Think all online slots are created equal? Think again!
If you’ve ever wondered why some gaming sessions feel like running a cross-country marathon—with long spells of nothing followed by a huge peak—while others keep the small payouts coming thick and fast, it’s not because you’re doing something daft. Rather, you’re feeling the effects of volatility.
That sounds like something casino pros are adept at handling, right? Well, yes, but that’s only because they’ve got years of experience under their belt and had to learn the hard way. These days, slot games and roulette tables are as much about lightweight gaming sessions as mobile staples like Candy Crush. We’re not going to hold it against you if you’ve overlooked something like whether a slot is low, high, or medium volatility.
We’ll also let you into a little secret: even slots players who’ve been on the scene for years don’t fully understand what volatility is all about. It’s still one of the most misunderstood concepts in online casino gaming, even though it’s one of the most important. The good news is, all it takes is a little explanation, and soon, you’ll be playing smarter, stretching your bankroll further, and picking out titles that are the perfect match for your playstyle.
Ready to break it down?
What it Really Means
Volatilty… variance… it’s all too easy to overlook these small details in this era of slots gaming, where it’s all about cutting-edge mechanics and cluster pays.
We’ve all been there: checking out the new online slot games that just dropped at our favorite platform, and only focusing on features and RTPs. The thing is, understanding volatility is just as important as knowing how many free spins the bonus round will unlock. It deals with the highs of online slot game payouts… specifically, how often you can expect wins and how large they’re likely to be.
At one end of the spectrum, we have low-volatility titles. These workhorses are the bread and butter of an online casino, delivering regular, albeit smaller, payouts. High-variance games, on the other hand, are built for drama. They’ll keep you waiting for longer, but when those wins do land, they can be gamechangers.
Somewhere in the middle are medium-volatility slots—Goldilocks’ perfect bowl of porridge, if you will. These games are all about balance; bankroll-boosting payouts, sure, but on a more frequent scale.
How Volatility Shapes Gameplay
You might be wondering why all this matters, especially if you’re a casual gamer. The thing is, volatility doesn’t just impact your odds of payouts; it also plays a key role in shaping the entire gaming experience.
Take a high-volatility slot like Lizard Loot: Hold & Win. This game is a thrill machine, packing in bonuses and high-value multipliers. You’ll be chasing those bonus rounds and, when they do trigger, they’ll hit hard, but much of your gaming session will involve managing those dry spells.
In contrast, a low volatility spinner (think: Awesome 7s or Sweets & Spins) is all about easy-going gameplay. They’re not exactly short on features, and the small wins peppered in along the way will certainly keep things rewarding, but you’re not going to see a super exciting win hit the screen most of the time.
It’s also worth keeping in mind the link between slot variance and RTP (Return to Player), since that can radically alter your experience of play too. While the former deals with how often a slot pays out, the RTP is all about how much.
Expressed as a percentage—you’ll likely have seen games with 95% or 96% listed—RTP tells you how much of the money wagered the game will pay out over a long period. So, if you load up a slot with a 96% return to player, on average, it will pay out $96 for every $100 wagered. It is really important to realize that this isn’t about your average over a session or even over several sessions; it’s the game’s average, but it can take a long time to see those numbers realized.
Bear in mind too that different games behave very differently, even if they share the same RTP number. Features and volatility have a big impact on what payouts look like.
You see, a low volatility slot isn’t likely to drop as a $96 payout all in one go. It will usually spread out that average across smaller, steadier payouts. A high volatility slot, on the other hand, is more likely to deliver most of the 96% through bigger, less frequent wins.
How to Use Volatility to Match Your Playstyle
Truly smart slots players treat volatility like a personality test for their playstyle, so why not take a leaf out of their book?
You might be an adrenaline junkie in your day-to-day life, but do you prefer to settle in for longer and more strategic gaming sessions? If so, it’s the low volatility spinners that will deliver maximum engagement and a steadier gaming experience.
If you find yourself more on the opposite end of the spectrum, opt for high volatility titles for that alluring mix of risk and reward. You might decide to try a high volatility Hot Drop jackpot for extra excitement.
If you sit somewhere in between, you’ll get a lot out of adding variety to the mix. You might think that medium-quality games will become your go-to, but sprinkling in some high-octane and slow-n-steady titles will keep things interesting. Maybe you’re an explorer who wants to play as many different slots as possible – knowing that will inform your play sessions and make them more satisfying.
A Smart Move
Wrapping your head around volatility really is one of the smarter moves you can make in a virtual casino—after all, it’s a solid framework that defines how each spin will play out. So, the next time you’re browsing for something new, don’t just pick the biggest jackpot. Ask yourself: what kind of player do I feel like today?
