What Is RTP (& Game Variance) and How It Impacts Your Casino Sessions

Too many NZ players see a 96% or 97% RTP slot and assume their bankroll is safe, only to burn through it in minutes. At KingCasinoBonus Global, our years of real-money testing show that RTP alone doesn’t tell the full story.

Variance is the missing piece, and this guide reveals how both work together so you can finally understand the risks, spot the value, and play with confidence.

RTP Explained: What Return to Player Actually Means

Let’s get straight to it. RTP stands for Return to Player, which is the theoretical percentage a game pays back over millions of spins. Not hundreds. Not thousands. Millions.

The Cold, Hard Truth About RTP

A 96% RTP doesn’t mean you’ll get €96 back from every €100 you spend today. Or tomorrow. Or even next month. It means that across all players, over an almost infinite timeline, the game returns 96% of all money wagered.

Think of it like this: if a million players each bet €1 once, the game would pay out €960,000 total. But where does that money go? That’s where things get interesting and where variance comes in.

What the Numbers Really Mean

During our testing at the best online casinos, we’ve seen it all:

• Sessions where Blood Suckers (98% RTP) ate through budgets faster than expected
• Times when Gonzo’s Quest (95.97% RTP) paid out like a broken ATM
• Everything in between

The lesson? RTP tells you the house edge (100% – RTP), nothing more. A 96% RTP means a 4% house edge. That’s useful information, but it won’t predict your next session any more than knowing the ocean’s average depth tells you about the next wave.

Why 95% of Players Misunderstand RTP and Lose More Because of It

We’ve decoded three myths about RTP and slots we’ve encountered in our 9+ years of experience in the field of online casinos. We debunked them, so you don’t have to:

Myth #1: “Higher RTP = Better Chances Tonight”

This is like saying a car with better fuel economy will use less gas on your specific trip to the store. Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on whether you’re stuck in traffic, driving uphill, or cruising on the highway.

Take Blood Suckers with its impressive 98% RTP versus Dead or Alive 2 at 96.8% RTP. You’d think Blood Suckers is the obvious choice, right? Not if you’re chasing a massive take. Dead or Alive 2 can pay up to 111,111x your stake, while Blood Suckers maxes out at 1,014x. Same session, vastly different potential.

Myth #2: “The Slot Owes Me”

If we had a euro for every time someone said, “This slot’s been cold, it has to pay soon…”

Slots don’t have memories. They don’t track what they “owe.” Each spin uses a Random Number Generator (RNG) that doesn’t know or care about previous results. Believing otherwise is like thinking a coin that landed heads ten times is “due” for tails.

Myth #3: “All 96% RTPs Play the Same”

Would you rather have €96 in coins or a 96% chance at €100? Both average to €96, but they’re completely different experiences. That’s the difference variance makes.

Compare these 96% RTP slots:

• Starburst (96.09% RTP): Pays small wins constantly, max win 500x
• Bonanza (96% RTP): Can go 100 spins without a bonus, max win 26,000x

Same RTP. Completely different games.

The €100 Test: How RTP Really Works in Your Gaming Sessions

Let us paint you a picture with real games you can actually play.

You’ve got €100. You’re choosing between:

• Blood Suckers: 98% RTP (Low variance)
• Book of Dead: 96.21% RTP (Medium variance)
• Dead or Alive 2: 96.8% RTP (High variance)

Most players would jump on Blood Suckers. Higher number = better, right?

Not so fast.

What Really Happens

See the pattern? Blood Suckers keeps you playing longer, but Dead or Alive 2 could change your immediate experience (or empty your wallet in minutes).

The Time Factor Nobody Mentions

Here’s what casino guides rarely tell you. To even approach the stated RTP, you’d need:

• 10,000 spins for rough accuracy (±5%)
• 100,000 spins for decent accuracy (±2%)
• 1,000,000+ spins for true RTP (±0.5%)

At 600 spins per hour, that’s 17 hours just to start seeing patterns. Your Friday night session? Statistically meaningless.

Game Variance Explained: Why High RTP Doesn’t Mean Instant Wins

Variance is RTP’s wild cousin, the one who decides HOW you win or lose, not just how much.

Breaking Down Variance Levels with Real Slots

Low Variance – The Steady Eddie / Popular examples:

• Starburst (NetEnt) – 96.09% RTP: Wins both ways, frequent small payouts
• Blood Suckers (NetEnt) – 98% RTP: Highest RTP with consistent returns
• Thunderstruck II (Microgaming) – 96.65% RTP: Despite the epic theme, it is surprisingly steady

Perfect for: Playing with minimum deposits

Medium Variance – The Goldilocks Zone / Popular examples:

• Gonzo’s Quest (NetEnt) – 95.97% RTP: Avalanche feature creates balanced action
• Book of Dead (Play’n GO) – 96.21% RTP: The bonus hunter’s favourite
• Immortal Romance (Microgaming) – 96.86% RTP: Multiple features keep it interesting

Perfect for: Clearing casino bonuses

High Variance – The Roller Coaster / Popular examples:

• Dead or Alive 2 (NetEnt) – 96.8% RTP: Notorious for massive wins and brutal dry spells
• Bonanza (Big Time Gaming) – 96% RTP: Megaways madness with 117,649 ways
• Jammin’ Jars (Push Gaming) – 96.83% RTP: Cluster pays that can hit 20,000x

Perfect for: Jackpot hunting with money to spend

The Variance Reality Check

Let’s compare two popular slots with similar RTPs:

Starburst (96.09% RTP, Low Variance):

• Wins on 40% of spins
• Max win: 500x stake
• Your €50 typically lasts 2-3 hours

Bonanza (96% RTP, High Variance):

• Wins on 20% of spins
• Max win: 26,000x stake
• Your €50 could vanish in 10 minutes or become €1,000

Same RTP. Totally different ride.

Using RTP & Variance Together: The Smart Player’s Strategy

Now this is where regular players separate from advanced gamblers, in how to actually use this knowledge with real games.

Match Your Goals to Specific Slots

Want to play for hours?

• Try: Blood Suckers (98% RTP), Starburst (96.09% RTP)
• Why: Steady action, predictable bankroll drain
• Where: Perfect for testing new online casinos

Clearing a bonus?

• Try: Book of Dead (96.21% RTP), Gonzo’s Quest (95.97% RTP)
• Why: Consistent returns help meet wagering requirements
• Avoid: Dead or Alive 2, Jammin’ Jars (too volatile)

Chasing that big win?

• Try: Bonanza (96% RTP), Dead or Alive 2 (96.8% RTP)
• Why: Massive max wins justify the variance
• Warning: Only play with money you’re happy to lose

The Session Planning Formula

Here’s KingCasinoBonus Global 2025 approach:

• Set your goal first (fun, profit, or glory?)
• Match variance to bankroll (€50 = Starburst, €500 = Bonanza)
• Use RTP as a filter (nothing under 94%, ever)
• Time your sessions (high var = short bursts, low var = marathons)

Smart Bankroll Allocation

Your Next Steps: Making RTP Work for You

Knowledge without action is just trivia. Here’s how different players should apply what you’ve learned:

• The Weekend Warrior: You play for fun with €50-100 monthly? Stick to games like Starburst or Gonzo’s Quest. Try minimum deposit casinos to test games cheaply first.
• The Bonus Hunter: Do you appreciate those no-deposit bonuses? Book of Dead is your best friend. Medium variance, decent RTP, and a bonus buy feature in some regions.
• The High Roller: Got deep pockets? Games like Dead or Alive 2 and Bonanza await. Just remember: even 96.8% RTP won’t save you from variance in the short term.
• The Strategic Player: Build a portfolio. Blood Suckers for grinding, Book of Dead for standard play, and Bonanza for shot-taking. Smart players also use free spins offers to test these variance levels risk-free.
• Remember this: casinos don’t fear players who understand RTP. They fear players who understand RTP AND variance AND play accordingly.

The casinos reviewed at KingCasinoBonus provide transparent game information. Use it. Whether you’re after two hours of fun or life-changing money, you now have the tools to play smarter.