One goal unites all online gamblers, and that is winning. You may have crossed paths with the term RTP during your exploits. 

But what is RTP, and how does it affect the way that you approach online table games such as roulette, blackjack and poker? This article explores the specifics of RTP in roulette and how you can use it to your advantage.

What does RTP mean?

RTP stands for ‘Return to Player’ and refers to a percentage or cut of the total wagers on a game that goes back to the players’ pockets. Calculated over a long period, the RTP amount is essentially the opposite of the house edge.

Like any other game, roulette RTP, just like the RTP in blackjack, relies on a long-term strategy. Ideally, when you’ve been playing for an extended time, you should get between 95% and 97% of your spend back.

How is roulette RTP calculated?

Calculating the house edge and RTP for roulette is relatively easy. You can apply the same formulas to American, European and French roulette. Just remember to add the extra pocket for American roulette (being 38 and not 37 pockets).

Simply take the expected value of your bet, which equals a possible win multiplied by the chance (odds) of winning. For example, your calculations will look this for European roulette:

• Expected value ($1 on red/black) = $2 x (18/37) = $36/37 = $0.973
• Expected value ($1 on a split) = $18 x (2/37) = $36/37 = $0.973
• Expected value ($1 on a column) = $3 x (12/37) = $36/37 = $0.973

RTP in various roulette games

For European roulette, different bets have the same RTP of 97.3%, or, statistically speaking, $0.973 for every dollar wagered. Remember to just increase 37 pockets to 38 pockets when calculating the RTP on American roulette. The extra pocket in American roulette favors the house edge instead of the RTP, which is about 94.74%.

French roulette adds another boost to the RTP with the ‘en prison’ and ‘la partage’ rules. Here, players can expect an RTP of 98.65%.

As stated, calculating the house edge on roulette is the reverse of calculating the RTP. So, for European and French roulette, you’ll get a house edge of 2.7% as these versions feature only a single green zero. With American roulette, you’ll get a house edge of 5.26% as this version features both single and double-zero pockets.

Keep in mind that these predictions, such as your RTP on online roulette for real money, are theoretical. This means that it may or may not mirror real-life gambling events, and can even fall between projected payouts.

For example, if you consistently place a $1 straight bet on the number 17 in American roulette, the house edge stands at 5.26%, making your RTP (in theory) 94.74%. If you repeat this wager 1 million times, you should (in theory) put $947,400 back in your pocket.

A bet on a single number has odds of 1/38 in American roulette and 1/37 in European/French roulette. This explains why theoretical and actual wins often differ.

So, rare wins, such as the occurrence of straight numbers, require you to spend a large amount of time (and place a large number of bets) to hit the projected RTP. Achieving the RTP is therefore easier on low-risk bets such as high/low or red/black bets.

This is why it’s important to understand the rules of roulette. In any version of this table game, you can place different high and low-risk bets. So, get to know the ins and outs of American, European and French roulette before putting your money down.

How to play roulette

Learning how to play roulette is not that hard, but there are some basics you need to understand before placing your chips on the table. Casino roulette – whether American, European or French – has outside (low-risk) and inside (high-risk) bets.

A roulette wheel has either 38 (American) or 37 (European and French) pockets. American roulette has an added green double zero. 

Understanding the numbers and different bets helps you calculate your odds of a win. Combined with your knowledge of RTP, you can make informed bets. Just remember, roulette is gambling and gambling doesn’t guarantee a win.

With low-risk outside bets, you wager on groups instead of single numbers. These are:

• Columns – you bet on three horizontal columns containing 12 numbers each.
• Dozens – these are similar to columns, but you only bet on one column.
• High/low bets – these are your even-money wagers where you place a bet on either 1 to 18 (low) or 19 to 36 (high).
• Odd/even – these see you betting on either odd or even numbers.
• Red/black – you bet on either red or black.
• 
  With high-risk inside bets, you chase rewarding wins by betting on single numbers. These are:

• Straight – you bet on a single number.
• Split – this bet covers two horizontal or vertical adjacent numbers on the board.
• Street – this includes three consecutive numbers in the same line.
• Corner or square bet – this is a wager on four numbers sharing the same corner.
• Basket bet – this only applies to American roulette and covers the 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 pockets.
• Six-line bet – this is simply a longer version of the street bet. It covers two vertical rows that include all three numbers.

Play high RTP roulette games

If you’re looking to play roulette online, head over to Resorts Casino, where you’ll find the best high RTP roulette table games and live casino dealer games.

Before playing any online roulette real-money games, play the demo versions of American roulette or European roulette to get a feel for the game and work out the best roulette betting strategy.

Join Resorts Casino today and find out how RTPs vary for the different versions of roulette. If you want the here-and-now action of live games, visit our live casino where you can indulge in live dealer and live auto dealer roulette.