High volatility slots
Slots the provider classifies as high or very high volatility: long dry spells, rare but large wins.
Short answer
No slots in our database match this list yet.
This list shows the slots in our database that their providers classify as high or very high volatility. We use each provider’s own label or scale, such as 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, because studios rate volatility in their own way and we do not invent ratings of our own.
Next to volatility, look at the maximum win and the RTP. A high volatility slot concentrates its return in rare, large payouts, so the maximum win shows the size of the prize and the RTP shows what the game costs on average while you wait for it.
New to the terms? Read what RTP and volatility mean, or estimate the cost of a session with the RTP calculator.
What high volatility slots are
High volatility slots pay out rarely but in larger amounts, with long stretches of small or no wins in between. Volatility describes how a slot’s returns are spread, not how much it returns overall.
Two slots can share the same RTP and still feel completely different. A low volatility game returns its share through frequent small wins, so your balance moves slowly. A high volatility game holds back much of its return for bonus rounds and top combinations, so your balance tends to drift down for long periods and then jump. Our glossary entry on volatility explains the concept with examples.
Volatility, hit frequency and maximum win
Volatility, hit frequency and maximum win usually move together: the rarer the wins, the bigger the largest possible payout tends to be. Providers publish volatility and maximum win more often than hit frequency.
Hacksaw Gaming’s slot Wanted Dead or a Wild shows a high volatility profile: the provider rates it 4 on a scale of 5 and caps the maximum win at 12,500 times the stake. The maximum win is a ceiling, not a likely outcome; most sessions end without coming close. Hit frequency, the share of spins that return anything, says nothing about size: many hits in a high volatility game return less than the stake.
What high volatility means for your budget
High volatility slots need a larger budget relative to your stake, because the gaps between meaningful wins are long. With a small budget, the most likely result is that it runs out before a big win arrives.
A practical approach is to decide first how much you are willing to spend in a session, then choose a stake small enough to give you many spins with that amount. In Great Britain the stake per spin on online slots is capped at £5 for players aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24, but a lower stake than the cap is often the better choice for a volatile game. The expected cost is still set by the RTP; volatility only changes how wide the range of outcomes is.
Bonus buy and high volatility
Many high volatility slots let you buy direct entry to the bonus round for a multiple of your stake. This compresses the volatility into fewer, much more expensive decisions.
A bonus buy does not make a game cheaper to play, and the result of the bought round is as random as any other. Regulators look closely at the feature: in January 2020 the UK Gambling Commission found one slot charging more than £3,000 to enter the bonus feature, and the operators it contacted removed the facility. Where bonus buy is available, set its cost against your session budget before you use it.
High volatility slots and bonus terms
High volatility slots and wagering requirements are a difficult combination, because long losing runs make a bonus balance disappear before it is cleared. Bonus terms add further limits.
Check the maximum bet rule, which caps your stake while a bonus is active, and whether the bonus excludes certain slots. Breaking either rule can void the bonus and its winnings.
How to judge the slots in this list
- Provider rating: is the game rated high or very high, and on what scale?
- RTP version: confirm the figure in the help screen at your casino.
- Maximum win: how large is the top prize, and is it capped?
- Features: free spins, multipliers and bonus buy, and what they cost.
- Demo mode: try the game without money to see how long its dry spells feel.
For steadier play, compare these games with our highest RTP slots. Long dry spells make it tempting to raise stakes or chase losses; a deposit limit set in advance keeps that in check.
Frequently asked questions
What is a high volatility slot?
A high volatility slot pays out less often but in larger amounts. You can expect long runs of small or no wins, with most of the game’s return coming from bonus rounds and rare top combinations. Providers rate volatility on their own scales, and this list includes games rated high or very high by their provider.
Are high volatility slots better than low volatility slots?
Neither is better in money terms; the RTP decides the average cost, and volatility only changes how results are spread. High volatility suits players who accept long losing runs for a chance at a big win. Low volatility suits players who want their budget to last and prefer frequent small wins.
Do high volatility slots pay more?
They pay larger amounts when they pay, but not more overall. A high volatility slot and a low volatility slot with the same RTP return the same share of stakes over the long run. The difference is that the high volatility game delivers its return in fewer, bigger wins, so your results swing more.
What is the difference between volatility and RTP?
RTP is the share of all stakes a slot pays back over a very large number of spins, so it sets the long-term cost. Volatility describes how unevenly that return is distributed between small frequent wins and rare large ones. You need both figures to judge how a slot will feel and what it will cost.
Sources: Hacksaw Gaming: Wanted Dead or a Wild, Gambling Commission: online slots stake limit guidance, Gambling Commission: games warning for online operators