What Is Slot Volatility and How Does It Affect Your Game?

In online casino slot games, volatility is one term many players come across but often ignore – though they. While it is true that slots are a game of luck, understanding key factors such as volatility helps adjust your gaming and winning strategies. So read on as we guide you on what volatility in the slot is and discuss everything you need to know about the volatility of online slot games.

What Does Volatility Mean in Slots?

Slot volatility is an important influence in slot games. Volatility refers to how often a slot triggers a win and the size of the win. Volatility refers to the risk factor in slot machines, as it indicates how often you get a win from a slot game. There are three levels of volatility in slot games, and each offers different sizes of wins ranging from high, medium, and low. These levels provide different winning sizes and frequencies. To find the best volatility level, you’d need to consider factors such as your bankroll, winning preference, and risk tolerance.

The 3 Types of Slots Volatility Explained

As mentioned earlier, there are three slot volatility types or levels; each offers different outcomes. So, when reading a slot game review or playing a slot game and you come across terms such as low, medium, or high volatility, here’s what it means:

Low Volatility Slots

Simply put, these slot games offer a frequent payout at a small value. Low volatility slots come with lower risks compared to the other volatility levels. With these titles, you don’t get to lose an enormous bet amount, and you don’t get to win much either. You’d get from 250 – 500x of your bet amount, though at a frequent interval. This volatility index is best for players who don’t want to spend much on a game. With lower volatility slots, you get small losses, more extended playtime, and easy bankroll management.

Medium Volatility Slots

Medium volatility games create a balance between risk and potential rewards. With these variants, you get fairly regular streams of medium-sized payouts; however, nothing huge. Unlike low, medium-volatile slot variance, often includes in-game bonus features, making gameplay exciting. These slots’ volatility level is perfect for players seeking a fun gaming experience with decent wins.

High Volatility Slots

What does high volatility mean in slots? High slot volatility means large payouts up to 10,000x of your bet, however, at an infrequent interval. This volatility level also means higher risks as you hit several empty spins. You‘d also need a larger bankroll for high volatility slots, meaning you bet hefty amounts to come close to a winning trigger. Although infrequent, when a win is triggered, you get bigger payouts than games in the low and medium categories. So, a highly volatile slot isn’t for every player but risk-takers.

How Slot Volatility Impacts Gameplay

Slots volatility, although not the sole factor, greatly influences the value of a win from one slot title to the next. Both high volatility and low volatility affect your gameplay and winning experience, as discussed below:

High or Low Volatility Impacts the Frequency of Your Wins

Low volatility slots pay out more. So, playing such variants, you’d get frequent wins, hitting the winning trigger at least every five spins. High-volatility slots, on the other hand, result in longer periods between a winning streak, so you encounter several empty spins. Your win frequency comes less often than the other volatility levels; however, when you get a win, it is a more substantial payout.

Volatility in Slots May Influence the Size of Your Payouts

Although you experience frequent spin hits with low volatile titles, they typically offer smaller payouts. So you don’t get any substantial wins with low volatility slot titles. High volatility, on the other hand, offers a hot streak of larger payouts and more substantial wins than the low category. So, this slot volatility level provides one of the best payouts.

It’s Always a Different Player Experience

Overall, the ideal volatility level depends on your budget, game preference, and risk tolerance. Understanding the volatility level helps you select slot variances suited to your preferences and manage your bankroll risk accordingly. So, for a rewarding gaming experience, you should consider titles that fit your game preferences and win outcomes.

How to Determine the Volatility of Slot Machines

There are a few days to determine the volatility of a slot game. These methods include:

1. Game Information – You can use the “information button” to see the volatility ratings of the game. This detail is often featured with the game RTP percentage. Details about a slot machine’s volatility are usually displayed on the paytable.
2. Playing the Game – You can also play the game and observe the winning frequency and size of payouts to gauge the volatility level of a slot game. Thankfully, you can play most real money slots for free in demo mode, so you get a glimpse of how the game’s volatility works.
3. Checking Online Resources – Reading game reviews and feedback from users who play slots is another way to determine the volatility of a title. We at KingCasinoBonus.uk, for instance, often provide expert reviews of the best slot titles, providing all the necessary information players need to know.

Slot Volatility and RTP (Return to Player) – How Do They Differ?

Like volatility, RTP influences the payout of each slot game, making this feature an equally important aspect to consider in slot games.

What is the slots’ RTP?

Return to Player (RTP) percentage refers to the average amount of the place bet a player gets back while playing a slot game. Slots’ RTPs are usually displayed in percentage, so a slot title with an RTP of 96% indicates that, on average, players get back €96 of every €100 staked.

Relationship Between Slots RTP and Variance 

Although RTP indicates the likely percentage you get from a placed bet, it doesn’t say how these winnings will be distributed. So, while slots RTP and variance indicate the player’s average return rate, volatility determines the frequency at which this winning is distributed.

Choosing Slots Based on RTP and Volatility

Slot titles with a high RTP typically provide higher chances of winning and, as a result, are less volatile. In the same way, titles with low RTP rates offer fewer chances of winning but are more volatile. This feature, however, doesn’t always work for all slots, as a high RTP title could have a high and, low,  medium, or low volatility level. So, we recommend checking the RTP and volatility information individually and selecting options that fit your desired gaming experience.

Best Slots with Different Volatility Levels in Online Casinos

Low Volatility Slot Examples

Some examples of popular slot games that offer frequent but smaller wins are:

• Starburst – Starburst is an exciting slot machine from NetEnt and is considered one of the most popular machines of all time. It features a 5×3 reel and has an RTP of 96.1%. You can visit Virgin Games Casino to play Starburst using their welcome bonus, or check out our list of Starburst free spins offers.
• Blood Suckers – This vampire-inspired theme by NetEnt is popular for referencing the undead character Dracula. The game comes on a 5×3 reel, with a higher-than-average RTP of 98% and other bonuses attached. Lottoland Casino’s welcome promotion is a great option if you want to try out this online slot game.

Medium Volatility Slots Examples

Below are examples of slots that are perfectly balanced when it comes to winning frequency and value:

• Gonzo’s Quest – This immersive gameplay by NetEnt is one of the most popular medium volatility slots on the market. Gonzo’s Quest is a 5×3 reel slot with 20 paylines and an RTP of 96%.
• Immortal Romance – With a theme based on romance and vampires, Microgaming sure put a lot into this game. Immortal Romance has a high volatility rate of 96.86% and boasts 243 paylines on its 5×3 reels. This medium volatile slot game, among others, can be played at all the Casino Rewards sites.

High Volatility Slot Examples

Here are some examples of high-risk slots that rarely pay but can land big jackpots for players once they do:

• Dead or Alive II – NetEnt’s 5-reeled Dead or Alive 2 is the perfect example of high volatility slots. The game features an RTP of 96.8% and offers a massive 111,111x maximum win cap to players. Visit Lottomart Casino to get your hands on this higher volatility game.
• Book of Dead – Book of Dead is a mystery and adventure-filled slot by Play’n Go. The 5-reeled game has an RTP of 96.21% and offers a maximum payout win of 5,000x the players’ bet. Because the game is so well-loved by our British readers, our experts created a list with all the best Book of Dead promos.

Tips to Gamble on Different Volatility Slots

Choosing the right slot volatility for each game depends on the player’s preference. However, here are some slot machine tips to help them make the right decision:

Managing Your Bankroll

For players who enjoy steady wins and more extended playtime, low volatility slots are the perfect choice, as they require much smaller budgets. In contrast, players with more significant capital may go for higher slot volatility, as they offer far more substantial rewards. For those with significant capital for gambling, medium volatilities are the best. Overall, choosing a slot’s variance should depend on the players’ budget, and the best way to do so is by setting up a budget for each session and sticking to it.

Choosing the Right Slot for Your Bankroll

The measure of risks you can take should determine the level of volatility you should play. For example, players who enjoy the high risk of chasing a jackpot can settle for games with high slot volatility. And then, players who prefer playing it safe at all times can choose the lower slot variance. At the same time, players who are more neutral about it can try out slots with medium volatility. Therefore, players will need to consider their playing style and measure their emotional responses to losses and wins. Doing this will help them enjoy the thrill of the game or stay laid-back while playing. However, it is important to establish clear responsible gambling boundaries for yourself, because the situation can always take a turn for the worst

Using Bonuses based on Slot Machine Volatility

Bonuses are one of the rewards players look forward to while visiting casino platforms. Usually, games with lower slot volatility have more accessible bonus rounds than those with higher slot volatility. However, for players to extend their gameplay while pursuing low-risk and high-risk games, it is essential to take advantage of bonuses. With these online casino bonuses, you’ll spend less than you initially budgeted, and if you’re lucky enough, they can still pay out. However, it is important you read the terms and conditions carefully to take note of any game restrictions.

Final Words on Slot Games’ Volatility

The volatility of a slot game determines a player’s experience and predicts the size of their winnings. Therefore, before each game, you need to find out your risk tolerance as high-risk, high-reward, and low-risk, low-reward. Knowing these helps you determine the kind of slots to choose based on your winning preference and game budget. So, start by applying the knowledge shared here about slot volatility. Read through our other related articles to get more information on the individual volatile levels and our top slot recommendations.