Somewhere around the start of the 2020s, Pragmatic Play, one of the world’s leading suppliers of online slot games, began adding a volatility rating to its games. A handful of its top slots would carry a rating out of five, which usually popped up when opening the game. It would instantly inform players about the slot’s volatility, and many of its rivals have copied and developed the concept of this ‘warning.’
Of course, if you play online slots, you will know that volatility – sometimes known as variance – has existed for a long time. Pragmatic Play didn’t invent the idea of creating highly volatile slots, but it was one of the first developers to start branding its games based on volatility. That inspired other developers to take things further, leading us to a point where volatility is arguably the key trend in online slot play today.
Volatility/Variance Has Become a Key Marker for Slots
So, what do we mean by volatility? It refers essentially to how a slot game behaves. A low volatility slot pays often but is slightly less spectacular regarding big payouts. A highly volatile slot works in the opposite manner: it pays infrequently, but it can deliver explosive wins. Knowing this beforehand is essential to a player’s strategy, especially when on a budget.
As mentioned, Pragmatic Play’s success in the 2020s with volatile games inspired others. Soon, we saw the arrival of other developers like Nolimit City and Hacksaw Gaming, who specialized in highly volatile slot games. Many different developers have done similar. It has changed the landscape of online casino gaming.
It’s important to stress that volatility does not always refer to the amount of cash that can be won in a slot game. For example, a progressive jackpot slot with a multi-million-dollar top prize can still be considered a low-volatility slot. The concept refers to behavior, not the top prize. You can view volatile games as more explosive than low-volatility games. A good way to think of it is in terms of financial trading: volatile trading markets aren’t always enjoyed by investors, but some day traders adore volatility.
Examples of highly high-volatile slots include:
- Fire in the Hole
- San Quentin ways
- Punk Rocker No Limit
- Money Train 4
- Buffalo King Megaways
- Starburst Xtreme
A Higher Risk-Versus-Reward Threshold
It’s natural to assume that volatile slots have a higher risk-versus-reward threshold. All slot games carry inherent risk, of course, yet volatile games take it to another level. It’s essential to be aware of this concept before you play slots online. While it is valid for all slots play that you should only play with cash you are happy to lose, it is essential to recognize this with volatile slots.
All slot games are based on RNGs, so predicting what will happen on any given spin is impossible. However, we can suggest that players avoid volatile slots when, for example, trying to make wagering requirements for a casino bonus. On the other hand, experienced players might set aside a small amount of cash to try a volatile game, using a hit-and-run tactic, walking away after a short time if they don’t get that big win.
In the end, recognizing this should be part of your strategy and budgeting measures. Most highly volatile games will display the fact that they are so proud. The games have become popular with casino streamers on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, so you can see them in action before playing. In addition, some casinos will let you play volatile slot games in demo mode. The extremely high-volatility games are an acquired taste, so if you can play for free first to check if it suits your taste, that’s a good approach.
Leave a Reply