What does volatility mean in slots? Tips for choosing the right game
Contents:
- Slot volatility explained: What it really means
- Types of slot volatility: Low, medium, and high
- Low volatility slots
- Medium volatility slots
- High volatility slots
- How to identify a slot’s volatility level
- Game info, paytable, and RTP
- Visual cues and game features
- Volatility vs RTP: What’s more important?
- Tips for choosing the right volatility for your bankroll
- Small Bankroll = Low volatility
- Medium Bankroll = Medium volatility
- Large Bankroll = High volatility
- Adjust bet sizes
- Set your limit and stay within it
- Play smarter by understanding slot volatility
When you hit spin on a slot game, you will notice some games offer small wins on a frequent basis. Other slots will reward you very infrequently, but when they do, the payouts tend to be bigger. This is called slot volatility, or variance.
Slot volatility explained: What it really means
Volatility is a measure of risk for a slot game. It will show how often you will likely win, and how large those wins are likely to be. Low volatility slots provide steady but much smaller wins, while high volatility slots take time to hit, but pay out larger sums. Medium volatility slots offer a happy medium.
To put it simply, volatility tells you if you want small, frequent wins, or bigger and rarer wins. By knowing this, you will understand what type of slot to play based on your style of play and budget.
Being familiar with volatility will ultimately help you become a more strategic slot player. While luck will always be the biggest factor, knowing a game’s volatility will help you better set your expectations, plan your budget, and experience the type of play you want.
Types of slot volatility: Low, medium, and high
Slots traditionally fit into low, medium, and high volatility. Some games may fall somewhere in between, but most are classified within this spectrum.
Low volatility slots
Low volatility slots are known for their frequent payouts. Wins come fast with lots of small payouts. These types of games are designed for people who:
- Want to play longer sessions
- Want an entertainment experience, and don’t just care about receiving massive payouts
- Have a small bankroll but want to play for longer
In other words, you are getting low amounts of your bet back every few spins, which is why your bankroll does not fluctuate so much.
Examples of features in low volatility slots are:
- Low-pace, low-value reel symbols
- Frequent bonus rounds
- Low maximum stake amounts
They appeal to a specific type of player who enjoys slower-paced, continuous entertainment that does not deplete their bankroll as fast.
Medium volatility slots
Medium volatility slots offer a middle ground between the frequency and the size of the payout. Players will not see as many total winning spins as the low volatility slots, but in place of that, the wins will be larger.
Players who enjoy medium volatility slots will:
- Want a blend of not only frequent win moments, but potentially bigger wins when they happen.
- Have a medium-sized bankroll
- Not mind some risk, although they will want to limit the number of win droughts
Medium volatility slots might throw in a bonus round that won’t have a payout every single time, but when you do win, the rewards will make that gameplay worthwhile. Medium volatility games allow the player to have the best of both worlds, keeping the gaming fun and exciting, while not depleting the player’s bankroll and without the long periods without a win you can experience with high volatility slots.
This game type is the most popular in the space and will serve the largest player group.
High volatility slots
High volatility slots are high risk, very high reward slots. The wins or paybacks don’t come too often, but they will bring the biggest wins when they occur. This is where you will see the high pays or jackpots, beneficial multipliers in bonus rounds, or even payouts that are life-changing. High volatility slots are most ideal for people who:
- Have a bigger bankroll and more patience
- Enjoy the thrill of going after bigger payouts
- Don’t care about longer losing streaks
These games can be thrilling yet nerve-wracking at the same time. You may spin fifty times for no wins, before hitting a payout for hundreds of times your initial bet.
High volatility slots typically have:
- Infrequent yet rewarding bonus features
- Massive multipliers or free-spin bonuses
- Jackpot chances
High volatility slots are great if you like adventurous gameplay and are willing to risk it all for the chance of a big pay-off.
See also: How to Win at Slot Machines
How to identify a slot’s volatility level
Not all games will tell you the game’s volatility level, which makes it important to have some knowledge that makes you able to determine which slots are low, medium or high volatility.
Game info, paytable, and RTP
Start by exploring the game’s information screen or paytable. This is where many operators will show you the game’s volatility level, but even if they don’t, you can still make a calculated decision.
Observe the symbol payouts: Games showing wide differences between small and large payouts often display high volatility.
Look at the size of the jackpot: The bigger the top payout is, the more volatile the slot is likely to be.
Understand RTP (Return to Player): While RTP is different from volatility, typically a low RTP combined with a high jackpot will indicate a higher variance slot.
Visual cues and game features
The design and features of the game can also help you work out the game’s volatility level.
- Frequent bonus triggers are typically indicative of low volatility.
- Long and complex bonus rounds with large multipliers are usually associated with high volatility games.
- The number of paylines can also be telling—most low volatility games have a high number of paylines, while high volatility games have the least.
Using paytable analysis and gameplay observations, you will begin to develop a sense of the volatility of a slot game.
Volatility vs RTP: What’s more important?
Many players confuse volatility with RTP, but they are two different measures. RTP is a long-term expected return expressed as a percentage; this value is an average. For example, the average RTP for a game may be 96%, meaning that after playing thousands of spins, the expected return is 96 coins for every 100 coins wagered in a game.
Volatility is a measure of short-term risk and payment structure. A slot game with a 5% RTP may have a low volatility, medium volatility, high volatility or any combination.
What is more important? RTP is probably more important in the long term; especially if you are a regular player. Games with higher RTP theoretically provide a return on value.
Volatility is more important in the short term. In practice, it is often deemed more important because volatility affects how the game feels. RTP is very important, but volatility determines whether your session is smooth, balanced, or full of highs and lows
See also: What is the best time to play slots?
Tips for choosing the right volatility for your bankroll
Here’s some advice on how to pick the right level of volatility that will suit your bankroll.
Small Bankroll = Low volatility
If you have a small balance, be sure to stick to low volatility slots. Small but frequent wins will help you stretch your bankroll and have more fun.
Medium Bankroll = Medium volatility
With a little more money in the game, you can explore medium volatility slots. Medium slots will give you large wins sporadically, but you will also still see a decent frequency of smaller wins.
Large Bankroll = High volatility
If you want to bear longer periods of not winning, high volatility slots can eventually pay life-changing wins. Just as a reminder, be sure to understand what you are playing and be prepared to take these risks.
Adjust bet sizes
If you’re playing a high volatility game, lower your bet size per spin to limit the losses in a dry spell.
Set your limit and stay within it
Do not exceed your bankroll. Remember, all slots are games of chance. Having the knowledge of volatility will help you to understand how the game can play out, but it won’t guarantee you will win.
Play smarter by understanding slot volatility
Slot volatility is one of the most fundamental concepts that can help you work out which slot game is the right one for you. Volatility also determines how often you receive small wins, a balanced mix of payouts, or rare but lucrative jackpots
Before going into a playing session with any slot game, remember:
- If your goal is to play for a long time but keep your gameplay steady, stick to low volatility slots.
- If your goal is to have the best possible balance between frequency of wins and payout sizes, play medium volatility slots.
- If you’re looking for high risk and high reward, opt for high volatility slots.
Once you know how to relate volatility to a bankroll, you can make more informed decisions, and play slots in a way that’s in line with your risk tolerance.
While RTP determines the likely long-term payout, volatility determines your short-term experience or thrill. If you understand both clearly, you can strategize your play more effectively.
So, the next time you spin the reels, remember volatility is your ticket to your ride. You get to decide if you want the smooth ride, balanced ride, or thrill ride.
