What is high volatility?
For many players worldwide, the essence of gambling is adrenaline and the vision of high wins. Every day, almost every minute, players who dream of winning thousands of dollars for betting several dozen cents sit in front of computer monitors. Although such a change is found once in a million, it does not scare seekers of happiness and fortune. Gambling was born on such expectations. These people with colorful characters, unrestrained requirements and vivid imagination created the foundations for the online slots industry. So, high-volatility slots keep people drawn to gambling, with the vision of unlimited winnings with minimal investment.
High-volatility slots are for experienced casino players who have mastered bankroll management. These games are not for the faint of heart; players should understand the risks involved. Players can play hundreds of games before triggering a slot’s bonus feature, and long-losing streaks are not uncommon. If you win, you can expect significantly higher winnings than with low-variance slot machines. In short, these games produce larger wins on average, but they occur less frequently.
Play slots with high volatility in the following cases
High-volatility slots are not for the faint of heart. They promise the thrill of substantial payouts but come with the risk of rapid bankroll depletion. Here are some scenarios when venturing into the realm of high-volatility slots might be worth considering:
- If you have a big bankroll
The more free funds you have allocated to the game, the better. But for the same Book of Dead, this is not enough. You just need a huge bankroll, at least several thousand bets. Some slots “keep” the balance at about the same level or gradually reduce it. And some slots will “suck” bets until it comes to the bonus game (and this can happen after 100, 200, 300 spins or even later). Book of Dead is usually so severe that without any scruples of conscience, it “eats” most of the spins and gives almost nothing in return. What did you think? High risk, high reward, remember? - If you know how to control yourself
Unfortunately, fans of slots with high volatility are often heavily “smeared”. And this is the main conflict. High volatility is contraindicated for such players, but they are their main consumers. Ideally, after a long “minus” session (or immediately after a big win), you need to close the online casino site and take a long break (a few days, a week). - If you are a patient and experienced player
It is better not to play slots with high risk for beginners. It takes a lot of experience to understand how these games work. A new player simply cannot withstand the pressure during the gameplay. The slot will simply “eat” his money, first minus $100, then another $500, then $1,000 and so on. “And when will he start giving? Is the online casino screwed up? No, nothing is screwed up. You just need to be patient and wait.
Who are high volatility slots suitable for?
In conclusion to what has been said so far, it remains clear that there cannot be one slot with the best volatility. The volatility does not change the statistical expected value and your result after tens of thousands of spins will level out very similarly on every slot with the same RTP.
In addition to the bankroll available, it also depends on what type of player you are.
- Players with a lot of patience and a bigger budget
You should only choose slots with a high variance if you have a lot of time and a lot of money available. To win here, you have to have a lot of patience, which means, for example, that quick use during the lunch break in such games is hardly worthwhile. When playing high-variance slots, the budget must always include a certain buffer. - Jackpot hunters who want to change their lives
Many players are only after really big jackpots. Of course, the big wins are rarely achieved in jackpot slots with high volatility, but this type of player gambles according to the motto: maybe every month in the red for years, but once it crashes, a new life begins. At this point, it should be mentioned that slots with high volatility can bring you a high profit even in a short time, maybe even on the first try. The volatility always indicates an average value over the long term. - The feel-good gamers for regular moments of joy
On the other hand, you go for low-volatility slots if you gamble for good luck hormones and want to see the coins return. The winnings can sometimes be higher in this case, but often, you get your bets back in a session. This is, of course, particularly commendable if you only want to secure a welcome bonus. Incidentally, you also make similar considerations when betting on sports: Here, the amount of the desired odds gives you direct information about how often you will win such a bet.
Top 10 high-volatility slots
Do you have strong nerves and like adrenaline? Then it would be best to choose slots with high or even very high volatility. They offer the highest level of excitement, and the payout can be very high, so it’s worth it.
Below are the top 10 slots with high volatility:
- Bonanza
- Dead or Alive 2
- San Quentin xWays
- Book of Shadows
- Immortal Romance
- Razor Shark
- Vikings Go Berzerk
- Hot Slot
- Stargate
- Gonzo’s Quest Megaways
Bonanza by Big Time Gaming
Bonanza is a high-volatility slot that Big Time Gaming launched in 2016. The game features the popular Megaways mechanic, offering players up to 117,649 ways to win. Set in a mining environment, Bonanza includes carts of gems and gold with cascading reels that can lead to explosive wins.
- Minimum bet: $0.20
- Maximum bet: $20
- RTP: 96%
- Max win: 10,000 x stake
- Paylines: Up to 117,649 (Megaways)
- Features: Free spins, cascading reels, multipliers
Dead or Alive 2 by NetEnt
NetEnt’s Dead or Alive 2 is a sequel to the iconic Dead or Alive slot. Released in 2019, this high-volatility game takes players back to the Wild West with sharp graphics and engaging gameplay. It’s known for its extreme volatility and potential for massive payouts.
- Minimum bet: $0.09
- Maximum bet: $18
- RTP: 96.8%
- Max win: 100,000 x stake
- Paylines: 9
- Features: Sticky wilds, free spins with multiple modes, multipliers
San Quentin xWays by Nolimit City
Launched in 2021, San Quentin xWays is another high-volatility slot by Nolimit City. This game is themed around a notorious prison and includes unique features like Enhancer Cells and Splitting symbols, which increase the number of ways to win.
- Minimum bet: $0.20
- Maximum bet: $32
- RTP: 96.03%
- Max win: 150,000 x stake
- Paylines: Up to 243 to 46,656 (xWays)
- Features: Enhancer Cells, Splitting symbols, free spins, multipliers
Book of Shadows by Nolimit City
Book of Shadows, released in 2020, offers a chilling theme with high-volatility gameplay. This slot allows players to choose between three different volatility levels and reel heights, increasing the number of ways to win.
- Minimum bet: $0.10
- Maximum bet: $100
- RTP: 96.01% to 96.19% (depending on the reel configuration)
- Max win: 30,338 x stake
- Paylines: 10 to 20
- Features: Shadow Rows, free spins, gamble feature, scatter
Immortal Romance by Microgaming
Immortal Romance is a cult favorite launched in 2011 by Microgaming. This high volatility slot is known for its compelling vampire theme intertwined with intricate storylines and multiple bonus features. Each character in the game unlocks different types of bonus rounds.
- Minimum bet: $0.30
- Maximum bet: $30
- RTP: 96.86%
- Max win: 12,150 x stake
- Paylines: 243
- Features: Wild Desire, Chamber of Spins with multiple free spins options
Razor Shark by Push Gaming
Razor Shark is a high volatility slot from Push Gaming that dives deep into the ocean’s mysteries, featuring mischievous sharks and hidden treasures. Launched in 2019, it offers thrilling gameplay with mysterious stacks and massive multipliers.
- Minimum bet: $0.10
- Maximum bet: $100
- RTP: 96.7%
- Max win: 50,000 x stake
- Paylines: 20
- Features: Mystery Stacks, Razor Reveal, Free Games with increasing multipliers
Vikings Go Berzerk by Yggdrasil
Vikings Go Berzerk is part of Yggdrasil’s popular Vikings series. Released in 2016, it builds on its predecessors with improved graphics and more engaging features. This slot takes players on a Viking raid with free spins, bonuses, and rage meters, adding to the game’s excitement.
- Minimum bet: $0.25
- Maximum bet: $125
- RTP: 96.1%
- Max win: 4,000 x stake
- Paylines: 25
- Features: Free spins, Ragnarok Free Spins, Berzerk mode, Treasure Chests
Hot Slot by Wazdan
Let’s take a closer look at Hot Slot. This is a slot with high volatility, from which you can benefit. This slot was launched in 2022 and was designed by game developer Wazdan.
This slot is all about fruit. Even if the wheel wasn’t reinvented, there is something special about the Hot Slot. You can determine the volatility yourself and set it both higher and lower. An absolute novelty, we think.
- The minimum bet is $0.20
- The maximum bet is $10,000
- RTP: 96%
- Max win: 305 x stake
- Paylines: 20
- Features: bonus, scatter
Stargate by SG Digital
You can finally reach for the stars with the Stargate slot. SG Digital created the Stargate slot and offers you great winnings. The bonus rounds increase your chances of winning even more.
Incidentally, the online slot is still very young and based on the film Stargate. The individual win lines feature many well-known faces from the film, and the Stargate is also waiting for you here, which leads to the bonus rounds.
- The minimum bet is $0.20
- The maximum bet is $10
- RTP: 96%
- Maximum win: $25,000
- Paylines: 10
- Features: wild symbol, free spins, bonus rounds
Gonzo’s Quest Megaways by Red Tiger Gaming
This exciting slot combines the classic adventure of the original Gonzo’s Quest with the thrilling Megaways mechanic. Released in 2020, it offers players dynamic gameplay across unpredictable reel structures, where each spin can have up to 117,649 ways to win.
- Minimum bet: $0.10
- Maximum bet: $4
- RTP: 96%
- Max win: 21,000 x stake
- Paylines: Up to 117,649 (Megaways)
- Features: Earthquake feature, Unbreakable Wilds, and Free Fall symbols that trigger free spins with increasing multipliers
Play high-volatility slots for free
Playing high-volatility slots for free is an excellent way for players to experience the thrill and excitement of potentially large payouts without the risk of losing real money. Many online casinos offer demo versions of their high-volatility slots, allowing you to explore different themes and special features at no cost. This free play option is perfect for developing a feel for the game’s variance and testing strategies without financial implications. You can access these free games directly on casino websites or gaming platforms without the need to register or make a deposit. Understanding how often the game pays out and the typical intervals between significant wins is valuable.
Play high-volatility slots for real money
The stakes and excitement increase significantly for players ready to take on the challenge of high-volatility slots with real money. These slots are known for their potential for substantial payouts, making them a favorite among thrill-seekers and those looking for that big win. When choosing to play for real money, selecting a reputable online casino that offers a safe and secure gaming environment is crucial. These casinos are typically licensed and regulated, providing player protection and fair play. Real money play also opens the door to various bonuses and promotions that can extend your gameplay and enhance your chances of a significant payout. Set a budget and stick to it, ensuring your gambling experience remains enjoyable and within your financial means.
Best online casinos with high-volatility slots
- Wager: 40x
- Min Dep: €5
- Win Rate: 94.22%
- Wager: 40x
- Min Dep: €10
- Win Rate: 96.18%
- Wager: 40x
- Min Dep: €5
- Win Rate: 95.92%
Final thoughts on high volatility slots
Most slots today have various additional features such as wild, scatter or joker symbols, sticky wilds, self-expanding reels, and more. Since the features sometimes also increase the chances of higher winnings, the volatility or variance is corrected upwards or downwards with the features of the slots. This also applies to the number of paylines. If there are only very few paylines, but they pay out a lot, the variance is correspondingly high. With many paylines, which occur very frequently, but most of which bring only small profits, the slot has a correspondingly rather low variance.
A good example is the latest Megaways slots. They often have a lot of paylines, which in itself would speak for low variance. However, the variance is significantly increased by special mechanics, more reels and the chance of jackpots. As a result, Megaways slots have rather high variance or volatility compared to other slots.
The reason is simply that the slots would not be so attractive for players if the enormous number of paylines often resulted in small winnings being paid out without the chance of big winnings. The software developers aim always to tie players to the slot for as long as possible (low volatility) but at the same time to offer them the chance of very high winnings (high volatility). As a result, most slots take a healthy middle ground that makes the slot interesting for as many players as possible.
