Slot machines are like any game of chance: there are different calculations (or probabilities) that you’ll win or lose. This is often called slot volatility or variance.
In simple terms, volatility is how often you’ll trigger a win when you’re playing an online slot, as well as how big or small the win will be. If a game has high volatility, it might offer bigger payouts, but give them out less often. On the other side, low-volatility slot games will pay you smaller wins, but more often.
Volatility is generally measured on a scale, from low to medium to high. You might think “I want high volatility so I can win more”, but it’s not so simple. The variance of a slot is a major factor in determining what type of game you want to play.
Do you want to rack up wins and see if you can make bank, or swing for the home run? Casino Time offers a huge selection of online slots to players in Ontario, covering all volatilities – there really is a great selection of games for every player’s preference.
The different levels of volatility:
Depending on how you like to play, you might want to stick to games at one volatility level or change it up depending on how you’re feeling.
These are the main types of slot volatility:
- Low – you’ll get more frequent wins but they’ll be in lower amounts
- Low to medium – less frequent wins but payout multipliers are a little bigger
- Medium – a balance between somewhat regular wins and payout multipliers that return a decent amount
- Medium to high – the scales are tipped more towards less frequent wins, but bigger payouts
- High –you’ll win very rarely, but the payout multiplier will be big, mega or even legendary resulting in the potential for very large wins
How volatility impacts the gameplay:
Low volatility slots payout regularly but in lower amounts while high volatility slots don’t pay out as often but when they do, the wins are bigger.
These labels are determined by the volatility of the slot title itself, as well as the ‘Return to Player’ (RTP) percentage at a casino – but it’s important to know they’re not the same.
The volatility of a slot game is how often a slot pays out, say once in every 50 spins.
RTP is a calculated amount that you as a player will get back from playing, often measured as a percentage. So if a slot has an RTP of 96%, for every $1 that you wager, you can reasonably expect to get $0.96 back in winnings, with $0.04 going to the casino.
It’s important to note that this is on average over a very large amount of plays – you will not get $0.96 of every $1 wagered back every time.
Both of these factors contribute to overall volatility but aren’t exactly accurate measuring sticks when it comes to win potential. They’re averages you take with a grain of salt because of the volume of plays required to achieve those results.
There are other factors to consider, too including bet size, where high volatility games may have higher minimum bet amounts as well as any bonuses you’ve claimed, with their wagering requirements layering on top of the slot’s volatility.
How to find the volatility of a slot game:
Sometimes it can be tricky to find the volatility of a slot game, but at Casino Time we’ve done the hard work for you.
We provide information on each slot game listed in our lobby, including the RTP score for the title. Use this info to pick the right games for you.
The right volatility for you:
The kind of volatility you prefer comes down to whether you like the anticipation of big wins landing and are happy to wait for them or to build up lots of smaller wins that come more regularly.
If you’re a more casual player who just wants to drop in and have a few spins, low to medium volatility slots mean you can play for longer, being able to extend out your playtime by betting smaller and winning more frequently.
If you’ve got a bigger bankroll behind you and enjoy the hunt for potentially big wins, then high volatility slots give you the thrill of the chase you’re looking for.
Try these low volatility slots:
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Try these medium volatility slots:
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Try these high volatility slots:
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Head to the Casino Time game lobby to discover the best selection of online slot games in Ontario.
