What are Low-Volatility Slots?

Morten
15 February 2023
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what-are-low-volatility-slots

Slots are the most widely played games in online casinos in the UK, and the reason is simple. These titles are based on luck and the entire gameplay revolves around a spin. You can learn how to play them in minutes.

Low volatility slot titles make winning more predictable, as it tends to occur more frequently. However, the payouts are mostly small. Many low-variance slots also offer a maximum winning potential if players trigger the bonus features. This article contains information about the best low-volatility slots online. Read further to learn more.

What is a Low-Volatility Slot?

There is a level of risk associated with every slot game, as there are only two possible outcomes: win or lose. Volatility is a term describing the size and frequency of a player’s winnings within a period. Variance can be low or high, but we will be focusing on the former in this article.

Low volatility slots are those that offer regular payouts of small amounts. While their maximum winning might not be huge, you enjoy numerous small rewards frequently. These titles are targeted at casual players and beginners who do not appreciate taking a big risks. So if you enjoy the prospects of playing slots more than winning money, low variance slots are a perfect fit.

Punters can access several quality options at the best online casinos in the UK. In this article, we highlight the best low-volatility slot machines and their features.

How Do You Know If a Slot has a Low Volatility?

Players need expert mathematical knowledge to accurately calculate a slot game’s volatility. However, this might be quite a stretch, so it pays to understand how to determine variance by analysing the game’s features.

First, you should review the pay table to know the symbol values. Low volatility slots offer decent payouts because their base games only have a few features, and the bonus rounds also do not pay out huge sums. So, you can determine a slot that has low volatility by checking the potential payouts for each symbol combination landed on the reels.

Furthermore, punters can predict a slot game’s volatility by playing its demo version. In reality, the only difference between demo and real money games is that players cannot claim winnings at the former. But you get a chance to experience the gameplay and note the size and frequency of the payouts. If the winnings are small and regular, it is most likely a low volatility slot.

Most Popular Low-Volatility Slots

After understanding low-volatility slots and their benefits, you should learn how to choose the best titles on popular UK casino sites. In this section, we provide information about elite slot variations with low variance from renowned software providers. These titles guarantee frequent winnings and a few bonus rounds:

Tiger Rush

Tiger Rush is an exciting game featuring five reels and three rows with ten pay lines extending up to twenty-five in the bonus round. This Thunderkick slot machine boasts an RTP of 96.3% and betting limits between £0.10 to o £100 per spin. It is built with an ancient Chinese theme using bamboo trees surrounded by jungle undergrowth as the backdrop.

Furthermore, the Tiger Rush slot rewards punters with wild respins and a bonus game with extra pay lines. Its volatility is low, so players enjoy frequent winnings though the amounts are small.

Druids Dream

This interesting online slot was released in March 2020 by the reputable Swedish gaming company, NetEnt. Druid Dreams sports a Celtic theme, displaying five reels, four rows, and forty fixed pay lines. It has an RTP of 96% with a betting range of 20p to £400 per spin, making the game perfect for both low and high rollers.

During gameplay, the Druid Dreams slot offers exciting bonus features, such as wild symbols, wilds charge, and respins with sticky wilds. When the wild symbols stack, you can trigger the Nudge feature to claim a scatter. Conversely, the Free Spins feature rewards players with sticky wilds and loads of free spins. The maximum Druids Dream payout is 200x the total stake.

Starburst

Starburst is a renowned slot title designed with five reels, three rows, and ten winning ways. It was released by the provider, NetEnt, in 2012 and has grown popular among UK punters.

The game’s return-to-player percentage is 96.09%, and it allows bets between 10p and £100. Starburst boasts colourful and enchanting graphics with immersive background music. Though it promises thrilling gameplay, this slot variation has no bonus features. Furthermore, the NetEnt slot machine is low volatility, ensuring small and regular winnings, but its maximum payout is 50,000x. If you want to play an online slot with simple rules, Starburst is a perfect choice.

The Wolf’s Night

This is a popular slot game by top software provider Booongo with an average RTP of 95.69%. The Wolf’s Night slot is built with simple gameplay, combining traditional and experimental elements to deliver a memorable adventure. It has low volatility and a maximum win of 500x your wagers.

This casino title displays five reels and twenty-five pay lines with a decent base game. However, you enjoy higher winnings by triggering the bonus features. The Wolf’s Night slot offers a Hold and Win feature that gives cash rewards and a jackpot prize. UK players can also access a wild symbol, multipliers and free spins.

Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen

If you desire a low variance slot with steady winnings, the Gordon Ramsay: Hell’s Kitchen slot has a lot to offer. It comes with five reels, three rows, and twenty fixed winning ways. The game has a return-to-player percentage of 96.07%, and its variance ranges from low to medium.

During gameplay, you can stake between 20p to £400 per spin. For faster spins, there is an Autoplay function that allows 10 to 1,000 auto spins. Players must land three, four, or five similar symbols on adjacent reels to win a round. Though the hit frequency is unknown, the Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen slot has a maximum win of 1,000x the wager per free spin.

Dragon Kingdom Eyes of Fire

The Dragon Kingdom: Eyes of Fire slot is a slot machine with unusual mechanics powered by the renowned software company, Pragmatic Play. Its design entails three reels and five pay lines. Punters activate the fourth reel by a run of four winless spins, which also brings multipliers.

The slot game has an RTP of 96.5 with low to medium variance. So, winnings are frequent, though the values are low. You can place wagers between 10p to £25 per spin and speed up the rounds using the Autoplay function. The maximum amount you can win for a spin is 1250x your bet.

Arabian Nights

This is one of the oldest online slots in the gambling industry, released by NetEnt in 2005. Arabian Nights features three rows, five reels, and ten winning ways. During spins, you can adjust your bet sizes from 10p to £200.

The game has two versions with different return-to-player percentages. Its progressive jackpot variation has an RTP of 95.22%, while that of the local jackpot slot is 95.62%. At the Arabian Night slot, you can claim winnings by landing two or more similar symbols across adjacent reels.

Furthermore, it boasts a hit frequency of 38.95%, guaranteeing frequent wins with higher payouts than many other slots. The maximum win per free spin is 12,000x your total wagers.

Deco Diamonds

You will hardly find a more classy and visually moving slot game than Deco Diamonds. This casino title is powered by Microgaming, boasting entertaining gameplay and attractive in-game features. It is built with five reels, three rows, and nine pay lines displaying symbols, such as cherries, lemons, watermelons, peaches, bells, 7s and diamonds.

The most rewarding symbol is the Deco Diamonds, offering up to 1,000x your stake for five-of-a-kind combinations. It also serves as the wild, which can replace any symbol on the reels. Deco Diamonds slot provides two bonus features, namely the Bonus Wheel and a self-named Re-spin feature. Also, it has low volatility, meaning players receive small but regular payouts. The max win for a single spin is 2,232x the punter’s stake.

Joker Millions

The Joker Millions slot is an impressive fruit-themed game with a beautiful interface and funky soundtrack. It features five reels, three rows, twenty-five pay lines, and an RTP of 94.3%. On the paytable, you will find various colourful classic symbols, such as lemons, plums, oranges, watermelons, cherries, and bells. The highest paying symbol is the Lucky 7, which gives 12x your stake for a five-of-a-kind combination.

Also, this online slot allows punters to place wagers between 25p to £25 per spin, a percentage of which contributes to the progressive jackpot. Joker Million’s jackpot rises per round to a maximum of £3 million and resets to the base value of £100,000 after a punter wins.

Aloha! Cluster Pays

Aloha! Cluster Pays is a popular slot game with six reels powered by the Swedish gaming company, NetEnt. As the name suggests, it operates on the cluster pays mechanism, where players win by forming clusters of matching symbols. You can wager as low as 10p per spin and trigger bonus features to boost your payouts.

Landing a cluster triggers the Sticky Wild Re-Spins feature, which holds spinning symbols as others respin. The Free Spins feature rewards punters with 60 free spins, while the Symbol Drop mechanic can bring your wins to up to 2,000x your bet per free spin. Aloha! Cluster Pays boasts low to medium variance and a return-to-player percentage of 96.42%.

How to Pick Low-Volatility Slots

For new UK punters, selecting a quality low volatility slot can be quite tedious. Therefore, it helps to understand the factors necessary to recognise these slot games. We highlight the various criteria players should consider when picking the best low-variance slots. These include the following:

RTP

The return-to-player percentage is an essential criterion that punters must consider. It is best to choose casino sites with an impressive range of high RTP slots (values above 97%). This means that from £100 wagered in the game, £97 will be brought back to the players.

Maximum Payout

Before selecting a low volatility slot, you should find out the potential maximum win. Unlike the high-variance options, most of these games offer smaller but more frequent payouts. However, a punter must still be aware of the maximum payout. Some slots allow maximum payouts lower than average: 250x of the player’s stake and below.

Game Fairness

Fairness is an integral quality of legitimate online slot games. These casino titles are run using random number generators behind the scenes. So, they are tested regularly by independent agencies, such as eCOGRA, to maintain equal outcomes for all customers. Look for licensing from any of these testing agencies to ascertain the fairness of the slot machines before playing them.

Gambling Licence

You must confirm the availability of an authentic gambling license at a casino before considering their slot games. Also, it is crucial to check for the software developer’s licensing information. These details offer insight into the legitimacy of a low-volatility slot game and could potentially protect you from fraudsters.

Graphics and Sounds

Another aspect you should consider is the graphics and sound quality. The aim of playing slots is primarily to have fun, so punters must choose titles with high-definition graphics and immersive sound effects. Though low-volatility slot games offer lesser payouts, these features guarantee a thrilling gambling adventure!

Play demo games for free

Punters can play most slot titles for free or real money winnings. However, it is advisable to choose low-variance slots with a demo mode, as you can easily learn the mechanics and gameplay without spending a dime. This way, you experience the game’s variance and RTP firsthand before picking the option that best suits your needs.

Are Low Volatility Slots Good?

Variance plays a huge role in the popularity of online slots. The games boast simple gameplay with unique features that contribute to their volatility. Players win small amounts during the base game. However, the bonus rounds bring a whole new level of excitement. The benefits of playing low-volatility slots are numerous, and we highlight a few below:

Higher winning odds

Though punters find big wins enthralling, they only come along once in a while in most slot games. So, many prefer to play simple slots with low volatility for a chance to win with almost every spin. In essence, these games offer better winning odds than high volatility slots. This reduces the chances of depleting your funds in search of big wins.

Longer gaming sessions

Since low volatility slots offer small frequent winnings, the risk connected with those casino games is lower. Therefore, you can play for longer periods without exhausting your balance. Bankroll management is easier with low variance slots.

Conclusion

Not everyone wants to go all out when playing slots. Some punters prefer to play for entertainment while receiving decent payouts. Low volatility slots are ideal for these players. So, if you fall in this category, pick a game from the list above. Play in demo mode to get started.

Author Morten

After being a recreational gambler for over 10 years, my professional gambling career started at LeoVegas in January 2019. I am now Head of SEO & Content at Casinogrounds, responsible for what you read on UKCasino.com, Casinogrounds.com, and Casinoscores.com.