Slot volatility refers to how often a slot pays out wins and the typical size of those wins. It’s an important metric to consider when choosing which online slots to play. But what exactly does variance mean, and how can you compare slots across volatility levels?
What is Slot Machine Volatility?
Slot volatility indicates the risk and reward profile of a slot. Low volatility slots pay out smaller wins regularly. High volatility slots grant you less frequent wins, but the wins tend to be bigger. Slots can also have medium or variable volatility levels across a spectrum.
Volatility doesn’t affect a slot’s RTP (return to player). A 96% RTP slot can have a low or high variance. Instead, think of volatility as how dramatic the swings between wins and losses are. The higher the volatility, the bigger the potential reward, but longer the potential dry spells with no payouts in between.
Types Of Slots Variance
- Low Variance
- Medium-Low Volatility
- Medium Variance
- Medium-High Volatility
- High Volatility
Slot Volatility Levels in Comparison with Real Slots
| Slot | Volatility | Payout Frequency | Typical Win Size |
| Starburst | Low | Very frequent small wins | Up to 500x bet |
| Gonzo’s Quest | Medium | Frequent small wins with some big wins | Up to 2,500x bet |
| Mega Moolah | High | Occasional wins with some huge jackpots | Over 1 million x bet jackpots |
| Book of Dead | Variable | Shifts between small and large wins | Up to 5,000x bet |
| Buffalo Megaways | High | Least frequent payouts with rare massive wins | Up to 20,000x bet |
In the ranking posted by Kingcasinobonus, Book of Dead was named the number 1 game for real-money slot site bets. It has a high volatility, a huge maximum stake and thousands of bonuses tailored to it. One unique feature is the expanding symbols that might fall at any random time during your bets.
However, Starburst is on the low volatility end of the scale, known for its regular small payouts as players spin its colourful reels. Gonzo’s Quest medium variance provides a healthy balance of small and large wins fairly frequently to keep you invested.
Mega Moolah and Buffalo Megaways demonstrate big variance high variance slots – they can provide long stretches without wins but occasionally return massive jackpot prizes over 1,000x your bet or more. Finally, Book of Dead shifts volatility levels during play for variety.
Which volatility you prefer comes down to playing style. High rollers may enjoy chasing big wins from high-variance slots, while casual players often favour games with a lower variance.
Specialists’ Findings About Slots Variance in Casino Bonuses
Industry research reveals an intriguing pattern – the majority of no deposit casino bonuses feature low or medium-variance slots. Across various deals like free spins on sign-up and no deposit bonus funds, over 70% contained lower variance games.
Lower volatility slots, with their frequent small wins, serve the casino’s goals well when trying to maximise value from promotional budgets. Dragging out small payouts across more spins keeps you active longer without quickly draining limited bonus funds or free spin allotments.
The extended time on site also increases the critical opportunity for conversion to real money plays for you. Dangling low-volatility games helps provide just enough small wins to leave players with a positive impression after the bonus ends too. This gently persuades more sign-ups to make a deposit ultimately.
Of course, you are still the winner in this exchange by enjoying risk-free casino entertainment. But behind the curtain, make no mistake – every element of casino bonuses, like game selection, is tactically engineered to entice more future real money action. So discern what volatility level you prefer, then be selective when claiming offers to ensure they align with your style!
