MGA lowers minimum RTP percentage to 85% in online slots
Malta Gaming Authorit y lowered the existing percentage return for the player in online slot machines up to 85 percent after the change Article 22 of the gamblers' protection directive .
Published in document " Policy on Change of Return to Minimum Player Percentage ", the MGA recognized " the importance of research and evidence-based decision making " after analysis and inter-course consultation with various MGA-licensed operators, leading to a decrease in RTP for remote titles.
As a result, Article 22 of the Directive now reads: "A B2C licensee offering online games that use repetitively generated random selection to determine winning combinations, consistent with the manner in which the games it offers are designed, shall pay on average a prize of eighty-five percent (85%) or more of the money or money wagered, or any higher percentage that may be specified in the license condition. "
The announcement follows a closed consultation that examined the feasibility of lowering the RTP Percentage to 85 percent, the same as its onshore counterpart. The consultation involved a range of industry stakeholders, namely consultants, B2C operators and businesses.
According to the report, all respondents " welcomed " the MGA's proposal to lower the RTP, stating that different rates would be applied to different games and jurisdictions to provide customers with an optimal gaming experience, thereby enabling operators to operate profitably .
In addition, it was noted that only a specific product may require the RTP to be as low as 85 percent, but in most cases the RTP would remain higher than the proposed threshold because market conditions will force the industry to maintain an "appropriate RTP standard."
The MGA also received responses to a set of consultation questions and operators agreed that a reduction in RTP would affect their competitive position.
However, one respondent stated that the proposed amendment would provide flexibility to operators, who would be free to charge them higher RTP rates as needed based on market conditions and the level of competition.
Other respondents stated that the competitive position would be strengthened by having significantly fewer games than other competitors who do not have to comply with minimum RTP levels.
