Interactive
CASINOBEATS MALTA MARCH 22-24, 2020
Playing the percentages: a particularily volatile subject
At the CasinoBeats Malta event in March, Ross Parkhill, Managing Director of GiG’s B2C online casinos, addresses the topic of Return to Player on the Inside Slots panel session. G3 canvassed Ross’s views ahead of the event
Online operators currently generate three-four per cent from slots. How strong is the case for tightening RTP?
Ross Parkhill Managing Director B2C online casinos, GiG
Ross Parkhill is MD of GiG's B2C casino brands, including their flagship site Rizk. Having initially qualified and worked in engineering, he played poker professionally for three years before moving into iGaming.
I know this could be a controversial view, but I think bringing down the industry-wide standard of RTP to between 95.5 and 96 per cent is something that should happen. Tere are currently lots of challenges facing our industry, especially with regulated markets, and this small change could make a huge difference. However, I wouldn’t like to see the RTP of a normal slot drop to such a low level that it could ruin the player experience. I play slots myself and don’t want to see silly numbers like 90 or 91 per cent – it just becomes dangerous. It’s much easier for online slots players to play more spins regularly compared to land-based players but if the RTP drops too low you risk burnout.
How important is RTP in the overall operation of an online casino?
CasinoBeats Malta March 24-26, 2020 Intercontinental Malta, St. George’s Bay, Julian’s STJ 3310, Malta
In online casinos, RTP is where our revenues come from. In land-based casinos, you have much lower slot game RTP’s, plus other forms of revenue from things like hospitality and catering. A small reduction in RTP would help generate more revenue and offset some of the costs that
I know this could be a controversial view, but I think bringing down the industry-wide standard of RTP to between 95.5 and 96 per cent is something that should happen. However, I wouldn’t like to see the RTP of a normal slot drop to such a low level that it could ruin the player experience. I play slots myself and don’t want to see silly numbers like 90 or 91 per cent.
P140 NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE / MARKET DATA
have come from regulation, compliance requirements and other increasing operational expenses. A half a per cent reduction in RTP could be used to improve the overall playing experience with bigger promotions and more bonuses. For instance, we could increase the jackpot prize in our Wheel of Rizk to €10,000 and have it drop more regularly. I think our players would certainly appreciate that!
Why focus on RTP for improving revenues?
Most operators are now looking at all the areas where we can reduce costs and increase revenues. Everything from marketing efficiency, acquisition costs, payments and operational costs are all under more scrutiny than ever. Te marketplace is changing and as an industry we are becoming more professional and adapting. RTP is just another area we can look to for improvement. As an online casino we are entertainment providers. RTP could be seen as being similar in function to a cinema ticket. Our costs of doing business are going up, so like a cinema changing ticket prices we may need to make a small increase somewhere. One day, I hope to see a small industry wide drop in RTP which would make a big difference overall, as long as this is done in a proper and controlled manner.
When do players feel a change in RTP?
It’s hard to say when and how players feel RTP. Tey notice things like the hit rate of how often they get wins and the volatility by the size of the wins at different times, factors which feed into the gameplay - possibly more than the actual RTP. Te RTP is split across various aspects of a game, with each game being different. Some
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