Slot Volatility Explained: Low, Medium & High Slot Games
You may have heard of slot volatility and wondered what it meant. Well, slot volatility in iGaming is what you would call variance or risk level. It is basically how a slot game will payout over time. You may also think of it as how often or how much you’re likely to win when you play a slot game.
You’ll be learning more about low, medium, and high volatility slots in this article, including how to choose which one is right for you, and much more.
What is Slot Volatility?
Slot volatility can be high or low. What this means is that if a slot has low volatility, you’ll have more chances of winning. The downside to this is that the payout will be small. But if that slot game has high volatility, the payout will be bigger, but your chances of winning will be reduced.
Before you play a slot game, you’ll need to remember that slot machines are classified into five volatility levels. The least of them are low volatility slots, which offer the highest chances of winning but arguably the lowest payouts. After this, you have medium volatility machines with a more balanced chance of winning, but still have low payouts. Next, you have high volatility slots, which are quite rare but with massive payout rates. And after that are these last two: extremely volatile slots and insane volatile slots. They’re extremely rare and extremely volatile. But if you find one, their payouts are insanely huge.
You should also bear in mind that there are some slots that don’t belong in these categories. They’re what you may call special slots because they fall in between low, medium, and high volatility slots. These slots could be low-to-medium or medium-to-high volatility slots.
Low Volatility Slots – Small Wins, Frequent Payouts
You have learned that low volatility slots pay less even though you’ve a higher chance of winning with them. But is that all? No, because there’s actually more. One of the good things about low volatility slots is that you can play them for as long as you like.
And if you’re on a tight budget or afraid to spend much, they are the right choice for you. Then, another thing about low volatility slots is their consistent payouts, though small. You should really stick with them if you know little or nothing about slots. Because, as a novice, they’ll save you from huge financial losses.
So if you’re down to trying any one online, try to look for NetEnt’s iconic Starburst. This game was released in 2012, and a lot of players admire its space-theme features, graphics, and animations. It has 5 reels and 10 paylines, and you can get up to 500 times your bet in a spin or respin.
Starburst slot by NetEnt
Medium Volatility Slots – Balanced Risk & Reward
So here’s a thrilling fact about medium volatility slots: they’re very popular among regular players. And it’s because their payouts are balanced unlike low volatility slots. At least you already know that there’s a better chance you’d take home something more substantial. Besides, players who play medium volatility slots always have fun with them.
One of the most popular medium volatility slots that players have taken a liking to is Cleopatra. This slot game was made by IGT in 2012, and it has an ancient Egyptian-theme with 5 reels and 20 paylines. On Cleopatra, you will receive 15 free spins and a 3x multiplier as bonus. But the maximum number you can get is 10000 times your bet.
Cleopatra II slot by IGT
High Volatility Slots – Big Wins, Bigger Risks
Since you already know that high volatile slots are rare and that they have huge payouts. It might also interest you to know that they involve even greater risks than medium or low volatility slots. In other words, if you’re not a seasoned or veteran slots gamer, it’s not advisable to play them because you could lose a lot financially. And that could ruin your gaming confidence. So as a caution, don’t attempt high volatility slots. They’re solely designed for risk slot takers, even though they have significantly larger payouts.
Mind you, their payouts aren’t as frequent as medium or low volatility slots, so you could go hours or days without a win, which is a letdown. Another thing you should remember is the scenes in these slots. They’re action-packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
There are a few popular high volatility slots you can try online. But you should play the Book of Dead first. This game is arguably the most popular high volatility slot among slot lovers. It has 5 reels, 10 paylines, wild symbols, and a countless free spin feature that you can use to win up to 5000 times your bet.
Book of Dead by Play’n GO
How to Choose the Right Slot Volatility for Your Playstyle
How you choose the right volatility for your playstyle is very important. But bear in mind that it all depends on your risk tolerance level and budget.
| Player Type | Ideal Volatility | Reasons |
| Beginner | Low volatility | Longer sessions and affordable |
| Regular | Medium volatility | Medium risk but highly engaging. |
| Advanced or risk taker | High volatility | Big jackpots but high risks |
How to Identify Slot Volatility Before Playing
How can you tell if your favourite slot game has a low, medium or high volatility? Well, one of the best, and perhaps the first way to verify slots volatility is through the game’s sheet or product information. You’ll always find this info on the casino’s or software provider’s official website.
But what if it isn’t available or the casino or software provider failed to disclose the details? What else should you do? There are other ways you can get this info. You can either check the slot’s maximum payout rates or discover its highest bet. For example, high volatility slots like Book of Dead have max payouts that are 5000 times your bet. But when you discover its highest stake, it’s usually low because it’s riskier.
