Online Pokies by Volatility: Explanation & Examples

A game with high volatility is one that pays out large sums of money but less frequently, while a game with low volatility is one that pays out smaller amounts more frequently. The level of volatility in a game can affect a player’s strategy and approach, as higher volatility games require more patience and a larger bankroll to sustain periods of losses.

Volatility can be an important factor to consider when choosing a game to play or when placing a bet. High volatility games can offer the potential for larger payouts but also come with a higher risk of losing money. Low volatility games may offer smaller payouts, but can also be less risky and more consistent in terms of payouts.

It’s important to note that volatility does not necessarily determine the overall payout percentage or the house edge of a game. A game with high volatility may have a lower overall payout percentage than a game with low volatility. For example, Starburst with low volatility offers the max win of 500x, while Sweet Rush Megaways has high volatility and a really high max win of 12,960x or €259,200 (or the equivalent in AUD).

Low variance on online casino pokies is a perfect option for newbies who want to take lower risks and enjoy a long gaming session thanks to frequent payouts. Just keep in mind that such payouts won’t be large, so high rollers and those trying to get progressive jackpots should avoid this volatility level. Among low-volatility pokies, we can recommend the following:

• Trump Card Queen by Mascot
• Starburst by NetEnt
• Irish Eyes (NextGen)

When you feel that the model of very frequent yet really small payouts isn’t for you, feel free to opt for the middle ground when the risks are moderate, as well as the rewards and the payout frequency. That’s how medium volatility works in AU gambling. It’s nice for experienced players with a moderate bankroll or players who are new to the industry yet to want to catch something nice. Top medium volatility slots for Australians are:

• Where’s The Gold (Aristocrat)
• Merlin’s Tower (Mascot Gaming)

In this case, you take higher risks yet can be sure that your wins will be larger, though they will be very infrequent. This option is nice for high rollers and gamblers searching for wins of over 3,000x or even 10,000x. You always need to play responsibly, but in the case of high volatility, be even more careful and enter such games with a large bankroll. Here are the examples of high volatility pokies in Australia:

• Lucky Oak (BGaming)
• Book of Nile: Revenge by NetGame
• Lady Wolf Moon (BGaming)

In some cases, the game’s volatility is in the middle between two levels. For example, low-medium or medium-high. Some operators determine it as, for example, 7 out of 10. Such rates are convenient when you want to combine two levels and find the middle ground. Here are a few examples of such online pokies for Aussies:

• Aloha King Elvis (BGaming) – medium-high volatility
• Book of Elixir (GameBeat) – medium-high volatility
• Golden Fish Tank – medium-high volatility
• Miss Cherry Fruits Jackpot Party – low-medium volatility

Volatility on online pokies is determined by providers, but this information is usually provided to operators or available on the provider’s official site. Sometimes, it’s displayed in the game, but it’s an exception rather than a rule. Read these tips to understand how to find out the volatility of an online pokie:

• Casino’s filters
  Some real money casinos in Australia add filters by volatility to the gaming library. This way, you can choose a certain level or view the risk level of each particular pokie.
• Our pokie reviews
  When we overview the best online pokies in Australia, our BetSquare team pays attention to volatility and specifies this information in the reviews, so you can learn more about a specific game.
• Support manager
  Once at your AU online casino, you can contact your support team manager and find out more information about the online pokie you are going to play.
• Visit the provider’s site
  Pretty often, casino providers add detailed information about each game to their official website. You can learn the game’s RTP, volatility, max win, and other details.

In addition, you can try out the pokie yourself, either for real money with a small bankroll or for free in demo mode. This way, you’ll check the payout frequency, understand how well the pokie pays, and try out its features.

Unlike RTP or the prize pool of progressive jackpots which directly affect your payouts (the larger, the better), volatility works differently. Here, we can’t say that low or high volatility is better, so it’s just up to your preferences and your bankroll. Looking for frequent wins of lower amounts? Then low variance is for you. In case of a larger bankroll, higher risks yet larger wins are provided by high volatility. And for players looking for the middle ground between these two levels, medium volatility is the right choice. This way, you can change games each time you want to try out something different. Just make sure that the level meets your bankroll and you play responsibly.

To help you sort the things out and choose the games according to your current bankroll, here’s our BetSquare rating of pokies by volatility in Australia. We’ll display the risk levels of these games, as well as their max win:

Well, considering the variance on pokies is a good idea when you want to learn more about the game and its features. However, we would also recommend you paying attention to some more qualities to choose the best casino game in Australia:

• The game’s RTP is also important, and the higher it is, the better. For example, the 15 Dragon Pearls pokie has a 95.71% RTP
• Free spins are also important, and on pokies like Book of Cats, these free spins can be re-triggered
• Fixed jackpots are also essential, and Elvis Frog in Vegas can provide players with Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega levels
• As for the other features, they can be very diversified, for example, Hotline 2 has a bonus reel, Expanding Wilds, and more ways to win during FS

In addition, it’s worth considering an online casino where you want to play, and our BetSquare rating is here to help with this. Analyse the available casinos, choose the one you like the most, and enjoy online pokies with different volatility levels.

Here at BetSquare, we believe that gambling for real money can be smart when you explore the industry and pick trustworthy games according to the parameters that suit your bankroll, and volatility is definitely one of the qualities you should consider. Of course, it’s not the only aspect since reliable payment options, nice pokie features, bonuses like no-deposit free spins, and other aspects are important. So our gambling guide on this site is designed to help Aussies with all these questions, while this page is helpful to cover the volatility pokies issue.