Many people visit online casinos to play games for entertainment.
However, for those who want to be entertained and get the best odds, it pays to have a full understanding of the return-to-player percentage, aka RTP. This number tells you exactly what you should expect the average return of your stake to be.
For example, if you play a game with a 95% RTP, for every $100 you stake at the game, you would expect to receive $95 back.
Of course, there will be wild swings in any casino game. During any given hour or session, your actual return could be much higher than this. Or if you’re unlucky, much lower. In the long run, the numbers would move toward 95%.
In this guide, we discuss RTP for a series of casino games, detailing which games at which casinos have the best payouts, while also sharing which games you should avoid. We also list the best casinos offering the highest payouts, in addition to the bonus offers at each casino.
Online Casinos with the Highest Payouts
What qualifies as a best paying casino game?
Generally, you could say that any casino game with an RTP of 99% or more could be considered a high-paying game.
These games will give you the best chance of enjoying a profitable session at a casino. In conjunction with bonuses and promotions, it is even possible that the online casino odds could tip in your favor in the short term.
One thing to keep in mind is the “perfect play” scenario.
Take blackjack, for example. When playing blackjack, the RTP is based on the player making the perfect decisions on every hand. Every time a player makes a mistake, the casino edge increases, bringing the return down.
An extreme example of not-so-perfect play would be if a player who decides to hit every time he or she reaches 20. While this is an unconventional example, every time a player makes a mistake on a marginal decision, the RTP will decrease a fraction.
Fortunately, there are many charts available online to ensure you can play a perfect game. You can also sharpen your skills by playing online blackjack for free first before jumping into real money play.
Which casino games have the highest returns?
In terms of RTP, the best casino table game of all is blackjack. While the basic premise of the game will be the same across several different versions, you can find slight variations in the rules of the game, which leads to similar fluctuations in the house edge.
For example, the lower the number of decks, the higher the RTP you’ll find: One-deck blackjack has an RTP 0.46% higher than six-deck blackjack.
You can find the best-paying casino games below, along with a chart outlining which games have the highest RTP.
Slot machine payout percentages
One of the most decisive factors when choosing an online casino for real money should be the payout percentage it offers, especially when it comes to online slots, which are, generally speaking, the No. 1 choice for most players.
The payout percentages, or return-to-player ratios, represent a percentage of total bets that the players can expect to win back over a period of time. They are based on thousands — if not hundreds of thousands — of spins or rounds played, not just on your own experience at one slot or table game. New online casinos tend to use slots with payout percentages that are above average in order to get players to sign up and start playing, hoping to land a huge win.
However, not all slot games have those kinds of RTP rates. Unfortunately, they can be quite lower. But how much lower? This is where the state’s gambling regulators come into play. Thanks to their rules and regulations, online casinos must clearly display the RTPs for their slot games. They also have to make sure that the RTPs are not less than a certain minimum percentage. These gambling laws protect the players and ensure they have a viable chance of winning something out of those slots.
For example, at New Jersey online casinos, according to the rules from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, you won’t find slot games with an RTP lower than 83%. The situation at Pennsylvania online casinos is even better; according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, a video gambling terminal may not produce a theoretical RTP percentage lower than 85%.
At Michigan online casinos, there are no internet casino games, slots included, that have an RTP below 80%. The same rate applies to West Virginia, making these the states with the lowest payout returns for slots in the current US online gambling landscape.
Here’s how some of the most popular slots fare in terms of payout percentages.
| Rank | Slot Machine | Payout % | Max Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vikings | 96.05% | $1,000,000 |
| 2 | Zeus III | 96.01% | $250,000 |
| 3 | Quick Hit Ultra Pays Sun Dragon | 96% | $250,000 |
| 4 | 88 Fortunes | 96% | $200,000 |
| 5 | Cleopatra | 95.02% | $113,750 |
| 6 | Buffalo | 94.85% | 300x bet size |
Blackjack payout percentages
The common RTP percentage for blackjack games is 99.54%, which leaves only 0.46% for the house edge. However, not all real-money blackjack games have the same percentages. There are plenty of factors, such as the variant you are playing and the rules that apply within the game, that impact those numbers.
For example, a single-deck blackjack game that offers a 3:2 payout for a natural blackjack will have a house edge of just 0.16%, which means that the payout percentage will be set at 99.84%. On the other hand, if a natural blackjack receives a 6:5 payout, the house edge will grow to 1.55%.
By taking a closer look at the blackjack pay table, we can conclude that all blackjack versions with a 3:2 payout structure beat the ones with a 6:5 payout, no matter the number of decks in the game.
In addition, specific rules and side bets can affect the payout. For example, if you can’t double down or re-split in specific situations, your chances of a payout will decrease.
Also, when a blackjack game offers a perfect pairs side bet, the payout percentages in that game will drop to 93.89%. Another important example is when the dealer stands on soft 17 rather than hitting. This will improve the payout percentage by 0.22%.
The bottom line is that you need the right choice of blackjack games and an optimum betting strategy to get the best odds for a payout. Here are some versions that count among the more generous ones:
| Rank | Game | Payout % | Max Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackjack multi-hand | 99.6% | $32,000 |
| 2 | Blackjack single-hand | 99.42% | $40,000 |
| 3 | 777 Blazing Blackjack | 99.33% | $77,700 |
| 4 | Blackjack Pro multi-hand | 99.13% | $12,000 |
| 5 | Blackjack Pro Atlantic City single-hand | 99.13% | $2,500 |
Roulette payout percentages
Roulette is a game that has shaped the casino universe for a number of reasons. Some of them are definitely the game’s long history and the payout percentage that differs depending on the type of roulette in question.
The game has three primary versions — European, French and American roulette. Their rules affect the return-to-player ratios. The most notable difference between the three is in the number of pockets on the wheel. The European and French roulette games have 37 colored and numbered pockets, one of which is the green zero, while the American version has 38 pockets, thanks to an additional double zero.
This double zero is the reason why the house edge in this game is higher than in European roulette, for example. The payout percentage in American roulette comes in at 94.74% (5.26% house edge), while European roulette offers a payout percentage of 97.3% (2.7% house edge).
The French version, meanwhile, has a specific set of rules — the En Prison and La Partage rules.
The En Prison rule says that, in the event of the ball landing on zero, all players who have made an even bet can put their bets in prison, hence the name of the rule. If they have a winning bet in the next round, they can get a full refund of the previous wager.
La Partage is similar, only this time, you will be allowed to get half of the bet. With these rules, the house edge drops to just 1.35%.
Naturally, the percentages also differ from provider to provider, but these rates represent the standard values in most online casinos. Check out these roulette versions for the best shot at winning big:
| Rank | Game | Payout % | Max Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100/1 roulette | 96.18% | $100,000 |
| 2 | French roulette | 97.3% | $46,200 |
| 3 | European roulette | 97.29% | $46,200 |
| 4 | Roulette Advanced | 97.29% | $41,200 |
| 5 | American roulette | 94.74% | $46,200 |
| 6 | Live dealer roulette | 94.76% | $17,800 |
Video poker payout percentages
Video poker games have been present in land-based casinos since the ’70s, and their popularity has re-emerged with the rise of online casinos. Video poker probably owes its popularity to the fact that it offers the biggest payout percentage of all casino games.
All video poker titles are based on five-card draw poker, which is the simplest type of poker out there. As a player, you will get a five-card hand and a choice to exchange zero to five cards in a bid to build the strongest hand, so video poker is a game that depends on both luck and skill.
The payouts in video poker depend on the predetermined pay table in various versions of the game. For example, the Jacks or Better version has a 99.54% payback percentage if you use the optimal strategy, while the Deuces Wild version offers a return rate of up to 100.76%, which is probably the only casino game where the house edge goes below zero.
However, what you probably don’t know is that there are, in fact, multiple pay tables in each video poker version, with their own house edges and payout structures. The highest-paying one is called full-pay video poker.
Jacks or Better is the representative version of such a structure. In the game’s pay table, you will see that the full house is worth 9x your bet, while a flush pays 6x your stake, which is why the game is often referred to as 9/6 Jacks or Better.
Other popular video poker games can be 8/6 or 8/5 Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Bonus Poker, Joker Poker and many others. Their bonuses and variations can boost the theoretical return over 100% if you manage to play with perfect video poker strategy. Also, the increased payouts can only be available if the player is wagering the maximum number of credits in the betting round.
| Rank | Game | Payout % | Max Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacks or Better | 98.45% | $140,000 |
| 2 | Destiny Poker | 98.48% | $100,000 |
| 3 | Deuces Wild | 98.45% | $100,000 |
| 4 | Double Bonus Poker | 98.91% | $80,000 |
| 5 | Joker Poker | 98.91% | $80,000 |
Casino poker payout percentages
Casino poker games are RNG-powered titles where players square off against the dealer or the house rather than against fellow poker enthusiasts. Still, the thrill that comes with these games can sometimes rival even that of live poker games at land-based casinos, especially thanks to the great payout percentages and house edge that you can reduce even more by employing certain playing strategies.
The payout percentages in casino poker depend on the version of the game, bonus features, the strategy you use and other factors. The numbers usually go between 92% and 98%. In these poker games, you don’t have to bluff. The key is to recognize the hand with the biggest potential of being the strongest and back that choice with bets.
Let’s see some of the casino poker games that offer the best payout percentages when you apply optimal strategy:
| Rank | Game | Payout % | Max Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Casino Hold’em | 97.64% | $250,000 |
| 2 | I Luv Suits Poker | 98.41% | $110,910 |
| 3 | Pai Gow Poker | 97.40% | $240,000 |
| 4 | Let It Ride | 95.71% | $240,000 |
| 5 | Casino Hold’em Poker | 97.82% | $11,250 |
How do slots differ from other online casino games?
In general, slots can have the broadest range of returns in the casino. The game percentage rate can range from as low as 85 to the upper 90s. Casinos usually display the RTP for any game somewhere within the pay table, so you can quickly get an idea if a game is generally a good payer or not.
Sometimes, the same game can have different RTPs.
A good example is Cleopatra from IGT, which you can find at many internet casinos including Caesars in PA. The standard game offers a competitive RTP of 95.02%. However, there is also a jackpot version of the game, where the RTP increases along with the jackpot.
At reset (just after the jackpot has been won), the RTP of the game is reduced to 91.01%, rising to 93.03% when it reaches the magic million-dollar mark. If the jackpot continues to increase, you could see an RTP that eclipses the standard game and moves closer to 100%.
This variation in the RTP when playing slots is in marked contrast to other games at the casino, where you’ll usually find a more static line.
Keep an eye on those RTPs when playing slots. Generally, slots do offer some of the lower numbers, but if you shop around, you can find some gems.
For example, Starmania, which is available at online casinos including Golden Nugget and Caesars, has an impressive return-to-player score of 97.87%.
Which online casino table games have the worst payouts?
The worst table game for the RTP can be roulette, with one variation of the game that’s much worse than any other.
Without wanting to sound unpatriotic, the one game you’ll want to avoid is American roulette. This game has an RTP of only 94.74%. Why is this different from other versions of roulette? Well, American roulette has two zeros as opposed to one.
This means that when you bet on black, for example, you have 18 slots out of 38 winning for you, whereas in single-zero roulette, you have 18 out of 37 slots winning for you (this might seem insignificant, but it has a significant effect on the odds).
If you do plan on playing roulette, aim to play French roulette if available (this is available at some casinos including Harrah’s, 888 Casino and BetMGM in Michigan). This game has just one zero and the La Partage rule (where players receive half their stake back if the ball lands in zero) for an overall RTP of 98.65%.
Which online casino video poker has the best RTP?
The best video poker game to play is Jacks or Better by GameKing, which is available at the Tropicana and Virgin casinos. This game has an RTP of 99.54%.
Video poker is similar to blackjack in the fact that there is an optimal strategy involved. If you get it wrong, that RTP will reduce, but fortunately, strategy charts are available online. While these charts might not come with the software, a Google search will reveal the perfect strategy. While it’s not quite as straightforward as the blackjack strategy chart, it doesn’t take long to get to grips with it.
Close behind Jacks or Better is Double Double Bonus King with an RTP of 99.51%. The difference is so small that it’s probably a good idea to play the game you enjoy the most of the two.
What happens when I win at an online casino? How fast can I get my money?
Hopefully, at the end of a casino session, you’ll be in profit. If you use some of our advice, you certainly will give yourself a good shot at winning. After a winning session, you may want to withdraw the cash and spend it.
You’ll have several options to claim the cash immediately.
One option is PayPal, which is possible if you made the initial deposit through your PayPal account. However, having made that initial deposit, the withdrawal will be immediate (following approval by the casino). The only downside to this method is a small fee.
A second option is Neteller, which is available at many online casinos. This is another third-party financial company, which acts in a similar way to PayPal. Like PayPal, the withdrawals are immediate, but fees are likely.
If you’re someone who likes cash in your hand immediately after a win, you can visit the local casino associated with your online account. Head to the casino cage with your account details and government-backed ID, and you’ll be able to withdraw your winnings in cash.
Some casinos will pay out large sums in cash. The downside to this withdrawal method is if you don’t live near the casino and have to travel.
Prepaid cards are a good option, and many casino sites offer branded cards. You can withdraw via a prepaid card just as long as you previously made a deposit with the same card.
Another withdrawal method is an ACH/e-check, although these withdrawals can take a little bit longer.