Volatility levels significantly impact the ebb and flow when spinning reels. RTP or return-to-player percentages determine the overall paying potential for a slot. But higher or lower volatility adjusts how that theoretical payout gets delivered during active play.
3 Main Types of Slot Volatility
Not all slots neatly fit volatility definitions, but most lean towards high, low or medium settings.
Low Volatility Slots
Offering frequent small payouts, low volatility slots, like those at LuckyOnes online casino, feature straightforward gameplay perfect for casual relaxation without large bankroll fluctuations. Little risk exists of quick losses during play sessions. But jackpots max out at 500-1000x bets. Action stays steady, but overall excitement is lower.
Medium Volatility Slots
Balancing risks and payouts, medium variance slots blend solid winning spins with chances for 1000-5000x slot jackpots. Bankrolls see slightly wider fluctuations during play than low-volatility games. But payouts occur regularly enough to sustain extended gaming sessions.
High Volatility Slots
For bold players chasing big slot scores, high volatility options bring the most anticipation. Payouts happen more rarely, however wins can be truly epic at 5000-10,000x bets or higher. Gameplay sees extreme swings between cold periods and explosive prizes. Massive jackpots bring ultimate thrills.
Best Slots by Volatility Level
Slot Game | Developer | Volatility Level | Key Features | RTP |
Dead or Alive 2 | NetEnt | High | Free spins with high multipliers | 96.82% |
Book of Dead | Play’n GO | High | Free spins with expanding symbols | 96.21% |
Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | High | Megaways, cascading reels, unlimited multipliers | 96.00% |
Reactoonz | Play’n GO | High | Cluster pays, cascading symbols, quantum feature | 96.51% |
Starburst | NetEnt | Low | Expanding wilds, re-spins | 96.09% |
Aloha! Cluster Pays | NetEnt | Low | Cluster pays, sticky re-spins | 96.42% |
Gonzo’s Quest | NetEnt | Medium | Avalanche reels, increasing multipliers | 95.97% |
Buffalo King Megaways | Pragmatic Play | Medium | Free spins, stacked symbols | 96.52% |
Thunderstruck II | Microgaming | Medium-High | Wildstorm feature, multiple free spin modes | 96.65% |
Mega Moolah | Microgaming | Medium-High | Progressive jackpot, wild multipliers | 88.12% |
Optimizing Free Spins Bonuses
Most online https://slotspeak.net/amatic-slots/ now offer free spins as bonuses. The number of spins and volatility of the game impacts how these rewards should be utilized to maximize winning potential.
- Low Volatility Slots – For slots with frequent small payouts, free spins allow steadily accumulating wins. Setting autoplay for the whole bonus round ensures capturing all the little strikes that together deliver value.
- Medium Volatility – Medium variance slots bring solid wins amidst risks. Manually triggering spins allows capitalizing on hot streaks.
- High Volatility – Free spins on volatile, high-risk slots should be played manually without stopping early. The next spin could unveil the epic prizes after a cold spell.
Strategizing Bankroll Management
Volatility also impacts bankroll management when playing slots. Higher variance needs a bigger budget to endure cold spells until jackpots hit. Lower volatility slots allow stretching smaller bankrolls.
- High Volatility – Big Budgets Chasing big scores on highly volatile games demands large budgets to endure potentially long dry periods without wins. Have funds to weather 200+ spins without payouts. Reduce bets after big hits to lock gains.
- Low Volatility – Small Funds Lower variance slots provide more frequent payouts. Modest bankrolls under $100 can sustain longer play sessions. Smaller bets maximize spins. Take more risk to trigger bonuses quickly.
Low variance slots deliver casual fun, medium games sustain solid runs, and high volatility chases epic jackpots for willing risk-takers.