I always check it upon launching a game. Even in the casinos I use every day, because what was 96% yesterday, might be 92% today. If the RTP doesn't show in the game files, I won't play the game because for all I know, it might be set to 88% or something.
I sometimes get an urge to play a certain game - say Whacked! by Nolimit. Even after checking, and finding it on 92% I will still play it in order to soothe my itch, thinking it might just hit something regardless. Usually, 500 spins and -350x later, I will wonder what the ***** I was thinking. Of course it wasn't going to hit anything!
Say RTP was as straightforward as this: You do 1,000,000 spins on a 0.2 bet. On 96%, you will have lost 8,000. On 94%, you will have lost 12,000. Which one would you choose? Or say you buy your daily groceries. In one store, it's 30 for a cart of your essentials. In the store right next to it, the very same cart is 35. Which one would you choose?
We are all hoping to beat the RTP but let's face it: Very few are so lucky. So, in the end it only becomes a matter of limiting our losses where we can, and get as many shots at the higher wins as possible. The higher the RTP, the more chances at that you get. Why? Because it returns more to the player.
Awesome result on tonight's session on The Big Dog House. Haven't kept track of spins, but I got 20 bonuses - 12 of which were anything from quite ok to simply superb!