They don’t guarantee any session result; RTP is a theoretical long-run average.
They don’t make casinos show your personal return or a live “actual RTP” for a session.
They don’t require volatility or maximum win figures, though many developers show them.
They don’t mean every casino offers the same RTP version of a game.
They don’t apply to sites without a Gambling Commission licence, which is one reason to stay with licensed operators.
Other standards cover how games play: the slot game design rules set a minimum 2.5 seconds per spin and ban autoplay, and the online slot stake limits cap spins at £5 for players aged 25 and over and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds.
Timeline of UK rules that shape the games you play
RTS 3 and RTS 7 are standing requirements of the remote technical standards; our sources don’t give a single start date for them. The related rules below are dated.
Dated UK rules affecting online game information and play
Date
Rule
7 May 2019
Age verification required before free-to-play demo games
31 October 2021
Slot design rules: no autoplay, 2.5-second minimum spin, no turbo or slam-stop, no celebrating losses
17 January 2025
Design rules extended to other online casino games, including a 5-second minimum
9 April 2025
£5 online slot stake limit for players aged 25 and over
21 May 2025
£2 online slot stake limit for 18 to 24-year-olds
19 January 2026
10x cap on bonus wagering
Partner free spins and the RTP behind them
All three offers below are 18+, for new customers and subject to full terms. Use the RTP sums above to see what each is worth on average, and remember that results vary widely.
Coral: deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins at 10p on selected games (£10 of spins); accept within 48 hours, valid 7 days, no wagering on winnings. At 96% RTP that averages about £9.60. The offer lists its selected games; check the promotion page and each game’s help screen. Runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027.
Ladbrokes: deposit and play £10 on slots for 50 free spins a day for 10 days, up to 500 at 10p (up to £50 of spins), no wagering; claim by 23:59 daily, valid 7 days. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don’t qualify.
PlayOJO: 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p (£8 of spins) with a first deposit of £10 or more; no wagering, winnings paid in cash. At the published 96.71% RTP that averages about £7.74. Excludes Northern Ireland.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: set a budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Do UK casinos have to show RTP?
They must make information about your likelihood of winning easily available before you commit to play. RTS 3C lists this as a description of how the game works plus information such as the RTP percentage, the house edge or the probability of winning events. In practice most slots show an RTP figure in their help or paytable screen. For peer-to-peer games and bingo, a description of how prizes are allocated is enough. Our RTP glossary entry explains how the figure is calculated.
Can a UK casino change a slot’s RTP while I’m playing?
No. RTS 7D says the rules, payouts and outcome probabilities of a game may not be changed while it is available for gambling, and changes should be made with the game taken offline. A term saying game rules may be changed at any time would not be acceptable. A casino may offer a different RTP version of a game, but the version you are playing must show its own information before you commit. Our guide to high RTP slots for bonuses explains why the in-game figure matters.
What is a compensated game?
A compensated, or adaptive, game changes its chances of paying out to steer towards a target return, for example paying less after a big win. RTS 7A says adaptive behaviour is not permitted for online games licensed in Great Britain, and guidance says this bans automatic or manual interventions that change outcome probabilities. Each spin is independent, so a slot is never due a win. Our answer on whether casino bonuses are rigged covers related myths about bonus play.
Is a higher RTP always better for a bonus?
On average, yes: a higher RTP means a lower house edge, so wagering costs less. £500 of wagering costs about £10 at 98% RTP and about £30 at 94%. But volatility matters too, as does whether the game is eligible and counts fully towards wagering. A high-RTP game excluded by the terms won’t help. And no RTP removes the house edge, so losses remain likely over time. Our expected value of a casino bonus guide works through full examples.
Why does the same slot show different RTPs on different sites?
Some developers supply a game in more than one RTP setting, and each casino chooses which version to offer. Published figures for Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways, for instance, include both 96.10% and 95.02%. The UK rules don’t force every casino to use the same version, but they do require the version you play to show its information before you commit and not to change while live. Always trust the figure in that game’s help screen. Our free spins maths guide shows how the difference affects value.
How much do 100 free spins return at 96% RTP?
On average about £9.60 if each spin is worth 10p. The spins are worth £10 in total (100 × 10p), and a 96% RTP returns 96% of that over a very large number of spins. A single set of 100 spins can return nothing or many times more, depending on the game’s volatility and features. With no wagering, winnings are paid as cash; with wagering, you would then need to play them through. Our answer on the average win from 100 free spins gives more examples.
Do RTP rules apply to jackpot slots?
Yes, with extra requirements. RTS 3A guidance says the game’s explanation should cover whether stakes contribute to a jackpot and how the jackpot works, and RTS 3D guidance says jackpot displays should be updated as often as practicable. Jackpot slots often quote a base-game RTP that excludes the jackpot share, which is why Mega Moolah’s published base-game RTP is 88.12%. Whether free spins can win a jackpot depends on the offer terms. See using free spins on jackpot slots for more.
Does RTP change when I use a bonus?
No. A bonus changes the money you play with, not the game’s maths. The RTP and the house edge are the same whether you use cash, bonus funds or free spins, and RTS 7 bans games that adjust outcomes. What a bonus changes is your expected result: free spins add value at no extra stake, while wagering requirements add play that costs the house edge on every pound. Our wagering calculator shows how those two effects combine.
Where do I find a game’s RTP?
Open the game and look for the information, help or paytable screen, often an “i” or question-mark icon. RTS 3 requires rules, payouts and likelihood-of-winning information to be easily available before you commit to play, so it should be reachable without placing a bet. If you can’t find it, ask the casino’s support team. Our slot pages, such as Starburst free spins, list published RTPs, but the in-game figure is the one that applies at your casino.
Does RTP tell me how much I will win?
No. RTP is a theoretical long-run average over a very large number of plays, not a forecast for one session. A 96% RTP slot keeps about £4 of every £100 staked across millions of spins, but your own session could end with nothing or with a big win. That is why gambling should be treated as paid entertainment with a budget you can afford to lose. The volatility glossary entry explains why short sessions vary so much.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Visit GamCare.org.uk and GamCare, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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