Understanding Slot Variance and How It Affects Payouts
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!
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.
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.
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!
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
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
Doug Holmes Author
Doug is a passionate Slot fan and an expert in the gaming industry and has written extensively about online slot games and various other related information pertaining to online slots. In his spare time, he enjoys time with friends and family, reading, travelling, and of course, playing the slots.
