Volatility, also called variance, describes how a game’s payouts are distributed: whether it tends to pay small amounts often, or large amounts rarely.
A low-volatility slot pays frequently but in modest sums, which keeps a session ticking along with fewer big swings. A high-volatility slot can go a long time with little return, then occasionally deliver a large win. Neither is inherently more generous, because volatility is separate from RTP: two games can share the same long-run return yet feel completely different to play.
Volatility mainly affects your bankroll and how long it lasts. High-volatility games can drain a balance quickly during dry spells, so they demand a larger bankroll and more patience, and the big win they promise is never guaranteed to arrive at all.
For example, imagine two slots both set to 96% RTP. The low-volatility one might return small wins on many spins; the high-volatility one might pay almost nothing for dozens of spins, then hit a single large multiplier. Same average over time, very different experience and risk along the way.
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