How to Use a Pokies Volatility to Your Advantage

Volatility is a term that is often used to describe online pokies, but what does it mean? At its simplest, volatility refers to how frequently a game will pay out and the size of those wins. Naturally, the concept of volatility is robust and a concept that all pokies players should understand if they hope to maximise their odds.

Today, we will delve deeper into the concept of volatility, how it applies to online pokies, and the types of pokies you can find at different volatility levels.

What is Volatility in Online Pokies?

Two terms that are often used to describe online pokies are RTP and volatility. The RTP refers to the amount that a game will pay back to players over the life of a game. This is often calculated over millions of spins.

Volatility is the frequency at which a game will pay out and how much those payments will be. This concept is more short-term and will give players a better idea of how a game might perform in an individual or a group of sessions.

Most online pokies are divided into three volatility categories – low, medium, and high. We will look at each category to give you a core understanding of how volatility works.

Note that this article covers most games and companies that use traditional volatility categorisations. Games with hybrid volatilities or customised settings, such as games from NoLimit City, will perform differently.

Low-Volatility Pokies – Lower Risk But Lower Reward

Low-volatility pokies are games that will produce more wins than other pokies, but those wins are generally smaller. The payout frequency on these games is the highest, paying out up to 70% of spins played. Low-volatility games typically offer lower stakes compared to other games. You may find spins for as low as .05.

However, don’t expect to make massive profits with these games. The majority of these wins will be less than your original bet. On average, you can expect a payout from these games to be 0.5 to 1.5x your bet on the high side.

That doesn’t mean you won’t get medium-sized or big wins, but they are much more infrequent than other volatility forms. Low-volatility pokies are lower risk than other pokie forms, meaning you will not lose money as quickly. The tradeoff is that your payoffs are smaller.

Who Are Low-Volatility Pokies Best For?

Low-volatility pokies are great for two types of players. The first are low-stakes or small bankroll players looking to stretch out their play. You’ll definitely get more play out of low-stakes games than you would from other volatility types.

Low-volatility pokies are also suitable for players who are risk-averse. You want to gamble, but you don’t want to risk losing all of your money quickly. You may not mind the reduced payouts if you can control your risk.

Additionally, if you are trying to clear online casino bonuses, low-volatility pokies can help. These games will give you more play, allowing you a better chance to clear your bonus. Some players will run up their balances on medium or high-volatility games and then switch to low-volatility games to keep from giving their money back to the casino.

Pros and Cons of Low-Volatility Pokies

Let’s quickly look at the pros and cons of playing low-volatility pokies.

Pros

• Higher payout frequency than other pokies types.
• Smaller swings compared to other pokies.
• Smaller betting limits on many games.
• Good for clearing bonuses.

Cons

• Lower payouts with many payouts less than your stake.
• Fewer medium to big wins.

Top Low-Volatility Pokies to Try

There are many fun, low-volatility pokies available at Australian online casinos. Here’s a quick list of some of the best low-volatility pokies:

• Starburst
• Monster Manor
• The CatFather
• Blood Suckers 2
• Dolphin Treasure

Medium-Volatility Pokies – All About Finding Balance

Medium-volatility pokies offer players a much more balanced experience than other games. The payout frequency is less than that of low-volatility games. On average, you can expect payouts around 50% of the time, varying depending on the game and provider.

While you may not win as often, the payouts on these games are better than low-volatility pokies. You can expect to get .75 to 2x your stake as an average prize on these games.

However, with medium-volatility games, you have a greater chance of scoring medium-sized wins and a realistic chance of scoring a large payout.

Medium-volatility games are where you start to see more elaborate bonus features and free spin games offered. Some games even offer small to medium-sized jackpots, including progressive jackpots.

Overall, medium-volatility pokies offer a balanced experience. This is why they are generally the most common type of pokie available at online casinos.

Who are Medium-Volatility Pokies Best For?

Medium-volatility pokies are best for players who want a realistic shot at scoring medium and big wins. They don’t mind a little extra risk, but they don’t want massive swings in their bankroll. Medium-volatility games are also suitable for players looking to play for smaller jackpots.

Medium-volatility pokies offer the right balance of fun and excitement but at a much more acceptable loss rate than high volatility games.

These games can also be reasonable to play on online casino bonuses. They can allow you to run up your balance without using up your bonus funds.

Pros and Cons of Medium-Volatility Pokies

Let’s look at the pros and cons of medium-volatility pokies.

Pros

• Balanced wins with opportunities for moderate and big wins.
• More elaborate features and bonus games compared to low-volatility.
• Good for running up balances for casino bonuses.

Cons

• Faster rate of loss compared to low-volatility games.
• Per spin cost is higher than many low-volatility games.

Top Medium-Volatility Pokies to Try

You’ll find plenty of medium-volatility pokies at online casinos in Australia. Here’s a quick list of some of the best.

• Wolf Gold
• Thunderstruck
• A Night With Cleo
• Reels & Wheels XL
• Super Golden Dragon Inferno

High-Volatility Pokies – High Risk But High Rewards

As the name implies, high-volatility pokies offer high risk and high rewards. The payout frequency on these games is much lower than in any other category. The payout percentage can be as low as 20%, depending on the game and provider. However, in most cases, you are looking at 30 to 50% for hit frequency.

The tradeoff for the low payout frequency is that you will generally have larger wins. Typically, you will get few low-paying wins. The average prize on these games is about 2x your bet. As you can gather, getting a string of 2x bets at a 30% hit frequency will cause massive swings in your bankroll.

However, the big advantage of playing high-volatility slots is that you have a greater chance of scoring a big win. High-volatility pokies have a great selection of bonus features, including free spins games, Hold & Win bonus games, and various jackpots.

The majority of progressive jackpot pokies are high-volatility. Even if you don’t hit the jackpot in these games, the base and bonus games can produce massive payouts.

If you play these games, you’re in for a wild time, and you will experience massive swings in your bankroll. These games are not for the risk-averse.

Who are High-Volatility Pokies Best For?

High-volatility pokies are best for players who are looking for big wins. These players don’t care about massive bankroll swings as long as they can score a massive win. High-stakes and high-volume players are perfect for high-volatility games.

If you’re looking to chase jackpots, high-volatility pokies are the way to go. Most of the jackpot games in existence are high volatility. However, you could win life-changing money if you hit, so the risk will be worth the reward.

High volatility can be a good option for players looking to clear bonuses, but you will blow through your bonus money faster. However, if you hit some big wins, you will likely push your bankroll up enough to give you a strong chance of clearing the bonus.

Pros and Cons of High-Volatility Pokies

Here are the pros and cons of high-volatility pokies.

Pros

• Best chance of scoring big wins.
• The best selection of bonus features and progressive jackpots.
• Most exciting form of pokies due to big win potential.
• Best way to chase progressive jackpots.

Cons

• You’ll experience massive swings in your bankroll.
• Hit frequency can be as low as 20%.

Top High-Volatility Pokies to Try

You’ll find a large number of high-volatility pokies at Australian online casinos. Here are some of the best to play.

• 777 Deluxe
• Golden Buffalo
• Cash Truck
• Money Train 3
• Immortal Romance

Alternative Volatility Settings to Look for at Online Casinos

While most pokies fall in the low to high volatility categories, there are some alternative options you’ll find at online casinos. Below is a brief overview of some of the alternative options you may find.

• Low-Medium Volatility – This hybrid volatility type will give you a few more wins than your average medium volatility game. Typically, these games play closer to medium volatility.
• Medium-High Volatility – These games often seek to offer a higher win frequency than high-volatility games. However, the games tend to still lean more towards the high side.
• Extreme Volatility – NoLimit City has a series of games with Extreme Volatility. These games are on the upper end of high volatility, with hit percentages in the 30% range.
• Insane Volatility  – Another NoLimit City option for volatility. These games have the highest volatilities, with hit frequency under 30%.
• Pick Your Volatility – You’ll find some online pokies that let you select the volatility. These games generally offer three settings, letting you control your risk.

How to Find the Volatility of Online Pokies

Knowing the volatility of online pokies is just as important as learning a game’s RTP. There are several ways you can find the volatility of games, and we suggest you look up this information before playing. Many games will have their volatility listed at the casino. Sometimes, it will be listed in the lobby icon. Other times, the information will appear in a tooltip box when you hover your cursor over the lobby icon. Some games will have the volatility information listed in the game instructions or paytable sections. You may have to scroll to the end of the paytable and read the fine print for the info.

Lastly, you can do a search online to find the information. Many sites will review pokies and provide complete information on the games. For example, we will list the volatility for any online pokie we review. Additionally, you can visit the game developer’s website for information on games, including volatility.

Always Consider Volatility When Choosing Online Pokies

Now that you understand volatility better, you can use that information to help you find the best online pokies in Australia. While many people focus exclusively on RTP when picking online pokies, you must use that information in tandem with volatility.

A game with a high RTP and high-volatility will result in very swingy sessions. For some players, this is not a great choice. Adversely, a low-volatility pokie will not be a great choice for someone looking to score a big win.

When picking online pokies, you want to find games with the highest RTP with volatility that suits your playing style and objectives. This will help you find games you enjoy and ones that will give you the greatest chance of walking away a winner at the casino.