Payout Percentages Defined
Most reputable internet casinos list their payout percentages on their website. You should only play at casinos that offer this information because it is an extra assurance to you that the games are fair.
The payout percentage is based on total amount of money wagered, not derived from the amount deposited and the amount withdrawn.
For example, lets say you deposit $100 and play for a couple hours. Your balance goes up and down. You win some, lose some, and then it is time to mow the yard. Over the course of that time, you played 100 hands at $5 each. You quit with $90.
You lost $10 from your original $100. Or, the payout as far as you are concerned is 90% of the amount deposited. Honestly, this isnt too bad considering you got a couple hours entertainment! However, the payout percentage is based on the total turnover. You probably won almost half of those hands. It is the ratio of the amount you won divided by the total amount wagered. You played $500 and in the long run, lost $10. So they paid out $490 of the $500 wagered for a payout percent of 98%.