Your Guide To Online Slots Volatility And Variance

You might have heard the terms slot volatility and slot variance before, but what exactly are they? And how do they affect your odds of winning?

That’s what we are here to explain. We’ll be giving you an overview of each type of volatility and let you in on a few of our favourite slot machine games to play of each type.

First, we have to let you in on a little secret.

When it comes to slots online, the terms Volatility and Variance are often interchangeable. They are two words to pretty much describe the same thing which is how a slot will play and payout.

Slot volatilities define how risky a slot is to play and often go hand in hand with how big the returns can be.

Depending on whether it’s a low, medium or high volatility slot will see your cash go far or disappear quickly, but also reward you with little or big wins.

Now we’ve covered the basics let’s dive into each type and see what characteristics they hold for us slot players wanting to choose a new slot.

Low volatility slots

Here on SlotSumo.com, we like our slots a little riskier with higher rewards, that’s why you’ll only find medium to high variance slots listed among our website’s pages.

That’s not to say we don’t like to dabble from time to time in low variance games like NetEnt’s Starburst slot, as there’s something refreshing about playing a game that offers instant satisfaction with quick wins.

Cause that’s the characteristics of low volatility slot games, they are for the casual gambler, often on a smaller budget who wants to see their casino cash go far.

Often offering quick small wins, your casino balance is regularly topped up and lasts longer than the medium to higher variance games which tend to soak up your cash like a dry sponge.

These aren’t real money casino games that are going to win you hundreds and thousands on a single spin (unless they have a jackpot attached like NetEnt’s Mega Fortune Dreams), but ones that on a good day will give you back enough to put a smile on your face and a slap up meal for two.

With a win within every five spins or so these are often fast-paced games full of quick thrills for gamblers who like some instant gratification.

Our top low variance slots

The great thing is that nearly every casino software produces these types of low win games to make sure they cover all their bases.

So if you have a favourite provider, you’re bound to be able to find at least one if not more.

Here are our best slots to play for some quick win action:

• Starburst slot by NetEnt
• Gemix slot By Play’n GO
• Rainbow Riches Fortune Favours by Barcrest
• Wild Wild Chest by Red Tiger Gaming
• Big Bad Wolf by Quickspin

Medium volatility slots

We start to go up a risk level when it comes to medium volatility slots.

These are the games that let you hedge your bets when it comes to risk and reward.

It mixes some of the characteristics of the low with the high and creates an all-around game with the potential to pay out some decent sums from a single spin, but also offers many wins.

Obviously, each slot game is different with different game mechanics. You could see a flurry of successive wins followed by none at all or you might have consistent periods of decent paying sums.

There’s no real telling what a medium variance game will bring when first looking at it.

That’s why we write online slot reviews to help you decipher the gameplay before you place a real money bet. You could always play slots for free and see if you like it of course but getting another players perspective is still worthwhile.

One thing you are going to have to watch with these types of slot games though is your budget. You can see it be played through quicker than lower volatility games, but the rewards can also be a lot higher.

If you’re after some middle of the road games which add a little more risk to your gameplay, then these are the ones for you.

Our top medium variance slots

If you’ve been a slots player for a while, you probably know a few of the games in this list. Every provider creates a wide range of these games, mixing a decent return to player rate with the chance for bigger payouts but with the sometimes frustrating inconsistency to your spins.

• Secret Romance slot by Microgaming
• Amazing Aztecs slot by Just for the Win
• Diamond Strike slot by Pragmatic Play
• Sticky Bandits slot by Quickspin
• Golden Princess slot by Microgaming

High volatility slots

These are probably our favourite types of slot machines to play.

High volatility slots are the best slot machines to play if you’re after wins of 5,000x your bet or beyond on a single spin.

With games like Play’n GO’s Pimped, Viking Runecraft and their infamous Riche Wilde and the Book of Dead slot providing big win action.

These are the casino games you are going to have to play wisely and know how to budget your cash as there’s a chance you will walk away with nothing after playing on one.

That’s why we only recommend the more experienced gambler take a spin on these games. There’s the potential they won’t pay out in 50 or so spins, only to reward you with enough to pay for 10 of your last 50 spins when it decides to pay.

The flip side of that though is that there’s the chance to win some big numbers here, the likes you won’t find in low variance and medium variance games.

It can be an intense thrill ride of emotions playing high variance slot machines and one that can get the blood pumping. But one that is not without risk and they should always be played with caution.

Our top high variance slots

We’ve played a few casino slot machines in our time, and these are the ones that we tend to keep coming back to time and time again.

• Book of Dead slot by Play’n GO
• Dead or Alive slot by NetEnt
• Raging Rhino slot by WMS
• Great Blue slot by Playtech
• Six Acrobats slot by Microgaming

In conclusion

When it comes to playing slots online for real money the volatility of a slot is just one aspect of the game you need to consider before you play.

Others like the return to player rate, min, and max bet, features, bonus game hit rate and whether it has a jackpot are all worth noting.

It’s also worth noting which provider the game is created by as not all games are created equal meaning a high volatility slot for one might actually be medium volatility for another.

Which can make it tricky to pick, meaning it’s often worth trying the game in free play first.

If you’re new to playing slots, then take a look at our 5 Things To Consider Before Playing Slots Online post which covers a few starter hints and tips.

There’s also plenty more slot guides and in-depth articles, right here on SlotSumo for you to learn from.

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