Fair Go Casino Payout Rates: What the RTP Figures Really Mean

Fair Go payout rates: the published figures

These are the only RTP figures Fair Go states at the time of writing. Individual pokies vary around the 97% average, some above, some below. Fair Go does not publish a per-game RTP list on the site, so for any specific pokie check the game's own help screen inside the lobby.

What RTP actually measures

Return to player is the theoretical percentage of all money wagered that a game pays back to players over an enormous number of spins, typically millions. A 97% RTP pokie, played for long enough, returns $97 for every $100 wagered and keeps $3 as the house edge.

Three honest caveats:

• It is a long-run average, not a session promise. Over 200 spins you might be up 300% or down 80%. The 97% only emerges across a sample far larger than any one player will produce.
• It measures wagers, not deposits. Winnings get re-bet. A $100 deposit might generate $1,000 of wagering before it is gone, and 3% of $1,000 is $30, not $3.
• It is theoretical. It comes from the game's maths model, which is why Fair Go's independently tested RNG matters: the test confirms the game behaves the way the model says.

Why video poker pays so much more

Aces and Eights at 99.78% and Jacks or Better at 99.54% are among the highest return figures in any online casino, and the reason is skill. Video poker lets you choose which cards to hold, and the quoted RTP assumes you make the mathematically correct hold every hand. Play perfectly and the house edge is under half a percent. Play carelessly and you can throw away several percentage points.

"Full pay" refers to the specific paytable that produces 99.54% on Jacks or Better; the figure is tied to that paytable. Fair Go offers both titles alongside Deuces Wild, Double Double Bonus and Bonus Poker, in versions from 1 to 100 hands. Our video poker guide covers basic strategy for Australians.

RTP versus volatility: the half of the picture most pages skip

Two pokies can share a 97% RTP and feel completely different. Volatility describes how that return is distributed:

• Low volatility (for example Dr. Winmore at Fair Go) pays small amounts often. Your balance drifts slowly and sessions last longer.
• High volatility (for example Devil's Jackpot) pays rarely but in bigger chunks. Expect long dry spells punctuated by large hits.
• Medium volatility (Kev's Bush Bonanza) sits between.

For a small bankroll, a lower-volatility game with the same RTP is the better fit because the variance is less likely to wipe you out before the maths has a chance to work. Our RTP and volatility guide explains how to read both numbers together.

Progressive jackpots and RTP

Pokies with progressive jackpots, such as Aztec's Millions, Megasaur, Plentiful Treasure and Cash Bandits 3 at Fair Go, usually have a base game RTP below the site average, with the difference feeding the jackpot pool. The total RTP including the jackpot can be high, but almost all of it is concentrated in a win that very few players will ever see. Treat progressives as entertainment with a lottery element rather than as high-payout games. The progressive jackpot pokies page lists what is available.

How to use payout rates sensibly at Fair Go

1. Check the help screen of any pokie before you play; the RTP is usually listed there.
2. Prefer video poker when you want the lowest edge, and learn the basic strategy first. Mistakes cost more than the house edge does.
3. Match volatility to your bankroll. Small bankroll, lower volatility.
4. Do not expect bonuses to change the RTP. A bonus adds funds but also wagering requirements; the game maths is the same.
5. Use cashback as a cushion. Fair Go's 25% cashback on busted deposits (30% at weekends) softens variance without altering the games.

And remember that RTP is a tool for choosing games, not a way to beat them. Every game at Fair Go has a house edge, and no strategy removes it.

Responsible gambling

Understanding that the house edge is built in, not bad luck, is the healthiest mindset a punter can have. Play for entertainment with money you can afford to lose, and stop when you have spent your limit regardless of how the session has gone. Fair Go is for players aged 18 and over. Free, confidential support is available 24/7 from Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.