In this guide, we will not only explain the RTP and volatility of slot games but also share extensive knowledge regarding the subjects.
Slot games have found their way into online gambling in an exceptionally innovative, entertaining, and interesting manner. They have become the most popular casino games because of their wide variety of titles, features, diverse themes, and captivating visuals.
Players enjoy playing online slot games; however, for big wins, it’s important to understand the dynamic of these games. You can opt for slot games for their theme or visuals when playing with real money, but the factors that contribute to slots payout are its RTP and variance.
The winning chances of every slot game are different, and it’s better to learn about the odds and rules if you want to increase your possibilities.
The terms “return to player” and “volatility” are frequently used when discussing a given platform’s advantages.
Do you know what these terms mean? When it comes to winning, do they really matter that much?
Both of these factors will significantly influence your strategy. To better understand these topics, we have attempted to compile a detailed reference guide. Let’s examine each one in further detail.
One of the most critical factors to consider when choosing a video game is the return to the player, sometimes known as “RTP.” The RTP measures how often a player can expect to receive a bonus or reward from a slot machine. To put it another way, we don’t just mean a straight-up win here. The RTP will include bonuses like:
Experts advise you to choose slot games with an RTP of 95% or above to increase your winning potential. Otherwise, the high house edge will be challenging to overcome. Of course, the specific RTP percentage will vary based on the games you play and your chosen provider.
Many players believe that volatility is associated with high risk, meaning there are far fewer odds of winning. This is only a partial truth, though. Generally, it is preferable to avoid volatile games at the beginning. As you can see, there are three levels of volatility in online gambling.
We can conclude that the best level to play at depends on your own unique style. If you have a restricted budget and a risk-averse strategy, you might want to select a game with low volatility. An extremely volatile game may be ideal for those who have a somewhat liquid bankroll and are willing to take a risk to increase their winnings.
You will have a clear understanding of both technical terms. It’s time to elaborate on how they affect the payout.
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Players have varied preferences, and one player’s style of play may differ from the other. There are three different categories of players.
The first group we’ll discuss is those with a more conservative bankroll. This set of players intends to play slots for as long as possible while limiting risks and losses. They prefer to enjoy the entertainment factor of slot games rather than the possibility of a large jackpot.
For them, a low volatility slot would be ideal. With a low volatility slot, the risk is minimized, and it would assist them in maintaining a steady bankroll for the long term. NetEnt’s Starburst is an amazing example of a low volatility slot.
Players more interested in a casino game’s anticipation and intensity make up a separate category. This set of participants is prepared to wager a huge sum in exchange for a massive win. With their considerable gaming budget, they choose a high variance slot for the adrenaline rush of an enormous reward. They are known as high rollers.
Play’n GO’s Book of Dead is an apt example of a high volatility game.
In the final category, we have players that are in the middle. These players are fine playing with the middle variance slot. In terms of volatility, players could expect a mix of both in a mid-volatility slot. So, if you prefer higher winnings than low volatility slots and more frequent wins than high volatility slots, this is the volatility level for you. Several medium volatility slots are available, such as Gonzo’s Quest by NetEnt and Wolf Hunters by Yggdrasil, among others.
Of course, selecting the correct slot based on its theme, provider, and extra features is important. Still, considering which slot game to play next, you should always consider its volatility. We’ve put together a table to help you choose the correct slot variance.
Volatility | Who Should Prefer? |
High |
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Medium |
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Low |
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To calculate the RTP rate, gaming machines employ a variety of technical methodologies. In a slot machine, this would require calculating every possible outcome of a single spin. There are hundreds or even thousands of possible combinations, so it is a complicated piece of kit and includes all available bonuses.
Once all of these have been figured out, the program can figure out the RTP. It also works with Random Number Generators or RNG.
The average payout is divided by the RTP percentage to calculate the RTP percentage. This contributes to the casino’s advantage.
The casinos themselves do not calculate the RTP. The developers are solely responsible for this. Using this information, they may demonstrate how much money has been paid out to the casino. Regardless of the RTP, a player can still make money by playing slot games in the short run.
This is a difficult question to answer directly, so let me explain. The RTP is generally accurate, but only if you play at a reputable casino. There are several ways to determine whether your casino is trustworthy. To begin with, a reliable URL is a solid indicator of whether a website is real or not. If a URL starts with ‘https,’ it is an excellent place to start. A padlock adjacent to the URL is also an indication of a reliable casino. You can check the casino features like license, safety tools, and responsible gambling tools for further satisfaction.
Most of us understand how significant RTP and volatility are for the payout structure of a slot machine, but what is most vital for the player’s experience?
The seemingly obvious explanation is RTP – after all, players who pick slots with a greater return to player percentage are more likely to score higher than players who choose places with a lower RTP, at least according to the calculations.
However, many players are ready to give up a little RTP in exchange for more slot volatility.
Players who prefer the highest winnings are far more inclined to choose the slot games with the highest maximum exposure, even if it means more “dead spins” and a higher risk.
Much depends on the player’s intended experience and their budget.
Therefore, volatility is typically the most vital feature for the player’s experience when playing any game since they will firsthand experience the math model that controls gameplay.
Players won’t notice slight differences in RTP during routine play sessions because it takes billions of spins to verify the theoretical payout percentage. Simply said, the RTP allows operators to foresee the profit of a slot game over time.
Regardless of RTP, a high-volatility slot machine can reward the player with a large win on any spin.
If you are ready to play high-risk slot games, we have compiled a list of high volatility slots. The wins won’t be frequent, but the rewards will be mind-blowing.
Slot Game | Volatility | RTP bet | Developer |
Immortal Romance | Very High | 96.86% | Microgaming |
Book of Dead | High | 96.21% | PlayN’Go |
Ice and Fire | High | 96.64% | Yggdrasil |
Montezuma | High | 95.86% | WMS |
Punk Rocker | High | 96.01 | NoLimit City |
Pink Elephants | High | 96.10% | Thunderkick |
If you play slot games of 99% RTP, the average payout in the long term will be $99, leaving only 1% house edge to the casino EVen though there aren’t many slot games with 99% or 98% RTP, but then there are few titles you will enjoy.
Slot Game | Volatility | Developer |
Tropic Reels | 99% | Playtech |
Monopoly Big Event | 99% | Barcrest |
Ooh aaH Dracula | 99% | Barcrest |
Mega Joker | 99% | Netent |
Ugga Bugga | 99.07% | Playtech |
Ocean Princess | 99.10% | Playtech |
Goblin’s Cave | 99.32% | Playtech |
The return for the player, or RTP, is the amount of money wagered that will be returned to the players as wins. All slots are generally designed to be rewarding, with an average payout of 94% to 99%. This implies that if you choose a slot with an RTP of 97%, you will receive 97% of your wager back. We’re talking about millions of spins here; thus, the greater the RTP of the game, the better your chances of keeping your money.
High volatility slot machines offer lower RTPs than low variance slots, which means higher advantages for the operators. However, patience is a virtue here as it might win you a massive payout. To calculate an RTP, you must put a significant wager to understand the actual value of the game, though it’s accessible on the game’s information page.
Online slots’ variance indicates how frequently and how much you’ll win. It determines a slot game’s volatility. The variance shows whether a slot game is high-, medium-, or low-risk. It helps you estimate how much you’ll win or lose in a slot game.
RTP is the player’s theoretical payout percentage. If you deposit £100 into a game with a 96% RTP, you could expect to win £96 back, while the remaining £4 goes to the house edge. Higher percentages mean longer winning streaks.
No, slots volatility comes in different levels high, medium and low. The high volatility slots offer higher payout but infrequent wins, medium volatility slots medium payouts and frequency, while low volatility slots offer lower wins but more frequently.
Some online casinos offer players free spins on high volatility slot games. You can also use bonus cash from casino offers to play any high RTP slot game.
Many reliable online casinos in the industry feature high RTP slots from reputed developers such as Microgaming, Playtech, and NetEnt.