Ronin Slot by Real Time Gaming: Review, RTP and Bonus Rules

Ronin is a samurai-themed video slot from Real Time Gaming (RTG), released on 14 August 2009, with 5 reels and 20 paylines. It pays up to 10,000 coins in the base game, adds a random progressive jackpot and offers a choice of bonus: 25 free spins with all wins tripled, or a shorter re-spin round with a rising multiplier. RTG has not published a game sheet for this 2009 title, and the databases disagree on its RTP (95.00% or 97.5%), so this review names the source of every figure.

Note that “Ronin” is a crowded name. RTG launched a separate game, Ronin: Quest of Honor, in late 2024, and some unrelated casino websites call themselves Ronin Slots. We cover the 2009 game first and the sequel further down. Slots are for adults only, 18+.

Ronin at a glance

The old version of this page showed a maximum bet of 0.25 and four casino boxes we could not verify. Both are gone.

Symbols and how they work

Two special symbols carry the game, as described by USAplayers:

• Ronin (wild and scatter): the samurai substitutes for every symbol except the Koku. He also pays as a scatter, so two or more anywhere on the reels win. Five Ronin pay the base top prize of 5,000 coins.
• Koku (wild on reel 3): the koku, a traditional Japanese measure of rice, appears only on the middle reel and substitutes for every symbol except the Ronin. When it is part of a winning line, that win is doubled, which is how the 10,000-coin top prize is reached.

The other symbols are Japanese-themed pictures and letters. Coin values depend on the coin size you choose, and since lines can be switched off, check that all 20 are active if you want the full feature chances.

The bonus: free spins or re-spins

According to USAplayers, the bonus starts when a Koku appears together with two Ronin symbols. You then choose one of two options:

RTG does not publish the expected value of either option, so neither is provably better. As a rule of thumb, the 25 spins at x3 suit players who prefer predictable results, while the re-spin option gives a bigger spread of outcomes: a short run pays little, a long run with a high final multiplier can pay much more.

The random progressive jackpot

Ronin belongs to the RTG titles with a random progressive jackpot. It is not tied to a symbol combination: it can be awarded at random after any paid spin, and its size depends on how much has been staked into the pool. Because a small share of every stake feeds the jackpot, part of the game’s return is concentrated in a prize most players never win. Our guide to how progressive slots work explains the trade-off.

What the RTP range means

The two published figures lead to quite different costs. At EUR 1 per spin over 1,000 spins (EUR 1,000 staked), a 95.00% game would cost on average EUR 50, while a 97.5% game would cost EUR 25. The real figure may also differ by casino. Check the information screen in the game, and ask support if it does not show the RTP.

Ronin: Quest of Honor (2024)

RTG returned to the theme with Ronin: Quest of Honor, listed by SlotCatalog with a release date of 15 November 2024; trade press reported its launch at RTG casinos in December 2024. It is a different game: 5 reels, 3 rows and 10 paylines, with a stake range of 0.10 to 10 per spin on SlotCatalog. In the free games, a shifting Ronin wild moves across the reels and wild multipliers can reach x30; three or more warrior mask scatters award up to 15 free games, and a buy feature is available. RTG had not published an RTP or volatility figure when SlotCatalog reviewed it, so we do not quote one.

Where to play

RTG games are mainly found at casinos aimed at North American players. None of our partner casinos lists RTG among its studios, and none accepts players from the United States, so we name no casino here. SlotCatalog lists the 2009 Ronin as a Flash-era game whose demo is no longer available, which suggests it has left many lobbies. Before you play anywhere, check the operator’s licence on the regulator’s register; our safe casinos guide shows how.

How to try a demo

1. Look for the demo at an RTG casino or slot site; for the 2009 game it may be missing, while Quest of Honor is easier to find.
2. Activate all 20 lines and pick a coin size.
3. Open the paytable to check the Ronin and Koku rules and the RTP.
4. Trigger the bonus a few times and try both options to see how they differ.

In Great Britain, licensed casinos must verify your age before you can open their free-to-play games (since 7 May 2019).

Who Ronin suits

Ronin suits players who like classic 20-line slots with a bonus choice and a random jackpot on top. It is less suited to anyone who wants verified maths before playing, given the unresolved RTP, or to mobile players if the Flash-era version is the only one on offer. For more samurai and Asian themes and for RTG’s wider range, see our Real Time Gaming studio page, the free slots hub and the gaming software overview.

Real-money play: UK and US players

Only operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission may offer gambling to people in Great Britain (Gambling Act 2005), and GAMSTOP self-exclusion covers UKGC-licensed sites only. At UK-licensed casinos, online slots follow extra rules: since 31 October 2021 a spin must last at least 2.5 seconds and autoplay and turbo features are banned, since 9 April 2025 the maximum stake is GBP 5 per spin, and since 21 May 2025 it is GBP 2 for players aged 18 to 24. None of our partner casinos accepts players from the United States.

Play safely

Slots are for adults only: 18+ (higher in some countries). They are fast, which makes it easy to spend more than planned, so set a deposit and time limit before you start, take breaks and never chase losses. If gambling stops being fun, contact the National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, on 0808 8020 133 in Great Britain, or Gambling Therapy (gamblingtherapy.org) for free support in other countries. Our responsible gambling page lists the tools and helplines.

Frequently asked questions

Who makes the Ronin slot?

The Ronin covered here is a Real Time Gaming (RTG) video slot released on 14 August 2009. Other studios have used the name too, and RTG released a newer game, Ronin: Quest of Honor, in late 2024.

What is the RTP of Ronin by RTG?

Sources disagree. SOSGame lists 95.00% and SlotCatalog lists 97.5%. RTG does not publish a game sheet for the 2009 title that we could find, so treat both as unconfirmed and check the game help screen.

How do you trigger the Ronin bonus?

According to USAplayers, the bonus starts when a Koku symbol appears together with two Ronin symbols. You then choose between 25 free spins with all wins tripled or a re-spin option of 3 to 10 spins with a rising multiplier.

Does Ronin have a progressive jackpot?

Yes. Database reviews describe a random progressive jackpot that can be awarded after any spin, independent of the reel result.

Is Ronin Slots a casino or a game?

Both names exist. This page is about the RTG slot game Ronin. Websites calling themselves Ronin Slots are unrelated casino brands; check any such site’s licence on the regulator’s register before signing up.