Best slots with high, medium, low volatility (UK), casino slot volatility.

Casino slot volatility

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• Lower RTP games bring higher volatility (higher house advantage).
• Slot games with lower volatility have a higher RTP (lower house advantage)

if the is a big difference between the previous three amounts, it is very likely that the slot game is highly volatile.

Best slots with high, medium, low volatility (UK)

Online slots volatility can be derived from several factors. If you want to learn more about the best low, medium and high volatility slots to play online, check our slot machines volatility index below. In our guide, we explain how to determine slot volatility and how to use that information whilst playing online casino games.

What is slot volatility index?

Volatility is a statistical term used in reference to the average frequency of winnings. In general, a variance is a feature in all online slots, which works as an indicator of the risk level. When choosing a new slot machine, always pay attention to the volatility level.

Slots volatility is important, as it becomes crucial to understand the dynamics of an online slot machine. What does volatility mean in slots? It controls the relation between the two temporary elements that make up the profitability of each game: the number of bets and the number of wins.

The higher the volatility calculation, the more unexpected is the connection between these elements, as they increase the frequency of wins, together with the number of rounds needed to get it.

Volatility is declared in a form of levels, build upon the correlation between winning and payout of each online slot machine.

Understand slot machine volatility with an example

The slot volatility index can be perceived as part of the fluctuations characterizing the game, as at the end of the day it dictates the rhythm between bets and wins.

Let’s discuss the game with coin (2 sides) and dice (6 sides):

• Bet on a coin (2 possible results or 50% chance of winning), you lose £1 or win £3. The average win will be £1 per round.


• If you bet with a dice (6 possible results or 16.6% chance of winning with each throw), and you roll 1,2,3,4 or 5 you lose £1, while if you get 6 win £11. £1 is the average prize per roll also in this case.

Average win per spin (which in slots is known as RTP) will be the same for both examples, however, you are more likely to lose few times in a row if you play with dice, as there are more possible results than playing with a two-sided coin. Even if RTP is equal, variance changes: volatility of the coin is low, while dice is high.

Theoretical odds of winning are always the same but will gen winning sooner if you play with the coin. If you retire after several throws of dice where you didn’t win, the end result will be worse. However, if you play long enough, you will end up with the same odds as to when you play with the 50% chance winning coin.

Variance in the volatility of online slots

You can’t always think with a detached logic: there are many factors that lead to the choice of a game. Usually, we give a lot more importance to the theme and features such as extra spins or the number of wildcards.

Well, volatility should also be considered, as it gives useful information to increase the chances of winning. In this regard, we can distinguish slot machines in three categories: high volatility, medium volatility, low volatility.

High volatility slots

Best high volatility slots are only suitable for players with a thick wallet, as rewards are much higher than of other slots, but come rarely when you least expect them. Highly volatile casino slots, typically offer better payouts, but winning combinations tend to occur much less frequently.

To play the most volatile online slots, prepare unlimited funds to extend the session if you want to see the jackpot coming in, which will certainly be difficult to get anyway. For this reason, slots with high volatility are considered in every sense the opposite of low variance slots, including RTP between 92,5 and 94%.

Best highest volatility slots

Medium volatility slots

Slots with medium volatility are in a middle place as their winnings are not that high, but frequent enough not to lose interest. Average volatility slots come with quite acceptable percentages of RTP, between 95 and 96,5%.

Mid slots combine the best of high and low volatility slots. Thes bring relatively low risk, typical of games with the lowest volatility, but at the same time winning potential is closer to high volatility slots.

List of medium volatility slot machines:

Low volatility slots

Slots with low volatility are divided into classic, 3D and video slots. They carry the lowest risk in the short term and more frequent winning with small amounts at a distance of a few spins. Least volatile slot machines release a win every two or three spins.

When it comes to RTP, these games start at 96.5% and can exceed 98% for a few. Best low volatility slots online are ideal for impatient players, who like to see immediate results.

List of low volatility slots that payout frequently

How can I check the volatility of a game?

Volatility is inalterable: the way you play can rarely influence it. Nor can you predict it, but you can assume levels by looking at the correlation between the paytable and bonus rounds.

When the highest values are assigned to big rewards or bonus features activated only on certain events, you are definitely playing a slot with high volatility. One trick: most slot machines with progressive jackpots are categorized as the highest volatility games.

To determine game volatility, perform a simple test. Evaluate winnings range awarded with different combinations in paytable by following steps:

• Check how much you win if you get 3 equal symbols on a payline per spin.


• Compare with the amount when you get 4 symbols.


• Analyze and compare the previous two amounts with the third one, when you get 5 symbols.

If the is a big difference between the previous three amounts, it is very likely that the slot game is highly volatile.

When you investigate a slot bonus, and you find a relatively low payout limit and a high probability of small wins, you are definitely playing low volatility slot.

Signs that reveal a low volatility slot:

• Few winning combinations in the same slot round.


• The highest win in the game multiplies your bet by a maximum of 200x.


• RTP over 96%.

Is it worth to play slots with high volatility?

Do not confuse volatility with slot RTP. Although both are almost always associated and have a close relationship, they have no direct correlation.

Association between RTP and volatility comes as follows:

• Lower RTP games bring higher volatility (higher house advantage).


• Slot games with lower volatility have a higher RTP (lower house advantage)

Players not getting earnings, usually leave the session earlier. RTP of that game type is definitely low. Slot balance indicates the maximum % of RTP expected after longer playing time.

Choosing an online slot machine with low RTP and high volatility has its weakness, but also few advantages: even if you spend a lot of time without winning, if you hold out long enough you are more likely to hit the jackpot.

Slots with high volatility work by maintaining balance for a longer time before making a payout and require much higher investment and patience on the players’ side. You will never know if a big win will come, as it depends solely and exclusively on the RNG (random number generator). You can only keep betting and manage income and expenditure. With the hope, beyond that, that the stroke of luck will eventually come.

Why slot machines with low volatility are the best?

Paradoxically, slots with low volatility offer consistent winnings in online casinos. When the RTP is higher, the house advantage is lower.

Least volatile slots are preferred by most players, also receive the most bets. Users leave casino operators with the highest profit at the end of the day. Casino websites distribute winnings, but you could still literally call them fundraising machines.

Even for low volatility slots, winnings depend on the RNG software. Prizes are given after few spins and in general, are low, but happen more frequently, thus you could make only a few spins to get a winning.

Success of this type of slot machine is much more attractive to players, as it offers the feeling of victory almost from the beginning. On top of that, graphics are often very attractive with easy to use navigation.

Which volatility index is best suited to your style of play?

Find out which slot fits your play style, try it first in demo version, without risking real money. How to do this? Our free slots catalog allows you to play with no deposit. Should you find a slot that suits your needs, you can play it for real money in the best UK slot sites listed on a dedicated page.

Evaluate a slot to see if provided volatility is acceptable. First, consider whether to play on an adaptable, unlimited budget or with funds you don’t want to exceed.

The second thing to deal with is exactly what you want, as nobody knows what you like than you. Do you just want to have fun with a good slot or you want to win some money?

The last thing – what is your appetite for risk. The essence of gambling comes with risk & volatility, which have direct consequences on your budget.

When to choose slots with low volatility?

Slots with low volatility are recommended for players who want to relax, play a couple of rounds and enjoy several wins in a short time. Aside from those slots that you consider to be among your favorites for various factors, low volatility online slots are still the best choice for the below circumstances:

• Play for fun with limited balance.


• Low funds and time investment in order to win.


• Not chasing for crazy and fantastic winnings.


• Slot bonus games extending your session to activate extra features.

Choosing slots with medium volatility

If you are not the most risky person, opt for slots with an average variance. These games are the most popular type in all UK online casinos.

Medium volatility slots might be for you if:

• Don’t want to spend too much, but you keep an open balance.


• Winnings are worth playing for, as you don’t want to settle for anything.


• Surprises are your thing.

Give a high volatility slot machines a chance

We left the high volatility slots for last, as that type of a casino game is definitely not for everyone. Eliminate them from your possible choices, unless:

• You like high risk and you will not suffer after placing plenty of bets before you get the results.


• Big winnings are all you care about.


• Patience is your strong side.

Slot volatility

The word volatile as applied to a slot machine basically refers to the amount of risk inherent to a specific game. It is used to describe how often and how much you can expect to win during your playing sessions. Some games can present long dry spells with occasional big wins. Likewise, these games can often feature a large number of big wins in a short period of time. These are known as high volatility slots. The opposite is true of low volatility slots. In these, you'll score winning paylines frequently, but more often than not, the payouts will be on the smaller side.

High volatility slots

Higher volatility equates to higher risk. Because payouts, while larger, are fewer and farther between, you can sometimes end up clicking the "spin" button, watching your balance dwindle, with not a lot to show for it. That is, until everything lines up perfectly and bam! You've won an enormous payout that made the long dry spell worth it. These are popular with players who prefer games that offer the chance for big wins. One of my favorite slots with high volatility is the book of ra slot by novomatic.

When should you play a high volatility slot?

It's best to choose high volatility games only when you have a lot of time and a lot of cash on your hands. You have to be rather patient, satisfied with not seeing a lot of action while you wait for the big bonus features to hit at just the right time to replenish your bankroll.

It's also good if your budget has a lot of cushion and you don't mind walking away from the game once you've spent the amount you intended to. For a lot of people, the thrill of chasing the huge win is worth the satisfaction of finally landing it, and this requires patience. High volatility games were designed for just that kind of slot experience.

The last thing to mention is that many of these games can offer huge wins and payouts. I've played numerous games where I've hit big wins several times shortly after sitting down to play. Obviously this doesn't happen all the time, but for players can afford it, higher volatility games are generally going to be a bit more fun.

The book of ra slot by novomatic is infamous among slot players for it's high volatility

Low volatility slots

On the opposite side of the coin, lower volatility games equate to lower risk. The payouts on low volatility slots are smaller but alot more frequent, and there's not a lot of boredom in this type of game. Little wins seem to pop up every couple of spins, and the time slips away because you're so entertained by all the bonus features and animations holding your attention. That's not to say that large wins are impossible on these games - they can and do happen. It's just not on the same scale as the wins available on higher volatility games.

How to determine volatility

Casino game designers aren't eager to give out this information, but volatility usually becomes obvious after spending some time playing a particular slot. Most slot enthusiasts find that they're more drawn to one type over the other, so one isn't necessarily "good" while the other is "bad". Whether you like high or low volatility slots is truly a matter of personal preference and gambling style.

Because volatility can be determined through play, it's recommended to play for free before jumping in and risking real money. Another way to have at least some idea of volatility is to look at the game's paytable. If really high prizes are offered, that's a sign that the game is medium-to-high volatility because it's certainly not going to award these huge prizes frequently.

Volatility vs variance

Sometimes you'll see the term slot variance instead of slot volatility. Don't worry that this is another term you'll have to learn about - the two refer to exactly the same thing, which is how often and how much a slot pays out and the player's total risk in choosing this game.

Volatility in a nutshell

Though personal preference is important, the bottom line in choosing high or low volatility slots should be one's slots bankroll. If there's money to spare, try your hand at the higher-risk slots. But folks with a lower bankroll looking to be entertained for longer with a smaller budget should probably stick to the quick rewards of a lower-variance slot.

Slot odds, variance and volatility

The house edge, RTP and the risk

Best slots sites

Slots odds, house edge & RTP

The odds of you winning on a slot are usually represented in a machine by what casino game software developers like to call ‘the return to player rate’; otherwise known as the RTP

You’ll see something like this: expected RTP 95%.

Another way of looking at it, and what you’ll read in other places, is: house edge 5%.

What they are basically saying is the same thing but in reverse. In one you are specifying how much a video slot machine is expected to give back to the players, on the other you are saying how much of the money the machine gives back to the mobile casinos online.

We prefer to talk about RTP because it’s what is clearly marked out on the online mobile slots we’ve played. So it avoids confusion when you see it.

You can think of it like this: for every 1 coin (dollar, GBP, euro) you put into the machine, the slot machine is going to give out 95 cents/pennies back to the player.

The RTP is calculated over the entire lifetime of the slot machine over millions of spins.

Of course if it was as simple as that, it wouldn’t really be gambling, it would be paying 5 cents for a spin. That’s because the RTP is calculated over the entire lifetime of the slot machine over millions of spins. It works on averages. When you win €1.90, you are getting not just your 95 cents, but the 95 cents from another player who didn’t win on their spin.

It simply means that all in all, over time, the machine is going to give out to the casino 5 cents for every coin put it. Sometimes the machine will pay out huge amounts and the casino will be down, but it will average out in the long run.

Look for machines with high return to player rate.

So on this basis, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that you should head for the slot machines with the higher return to player rate.

Generally, anything over 95% is great, 96% and 97% is even better. Less than 90% and you should generally avoid. Those machines are so tight they ask their mothers to pay for a drink of tap water in their own homes.

A good return to player rate (RTP) is anything over 95%. The higher the better.

Higher payout rates don’t always mean better however. Variance plays a very important factor in how often the machine will pay out.

A machine with 97% payout rate, but low variance, will give you tiny little wins often. A machine with 94% RTP rate but high variance will take patience, but you can win hundreds of thousands for your troubles.

Luckymobileslots.Com has over 1000 reviews of all the mobile slots and gives out variance and payout information. Mobile slots reviews »

You need to do your research. Luckymobileslots.Com is the best place to find all the information on all the mobile slots machines new and old and what you can expect from each.

Generally, the higher the payout, the better. It’s a great starting slot strategy.

What is slot variance? What is slot volatility?

Variance and volatility are one and the same thing. Two terms one meaning; how risky is this slot machine?

Basically the volatility of a slot is directly related to how often and how much it pays out. Another way of looking at it is that volatility = risk. High volatility means high risk, low volatility means low risk.

Not many casino slot game providers like to publish this information. Sometimes it’s obvious and sometimes it’s not. But depending on the type of player, you might be more or less attracted to one type of slot machine over the other.

There is no right or wrong answer; different players will enjoy different types of mobile slots. You might even find a new favourite game and it might be a variance you had not expected.

Most of the time, you just have to spin to find out if this slot machine is the one for you, is it entertaining and is it fun to play?

When should I play low variance slots?

Low variance is all about entertainment. This slot game will pop, sizzle, spark. It will give you lots of little wins, and often. What it won’t do is give you a big life changing win at 400x your bet.

Great lower variance slots?

Foxin wins, starburst, mermaids millions.Find them all at:

You should play low variance slots when:

• You just want to be entertained


• You don’t have a large bankroll


• You want your game play to last for as long as possible


• You want to try and walk away from the mobile casino on the positive rather than negative


• You want lots of actions, bonus features and everything coming at you at once! Entertain me slot!

Of course low variance slots don’t always pay out small, some have even the chance to win progressive jackpots or as much as 80 or 100 times your original bet. But a low variance slot is low risk for a reason. It’s there to help you make your budget last as long as possible and possibly even walk away with a little 20% extra on top.

For beginners and those who just want entertainment, we recommend low variance mobile slots.

When should I play high variance slots?

High variance slots are all about that great big win in the sky. You know. That moment when you see those 5 in a row line up and you hit a multiplier, on a free spin round, with a random instant prize bonus game and suddenly you see the big letters… BIG WIN… flash before your eyes.

But uninitiated players beware; these slots are high risk for a reason.

Great higher variance slots?

Treasures of troy, dead or alive, 300 sheilds, gonzo’s quest.Find them all at:

You should play high variance slots when:

• You have the cash to spare


• You are chasing huge wins and nothing but 500x your bet will satisfy you


• You don’t mind walking away once you’ve spent your budget


• You don’t mind not getting a lot of action and are happy to wait for the bonus features to hit, safe in the knowledge that when those winning combinations show up… you’ll be one happy mother clucker. (yes we changed that word on purpose. This may be an over 18 website but we have manners.)

There is no doubt that if you are not willing to be in for the long haul with high variance games, you’ll walk out with less than you come in.

The only possibly winning strategy when playing high volatility games is to check your budget and figure how much you would need to spend for about 150 to 300 spins. If your budget allows that, then you have a chance to walk out a happy gambler, or at least, not a poorer one.

How can I tell the variance or volatility of a slot?

Unless we are told by the casino game software (and which we put on luckymobileslots.Com) the only way to really get a feel for the variance of the video slot is to play.

If however, this answer doesn’t satisfy you, there is another ‘indicator’ or ‘hint’ that you can use to ‘guestimate’ the variance of a slot.

When in doubt

Free play the mobile slot first and get a feel for it before you play with real money.

But just in case you hold us accountable, ‘’, means that this mantra is not set in stone, it is just a guideline. A lot depends on how many symbols, reels, in-game or progressive jackpots and paylines you have in the slot machine.

Check out the paytable

First things first. If the slot has something like ‘win a million trillion coins!!’ written on it, chances are it’s at least medium to high volatility.

The higher the maximum win, the more chance this slot will take it’s sweet time giving it to you in the base game or bonus games.

Secondly, look at the difference between what you will win when you get 4 of a kind in comparison to 5 of a kind symbol wins.

If the difference is only about 3x to 5x more, you are probably looking at a lower volatility slot like starburst. If, however, the difference is more 10 or 15 times than the 4 of a kind win, then you might be looking at a high variance slot like WMS raging rhino.

What next? Comfortable with how to manage the risks, bet within your budget and the types of slots available? Do you think you’ll be able to recognise the bonus features and styles of slots? Then it’s time to find a mobile casino to play at. Check out our list below of mobile casinos that offer video and classic mobile slot to play on your mobile.

Learn more about mobile slots all casino guides »

Best mobile slots casinos online

Find where to play mobile slots

How to play mobile slots online

Learn the basics of online mobile slots

Mobile slots guide

Your guide to playing mobile slots online

Mobile slots terms & rules

Learn the rules, get to grips with the lingo

Slot odds, variance and volatility

The house edge, RTP and the risk

Slots bonus features explained

Get to know the bonus games and features

Slots strategies & tips

Get the most out of your real money bets

Slots mobile casinos

List of all the mobile casinos where you can play mobile slots online

The volatility of games (slots) in casinos: you need to know this! + bonuses!

Casino slots volatility. What is it?

When reading forums about casino games, one often hears such phrases: "the slot does not play", “the slot for 1000 spins did not give a single bonus game”, “the slot ate 1000 euros and returned nothing”, "the slot gives like crazy" and so on. All this can be combined with one concept - slot volatility!

It is clear that most often, talking about the game of the slot, they talk about its RTP (return to player), about which I already did a separate post.

Rakeback and RTP. What is it? Read more..

But applicable to casino games, the volatility of slots would be a more appropriate definition. Indeed, in simple and understandable language, the volatility of the slots reflects how often the game will win and how big it will be!

Slot volatility. Why and when should a player know about it?

About how volatility slots, in the rules for the game you will not find. It can only be determined, either by playing and gaining experience personally (which is sometimes expensive), or by reading this blog, which will help you to avoid mistakes and win money!

Usually, casino games come with high , and и low volatility.

In games with high volatility, winnings will be rare, but with large multiplication, and in games with low volatility, frequent, but usually small.

Examples from life: the game with the highest volatility, of course, is the lottery. You can buy tickets all your life, but never have time to win something. But if you manage to win, then enough for several lives at once! And the game with the lowest volatility is the game of roulette in black and red (theoretically, you will win every other time, with the exception of zero), but the winnings will be scanty relative the bet.

According to my observations, most players prefer big wins, therefore for this you need to play slots with high volatility. But…

But this requires several conditions.

• First, to play such slots, you need a solid cash balance. After all, such games can easily “eat” 1000 € at a rate of 1 € and not give a bonus game.


• Therefore, to play such games you also need enough time and strong nerves. It’s not so easy to watch your balance melt without a chance to win.

Volatility and casino bonuses.

The most important thing about volatility you need to know when you are playing with bonuses and you need to play a wager. (what is wager and how to play with bonuses, I already wrote).

Bonuses at the casino! How to recognize the "pitfalls"? Read more.

Wager in the casino! How to defeat him? Read more.

So, when you play with a bonus, according to my observations, you need to use slots with different volatility during one gaming session.

• At the first stage, we need to take a chance and increase our bankroll (balance sheet). Therefore, we increase the bet and play games with high volatility.


• And if you are lucky and the balance can be doubled or tripled, then the bet can be reduced, choose slots with low volatility and quietly "wash" the bonus. My personal record according to this scheme was winning and paying 2000 € with 60 € bonus money in goodwin casino. (the story with all the evidence has already been described separately!)

Volatility of slots. Examples of games.

In the world of online gambling, there are providers who have almost all games either with high volatility or vice versa with low volatility.

Catch the bonus game amatic or endorphinais much more complicated than in slots from ELK studios, eg. But, having caught a bonus, in any geisha from endorphina or lucky zodiac from amatic, you can almost always expect a significant recharge. And in electric sam from ELK studios you will catch bonus games through the turn, but large winnings will happen extremely rarely.

High variance slots vs low variance slots: slot volatility guide and listing

What does volatility mean in online slot play

Slot machine volatility is not really something new, but it has steadily been gaining prominence recently. Casino players use it to predict the performance of online slot games during their sessions, and to plan their bankroll accordingly.The variance in online slots basically tells you how often you are likely to hit winning combinations, and what will be the size of your wins. If you are spinning a slot that doesn’t land wins too often but has the potential for large prizes – then you are playing a high variance game. If your slot offers small wins, but you are hitting them all the time – then you have your prototypical low variance game.

Slot variance can be used to describe both land-based and online games, but it is a little easier to measure for internet titles. There is no difference between volatility and variance, in most cases both terms are used as synonyms. Which one you choose is entirely up to you. The most important distinction is between high and low levels of volatility/variance.

If you have any experience with slots whatsoever, then you probably know that proper slot strategy requires you to put a little more effort in searching for profitable games. Most players study the RTP rate of the games, but nowadays the volatility is considered much more important. It gives you a better idea what you can expect from your gaming session – and our ultimate goal as players is not only to win some cash but to have a pleasant night as well.

Volatility vs variance: is there a difference?

This is a natural question for most slot players. In a normal conversation, as well as in most articles on the topic, you will find no difference between volatility and variance. Both words describe the gameplay of the slot. However, there are some slight nuances that experts might want to pay attention to.

Variance is a statistical term that is used rather frequently in poker games and has transferred to the slot world too. It shows the deviation from a certain expectation – in the case of slots, said expectation is usually the return to player rate. Many slot players live and die by the RTP, but the variation shows how much the results of you spins can vary in the short run.

Volatility, meanwhile, has a wide use in finance in terms of evaluating financial instruments. It took a similar meaning to variance, though it is more closely linked to the gameplay. In modern slot sang, volatility expresses how often and how big you will be winning – just the info that we want to know!

How to measure slot volatility

Onto the important question – how can you determine the volatility of a slot? Well, it is not very easy. The variance of the slot results is programmed in advance in the RNG of both online and land-based games. However, the software developers and the casinos rarely disclose any details about the workings of their RNG software.

If you want to get an idea about the variance of a slot machine on your own, you will need to measure it – well, by spinning. And it takes a lot of spins to get an accurate idea what you can expect – ideally, 100+ and even more. That’s why it isn’t an overly bad idea to take advantage of the free slot demo versions floating around the net. However, even with a lot of test-spins, we can never be a 100% sure in the results. Modern casino software studios are getting more and more dilligent in the preparations of their RNG programs, with a high volume of random numbers being generated per second.

The paytable also holds some important clues for you. You should pay attention to the jackpot values and to the difference between the 4- and 5-symbol combinations. Compare the highest wins to your max bet levels – if they are 40 or 50 times larger, then you probably have a game with mid- to high variance. If there is only a small difference between the prizes and the bet levels, then the slot wouldn’t really work unless it offered frequent hits. The only exception to this rule could be progressive slots – a high jackpot usually implies high volatility, but the base game payouts could still be rather low.

Best high variance slots: who, how and where?

As we already mentioned, determining the variance of a slot can be quite hard and takes a lot of playthroughs. That’s why we have concrete data mostly about slots by the big casino game developers – microgaming, netent and playtech.

High variance slots are suitable for players willing to take a bigger risk for the chance of substantial profits. The higher the variance of a game, the more disparity there is between the regular and the big wins. Of course, this means that the odds of hitting a big win are also substantially smaller – in fact, high variance slots can be rather dull if you are out of luck. It isn’t unusual to go through a lot of spins without hitting a big win.

That’s why in such games it is important to budget accordingly – bigger bankrolls are generally better, though there are many low-bet games that are also quite volatile. The RTP of such games usually evens out only in the long run – this means that with the fluctuations of a high variance game, it gets really hard to predict what the final balance of your session will be.

If you want to play the most volatile slots, you will need to be able to ride out the dry spells. This implies a lot of patience and a larger bankroll. You should never bet more money than you can lose on such a slot since all strategies can go out the window. However, experienced slot players know that hitting a big win on a high variance game is the best way to beat the RTP and run on a profit – and sometimes, the grand prizes can be truly life-changing.

High variance playtech slots: 2020 list

Playtech is one of the leading casino game developers worldwide. They offer one of the largest online portfolios of video slots. Their RTP is rather stable on mid to high levels, which means that the best high variance slots have a potential to earn you substantial winnings. We have gathered a collection of their slot titles that have higher volatility and offer the potential for top prizes.

HIGH VOLATILITY SLOTS

1. BOOK OF RA

2. REACTOONZ

3. BEOWULF

4. BONANZA

5. DEAD OR ALIVE

6. 300 SHIELDS

7. BERRY BURST MAX

8. DIAMOND EMPIRE

9. JUNGLE SPIRIT

High volatility slots are certainly the most exciting of slots and are sure to get your adrenaline flowing for they are those which offer the biggest winnings! When entering the free spins feature, the bonus game feature or simply when a winning combination is obtained on a high variance slot the player knows he can potentially make a massive win. The excitement level is naturally very high!

The volatility, or variance, measure how much and at what frequency a slot machine pays. It may be low, medium (but also medium-low or medium-high) or high. The more important the variance is, the bigger the winnings will be, yet they are harder to obtain.

In the casino world, there is no good or bad game. Every player must simply find the slot or video slot which is most suited to their needs and wants (in terms of volatility and of user experience) and to their budget.

Online casinos and specialised blogs often emphasize the RTP of slot machines, thus indicating which part of the bets is redistributed to players or on the slot providers. According to us however, the variance is the most important criteria in order to understand the value of a game since it defines the amount and the frequency of the winnings players may hope to make. This is why we have decided to classify the machines by volatility.

Our TOP 10 best high volatility slots is based off 3 essential technical criteria which define the slot engine of a slot machine. The games that appear on it have not only the best high variance but also display a very good payout (an RTP higher than 96%) and an interesting hit frequency.

The combination of a high volatility + good RTP + good hit frequency is in our opinion the key to defining which are the best high variance slot machines intended for high roller players and VIP gamblers.

WHAT IS A HIGH VOLATILITY SLOT ?

High is the highest level of variance for a slot. These slots have two characteristics:

• They are the machines on which the winnings be the most important,


• Winnings are made less frequently than on low or medium variance slots. High volatility therefore also means there is a high risk of not making any winnings and of losing one’s wager.

For the sake of clarity, with high volatility online slots it may be that a player will not obtain any winning rounds over a shorter or longer period which may cause dry spells. This is why we say these machines present a high risk.

Unlike low and medium variance slots, high volatility slots will not award frequent small or medium winnings which increase the player’s balance. This explains why one must benefit of a significant bankroll in order to play them.
For example, if a player were to play £50 on one of the new UK gambling sites he could lose his bet in only a couple of minutes without having made any winnings combinations and therefore no winnings. On the other hand, when the machine produces winnings, the player has more chances of obtaining a big win if not a huge win than with any other game which displays a lower variance.

You now understand why these slots have met with so much success, they are however targeted at a specific category of players: the high rollers or VIP players who have a budget hefty enough to afford playing long sessions without making any winnings.

Ideally, one must combine a high volatility slot with a strong RTP and an important hit frequency percentage and you will soon understand the reasons behind this.

RTP (PAYOUT) AND HIGH VARIANCE

The RTP, which means return to player and is also knows as the payout is a piece of data supplied by the slot provider in order to indicate the sum of the payouts of a slot machine. To be more precise, this number indicates what percentage of the sums wagered into a machine and are then paid back to players. For example, an RTP of 96% means that out £100 wagered into a machine, £96 will be paid back to players under the form of winnings.

Whatever the volatility of a machine is, players are obviously after those casino slot machines which have the highest RTP. For our TOP 10, we have exclusively selected online slots which display an RTP of 96% or more.

HIGH VOLATILITY ONLINE SLOT AND HIT FREQUENCY

High variance online slots are the slot machines which have the lowest frequency of winnings, this criterion being defined by the hit frequency. A hit frequency of 25% means that on average 25 rounds out of 100 will grant winnings.

Machines which display the most interesting hit frequency are to be sought. Dead or alive by netent is a gem in this matter and displays an incredible hit frequency of 30.42% (paired with an RTP of 96.8%) against 22.64% for reel steal and 17.09 for jungle spirit: dead or alive is one of the best high volatility online slots.

FOR WHICH PLAYERS ARE HIGH VOLATILITY GAMES MADE?

Those slots or mobile slots are not targeted at all gamblers – they are reserved for high rollers and VIP players.

The typical profile of high roller gamblers is the following:

• They play with a significant budget. They carry out deposits of hundreds if not thousands of euros. They can actually even choose an online casino depending on its VIP program since the sums they deposit usually enable them to move up into the VIP players category.


• They do not play to simply pass time or to make small winnings. Doubling or tripling their deposits is not what interests them, they play to hit a massive win and multiply their deposit by 10, 15 or more. They continue betting as long as they haven’t reached their goal. For VIP players there are to possible options: either making a massive win and withdrawing their winnings or losing their bet.


• Time is an important factor whilst playing on a high variance online slot. High roller players demonstrate a lot of patience for they can play for a certain amount of time without making any winnings whatsoever.


• They are ready to take risks to win big. The high risk associated with high volatility slot machines is not an issue for them.


• Most high rollers alternate between high and medium volatility slots, however they never play on low volatility slots for these machines are too far off from their expectations.

If you are a high volatility slot seeker, consult right now the last netent branded game vikings and halloween jack video slot review.

Understanding volatility in slots

Unlike the RTP, the variance or volatility of a game is not a data in the form of a number and is not usually easy to find, although it can be deduced from several clues.

However, if you like to find out about the slots you play, you may have heard of a game’s variance index. Here we explain what volatility is and how you can use it to your advantage.
What volatility is and why it is important

Variance and volatility are two statistical terms used interchangeably to refer to the average between prizes and rolls. In general terms, the variance is a characteristic present in all slots, which serves as an indication of the level of risk of any game of chance.

It can help you to choose your preferred niche.

Volatility is significant because it is fundamental when it comes to an understanding the type of dynamics of a slot machine: it determines the interaction between the two temporal factors that make up the personality of any game, that is, the times you bet, and the times you get a prize.

To make it clear from the beginning, know that the higher the volatility, the more abrupt will be the relationship between these two elements, increasing the amounts of the prize and also the number of spins needed to see the rewards.

Volatility is expressed in a scale of levels, depending on the correlation between the size and regularity of payments for each slot machine. You can find games categorized in one of these three groups, depending on whether they have large and irregular payments or small and very consecutive.

A simple example to understand the volatility of slots

The volatility index of a slot can be intuitively noticed as part of the dynamics that characterize a game because in the end, it does not stop being part of the rhythm that is established between bets and rewards.

However, as a statistical concept, it can be a bit overwhelming. An example frequently used to understand what it consists of is that of betting with coins (2 sides) and dice (6 sides):

By betting with a coin (2 possibilities or 50% of prize options), the rules are that if you roll heads, you lose 1€, and if you roll tails you win 3€. The average price will be €1 per spin.

Betting with a die (6 possibilities or 16,6% of prize options), the rules are that if you get 1,2,3,4 or 5 you lose 1€, and if you get 6 you win 11€. The average will also be €1 profit per spin.

Although the average prize per roll (what is known in slots as RTP) is the same in both games, the chances of losing several times in a row if you play with the die are greater than if you play with the coin. Although the RTP remains in both games, the variance changes: the volatility of the currency is low and the volatility of the die is high.

Your theoretical expectations of the prize are the same in both games, but they are met before playing with the coin. That’s why if you give up after several rolls with the dice without getting a prize, the final result will be more unfavorable for you, but if you hold out long enough, you’ll end up reaching the same odds as when playing with the coin.

Ranges in the volatility of a slot

Not everything in us responds to the cold logic: the factors that influence whether we like a game more or less are many. Normally we tend to give a lot of importance to the subject, and to features like free spins or the number of jokers.

Well, what gives the rhythm to a slot and also how exciting it can be, is nothing else but volatility: that’s why it’s so important to know how we play before choosing a slot to bet with real money. These are the three levels (with their intermediates) with which most slots are categorized:

Slots with high volatility

They are only suitable for hearts in good shape, because they give prizes considerably higher than the rest of the titles, but they arrive when you least expect it and are quite spaced in time.
You need unlimited funds to be able to prolong the session as much as necessary until you see the prizes, which will undoubtedly be begged. That is why they are considered the opposite side of low variance machines in all senses, including also their RTP, which can reach between 92 and 94% of RTP.

Average volatility

They’re in an intermediate place because their awards aren’t very high, but they’re frequent enough so you don’t lose interest. They have fairly acceptable RTP percentages, ranging from 95 to 96%.
They combine the best of both types of extremes: on the one hand, they have the relatively low risk of low volatility games, but at the same time their potential for winning prizes is closer to that of high volatility slots.

Low volatility

They group video slots, classic slots and 3D slots that are characterized by a low risk in the short term and consequently they are the ones that pay small amounts every few shots. To give you an idea, those with the lowest variance are awarded prizes every two or three spins.

As for the RTP, almost all these games are placed above 96.5% and can even exceed 98% in a few tenths. They are the perfect type of slot for those players who do not like to wait to see results.

How do I know the volatility of a game?

Volatility is unalterable, which means that your way of playing can rarely affect it. You won’t be able to predict it safely either because it’s not easy to determine, but you can get an idea of its level by looking at the balance between the paytable and the bonuses that appear in the credits.

When the higher values are concentrated in the main prizes or bonus functions that are activated only rarely, then you are faced with a highly volatile design. A trick: most progressive jackpot slots fall into this category.

To be more sure of the level of volatility of the game, you can submit it to a simple test. In the paytable, you evaluate the price ranges that are delivered with different winning combinations, following these steps:

1. See how much you can earn per spin if you draw 3 identical symbols on a payline.
   Compare it with the amount you can win if you draw 4 symbols.


2. Finally, compare the two previous amounts with what you would get if they were 5 symbols.


3. When the result is that there is a large jump between the three previous amounts, the game is most likely to be highly volatile.

If on the other hand when researching slot credits you find relatively low principal payments and a large number of options to get prizes for small amounts, you are probably looking at a low volatility slot machine. These are some of the signs that reveal a design with low volatility:

1. Surely the machine will allow you to collect several winning combinations in the same turn.


2. Count on the highest prize in the game is a maximum of X200 your bet.


3. If besides, the RTP is above 96%, you can be practically sure.

Are high volatility slots worth it?

There is a general tendency to confuse volatility and RTP, and although the two almost always go hand in hand and are closely related, they do not have a direct correlation. So, if you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to take a look at our article explaining what the theoretical return to the player or RTP is.

In short, although there are no strict rules in this respect, the relationship that is usually established between RTP and volatility is the following: games with higher volatility have a lower RTP (or a greater advantage for the house, depending on the point of view you prefer to adopt).

He thinks it’s normal that when people play for a while without winning anything, they get tired and give up. If we calculated the RTP derived from this type of games it would surely be bleakly low, hence the game credits always indicate the maximum percentage of RTP that can be expected after a long game.

Obviously, choosing a machine that combines low RTP and high volatility has its drawbacks, but also a clear advantage: although you’ll probably go a long time without making a profit, if you resist long enough when you do, the chances of making the prize worthwhile will be greater. I’m sure the regular fruit slot players of all time know what we’re talking about.

Highly volatile slots work by storing balance for longer before issuing a payment and require greater investment (in balance and patience) by the player. The question is that it is impossible to know when that payment will be issued, the RNG software takes care of it: the only thing you can do is keep betting to try to recover your investment.

Why low volatility slot machines win

Paradoxically, it is the slots with the lowest volatility that leave the highest profits in casinos. It is true that in most of them the RTP is higher, and therefore the advantage of the smaller house.

But even so, as they are the type of slots preferred by the majority of players, they are also the ones that receive the most bets and consequently the ones that leave the operators with the best cash at the end of the day. Of course they hand out prizes, but it can be said of them that they are literally a money-raising machine.

As with the high volatility slots, again the operation of the low variance slots software is the cause of the type of prizes they deliver. This time it consists of boosting prizes when they only have a few rolls accumulated: hence the prizes are generally low but are much more followed and therefore you do not have to do more than a couple of rolls to collect a prize.

The success of these machines is that they are much more appealing to players, because they give you a sense of victory almost from the start of the game. In addition, their designs are very attractive, and although some of them may seem loaded with extras, in general slots with a low variance are created so that anyone can handle them without needing previous experience.
What volatility index is right for you as a player?

When you want to see if a game is right for you before you risk betting real money, it’s best to give it a chance in our slot catalogue to play for free.

But in any case, this is what you must assess to measure the degree of compatibility between the variance of a game and your way of playing: first consider whether you play with an adaptable budget, with no limit on funds or with a closed amount.

The next thing to value is your own character, because no one knows what you like better than you. Assess whether while playing you are patient and tenacious or just looking to have a good time and watch the counter go up as many times as possible.

And finally, the third thing to keep in mind is your level of risk appetite. Because even if we are able to analyse the figures coldly, after all, the essence of gambling is only in risk: and volatility affects it directly.

Why choose low volatility games?

In terms of profitability it may seem contradictory, but low volatility slots are also a recommended option for those who are just looking to relax, play a few rolls and enjoy a few straight wins in no time.

It’s true that if you decide to play in this way you won’t get the best possible performance, but not all players see the sessions as a challenge. So starting with the favorites of the majority, low volatility games are best when any of the following circumstances occur:

1. You only play to entertain yourself for a while, you have a limited balance and you don’t want to invest a lot of time or money to see a reward arrive.


2. You live in the moment and you’re not the type to go crazy chasing big prizes.


3. You really like the theme of the title you’ve chosen, you enjoy watching all the screens and you wouldn’t mind lengthening the game session to allow time for all the extra features and bonus mini-games to become active.

When to choose slots with medium volatility

If you are one of those who thinks that virtue is in the middle, you should opt for machines with a medium variance. It won’t be difficult to find them, because they are the most widespread type in all online casinos. You’ll know they’re the right ones when:

1. You don’t like to waste, but you don’t have to stick to a tight budget either.


2. You need to feel that the awards are worth it, because you don’t settle for anything.


3. You like surprises and want to avoid getting to the point of obsessing about getting a prize.

Give slots a chance with high volatility

We have left the high variance slots for the end because they are definitely not for all audiences.

Discard them without regard, unless:

1. Consider yourself a great gambler: you like risk, you can bet a lot and you don’t mind suffering a little to see results.


2. You’re only interested in big prizes.


3. You have enough patience to persevere even if it seems that the prize won’t come.

Volatility in casino games

By john grochowski
when we talk “volatility” in casino games, we’re often talking about electronic games. Reel-spinning slot machines concentrate more of their returns in fewer big wins than video slot machines, which bring more frequent small wins. The reel-spinners are more volatile.

Same deal in video poker. House edges are similar on 9-6 jacks or better (99.5 percent) and 9-5 super double bonus poker (99.7), but super double bonus is much more volatile.

The 2-for-1 payoff on two pair helps keep jacks or better on more of an even keel. Super double bonus pays only 1-for-1 on two pair, and concentrates more of its return on big four-of-a-kind hands. For a five-coin bet, jacks or better pays 125 coins for any four of a kind, while super double bonus pays 800 on four aces, 600 on four face cards, 400 on four 2s, 3s or 4s, and 250 on any other quads. We can win big money faster on super double bonus, but the lower payoff on the far more common two-pair hands means that without the big hits, we lose much faster. It’s a more volatile experience.

The same concept applies to table games. The house edge on betting odd or even is the same 5.26 percent as betting single numbers. But odd or even brings 18 winners per 38 spins of the wheel, and pays even money. Any single number comes up an average of once per 38 spins, but the payoff is a 35-1 bonanza. Bet single numbers, and you can win big, or lose fast --- there’s more volatility than in playing odd/even.

Sometimes players add their own volatility to games. When players ask me about betting progressions, increasing their bets as they win, I tell them that the main effect is to add volatility. The house edge is the house edge, a mathematical certainty no matter how you size your wagers. But volatility --- that’s different. You can take a steady chug or ride the roller-coaster, depending on whether you bet the same amount on every hand or play a progression.

I remember the first time I ever tried a progression. It was at the tropicana in las vegas , at a time when it had a little less of a threadbare feel than it does today. I started out wagering $5 a hand at a six-deck blackjack table. After two consecutive wins, I increased to $10, then to $15 and $20, adding $5 with each win. After any loss, I brought my bet back to $5. In 45 minutes, I won $300.

It was an incredible feeling. Nothing like that had ever happened to me. In those days, I was strictly a $5 bettor, and I could budget a whole three-day trip to las vegas on $300 in gambling money. I’d had winning sessions before, but the big ones were $40 or $50. This time, I’d doubled my stake for the trip in 45 minutes.

Soon, I learned the down side. Betting progressions do bring some spectacular wins, far larger than if you kept your bets flat. But they also turn some potential winning sessions into losers. They add volatility.

I came home with more money than I’d brought, but continued play with my little progression had eroded that $300 win a bit.

When you’re on a roll, a betting progression is a huge bankroll booster. On my modest little progression, winning five hands in a row meant winning wagers of $5, $5, $10, $15 and $20 --- a total win of $55. If I’d bet $5 a hand in my usual style of the time, I’d have won just $25.

That’s the upside. The downside comes when you have more normal short streaks, such as two wins followed by a loss. Keep your bet at a flat $5, and that means two $5 wins and a $5 loss, yielding a $5 profit. On my progression, two $5 wins would be followed by a $10 loss, with no profit at all even though I’d won more hands than I’d lost.

Another problem: unless you put a limit on the number of increases in your progression, you will always lose your largest bet. On my longest streak at what I now know to have been an extraordinarily lucky session at the trop, my bet reached $40, with eight wins in a row. Then I lost.

Most progression players use much more aggressive systems than the one I was using that day, increasing wagers more rapidly, but also applying a limit such as four wins, then returning to the minimum bet.

How does it all come out? On balance, pretty much the same. Bet flat, and the winning sessions will be smaller. Bet a progression, and the big wins will be bigger, but the losing sessions will be more frequent. If a flat bettor and a progression player start with the same base wager, the progression player will lose a little more money in the long run because the total of his wagers is larger. Progressions can’t overcome the house edge. They just add volatility.

Slot's variation and volatility

Casino » slots » slots variation and volatility

When playing slots, have you ever wondered how often you can expect a win, what the average value of that win would be and what the highest possible win is? This is something that differs from one slot to another and is determined by the slot’s variation or volatility as it’s more formally known as. You could say that this variation/volatility determines how risky the slot is. A high volatility means a high risk, but with the chance of very big winnings, whereas a low volatility means a low risk at the expense of lower winnings.

Game providers rarely provide information about voltatility, but with the information available in the slot it’s actually possible to get an idea of it. In this article we’ll explain how you can find out about a slot’s volatility, when you should play slots with a high one and low one, as well as how this volatility affects your experience.

When should I play slots with a low volatility?

A low volatility generally means that you’ll be able to enjoy decent sized winnings every now and then, but never really get those shocking mega wins. The highest possible win in a low volatility slot could for instance be 400 times the stake.

With reference to this, low volatility slots are best played if you’re looking to have some fun in the casino and have a limited amount of money to spend. The chance of getting a thrilling free spin feature or entertaining bonus game is a lot higher in a low volatility slot compared to a high one.

If you want to enjoy your session for a long time or need to wager a bonus, low volatility slots are also preferred. As decent sized winnings generally come relatively often, you’ll most likely be able to play for quite a while, which will also increase your chances of successfully wagering a bonus.

Examples of low volatility slots are starburst, blood suckers and jack hammer 2.

When should I play slots with a high volatility?

On the contrary to slots with low volatility, you might in high volatility ones have to spin for a while before hitting a win worth speaking of. While this could be frustrating, the excitement is reaching new levels when the free spin feature or bonus game eventually does hit, as the amounts that could potentially be won in these are huge. The maximum win differs from one slot to another, but 5000 times the stake is quite common and the amounts could even reach up to incredible 20,000 times the stake.

These winnings may be high, but the possibility to get them comes at the expense of winnings not happening as often. Therefore these types of slots are best fitting to those who would like to get that enormous win, have a good budget to play with and the patience to spin for a while even though there will be no or only small winnings.

Examples of high volatility slots are dead or alive, book of dead and sakura fortune.

Pros & cons of low volatility slot machines

Many slots players choose their favorite games based on the theme, bonuses, jackpot size, and return to player. These are all perfectly valid ways to pick entertaining slot machines.

The only problem is that volatility is often left out of the equation. Many players don’t account for this concept, or may even be unclear on why it matters.

Volatility actually plays a big role in how much you can expect to win in any given slots session. You can especially look forward to lots of wins with less-volatile slots.

Keep reading as I cover more on why lower volatility leads to more wins. I’ll also discuss the pros and cons of choosing frequent-paying games.

What is slots volatility?

Volatility is a statistical measure of the dispersion of results. Simply put, this term refers to how explosive outcomes can be when compared to the statistical mean.

High volatility means that results vary greatly from the average. Low volatility, in contrast, offers outcomes that are closer to the mean.

Slot machines are some of the most-volatile casino games. They feature a wide variety of prizes, ranging from a few credits to thousands or even millions of credits.

Here’s an example of a simple three-reel slots pay table:

• 3 diamonds = 10,000 coins


• 3 gold coins = 1,000 coins


• 3 sapphires = 500 coins


• 3 rubies = 100 coins


• 3 emeralds = 50 coins


• 3 silver coins = 10 coins


• 3 copper coins = 5 coins

Casinos would lose serious money if they let you win too often with slot machines. After all, some prizes are worth hundreds, thousands, or millions of coins.

The vast majority of your wins will consist of smaller prizes. But even earning 5, 10, or 50 coins when you’re only risking one credit is big.

Slot machines must therefore account for this by offering you less-frequent prizes than other casino games. You won’t win nearly as much with slots as with, say, blackjack or baccarat. They both offer even-money payouts, which is why they give you more-consistent wins.

Of course, there’s division among slots regarding their volatility. Some are less explosive than others, which I’m going to cover below.

Why does volatility matter with slot machines?

Return to player (RTP) is one of the first things that many slots players focus on. RTP is important, because it determines how much a slot machine will pay in the long run.

• You’re playing a slot with 95% RTP.


• You bet $1,000.


• 1,000 x 0.95 = $950


• You’ll theoretically win back $950.

Slots with high payback give you a stronger long-term chance of winning. But what about the immediate future?

Remember that slot machines are very volatile when compared to other casino games. RTP might explain your long-term odds, but it doesn’t account for the volatility along the way.

A slot with 90% RTP could potentially see you win more in a single session than a game with 95% payback. This scenario is especially true if a slot has reduced volatility, which increases the payouts that it’ll deliver in a short timeframe.

I’m focusing on low-volatility slots in this post, because I like winning more frequently – even in instances when the RTP is a little worse.

How do you figure out slots volatility?

Determining how volatile a slot machine is can be easy or hard. It’s easy when a developer lists a volatility rating in the help screen.

Pragmatic play, for example, gives games a rating ranging from one to five lightning bolts. One bolt means that the game has low volatility and will offer frequent payouts.

Unfortunately, most slot machines don’t give any indication on this factor. You’re therefore left using an alternative method to figure it out.

No foolproof way exists for determining the exact volatility of a slot when the developer doesn’t offer a rating. However, you can make a good estimation based on the pay table.

Here’s what you want to focus on when finding a low-volatility game:

• Jackpot size – you want a smaller jackpot.


• Number of large payouts – look for fewer big prizes (e.G. 500+ coins).


• Number of small payouts – you want more small prizes (e.G. 10 coins or less).


• Bonus features – fewer bonuses are better.


• Number of lines – more lines gives you more chances to win on per spin.

Playing slots with small jackpots and fewer bonuses may not be as exciting. However, games like these at least distribute payouts more evenly. They don’t have to account for all of the big prizes and bonuses you can pick up.

Contrast this to a slot machine with a $100,000 jackpot, free spins, second-screen bonus, and scatter payouts. It has so much RTP wrapped up in the jackpot and bonuses that it can’t pay as frequently.

Also note that it’s important to know the difference between a progressive jackpot’s starting and current value. A developer/casino seeds a progressive prize at a certain amount. The payout then grows as players make bets.

Relating this to volatility, you want to pay attention to the seed value rather than the current amount. The seed value is how much the developer and/or casino initially funds a jackpot with.

They base a game’s volatility on their investment – not what the prize has grown to. Therefore, you want to look for slots with jackpots that are seeded low to find less volatility.

Here’s a comparison to explain:

• Two slot machines offer a $1 million progressive jackpot.


• Slot machine #1 is seeded at $500,000.


• Slot machine #2 is seeded at $50,000.


• All other things being equal, the second slot has lower volatility.

Pros of low volatility slots

Slot machines with lower volatility offer several advantages in comparison to more-explosive games. Everything begins with the fact that they deliver steadier payouts.

But there are other benefits to these slots that aren’t so apparent. Here are all of the advantages that come with less volatility.

Win more frequently

Nobody likes spinning the reels 10 times and coming up empty. Unfortunately, this is a problem when playing slots that feature huge jackpots and several bonuses.

You can remedy this problem by choosing slot machines with smoother payout structures. Games with plenty of lines and more small payouts give you stronger odds of winning with each spin.

Of course, this isn’t to say that low-volatility slots are akin to baccarat regarding their payout frequency. You’re still going to experience dry spells and big wins. But you can at least expect payouts more often when compared to the average slot.

Easier bankroll management

Bankroll management is difficult with slot machines due to their uncertainty. However, slots with reduced volatility make the process somewhat easier.

Most slots sessions see you lose anywhere from 200 to 300 betting units per hour. You definitely want the lower range of this when trying to manage your bankroll.

Only losing 200 units on average, as opposed to 300, allows you to come up with a more-certain plan. Here’s an example:

• You have a $250 bankroll.


• You want to play at least two sessions that last 4 hours.


• 250 / 2 = $125 per session


• 125 / 4 = $31.25 per hour


• You’re playing low-volatility slots (200 lost units per hour).


• 25 / 200 = 0.156


• You should play a game that lets you bet $0.15 or less per spin.

Nothing guarantees that reality will play out anything like the math suggests. But you still stand a better chance of lasting with a good bankroll plan.

Of course, you can always go on a hot streak and be wildly successful with slots. However, it’s better to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Fewer emotional swings

Losing lots of money in a slots session is nerve-wracking. I know from experience how sickening it is to watch $500 disappear in a couple of hours.

The reverse is that slot machines can also pay wins worth thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen as much as rapid losing sessions.

Games with more-stable payout structures are a good way to combat wild results and emotional swings. You may not have a chance at winning life-changing payouts, but at least your losing sessions won’t be as devastating.

Results are closer to RTP

Earlier I explained how volatility usually prevents your short-term results from lining up with the RTP. This is good in some ways, because it means that you actually have a chance to win – despite the house edge.

But the downside is that games with high RTP mean less. You can combat this problem by picking slots with lower volatility.

The evener payouts mean that your results will be more in line with the payout percentage. Furthermore, looking for slots with good payback will have more short-term impact.

You’ll last longer in the casino

The problem with high-volatility slots is that they see you lose more per hour than the average game. You’re left hoping to get lucky and hit a significant payout that’ll recoup your losses and then some.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for a major windfall. Your bankroll will run out before you collect a six or seven-figure prize.

Less-volatile games are the best way to make your funds last with slot machines. You’ll earn a steady stream of payouts that’ll help sustain your bankroll longer.

Cons of low volatility slots

You can see that frequent-paying slots have many good qualities. They deliver prizes more often, make bankroll management easier, and help you play longer.

But not everything is perfect with these types of slot machines. You should also account for the following downsides.

Small jackpots

Playing for a life-changing payout injects plenty of fun into slots. This is the reason why games with multimillion-dollar jackpots are so popular.

Low-volatility slot machines are missing this element. They pay more regularly, so they can’t include a big jackpot on top of everything.

You may still have an opportunity to spin for a prize worth anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 credits. But you won’t get rich playing these types of games.

Fewer bonus features – if any

Bonuses are one of the biggest developments in slots history. These extras offer unique ways to reward payouts beyond just spinning the reels.

Free spins are the most-common bonus. They give you the chance to win “free” credits and may include other perks like additional wild symbols and stacked wilds.

Second-screen bonuses give you the opportunity to play a unique mini game. For example, you might need to pick three out of 10 treasure chests to reveal your prizes.

Bonuses add lots of additional entertainment to slot machines. Unfortunately, lower-volatility games don’t offer many of these features (if any).

Most bonuses can deliver large prizes. A frequent-paying slot has limited bonus opportunities, because it can’t offer massive payouts.

Smaller regular wins

Jackpots and bonuses aren’t the only ways to collect big prizes through slots. You can also earn large wins on the reels.

A less-volatile slot, though, won’t offer many of these payouts. The largest non-jackpot wins in these games usually range from 100 to 1,000 credits.

These are certainly nice payouts, especially when they happen multiple times in a session. However, they’re not going to launch you into a big celebration.

More susceptible to losses disguised as wins

Almost every slot machine today has multiple paylines. But low-volatility games tend to have more lines than the average slot.

These additional lines give you more chances to win and recoup your money. However, they also increase the effect of losses disguised as wins (ldws).

This term refers to when you win a small prize that doesn’t equal your spin cost. Here’s an example:

• You’re playing a 50-line slot.


• You betting one penny per line, or $0.50 overall.


• You win a prize worth $0.20.


• However, you’ve lost $0.30 overall.

The problem with ldws is that they’re reinforced with flashing lights and winning sound effects. Given the speed of slots, you may be subconsciously tricked into thinking you’re winning money.

I’m not saying that ldws are exclusive to less-volatile slots. But the effect can be more pronounced when you keep picking up small prizes that aren’t really wins at all.

Should you play slot machines with low volatility?

Whether or not you choose to play low-volatility slot machines will be based on what you value most.

Are you solely focused on hitting a big jackpot? Do you want access to the latest bonus features? If you’ve answered yes to these questions, then high-volatility slots are the best choice.

Maybe you don’t value multimillion-dollar jackpots and multiple bonuses too highly. Perhaps you’d rather play an entertaining, low-cost game that awards more prizes.

Less-volatile slots are perfect in this case. They give out more prizes per spin and allow you to stretch your bankroll.

The last part is key if you’re playing on a budget and want your money to last. $50 won’t go very far on a game with a $1 million jackpot and multiple bonus rounds. It will, however, last on a slot with a $5,000 jackpot and just one bonus feature.

You can especially play for hours if you combine low bets with reduced volatility. Smaller wagers expose you less to the house edge and minimize losses.

Online slots are especially good when you’re a low roller. These games often let you adjust lines and coin size. If you play a $0.01 coin on 10 lines, for example, then you’re only wagering a dime per spin.

Again, everything depends on what you’re looking for in a slot machine. The last thing you want to do as a low roller is insert money without considering the betting options and volatility.

Conclusion

Slot machines are very random games. Sometimes they award you multiple big payouts in a session, while other times they quickly drain your bankroll.

The latter scenario is the last thing you want to happen. Luckily, you can reduce the odds of your funds vanishing by choosing less-volatile games.

These types of slots pay more often and help you better sustain your bankroll. Slot machines with reduced volatility also pay truer to the RTP, involve less emotions, and help you play longer.

Low-volatility slots are prefect if you value getting more gambling entertainment. I personally enjoy these types of games, because they allow me to play for cheaper.

However, you should also consider the downsides too. Less-volatile slot machines don’t have big jackpots, other large wins, and several bonuses.

I can easily live without the huge jackpots and regular wins. But the lack of bonuses really bothers me.

You may be concerned with the absence of a big jackpot too. Whatever the case may be, low-volatility slots aren’t perfect.

They do have enough positive points, though, to make them worth playing. In fact, I suggest that you spend the bulk of your time with reduced-volatility games in order to get more play.

So, let's see, what we have: what is a slot machine volatility and why it is so important? Find out the best online slots with high, medium and low volatility to help you cash bonuses! At casino slot volatility