Medium Volatility Slots

Medium Volatility Slot: What does it mean?

While the variance of a slot is simply a measure of the dispersion of winnings/payouts in the game, it is important to dissect it further. Variance involves three main elements that will be key in understanding medium variance slots. It is used to define the risk taken on any slot, the frequency of the slot dispensing payouts, and the value of the dispensed payout. In a nutshell, variance measures:

1. The risk taken
2. The payout frequency
3. The payout value

With the above in mind, understanding the meaning of medium volatility slots becomes easy. So, what does medium volatility mean in slots? In these types of slots, the hit frequency of a winning combination is medium and the winnings are moderate. A medium volatility slot will strike a balance between playing for fun and wanting to win. It will also strike a balance of having a limited budget and the desire to win better prizes. This is why we define medium variance slots as a perfect balance between high and low volatility slots. 

The risk involved in the slots is moderate in that you can go for a small period without a payout but the period isn’t expected to last long. The frequency of receiving a payout is also moderate in that they are no frequent wins as in the low volatile slots but the win frequency is much better than that of high volatile slots. The value of the payout is also smaller than that of high volatile slots but relatively higher than that of low volatile slots. The highlight about the best medium variance slots is that some big wins may be realized albeit less frequently. Ideally, they have a payout going as high as 2000x with some of its big wins going about 5000x.

Medium variance adds two more subcategories that help you understand better. They are:

• Medium-high Volatility Slots. These slots are closer to the high volatility group than they are to the low volatility group. This means that substantive wins can be recorded in a slightly lower frequency than that of medium volatility slots. These are a perfect match for VIP and High-rollers for their occasional big and huge wins.
• Low-medium Volatility Slots. On the flip side, are low-medium volatility slots that are closer to the low volatility group than they are to the high volatility group. This means that smaller payouts are recorded more frequently than on medium variance slots. Ideally, they have a higher hit frequency than the slots in the medium volatility group. They are a perfect match for low-stake players for their small but frequent wins. 

Low and High vs Medium Volatile Slots

Medium variance slots are a balance of the other two variances. Low volatility slots are all about low-stake players with a limited budget. The slots are also ideal for beginners, players who take minimal risks, or players who are purely interested in entertainment that they don’t give much attention to the returns. With low variance slots, the hit frequency is higher as compared to the other two main variances meaning players can expect frequent payouts. However, the payout value is the turn-off aspect in these slots. They offer small payouts and fewer big prizes that may come up once in a while. Low volatile slots also have jackpot wins although the prizes are not as massive. 

Other significant points to keep in mind about the slots include their multiple paylines than average. The frequent payouts are achieved from this. Secondly, the bonus features in low volatility slots are way limited. This is explained better through the concept of small wins and limited budgets. With a few bonus features, a huge bankroll is not needed to be spread to trigger the bonuses and thus the value of the wins is massively reduced. 

High volatility slots are the complete opposite of what low variance slots are. Firstly, the slots are designed for risk-takers who are motivated by big wins. This screams of VIP players or high-rollers. There is high risk involved in the slots with long dry spell sessions. However, the payout value is what motivates the players who opt for these slots. Players can expect big prizes including monster million-dollar jackpots. In contrast to low volatile slots, high volatile slots will have fewer small prizes. The idea of having the best experience in these slots is to have a hefty budget and trying out high RTP slots.

The paylines in high volatile slots are limited explaining why their hit frequency is low. However, the bonus features on the slots are numerous to increase the chances of bigger wins as a player triggers the bonuses.

Pros in slots with medium volatility

• Good balance between high and low variance slots – Medium volatility slots offer more frequent and better payouts on a slot with moderate risk.
• A standard budget needed – Players who opt to play the best medium volatility slots do not require a hefty budget to enjoy decent-sized prizes and a sprinkling of few big prizes here and there. A standard budget is enough to enjoy the experience on medium volatility slots.
• Perfect to all sets of players – Medium variance slots offer an avenue to win moderate payouts without the risk involved in the other two variances. High-rollers can try out the medium-high volatile slots with low-stake players trying out the low-medium volatility slots.
• Easier to trigger bonus features – Medium volatility slot machines are easier to trigger bonus features with since they have a higher hit frequency than that in high volatility slots.
• Tons of slots available – Most of the online slots players will come across in the iGaming industry are medium variance slots. Finding them is not a tough nut to crack.

Cons in slots with medium volatility

• Moderate winnings – The medium-value payouts from the slots may turn off high-rollers and VIP players who are all about thrill and monster wins.
• Not ideal for low-stake players – While we stated they are ideal for all types of players, some low-stake players will want to avoid them. This applies to those with a more limited budget. While medium volatility slots have a higher hit frequency than high volatile slots, they have a lower hit frequency when compared to low volatility slots. 
• Modern bonus features lacking – Most medium volatility slot machines do not include modern features that provide bigger payouts and multiple ways of winning. It is highly impossible to find features such as megaways, buy bonus, and cascading reels among other bonus features.

How to find medium volatility slot machines

Finding the best medium variance slots can be done in two most notable ways. The first and the simplest is to check if the slot provider offering the slot has displayed the variance on the information panel. If the option is not provided, the other option comes in. Important to note that slot machine volatility calculation involves loads of complex mathematical equations that can be used to calculate the exact variance.

However, calculating volatility is not the most ideal situation to subject a player to. The paytable comes to the rescue instead. Several clues can be derived from the table that would help signify if a slot is medium volatile or not. Note that this is not a 100% sure option since some clues require several spins to be taken before one can get a clear picture. The thing with medium volatility slots will be to look at the middle ground on all clues.

Here are some of the clues to look out for:

• Symbol combination – The difference between the same symbol combination payout will be the first pointer. If a 5-symbol combination payout difference is huge from a 4-symbol combination by around 10x-15x, that will be a highly volatile slot. A difference of around 3x-5x will be a low volatile slot. Anywhere in between (5x-10x) will signify a medium volatile slot.
• Moderate bonus features – As stated, tons of bonus features including specials signify a high volatile slot while the opposite signifies a low volatile slot. Moderate bonus features including the standard ones such as free spins and multipliers will be likely pointers of medium variance slots.
• Moderate winnings and jackpot prizes – Sky-high jackpot prizes with massive winnings will be pointers of high volatile slots while decent jackpots and small winnings will be pointers of low volatile slots. Medium slots will have everything moderate. Normal payouts may have a max win of 2000x with huge prizes going for as high as 5000x.
• Average paylines – The pointer to medium volatility slot machines will be average paylines. Multiple paylines will signify low volatile slots while fewer or limited paylines will signify high volatile slots.
• Play the demo version – Before proceeding to play with real money, playing the demo version of the game would be perfect to give a clue if unsure of the variance. Numerous spins would help in the variance determination. As you play, recording the frequency of hitting a win, the bonus features triggered, and the payout size is vital. This is the closest clue to determine the actual variance. The drawback is that it will consume much of your time.

Finally, the list on our guide cuts the chase and eases the process. Through the filter tab, you can use the variance parameter to view a list of medium volatility slot machines. 

RTP (Payout) and Medium Variance

The payback percentage, also known as return to player (RTP) percentage, brings out the projection of the average payout can make on a slot. While this is also determined by the software provider, it is different from variance. The common aspect among the two is that they play a key role in determining the payout on the spins taken. Keep in mind that with RTP it is the average that is got after multiple spins and not on every single spin. A 98% RTP slot will return £98 from a £100 wager. From the RTP it becomes easy to get the house edge. This is the advantage the operator gets over you on each play. For a 98% RTP slot, the house edge is 2%. A 96% RTP slot has a house edge of 4%. The lower the house edge, the higher the profit. This concept also shows that the higher the RTP, the higher the returns.

Remember, the slots market is flooded with medium variance slots and you can easily find a slot with a high RTP of above 96% or a lower RTP of below 94%. The trick with getting the biggest wins in these slots is to go for high RTP medium-high volatility slots. 

Medium Variance and Hit Frequency

Hit frequency is another aspect that goes hand in hand with the other two (volatility and RTP). It is also expressed in percentage. The higher the percentage, the more the chances of winning. Low volatile slots that provide frequent wins will have their hit frequency around 40% while high volatile slots that provide fewer frequent wins will have their hit frequency around 20%. The best medium volatility slots will have a hit frequency of around 30%. This means that on average 100 bets taken, 30 are likely to hit a winning combination.

For which players are medium volatility games ideal for?

With high-rollers and VIP players into high volatile slots and small-stake players and beginners into low volatility slots, what set of players are medium volatility slots ideal for?

Here is a profile of the ideal players to play medium volatility slots:

• Players who want to win big jackpots but don’t want to take too much risk with their bankroll
• Players with a moderate budget (not too high, not too low)
• Beginners who want to take their ‘risk-game’ a notch higher
• Players who want frequent wins and better returns
• Players who love slots with bonus features such as free spins, wilds, scatters, and multipliers

A profile of an ideal player to play medium-high volatility slots:

• One looking for a perfect balance between the hit frequency and the payout value/size
• One with a slightly improved budget
• One who is ready to take more risks than on the medium level
• One who enjoys playing slots with more bonus features
• One motivated by bigger wins in the end
• One who is patient to wait on the wins

A profile of an ideal player to play low-medium volatility slots:

• One with a limited budget that can be stretched slightly
• One willing to have fun
• One who wants to go a step further in gaming level from a beginner
• One interested in the bonus games

Wagering Requirements? Consider Medium Volatility Slots

After claiming a bonus comes the part where you need to complete wagering requirements. These simply indicate the amount you are required to wager before the bonus is taken from the bonus balance to the cash balance. Only then can you withdraw your bonus. Most casinos place game weightings on the games as you work to meet the requirements. Slots, in most cases, will contribute 100% meaning a £10 wagered will count as £10.

To complete the requirements, try as much as possible to avoid the high volatility slots. This is because you will be risking losing your cash quickly before you can complete the requirements. Instead, try completing them on the low or medium volatility slot machines that have a better hit frequency meaning you are unlikely to lose your cash quickly.