Hello, dear readers! If you have been playing a lot of slots, you might know what volatility is and how it affects a certain game. To those who don’t know, we suggest you read this article to find out everything about a slot’s volatility. We will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type of volatility and we will give you recommendations for slots with different metrics.
Definition
Let’s start off with the definition of volatility. In the sphere of slot gaming, volatility assesses the risk associated with playing a slot. Consequently, it also evaluates the frequency of winning combinations and it predicts their overall amount.
NB: Do not confuse volatility with variance. Although you might have heard players using these terms synonymously, they are not exactly the same. Volatility evaluates the risk and distribution of rewards in a short period of time, while variance looks at the distribution of rewards in the long term.
Volatility Types
Now that you know what slot volatility is, you might be wondering how many types of slot volatility there are. Generally, there are three types of slot volatility– low, medium, and high. Here’s what each type of volatility signifies:
- Low: low risk; low reward; high frequency
- Medium: average risk; average reward; average frequency
- High: high risk; high reward; low frequency
However, you might also find a slot’s volatility described as “medium-high” or “medium-low”, which naturally means that the slot is in between the two.
Determining a Slot’s Volatility
While the RTP rate of a slot can be usually found in the instruction manual (click ‘i’ or ‘settings’), software developers don’t always display the volatility. The easiest way to check a slot’s volatility is to look it up online. Slot reviews, most often than not, provide you with this information.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can try to determine the volatility yourself. First, see if the slot comes with a jackpot or a very big maximum prize. If it does, then it’s probably of high or medium volatility.
Second, look at the possible maximum bet you can place. Since slots with high volatility present a higher risk, the maximum bet is usually lower. Third, try out the slot for yourself by playing its free demo version, which should give you
Low, Medium, and High Volatility Slots
Now, let us evaluate each type of slot, so you can decide which one to go after.
Low Volatility Slots
If you’re a beginner, we recommend playing low volatility slots at least until you adjust to this type of gambling. Low volatility slots don’t require huge budgets. Moreover, winning combinations occur more frequently, which gives you the chance to play longer and consequently learn the ropes if you’re an amateur.
On the negative side, slots with low volatility usually come with fewer bonus features or sometimes without any at all. There’s also this thing called “losses disguised as wins” where the amount of the reward is lower than the wager, but the positive reinforcement associated with winning makes you want to keep playing.
Here are a few cool low volatility slots you can try out:
- Thunderstruck 2 by Microgaming
- Starburst by NetEnt
- The Goonies by Blueprint Gaming
High Volatility Slots
This type of slots is only for those who are willing to spend more playing and who love the risk associated with it. Highly volatile games give out the best prizes in the industry and they usually come with very lucrative bonus rounds.
However, it takes time to score a big reward. If it happens soon after you start playing, count yourself lucky and remember it’d be a while before it happens again. You need time, patience and money to play these slots.
Here are some great slots with high volatility:
- Piggy Riches Megaways by Red Tiger Gaming
- Dead or Alive by NetEnt
- Bonanza by Big Time Gaming
Medium Volatility Slots
It seems like slots of medium volatility are generally preferred by players as they are considered to be the perfect balance between risk and reward. Don’t let that sway you though, because each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you should choose the one that suits your style the most.
In terms of advantages, these slots offer higher payouts than low volatility slots and higher hit frequency than high volatility slots. From time to time you can also hit high rewards. Finally, you can expect bonus features, which are likely to be triggered more often than with high volatility slots.
Now for the disadvantages. There are usually no jackpots in medium volatility slots, so it’s unlikely for you to become a millionaire by playing one. The wins are also not as consistent as the win in low volatility slots where you can predict when you can generally hit a winning combination.
Here are some fantastic medium volatility slots:
- Gonzo’s Gold by NetEnt
- Atlantis Megaways by ReelPlay
- Fruit Rainbow by Pragmatic Play
Final Thoughts
A slot’s volatility significantly affects the gameplay as you have now learnt. The different types of volatility come with their advantages and disadvantages, so in the end, it depends on your personal preferences as to which slot to play.