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% | — | 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% | — | 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% | — | 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% | — | 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% | — | 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% | — | 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% | — | 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% | — | 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% | — | 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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