If you want to become a professional video slot player, or if you just want to learn more about how to select video slots that are more profitable than others, you have to know what is the volatility or the variance of any video slot.
Most gamers set their attention to the RTP of the game. Volatility will give you more information about how much you can win in the short run. We will try to explain what slot variance and slot volatility are and how they affect your gameplay.
What Are the RTP and the House Edge?
First, we need to mention something about the RTP and the “house edge”. The RTP, or Return to Player percentage, is also a very important aspect in the video slots industry. The house edge depends on the RTP. If the Return to Player percentage is high, the house edge will be low, and vice versa.
The standard RTP is somewhere around 96%, giving casinos a house edge of 4%. In theory, it means that for every $100 played, the game will return $96. Do some simple math, and you can conclude that the house edge in this particular case is $4. This is the amount of money every online casino takes away from you.
For this reason, gamers prefer video slots with higher RTPs. On the other hand, it is important to remember that the casino banks an average of 4% on a specific slot for each spin made by each player at that particular time. Once you land a win, the fact is that someone else has not been that fortunate at that specific moment.
Is There a Difference between Variance and Volatility?
Volatility and variance are usually used as synonyms, and there is not much difference between these two terms. If you want to split hairs, you can say that variance is a statistical term used mostly in poker games. Over the years, the term transferred to video slots as well.
The term “volatility” is used in finance for evaluating financial instruments. As for video slots, the volatility will tell you how big and how often you will be winning in a particular game. The most important differentiation players need to remember is that there are three types of volatility – low, medium, and high.
Every video slot comes with a programmed volatility/variance. There will be cases when you come across games that do not have any information about the variance. For these particular games, players need to determine the volatility themselves.
Here, websites that offer video slots for free play will come in handy. You need more than 100 spins to get a slight idea of the game’s volatility. Fortunately for us, most video slots now come with accurate info about their variance. That is why you don’t need to go through all that trouble to see how the game pays.
Although there are three basic types of volatility, there will also be variations, like medium-to-high, or low-to-medium variance. Also, there will be games where you can set the volatility yourselves.
1. Low Volatility
First, we will talk about low-variance or low-volatility video slots. These types of games will offer more wins. Unfortunately, the won amount will not be that high. Low-variance games are perfect for players who want to take care of their balance and have a longer gameplay time. Spins bring wins quite frequently, but the payouts are not that generous.
Just look at the max payout and the value of symbols that populate the reels. In most cases, max combos consisting of low-paying icons will not even cover the value of your bet. Even so, the low-variance games are good when you are going through a certain casino bonus. If the bonus comes with wagering requirements, you can go through the spins with a minimal loss.
2. Medium Volatility
Most video slots come with medium volatility. Even though the risk is higher, the payouts are pretty bigger than in the games with low volatility. Here, players may expect to win on a fairly regular basis, and, from time to time, payouts will be huge.
We are still in a somewhat safe zone because your balance will not be sucked dry in a short period of time. Just pay attention to your bets, and you will be fine.
3. High Volatility
If you prefer risky games, then high-variance video slots will be your cup of tea. Long dry spells are expected here, followed by bursts of massive wins. This is where gaming gets serious. Risk-takers are welcome, and they need nerves of steel.
High-variance video slots usually come with extremely high maximum payouts. These payouts are achievable through additional features. On the other hand, it will not be easy to trigger them. If you don’t pay attention, you could easily lose all your money before you even get a chance to test any of the special features.
High rollers should pay close attention here, and they are usually the most common players who go for a high-variance video slot. Before you get to this level, you need to become an experienced video slot player.
Conclusion
As you can see for yourselves, variance and volatility are completely the same in the world of video slots. We will leave it up to you to decide whether you want to test your luck with high/medium/low-volatility games. The information about video slot variance is essential, and it will allow gamers to prepare their playing strategies.
Volatility will provide you with all the necessary information about the risks of losing your money in a specific game. Before you start spinning the reels, check the variance to see how much money you can win and how often. It will be up to you to decide whether you will go for smaller wins but longer gameplay or huge payouts, but with a higher risk of losing your money. Our recommendation is to go from low-variance video slots and move upwards as you gain experience.
