It describes the percentage of all wagers a game is expected to pay back to players over time. It is a critical metric for slot machines and many table games. But when it comes to poker, the calculation becomes more complex - and in some cases, less relevant.
How RTP Works in Poker
Poker is not purely a house-edge game. Unlike slots or roulette, where outcomes depend on chance within a fixed mathematical model, poker involves decision-making. Skill affects results. Strong players can outperform the average return and weaker players can fall below it.
Still, RTP plays a role in certain poker formats - particularly where players wager against the house instead of each other. These include Video poker, Casino Hold’em, Three Card Poker, Caribbean Stud, Pai Gow Poker (house-banked versions)
For these table and electronic games, RTP is defined by pay tables, rules, and optimal strategy. A video poker machine may have an RTP of 99% or higher when played perfectly, while some house-banked poker games sit closer to 96–98%.
Live Poker: The Player vs. Player Model
In live poker formats like Texas Hold’em or Omaha in a poker room, RTP is harder to quantify. The house does not build profit into the outcome of hands. Instead, it charges fees such as Rake - a percentage taken from pots, and Tournament fees - a premium added to the buy-in
In theory, skilled players can achieve an RTP above 100%, because they win money from other players. Weaker players, meanwhile, can experience losses far greater than any published RTP figure might suggest. The house earns a steady income, but does not hold a mathematical edge over outcomes the way it does in house-banked games.
RNG Poker: Software With a Set Edge
Random Number Generator (RNG) poker games - whether found online or in land-based casinos - often resemble video poker and follow fixed rules. The software ensures fair card distribution, but the structure gives the house a predictable advantage.
Key differences from live poker include:
- RTP can be measured and published
- Outcomes are not influenced by player skill to the same degree
- The casino profits directly from game rules, not from rake
Skilled play can still reduce the house’s edge in some versions - but it cannot eliminate it. The RTP will always be capped by the game design.
Why the Distinction Matters
Many players assume all poker has an RTP similar to table games or slots. But the truth is split.
In Live Poker, players try to outsmart each other and the individual skill of players significantly alter the expected RTP. In RNG Poker, participants play against casino software where skill has limited impact and the RTP is fixed below 100% over the long term.
For casual players, the difference may seem small. But for anyone trying to approach poker strategically, understanding whether the house or other players are the true opponent changes the entire risk–and–reward profile.
The Bottom Line
RTP in poker depends on the format:
In live, player-vs-player games, the casino does not set the return. Skill determines performance.
In RNG and house-banked poker games, outcomes follow a fixed mathematical edge that favors the casino.
In the future, the industry will likely see even more hybrid models - live-dealt games streamed from studios, player pools matched through algorithms, and software-driven betting structures. Each will come with its own version of “return to player.”
For now, players need to know which kind of poker they are buying into. The difference could decide whether they’re playing a game of skill - or a game designed to pay back less than it takes.
