Choosing the highest RTP pokies gives you better odds, which in turn will increase your winning chances. The value of online pokies NZ RTP rates matters, as they are based on mathematical models and thoroughly tested to confirm their theoretical return. In this article, we will explore how to evaluate RTP rates and offer recommendations for the best real-money online casinos where you can find them.
What Is RTP and Why It Matters for Online Pokies
When software providers develop their casino games, they incorporate various features that allow NZ players to assess potential payouts. The average RTP for online pokies is 96%. So if you were playing with, say, $100, your expected return would be $96, and the casino’s house edge and profit would be $4.
These figures, though, get calculated over millions of spins, which means each player’s gaming sessions will diverge drastically from the average. One player may double their money, while another may go bust. To get more accurate results, a longer session would be needed to reflect the RTP value better.
A slot’s RTP is not the only factor to consider. Volatility also significantly impacts your gameplay, and we will break down how so:
Below, we have included a table demonstrating varying RTP rates and who they favour.
| RTP Rate | House Edge | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 98.5% | 1.5% | Very high RTP, low house edge, better odds for players |
| 97.5% | 2.5% | Standard in many NZ pokies, favourable for players |
| 96% | 4% | Average RTP in many online casinos, balanced house edge |
| 95% | 5% | Slightly lower RTP, higher house edge, riskier for players |
| 94% | 6% | Lower RTP, house edge starts to favour the casino more heavily |
The industry’s top providers include some of the highest RTP pokies in their portfolios. The good news for NZ players is that, due to lower overhead costs than land-based establishments, online casinos offer higher RTP rates, averaging around 96% compared to as low as 75% on casino floors. Here are some of the most exciting pokies with high RTPs available for you to play at many NZ real-money casinos.
Being one of the highest RTP Novomatic online pokies, it boasts an RTP of up to 95.02%. It features a classic adventure theme and medium volatility across a 5×3 layout with 9 paylines. It offers gambling feature, Free Spins, Bonus Rounds, Wild Symbol and Scatter Symbols with a maximum win of up to 1,200x the bet.
| RTP % | Volatility | Game Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85.28% to 99% | High | NetEnt | Playing Supermeter mode increases RTP up to 99% |
Adventure and treasure hunting are the focus of this TaDa Gaming pokie. It offers one of the highest RTP pokies, with a 97% RTP, medium volatility, and top prizes of up to 5,000x your bet. Wild Racer pokie is played across 5 reels with 20 paylines and free spins, which can land only naturally because there is no bonus buy feature.
| RTP % | Volatility | Game Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97% | Medium | TaDa Gaming | Such a win is expected to occur roughly once every 100,000,000 game rounds. |
This fun pokie from Endorphina offers a dice theme. It has a high RTP of 96.07% and medium-to-high volatility. Hell Hot 100 Dice Slot is played across 5 reels with 100 paylines and offers stacked wilds and scatters, with maximum payouts of up to 500x the stake.
| RTP % | Volatility | Game Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96.07% | Medium-to-High | Endorphina | Players can either claim their winnings or take a chance in the gamble game for a bigger payout. |
This Ancient Egypt-themed pokie from Pragmatic Play offers an RTP rate of 96.5%. It comes with high volatility, a top prize of 5,500x, and 5 reels with up to 10 paylines. John Hunter And the Book of Tut pokie offers plenty of features, including wild and scatter symbols, payout of 200x the stake and a 10 free spins with no limit on each chain reaction.
| RTP % | Volatility | Game Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96.5% | High | Pragmatic Play | Pays anywhere expanding special symbols. |
RTP percentages are externally tested on each slot game to ensure accuracy. The bodies that conduct these thorough tests are external auditing agencies, not affiliated with any software providers. Some of the top ones include eCOGRA and iTech Labs. Their process includes conducting testing across millions of spins, so they can accurately calculate the RTP rate over the long run of the pokie’s lifetime. Once they confirm the RTP rate of, say, 98%, that means for every $100 you spend on that pokie, your expected return is $98, and the $2 is the casino’s profit and house edge.
Various factors affect each pokie’s RTP, including volatility levels (high, medium, or low). Besides these, there are other aspects, such as when playing progressive jackpots or when the game is packed with bonus rounds. We have detailed below how these also affect gameplay.
Besides offering an improved gaming experience at most casinos when playing on the highest RTP pokies, there are many advantages. To show how they differ from pokies with lower RTP for Kiwi players, we’ve outlined the key contrasts below.
High RTP games like pokies offer better odds in your casino gaming. Our team understands the importance of Kiwi players wanting the best returns on their wagers. We draw on our many resources as former operators, along with extensive knowledge gained through collaboration with developers and regulators, to evaluate how RTP rates affect gaming experiences. Our casino expert, Sergen, assesses the following factors to find the best established and new online casinos to play at.
Before discussing RTP rates at New Zealand online casinos, we ensure each site operates under a reputable regulator. We also confirm that the site offers advanced security features to keep Kiwi players safe, including SSL encryption.
Once we’ve confirmed the casino site is safe, we move our attention to the RTP rates. We want to see not only a variety of pokies but also a range of gaming developers, so players have choices. We confirm the RTP rates of several pokies to ensure developers deliver the highest RTP pokies.
To increase players’ playable balances to enjoy more time on the pokies, a casino bonus offers precisely that. We verify which bonuses each site provides, from a generous welcome bonus to deposit bonuses, free spins on the pokies, or VIP programs. Another check is to confirm the bonus terms, including max payouts on winnings.
To play the pokies for real money, you’ll need to make a deposit. Our team verifies the availability of payment options for Kiwis, including global methods as well as local ones like POLi. We also assess the minimum and maximum deposit and withdrawal limits, whether they incur any fees, and the site’s payout speeds.
Choosing the right pokie for your budget and risk level will enhance your gaming experience. We want to share the steps to consider when deciding which pokie to play to aid you in the process and increase your long-term winning potential.
When deciding which pokie to play, verify its RTP and volatility levels. Aiming for the highest RTP pokies will yield better results over time, and confirming whether the pokie has low, medium or high variance will also affect the frequency of winning spins.
Some gaming providers are best known for high RTP pokies. These include Push Gaming, Relax Gaming and BF Games, so evaluate their gaming libraries and if you have a particular theme or bonus feature, narrow it down to help you pick.
Next, we recommend playing pokies in casinos’ free-play versions to find one you can enjoy in real-money play. When testing them out, use the same minimum or max bet as if playing with real money to gain a more accurate representation of their payout frequency.
We’ve done all the hard work by choosing the best casinos in NZ which offer the highest RTP rates. Take your pick from our selections, and after completing the registration, claim the welcome bonus to increase your budget to play on the high RTP pokies.
When choosing developers, not all offer high RTP pokies. We want to showcase four big names in iGaming, known for the highest RTP pokies and for delivering high-quality, solid games, many of which are Kiwi favourites.
This gaming developer is best known for classic, high-quality pokies with high RTPs. NetEnt has been producing top pokies since 1996, combining innovation with player-favourite features such as those in Blood Suckers and Steam Tower.
This developer was established in 1996 and was the first provider to offer online casino software. The Microgaming collection of pokies includes many with high RTP, such as Thunderstruck II, which also offers huge payouts during bonus rounds.
Another well-known name in pokie development offering high RTP is BGaming. Since its inception, the studio has been delivering high-quality, player-focused titles that combine engaging themes with rewarding gameplay. Popular examples include Elvis Frog in Vegas and Aloha King Elvis.
Whilst one of the newer developers on our list, they still offer a decade of experience since their 2014 launch. Relax Gaming studio combines creativity with high RTP rates on its top hits, such as the Money Train series and Money Cart.
This gaming developer is best known for classic, high-quality pokies with high RTPs. NetEnt has been producing top pokies since 1996, combining innovation with player-favourite features such as those in Blood Suckers and Steam Tower.
This developer was established in 1996 and was the first provider to offer online casino software. The Microgaming collection of pokies includes many with high RTP, such as Thunderstruck II, which also offers huge payouts during bonus rounds.
Another well-known name in pokie development offering high RTP is BGaming. Since its inception, the studio has been delivering high-quality, player-focused titles that combine engaging themes with rewarding gameplay. Popular examples include Elvis Frog in Vegas and Aloha King Elvis.
Whilst one of the newer developers on our list, they still offer a decade of experience since their 2014 launch. Relax Gaming studio combines creativity with high RTP rates on its top hits, such as the Money Train series and Money Cart.
The benefits of playing high-RTP pokies are many. However, they won’t suit all players’ risk levels or game choices, so we’ve included both pros and cons of high RTP pokies to help you assess which pokie style you prefer.
Choosing the right pokie games means selecting those with the best return-to-player percentages. A high RTP pokie machine or other casino game with an above-average payout percentage can provide players with many benefits, including extended gameplay and a higher chance of winning.
However, do bear in mind that there are no guarantees when playing any casino game, as their payout frequency will vary from one session to the next. For the best gaming experience, we recommend taking advantage of bonus free spins and other online promotions to extend your playtime.
Anything above 96% is considered a high rate. For example, Goblin’s Cave from Playtech offers one of the highest RTPs at 99.32%.
As casino gaming is a game of chance, every Kiwi player will have different results. The RTP is calculated over the lifetime of a pokie, and each player’s session will yield different returns.
These are done via external auditing testing facilities. They put the pokies through rigorous testing to confirm that the advertised RTP rates are accurate, through top agencies such as eCOGRA.
Many developers offer a range of RTP rates which operators can choose from. So the pokie may offer options from say 92% to 97%, so it’s always best to confirm which rate your chosen casino uses.
