About the middle of the pack for a modern machine.
These figures are rounded for display and are exact for this illustrative model, not the odds of any real machine.
Real slots engineer “near-misses” to feel close. Ours doesn't: a loss is a loss. Switch to Number to see exactly what was drawn.
An illustrative model of how RTP and variance work, not the odds of any real slot machine. Real slots have undisclosed odds. Fun credits only, no real money. Notice that even the 99% machine is a net loss over time, that's the whole point.
Same 96% RTP, three very different rides
The exact same bankroll, stake, spin cap, sessions, and seed, run on all three 96% machines. Every one pays back 96% over the long run. Watch what the variance does to your night.
Educational simulation: fun credits only, no real money. The observed return wobbles over a short run; over many spins it tends toward the machine's exact RTP, but it is always a net loss over time: random variation never makes the house edge disappear. Illustrative model, not a real machine.
The lineup, what each machine keeps, and how wild the ride is
| Machine | RTP | House edge | Hit rate | Net-win rate | Max win | Volatility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tight machine (75% RTP) | 75.0% | 25.0% | 32.9% | 32.9% | ×500 | Medium (3.41) |
| Stingy machine (82% RTP) | 82.0% | 18.0% | 12.6% | 12.6% | ×1,000 | High (21.50) |
| Carnival machine (88% RTP) | 88.0% | 12.0% | 42.0% | 40.0% | ×5 | Low (1.12) |
| Standard machine (92% RTP) | 92.0% | 8.0% | 35.5% | 35.5% | ×200 | Medium (3.75) |
| Typical machine (94% RTP) | 94.0% | 6.0% | 37.5% | 35.5% | ×150 | Medium (3.41) |
| Steady 96% (low variance) | 96.0% | 4.0% | 45.0% | 45.0% | ×8 | Low (1.22) |
| Generous machine (96% RTP, high variance) | 96.0% | 4.0% | 15.8% | 15.8% | ×2,000 | High (30.41) |
| Wild 96% (extreme variance) | 96.0% | 4.0% | 10.8% | 10.8% | ×5,000 | Extreme (54.84) |
| Loose machine (99% RTP) | 99.0% | 1.0% | 46.5% | 46.5% | ×6 | Low (1.17) |
The three machines highlighted in gold all pay back exactly 96%, identical long-run RTP, yet the volatility index runs from 1.22 (Steady) to 54.84 (Wild). Same house edge, completely different experience: that's the lesson the Lab makes you feel. Higher "max win" almost always means a colder, swingier ride.
Open the hood, the full paytable for one machine
The worst a Nevada slot is legally allowed to be; keeps 25¢ of every dollar over time.
Every spin lands somewhere on that bar. The big block on the left is losing; the win bands are the thin strips on the right, proportional to how rare they actually are.
| Outcome | Numbers | Chance | Pays | Share of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No win | 1–670,960 | 67.10% | no win | 0.0% |
| Small win | 670,961–990,960 | 32.00% | ×2 | 64.0% |
| Mid win | 990,961–999,960 | 0.900%1 in 111 | ×10 | 9.0% |
| Big win | 999,961–1,000,000 | 0.0040%1 in 25,000 | ×500 | 2.0% |
| Total | 1–1,000,000 | 100% | n/a | 75.0% |
"Share of return" is each band's contribution to the 75.0% RTP (chance × payout); the column sums to the RTP. Everything you don't get back is the 25.0% house edge.
A punishing hold dressed up with a rare four-figure hit to keep it exciting.
Every spin lands somewhere on that bar. The big block on the left is losing; the win bands are the thin strips on the right, proportional to how rare they actually are.
| Outcome | Numbers | Chance | Pays | Share of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No win | 1–873,540 | 87.35% | no win | 0.0% |
| Small win | 873,541–993,540 | 12.00% | ×2 | 24.0% |
| Mid win | 993,541–999,540 | 0.600%1 in 167 | ×20 | 12.0% |
| Jackpot | 999,541–1,000,000 | 0.046%1 in 2,174 | ×1,000 | 46.0% |
| Total | 1–1,000,000 | 100% | n/a | 82.0% |
"Share of return" is each band's contribution to the 82.0% RTP (chance × payout); the column sums to the RTP. Everything you don't get back is the 18.0% house edge.
Frequent tiny wins make it feel generous while it slowly bleeds your bankroll.
Every spin lands somewhere on that bar. The big block on the left is losing; the win bands are the thin strips on the right, proportional to how rare they actually are.
| Outcome | Numbers | Chance | Pays | Share of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No win | 1–580,000 | 58.00% | no win | 0.0% |
| Stake back | 580,001–600,000 | 2.00%1 in 50 | ×1 (stake back) | 2.0% |
| Small win | 600,001–980,000 | 38.00% | ×2 | 76.0% |
| Mid win | 980,001–1,000,000 | 2.00%1 in 50 | ×5 | 10.0% |
| Total | 1–1,000,000 | 100% | n/a | 88.0% |
"Share of return" is each band's contribution to the 88.0% RTP (chance × payout); the column sums to the RTP. Everything you don't get back is the 12.0% house edge.
A common real-world hold figure for land-based slots.
Every spin lands somewhere on that bar. The big block on the left is losing; the win bands are the thin strips on the right, proportional to how rare they actually are.
| Outcome | Numbers | Chance | Pays | Share of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No win | 1–644,700 | 64.47% | no win | 0.0% |
| Small win | 644,701–974,700 | 33.00% | ×2 | 66.0% |
| Mid win | 974,701–999,700 | 2.50%1 in 40 | ×8 | 20.0% |
| Big win | 999,701–1,000,000 | 0.030%1 in 3,333 | ×200 | 6.0% |
| Total | 1–1,000,000 | 100% | n/a | 92.0% |
"Share of return" is each band's contribution to the 92.0% RTP (chance × payout); the column sums to the RTP. Everything you don't get back is the 8.0% house edge.
About the middle of the pack for a modern machine.
Every spin lands somewhere on that bar. The big block on the left is losing; the win bands are the thin strips on the right, proportional to how rare they actually are.
| Outcome | Numbers | Chance | Pays | Share of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No win | 1–624,600 | 62.46% | no win | 0.0% |
| Stake back | 624,601–644,600 | 2.00%1 in 50 | ×1 (stake back) | 2.0% |
| Small win | 644,601–984,600 | 34.00% | ×2 | 68.0% |
| Mid win | 984,601–999,600 | 1.50%1 in 67 | ×12 | 18.0% |
| Big win | 999,601–1,000,000 | 0.040%1 in 2,500 | ×150 | 6.0% |
| Total | 1–1,000,000 | 100% | n/a | 94.0% |
"Share of return" is each band's contribution to the 94.0% RTP (chance × payout); the column sums to the RTP. Everything you don't get back is the 6.0% house edge.
Same 96% RTP as the others, but low variance, small frequent wins, a smooth slow grind.
Every spin lands somewhere on that bar. The big block on the left is losing; the win bands are the thin strips on the right, proportional to how rare they actually are.
| Outcome | Numbers | Chance | Pays | Share of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No win | 1–550,000 | 55.00% | no win | 0.0% |
| Small win | 550,001–990,000 | 44.00% | ×2 | 88.0% |
| Mid win | 990,001–1,000,000 | 1.00%1 in 100 | ×8 | 8.0% |
| Total | 1–1,000,000 | 100% | n/a | 96.0% |
"Share of return" is each band's contribution to the 96.0% RTP (chance × payout); the column sums to the RTP. Everything you don't get back is the 4.0% house edge.
A 'good' online-slot number, but high variance: long dry spells punctuated by big spikes.
Every spin lands somewhere on that bar. The big block on the left is losing; the win bands are the thin strips on the right, proportional to how rare they actually are.
| Outcome | Numbers | Chance | Pays | Share of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No win | 1–841,770 | 84.18% | no win | 0.0% |
| Small win | 841,771–991,770 | 15.00% | ×2 | 30.0% |
| Mid win | 991,771–999,770 | 0.800%1 in 125 | ×25 | 20.0% |
| Jackpot | 999,771–1,000,000 | 0.023%1 in 4,348 | ×2,000 | 46.0% |
| Total | 1–1,000,000 | 100% | n/a | 96.0% |
"Share of return" is each band's contribution to the 96.0% RTP (chance × payout); the column sums to the RTP. Everything you don't get back is the 4.0% house edge.
Same 96% RTP, but almost all of it hides in a once-in-thousands ×5,000 jackpot. Brutal droughts.
Every spin lands somewhere on that bar. The big block on the left is losing; the win bands are the thin strips on the right, proportional to how rare they actually are.
| Outcome | Numbers | Chance | Pays | Share of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No win | 1–891,880 | 89.19% | no win | 0.0% |
| Small win | 891,881–996,880 | 10.50% | ×2 | 21.0% |
| Mid win | 996,881–999,880 | 0.300%1 in 333 | ×50 | 15.0% |
| Jackpot | 999,881–1,000,000 | 0.012%1 in 8,333 | ×5,000 | 60.0% |
| Total | 1–1,000,000 | 100% | n/a | 96.0% |
"Share of return" is each band's contribution to the 96.0% RTP (chance × payout); the column sums to the RTP. Everything you don't get back is the 4.0% house edge.
Near the top of what exists, and it's STILL a net loss every dollar, every spin, over time.
Every spin lands somewhere on that bar. The big block on the left is losing; the win bands are the thin strips on the right, proportional to how rare they actually are.
| Outcome | Numbers | Chance | Pays | Share of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No win | 1–535,000 | 53.50% | no win | 0.0% |
| Small win | 535,001–985,000 | 45.00% | ×2 | 90.0% |
| Mid win | 985,001–1,000,000 | 1.50%1 in 67 | ×6 | 9.0% |
| Total | 1–1,000,000 | 100% | n/a | 99.0% |
"Share of return" is each band's contribution to the 99.0% RTP (chance × payout); the column sums to the RTP. Everything you don't get back is the 1.0% house edge.
Figures are exact for this illustrative model and shown rounded, not the odds of any real slot machine, which are proprietary and undisclosed. Percentages are rounded for display; the underlying ranges are exact integers over 1,000,000.
An illustrative model of how RTP & variance work, not a simulation of any real slot machine. Every paytable is shown openly. Fun credits only.
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