This article explains RTP and slot machine volatility, the two main factors that determine how much and how often you can expect to win at a particular casino game. We show how RTP and volatility affect gameplay and how you can use this knowledge depending on your budget and betting strategy.
Why RTP and volatility are important
A slot machine game engine consists mainly of RTP (Return to Player) and volatility. Simply put, these factors determine how much and how often you are likely to win at a particular game.
The RTP percentage indicates how much of the total amount wagered is returned to players as winnings. Volatility determines how often a slot machine pays out and the overall size of those winnings.
Once you understand how these factors affect gameplay, you can choose games that suit your bankroll and bet size. What’s more, you can make smarter choices that improve your chances of winning at the casino.
RTP explained
Here’s what RTP is in a nutshell:
- It expresses the percentage of all bets that a slot machine returns to players over time as winnings.
- It is calculated over a virtually infinite number of spins.
- It typically ranges between 94% and 99%.
- It does not indicate how much you can expect to win during a single gaming session.
Return to Player (RTP) shows the share of total bets that a slot machine returns to players in winnings. Online games generally pay out between 94% and 99%, with the average around 96%.
For example, if a game offers 96% RTP, the remaining 4% is the casino’s profit. This means that for every £100 wagered, the casino keeps £4, while £96 is returned to players collectively as winnings.
It is important to remember that RTP is calculated over millions of spins. This means it does not guarantee that you will win £96 for every £100 wagered during your own session. Winnings are distributed across all players and spins, so individual results may vary significantly. Players can try games safely through platforms like Stay Casino, where they can access a variety of slots and see how RTP and volatility affect gameplay in practice.
Explanation of Volatility
Here is a brief explanation of what volatility is:
- It gives you an idea of how often the game pays out.
- It indicates the size of the winnings on a slot machine.
Risk level is usually expressed on a scale of 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 and is often labelled as low, medium, or high. There is no universal standard for defining it, and different game providers may assess it differently.
In practice, a slot machine’s risk level explains:
- The frequency of winning
- The size of a slot machine’s win multipliers
Low-risk slots pay out frequently, but the winnings are relatively small. High-risk slots pay out much less often, but the winnings can be significantly larger.
This does not mean you cannot hit a jackpot on a low-risk slot, but compared to higher-risk games, the difference in winning amounts is noticeable.
Here are three examples from the renowned Scandinavian game developer Yggdrasil to illustrate the differences:
Penguin City
- RTP: 96.2%
- Volatility: Low
- Maximum Win: £314,593
Jackpot Express
- RTP: 96.2%
- Volatility: Medium
- Maximum Win: £332,357
Hades Gigablox
- RTP: 96%
- Volatility: High
- Maximum Win: £1,700,561
The connection between RTP and volatility
As can be seen from the previous examples, there is no direct correlation between RTP and volatility. This means that a highly volatile game can have a low RTP and vice versa.
RTP is simply a measure of the portion of the stake returned to the player. At the same time, volatility defines how funds are returned in terms of individual wins and the size of the winning amount.
How to choose slots based on RTP and volatility
Here are the basic guidelines for choosing slots:
- Choose a low volatility game when playing with a limited bankroll.
- Choose a highly volatile game when you have enough funds to play for longer periods.
When playing at the casino, you always want to win as much as possible as quickly as possible. By comparing the RTP and volatility of video slots, you can choose games that suit your strategy and bankroll. However, you should never forget that video slots are games of chance. You can, however, make choices that improve your chances of winning.
If you start with a larger bankroll, you can choose highly volatile games from the outset. The key is to be patient and accept that you will probably lose a significant amount before hitting a big win. However, when you do win, the large multipliers can make up for the losses incurred along the way and will likely give you a decent cushion for future bets.
Always choose games with the highest RTP. As a general rule, games with an RTP of over 96% are more likely to give you a return on your investment, regardless of their volatility.
How Do RTP and Volatility Affect Bonus Betting?
- If you are using a no-deposit bonus, always choose low volatility slot machines.
- Focus on meeting the wagering requirements rather than winning big. This way, you won’t be limited by wagering requirements or win limits when playing with real money.
- When wagering a bonus, aim for low volatility slot machines. Scoring multiple wins will increase your chances of staying in play longer while gradually meeting the wagering requirements.
- If you choose a highly volatile game, you may run out of bonus points before winning a substantial amount. However, if you hit the jackpot, you could exceed the wagering requirement and earn additional credits ready to be withdrawn. This is a risk you should generally avoid.
- At the end of the day, the casino’s winnings limit restricts how much you can withdraw at one time. So it doesn’t matter if you win big while playing to meet the wagering requirements.
We advise wagering the no deposit bonus on a low volatility slot machine. Once you meet the wagering requirements, you can play with real money without worrying about winnings limits or other restrictions.
Top Slots with Variable Volatility
Here are our top picks based on low, medium, and high volatility:
Top Two Low Volatility Slots
Ozwin’s Jackpots
- Developer: Yggdrasil
- RTP: 96.7%
- Max Win: £45,000
One of the most popular low volatility games from Swedish developer Yggdrasil. Ozwin’s Jackpots offers stunning graphics and exciting gameplay. The plot revolves around Ozwin, the wizard who oversees his apprentice’s efforts to lift an ancient curse that could return the sorcerer to human form.
The game features multiple bonuses and more than five jackpots. Although Yggdrasil classifies it as low volatility, Ozwin’s Jackpots offers a respectable maximum win, while the RTP is on the higher end of the spectrum.
Esqueleto Explosivo
- Developer: Thunderkick
- RTP: 96%
- Max Win: 700 x your stake
Based on the popular Mexican holiday, Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), this humorous video slot has a fun theme, exciting gameplay, and excellent animations. With low volatility and a decent RTP, it’s ideal for frequent payouts.
Highlights include tumbling symbols, explosive Wilds, and Mucho multipliers. Once you get the hang of the game, it’s easy to see why Esqueleto Explosivo is one of Thunderkick’s flagship titles.
Two Top Medium Volatility Slots
Miles Bellhouse and the Gears of Time
- Developer: Betsoft Gaming
- RTP: 96.98%
- Max Win: £82,954
Powered by Betsoft’s iconic 3D graphics, this game uses a 5×5 cluster pay network. The plot follows Miles, a young scientist conducting crazy experiments with time in his laboratory.
Like all Betsoft games, the animations and graphics are top-notch. The exceptionally high RTP makes this slot a compelling choice. Several exciting bonuses enhance the plot and create an immersive experience.
Big Bucks Bandits Megaways
- Developer: Yggdrasil (using Big Time Gaming’s Megaways engine)
- RTP: 96.10%
- Max Win: £382,305
This exciting video slot uses the Megaways engine to offer 117,649 ways to win. The game features a story of a train robbery on the border and several bonus features.
While the maximum payout exceeds £300,000, Yggdrasil rates it as medium volatility, placing it between medium and high volatility.
Top Two Highly Volatile Slots
Take Olympus
- Developer: Betsoft Games
- RTP: 95.49%
- Max Win: £142,612
Based on Greek mythology, this epic slot features several deities you must seek out for big wins. Every ten spins, a new god takes charge of the reels, unleashing superpowers during the Divine Event.
The game’s background features Greek statues and temple ruins, and five deities appear on the five reels. Alongside the Cycle of the Gods feature, Take Olympus includes two bonus features that enhance the base game and offer even bigger wins.
The Big Bad Wolf
- Developer: Quickspin
- RTP: 97.35%
- Max Win: 1,268 x your stake
Although Quickspin’s first release, The Big Bad Wolf, competes well against newer games. With a high RTP and extremely high volatility, it has the potential for massive wins.
The storyline, based on a popular fairy tale, immediately connects with players. Combined with immersive gameplay, excellent graphics, animations, and intriguing bonuses, the game delivers a compelling experience.
