Volatility is a common term when it comes to gambling, and one all players should be aware of. In general, volatility refers to the frequency with which a play will or will not result in a win. Different casino games, including slots, have varying volatility levels, and it’s essential to familiarize yourself with how volatility works before committing to a specific game.
When it comes to slot machines, volatility refers specifically to how frequently the machine will hit a winning combination and how much payout you, as a player, can expect from it. In this article, we’ll take a deeper dive into volatility in slots, exploring how it works and how you can navigate it.
Understanding Slot Machines
Slot machines are one of the most popular forms of gambling across the world. These machines can be found in casinos all across the globe, as well as in some other venues such as pubs and supermarkets. On top of this, slot machine gaming can even be accessed from the comfort of a player’s home through online alternatives. These websites not only give players access to countless slot machines, but many also come with incredible bonuses for both new and seasoned players that can greatly improve the gaming experience (source: https://casinobeats.com/kr/online-casinos/slot-site/).
Unlike some other casino games, like poker, slots don’t require any level of skill to play and instead rely entirely on chance. Players earn monetary prizes if they are able to match certain symbols or figures on the machine.
Understanding High and Low Volatility Slot Machines
Not every slot machine is the same, and not every machine has the same level of volatility. In this context, high-volatility games refer to those that offer payouts less regularly than their low-volatility counterparts. What makes them appealing, however, is that if a win is secured, the amount given to the player is often significantly higher than those won on low-volatility machines.
As could be expected, low-volatility slot machines do the opposite, giving players more chances to win, but offering smaller prizes for doing so.
Between these two extremes, there are several other slot machines with different levels of volatility, such as medium-high or low-medium, that have garnered a lot of attention from gamblers looking for a balance between the two main options.
How to Find the Volatility of a Slot Machine
Many slot machine providers don’t make it easy for players to understand their exact volatility score, but there are ways that players can make a good estimate using the information that they do have. Firstly, a slot machine’s pay table will often refer to the volatility index of a game. Learning to read this index is a highly effective way to learn the volatility of a game, and also see how it compares to its competitors.
On top of this, players can also research the history of a specific machine. Gaining an understanding of the previous big wins and jackpots and learning how frequently they were given to a player is a great way to learn how unpredictable a game might be.
If you’re still not sure, why not play the game’s demo for a while to see how frequently your play could secure a win, without ever having to wager anything. The only downside to this is that if you do win while playing a demo, you won’t be entitled to any of the cash.
Volatility and Return to Player
It’s also a good idea to take a look at the return to player (RTP) score of a specific slot machine before you play. The return to player score is a ratio that is advertised on every slot machine out there. It refers to the percentage of all funds wagered that a slot machine is willing to give back to its players.
Usually, RTP scores range from around 92% to 98% with anything below 95% often being deemed as unfavorable to gamblers. The score indicates the percentage of wagered money a player can expect to have returned to them during a play.
With that being said, it’s important to remember that RTP doesn’t account for the number of payouts nor the size of these payouts, so gamblers need to look at this score alongside the slot machine’s volatility and not consider one in favor of the other.
