Low volatility games, such as Starburst and Irish Magic, offer frequent, smaller payouts, making them popular among social gamers. These games are a wonderful way to spend a relaxing evening, sipping your favorite wine, spinning the reels, and earning small but consistent rewards. One way to ensure a rewarding online casino experience is to learn how to determine the volatility of slot machines.

• Typically, slot games with smaller payout values offer a much higher frequency of winning combinations, and more substantial payouts mean fewer winning combinations.
• Slot machines with low to medium volatility are a safer bet than those with higher volatility, as they pay out less often but have more frequent smaller wins.
• Some slots do offer the ability to change volatility, usually with a big and obvious special feature button that can be toggled.
• High-variance slots are perfect for players with a bigger bankroll and those who are not afraid of risks.
• This medium volatility/variance slot has him investigating/raiding Egypt as what we can only hope is a mission to protect artefacts instead of selling them for profit.
• High variance slot games are the riskiest but promise to offer the highest payouts.

Take the example earlier when we spoke about two 100% RTP games both paying out the same, just at different intervals. You need to take intervals into account with volatility to grasp how it works. The best way for us to explain what volatility means and how it works with slots is to break down how all slot machines work. In both cases, the player ends up with the predicted RTP; in this case £99 from a £100 wager. But the experience of playing both games would be completely different. Understanding the volatility of a slot machine helps in setting realistic expectations and choosing a game that matches your risk tolerance and playing style. Some slots do offer the ability to change volatility, usually with a big and obvious special feature button that can be toggled.

It doesn’t determine how often you’ll win in a given session. Many casinos offer bonuses like free spins or matched deposits. Use these wisely to extend your playtime and increase your chances of winning. The right level of volatility and variance for each player depends on how long you want to play for, and how long you’re okay with playing without wins. Despite both RTP and volatility/variance being tied to payouts, there isn’t a strong direct causal relationship between RTP and the other concepts.

If both were low volatility, they would both pay out often, but the lower RTP slot would pay smaller amounts on average. While these terms aren’t 100% identical, you might see them used in the same way a lot, so keep that in mind. Both of these elements tie in with the concept of return to player, also called RTP, which we’ll also explain below. A bonus feature that shows up once in every 500,000 spins would most likely be awarded a more substantial amount compared to a winning line that comes up once in every 50 spins. The same way that a scatter or free spin can show up only once every 1,000 spins, but one hit can get you back almost half of your initial investment. There are other benefits tied to choosing low volatility machines, such as easier bankroll management, smaller loss and longer playtime.

Volatility & Variance for Slot Games Explained

At identical RTP, the high-volatility slot will pay bigger payouts but much less often. High Volatility slot games tend to have bonus games, x2 gamble features, free spins, respins, and scatter games. Although the extra features are triggered in lesser frequency, the win’s value will always be more significant than the bet amount. Slot games that have a medium to a high level of volatility are the most popular. These machines offer large payouts and a higher frequency of wins, making them more similar to high-variance slots than those with medium volatility.

Volatility vs RTP

Others don’t feel motivated with low-variance slot games either. Players can expect a slot machine to have features such as free spins and scatters based on the games they choose. There are also fixed and progressive jackpots and bonuses for certain paylines. Such features add a certain amount of risk to how the game is played. Because high volatility slots may not see as many wins, it’s important to stick to that budget. These games can quickly eat through a player’s bankroll, so make those spins count and don’t get in too much of a hurry.

Otherwise, special abilities and bonus games can temporarily change volatility from the base game, but this is usually factored into overall game volatility calculations. Like with individual slot game themes, the best fit for you is a very personal question. Whether looking for the fortune tiger extreme end of the volatility spectrum or anything in between, there are no wrong answers, it’s all about what you’re most comfortable with. If you’re not yet sure which is right for you, then be sure to check out the demo versions of games first to see which feels the best to play.

Knowing Your Game: High, Medium, and Low Volatility

Due to their unique history, games like Blackjack, Teen Patti, Poker, Rummy, and Baccarat are today’s most popular card games…. Sean Chaffin is a longtime freelance writer, editor, and former high school journalism teacher. It’s plausible that we flip the coin 10 times and each time it lands on heads. When we come to the 11th flip the chances of it then landing a tail is no greater than another head, even after we’ve had 10 heads already. Gambling should be a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. Know when to stop, and seek help if you feel you might have a gambling problem. I am wondering if it is smart to have volatility zones on a casino floor or should it be randomised, i.e. placing a range of volatilities next to each other.

How Can You Determine the Volatility of a Slot?

If we look at where 12.76 falls from the four samples above, it falls in line with the lowest number of games played (3,820). This becomes an issue as the lowest volatility game is 4.03 and the highest is 3.69 points away respectively. This would be added to the percentage of play to a particular volatility index, but would be cut as a singular game from the total. To correct this, the data could be pulled by volatility index, total play then weeded out. Now when I mention likes and dislikes, I am not talking about that drink they like, or what days of the week they dislike coming to the casino.

However, one of the main advantages of playing low-volatility slot machines is that you won’t have to wait as long between winning combinations. This means you can spend more time playing without having to worry about taking a break. On the other hand, low-variance slots rarely offer any big wins, which can be a letdown if you’re hoping to make a lot of money. High variance slot games are the riskiest but promise to offer the highest payouts. This variance level is not ideal for players with small bankrolls or those who would rather not take significant risks. High variance level slot games show winning combinations less often. You usually need considerable capital for these games and may have to spin numerous times before hitting a winning combination.

It’s crucial to know actually what does volatility mean in slots in order to pick the game most suitable to your style and personality. Lastly, it might be useful to learn what wagering requirements are if you’re planning on spinning the reels on slot games. The return to player percentage (RTP) of a slot machine does not come with any guarantees, just like volatility does not.

What Slot Volatility Level Is Right for Me?

Finding the best volatility slots all depends on personal preferences, situations and timing. You might be in the mood to play for big payouts, or you might be happy to stack up lots of little wins. The best thing you can do is understand the nature of volatility and how it applies to casino gaming. Low volatility slots will provide a constant influx of smaller wins, which will be perfect for some players.

High volatility means bigger wins but less often, while low volatility means smaller wins more often. Understanding this helps players choose the right game and play smarter. In this article, we’ll break down slot volatility and its importance. This slot is ideal for those who have enough budget to keep on playing the slot game. Piggy Riches is an excellent example of the medium volatility slot game. Sometimes this type of slot can become quite frustrating because it is just in the middle.

Consider setting win and loss limits to keep your finances in check. The slot machine volatility index is calculated by a formula, with results usually landing something in the range of 0-20. A slot machine with a volatility index of 2 would be considered low volatility. On the other hand, a slot machine with a volatility index of 17 would be placed in the high volatility group. Now you understand the basics, we can take a little more of an in-depth look at how volatility and variance break down in terms of player returns. For example, consider the difference between a slot with an RTP of 90% and a slot with an RTP of 97%.

Utilizing Casino Bonuses

Unfortunately, most slot machines don’t explicitly state their volatility. However, you can deduce it by looking at the game’s paytable and rules. A game with a high maximum payout and a significant difference between the highest and lowest prize levels is likely highly volatile. Also, slots that offer large multipliers, progressive jackpots, or big bonuses tend to be higher in volatility. Medium variance slots are the sweet spot in between high variance and low variance slot games. Players who enjoy this type of slot volatility are not averse to small risks but are unwilling to waste away a huge bankroll too fast.