IBTimes Confirms What We've Been Tracking: UK Operators Are Cutting Slot RTPs

IBTimes UK published a comparative analysis on 23 April 2026 confirming what RTPTrack has been documenting for weeks: UK casino operators are reducing slot RTP configurations in response to the Remote Gaming Duty increase from 21% to 40%.

The IBTimes analysis reviewed 20 widely played slot titles across multiple UK-facing operators. The finding was unambiguous: several operators have reduced RTP settings, effectively increasing their margin. The article describes this as a coordinated response to rising costs.

Named titles in the analysis include Big Bass Splash and Gates of Olympus — two of the UK's most popular Pragmatic Play slots. Both are shipped with three certified tiers (typically 96.50% / 95.50% / 94.50%). Operators responding to the tax increase simply select a lower tier from the menu. The game looks identical. The mathematics change. Players are not notified.

Hollywoodbets stands alone

Hollywoodbets UK was singled out as the only operator consistently selecting the highest available RTP versions of the games studied. Don Barker, Head of Operations at Hollywoodbets UK, stated that in light of the recent duty changes, there has been a clear shift across the market in how operators are approaching RTP configurations.

RTPTrack had the data first

This is the first mainstream media verification of the pattern RTPTrack has been tracking since the site launched. Our deployment database already documented reduced tiers at Sky Vegas (Red Tiger Megaways at 91-92%), William Hill (Big Bass at 92%), MrQ (Pragmatic flagships at 94%), Grosvenor and Mecca (Pragmatic at 94.50%, Play'n GO at 94.25%), and LeoVegas (Play'n GO at 94.25%, NetEnt at 94.05%).

The transparency gap

The IBTimes article raises a critical point about transparency. While RTP changes are permitted under UKGC rules, there is no requirement for operators to notify players when they switch tiers. The article notes that for many players, these changes may go unnoticed unless they actively review game information. This is exactly the information asymmetry RTPTrack exists to resolve.

Hollywoodbets UK has taken a distinctive approach by publishing a dedicated casino RTP list page — the only major UK operator to do so. RTPTrack is currently verifying the full Hollywoodbets deployment data and will publish the results as the first independently verified high-tier UK casino profile.

What this means for UK players

For UK players, the IBTimes confirmation changes nothing about the practical advice: check the in-game info panel before playing. The RTP shown there is the deployed figure at your casino. If it shows 94.50% on Gates of Olympus, you are paying 2 percentage points more per spin than at an operator deploying the top tier. RTPTrack's deployment database shows you which casinos deploy which tiers — verified, named, and dated.

The RGD increase took effect on 1 April 2026. We are 24 days into the new regime. The adjustments documented by IBTimes are likely the first wave, not the last. RTPTrack will continue monitoring and publishing deployment changes as they occur.