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Volatility, as applied to pokie machines, means the inherent risk that comes with playing a game. The term describes how often and how much punters can expect in payouts during gameplay sessions. Some slot games grant significant payouts, but they come in between long dry spells. In other sets, the wins are small, but they activate within short periods.
Slot volatility is determined by observing the payout behavior of the set over an extended period. Game studios, casinos, and slot enthusiasts can watch games for hundreds to millions of spins to conclude this factor. Knowing the volatility of a game, also known as variance or dispersion, and understanding what it means lets gamblers determine whether a pokie is suited for their budget and winning needs.
Low Volatility
Slot machines with low volatility have low risk. The payouts in these games are usually on the small side, but they frequently trigger, reducing the risk of loss. This element makes low variance slots perfect for new or casual gamblers not looking to spend too much or chase massive wins.
These games are also ideal when one is looking to play as long as possible, doesn’t have an enormous bankroll, or wants to collect wins within the stipulated RTP range in a short period. Popular low volatility pokies include;
- Starburst
Starburst is a timeless classic by NetEnt, released in 2013. The genius behind this pokie’s magnificence is its entertaining yet straightforward design. The cosmos and gem-themed game feature ten bet lines paying both ways, combination wins up to 250x the line stake, and a wild that expands and triggers respins.
- Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen
Multi-Michelin starred Chef Gordon Ramsey fills five reels and twenty bet lines with delicious-looking dishes from two competing teams. The slot logo denotes the wild, and a random feature can dish out five to seven of them in a single round. The Team Challenge Bonus Round is the real prize and plays on two 5×3 grids paying separately.
- Mega Fortune
Mega Fortune may be a low-risk game, but it offers a chance at massive wins counting in the tens of millions. Spins in the game cost up to €50. The pokie is most recognizable for the jackpot feature responsible for the second-highest online casino jackpot amounting to a little over €17.86 million.
Low-Medium Volatility
Low-medium variance pokies have low to moderate risk, meaning their payouts are small to mid-sized. These games are suitable for gamblers looking for entertainment, but they do not mind a little risk if it translates into sizable wins more often. Low volatility slots often accept small bets. Popular titles in this variance category include;
- Guns N’ Roses
This NetEnt pokie is themed around the legendary European rock band Guns N’ Roses. This pokie brings players as close to a concert as possible while chasing wins as high as 225,000 credits per round. The 96.98% RTP game is decorated with numerous features, including Solo Multiplier, legend Spins, and the Crowd Pleasure Bonus Game.
- Age of the Gods: Norse King of Asgard
This Age of the Gods slot captures a battle between the Asgardian King Odin and his sneaky son Loki. The Nose mythology-inspired set caters to small and big spenders generously with a wide bet range between 0.10 and 500 credits. The Odin’s Fury Respin feature is the most valuable bonus paying up to 400x the stake.
- Fishin Frenzy
Fishin’ Frenzy is a classic video slot featuring a fun bonus game. The set’s ten play lines placed over five reels hold bets as high as ten credits. The fisherman plays the wild and the highest-paying item valued up to 500x the line bet. The highest win of 2,000x the total stake is ideal for a low-medium variance.
Medium Volatility
Medium variance pokies are a happy compromise between low and high-volatility options. Low to mid-sized payouts dominate throughout gameplay while offering moderate chances at massive wins that often go up to 10,000x the stake. These games are perfect for punters playing for significant jackpots but do not want to risk their bankroll too much when chasing them. Popular options include;
- Wolf Gold
Pragmatic Play’s Wolf Gold plays with a lucid interface blended perfectly with striking visuals. The grid structure of 25 paylines cutting across five reels accepts wagers between 0.25 and 125 credits and pays up to 5,000x.
- Rainbow Riches
This slots demo invites players to exploit the luck of the Irish while hunting down a pot of gold on five reels and twenty bet lines. Three bonus features can trigger along the way, paying up to 500x the stake.
- 9 Pots of Gold
9 Pots of Gold offers a different take on Irish Luck, paying up to 2,000x the stake. This jackpot win activates when nine pots of gold scatters appear.
Medium-High Volatility
Medium-high slot volatility takes the risk level a notch or two higher, lengthening the losing bouts but increasing the payout values. Pokies in this class include;
- Gonzo’s Quest Megaways
This Gonzo’s Quest upgrade features a bigger 6-reel grid paying up to 21,000x the bet. Progressive multipliers feature in the base game and free spins, going up to 15x.
- Mustang Gold
Mustang Gold Slot takes gamblers to the countryside, where treasures valued up to 12,000x the wager are scattered on five reels with 25 play lines.
- Joe Exotic
The exotic animal-keeper Joe and his blonde mullet splash punters with wins of up to 4,117x the stake. Low-value icons can exit the grid randomly, and the Tiger Bounty bonus offers up to 50x multipliers.
High Volatility
High variance slots are the riskiest of all, but their potential wins are usually massive. These games are suited for large bankrolls that can survive long spinning periods with no significant wins. Such games include;
- Starburst XXXtreme
The official follow-up for 2013’s Starburst flips the volatility and makes it pretty brutal. The punishingly-high variance is worth surviving through for insane wins up to 200,000x the stake.
- Legacy of Dead
The “Book of” series by Play’n Go leads players to a tomb for bets between 0.10 to 100 credits. In it, they can uncover characters valued up to 500x the line bet and a free spins bonus that raises this cap to 5,000x the stake.
- Power of Thor Megaways
This Pragmatic Play pokie combines the popular Megaways engine with the Rolling Reels feature to offer wins up to 10,000x the total wager.
Closing Thoughts
Each volatility category has hundreds of options that gamblers can explore. Always consider your bankroll to gauge the ideal mix of entertainment and risk to chase.
