Casino Game Volatility and Payout Rates – Slots Volatility and RTP Explained

Game volatility and payout rates are statistics designed to help players get an idea of how likely they are to win at a casino game. Simply put, low volatility means you’re likely to win more often, but with an average lower payout, while vice-versa for high volatility.

Knowing the differences between the games you play can make a big difference in how you use your bankroll and the potential winnings you accrue. Therefore, we have touched on all of them to ensure you are well-versed before you try your luck.

How Casino Game Volatility Works

Casino game volatility and payout rates refer to the level of risk associated with a particular game and how it impacts the likelihood and size of winning or losing bets. In short, that is the volatility meaning in slots. High-volatility games tend to have bigger but less frequent wins, which means you may not come by a win for some time before you strike it big via a progressive jackpot.

On the other hand, low-volatility games offer more frequent wins but, naturally, with smaller profits on those wins. If you’re looking to spin the wheels, then understanding volatility in slots helps you understand the risk vs reward balance and, as such, choose games that suit the way you want to play. Ultimately, the volatility in slots’ meaning is simply that high-volatility games offer the potential for substantial winnings, while low-volatility games provide more consistent but smaller payouts.

RTP and Payout Percentages

Now, the RTP casino meaning, or rather what it stands for, is Return to Player. Essentially, this refers to the payout percentages, which are key metrics used in online casino apps to show you the average amount of money a gambler can expect to win from a slot over time.

RTP in gambling is expressed as a percentage and represents the portion of total bets that a game is programmed to return to gamblers as winnings. Higher RTP percentages indicate online casino games that are more favorable to you in terms of potential returns.

Common Casino Payout Percentages

Have you wondered how to find the payout percentage on a slot machine at a fast payout online casino? Let’s have a look at the RTP for some of the biggest slot titles in the world of online casino gambling to see what the slot machine payout percentages are.

Volatility vs. RTP

Understanding the difference between volatility slots and RTP is essential for making better decisions when it comes to the slots you want to play. Slot machine volatility refers to the hit frequency, and how big and often players are paid out from the machines. You may win less often, but you will win bigger with high volatility slot machines. Also, slot machines with the highest percentage of payouts will often give you even bigger winnings.

On the other hand, Return to Player RTP, shows you the percentage of total bets that a game is programmed to return to gamblers over time. It indicates the overall payout percentage of a game, with higher RTP percentages showing you that a more significant portion of bets is returned to players as winnings. In short, it shows you what you can expect to win over time with a certain slot.

Different Types of Slots Volatility

While you can find high volatility slots, there are varying types per slot title. We have a slot machine volatility list that you can check out but for now, let’s get into what types of volatility you can find with differing slots at real money online casinos.

High Volatility

The high volatility meaning refers to games that tend to have infrequent but larger payouts. You might experience long term periods where you don’t win, but when you do win, the profits are almost always far bigger. These games are suitable for those who prefer the excitement of chasing larger jackpots and are willing to accept the higher risk of losing streaks. You’ll also likely need a bigger bankroll to pursue high variance slots.

Medium Volatility

Medium volatility slots strike a balance between frequent wins and the potential for bigger payouts. You can expect a mix of smaller and decent-sized wins. In addition, medium volatility slots are ideal for those who like to take on more risk while still having a good chance of winning.

Low Volatility

Slots with low volatility offer wins more often but the size of those wins will be a lot smaller than the previous two we have mentioned. You are likely to experience consistent wins, albeit with lower payouts. The best offshore casinos offer a wide range of low volatility slots for conventional bettors who prefer to follow a staking plan.

How to Find a Slot’s Volatility

Other than asking what is volatility in slots or what does high volatility mean when you play slots? You may ask yourself, how do I find the actual volatility of these slots before I play? Well, you can have a look at a slot machine volatility chart, but you can also find out more about the volatility by having these questions answered.

What is the Top Prize?

The top prize of a slot game gives you some information as to its game volatility and payout rates. Games with higher top prizes will generally have higher volatility, as they offer the potential for higher payouts but with less frequent wins (as we mentioned before). The casino payout ratio on these slots is always a good indicator of their volatility. Crypto casinos and similar high limit casinos often tend to offer higher value payouts owing to the lack of a payout cap.

How Many Bonuses/Features?

The number and frequency of bonuses and special features can indicate the volatility of a slot. Games with fewer bonuses and features tend to have higher volatility, as the potential for big wins is concentrated in these bonus rounds.

How Old is the Game?

The age of a slot game can also influence its volatility. Older games may have established reputations for volatility based on player experiences over time. User reviews are also a good way to learn more about older games and their volatility.

Is the Game a Follow-Up Theme or a New Version?

Follow-up themes or newer versions of popular slot games may have adjusted volatility compared to their predecessors. Game developers may tweak volatility levels to appeal to different slot player preferences or market trends. Make sure you know how to play online slots before jumping into a new game.

How Often Does It Payout?

Having a look at the slot machine payout percentage in a slot game can give you clues about its volatility. Games that pay out more often but with smaller amounts typically have lower volatility, while those with less frequent but larger payouts tend to have higher volatility. You can also refer to our guide on how to win at slots for our expert tricks and tips.

How To Know If Casino Payouts Are Fair

Ensuring that game volatility and payout rates are fair is an important aspect of online gambling sites. One way to know if payouts are fair is by choosing a casino licensed by a reputable regulator. These regulators require regular testing of games, software, and random number generators by independent auditors and analysts like GLI to make sure the casinos are operating fairly. Even the best no id verification casinos have stringent policies in place to ensure the players enjoy fair gaming experience.

Casino Game Variance

The best online slots payout percentage is generally high but that will also depend on the variance of the games themselves unlike live games at live dealer casinos. So, let’s have a look at the difference between high and low variance in slots.

High Variance

High variance may be confused with high volatility at times. While the terms are often used interchangeably, high variance refers to how often a game will deviate from its average payouts and wins, and high volatility refers to the more significant, larger wins.

Low Variance

Games with low variance offer more frequent but smaller wins, with less volatility in outcomes. You are less likely to experience extreme swings in your bankroll, as the payouts are more consistent and predictable over time.

Slots Volatility & RTP: Questions And Answers

How does a slot machine really work?

The slot machine will randomly select a sequence of symbols that relate to varying cash returns. The random symbols are dictated by RNG or random number generators that make sure the games aren’t rigged.

Is high or low volatility better with slots?

If you are still asking, “What does volatility mean in slots?” then you may also be wondering if high or low volatility is better for you. Well, this depends on how much risk you can take, as high volatility will be more difficult to win, but it comes with high payouts.

How do you know if a slot machine has high volatility?

There are a few ways to learn more about game volatility and payout rates, which we have mentioned above, but the best is to look at the game’s RTP percentage. If it pays out less often, it’s likely a high-volatility game.

How much do slot machines make?

While you might want to know “what does high volatility mean?” you may also be asking how much these machines make. It’s difficult to say precisely, as every machine is different, and bets vary in size.

What is the return to an online casino player?

The average is around 97%, but the casino payout percentage varies from slot to slot.

How do I maximize my return at a casino?

Manage your bankroll. There may not be a golden formula for winning, but managing your budget as best you can will keep you going a lot longer and give you a chance to potentially land a jackpot.

What are the RTP laws in the US?

This will vary from state to state, so it’s difficult to say exactly what the laws are. Some states even prohibit online slot machines. So, to learn more about this, it’s best to check out the gambling laws in your state.

Resources

https://gaminglabs.com/services/traditional-gaming-casino-property/