High Variance Slots, slot game variance.

Slot game variance

New casino sites to play real money

On the other hand, variance describes how a given slot game pays out. A game could either pay you massive amounts of cash in intermittent occasions or you could earn much smaller amounts of money that come in regularly. Without a doubt, slot machines are the most exciting games that anyone can enjoy both in land-based gambling facilities and online. Apart from the fact that spinning reels is fun, playing the games is super easy, and you don’t really have to master any skill to have a good time. Whether you are new to the game or you have been playing it for years, the potential of raking in juicy rewards on the reels is virtually the same!

High variance slots

Without a doubt, slot machines are the most exciting games that anyone can enjoy both in land-based gambling facilities and online. Apart from the fact that spinning reels is fun, playing the games is super easy, and you don’t really have to master any skill to have a good time. Whether you are new to the game or you have been playing it for years, the potential of raking in juicy rewards on the reels is virtually the same!

If you’ve been playing slot machine games for some time, then you must have come across terms like variance and return to player (RTP). And if you ask anyone who understands how the game works, they’ll agree that variance and RTP should be your critical considerations before playing. Most seasoned gamers will recommend you to play high variance online slots that also have high RTP. But then, what does that all mean? How do high RTP and high variance slots affect your potential of earning a massive win? Read on for a closer look at the role that variance and RTP play on the reels.

What is a high variance slot?

Before we jump into anything about high variance slots, let us first understand what variance means in the first place.

What is slot variance?

Variance, also known as volatility, is a term used to refer to the size and consistency of the payouts in a given slot machine.

Oftentimes, a lot of slot machine gamers tend to assume that variance and RTP mean the same. However, even though there is some connection between the two terms, it’s not a direct relation.

The return to player rate shows the hypothetical amount of your initial bankroll you’ll get back after an infinite number of spins. So, essentially, while RTP doesn’t really guarantee the amount of money you’ll win after a spinning session, it illustrates the risk involved in playing the slot machine in the long term.

On the other hand, variance describes how a given slot game pays out. A game could either pay you massive amounts of cash in intermittent occasions or you could earn much smaller amounts of money that come in regularly.

What type of variance is best for you?

There are high variance slot games with a low RTP rate and high variance games with a high RTP rate. The same also applies for medium and low variance slots, but it doesn’t mean that there’s a hard and fast law for this relationship. So, what type of variance is best for you? Let’s compare low and high variance slots below.

Low variance slots

Low-volatility slot games are low-risk games in the short term. They are the perfect option if you have small or limited funds, or if you don’t like risking a lot of your cash on every single spin. There are some extremely low variance games where you’ll earn a win even after every 2 or 3 spins. In such a game, your bankroll never takes any major hits all in a single go.

However, this also comes with a disadvantage. You’ll never win a massive amount of money after just a single spin. And it gets even worse if you end up picking a low variance game with a low RTP. Therefore, if you want to bag sizeable winnings from low variant games, then you’ll have to play for a very long time or place bigger bets consistently. It’s the only way you can see your earnings rack up.

Medium variance slots

Medium variance slots are the goldilocks zone of the slots world. These are the most prolific games you’ll find at online casinos. Medium variance games also often come with risk connected, and thus, if you play them, you have a moderately better winning potential that the low variance slots.

They are the best games to go for when you feel like you have some gaming money at hand, but you don’t want to burn through your bankroll in a few spins only. So, when you play such games, you have an even chance of hitting both small and bigger wins occasionally.

High variance slots

For high rollers, risk-takers and those looking for the adrenaline thumping thrill of spinning reels, high variance slots are the best. With high variance slots, you’ll live through a much lower frequency of wins and wait for longer between them. Moreover, you’ll have to spend more money to keep you going through the dry spells. Therefore, you must have a sizeable bankroll coupled with a nerve for pushing on to get you through.

But then, the biggest advantage of playing a high variance slot is that the returns for playing will often be worth the wait. While you’ll have to hang on as you spin the reels for a couple of rounds with perhaps one or two trivial wins, if you get lucky, the bigger payouts are often impressive.

It is easy to feel like you’re eating through your betting bankroll when playing such games. However, once in a blue moon, you could find yourself bagging rewards that are hundreds of times your initial stake. Better yet, the luckiest players land on jackpots to unexpectedly become the latest millionaire in town.

All in all, whichever variance game you pick, think about how you would like to play, the amount of cash you would like to put into slots and the level of risk you can handle. Thus, if you are just looking to have a good time and make a few coins here and there with no pressure, low variance games are best for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a balance of fun, making money without having to blaze through your bankroll, then medium variance titles will suit you. But if you are a player who is strictly focused on making life-changing payouts, then you have a better chance with high variance slots.

The best high variance slots

Again, going for high variance titles gets you closer to earning mouthwatering payouts. If that’s what tickles your fancy, then you best pick slots that are developed by leading software providers like microgaming, netent, playtech and play’ n go, to name a few.

Are you a high-risk player or a high roller looking for a thrilling gaming experience with vast winning potentials? Here are some tried and tested heavy hitters that will quench your gaming thirst with a potential for unforgettable payouts.

Dead or alive slot developed by netent is one of the most remarkable high variance games enjoyed by slot heads. The game is based on a wild west theme, coming with nine paying lines, wild symbols and a free spins bonus round. Other than the edgy western design of everything starting from the background to the symbols, the coolest features of this game are the in-game extras.

Every time 3 or more scatter symbols emerge on the reels during the base game, you’ll be awarded 12 free spins, all coming with a 2x multiplier. On top of that, every wild that emerges anywhere on the reels during free spins is a sticky wild. If you get one or more wild symbols on all the five reels, you’ll receive 5 additional free spins and a maximum payout of up to 1500x your line bet. For an even juicier payout, activate the bonus with 5 scatter symbols to unlock a payout worth 2500x your initial wager!

Created by play‘n go, the book of dead slot game was launched back in 2016 and swiftly became amongst the most rewarding online slot machines. With 10 paylines active on five reels, this egyptian-themed slot will feel too familiar for players who have ever tried book of ra slot, a popular title from novomatic.

This slot offers you thrilling bonus rounds coupled with wilds, scatter, and expanding symbols. The main attraction feature here is the free spins bonus round activated by 3 book of dead icons acting as both scatters and wilds. You can retrigger these free spins, and if you land on 5 rich wild icons during these free spins bonus rounds, you will earn 5,000x your initial wager. The icing on the cake here, however, is the 250,000-coin prize!

Immortal romance is a twilight-inspired epic slot machine that exhilarates punters with its stunning soundtracks, exquisite graphics and thrilling bonus features. It remains one of the most preferred high variance slots to this day since it was released back in 2011.

One of the slot’s bonus features is the wild desire feature, which transforms all the reels into wilds. This feature opens you up for a maximum payout of 3,645,000 as long as you place the maximum bet. There are several other exquisite bonus features that immortal romance slot unveils as long as you have the patience to ride through the dry spell waves.

• The wish master by netent- 96.65% RTP

Netent’s the wish master is one of the most entertaining high variance slot machines. It revolves around a genie in the bottle theme, with the genie in question awarding you free spins and other on the 3 rows, 5 reels, and 20 paying lines setup.

The wish master offers exclusive features, comprising limitless booster spins bonus, in which a maximum of 3 bonus boosters may count for each spin. These boosters come with numerous additional features, like extra wilds, random wilds, enlarging wilds, and multipliers. If you manage to retrigger the free spins, you get 6 additional spins with features stacked on each other.

With the right combination, you can catch some incredibly huge wins, including a 900,000-coin jackpot for maximum stakes per spin. However, you shouldn’t forget that while the slot can pay out huge amounts of cash, it requires luck and patience. Ensure your preliminary balance is enough to get you through the unavoidable long run of dead spins.

The jurassic park film takes you back to the jaw-dropping world of dinosaurs, drawing inspiration from one of the most riveting hollywood blockbusters. This microgaming hit comes complete with roaring tyrannosaurus rex and velociraptors that will keep you on your toes as you spin the reels.

Jurassic park comes with 243 ways to win, stacked symbols, a random T-rex feature, wilds and multipliers that will multiply your wins by up to 6x. The slot game is filled with exciting spins bonus features, exquisitely designed experience, complete with genuine movie footage from steven spielberg’s 1993 picture. Fire up the reels and rake in substantial rewards from features such as the alert mode, mystery multiplier, wild reels and running wilds and winning wilds.

High variance vs. A high RTP

As you already know by now, high variance and a high return to player (RTP) are not one and the same thing. RTP is usually represented as a percentage that shows how much the slot will pay back, computed averagely over a lengthy period. Slot variance, on the other hand, majorly concentrates on the short-term and indicates the risk involved with the particular slot.

In simple terms, a low volatility slot is a little risk game, offering numerous small wins and a medium win, every so often. A high-risk game will not award you with lots of winning combinations but will grant a colossal win once in a while. Typically, it’s recommended that you go for a slot having a high return to player. For instance, if you play a slot game with 97% RTP, it implies that out of each £100 you put into the game, £97 will be paid back to you averagely over a long period.

However, the volatility and RTP aren’t a guarantee of the amount of money that you are going to earn in any game. Slot machines are referred to as games of chance for a reason!

Conclusion

In case you’ve been wagering on online slots for some time, you may well have realized that your acceptance for high volatility slots has improved with time. Newbies often prefer low variance slots because of the frequent small wins. Despite the fact the majority of gains will be trivial in such games, the verity that you are placing wagers online and earning real money is typically contenting enough.

On the flip side, high variance slots games will reel you in because of the chance of earning more significant rewards. They are the best choice for players who don’t have to keep being reminded of the good job they are doing with miniature spins after every spin. High variance online slots are often enticing to players who want to play the long game. These are the kind of players who appreciate the high-risk, high reward nature of going big when gambling. They are aware that despite the fact they might not win often, they will sooner or later hit a huge payout that will be worth their while!

Low variance slots – best low volatile slots of 2020

“little drops of water make a mighty ocean”. Fans of low variance slots may take inspiration from this immortal line in julia carney’s poem, little things. If you are looking for those regular slots wins then you have come to the right place! Check out our list of the best value low variance slot games below. Once you find one you like sign up for a cushty bonus! Alternatively click the link below and sign up to videoslots in order to play!

The 15 best low variance slots

If you’re new to the online casino world, slot variance (or slot volatility) refers to how frequently you’re likely to win on a slot game and how big these payouts will be. Obviously, the two factors are inversely related. That is when the wins are frequent, the payouts are smaller, while if the slot game promises big money, it won’t come easy (of course!).

Based on these two factors, there are three types of slots – low, medium and high variance. Each of these categories has thousands of slot games to pick from. In this article, we have focused only on the first category, that is, the low variance online slots.

Showcasing the best low variance slot games

Here at labslots, we focus only on games that are well-established and have a proven track record. With that in mind, here are our top 15 picks of the best low variance slots for 2019. We have arranged them in descending order, beginning with the one with the highest RTP .

• 1429 uncharted seas: 98.6% RTP
  


• Bloodsuckers: 98% RTP
  


• Esqueleto explosivo: 97.6% RTP
  


• Simsalabim: 97.5% RTP
  


• Sherlock holmes: 96.8% RTP
  


• Viking runecraft: 96.7% RTP
  


• Thunderstruck II: 96.69% RTP
  


• Tomb raider: 96.56% RTP
  


• Jewel blast: 96.52% RTP
  


• Sunny shores: 96.2% RTP
  


• Starburst: 96.09% RTP
  


• Moonshine: 95.96% RTP
  


• The mummy: 95.51% RTP
  


• Bar bar black sheep: 95.32% RTP
  


• Pharaoh’s secrets: 94.00% RTP
  

BTG slots (big time gaming) – including free play

• Award winning slots provider from australia


• Famous for massive HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS (incl. Bonanza)


• Innovators who created the megaways™ game engine


• BIG WIN monster payouts of over 15,000x


• Top payout – 20,000x (extra chilli)


• Best RTP – 97.7% (white rabbit)


• Average release schedule – 3 to 4 games / year

This is a list of the best big time gaming (BTG) slots with RTP, variance, paylines, reels and features. You can find out where to play these games in our list of big time gaming casinos.

BTG are an award-winning slot studio from australia who have built a reputation for producing top quality games with pioneering features and super-high volatility. Their unique megaways™ game engine, which appears in slots like bonanza and white rabbit, creates up to 117,649 ways to win on each spin. Typically, BTG games also give the player the chance to stack up high numbers of free spins in the bonus rounds, boosted by chunky multipliers and other extra features. When all the pieces fall into place this can trigger big, big wins.

NOTE: you can play free BTG slots at casumo and slotsmillion. Hit the play buttons below to jump straight in and get spinning.

List of BTG slots with features, RTP and variance

Where can I play big time gaming slots?

Are you ready to take on BTG’s slots? Take your pick right there or browse a full list of big time gaming casinos. These sites all offer bonuses that are valid to play the games listed on this page.

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18+. New players only. Min deposit £20. Bonus spins are valid on book of dead only. Bonus funds are 100% up to £300 and separate to cash funds. 35x bonus wagering requirements apply. Only bonus funds count towards wagering requirement. £5 max. Bet with bonus. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 10 days, otherwise any unused shall be removed. Terms apply. Begambleaware.Org

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More about big time gaming slots

BTG launched in 2011. They are based in syndey, australia. Founder and CEO nik robinson has years of experience breaking new ground in the gaming industry. In the 1990s his business, new tech media, was amongst the first software companies to introduce browser-based gaming and after being purchased by news corp, merged with orbis to become global online betting giant, openbet.

So, it’s no surprise that BTG don’t just follow the herd when it comes to producing new slot games. Instead their titles look to break new ground and create genuinely unique experiences. BTG are not the most prolific of studios – they released just three slots in 2017 – but they are becoming one of the most popular, and now with their links to the slot streaming community they have their fingers on the pulse of the industry.

What is megaways™?

The megaways™ game engine is key to understanding what makes slot players love these games. It features in five of the big time gaming slots titles. It was given its first run out in the 2016 release, dragon born. The mechanic is based on a six-reel set up where for every spin the size of each reel changes creating anywhere from two to seven symbols per reel.

Winning paylines occur where identical symbols appear on adjacent reels, regardless of their position. This creates a maximum of 117,649 ways to win if all seven positions on all six reels are active for a spin (7x7x7x7x7x7).

As you can see, even before any additional features come into play – the free spins, the multipliers, the extra bonus symbols and their functions – these games are already far more dynamic and exciting than your average 5 reel, 4 row and 20 fixed payline video slot.

More exciting win opportunities

On top of the megaways™ engine BTG add further features to these games to drive big, big wins if you can find a way to unlock them.

Take the original megaways™ game, dragon born, as an example. In this slot, on top of the 117,649 ways to win, you can also land stacked wilds on two reels simultaneously, and to add to the fun, your stacks can come with up to 7x multipliers. Where two are active, the total multiplier is calculated by multiplying those two numbers together – so where you have two wild stacks with 7x on each, your full multiplier is 49x (7×7).

Oh – and in the bonus round you can get up to 50 free spins initially, with the opportunity for unlimited re-triggers. Wow!

In short, the game model for dragon born is set up to create massive wins when all the features come together for you in the bonus round.

The hard part of course, is getting there.

The same can be said of the two most popular slot games built on the megaways™ game engine, bonanza and white rabbit.

In bonanza, the big win sequences are loaded in the bonus round which itself involves a cache of at least 12 free spins which can be bumped up every time more scatters land. This is also a rolling reels game (also known as avalanche or cascading reels)– after a winning spin, the winning symbols explode to be replaced by new ones. This continues until you land a dry spin.

You get the picture? When you set up a bonus round with 20 or 30 free spins and rolling reels combined, you can see how things can get pretty tasty!

Meanwhile, the alice in wonderland-inspired slot game, white rabbit, features even bigger reels as its possible to extend those seven symbols right up to twelve, creating up to 248,832 ways to win (this is a 5 reel game). But it’s the free spins round itself which is the highlight here, with those expanding reels, an enhanced red queen reel, and bonus wilds with extra multipliers.

You can also find the megaways™ engine and more exciting slot play on the games queen of riches and starquest.

Big time gaming and slot streaming

BTG have positioned their games as the type of slots that will appeal to the streaming community. Slot streamers broadcast their slot play live on sites like twitch.Tv, allowing viewers to vicariously enjoy the thrill of a person gambling real money online, experiencing the high of a flurry of big wins on a super slot like bonanza, whilst also learning about the game in realplay mode.

The slot streaming phenomenon is gathering pace – so much so that one of the scene’s most famous players, kim hultman (aka letsgiveitaspin) has partnered-up with mobile casino, leovegas, to play exclusively through their site. And in 2017 kim was given the world’s first spin on the new BTG game, white rabbit, as part of the launch campaign.

Speaking about slot streaming to the calvin ayre website at ICE 2018, nik robinson, CEO of big time gaming said:

“twitch allows potential players to get a real emotional feel for a game without spending their hard-earned cash learning the game from scratch. Unlike demo-play, an interested punter can watch a stream and ride along with the streamer’s highs and lows; in playing the game they can then expect a similar experience”, explained robinson.

“twitch streaming is live, no holds barred and a streamer is most likely to bust out on a bad run of luck. Occasionally, though, they can have a magnificent flurry of wins and build an amazing atmosphere on stream that’s shared with their viewers, akin to watching your team win a match!”

“the fact that high volatility slots appeal to kim and many other streamers is the reason why the majority of twitch slot streamers play our games. There are no games in the marketplace today that can deliver wins like megaways™ slots, which places BTG in a league of its own when it comes to sky high volatility.”

The next phase of this evolution is likely to be slot streaming betting, where viewers of a twitch channel place bets on the outcome of a streamers play. That could be the next spin, or the next 100 spins. For example, a punter might bet on whether the streamer will hit a 1,000x payout any time in the next 500 spins.

Big time gaming – awards winners

The release of white rabbit and bonanza in 2017 made it a ground-breaking year for BTG and their profile is now higher than ever. Indeed, for many slot players, bonanza is one of the most exciting slot games of recent times. This was reflected in it being voted best new slot of 2017 in the annual casinomesiter awards.

BTG also took second place for danger! High voltage in this award.

Casionmeister announced the award with the following comments:

“big time gaming released only three slots, a paltry amount compared to the big major developers and absolutely cleaned up the votes – in fact they were so dominant it was nearly a whitewash for the rest.”

What next for big time gaming?

BTG are clearly a software company in the ascendency – the momentum is with them as they carve out a niche in an extremely competitive market dominated by established names like netent and microgaming.

So what next? Well, on the horizon is the temple quest spinfinity a game that promises mega mystery symbols and a whole ton of free spins.

High variance slots – best high volatile slots of 2020

Seekers of thrills, chills and spills, try your luck on high variance slots today! If you’re new to the world of online slots, they come in three variances (or volatility) – low, medium and high variance. So look no further, this article will tell you everything you need to know and answer all your questions when it comes to the best high variance slot games!

• A huge variety of casino games from the most reputed software providers


• Generous deposit bonuses and promo deals

In this article, we’re focusing on high variance slots where the thrills never stop. The bets might be big, but we assure you, the wins will be bigger.

15 best high variance slots

Ready for a roller-coaster ride? Here are the labslots teams’ top 15 picks of the best high variance slots in 2019. We have arranged them in descending order, starting with the biggest payout potential first, because with these slots it’s all about the big wins!

• Book of dead: 50,000x
  


• Game of thrones: 20,166x
  


• 300 shields: 17,770x
  


• Break da bank again: 16,666x
  


• Immortal romance: 12,150x
  


• Dead or alive: 10,000x
  


• Bonanza: 10,000x
  


• Pink elephants: 8,2000x
  


• Jurassic park: 6,000x
  


• Cazino zeppelin: 5,000x
  


• The wish master: 4,500x
  


• Raging rhino: 4,166x
  


• Montezuma: 4,166x
  


• Gonzos quest: 3,750x
  


• Black knight II: 2,500x
  

High variance slots faqs

How much money can you win playing high variance slots?

Which high variance slot games offer the most value?

What is the difference between high, medium and low variance?

1. Book of dead (by play’n GO) RTP: 96.21%

Released in 2016, this online casino game is now one of the most-played high variance slots. Book of dead is a 5-reel, 3-rows and 10-payline slot game that takes inspiration from the novomatic slot machine, book of ra. The symbols are all inspired by ancient egyptian mythology, pretty col right?

Book of dead comes with an exciting free spins bonus with scatters, wilds & expanding symbols as well as a ‘special symbol’ that is awarded to all players when using their free spins. This special symbol becomes a scatter symbol and expands across the whole reel. But here’s what you are waiting for: the maximum payout during the bonus round is an incredible 50,000x your bet.

2. Game of thrones (by microgaming) RTP: 95.01%

The game of thrones (got) video slot is as awesome as the television series it’s based on. If you’re a got fan you’ll absolutely love the slot’s free spin feature, where you’re asked to pick your house from the famous four houses of westeros. Each one has its own characteristics with differing free spins, multipliers and stacked symbols. This special feature is activated by collecting three game of thrones logo scatter symbols.

After you’ve chosen a side, you’ll be rewarded for trying to defeat the other three houses. The alternative option is to try and beat them all and take the iron throne for yourself.

3. 300 shields (by nextgen) RTP: 95.3%

Based on the epic battle between the legendary 300 spartan soldiers versus an enormous persian army, this 5-reel, 25-paylines slot offers (yes, you guessed it right!) a multiplier of 300x. This is one of the highest multipliers ever seen on a slot machine.

The jackpot, like an epic war, cannot be won easy. 300 shields is a progressive game and you have to collect enough shields during the bonus rounds to activate a five free spins feature that has the enormous multiplier. The good news is that you have a bad-*** spartan army behind you. THIS IS SPARTA!

4. Break da bank again (by microgaming) RTP: 95.43%

Yes, it is legal to rob a bank in the reel world! And it’s so popular that microgaming has two editions of the bank-busting game. The second edition of this captivating video slot comes with 5 reels, 3 rows and up to 9 pay-lines. The symbols are the usual suspects: gold bars, cash, gold coins, pens & cheques, diamonds, the break da bank again logo and the vault.

The vault symbol is the scatter and hitting 3, 4 or 5 vaults on the reels will win you 15, 20 or 25 free spins. The free spins are worth breaking into as during the free spins round, you’ll be awarded 25x your bet. The minimum bet is £0.09. You can bet up to £45 per spin.

5.Immortal romance (by microgaming) RTP: 96.86%

Immortal romance is one of the most popular slots around and it is easy to see why. The gothic-themed slot’s claim to fame is that it offers 243 ways-to-win. Released in 2011, this game offers the wild desire bonus feature, which turns all five reels wild, leading to a maximum possible payout of 3,645,000 coins when playing the maximum bet. Just ensure the area is well clear of garlic cloves and wooden stakes and your luck should be in.

6.Dead or alive (by netent) RTP: 96.82%

Grab a bourbon and get ready to roll with the rowdy ones, because this 5-reel, 9-pay-line wild west-themed slot game is a real gunslinger. Here, you will either die or come out alive as a winner. Special features in this slot are the wild substitutions, scatters and a free spins round. Although the game was released about a decade ago, it has a mobile slot version, so why not take it for a spin at your favourite saloon for a truly immersive experience.

7. Bonanza (by big time gaming) RTP: 96.00%

If you can spell gold, the game is yours! Quite literally, this slot requires you to spell G-O-L-D with four scatters on a reel to trigger the bonus round. Thankfully, this 6-reel 7-rows slot provides 117,649 pay-lines and good features like free spins, multipliers and re-spins. You can start the spelling contest with bets as low as £0.20 per spin and go all the way up to £500 per spin. Just imagine spelling out G-O-L-D on a £500 spin! You certainly wouldn’t have any problem purchasing your weight in gold with the winnings!

8. Pink elephants (by thunderkick) RTP: 96.1%

Are you ready to meet the psychedelic pink flame elephants? This high variance slot from thunderkick is possibly the most thrilling slot out there given its originality. Pink elephants comes with 6 reels, 4 rows and offers 4,096 ways to win. Winning features include wilds, free spins and re-triggers.

Pink elephants is available both on mobile and desktop and you can start spinning from £0.10 and wager up to £100 per spin. Pro tip: look out for the peanut (the mystery scatter symbol) – the elephants love it!

9. Jurrasic park (by microgaming) RTP: 96.67%

Sink your teeth into this slot game based on the iconic steven spielberg film and get your taste for some prehistoric dinosaur fun. Beautifully designed, with real footage from the movie, this top 15 high variance video slot comes with many exciting features such as stacked symbols, a random T-rex alert feature, extra wilds, and multipliers that go up to 6x.

The game has 5-reels and offers 243 ways to win. The minimum bet is £0.30 and you can go up to £15. So, go ahead and spin the reels for some action-packed, jaw-dropping wins! The music is awesome too!

10. Cazino zeppelin (by yggdrasil) RTP: 96.00%

If you’re a victorian steampunk fan, this high variance slot could be your stairway to heavenly riches! The background of the reels features a giant zeppelin above a mysterious city, with the symbols resembling eccentric victorian-looking inventors and even harley quinn – yes this game is a bit weird to say the least!

Cazino zeppelin has 5 reels, 20 pay-lines and includes a free spins round with sticky wilds and wild transfers which substitute for any regular symbol. All you need to set the reels rolling is £0.20 and who knows, the grand jackpot of £67,000 could be yours.

11. The wish master (by netent) RTP: 96.65%

The genie is out of the bottle, so make a wish! The wish master is a magical slot from netent that offers some unique features, including the wish master round where a genie escapes from its bottle whenever a scatter appears. The scatter contains a variety of extra features, such as random wilds, extra wilds, expanding wilds, multipliers and more. Give this 5-reel, 25-pay-line slot a spin and make all your wishes come true!

12. Raging rhino (by WMS) RTP: 95.91%

This game is all the rage! A thrilling video slot with super visuals, click the play button below and you could be stampeding across its 6 reels and 4 rows. Raging rhino offers 4,096 ways to win, plus, there are stacked symbols, wilds and multipliers of up to 81x that activate during the bonus round.

Like many other WMS slots, this one has a 10x bonus guarantee feature. The minimum bet to set the rhinos free on the reels is £0.40 while the maximum bet size is £120.

13. Montezuma (by WMS) RTP: 95.86%

This aztec-themed slot game with vivid visuals has a strong fan-base. Montezuma, which is a 5-reel, 30-pay-line slot is popular not just for its design but also its game-play. You’ll find the game loaded with free spins, multipliers and a guaranteed minimum win of 10x in the bonus round. Three or more scatters will trigger the free spins bonus for up to 25 free spins.

The game also offers a unique way to re-trigger these free spins. You just need two more scatters to win 25 extra free spins. The best part is that you keep the multiplier for the duration of those extra free spins. It doesn’t stop there either. You’ll keep accumulating any further free spins which you re-trigger whilst on the bonus multiplier. Phew!

14. Gonzo’s quest (by netent) RTP: 95.97%

If eccentric spanish explorers and aztec gold gets you excited, then you’ve discovered the right slot game. The location is eldorado, where you’ll find yourself deep inside the jungle foliage – re-tracing the footsteps of the spanish conquistadors. But this game is not only concerned with sweet graphics. Gonzo’s quest is one of the most well-known high variance slots and pioneered the ‘avalanches’ bonus, now commonly known as ‘tumbling reels’. Other features include a free spins bonus and multipliers up to 15x. Just tumble the right rocks and you could be a winner!

15. Black knight II (by WMS) RTP: 95.91%

Become the knight in shining black armour, save the fair maiden and the gold shall be yours! This 5-reels, 40-pay-lines slot takes inspiration from arthurian legend and features the black knight himself, his shield, the princess, a jester, a crown, bracelets and the king as symbols. You will also receive 12 sticky wilds during the free spins round in order to maximise your chance of winning. You can play from just £0.40 a spin and go as high as £120 a spin. Are you bold enough to slay some dragons?

• A huge variety of casino games from the most reputed software providers


• Generous deposit bonuses and promo deals

Types of slot variances

Here’s a quick look at the main differences between low, medium and high variance slots. It should give you a clearer idea of the type of slot that’s right for you.

Low variance slots

Unlike high variance online slots, low variance slots are games where wins come in very regularly, but at the same time, big wins are unlikely. This is why low variance slot games are best suited to beginner slot players. You can read more about them in our article – just click the low variance slots link at the beginning of this paragraph.

Medium variance slots

Medium variance slots are, you guessed it, a compromise between low and high variance slots. These slots produce plenty of low and mid-sized wins throughout and there is even a chance of a big win as well. Playing medium variance slots are a good way for you to still win a big sum without having to risk too much of your bankroll. The question is, how big of a risk do you want to take?

High variance slots

At the other end of the spectrum are high variance slots. In order to win on these slots you need to play for a pretty long time before a win comes. But when a win does hit, the sum is usually much bigger. These slots tend to appeal to ‘high rollers’ and those players who are looking for big wins. It’s important to remember that high variance is not the same as a high return to player (RTP). While high variance slots might be described as more ‘risky’, the RTP (return-to-player percentage over time) can be the same as a low variance slot – so always look out for the RTP on a slot game before playing.

What are your favourite high variance slots?

Did we miss any of your favourites in our list of the best high variance slots? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section if so and as usual, if you have any questions, ask away and one of our slot scientists will be in touch.

High variance slots | list of high variance slot machines

Looking for high variance slots? You’re in the right place! For the thrill seekers and slot game players chasing down those massive wins and ready to take a gamble with some big money, on this page you will find our top 10 high variance games of all time, including some stone-cold classics. And further down the page, our list of the best high variance slot machines this year!

Want to know more about how variance affects gameplay? Check our guide to slot variance at the end of the list.

Best high variance slots of all time

So here it is – the slot buzz list of the best high variance slots online ever created! This is all subjective of course, and everyone’s experience will be different. It’s a bit like choosing your top 10 albums of all time – everyone has their favourites!! But for now, here are ours.

1. Bonanza by big time gaming

Big time gaming have established themselves as the kings of the high variance slot in recent years. They are not as prolific as netent, microgaming or many other suppliers, but boy do they deliver! Their best games are driven by their megaways™ game engine in which reels change in size with each spin, up to a maximum of 7 rows high to create 117,649 ways to win.

Bonanza is one of btgs stand-out games. It has a notorious bonus round that requires four scatters spelling out G O L D to trigger it. Many frustrated slot fans has hit the forums asking where that missing ‘D’ has got to as they get so close, and yet so far to getting those free spins on so many occasions!

The bonus round comes with a basic 12 free spins for four scatters, and a further five for every extra scatter. There are also opportunities to get further spins when carts of gold bars stop above the reels on each spin in the bonus round.

And then there is the rolling reels affect! After each winning spin the winning symbols explode and are replaced by new ones until no winning combinations appear. And during free spins you get a multiplier value that increases by 1 for each consecutive win in the sequence. There is no upper limit to the multipliers – as long as winlines keep appearing, your multiplier keeps increasing. This is where the massive payouts stack up!

2. Immortal romance by microgaming

This is a stone-cold classic from 2011 and still popular with slots players to this day. Immortal romance is a vampire-themed slot with 243 paylines and a really slick look and feel to it. The big wins can be found by unlocking the four free spins bonus rounds, one of which (wild desire) has particularly big potential. In this feature, at least one of the five reels will turn totally wild. In fact, it is possible to land five wild reels at this point. Elsewhere you will find wild symbols that come with a 2x multiplier and a free spins round with a 5x multiplier.

Fancy a spin on immortal romance? We recommend playing at another of our favourite microgaming casinos, casumo.

3. Book of dead by play n go

With a top win potential of £500,000 it’s no wonder that book of dead ranks as one of the best high variance play n go slots. This little beauty has been on the lists of many UK slot sites since it’s release in 2016.

The gameplay is simple – it’s a 5 reel and 20 fixed payline game with a bonus round consisting of 10 free spins with re-triggers. And of course, there is the random expanding symbol, chosen at the start of the round. It can play a bit part in creating massive wins. Worth bearing in mind as well that book of dead delivers some serious wins in its top-paying symbols. The start of the show, rich wilde, himself gets you a whopping 5,000x for five in a payline.

If you reckon you’re big enough to take on book of dead slot, try playing at top play n go casino, casumo.

4. Dead or alive by netent

A real old classic from one of the biggest in the business. Netent’s dead or alive only really gets interesting when you hit the bonus round where wilds that land on the reels stick for the duration of your free spins … AND you get an additional FIVE free spins to enjoy too! Think about landing five wilds on a payline here and you’re looking at huge potential – well over 1,000x – and it is of course possible to land more than one wild line at a time.

This is typical high variance fare – very little to speak of until you hit one of those incredible lucky streaks where the wilds fall into place and your free spins keep ticking over!

Just approach with caution because these wins are rare.

5. Jurassic park by microgaming

This game is based on the blockbuster hollywood movie and comes with 243 ways to win across 5 reels. The game can be played from 30p up to £15 per spin, but the real fun comes in the T-rex alert mode feature. It comes with six spins during which 35 wild symbols are added to the reels – possible wins of 6000x here!!

In total jurassic park slot comes with five free spins features, and each one is packed with mini-features of its own, including extra wilds, re-spins and multipliers. There is a brachiosaurus free spins feature with four spins and up to 6x multipliers, and a triceratops free spins feature which starts with stacked wilds three high with more wilds added to the stack with each spin, and stampedes of dinosaurs marauding across the screen turning entire reels wild and sticky!

This is a real beast of a game with lots of big win potential when you land the any of the free spins features. If you’d like to try it today, you can try at one of the best microgaming slot sites, casumo casino.

6. 300 shields by nextgen

This is another classic high variance slot game that will be familiar to many players. It’s one of the most notorious games on the market and comes with a possible 300x multiplier in the free spins bonus round that can produce wins way above the 1,000x marker.

The objective of the game is pretty simple – it’s not packed with features like jurassic park by microgaming or pink elephants by thunderkick. No, this one if all about the free spins round and once you’re there, how many more spins and multipliers you can unlock.

Initially the game comes with 5 free spins which are given to you when you land three shield scatters on the reels with one spin. During your free spins you must land more shields, each time adding five more free spins to your cache, along with an increasing multiplier from 2x up to 300x.

For the multipliers in the free spins round to be active, you must have a wild as part of your payline. Once you get into the higher multipliers, pretty much any 5 symbol winning line with a wild in it will be a killer win! Best case though would surely be a 5 wild line at 300x – that’s 12,000x! 1

300 shields from nextgen is available to play at top nextgen casino, superlenny.

7. Pink elephants by thunderkick

And now for something totally different! Pink elephants by thunderkick is a psychedelic take on WMS’ infamous raging rhino slot, and it’s one of our favourite high variance slot games of all time. Thunderkick slots are renowned for their kooky and off-the-wall graphic and animations. With pink elephants they’ve taken things even further. This game comes with 6 reels, 4 rows and 4,096 ways to win and is available from 10p up to £100 per spin.

The key to unlocking the secrets of this great game is the green peanut symbol – this is the scatter and three of them unlock 7 free spins. More scatters give you more spins, up to 19 spins from 6 scatters. And you can trigger further free spins in the bonus round with more scatters (6 scatters = 11 spins).

But what you’re really looking to do here is fill the meerkat meters (told you it was bonkers!) to the left of the screen. Every time a pink elephant with a glowing orb lands on the reels during free spins this create this adds another point on the next meter. When one is full then one of the lower value meerkat symbols on the reels transforms to a higher value elephant symbol, increasing your chances of bigger wins.

Its crazy and it’s also responsible for some of the best big win videos online. Play it now at casumo casino.

8. Montezuma by WMS

Montezuma is a land-based casino slot from WMS that has been migrated into the online environment. It’s riches are locked into the bonus round which comes with free spins with unlimited re-triggers and multipliers of up to 10x.

The free spins round is initiated by three scatters, and a wheel spin is used to find out how many free spins you get – anything up to 25. There is also a wheel above the reels that comes into play during each free spins. It lands on a number that becomes the mutlipliers for any wins on that spin.

If you land 2 scatters during the free spins round then your multiplier gets fixed and you get an additional spin. The multipliers applies to any wins from any additional free spins from there on.

To get the biggest wins a player needs to land the 10x multiplier and keep getting re-triggers of the free spins all with the 10x. Then if a decent 5 symbols win line comes in, the payout can be massive and well in excess of 1,000x.

9. Casino zeppelin by yggdrasil

This game from another top-class provider that is less well known than netent and microgaming is capable of producing really big wins in excess of 1,000x through a combination of sticky wilds and free spins.

You also get a boost from the wild transfer feature in which any wilds that landed on the reels on the spin in which the bonus round was triggered are added to the reels for the whole free spins duration. These are also sticky.

Further, if you get five wilds landing on the reels during the bonus round then you get an extra five free spins. And what you’re really looking for is to land paylines with wilds in them.

This is a great looking slot game from yggdrasil and highly recommended. You can play it today at dunder casino.

10. Pyramid quest for immortality slot by netent

Finally, let’s take a look at another netent title, pyramid quest for immortality. This game is built on an unusual reel set up, with 5 rows, narrowing to just one symbol width at the top.

Pyramid also uses the gonzo’s quest avalanche feature to create an increasing multiplier value when you get successive wins. Meanwhile ‘wild generations’ is a feature where wilds are added to the reels if a win includes any of the symobols in the top rows of the reels.

The trick is to get lots of wilds generated whilst on a successive run of wins that pushes the multiplier up to 10x. A full screen of the highest paying symbol at a 10x could land a whopping 3,600,000 coin win! A decent win would be something like 2,000x on this game – but rememeber, with this high volatility they are rare and hard to come by!

To play pyramid quest for immortality, visit a netent casino like casumo casino.

What is slot variance?

In maths variance is a term that refers to how far from the mean or expected result something will deviate.

In gambling, variance or volatility is an indicator of the frequency and volume in which a slot game is likely to pay out. Low variance games typically generate small, regular payouts, whereas high variance games produce irregular but bigger payouts, with long lean spells of dry spins punctuated by big, blockbuster wins.

When choosing a game to play variance can help a player by showing the likely risk level. High variance games carry more risk because the payouts are less frequent and it is possible to burn through a bankroll before seeing any return.

When deciding on your next slot bear in mind then that the kind of games you want may therefore depend upon your preferred risk level – if you are prepared to spend money chasing down a massive win then high variance games are for you. If, however, you want to enjoy some less stressful gameplay, with smaller, more frequent wins, then low variance games should appeal to you.

In almost all cases, high variance slot machines are built with bonus rounds in which a combination of features like free spins, re-spins and re-triggers, multipliers, sticky and stacked wilds contrive to create moments of sheer adrenaline-pumping excitement as the win balance shoots through the roof. The payoff, of course, is that these moments are rare and generally follow a period where much money is wagered with little in the way of wins.

For this reason, high variance games are preferred by big gamblers and the slot streaming community where players are looking for the high levels of excitement that are produced when a lucrative bonus round is in play.

These games are not for the feint-hearted! But if you’re up for the challenge, they offer some of the most exciting online gambling anywhere!

How to find high variance slot machines at A casino

Now you know what high variance means, how do you find these games at an online casino? Well, you already have our list of the latest titles this year, and in our opinion, the best games of all time, on this page. But did you know that you can also easily track down high variance games by using the menu filters at your favourite slot sites. Most casinos have now developed handy menu systems to help you search though their vast catalogues. Just choose ‘high variance’ from the option list in the drop down, then hit SEARCH to bring up a list of every high variance slot available.

High variance slots – the final word

This selection of high variance slot machine games is only a drop in the ocean of what is available for casino players right now. There are lots of slots to choose from, and more new slot games on release every month that have high volatility – check out our new slot games page for regular updates.

The important thing to remember when playing these games is to adjust your mentality and stake to suit them. You will most likely need to play with smaller stakes than you normally would if you want to make your bankroll last. Games like dead or alive and 300 shields can eat through a £50 budget at 50p a spin in no time, so choose to play at the lower end of the scale if that’s what you’re playing with.

But above all, game responsibly, and have fun! Good luck!

Medium variance slots – best medium volatile slots of 2020

Compromise is not always a bad thing. Especially if the dilemma is choosing between a slot that spoils you with lots of little small wins and one that makes you wait but offers a king-size jackpot. Sometimes it’s better to occupy the middle ground of medium variance slots.

• A huge variety of casino games from the most reputed software providers


• Generous deposit bonuses and promo deals

Medium variance slots fall somewhere in between the low and high variance slots. Meaning, you could get wins at fairly regular intervals but there’s still a chance of winning a big sum. Moreover, you’re taking a medium risk. That is, unlike a high variance jackpot game, with the medium variance slots you won’t be risking your bankroll too much, but you’ll still be in the running for big wins. The best of both worlds!

So, for all you non-extreme players who like to spin at that sweet middle spot, medium variance slots are the best choice. Below you’ll find our list of the best medium variance slots available.

15 best medium variance slots

At labslots, we choose only from games developed by well-established slot providers. On that basis, here are our top 15 picks of the best medium variance slots for 2020. We have arranged them in descending order, beginning with the highest RTP.

Medium variance slots faqs

What are the advantages of playing medium variance slots?

Which is the most profitable medium variance slot?

Are medium variance slots good for beginners?

1. Rainbow riches drops of gold (by barcrest, SG) RTP: 97.75%

It doesn’t matter whether you chose to play a low, medium or high variance game, there’s sure to be a slot from the ever-popular rainbow riches series to top that chart. In the medium variance slots category, it’s rainbow riches drops of gold that steals every player’s heart. Drops of gold follows the basic rainbow riches reels format of 5×3, but with a special twist. In this video slot, you’ll find an impressive number of paylines, ranging from 50 to 200, depending on your stake.

The game also has all the trademark features of the rainbow riches series, including the pots of gold, wishing well, and, of course, big bets feature. When playing any rainbow riches series game, remember that the highest RTP, in this case 97.75%, gets activated only when the big bets feature is active. The top prize here is a whopping 1,000x your bet. So, if you have some spare irish luck in your pocket, do try giving this reel a spin!

2. A night out (by playtech) RTP: 97.06%

In a mood to party? Take this video slot from playtech along with you for a spin. This fruit machine, with its 5 reels, 3 rows and 20 win lines, gives the traditional fruit symbols a cocktail shake up with kiwi, pear, orange, strawberry and pineapple drinks all found on the reels.

However, the higher value symbols are the beer symbol (a wild card), the dance floor symbol (a scatter) and the bartender (the bonus symbol). Use the bet max feature to activate all paylines and go all-in with a single click. This is a risky move but also ups your chances of winning. The game also comes with an autoplay option in case you want to keep the night going. A nice little touch, we say!

3. Guns N’ roses (by netent) RTP: 96.98%

Don’t tell us you’re not a fan of this legendary 80s hard rock band. Admit it, you are. And just like their sensational crowd-mesmerising music, this video slot from netent (in affiliation with bravado international group) also features jaw-droppingly awesome features such as wild substitutions, expanding wilds, the appetite for destruction wild, a bonus wheel, bonus symbols, encore free spins, legend spins, a solo multiplier and a crowd-pleaser bonus game.

This 5-reel, 3-row and 20-paylines slot game promises an unlimited amount of fist-pumping action. You can start playing the sweet sounds of spinning reels for as little as £0.20 and then raise the roof with a maximum wager of £200. Just press spin and get ready to rock!

4. Reel rush (by netent) RTP: 96.96%

Fan of the retro video-gaming era? Then this slot will give you the rush you’ve been looking for. Set within a unique square-shaped configuration (a 5×5 cluster mechanic), this fruity video slot boasts not just 90s-style graphics and soundtrack but is also loaded with features, including re-spins, wild substitutions and free spins.

Also, there are massive chances of winning as the game offers a whopping 3125 ways to win. Quite a punch, right? You can take a spin on this video fruit machine from ‎£0.10 all the way up to £100.

5. Victorious (by netent) RTP: 96.88%

Need some military-style motivation? Take a spin on this roman army-themed video slot by netent that pledges to pillage and destroy everything and come out victorious! This 5 reel slot, with 243 ways to win, comes with non-traditional features such as the golden eagle wild that substitutes for all symbols including the free spin symbol.

What’s more, when you enter the free spins round you’re transported right into the thick of the action. All your wins are tripled with a 3x multiplier and the game awards the best battlers with up to 25 additional spins. Minimum bets start at £0.25 and you can raise the stake all the way up to £125 a spin.

6. Golden ticket (by play’n GO) RTP: 96.73%

This slot game quite literally spells it out for the sceptics: it’s a golden ticket! A circus-themed video slot with 5 reels, 5 rows and 100 paylines, it could well be your ticket to riches. The minimum bet is just £0.20 and you can raise it up to a maximum of £40 a spin to be in with the chance of winning the maximum prize of £40,000. And the game has enough bonus features, such as wilds, multipliers and scatters, to help you net that grand prize.

7. Terminator 2 (by microgaming) RTP: 96.62%

It’s judgement day, punters! Are you ready? This slot game is! Like its cinematic namesake, this 5-reel video slot is also a blockbuster, with 243 ways to win and 2,950 times your stake as the top prize. As ammunition, you get two bonus features including a T-800 vision feature where you scan for targets to win cash prizes. The minimum bet starts at £0.30 and rises up to a maximum of £30 a spin. If you play this game once, we’re certain that ‘you’ll be back’… for more!

8. Untamed giant panda (by microgaming) RTP: 96.40%

Fond of the wilderness? The giant panda is part of microgaming’s ‘untamed’ series that features other titles such as bengal tiger, crowned eagle and wolf pack. While the giant panda may not be the most fearsome of these wild beasts, with 243 ways to win the game is sure to get your adrenaline pumping.

This slot machine is jam-packed with special features, including collect-a-wild, lucky nudges and wilds aplenty. There is also a gamble game in which players have the chance to multiply their winnings by up to twenty-fold. The minimum bet required to get the 5 reels spinning is £0.30 while the maximum is £22.50.

9. The lab (by ELK) RTP: 96.30%

Give your nerdy side a nudge with this chemistry lab-themed slot game from elk. At first glance, this 5-reel video slot may seem ordinary, but if you dig a bit deeper you could find all the precious elements such as au (gold) and pt (platinum). Also, you need crucial elements such as water (H2O) and oxygen (O) to survive this slot as these symbols pay out more frequently. Crystal molecules offer high wins.

On a single winning line, the green crystal can return 1,000x your bet and 2,000x when you’re in free spin mode. If the lab symbol hits position 2 on reel 2 you enter into free spin mode where all winnings are doubled and the lab symbol turns into wild. In normal mode, you can hit X scatters and double or even quadruple your winnings. Basically, there are a huge number of formulas that can land you a win. So, go experiment!

10. Sam on the beach (by ELK) RTP: 96.30%

Remember the happy troll from electric sam? He is your host on this carribean-themed slot holiday. It’s a dreamy beach vacation where troll sam is visiting his old uncle ted with his wife and prankster daughter. The electric treats represent an interesting mix of sticky wilds, sticky multipliers, imploding symbols and bonus multipliers.

The video slot may seem relaxing and sleepy but it comes with an electrifying 243 paylines. Also, this 5-reel slot is a mobile-first game with great graphics. If you’re looking for medium variance slots that transfer well to the smaller screen, we advise you to try this one.

11. Flame busters (by thunderkick) RTP: 96.10%

So, who wanted to drive that bright red fire engine as a kid? This block-building 5-reel video slot may not look that attractive to all, but it does give you 243 paylines. Inspired by first responders, this slot takes you back to the time of pixelated computer games. The W stands for the wild symbol and it substitutes for any other symbol except for the scatter which is represented as an alarm bell. The mystery burning fire symbol can be replaced by other symbols except for the wild and scatter.

When you land 3 or more scatters on the reels, you trigger the alarm bell feature. Once triggered you’ll be awarded free spins. You can get 10, 15 or 20 spins. If you manage to collect scatter symbols during free spins, you’ll trigger the bonus game. If you are able to fight the flames, the big prize could be yours!

12. Koi princess (by netent) RTP: 96%

This 5-reel and 3-row anime-inspired slot takes you on a magical journey to pop-culture asia. However, the visuals and soundtrack are just mood-setters for this awesome action-packed game. This 20-payline dynamic slot comes with massive bonus features including an incredible 4 random features and 4 bonus features, so there’ll be no shortage of ways to have fun. To unlock the big prize of up to 1,000 times your stake, the minimum you have to bet is £0.20 per spin, which you can raise to a maximum of £200 per spin.

13. Cool buck (by microgaming) RTP: 96%

How cool a slot is cool buck? Pretty cool, we say! This 5-reels and 9-payline video slot from microgaming can be tried with a bet as low as £0.09 a spin, going up to as much as £45 per spin. The game comes with refreshingly cool features such as super stacked wilds in both the base game and free spins feature. The latter can be triggered in two ways and can give you up to 30 free spins. Furthermore, all wins during the feature are doubled. The top prize is 2,388x your bet. So, if you like the colour green, we suggest taking a spin on this slot game.

14. Cleopatra (by IGT) RTP: 95.70%

Listing online slots without making a trip to egypt feels incomplete. What makes this slot a classic among all the other similarly themed slots is that it gives players a chance to win up to 10,000x their stake by betting as low as £0.01 and up to £200. This 5-reel and 3-row video slot comes with 20 paylines and good bonus features such as 50 free spins, that can land you a 50x multiplier, and the sphinx bonus symbol. So, even if you’re not an ancient history buff, give this slot a spin for a golden tour in the land of pharaohs and queens.

15. Game of thrones (by microgaming) RTP: 95%

Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore it! This epic HBO hit has landed in slot form, with the soundtrack, graphics and symbols having all been borrowed from the original series. It also mirrors the TV show’s complicated plot and comes in two versions – one playable with 15 lines and another with 243 ways. The free spins round is where things get most interesting as you’re asked to pick a side. That is, choose from the four famous westeros houses, where your winnings depend on your choice. True got style!

• A huge variety of casino games from the most reputed software providers


• Generous deposit bonuses and promo deals

Slot variance explained

Medium variance slots, as you would have guessed, are a mid-way on the slot variance scale. At the other two ends are low variance and high variance slots. Here is a quick breakdown of what each of these slot categories means for you as a player. Some game developers are now starting to create slot games where the slot variance can be adjusted according to the player preference. However, for now, here is a more compartmentalised view of various types of slot variances.

Low variance slots

Low variance slots are also often called low-risk, or low volatility slots. That’s because in these slot games wins come in fairly regularly. However, one should note that although winning is easier, the prize amounts are often small. The games have fewer paylines, although they are loaded with bonus features and have frequent win combinations. As a low-risk and low-reward game filled with regularly activated special features, this type of slot is ideal for beginners or people playing for fun.

Medium variance slots

The medium variance slots are a middle-ground between low and high variance slot machines. They are known to give plenty of low and mid-sized wins throughout the game, but they offer some big wins as well.

High variance slots

On the other end of the spectrum are the high variance slots. These slots are designed for high-rollers – players who bet high, are not averse to risk-taking, and can patiently wait for the much more infrequent wins. However, when they do win, the sum is usually much bigger.

It should be noted that high variance is not the same as a high return-to-player (RTP). Meaning, a slot can be ‘risky’ and yet have an RTP that matches a low variance slot.

• A huge variety of casino games from the most reputed software providers


• Generous deposit bonuses and promo deals

What are your favourite medium variance slots?

What is your favourite slot variance type? Please share your thoughts and tell us about why you like medium variance slots and which ones you regard as the best medium variance slots?

Variance in slot games

The first thing you’ll see in any vegas or macau casino is rows of people sitting down at slot machines, mindlessly feeding coins in and spinning the reels. Casinos rely on the sheep-like behaviour of players who just sit down and play without giving much thought to the games they’re playing.

Have a glance through the games lists at our recommended casinos and you’ll quickly realise that there are literally thousands of online games to choose from. This only amplifies the difficulty for slots players in discovering which slots are preferential to them and their style of play. However, there are a few ways to identify the difference and allow you to determine the type of game you are playing – and apply the best possible playing strategy.

Unlike games such as blackjack and baccarat, there’s no real skill involved in playing slots and no gambling ‘system’ that can be employed to increase your chances of winning. Slots are based purely on chance. But there are certain variables that you should be aware of when playing slots, not least when it comes to the game you choose to play.

One of those variables – and perhaps the most important in terms of slot selection – is slot variance.

Slot variances determine how often and how much a video slot will payout.

However, many players are still confused by what low, medium and high variance slots are and how they affect game play and overall payouts, experiences, and bankrolls.

Variance, wins and payouts

Low variance slots provide players with frequent wins, but the wins are small and lack the ability to increase your bankroll substantially.

High variance slots, on the other hand, tend to award large wins, but they are less frequent.

A medium variance slot combines the two elements and offers wins that vary in size, meaning you will have a fair number of smaller wins, but the larger wins will also be more frequent, though not at the same level as the life-changing one-off sums you can get with a high-variance slot.

How to suit your playing style

Players come in all shapes and sizes – some are patient and happy to wait for the big pay out; others want the thrill of small, frequent wins. Most, I suspect, are somewhere in the middle. Fortunately, online casinos know this and try their best to tailor games to suit all players.

Clearly, then, choosing a slot that offers big enough wins to satisfy you and keep you playing – but doesn’t make you wait forever for each win! – will be a big factor in suiting your playing style, and increasing your overall satisfaction when playing online slots.

If you’d like to find out more about the about the difference between low, medium and high variance slots, the next three blog posts will focus on each one, to help further your ability to identify the games you have an interest in.

Each post explains the basics and provides some valuable information that will save you time and let you focus on playing, rather than investigating each slot you play.

Full guide on high variance slots – listed by name

The term “variance” is closely related to the mathematics & the theory of probability and statistics. Before we jump to the names of high variance slots and list of the most popular software providers featuring high-risk games, we need to understand the variance at a fundamental level and how it affects slot machine play. If you are a casual slot player, you are probably wondering what this term has to do with slot machines & weekend gambling action.

Table of content

You may be surprised, but in fact, the variance and theory itself are at the core of slot games and gambling in general. Game developers and gaming experts rely on it, and modern slot machines, as well as standard casino games, wouldn’t exist in a present form & shape without the basics found in the law of probability and statistics. The probability theory was born in the 17 th century and mathematician & philosopher blaise pascal was one of the key figures responsible for it, especially in his work problem of points which highly influenced the new field of probability. (article source: poker-boss.Com)

Furthermore, it’s the law of large numbers (LLN) that secures casino advantage as well as profits in the long term. Millions of spins and millions of bets are needed in order for the RTP (return to player percentage) to be close to the expected value, especially with the high variance games. Once upon a time, one of the greatest minds in human history said: "you cannot beat a roulette table unless you steal money from it." for albert einstein, there was no doubt about that and no one so far proved otherwise. Of course, this doesn’t mean that there are no big wins and lucky streaks. We see it every day at lilly’s part of the universe. Thousands of lucky winners prove that casino’s tiny percentage is mathematically secured only with a large number of betting rounds.

By its definition, the variance is the average of the squared differences from the mean. You may find a mathematical representation of variance as squared sigma (σ), squared S or simple VAR(X).

Mathematical formula to calculate the variance

Don’t panic for a moment! As difficult as it may seem just looking at the formula above, the concept itself is not really hard to understand. Simply speaking, the variance is providing us with the useful information of how much is set of numbers (data) spread out – compared with their average value.

Let’s dive into the simple example. Lilly has just met with her buddies celebrating a huge winner at spacelilly this month. Lilly is the tallest person around measuring 180cm, with the gonzo following her with 154cm. We will find out the variance of the following data set - height of 6 persons, or let’s just say space buddies. Their heights are as follows: 80, 38, 180, 154, 36, 62.

Forget about the mathematical formula, we will divide our problem into 3 easy steps.

3 easy steps to calculate the variance

Firstly, let’s find the mean. In our example, it’s the space buddies average height. It’s pretty easy, as we have 6 buddies, we just need to sum up their height values and divide it with 6.

Mean = (80 + 38 + 180 +154 + 36 + 62) / 6 = 550/6 = 91.67

The arithmetic mean, or an average height of our space friends is 91.67cm or rounded: 92cm

now it’s time to calculate each buddy’s difference from the mean (average height). Simple, minus 92 from each buddies height value.

80-92, 38-92, 180-92, 154-92, 36-92, 62-92. And we have following:

-12, -54, 88, 62, -56, -30.

Finally, we have all the info we need to calculate the variance. Let’s take each difference and square it, sum it up and divide by 6 (number of space friends).

((-12)² + (-54)² + 88² + 62² + (-56) ² + (-30) ² ) / 6 =

(144 + 2916 + 7744 + 3844 + 3136 + 900) / 6 = 18684/6 = 3144

S² = 3144. So the variance is 3144.

One more term is important to mention at this point. It is a standard deviation (SD). Once we have a variance value, it’s really easy to calculate the standard deviation. The square root of variance will do the job. In our example, it’s a square root of 3144: √3144 = 55.8 or rounded value: 56. But, why it is important? The really good thing about SD is that we have a way of knowing what is in the range of so called “normal values” and which values fall above or behind.

Technically speaking, standard deviation measures the dispersion of particular set or in other words, it is a measure of volatility. Take a look at the picture below – all the values (heights) that fall within one standard deviation are between the two blue lines. We can freely say that lilly falls into the group of very high girls and above one standard deviation in our example.

Values between blue lines are within one standard deviation

Variance & slot games

If you have read the previous chapter, you probably have a clue about the connection between slot machines and variance along with some common terms such as the standard deviation and the mean. As with the example of our space creature heights, we can take any data set and measure the variance. Of course, real-life datasets are much bigger, as well as combinations or outputs of modern-age slot games.

More than often, players confuse the term variance and RTP (return to player) percentage. Those are totally different beasts and we will illustrate this with a simple example. Let’s for a moment imagine the simplest slot machine ever. There is only one pay-line and only one winning combination, and every time you hit the spin button at $1 per spin, you get a $0.95 win. Simple, right? No chance to ever hit it big, right? Boring, right? Indeed, it is! But, what about the RTP (return to player) percentage? Our simplest slot machine produces exactly the same RTP as all of the modern slot games - in the range of 95%. So, what’s the catch? You guessed it, right – it is the variance. Our slot game sample has a dataset with the same value(s) of [0.95] – and the variance is a big, fat – zero!

We can freely say that the variance is the key to all the excitement that gambling delivers. If you have ever wondered why players choose the high-variance slots over low-variance ones – the answer is obvious. High variance games deliver all of the excitement and possibility of that mega big win. Of course, it’s not all black or white, but you get the point. Based on the variance value, we can classify all the slot machines into 3 major groups:

• Low variance


• Medium variance


• High variance

Of course, many of the games fall in-between, such as low-mid slots or mid-high slot games. Furthermore, some of them may be classified as extremely high or extremely low variance games.

Low variance

Low variance slot games are the ones with relatively frequent wins, but the ones you can’t expect to run with a massive big win. At least not with one spin of a button! Mathematically speaking, dispersion of data-set (in this case – values of possible winning spins) is near the arithmetical mean and usually within the standard deviation. Generally speaking, players looking for smaller wins but longer sessions prefer low-variance slot machines. Often, low-variance slots are referred as low-risk games. It’s worth mentioning that usually, low-rollers with a tight budget prefer low variance slots to prolong the session and build a bankroll for riskier games.

Low variance graph - no of spins/profit

High variance

High variance slot machines – it’s all or nothing. It’s get rich or die tryin’. It’s dead or alive – as the name of one of the classics and extremely high-risk games suggests. With high variance beast, you can’t expect frequency in wins. However, what you are looking for is a massive hit. One spin could change the game & bring the big win excitement. High volatility slot machines are often named as high-risk games. Therefore, it’s also important to emphasize – there are always two sides of the coin. High volatility slots could bring you a life-changing amount & massive jackpot win. On the other side, it could kill your nerve with a long & losing session. Overall, high-variance slots are the ones gambling forum members talk about and post screenshots of big wins often over 3000x bet range.

Check out the graph below representing the high VS low variance slot play. (x – no. Of spins ; y – profit/loss). You can see that low variance curve is nearer the mean, while high variance one has higher dispersion.

High variance VS low variance

Medium variance

Medium variance slots – the best definition of medium variance slot games would be a mix of a low-variance and high-variance slot machines. For some players, they represent the perfect balance between the possibility of a big win, while at the same time balance survival is preserved with the regular smaller wins. Most of the modern slot games fall into this category. Not surprisingly, though! Generally speaking, medium variance slot machines pay quite often and include wide-range of win amounts. From medium balance-savers to even 1000x bet-size wins. Naturally, there are many benefits coming with the medium variance pokies. Ideally, it’s for the casino players that don’t want to risk way too much but still have a tight chance to win a huge amount in one single spin.

How to find a high volatility slot machine?

Many game providers do not provide information related to the slot variance value. So, how do you find a high volatility slot game, for example? Simple, follow our complete guide to high volatility slots. In the next few chapters, we are listing high variance machines by their software (game) providers. If you want to find them on your own, there are several clues which could reveal which games go towards higher variance values. We will not go deep into the subject here, but here are few suggestions.

Firstly, you need to look at the definition of the high-variance. Simply speaking, high-variance games gives you less frequent, but higher wins. A quick look at the pay-table could reveal some useful info. If you line up the top paying symbol, how much is it paying? Mathematically speaking, how much is the dispersion over the average win? The higher the dispersion equals the higher the variance. Ask yourself the simple question – is it possible that one combination could boost your balance by x2000 bet-size? If so, you are definitely into the high-variance action.

Quick look at break da bank again paytable

Secondly, take a look at the bonus feature or free spins feature. Many high-variance beasts rely on bonus features. With high volatility machines, you will often find that base game pays the only tiny amount of overall RTP. It’s the bonus game that brings a boost in player’s bankroll. Bonus multipliers, all kind of wild features and bonus retriggers could be a positive sign towards high volatility slot machine.

Lastly, play the game in demo (free-play) version. If you see dry spells, but eventually massive hits – there are no doubts about it. Finally, you can always contact friendly support at lilly’s part of the universe. They will be more than happy to answer all of your questions related to the game variance as well as other useful info.

To sum up this chapter, it all comes to personal preferences. We couldn’t say that low variance or extremely high variance ones would be a perfect fit for all the casino players. It is no good or bad. It all depends on personal views and of course luck lady. Keep in mind that slot machine play is purely a game of luck and almost no skill is involved into the action. However, captain, as well as lilly, would always suggest a mid-high variance one. That way, you can always preserve a killer advantage over an online casino in the case of a massive hit. Follow next lines to learn more about cracking high volatility slot machines listed by software providers you can play for real or free money! If you are looking for a high variance machines, you are the right spot. We are listing high volatility games by their names and filtered by the software provider.

Names of high variance slots by software provider

If you are eager to find out the names of high variance slot machines, you will not have to wait for too long. This chapter will reveal some of the most popular high variance online slots sorted by industry-leading software providers. Also, we will mention some known land-based casino game providers along with the few of the high risk games you can play at your favorite brick and mortar casino.

Netent

Netent (net entertainment) is one of the most recognizable game providers in the industry. The company was established in the year 1996 and since then it’s been committed to remain excellence. Nowadays, net entertainment portfolio counts over 200 casino games and more than 100 online brands are powered by their casino solution. The platform is based on instant-play technology, playable on pcs as well as different kind of mobile devices.

Choose the risk in netent's jungle spirit bonus game

Netent slots are well-known by their uniqueness & variety, and more importantly, copy/paste principle is not company’s cup of tea. Whether you are into classic 9-liners or ultra modern slot machines filled with stunning animations, you will find your preferred one at your favorite net entertainment powered casino. Regarding the variance, you will find games on both sides of the specter. From very low variance slots, such as starburst or jack hammer to extremely high ones such as the wishmaster. However, most of the slot games fall into medium variance category.

Check out our list of the top 7 netent’s high risk slot games :

• Creature from the black lagoon – in partnership with universal and based on the 1954 horror movie, netent developed a 5-reels and 20-paylines high-variance slot machine. The key is in the sticky-wild symbols both in free spins mode & base game. If you are brave enough to kill the creature in free spins feature, you will get additional 10 free spins with expanded wild and almost guaranteed massive payout!
  


• Dead or alive – as simple as it can be with 5-reels and 9-paylines configuration, this extremely high variance & western-themed slot is exactly what the name suggests – dead or alive. Although the base game can produce some pretty nice hits, free spins mode is what you are looking for. To be exact, wild-line in free spins mode, which received a cult status amongst casino players. Get an early wild-line and your balance will skyrocket for over 4000xbet-size.
  


• Gonzo quest – join gonzo on his adventure of a lifetime in the mystical city of eldorado. The story is based on the real character gonzalo pizarro – a spanish conquistador in XVI century. The avalanche feature (tumbling reel) is in the core of the game and can reward you up to 5xmultiplier in the base game & 15xmultiplier in the free spins game. Get a solid winning-line in free spins mode with a 15xmultiplier and massive payout is on your way!
  


• Jack and the beanstalk – based on the classic english fairy tale, jack and the beanstalk slot is one of the most beautifully designed games from netent collection. Although it belongs to the group of high-risk slot games, base game can keep your balance healthy thanks to the unique walking wild feature. Free spins mode is pretty damn hard to get, but once you collect 3 scatters – the real action starts with the possibility of stacked & expanding wilds. Free spins mode is capable of producing wins over 10,000xbet-size.
  


• Jungle spirit: call of the wild – it’s always nice to see a newly released game belonging to a group of high-volatility ones. Released in 2017, jungle spirit is a wild nature themed machine with 5-reels & 243 ways to win configuration. Symbol expansion is the main game feature, along with the random butterfly boosts feature and free spins mode. By choosing the animal in free spins, you are actually choosing the variance – from high-risk tiger to low-risk snake. Take a risk with tiger and hope for a 5 expanding ones with a top payout of 7678 times bet-stake.
  


• Reel steal – netent’s classic and old school slot is a simple 5-reels and 9-paylines game with massive winnings potential thanks to the wild symbol multiplier. This heist themed game features 5 times wild multiplier in the base game. All the winnings in free spins are also multiplied by 5 times win amount. Get a winning combination with a wild in free spins and your win will be multiplied with 25 times your bet stake!
  


• Thewishmaster – make your wishes come true with the very unique and extremely high variance game – the wish master. Be careful though! The wishmaster is one of those all or nothing slot beasts. It’s all about the genius free spins feature. Base game would literally drain your balance if you don’t see that magic lamp on the reel. Once you get the free spins, you can expect wide-range of features including wild reels, random wilds, expanding feature, multipliers (2,3x) and extra wilds.

Microgaming

Microgaming is the biggest software provider on the online gambling market with over 600 casino games in its portfolio. Established in 1994, they are one of the pioneers in the gaming industry with over a two-decade experience in providing superb gambling products. They offer both downloadable & instant-play version of the platform with the full support for computers & mobile devices such as ipads, iphones, blackberries and android-powered devices.

Astonishing win - immortal romance from microgaming

Microgaming has a massive catalog of slots which makes almost half of the total number of all their casino games. Furthermore, jackpot pool from MG jackpot games is the largest you will find online. So far, over half a billion euros have been paid just from the jackpot games. Some of the biggest wins in the online gambling history come from their jackpot network. It’s sufficient to say, with such a large collection of slots that you will find all types of slot variances. From low-risk games such as big kahuna to middle ones and high-risk extremes such as break da bank again.

Follow our list of the high variance microgaming slots :

• Break da bank again – break da bank again slot has the exact same configuration as netent’s reel steal game. And you can indeed break da bank if lady luck is on your side. Wild, represented as “break da bank” symbol is the key-figure awarding 5xmultiplier in the base game and sweet 25 times multiplier in free spins mode. Watch for the diamonds, gold bars and cold hard cash, as they are the top-paying symbol in this highly volatility microgaming 9-liner.
  


• Deck the halls – festival-themed slots are highly popular amongst slot lovers, especially during the holiday’s season. Deck the halls is christmas themed game being played during the whole year. The reason for this lays in a free spins mode featuring 2xmultiplier and stacked wild symbol. Santa symbol is also stacked both in both base & free spins game and therefore you can experience big wins even in the base game.
  


• Game of thrones – there are two versions of the popular game of thrones microgaming slot games – 15 lines & 243 pay-lines version and both of them belong to a high variance group. Based on the popular HBO TV series, this microgaming release achieved popularity in no time and for a good reason. The standard game mode has a big winning potential with the stacked symbols, but free spins are hiding ultra massive potential with different free spins & multipliers to choose from. If you are into the ultra-high volatility go for a 15-lines game!
  


• Immortal romance – we can surely say that immortal romance is on the top of the list of most popular microgaming slots and online video slots in general of all the time. Slots configuration is similar to the earlier game release – thunderstruck II with 5-reels & 243 paylines. There are four different free spins bonuses which are unlocking as you progress throughout the game & extra randomly activated wild desire feature which can turn up to 5 reels wilds. This vampire themed machine with awesome sound track and superb graphics will either eat your balance or give you some serious cash. Rarely, you will experience so called “in-between” action.
  


• Isis – both isis slot and the second progressive version mega moolah isis are known as high-risk slot games by all means. There is no much difference, except that the mega moolah version is a progressive jackpot game and belongs to a group of slots connected to the microgaming jackpot pool often exceeding top award of few millions of euros. Watch for scatters in this egyptian-themed slot, as they will award you with up to 30 free spins and a tasty 6x multiplier.
  


• Rhyming reels hearts & tarts – microgaming’s rhyming reels series is based on the traditional nursery rhymes and besides hearts & tarts include titles such as george pogie, jack and jill and old king cole. Top paying symbol queen is stacked in the normal game mode as well as in free spins, while wild symbol (hearts & tarts logo) is stacked in free spins bonus. Three crowns symbols will earn you 10 free spins with a 2 multiplier and possibility of a huge 2,400,000 coin win.
  


• Santa’s wild ride – one more christmas themed video slot took its place on our microgaming high variance list. This time it’s a 243 lines machine delivering some extra features even in the main game. Santa’s wild symbol will multiply your win by 2,3 or even 4 times and gift symbol on the reel will reveal extra prize for you. But, as with most of the high-risk games, the real money action starts with free spins. Get 3 keys for a bonus and choose between stacked wild, expanding wild or trailing wild feature!

Gameart

Unlike microgaming & netent, gameart company is a relatively new game provider on the online gambling market, although people behind the scene have extensive experience in both land-based and online casino business. Since they opened the door in 2013, their games selection is constantly rising, and the result is growing number of casino websites powered by the gameart products. GA games are based on the web-platform and boosted with HTML5 technology. All slot games are fully mobile friendly and accessible from a variety of mobile devices.

Reveal a mysterious symbol - crystal mystery free spins

Gameart platform is completely focused towards slot machines. In fact, the online solution is strictly based on slot games. Many of the gameart slots are quite unique, especially in the terms of bonuses, extra features or free spins features. Highly innovative bonuses & features along with the RTP of games in the range of 96% are key aspects where gameart shines. Just recently, they have introduced a jackpot games – addition of MINI, MINOR, MAJOR and GRAND jackpots to their existing slot catalog. Related to the variance, we will not list all of their high volatility slots here and for a good reason. Most of the gameart slots are mid/high variance games. If you want to try high-variance extreme, our suggestion would be 5-reels & 5 lines game money farm.

Top 3 gameart’s high volatility slots :

• Crystal mystery – high-risk game from gameart is by configuration and features similar to book of ra & book of dead slot games. The main symbol scull acts both as a wild and a scatter. As with many high volatility machines, base game will not provide you survival if the bonus feature is not on the horizon. However, it’s all been compensated with the free spins round. Spin a wheel to reveal a mysterious symbol and watch for it on the reels as this symbol will expand and form extra winning combinations. On the top of that, free spins mode can be retriggered unlimited amount of times – providing you with additional 10 spins with every retrigger.
  


• Explosive reels – explosive reels is a gold rush themed and action packed 5-reels and 10 paylines video slot. As with crystal mystery and many of the gameart slots, the main symbol (explosive) acts as wild and scatter. Hit at least scatters to enter the exciting free spins round. At the beginning of the bonus, “exploding symbol” is randomly selected amongst the symbols you can find in the pay table. Watch for the selected symbol in free spins, as it will expand to all the positions on the reel, and unexploded symbols will be moved to the right side of the screen. Free spins bonus can be retriggered giving you higher possibilities for a massive payout.
  


• Money farm – local village farm was the inspiration for one of the most popular video slots developed by gameart peeps. With only 5 winning paylines and unique bonus feature, this game hides a large winning potential. Whenever you line up a winning combination which includes the hen (wild symbol), the bonus round is triggered awarding you with 5 free spins. Watch closely for a special golden egg symbol during the spins, as it will reward you with the win amount you have won by triggering the feature. Win the feature by lining up top paying symbols and colossal win is almost guaranteed!

Other software providers & land-based casinos

In this article, we have covered some of the best software providers on the online gambling market and superb high risk slots they are offering. We haven’t included all the high-variance games available, as that would be nearly impossible. At least, a good-sized book would be needed to describe them all. Releases like medusa (I & II), 300 shields, raging rhino, bonanza and great blue are just some of the titles which could perfectly suit with the term – “high variance” or “high risk”. Nevertheless, some of the games we have described would surely be a good starting point to discover the world of variance & gambling.

As with the online casinos, brick and mortar casinos and slot clubs have their high variance machines. If you are planning to visit vegas or your nearest land-based casino, check out the following software providers as they are known for developing high-risk games:

1. Aristocrat


2. IGT


3. Merkur gaming


4. Novomatic


5. WMS

Buffalo, book of ra, cleopatra, fire of egypt, kronos slots, kingdom of the titans, magic mirror, pharaoh’s fortune, rumpel wildspins are just a few of the slot titles you will find at land based casinos. In any case, if you are just looking for the high variance machines, there is no need to pay an expensive trip to vegas or drive to your local casino. You will find a greater selection online and at your favorite internet casino.

Conclusion

No matter if you love or just hate high risk games, we hope that this article revealed some myths about the variance. Simply speaking, high variance equals to high-risk. And high risk equals to just that – high risk. All the risky games have two sides. Next time you want to break your monitor as you haven’t received a bonus for 500 consecutive rounds, or the one you have just triggered earned you few euros – think for a second. There is a guy on the other side of the globe just smiling and celebrating an insanely huge win on the dead or alive slot. Actually, lilly has just congratulated one of them this morning. As for the slot games mentioned in this article, you will find them at lilly’s part of the universe in all forms, shapes, and sizes.

Low variance slots

Casino games, such as low variance slots are played for a certain time with the low stake and relatively minimum loss. Mostly, slots with low variance are perfect for casual players, who don’t wait for a big jackpot, but just want to gamble. Below, we gathered the best low variance slots from reliable casino software providers.

Casinos with best low variance slot machines

18+. T&cs apply.

lines	reels	RTP	variance	jackpot	features	action
	117,649 ways to win	6	96%	high	20,000x +	free spins, unlimited multipliers, cascading reels, mystery symbols
	4,096 ways to win	6	95.67%	high	wilds, stacked wilds with multipliers, sticky wilds, unlimited free spins, disco soundtrack!
	117,649 ways to win	6	96.2%	high	20,000x	dropping symbols, re-spins, wilds, multipliers, free spins, megaways™, feature drop™
	117,649	6	96%	high	20,000x +	free spins, multipliers, cascading wins, progressive multipliers, re-triggers, mystery symbols	Daily spins no wager 12-tier VIP program Monthly cashbacks	VISIT »
2	300 cash spins 18+. T&cs apply.	Custom withdrawal limits Public game payouts (RTP) Fantastic HD games	VISIT »

There are reasons why casino players are constantly looking for games with low variance or slot machines with low volatility. Some users just want to quickly wager the bonus or deposit to cash out money. In the following, we introduce you to the best low variance online slots. After playing dozens of games from various software manufacturers, we confirm that netent slots dominate in this category.

What are online slots with a low variance?

With low variance slots wins are quite frequent, however payouts smaller. You can wait a long time to hit a big number, usually with an average multiplier of 500x bet. Compared to high variance slots, where winnings go up to 5000x the bet, it is understandable why not all players prefer low variance casino games.

Playing slots with low variance is more interesting. For players interested in watching the process, slots such as starburst are appropriate. Unadorned design and no big winnings, however, it is pleasant to play, isn’t it? What are other reasons to give a try to low variance games?

• Low balance – take the opportunity to make much more spins. Rounds without winnings are short and the rewards are frequent. Extend your fun


• Playing for fun – not everyone plays for money. There is no point in playing dead or alive or 300 shields when there are many more slots for such cases. Don’t waste money if you can play for fun and risk only little amounts.


• Lack of time – you can wait for generous bonuses in slots with high volatility with hundreds or even thousands of multipliers. Low variability gives winnings much more often. The player is never bored and doesn’t expect anything except bonus play.


• Meet wagering requirements – welcome casino bonuses usually need to be wagered before you can pay winnings out. This can also be achieved quickly and easily with low variance slots.

But be careful: sometimes the bonus wagering conditions exclude different ways of playing. This may include leaving a jackpot slot after a big hit and switching to a low variance slot just to fulfill the playthrough requirements.

If you do this, study terms and conditions carefully. In extreme cases, casino bonus may be forfeited and you may end up with no more winnings and your casino account may be suspended.

List of low variance slots that payout frequently (sorted by high RTP)

slot game	casino provider	max multiplier	RTP
esquelento explosivo	thunderkick	150x	97,6%
big bad wolf	quickspin	300x	97,34%
guns N’ roses	netent	750x	96,98%
easter eggs	play’n GO	500x	96,75%
ozwin’s jackpots	yggdrasil	600x	96,70%
wild wild west	netent	500x	96,70%
fairy gate	quickspin	523x	96,66%
finn and the swirly spin	netent	500x	96,62%
universal monsters: the phantom’s curse	netent	800x	96,57%
the mask	nextgen	150x	96,50%
fairytale legends: mirror mirror	netent	3.645x	96,48%
wild toro	ELK studios	750x	96,40%
dwarfs gone wild	quickspin	1.200x	96,38%
jumanji	netent	504x	96,33%
emperor of the sea	microgaming	1.875x	96,28%
wild blood	play’n GO	276x	96,17%
ave caesar	leander games	1.000x	96,12%
mexico wins	isoftbet	600x	95,83%
tomb raider	microgaming	200x	95,22%
the golden owl of athena	betsoft	5.000x	95,05%
game of thrones 15 lines	microgaming	5.000x	95,01%
blood suckers	netent	1.600x	98.00%
jack hammer	netent	1.000x	97.00%
steamtower	netent	2.000x	97.00%
starburst	netent	500x	96.10%

Which players should try low variance high RTP slots?

A list of low variance slot machines do not come with big winnings. On the other hand, you don’t make huge losses if you only play for a short time. If you are lucky, you can win several times in a row and accumulate money. Just because the games have a lower variance doesn’t mean that you can’t lose everything or win big, but it’s not the rule. Most of the time you can play the game on best slot websites for hours and have only very small losses after 1,000 spins, as there is always smaller win.

Try low variance netent slots

Swedish software provider netent has specialized for years in games with low variance, where winnings are more frequent and relatively regular. In addition, the company focuses heavily on entertainment and synchronization of animations and sounds.

It can be fun to play such games with low maximum winnings. Sometimes you have a bit of luck and accumulate some winnings. In the end, it is a matter of gambling, almost anything can happen.

Slots variance

This article will discuss slot machine variance. This is a very important concept to understand for slots enthusiasts because it can help to stretch your gambling dollars even further.

The slots games offered at online casinos come in different categories. They’re differentiated by a number of features, one of which is the variance of the slot machine. You will see the word volatility mentioned a bit in this article, it’s used interchangeably with variance, as they are one and the same thing.

So, what is variance in slots?

Variance is really just another word for “risk” or the “volatility” of a slot machine. In a nutshell, slot machines can be judged as being high variance, low variance, or somewhere in-between. In this article, we’ll discuss the characteristics of each of these games.

Don’t confuse this with the return to player percentages. Generally speaking, online slots games offer payout percentages of around the 94% to 96% range, but this tells you nothing about the variance of a particular game.

High variance slots

High variance slots are characterized by a low hit frequency, meaning the wins are less frequent. They don’t pay out very often, but when they do, the wins tend to be much bigger than low and medium variance slot games. Playing these kinds of slot machines can be very hit and miss, but a lot of slots players like to play these games, because they have the potential of offering much bigger wins in the range 100-1000x your initial wager or more.

Low variance slots

On the other hand, low variance slots are characterized by a high hit frequency with low volatility. When you’re playing these kinds of slots you will get plenty of lower valued winning payouts, and it can seem like your balance isn’t fluctuating much at all. There is less risk of ruin when playing low volatility slot machines, because the regular smaller wins you’ll be getting keeps your gambling balance topped up.

Medium variance slots

As you would have guessed, medium variance slot machines fall somewhere in-between. Medium variance slots have the potential to offer the player both high and low jackpot prizes. They aren’t really high volatility or low volatility, and therefore cater to the slot players who are looking for the best of both worlds. Most slot games available to play at online casinos are those which are known as medium volatility slots.

Which slot will appeal to you?

Ultimately, it comes down to the level of risk you’re willing to accept. With greater risk comes greater potential reward and a higher chance of winning a big jackpot if you decide that you would like to play a higher volatility slot machine.

If you’re more risk-averse, then I wouldn’t advise playing high variance slot machines. The low to medium variance slot games are going to be a lot more beginner-friendly, because you’re unlikely to see your bankroll evaporate quickly due to the low hit frequency built into the game, meaning your balance will last longer.

With that being said, when it comes to gambling, you can’t be too careful, can you? I feel iike you’re missing out NOT playing the high variance slots if your bankroll can properly support the swings, because the whole point of playing slots in the first place is to win big jackpots. It is going to be a difficult task winning anything significant on the low volatility slot machines. Are you really going to be happy having won a few dollars on a penny slot machine after several hours of play? It does also depend on the size of bankroll you have to play with.

How can you tell in which category a slot belongs to?

The thing is it is not always immediately obvious whether a slot machine is a high, medium or low variance game. One way you can gauge the variance of a slot machine is to take a look at the game’s paytable.

When you look at the paytable attached to each game, you need to compare the wins awarded to different winning combinations. Compare the amount you can win on a spin for three of the same symbols on a payline. Compare this with the amount you win for four or five symbols. If there is a big difference in the payouts when making this comparison, it likely suggests you’re playing a high variance slot machine, where most of the big wins will come from the bonus games you can trigger in the base game.

If you’re still not sure about the volatility of a slot, of course, you can decide to just play the game and get a better feel for how it plays.

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