If you have any experience playing online slots, the phrase ‘slot volatility’ keeps popping up now and then. Like other casino players, it is hard not to wonder what it means and why picking the best high volatility slots maximizes your chances of winning. Wonder no more. We put this article together to educate the new casino players about the Volatility of an online slot.
Reading this article, it is a safe guess that you are a casino and slot enthusiast. Therefore, we went into details of:
- What online slot volatility is.
- Different slot ratings based on Volatility and the ones suited for you.
- How to know how volatile a slot is before you start playing.
- Using slot volatility to your advantage.
So, let’s get right into it.
What is the Volatility of online slots?
In layman’s terms, the Volatility of an online slot is essentially an indicator of the prize sizes available to win and the frequency.
Not to be confused with slot rating, which is the average payout on a slot. The higher the slot volatility, the juicer or larger the prize, but the less frequent it pays.
Theoretically, a slot machine with an RTP of 96% and pays after every 100 spins are expected to award a prize of 96x. It implies it will take a long period of waiting and hoping but is always worth the while for the lucky winner.
Let’s compare that to a slot with the same RTP but lower Volatility, let’s say half of the former. The waiting period is in theory only after 48 spins but offers much smaller prizes each time.
Every slot is programmed to generate prizes randomly, and no two slots are the same. Each has different pay lines, value symbols, free spins bonus, and other gameplay features.
And, it is impossible to know how often or big a slot machine will pay, but we hope that explanation up there paints the picture.
Slot volatility ratings
The amount paid out and the frequency are also related to the risk involved with every spin. All these combined determined a slot volatility rating. The common ratings common among slot developers are high, medium, and low. Understanding the types or ratings of Volatility is important to choose the best slots for you and the risk-win ratio.
Understanding how volatility slots
Simply put, high Volatility is for risk-takers. The chance of a payout is slim and far in between. When such a slot pays, it pays big. Therefore, if you are the type of slot player that finds big wins thrilling regardless of the many losses, high volatile slots are just for you.
Every slot developer has a fair number of titles like these in their collections. Immortal romance, dead or alive, mega joker, and book of dead are three of the popular ones slot lovers can’t help but play. newer and popular high volatility titles are crystal quest: deep jungle by Thunderkicks and Crystal Quest: Deep Jungle from Quickspin.
Note: High volatile slots pay big winnings but less frequently.
Who and When to play slots with high Volatility
High-risk games are not for everyone. They might be what you need if you are a player that tick the following boxes:
- Gets the thrill when the prize is big.
- Go-big-or-go-home type of player.
- Unfazed by losing big.
- Big enough bankroll to keep playing.
Understanding Low Volatility Slots
Players playing on a budget need to maximize every spin with less risk. Low Volatility keeps them in the games with decent prizes now and then. Opting for this type of slot is more likely to give the players the excitement of winning, but no one should expect an attention-grabbing 10,000x win.
Several all-time favorites are popular for this low value, frequent winning. Some notable ones are Blood Suckers and Jimi Hendrix from Netent, Kaffee Bar by Microgaming, Yggdrasil’s All-Star Knockout, to name a few.
Note: Low volatile slots guarantees short dry spell and a good number of unexciting small wins.
Who is the low volatility slot suited for?
The low volatile slot should be appealing and suitable for you if you are;
- New to online slot.
- Dread high risk.
- Playing purely for leisure and not chasing big wins.
- Trying to meet a bonus’ wagering condition.
- Have a small bankroll.
Slot volatility for those in between
Understandably, some players prefer to claim prizes a little worthwhile with not-so-high risk. A medium volatile slot is a middle ground between the two extremes. They pay decent prizes at the average frequency with reasonable risk.
Subdivisions of slot volatility
The three categories are great to guide the player in picking the titles that fit their personalities and needs. Low/Medium volatility slots, for instance, are more volatile than low volatility slots. While medium/high Volatility will be somewhere in the middle of medium and high Volatility.
High Volatile slots
- For risk-takers.
- Perfect for a large bankroll.
- Good for quick play.
- More suitable for experienced players.
- Best probability for biggest wins.
- Examples of games include:
- Microgaming’s Games of Thrones.
- 300 shields from NextGen Gaming.
- Reactoonz by Play ‘n Go.
- Book of Dead by Play’ n Go.
Medium/High Volatile games
- Average wins with moderate risks.
- For a higher than average bankroll.
- Examples of games are:
- Netent’s Finn’s Golden Tavern.
- NextGen Gaming’s King Kong Fury.
- NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest.
Medium Volatile
- A great balance between risk and return.
- For moderate-sized bankroll.
- Suitable for intermediate players.
- It gives room for having fun and winning decent prizes.
- Examples include:
- Wolf Gold developed by Pragmatic Play.
- Ace of Spades by Play’ n Go.
- Admiral Nelson developed by Amatic.
Medium/Low Volatility
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- Requires low bankroll but gives a feel of high risk.
- A lot of fun with occasional decent wins.
- A great step for newbies to get more experience.
- More bonuses to trigger for an exciting game session.
- Examples:
- NeteEnt’s Asgardian Stones.
- NetEnt’s Mega Fortune Dreams.
- Cats & Cash by Play’ n Go.
- Remix by Play’ n Go.
Low Volatility
- Good for very limited bankroll.
- Big wins are rare.
- Longer gaming sessions.
- Perfect for beginners and low-risk takers.
- Help meet wagering requirements faster.
- Examples include:
- Starburst by NetEnt.
- Wild Scarabs by Microgaming.
- Bloodsuckers II by NetEnt.
- Enchanted Garden II by RTG.
How to determine Volatility
The Demo version of a slot is a basic way of getting an idea of its Volatility without risking your money. Though it takes time, patience, and thousands of spins to grab, Yukon Gold Casino offers free mode on many online slots. It puts you in good stead to win real money when you finally make a financial commitment. Is Yukon Gold Casino legit? Yes, it is a casino brand with a good reputation for over two decades.
A foolproof method will be to check the developer’s information sheet of the game. Some slot developers list the volatility rating in the specification details, while others don’t.
Another good indicator is the difference between the prizes offered by five-of-a-kind and four-of-a-kind. A difference of 10 or more suggests the slot is high volatile Between 5 and 10 points at the medium Volatility, while less than 5 means the game most likely has low Volatility.
Checking the maximum bet possible can be another good marker, though not always. That is based on the general notion that high volatile games often accept smaller bets for large prizes after an extended game session.
Improving your winning chance with Volatility
Working out the Volatility of a slot has no bearing on your chances. However, the knowledge can help you choose lower volatile slots that can give you a quick return if your bankroll and time are limited. If you find the small wins uninspiring, you can switch to high Volatility for less frequent but bigger wins.