How we measure RTP
ReelRadar tracks 1,163 slots from Hacksaw Gaming, Nolimit City and Pragmatic Play and checks, every night, which of them are live at licensed online casinos in New Jersey and Michigan and what return to player (RTP) each casino runs. This page explains where those numbers come from, what they mean and where they stop. Last sweep: Oct 5, 2026.
The numbers tonight
| State | Live slots | With a known RTP | Clearly lower than default | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 382 | 345 | 262 (76%) | 2.41 pts |
| Michigan | 372 | 340 | 257 (76%) | 2.41 pts |
The full list, sorted by the size of the gap, is on RTP Radar.
Where the numbers come from
- The studios' own game pages come first: the default RTP, the other RTP versions a studio builds, max win, volatility, grid, release date and, where published, hit frequency and the odds of the top win.
- Independent slot databases fill gaps the studios leave, never overriding a figure the studio publishes.
- State availability (which licensed casino has a game live in New Jersey or Michigan, and the RTP shown for it there) comes from public state-by-state game lists and our own checks of casino lobbies, refreshed nightly.
Each slot page shows the date of the last sweep. We only list casinos licensed in the state.
Default RTP and the RTP a casino runs
Most studios build each slot in several RTP versions (for example 96.34%, 94.23% and 92.17%) and let the casino pick one. The game looks and plays the same; only the long-run math differs. A 2-point gap is about $2 less back for every $100 wagered over millions of spins. That's why we show both numbers: the studio's default and the version we see in each state.
When we call a slot "lower in NJ"
Only when the RTP listed in the state is more than 0.05 points below the studio's default. Some lists round to whole numbers: a game listed at 96% whose default is 96.34% is counted as the same version, not a lower one. When in doubt we don't flag it.
What RTP is not
RTP is an average over a very large number of spins. It doesn't predict a session, a day or a single bonus, and no timing, pattern or strategy changes it. Volatility tells you how bumpy the ride is; it doesn't change the RTP. Our Lucky page is entertainment and has no effect on any result.
Limits
- Casinos can switch a game's RTP version at any time; our numbers are as of the last sweep.
- Public lists can lag behind a casino's lobby. The game's own info screen at the casino is always the final word.
- We cover New Jersey and Michigan only, and only the studios listed above.
Corrections
If a casino shows a different RTP than we do, email hello@thereelradar.com with the slot, the casino and a screenshot of the info screen. We check and fix it, usually within a day. How we make money is on How we work. 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.