Would you like to understand how slot payouts work? Via the slot volatility list and our explanations on this page, you will be able to understand slots mechanics deeper, picking the best ones for yourself. Besides, the best high variance slots are over here, so let’s check them out!
What is variance in slots?
When you play online slots, the winnings are determined randomly. However, there are some parameters, which influence the payouts. And slot volatility, also known as volatility or risk, is one of them. In a nutshell, it shows how often a slot machine pays and what amount is on offer. The main 2 types are:
- High – as for high volatility slots meaning, there are rare yet large wins;
- Low – on low variance slots, players receive winnings often, but they are small.
To pick the best volatility slots for your need, it’s necessary to take into account your bankroll and your gameplay preferences.
Best Slots with Low and High Volatility
Reactoonz Slot
The Dog House Megaways Slot
Starburst Slot
Eye of Horus Slot
Mega Moolah Slot
Reel Rush Slot
Gonzos Quest Megaways Slot
Book of Dead Slot Demo for UK Players
High volatility VS. low volatility slots
| High variance slot machines | Low variance slot games |
|---|---|
| Massive winnings | Small payouts |
| The slot pays rarely | Winnings are regular |
| Slots have a good max win limit | Wins are usually capped at about 1,000x |
| You need to be prepared for risky gameplay | The bankroll lasts longer |
Variance and Volatility: where is the difference?
Actually, when we are talking about the volatility slot term, it’s very similar to variance you can also meet in slot reviews.
The difference is in the origin of these terms. Variance used to be a statistical term in poker, standing for the deviation from an expectation. And the volatility term is popular in the banking area, so the changeable market is called volatile as well.
As for slots volatility, both of these terms explain the gameplay. In high variance slot games, the wins are rare, which means that the RTP expectations are volatile. And with low variance, you get what you see.
How can I determine the volatility of the slot?
Well, the question of determining the volatility slots level is interesting. Unfortunately, not all operators and providers mention this information. Though at some online casinos, you can even find filters by volatility. Yet, there are some more tricks for players.
If you want to determine this level statistically, you can make a chain of consequent spins and wait for the results. This method isn’t 100% accurate, but on average, low variance slot machines will show frequent wins, which will be approximately equal to your stake. So a long gaming session will be quite predictable.
If you keep on playing and most of your spins are non-winning, but you suddenly get a large prize, there is no doubt, it’s a high variance slot. That’s also common for jackpot slots, which can provide a great win, but the risks are extremely high.
And one more way to find out this information is to read a slot’s review provided by gambling experts.
3 Best High Volatility Slots
Why not check out what high variance is in practice? This will suit gamblers who have a large bankroll and don’t mind spinning the reels for a long time with no payouts. Yet, this mechanic will lead to a massive win once you hit the right combination. And the list of high volatility slot machines is over here!
Gonzos Quest Slot (NetEnt)
| 🎰 Provider | NetEnt |
| 🎯 RTP | 95.97% |
| 🥁 Reels | 5 |
| 💸 Paylines | 20 |
| 🎁 Bonus games | Avalanche Multiplies, Free Falls, bonus symbols |
Join a brave conquistador! Among high volatility slot games, Gonzo’s Quest from NetEnt is definitely a leading one. Here, you will experience 20 fixed paylines, and once at least 1 of them features a winning combination, these symbols explode, which allows new symbols to land. Moreover, with this reaction, the Avalanche Multiplier increases, standing at 1x, 2x, 3x, and 5x. Once 3 golden tablets land, 10 Free Falls are awarded, and during the feature, the multipliers are larger, coming up to 3x, 6x, 9x, and 15x. Good options for the highest volatility slots, right?
Play slot here!
Name
Rating
Bonus
Payment
Deposit
Licenses
Review
/5
Mr Play Casino
100 FS + 100% Up To £200
Min deposit
£10
MGA
UKGC
18+ New Players only! Receive a 200% match up bonus up to £500 on first deposit. This bonus only applies for deposits of £10 or higher!
All you need to do is just deposit the money in your Mr play.com account and you will receive this bonus instantly! begambleaware.org
Mega Moolah Slot (Microgaming)
| 🎰 Provider | Microgaming |
| 🎯 RTP | 88.12% |
| 🥁 Reels | 5 |
| 💸 Paylines | 25 |
| 🎁 Bonus games | Free Spins, Progressive jackpots |
Perhaps, it’s the highest variance slot ever. What about some adventures in the jungle? It’s going to be really hot here as the Mega Moolah slot from Microgaming (now Games Global) is equipped with the progressive jackpot feature. The feature is launched randomly and you need to spin the wheel, which has jackpot sections (Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega). The Mega jackpot is the largest and its seeding amount starts from $1 million. By the way, the largest jackpot paid within this progressive system was CA$20,059,287.27. No other high variance slots could offer something of this kind!
Try Mega Moolah Slot here!
Name
Rating
Bonus
Payment
Deposit
Licenses
Review
/5
Zodiac Casino
80 chances to win the Jackpot + up to $480 in bonuses!
Min deposit
£1
Kahnawake
MGA
UKGC
Welcome Offer is for New Customers Only. The 80 chances are credited as £20 welcome bonus and players can spin 80 times at £0.25 on the Mega Moolah progressive slot game. The minimum first deposit required is £1, for all subsequent deposits the minimum deposit is £10. A two hundred times wagering requirement applies on all bonuses and certain games contribute a different percentage to the wagering requirement. See full terms and conditions.
begambleaware.org
Book of Dead (Play’n Go)
| 🎰 Provider | Play’n Go |
| 🎯 RTP | 96.21% |
| 🥁 Reels | 5 |
| 💸 Paylines | 10 |
| 🎁 Bonus games | Free Spins with Expanding symbols, Gamble |
The adventures of Rich Wilde are extremely popular in gambling, especially on the best high volatility slots. That’s why the Book of Dead slot is extremely popular despite being released over 6 years ago. Here, the max win stands at 5,000x or $250,000. And the features to let you reach this are free spins with a special Expanding symbol, as well as the Gamble feature. Like most other high volatility slots, this one has a wide betting range as well.
Play Book of Dead Slot here!
Name
Rating
Bonus
Payment
Deposit
Licenses
Review
/5
Casiplay Casino
UP TO £200 + 100 extra spins on Starburst!
Min deposit
£10
MGA
UKGC
18+, Min. deposit: £10. Max. bonus: £200. Offer valid on first deposit. Offer only applies to new players. Max bet limitations per spin apply. 35x wagering requirements apply (i.e the bonus x35). Higher wagering requirements may be applied depending on the games played. T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org
Top 3 Slots with Low Volatility
For players who are into careful rather than risky gameplay, the list of low-variance slot machines will come in handy. Here, even newbies will enjoy some payouts as the mathematical model makes the gameplay moderate and less risky. Nearly each of your spins is winning, but don’t count on massive rewards here!
Starburst Slot (NetEnt)
| 🎰 Provider | NetEnt |
| 🎯 RTP | 96.09% |
| 🥁 Reels | 5 |
| 💸 Paylines | 10 (both ways) |
| 🎁 Bonus games | Wild Re-spins, Win Both Ways |
This is a rather old game launched in 2013. However, Starburst is known as one of the best low volatility slots. The pleasure is that winnings here are paid both ways, either from the left or from the right. Wilds can land on reels 2, 3, and 4, and once they do, they expand to cover the entire reel and launch a re-spin (up to 3 per round). The max win is 600x, but it’s a good parameter for the best low variance slots as the risks are also minimized.
Play Starburst game here!
Name
Rating
Bonus
Payment
Deposit
Licenses
Review
/5
Casumo
Casino
100% bonus up to £25 and 20 Bonus Spins
Min deposit
£10
UKGC
MGA
Gibraltar
18+. New UK customers only. Opt-in required. 20 Bonus Spins on “Book of Dead” and 100% Deposit Bonus up to £25 on first deposit. Min deposit £10. 30x wagering requirement for Bonus Spins and 30x wagering requirement for Deposit Bonus (game weighting applies). Max £5/spin or £0.50/line or £10/round (live casino). 30 days expiry. T&C’s Apply. Please gamble responsibly • begambleaware.org •
Mega Joker (NetEnt)
| 🎰 Provider | NetEnt |
| 🎯 RTP | 99% |
| 🥁 Reels | 3 (2 grids) |
| 💸 Paylines | 5 |
| 🎁 Bonus games | Supermeter Mode, Mystery Wins for Jokers |
This machine is known for a huge RTP of 99%, which is perfect for the lowest volatility slots. But note that 3% of the stake is contributed to the jackpot. The mechanics are extremely simple and you play on 2 classic gaming fields at once. At bet 10, the 3 Jokers can bring a mystery win. And the Supermeter mode is optionally offered if you win less than $2,000 to let you hunt for larger rewards. The mechanics are common for low volatility slot machines.
Try Mega Joker slot here!
Name
Rating
Bonus
Payment
Deposit
Licenses
Review
/5
Casumo
Casino
100% bonus up to £25 and 20 Bonus Spins
Min deposit
£10
UKGC
MGA
Gibraltar
18+. New UK customers only. Opt-in required. 20 Bonus Spins on “Book of Dead” and 100% Deposit Bonus up to £25 on first deposit. Min deposit £10. 30x wagering requirement for Bonus Spins and 30x wagering requirement for Deposit Bonus (game weighting applies). Max £5/spin or £0.50/line or £10/round (live casino). 30 days expiry. T&C’s Apply. Please gamble responsibly • begambleaware.org •
Thunderstruck II (Microgaming)
| 🎰 Provider | Microgaming |
| 🎯 RTP | 96.65% |
| 🥁 Reels | 5 |
| 💸 Paylines | 243 |
| 🎁 Bonus games | Wildstorm Feature, The Great Hall of Spins |
This is one of the slots with low volatility launched in 2010, so the graphics are quite old, while the gameplay is pretty engaging. Randomly, up to 5 reels can turn Wild thanks to the Wildstorm feature. Besides, there is a thrilling The Great Hall of Spins feature launched by 3 Scatters. You can get 10 and 15 free spins, upgrading the bonus game. The options are great for low volatility slots.
Play Slot Thunderstruck II here!
Medium volatility of the slot
When you find that both of the mentioned volatility levels don’t suit you, there is a middle ground in the form of medium variance. On medium volatility slots, players enjoy a well-balanced model, which is a good mix of moderate risks and average winnings. The bonuses in such games are just as impressive. And here are the 3 best medium volatility slots you can try out: Lucky Streak 3 from Endorphina, Buffalo Boost from Spinmatic, and Fire Joker from Play’n Go.
Variance and RTP: slot fans need to know everything
When we are talking about payout parameters, it’s worth considering all the details, including the RTP. This quality stands for the Return to Player rate, and it’s usually above 94% (unless it’s a progressive slot). When you pick high RTP low variance slots, this supports you as you get stable winnings and take low risks. For example, Xtreme Summer Hot from GameArt has low risk and a 96.29% RTP. And high RTP high variance slots like Lucky Lady Moon Megaways from BGaming (96.84% RTP) will suit high rollers.
What to play: are you a high or low-variance player?
Coming ahead, all casino games are engaging and we can’t say that some of them are better than others based on slot machine volatility. It’s just a matter of taste and you can make a final decision, relying on your bankroll, preferences, and even free time to play. When you are interested in a long gaming session with no risks, low variance high RTP slots will be great. And when you are a high roller with a passion for grabbing huge wins, high volatility slot games will suit you best. Keep in mind these aspects and enjoy the best slots out there!
