Right, so I've been spinning slots for about four years now, and the whole RTP thing used to do my head in. Everyone bangs on about it, but does it actually make a difference when you're sat there playing Book of Dead at 2am? Here's what I've learned.

Look, I've been playing slots for about four years now, and RTP used to completely confuse me. Everyone talks about it constantly, but does it actually matter when you're sitting there at 2am playing Book of Dead? Here's what I've figured out.

Yeah, RTP matters — but probably not how you think it does. That 96 percent number doesn't mean you're getting £96 back for every £100 you put in tonight. I learned this one the painful way after I burned through £80 on a 97 percent RTP slot in maybe twenty minutes. RTP is calculated over millions of spins, not your individual session.

That said, I won't touch anything below 95 percent these days. Why make things harder on yourself than they already are?

Here's how I actually handle it now. I check the RTP before trying any new game, but I don't stress about the difference between 96.1 and 96.5 percent. What I DO watch out for is those slots where the RTP changes depending on which casino you're playing at. NetEnt games are really bad for this — the exact same slot might be 96 percent at one casino and 94 percent somewhere else. I always google it first now (got burned a couple times before I started doing that).

Volatility affects your actual session way more, from what I've seen. I've had some great nights on medium volatility games like Starburst even though the RTP is only 96.09 percent. Meanwhile, high RTP but high volatility slots have absolutely destroyed my bankroll because you can go forever without getting any decent hits.

One thing I really wish someone had explained earlier - progressive jackpot slots usually have terrible RTP. Mega Moolah sits around 88 percent, which is pretty shocking compared to regular slots. Those massive jackpots have to be funded somehow, right?

My take? Go for slots above 96 percent RTP, but pay way more attention to whether the volatility matches your bankroll. I stick with medium volatility and decent RTP - games like Gonzo's Quest or Immortal Romance. They don't obliterate your balance immediately, and you get enough small wins to keep it interesting.

Bottom line - RTP isn't everything, but completely ignoring it is stupid. It's just one piece of picking a good game.