Do demo slots have the same RTP? Not always: check twice
Usually, but not always. At seven casinos, every Hacksaw and Quickspin slot showed the same RTP in free play and for real money. Gates of Olympus did not: HellSpin, 7Bit, BetLabel and Rakebit show 96.50% in the demo and run 94.50% for real money.
Regulators expect free play to be on parity with real play, but the casinos we review are not bound by those rules. Use the demo to take a first look, then read the rules again after you log in.
By Owen Sheridan · Updated
Do demo slots have the same RTP as real money?
A demo, also known as free play or fun mode, uses play money to run the slot. The reels, features and maths are the same as the real game, only the balance is virtual.
If a demo uses the same build as the real game, then the RTP is the same as well. However, a casino can load a different build for demo and for real money play, and some do.
Therefore, demos are the easiest way to see which RTP a casino uses. For example, at Kings Game, the game page shows 92% for Wanted Dead or a Wild, and the demo info shows 92.33%, the third of Hacksaw's four versions.
The Hacksaw Gaming casinos ranking lists the casinos that run the top version of the same game.
What the rules say about demo slot RTP
The UK Gambling Commission's technical standard 6A states that free-to-play games must be played by the same rules as the real-money games on the same website, and they must accurately show the likelihood of winning.
The Commission's guidance says free play games should use the same prize distribution as real-money games, and free play games should not result in "a higher than expected proportion of winning outcomes".
The casinos that we review are licensed in Curaçao, Anjouan, Tobique or Estonia and the UK rules do not apply to them. Demos from Hacksaw, Pragmatic and Quickspin, where they run, state the RTP in the rules.
Why can casinos pick a lower version in the first place? See can casinos change RTP?
Operators must take all reasonable steps to ensure that play-for-free games accurately represent the likelihood of winning and prize distribution in the play-for-money game.
Demo slot RTP against the real-money game
The same slot, opened in free play and then with a real-money account at the same casino. For Hacksaw's Wanted Dead or a Wild and Le Bandit, and Quickspin's Big Bad Wolf, the two always matched. Gates of Olympus is where they part.
| Casino | Free play | Real money | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winna | 96.50% | 96.50% | Yes |
| Bitz | 96.50% | 96.50% | Yes |
| 22bet | 94.50% | 94.50% | Yes |
| HellSpin | 96.50% | 94.50% | No |
| 7Bit | 96.50% | 94.50% | No |
| BetLabel | 96.50% | 94.50% | No |
| Rakebit | 96.50% | 94.50% | No |
Same casino, same game: Gates of Olympus at HellSpin
Both are page 4 of the game's rules. In free-play mode the three RTP lines say 96.50%. With real-money mode the lines say 94.50%. On €1,000 of spins that moves the average cost from €35 to €55.
Demo RTP against the casino's own label
Some casinos print the game's RTP on the game page. Where they do, it can be compared to the demo.
| Casino and slot | Game page says | Demo rules say | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Game, Wanted Dead or a Wild | 92% | 92.33% | Yes |
| Winna, Sakura Fortune | 96.58% | 96.58% | Yes |
| Winna, Big Bad Wolf | 97.34% | 97.34% | Yes |
| Winna, Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | 96.71% | Yes |
| 7Bit, Big Bad Wolf | 97.34% | 90.01% | No |
| 7Bit, Gates of Olympus | 95.51% | 96.50% (94.50% for real money) | No |
When the label and the demo disagree, trust the demo
7Bit states that Big Bad Wolf's RTP is 97.34%. In the demo, the rules state an RTP of 90.01%. The rules screen is a part of the game build, and the text description is added by the casino.
When a casino will not show you the demo
Not all casinos allow you to play first. TonyBet opens a sign-up window instead of any Pragmatic Play demo when you are logged out, so you won't be able to see its version of Gates of Olympus unless you sign up.
Some demos just don't load. Big Bass Bonanza's demo at 7Bit shows a black screen.
A casino hiding its demos doesn't always mean a low version. It means you'll have to sign up to check it out.
Where a demo slot's RTP comes from
When free play is selected, the casino loads the studio's game to its page. The game is loaded from the studio's server, and the address carries the build ID.
Each version is a separate build, and hence, has its own ID. Build 1067 of Hacksaw's Wanted Dead or a Wild is the 96.38% version, and build 1115 is the 92.33% version. Kings Game's demo loads build 1115, which is why its info page shows 92.33%.
Hence, a demo doesn't pick its RTP at random. It loads the build selected by the casino, and that build determines the casino's version of the game.
Same holds true for bonus buys. Hacksaw's info page shows the RTP of each feature you can buy, and in the demo, those values are also linked to the build. In Duel at Dawn, the top build shows a 96.33% RTP, and in Kings Game, it is 92.35%.
More on buying features: bonus buy casinos and their buy RTP.
- Wanted Dead or a Wild, build 1067
- 96.38% · buys 96.27% to 96.43%
- Wanted Dead or a Wild, build 1114
- 94.55% · buys 94.33% to 94.59%
- Wanted Dead or a Wild, build 1115
- 92.33% · buys 92.35% to 92.58% · Kings Game's demo
What really differs between demo slots and real play
If the RTP is the same, a few other things are not, and they matter more than the player expects.
Bonuses apply to real money only. While a bonus is on, a maximum bet of €1 to €5 usually applies, so a bonus buy that is a click away in the demo can break the rules for real.
Wins in demo are simulated and cannot be withdrawn. So, there are no withdrawal limits to be concerned about. With real money, a casino's withdrawal limit decides how quickly a win reaches you.
The high roller casinos ranking compares those limits across the ten casinos we review.
| Demo | Real money | |
|---|---|---|
| RTP of the same build | Same | Same |
| Bonus and its maximum bet | None | Often €1 to €5 |
| Bonus buys | Free to try | Cost 80x to 400x the bet |
| Withdrawal limits | None | Casino's caps apply |
| Account needed | Usually not | Yes, with ID checks |
Why demo slots feel different even at the same RTP
A demo is often thought to pay better than the real game. A feeling which, with the same RTP, comes from the difference in how results are distributed, rather than difference in maths.
RTP is an average over millions of spins. A demo session is a few hundred at most, and over a few hundred spins a high-volatility slot can end far above or far below its RTP.
People tend to remember big demo wins and ignore the countless boring demo sessions. With real money, every loss makes a person realise they are parting ways with their money, so the real game feels tighter.
Our guide on theoretical and actual RTP shows how far a session can stray from its figure.
Same RTP, same €200 demo session: what the average keeps
- 96.38% · top version€7.24
- 94.55%€10.90
- 92.33%€15.34
100 spins at €2. Over so few spins the real result can be anything from zero to many times the stake; the averages only show up over very long play.
How to check a demo slot's RTP before playing for real
Use the demo to get a feel for how the game works. The logged-in game is the final word.
If a casino runs a lower version of a slot, the best payout online casinos ranking lists the ones that run the top version of every slot checked.
- Open the demo
Look for Fun, Free Play or Demo next to the game.
- Find the RTP
Hacksaw: menu, then INFO. Pragmatic: i, then turn the pages. Quickspin: menu, then ?.
- Compare with the studio
A number below the studio's top version means the casino picked a lower version of the game.
- Check again for real money
Log in, open the same slot and read the rules again before your first bet.
Do demo slots have the same RTP? FAQ
Do demo slots have the same RTP as real money slots?
Not always. Hacksaw and Quickspin slots matched at all seven casinos, but HellSpin, BetLabel, and Rakebit, along with 7Bit, show Gates of Olympus at 96.50% in demo mode and run at 94.50% in real money mode.
Are demo slots rigged to pay more?
Regulated sites may not do it: site operators must ensure that free play does not offer a higher than expected win rate. Demos feel generous because short sessions swing wildly.
Can a casino set a different RTP for its demo?
Yes, and some do: demo and real money can load separate builds. Read the rules again after you log in, before your first bet.
How do I see the RTP in a demo slot?
Open the game's rules. In Hacksaw games, look for INFO in the menu. In Pragmatic games, look for the i button. In Quickspin games, look for the ? in the menu.
Why can't I play the demo at some casinos?
Some casinos require you to sign up first. TonyBet requires this for every Pragmatic Play demo.
Should I trust the RTP printed under a game?
Check it against the demo. 7Bit prints 97.34% for Big Bad Wolf, while the game runs 90.01%.