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Volatility is one of the most important features to consider when choosing a sweeps slot game. If you understand how volatility works, you can select games that suit your budget, your playing style, and your risk tolerance.
This guide explains what slot volatility means and why it matters. We’ll break down the different volatility rates, and you’ll learn how they can impact your gaming sessions.
What is slot volatility?
The volatility rate tells you how often you’ll win if you have average luck. Online slots fall into three broad categories:
- Low volatility: These games tend to deliver small, infrequent wins.
- Medium volatility: Expect reasonably large wins on a pretty regular basis.
- High volatility: These games typically provide large, infrequent wins.
If you enjoy grinding out lots of small wins, select a slot with a low volatility rate. If you prefer chasing large jackpots, choose a highly volatile game. Just be prepared to endure losing streaks while waiting to hit the jackpot.
Alternatively, you can choose a slot with medium volatility. Those slots offer balanced gameplay – reasonably regular wins, plus the chance to win pretty large prizes.
How volatility is determined
- Low volatility slotsThese games often have a hit rate of more than 40%. For example, The Hive by Betsoft has a 48.71% hit rate. That means your chances of winning are almost 50/50 on each spin if you have average luck.
- Medium volatility slotsThese slots tend to have a hit rate of around 20% to 30%. For instance, Starburst by NetEnt has a 23% hit frequency. That means you can expect to win about once every four spins with average luck.
- High volatility slotsThe hit rate is often less than 20% on these games. For example, Wanted Dead or a Wild has a 19.36% hit frequency. That means a winning combo will appear every 5.16 spins on average.
The volatility of a slot covers:
- How often the slot awards a winning spin (hit rate).
- How frequently each prize is awarded.
Slot developers also test how often each prize is awarded over billions of spins. For example, the top prize might be awarded 200,000 times, the second-largest prize might be awarded 1.3 million times, and so on.
They also track bankroll fluctuations and recovery rates. All of this information is used to calculate the volatility of each slot.
Independent testing labs audit online slots to verify the volatility and the RTP rates. These labs include iTech Labs, Gaming Labs Inc., BMM Testlabs, and eCOGRA.
Volatility vs. RTP
Many players confuse a slot’s volatility with the return to player (RTP) rate. It’s important to consider both features when choosing an online slot, but they refer to different things.
- Volatility: How frequently you can expect to win if you have average luck.
- RTP: The overall return you can expect if your luck is average.
For example, if a slot has a 96.5% RTP, you can expect 96.5 SC back for every 100 SC that you stake. The results are random: in the short-term, some players will win and others will lose. However, choosing a slot with a high RTP rate will theoretically boost your chances of enjoying a winning session.
Two slots can have identical RTP rates, but completely different volatilities. Here’s an example:
- Blood Suckers by NetEnt has a 98% RTP. It’s a low volatility slot, which tends to deliver small, frequent wins. The max win is 1,014.6x.
- Money Cart by Relax Gaming also has a 98% RTP. This is a highly volatile slot, which tends to provide large, infrequent wins. The max win is 15,000x.
Both games will return 98 SC for every 100 SC staked if your luck is average, but how you get there will be completely different. If you like small, steady wins, choose Blood Suckers. If you prefer chasing large jackpots, opt for Money Cart.
Volatility vs. variance
These terms are often used interchangeably. They both refer to how often you can expect to win, plus the size of your wins.
Technically, the variance highlights the difference between the smallest and the largest prizes that a slot offers. However, most developers use the term to refer to a game’s volatility.
Understanding the three volatility levels
Most software developers stick to three volatility levels: low, medium, or high. Some use five levels (low, low-medium, medium, medium-high, and high), but three is the standard framework.
High volatility slots
These games are for the thrill-seekers. If you love chasing large payouts, and you’re prepared to go through dry spells, they’re perfect.
Most Megaways slots have high volatility rates. Jackpot slots and games with high RTP rates are often highly volatile too.
Sweepstakes example
Templar Tumble is a highly volatile slot from Relax Gaming, which features cascading reels and a fun bonus round. You can play this popular game at all the leading sweeps casinos.
This is a Megaways slot, with up to 117,649 ways to win. Templar Tumble has a hit frequency of 20%, and it gives you the chance to win up to 17,280x your stake. The RTP is 96.26%, which is slightly above average.
Medium volatility slots
These games are perfect for anyone that likes balance. If you recoiled in horror when the waiter asked Pulp Fiction’s Vincent Vega if he wanted his steak “burnt to a crisp or bloody as hell,” these slots are for you.
Sweepstakes example
Joker’s Million by BGaming is a stylish slot with a medium volatility level. The standard RTP is 97.34%, which is well above average.
You can win up to 3,000x your stake on this game, which is impressive for a medium volatility slot. The hit frequency is 23.25%, so it should form a winning combo every 4.3 spins if your luck is average.
Low volatility slots
These games are for the grinders. If you hate the thought of embarking on a long losing streak, choose a low volatility slot. There are no guarantees, but these slots tend to deliver small, regular wins. Most classic 3-reel slots have low volatility rates.
Sweepstakes example
Sugar Pop by Betsoft is a 5-reel slot with a low volatility level. The game made its debut in 2014, but it’s still one of the most popular slots at the best sweeps casinos.
The hit rate is 58.84%, which means your chances of winning are better than 50/50. Just bear in mind that you can win less than the amount you staked. Sugar Pop has a strong 97.3% RTP rate, and cascading reels can help you rack up multiple wins from a single spin.
How volatility compares
| Feature | High volatility | Medium volatility | Low volatility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hit frequency | Often under 20% | 20-30% | 30-50% or more |
| Max win | Large (often 10,000x or more) | Moderate (500x-3,000x) | Small (200-500x) |
| Bankroll recommended | 200-300x your stake | 100-150x your stake | 50-100x your stake |
| Risk level | High | Moderate | Low |
| Best for | High rollers, anyone that likes chasing big wins | Players than enjoy balance | Casual players, anyone with a small bankroll |
| Typical session feel | Long dry spells, big hits | Balanced wins | Small, frequent wins |
How to find the game volatility
The easiest way to find a slot’s volatility is to visit the developer’s website. Just search for the slot and the developer on Google and click through to the relevant page.
All the leading providers clearly list the volatility rate of each game. That’s the case with BGaming, Betsoft, Hacksaw Gaming, NetEnt, Playson, Relax Gaming, and all the other top studios that supply sweeps casinos.
There are a few alternative options:
Check the game information page.
Some providers display the volatility of each slot within the game rules.Examine the paytable.
A large gap between the most and least valuable symbols often indicates high volatility. Tight clustering suggests low volatility.Consider the max win.
If it’s 10,000x or more, you’ve probably chosen a highly volatile slot. Games with a max win of less than 500x are often low volatility slots.Test the slot with Gold Coins.
This gives you the chance to experience the payout rhythm. If you’re happy, switch to SC play.
Bankroll requirements by volatility
It’s important to manage your bankroll carefully when playing online slots. This will help you ride out their volatility. Here are some simple rules to follow:
- High volatility slots: Start with at least 200x your stake. Only risk 0.5% of your bankroll on each spin. For example, if you have 100 SC, set your stake to 0.5 SC.
- Medium volatility slots: Start with at least 100x your stake. Risk 1% of your bankroll per spin. For example, play for 1 SC per spin if you have 100 SC.
- Low volatility slots: Begin with 50x your stake. You can then risk 2% of your bankroll per spin – for example, 2 SC per spin if you have 100 SC.
You can adjust those figures to suit your own risk tolerance, but that gives you an idea of how to manage your bankroll.
Other articles of interest:
Adjustable volatility features
Certain slots allow you to choose your preferred volatility level. For example, you could opt for “low” or “medium,” or a game might let you choose “medium” or “high.” This feature is still pretty rare, but it’s becoming increasingly popular.
Games with adjustable volatility
We delved into the best US sweepstakes casinos, and we found several high-quality slots with adjustable volatility rates. These games are sourced from large, trusted studios, and they’ve been independently certified for fairness.
| Game | Provider | RTP | Volatility range | Max win | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disco Party | BGaming | 97.01% or 94.05%, depending on the sweeps casino | Low/medium | 1,550x | 5 reels, 243 paylines |
| Diamond of Jungle | BGaming | Normally 97.01%, but lower at some sites | Low/medium | 1,500x | 5 reels, 243 paylines |
| Good Girl Bad Girl | Betsoft | 97.79% | Low/high | 360x, plus progressive jackpots | 5 reels, 15 paylines |
| Victorious | NetEnt | 96.88% | Medium/high | 1,500x / 7,500x | 5 reels, 243 paylines |
| El Paso Gunfight xNudge | Nolimit City | 96.06% | Medium/high in the bonus round | 44,440x | Expanding grid with up to 43,334 ways to win |
How to change the volatility rate
You can normally choose your preferred volatility before playing.
For example, when you open Disco Party by BGaming, you’ll have two options:
- Play as Her: Start with Low Volatility
- Play as Him: Start with Medium Volatility
Just tap either button, and the game will start. The RTP rate is 97.01% if you select low volatility, and it goes up to 97.04% if you choose medium.
Choosing the right volatility
You have a great deal of flexibility when choosing an online slot. Here are the key points to remember:
- Choose high volatility if: You have a large bankroll and you like the excitement of chasing huge wins. You’ll need patience and discipline to play these games.
- Choose medium volatility if: You have a reasonably large bankroll, and you’d like a balanced experience. These games offer a middle ground between risk and reward, without too many extreme swings.
- Choose low volatility if: You have a small bankroll, or if you enjoy grinding out small, steady wins.
Nothing needs to be set in stone. You could play low volatility slots one day, and then switch to highly volatile games if you want more excitement the following day. Just stick to well-designed games from trusted providers, with high RTP rates and compelling themes.
Choose an appropriate volatility level for your bankroll.
If you only have a small bankroll, play a game with low volatility.Adjust your stake to suit the volatility.
For example, 0.25% of your bankroll on a high volatility game, 1.5% of your bankroll on a low volatility game.Remember the gambler’s fallacy.
If a slot hasn’t hit for a while, that doesn’t mean it’s more likely to pay out on the next spin. Past outcomes don’t impact future results.Control your emotions.
Don’t chase losses, and try not to play when drunk, tired, stressed, or angry. That will make it harder for you to make sensible bankroll management decisions.Don’t neglect the RTP rate.
Volatility is important, but try to play slots with high RTP rates too. That can boost your chances of success.
FAQs
High volatility means that the slot is likely to deliver large, infrequent wins. These online slots tend to offer large prizes, but you may need to endure losing streaks while waiting to hit the jackpot. If you’d prefer small, frequent wins, choose low volatility slots instead.
Volatility tells you how often you can expect to win, whereas RTP tells you the return you can expect if you have average luck. For example, if a slot has a 96% RTP, you can expect 96 SC back from every 100 SC staked if your luck is average. The volatility simply tells you how you’re likely to earn that return – via lots of small wins or a few large wins.
Yes, you can adjust the volatility on certain slots. This option is rare, but a few online slots give you the chance to change the volatility rate. They include Disco Party, Diamond of Jungle, Victorious, and Good Girl Bad Girl.
You need a reasonably large bankroll when playing high volatility slots. It’s best to start with 100x to 300x your stake, as that will help you ride out any losing streaks. Careful bankroll management is crucial. Don’t use your entire bankroll on a few spins. It’s better to only risk 0.5% or 1% of your bankroll per spin, as that will help you manage the volatility.
Hit frequency tells you how often you’re likely to win if you have average luck. For example, if a game has a 25% hit frequency, you can expect to win once every four spins. The results are random, so you could win four times in a row, or you could suffer a losing streak. The hit frequency just tells you the average win rate.