Ultimate guide to slots volatility and slots variance
Slots volatility and slots variance are two key components that slot machine players consider when choosing a game to play, but why do they matter so much to players and game designers? Well, let's take a look, shall we?
What does volatility mean in slots
Some casino players confuse volatility and variance, but it's important to point out early in today's guide that they are two different components. Slot machine game designers factor both into their game designs long before the finished product is ready to hit any casino.
Volatility means the rate at which a machine will likely pay a large sum or a jackpot. The higher the volatility, the lower the chance of a payout, but typically it is a much higher sum of money when it happens. The algorithms in these slot machine games are set to payout randomly, and there's no set strategy or method for winning on a slot machine game.
This works on a sliding scale, so medium volatility slots have a smaller jackpot but are programmed to pay out more often. When we say to pay out more often, we don't mean you'll be hitting the jackpot every day, but you'll hit winning symbols, which could still fall under your initial bet; it's just that medium and low volatility slots provide more opportunity and likelihood of paying out.
As long as you bet with money you can afford to lose and set yourself time limits, you will be able to enjoy any type of slot machine volatility and not get too caught up in it. Usually, volatility information will be readily accessible in the paytable of the slot game or if you do a quick internet search. Thankfully, with so many of these games available in demo versions, you can sample how high volatility slots look and feel before you put any real money down to play the game.
Although there are several slot machine games to choose from, especially at LeoVegas, some players will revert to their favourite themes or pick a slot purely based on volatility, so game designers must strike a good balance.
Slots volatility vs slots variance
Now that we have answered the question of what volatility means for online slots and what you can expect from low, medium, and high volatility slots, we will explain what slot machine variance means. Slots variance refers to the specific amount that will be paid back to you throughout several plays. Volatility in slots and slots variance aren't mutually exclusive, they are intertwined. Usually, there's a sliding opposing scale between the two. For instance, slots with high volatility are usually low variance slot games. Similarly, slots with low volatility are likely to be high variance slots.
This information is readily available on the home page of most slots. As we discussed earlier, you can also play demo versions of these slot games, allowing you to sample the feel and tempo before you put any of your cash down as a wager.
High volatility slots
The designer of the slot or the title can be a strong giveaway regarding the slot's volatility. Megaways slots are prevalent and renowned for producing many high-volatility slots. While their unique selling point is the number of winning ways available to slot machine players, their max jackpots are also revered.
However, given that they are high volatility slots, the chances of hitting a Megaways jackpot are slim. Slot machines with a progressive jackpot are often highly volatile due to the colossal main prizes they offer slot machine players.
High volatility slots examples
With such a range of options available at LeoVegas, it can be challenging to know straightaway what slots to look for if you only want to play high-volatility games. Here are a few of our picks:
Chocolates
Food-themed slots aren't the most common theme for slots you'll encounter. However, if you're a fan of high-volatility slots and regularly go out of your way to find them, then you may have already heard of Chocolates, which is a big hit. With a small 4x4 grid but over 60,000 possible winning ways, the high volatility and Big Time Gaming's reliability and reputable standing in the industry are two of the reasons why this slot is a popular hit for gamers.
Punk Toilet
With another unique theme, Punk Toilet, isn't the type of game that casino players would immediately rush to because of the title. It has a strange, unsettling backdrop and an intense feel. In many ways, the high volatility of the game is a perfect attribute considering how fast-paced and dark the overall aura of the game is.
The relatively vulgar 4x3 slot contains symbols with famous faces covered in graffiti. However, we're sure people don't get too hung up on that when they see the maximum possible payout of up to 33,333x, one of the highest you can find anywhere on LeoVegas. Punk Toilet is one of the big names in high-volatility slot games due to the substantial potential win you can unlock.
Pink Elephants
As somewhat of a homage to the infamous scene from the legendary Disney film Dumbo, Pink Elephants has the vivid imagery and enticing aura you would expect from a slot that leans heavily into the world of colourful symbols and mysterious imagery. With a conventional 5x4 grid, don't be fooled into believing that this slot is a run-of-the-mill standard game.
This Thunderkick release was a revelation when it first hit our screens in 2020, and with a maximum jackpot of over 8,000x, it's no surprise that it continues to attract a strong core of followers. If you're looking to play high volatility slots, this one is definitely worth a try.
Mighty Griffin Megaways
Another game with a max payout so high that it makes you do a doubletake, Mighty Griffin Megaways is one of the crowning slot game achievements for Blueprint Gaming, one of the industry's top designers. We're not going to sit here and say the only good thing about this game is that it has a max potential payout of up to 50,000x because that wouldn't be the case.
While some gamers have commented on the disjointed grid reel and the aesthetics of the original core game, the music, imagery and overall playability more than compensate for this.
Dead or Alive
You can't beat a good old Wild West-themed slot. While the title might sound more ominous, the Dead or Alive slot is an interactive game with a possible payout of up to 13,000x. While the basic 5x3 reel is commonplace in slot machine gaming and isn't anything out of the ordinary, the theme, imagery, and high-quality symbols in the Dead or Alive slot make it one of the most popular high-volatility slot games at LeoVegas.
Low volatility slots
For those slot machine fans who are looking for a game with less drama involved but a better chance of a more respectable payout, low-volatility games have a lot of charm. These slots are great for players who just want to kick back and not have to worry about the rollercoaster volatility of a high-volatility slot.
Low volatility slots examples
It might not be readily apparent which slot game is a low or high-volatility slot. Hopefully, we can steer you in the right direction with some of our choices. LeoVegas has hundreds of slot games to select from, so you won't struggle to find a game, regardless of the type of slot volatility or slot variance you prefer.
Starburst
We may as well begin with one of the biggest and most successful low-volatility slots that you can find online. Starburst and their designer NetEnt probably couldn't have imagined just how popular this slot would become. Even though it came out over a decade ago, which is light years in the world of slot machine gaming, it has a strong core audience and remains one of the most popular slot games on LeoVegas.
Thunderstruck
Thunderstruck is very much the middle of the scale regarding variance, but the volatility is ideal for those players looking to unwind and play a low-volatility slots game. With an excellent selection of minigames and a basic reel setup, Thunderstruck isn't known for being too wild or out there in its design. If you're a fan of low-volatility slot games, this is the kind of game you are most likely looking for.
Mega Moolah
Although we have covered some of the biggest names in the slot machine gaming world already, Microgaming could make a strong case for being the biggest and best. They have several notable titles that crossover into the world of casual casino gaming and are big hits with gamers.
Mega Moolah is another example of this. As you will find with most low-volatility slots, there's nothing superfluous in their design or dramatic numbers of unnecessary minigames when the base game is more than adequate.
Secrets of Atlantis
Mythology is an incredibly popular theme when we're discussing specific slot machine games and designs, and it doesn't matter if the games are low, medium, or high volatility. The symbols involved are steeped in the locations and traditions of the legendary mythical Gods and characters of Greek and Roman mythology. The Secrets of Atlantis slot game doesn't feature some of the expansive grid reels and the type of graphics you can find in this genre, and its grid design is relatively basic.
However, as we have already touched on, low-volatility slots are designed with a more laid-back approach in mind, and that is something that NetEnt, which specializes in low-volatility slots, has encapsulated perfectly with Secrets of Atlantis.
Bloodsuckers 2
Sticking to NetEnt games with low volatility and unusual themes, Bloodsuckers 2 takes us on a theoretical trip to Transylvania and the blood-sucking characters who have put the location on the map. Again, it's a nice, easy, straightforward game layout, and Bloodsuckers 2 nicely covers the feel and aura of a low-volatility slot game.
Medium volatility slots
Medium volatility slots are the most common type of slot machine game. Although specific players enjoy both high and low-volatility slots, a significant portion of slot machine players like things straight down the middle and enjoy playing games that cover a broad range of themes and designs with different bonus features.
If you're exploring the bigger picture, slots volatility and slots variance make up a small piece of the puzzle for most players. Medium volatility slots are the most common type of slots, but there are excellent slot games that fall into all three categories.
Medium volatility slots examples
We have already explored low and high volatility slots and showed you the tip of the iceberg regarding the incredible range available at LeoVegas. Medium volatility slots are designed with a more balanced framework and emphasize other areas of the game instead. However, they're just as varied and captivating as the slot games we have already covered.
Diamond Strike
Gemstone themes and retro vibes are a combination you can't go wrong within the slot machine world. While some people prefer the brave new world of enormous grid reels and half a dozen minigames that have more features than the base game itself, Diamond Strike takes it back to the retro look of cherries, lemons, and sevens with a dabble of a gemstone on top, and it works well.
Pragmatic Play has a reputable place within the industry, so you know anything they release will have been pieced together carefully by some of the best game designers in the business.
Mystery Joker
Another game that stretches even further back in terms of a classic layout, the 3x3 grid layout of Mystery Joker is reminiscent of the original slot design that first revolutionized the gambling sector over 100 years ago. This retro medium volatility slot has cherries, lemons, and joker hats.
Pirots
With a max payout of up to 10,000x, Pirots is on the exceptionally high end of medium volatility slots. Although some reviews might stick this to the higher end, CollectR designed this game for the medium volatility slots market, and the pirate theme coupled with a dash of gemstone is a combination that has proven to be a hit.
Guns N’ Roses
As one of the biggest musical acts to grant their image rights to a slot machine game, the Guns N’ Roses slot game has the might of NetEnt and its designing prowess behind it. The music and symbols reference the iconic band that first shot to superstardom in the 1980s. The higher paying symbols are a Slash symbol and a Flaming Vinyl.
As far as medium volatility slots are concerned, this is an explosive feature slot. You can tell time and effort have gone into this game to make it as captivating as possible. If you're a fan of the hair metal that dominated the 1980s American music scene, this slot game is right up your street.
Eye of Horus
Lastly, we have the Eye of Horus, a modest, relatively simple Egyptian slot game from Blueprint Gaming that channels the mystery of mythology and ancient history that seem to permeate large sections of the slot machine gaming world. Eye of Horus works because of its simplicity, and although it's been around since 2019, it's still a big hit with plenty of LeoVegas players.
Slot volatility FAQs
Q. Should I play a game based on volatility only?
A. Although some slot machine players prefer to look for games with a specific type of volatility or variance, there are many other components to great slot games, so it's always best to take a broader look at other factors such as theme, bonus games, and the reputation of the designer.
Q. Is it essential for a casino site to have a range of low, medium, and high-volatility slot games?
A. Of course, if you enjoy playing slot games, you want to ensure that you have a vast choice of low, medium, and high-volatility slots to select from and a broad choice of themes. Luckily, LeoVegas has hundreds of slot titles you can choose from.
Q. Can I play these games on my mobile, regardless of the volatility or variance?
A. Given that the mobile casino industry is now such a big business, and many of us prefer to use our mobile phones for our day-to-day instead of a PC or laptop, the casino and slot industry has moved with this trend. You can play all the slot games on LeoVegas on your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet.