What is volatility in online casinos ? What are its different levels and which one to choose according to your player profile?

In this article, I’ll answer all these questions. I’ll also provide my ranking of the best slot machines by type of volatility.

What is volatility?

Volatility is a concept that defines when a game is expected to pay out winnings, as well as the size of jackpots that can be won. It should not be confused with variance, which corresponds to the theoretical distribution of a game’s winnings over a long period of time.

When you’re on an online casino site, knowing the volatility of a game helps youunderstand the associated risk. There are several levels of volatility to help you make your choice.

Each type of volatility allows you to define the risk associated with a game, and to see whether it matches your expectations.

The notion of volatility is very present in slot machines. The degree of volatility can vary according to the features available and the theoretical payout frequencies offered by the supplier.

If you like to play at online casinos, you need to understand this concept. It will help you better manage your balance. You’ll also be able to enjoy a gaming experience tailored to your desires and your finances.

The 3 levels of volatility

To better understand volatility at online casinos, you first need to understand the distinction between its different types. Generally speaking, games are divided into 3 distinct levels of volatility:

• Low

• Average

• High

I’ll explain what they mean, taking into account the size of the potential gains that each level of volatility has in store for you.

Low volatility

Firstly, a game’s low volatility indicates that it theoretically offers small wins, but on a more recurring basis. This configuration is perfectly suited to people who want to have a good time playing a game and hope to win more regularly. Bearing in mind, however, that they have little chance of hitting a substantial jackpot.

Players who prefer low volatility generally allocate a smaller budget to their online experience. They also want to extend their gaming session over time, while taking fewer risks.

Low volatility can also correspond to players who have a large balance on their account. They may therefore wish to use it by playing games with low volatility.

Average volatility

Secondly, the average volatility of a game corresponds to the middle ground between high and low volatilities. The creation may well have the characteristics of these 2 other types of volatility.

Depending on your gaming session, you can either win small sums on a regular basis. Or you can hope to win larger sums.

As the name suggests, a medium-volatility style of play can suit people with varying budgets or who wish to supplement their wager.

For example, there may well be players with a high balance who want to make small bets. Or others with smaller balances who want to play for more money.

High volatility

Finally, high volatility on a game means that it theoretically offers substantial potential winnings, but these are distributed more rarely.

In my opinion, a game offering high volatility is more suited to a player profile with a substantial balance. It can also correspond to people with a lower balance who wish to play with the hope of winning a large sum of money.

Ultimately, a game with high volatility is open to everyone. Whatever your balance, remember that those with higher volatility are nevertheless riskier.

How do I know the volatility of a slot machine? My technique

Personally, I use the following technique to determine the volatility of a slot.

First, I look for any rating symbols in the bottom right-hand corner of the game. The more these symbols are filled in, the higher the volatility of a game. Depending on the game or supplier, these symbols can take various forms, such as lightning bolts or the letter “h”.

If I don’t see anything, another alternative is to click on the game information. For example, I can click on the little “i” icon when I’m in the menus.

Sometimes, you simply don’t have this information about a game’s volatility.

Let’s say I want to know the volatility of the game Jelly Slice, offered by Hacksaw Gaming. My technique is to go directly to the supplier’s website. By going to the “Slots” category, I can check the volatility of the Jelly Slice game, which is considered average.

What level of volatility should I choose?

Once you’ve assimilated the different levels of volatility, it’s time to ask yourself which one you should choose. To do this, you need to take into account your budget, your player profile and your earnings targets.

If you have a limited balance, it’s best to choose a game with low volatility, which will potentially allow you to play for longer. At the same time, you may simply prefer a game that rewards you on a regular basis, regardless of your balance.

If you want to take more risks and hit a big jackpot, you’ll have to choose a slot machine with high volatility.

You can also choose this level of volatility with a small budget, but that’s not what I recommend. In fact, your gaming experience could come to an end more quickly, which is not ideal if you want to manage your bankroll over time.

Influence of volatility on earnings

Volatility has no influence on winnings. Slot machines are still games of chance, so this criterion should not be taken into account from this point of view.

The best slot machines by volatility

For each level of volatility, I’m going to tell you which are the best slot machines I’ve tested. Although this list is not exhaustive, it will give you an idea of some of the games you can play according to the volatility you’re looking for.

The best low-volatility slot machines

Wild North

Play’n Go’s Wild North slot is very popular in the low-volatility category. If the jackpot isn’t easy to win, that doesn’t detract from the fun of the game. You can win regular free spins, which give you access to small winnings on a regular basis.

The Catfather Part II

Offered by Pragmatic Play, The Catfather Part II slot is also low-volatility. The base game pays out frequently, and when you reach the bonus round, you can get 10 free spins, which offer you great chances of getting small additional winnings.

Jungle Books

Created by Yggdrasil, the low-volatility slot Jungle Books takes place in the jungle. A jackpot of up to €500,000 is up for grabs!

Even if the maximum payout is hard to reach, the game nevertheless offers a pleasant and enjoyable experience. Thanks to its 45 possible feature combinations, the slot machine regularly pays out average sums.

Fruit Combinator

Also offered by Yggdrasil, the Fruit Combinator low-volatility slot caught my eye, thanks to its childlike design. With this game, you have no fewer than 707 different ways to win. So there’s no time to get bored playing it.

The best medium-volatility slot machines

Sweet Bonanza

Sweet Bonanza is a slot machine with a maximum payout of 21,000 times the original stake. This game from Pragmatic Play is one of the most popular medium-volatility slot machines in the online casino game library.

It features free spins during which bombs can multiply your winnings when they appear. Together with the presence of scatter symbols anywhere on the screen, these elements make for more regular winnings during games.

Beam Boys

Brought to you by Hacksaw Gaming, Beam boys is a medium-volatility game. In fact, its “volatility swtich” feature lets you choose the degree of risk you wish to take for each spin, with a choice between “normal” and “extreme”.

You can alternate between a mode that pays out fairly regularly and another that lets you play for a bigger, but less frequent, jackpot.

Snake Arena

Snake Arena is another medium-volatility slot. Offered by Relax Gaming, the game offers frequent winnings with a maximum amount of 2,758 times the starting stake up for grabs. What’s more, its pay feature gives you access to free games.

Divine Drop

Hacksaw Gaming’s Divine Drop slot is also one of the best medium-volatility slots. The maximum payout is 10,000 times your original stake.

The multipliers present on the slot machine give you access to smaller sums, but which can pay out more frequently.

The best high-volatility slot machines

San Quentin

San Quentin is an extremely volatile game. This creation from supplier Nolimit City offers you the chance to win up to 150,000 times the stake you’re prepared to play at the outset. You have access to a volatile base game, but its free spins will allow you to win potentially large sums.

Cash Crew

Cash Crew is another highly volatile game from Hacksaw Gaming. It offers you the chance to win up to 10,000 times your initial stake. Another advantage of Cash Crew is that the jackpot can be won during bonus rounds.

Fist of Destruction

Like Cash Crew, Fist of Destruction is also offered by Hacksaw Gaming. The other thing it has in common is its winning potential, which can be as much as 10,000 times the initial stake. It’s the multiplier values offered by the game that can land you the jackpot.

Gates of Olympus

Gates of Oympus is known as one of the most volatile games in existence. This Pragmatic Play creation offers a potential payout of up to 5,000 times your original stake. The jackpot can be won on both free and pay spins.