Blog What does Volatility Mean in Slots? Your Guide to Variance with Examples

What does Volatility Mean in Slots? Your Guide to Variance with Examples

21st August 2025 Author Image Fruity king
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There are many things to consider before deciding which slot game to play, including volatility, RTP, max win, and bet limits. But what does volatility mean in slots, and why is it important? 

A game’s volatility impacts the frequency and size of its payouts, so, as you might expect, it’s a big consideration for all you slots fans.

At Fruity King, we offer low, medium, and high volatility slots from many of the world’s best game studios. Learn what volatility means and discover tips for choosing the most appropriate games for your bankroll and risk tolerance.

Explained: What Does Volatility Mean in Slots? 

Slot volatility, also called variance, is a measure of risk while playing a specific slot machine game. Lower volatility games are typically less risky, while higher volatility games carry more risk. Medium volatility games sit somewhere in between. 

In this regard, risk is tied to the frequency and size of payouts. Small, relatively frequent payouts characterise low-volatility games, while high-volatility games deliver infrequent, but bigger payouts. 

When choosing which slot game to play, check its volatility and select a title based on your risk tolerance. Choose low-volatility titles if you don’t want to wait long for wins to drop. High-volatility games are better if you’re patient and want to play for big wins. 

Low, Medium, & High Volatility Slots 

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There are three primary types of slot machine volatility: low, medium, and high. Before we get into the differences, we must remind you that all slots are random. Each outcome is determined by an in-built random number generator (RNG), so you cannot know what’s coming next. 

You might spin a high-volatility game and receive a tiny payout, or open a low-volatility game and land the max win within a few spins. So, when considering volatility, use it as an average guide to a slot’s payouts, rather than a guarantee of what you can expect. 

With this in mind, check out the table below to help you decide whether low, medium, or high volatility slots are best suited to your risk tolerance and preferences: 

Characteristic  Low-volatility slots Medium-volatility slots  High-volatility slots 
Win frequency  Very frequent (every few spins)  Moderately frequent (a little patience is required)  Infrequent (long dry spells are to be expected) 
Average win size  Small payouts  Moderate payouts with occasional big wins  High-value wins and jackpot prizes 
Risk  Low risk  Balanced risk  High risk 
Player experience  Steady gameplay for bankroll preservation  Balanced excitement and stability, with the chance to win big  High octane gameplay – sometimes described as “feast or famine”
Player suitability  Beginners with lower bankrolls  Versatile players keen to mix up win potential High rollers, risk-takers, and those with large bankrolls 

Why is Volatility Important?

Slot volatility is crucial because it influences the risk of playing online casino games. While there is always risk attached to playing slots and table games, volatility determines how risky your gaming session will be. 

Volatility is one of the most essential considerations when determining your bankroll. If you want to preserve your bankroll for as long as possible, low-volatility games with low bet limits are ideal. But if you have a much higher bankroll, you may want to play games with higher variance to give yourself a better chance of landing jackpot prizes and big multiplier wins. 

Blindly choosing a slot without considering its volatility may drain your bankroll too quickly. So, checking a slot’s volatility and selecting a game that aligns with your risk tolerance will improve your online gaming experience and strike the balance you want. 

The Relationship Between RTP & Volatility 

When selecting a slot game, it makes sense to check its volatility alongside its return to player (RTP) percentage. This figure indicates how much, over time, the game pays out, and gives you an idea of how much the casino retains as house edge.

The industry average for slot games is 96%. This means that, for every £100 wagered, the game will return £96 to the players, with £4 retained as the house edge. Like volatility, you shouldn’t see RTP as a given, but as an indication of how much the game pays out on average. The higher the RTP, the better it is for you. 

Combining the two gives a reasonable picture of what to expect from the game. For example, if you play a low volatility slot with an above-average RTP of 98%, you can expect frequent payouts, perhaps every few spins.

However, if you choose a high-volatility slot with an RTP of 94%, you must be patient while spinning the reels, as the big payouts won’t land each time you play. 

Tips for Choosing the Right Volatility 

Here are some tips that will help you choose the most appropriate slot volatility for your risk tolerance and game preferences: 

  • Start with your risk tolerance: If you want to limit your risk while playing slots, choose low-volatility games. Play high-volatility slots to take bigger risks to land the highest possible wins. 
  • Define your goals and preferences: Do you want to preserve your bankroll to play slots as long as possible? Or do you want to land huge wins via bonus rounds? Defining your goals will help you select the most appropriate games. 
  • Play slots in demo mode: Before playing slots for real money, spin the reels in demo mode to see the volatility in action. This is particularly helpful if you’re playing a low or high volatility game for the first time. 
  • Read the game description: You will usually find details of a game’s volatility within the description. At Fruity King, we publish this volatility for all to see, making it easy to choose the most appropriate slots. 

The Top Low, Medium, & High Volatility Slots at FruityKing 

Ready to dive into our slot game offering? Discover the most popular high, medium, and low-volatility slots you can play right now at Fruity King:

The Best High-Volatility Slots at Fruity King 

  • Rise of Cleopatra (Red Tiger): This high-volatility Egyptian adventure accepts bets from £0.10 per spin and delivers a max win of over 5,000x the bet to lucky players.
  • Moon Princess Stargazing (Play’n GO): A welcome addition to Play’n GO’s fantasy Moon Princess series, Stargazing is a high variance game with a cluster pays mechanic and wins that can reach up to 10,000x the bet.
  • Gates of Hades (Pragmatic Play): Inspired by the award-winning Gates of Olympus, this Hades release from Pragmatic Play delivers characteristically high volatility and a superb free spins round that offers wins up to 10,000x the bet.

The Best Medium-Volatility Slots at Fruity King 

  • Rich Wilde and the Tome of Dead (Play’n GO): A top slot in Play’n GO’s Rich Wilde franchise, Tome of Dead has medium volatility gameplay and a cluster pays mechanic that can award wins of up to 5,000x your bet. 
  • 9 Masks of Fire (Gameburger/Games Global): This fiery, mid-variance slot is available in two forms at Fruity King – Land & Win and Epic Strike.  
  • Call of the Wild (Inspired): This medium-variance slot is set on the great American plains. It features mustangs, wild cats, wolves, bears, and eagles, along with wilds and several other special features. 

The Best Low-Volatility Slots at Fruity King 

  • Starburst (NetEnt): Arguably the most popular low-volatility slot in the world, NetEnt’s Starburst takes you on an intergalactic adventure where the Starburst Wild can deliver wins of 500x per spin. 
  • Aloha Cluster Pays (NetEnt): Set on a tropical Hawaiian beach, Aloha Cluster Pays is a low-volatility game with regular wins that may max out at 2,000x if luck is on your side. 
  • Blood Suckers (NetEnt): NetEnt’s low-volatility vampire slot has earned iconic status in the casino world. Base game wins can land on 25 paylines, while the free spins bonus round comes with multipliers for big potential returns.

Sign Up at Fruity King Today For Top Slot Gameplay 

Fruity King is home to over 1,000 top slots from studios like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Play’n GO. We also offer a juicy welcome bonus for all new players, with free spins and bonus cash up for grabs. Terms and conditions apply. 

Decide your risk tolerance, consider your bankroll, and opt for low, medium, or high volatility slot games. Depending on your budget and the wins you seek, you can switch between each game type. 

When playing slots at Fruity King, please gamble responsibly. You can visit our Play Safe Hub for more information.

FAQ

Volatility affects the frequency of payouts and the size of the wins. You should always check whether you’re playing a low, medium, or high volatility slot so you know what to expect.
No, volatility and RTP are different. Volatility indicates the size of wins and how frequently they land, while RTP is a long-term measure of how much the game pays out over time. It’s helpful to consider both before choosing a slot game.
You can check a game’s volatility by reading the game description at Fruity King. Alternatively, visit the developer’s website for the set volatility level. Another option is to play the game in demo mode and to note the frequency of the wins.
Low-volatility slots are better for beginners, as they help preserve your bankroll while delivering frequent wins. As your bankroll grows, you may wish to switch to high-volatility games to play for bigger payouts.
You can play low-volatility slots at Fruity King. Create an account, deposit cash, and sign up to play. Our most popular low-volatility games include Starburst, Aloha Cluster Pays, and Blood Suckers.