High vs. Low Volatility Slots
When you play an online slot game and see a steady stream of fruitless spins, it can be easy to suspect things have been rigged in the house’s favor.
But everything’s on the up and up, you’re just playing a high-volatility slot that’s been designed specifically to offer a “feast or famine” gameplay experience.
What is Slot Volatility?
While most slot enthusiasts know about playability metrics like payback percentage and return to player (RTP) rate, volatility is a foreign concept to many. Simply put, a slot game’s volatility level defines how often payouts are awarded, combined with the relative value of those payouts.
Those high-volatility slots that never seem to land on a winner definitely do, but it takes plenty of spins to get there. And when a winning combination flashes across the screen, the wait is worth it thanks to big-time payouts that bring back significant risk to reward ratios.
In other words, you won’t hit winning spins very frequently while playing a high-volatility slot, but when you do, even the lower-level payouts can return something like 40 coins per coin wagered. Hit the higher-level payouts, however, and you might just collect 20,000 to 100,000 coins for every coin put at risk.
On the other hand, a low-volatility slot game takes the exact opposite approach. You’ll collect winners every few spins or so, and when Lady Luck is looking your way, winners are paid out several times in a row.
To compensate for the constant wave of winning spins, a low-volatility slot offers smaller payout ratios. You might collect a 2 to 1 double up on your coins for the lower-level combinations, while the topline jackpot payouts are capped at 200 coins.
Pros and Cons of High and Low Volatility Slots
Slot machine software designers recognize that different players want different things from their favorite games, so they tinker with volatility levels to find the perfect fit.
If you enjoy scoring as many winners as possible to extend the session, a low-volatility slot is the ticket. These games make sure to produce payouts at a steady pace, and although most winners will be on the small side, collecting them gives you extra opportunities to chase larger jackpots.
Conversely, players who like the idea of shooting for the moon - and don’t mind waiting out prolonged droughts in the process - largely prefer the high-volatility slots. It can take a while to line up the reels just right, and then suddenly the screen is lit up with a payout that more than makes up for the wait.
How to Assess a Slot’s Volatility Level
Generally speaking, a slot game’s pay table construction provides the most telling clues about volatility.
When you see wide discrepancies between the minimum and maximum payouts, say 25 coins at the lowest level and 25,000 for the best combo, you’re in for a high-volatility experience.
And when the pay table is tighter, with a range of 2 to 200 coins for example, it’ll be a low-volatility day.
Another telltale indicator of volatility involves fixed versus progressive jackpots. Low-volatility slots tend to offer fixed jackpots, while their high-volatility counterparts justify the lack of small winners with massive six-figure and even seven-figure scores.
High and Low Volatility Slots Offered on Ignition
If you’re done flying blind, and only want to play Ignition slots that offer a volatility level to your liking, the lists below are a great starting point:
High-Volatility Ignition Slots
Aztec’s Treasure
Crystal Waters
Mister Money
Mystic Wolf
Rain Dance
Shopping Spree
Tiger Treasures
Low-Volatility Ignition Slots
Derby Dollars
Diamond Dozen
Food Fight
Football Frenzy
Fruit Frenzy
Sherwood Forest Fortunes
Space Traders
NO GOOD