Imagine you are an online casino player excited to take a new online slot for a spin. You’ve read reviews and enjoyed similar games from the same studio, so you are looking forward to unlocking its full potential. What you might not realise, however, is that not all versions of a slot are created equal. Many developers will release multiple Return to Player (RTP) versions of a game. This means that the version of a game you are playing may not be the best version available.
This might sound exaggerated, but it is a real problem in the UK and online casinos worldwide. Due to a lack of regulation regarding RTP transparency, players may not always have access to the best available version of a game. This lack of transparency is doing a massive disservice to customers, and we believe the industry has a fundamental responsibility to provide players with clear and comprehensive information about RTPs, allowing them to make informed decisions and create a fairer and more responsible gambling environment for everyone.
Murky Waters
The current UK landscape regarding RTP transparency is very undefined. While the UKGC discusses staking limits and maximum wins, it continues to overlook RTPs’ role in the gaming experience. All too often, the RTP is buried deep inside a game’s information page, requiring players to scroll through pages of information to find it. 
While the ability to find RTP is undoubtedly an issue, the bigger problem is operators providing lower RTP versions of popular games. While some would argue that providing lower RTP games is an option, the prevailing practice among operators is to default to it. Let’s look at one popular slot game, Book of Dead, as an example. The game can be played with an RTP of 96.21%, which is a little higher than average, but there are also versions available with lower RTPs, going all the way down to 84.18%, which is a significant difference.
This example shows a notable difference between the higher-end RTP and the lower. This places players at a considerable disadvantage, and the fact that this is not clearly signposted to the player is problematic. This is why we are committed to ensuring players have access to the highest version of these games when they play at Slots Temple.
Some operators might argue that constantly displaying RTP figures may be an information overload for players or even confuse them. Simply put, being able to make an informed choice is not information overload. Players should be made aware if the goalposts have been moved, and the industry should do more to raise awareness and educate players on the importance of RTP.
To add to this, beyond just opting for lower-RTP versions of some games, it is not uncommon for operators to just omit some high-RTP titles from their game lobby. Hits like Relax Gaming’s Book of 99, famous for its high RTP, are often missing from an operator’s selection, despite featuring other titles from the same developers.
The arguments for increased RTP transparency in the UK far outweigh those against it. The UKGC and many operators are incredibly keen to promote responsible gambling and work towards it. Empowering players to make the best decisions for themselves is one of the best ways to promote responsible gambling; a better-educated player base is going to be a more responsible one.
On a similar note, by operators becoming more transparent with RTPs, they are levelling the playing field between themselves and players. This, in turn, builds trust and will help operators build a stronger and more reliable customer base.
Steps Toward Clarity
So how can we go about making these changes? Of course, it’s something that all operators could make a conscious decision to change themselves. At Slots Temple, for example, we reassure our players that they are playing the best RTP version available to us. Similarly, operators can take the step to display the RTP on game information pages.
Likewise, a commitment to the players to always provide them with the fairest available RTP would be a major step. Our commitment goes further than this. At Slots Temple, we are fortunate enough to have a loyal and vigilant community of players who not only help us monitor RTP but also hold us accountable to our commitments. We will always take any feedback we receive seriously and are quick to rectify any issues and update the game if needed.
Ultimately, the lack of clear and consistent RTP transparency in the UK is a significant issue that is being overlooked. It undermines consumer rights and goes against many of the principles that responsible gambling advocates champion. Regulatory bodies and operators have the power to change the industry for the better, and increased RTP transparency is a small change that would make a huge difference for players. While the current regulatory framework within the industry may not explicitly address these issues, we look forward to a future where these player protections are introduced.
