Slot Volatility Explained
2 minutes
Last Updated: April 25, 2023
Experienced casino players are always looking for slots that meet certain criteria. These include the min and max bet, RTP, maximum payout, and more.
However, one important aspect is often overlooked; the volatility of slots.
Slot volatility describes how frequently a slot pays and how big the average payouts are. If it is your first time playing slots or you need to familiarize yourself with how volatility works, read on.
What is Slot Volatility
Slot volatility determines the frequency of payouts in the game. It could mean losing your entire bankroll in a few minutes or spinning the reels for hours. Volatility can either be low, medium, or high.
Low Volatility
Slots with low volatility give you more chances of winning but with small jackpots. These games are less exciting compared to higher volatility slots. However, their steady payouts make them quite appealing to a large group of players.
Examples of these games include the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire slot game.
Bigger wins are hard to come by, but you are also less likely to lose much money at once. Other benefits of these games are that they make it easier to manage your bankroll and play longer.
Medium Volatility
Slots with medium volatility represent a nice balance between two extremes. These games can be frustrating, but they provide fairly steady payouts while still maintaining the ability to produce big wins.
Moreover, medium variance slots often have a greater number of bonus features. This makes them a good pick for players who want to get a fair amount of entertainment for their money but also the ability to hit a significant jackpot.
High Volatility
Slots with high volatility pay out more, but the frequency of landing a win is very low. It is often a series of dead spins in search of that one big winning spin.
These are high risk games that don’t pay very often. When they do pay, however, lucky players can expect big jackpots, often several thousand times their base stake.
High volatility slots are the best choice for players with bigger bankrolls who also have the patience to sit through many dead spins. Potential rewards are high, though, as these games can pay 10,000+ times your stake.
Determining Slots Volatility
One way to ensure an enjoyable online casino experience is by figuring out how to determine a slot’s volatility. You can do that following these tips.
Determine the Return to Player (RTP) Percentage
The RTP is an estimate of how much you can expect to win from a game in the long run. Slots with a higher RTP percentage offer better winning chances, making them less volatile. In contrast, those with a lower RTP are considered to be more volatile.
Check the Bonus Frequency
Games with bonuses usually have higher variance than classic slots with no special features. The frequency of these bonus features often determines the overall volatility of the game.
For example, a slot that triggers a bonus every 10,000 spins on average will often pay a big amount once you do get a bonus. By the same token, a slot that bonuses every 100 or so spins will pay out far less, at least over the long run.
Play the Game
Lastly, you can play the game to know its volatility. Most online casinos do not reveal the volatility of a game. It is up to you to find out.
Try out the demo version of an online slot game as the variance of any slot remains the same whether in the free or paid version.
