by job on 05.02.2025

What does Volatility mean in Slots

In the world of online gambling, slot games stand out as the undisputed champions of entertainment. With their colourful themes, engaging soundtracks, and the promise of big wins, slots have captured the hearts of millions of players worldwide. However, amidst the excitement and thrill of spinning reels, there lies a crucial concept that every player should grasp: volatility. And this article is all about: “What does Volatility mean in Slots?”.

What exactly does volatility mean in slots, and how does it impact your gaming experience? Let’s delve into this topic to shed light on this often misunderstood aspect of slot gameplay. After reading this article you’re familiar with Volatility and how to use that in your favour!

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Understanding Slot Volatility

Volatility, also known as variance or risk level, refers to the level of risk involved in playing a particular slot game. In simpler terms, it determines the frequency and magnitude of wins you can expect while playing. Slots can be classified into three main categories based on their volatility: low, medium, and high.

  • Low Volatility Slots: These games offer frequent but smaller wins. They are ideal for players who prefer extended gameplay sessions and are content with steady, albeit modest, payouts. Low volatility slots provide a relatively stable experience with minimal fluctuations in your bankroll.
  • Medium Volatility Slots: Strike a balance between low and high volatility games, medium volatility slots provide a mix of smaller and larger wins. They appeal to players seeking a combination of excitement and sustainability. With medium volatility slots, you can expect occasional big wins without enduring prolonged dry spells.
  • High Volatility Slots: For thrill-seekers and risk-takers, high volatility slots offer the promise of substantial payouts but at the cost of fewer winning spins. These games are characterized by infrequent but significant wins, making them suitable for players with a larger bankroll and a taste for adrenaline-pumping gameplay.

Factors Influencing Volatility

What-does-Volatility-mean

Several factors contribute to the volatility of a slot game. This can be influenced by the software provider. This is the developer of the game that can turn all the switches to make the game more volatile or not. Some slots are just hitting more frequently, which makes slots less volatile. But the software providers can determine all these factors.

The factors below have all influence on the Volatility of the slot. Every single factor can determine if you can win Big or can win more frequently. Let’s take a look at the factors that influence the volatility.

The Factors

  • RTP (Return to Player): The RTP percentage indicates the theoretical payout percentage over the long term. Higher RTP slots tend to have lower volatility since they offer more frequent wins. It’s always better to play games with a higher RTP. A higher RTP means that the slot will pay more in general. It’s not that a lower RTP means that the slot is more volatile
  • Hit Frequency: This refers to the rate at which a slot produces winning combinations. Games with higher hit frequencies typically have lower volatility. But you have to keep in mind that some slots have a really high hit frequency, but only pay 0.1x your bet or even lower. In that case the hit rate is extremely high, but you still keep losing money every spin.
  • Paytable Structure: The distribution of payouts across the paytable affects volatility. Slots with evenly distributed payouts tend to have lower volatility compared to those with a few high-paying symbols. It’s hard to hit the high-paying symbols, so that’s why the volatility of the slot is way higher in this case.
  • Bonus Features: The presence of bonus rounds, free spins, and other features can influence volatility. Games with lucrative bonus rounds often have higher volatility due to the potential for significant payouts during these features. But the more classic Fruit Slots, which don’t have a bonus, pay much more during the normal spins.
  • Max Win: A max win can also influence the volatility. If you can win big, the slot is more volatile. We’ve seen slots with max wins up to 300.000x. Playing these slots can mean that you spin for hours and don’t win anything, but 1 spin can be enough to win huge!

Slots with High and Low Volatility

Of course, now you want to know which slots are High Volatile and Low Volatile Slots. We’ve listed some of the most volatile and least volatile slots for you. We’ve made this list based on all the factors we mentioned earlier in this article.

Below we will highlight some of our favourite High and Low Volatile Slots. We can put all the slot available in one of these 2 boxes, but we selected sum of our personal favourites. We will also explain why these slots are high or low volatile.

High Volatile Slots

In gambling, the volatility of a slot machine refers to how much risk is involved in playing it. Slots with high volatility tend to offer larger payouts but less frequently, while slots with low volatility offer smaller, more frequent payouts. Some slots known for their high volatility include:

  1. Book of Ra: This popular slot game features an ancient Egyptian theme and is known for its high volatility, offering the potential for big wins during bonus rounds. The main reason why this slot is so volatile is because of the Paytable Structure. There are just a few symbols that can really pay.
  2. Dead or Alive: This Wild West-themed slot is notorious for its high volatility, with the potential for massive payouts during the free spins feature. The maximum win at this slot is 10.000x, which is pretty high if we compare it to other slots.
  3. Bonanza Megaways: Bonanza is a slot game that utilizes the Megaways mechanic, offering thousands of ways to win on each spin. Its high volatility can lead to significant wins, especially during the free spins feature.
  4. Danger High Voltage: With its electrifying theme and high volatility, Danger High Voltage is another popular choice for players seeking big wins. The max win at this slot is 15.746x, which is (just like Dead or Alive) pretty high!

It’s important to remember that while high volatility slots offer the potential for big wins, they also some with a higher risk of losing your bankroll quickly. It’s essential to gamble responsibly and within your means.

Low Volatile Slots

Slots with low volatility typically offer smaller, more frequent wins compared to high volatility slots. These games are often preferred by players who enjoy extended play sessions and smaller, more consistent payouts. Some examples of slots with low volatility include:

  1. Starburst: This colourful and popular slot by NetEnt is known for its low volatility, offering frequent small wins and a simple yet engaging gameplay experience.
  2. Blood Suckers: This vampire-themed slot has low volatility and a high return to player (RTP) percentage, making it a favourite among players who prefer steady wins over big jackpots.
  3. Goblin’s Cave: Developed by Playtech, Goblin’s Cave is a classic-style slot with low volatility, featuring a unique hold feature that allows players to strategically hold symbols for the next spin.
  4. Big Bad Wolf: Based on the story of the Three Little Pigs, this slot by Quickspin offers low volatility gameplay with frequent wins, as well as an entertaining theme and bonus features.

While low volatility slots may not offer the adrenaline rush of high volatility games, they can provide a more consistent and less risky gambling experience for players.

Choosing the Right Volatility Level

What-does-volatility-mean-in-Slots

Selecting the appropriate volatility level is crucial for optimizing your gaming experience. You have to know which slots you have to play at certain times. We will tell you exactly which slots are the best for certain scenarios!

Low

Low Volatility Slots are ideal for casual players or those with a limited budget who prefer consistent wins and extended gameplay sessions. This is for the casino players who want to enjoy the casino without losing to much money and still have the chance to win something.

We always recommend players to play the Low Volatile Slots while wagering their bonus. You have to spend a lot bonus money, but you can’t lose a lot. That’s when you have to play the Low Volatile Slots. These slots pay enough to wager your bonus, so you can end up with some winnings after claiming a bonus.

It’s sometimes possible to pick your own slot while claiming a bonus. We love to pick the low volatile slots, because you can guarantee yourself some winnings.

Medium

The Medium Volatile Slots offers a balanced experience suitable for a wide range of players, combining both entertainment value and the potential for significant wins. These types of slots are perfect when you play with your own money and still want the excitement of getting big wins.

Lots of slots have medium volatility, so it’s not hard to find them. The Medium Volatile slots are our personal favourites. This is because it’s the perfect mix between potential big wins and still win something during the normal spins.

High

Last, but not least! The high volatile slots suited for experienced players seeking the thrill of chasing substantial payouts, even if it means enduring longer losing streaks. Chasing a maximum win is can be a goal of a player and especially when the max win is extremely high. When you play a High Volatile Slot the chance of hitting a Max Win is not higher, but the potentials are significantly higher.

If you’re looking for a slot where you can win up to 50.000x or higher, you have to play the High Volatile Slots. It’s possible that you have 20 or even 30 spins no win, but you have to be patient and wait for the big wins.

Volatility & RTP

Volatility and RTP are not the same as each other, but do have a lot of things in common and have effect to each other. The Volatility and RTP go hand in hand and determine how the slot will pay you.

You always have to pick slots with a high RTP, because these slots just pay the most to you. You’re crazy if you play slots with a RTP lower than 90%. So what’s the difference between the High Volatility & High RTP slots and Low Volatility & High RTP slots.

Let’s find out!

High Volatility & High RTP

The High Volatility slots are the slots for the daredevils among us. Play these types of slots when you’re looking for a big win and you want to take the risk of losing it all. High Volatility means that slots can pay nothing for a huge amount of spins, but you can get that one hit that will earn you lots of money.

We don’t recommend these slots when you want to play in the casino for fun. But if you’re looking for a little bit of action and want to take a bit more risk, this is the way to go!

Low Volatility & High RTP

The Low Volatility Slots in combination with a High RTP is the perfect slot for hours of playing fun. Low Volatility means that the difference between the highest and lowest payout is small. And that more spins will pay, but it’s harder to hit a big winner. But it’s also harder to lose a lot of money in a short amount of time.

TIP: Low Volatility slots are perfect for wagering a bonus. You can play for hours and not lose a lot of money. And the more hours you can play, the more money you can wager.

Conclusion

In summary, volatility plays a pivotal role in shaping your experience with slot games. By understanding the concept of volatility and its implications, you can make informed decisions about which games to play based on your preferences, risk tolerance, and bankroll size. Whether you crave the steady flow of wins in low volatility slots or the adrenaline-fueled excitement of high volatility games, the world of slots offers something for every type of player. So, the next time you spin the reels, remember to consider the volatility factor and embark on your gaming adventure with confidence. And always play at UKGC Casinos only!

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