What Does Volatility Mean in Slots? A Simple Guide for UK Players

The term 'volatility' is bandied about a lot when it comes to online casinos, but what does volatility mean in slots? Let's clear out the myths and legends surrounding this mysterious term and get down to the nitty gritty: what volatility is, what it isn't, and how to use it to find slots that suit your play style.

Key takeaways

• What does volatility mean in online slots refers to how often a slot pays and how big the wins can be

• High volatility slots offer bigger potential payouts but less frequent wins

• Low volatility slots provide smaller, more frequent wins and steadier gameplay

• Choosing the right volatility depends on your budget and play style

• Volatility works alongside RTP and game features, not as a standalone factor

• There is no guaranteed way to win, but understanding volatility helps you make better choices

What does volatility mean in slots?

In online slots, volatility (sometimes called variance) refers to a game's risk-reward balance. It's a measure of how often a slot pays out and how big those payouts are likely to be. A high volatility slot means wins are rarer but larger, while a low volatility slot offers smaller, but more frequent payouts.

How slot volatility works

The concept of volatility may seem complex, but it doesn't have to be. Think of it like fishing at a local pond versus deep-sea fishing for marlin. At the local pond, you're likely to get a bite quite often, but the catches will mostly be tiddlers - that's your low volatility. Deep-sea fishing for marlin, on the other hand, can take a while, but when you do finally hook something, you know it's gonna be big - that's your high volatility.

Slots are calibrated with varying volatility levels, but that doesn't mean a payout is ever 'due'. Random Number Generators (RNGs) ensure that every slot result is completely random and unpredictable, regardless of the game's volatility.

What does high volatility mean in slots?

High volatility in slots means payouts tend to be larger, but you may have to wait a while to trigger one. These 'dry spells' are the main reason people claim a slot is rigged when it's simply running at its characteristic high volatility. Slots like these can be spotted by specific mechanisms - such as features with increasing multipliers and expanding symbols - that rack up big wins.

Examples of high volatility slots

One of the best known high volatility slots is Book of Dead. The main attraction is the free spins round, which you can trigger by landing at least three Book of Dead symbols anywhere on the reels at once. A symbol is then chosen at random and 10 free spins play out, with any appearance of that special symbol expanding to cover the entire reel if a winning combination is possible as a result. Imagine this happening on multiple reels and you can see how quickly those wins add up.

Who should play high volatility slots?

High volatility slots are best suited to those who have a slightly sturdier bankroll that can tank longer dry spells between wins. You need a fair amount of patience to wait for the telltale pull of that big catch.

What does low volatility mean in slots?

At the other end of the scale, low volatility in slots means payouts are smaller, but more frequent. While you're unlikely to trigger a massive win, the frequency of those smaller wins keeps your balance ticking over and can be more satisfying for some. As with the more volatile ones, low volatility slots have particular mechanisms - such as fewer symbols and expanding base game wilds - that keep those small wins coming.

Examples of low volatility slots

Starburst is a perfect example of a low volatility slot. Unlike most slots that just pay for matches from left to right, Starburst matches pay in both directions: left to right and right to left. Land one of the famous multicoloured Starburst symbols on reels 2, 3, or 4 and it'll expand to cover the entire reel and trigger a respin, further adding to the slot's drip-feed of smaller wins.

Who should play low volatility slots?

Low volatility slots are ideal for casual players who want to enjoy a decent gameplay session without their bankroll vanishing quickly. The smaller, frequent wins have a more stabilising effect on your balance as it isn't subject to the rollercoaster of dry spells and big wins associated with higher volatility slots.

Volatility vs RTP - What's the difference?

Another commonly misunderstood metric is Return To Player (RTP), which is the percentage of total played funds that a game is theoretically expected to pay out over millions of spins (not a single session). While these two metrics - volatility and RTP - can tell you a lot about a slot, they shouldn't be confused. It's best to think of them this way: while the RTP of a slot is WHAT it pays out, the volatility tells you HOW it pays out.

A great example is two slots with the same RTP, but differing volatilities. A 96% slot with a high volatility rating, for example, is going to feel very different (long dry spells, larger wins) to a 96% slot with a low volatility rating (frequent, smaller wins).

Tips for choosing the right slot volatility

Here are a few pointers for picking a slot volatility that suits your budget and style of play:

• Check volatility: Some slots display a volatility rating in their help/rules pages. Check the in-game menu, i icon, or paytable and flip to the end for RTP and volatility info.

• Test it out: Click the Try For Free link in the i menu of most PlayOJO slots to get a feel for how the slot plays - small, frequent wins = low volatility; long dry spells = high volatility.

• Play to your budget: While high volatility slots need a bigger safety net to withstand the dry spells, low volatility slots can stretch your £10 deposit much further.

• Play to your mood: Bearing in mind safer gambling practices, think about the kind of experience you want from your slot spinning session - frequent base game action = low volatility; waiting for rarer bonus features = high volatility.

Common misunderstandings about slot volatility

There are a couple of myths concerning volatility that can cause confusion, so let's clear them up:

• 'This slot's due to pay out': Nope. Dry spells are a common trait in high volatility slots, not a sign that a big win is about to land. RNGs ensure each and every spin is independent of any other.

• 'I'm guaranteed to get a big win': Nope. Just because a slot has the potential to pay out big, doesn't mean it will, regardless of how long you play.

The bottom line on slot volatility

Slots have varying volatility ratings between low (small, frequent wins) and high (large, rarer wins), but there's no 'best' volatility, other than what suits your budget and mood. Take advantage of PlayOJO's safer gambling tools when exploring slot volatility so you can keep it fun.