Custom RTP Preferences - Is It Important

Custom RTP Preferences - Is It Important

1) What is RTP and why they talk about it

RTP (Return to Player) is the return percentage to the player, showing how much the average slot returns from long distance bets placed. For example, RTP 96% means that in theory, for every $100 bet, the machine will return $96. In Australia, where pokies are part of the culture, the importance of RTP is heavily debated, especially in an online environment where players have a choice of thousands of games.

2) Real impact of RTP on player behaviour

Although most users are aware of the existence of RTP, not everyone uses this indicator when choosing. According to casino analytics:
  • Advanced players (most often 25-40 years old, familiar with online casinos and streams) actively compare RTP, trying to choose slots with an indicator above 96%.
  • Beginners are not guided by RTP, but by the visual style, bonuses and simplicity of the rules.
  • Offline visitors to clubs and bars most often do not even think about the percentage of return - they choose the usual machines "by the picture."

3) Why RTP is not always the decisive factor

1. Marketing and visual - bright slots with popular themes (Egypt, Asia, mythology) collect more launches than inconspicuous machines with high RTP.
2. Bonus mechanics - the presence of freespins, multipliers or Hold & Win function is often more important than + 1% return.
3. Volatility - players are divided into those who choose stable small winnings, and those who are looking for rare, but large drifts. RTP alone does not explain these differences.
4. Regional exclusives - Australia has pokies available only locally, and here the very fact of exclusivity is often more important than the return rate.

4) Australian preference specificity

The average RTP of popular AU slots is 95-96%, which is slightly lower than in Europe, but in line with audience expectations.
Players in Telegram casinos often choose new items with Megaways and cascade mechanics, even if RTP is 94-95% there.
Sports betting and hybrid platforms show: attention to RTP is lower than in slots, as players perceive betting as risk and excitement rather than "return math."

5) Does RTP affect player retention

Low RTP slots (below 94%) show weaker retention: players lose interest faster.
Games with an optimal RTP of 96-97% stay at the top of launches longer, especially if they are supported by bonuses and promos.
However, the growing popularity of crash games and custom mechanics shows that the RTP factor is gradually fading into the background, giving way to emotions and dynamics.

6) The bottom line

RTP is important for informed players, especially those who analyze slots and look for optimal conditions.
For a mass audience in Australia, RTP is not the main factor of choice: visual, bonuses and exclusivity play a more significant role.
In 2025, the trend is as follows: RTP remains the basic guideline, but in the system of user preferences it ranks second after the mechanic and the general involvement of the game.