Meta title: Slot Volatility: Is Low Better Than High?
Meta description: This article demystifies the slot volatility and explains how slots with different variances affect your gaming experience
Each slot game has volatility indicating its risk level. Volatility, also referred to as variance, displays the risk and reward ratio of a game. It indicates how often the slot is likely to pay and the potential prize size. Slots are usually categorized into low, medium, and highly volatile.
Low Volatility
Low volatile slots tend to provide small wins quite often. Developers of such slots should be careful when creating such games, ensuring that the win frequency keeps users engaged and that the payback percentage is not too high. Examples of such slots are
- Starburst by Net Ent
- Born Wild by Hacksaw Gaming
- Dungeon Tower by Peter and Sons
- Rise of Spartans by Genii.
You can test any of these in BooCasino – they give 250 free spins to every new player.
Typically, the maximum payout for such games is around 200x-500x the initial bet, which is not as big as highly volatile slots offer. For this reason, they tend to be less appealing to high-rollers expecting huge wins. However, the great thing about them is that you usually don’t have to wait long to hit a win – they offer a fair opportunity to win less considerable sums more regularly.
High Volatility
Рighly volatile slots are all about the big wins. They offer rarer payouts, but their amounts can be solid. They often have multipliers, bonus games, and extra features that can greatly boost the payout. This category of slots is appealing to players with bigger budgets striving for the thrill of chasing a big win. Some titles from this category include
- Sweet Bonanza by Pragmatic Play
- Mega Moolah Megaways by Games Global
- Great Rhino Megaways by Pragmatic Play
- Oasis of Dead by Play’n Go.
The low hit frequency is the main reason why high volatility slots are often criticized: this causes many gamblers to lose substantial money sums before they eventually hit a single win. Thus, such games are not the best choice for players trying to manage their small bankrolls and take the most out of them.
Medium Volatility
This category falls somewhere in between the two extremes and provides a balance of quite regular, moderate wins and the chance for bigger prizes. Medium-volatile slots target a wide range of gamblers and are probably the most popular among all the mentioned categories. Some slots with medium variance include
- 9 Pots of Gold by Games Global and Gameburger Studios
- Fear the Dark by Hacksaw Gaming
- Rise of Olympus by Play’n Go
- Blood and Shadow by NoLimit City.
This game category is a perfect match for gamblers looking for a satisfying experience while also maintaining the opportunity to win big sums.
How to Determine the Perfect Volatility of Slots for You?
Our recommendation is to choose slots based on your game preferences, playing budget, and risk appetite. Since gambling is made for fun, make it work for you! To find the best fit for your playing style, ask yourself: “Is a high-risk, high-reward strategy what I enjoy? Or is a low-risk, low-reward strategy what I want?”
It’s also important to realize that playing low-volatility slots doesn’t mean you cannot win big prizes, and conversely, playing highly volatile slots doesn’t guarantee huge wins. However, when choosing a strategy, you should consider the game’s potential.
Also, keep in mind that the volatility is usually directly proportional to the excitement and entertainment levels. Slots with low variance will keep you engaged without worrying about huge rapid losses since quite regular but small wins can potentially cover them fast enough. On the other hand, high-variance games provide an adrenaline rush, with each spin holding the potential for a generous prize. Make your decisions based on this knowledge.
About The Author
