Philadelphia, PA
- When we play online slot games, our hope is that plenty of wins will come along. Hopefully, it might even be the jackpot that is won. It is important when playing a slot that you look at its volatility level. What is this and the difference between high and low ones? We help our readers in Philadelphia – or wherever you’re situated in America, Canada, or beyond – to understand the key differences between high and low volatilities in the world of online slot game entertainment. With these insights, we hope to equip you with the knowledge to make smart and informed choices.
The volatility of a slot game basically lets players know the frequency at which wins will take place. It can be described either as high, medium or low. The Return to Player (RTP) figure for a game is calculated over billions of simulated spins. The RTP percentage for games should be mentioned on the site you are playing at. For example, the RTP may be 95%, this means that on average, for every $100 bet, $90 is going to be returned. Let’s look at what you will experience when playing high and low volatility slots and which may be best to try and get wins on.
High Volatility Slots
When you play slot games that have a high volatility, the number of payouts will be less than if playing one that has a lower volatility.
Now that might have you a bit worried because why play a game that has fewer payouts? Well, it is better than it sounds because when the wins do come along, the average value of them will be higher than games with lower levels of volatility. The amount that is won is likely to be larger than the stake you have made on the winning spin.
Popular games such as ‘Big Bass Splash’ and ‘Book of Dead’ are examples of high volatility slot games. You do need to be aware that we are discussing statistical averages. Also, it is possible to go on winning streaks regardless of the volatility of the game being played. It’s just the size of the wins that need to be noted.
Low Volatility Slots
If you go to an online casino and try your luck on a low volatility slot, what lies ahead? Well, on average there will be a higher payout frequency. More wins will come along but the payout you receive will be lower than in high volatility slots. For example, you could have an average payout frequency of 75% so three out of every four spins might get a win.
Therefore, your account balance is likely to tick along nicely thanks to the smaller wins. Whereas the average win in a high volatility slot is higher than your stake, that’s not so with these games. It is going to be less than the value of your stake on the winning spin, perhaps 60%.
You do need to be patient if your dream is to win a massive prize. An example of a low volatility slot game is ‘Starburst.’ That’s one of the most popular slots so possessing a low volatility certainly hasn’t affected its popularity. Other examples are 'Agent Jane Blonde Returns’ and ‘Age of the Gods: God of Storms.’
With medium volatility slots, the frequency of wins isn’t as high as seen in low volatility games but more than for the high ones. Which is the volatility level that you should choose when playing an online slot game? When you play a slot that has a high volatility, there is a longer wait for a win to come along but it will be a good win when finally arriving.
With this in mind, you will be likely to have to spend more money on the high volatility slot game. If your budget isn’t too high, then perhaps it is best that you choose a game with a lower volatility. It’s possible that with a small budget to play with, that may be used up before the good wins start to appear.
You have to decide whether your desire is to play a game that is high-risk. There is the chance that your budget may run out and a loss will be made. The large amounts that can be won are very tempting though, so these games are very much worth giving a try. Just ensure that the potential losses are ones that you can afford.
When playing the low volatility slot games, that isn’t such a big problem. As we have mentioned, there will be a steady stream of wins coming your way. The lower value symbols (usually playing cards) will regularly make an appearance and give you some return on your stake..
That being the case, your budget should last you a fair amount of time. You’ll be able to keep on playing and your hope will be that in time, a much larger win will come along. There is a lower financial risk when playing these low volatility slot games. Just be prepared to have to wait before a big win comes along.
A lot depends on the kind of player you are. It may be that you just want to get some small wins and gradually build up your account balance. If that is so, then playing low volatility slot games is best for you.
However, if your aim is to go to an online casino and get a big win, then take the risk and play a high volatility slot game. We hope we’ve given you some food for thought on the topic of volatility in slot games. If you’re not a seasoned player yet, perhaps this has got you thinking about the options out there for you online.
