Slots Variance

In this article we will talk about such a characteristic of a slot machine as its variance. First of all, you should warn that you can not confuse the variance with the percentage of payment slots. If the percentage of payments denotes the percentage of the rates that go to payouts, the variance expresses the degree of risk when playing on the slot.

But of course, as is the inverse of the low variance slots, the rewards for playing high variance slots can be HUGE. You might wait around for dozens of spins with only one or two small wins, thinking you’re eating through your bankroll, then suddenly, BOOM, you win 400x your wager, and suddenly you’re hundreds of quid better off. Conditionally, all slot machines can be divided into slots with low, medium and high variance. The former can not boast of high payout ratios, but winning combinations fall out very often in them. The latter excite the fantasy of the players with huge payments, but combinations are formed in them extremely rarely. Variance is a term which describes how a slot pays out; we often, but not always, know what percentage of your investment you will theoretically get back but this is not what we are talking about here. Essentially we are referring to whether a slot pays out little and often or vice versa.

Conditionally, all slot machines can be divided into slots with low, medium and high variance. The former can not boast of high payout ratios, but winning combinations fall out very often in them. The latter excite the fantasy of the players with huge payments, but combinations are formed in them extremely rarely. The main mass is played by slot machines with an average variance index.

Neither casinos nor slot manufacturers are particularly concerned about the variance of their slots, but the payout table will tell a lot about this indicator to an experienced user.

It is generally accepted that it is best to determine the variance by the maximum coefficient by which the combination of the rarest symbols is paid. On some resources in the network, you can even meet a specific slot separation just by this feature: the maximum payout to x5000 means that the slot with a low dispersion, up to x10000 – with an average, over x10000 – with a high.

But this approach seems too simplistic for us, because it is not always possible to determine the variance of the slot by using only the payout ratio. Therefore, additional factors must also be taken into account.

For example, in 5-reel slots, the difference in the payout ratios for combinations of three, four and five symbols should be taken into account. If combinations of three or even four identical images are paid for significantly less than five symbols, this slot most likely belongs to samples with high variance. If the difference in payments between them is not very high, the machine may well have a low dispersion.

Also it is necessary to take into account the presence of special symbols and their features. If the game has a Wild symbol, which when it appears on the screen takes up the whole drum, then the combinations here will be formed often. Comparing this fact with the payment coefficients, one can get some idea of the variance.

Of course, all this allows us to estimate only approximately the variance of the slot machine. The exact data can be found only from the documentation on technical characteristics from the manufacturer. A less accurate, but very effective way is testing the slot in the training mode. Fortunately, such an opportunity is in most online casinos.

The state of the bankroll after a hundred or two spins will clarify the picture. If during this time large combinations did not fall out, but the amount has not changed much, the dispersion of the slot may well be considered low. About the same say frequent payments, which are slightly higher or lower than the total rate.

If you lose a long time methodically, and then you get a fairly large combination, after which again there comes a period of failure, – the variance of this slot can be considered high.

Features of the game on slots with different variances

Naturally, a long game on high-variance slots requires a larger jackpot, otherwise the money may end earlier than you get at least one worthwhile combination. At a minimum, set the low cost of coins (but do not forget the rules of the jackpot if you chose such a slot).

On the other hand, low variance slots allow you to play for a long time, even if your bankroll is not large. But here you will not have a chance to break a big jackpot for one spin.

In the end, this is a question of personal preferences and financial possibilities. You choose how much you want to risk. If you are limited in means, but want to play longer, choose a slot with a low variance. And those for whom the meaning of the game is in the pursuit of an incredible jack-sweat, you need to select the appropriate machines.

For those of you out there who are seeking as much information about playing slot games as is possible then this article about Low Variance, Medium Variance and High Variance will be of interest to you.

Whilst many slot players are not bothered what type of online slot games they choose to play, knowing how a slot has been designed to not only play but also how it has been structured to pay out is going to enable you to locate a slot that appeals to your own personal playing style.

Any online slot game will of course boast a lot of unique features and aspects of that slot which some players may like such as its theme or bonus games, and some aspects of the slot may put off players such as low valued jackpots or fixed coin values.

There is one aspect of any slot game that will dramatically affect the way that slot game plays and pays and this is something known as variance, each slot will have one of the following types of variance attached to it, so have a read through the following guide so you know what to look out for when playing a slot and to be able to spot a slot that is going to play and pay in a certain way!

Slot Variance

Low Risk Low Variance Slots

A Low Variance slot game will appeal to many slot players who are aiming to have as long a slot playing session as they possibly can, the best description we can give to low variance slots are low risk slots and this is due to the way they have been designed.

When you are playing a low variance slot you will often find the jackpots on offer are modest in value, and when playing such a slot you will get more low valued winning combinations forming on your activated paylines, and as such those regular yet low valued winning payouts keeps your account balance fluctuating in value and will not drain it away as rapidly as some of medium and high variance structured slots described below.

Medium Variance Slots

Low variance slots due to their low risk yet often low reward type of playing structure are often the slot games players utilizing a casinos bonus offer will opt to play, for with plenty of regularly spun in winning combinations those players get true value from those bonuses, and with some luck in playing they may reach and surpass the required play through requirements of those bonuses and may be able to get to a point where they are then able to cash out their winnings.

Medium Risk Medium Variance Slots

The most commonly found type of slot game available to play online are those which have been designed as what are known as medium variance slots, unlike the types of slots mentioned above and below these slots offer a more medium risk type of playing format and structure and will not usually give you any unpleasant surprises as you are playing them!

Medium variance slot games can offer both high and low jackpot amounts and the video slot games designed as medium variance ones will offer bonus game features and bonus round on which both low and high amounts of cash can be won.

However there is of course an element of risk when playing any slot game and when you opt to play a medium variance slot you should get a fair chance of winning both low and high winning payouts but you will not see as many lower valued winning combination spinning in as when playing the low variance slots and will not be playing in a high risk high reward type of way as the high variance slot games offer.

Slot Variance

So if you are something of a conservative online slot player and want a medium risk type of slot playing session then these types of games will be certainly worth your time tracking down and playing, and being completely random slots you will always have a fair chance of having a winning session as much as you will have an equal chance of having a losing slot playing session!

High Variance Slots

However, if you are adverse to risk then it will probably pay dividends for you to stick to the low variance structured slot games mentioned above, or if you wish to throw caution to the wind then have a few spins on the high variance slot games mentioned below!

High Risk High Variance Slots

High Variance Slots 2019

You often need nerves of steel and a very large slot playing bankroll if you opt to play the high variance slot games, for these types of slots have been structured in such a way that the payouts listed on the pay table are often very high paying ones and when playing these slots it is possible to get a massive and high valued winning combination forming on any activated paylines.

These high payouts often are formed thanks to Wild Multiplier symbols that massively increase the value of any winning combination formed with those symbols. Or when playing a high variance slot game the bonus games which can be triggered offer huge winning potential thanks to high paying free spins rounds offering huge multiplier values or bonus games such as pick to win rounds which let you keep on picking locations off the bonus screen an unlimited number of times until a Game Over type of symbol is uncovered.

However when you are playing a high variance slot game there is a downside, and that is to compensate for those huge paying winning combinations and high paying bonus games you will find the number of low to mid sized winning combinations that you can and will spin in are greatly reduced in number.

So when playing any high variance slot please do not be surprised if you play that slot and have spin after spin on which no winning combinations are formed, but every now and then a winning combination or bonus game will be awarded on which some mega sized payouts are paid to you.

Some of the very best high variance slot games you can play online are those that have been designed by Thunderkick