In the digital world we find ourselves immersed in, there are always new innovations appearing in the online realm that arouse intrigue and wonderment. The entertainment industry has benefited massively from the advances in technology and software that have given companies involved in the industry greater capabilities.
In recent years, an avenue of entertainment in the form of online casinos have finally established themselves in the market after decades of threatening to make a big splash. With enhanced digital capabilities, online casino operators and the game developers and designers that collaborate with them can produce engaging, interactive games, especially in the online slots aisles, which are captivating audiences all over the world.
With new entries into the entertainment market, there come new concepts, processes and terminology and for online slots, which is arguably the most popular online casino game worldwide, the term “volatility” is one regularly used in any game preview or review and is often talked about with regards to one aspect all online slots players are interested in, the payout potential. But for those who are not familiar with the term already, what is volatility in the online casino context?
Volatility Explained
For many casino enthusiasts in Canada, the concept of online casino will be relatively alien, unless you reside in Ontario, which to date, is the only province in Canada that has a legal and regulated framework for online casino play after the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario established legislation to permit this activity in April 2022.
But for those who might find the new, revamped video slots in land-based casinos across the country, volatility is a particularly useful term to know. It relates to the frequency a slot game pays out and is calculated by the average payouts achieved over a certain period of playing. If volatility is high, then payouts are less frequent, but could be high when they come around. Low volatility is the opposite; payouts are more frequent but tend to be smaller.
Players will frequently see volatility presented simply as low, medium, or high and this term should not be confused with Return-To-Player, which is usually listed as a percentage. Not only is volatility a good guide for the frequency of payouts, but it can also be used to gauge the level of stakes you will potentially need to make. And this will come in handy when it comes to selecting from the rankings and ratings of the top online casino slots in Ontario. With thousands of online slots titles to choose from, narrowing it down by volatility could make life much easier.
What volatility is right for you?
When it comes to selecting an online slots game and indeed working out what type of online casino player you are in general, the volatility scale can lend a helping hand. With games of the lower volatility nature, this more frequent payouts are usually accompanied by lower minimum stakes, even as low as $0.01 on some games. This naturally correlates to lower payouts, and the opposite can be expected on high volatility games, where the minimum stake is often significantly higher.
When it comes to setting a budget for online casino play, the volatility guide can help you find the right games for you. For casual players, low volatility games come best recommended, while for high rollers, high might be more appropriate. The fun factor that comes with more payouts on low volatility games can also be considered when assessing what type of online casino experience you want.
Once these factors are determined, the online slots world is filled with games packed with different themes, reel formations, and bonus rounds that provide a variable and diverse online casino experience. Finding your style based on volatility is a safe way to get the most out of online slots and maximise the fun.