Some may say online slots require little or no skill at all, but we believe there’s more to slot machines than simply hitting a spin button.
Slot machines are a gamble and with all gambles, there is risk involved and understanding slot volatility is key if players want to know what slot to play and what outcome to expect. Slot volatility essentially means the amount of risk involved when playing a specific slot. When browsing an online casino or a slot review you’ll notice that most descriptions will list the slot’s volatility, this can range from low, medium and high. Most slot game providers will have outlined this in their casino lobbies or apps.
In this guide we’ll bring you up to speed on slot volatility and the best type to choose based on your slot style.
Low Volatility Slots
Lower volatility = lower risk! Payouts are usually smaller and gameplay can feel a little slower, but that doesn’t mean gameplay isn’t exciting. In low volatility slots, players can expect smaller wins more frequently compared to those big payouts that come around on rare occasions.
Are low volatility slots for me? If you’re reasonably new to playing slots, low volatility machines are a great place to start as the risk is generally lower on most low volatility slots. For the majority of the time, the gameplay is usually slower so gives beginners the chance to understand how slot machines work and enjoy the experience at a nice pace. These type of slots are also more suited to players with smaller amounts of cash and looking to get as much game time as possible.
Medium Volatility Slots
Get the best of both worlds with medium volatility slot machines, these types of slots gives players the perfect compromise between low volatility and high volatility slots. Medium volatility slots give players the chance to go for big wins as well as still cashing in on those small wins that pop up more often. We found medium volatility slots provided that little bit more exciting and gave a nice balance during gameplay. A fun and great example of a medium volatility slot is Achilles, RTG’s most notable slot release to date.
High Volatility Slots
High volatility slots more often than not come with higher risk, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they should be avoided. If you’re chasing the big wins and have the cash to spend then we recommended going straight to the top and choosing high volatility slots! These type of slots put gamblers on the edge of the seat and offer the thrill that most slot players are seeking.
Payouts during high volatility slot machines will be greater but appear less frequently, so they are the completely other ends of the spectrum compared to low volatility slots. Our favorite high volatility slot is Cai Hong and RTG claim it offers very high volatility.
Each slot provides players with its own unique aspects and slot volatility should just be a small consideration when it comes to choosing a slot, it’s all about the player and having fun! Some players choose slots based on design, graphics, the number of reels, paylines, provider, jackpot amount - the factors are endless! However, If you’re still not confident playing with your own cash most online casinos allow players to use a practice or demo mode where players can play slots for free.